IVF HAMMERSMITH

[CarolynB]

Fellow Hammers Good Day

So I am back at home again and posting from my bed thanks to the joys of wireless at home - very cool!!!!!!!!!!

Vicki - thought of you at EC yesterday and hoped that they were able to collect a good number for you. Presume that you are back for ET tomorrow or are you going on beyond day 2? Have my fingers & toes crossed for you that you'll have some good ones to put back and may be even some to freeze for you.

Lola -we miss you but hope that you are having some great down time post exams and drinking plenty of that fizzy wine. Let us know how your French holiday was when you feel like it.

In quite a bit of pain but at least it is done and I am home.

7 1/2 hour wait on Monday for surgery was gruesome. Last on the Trewsters list for the day - saveed his best until last 2 hour op so by the time i came around at after 5pm he had gone for the day.

The nurses got me up yesterday at 6am to remove the catheter - nice! Having woken at 3am when the drips ran out.........And had to wait until gone 5pm to get the 'news' from Trewster.

Mix of good and bad as ever. Good news is both tubes are re-connected. Bad news is that there was a lot of infection in the womb which he has cut out but is worried will almost certainly re-occur. Not sure what effect that will have on ivf if we need to go back that route either.

So we go to see him next Tuesday for follow up and to get the stiches removed. Am glad to be back at home. At least then I can sleep in our lovely comfy bed.

One of the girls on April-May buddies asked why I would not be doing iuis now rather than completely natural? Especially if I am short of time due to age and risk of reinfection. Interested in your views????

Any other questions that you can think of for Tuesday - I want to know if there is anything that I can/should not do that might reduce the risk of reinfection?? I also know that I need to do hpt every month and if it is (by a miracle) +ve then get myself an early scan so eptopic x=can be ruled out.

Anyway good luck Vicki for ET. I shall be thinking of you.
Love Carolyn xxxx

[margaretgo]

Hello again all!

Just been catching up with all the posts...

Carolyn - hope the op went well and you're recovering OK. The possibility of a natural pregnancy inbetween IVF must be a fantastic boost!

Lola - congrats also on exams - much admiration for anyone who can study that hard - think I've become too lazy in my old age!!

As for me, I'm still doing investigatory blood tests/scans ahead of my next appointment on September 22nd - but unfortunately my scan today has shown a Hydrosalpynx on my right side - DAMN! More details when I have my x-ray - but looks like an op for me.

Can't have keyhole because of adhesions - so it'll be a full-on Laparotomy.

Wondering how long I would have to wait for op on NHS - and if I could do that bit privately without affecting my NHS IVF process?? I'm far too impatient for this IVF lark! It's so frustrating having to wait for my next appointment to discuss this. Wondering if I'm making the mistake of my life and should be doing this privately - availability of appointments isn't great.

Lola - did you have treatment for Hydrosalpynx? How long did you wait before IVF-ing it again? Would they make me do 2 months of investigations all over again?? (please no!)

('Hello' magazine featuring Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives) wedding was small compensation for today's news. Lovely wedding!)

mxxxxx

[margaretgo]

Oh - and just opened my scan envelope for a peak (as if sealing it was going to deter me!) and discovered 'antral follicles'. It appears I have 10 (on my one remaining ovary). Is that OK?? How many is normal?

[poochie]

Hello


Lola Hope you having fun and are well.

Carolyn - Hope you are recovering OK yes I agree you can’t beat your own bed, sorry to hear about the infection in your womb. I not much help with your dilemmas I afraid, my only suggestion is you lay your cards on the table to Trewster and ask his opinion on what is the best overall plan for you to get pregnant, sorry if it sounds like stating the obvious, I'd think I'd go for IVF and try natural and go as soon as possible before infection reoccurs. I Know IVF more expensive and invasive but I feel it has higher odds than IUI.

Margaretgo – I had 10 antral follies on both my ovaries and my FSH was 6 and Trewster said that was fine. I know what you mean about the waiting, I’ve read of other girls paying private at one clinic until they reached top of list at their NHS clinic.

