first fertility appointment

[nicky_25]

Had our first infertility appointment a few weeks ago. Looks like we could be starting ivf in 6-7 months. After almost 2 years ttc we are thrilled to be moving forward in our journey. Feeling all sorts of emotions...happy/excited/scared....eeek. My only concern is my job...I work as a nurse in a very busy recieving ward and as a result can be very stressful. Did anyone who went through Ivf take time off work for treatment? Xx

 

[FBTTN8079]

Hi Hon how exciting that you now have a plan that's great news
I'm a nurse and I'm now in a specialist role but worked on an assessment unit before hand and I can understand your worries with the stress of those wards , I know that most trusts allow five days leave for ivf treatment and I'm using toil for any scan appointments etc before hand cx

 

[Browneyed Girl]

Hi hun, that's great news that you'll be starting IVF soon. I've just started my first cycle and feel exactly as you said excited and terrified at the same time!

Regarding time off it will depend to an extent on which protocol you're doing. I'm doing long which involves 2 weeks of down regging and then another 2 of stims. Time off wise I've had time to attend teach (about an hour including filling in consent forms etc), scan and bloods appointment at the beginning of the cycle I was accepted on, scan and bloods after 2 weeks down regging (this appointment was yesterday). Going forward I've got to have a blood test in 5 days, bloods and scan in 7 days and then it will be scans every other day until collection (hopefully). My appointments now I've started treatment are all first thing ie 7.45-10ish so not too bad for me work wise but depends on your shifts really.

Hope this helps xxx

 

[nicky_25]

Thats great ladies. Thank you so much for replying. Looking forward to it. Hopefully these next few months will fly by. Iv been told by one of the doctors that before we go through with it i will undergo some tests. What sort of tests? Xx

 

[Poispinner]

Hello Nicky, im pretty much in the same boat as you. Had my referral letter through this morning, our first appointment is 8th Jan. Dont really know what to expect, I assume the first appointment is just form filling? Do they advise what the next steps will be as my GP hasnt really said alot?

 

[nicky_25]

Hey hunni tbh we never realised that the appointment we are going to last month was our assisted conception clinic. We were under the impression that is was hubby's urologsit (we are trying to conceive with a very low sperm count). We knew ivf was our route which just didn't expect to be referred straight away for it. As for our gp we have felt pretty let down by them. No information from them and never even suggested about hubby taking vits. It was me that put him on zinc. Our next appointment at the clinic is the 22nd of Dec and in that time frame hubby has to provide another sperm and blood sample for testing xx

 

[Poispinner]

What did they do at your first appointment? x

 

[nicky_25]

Just told us that we would be starting ivf in 6 months and took hubby's bloods xx

 

[Poispinner]

Thanks. But you have had an hsg already? Do they know the reason you havent conceived yet? Sorry if you've already said this haven't been on here in months!!! x

 

[Poispinner]

Sorry just re-read your above post about the low sperm count x

 

[nicky_25]

Yeah very low sperm count. Only 2.2 million per mil. All Iv hade checked is my day 21 bloods and imagine I'd get more test done leading up to ivf xx

 

[nicky_25]

Had my second infertility appointment yesterday. Third seman analysis showed numbers remain at 2 million per ml. All genetic testing came back negative. No obvious cause for low count. We're told that the quality of his sperm should mean we are able to achieve a sucessful pregnancy with icsi. We could now be starting in march! To call in the new year to find out where we are in the list!! So exciting!

 

[Poispinner]

That is exciting news! Yay =) That will be here before you know it. Keep us informed and have a lovely Christmas xx

 

[nicky_25]

U too hunni and to all those ttc xxx

 

[FBTTN8079]

Excellent its great to have a plan wont be too long before the ball gets rolling xx

 

[Poispinner]

How are things Nicky_25? Any news?

 

[nicky_25]

Called the clinic yesterday and had a very rude receptionist/nurse on the phone who moaned at my hubby for calling so early in the year and then told us we won't begin until may/June! Feel so sad now xxx

 

[Poispinner]

Aww thats not good news. Sorry to hear that. Keep positive tho it will be here before you know it. Xx

 

[CDAbaby]

Hi Nicki, your first appointment sounds a lot more positive than mine. We came away with hardley any information just a load of blood test request for genetics for OH and told we would have to wait until we are 30 for IVF. We are 27 and have been Ttc for 2 years also with low Count, our next appointment is on April 4 months after our first. Think it's going to be a long drawn out process. Fingers crossed you won't have to wait until June x