IVF March 2023

[Katie12444]

Wanted to start a group for those who are due to start treatment in March.

Thanks @FieldView and @Stopthatnoisemummy
I feel really confused and a bit panicky to be completely honest 🥺 we had some good news in that they have given OH forms for genetic blood tests and referred him for an ultrasound. Said we would definitely need ICSI. Seemed to be going well....BUT then he said that the guidelines have recently changed and now both partners need to be registered with a local GP for at least a year. OH has only just now registered with my GP - he was in a different area till now for work reasons. The doc said he would put through the paperwork but added they might decline it and say we need to wait a year then go back again 😭 I really don't know if we can wait another year! Or if there's any way of arguing around this issue?? I've been with my GP in this area for several years and the referral was in my name..being told at the point of referral that his GP wasn't going to be an issue.
Honestly if anyone has help on how to get around this or if anyone has been through similar issues would love to hear!

Oh no, that's awful! Are you going through NHS or private? If it's NHS then perhaps you would need to appeal through the care commissioner? I'm afraid I don't have any advice though, sorry!

@FieldView I know we're absolutely gutted. We've been going with the NHS but may now need to rethink things. The doc today said you never know they might accept it but it depends whether they check on the dates he registered with the GP 🤷🏻‍♀️ It's all so hard to get anywhere through this whole process. Really frustrating and disheartening. I've found the policy criteria online and to be fair it's a little vague when it comes to GP...and it also says you can make an application for 'clinical exceptionality' so hoping we can argue it if it does get declined! For now I guess all we can do is wait and see 🤞🏻
Thank you so much for checking in. Hope you are doing ok!

@Magix86 my god, as if this journey is not stressful enough on its own! I really hope they just process it, and hopefully you can just explain your situation! a year waiting for a formal 'issue' seems ridiculous - hope all goes well for you!

@Irisjj I know right?! It's awful. We could spend time waiting for this only to be told in a few months that we aren't eligible...and during that time we could have started privately 😣
What a mess!

@Magix86 what a nightmare. Hope you get started soon either nhs or private. In my experience private is v quick to get going if you do decide that route.

Oh @Magix86 that sounds really frustrating and upsetting. I'm so sorry the appointment was going well and then you got hit with that.

How much is your NHS offering? We were up to three cycles. If it's three then I'd definitely wait and fight it through the NHS. If it's only one try then that would make me more willing to go straight to private. ICSI is really expensive so if you can hold on for NHS I would, you might end up with embryos for a future transfer as well.

Maybe I have little faith in the NHS but I highly doubt they actually pay attention to small criteria like that..... I know a friend who lied about having been trying for 2yrs, when the GP practice themselves had only removed her coil 6months previously...!

Hope you get a solution soon. This process is hard enough without all the nonsense bureaucracy.

@Stopthatnoisemummy thank you. At least we know we could go private and it will be quick if we do 🙂
@MaybeBabyTwo that story about your friend actually gives me a little hope! Thank you. It's confusing because online it says 2 areas are entitled to only 1 cycle and the other area 3...but there was a consultation happening at the end of last year about decreasing all of it to only 1...I can't find any updates though and my area isn't actually detailed in the three they mention! I might email them to ask. I think that's definitely going to help make our decision. We know ICSI will be a lot more expensive so as much as we can get on the NHS the better really....especially if we then get frozen embryos to use. I feel a bit calmer about it all this morning. We will at least wait to see if they accept or not and continue with the next lot of scans and bloods.

@MaybeBabyTwo Actually I just found it - it was reduced from 3 cycles to only 1 😔 but that one cycle includes 1 fresh and 3 frozen transfers.

Hi all. Posting for a bit of a vent!

I’m due to start down regulating next week and already feeling quite drained at the prospect of what the next few weeks will bring. Knowing it’s only a 40% chance of success. This is the only option for us to conceive but it’s a lot to process and I sometimes feel that no one really appreciates what is going on. It is a lonely place to be! I’m really not looking for sympathy. I feel very fortunate that I’m able to start IVF soon - it’s been a long time coming but at the same time, it’s a lot.

Sending love and positivity to you all xx

@Katie12444 Hey!

I can relate to your post! We have been TTC for 5 years and finally started IVF treatment in January 23, had EC end of January and I suffered from OHSS so had to delay transfer. Having FET end of March hopefully.

We haven’t told anyone what’s going on at all due to the low success rates I didn’t want people to know and constantly be asking us how it’s going etc as I knew it would be so frustrating and difficult to deal with if unsuccessful. It feels so lonely and disheartening to be so physically and emotionally involved in something that going into it you know has a low chance of success!

I’m trying to manage the balance of staying positive but not giving myself false hope!

Wishing you all the best 🤞🏻🤞🏻

@MS2692 Thank you so much for your reply. Good to hear it’s not just me feeling it. I’ve told a few people but didn’t want to tell too many as it’s that feeling of being watched as to whether treatment has been successful when the pressure is on enough! I told my boss at work and she kind of read it as though I’m having a baby soon and was really excited for me. I think so many people think ivf is a guarantee when it really isn’t. I wish you all the best with your transfer at the end of March. If you ever need to vent, you’re very welcome to! X

@Katie12444 no problem at all, I completely understand even though it’s a stranger the words can be more comforting than a friends because they can actually relate!

