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!

@Hastohappe It really is a horrible journey. We have no more embryos but are using donor eggs so will at least have a short break while we try and get some more. Hope you feel better soon.

It’s the unknown isn’t it just why it doesn’t work. This was our second round furthest we have came, we have a sever male factor so may have to look at sperm did not but again that’s a whole other mine field.

Your a clinic in Spain I read in your thread, do you find them better than the UK? I’ve been told about one in Barcelona but just don’t know.

@Hastohappe For my issues I've definitely been happier with them. They very quickly found issues with my immune system and progesterone levels. Even though it didn't work this time, I do think it's a good sign that I made it to test day. What I would say is that it's ended up costing twice as much as we thought, we've had to do fresh fertilisation as the quality of sperm dropped significantly when frozen so thats meant two trips out for each round. They've done a lot of testing which is fantastic, but again more money. Going abroad does add an extra layer of challenge, we are running out of annual leave now, but between the more thorough testing and the quick access to donor eggs it was the right choice for us.

@Kamiros thank you so much for taking the time to msg me so nice to talk to people who get it.

Do you mind if I ask the clinic name, you can PM if that’s easier.

We can’t decide between going abroad or sticking with the UK, the UK seems easier but doesn’t mean that’s what we should go with.

I really hope we both get our little miracles, the it only takes one which a few people keep saying is wearing a little thin on me I know it’s meant well but this journey is so emotional as it is.

@Hastohappe It's IVF Spain in Alicante. Happy to answer any questions. I'm trying to keep hoping that if we just keep going eventually it'll happen.

Thanks @Kamiros will have a good look at the website. I know what you mean, I feel after 2 rounds it’s a lot but I know you’ve been through a lot more and so have others, just wish we got our happy ending ❤️

@Kamiros I’m so sorry to hear your update, that’s so disappointing but good to hear that your clinic seems to be spotting/looking at the right things, I hope you hear from them soon after their review xx

@Hastohappe infertility sucks doesn’t it 😢 we were thinking about looking at clinics abroad as well if we use up our NHS cycles. There are just so many though I found it quite overwhelming so thought I’d stick with UK to start with! There also seems to be quite a few Facebook groups about clinics abroad which I joined and have quite a lot of info incase you are interested

i’ve just got back from holiday and hoping I can speak withy clinic on Monday (for some reason I couldn’t get through to their number at all while away). We have one embryo frozen which would like to arrange a transfer but not sure how long we have to wait before doing this? What has everyone else’s experience been?

I’ve finally started bleeding at 14 days late and it’s super heavy, wasn’t quite expecting that at being so early on. I’m glad it at least doesn’t prolong things any longer!

@RMS0209 Has your bleed come yet?

@Hastohappe Sorry to hear your test was negative. Its normal for clinics to say to test on OTD even if you've had bleeding - I had to do this on more occasions than not. Also, your body is recovering, which is why you'll be experiencing a variety of symptoms, but if you're worried call your clinic for reassurance.

@Ellenn You usually need to have your withdrawal bleed (a bleed at the end of the cycle that failed) and then wait another full cycle - so bleed again which they will then consider a proper period before you can go ahead with next transfer. That will also depend on waiting times though - when GCRM got really busy we had periods when they wouldn't offer transfer that fast and were made to wait another cycle due to high demand. If its your first frozen embryo transfer there is another set of forms to fill in different from your egg collection/fresh transfer forms, which can slow things down as well if you need to wait for another consent appointment (which have to be done very 3 months if at GCRM if I remember correctly!)

Thanks @2mumlife appreciate your feedback, how are you feeling? You must be getting super excited.

so nice of you to come back on the forums and offer people advice, it’s nice to hear success stories

@2mumlife hello! thanks for checking in 🙂 my bleed started 1st Sep... so injections started 2nd Sep, just on the Menopur at the moment, adding in the Fyremadel tomorrow AM. feels great to finally have the ball rolling.
How is everybody? How are you @2mumlife

The injections are nippy... nippy but bearable, I think tonight's was maybe the most uncomfortable... keep telling myself all for the greater good 🙂🤞🏻 x

Morning,

Anyone had or having treatment at AFC?

@Hastohappe These forums were great support to me, and there are others I want to still root for and see happy endings :) Honestly though, the end of pregnancy is not exciting - I'm feeling acutely aware at the moment that still births do happen and things could still go wrong. I think being off work now and the waiting around doesn't help as too much time to allow anxieties to creep in.

