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 I was on 300 units of something similar to gonal f, so high stims. My amh was 5pmol a year past August and hasn't been tested since so don't expect it's very much at all now. My clinic don't measure baseline follicles eit

What are you thinking? I've wondered about mild cycles - I don't think anywhere in Scotland does them though? I think because I'm single the thought of travelling for treatment is more off-putting, in that I'd have to do everything for myself if you get what I mean x

@Louscot yeah I was on the highest dose of meds too, I had done done research which states that I can cause damage to the eggs and the quality isn’t as good but with milder that your follicles may not respond to the milder meds. Nightmare to know what to do!

I can imagine travelling wouldn’t be easy doing it yourself, especially overseas. A lady at my work got pregnant first time at 45 through IVF with her own eggs so there is hope!

@LT103 such wonderful news 💕 I'm so glad to hear it all went well, it must have been amazing to hear the heartbeat! Very emotional I'm sure. Will you have another scan at 12 weeks at your local maternity ward now?

@LouScot yes it's create in Manchester. That's great the Dr was optimistic, it really makes a difference doesn't it. I've had some chats with my NHS ones who weren't so optimistic but the Dr at Create was better. Albeit you are paying them haha. Hope is what we need to get through this, keep going ❤️ do you know when your next cycle will be?

Ugh we're trying to sort out our heating, it's been on the last few weeks but the smart meter is so high every day we're trying to figure out how best to lower it!

It's mild stims that they have recommended for us. I was on max dose 300 menopur with NHS. I read a good analogy online about balloons - “blasting your ovaries with high levels can do more harm than good. Think of blowing bubbles - blowing gently can lead to bigger and better bubbles. With mild ivf the approach is the same, keep it light and gentle."

I didn't respond well to max stims so worth a try. We will be doing the 3 cycles back to back with the hope of getting a few embryos 🤞🏻 and then they'd do a transfer after the 3. I am pretty set (right now) that we'd just do the 3 and if it doesn't work then move on to donor. That could change and it's easier to say that right now. I do however hope we get embryos and we'd have a few chances.

@HJen22 so good to get a plan in place. My friend recently did the 3 rounds back to back over in Spain. It’s amazing what they can do to help!

i haven’t stopped crying on and off since yesterday. I need to call gp to book in with midwife now but we’ll pay for a private scan probably around 9/10 weeks just so it’s not so long a wait to make sure everything is fine. Might have a look into that this week too

Morning, hope everyone is doing ok. I have prostap this morning to begin my 4th round - last nhs funded (have self funded one round already) so scary that this is our last round.

@LT103 so lovely to hear some positive news 💕

On for a moan, I am now fighting with Aberdeen fertility clinic about their treatment they are awful made so many mistakes. And to top it all off I am now loosing hair, anyone had this before, went to the hairdresser and a huge clump came out all round the front line like a halo, it’s so depressing literally don’t think I can take another round of this ☹️

Hi @Hastohappe
Sending you a big mumsnet hug

Also hair loss - yes, fell out in clumps I went from long hair past my bra to now not even at my shoulders... it's growing slowly but surely stay strong. X

Thanks for replying @RMS0209 I really appreciate it. Thanks for the hug not usually an overly emotional person but just feeling like total 💩 today I really am 😔

It’s just madness what this does to us us isn’t it, really considering a third cycle just not sure if mentally and physically I can take it x

@Hopewishprayer sending lots of positivity your way for this cycle! How are you feeling? Are you down reg before stims?

@Hastohappe I'm so sorry 😢 sending love and hugs your way! What are Aberdeen saying? How utterly rubbish about your hair too 😭 did the hairdresser recommend anything you could use to stop any more coming out? I haven't had that, but I'm experiencing horrendous skin and spots right now.

Its ok and completely normal to feel how you feel, allow yourself to be sad and don't beat yourself up, sometimes we need those days 💕 hopefully the weekend will bring you some happiness. I totally get you though, I have also had doubts about it I can face another 3 rounds after 2 terrible cycles but the want to try again and not give up quite yet overruled x

@LT103 Oh that's fantastic news, so, so happy for you.
@Hastohappe Big hugs, I'm sorry you're having a rubbish time with it, I also had the hair loss during my first round - nothing since though.
@HJen22 The mild IVF sounds really interesting, fingers crossed for you.

It's crazy what we put ourselves through. I thought moving to donor eggs would be so much less stressful but because of all the immune protocol stuff it really hasn't been - the prednisolone has now made a total mess of my lower legs, they're all bloated with water retention - didn't even know legs could swell like this 😂

@HJen22 @Kamiros thank you so much, everyone is so lovely on here 🤗

It’s honestly such a long draining story with Aberdeen but I’m the process of an official complaint. I might have to get bloods to see if my hormones are ok that could be causing the hair just treatments but it will take ages to grow ☹️

I feel bad moaning when you guys are going through worse than me, it’s just good to talk to others that are going through it. @Kamiros that sounds awful is is painful? x

@HJen22 thank you! When I was in the waiting room it hit me how sick if this process I am , but I grateful that I have another chance. Yes down reg should start stims in about 2.5 weeks x

@Hastohappe i hope you are feeling better , this process is so difficult, so many rubbish side effects but fingers and toes crossed it will all be worth it in the end ! X

@Hopewishprayer thanks lovely, it really is isn’t it. Keeping everything crossed this is your round 🤞🏼x

@Hastohappe Don't think like that, its equally rubbish whatever stage you're at or side effects you're having. It's really nice just not to feel alone with it though isn't it.
It is a little painful some of the time but I've put in a few extra acupuncture sessions which I find are really helping.

