CARE Fertility Bulletin Board

readyforbetternews · 27 Oct 2011

Hi

Its so good to find a place to talk to others that are going through the same as me. I have been on a very loing journey to get to where I am but I dont feel as if my long journey has even begun.

I am just in the process of choosing a clinic and getting my gp referral. I am very excited and nervous about my first consultation as I know my BMI is still high, despite already loosing weight. I just hope I can start the wheels moving while I continue to lose weight.

I have had an awful year and since January everything that could go wrong and more has happened to me.

I'm single, 32 and ready for my dream to become a reality. I have done nothing but cry since January and its time my luck changed.

Its great to read everybodies success stories, and I wish all the best to all of you who are on their journey.

xx

Mummy hen · 12 Aug 2011

Hi readyforbetternews

You are most welcome on here lovely, I really hope that your life changes in a more positive direction as it sounds as though it has been a tough time.

Please feel free to ask any questions, we will always be happy to help you.

Try and stay positive, I know that it is sometimes hard but you have a massive journey ahead of you and you will always be supported by us.

Please feel free to talk to us if that helps in any way

Love Nicki xxx

Mummy hen · 12 Aug 2011

Ladies......as we are now a growing group.....do you think that it will be a good idea to have a list of us and what stage we are at etc. I am always frightened of missing someone out!!. Could put it on a separate thread or attached to Wendy's first post on this thread (if you don't mind Wendy). People can put as much or as little as they want - even just a list of names maybe beneficial.

What do you all think???

xxx

readyforbetternews · 27 Oct 2011

Thanks so much for your support. I'm so full of questions I dont know where to start. I suppose my first question would be if you went to the any of the information evenings and if so did you go alone? I have a couple lined up and I dont want to stick out going on my own.

The list sounds like a good idea, just let me know where and how.

Dee x

Mummy hen · 12 Aug 2011

Dee,

I personally did not go to any of the open evenings mainly because the clinics I looked at didn't have any arranged but I did go and see the nurse who deals with donor sperm at Sheffield. This was a free 30 min appt and she answered a lot of my questions. Do you have someone who could go with you?

It isn't easy going alone although I am quite independent and sometimes prefer to be alone!! You do get lots of info thrown at you, especially at the first consultation so I suppose having another person there to take notes or remember the things that you may have forgot could be beneficial.

It is big deal doing this alone, I often miss having another person to bounce my decisions off but I have told a small group of friends who have been very supportive and of course the ladies on here have got me to the place I am now. I wobbled for ages over IVF and its only in the last few weeks that I have become more confident about the decision to give it a go. I am quite a few years older than you so my clock is ticking away!!

What would you feel the most comfortable with?? I am sure that the staff at Care would not treat you any different because you are alone. I am not sure what they do at the open evenings but I presume that it will be very informal and a general chat / look around etc.

Which clinics are you thinking about?? Maybe if it is one that one of the other single ladies have been to they may be able to advise what happens. I am now having my treatment at Manchester as the waiting list there to get started was much shorter......but I was just impatient!!

Not sure if this has helped xxx

Melynsada · 12 Nov 2010

Ah Sarah the pic is lovely. I am glad all is well and that your mum can go to the next scan with you. Keep up the good work.

Hope everyone else is ok.

xx

Mummy hen · 12 Aug 2011

hee hee Sar - I understand that you had a good night Wink

Enjoy your weekend too xx

readyforbetternews · 27 Oct 2011

Nikki,

Im looking at two clinics in Nottingham, they have open evenings very soon so I thought i would go to help me choose which clinic.

I prefer to be on my own when attending such things as I then dont need to think about what they are thinking. I have a group of friends and my 2 sisters that know most of what I am going through and my mum and dad know some of it. I have had to have two operations this year and I find going to apointments on my own far easier.

How long roughly are the waiting lists? I have been told there is a 5-6week wait for first consultation but wondered how long the wait for donor sperm is, ive been warned it is long! I just hope I can join the waiting list while Im still losing weight.

Mummy hen · 12 Aug 2011

Oh poor you, I also have a long history of surgery so I do understand how hard things like this can be.

