I had my pre IVF consultation with my clinic this afternoon. I went there thinking I had a perfectly reasonable plan which has been encouraged both by my egg freezing doctor (way back when) and by the first doctor I saw at this clinic. This was, mainly, to do a fresh IVF cycle and save my frozen eggs as a last resort.
This plan was immediately questioned by the doctor I met to have my consultation with. It was the same doctor who did my Hycosi although that was the only time I've met with him previously. He thought I should be going straight to my frozen eggs as this would give me the best chance of success at this stage. Now, the reason for not using the frozen eggs straight away was if I am fertile now, that gives me an option for the future, if I want one. I don't at the moment think I want one. I think that one child would be all I want. But I liked the idea of holding something in reserve. However, the doctor was really surprised and encouraged me to not put my body through IVF when I could use frozen eggs. So this threw my thinking completely out. I held firm at first, and then as we kept talking I started questioning myself.
In addition to this confusion, he was looking at my file and saying that I needed to attend the 'information session' as a matter of policy. Now, way back when, when I started treatment they said I had to do the information session. Then, when I explained I'd done egg freezing and was pretty well versed in the fertility sphere, they said I didn't have to. But apparently now I do have to. So I got scheduled in to attend an information session where I strongly doubt I will learn anything new. In addition to this hoop jumping, he informed me that I also needed a consultation with a counselor about the implications of using donor sperm. I don't mind meeting with a counselor, but again, I feel fairly well versed in the implications of using donor sperm and am in fact this weekend going to a conference hosted by the DCN - so I will jump through this hoop but it annoyed me.
Anyway, back to the consultation.
So the doctor relented that ultimately it was my decision but it was clear he didn't think I should be doing fresh IVF to start. He was also saying that a lot of things had to happen to start the cycle so I couldn't just assume I could start with my period in May which stressed me out. He then saw me getting stressed and tried to convey that staying calm through all this is helpful for getting pregnant. In the meantime, I'm thinking to myself that I understand where he's coming from but he's not being particularly helpful in ensuring that I am calm because he's causing all sorts of disruptions to things that I thought were reasonably fixed!
So as we're discussing it back and forth, and he's making me feel not so great by commenting that if I only got 6,4, and 3 eggs on my egg freezing cycles that my chances for IVF retrieval at this stage were not so great, he mentions that I could consider doing a fresh IVF cycle and also at the same time defrosting half of the frozen eggs to increase my chances of having one or two viable embryos. Now this sounded better to me. First, because I can plan to start the IVF cycle in May and now it's really about getting in touch with my London clinic to arrange the transfer of my eggs to Cambridge and having them in place for this to happen. It also allows me to save half of the frozen eggs for a second try either immediately if this doesn't work, or in the future possibly. So I think out of the 13 frozen eggs I have, I may suggest they start by defrosting 6 for this cycle. Those will need to be fertilized with ICSI, and they can be watched alongside anything that may be retrieved from the fresh cycle.
So it's a slightly different plan but one I actually feel reasonably good about. I am also going to email the embryologist to see what would happen for example, if the 6 don't defrost or fertilize for some reason, would there be time to defrost the other 7 in this cycle (I actually have no idea how long it takes to defrost an egg although I assume not so quickly). This means I am now waiting for them to price up this option and the drugs costs and then I can order my drugs and schedule a counselling session and attend the information evening and be all set to start my IVF drugs on day 2 of my period.
Phew.
So a good result in the end that I have a plan and it's all systems go. But really more stressful than it needed to be and a bit of a kick from a doctor who was clearly trying to tell me that he didn't think my odds were so great being over 40. But anyway, I'll see what I get fresh, and I'll give some of those frozen eggs a chance and we'll see where we get to.
But first I need to call my old clinic and see about getting those eggs transferred to Cambridge. I'm sure I'll need to sign a release or some such even though I will never actually see these eggs and it will all be done clinic to clnic. The UK is very strict on fertility issues! So much paperwork.
Anyway, it seems like more updates will be on the way as the planning progresses.
