Newcastle Fertility Clinic - Anyone?

[IVFGotThis05]

Hi

I am just wondering if anyone is currently with Newcastle fertility Clinic for IVF? I think I would just like to hear if someone is having a similar experience to me and how you are finding it :)

Fingers crossed your friend gets her period soon so you can get some dates in.
I think the waiting part is one of the worst things about ivf. I strangely feel more relaxed now I’m actually doing the meds. At least I feel like something is actually moving in the right direction.

@Farmersweeklyreader I bet it will be difficult when you have the animals, a break away in Scotland will be lovely though 😊
How exciting about the egg collection, it's such a crazy journey isn't it, the emotional side is what will eventually catch up with me I think 😢 even if it works, I think it will eventually take its toll.

Fingers crossed for you though that it all works out 😊
I think I'll keel better when I have actual dates to start. We are also waiting for bloods to come back, so hopefully they will be ok too.

Do you mind me asking why you needed the IVF? Was there anything wrong, or was it just not happening naturally?

We have been classed as unexplained fertility. I am 40, husband is 44 and we have been trying for a couple of years. My husbands sperm analysis was above average for his age. I had all the tests the NHS would do, including HSG to check if my tubes were clear. All ok. My AMH is average for my age.
We are generally a healthy couple, we don’t drink or smoke, both slim, good diet, work outside in a physical job, etc
We have tried all the supplements, sperm meets egg plan, sex every other day of the whole month, ferti-lily, legs in the air after dtd (sorry if tmi!) so it’s not for lack of trying 🤣
Its very frustrating when it’s not happening and the doctor can’t find out why. I have often thought about seeing a private doctor to see their opinion but I want to get through our 1 free nhs round first.
I have felt a wee bit more tired than usual this week that I’m putting down to my meds but still feeling fine in general.

How is everybody doing ? What stage are people at ?

I'm due to start down reg (Buserlin) on the 19th Sept.. Finally! So I'm going to give the clinic a call to see if they have actually managed to get any in!

@IVFGotThis05 how you feeling about starting the Buserelin? Must be good to just get some progress! I spoke to them yesterday and they mentioned they still don't have the buserelin injections in but they do have the nasal spray so that is what I'm on now. They might get some in by 19th September though!

We've just had some more bad news yesterday. My donor still can't start stims because her womb lining is too thick and she has cysts on her ovaries 😥So waiting at least another month until we get any progress. They said they will discuss the plan for us during their Thursday meeting as they seem to only be able to make big decisions once a week.

Hi I have been on buserelin for a few weeks now.
I was at the clinic yesterday for my first scan since starting the buserelin. My womb lining is slightly outside the ideal parameters (on the thick side) and I have developed a corpus luteum cyst. They took bloods to check my progesterone & oestrogen. They mentioned that I would probably have to stay on the buserelin for longer before starting menopur.
Had a phone call yesterday afternoon to tell me to go ahead and start the menopur, back for a scan next week to see how that goes.
No idea really what is going on, I did ask questions but the answers I got were a bit vague. I suppose all I can do is hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
Does anyone have any experience of corpus luteum cysts?
Sorry your progress has been delayed again @MitoMam it’s incredibly frustrating
Good luck @IVFGotThis05 fingers crossed they have the buserelin

@MitoMam I feel okay! I think I'm just ready to start again, I was alright with it all last time. I didn't really have any side effects that I noticed which was great! Just might be a little out of practice as my last egg collection was November last year! Oh no ! IVF is already a stressful waiting game ! It must be frustrating for you waiting on someone else too, which is out of your control ! Hopefully it's just another month and you get going ! I get annoyed at the whole "we will discuss you on Thursday" but I have noticed how busy they are during every other day of the week so I get it... Just add it to the wait list !

@Farmersweeklyreader Well at least you have been given the go ahead for stims ! I did see you post about the injections in another thread I think! Is your partner doing the Stims too? I am not looking forward to injecting again...but mostly I hate the progesterone 😫😂I don't have any experience with that sorry !

