The Over 40 Crowd

[BevT]

Hi Ilona,

Just a quick reply as I am off to Gatwick today, flying out to Kiev tomorrow for my tmt!!

I am having donor egg tmt at Isida in the Ukraine. It is their top hospital I believ and in the capital city. I went at end of March for an initial consultation and look (you don't have to, we just chose to). The hospital is only 1 year old, a full maternity, obs & gyny unit, with an assisted reproduction unit. The whole place is spotless and the staff very helpful and seem genuine in that they want you to go home with a baby on board. The prices are quite competitive and probably at least one third to one half cheaper than clinics in Spain. There are no waiting lists for donors if that is what you decide upon. They have an english speaking overseas co-ordinator called Laura who is very helpful and will answer all of your questions either herself or via one of the doctors.

Flights are anything from £180 to £500 depending on when you book, what airline, but there are loads of airlines that do fly there, BA and Ukrainian International Airlines are just two. Most people seem to stay in apartments and they vary in price from £30 a night upwards - a huge variation available. It is a nice city to visit but the language is a bit of a barrier. Most apartment companies have engllish speaking reps, and Laura helps with booking taxis etc. Cost of living is cheap while you are there. If you google Isida Hospital Kiev you will find their web-site and on the page for overseas patients it has Laura's contact details on, via email or telephone.

Hope that helps, any other info I can assist with, just ask.

Bev xxx

[Kat]

Hi Ilona

I went to IM in Barcelona, where Anna is going. We went twice, once for the initial appt at the beginning of Sept and then once for ET at then end of October. Total was upwards of £6k with all the hotels & flights as well. It's not cheap but I did get pg, although it went nowhere in the end. They have English speaking staff too, so no language barrier there either.

There are other places like clinics in Cyprus which have arrangements with UK clinics and one near me does special deals for about £5k including flights and hotels so there may be one near you.

Your choice may also depend on how easy it is for you to get flights to either Kiev or Barcelona from where you are.

Hope that helps a bit, you could always email IM and Isida and see what they say

Hope everyone is having a nice bank holiday, if a little damp at times.
Bev - hope it all goes smoothly, I'll be thinking of you

Lots of love
Kat xx

[AMck]

Hi Ilona

Just to add a bit more regarding Egg donor clinics. As Kat said I am undergoing tmt at IM in Barcelona.
After several messages via email we visited the clinic on 2nd May. We decided to go ahead with tmt. The clinic has a lovely atmosphere, professional and positive. The drs speak English so there is no language problem. We stayed for one night and left some of DP's sperm frozen , ready for ET.
Next time we go we will need to stay 2 nights. The flights are very cheap from England. The hotels range in price depending on how much you want to spend. There are plenty near the clinic. Infact I asked the dr at the clinic to recommend one the first time we went, and she did !

There is no waiting list for egg donors. The only draw back as far as I can see is that the clinic do not accept credit cards. It's cash or bankers draft. If you do pay in cash there is a slight reduction in the fee of @ 3%. The whole process is costing about 6k.

It is a big decsion to make. We decided that it was the next step for us as we have unexplained infertility and I had a very poor response to the stimming drugs. I hope this helps. If you need anymore info about IM let me know.

I think the other clinic Kat is talking about that does a deal for 5k is in Raynes Park, Near London. It is called St Georges. They have a link with clinic in Cyprus. They sort everything out for you including flights and hotels.

Bev, don't know if you will see this but, good luck! Everything crossed for you. I hope all goes according to plan and you are back home soon. Take care x

Randa, so sorry to see your news. Take care of you and dh. Sending big hugs your way xx

Nuala, good luck with your scan tomorrow. Hope all goes well.

Caz, good luck with your scan tomorrow. Is it a baseline scan so you can begin tmt? Hope all is OK and everything goes according to schedule.

Jen, are you Ok? Haven't seen you post. Hope this means that you are resting and being pampered x

Our list:
New 40+ Mommies:
Alette (own eggs). Son Nov 05
Jude - twins (DE) 05
Joy - twins (DE) 05
CarolineP - Daughter Nov 05
Squew - twins 05
Debbieed - own eggs. Daughter May 06

Ladies in waiting:
BigJ (Jules) - BFP 9/12/05 - EDD 15/08/06 praying hard
DPerry (Donna). DE. BFP July 05
Darby (DE) - BFP
Nuala - natural BFP EDD 8th Dec, 1st scan 31st May

