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 ❤️

Hi everyone hope you don't mind me joining in!

Good luck to everyone it's such an rollercoaster of emotions 😵‍💫 and a minefield!!

I have been on the waiting list since last year to begin the actual IVF process and finally got my appointment in for august- can anyone explain what happens at this appointment? When will I actually begin?

I have had all the tests done, Amh checked, sperm checked hycosy etc

Was hoping to actual begin the process in august 😅 it's been a long year! Thank you for any help you can give x

@Ellenn glad to hear you can get a FT, as soon as 3weeks. 😀🤞🏻

@mhchjj welcome to the group. I’m assuming it’s the NHS you had been waiting for. I’ve also been on the list for IVF for a more than a year 😞 I’ve had all the test, as well and am only waiting on my period to start (hopefully not as we just transfer the last embryo from our private treatment).

If it does come, the process is to call up once you have your period and they tell you if they can fit you in this month, (if you have had the nurse planning appointment already). If you have already did that and they have given you an appointment the next step will be they will give you an injection mid cycle at the hospital to ‘down regulate’ and give you all your medication to take home and info on when to take them.

You then bleed(period) after two weeks then start the daily stimulation injections when advised and you will need to go for scans and blood test every second day until they say when to do egg collection.

It’s different for everyone and the protocol will be different depending on AMH etc, so your could be different from mines. I think mines is the long protocol, so the whole process takes 2months. They sent out me a list of all my medication in the post, they should have did that for you already hopefully. If not give them a ring on the numbers they provide on the nurse planning call.

Hope that helps. Anymore questions feel free to as or DM xx

Oh my thank you so much that's really helpful!

I haven't had my nurse planning appointment yet so I am assuming this must be this appointment coming. Do you know what they discuss at this appointment? do you think they will tell me to phone up when I start my period? I really hope so feel like this journey has taken forever and just want it to begin this part now 😵‍💫

Sorry for the million questions, we have decided to keep it private (only mums know) so can't ask any these questions to people in real life.

I'm really stressing about the multiple visits to the hospital, I work in the beauty industry so book clients in advance 😅 I'm sure it will work itself out x

4dpt only had some mid cramping so far, so I’m not getting too excited, about 50/50 😕🤞🏻

@mhchjj no problem. Happy to help with what I know. I’m in Glasgow, so I will be seen by the Glasgow royal infirmary not sure if you are the same. We had our first appointment at the end of May and they took blood to check AMH, swabs (which they post to you) before the appointment, also bring proof of vaccination for MMR and weight is checked, which needs to be under 30BMI, to be eligible. I’m not sure if you have had that first appointment already. We had our sperm assessment done privately, so they didn’t have to do again. At that appointment they gave us a link to a portal to do all the paperwork, it’s quite a lot of forms and your partners answer needs to match yours. They also gave us a time for a video call consultation.

This was in mid June. They gave us the results of the AMH on that call and again asked us a few background questions. They asked us things like how long have you been trying (make sure you say more than 2years to be eligible). They ask if either of you smoke or drink (best to say no to both.) On the video call they gave us the phone number to call when my period starts. Which I’ve not had yet and hope not as we transferred our last embryo from our private cycle. They are okay with private cycles as long as it’s less than 3 and you have none storage when starting ivf with them. They will post out a list of medicines you will be taking about 5days after the video call. You won’t know your time table for taking your injections them until you get the first injection and pick up meds, id assume. Ask loads of questions at that appointment if you are not sure.

