New and with lots of questions...

[thegruffalo]

Hello, we are new to this website and the whole ivf/icsi excitement! We have been reading posts here and there, but our first consultation is coming up in the next few weeks, so the questions are building up. We have been dumped by the NHS for having appalling sperm. So, we are off to the Nuffield in Woking to have isci.

We have lots of questions that have been answered by some of the posts we have read, so thank you, but still have lots more...

So here they are, can anybody help...

1) Are there any general anesthetics involved? I have read posts here saying that they have been 'sedated' - is this the same? I hope not.

2) How often do we have to visit the clinic during the treatment? Is it really daily? We need to think about the implications for work.

3) I have read that the drugs that you have to inject have the side effect of adding 'at least five pounds' to your weight. Is this true? please say that it is not!

4) How did you tell your parents about it all? What did they say? Did you tell them at all?

5) We have read that isci may lead to greater chance of 'genetic abnormalities'. Is this true and, if so, what are we really talking about?

We have lots more questions, but these are the ones on my mind at present. Thank you all for your answers we have found out so far!

[Sand]

Hi there

Welcome to the Site. I'll try to answer a few of your questions :

1. Anaesthetic. There are 2 methods - General or Sedation. Some clinics give you the choice, some only use Sedation. Reports from those who've had Sedation tend to vary. Many report recalling very very little from the experience.

2. Clinic visits. The length of your trmt will vary greatly depending upon which protocol you are put on. The Long protocol (where you Downreg, then Stim) can last about 4 weeks to egg collection. The Short / Flare / Cetrotide protocol only lasts about 2 week. Some Long Protocols may also necessitate taking brith control pills before hand for a few weeks. Whichever protocol, you'll find that particulary during the last 2 weeks (prior to egg collection) you need frequent clinic visits. The appointments themselves are usually quite short, and usually a clinic does early morning appointments / surgeries, to try to accomodate working hours. You'll need to attend these appointments for blood tests (which will be almost daily), and ultrasound scans (to see how big your follicles have grown).

3. Weight gain. As with everything else in life, this varies from person to person. AFter 3 cycles I've certainly put on a lot of flab - and all around the tummy unfortunately . !

4. Telling parents. I told my mum (my dad's died) the night before my first egg collection, on my first cycle. The only reason I told her was because I was about to have a General, and thought I'd better tell her just in case ...

5. ICSI abnormalities. The truth is that because ICSI is such a relatively new procedure (which wasn't pretested on animals) we don't really know what will happen down the line. With ICSI, sperm which would not normally be able to penetrate an egg could be chosen for injectoin during the procedure. For this reason, genetic abnormalities may be passed on.

Hope this help. Shocking (but not unbelievable !) that the NHS want to up their stats !

Sandra x

[Kat]

Hi, Sand has answered everything but thought I'd add my experiences too

1. I had sedation each time and don't remember anything
2. Clinic visits - mine were very good and did 7.30am most times so not too late for work (and work are very sympathetic)
3. Weight gain - far too much but then I wasn't exactly stick thin to start with and am not a good exerciser
4. Telling parents - I have not - I said to my Mum when I was taking clomid that I'd tell her when I was pg (OK that was a few years ago, so they know something is not happening, but I'll tell them when and if I have to) - don't want them to worry I suppose
5. ICSI - Sand is right, no one knows but I tell myself the embryos would not stick around if there was something really wrong

Lastly how come you're going to Woking from Brighton? Sorry, being nosy!
They do egg share at Woking if that's something you would consider doing - you'd get your treatment cheaper and help someone else too....

Hope that helps
Love
Kat xx

[AMck]

Hi and Welcome to the site

I think Sand and Kat have answered all your questions.

I can add that I have been offered both general and sedation for procedures. I think it's up to you to choose.

I haven't told my mum about my treatment. Didn't want to worry her! Infact haven't told anyone so this site is a godsend!

I haven't put any weight on YET!

I would add that my nurse told me that genetic abnormalities from ICSI were very rare (At the Bridge Centre in London they say that they haven't had any!!) The most common problem aparently is cleft lip and palate.

Hope this helps,good luck!

