Test Dates Thread

DebraP · Post by **DebraP** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 8:24 pm

Hi Sally, lovely to see you back and posting again.

I think eptopics are just the cruellest of all possible results. I'm so sorry you had to go through this. You sound strong though, is that how you feel?

Hugs
Debra.

Sallyc · Post by **Sallyc** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:24 am

Hi Debra,

try to be, but dont really feel like it at the mo. Dropped a cup yesterday and started crying over it...

(silly cow) That is not me at all.
But...i am trying to work out what to do next. Because we r in Germany it is quite difficult 4 us to go back to London 4 treatment, again. Over here it is well expensive...!

Oh well, going on a holiday soon, that will sort me out.

By the way, Robert Winston is "the big man" in Hammersmith, the clinic i had treatment. Never saw him though..

Joanne-hope everything goes well 4 u next week. Good luck!!!

Sally.

CC · Post by CC » Tue Mar 01, 2005 5:54 pm

Hi all - yes those books are really good (listed under 'helpful reads and advice' thread- The one about other people's treatment is good because it's like a series of diaries - really interesting. I'm not sure about Robert Winston - I think his TV work is amazing - watch everything so I jumped at it when I saw a fertility book by him but when it came it made me so depressed. In thhe section on ART - he was sarcastic, arrogant and very dismissive talking about how there are more worthy causes that could appreciate the funding better than IVF treatmemnt because the success rate is so low. He also criticized other practitioners in a really unprofessional way. I was so upset I was going to write to him to ask him why he'd been so callous back then (it was quite an old book) but instead I just chucked the book in the back of the cupboard + vowed not to buy another book by him so if anyone has any useful texts by him please let me know - I'd love my faith restored!

Sally - I'm so sorry to hear about your ectopic - I hope you're getting lots of rest and have lots of people pampering you.

Joanne - how was follow up appointment? Mine's not till June!

Debra - how are things with you

P.S What does this one stand for?

cherylxx

Joanne104 · Post by **Joanne104** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 12:29 pm

Hi all

I will have a look at that thread, not really read any books before but am determined to read the one by Zita West, it seems everyone enjoyed that one and got some useful info from it..

As for Robert Winston - think I might have changed my mind about that one! There is a book in the local library by him - might go and have a sneaky read there but not bring it home, can't cope at the minute with reading anything negative about IVF, just have to believe it works and coming on here and reading all the success stories just proves that!

Follow up appointment next Tuesday - I was really shocked when they said there was one available so quickly, it's a review appt to chat through my last treatment (

) and see what he says about future options.....

Hope everyone is ok, good luck to those having treatment at the minute - fingers crossed for all those March testers xx

CC · Post by CC » Mon Mar 07, 2005 7:26 pm

Thought I would revive our test dates thread - not ready to put it to bed yet! Any news on your next treatment Joanne? Got a letter about my treatment today because follow up not until June! It just said that all was fine but just unlucky. Only thing to consider is whether my low number of eggs (only got 7, 6 first time) was a factor. They cannot improve my egg collection as I don't seem to produce many. Anyone got some tips for getting more eggs?

Sallyc · Post by **Sallyc** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 12:25 pm

Hi Cheryl,

how r u doing?

I am afraid i dont have many tipps on how to produce more eggs

What protocol did u do? Sometimes they can put u on a different one that works better for u.

Take care

Joanne104 · Post by **Joanne104** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 3:20 pm

Hi Cheryl

Sorry I am the same as Sally, not sure what you can do to produce more eggs, maybe like Sally suggested they might need to change your protocol and you might respond better?? It's something worth asking definitely

I had my follow up appointment yesterday, came out feeling quite

, he said we had 4 choices 1) do nothing and see if fall pregnant naturally (says there is still a possibility - yeah right!), 2) use donor sperm as dh has low count (but then he contradicted himself by saying not really a worthwhile option as eggs are fertilizing ok with ICSI), 3) have a laparoscopy to see if I have mild endo (could that be a reason why I am not falling pregnant on my own?) or 4) do IVF-ICSI again

I came out feeling very

not knowing what to do for the best, as my dh works in science he seemed to understand the logic (!) behind it all, said he doesn't think I have endo, just pointed out that that could be a reason (I have had ultrasounds etc to check for problems in the past with nothing found), he said he was just "covering all options"

Since then I have found it hard to focus on what to do for the best, not sure if I want to try another clinic (there is one about 20 miles from here with a good rep) or just leave well along for now.