I know is hard, we haven’t told any of our parents what we are going through. I only told them about our silent miscarriage and that was upsetting enough for them. You can feel very alone sometimes. I only have one friend I chat to about it and my husband. My boss also knows because of all the appointments. I recommend speaking to the therapist the nhs provide as they can help you through any emotional stuff. This chat room has been really good for information and sharing experiences.

id recommend taking a week off work if you can during egg collection week, as you want to be as relaxed as possible. Leading up to the egg collection you will need daily stimulation injections in the evening at the same time every day and blood/ scan at the hospital every 2nd day. These tend to be early in the day, so you might be able to do before work. Each person and cycle is different. My first cycle I needed 14days of injections and 5scans/ blood tests. My second I only needed 7days and 2scans/ blood test. Let me know if you have anymore questions. xx

@Kitty12345678 i had quite a lot of cramping in my 2ww for both my last transfers (which both resulted in positive tests) so I think it’s usually a good sign something is happening! It’s so hard not to overthink these things though 🙈 you just can’t differentiate at this stage

@mhchjj hey! Welcome 👋 these forums are great source to get support and ask loads of questions! I’m also similar in that no on else knows about our treatment apart from my partner so it’s nice speaking with others going through similar processes! It’s quite a journey I wouldn’t wish on anyone but here we are 👀 @Kitty12345678 given you loads of info! I would definitely agree with egg collection it’s much nicer having a few days off, I personally felt awful as i overstimulated but everyone is different. I also found it stressful with appointments trying to get them around work. Once you know what protocol/treatment you are on the nurses will give you timescales which help! I have only been on short protocols which have been quite nice and quick (ie. 2.5 weeks from start medication to embryo transfer) but there are different protocols!

Hi everyone. Having a pretty hard time. My granny passed away yesterday morning and it was very unexpected. It was quite a traumatic experience seeing her before she passed at the hospital.

I’ve not slept very well at all. I think I’m likely out this time, as I just can’t imagine it’s survived the stress. I don’t think I’ll bother testing or getting bloods done. I’ll just wait for my period to come instead, as I can’t deal with anymore bad things at the moment. The only positive symptoms I had was sore boobs and slight cramping/ bloating. But that seems to be gone now and i usually feel like that before my period anyway.

@Ellenn @mhchjj glad the info was helpful. It’s so nice to have a support group here. xx

@Kitty12345678 so hard to know what to say but I’m so incredibly sorry to hear of your Granny ❤️ that must be so hard alongside all the hormones and embryo transfer I can’t imagine what you are going through.

i think I’m also not going to test after my transfer and just see how it goes. When you are in the 2ww the symptoms are identical to your period so it’s impossible to tell if it’s worked or not. I really hope it works for you although I understand why you are not being hopeful xxx

Oh @Kitty12345678 I'm so sorry to hear this. You've already got so much going on just now. Thinking of you. Fingers crossed that the little bean is still hanging in but I know it's hard to think about that right now. We're all hear if you need to chat.

Welcome @mhchjj. I'm not a lot of help with processes in the UK I'm afraid. I've been with IVF Spain for a year and was private before that. Wishing you luck on this journey.

I'm now 1dp5dt. Not going to test or symptom spot this time...... or I'm going to try anyway. Sending love to all.

@Kitty12345678 im so sorry to hear about your grandmother. Such a tangle of so many different types of emotions, it must be so hard to maintain them all. I'm thinking of you and hope very much that you will get some good news this time round.

@Kamiros very best of luck with this transfer. Symptom spotting is something I wish I could curtail. I woke up with my eyelashes super curly the other day and for a short time was convinced it meant something. It really didn't. Thinking of you also and sending all the best vibes to you both.

Waiting to greet my af with a big glass of wine this month after loosing my job because of the actors strikes! Trying to not let any stress in...

@Ellenn @Kamiros @Nosejug Thanks for your messages. It’s been a difficult week but think I’m over the shock now. Decided to go for my hcg bloods this morning but the won’t have the results till Monday afternoon 😒 Apparently they need to send them away now for some reason. I’ve not did a home test and I’m just to frighten to incase its positive but not a viable pregnancy. I’ve not bleed and had some very strong cramps around 7dpt-8dpt. Not sure if it’s a good sign or not.

kamiros, good luck 🤞🏻 Hope everything is going well for you. Yeah symptom spotting is very stressful. I understand why you want to avoid.