@RMS0209 Glad AF finally came and you're well on your stim journey. When is your first progress scan to check follicule growth?

@2mumlife ohh, I totally understand the worry, I'd be the same, but statistically and rationally you'll be taking a healthy wee baby home soon xx

@Hastohappe i had a failed transfer very recently and had exact symptoms you describe, I think our bodies have just been through so much it’s no wonder your feeling rubbish, take it easy and hopefully your symptoms will pass soon, mine certainly did. I started back with some workouts last week and that’s helping my mood for sure!

we will be using last nhs round hooefully oct/Nov but already my mind is swimming with what ifs and I would like to start investing clinics in Spain but it’s so overwhelming I’ve no idea where to start!

@Hopewishprayer it’s awful isn’t it, I just don’t know what to do now, I’m in total limbo, my mind is done thinking about it.

We don’t have another NHS cycle, so not sure about paying, it’s just such a thought, you spend so much money to not know an outcome but then you are going to have regrets if you don’t try!

@Hastohappe I totally understand the limbo feeling, I have been trying to find things to keep my mind busy last few weeks, it is really difficult though.
it is such an unknown, our first round was self funded while on nhs waiting list and DH also needed SSR so cost a small fortune and in the end we had nothing to transfer. Perhaps try give yourself some time to process and hopefully you will be clearer on your path, try to do something nice like a spa day or a girlie lunch, treat yourself x

Thanks @Hopewishprayer so nice of you, yeah chilling doing something nice sounds good.

Wish we all got what we wanted, this journey is a tough one x

@LouScot Yes I keep having to tell myself everything seems good. Just keeping a closer eye at the moment on baby movements each day for reassurance as well.

@Hastohappe If it helps we weren't eligible for any NHS funding as a same sex couple, as you have to pay for 6 rounds of IUI and/or IVF first. It is an expensive prospect, and we paid far more than we had anticipated - we were hopeful a few rounds of IUI would work (it didn't) and ended up needing 2 egg collections. We knew we'd need help though, so had put down a smaller deposit on house, and I worked extra to bring in more income to pay for the treatment. We've been lucky that we've managed it without taking on any debt, and we're middle-income household, so it is possible x

@Hastohappe Might be worth looking at Access Fertility packages - we did a 2 egg collection package with them, and that helped with costs as we were then only paying out for medication on a regular basis when we moved to IVF

@2mumlife its a disgrace that same sex couples don’t get the same treatment, how they get away with that kind of discrimination is against me!

Thanks for the info, I did look into access, is it the Glasgow clinic you used? The packages are an idea, I dunno I’m at the point where I think maybe at my age I should bother and it’s just not meant for me and the hint, it’s hard not to be a little negative after 2 rounds but I am happy that this round we had a wee embryo to transfer, it is on the other hand though like loosing a baby.

Little update on our IVF journey.

Had our consult today to discuss protocol and a massive curveball threw us for the remainder of the appointment. We had prepped questions and didn't ask them all as were a bit thrown about the below but were told to email it anything came into our heads.

My AMH has dropped from 7.1 to 1.9 in 18 months.

We will be on the flare protocol for November 🩸. To keep trying naturally in the meantime which has raised a question as anything we've read tonight talks about being on BC the cycle prior 🤨

Not gonna lie it's fried my brain tonight as trying to work out what time off I need from work (deliberately been saving leave) and when as there are 3 variables in play and it depends on when my a minimum of 2 follicles develop to 18mm 🤯 which could be day 8,12 or 12.

@Hastohappe It is changing now, but only in England and Wales as far as I can tell. Its a tough one as I also think asking heterosexual couples to try for 2 years before receiving help is too long. Yeah we used GCRM and the glasgow clinic. I guess take some time to collect inform and see x

@mrsmacmc I'm sorry you've been hit with a bit of a curve ball - I had my AMH retested and it changed as well (though upwards). To be honest I don't put a lot of emphasis on AMH, as I had a rubbish response to stims, and after our first egg collection they wanted to put me on a flare protocol too despite a normal AMH for age. It was only when I got retested and it went up that they decided my risk of OHSS was (on paper) too high to do it. We still changed protocol and got a better response the second time around, so here is keeping everything crossed that the flare protocol works well for you x

@2mumlife thank you it's really appreciated to hear what happened with you. ❤️

@Kamiros sorry to hear your results

Things have happened quicker than I thought here and I have my second FET booked for this Saturday. Typical as we have a wedding that day but will just need to arrive late 🤦🏻‍♀️
not sure how I’m feeling about this wine. Def more anxious than my last