On a more positive note - Zita West book just arrived today so am going to have a look through that - did you know she has another one due out in April I think?

Sorry for going on and on

, I guess I just feel at the minute dh has done his crying, he has moved on, I am kind of stuck in limbo at the minute

How are you keeping? Hope you are ok

Best wishes

Joanne
xxx

taylorjools · Post by **taylorjools** » Wed Mar 09, 2005 3:50 pm

Hi
I hope you don't mind me jumping in here? I just noticed that SallyC you are in Germany like me! Nice to have some company! I am so sorry for you for the ep, you are very brave to get through that. We have been through the mill here (tests and stuff just confirming results from UK before we moved back here) and because of my POF we need donor eggs (illegal here) so we are going to Spain (IM Barcelona) to avoid the wait in the UK. We decided that you have to pay the travel anyway, and I just can't face the waiting for a donor. I guess one benefit of being here is once you do get pregnant then the health care is very good - is it good where you are?? (We are in Ostholstein).

I also wanted to say well done to Cheryl for throwing in her job - that's so brave of you! I had to have a nervous breakdown before I believed I wasn't superwoman (international IT consultant YUUUUK). Now I am through that and soooooooo glad I never ever have to go back to that, I have got my life back. How are you coping with the spare time? I am still not used to that, but have started painting again which brings me some peace. I am also very lucky as I still have therapy once a week, so I have good support, stops me turning everything into "projects" - I made my own Xmas cards and produced 250 to sell on the Christmas markets!!! got a good telling off from the therapist!

I am also doing lots of dreaming about new career ideas if .........doesn't happen....

The feeling that everything is on hold until "we know about the baby thing" gets you down doesn't it? We are renting here and selling our house in the UK but don't want to buy until we know what is happening.

Anyway, our first appt in Barcelona is April 14th and donor should be allocated soon after (they say egg collection 4-6 weeks after first appt) so I hope I'm not tempting fate here but I think we'd be looking at end of May/June for ET as long as my womb does her bit.....and dh's spermies like the DE's

Love JulieT

CC · Post by CC » Wed Mar 09, 2005 10:35 pm

Hi Joanne, Sally and Julie,

Great to hear from you all. Thanks for tip Joanne about Zita West - I will be on the look out for that. As for your treatment, I know it's not really my business but if I was in your position I'd give ICSI another go. Did you see that quote I put from a book about the fact that even though chances of success are something like 20% - this does increase with every subsequent treatment because statistically if you keep going 3,4,5 times up to 80% of couples are successful (something like that - I'll find the quote). Maybe look at more tests / new clinic if 3rd ICSI doesn't work but if it was me I'd definitely have another shot (emotions and finances willing!) I'm going to ask about a different protocol - thanks for that tip -I've heard about the 'flare' one - I might ask about that.

Hi Sally - thanks for your advice. How are things with you? Did you have to have a lot of further treatment to recover from your cycle? What's the advice for your next step? Do you go again soon - wouldn't it be nice if we all cycled together in the Summer?

I haven't yet finished work Julie - I finish in July (I'm a Senior Manager in a school so I need to see the term out) but I do know it's absolutely the right decision. I am madly planning loads of things for the Summer that I normally can't do - silly things like I'm going to read all the Harry Potter books cos I've never had time before! I can't wait - I just hope I don't get obsessed with treatment - but what am I saying - I already am!! I think for lots of people work can be a thankful distraction but for me it's just not working out that way so I'm happy I've been decisive - lots of my colleagues have said they admire me for risking my career and being brave enough to take a chance but it's easier than they realise because actually nothing matters to me like this does and if my career disappears overnight - fine - there's always another career out there for me!

Speak to you again soon,

Cherylxx

Sallyc · Post by **Sallyc** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 2:25 pm

Hi all!

@ Julie - yes, i am in Germany too.

How come u r over here? I am not far from Duesseldorf. I read your thread about donor eggs etc. At the moment it is still illegal over here and i really dont know why. But there is talk about making it legal. Hurry up i would say!!! Good luck with your appt. in Spain. Wish u all the best.

