Trying for a baby (12+ M/not straightforward)

myaccount08

Thank you for the advice about going to the GP. Nobody on the normal PG boards understands this. It's just so daunting after going through so much to get here.

The Drs could do nothing about hCG levels, but if my progesterone was too low then they could give pessaries to try and sustain the pregnancy. I'm taking B6 anyway for a mild progesterone defiency so i'm not sure if that will be enough for it to stick. I think i will wait it out as long as i can. I've looked into getting private bloods and early scan done but they all ask for your GP details and i'm scared that they would send a routine letter which says i've been there.

I didn't initially like FF as it makes general assumptions with ovulation and i felt i knew my body better. I ended up paying for the VIP though and i find it much better, it's got alot more analysis features than the free one which is always fun for obsessed ttc'ers lol. I can get points if i give you a referral code lol. If you keep going on the free trial you are on, at the end of it they will offer you a discount so wait until then for the VIP!

AnnieM_3

Thanks for the heads-up Myaccount - I'll pm you for a code when it's time for me to sign up!

Is it worth just straight out asking a private clinic if they would share the info with your GP? I guess if you don't give your name you could tell them exactly why you need to know... I think it's awful that women in your situation are put in this position - I understand the NHS wants to move other people up the list, but it forces women into a very difficult situation, and I know I'd feel exactly the same as you. They should only take you off the list once you've given birth IMO.

Hope you're ok today (hope everyone else is too!)

AnnieM x

nottslass_2

myaccount08 wrote: »

My big dilemma, is that if I go to the GP now then they will take me off the list for treatment and investigations. I know from past heartache that I could still easily lose this any day now so i may very well need that treatment for our final chance.... But, at the same time I don't want to compromise this pregnancy by missing out on progesterone and hCG checks. At the start of 08 I read a girl that got pregnant and was taken off "the list", she lost the baby at 8w 5d and almost a year on is still waiting for treatment... I don't think I could bare losing our only hope like that What do you girls think? What would you do? (I do know how lucky I am just to be in this position though)

Are you sure that Your GP will inform the Fertility Clinic ? Most GPs will probably be very sympathetic to the fact that there is such a long waiting list for treatment,and would hopefully understand the need not to inform them too soon.

Failing that,a private clinic,cannot Inform your GP without your permission,to do so would be Breaking the Data protection act,which carries a prison sentence !!!!!!!! When I had My IVF at a Private fertility Clinic,I had to give signed permission for any details to be shared with our GP.

Hope This Reassures you.

Nottslass

nikkinoo_3

Well the FC appt today was interesting to say the least. DH has to do another sperm sample, as expected, and they're going to book me in for a HSG to check tubes/ovaries are normal. Basically as all results were OK from previous tests, following these we have 3 options: carry on trying naturally, or consider IUI (providing tubes are clear) or IVF.

I feel really strange about it all - kind of in limbo now. I don't think I was expecting them to present IUI or IVF as 'the next step' really. I suppose I thought they'd do more investigations... which they are I guess. Maybe I was expecting too much.

As DH's previous sperm results were on the low side of OK the consultant told us that we'd be eligable for a free IVF cycle if only it weren't for the fact he already has a son from a previous relationship. I don't begrudge DH his son for a minute, but considering that all along we've been told that 'good sperm 12years ago doesn't mean good sperm now' the NHS criteria for free funding seems so unfair.

I think I'll see what the HSG shows before making any big decisions. By the looks of things it'll be a good couple of months before I get an appt, and who knows, anything could happen in that time :rolleyes:

I also think I need time for all the information to sink in. Just looking through the info they provided, how on earth does anyone chose between the £1000ish IUI with a 1 in 10 chance of success and IVF which costs 4 times the price but has a 1 in 3 chance of success?? I didn't expect to feel so confused and emotional after the appointment!

