a bit nervous about tomorrow!

[franny]

hi everyone!
i'm new to this and basically new to forums too, so bear with me, but i'm soooo pleased to have found this message board and be able to see there are lotsa folk like me out there. i'm 38, married (to a spaniard) live in spain and am having fertility treatment here...i don't know what the process is like in the UK but here i feel as if they're not filling me in with what's going on half the time and most of the doctors who've seen me seem pretty unsympathetic and distant. is this normal? they're not very forthcoming with information or advice and i feel a bit out on a limb.

anyway, i've been on gonal since last saturday. after four days they gave me an ultrasound and said the follicles were very small - hardly anything there, on the right or left side. the doc. has increased the dose to 225 and i have to go back tomorrow for another ultrasound to see how they're coming along, though the doc has already said it doesn't look too hopeful. i came out of the place nearly in tears. are they likely to grow any further?

can anyone tell me if they have had a similar experience to this or shed a little light on the matter? i noticed on the ivf forum a girl last week was, funnily enough, in exactly the same situation as me but hasn't been back to the forum recently.

anyway, would love to hear from anyone

franny

[Sand]

Hi Franny - Welcome .. I've haven't experienced Gonal myself, but from what I understand girls react to drugs and stimming in varying degrees. I remember at least a couple of instances where slow development has occured, only for the drugs to be adjusted / a couple of extra days be allowed before EC, and then everything's on track. I know it's easy for me to say, but don't give up hope.

Sandra x

[Jackie S]

Hi Franny

My last IVF I was in the same position as my ovaries didn't seem to respond. (THis happened with my first cycle too). Anyway, 19 days of injections later I finally made it to egg collection and I am now 17 wks 4 days pregnant -so hang in there -you could just be slower at responding.

Like I said my first cycle was abandoned due to poor response and although it was hard I now realise it was the right thing to do. They changed the meds and the next time I responded really well although slow. I am sure you will be ok just need a bit longer.

Take care and try not to worry.

Jackie

[minnow]

hi,
sorry you're ginding the doctors a bit slow in giving you the information. my advice would be to ask the questions which are on your mind because if you are left worrying and wondering i dont think it can do the process any good. this is your body and your IVF so you have every right to know what's going on.

Re Gonal F, I started taking it on tuesday and havent had a scan yet, so cant really help with the effects as yet. they have started me on 225,with a view to increase it. i too am 38, but as I have polycystic ovaries they do not want to overstimulate. my first scan is set for 6 days after first injection. my feeling is that we have to trust the doctors to know what is best for each of us. they cant i suppose anticipate all the reactions. i do think that often they are able with adjustments to succeed in getting the necessary response and i really hope this is the case with you. hopefully someone out there will have much more info and experience that me and can put your mind at rest.

i am a great believer in positive visualisation, so put your feet up and imagine those follicles increasing and growing all the time!

good luck.

[franny]

hi girls!


thanks for the swift response. i think i'll have be a lot more philosphical about this, and after reading your expereinces i'll try not to worry and be a little more patient! let's see what happens - i'll keep you posted! thanks


franny X

[DebraP]

Hi Franny....we share some things in common, ie. living elsewhere in Europe with our non-Brit partners. I always came out of my consultations with a list of questions for DF too....'what did 'x' mean?' etc. It's tough doing this in the first place but in a foreign language...twice the stress in my opinion.

As always, I agree with Sand(!), many people are slow with their first dosages of meds, the clinic have no idea how you'll respond and due to OHSS risk will always play safe and err on the side of caution, it's not until the first scan, like now with you, that they get a chance to see how you're responding. My first treatment was the same, low response, in the scan before EC, I was told insufficient growth, not looking good etc, they delayed EC by 3 days + increased my dose of Puregon and sure enough, by my next scan, the exisiting follies had grown + there were some new ones to collect to. That result of that treatment is sleeping peacefully in the next room. Don't give up hope just yet.

I'm glad you found the site, it really is doubly difficult to do this in another country and language.
Debra.

[franny]

hi minnow

your dosage is a lot higher to start with than mine, although i imagine the docs know what they're doing and start patients at a "tailor made" dosage, who knows. i started on 150 for two days then decreased to 75 for the next two days. then had an ultrasound - very early on don't you think? The doc decided to increase the dosage and for the past 2 days i've been on 225 and will have another ultrasound tomorrow.

i think i'll take you up on the visualisation technique - like it! thanks for the advice and here's hoping...


franny X!

[franny]

hi debra

it's great and uplifting to hear from you and so many other people who've been thru' the same experience, not gone completely loopy, and managed to come out the other side with baby in tow. well done! you give me great hope - especially as you seem to be able to sympathise with me from the "foreigner patient" aspect. yes, it is very difficult in another language, even after 14 years! how long have you been in Norway? i can imagine the IVF clinics to be extremely efficient out there!

well, as i said, i'll keep you posted and try not to get down whatever the outcome. it's great to have so much response and support from you all!

franny X

[lesleypb]

HI Franny,

I had my first scan yeserday after injecting for nine days, I have only small folicles on my left ovary. The right ovary has gone 'missing' again, I don't have the right hand tube so the right side ovary 'floats' around somewhere! Anyway a blood test showed enough estrogen to suggest I was responding but it could be the right one that has the larger folicles.

I go back on Saturday for another scan. Then I will find out if I have to take Menepur for a few more days and EC will be now on Thursday or if nothing is happening the treatment will have to stop.

Lesley

[DebraP]

Franny, I've 'only' been here 4 years so have a long way to go with the language. Not helped by the fact that we speak English at home + I work in English so I get very little practice all told. I did an intensive course in my first year and thought of starting again this term but DF works nights so that idea didn't fly as we can't both be out.

The picture is a little mixed re. treatment. My local hosp (not my clinic - I'm too old for state support) have the best record in the country. My clinic have nearly the same rate of success even though they tend to see the people less likely to succeed statistically eg. older clients or those who have already had their 3 free/state-funded treatments and must go private. The downside is that we've a rightwing/Christian government headed by a church-minister who have taken a very firm line on ethical grounds and stopped nearly all research. For example, they want to reduce the number of scans you have whilst pg and getting an amnio is all but impossible so many scientists and researchers are leaving to continue their work abroad which is a terrible loss.

Glad to hear you're feeling a little more reassured. Good luck at your next scan and let us know how it goes.
Debra.

[franny]

hi debra!

well as i said i'll let you know how it went...
basically - they could only find one egg. the doc asked me (perplexed) if i'd had been 'operated on' - (i assume tubal ligation) - i mean what is this doc on!!? such a sensitive young man, eh?...

anyway, it seems the've cancelled this first cycle. i asked them if it may have been due to giving me such a low dosage of gonal to begin with, especially if you consider my age, 38 : 150 (2 days) 75 (2 days) then bumped up top 225 for a further two days.

i have to wait till next month and do a FSH. wouldn't it have been better to fiind this out before starting any cycle? the doc seems to think i may not have many eggs left (being as old as i am!?!). he said the total should be lower than 25 and then we could try for a 2nd cycle whereby he would start me on 400 at least ..mmmm oK...

i must admit i'm losing faith in my docs. is this info normal? am i normal??!

cheers

franny

XX

[ogr1]

i am so sorry that you are having to go threw this..
ivf is hard enough with out second guessing your doctor..
can you talk with another doctor...
if not i would call and talk with one of his nurses.. alot of time the nurses have a better way of talking with us..
becky