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 Welcome. Sorry, I've been having treatment in Spain for the last year so I'm not up to date with timelines and stuff now - I'm sure someone will be able to help though.

I'm very impatiently awaiting my beta results now. Supposed to be working but pretty much just staring at the phone waiting for it to ring. I've waited 14 whole days without testing but this couple of hours is hell!!

Well another BFN here I'm afraid. 7 rounds, 5 transfers and not one positive. We have 2 rounds to go paid for but nothing in the freezer. Really just fed up now.

I'm really sorry to hear that Karimos, I had read through the previous threads and was thinking about you. Thanks for your reply for my part. I hope your able to gather your strength again after giving some time to what's happening now.

Oh I'm so sorry.

*Kamiros, apologies

Thank you. We'll be ok, we're sort of used to it now. We are just debating whether we can afford a holiday before going again. Honestly not really but it's only money eh. I'm very annoyed at GCRM today who are not my main clinic any more but do my bloods and scans. They haven't even called, just put my results on the portal for me to see and left me to it.

Hmm I had to google GCRM. I notice included in their tagline is "support every step of the way". Doesn't sound much like it. Hope you both find support in other places.

@Nosejug When I was being treated there they were great but now I just pay as I go for scans and stuff they couldn't care less. I think that was a horrible way to tell someone their cycle failed. Luckily the Spanish clinic have been great today.

I'm so sorry @Kamiros .

@Kamiros I'm so sorry. You've had such a tough road, and yes, that's a horrible way to let someone find out their results.

I think a break would be great for you if your budget and annual leave can stretch.

Thanks @Scirocco and @LouScot. We're going to see what Spain say about next steps, could be a while as we've no embryos left. If that's the case I think we'll try and get away again. Currently eating takeaway pizza and eyeing up the easter eggs i haven't eaten yet.

I'm so sorry @Kamiros , it's so hard. Have Spain done tests such as EMMA/ALICE etc? I've heard of those being mentioned on some of these groups. A friend who went to Spain needed a very specific treatment plan tailored to her after some transfers that didn't work, she was double donor.

@Nosejug are you being seen in Glasgow or Ayrshire? I was saw at my local hospital first before then being referred to Glasgow. They gave me an ultrasound and bloods and done a repeat sperm analysis on DH, bloods and an ultrasound for him too. He had a low sperm count, then we were referred to Glasgow for treatment because we needed ICSI.

@itsmschanandlerbong Yes we've had all those tests, thats where our latest plan came from but maybe not enough. I think double donor will be the next step- we're ok with that.

@itsmschanandlerbong As far as I’ve been told, Ayr. We have a phone consultation with crosshouse infertility folk which we were hoping would get the ball finally rolling after many delaying fumbles by our new gp surgery. Sounds like there’s quite a bit to do before we actually get started though. were you able to do those extra tests all at once or did it get dragged out for a few months? I’d hoped reaching top of the list meant beginning treatment…I just wish I was a few years younger or I wouldn’t be stressing. By the end of the year my chances plummet :(

@Kamiros pizza and chocolate eggs sounds like a very good plan.

@Nosejug it took a couple of months, tests first, and with the sperm analysis they always repeat that one. Then consultation with the doctor at that clinic, to tell us they don't offer ICSI and we then got referred to Glasgow.

@itsmschanandlerbong many thanks for your reply. So great to have an idea of what's next.

Hi, I don’t normally post but just wanted to give an idea of timescales as I’m Ayrshire too.
Is this your first appointment with the fertility clinic at crosshouse? I was referred by my GP to the fertility clinic in March 2022, at the time the wait time for an appointment was around 3 months. We had a phone appointment with the clinic in July where we discussed things like- which tests had already been done by the GP, how long we had been trying etc. I then had some bloods, a scan and my husband had a second semen analysis. This took around 3 months to get all the tests done. We then had a second phone appointment in October where we were told we would need IVF with ICSI. Crosshouse don’t do IVF so we were put on the waiting list for GRI in October.
We had our first phone appointment with GRI in March where we were told our referral would be backdated to October and that the waiting list for first appointment at GRI was around 9 months long so to expect our first face to face appointment in July. It will then be 2-3 months from then before starting treatment.
So in total, from being referred by the GP to starting treatment will be around 18 months. From first fertility appointment at crosshouse fertility clinic to first face to face appointment at GRI will be 1 year, then treatment should start in 2-3 months as long as there are no further tests or anything needing updated. Hope that helps you 😊

@Kamiros so sorry to hear this. I would def say yes to all the pizza, chocolate and a holiday. You deserve it!

@Nosejug I forgot to tag you in my reply yesterday so just tagging you now in case you didn’t see it.

Thankyou @Hollyrocket for the full lowdown. I must say, I'm a bit gutted to hear it might be years rather than months. I am really hoping that our situation will be different considering my age (37) and DHs consistent poor morphology in 2 tests (been trying for 2 years). From what I've googled, crosshouse say they do ICSI, but that info is not directly off their website so I'm assuming its not changed. I'll probably loose it if we're put on another waiting list at Glasgow after all this time. Our GP surgery here messed us around for 4 months, and that was after already having an urgent referral where we used to live, but moving house and being kicked off our old GP's books, beginning the process again. It's just overwhelming having no control, and at the moment not something we can self fund.

My mum trying to be helpful told me radio Scotland was interviewing a Dr from Glasgow fertility clinic, and he just guilted me out for being old, and filled me with woe for my dwindling chances. Wish it was understood that it's not always a choice! Sorry for negativity, just a little blue.

@Nosejug Oh I’m sorry you’re feeling rubbish.
If you have had two semen analyses recently then you might not have to have those repeated by crosshouse so that could cut down the time spent getting the tests done. Once you have all tests completed you will be added to the list at GRI.
I have been told the waiting list is the same for everyone regardless of age but this is something you could ask about at your appointment next week.
I’ll have a look at my letter for you later as I’m sure it gives information about the age criteria.
Crosshouse don’t do ICSI or IVF at all, they do IUI. It would depend on your situation but I think if the issue is male factor you wouldn’t be offered this and will go on the list for ICSI.
Don’t be sorry, it’s really tough. Feel free to pm if you need a friendly ear.

@Nosejug i too was worried about my age being 39 when we started the process and 40 by time I had egg collection. We were very fortunate with number of eggs we got. One bit of advice I had was to take ubiquinol for 3 months prior to egg collection as it is supposed to help with egg quality especially as you get older. Not sure if it helped or not but maybe worth reading up on.

Many thanks @Hollyrocket and @LT103. I guess I'll see what they say Monday. I'm just in shock having thought after all this waiting that treatment would be in a few months. It's. About a year since we started this ivf journey. Just so rubbish how long it takes, and then they say we're finally being seen and it's another year. I'm just gutted. Thanks so much for your helpful and kind words.

@Nosejug its the hardest part. We started our journey in November 2020 I think with tests at gp etc. we made decision to go for ivf summer of 2021 and opted to go down the private route. Even then we had our consultant appointment in October and didn’t have egg collection til March 2022. Then had another 3 month wait before we could do our first transfer as we weren’t allowed a fresh.
the whole thing is a giant waiting game and it’s hard! Especially when in your head you are mentally ready to just go ahead with everything!! You will get there!!