IVF warriors - the journey continues 2

[Imisscoffee2021]

@Decaffe
@seekingbabyk
@MinBins
@acaciabluebell
@MammyandAva
@Spin101
@1stcycle
@KLM25
@ralno2
@acaciabluebell@Tinkerbell098

Another thread needed ladies! Please tag if I've forgotten someone! :)

Fab news on scan @MinBins ! Sorry you had a grump, I find it quite bizarre when people in that field are grumpy when they just know how mums and dad's are feeling looking at their baby, usually for the first time! I don't mind brisk medical professionalism but grumpy is too far!

I'm moving house this week so been super busy but will catch up on the news on here next week when we're in the new place! X

Thanks @Tinkerbell098 -ah I wonder if it works differently in regions, at the scan she said they couldn't go by original dates (when I told her I was 12 weeks) and upon measuring, said I'm actually 4 days ahead.

I remember the clinic saying same at 7 week scan but they said we won't change dates that's up to dating scan team.

Ah I'm so relieved, the next scan is end of April and I'm referred to a different department (for previous high BP) so they may scan more often if they admit me.

@Imisscoffee2021 ahh enjoy the house move - so exciting! Ah I know she showed me the screen for about ten seconds then moved it away to do checks, then showed me a bit at the end. Just so relieved all is well and now for the next milestone! (Feeling baby kick 😄).

Hi all, so lovely to hear about your scan @MinBins!

I'm recovering nicely I think, I am very tired and still quite sore though. We ventured outside today for the first time but I had to come home after a bit. But that's ok, I know it's still early days.

To my surprise, I got a letter this morning with an appointment for an MRI at the end of the month. I was quite pleased with that, in terms of my surgeon already getting the ball rolling on the next steps. I had to call them to confirm attendance, so did... then the lady on the phone said, "I've just had a cancellation for Monday, can you do Monday at all?" I bit her hand off! So I'm very happy about that indeed.

Awww @1stcycle this nurse sounds like a nightmare I'm sorry you're having a crap time! Glad you got a good result on the bloods though! Have a lovely break and hopefully some r&r will help with the bleeding and cramps!

Great news @MinBins - really glad your scan went well!

Good luck with the move @Imisscoffee2021 - make sure you take it easy too!

That's amazing news @Decaffe - I always have amazing service like this with nhs and wonder what people are talking about when they complain about wait times, etc. I know it varies region to region. Hopefully everything will happen really quickly for you. Do you have to wait the 3 months for the op or could that be sooner?x

Well, it was the consultant who said I’d have to be on these meds for 3-6 months before the op. I googled and it’s to calm the endo down and reduce the bleeding when I’m in the op.

I did see someone on an endo Facebook group get her consultant to agree to taking the meds for just one month. On the flip side I’ve seen quite a few women posting saying they’ve been on them for (literally) years, waiting for their op date to come round. 😳 Now that won’t work for me! I’m 40 and will be chemically infertile while taking the meds. If I start taking them, I need to know the op will be in the near future! I don’t have the time to wait! 😅

I guess I just need to wait to speak with my consultant and see what he says. To be fair to him, I only enquired if I could have a laparoscopy on the 5th(?) Jan, and here we are two months later with it done, a ton of bloods done (that my ivf clinic were going to charge me ££ for), and an MRI booked in.

Yes have a lovely break @1stcycle and happy moving @Imisscoffee2021!

That's amazing they are pushing it through so quickly @Decaffe - I guess he needs the mri to decide best course of action but it sounds like they are doing everything they can for a good result for you 😁

@MinBins glad the scan went well!

@Decaffe good to hear you are recovering well!

@seekingbabyk thanks it’s been a lovely weekend, although I started cramping quite a lot yesterday again and passed two small blood clots. So that got me worried the rest of the day and night. The bleeding stopped in evening and nothing this morning, where it’s been consistent something when I wipe it on a pad since last Saturday. We did go for a long walk so I think I might have just overdone it. But the worry is always there.

I took a Clearblue how many weeks today hoping it would say 3+ and put my mind at ease beings my hcg was 882 on wed I thought it would be over the Clearblue 3+ threshold today. But it still says 2-3. I know blood tests are more concentrated so might take a little longer to show in my urine test.