@ Cheryl - hope time goes by quick until u finish work and u can chill out a bit, u really deserve it. I didnt have to have any more treatment after hospital. Just had to go and have the hcg level checked again and it has been fine. So now waiting for AF and trying to make a decision on what to do next. Would be nice if we could cycle together again in summer. Even though i dont feel like waiting. Not very patient see.

@ Joanne - hope u dont find it too hard to make a decision on what to do next. Just dont give up girl. We will all get there in the end!!!

All the best take care

Sally.

CC · Post by CC » Sat Mar 12, 2005 5:12 pm

I feel a bit like that too Sally - my first reaction was wanting to have another go NOW but I've really come to terms with waiting because I'm enjoying preparing myself and getting healthy - plus I want the benefit of the stressfree Summer! It's really weird but time goes really slowly on this site (which is nice) - I thought it was ages since people had posted on here and that this thread had 'gone to bed' but it was only Wednesday. I'm glad to see it back - thanks for reviving it Sally - keep me updated on how you're doing, Cherylx

Sallyc · Post by **Sallyc** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 7:38 am

Hi Cheryl,

how r u doing?

Getting healthy...very good. Is there anything special u r taking at the mo? Vitamins?

Unfortunatly we havent got much time to waste. Hubby is in the forces and going away again soon enough.

Stressfree summer...doesnt that sound nice? Enjoy it as much as u can. Sunbathing, reading....! Cocktails?!

Where abouts in the uk r u?

Take care

taylorjools · Post by **taylorjools** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 2:27 pm

Hi all
quick update: had another set of blood tests yesterday (results tommorrow) because the uni clinic (here in Germany) want to see the effect of my HRT on reducing FSH. As I said elsewhere this hasn't changed anything, and we are sticking to DE. I did some research yesterday (see post on FSH) that convinced me that more waiting is not worth it, and we are going ahead with Barcelona.

We are in Germany (dh is German) to make it easier for dh to find a "proper job" than in the UK, and also because here in Ostholstein we live in the most wonderful coastal area, and the house prices are far cheaper than UK. My company actually transferred me to their Hamburg office at my request in 2003, and 2 months later I had a breakdown (after the failed IUI) and then got fired as I was off sick so long........... So our plan is if we do manage God willing to start a family, we'll sell our UK house and buy one here....also dh children (twins, 16 now) can get here by train, and we love them visiting us.

my cousin's husband is in the airforce, they were posted near Frankfurt and 2 weeks later he got sent to the faulklands leaving her with 2 4-year olds(twins) to manage....do you send a lot of time alone then when dh is away Sally?

Love BigJ

Sallyc · Post by **Sallyc** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 7:45 pm

Hello Girls!!!

I AM BACK!!!!

YES, i have been on holiday. To Majorca. It was really nice and sooooo relaxing.

How is everyone doing? Went pretty quite here.

Julie-how r u doing? Not long to go now till your apptm. Bet u r looking forward to it.
Yes, i do spend quite a bit of time on my own. As long as i was working i didnt mind it so much. But last year i gave up my job because we had a posting to Ireland. 8 days before the removals should have turned up we got told that we r staying in germany for another 2 years. So now i am sitting at home without a job and i am soooooo bored!!!

Cheryl-how is u? Hope u r not working so hard. Have u had an apptm. with your clinic yet? Any talk of how to improve number of eggs?

Joanne-u still around? Any news? How r u doing?

Well, me and hubby still dont know what to do next. We might try treatment on the german net. We have to find out how much that will cost us and take it from there. In London it would be on the NHS and for free. We would just have to pay for accomodation and food etc. But hubby cant get 3 or 4 weeks leave again and i really dont want to stay in London by myself. I always get lost

Find i very scary, am just not a town person.

Right, wish u all a happy easter weekend. Hope to hear from u soon.

Take good care
xxx

CC · Post by CC » Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:23 am

Hi Sally - nice to hear from you again - we've started posting on 'June/July cycle' why don't you come and join us over there? Don't worry if you're not cycling in June / July - some are, some aren't but just another excuse for a chat! See you soon, Cherylx

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