IVF Scotland - thread 4

[2mumlife]

Hi everyone,

Started a new thread for the Scotish ladies

@LouScot
@Scirocco
@MrsTMcB
@florafoxtro
@Hopewishprayer
@ScottishRach
@Kamiros
@LT103
@itsmschanandlerbong
@connal

Please @ anyone I missed!

@HJen22 @RMS0209 thanks. I'm going with GCRM. They are incredibly busy it seems, so hopefully that's a good sign. I'm just so worried that if I need another round(!) they won't let me because of my age (and amh and fatness) but that's a conversation for then of it comes to it.

@HJen22 that's rough for you. Do you have 3 rounds on the NHS (theoretically?) There was someone on here a wee while ago who was with maybe create doing natural IVF and traveling from Scotland to Manchester. Hopefully your consultation will help decide the best way forward though x

@RMS0209 I'm waiting on cycle day 1 too. It should have been today but wonder if covid has pushed things out of sync a little. I had a phone conversation with a nurse today about next steps, did you have an actual face to face appointment? Good luck with the cycle, you've got a really high amh haven't you? Sounds like frozen a good idea x

@LouScot I spoke with a lovely man from GCRM today. Initially they were my first thought given closest private to Aberdeen. Then I looked into natural modified but only trying to get one egg terrifies me. Right now I'm thinking maybe try another standard IVF cycle. Have you paid for the one? A while ago I was looking at the two cycle access package.

Theoretically it's 3 but you have to get 3 eggs at collection and last time we got 0. No idea what happened as my scan prior I had 3 good sized follicles. I think with private they are better with limits on criteria. My weight has really crept up the last wee while with emotional eating and just feeling so rubbish, which makes me feel worse. We've a holiday end of August so I've been trying but failing.

@RMS0209 great that you're close to starting! How have you found GCRM? Xx

@HJen22 yeah I paid for the one and I'm kicking myself now, but all the more reason for me to hope for the best :-) xx

@LouScot don't kick yourself, hope that this is the one. Am I right in thinking you had been looking for a sperm donor? I do apologise if I'm wrong and getting you muddled with someone else x

@HJen22 yeah, you remember correctly! I got one and actually they only had one straw available so grabbed it, there might be more in August so I'll get one just in case then.

@LouScot I'm so glad you got one, it took a while didn't it. Is one straw one IVF round? I hope this one is the one and meant to be ❤️xx

@HJen22 aww thanks. Yes, one straw per round. It was so hard to pick but this one felt "right" so hoping that means something. Xx

@LouScot @RMS0209 Glad to hear you're both moving forward.

They did a sperm dna fragmentation test and said it was ok, last week they said the sample was fine...but the development stopping at day 4/5 does suggest sperm issues. We just don't know. Holding out hope for even one to make it to freeze but if not we'll have to just take their advice.

@LouScot
yay high give for GCRM!
I really hope you don’t need another round, everything crossed for you.
How old are you? (If that isn’t to nosey!)
I’ve been gaining weight like crazy recently, trying hard to keep it at bay.

Would be great if we were “cycle buddies” as such! I am currently day 33.. so I am hoping day 1 comes soon, I have been 39 & 37 days the last two cycles. Hopefully COVID hasn’t messed up things to much for you, it’s bad here at the moment too! Keeping the lowest profile.
What protocol are you doing?
I’m being prescribed Menopur & Fyremadel.
My AMH is on the higher side so yeah frozen is our best bet.

@HJen22
I am Aberdeen too remember! I haven’t had much luck with Aberdeen so far, could just be me though..
I was just away to say why don’t you look at the access fertility two cycle, this is what I have opted for, and it’s taken a little bit of the stress away.

I know I am so happy! it’s almost like things are actually moving now, I don’t feel so much in limbo (well I am waiting for cycle day 1 but hopefully she arrives soon..)