Well had my EC Tue and ET today. I have two good 5 cell embies back so now the dreaded 2ww I test the 22.8 which is the day my AF would be due. Did not get enough to freeze unfortunately, which is a little disappointing as we have limited frozen sperm not to mention funds, anyway fingers crossed.

Vicki X

[Vickyp]

Hi to Vicki

Just wanted to say GOOD LUCK - hope your taking it easy and feeling positive. I hope the time doesn't drag too much (although I'm sure it will).

Take Care. Love Vicky

[CarolynB]

Vicki

Great to here that you have 2 back on board. Now the waiting - Yuck. Sorry that there were no extras to freeze for you. However, just think for now that you'll not be needing the snow babies!!!!

I shall be thinking of you over the next 2 weeks and sending you the most sticky of vibes!

Think that you are right re-follow up with Trewster - I'll just ask him the best way forward and put my trust in him. Just worried about the clock ticking so loudly now that I am beyond 4-0 - Crickey!!! Thanks for your advice.

Thinking of you & willing you on.
Love
Carolyn xxx

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Margaretgo

Great to hear from you again. Been a while.

Sorry that I cannot help with the results from your scan but looks like Vicki has some good news on that for you.

Sorry also about the Hydrosalpynx but at least if they can find the cause of your issues then hopefully they can start treating for you. Not sure about further investigations after surgery. They just told me to get on with trying naturally as soon as possible but guess that it is different for each of us???

I am feeling really quite rough & sore (not helped by picking up a cold - it so hurts when I sneeze or cough, it is almost unbearable) but guess it is to be expected at just 4 days post op. Think that I am being unrealistic and impatient about my recovery!!! I am pleased that it could now happen naturally but worried about how long it could take and also looking at the odds of eptopic that is worrying me too. I guess that the worrying never stops for any of us...........we go for a follow up with Trewster on Tuesday and to get the stiches taken out.

I guess that the nhs- private sadly comes down to your financial situation. If you can get the money together to have the surgery done privately then I am sure that it will make a huge difference to the wait. Do you have any insurance cover? I managed to get my laparoscopy paid in full under insurance. Had to pay for the tubal surgery myself. Cost around £3,600 so similar to a cycle of ivf once you have added in the cost of the drugs too. As I was having the tubal done privately, the wait was only 4 weeks - no idea how long it would have been on nhs. Was leaving my job for a sabbatical and managed to get them to pay me 4 weeks of sick leave so that covered the cost of the op for me. Cheeky - but if you don't ask then you don't get and I was due to go back last Feb but they have faffed around getting a replacement so thought that I should at least make them pay!!!

Time is so critical for me at over 4-0 that I have no other options. I think that you might be able to get the surgery done privately and still stay on nhs waiting list. You might want to check that out with your local council or your GP without giving away who you are.............

Any way very best of luck. Let us know what you are up to and what you decide to do.

Love Carolyn xxxx
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Lola - fizzy wine, fizzy wine, more fizzy wine - how goes it????

[poochie]

Hi Carolyn

Good luck for tomorrow hope you feeling OK and getting over your cold talk about bad timing, I winced when I thought of you coughing and sneezing.

I OK had ac today to keep me calm and stress free, I have had a little ac needle put in my ear which is size of pin head, I have to rub when stressed to calm me, and it works, thank god.

Take care hope you get some good news and answers tomorrow.

Vicki x

[margaretgo]

Feeling like I have a bit of a plan now - I called the Hammersmith NHS Funding Manager and disovered that I CAN do both private and nhs cycles without if affecting the funding - all they ask is that you leave 3 months between - so that's a great relief.

I'm thinking I would see Mr Barsoum privately as well (seems to be most logical to see the same person at the same clinic) - also for the Hydrosalpynx issue which I'm hoping might be covered under BUPA?? And if it isn't, I will find the £££s to pay for the op and get it out of the way. As I'm freelance in TV production it's a case of slotting it in between jobs (probably November) when I had hoped to fit in an IVF cycle.