And yes exactly like you said about your Boss assuming it’s a given! For 5 years I’ve heard it all from people “why don’t you have IVF?” And when I explain it’s a low success rate they’re surprised as if it was a given like you said!

It’s funny I spent years planning and obsessing about who I’d tell and what I’d do when I fell pregnant (as if it was a natural given!) and now after 5 yrs we’re finally doing IVF I have been going through the whole process almost slightly numb, every time I start to get hopeful and excited I stop myself and remind myself it’s unlikely but then I worry that if I’m not being positive and “manifesting” then I’m dooming it to fail, it’s an impossible rollercoaster 😂🤦🏼‍♀️

Obviously I want nothing more than for it to work but after 5 yrs of constant hope only to be disappointed it’s very hard. I have been reading these forums for ages and I have so much admiration for the women who are so positive after failed attempts!

I really hope you have success and that all goes well with the down regulating 🤗🤞🏻x

@MS2692 Thank you! I know it’s such a balance, a lot of people say to take each day one by day so will try my best to stick to that! X

@Katie12444 I totally get you! Everyone around is like yeah 100% it will happen and you should be excited to start IVF..

Part of me is, but also scared after 3 miscarriages to go through it again. There are no 100% guarantees in life. I know people mean well but they just don’t get how difficult the road can be.

I hope the downregulating goed well. I just received my meds yesterday and felt a bit anxious with the amount.. I did shots already last year, but this is so much more. Luckily my husband is a trained doctor bc I’m definitely too afraid to inject myself…

Take it step by step. One nice quote I always try to remember: Don’t look up at the storm ahead, watch your feet walking and you’ll get through it ❤️

The waiting is driving me mad!!! Only just over a week to go hopefully.

I had a big wobble yesterday about how much it costs, will we know when to stop trying, I don't think this cycle is going to work, am I being unfair to my daughter (also IVF) by trying again. Feel a bit more robust today but it's hard, isnt it.

Hello, can I join please?

I think I may have grossly underrated getting started - we are going private and have our blood tests next Monday and our nurse/doc consults on 1st/3rd March. I have my AMH tests already from NHS, and I was targeting March period which starts on 20th (give or take). Reading how much you all know, drugs, long protocol etc I feel very unprepared and now I think I'm being naïve that we can start in late March. sigh

TTC 2 years, endo suffer, DH has slight below average morphology. I'm exhausted by it all already and we haven't even started!

Hi all

I am hoping to start a treatment cycle ASAP (female factor - blocked fallopian tubes and stage 3 endometriosis, male factor was all good).

However I am being held up because apparently there is a national shortage of buserelin which I need to use for my trigger because I'm a high risk of OHSS.

Is anyone else facing similar issues?

Thanks!

@Sd183 I know.. I also hoped I could start in January, but they put me on birth control for about a month while running all kinds of tests. Its about the long game now. Hopefully you'll get a clear schedule! But even then.. there are so many steps! I'm nervous for my appointment on the 23rd, I'll hopefully receive my final go to start stimulation meds in beginning of March!

@Irisjj they make it all sound so straight forward and simple don’t they? And then it all comes of the woodwork, usually after you’ve already spent a fortune. I think I’m guilty of underestimating just how hard this whole thing is going to be to be honest 😥

I just wanted to send a candle of solace to you all. All the drugs and waiting and the cost and the set backs, every bit is so difficult!

Today me and dh are going to a spa to chill out. I've started progesterone and it's making me feel sick and v emotional (more than usual!) So trying to take mind off it with different pools of hot water :)

Hi everyone. I start stims tomorrow! 2nd round after a failed one end of last year.
I'm trying a different drug combination this time for quality over quantity....so hopefully it works.

I have done alot more other pre prep this time like reflexology, accupunture, meditation etc so hoping this will all put me mentally in a better place as that's what I found the hardest the first time

Good luck to everyone 🌟

@Katie12444 @MaybeBabyTwo just checking in - how are you feeling?

@greentreeseverywhere good luck! Thats so exciting keep us posted please!!!

I just had my CD21 appointment and lining looks good, everything quiet. Waiting for the results on the ‘culture’ of the lining if there are any bacteria/viruses.

I’m have my next ultrasound on the 3rd of March and start stimulation the same day.

Tomorrow my MRI to make sure there is nothing there. The meds for prolactin levels are giving me terrible headaches though…

@Cookiecrush off topic - but hopefully you enjoyed your sauna day! We also went Tuesday but were shocked by the Saunas in the US (we are from NL) and had to lie on the GROUND in the sauna in the US.. no benches nothing - so weird! Hahaha

@Magix86 did you get some clarity on the whole authorisation paperwork with insurance? Hopefully they can make it happen!!

@Irisjj hey, I’m doing ok. I’m on the drugs for downregulating which seem ok. Should be starting injections beginning/mid March if everything goes well. Hope your mri goes ok. Will be thinking of you!