My experience with GCRM so far has been fantastic, I am absolutely delighted with them. I was a bit wary after reading reviews but everybody I have had so far has been great! I would recommend them 100%
So realistically I’ve only had/will have to go down 5 times (once for my assessments/once for my partners/once for my nurse planning app (yesterday), once for egg collection and the last time for the final shabang!
All monitoring bloods & scans can be done from Aberdeen, they reckon I’ll only need 2 lots of bloods and scans ( but we will see) xX

@Kamiros thank you 😊
that sounds like so much stress for you, I am sorry.. how are you feeling? X

@HJen22 Its really hard to make decisions about what to try. The natural modified IVF and natural FET always appealed to me but it can be scary. I know after my first rubbish egg collection I really wanted a change in protocol and it helped give me more faith / hope for trying another round, rather than feeling like I was doing the same thing over again and hoping for a different result. I'm sure you'll make the right decision you you though x

@LouScot Try to stay positive - some people beat the odds :) Which protocol are you on for your cycle? Hope day 1 comes soon

@RMS0209 Exciting you should be starting your cycle soon! Are you doing a down regulation first or just straight on to stims? I did Menopur my first IVF stim cycle, and done a few cycles that used Fyremadel as part of the cycle, but to be honest they've all blurred a bit in my mind now! But any questions will try my best to answer. Its great you can use the satelite clinic for most of your bloods and monitoring.

@Kamiros I'm really sorry to hear this cycle hasn't gone as well as you'd hoped. All I would say is some people don't respond that well to stims - the most eggs I ever got was 6 and I would meet the egg donor criteria on paper (under 35, non smoker, healthy bmi etc). I guess its just really very much pot luck with donors how well they will respond if they haven't donated before. How many eggs did the clinic tell you you could expect from a donor? Was it blasts you said there was a minimum number you'd paid for? Keeping everything crossed the 1 good looking embryo continues to day 5 and can be frozen and transfered.

@RMS0209 I'm almost 44...so very very different situation I guess!

@2mumlife I'm doing a short protocol I think. Nurse ran through things yesterday but didn't name stim drugs but I think it's gonal f. When is it you're due?

@LouScot Short protocols are nice, I never liked the downregulation bit. Gonal f is also nice and easy to inject as it comes in a pen if you're getting that :) Due date should be ~ 8th September so in the final stretch now.

@LouScot I'm still sending you lots of luck, please do keep us updated.

@2mumlife I know! I've never wanted AF to arrive so much, I am doing down regulation too sorry I never mentioned that!
Ive read the Menopur can be a bit nippy.. just take it as I comes I guess and think of the greater good!

Does anybody have any hints/tips for a 1st timer? I have watched some videos and people have used little ice packs before injecting, is this worth while? x

So some good news today. Day 6 but we've managed to get a 4BB frozen. No guarantee it'll take but at least we can try a transfer now. DH is going to leave another sample when we're out there just in case- the testing they did for him all came back great so it's either an egg issue or just one of these things.

@RMS0209 oh yeah fellow aberdonian ❤️ remind me, were you on the waiting list for NHS but opted for private? I'm so glad to hear you've had a good experience so far wirh GCRM! How long did you wait after requesting a consultation and did they give you lots of options for dates and times given the travel involved? I hope cycle day 1 comes for you soon! Will you have a scan in Aberdeen that day?

@2mumlife it's so hard, I change my mind day by day with what I think we should do. And change it constantly about getting things moving with consultations or waiting longer. Best for us to get our clinic follow up out the way then make a plan going forward.

@Kamiros that's fantastic news you've got one safely in the freezer ❄️ really pleased that you will get to transfer. I hope you are doing ok and hanging on in there xx

@HJen22 Im enjoying Aberdeen today.. I wonder how much of the weather I have to thank for it ha ha.
Yes! so I finally get referred from my GP, and I got a letter a week later from NHS saying i'll get an app in 8/12 weeks. they told my partner he needed an analysis although we've already had this private but his app for that isnt until 25th August, (reminds me I need to phone them!)