@IVFGotThis05 yes my husband is doing all my injections for me. For some reason I just can’t stick the needle in myself 🤣
Not looking forward to the progesterone but needs must if we get that far! 🤣

😂It is quite a surreal experience jabbing your tummy !

I have just rang the clinic for an update and they have said they will get my prescription ready to collect next week but it will be the nasal spray ! How you finding that @MitoMam, I might have a look through some threads to see if people have had any problems with it. It must work otherwise they wouldn't use it I guess!

I just wonder when they would have got in touch about my prescription etc had I of not rang ! Oh well at least I know I am definitely going ahead with the planned schedule ! 😊

@Farmersweeklyreader I don't really know much about cysts. The only experience I have had is through my donor, she had cysts when she was on the buserelin and they thought it was a flare up because she didn't agree with it and when she has had cysts recently she hasn't been able to be put on stims as it could interfere with the amount of eggs they can collect. Not sure if they are corpus luteum cysts though??? Hers were quite big too so think that would impact it.

Have you tried injecting your thighs? I prefer that to my stomach.

@IVFGotThis05 the nasal spray is actually fine! I asked why they don't prescribe it all the time and the nurse said it's because some people prefer the injection as you know the right amount has gone into your system. With the nasal spray sometimes you think, 'Has some just dripped out my nose?!' I think in private clinics they tend to prescribe the nasal spray, at least that's what I tend to see on Google! Maybe that's just in America though. One thing I do recommend is just taking the spray with you all the time! You have to do it twice a day (with injections it's only once a day) so I have forgotten to take it with me a couple of times when I have been out during the evening and have had to head home early. Not ideal when you're trying not to think about IVF all the time!

I need a small rant then I will end with some positivity 😂

I had my follow up appointment after last FET in July I think.. which I then got given my schedule for my next cycle in the post not long after .. It says that I am to start down reg (buserlin) injections on 19/09/2022, so last week I thought oh I've not heard anything I better give them a call... "Ahh yeah well we still don't have buserlin injections in so it will be nasal spray but I will get your prescription ready for you to collect whenever you like"

I then called up on monday to say I was struggling to get in, and discussed with a nurse that my partner will come in for prescription! Not a problem!

So today he went to pick it up and it isn't there and no one knew about it to get it ready!?!!?! I know they are super busy but do they not know what patients they have starting a cycle and what to get ready without being prompted TWICE on the phone and then still not getting it ready!? I just feel a little out of the loop with this cycle !

They got it ready anyway, and I am in fact doing the Buserlin injections and not the nasal spray ! I hope their communication gets a little better !

So happy days, I am a few days away from starting my second cycle of ICSI IVF :)

@IVFGotThis05 So glad you have got your meds. Best of luck for your next cycle.
I have had a week of ups and downs too. Went for a scan on Wednesday to see how the cyst/follicles were getting on. I didn’t have many follicles but they were ready to come out earlier than expected.
I was supposed to have egg collection next week but I have been in today, 5 eggs collected 😄 obviously not a huge number but I’m still taking it as a positive as I was fully expecting cycle to be cancelled.
I was very nervous before I went in this morning however I was asleep before they even started 🤣 no pain or anything so far. I was sick all the way home in the car tho 🤪

@IVFGotThis05 glad your message ended on a positive note! Totally agree, it can be quite frustrating when it's such a basic request to get your prescription. Makes me a bit worried about how they can work out IVF if they can't get a prescription right?!?!? Maybe they can do the important stuff so that means the little stuff slips?

@Farmersweeklyreader this is also great news! 5 eggs is great especially if you thought it would be cancelled. Can I ask what day you were supposed to have an egg collection next week? Like what day of stims would you be on? I've heard people are usually on the stims for 10-14 days. What happens next? Are you have a FET? Sorry for the questions, I haven't even got the eggs yet so no idea what happens next!

