Endermetriosis/Ivf

[char++]

Hi

I am new to this site,only found it yesterday

have been advised by the hopital to have ivf as
i have endo and its attatched to my bowl and too
risky to remove at the moment if trying to concieve.
Just abit surprised we were not advised to try clomid
or IUI anyone else experianced this

CHAR++

[wendy30]

Hi Char

I too have endo, mainly on the bowel but in lots of other bits too. Both my tubes are damaged with scar tissue, one is stuck to the bowel and on the other side the ovary is stuck.

Did they look to see if your tubes are damaged? I can't remember what its called but I had the procedure where they run dye through your tubes and xray you. I know my consultant said that other options such as clomid would be looked at only if my tubes were clear.

I've had confirmed endo for about 12 years, and suffer badly from extreme pain and heavy periods, luckily, however, if I keep my periods away I have no pain.

I was always under the impression that although lots of research has been carried oyt about endo and fertility, the only definate answers they had was only if its in or on any of the reproductive organs was IVF the only answer.

Have you been trying to conceive for a long time? Maybe you could ask to see another consultant? Does your endo bother you or is it just something they have found?

At least whatever happens you have found this board which has been of great support to me and you can normally find someone with circumstances reasonably similar to yourself to talk to.

Wendy

[jill dickens]

Hi Char, I can't help with advice I am afraid but just wanted to say hello and welcome to the site. It really is a great source of support and advice take care Jill x

[char++]

HI Wendy

We have been trying for a couple of years, and went in to hosp in june for tests,I only have my period for 1 day and its very painfull,(lots of hot water bottles do the trick) and we were advised it might be endo, which was a shock as expected to be told all was well,they did run the dye and check tubes all was well and clear apart from the endo attatched to my bowl,which he didnt want to touch as after you have had your tubes washed through you are at your most fertile for 3 weeks, and if he had try to remove it he could have puntured my bowl,most of the time it comes away with pregancy(i guess if you can get preg) Had sec appt
on wed where we were told ivf would be our best bet,after picking ourselfs up off the ground after we were told the cost ,we are going for it.
The consultant we saw is fantastic and i know of lots of people who he has helped who now have babes, but your mind always thinks of other things you should have asked after you have left.
so shall see what happends a exciting and nervous journey

sorry for the long letter

char++

[danica]

hello char - im a bit of a newie at this as well! another thing we have in common is that my periods only really last for 1 day too - diagnosed with severe endo and PCOS. the endo made it to my bowls as well - the surgery went for 4 hours! after that my specialist put me on clomid and have been on that for most of this year with no success... so our next step is ivf and ive just finished filling out the registration papers yay! i have surgery again as the endo has come back and he wants to clean my tubes on nov 4th eek - hopefully the surgery wont be as long this time! but thanks to this group im feeling more positive about the whole ivf journey!
goodluck!

[wendy30]

Hi Char & Danica

God a one day period, mine last for about a week and are sheer hell for about 3-4 days normally, hot water bottles help a bit but only when combined with ibuprofen & dihydracodine. Like you Char they will not operate on me while having fertility treatment and in case they damage my bowel or bladder.

Well welcome to the mad world of IVF, I got the go ahead today for my 6th attempt in December, using frozen embryos we have stored.

Wishing you both lots of luck

Wendy

[char++]

Hi Danica & Wendy

Danica, 4 hours of surgery,thats abit scary how do you feel afterwards?
is ivf as expensive in australia as it is here, I think its about £3000 here but have been told it could be more,

Wendy, WOW 6 times well good luck, i guess your abit of a pro at this
is it true we have to have a very long interview with the hospital before we are given the go ahead.

take care everyone and i will keep all things
crossed for you
char++

[wendy30]

Char

I don't recall a really long interview, just the usual, more to answer my questions than them asking questions. I think a full cycle costs abot £2500 at my hospital and about £700 for a FET. It seems to be cheaper in Scotland for some reason. Will you get any funding from the NHS?

I had a strange form to fill in at the hospital today, one about the welfare of the child asking how long we have been together, if we live together, if either of us have children or have been subject to any social services or criminal enquiry regarding children and if we have had any mental health issues or drug or alcohol problems. I did read stuff about these checks coming into force, all our answers were no but it does annoy you.

