IVF Scotland - thread 5

[itsmschanandlerbong]

Hello, made a new thread for us Scots going through IVF, thread 5. Hoping this is the best thread yet for dreams coming true ❤️

@Nosejug sorry, I’m slow to respond. I’m so sorry to hear what you are going through. Im sorry to say I don't know much about the treatment you are going through so had read up on google what it was. It sounds incredibly hard, I really hope you are taking care.
Yes I agree the holidays are so hard, it can be exhausting when you are trying to avoid triggers. Im sorry you are experiencing this too. I love seeing children in my family and when I see them Im so happy but after they leave the sadness sets in. I’ve had close friend who is going through the same and sometimes it catches you of guard. For example we both have had separate experiences at work when someone is showing off their new born on video call. My husband said to me it’s quite insensitive that they do that. But I agree that many just don’t know or understand till they suffer themselves. I’ve had so many questions of when am I having kids because I just got married in May. It gets more painful each time.

i was feeling a little more myself over the past couple of weeks and my energy increased a lot and went in to the office. But after ovulating my hormones dip a lot and I’m back to a despairing. I spoke to my GP about it and she was super dismissive and said it’s happens to most women. She said all she could provide is SSRIs but I don’t want them while doing IVF/ttc.

Hey, a wee question I wonder can anyone help with?
I've had one fresh and one frozen round, both failed to implant. I've two frosties left but wonder more and more if I have a lining/microbiome issue. Partly because every other test so far has come back fine (so, unexplained infertility at this stage) and also because I'm dead prone to recurring thrush and irritation (joys!). I'm accessing Aberdeen NHS clinic and wondering if they will offer further investigations if embryos continue to fail to implant? I know in England they do ERA/EMMA test but not sure do these get done in Scotland? Anyone have any experience of this?

@TheMelon sorry I don’t have any info about these tests, hopefully someone here will have though!

I was wondering if anyone was with Ninewells and if you know if they completely shut between Christmas and new year? I’m suppose to be having transfer on next cycle but might end up timing when they are shut 😢

Hello all. Just getting a chance to catch up on the thread it's been a while! We've just bought a house and so are about to move - very busy trying to prepare prexmas.

I juat wrote a longgggg message and pressed back page by accident ant lost it all. Ffs.

@Nosejug you are welcome. Happy to chat all things donor anytime. Have you heard on radio there had been a big push in adverts for donor eggs so hopefully that helps waiting lists.

@Kitty12345678 my BP is rising reading your post about counsellor. Wtf. I'm so sorry you've had such a shit experience. I work in the field and it frustrates me hearing stories like this. The one that told you that are they an actual qualified counsellor?? And a member of a membership body? Because that's wild. Even if you had been trying naturally for 2 months then that's still not a helpful reply. I think you are GRI? I've been there and know there are 2 counsellors so you could maybe email the other one depending which one you've seen?

I wanted to share some news with you guys. We recieved a phone call to say we are at top of donor egg list 💖I can't beleive it. It was meant to be a 2 Yr wait and it has been 6 months. It doesn't seem real. We were all set to go to England for shorter wait times. It feels like a Christmas wish come true.

Realise I've lumped the bit about the 2 different counsellors together in my reply to @Kitty12345678. My "are they registered properly" comment is about the one who told you to relax.

The GRI ones are both def properly qualified to be working in NHS. But obviously that doesn't mean everyone will click/find a specific person helpful etc.

You could search BACP website if struggling to find someone.

@IVFlife oh wowww! That is a wonderful Christmas present. It's such an altruistic thing that it feels very fitting. Good to hear about the adverts too!

I got good news too (my ongoing related issues) that there was no cancer after my lletz and the consultant is happy for us to go ahead with nhs icsi. We had an ART and will find out protocols in January. As that is very unlikely to even go to transfer stage, your news about donor eggs is particularly joyful to hear.

Turns out the doctor accidentally cut an artery on my cervix which although he closed at the time two weeks later suddenly burst. Im still recovering physically and mentally (absolute horror) but feeling positive finally. Just a niggling worry the artery was important to my ovaries as I've had a stabbing pain on one side ever since.

@TheMelon I've thought about trying to find someone to test this for me ever since I heard a long discussion about it on the radio. I'm under the impression it's not very costly and while I'm waiting about it would be good to cross off the list. Apparently a man's biome is important too. I don't know how much of it is properly researched, but it makes a basic sense. There can be benign bacterial infections that cause the sperm's dna to deteriorate (according to this show). They also said low amh but regular periods might mean superior quality eggs. Again, I question the validity of this but absolutely loved hearing it no matter.

Hi all

we are due to being IVF in the new year - we have our last meeting mid Jan so hopefully we’ll be in the cycle following or one after that.

just wondering if anyone has any advice on what they’ve been doing that they feel has been helpful?

also wondering if anyone has acupuncture recommendations around the Glasgow / Lanarkshire area?

thank you

@IVFlife I’m so happy to hear you are
at the top of list for a donor! Im so glad it
was quicker than expected for you. xxx Hope all goes well for you. I’m going to have a look a new counsellor in the new year. The GRI one didn’t feel right for me.

