IVF Scotland - thread 6

[IVFlife]

That last thread filled up quickly without us noticing. So here is a new one for Scotland.

@Cesas im so sorry to hear that. Sending hugs. It’s rubbish

@KayEmmSquared keeping everything crossed for you. Heard so many stories of people only getting 1 egg but it getting to day 5 and leading to successful transfer!! Hope you have lots planned to keep you busy next few days. I found the wait the hardest part!!

Och @Cesas I'm really sorry to hear that. People kept telling me at that point that it's still possible to get a positive test, but I understand it doesn't really change that deflated feeling. Hope you're taking care of yourself.

@KayEmmSquared it might just be your one! Do you get a call today to update on fertilisation news? I know sometimes it's not possible to use it right away, but I hope it's been good news if news at all. Are you nhs funded?

In non ivf news I had a nice strong opk last night which (not that I hold out hope for) is good news that my body seems to have reclaimed itself. First self funded treatment will begin not next cycle but one after, we've been asked to get rather pricey genetics bloods (same cost as a summer holiday 🤢 I'll need to just put my fingers in my ears with costs).

@Nosejug yea I got a call this morning to confirm the egg has fertilised, another call scheduled on Saturday morning 🤞🏻🤞🏻

great news on your strong opk, I’ll be sending lots of positive vibes your way for a natural miracle again

Oh brilliant @KayEmmSquared ! I like to think of that as 100% fertilisation rate :) I'll be sending your embryo energetic vibes! Is this the first one you've made through ivf? I actually found it quite emotional thinking about the wee package of cells dividing. Especially the first as it was the first proof I (we) could make something like that. The embryologist told me she gives them "tough love" telling them to behave themselves and divide properly. Best of luck over the next few days.

That is such a good way of looking at it! PMA!! Thank you @Nosejug yes this my first cycle 🤞🏻

Unfortunately my one Embryo became too fragmented and stopped the cells from dividing on Day 3, so no transfer for me this cycle.

Has anyone been with GRI and been in this position? Curious to know how quickly they move forward. The Embryologist told me the Dr team would meet this Friday to review my case and then be in touch but I dread to think how long that it could take for them to “be in touch”, I don’t want to be waiting another 6months 😫

@kayemmsquared I'm so sorry to hear this. The waiting is awful and so frustrating. I'm not at the same clinic as you (I'm aberdeeen) but between my full NHS IVF cycles it was about 4 months.

Thanks @Cesas wow, 4 months seems like a lifetime away! I really hope I get my review meeting and at least an idea of next steps within the next couple of weeks so I’m not waiting about in this limbo land 😫

@kayemmsquared maybe I wasn't clear I had to wait 3 weeks to have a doctors appointment. The 4 months was between the start date of the first cycle to start date of the second cycle. Really hope you hear soon! 🤞 x

@KayEmmSquared I'm really sorry to read you didn't get to transfer stage. Hope you're alright.

Re: doctor meetings: I've had a transfer both times, but once I let them know it had failed they said the same thing to me, doctor review on a Friday. Now they send out a letter once the decision about what's next has been made. The first time I was desperate to know what decision would be made, so I called the nurses line, and they said someone would call me (or I called them back) the Monday after to find out what would be said. I got that info, and as far as I remember my research the guidance was one full cycle between before trying to book in again. Though that cycle inbetween we managed to conceive so ended up delayed waiting for mc.
This time round I had decided in my head what they would say (we were nhs funded) and didn't chase. But I didn't hear from them for over a month and so then I chased. Turns out we were meant to have been contacted but accidentally weren't because someone had gone on holiday. So do chase. When we did book in after mc we were given incorrect info, but it was in fact the case that I was to have one full cycle between, then we could book. So I got started on time (my December/january round).

Thanks @Nosejug thats really helpful info. Honestly GRI and “forgetting to contact” seems to be a regular thing, the number of times I’ve been forgotten is shocking so I will definitely chase. I’ll give them until next week then I’ll call the nurses line and see what they say. Gosh the natural part of it all takes an age doesn’t it, although I might take a wee leaf out of your book and have some fun during the natural cycle, you never know!

I hope everything is progressing well with your self funded round.

Absolutely! Give it a try. It honestly feels nice to connect with your body and give yourself some hope without a million scans/needles/bloods. Keep some opks handy. I ovulated two weeks later than normal the first time, and the second time about 10 days later, so keep a wee eye on it after your withdrawal bleed.

Yes alls fine with the self funded round, it'll start in about two cycles time as we're waiting on kariotype tests coming back. Since our stats are so similar I'm sure it'll be useful intel for you once I get started! Another woman I've spoken to on here was on our high long protocol with one egg results, and through this low dose treatment she now has 8 embryos ready for transfer. I can't imagine it'll be quite so wondrously successful for me (I'm awfully old) but it gives me hope!