You will be fine with your appointment just remember to ask lots of questions and write down their answers if you are unsure about anything we will be able to help, I hope,

As for being an expert it makes it a bit easier when you know what to expect but its one thing I wish I didn't know so much about.

Wendy

[char++]

Hi Wendy

I had been told about the form,I guess its abit strange(sounds abit like the questionaire we had to fill in before we got married last year by the church) We will not get any funding as the nhs in surrey havent brought it in yet, my guess is they think if you can afford to live here you can afford it
House prices here are the most expensive in the uk not too much fun when you want to move.

hope your appt went well
take care
char++

[Shellie]

Hi girls,

I was told I had possible endo a couple of years ago. I had severe pain 3 weeks of every month, the only let up was when I ovulated. I used to live with hot water bottles and dihydracodiene too! They could not be sure because I have crohns disease also they did not want to risk rupturing my bowel to do exploritive surgery.

Anyway to get to my point we were given the opportunity to do IVF. We had been TTC for over a year but in the end I had to stay on the continuous pill to ease the endo pain. We also did our IVF in Scotland and I am happy to say I am 21 weeks pregnant with twins. Since being pregnant I have had no pain!

I guess I wanted to give you all some hope. IVF is a tough journey but hopefully it will be worth it for us all in the end.

Good luck to you all and best wishes for that BFP.

Shellie

[wendy30]

Hi Shellie

I did notice before that you had endo and were pregnant with twins after your first attempt, congratulations.

Hopefully the pregnancy will help with your pain after the twins are born. Where about did you have your treatment, I've had all mine in Edinburgh?

Its always nice to hear of somebody in similar circumstances to yourself being pregnant.

Wendy

[char++]

Hi Shellie

How fantastic you must be over the moon,its always great to hear of
new babes on the way,have you found out what you are having
let us know how you get on
take care
char++

[danica]

gotta love those wheatpacks i say! i too live by mine, but not as much as u did shellie u poor thing... a lot of my pain is during ovulation but then a few days before my period, the worst being the dreaded day of my period anyway - yay congratulations on the twins how exciting!!

in answer to your question char, i think its around $2,500... i'll hopefully have at least one treatment here in australia but then we're moving to northern ireland for a year or two next year! we're wanting to try to start a business there - (hubby is in the building trade) as my mum was born in NI it gives us the opportunity to live and work there indefinately which is great and it'll be a good 'getaway' but the only setback is the fact that ivf is so expensive there for us - 2,500 pounds for us is almost $6000 as your pound is a lot stronger than our dollar yikes!

wendy, those interviews sound tedious - i wonder if they'll be asking us all those questions as well in oz.... goodluck with your 6th try in december! and a big goodluck to all!
d

[bubblymichelle]

Hi There,

I also have endo and I was advised to try Clomid for 6 months that failed and then I was put forward for IVF. The waiting list on the NHS was stupid so we decided to pay private which cost just over £3000 but hey we have a beautiful son who is nearly 8 months old. I didn't actually have IVF I had ICSI but its still the scenario to go through.

I have to admit touch wood I have not had any endo pain since I have had Alex so I am hoping and praying that its cured, but when I did have the pain some days I was doubled up.

Love
Shell.
xx

[Shellie]

Hi girls,

Wendy, I had my treatment at NRIE. Is that where you are. The girls are fantastic there, I found they were really supportive and extremely friendly.
I continue to go there now because I am considered a 'high risk' pregnancy. The only issue with that is when they scan you they will not tell you what the sex of the baby/ies are. We were quite looking forward to finding out.

Danica, Where in Oz do you live? I used to live in Victoria but I came over to the UK for 6 months (my granparents were british). That was over 4 years ago now. I am now happily married and living in scotland. A bit of advice in regards to the difference in currency, start earning pounds as soon as possible and stop converting!! It will put you off buying anything because it is too expensive by dollar standards. The only time I convert now is when we are going back for a holiday and I work out how much my pay is worth in dollars. It makes for a very luxurious holiday

Keep your chin up and lots of positive attitude helps.
Shellie