The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Conceive when its just not happening (12m+)

Runnerduck

Hi TTC40, sorry i can't help, it's not been a problem for me, but hopefully someone here can help you, i suppose it depends on how bad the blockages are and how old you are, hopefully you can speak to your FS quite soon xxx

TTC40

I'm 41 so time isn't on my side.

Appt with FS booked for Saturday.

Everything else which has been checked was OK, SA results good.

FSH was 11 which FS said was a little high.

When we saw him last week he said if everything was OK (which obviously it isn't), he would suggest a couple of months with Clomid, then maybe ICSI & then if no success move to IVF by the end of the year. He said we shouldn't delay anything due to age - which makes me wonder if he'll recommend straight to IVF.

Will deal with the facts at the weekend but good to have some ideas in advance of the appointment so I can think about questions to ask etc.

Runnerduck

as you are 41 he might put you straight on to IVF, i don't expect you will have ICSI as the sa results were good, we have that as oh has a very low count. hopefully you will find out more on saturday, good luck xx

jujugaboo

Good luck runner for scan

Hugs to BZippy, must be alot for you to handle at the moment.

TTC, sorry I am unable help but if you need any IVF advice I'm your girl.

xx

staffiecat

chickpea wrote: »

Great news about the IVF Staffiecat! I hope things move fast.

DH has definitely ruled out IUI I'm afraid! But I'm slowly getting my heard around not having another baby, and I think I can live with it.

There's a bit of a saying that I read somewhere, I can't remember where, maybe someone's sigfile or something daft like that, anyway it read:

'It'll be alright in the end, and if it's not alright, it's not the end'

Anyway - it seems quite appropriate for the whole TTC journey. And for me it might be the end - or close to it soon. And I know that it is the end - because I'm increasingly alright about it being so. I wouldn't say I'm happy about it - but I'm alright. Mostly..

Hugs Chickpea.
TBH I know exactly what you mean. Even though we haven't started down the IVF route yet its still been 5 years and it feels like the time is coming for me to start accepting that I won't have my baby I am still super sensitive since the op and can cry at the drop of a hat but the whole ttc journey just makes my emotions 10 times worse and I am very fed up with feeling so low!

On another note, I think I may have a spanner in the IVF journey already! Friday afternoon I received a letter saying that I have had a borderline smear test come back. This apparently means we need to stop trying to conceive and wait 6 months for another test to get the all clear. I am actually not worried about the result because I have had these before (the last being about 3 yrs ago now) and they are always fine but I am really annoyed about the timing. TBH it often tends to be that the nurse has not taken a decent swab but they refuse to get me in sooner to retest.

What do you ladies think - I am wondering whether my FS will stall referring us now because of this ? Of course this made me cry most of the weekend

bigzippy wrote: »

*delurk*

Thanks for your responses re my MIL situation Can't remember just now who said they were in a similar situation with Fil, but I hope it works our best it can :cool:

I was talking to MIL today (who is still with us, surprisingly), and she brought up not having long left... I told her I was sorry we'd never given her any grandkids she said not to worry about a thing, we'd have our kids eventually, she'd "send her rays down", and I've been the best wife MrBZ could ever ever have :A I told her the legend of Nana BZ would live on :A:cry::o

I'm glad I got to have that chat with her... It still sucks, but I know she gets it

I hope everyone's as ok as they can be, in their own situations?:o

*relurk*

Oh Bigzippy, thats so emotional. I am so glad that you managed to have that conversation with her. Huge hugs.

TTC40 wrote: »

I'll come out from lurking to seek advice as I haven't earnt my 12m+ stripes.

Had a HSG last week & had a message left by FS's secretary today to say that both tubes are blocked & need to come in to see FS to discuss treatment options.

What have others had done for this?

Having googled this, I see one option is not to have tubes cleared but to go straight to IVF - especially if you are older.

I was never sure that IVF would be an option (& if it was, would be something to think about later in the year), so this would be a tough decision if recommended.