@MitoMam So I was supposed to have egg collection on Monday, that would have been 13 days after I started stims. When I went for the scan on Wednesday that was on day 8 of stims, I should have had another scan today (going by the original plan) before egg collection on Monday.
The clinic will ring me tomorrow morning with the fertilisation results. If we get some fertilised, they want them to get to day 5 before they will put any back in.
So fingers crossed they fertilise and make it to day 5 then I will have one or two put back in on Wednesday 🤞

Thanks for sharing @Farmersweeklyreader . I hope you've had some positive news this weekend x

@MitoMam 2 of my eggs were mature and they both fertilised. Just have to wait for a call from the clinic tomorrow with an update on how they are getting on. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for good news tomorrow

@Farmersweeklyreader Hope you don’t mind me muscling in here … I just wanted to wish you all the luck in the world with your two embryos. I am due an EC at NFC tomorrow and my situation seems quite similar to yours. I am almost 40, with unexplained infertility (kind of, though only trying for a year and not in the conventional way). I had normal results like you (fairly healthy lifestyle, normal BMI, don’t smoke etc. though I am by no means an angel) and was expected to respond well to drugs. However, on first scan, just three follicles. Second scan was better, as another had appeared and a fifth was catching up 🤞 Wishing you all the luck on your journey. It is a rollercoaster! 😊

@Confused19831983 hello and thank you ☺️
I have had an update this morning and am now booked in to get my embryos put back in on Wednesday.
I hope you too have positive results after your egg collection. I think with the first cycle of IVF it is a learning curve, see how your body responds to the drugs etc. I had actually wondered if the drugs had worked at all as I didn’t really have any side effects from the drugs. I’m on cyclogest (progesterone) now tho and I think it’s making me feel a bit down. Trying to think positive thoughts though 🤞
Best of luck for tomorrow

Ah, that's great news. Wishing you all the best 🤞
If you don't mind me asking, how many follicles did you have at the first scan after stims?
Yes, same here re. drugs. Very few side effects. Just felt a bit tired and spaced out on the nose spray. No bloating or anything on the stims and also worried was not working!
Sorry you are feeling down on the progesterone. I hope it passes quickly.
I guess not long to go now for both of us.
I will feel much better I think once the EC is over. Unless it goes terribly!! 🥴🤞🤞🤞

@Confused19831983 I only had 1 scan before egg collection (should have had 2) They decided at that scan that I needed to trigger that night and get in for EC 2 days later as my eggs were more mature than they expected. They seen 3 follicles on 1 side and the other side I had a cyst so couldn’t see any on that side. I was disappointed with the numbers but they were keen to collect so I just went with it. Ended up with 5 on the day, they also mentioned that the cyst maybe wasn’t a cyst but a dominant follicle?
You will feel much better after EC, I was very anxious before hand. I didn’t sleep a wink the night before. It wasn’t half as bad as I imagined, I felt very well looked after, no pain etc.
Not long to go now. I hope it all works out for you 🤞

@Farmersweeklyreader Thanks so much, this gives me hope and makes me feel a little better. Mine (my follicles that is!) also seem to have developed a bit more quickly than expected though my EC has only been brought forward by one day.
So, we'll see. Feels like a very unpredictable process which you have absolutely no control over.
I am currently soaking my months old and chipped toes in nail varnish remover as per instructions, though thinking the fumes surely more harmful than the actual polish?!
Who knows 🤷‍♀️ I guess best to do as told. Wishing you all the luck for Wednesday🍀🍀🍀🤞

@Confused19831983 Thats exactly how I feel, an unpredictable process that you have no control over.
I think you have to remove your nail polish as it’s actual surgery and they need to see the colour of your nails in their natural state so they can keep an eye on your circulation. Not that I would know what they were keeping an eye on in the theatre as I was asleep 😅

Oh God, I had absolutely no idea, though that makes more sense! They will have trouble seeing the true colour of my toe nails. I ended up taking a kitchen knife to them and they are scratched to absolute bits.

I honestly feel anything could happen at this point. Exciting but scary at the same time.🤞🤞🤞🍀🍀🍀

@Farmersweeklyreader Ahh that's fabulous news ! I hope your good news has continued and your off for your transfer tomorrow !! If all goes well are you hoping to transfer both at once?

@Confused19831983 Also good luck with egg collection !! Fingers crossed for you 😊