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 ❤️

Thanks Jules. No they haven't asked us not to but because it's related to a very specific issue and specific to egg donation I don't want to accidentally identify any other couples using the same donor as then that would be really strange and not sure how I would feel about that.

@IVFlife that’s totally understandable then. I had second hand anger towards the clinic for a moment 😂. Already a bit peeved at GCRM for the crazy price increases and reduction of services.

@JulesIVF what is there service reduction?

@JulesIVF I spent a good bit of my life peeved at gcrm for various things 😂 keep forgiving them though when I get pregnant 🤣

@IVFlife no beta tests, no blood tests for monitoring on the lead upto frozen transfer, charging Access Fertility customers £200 now for embryo glue, just to name a few.

@2mumlife 😂😂 hopefully that will be the case for me too.

@Hep1989 hey👋 we got referred to ninewells from forth valley at the 2 year mark of trying which was May 2022. We got our first appointment letter in November 22 for AMH testing. I had decided in the waiting period to do a cycle privately in Glasgow and then went back to do my second cycle with ninewells so I’m unsure how long you need to wait from the AMH bloods and starting treatment. I had a consultation in February 2023 at ninewells and then my 2nd cycle started in May 23. Unsure if this is standard timescales or not, might be worth emailing them? They are usually pretty good at responding xx

@JulesIVF strange they said no beta test - they gave us a pee-on-stick test as we live a bit further away but didn’t charge me anything when I said I wanted to come in for the beta for reassurance. I didn’t have blood tests during FET monitoring but never did with DD either 🤷‍♀️ sounds like they are not giving access fertility patients as good treatment as they used to x

@2mumlife the beta thing changed very recently. When we signed up late last year they told us that they were stopping it soon and confirmed now that they would charge as it’s no longer done in house and also doesn’t come back the same day. Were you medicated or unmedicated transfer? My friend was unmedicated FET and was monitored with blood tests last July then that was changed to just testing for LH surge yourself at home with clear blue ovulation tests and the trigger shot was on the day of transfer. (Unmedicated has recently changed again though and the trigger shot is 6 days before transfer with progesterone pessaries)

To be fair apparently the changes are to bring it in line with other TFP clinics since being bought over. So I suppose they just offered more and for much less £ before that happened.

@JulesIVF the beta thing has changed very very recently then because I got a beta done in February with no charge (it was sent out of house for testing though). I’ve only done medicated FETs so that’ll probably be the difference. Trigger shot 6 day before transfer seems logical, as you want your body to think it’s 5/6 days post ovulation when the embryo is put back.

when we did all of DDs rounds we were with them for ages so had lots of experience with all their old communication issues and delays in treatment. I actually thought this time round was actually quite good for them - definitely a lot quicker (but then it’s easier to schedule a medicated FET) and communication was a bit better, but we were only there for 1 cycle so only got a very short glimpse into how things are at the moment

Overthinking so much this morning cause when we fell pregnant naturally last June my boobs were really painful at 10DPO. I’m now 4 days past transfer so 9DPO equivalent and they are not sensitive or painful at all 😖. Not feeling hopeful at all 😞.

Every pregnancy is completely different.

Im not going to say don’t worry because that is neither true nor helpful.
But just consider the different ways your body is responding. Be kind to yourself.

@JulesIVF I agree with @StuffLoriThangs your body can respond differently to every pregnancy, and 4dp5dt is still REALLY early. Try to distract yourself from worrying as best as you can - embrace the wait because that's all you can do at the moment.

Thank you both. I know you’re right, guess I’m just having a wobble today 🥲 x

@JulesIVF Totally understandable to have a wobble day. The waiting is really really hard. When is your OTD?

@2mumlife monday! I do think we will probably test on Saturday though. April fools day probs not the best day to tell our family if it worked or not 😂.

@JulesIVF 😂 yes i'd avoid that! Nice to test at the weekend too to give you time to process whatever the outcome. Personally I've still not told any of my family - always much prefer to wait until I know the pregnancy is continuing (but that's just me). Told my family at around 16 weeks last time, but will tell them earlier this time if everything is ok with 12 week scan.

@2mumlife honestly I wish that was an option just now but they all knew that we had miscarried and needed to turn to IVF and when we had the transfer. If it doesn’t work this time then I won’t be giving out updates on when our next transfer is etc as it’s pretty draining with all the questions etc.
how many weeks are you now?

Hey. Hope everyone ok.

Decided I'm sick of staying in and eating crap. The bleeding has stopped now so don't feel dizzy anymore.

Have come to gym and swim which has been nice. Now sitting in the cafe with a smoothie. Hardly slept last night so think getting out and about more might help.

I'm going to go to work a wee bit tomo and Thur. Then I'm off for 2 weeks anyway.

Should hopefully know in next week or so what our next steps are.

@JulesIVF Yeah its really draining people knowing, especially if they know specifics of when you had a transfer etc. I always found it easier to keep it as private as possible to be honest. I'm just at the 12 week mark but my NHS scan isn't until next week. I'll feel more reassured about telling people if the scan is ok next week.

@IVFlife Well done for getting out and about. Do you have anything nice planned for the 2 weeks you have of? Hope you are able to know what direction you're moving in soon.

Hi everyone - wondering if you could give some advice. I had my day 8 scan today and my lining is 7.2. I’m back in for another scan on Friday (2 days time). Should I been looking to thicken my lining a little by Brazil nuts and Pom juice?? Or are these only to be taken between ER and ET ? Just really wanting to give myself the best possible chance so any help would be welcome x

@Sabrinafive Hey :) your lining is doing well, most clinics want a minimum of 7-8mm so sounds like your clinic is just wanting to leave you a couple more days just to thicken up a little more. I'm very sceptical how much brazil nuts or pom juice or anything will change things in 2 days, but there is absolutely no harm in taking either, so if it is something you feel would help go right ahead :)

This article might help with you feeling confident that your lining is thick enough for a FET https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35109980/#:~:text=Conclusions%3A%20In%20cycles%20with%20a,plateau%20after%207%2D10%20mm. remember as well your lining will continue to thicken after you start progesterone etc up until the day of transfer :)

Hope your scan on Friday goes well, sounds like you're on target for your transfer next week!

@2mumlife thanks so much for the positive reply!! I always want to ask questions but as soon as I get in there I just become mushy in the brain and leave thinking of everything I should have asked! Does anyone have any advice for collection? Little nervous about the aftermath so please pass on anything you felt made it a little easier! X

@Sabrinafive No worries :) ahh didn’t realise it was an egg collection you are doing! For egg collection they will be much more concerned about the majority of your follicles than your lining thickness, as it’s trying to time your follicular growth to get the most number of
mature eggs that is kept important! You won’t feel a thing during egg collection but I was pretty sore afterwards and definitely needed a lie down for the rest of the day. Plan a cuddle on the sofa watching rubbish tv and got someone else to make your dinner etc and take it easy after egg collection x

Hey everyone, hope you’re all doing well. My FET is scheduled for tomorrow. Felling nervous but want to give it everything 3rd time round (2nd frozen). Any advice for after transfer?