Hi TTC40. I don't really have an answer for you but when I had the HSG both of my tubes were blocked, however they were able to unblock these by increasing the pressure in the dye. I recall that they said if they couldn't unblock then they would want to do a lap so I wonder if they may suggest the same for you. However, given everything I would seriously push them on the IVF rather than the lap - get them to be clear about what the advantages would be with any further exploratory treatment versus going straight for IVF. Could luck with your appt, let us know how you get on.


xx

staffiecat

Chocolate_Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Hi all,.

I haven't posted in a while but I have been lurking and keeping up to date with you all.

Just to recap - I had successful IUI (2nd time) in october but it was discovered to be ectopic in November and was removed by Salpingectomy (the tube was saved). I was told to wait until TTC again and I had my first appointment this week with the FS since the op.

Now this is where it gets interesting. In the 6 months since I had the operation I have had no follow up or feedback.Only after talking to the FS r and he read through my notes from the surgeon and looked at pictures of my Op but it seems that my left ovary has clubbed fimbria. (The egg travels from the ovary to the fallopian tube with the help of a fringe/fingers called fimbria). Any damage or lack of these fimbria means the egg goes nowhere.So I have eggs and I ovulate from that side but nothing more. I would never have known about this if I hadn't had the op (I assume a lap would also detect this) and I haven't even heard of this problem before. I was wondering if anyone else had? I am also angry that no one thought to tell me after the operation what they had found.

I asked if there was any surgery I could have to fix it but the doctor advised against this so I have to rely on my right ovary and tube (which now is more at risk of another ectopic). They are putting me through for IUI again (and I get 4 chances again as when I was re-refferred it takes you back to the beginning) but I really can't see the point of it. I am seriously considering going private now. The doctor was next to useless and rude and when I asked what the chance of me conceiving with IUI was he responded that they wouldn't try it if there wasn't a chance.

I am 35 in 3 months - the cut off age for donating my eggs for free IVF. I know that if I go down this road I can wave goodbye to any NHS treatment. I'm so confused now.

Hi CCM, sorry I nearly missed this. Firstly I think its very bad that they didn't tell you this sooner! Its been 6 months and they haven't told you - very shocking. You could make a complaint. Secondly, the only thing that I have to add is to be very careful about going for IVF privately - make sure that you have confirmation that this wouldn't affect your chances of then seeking IVF through NHS funding. The reason I say this is because DH and I nearly went private last year but we were told by FS that if we did we would absolutely not be entitled to NHS funding. Our PCT currently funds 3 fresh and 3 frozen rounds of IVF so thats why we are waiting.

Sorry to not have any real answers for you but hope you are doing ok xx

QQuaver

TTC40 wrote: »

When we saw him last week he said if everything was OK (which obviously it isn't), he would suggest a couple of months with Clomid, then maybe ICSI & then if no success move to IVF by the end of the year. He said we shouldn't delay anything due to age - which makes me wonder if he'll recommend straight to IVF.

Did the doctor say ICSI before IVF? Did he say IUI?

Personally if it was my choice I'd do both (IVF & unblocking):p

TTC40

QQuaver wrote: »

Did the doctor say ICSI before IVF? Did he say IUI?

Personally if it was my choice I'd do both (IVF & unblocking):p

I don't know - some things were difficult to get as he had a strong accent - will clarify this weekend.

I suppose it will come down to cost (as well as his recommendations/ what we think we can deal with emotionally)- I've got no idea how much any of this is - other than £180 for each consultant appt & £190 for the HSG so far.

What happened to performance related pay? Wouldn't it be good if it was 'no win, no fee'? From looking at some US websites, they do this (but then the costs are massive).

Primmer

Ttc40 - does your clinic/hospital have a website? The clinic we will be referred to has a great website which explains each treatment they offer and what it involves and the cost and also the success rates of their clinics.

Staffiecat - don't see why borderline smear should delay ivf. I have had cells removed from my cervix due to severe abnormalities and was on 6 month smears and now yearly smears. Gp and nurse said to me that I just need to remember smear when due but if pg by smear due date to let them know and they will do it after birth. If they are not worried enough to refer you for it to be looked it then there should be no reason to delay your ivf.

Nicki

Staffie, a private smear is not expensive. My private gynae charges £70 for one. If you think it was a technique problem and are worried that you might have to wait 6 months for a repeat before you can get on with IVF, I'd recommend just paying to get a smear done early.