Carolyn - hope you're up and feeling better now.

[poochie]

Hi All

Just a quickie.

Margaretgo - glad you have a plan good luck.

Carolyn - Hope you feeling OK and your review went OK.

AF arrived so another BFN, I very down right now so I having a six month break from IVF.

Good Luck to you all


Vicki XX

[lolajones]

Vicki - I'm so sorry. I think a 6 month break is a good idea. My little break has done me the world of good. Hope you are feeling better soon, know you will! keep in touch lovely.

Margaret - glad that you feel more sorted. As for the hydrosalpinx issue, I'm in the same boat, hoping BUPA stump up and do the decent.

Caroline - how did review go with the Trewster??? Not like you to not post and so am worried.

Sorry I've been uber crap, since getting back from hol, really busy.

So, (have I told you this? Dementia is a sad and lonely road) had my review with The Lav (heh heh heh) and my salpinx is GInormio so the big guy he say OUT OUT OUT. More bloody operations! Anyhoo, having the evil thing removed on sept 7th and having the other (ectopic mangled) side nipped and tucked too to ward off same event. I will then be fallop free and uterine fresh! And completely unable to have children without Lav et al., every silver lining....
Apparently you can cycle again a month after the op so I'll be an oct girl again this year. Which is both exciting and really depressing. A year, dude, lets get this done!

So listen, please accept my humbles for being useless lately and let me know how you're getting on.

Adieu

Lola
xxxxxxx

[CarolynB]

Vicki

I am so sorry for you sweetie. Just posted on your test thread to wish you well before I saw your updated news. So sorry. I agree with you and what Lola has says. Some you, non-ivf time seems like it would do you a lot of good.

Stay in touch and let us know if you are doing ok if you want to post. We are here for venting, madness or sadness if it helps at all.

Huge hugs.
Love Carolyn xxx
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Lola -

you do still exist. WHOAA HOH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is back - sounds like you are very much alive and kicking and rearing to go. Glad that you have been able to have a break & chill after all the tmt and all the study too. Sure that it has done you the world of good. Did know about the surgery as been sneaking a peep at Octo Thread (that is the real Oct thread, 05 vintage ). It is kind of spooky that you'll be an Octo bud again. May be that is a sign. Sorry that tubes have to come out but may be it is for the best in the long run............

All is ok-ish with me. No need to worry. Just went straight from review session to Devon to stay with parents to help recovery and so internet access has been v v limited. Now back in London. DH sent me there to avoid me driving him insane and me going stir crazy stuck in London . Still in pain but is starting to ease.

Good appointment with the Trewster. My dh is a real fan of him rather than Magara. All infection is now gone. He says ivf rather than iui is much better for me at my age and also given potential risk of eptopic. He agrees given age that we should not leave a year of trying naturally. So we agreed that we would try naturally until Xmas. If no joy by then we do an ivf in January. Fresh cycle in Jan and keep the Frosties that we have from cycle 1 as back-up. So I did feel better that we at least have a firm plan. He was really pleased with how my recovery was going. The nurse took out the stiches and it was much easier than the lap stitches coming out which were awful. He even understood the issues with my shitty cold!! He said the worst thing of all were coughing, sneezing and laughing!!!

So I had/have quite a lot of PMA. AF showed up 3 days early but Trewster said that was par for the course post-surgery.

I spotted Mr Lavery as he popped his head out the door!!! They look a similar sort of age I guess. Let's hope that they are both bloody good

I shall post before your op but really hoping that it will go well for you. What a hoot it could have been if we had been in there at the same time. I had mostly older men on the ward with me!!!

Great to have you back.
Love Carolyn xxx

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Margaret

Glad that you have a good plan. I would go private and nhs in parallel if you can afford it so you don't have to wait so long. Hammersmith seem to make everyone wait 3 months between fresh cycles so that the drugs are out your system.