@Kamiros I guess it's worth a try, something different. I hope with better results 🤞🏻 sadly who knows though! I'm sorry to hear you're having horrible side effects, that sounds so sore!! Hope it goes down quickly! When do you go back to Spain?

@Hastohappe don't ever feel bad for moaning to us, it doesn't matter where you're at as @Kamiros says, your feelings are valid no matter what. The whole journey is so very difficult and we all get it. It can be such a lonely isolating place too, I feel that a lot even though people know.

@Hopewishprayer it's scary when it hits home right before you're away to start isn't it. I felt overwhelmed in the clinic when I could hear them all talking about embryos and transfers on the phone, brings it all back. Is down reg tablets? I hope you don't have any bad side effects.

Bit random but has anyone read any of the Colleen Hoover books? I began "all your perfects" on holiday before I realised it was about infertility. It wasn't a good holiday read but I recently picked it back up and I'm glad I did. She really nails a lot of the feelings and also it hit home about how our partners could be feeling. It's worth a read if anyone is a reader. My sister is also reading it and I'm hoping she has more of an understanding of how I feel when she finishes!

@HJen22 All going well the end of November. My amazing donor, whoever she is, should be starting stims this week so we should know how many embryos we have in about 2 weeks.

I haven't read any of her books but I'll definitely look into that.

Just popped in to see how everyone is doing.

@LT103 Massive congratulations!!! Try to enjoy the pregnancy and try not to worry. Keeping everything crossed its an easy and cimplication free pregnancy from here on!

@Kamiros Sounds like you have a plan. Try not to worry about the weight, in the grand scheme of things it doesnt matter. Hope you have lots of success with this donor!

@HJen22 Hopefully this 3 cycle package will lead to success for you! Its a long slog but you can do it!

We're settling into life here. Had a cry the other day when clinic sent through annual storage charge for our remaing embryos as really realised what a journey its been. Felt lovely though when clinic messaged to ask the outcome of the pregnancy for records to be able to say everything went ok. Sending you all fairy dust for positive outcomes, as this journey is a long and tough one x

Hope everyone is doing ok 😊 @2mumlife nice to hear your update!

I was wondering if anyone who has been through a medicated frozen transfer could talk me through how you found the timelines. Got my first appointment next week for my Prostap at GRFC and then I have a scan 17 days later. I haven’t been given any other info of appointments so just looking for others experience so I can prepare myself for how long to roughly expect it all to take! Thanks everyone

Cycle day 1 here, FET this cycle... roll on November ❤️

@RMS0209 exciting. Good luck!!!! Not long now

@2mumlife thanks. I still can’t get my head around the fact I’m pregnant! I have another scan booked for next week at 9 1/2 weeks then I have midwife the following week for booking in appt. It’s all getting real!
don’t have too many symptoms. Just a vague nausea and inability to eat a full meal even when I’m hungry. And my boobs feel like they’re on fire. Like if I roll over during the night it’s so bad it wakes me up! Fun!

Thanks @2mumlife. Lovely to hear your update.

So it was Prostap day for me today - excited to be back on it again even if it is another 30 days to go!

Congrats @Kamiros what kind of protocol is it for transfer?

I've just started my first proper period after my cancelled cycle, almost 10 weeks since I took my prostap, I was starting to worry but apparently up to 12 is "normal".

Hope everyone bearing up x

@LouScot Always took me ages to get back to normal after Prostap too and that was my 7th. I know its frustrating though.

So donor is on stims this week and collection should be about the 8th. I'll start estrogen about then to thicken the lining then add in progesterone injections 6 days before transfer along with the steroids and anti rejection stuff. Start the IVIG on the day of transfer. I'm usually lucky with lining, never had an issue so the transfer part should hopefully be straight forward. Just hoping for some good embryos and that the immune treatment works. We're doing 50% with donor sperm too so they're hopeful that we'll get some good ones. Was nervous booking flights etc. though just in case.

Hi all - hope you don’t mind me joining this thread. Didn’t get any response to the one I created :(

I’m a west coast girl living in the east :)

This is my first IVF cycle after ttc for four years. I’m 41 and unfortunately suffered a missed miscarriage in May after a surprise natural pregnancy.

They collected 12 eggs on Thursday, 10 of which fertilised. I then got my day three call to say there were 2 x 7 cell and 1 x 5 cell embryos still going. The later wasn’t looking good though. No idea about the rest. I was too shocked to ask questions. It sounded like such a huge drop off.

Tried not to pin all my hopes on this but I obviously have by the way I’m feeling. Tomorrow is my transfer day and I keep feeling I’m going to get a call saying none survived. I don’t even know if 7 or 5 cell embryos are good.

Any ladies been though similar but have had a positive outcome?

cheers