@Sabrinafive thats great you are starting IVF soon. Is this your first cycle? I would just recommend self care and eat well and try to cut out sodas and alcohol.switch for water and herbal teas. Do yoga and light exercises. I’ve never did acupuncture but heard good things about it.

@Nosejug im so happy that it all came back clear for you. The bleeding sounds scary but glad they found out the cause.

@TheMelon Do what feels right for you if you want to get tested. Did you have your embryos tested? I’ve never had that done but the last two I’ve had transferred have not worked but I had one before that implant but mc at 9weeks. I’m never sure if it’s just luck or and it’s a uterus problem either.

I have an update. I got a slot to transfer my last embryo this month with an unmediated transfer at GRI. It will likely fall the week before Christmas. It really isn’t the best time but at least if it doesn’t work I can then move on and make plans for next year.

@Kitty12345678 hope you find someone you click with and is helpful.

I've got GRI phone appt tomo and then also GCRM phone appt. You couldn't make it up them both being on same day!! Feel very anxious about GRI one.

Has anyone on here had egg donation at GCRM. We are deciding what package to pay for and are leaving towards the top one because of the huge diff in numbers of embryos and it works out cheaper than having to do package 1 twice over. Anyone know of it takes longer to get a match on package 3 though? Aware this is a very niche question. Will find out tomorrow but thought would ask for experiences too. :)

What folic acid does everyone take? I have 5mg prescribed on advice of gcrm. They have now said to take the usual lower dose and I have supermarket stuff but it's nearly empty and wondering if anyone knows a higher quality one that's diff? Or are they all much of a muchness.

Hope everyone has a good week ahead.

Hi @IVFlife I hope your appointments went well. Whenever I've looked into packages I start to get panicked at the embryo counting stage, it just makes me feel weird. Whenever we inevitable get to that stage I'll need some help!I hope you were able to make your decision and feel comfortable with it.

Folic acid wise, I just go for the boots one. When there's a deal on it works out an ok price, and it's with vitamin D. I just like it coming from an own-brand pharmacy.

Hi @Kitty12345678 , yep our first one - really nervous but just ready to begin now. Thank you for the advice! Really appreciate it. I’ve heard good things about acupuncture so hoping to find a recommendation soon so able to begin before we start!

hope everyone has a really good Christmas - praying next year we all have a little one to enjoy it with x

Hi everyone - could I ask what strength of VitD you take? Our consultant has recommended me begin taking this but unsure on the dose to be taking. TIA x

@Sabrinafive i take 1000ui vitamin D from Tesco. Seems to work well and definitely improved my moods.
@IVFlife i take folic acid as part of multivitamin conceive plus 400mcg is the dose.

I started doing acupuncture with Eleanor Davies, she is really good and I feel my circulation has been a lot better recently. I’ve only been for 2 sessions and trying my third today. I had my natural embryo transfer on Sunday at the GRI. Everything went okay and they said the embryo made go progress expanding after being defrosted. It’s definitely isn’t a very good time to do this, as I’ll likely find out just after Christmas if it worked or not. I’m hoping for Christmas miracle but honestly I’m just done with getting my hopes up as, this is my 5th embryo transfer in a year and only one worked ending mc. I’m just wanting to move
onto another round in the hope that uping my dose of DHEA and vitamin intake might improve my outcome next time.

Hope everyone is okay this holiday season as I know it can be such a difficult time for everyone. Xxx

Hi @Kitty12345678 thank you so much for the info - I’ll look into her. Can I ask how
you worked your appointments did you go in day of transfer or space them out?

all my fingers are crossed for you, please keep us updated and if it’s not a successful transfer then I hope the new year brings you what this year hasn’t x

Checking in post Christmas chaos! In the middle of pretreatment just now with aim of real treatment starting early January and then another trip to IB Alicante for transfer (if everything goes well). Anyone else doing DE transfer in January? x

@Eiremogra I have hopefully got a FET towards the end of January 🤞🤞🤞 really excited! Seems like such a long time between transfers but Christmas/new year always helps to speed things up!

Hello everyone. Hope your Christmases were all good. It can be a tricky time of year. We had a nice relaxed one in the midst of a crazy house move. But at least I'm not worrying about IVF if I am knee deep in boxes.

Thanks for all advice re folic acid. I phoned clinic and they told me to stay on 5mg. So I've stuck with my prescribed dose. @Sabrinafive Vit d wise I can't remember how it is measured but I'm sure my clinic said 10. I take the high strength vitabiotics one though.

@Eiremogra I am doing DE transfer hopefully early on in year but think Jan might be a bit too soon. I'll find out next week and let you know. How are you feeling about yours?

