IVF HAMMERSMITH

[CarolynB]

Hi Lola & Mags

Lola - I had no idea that you were at Hammersmith. I'm the lady who has been marvelling at the attitude of the Octoberonies! You have held them together so well despite all the s*** that you have been through. I am a Camden girl too. Spokey - where do you live!? Dh and I are in West Hampstead.

Anyway, I am at Hammersmith. Refered their by my local GP. We then went private because of my age and dh has a son by a lady from years ago who he has never seen. But knew that would count against us & probably mean that nhs was out the question. Also hit the big 4-0 in 2 weeks so knew that we need to get our skates on to have any sort of chance with my own eggs. So went private - I would say all in cost with drugs (low dose for me so a bit cheaper) was around £3,000. Then £500 to freeze and understand that a FET is around £800.

Mags - the only thing that I was surprised about was that you might have been refered to Mr Magara. That is who I got refered to by my GP last Nov/Dec time. We went to see him just before Xmas. He told us that he was retiring and that we could see him after all the initial investigative tests but then he would be retiring. He is a lovely gentlemen - we found him very down to earth but realistic about our situation & the chances. We then did all our investigative tests over Xmas and into Jan. We saw him for follow up in v early Feb. Then start time depends on protocol they put you on plus AF timings. Guess your timing will depend on whether they want to do any investigative tests before you start. I could have started an ivf cycle in late Feb/early March but was mental busy at work that I put back for a month so work would have calmed down (moved to part time some weeks to try to help my stress level). Did my first cycle March - May. Long Day 2 protocol. Basically 2 1/2 weeks of daily injections of bursulin to stop my system. Then 11 days of puregon on top through an injection pen. You just get used to the injections and they quickly become routine. I got lots of follies & then 13 eggs. We were really pleased given my age. 8 good fertilised embies of which two went back & we froze 6. Sadly BFN last week. Trying to stay +ve that up to implanation I did have a very good cycle. Hammersmith are good. I like the OK magazine too It is quite a big clinic so can feel a little impersonal at times but I feel that helps me deal with the emotions of it all. I only had one scan when I felt the lady did not give me too much info but the ladies on here just told me to ask more questions at the next scan so I did. They knock you out pretty much completely for EC which was great. Agree with Lola that they pretty much leave you to get on with it but I am independent and quite happy to do my own research and seek help from the ladies here so that was cool by me too.

We are now moving to Mr Trew but have not met him yet. At my review appointment, we will decide whether we do another fesh cycle or a FET or talk about an op to open up my tubes. Probably go for the FET as I responded quite strongly to the ivf drugs. I am focued on getting my body healthy - no booze, no caffenine, good diet, Zita West vitamins plus acupuncture (just tried yesterday) so that I can get my home all nice and cozy for their return.

Mags - just seen when you are there. Same day as me. We are there on 31st May - day after my 40th Birthday - so I will be the saggy, old lady in the corner. . Think that our review appointment is about 12noon. Might see you in the waiting room

Lola - may be you & I will go for the FET at the same time? I am hoping over the summer???!!

Let's all keep talking.
Love Carolyn xxxx

[lolajones]

Aloha - hail The Hammers!

I live in Holborn, or as the estate agents now like to call it, Midtown

We may well be fetting togther - I'm aiming for the summer too. Am going to try and convince Dr McFertile to let me try and grow some blastocysts. I've got 12 frozen top notchers currently chilling in the tundra. I want to thaw half of them and see how many make it to day 5. Haven't booked my follow up appt yet after the neg in April - too busy, will now try and book something for the same day as you two so I can spy heh heh, I'll be the evil pixie woman in dark glasses and a mac, looking like she needs a good sleep and a hot meal

Anyone out there with any "I got pregnant" Hammersmith stories? Got to fuel the PMA fire.

Take care

Lola
x

[margaretgo]

I'm also Camden - so hopefully - but I'll check just to make sure.

Mx

[CarolynB]

Hi Lola

I shall look out for you in mac & shades. Mid-town - feel like I am positively in the sticks compared to you. No +ve stories I am afraid - but more questions from me I'm afraid.

Have you looked at anywhere other than Hammersmith for treatment? Had lunch with a friend on Friday who did 4 cycles - 3rd was a BFP but then her Dad passed away & she miscarried. It is so sad. She is now adopting a little girl from China. But she did her first two cycles at St Thomas and then went to ARGC on Wimpole Street which was where she did get a +ve. She suggested that I take a look. Their web site is down for reconstruction but went to HEFA and looked at the stats. I know that they can all frig the stats by not taking on the problem cases but ARGC's stats look much better than Hammersmith or the other London clinics.

