Chinese Accupuncture

[alison29]

I hate to say it but is there another RE in your area? Is it possible to change before you get to far into testing?

 

[alison29]

Sounds great Briss! Good luck in Czech. I have the sex drive problem too. You may just be stressed that always kills it for me and dh.

 

[Vonn]

Thanks for the feedback, ladies! I think I will give it one more appointment and if she's not more responsive I will cut her loose.

RE sex drive: I have zero (thanks a lot, thyroid) & have had zero for years. It makes me sooo sad. And I feel like a horrible wife/partner. I believe I have actually killed my husband's libido, as well. So now we both struggle mightily, even though we desperately want a baby. It's really awful.

Briss--Good luck, my dear!! Two follicles developing without stims is amazing, and has to be some kind of good luck symbol! Check in when you can. Woohoo!

 

[nobump]

Briss that is fantastic news!!! 2 eggs not stims, makes me think that for some of us natural cycles may be better, something to consider in the future. Ryanair are not to bad as long as you play by there rules and don't exceed there limits on hand luggage etc.. we have flown with them a few time for a wee week in the sun.


Chocolate and raspberry leaf team are supposed to help with lining, I tied some of that last cycle, but I think my lining jumped by a 5/6 mm in a few days both cycles, I think I agree with your thinking on lining and libido.

 

[Briss]

A quick update, bad news - There were no eggs they found 2 follicles on the left and I had the collection with no sedation!!! Painful but quick. The doctor said it happens we do not produce eggs every cycle but a huge part of me thinks we lost my eggy. Ec was delayed a bit but I do tend to 0 early and its always an issue with me losing an egg. The follicle was still there but I did feel I ovulated and I even had a little cry before the procedure cos I was sure it was all over. Also last time there follicle was still in place but it had irregular shape and they were not sure if the egg was still there, that's why i think we may have lost it.

Anyway, we are meeting our doctor on Monday to discuss next step and in the meantime an having a well deserved coffee and a huge piece of local cake. I still can't believe I went through EC with no sedation or even pain killers!

 

[Briss]

One more thing to say (while I am still high on my cake ), they consider the cycle failed so they only charged 50 Euros!!!!

 

[Blythe]

Briss - oh no...i have been thinking about you all morning.....im so sorry you missed it this cycle. What a relief that they do not charge....i have to say how impressed i am that they only charge £50. That really is amazing.

well done on going through with the EC with no sedation - you are fantastic!!

I hope that you are able to come up with a good plan on what to do next at the meeting on monday.

 

[terripeachy]

I've been checking in and waiting to hear the news. So sorry you didn't have any eggs. How could they do collection with nothing there? Good thing they charged you appropriately but it's still so sad. Are donor eggs a possibility for you? I can't remember your/DH thoughts on that. It seems that may be the answer in your case.

 

[Briss]

Thank you, Blythe. I am still digesting the news and trying to understand what it means but I keep thinking about dovkav and that it took her 7 natural cycles to get that perfect embryo. I've been trying not to think about EC and just get on with the process but my fears caught up with me at about 4 am today, I woke up and was paralysed by fear and couldnt sleep, that horrible experience with the bleeding last time really got me. That was partly why I refused sedation - to be in control of the process. I'm bleeding little bit and the ovary was sore for a couple of hours but I am feeling fine as and walk normally which is a good sign. They do not give any antibiotics and did not do STD tests, I forgot even to ask about that. Its all very relaxed here. We waited for over an hour for EC and I was so stressed walking around the clinic with my slippers and a dressing gown (not the glemourous kind), people probably thought I was lunatic but I was really worried we were missing my egg and its possible I was nor worried for nothing. Anyway, we are off to try local beer, I actually think Czech beer was the main reason dh agreed to the whole IVF abroad thing I also booked an hour reflexology which us just 20 pounds here!

 

[Briss]

Terry, thanks! We will persevere with my own eggs, I might be wrong but I firmly believe in my body and deep down I just think that something is not working well for us but it will at some point. The doctor said EC is not that traumatic to the ovary so its perfectly fine to do natural IVF every month, if they let us.

 

[nobump]

Hi Briss sorry to hear you never got any eggs. That's fab. AAbout only being chart 50 euros. Enjoy your relaxation session. Enjoy the czech beer. After my EC I did have some bleeding afterwards but only a small amount. Can't believe you went through it without sedation xxx

 

[Briss]

we had another chat with DH about what happened and he was actually not too impressed with the clinic. he thought they were far too relaxed. he also noticed that the lady who did EC was not on the list of their permanent staff, so they seem to contract people from other placed for weekend work. it's hard to say but to me she looked like she knew what she was doing, very switched on. I am still bleeding little bit but bright red which is not great but there is no pain. I am just comparing it to my last IVF where By that time of the day I was already in terrible pain on my way to emergency while today we had coffee, went to a couple of breweries, I did a bit of walking and thai reflexology in the evening and I feel fine. but then again maybe the guy at CRGH was rough because it was tricky to get my eggs out and she was gentle but missed them? we'll never know. I keep re-reading Dovkav's journey for inspiration she also did not get an egg at her first natural IVF. DH suggested that we try Germany next month rather than going back to Reprofit. I am going to approach a German clinic for more info.