On 2ww:
Randa - BFN Hugs
Lisa (no 2!) test date 2nd June
Amfy- one little embie snuggling in!
Jen - ET 27th May

On meds:
Yasmina - Lupron begins May 9

Preparing:
Bev- DE cycle in Kiev, all set to go! fly out 30th May
Anna - DE cycle in Barcelona, donor found, stop bc pills 1st June
Caz - scan 31st May cetrocide cycle EC/ET week beg 12th June
Gail - considering DE tmt abroad
Tammy- post IVF apptmt soon, adoption papers organised
Mitzy - considering DE tmt abroad
Sara- starting cycle in late June

Good friends not currently seeking tmt:
Kat - holidays booked to Mallorca and France
Debra - Finished with tmt. Off to Sicily in June. Want a new job by Dec.

Amfy and Lisa(2) sending baby dust your way. Hang in there!

Hello to all lovely ladies on this thread

Take care all
Bye for now
Anna x

[032323]

Hi Anna

Yes tomorrow is my first scan to check all is well inside and to tell me to start the stims straight away. Not down reggin yet feels really strange but right somehow?!? Heres hoping for a bumper crop of follies!! (will be a first - most i have had is 6!!)

When is your next flight out? Do you take drugs to thicken your endometrium then go?

[Jeni Babes]

Hi all

Randa- so sorry honey to see your news. x x

Bev wishing you a bfp in keiv fingers crossed sweetie x x

Nuala and caz hope your scans went well

Anna yep i have been resting up the past few days...amfy like you I have one embie on board and hope the little fighter is snuggling in as we speak... Test date is the 9th of june x x


Kat hi and hugs

A big hi to everyone else

love jen
xxxxx

[amfy]

Hi Jen!

Nice to hear from you. Strange us both having just the one this time. Funnily enough, I am finding it easier to focus on just the one - ridiculous I know! I don't know, was it that slight background fear of twins that distracted me last time? I'm sure it wasn't, yet focussing on my one little embryo feels right.

I'm coming up to a week from ET now and will be testing next Tuesday, the 6th, the day after my 42nd birthday.

[AMck]

hi Ladies, it's very quiet at the moment. I hope everyone is OK.

Caz, how was the scan? Are you off and raring to go? Hope stimming goes well and you get a bumper crop of follies. Oh and in answer to your question, yes. I wait for AF then use oestrogen patches to thicken my lining. When it is @5-6mm I'll fly back over to Barcelona for ET. Should be within 2 weeks now!
Lisa(2) only one more sleep. Everything crossed for you. Wishing you a BFP tomorrow!

Mitzy, how's the clinic search going? Good luck

Amfy and Jen, wishing you speedy days on your 2ww. Hope the days are flying by!

Our list
New 40+ Mommies:
Alette (own eggs). Son Nov 05
Jude - twins (DE) 05
Joy - twins (DE) 05
CarolineP - Daughter Nov 05
Squew - twins 05
Debbieed - own eggs. Daughter May 06

Ladies in waiting:
BigJ (Jules) - BFP 9/12/05 - EDD 15/08/06 praying hard
DPerry (Donna). DE. BFP July 05
Darby (DE) - BFP
Nuala - natural BFP EDD 8th Dec, 1st scan 31st May

On 2ww:
Lisa (no 2!) test date 2nd June
Amfy- one little embie snuggling in - test date 6th June
Jen - one little embie snuggling in - test date 9th June

On meds:
Yasmina - Lupron begins May 9

Preparing:
Bev- DE cycle in Kiev, all set to go! fly out 30th May
Anna - DE cycle in Barcelona, donor found, stop bc pills 1st June
Caz - scan 31st May cetrocide cycle EC/ET week beg 12th June
Gail - considering DE tmt abroad
Tammy- post IVF apptmt soon, adoption papers organised
Mitzy - considering DE tmt abroad
Sara- starting cycle in late June

Good friends not currently seeking tmt:
Kat - holidays booked to Mallorca and France
Debra - Finished with tmt. Off to Sicily in June. Want a new job by Dec.

Big hugs to Randa. Hope you are OK. x

Bev, thinking of you. Hope all is going well in Kiev!

PMA to all here
Take care
Anna x

[teachertam]

I hope all is well.

Randa: So sorry to here of your news. I hope you and DH are ok.

Anna: Here's to AF!! Being on fertility treatments is the one time we are anxiously awaiting AF.

Bev: How are things going in Kiev?

