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 ❤️

@Ellenn Do you mind me asking how far along you have got before? Does this time feel different for you / more symptoms?

@2mumlife thanks for the tips! Definitely just trying to work out how to deal with it all 🙈 I seem to also be waking up at 4am I’m unsure if I’m waking up cause I feel sick or if I’ve just got into an annoying routine but find it so hard to get back to sleep! Have you had any issues sleeping?

my other transfers I got to 5 wks/6wks/7wks and did manage to see a heartbeat in the 6wk one but I lost it the day of the scan unfortunately. I’ve been nauseous for all of them but I think this time it seems a bit more intense earlier on? I’m hoping this is a good sign. I also have a higher first beta which I’m hoping is better news this time. Super nervous for the first scan though, just worried there won’t be a heartbeat/nothing there and it’s back to another transfer 😢 it’s such a horrible process. Trying hard not to get too excited as we are still so early on atm

@Ellenn I've been getting back to sleep fine once little one is back asleep - just a shame she keeps waking me up! That must have been absolutely heartbreaking to see a heartbeat and then have a loss. I'm so sorry you experienced that. It sounds good that beta is higher and more nausea, hopefully this is it for you, you've been through so much

@Ellenn remind me what your first Beta was? I haven’t had any nausea but ohhh the indigestion!! Honestly feels like I’m having a heart attack! My sleep has been rubbish (hence the super late message on this thread last night) and my boobs are really sore. Waking up at 1-2am…and staying awake.
Im so sorry to hear of your previous transfers,absolutely heart breaking. You’re so resilient..what an impossibly difficult this journey is.xxx

@Eiremogra Sorry to hear you're experiencing the indigestion! Have you tried taking OTC esomeprazole? I found it really useful for heartburn. My breasts were really sore with DD but been lucky not to experience that this time. Hope the insomnia passes for you too! Great you're avoiding feeling nauseous though!

@Eiremograthanks ❤️ have you had many transfers? The whole process is so draining and horrible! Wouldn’t wish it upon anyone

yes that’s exactly me but I seem to be waking up at 4am 😴 I feel absolutely exhausted this week! My first one was 233 and I think usually early/first ones they like above 100? I’m not sure lots of places say different things! When do you think you will get your result back from medichecks? I’ve vowed not to do anymore lol 🙈

I couldn’t help it @Ellenn …I feel in total limbo tbh. Needing constant reassurance….just did the finger prick test this time so hoping it doesn’t take an age like last time! c

@Eiremogra i did two medichecks test as well to make sure levels were going up for reassurance!! Now not sure what to do apart from trying to chill out and not think about it 🫣

I hope it’s speedy in getting results back for you this time 🤞 was your clinic happy with your first results, do they like over a certain level?

To be honest they didn’t mention anything about the levels. They just emailed back full of congratulations and ‘this is great news’….meanwhile I was and am a nervous wreck! 😂 They just asked for me to forward the scan results to them so they can review my medications. Maybe I should ask them about expectant levels? I think part of the ‘limbo’ is everything was so intense and so scrutinised for months and months..years! I lived every day by a timetable of scans and bloods and meds…and then repeat..and now it’s stopped I feel very odd. x

@Eiremogra i think there is a huge range of levels and it can be normal to be anywhere in it! I was just pleased that my result was higher than my previous transfer so I’m latching onto that and hoping it means a better outcome!

have you been using the clinic in Spain for awhile?

Thanks everyone. Hoping that joining this thread brings the good luck that I need. @Eiremogra as far as I know there won’t be any changes this time as the clinic said I don’t need another consultant appointment. I had lubion on my second transfer but not sure if that’s just because it was a frozen transfer. It’s a minefield! It really is relentless. I don’t think I fully appreciated the mental/emotional side of it before starting. We’re unexplained which is frustrating! We were originally going to be going again this month but I just don’t feel ready and it’s a busy time at work so wanted to wait.

Good luck to everyone with upcoming scans!

@ivf24 i hope this cycle goes well and you get your BFP 🤞 it is all an absolute rollercoaster even when you think you know what’s happening there always seems to be something throwing you curveballs!

i totally get the frustration with being unexplained as we are that too! Sometimes you wish you had an answer?! Cause maybe you could try and fix it rather than constantly keep doing things and hope one time it will finally work 🙄

have you received your protocol yet?