Showing posts with label Hycosi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hycosi. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
IUI 1 - Insemination
Here I am at the clinic waiting for my taxi to take me back to work. Is this for real?? Holy shit. I'm back to feeling terrified. But also skeptical, incredulous, in denial, etc. I'm feeling a lot, but I can't put my finger on any one particular feeling. Really it's a bit overwhelming and then all of the sudden at the same time it's so overwhelming I can't think about it at all.
I did the trigger last night at 6pm. Managed to not open one of the glass vials very well and it made a bit of a mess as when the top came off it crushed. But it was okay. I started to get a bit freaked out about the timing of the trigger versus the timing of the insemination today as they were scheduled for 20 hours apart. On the internet, which you should never read for medical advice, there are so many women freaking out about the timing of these two things. Basically the trigger starts the ovulation process, but it takes time. Both the egg and sperm have certain lifespans and ideally you want those things to match up. When I did egg freezing, the procedure was 35 hours after the trigger (I think) so this sort of freaked me out and I went for the earliest time they told me. However, I asked the doctor about this at the procedure and she was extremely reassuring about success rates of 20 hour versus 35 hour (which is to say, they're basically the same) and that they believe they don't want to miss the egg window so better to go early. Fine by me.
Anyway, I took a taxi to the clinic from work. They told me to be here at 1:45 and of course I was early. But they were running late. So I didn't go in until probably 2:15. No one else was in the recovery room and I had a cubicle to myself. Jeans and underwear came off and a hospital robe went on the front. I got to hold it together at the back which is always fun. The doctor and trainee doctor came in and explained the procedure. I think it took longer to explain then do!
We went into the procedure room and I got on the table. The lead doctor had an ultrasound on my tummy to watch the procedure and try to see the ovary. She couldn't see the follicle, which could mean it already started to release, or she just couldn't see it from that angle. The trainee doctor put in the speculum and cleaned the womb entrance with sterile water. A tiny catheter was put into the womb and then the embryologist passes over the prepared sperm. This was connected to the catheter, injected, and all was done! The catheter was so tiny I didn't have any cramping at all. Not like the Hycosi at all. In fact, I didn't even know the catheter was inserted.
Now the waiting begins. Since the egg may or may not be released yet, there is still some time (say, 24 hours) for it even to become fertilized. Then it takes some time to properly implant. I need a progesterone test in a week to verify l ovulated, although I can't imagine I didn't. Then they gave me a home pregnancy test to take on the 11th of March. This is actually a bit more than 2 weeks which sort of sucks. I'm sure the waiting is going to be emotionally taxing.
But really, as the doctor said, that's all there is to it. She made an effort to express to me that there is pretty much nothing I can do at this point that will change the outcome. She said, if I have a doubt about something, I shouldn't do it. But not because it will make a difference, but more because it will make a difference to how I feel and my stress levels. She said to keep taking vitamins and wait.
So that's pretty much all I can do....
In the meantime, assuming this cycle doesn't work, I asked about when I could order the drugs for the next cycle. They said to call on the first day of my period if it starts and hopefully I could get the drugs and come in for a scan on day 4. So.... obviously there's a much greater likelihood that this will be the case as opposed to the alternative.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Test Results
Various tests and results this week moves everything that little bit forward. First, I managed to get my GP to do the majority of the blood tests the clinic said I needed to get which was good. I need to call the GP tomorrow though because when the clinic called to tell me that my CMV was negative (more on that later), they also casually mentioned one of the other tests had some unusual results. I didn't catch what she said and it was a very quick phone call, but considering the only other tests I had were HIV and HepB/C, you don't really want to hear that something was unusual! Anyway, hopefully I'll find out more on that tomorrow.
The results of my AMH test that the clinic did on my first visit came back and was 8.5 pmol/L. In early 2013, my AMH was 9.4 so it makes sense that it's gone down, although not by too much so that's great. It means my fertility is in the low bracket but still completely reasonable for my age. I also had a good number of follicles (11?) when the doctor did my scan. So although my fertility isn't like it was when I was younger, I'm in good shape for attempting to get pregnant naturally based on these results.