We have treatment planning appt on 3rd. I remember from own egg cycle everything went v fast after that. Wondering if same for DE? Does anyone know WHEN they actually make the embryos for DE ivf?? I'm so excited to have embabies 🤞

I'm a bit worried about my weight. With house move stress. Being ill and other things I've sort of just eaten crap. And I feel v bad and guilty. It's almost like I'm sabotaged this. V odd. I'm back on the 10k steps a day wagon and am eating fairly sensibly. (At least 5 fruit and veg a day. Trying not to scoff everything in sight) any one else been struggling?

Hi @IVFlife, I’m feeling exhausted if I’m honest. The process has been soooo much slower than we have originally planned for. It’s not the clinics fault tbh,they are very thorough and I’ve had to have (unexpected) 2 x hysteroscopic myomectomy along the way. I’m ready to just ‘get on with it’! Finished our 3rd (!) mock cycle tomorrow and then as soon as AF arrives it’ll be straight into the REAL treatment cycle. It feels surreal tbh…lots of delays and tears and flights (including missed flights) and we’re finally here. I’ve given up asking about the finer details, all the stuff I used to be so fixated on …I just want to get on with it now. About the diet…massive fail! We have one last ‘horay’ this weekend for DP bday and then it’s a strict exercise and health kick. Let me know when you get word of your treatment/transfer dates!! Xx

Happy New Year!! 🥳 . Hope you all are doing okay and this year is better for everyone xxx

We did the FET before Christmas at the GRI. I was so sure it hadn’t worked and spent Christmas and Boxing Day feeling pretty emotional. I decided to wait till today to test, with it being a new year. I tested positive this morning!! 🥰 Honestly wasn’t expecting, as I had what felt like period pain on Boxing Day but must have been implantation.
I’m extremely nervous, as I had the mc last year but 🤞🏻it works out this time.

@Sabrinafive would definitely recommend Eleanor Davies as I only did 3 sessions with her. Two before and one two days after transfer. I think it really helped my blood flow and kept me relaxed. She usually recommends doing a couple of months in advance though. I was a bit late seeing her. She is also good at advice on diet and supplements. Seems like she has been doing this for years.

@Eiremogra good luck with your transfer in Jan 🤞🏻

@Kitty12345678 massive congratulations!!! What an amazing start to the new year and lovely news 🥰 do you know when your first scan is yet?

I was wondering if anyone had taken baby aspirin before/had any experience or been given any advice for its use before transfer and early stages afterwards?

Oh @Kitty12345678 massive congratulations!! What an amazing start to your year 💕 please keep us updated on how you’re doing - would be lovely to hear how you’re getting on!

I did actually have an initial appointment with ED over the Xmas break with the thought of just having a few around the time of collection/transfer but she did actually say not to bother if that’s all we’d be looking at (appreciate the honestly!) and would need to be weekly, bi weekly at very least to get the benefit… I’m not sure whether trying to get there alongside the cost, juggling work and IVF appointments is going to be more stressful so I’m feeling a bit conflicted on what to do 🤯 I’m worried I’ll be wondering if that was what would have given me a positive if this cycle fails however similarly don’t want to stress myself out trying to juggle during my first ivf experience!!

hope everyone had a lovely winter break - 2024 is our year!!

@Kitty12345678 omg I'm so happy for you. Congratulations xxx

We have our treatment planning appointment tomorrow. I have a sinusy cold thing so that's not great. Hoping a good night's sleep sends it on its way.

Hi there 😊 after an ectopic pregnancy I’ve been told my only options are IVF. I had an appointment with my GP to be referred to an infertility specialist for IVF but the GP told me I’d need to wait 2 cycles at least for my hormones to regulate before they do some blood tests and refer me. Does this sound right? Surely after being given a clear prognosis from the surgeon I could bypass this and be put on the wait list and get these done whilst I am waiting? I am also wondering if any other Edinburgh based people have recently been added to the wait list for if anyone has any insight on how long I can expect to wait for IVF through the NHS? (I satisfy all criteria so expect to be approved fingers crossed). I have heard that this is up to 2 years?

I know this is a very personal question, but from your experience would you advise I go private to avoid this wait? This is something I luckily can afford if need be however I am definitely not well off. I am 28 now (29 in May).

Thanks for any guidance you can give!

@at2011 I'm at Edinburgh. Added to the NHS waiting list in April and got the call to say I'd reached the top of the list in November, and now due to start treatment this month. This was quicker than expected as was told 11-12 months.

All getting quite real now! I'd held off on joining any threads as it all seemed so far away but now feeling within touching distance! 😮

@1stTimeIVFer That’s incredible, thanks! Definitely has given me some hope that my GP may have been over estimating the wait. All the best with your treatment! Do you mind me asking how much contact the NHS had with you prior to the call you received in November? Were you required to attend any other appointments? I am contemplating doing some traveling after I am referred so considering if this would be feasible.