I honestly cannot give GCRM more praise, I was really wary after some of the comments but I've had nothing but good experiences so far.
my time line:
Phoned 20th May
My scans/bloods etc - 2nd June
My OH analysis - 16th June

i'll get two scans in Aberdeen (roughly) 31st Aug + 2nd Sep... dependent on cycle day 1 not playing up and arriving on Friday :) x

@RMS0209 Wow you got really speedy service with GCRM! If you're getting the downregulation as an injection (Prostap) its not the nicest, but the nurse should inject it for you. The tablets you take for downregulation do give you a bit of the hot flushes. Menapur is fine, but the Fyremadel can feel itchy after the injection for a few minutes. I never bothered with the ice packs - it just seemed like a lot of faff and then builds up the whole anticipation. My partner administered my injections - it was a nice way of getting her more involved. Hope cycle day 1 comes soon!

@Kamiros That's great you have a frostie! Hurray! Will transfer be next month? It sounds like its unfortunately just one of those things - its great its not a sperm issue :)

@HJen22 Sounds sensible to get your clinic follow up done first and then go from there. You can always do a consultation with GCRM to get info and not take it further (though the consultations are pricey!)

@2mumlife - this is what I said to my OH, I didn't think it would all go so fast (I'm not complaining though)
Was no talk of that? But I'm not sure, I will go through my notes again.. all I have in my booklet is - Northisterone the Menapur & Fyremadel.
I'm so glad I have this chat to keep me sane and ask all the incoming silly questions.

Ok I won't rush to do the ice pack either, I don't need anything to worry me more, I'm going to get my partner to administer my injections too, keep him involved (that and he is less of a woose than I am!)

Cycle day 1 due Friday... never wanted it to arrive so much, everybody keep everything crossed for me ha ha.

How are you doing though? All good?
How is everybody else x

@RMS0209 Northisterone is the tablet version for downregulation / scheduling :) These are the ones I found gave me a bit of the hot flushes. If you're on Northisterone you will avoid Prostap (didn't want to say before but it has the biggest needle of anything I've taken!). Its nice your partner is going to do the injections to - I really wouldn't bother with the ice pack then, then injections honestly really aren't that bad. The only thing I ever even got bruises from was Lubion (a progesterone injection) and you might not need that depending on your FET protocol :)

@2mumlife Thanks. Also not me about to inject Prostap in 2 mins 😂

@2mumlife
I see, that makes sense now. Just a little bit overwhelmed with it all already but trying to make sense of what I can.
I have used the northisterone previously (when I was away on a holiday)
I'm VERY glad to be avoiding the Prostap then (eek sending you luck @Kamiros how did you get on with it?)
Meds all paid for yesterday so now we are just a waiting game.

I've got some information but I'm hoping I get a little bit more come next week, the midwife had a fantastic sheet that basically drew out how things work but it's not in my pack at home and she said she couldn't upload it to my portal... but she did write a rough timeline in my trusted notebook so I have an idea with that. X

@RMS0209 It was fine, it's the 6th time I've given it to myself so I'm ok with it now. It is a massive needle and the clinic say to only put it half way in (it's also used intramuscular for other things) but that's really hard to do I find and it always goes in further. Huge lump and some pain on my leg today but it'll be gone by tomorrow. With my own eggs I took Norethisterone and Prostap but IVF Spain have me on the pill instead. I agree that the ice is more hassle than it's worth. So exciting for you getting going, it's a great feeling after all the waiting.

I have some interesting pills to start next week - steroids and anti rejection stuff. Apparently my immune system is going to be destroyed for a bit so I'm trying to see as many friends and family this week as I can, I think I'll just stay in when I'm on them - if it works it's worth it.

@Kamiros Offt I'm sorry! that's mean making you give it to yourself! Though more dignified than the GCRM nurse telling me to drop my trousers lol It sounds like the Spanish clinic are throwing everything at you that they can to make this one work 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

@RMS0209 To be honest its just a bit of a day at a time as each time you have a monitoring scan they wont be able to confirm your next set of instructions until later that day. It'll all be fine and you soon get a handle on things :)

How is everyone getting on? @Kamiros @RMS0209 @HJen22

Hi! @2mumlife waiting patiently... cycle day 43!! I have been spotting since Friday, AF was due on Sat... still not here very light spotting 🥲
Messaged GCRM they don't seem to concerned yet so we will see.
how are you? X