The AMH test results also meant that I could go ahead with the second test that I needed to ensure that I could try an IUI cycle, which was the hycosi. I had this on Tuesday. It was a relatively easy procedure although not very comfortable. I cycled up to the clinic from work (about 2 miles/15 minutes) and waited for my appointment. I was shown to a recovery area and asked to remove all my clothing from the waist down (I left on my socks) and was given two hospital robes- one to put on the front and one to use as a dressing gown in the back. The doctor came in and explained the procedure. He was assisted by a nurse and another doctor who may have been training. She didn't do anything, she just watched and asked questions.
They gave me some paracetamol to take when I arrived. But otherwise, I hadn't taken anything or done anything special. I think I emptied my bladder in preparation but that was all. When they were ready for me, I walked into the procedure room which had yellow lights as it's the same room they use for embryo transfers (and the light waves can damage embryos apparently). Up onto a gynecological table and I scooted down until my butt was hanging off the edge. Then the doctor did some cleaning with a swab and went in with a speculum. They put a very fine tube through the cervix into the uterus in order to insert contrast liquid into the uterus and therefore into the Fallopian tubes. This was not very pleasant and the insertion of the tube resulted in some cramping that felt like bad period cramps. Although they subsided. Then they removed the speculum and inserted the ultrasound at which point the liquid is sent in which also felt uncomfortable and a bit crampy. They can see the uterus at this point and then need the liquid to flow into the Fallopian tube. This required some pushing on my stomach which again was unpleasant although not that bad. It mostly felt like I really had to pee and had cramps. I couldn't see the screen they were all looking at but apparently it was all fine and they could see the liquid moving cleanly through the tube and then washing over the ovary. My other tube was mostly removed when my dermoid cysted ovary was removed. So that was okay. Then everything came out and the procedure was done.
Apparently your body absorbs the liquid although you are told to expect some spotting which is pretty much what I've had. They had me lay on the procedure bed for a bit in case I felt dizzy or woozy or anything but honesty I pretty much felt fine except for a bit crampy and a bit like I had to pee. So after a few minutes they let me get up and go back to the recover room where I used the toilet, put a pad on, got dressed and that was that!
I had an appointment scheduled with a nurse to go through the next steps which I did. I also had a lot of forms to fill out giving various consents and so on. The UK has some very strict laws in place regarding fertility treatment, which is probably a good thing, but means there's a lot of paperwork to deal with.
We talked about what's needed to do the drug assisted IUI and the timing. It seems clear that I won't be able to start a cycle until my first period in January as I'm away in December and January which makes scheduling around that challenging. But that's okay. It gives me time to get the donor sperm ordered which is proving to be its own difficulty but I think I'll write a separate post about that. At this point, I'm just happy that the tests I've taken so far are good, and the next step is known and vaguely scheduled (as much as you can schedule an irregular period).
Budget update:
The results of my AMH test that the clinic did on my first visit came back and was 8.5 pmol/L. In early 2013, my AMH was 9.4 so it makes sense that it's gone down, although not by too much so that's great. It means my fertility is in the low bracket but still completely reasonable for my age. I also had a good number of follicles (11?) when the doctor did my scan. So although my fertility isn't like it was when I was younger, I'm in good shape for attempting to get pregnant naturally based on these results.
The AMH test results also meant that I could go ahead with the second test that I needed to ensure that I could try an IUI cycle, which was the hycosi. I had this on Tuesday. It was a relatively easy procedure although not very comfortable. I cycled up to the clinic from work (about 2 miles/15 minutes) and waited for my appointment. I was shown to a recovery area and asked to remove all my clothing from the waist down (I left on my socks) and was given two hospital robes- one to put on the front and one to use as a dressing gown in the back. The doctor came in and explained the procedure. He was assisted by a nurse and another doctor who may have been training. She didn't do anything, she just watched and asked questions.