Any thoughts? Feedback? Much appreciated. She was asking me things like was EC/ET only offered on certain days - well Hammersmith seem to do 7 days a week. She was talking about what their view was on 3 being put back - I think that they will but not sure. She was saying that she had Heparin & Daily scans at ARGC. However, she did warn me that it was v v expensive.

Pretty sure that I'll do another cycle at Hammersmith. I am slo going to ask then about thawing more and then going on to Day 3 or 5 to see what they say. Just interested in views.

Hope that you are having a good weekend.

You take good care.
Carolyn xx

[lolajones]

Hmmmm - I tried to look at the ARGC website too after I saw the HFEA figures a while back. To be honest - I think its just stats creativity. I think Hammersmith is ok and won't be changing clinics at this point. If you google my consultants name, he often comes up in research articles and peer review articles so I'm pretty sure that they're using the most up-to-date practices. As for heparin - its only been shown in trials to increase success in women with particular (rare) health issues. And daily scans - whats the point? One thing I do wonder about is you see a lot of the ladies from the states having their oestrogen and progesterone measured between ET and test day. As adequate levels help to sustain the pregnancy, maybe they should be checking? I'll ask consultant.

A couple of ladies on the parents after treatment thread went to the Hammersmith btw so... keep believin'!

They will put 3 back if you're over 40 I believe - probably with some discussion.

There is a clinic in the states that my consultant talks about where their success rate for blasts is incredible. They've been out there to look at culture mediums etc but can't get same results. If I don't have any success in next year maybe I'll go there. Fertility Nirvana... maybe I dreamt it?

After your follow up appointment - let me know what they said about growing the frosties to blast - blasts have a much better success rate.

As for my weekend...... evil study as I slog like a Tuberculoid pauper to my exam. I am TOO OLD for this lark. Official.
Hope yours is better than mine..... Eurovision is on the tellysoon !! Surreal televisual delights!

Take care

Lola
x

[lolajones]

PS Carolyn I pm'ed you - did it work? It seems to be stuck in my out box and won't send - techno-jinx

[CarolynB]

Hi Lola

PM did work X2! Have responded in glorious detail!

I am inclined to be with you re ARGC an their stats. Not lost confidence in Hammersmith at all - just keen to get all the data/do my research as think that the first time around that we tended to 'fall' into doing what they told us.

I am certainly going to do at least 1 more attempt at Hammersmith. My GP was quite supportive at the beginning & she said that she did some research for me before she picked Hammersmith. Plus given that Lord Prof Winston is there I am sure that it must be good!!!!

I am 4-0 in ten days and thought that they would put back 3 at my grand old age. It is on my list of questions.

My acupuncture guy was saying that giving progesterone artificially is just really hard. Was quizzing him re-injections rather that the suppositiries but he said that none of them are great. Need to see whether there are other ways to help blood flow to the womb to keep it nice and cozy.

On web site they do talk about doing blasts at hammersmith but again looks like it 'special' cases. Certainly going to ask if we can thaw all 6 & try to go that way.

Studing is so dull - poor you. I am working so not much better. Weather miserable too - is this really spring/summer.

Hang in there.
Love Carolyn xx

[Kate21]

Hi

Just thought I'd let you guys know a friend of mine has just had treatment at ARGC (IVF no 5 which resulted in a BFN). However, the treatment costs were enormous! She estimated that they had spent £12,000 on that one cycle alone

As for the treatment itself, on the second week of stimming she had to go back twice a day for scans, morning and afternoon and they then adjusted her drugs accordingly. She did get the most amount of eggs she'd ever had (I would bloody hope so after all that!!), although only 3 fertilised. Once she'd had them put back (they went to blastocyst stage) she then had to take 3 different types of drugs, one a muscle relaxant for the uterus, progesterone shots and a blood thinning one to help the blood flow Needless to say she had side effects!

They were really thorough with her and discovered that she had high levels of NKC but even after all the drugs and scans etc she still didn't get a BFP. They've come to the end of the road with IVF now, but I'm not sure that they feel the £12,000 was worth it.

Hope the info helps a little, they also use a drug that isn't licsenced and patients have to sign a waver form before they start tmt

Kate

[lolajones]

Cheers Kate

£12,000 a cycle! Man alive. You can get 3 at the Hammersmith for that.