Regarding the waiting lists - I think that every clinic is different and you may have to phone them to check. Sheffield was having a rush on making babies so the list to see the consultant there grew to 12 weeks quickly whereas Manchester was 6 weeks (but I was seen in 3 weeks). Both Sheffield and Manchester told me that there was no waiting list for sperm although I do think that this maybe dependent on how specific you choose to be about donor characteristics. You do not have to purchase sperm from Care though, you can buy from the European Sperm Bank (Wendy did this so she may be able to tell you more about the logistics, but you get more details about your donor through ESB)

I had my initial consultation at the beg of Sept, had an appt with the donor counsellor earlier this month (you have to have this and maybe worth booking this in advance as sometimes the waiting list can be long) and was matched with a donor two days later. They have given me the go ahead to start on my next cycle so I am just waiting to get going now.

You will need to have lots of blood tests done (this can save lots of time if you get these done before your initial consultation). It will also save you Â£Â£Â£Â£ if you ask your GP to do them as Care will charge you massively. The Clinic should be able to provide you with a list but let me know if you are unsure as i think that I still have a list with all of my paperwork. Most GP's have agreed to do this for the ladies on here who are just starting out. You will need a print out of the results from the GP to take with you.

Not sure why the list for sperm at Nottingham should be long - unless they do not have many donors - maybe worth asking them why.

xx

SCC1976 · 25 Jul 2010

Dee,

Welcome to the rollercoaster world of fertility treatment!!

I too am in Nottingham. I attended an open evening at Nurture at the QMC with my mother and this was very informative. I went on to have to IUI's at the hospitals fertility clinic before going onto the waiting list for IVF at Nurture.
Unfortunately the waiting list for donor sperm was very long and I waited a long time, so then referred myself to CARE when I discovered there waiting time was alot lower!

I did however meet a wonderful man whilst sitting on both waiting lists and we are now expecting a Natural miracle in April.

If you need any advice just ask.

Sarah x x

P.S. Sar, have you been having some fun??? Smile

x

readyforbetternews · 27 Oct 2011

Nikki,

You have just made me smile, I thought that the wait would be months and months but you seem to have made really fast progress (although i sure it feels much slower to you). My GP is fully supportive and has told me that he would carry out tests for me and possibly some of the more expensive tests, scans etc may be done on NHS due to me having an ovary removed eaarlier this year.

I aim to have my referall next month after my two information evenings and I have decided which clinic.

Thank you so much for giving me such clear answers, all the best to you next cycle! Id love to follow your progress on here

Dee xx

readyforbetternews · 27 Oct 2011

Sarah,

Congratulations to you!

That is fantastic news, im so happy for you.

My story has kind of been in reverse, I started (please forgive me) trying for an accident with a 'friend', then I came clean and the friendship was over. I then sourced a donor via an internet website and we have been meeting for AI since January then he was diagnosed with cancer so is no longer fertile. That is how I now find myself looking for a clinic and using unknown donor sperm.

Dee x

Mummy hen · 12 Aug 2011

You are very welcome Dee, you know where we are if you have any more questions xxx

Melynsada · 12 Nov 2010

Dee welcome to the single thread. I wish you all the luck in the world with your journey. Try to enjoy every minute of it. I too had 2 treatments at Manchester and i thought they were fabulous. Feel free to ask anything you like I am sure 1 of us will be able to help. I never went to any information evenings and I went to all my appointments alone until i got to egg collection then my mum and dad came. i think all the people in the waiting room must have looked at them and though oh they are a bit old to be going through this LOL. I just wanted to do things on my own i am very independant.

Roll on your initial appointment. Its an exciting time xx

newsgirl · 11 Oct 2011

Hi,

I'm Donna (waving) and I thought after lurking on the boards for a while it was time to post. I am currently at Care Nottingham and am hoping to have iui Dec/Jan. I went for my counselling session this week and am now just waiting for a phone call to say they have some donor sperm.

It's so exciting but nerve racking at the same time.

Donna

Mummy hen · 12 Aug 2011

Another newbie.....wow!!

Welcome Donna to the single ladies, you will be at home here. How exciting and you are not far off starting. Lets hope that you get that phone call soon.