They gave me some paracetamol to take when I arrived. But otherwise, I hadn't taken anything or done anything special. I think I emptied my bladder in preparation but that was all. When they were ready for me, I walked into the procedure room which had yellow lights as it's the same room they use for embryo transfers (and the light waves can damage embryos apparently). Up onto a gynecological table and I scooted down until my butt was hanging off the edge. Then the doctor did some cleaning with a swab and went in with a speculum. They put a very fine tube through the cervix into the uterus in order to insert contrast liquid into the uterus and therefore into the Fallopian tubes. This was not very pleasant and the insertion of the tube resulted in some cramping that felt like bad period cramps. Although they subsided. Then they removed the speculum and inserted the ultrasound at which point the liquid is sent in which also felt uncomfortable and a bit crampy. They can see the uterus at this point and then need the liquid to flow into the Fallopian tube. This required some pushing on my stomach which again was unpleasant although not that bad. It mostly felt like I really had to pee and had cramps. I couldn't see the screen they were all looking at but apparently it was all fine and they could see the liquid moving cleanly through the tube and then washing over the ovary. My other tube was mostly removed when my dermoid cysted ovary was removed. So that was okay. Then everything came out and the procedure was done.
Apparently your body absorbs the liquid although you are told to expect some spotting which is pretty much what I've had. They had me lay on the procedure bed for a bit in case I felt dizzy or woozy or anything but honesty I pretty much felt fine except for a bit crampy and a bit like I had to pee. So after a few minutes they let me get up and go back to the recover room where I used the toilet, put a pad on, got dressed and that was that!
I had an appointment scheduled with a nurse to go through the next steps which I did. I also had a lot of forms to fill out giving various consents and so on. The UK has some very strict laws in place regarding fertility treatment, which is probably a good thing, but means there's a lot of paperwork to deal with.
We talked about what's needed to do the drug assisted IUI and the timing. It seems clear that I won't be able to start a cycle until my first period in January as I'm away in December and January which makes scheduling around that challenging. But that's okay. It gives me time to get the donor sperm ordered which is proving to be its own difficulty but I think I'll write a separate post about that. At this point, I'm just happy that the tests I've taken so far are good, and the next step is known and vaguely scheduled (as much as you can schedule an irregular period).
Budget update:
| Previous total | £370 |
| Hycosi | £350 |
| New total | £720 |
Sunday, October 18, 2015
First post
So I thought I'd make a new blog for this new venture. For anyone new to this blog, you can read about my journey with egg freezing here. I'm glad that blog has been, and continues to be a resource for women on their personal fertility journeys.
But lots of different things can happen after you freeze your eggs. You may decide not to have a child. You may meet someone and find out you are pregnant naturally. You may meet someone and decide to use your frozen eggs to try to have a child with them. Or, like me, you can begin the process of trying to become a mother on your own which may involve using those frozen eggs, or not.
When I started my egg-freezing journey, I of course had already started to think about the possibility of single motherhood. When I spoke to the counselor she had suggested I move my planning forward, and yet here I am, just over 2 years after I froze my eggs and pretty much on the schedule I anticipated.
I haven't met a partner I want to have a child with, although I will mention that I do have a partner who I see regularly. Our relationship is great, but at the moment, it's not the sort of one where you make a child together and tie yourself to each other for the rest of your lives. He knows about my plans. I'm sure I'll mention him again as this continues, particularly if I'm successful!
So, what's happened so far.
About two to three months ago I met with my new GP (I've moved out of London) to start the process of trying to get pregnant. In Cambridge where I live now, there are limited options for clinics. Due to the frequent nature of tests and scans, it is not feasible for me to continue with my London clinic. So in Cambridge, there is basically one centrally located clinic which is also the NHS clinic. You can either go through the NHS, or private. I'm going privately but I also had to be referred by my GP.
So I met with my GP and she was very nice. She scheduled me for a progesterone test and did a swab test. Then I had to wait for my period to start so I could get the progesterone test 21 days after it. I went on day 21 and my progesterone result was 18. That was low, but my period didn't start. So I spoke to the GP and he had me come in on day 28 when my progesterone was up to 34.2 (which suggests I've ovulated which was good!) and my period finally came on day 33. In the meantime I followed up with the clinic and scheduled my first appointment for last Tuesday. I had the initial consultation with one of the three doctors and she did an ultrasound and they took my blood for a new AMH.