You said you were going to change clinics - where are you going to move to?
How are you feeling? Still onwards and upwards? Stay buoyant soldier!

Carolyn - if they say no to blast we can always get some placards (pinched from the "Golf Sale" man ) and protest, singing inspirational songs about day 5 embyos whilst holding candles and swaying. Do not cross the sub fertile lady!

Lots of love, Lola

[CarolynB]

Kate - Thank you for all the info. £12,000 for 1 cycle. OMG. I'd want them to have the baby for me if I was paying that much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope that you are doing ok. Thinking of you. Big hugs. Let us know where you plan to go next in terms of your treatment.


Lola - all for the protesting with boards.........presume that will be whilst wearing the cape, witches hats and dark glasses . I will be seeing them the day after my 40th Birthday so I would not think that Mr Trew will risk the rath of an older lady! At least in 9 days time I will have a plan. Being a control freak that will no doubt make me feel better

Stay in touch girls.
Carolyn xxx

[lolajones]

Hi Carolyn

Yes - capes a must! Things always feel better when you've got a plan. Sadly i didn't manage to get an appointment the same day as you and Mags so spy plan out of window. Am seeing Dr McGravid on the 23rd June, be prepared sir as I battle you with "well, Carolyn said that HER consultant....", heh heh, poor old Stuart.

Saw your query on the fet cycle thread.
At Hammersmith my cycle for fet was very much like Sophie's (very like a fresh cycle) but oestrogen patches not tabs. It is a little easier as no EC but mine did seem to really drag - maybe my biblical impatience.
Also, I think they store embryos in singles there. They start to thaw 2 and if they look dodgy they keep thawing them one at a time until they get 2 good ones.

Anyhoo, am looking forward to your news from appointment - you are like the sentinel discovery scout!

Take care
Lola
x

[poochie]

Hi girls

I am currently at Hammersmith. Went there as an NHS patient under Mr Magara due to male factor in 2003. 1st ICSI cycle, I got a positive and now have a beutiful 22 month girl. My cycle was long as I stimmulated for 15 days and I was constantly worried i would not get to ec as my eggs took there time to grow.

I am now back at clinic for number two, however failed an ICSI cycle in April it was a poor cycle as I responded poorly and only got 3 eggs plus my right ovary was sitting too high and they could not access it at ec however I still got 2 embryo transfered. I have now been refered to Mr Trew due to Magara retiring. My review consultation is on 6th June which is a bit long to wait but hey.

Vicki X

I too looked at ARGC as was very down after my cycle not only because of failure but I found my egg number very disapointing and it left me concered about my fertilty but I have dedecided to stay with Hammersmith in the end of the day they gave me my daughter. So I'm hoping to go again in Jul

[lolajones]

Hi Vicki

Congratulations on your daughter, sorry about your last cycle - I had a negative in April too.
We're developing quite a Hammersmith posse - maybe we could negotiate group rates
We should all be cycling around roughly the same time - I will make sure I leave my Heat magazine for you when I go for scans etc - you'll know its mine because Liz Hurley will have a biro moustache

let us know how you're appointment with Mr Trew goes
Take care

lola
x

[CarolynB]

Hi Vicky

Another Hammersmither.

It really made me smile to know that they helped you make a precious little girl. Sorry about your last cycle. Guess that we all respond differently each time around. I had to wait until May for my negative but I was 1st time around so guess that I did try to view as a pilot run.

So now I really will be fact finding about Mr Trew as I go before you. A week tomorrow for me.

If I have got to Heat magazine first then you will not be able to see Liz Hurley's face!!!!!!!!!!

We may all my cycling again in July. My issue is that I am very very busy at work in July so guess that I may be more realistic to wait a month & cycle again in August - waiting, waiting, waiting........

Let's stay in touch.

Carolyn xx

Lola - thanks for the info on the frozen embies & the FET cycle. They told me that it would be patches. Presume I wear over my eye like a pirate??? I am on a mission re-transfer of 3 and 5 day blasts. I will not be deterred from my mission................

[lolajones]

heh heh heh - am picturing you flailing about with an oestrogen patch over each eye frantically scribbling over La Hurleys face with a Bic, sitting on the pastel sofa of broken dreams at the unit

Agent B - I wish you well on your important mission. Do not forget Alias style handbag abseil equipment for quick getaway when it's cheque book time

Lola
x