I hadn’t heard of that test before but a quick google search tells me GRI do offer it so I think I’ll ask about that for the next cycle, even if I need to pay for it as an extra, could be worth it given how successful it was for the other woman with our stats! Please do keep me posted, if you don’t mind! I’m no spring chicken myself so I feel you 😂

Oh @KayEmmSquared the test is just him ruling stuff out. But the low dose thing is about low stims despite low amh. For all I know the person secretly works for the fertility clinic lol... but I'm trusting so many random people on this journey I might as well add one more!

I hope everyone’s doing alright? I thought I’d share here (if only to give additional hope for those that can try for spontaneous conception after many dry years of trying!) I just had a bizarre 6/7dpo positive pregnancy test on Wednesday night. My first pregnancy didn’t progress so I’m being cautious but it’s great to have another chance :)

@Nosejug what amazing news!!!! Keeping everything crossed for you.

we’re having a little break. Have 2 embryos remaining and probably going to transfer 2 this time so this will be our last go 😢. Not sure how I feel about it

@nosejug fingers crossed all goes smoothly, that's very exciting!!

I'm just waiting for my period to start to hopefully do another transfer!

oh goodness, good luck to you both!

@LT103 have you had a double transfer before? We never got more than one embryo per cycle but I'd well have been up for it, let us know when it's happening so I can send my good thoughts. I really hope it works doubly for you.

@Cesas that's great! I've never done it that was of getting a transfer without all the drugs in the run up, I bet your body is in such a naturally better place to receive an embryo like that.

the fertility doc who was about to do our next round called to discuss some karyotype bloods (all fine) and then the positive test. Unfortunately he flagged that he's worried it could be ectopic as it was such an early positive. I suppose the theory would be that I implanted last month and its only just showing now. I was very worried yesterday, but today I'm just thinking I don't feel its true. I have no symptoms (shoulder tip or abdominal pain) and def had a full period between. I can only wait and see. the gp said epu might do bloods, but I might pay for them privately for peace of mind if not. (also thinking I just dont want anything bad confirmed and just want to enjoy this wee moment however short it might end up.)

@Nosejug no. We got 7 frozen embryos from our collection. First was an empty sac, second gave us our little boy. Since going back we’ve had one miscarriage and 2 negatives so it is an option to do double. Just deciding whether to do it or not. To be fair not sure we have another £6k to do 2 separate rounds so just want to give it our best shot

@Nosejug that's amazing news! Don’t think about last time, this time could be very different and I’m keeping everything crossed that it is!

we were told a couple of weeks ago that we won’t get anymore cycles on the NHS using my eggs, but I can bring a donor to try for my remaining two NHS cycles if I want, I won’t reach the top of their donor list before I’m 40. So private funding for me now. Although trying to get a copy of my labs so I can use them for private is proving a task in itself, NHS and their barriers at every turn!

I’m keeping everything crossed for you and your BFP 🤞🏻

@KayEmmSquared this is the exact mirror of my experience in January, including getting records. Still waiting for the records, you’re wise to have got that started early. I did a wee bit of research and decided on low stim/ natural modified ivf in a three cycle egg collection package. Women I’ve spoken to have anecdotally backed up what the clinic purport, that in women who are low responders, sometimes more eggs are produced (and better quality) than on extremely high stims. There was a free webinar (create) where you could ask questions to get a feel for them. Maybe you already have your plan, but I felt if I was only making 1 egg why put my body through max stims again.

thanks for your positive message. I’m teetering about in emotion/worry/hopefulness but I’m well trained through ivf to try linger in the better feelings!

Oh and I took them up on implications councelling for me and dp. It was a really positive session, I’d recommend doing it even though donor eggs isn’t get the plan.

was it Create you were going to go with for the low stims cycles? (Talking in the past tense to encourage the positive vibes on your BFP)

i think I’ll give that a look into, couldn’t hurt to ask the questions and even try one cycle of it. The high stims didn’t exactly do me any benefit so low stims might be the way forward, as you say, better one high quality egg than one mediocre quality highly stimmed egg! We have spoke about the counselling and are thinking about it, again, it couldn’t hurt to give it a go eh!

let me know if you ever get your records. I put in a subject access request last week so technically they only have one calendar month to reply 🤔

Hi everyone sorry to jump on but I’m looking for a bit of advice regarding a natural fet. Can anyone who has done one at the Glasgow royal Infirmary tell me about time lines? Iv tried searching but all clinics are giving different information. Iv had 2 failed medicated fet, and just recently had a cancelled medicated fet due to thin lining. My clinic is thinking of doing a natural one next time but I have to wait on my next period! I’m exhausted with the constant waiting 😔

good luck to all those going through their transfers 🤞 x

I appreciate the positive vibes @KayEmmSquared ! Yes it was create, I didn't want to go about promoting them as I never actually started my treatment, but I was willing to trust them and try. There's a thread called 'Experiences at Create' or similar where people are great at answering questions if you have them. and yes, I'll let you know if I ever hear back from NHS records dept. I think it was March 10th when I began the process, but it took a few days to get DP's details too, so you'd think they were imminent!

Sorry @paulliee I was with GRI but never had anything to freeze so I can't answer. I sure know the exhaustion from waiting though. Have you tried asking the facebook group? I'm too shy to write on it myself but it's pretty active.