We discussed my options for moving forward. The discussion was pretty much in line with the last conversation I had with my egg freezing doctor. If my AMH is okay and my Fallopian tubes are open (I'm scheduled for a Hycosi this Tuesday) then she suggests I try two cycles of drug assisted IUI. She doesn't think I should waste too much time with it, but as it's much less expensive, and my fertility is unproven, then she thinks it's worth two tries. After that, it's likely to be fresh IVF cycles until I'm either pregnant or running low on resources or we decide that's not a good idea, and then (and only then) will we move on to the frozen eggs.
I've saved and set aside £30k for this journey which is no small thing by any stretch. That's on top of the money already spent on the egg freezing. You don't do something like this unless you are really really serious about it. That money could all have gone to any number of other things.
So, this is where I'm at. Tomorrow I will call the clinic to see if it's worth proceeding with the Hycosi based on my new AMH test. I am currently shopping around for donor sperm which will probably be the subject of one of my next posts. And because of holidays and travel, I'm likely to only be able to start my first cycle of trying to get pregnant in January. But that's fine. I have a plan, I'm moving forward, I'm taking action, and holy crap this is really happening.
Stay tuned.
Budget:
But lots of different things can happen after you freeze your eggs. You may decide not to have a child. You may meet someone and find out you are pregnant naturally. You may meet someone and decide to use your frozen eggs to try to have a child with them. Or, like me, you can begin the process of trying to become a mother on your own which may involve using those frozen eggs, or not.
When I started my egg-freezing journey, I of course had already started to think about the possibility of single motherhood. When I spoke to the counselor she had suggested I move my planning forward, and yet here I am, just over 2 years after I froze my eggs and pretty much on the schedule I anticipated.
I haven't met a partner I want to have a child with, although I will mention that I do have a partner who I see regularly. Our relationship is great, but at the moment, it's not the sort of one where you make a child together and tie yourself to each other for the rest of your lives. He knows about my plans. I'm sure I'll mention him again as this continues, particularly if I'm successful!
So, what's happened so far.
About two to three months ago I met with my new GP (I've moved out of London) to start the process of trying to get pregnant. In Cambridge where I live now, there are limited options for clinics. Due to the frequent nature of tests and scans, it is not feasible for me to continue with my London clinic. So in Cambridge, there is basically one centrally located clinic which is also the NHS clinic. You can either go through the NHS, or private. I'm going privately but I also had to be referred by my GP.
So I met with my GP and she was very nice. She scheduled me for a progesterone test and did a swab test. Then I had to wait for my period to start so I could get the progesterone test 21 days after it. I went on day 21 and my progesterone result was 18. That was low, but my period didn't start. So I spoke to the GP and he had me come in on day 28 when my progesterone was up to 34.2 (which suggests I've ovulated which was good!) and my period finally came on day 33. In the meantime I followed up with the clinic and scheduled my first appointment for last Tuesday. I had the initial consultation with one of the three doctors and she did an ultrasound and they took my blood for a new AMH.
We discussed my options for moving forward. The discussion was pretty much in line with the last conversation I had with my egg freezing doctor. If my AMH is okay and my Fallopian tubes are open (I'm scheduled for a Hycosi this Tuesday) then she suggests I try two cycles of drug assisted IUI. She doesn't think I should waste too much time with it, but as it's much less expensive, and my fertility is unproven, then she thinks it's worth two tries. After that, it's likely to be fresh IVF cycles until I'm either pregnant or running low on resources or we decide that's not a good idea, and then (and only then) will we move on to the frozen eggs.
I've saved and set aside £30k for this journey which is no small thing by any stretch. That's on top of the money already spent on the egg freezing. You don't do something like this unless you are really really serious about it. That money could all have gone to any number of other things.
So, this is where I'm at. Tomorrow I will call the clinic to see if it's worth proceeding with the Hycosi based on my new AMH test. I am currently shopping around for donor sperm which will probably be the subject of one of my next posts. And because of holidays and travel, I'm likely to only be able to start my first cycle of trying to get pregnant in January. But that's fine. I have a plan, I'm moving forward, I'm taking action, and holy crap this is really happening.
Stay tuned.
Budget:
| Initial Consultation | £370 |
| Current total | £370 |
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