Hope that you & Lola can get the op on BUPA. At least that eases the pain a little. I got the lap paid for but not the tubal surgery as only reason that I NEEDED was to have children!

Anyway stay in touch & let us know when you have dates for the op so we can try to cheer you on.

Lots of Luck
Carolyn xxx

[margaretgo]

Hi All,

Vicki - so sorry to hear of BFN - this really is a rollercoaster. I can so understand the need for a break.

Had appointment this morning with Lavery which was a great relief. He doesn't recommend an op for the Hydrosalpinx because of my history (4 previous ops - lots of adhesions - laparoscopy risky for me!) and thinks although chances reduced by Hydro, it's only on one side and would be better for me just to get on with the IVF than have the trauma of a big op - delay in recovery time, risk of further adhesions etc...

But if I could have laparoscopy like you Lola - I'd be going for it - good luck with BUPA and the like!

I have an x-ray on 15th Sep - and another appt with Lavery 8am (yuck!) Sep 19th. Then hoping to fit in my first cycle in mid November - when I can have a few weeks off from busy TV work, take it easy and cross my fingers.

My FSH was 9.4 which at nearly 38 I'm thinking is not bad going??? 10 antral follicles on my one ovary - which he said was OK - looks like ovary is large and compensating for lack of the other one.

I will remain in the (seemingly interminable!) NHS queue - but Lavery said that I could wait 5/6 months for a cycle from my next appt. Far too long to wait! Wish we'd gone private last year! Still I might fit in an NHS cycle in March - then go for another private...

I thought Mr Lavery was great, by the way, much kinder and more patient than Magara.


mxx

[poochie]

Hi Hammers

Margaretgo - Good look with appointments and your cycle in Nov.

Carolyn - good plan, have fun trying, stay healthy and destressed to give yourself best chance.

Lola - hello welcome back good luck for 7th.

I'll be popping on time to time to check how all you guys are doing. Thank you for all your support. Its friday night and I'm drinking large amounts of red wine, I'll pay tomorrow but who cares.

Love Vicki X

[CarolynB]

Vicki - So nice of you to check-in on us. Wine in vast quantities sounds like a good plan. Who cares about the next day when you are chugging through a nice bottle of vino............

Margaret - sounds like you & Lavs have come up with a good plan. It must be worth the investment to cut 5 months of the waiting time and still keep your nhs cycle as well as a back-up plan - let's hope that you will not even need

Lola - hope that you are enjoying the 3 day weekend. Weather a little better today Still on the fizzy wine????


I am afraid that I not in the best of spirits - rather short on PMA right now. 3 weeks tomorrow since op and still in quite a bit of pain. Trewster plus all info on web said 4 weeks off work, without driving etc etc but guess that I thought that I would be superwoman and could get better sooner ................Stopped all painkillers on Thursday and have managed without but that has kicked up the pain level too.

Just did some chores yesterday with dh around to ferry my about and by 3pm was flat out on the sofa holding my tummy. I have no patience and this is really starting to wear thin...............bored, bored, bored................and really starting to question whether I should have just got on with another cycle of ivf and whether this has all been a stupid plan.

Stop it! No more raining down on our thread. I shall pull myself together. It simply cannot be sore for much longer..........

Hope that you are all having nice weekends.
Take good care.
Love Carolyn xxx

[CarolynB]

Wanted to post and wish lovely Lola luck for Thursday with the surgery. Hope that he does the real biz for you and you can get going in October. Third time lucky for you lovely. And October is of course your month.

Let us know how it goes. Sure that he'll take good care of you. Plenty of drugs

Will be thinking of you on Thursday.

Lots of Love
Carolyn xxxx

PS - I am starting to feel 'normal' again but Trewster did tell me 4 weeks minimum - I just refused to believe him!!!!!!!!!! It is 4 weeks today for me. Now just have to hope that I get the 50% of the deal that works after unblocking the plumbing rather than the 50% that is still no good!! Otherwise we'll be on for ivf2 in Jan.