Somnium

Yikes nikkinoo I really feel for you, but please try to stay positive. But finding out as much info as poss deffinatley sounds like a good idea. I too was offered the option of IVF quite early on without al the tests so it sounds like its a standard procedure. Anyway I wish you the best of luck what ever you do.

myaccount08

Nottslass - thank you for letting me know! The clinics i phoned said "all i need is my GP details" before they'll take bloods etc. I didn't give them any personal info or anything so i wonder if i could just go to the clinic and say that i'm in the process of moving GP? Can i just flat out refuse to give GP details (in a nice way of course )? Why do they even ask for details if they can't contact them? Or does giving details mean that i am infact automatically giving my permission to contact them? Sorry for all the questions :embarasse

Because of my health the GP were advising me against getting pregnant now (i'm 80% housebound and they can't get it round their heads that DH would be the "playful" parent) so i've had such a battle with them. Single mothers manage with babies so why couldn't a perfectly healthy and capable dad and a disabled but well educated, devoted and loving mum?! :mad: Ugh it annoys me so much that they are able to express their subjective beliefs onto our chances of conceiving again :rolleyes2. I think they are very keen to get me off the list so i really don't want to have to inform them of my PG till i have to.

Does anyone know what the least sensitive type of pregnancy test is?

Nikki - I've heard soo many stories of women getting PG on an HSG cycle. I'll have my fingers crossed for you

myaccount08

Just thinking about the IUI thing nikki. This may be TMI so sorry in advance, but have you read about the insteadcups? They call them "poor mans IUI" (charming eh?!). Although i always disagreed with this term in the past, as IUI is often used for antibody issues and when there's problems with cervical mucus. This BFP cycle i used an instead cup after we BD. I lined the bottom of it with pre-seed and then inserted it, took it out about 6 hours later. 10 days later i got the faint lines. It holds all the sperm up at your cervix, and using only a tiny amount of pre-seed gives them a helping hand to swim through. Sorry again if thats TMI but i think it's worth a try!

nikkinoo_3

Oooh myaccount08 that sounds interesting! I'm prepared to try anything... are they like the mooncup (instead of using tampons during a period) but used for holding the sperm instead?

I feel a little less stressed about it all this morning - I think I was a bit overwhelmed by the early suggestion of IUI/IVF as the next step and frustrated because that kind of knocked all my carefully planned questions out of my head to a certain extent. I imagined they would check for things like antibody, cervical mucus and 'him and me compatibility' problems before going down that route. Or maybe I read too much into Ben Elton's Inconceivable book!!!

There's nothing I can do bar keep trying naturally until we get sperm and HSG results, so I'm determined not to stress about things. Hopefully then we'll know more and that'll help us to decide if IUI or IVF is right for us. And in the meantime, who knows what may happen xx

myaccount08

Yes they're similar to the mooncup, except with these you throw them away after one use. They are abit big (weird!) and messy, but with everything else we go through with IF it's not that much bother! I tried it without the pre-seed for 2 cycles with no luck, also tried pre-seed alone but BFN too. The combination this time must've helped. Not too much pre-seed though as that can actually wash the sperm out and take away it's natural ability. I'm convinced the reflexology got my egg ready and then this helped DHs sperm. I bet with the HSG you'd be onto a winner with this

Here's a link for them - https://secure.hosts.co.uk/~oochi.biz/instead/public/index.php
I bought the box of 6 and used the last one this cycle.

For the pre-seed i'd advise the multi use tube as the individual ones seem to waste alot as each application is quite alot. It's about £9 so I managed to buy someone's leftover individual ones off ebay for a few quid. Always got my MSE head on lol

nottslass_2

myaccount08 wrote: »

Nottslass - thank you for letting me know! The clinics i phoned said "all i need is my GP details" before they'll take bloods etc. I didn't give them any personal info or anything so i wonder if i could just go to the clinic and say that i'm in the process of moving GP? Can i just flat out refuse to give GP details (in a nice way of course )? Why do they even ask for details if they can't contact them? Or does giving details mean that i am infact automatically giving my permission to contact them? Sorry for all the questions :embarasse

Firstly,giving your details does not mean that you are automatically consenting to them informing your GP - they have to have your permission to do this,without it they are breeching the data protection act and patient confidentiality (both very serious).I can't remember the exact circumstances where medical information can be disclosed,but it would be only allowed where a child's welfare was at risk or a criminal act had been committed !!!!
IF you are still worried,You could just say that you've just moved into the area and have not got round to registering with a GP yet,or you could just explain the situation to them and state,that because of this you do not want your GP informed - I would have thought that they would fully understand your reasons.

Good luck, if you need anymore info I'll do my best to help ( I work for the NHS,patient records)