Keep us updated with your progress and I wish you lots and lots of luck. I am sure that Dee will be interested in your journey as she is also just starting out in Nottingham.

There are lots of experienced ladies on here (far more than I am!!) so please do not be afraid of asking anything.

Well done for taking that first step.

xx

readyforbetternews · 27 Oct 2011

Hi Donna

How exciting, just waiting for the phone call!

I'm just so frustated and wanted to get started now, i just cant lose weight fast enough.

Im planning to get my referal next week and I am looking forward to my first consultation to at least start my journey. I was meeting with a donor and doing DIY AI until last month when he was diagnosed with cancer. Its so hard knowing im ovulation and not doing anything about it.

Ive lost 2 stone since August and just 2 1/2 left to go!

Dee x

newsgirl · 11 Oct 2011

HI Dee and Nicki

Thanks for the warm welcome, although I haven't got any questions at the minute I am sure they will crop up. It's good to talk to people who understand what it is like.

I know how you feel Dee trying to lose weight, I've had the same problem, well done on losing 2 stone so quick I've been advised to lose another 5kg before starting although they have said it can go ahead without it as i'm below a BMI of 35 but i want to do everything I can to help it to work.

Donna

wendymw · 01 Feb 2008

Hi ladies

Hi to Readyforbetternews (Dee), welcome to the madness that is IVF! I need to lose some weight too, but it's soooo hard isn't it. Sounds like you did have a plan that went a bit awry, so good luck choosing your clinic. I didn't go to any open events, for me it was proximity that helped me decide (I'm in Leeds), so it was a toss up between Sheffield or Manchester Care and i didn't fancy the M62, so went for Sheffield!!

Hi to Newsgirl/Donna too, gosh you're even younger than I was when I started out on this journey. Hope that the wait for donor sperm isn't too long.

Nicki, great idea to do a list, I'm happy to do it on the front page, but you'll have to prompt me if I miss anything or get anything wrong. I'll do it here first so you can let me know if I've made any mistakes. I've spent hours scrolling all the way through the other thread and dragged all the old names off!!

Wendy, age 36. 2xIVF egg sharing. 1st cycle m/c at 6 weeks, 2nd cycle success! Theo born 14/09/09. Hoping to start cycle 3 early 2012 for number 2.
Mummyhen/Nicki. Age 39. Waiting for AF to start 1st cycle. Short protocol.
Melynsada/Sar. Age 40. 2xIVF. 1st cycle m/c at 8 weeks. Sad

. 2nd cycle BFN. Looking into adoption
EM303. Age 42. 1st IVF BFP! Lola Rosetta born 3/3/11
SCC1976/Sarah. 3x IUI failed. Met the man of her dreams. Natural BFP. Baby due 23 April 2012
Tracy34. Daughter Rio 15. 1st IVF daughter Toya-Lily born June 2011?
Ona. Age 33. About to embark on 1st IVF
MissJK76/Jo. 35. Unsuccessful IVF with ex DH. About to start going solo!
Nicnacnoo. Age 33. About to start first IUI/IVF?
EmmaVictoria. Age 38. Thinking of IUI/IVF
Readyforbetternews/Dee. Age 32. Starting IUI/IVF asap
Newsgirl/Donna. Age 31. Starting IUI Dec/Jan
Justme1. 1st successful IVF 2007. Lucas born 30/10/11. Went again. Twin girls Gerogina and Arielle born Jan 2010
Jo-Jo. Age 34. 1st IVF egg share. Not enough eggs so donated all. Starting again 2011
MissyCL. BFP May 2010, Twin girls born December 2010
Loubie. Age 32. 1st IVF. BFP. Due 16/6/10
Ellielou. Age 40. 1st IVF Jan 2010. BFP. Baby boy was due 6/10/10
Nannysam/Sam. Age 41Cycling?
Janeh30. ?
Firstprincess. Child from previous relationship. Going again?
Mrs S/Janine. Charlie born Feb 2008.
Yorkshire Mummy/Victoria. Age 39 Son Matthew age 3. Trying again?
Silverhill. Age 41. Boy age 6 following previous tx. Trying again? BFP August 2011
Nunu/Dawn. IVF2002 BFN. FET 2003 son Callum born. ICSI March 2011 BFP. Baby due imminently
Fruitloop. 1st cycle IVF2007. Baby girl born Dec 2007

Blimey, that was a bit of an epic update!! As for me, went back to thyroid doctor on Friday and I'm now just on 1 tablet a day (as opposed to 8 a day when I started on them!) and the consultant said that he saw no problem with my starting IVF in January, so fingers crossed!

