Back on the bandwagon

[20percent]

Hi ladies,

I hope everyone is well and also that a lot of the people who were here when I was last on the forum have now succeeded and r bumped up or have their bundles of joy 😊

I am still on my journey.... 1x IUI, 3 x IVF with own eggs and donor sperm (only 2 eggs collected throughout and none successfully fertilised), one double donor cycle (resulting in 3 blastos transferred as 2x FET) all unsuccessful.

I had to take a break from all things IVF for a while after that lot, I think the break did me good. 👍. I am now back in the saddle, so to speak, and am undertaking IVF with embryo adoption. I am having treatment with my local clinic and then the transfer will take place in Spain.

It hasn’t been plain sailing so far, as I’ve learned to expect! 😏 my body decided it wasn’t going to have a period for 3months so, in the end, one was started with medication. I then had my mock cycle that went fine and then a pro strap injection to block my ovaries and stop hormone production which brought on day one of my period for my actual transfer cycle.

I have had many problems with previous transfers and monstrous cramping from them. My last clinic said there was nothing to b done for this but my new clinic diagnosed stenosis of the back of my cervix so, during my period (gross TMI) I had to go for a cervical stretch under a general anaesthetic. This all went well but unfortunately they found the smallest fibroid in the history of fibroids growing in my uterine wall so cycle was cancelled until that could be removed. This was a massive blow for me as I really did just feel that everything was right and that my body was ready for the transfer that month.

I went back the next week and had another general anaesthetic and had the resection of the fibroid. That all went well, although 2gebetal anaesthetics in a week took its toll!

Unfortunately, I had already booked my flights and hotel for the transfer (it was due to be over a bank holiday and the prices were sky rocketing!) so I ended up with a cheeky holiday instead and went to visit the clinic....unexpectedly got to see my specialist whilst over there and had a scan (thank god I was on holiday so had carried out the standard bikini line maintenance....never occurred to me I would b having a scan there!). The consultant felt all looked good in there and decided I was to start taking the meds for my transfer cycle the next day.......the same day I came down with flu! 😢

I really didn’t feel at all ready but went along with it......my body jumped to my rescue I think this time and it turned out at my scan last week that I had grown a giant follicle! That has put the kybosh on my having the transfer this month so I am now looking at it happening mid October..

Blimey....this has turned in to a loooong post....I only dropped by to catch up! Well done if u’ve read all that!

Fingers crossed anyway! 🤞😊

 

[chattychar1990]

Fingers crossed for you lovely. X

 

[tinselcat]

Oh 20%, I'm so glad to see you back! I know you've had a torrid journey til now but am glad that you are still in with a fighting chance!

My last donor sperm round also failed with poor results, so now I'm preparing for another one (maybe in December, if I can start getting myself healthy by then) and if that doesn't work then I'm maybe looking at donor egg + donor sperm. Hopefully a no-deal Brexit won't get in the way of that

Everything crossed for you honey xxxx

 

[20percent]

Hi Tinselcat!

Ah, I’m both happy and sad to see u still here! I had so hoped ur treatment would work. Onwards though. 👍😊

Wishing u all the luck in the world with ur next cycle in December 😁

Long way ahead, and hopefully ull never need it, but if u do, I really do recommend donor embryos over double donor, as it is far less of a financial gamble as u r guaranteed to get healthy top grade embryos to transfer rather than having to wait and see what number/quality of eggs u get, then that awful wait to find out how many embryos r going to come out of it!

The Institute Bernabeu have been brilliant for me as I can have all my blood tests and scans done at a local clinic just 30mins away and they do all the matching and source the embryos for a very good price. U only need to spend a day in Spain if u wish as u only have to go for the actual transfer.

Anyway, I very much hope u don’t ever need that info and that all is well with u and ur little one 😊XX

 

[phonixgirl]

20percent I know it's frustrating for you but it sounds really good that they found something. I feel positive for your next cycle. Obviously I know how it all feels.

Was it the Institute Bernabeu who diagnosed your cervix and fibroid issue? We are looking at clinics abroad to have IVF with as I don't seem to be having any success with my current NHS one...

 

[20percent]

Ah, phonix, lovely to hear from u thank u and I’m so sorry u haven’t got ur sticky BFP yet.....if it gives u any hope at all my uk consultant at the clinic here told me that I absolutely would get pregnant at some point because the statistics are now just in my favour....it seems that (within reason) if u keep on keeping on u will get there in the end! If numbers for donor eggs r to be believed I should now be up to a 90% chance of success this go 🤞

In answer to ur question it was actually my local clinic who (happily for me! &#128522 diagnosed my stenosis. Out of pure luck, the consultant at a clinic in my nearest town used to run the Assisted Conception unit at St Thomas’ in London! After a lot of researching I have found that a lot of the ex top specialists at the best London hospitals seem to go out of town to start up their own private clinics! 👍 I simply told him about the terrible cramping I’d had on the previous transfers as I wanted to have sedation for the next one so I didn’t have to go through it again and he just got out a piece of paper and drew a diagram of what he thought was the problem (scarring and consequent stenosis at the back of my cervix when it opens into the uterus).....no expensive testing, just his experience I guess.

The local clinic here work in conjunction with St Thomas’ or the Bernabeu (depending on what kind of treatment u are having). They will do all the scans and bloods in house and then if ur having own egg IVF they do the egg collections and ET’s at St Thomas’ or if u r going donor embryo (hens teeth in this country really as it is not anonymous, unlike most of the rest of Europe) then it’s off to Spain. 👍

I think the prices r very reasonable too. It’s not cheap of course, but I have paid £5800 for everything for this embryo donation cycle....only flights and meds have been on top and, as I’m only on progesterone and oestrogen, that hasn’t been a big cost.....they even do airport transfers for u within Spain for free! There are women at my clinic who are going direct to the Bernabeu but are paying to have their scans and blood at my clinic as an outpatient....so there are a lot of options with going abroad for treatment to make it easier for u.

Obviously I can’t rave wildly about any clinic cause I haven’t got my BFP yet but I certainly trust my clinics now 1000% more than I ever did Create. They do genuinely give me the impression that it is important to them that they get everything right and they have adjusted my treatment each month just to react to everything my body has been determined to throw in the way. The other nicer thing is that I am not being hit with a massive £800+ bill each time they cancel unlike my previous clinic so I don’t feel it is in any way in their interest to cancel my cycles when they have had to, which was what I did feel was the case by the end of my time with Create.

Argh....another ridiculously looooong post, sorry! 😳 I’m just pleased to share what I have learned along the way cause if it can save anyone some time, money and heartbreak that can only be a good thing 👍 I know u have had more experience than me with ivf 😘 Keep ur chin up luvvie, in the words of my consultant, u really WILL get ur take home baby 😊👍 I’m holding him to that!