Back from 'Other Side!'

Jules · Post by **Jules** » Wed Jul 31, 2002 7:41 pm

Hi all Not sure who knows me (apart from fionalk – hello again!) but have just managed to re-register here so thought I'd give a brief history.... Can't conceive naturally due to dh having had a vasectomy 12 years ago in previous marriage. Were advised to try IVF/ICSI rather than a vas reversal due to length of time vas was done also our ripe old ages of 49 (dh) and 38 (me). First ICSI attempt failed back in June, starting the rollercoaster again with sniffing on 29 August, ec predicted 30 September. So if there are any cycle buddies out there then it would be great to hear from you! (any news on your timings yet the 'Fionas?') I have a couple of queries to throw out to you guys.... Firstly, I was prescribed Gonal F to inject last time, and having just picked up my new lot of drugs have something called Metrodin in it's place now. Have queried it with my clinic who say they are now being advised by the HFEA to prescribe Metrodin instead. Was wondering if anyone else out there has used it as I haven't seen it mentioned on the boards before? Only I reacted really well to the Gonal F last time so just hope this has the same effect! Secondly, can anyone tell me what the Foresight programme is that I've seen references to??? Thanks guys and best of luck to everybody – hopefully we'll all find our way over from the 'Other Side' soon!!! Jules x

Mandy · Post by **Mandy** » Thu Aug 08, 2002 8:52 am

Hi Jules and everyone, I nearly missed the oat as I didn't know about this new board luckly Maggie filled me in, then the last few times i tried to re registar it would not work!!!!!!!!!! But here I am. had EC yesterday and ET should be tomorrow, had 14 eggs collected- not heared how many have fertilized yet. Bye for now Mandy.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

fiona_lk · Post by **fiona_lk** » Thu Aug 08, 2002 12:03 pm

Hi Jules, Glad you've made it over, and you too Mandy - all the best of luck for tomorrow. Feeling a lot better now from my 'little set-back', and ready to answer someone else's questions. MFS mainly use Fostimon, which I used for the IUI plus induction of ovulation cycles but for the ICSI cycle I managed (amazingly) to persuade my GP to prescribe the drugs. This was Metrodin and it saved us over £500.00 for this cycle. I have a feeling it might be the cheapest of the drugs, but no worse than the rest. I've yet to find out whether they will continue for other cycles, but I have got some left anyway (they were in batches of 10 x 150iu and 10 x 75iu). The nurse at MFS advised that I could finish Metrodin one day and start Fostimon the next if necessary (but shouldn't mix the two drugs). I had higher than usual oestrogen levels before starting the ICSI cycle which they said would mean I'd risk being a poor responder but have no less chance of getting pregnant - well I didn't respond that badly to the drugs and at least had 2 embies put back. Basically, they are all FSH drugs and their origin/producer is all that is different. As for timings, no sign of af at moment (anyone know the dance?). Can afford to be late by a couple of days and still not affect holiday planned to start 30 August, but we've decided that if I need a blood test/scan in the middle of the hols (in Somerset) then we'll get up very early (4am-ish) dh will drive back to Manchester while I sleep, and then we'll drive back after, so only affecting about half a day hopefully. There's DEDICATION for you! Good job we decided to stay in this country this year. Ready for a good 'chill out' and site has conservatory with large indoor swimming pool, sauna and jakuzzi, so with these and a good book, don't even care if raining! Enough of my ramblings. Take Care. Love to all. Fiona xx

Jules · Post by **Jules** » Thu Aug 08, 2002 6:19 pm

Hi Mandy and Fiona Great to hear from you both again! Mandy – glad to hear your ec went ok – 14 eggs – that sounds good to me! Best of luck with your transfer, and keep me posted on how many fertilise. I wish you the best of luck. Fiona – thanks for the the info about Metrodin – I haven't heard of it before but you've put my mind at rest a bit now. I'm glad to hear you're feeling better after your set-back, which I was v.sorry to hear about. I can fully sympathise with the shock it must have been for you. My dh has 2 kids from his previous marriage (before he went and did the nasty vasectomy deed that's now causing all of our problems!) so I'm kinda used to the idea that a child with him won't be his first, but you were ill prepared to say the least! I have to accommodate his children (and their mother!) in our life together (they're 13 and 16 now tho so are gradually getting more independent) without knowing whether I'll be able to conceive, which is sometimes hard. I would really put the past behind you, esp as he has no contact with the child now . And you've got your holiday to look forward to! I do envy you that, as I've taken my hol to commence the wk of my ec at the end of Sept, I feel it's bloody ages away! Plus we're not going away this year (lack of money due to IVF!) so I've just got to stay positive about the whole thing. AF is due tom so fingers crossed! Hope yours comes too and doesn't disrupt too much of your hols! Take care all LOL Julesxx