@Ellenn totally get what you mean about being able to fix it. Back at the very beginning when I went in to the clinic for my Hycosy, I remember thinking that they would find the problem there and fix it! I had a pretty ‘textbook’ egg collection and responded really well to stims but it seems to be a game of chance! We live in the Highlands but have no fertility services here so have to travel to Aberdeen. Adds an extra element! Haven’t had my protocol
through yet but from what they said it will be the same as last time which was starting Progynova on day 1 of my cycle.

I’m sure you’re counting down the days to your scan and will be a relief for you!

@ivf24 thats great news! It’s always scary not knowing how your body is going to respond too! Did you need a freeze all from that cycle?

that must be extra stressful doing all the travelling how far is Aberdeen for you?

I am definitely counting down the days eek

@Ellenn no didn’t do a freeze all. Our first transfer was fresh. We have got 3 embryos left in the freezer. One of very good quality, one average and one not so great apparently. Not sure how much that actually means.

Aberdeen is 3 hours from us so not ideal. Managed to stay down for a week over egg collection etc as we have family there. Was a bit frustrating to drive all the way for a 10 monitoring scan during frozen transfer though! Never mind!

Hi everyone. Hoping someone can give some advice…

My partner has kids so I believe we’d have to go private for treatment, is that correct?
I'd really like to check my own fertility situation as I’ve not been on contraception for 4~ years and not a whiff of a pregnancy. I’ve saw that GRI is the best place for treatment so can I contact them to arrange testing? No idea how this goes!

thanks xx

Ignore the first part I’ve no idea where I read that but I see that’s not the case at all.

should I have tests done by my GP before I contact GRI? And is going private much quicker than NHS?

@ivf24 wow that’s quite a distance!! I hope this transfer all goes to plan 🤞🤞 and you get a different outcome ie a baby! Are you feeling excited about it?

@jmx3 i would definitely contact your GP as you may be able to get some bloods/scans etc through nhs and this might save you money? Although there may be a wait time - unsure what these are at the moment! In Glasgow there are two fertility clinics GRI and GCRM. I used GRI for my first cycle and they were good but very slow and busy! I think they had backlog though cause was during Covid etc. might be worth enquiring about the waiting times?

Thank you. Will definitely try my GP again but last time he wasn’t concerned at all even though my periods are a mess too!

@jmx3 definitel push for referral for sure I’m not sure if you would be eligible for ivf but you should still get initial testing I think? I think if <35 and being trying a year or >35 and trying for 6 months! GPs are so hit or miss depending who you get - definitely keep at it! There may also be waiting time for private treatment so worth enquiring about, if you do initial testing through NHS and request notes it will save you a bit that you can put towards ivf cycle if you end up having to pay privately!

@jmx3 I think your eligibility if one of you has children already might depend on if they live with you / if your partner is on the birth certificate? I know already having children in your family does change your eligibility though. Definitely worth getting some tests done to try to figure out what your situation is.

@IVFlife @Ellenn How are you both getting on?

Nausea has been kicking my butt this time around so I’ve started an antiemetic to see if it helps - not actually throwing up but feeling debilitating levels of nausea and tiredness. I don’t remember it being this hard with DD 🤢

@2mumlife sorry to hear about your nausea! Sometimes I wonder if we were actually sick would that make it better? My symptoms are really on/off and not constant. One day I feel fine the the next I feel sick so random. I hope it’s normal. I’m super tired though and absolutely exhausted after working for a day. Is your scan on Monday? So close!!! xx

any tips to feel less scanxiety? I’ve still got another 5 days and it just feels like eternity right now ….

@Ellenn The on/off symptoms is more like what I had with DD for a bit before it ramped up. The exhaustion is spot on. This all day nausea is awful - been a couple of times I’ve went to be sick but couldn’t actually be sick. I also found the odd times I was sick with DD I did feel better after. Yeah scan on Monday, I had a tiny streak of blood after my cyclogest this morning but otherwise been ok so hoping everything is normal. Only thing that help with my scan anxiety was time really. Hope the next 5 days go quickly for you x

@2mumlife when did you find the nausea got worse last time? I’m 6 wks today and it’s definitely not constant yet. Wonder if it will get worse or not. Look forward to hearing how your scan goes tomorrow!

the one thing I’m missing is coffee as I can’t stand the smell/taste now, I’ve not managed to find a replacement that I like yet. Do you drink coffee? I usually love having a cup in the mornings!