Starting medication

[SlinkMcSlink]

Hi,

Just after some information that I probably should have asked the nurse whilst I was at the hospital but I was too overwhelmed. I’m picking up my first lot of medication on 31st May. It will be day 18 of my cycle. Does anyone have any approximate timelines of what will happen next and when? I’m not even sure whether I’m on a long or short protocol.

This probably has a lot of different answers I know but I’m clinging onto dates and thinking, I wander if I MIGHT be pregnant by the end of June or July. It might not even work but I’m clutching at straws and trying to remain hopeful.

Have they not given you a treatment plan or schedule?

No nothing! Just told to come back on 31st May to get medication. I didn’t even know that they had to give me one. Maybe I should ring the hospital up and ask for some more information.

I think that would be a good idea. My clinic gives me a schedule showing what drugs on what days, including scan dates, plus a faq about the protocol.

@SlinkMcSlink

I start my medication on 28th May. I'm on long protocol and my down regulation will be one injection which lasts a month. I have a meeting on the same day to go through it all.

Then after a month I start my daily stims for two weeks with egg collection booked in at the end of that.

I did try to ask a few questions on the phone when they rang up about dates and they told me to keep all my questions till the 28th and that they would all get answered then. Maybe they planning to go through it all with you when you pick up your medication?

@CakePigeon30 i was thinking that too as they wanted me to come in a bit earlier and do another test too. Tbh it was all very overwhelming and I couldn’t process it all there. My husband was asking questions too and I think I couldn’t process it within the appointment. At least if you’re on the 28th and I’m the 31st, I know that if it’s the long protocol then it might be a similar timeline to you and shorter if it’s the short protocol. How come they put you on the long protocol if you don’t mind me asking? When I read online, it says that most people are on the short but I don’t know why.

@GwenH82 Your hospital sounds organised! I’m in the North west.

@SlinkMcSlink

Think short protocol is normally recommended if you are at risk of OHSS, although might be wrong as this is my first time so no expert. My blood tests came back in the normal range so think I'm a lower risk for it.

It's a lot of information to take in isn't it. I wish I had written it all down!

@CakePigeon30 I hope it goes well for you. Keep me updated. It’s nice to have someone on a similar timeline.

I'm at a private clinic in the sw. This is my second round. I did short last year. This time I start long protocol on the 29th.

i must be on long protocol too because I’ll be on cd 18 when I pick up the medication and online it says that’s you start it on cd21. That would make more sense as to why I’m going then. No idea why I’ve been put straight onto long. I’m unexplained infertility.

@SlinkMcSlink

Yes nice to have people on same timeline.

I think every clinic is slightly different with their protocols. Are you NHS?

@CakePigeon30 yes, I’m nhs.

Me too. Good luck with it all.

I did have another question about using a barrier precautions when dtd around IVF. I’m sure that this was mentioned about having to use something but I’m not sure if that is from now until after the medication has finished or what the actual reason is?!?

Dont know why I’m that bothered because I haven’t got pregnant naturally yet!

@SlinkMcSlink I think it's because the drugs could cause problems like birth defects etc if you did happen to get pregnant. However, I didn't pay much attention as there is 0 chance of me getting pregnant from dtd with my oh.

@GwenH82 That would make sense. Feels a bit ridiculous having protection now though.

@SlinkMcSlink I know but I'm sure we've all heard the stories of giving up on it happening naturally and falling pregnant. (How I wish that could happen!)

@SlinkMcSlink hi, how you getting on? Do you know what protocol you will be on with. I picked up my medication yesterday, thought I would start the first injection then but been asked to start Monday - I've actually booked back in for them to do it for me as I'm worried about the first one!

Hi! Sorry for the late reply. I’ve been on a much needed holiday which has done me the world of good. Thought it was best to go abroad before I start pumping my body with drugs. Also, the hospital recommends that we stay local during the process. I have my appointment this afternoon so will find out more then as I’m supposed to be picking up my medication and I’m hoping they give me some firm dates.

Any other useful questions that I should ask? My mind always goes blank. I went at the beginning of the month but I wasn’t at the right point in my cycle which is why it has got pushed back to this afternoon. Hope you’re okay? @CakePigeon30

So that was a bit more stressful than I anticipated. I had to have a catheter test first as I’ve had previous surgery on my cervix before. It’s thrown another complication into the works as I might have to be put asleep for egg collection and transfer because they could have to place the embryo on day 3 in my fallopian tubes instead of in the womb as my cervix has been shortened and is quite flat.

I did find out that I’m on the short protocol and can start my Norethisterone next Wednesday 5th. @CakePigeon30

@SlinkMcSlink that does sound stressful. Hope you're ok. Is it much more complicated to have to put in fallopian tube?

The nurse rang me at about half 5 after I’d posted that, I think that as they had to get the consultant to come in and look at a routine procedure before getting all of my drugs, they must have seen the panic on my face. After about 15/20 minutes I was becoming weary and uncomfortable/bit sore so I asked them to stop. They reassured me that I will be asleep for egg collection (sedation) which is normal but also for embryo transfer as there are other things they can do if I’m sedated and more comfortable to get the embryo in a secure position.

I’ve had a couple lletz procedures for cancerous cells so it’s just scarring and I’ve been told not to worry….. I will worry though. I’m hoping that I’ve some how conceived on holiday this week before it all starts to avoid this starting but that would be a miracle. I start my norethisterone on Wednesday which will be day 23 to delay my period and then have my first baseline scan on June 20th before injecting for around 10-12 days I think. Beginning of July was mentioned for collection/transfer.

How are you getting on?

Hope you're feeling better today after all that. I've started down reg and feel fine at the moment. Come and join us over on the june/July thread for the next part of the journey (hate that word lol 😆) it makes me feel not quite so lonely.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/infertility/5073558-ivficsi-junejuly

Thanks! I’ll join now.