Dh felt very uncomfortable at retrofit mainly cos they deal with donors and he was so afraid they will replace his sperm we did not even get to that point where he had to produce a sample but i have to say in London they ask your name/dob hundred times at every step while here no one ever asked that except at reception and also they did not even check my STDs, no antibiotics either. as i said, very relaxed

Could not stop DH, he is probably on his 5th pint now

 

[Blythe]

feeling confident about the clinic you are using is so so important isn't it...perhaps Germany is not a bad idea.

These guys are very responsive...

they quoted me the following for a full stim cycle:

IVF costs are 2500-3000 Euro plus medication (500-700 Euro), plus anesthesia (300 Euro)

I would be interested to know natural cycle costs though so please report back on findings.

Fertility Center Berlin
Spandauer Damm 130, Haus 14
14050 Berlin
Tel. 030 2332081 10
Fax 030 2332081 19
E-Mail: [email protected]
www.fertilitycenterberlin.de

 

[Briss]

Blythe, thanks! Has somebody recommended that Berlin clinic to you? Dovkav recommended one other clinic in Munich but the website is not in English, I wonder if I can still write to them.

My mind was wondering all night about where the egg gone. I don't understand how it works, I thought good estrogen levels were indirect indication of egg quality so how come it was empty? Also if my dominant follicles ovulated before (may actually be as little as 20-30 Min before EC ) why the smaller one was also empty? I also had about 5 smaller ones on that ovary. I mean body is not going to grow so many empty follicles?? So confused. I recall at crgh I had a pre EC scan at 8 am and as soon as they saw the follicle started to have slight irregular shape I was on the operating table in 10 min even then they could not be sure if the egg would still be there. I forgot to ask if my dominant follicle yesterday had any irregularity. For next time u am thinking of asking for EC as early in the morning as possible. An also going to take endometacin between trigger and EC and epo from CD 1.

 

[Vonn]

Hey Briss, so sorry to hear that the EC was unsuccessful. I'm not super familiar with how it all works, but I'm learning & it sounds like it's really an art and a science. So good to see it hasn't gotten you down and you are on to planning for the next opportunity. And thank goodness it didn't cost much, more money for the next one!

 

[Briss]

Vonne, thanks! I am obviously disappointed beyond belief but just trying to move forward as quickly as possible looking at the bright side and ignoring all the negativity.

and just to add insult to injury - my herpes is back! wtf!! is this going to be a monthly thing? was trying to enjoy Brno but with all the itching it was hard. local pharmacies would not give aciklovir without prescription is it possible that shaving brings it about? I noticed that last two times it happened shortly after shaving, just wonder if this is related.

I've contacted 3 German clinics and hoping we can make the arrangements either again in CR or in Germany for next month.

 

[Blythe]

Briss - I cannot recall how i came to email that clinic in particular....but i was impressed by them anyhow.

How did the meeting go today? Did it effect how your DH [and you] feel about the clinic?

 

[alison29]

Sounds like next time they should schedule egg collection earlier. I wonder just how much earlier you ovulate after trigger they expect 36 hrs right? That is really great you made it without drugs, i bet that cuts costs too. How was the beer?

 

[Briss]

Blythe, none of the German clinics responded yet. We had a meeting with our doc and she was quite positive actually. She was not defensive about our failure and just said that thus happens a lot in natural IVF, could be a fluke - empty follicle, even though my scan and bloods were very promising the follicle dus not look ruptured and the liquid from it was clear ( in case of early ovulation they can see traces of blood in the liquid) but even then early ovulation is still possible, the egg could have escaped minutes before they got there so this is just a side effect of natural IVF. She did not try to blame it on me or my egg quality, did not mention donors ( for which I'm greatful). She was so open to my suggestions on how to catch that egg next time which is great, although they do not believe in endometacin she is prepared to give it a go and also schedule EC for earlier like 8 am which may help as u tend to o early in the morning. She still thinks we could try long protocol, which we are considering. Byf they use milder form of down reg. Unfortunately t h their meds are not available in London so we bought all down reg meds in cr and are bringing it back just in case. But I'm more inclined to go natural again. My next o us very close to Xmas so I'm hoping we can somehow manage to fit one natural cycle before the bank holiday.

I'm slightly regretting spending almost a year waiting for NHS cycle, I could have spent all spring as and summer in Brno doing natural ivf , oh well..

 

[Briss]

Blythe, none of the German clinics responded yet. We had a meeting with our doc and she was quite positive actually. She was not defensive about our failure and just said that thus happens a lot in natural IVF, could be a fluke - empty follicle, even though my scan and bloods were very promising the follicle dus not look ruptured and the liquid from it was clear ( in case of early ovulation they can see traces of blood in the liquid) but even then early ovulation is still possible, the egg could have escaped minutes before they got there so this is just a side effect of natural IVF. She did not try to blame it on me or my egg quality, did not mention donors ( for which I'm greatful). She was so open to my suggestions on how to catch that egg next time which is great, although they do not believe in endometacin she is prepared to give it a go and also schedule EC for earlier like 8 am which may help as u tend to o early in the morning. She still thinks we could try long protocol, which we are considering. Byf they use milder form of down reg. Unfortunately t h their meds are not available in London so we bought all down reg meds in cr and are bringing it back just in case. But I'm more inclined to go natural again. My next o us very close to Xmas so I'm hoping we can somehow manage to fit one natural cycle before the bank holiday.

I'm slightly regretting spending almost a year waiting for NHS cycle, I could have spent all spring as and summer in Brno doing natural ivf , oh well..