Jen/Amfy: Good luck on the 2ww. How are the progesterone shots coming along? If we decide to go for the frozen cycle we will have to
do the progesterone shots again.....................oh joy.

Lisa (2): Good luck with your test tomorrow. We need a BFP!

Caz: Hope you have a bumper crop of follies. Remember that it only
takes one good egg. I had 12 eggs retrieved, 8 eggs fertilized, 5 embies transferred and still a BFN. We still have 4 frosties.

We have our post IVF conference later this morning. We are trying to decide what to do with our frosties. Remember, mine are frozen eggs, not embies. I will not feel bad if we do not proceed, as they are just eggs, and not embies.

We finished our adoption paperwork and delivered it to our adoption agency yesterday. If all is ok with our paperwork, it should be sent to China tomorrow!! YEAH! We have been working on this paperwork since
January. Hopefully, we will be going to China next summer or fall to get our daughter.

Hello to Kat, Lisa, Gail and Debra.

Regards,
Tammy

[amfy]

Loads of luck and love and prayers coming your way for tomorrow Lisa!

All the best!

[alisonn]

hihi anna, earlier you very kindly gave me information
about treatment at im barcelona and i have
discussed it with my partner and we have decided to go ahead.
Can i ask were they quite flexible regarding appointment dates/times
I am hoping we can go out middle of aug for first appointment
and it would be nice if we could have an appointment for a monday
they we can fly out over weekend.
I have been following your posts and see you have started treatment
it must be a mix of excitment and being very scared, i do hope all goes
well
tks again for your help
alison

[BevT]

Hi all, It's Bev in Kiev!! Sorry about the rhyming

Thanks for everyone's good wishes, things are going great so far. We had EC today, and the embryologist tells us we have 12 eggs. So fingers crossed that at least half fertilize. ET is scheduled for Sat, and we fly home Sun.

I was hoping that I could use my pc in the apartment like last time, but alas, no such luck. A problem with the internal modem. So, here I am in this underground Internet Cafe in the heart of Kiev. We are finding our way round really well this time and enjoying our stay - the weather has been wonderful today.

Sorry, no time for personals as DH is hovvering over my shoulder waiting for me to finish. Will speak soon, probably Sunday evening.

Lol Bev xxx

[032323]

Hi Girls

Had my scan yesterday and was given the go ahead so started stims last night. Next scan on Monday to check progress - decided im not looking for loads of follies - just want some real good quality eggs. Had 3 last time so would be happy to double it this time!

Tammy - Thanks and I know its your decision but I still dont think you should give up on the frosties - one of THEM could be the ONE!!!

Bev - Good luck for a BFP - 12 sound great to me!!

Anna - Good luck to you too!!

[teachertam]

Caz:
Thanks for the post. My first IVF resulted in 3 mature eggs, the 2nd IVF resulted in 12 mature eggs! I'm wishing you the same.

We had our meeting this morning and it went very well! My Dr. was very positive and said that we should absolutely try the frozen cycle. He told me that my last IVF cycle was not the cycle of a 42 year old, but of a twenty-something year old. He said that I had one extended blastocyst. I guess this is where the egg is getting ready to hatch from the shell. He suggested that I have one more test, a HSG X-ray. That is where they inject dye into your tubes and X-ray them. I guess they can see the uterine lining also. Apparently, for whatever reason, women typically have a greater chance of pregnancy within 1 - 2 cycles following this test. You would think that it would help women with tube blockages, but my Dr. said that no matter what your infertility issue is, the pregnancy rates went up. Well, DH and I have changed our minds are on board for the frozen cycle. My doctor said that if money was no object, that he would even recommend another fresh cycle after the frozen one. We will not being another fresh cycle though. We will call it quits after the frozen one. I am actually upbeat, as we will proceed with the frozen cycle next cycle. We will proceed with the adoption also. It would be a miracle if I could actually end up with two children!!

Bev:
It is so nice to hear about your 12 eggs. Let's hope for 100% fertilization rate. You would have some to freeze. Keep us updated on the fertilization and progress of your little embies.

Regards,
Tammy

[032323]

Tammy!!

Thats fantastic news!! - I am so happy that you are proceeding with the frozen cycle - I wish you the very best of luck - when do you anticipate starting?? when is af due?

[teachertam]

Caz:

I'm just finishing up AF and should start next cycle June 24th or so.
We should be able to do the frozen cycle then, unless the HSG X-ray reveals problems with the uterine lining that need correcting. I'm optimistic, but am trying not to get too excited. Been there, done that.

Regards,
Tammy