Must get on, just watching end of Downton Abbey.

Wendy xx

Mummy hen · 12 Aug 2011

Wow Wendy, that's fantastic and thank you - glad you didn't do it in age order though!!! I cannot see anything missing other than MissJK is AKA Jo.

Oh and Sarah baby due 23rd April 12 - is this correct Sarah?

Well done and good news about the thyroid meds, that is a massive difference and I presume might stop the itching?

have a good week everyone xxx

wendymw · 01 Feb 2008

Nicki, MissJK Is on there! lol.

No didn't do in age order, there was absolutely no scientific process used!!!

How are you doing?

Will update Sarah's due date - couldn't work it out from 176 days without using even more brain cells!!

Wendy xx

Mummy hen · 12 Aug 2011

Also just noticed how many babies from 1st attempts - just given me a massive positive boost!!

xx

wendymw · 01 Feb 2008

Yes Nicki, single ladies seem to have a good success rate, regardless of age. Perhaps it's the lack of an other half adding to the stress that helps success! Lol

Night night.

X

Mummy hen · 12 Aug 2011

doh sorry!!

Am ok thanks - got a sneaky feeling that AF is on its way (although very early but hey that is not unusual), saying that out aloud will probably jinx things now but I will be glad to get going (I think!!). Got a bit of a break from the other stuff for a few weeks but still struggling with some of the things that I have had to disclose. Its out of my hands now so will just have to have some faith in the system!!

xxx

Jo--Jo · 22 Dec 2010

Hi everyone

I thought I would finally get around to logging on and updating. Iâ€™ve done my cycle and am now on my 2WW. I had 7 follicles on the day of collection, of which 6 had eggs in. Of these 5 fertilised with ICSI. 2 didnâ€™t divide and 1 wasnâ€™t good enough to freeze. As such I have one grade 1 embie snuggling in and a grade 1-2 frostie. Both were 8 cells on the day of transfer. Not bad considering the low fertility and anatomy problems. Iâ€™ve been much better following this egg collection too. Instead of moving my bowel around to reach my left ovary, they put a needle through my womb to get to it. It has meant I am on antibiotics, but the pain is so much better than last time. So now I just waitâ€¦â€¦..

They gave me a photo of the embryo under the microscope which I wasnâ€™t expecting and I was thrilled with it. Itâ€™s bizarre how much a photo of a few cells can mean to you!

So how is everyone else?

Sar â€“ how is the adoption stuff going? Hopefully all the government stuff that is happening will help you to reach your goal quicker. I have been thinking of you whenever I hear it all on the news.

Sarah â€“ howâ€™s your bump doing? I hope you are enjoying every second and havenâ€™t got too much morning sickness!

Wendy â€“ how are things going? Great news that you have been given the go ahead to try again in January. It will be a totally different experience this time around now you have Theo too!

How are the new ladies doing? If you have any questions, please just ask. I went to an open evening and I went on my own. For me, I felt it was important to go on my own. It was almost like I was testing myself to see if I could be strong enough! Bizarre I know! It was fine. Everyone else was in a couple, but I was surprised to see people of differing ages and all had had different experiences which had led them to CARE. It did actually make me feel that I was just the same as them, but that my journey to that point was different too. I have since been to all appointments with a friend or my Mum. Now that brings me on to a whole new story! Initially my mum and dad werenâ€™t very supportive and things were awkward for a while. Once we sat down properly and discussed all issues (after theyâ€™d had some time to think), things have been better. I think there is still some way to go, but its all in the right direction. My friends have all been wonderful though, and Iâ€™ve not had one bad comment. I think theyâ€™re even more excited than me!!

Take care everyone, and Iâ€™ll let you know how I get on. Hopefully it will be good news!

Jo

xx