Anna

[leigh]

Hi
Don't think I can add anything to answers already given but I like your name choice! I am a reception teacher and The Gruffalo is my favourite story to read to the kids... just thought I'd tell you that!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Lavender1]

Just to add my bit...

I haven't put on any weight....YET!

I'm not having to go daily (I'm also at the Nuffield, but Chichester). We have azoospermia so ICSI route. I'm having 4 scans: 1st 2 one week apart, then the next 2 at 3 day intervals. I'm lucky because they've worked out to be on Sat's apart from one, when they have booked me for 7.50am.

We told parents as soon as we found out there was a problem. DF was so worried that my parents wouldn't love him anymore as he couldn't 'do the job' as it were...love him. My parents have been fantastic and very supportive and assured DF they love him just the way he is!

Wishing you lots of luck - stay strong and post here whenever you feel the need!
xxxxxxx

[smokeroni]

Welcome,

It looks like your questions have been answered. People on this board are very informative. Keep asking if you have more.
Just so you know I have put on about 5-7 pounds at each IVF cycle (3) and I managed to take if off right after as they were all BFN. I really think that the weight gain thing is mainly water!!! Also who cares if it ends in a BFP!!!

Good luck with your consultation!!


Pam

[Lis]

Hi and welcome, thegruffalo.

I just joined the site last week and like you have had so many questions as DH just diagnosed with azoospermia last Monday so our only hope is ICSI. Like you the appalling NHS want us to wait 5 months for an initial consultation so we're either off to the Nuffield in Glasgow or hoping moreso that we can go to Bupa in Edinburgh (but unfortunately private care in Edinburgh seems very disjointed and awaiting to see if a urologist can see us there - there's a self funding Infertility unit in the hospital slap bang next to the NHS one!! but they don't do the investigations, only the treatment - weird or what??).

We told our parents immediately and I'm so glad. Already the support we've had has been amazing. I would have found it too much pressure to keep it from them as we're very close and as all I have done is bubble up to now, they would have known something was up! DH also wanted close friends to know for the same reason (which I think is so brave of him and I love him even more for that).

You've brought up some questions that I've been wondering about too - like the weight thing and the appointments! If we have to travel to Glasgow it'll be a 120 mile round trip every time (when the bloody local NHS clinic is 3 miles away!!) so I can sympathise if your travelling out with your area. No doubt we'll speak again. Good luck

[amfy]

What can i add??

My clinic in Walsall has only needed to see me 4 times up to the point of EC and that was with an extra appointment caused by the unexpected arrival of extra follicles.

I have put on weight, but before IVF I was running 3 times a week and then I read Zita West who said "No aerobic execise". Also, I never used to eat breakfast and often skipped lunch, now i am under strict clinical instructions to ensure I have 3 meals a day. So - 2 extra meals a day and a downturn in excercise - the weight gain is fairly unsurprising!

In terms of telling the parents - I don't seem to be able to stop telling people! I keep saying that I'm trying to keep it quiet but I swear if it goes on much longer I will be stopping strangers in Tescos and telling them I'm having IVF!

[Susie]

Hello and welcome!
I think all your questions have been answered, but I would just like to say re the abnormalities that my DD is 4 has just started school in september, and we have been told that the school have decided to give her extra lessons as she is so bright and shows a strong academic ability. She is perfect, and hopefully the one I'm carrying will also be.
Good luck anyway
Susie
PS The gruffalo is my DDs favourite book too!

[thegruffalo]

Thank you for all your replies, we are touched that so many people took the time to respond. It is comforting to know lots of other people are in the same sort of boat.

As for the question about why we are going to Woking (Kat)... We have to go private (because the NHS here do not 'do' isci), and it seems to have good results, and it is only slightly further than Southampton and Eastbourne. We did not fancy the extra stress of negotiating British Rail up to London either. I hope that we have made a good decision, as there seems to be a lot of travelling involved!

As also a Reception teacher, I was wondering a lot about time off for treatment. Although having great holidays, being a teacher sometimes feels quite inflexible as my class may notice when I am not there! What experiences have other primary teachers had out there with heads/supply budgets/time off? Would it be possible to arrange treatment for holiday time? What part of treatment is most intensive and would need more time off? - more questions again, sorry!

Thank you very much.