Ellen, yes I agree the symptoms are almost exactly the same for me. The cramps just feel like a period cramp.

nosejug, really sorry to hear about your job. That’s awful. Hope you are okay xx

@Kitty12345678

Oh I'm so so sorry about your granny. What a difficult thing to go through without the added anxiety of ivf. Sending loads of love and positive vibes your blood test comes back with the result you want ❤️ sometimes this life can be so cruel!

Thank you soo much for all that information it was honestly so helpful. I feel a bit better now having some sort of idea what the next steps will be. It's honestly like a minefield all the different stages and information. I had my AMH levels (75 pmol/l) checked before and they were pretty high! When I googled it it said it was a high chance of PCOS but Iv never had any PCOS symptoms and our doctor never mentioned it, bit worried about that tbh!

Do they check weight at every appointment? Mines is sitting right at 30 just now 😅 just back from holiday and the weight doesn't seem to want to budge lol xxx

@Ellenn thank you for taking the time to reply! Yes I definitely will take a few days off for the egg collection. I'm starting to feel my anxiety playing up now the appointment is close by. Nobody understand what we go through unless they are going through it themselves. It's such a lonely time unfortunately x

Hi everyone unfortunately my period came on Saturday and my test results came back negative today 😞 So upset as this was the last embryo from our second round. Just feel so bad we are back to the beginning again after have on pregnancy with the first one.
I call up the ACS NHS (GRI) to hopefully start this month as we are top of the list. They warned if they are super busy they may have to delay by a month. I really hope not as we have been waiting since May 2022.

Also, thinking looking at further tests such as immunology and DNA testing on partners sperm. Think GCRM can do this but I would prefer to try somewhere else if anyone has advice on this.

Also, going to do some background research on egg donation and adoption. @Kamiros if you don’t mind me picking your brain on this via DM when you are ready. xx @Kamiros hope everything is going okay with the transfer xx

@Ellenn glad to hear you can get a transfer soon xx

@mhchjj I’m if you are measuring them on the same scale as me that could be high. Would 100% speak to your doctor if you are worried as you wouldn’t want it to hold up your treatment if they need to investigate more.

Also, I hear they can be quite strict about the weight thing. I had a friend who was told to go away and lose like 5pounds before they would start. In England they are super strict with it needing to be <25 bmi fortunately Scotland is better. They checked mines at my first appointment and said they will again before we get the prostrap injection.

@Kitty12345678 I'm so sorry to hear this, thinking of you. Good to get started again but also take some time out to look after yourself, you've been through a lot. No problem, just ask when you're ready, I've also had every immune test and treatment going so happy to answer any questions if I can.

Day 7dp5dt here and the anxiety is kicking in today. Still not testing as OTD is Thursday so not long away. I'm struggling with cramps, heartburn (which I always get) and really bad hot flushes which I think is new- hard to remember all 6 transfers now though.

@Kitty12345678 how disappointing sorry to hear it didn’t work 😢

that’s great they would see you so soon for another cycle though. I actually found it wasn’t really the fact the cycle had failed which was worse but the waiting before being able to do more treatment. Definitely only do it if you feel ready though x

@kamiros be strong 💪 Thursday is not far away. Well done for not testing so far! I’m going to try and remind myself of this message for after my transfer lol is your clinic doing a blood sample or do you test at home? I was considering ordering an at home kit for finger prick this time round maybe

@Kitty12345678 I'm so so sorry to hear the transfer didn't work. It feels positive that you're thinking about what's next, and keeping options open.

I've been told that by the time my nhs turn comes I probably won't be treatable for ivf bc of such low amh, and will be looking at egg donation too. Gutted isn't even the word, but I'm also kind of bored of waking up feeling awful every day. Ive started exploring how I might feel about egg donation, and you know, I feel ok about it. it might be an option that could make the family we have hoped for, even if the route isn't the same. If anyone has any guidance they've found helpful online, I'd appreciate being pointed in the right direction. Or @Kitty12345678 , @Kamiros , if it's ok to discuss with you both, I think it would be very very helpful.