@1stcycle hope the cramping eases! A long walk might just be putting a strain on things as you'll have relaxin zooming round now relaxing your ligaments and things for a growing womb. I think the threshold for the 3 weeks hcg detection is high and it's not an exact science anyway. Did you clinic say they'd repeat bloods for you? The only way to use hcg as a marker is to take repeat bloods to check for it doubling I think, that's what I ended up doing with this pregnancy from having that bit of spotting and FTM paranoia! Another test might give you peace of mind that the hcg is rising as it should, though after your last experience I wouldn't blame you just waiting for a scan! Hope you have a lovely chilled Sunday :)

@Imisscoffee2021 unfortunately they just said your bloods are good no need for another test and just went off the phone without even asking if the bleeding had stopped. I would have rathered another just to check they are going in the right direction especially as the bleeding has continued. And was a little worrying seeing some clots and the cramps were quite intense too, and they make me feel low because I’m in pain and worrying. But today is the first day I’ve not had anything so far so hopefully it will stay that way and I’m trying to relax a little more about it just telling myself all is ok. If I do bleed more though I’ll give them a ring tomorrow and hopefully we can just check all is ok if not EPU.

How's everything today @1stcycle ?

@seekingbabyk not feeling great to be honest. I had a little bleed again last night with some clots and I feel like the tests are getting slightly lighter. Going to call my clinic when they open I’m trying to be optimistic but just have a feeling it’s stopped progressing. How are things with you?

@1stcycle oh no I'm so sorry to hear that. Maybe you should go straight to EPU rather than the crappy clinic nurse? I really really hope everything is ok for you but I appreciate you are guarding yourself too. It might be worth a trip to a&e so they can rule out ectopic too. When I had mine they did the bloods there and then referred me to EPU instead. Keeping everything crossed for you xxx

@seekingbabyk thanks, I might do that. I’m trying to not overthink it and just be positive just so hard for people like us who have had previous losses and experience in this. what were the symptoms when you had yours if you don’t mind me asking? How far along were you? Xx

@1stcycle I didn't even know I was pregnant. I had a really painful period maybe 2 days late. It was brown blood up until say day 3 which I thought was weird and when I googled I saw ectopic and did a test. It probably isn't that but definitely worth ruling it out and the hospital or doctor will take you seriously as you are early pregnancy with a lot of cramping and bleeding. They said they put me at 5 - 6 weeks to give you an idea. Obviously we're all hoping you just get a great blood result and everything is fine. Just do whatever you need to do for peace of mind xx

@1stcycle so sorry you've had another bleed, hoping your clinic can see you or EPU, like @seekingbabyk says just hoping for a good strong blood result and bleeding just one of those hormonal things for you xxx

@1stcycle so sorry you've had another bleed, hoping your clinic can see you or EPU, like @seekingbabyk says just hoping for a good strong blood result and bleeding just one of those hormonal things for you xxx

@1stcycle sorry to hear that and understand how much it must me impacting you emotionally. I agree about calling EPU, they may be able to set you up with an early scan or another blood test.

What are the tests you are using? When I used non FRERs they basically went up and down in line strength - so wasn't a true indicator of anything.

Hope everything goes okay, and that you're able to get some reassurance.

We got some bad news from our screening tests, which has come back as high risk - 1 in 65.

The nurse told us that our scan was fine and healthy, the fold was 1.4mm - but that a marker in my blood is low but that’s often due to IVF. And that they’ve added my age and my ethnicity to the algorithm and it’s high risk.

We’ve gone and done the Iona test today so waiting on those more accurate results. Just keeping everything crossed. Feeling very unsettled but hoping it's all okay.

Oh @MinBins I'm sorry you have this handling over you. 1/65 is still a very small chance so try to focus on that. How long will you have to wait for the result?

*hanging over you

Thanks @seekingbabyk - I have to wait up to two weeks, the NHS and my IVF clinic did the same Iona scan - and so I went for the NHS one. The lady was really kind and said it could be 7-8 days, and that she'll call me with either news.

@MinBins oh what a stress to have hanging over you :( if there aren't any physical markers it may be just the statistics pushing those odds up. Hope you get those results asap and that it's good news xxx

@MinBins keeping everything crossed for you. Hopefully it won't take too long to get a result!

How are you @1stcycle ?

Thanks @Imisscoffee2021 and @seekingbabyk - I'm trying to stay positive and keep busy till we get the results.

The screening nurse really reassured us - she indicated that the midwives had been a little 'extra' with their scoring.

The scan was normal, no physical markers. However factors such as weight (I've gained the past months 🙈), ethnicity, age has played a factor as well. My ovaries are also swollen from ivf, so that's contributing. Eek will just wait and hope for the best.

@MinBins that sounds reassuring and positive then. I always try to treat things like this with the attitude of until someone says there's something definitely wrong we carry on as normal. Hubby had a cancer scare a few years ago and I feel like we lost 6 weeks of our lives with upset, etc whilst they did tests and scans and it turned out to be nothing. There's definitely a lot of cautious testing and scanning with the NHS which is great and gives us all peace of mind but that bit whilst you are waiting is daunting x