@kamiros I am sending all my best vibes to you, the very best of luck with the next few days. Xx

@Kitty12345678 sorry to hear that

Hi again everyone, sorry I just kind of disappeared again. When I tried to book in I was told they were full for that month (June), full the following month (July) but they would pencil me in to book in August, starting stims September. It was difficult dealing with the stress and anxiety of waiting, then on top of that we decided to move house so that's also been stressful. You'd think we would become more used to all of this waiting around 🙈 but anyway, hopefully will get booked in around 2 weeks and can start stims September.

I've been reading back, good luck for tomorrow @Kamiros, keeping everything crossed!

@Kitty12345678 I'm so sorry it didn't work out this time 😢 thinking of you. I'm sure they'll tweak your medication protocol based off of what has happened in the past and hopefully that will make a difference for you this time.
Re immunology and testing - there's a clinic in Edinburgh that do DNA frag testing but GRI don't treat for it. I ended up putting my husband on a regimen of vitamins and supplements that are the recommended treatment for it anyways in the hope it will help.
So sorry for your loss too.

@mhchjj your weight will be checked again before you can start but if you try low carb / high protein for a week before that should help shift a few lbs to be on the safe side. I have had to the do the same, have only just made the BMI cut off on my NHS rounds 😅

Hi all. Thanks for the good wishes, unfortunately I still don't have my results. I went to GCRM yesterday for bloods and was told to expect a call later in the day. Called them at 4pm to be told they no longer do same day bloods and I won't hear until this afternoon. I suppose that's fair enough but their communication is awful. I spent all day jumping at the phone for nothing and now I need to do the same again today. I considered a home test this morning but I've waited this long so decided to leave it. I am feeling pretty rotten - very bloated and sore but not really cramping as such, really bad heartburn and just generally exhausted. I know that can be the huge amount of meds I'm on though so not reading into it.

More than happy to talk about using donor eggs. I did read a few articles online before we made our decision and I also met with a counsellor who was great. What it came down to for me was that it was this or no baby. I can't say I don't have worries about how our future child will feel about it but for me it'll be my baby without question. There are lots of resources to help with helping them when the time comes so I guess I'll worry about that then. The donor conception network is really good for information too.

Hi @Kamiros , I've been lurking recently but keeping an eye out and hoping for good news for you. Argh, that's rubbish about no longer doing same day bloods. Hope the wait isn't too unbearable x

So after 8 rounds of IVF and 6 transfers......I finally got my BFP. I can't stop crying. Beta was 248 so looks ok. I know there is a long way to go and things can still go wrong but today I am very happy. Have a fab weekend all.......there is always hope xx

@Kamiros oh wowwowow!! What lovely news to read. I am very happy for you :) you must feel (tentatively) wonderful!

@Kamiros OMG I’m actually SO Happy for you 😁 amazing I know it’s still so early but that’s great news. I actually think I recognise your name from last summer so we may have been on the same chat then when I was doing my first cycle.

I really hope this wee embryo sticks in there and gets cozy for you! Are you going to get more bloods done? And are they happy with the levels? xxx

Thanks @Ellenn and @Nosejug I'm so happy, can't stop laughing and crying but I'm also nervous having had a natural mc back in 2020. They are happy with the levels for now but I'm waiting on Glasgow to send the details to Spain and for Spain to direct next steps. This weekend I'm just going to rest and enjoy it

Oh @Kamiros happy tears here for you! Many congratulations. Understandable you're nervous but try to enjoy things xx

Hi there. I left this chat a while ago but have also been lurking around to see how people are getting on. @Kamiros i am so over the moon for you. What a journey you have had and I couldn’t be more pleased you finally have your bfp!! 248 is a great number! Wishing you all the best for a happy and healthy pregnancy!!!