icsi in 2011?

[Tinks85]

It is good to hear there are others in the same situ, makes it a little more bearable.

Whats Orthomol Reilley? Has anyone heard of Male clomid? or is that what orthomol is??? Sorry if I sound dumb hehe. The specialist said there wasnt anything hubby could take but someone he works with has told him you can get male clomid.

We are still actively TTC, I am still using a CBFM and we time We live in hope but you cant just give up and it keeps us focused.

Is anyone elses other half having to have a sperm retrieval, we have been told he wont be able to do it by a normal ejaculation??? Do you know how much this costs, roughly?

Its good speeking to you girls

 

[annie25]

there does same to be quite a few of us in the same boat my dh sperm count is 5 million but the morphology/motiliy is really bad so that makes it worse.

at our consultation consultant did a full history and gave the options we could try as clomid, iui or icsi she basically told us that clomid and iui are unsuitable in our case so we discounted clomid and agreed to a in dept sa to rule out iui.

if it confirms what fs believes we will planning for icsi on 3rd of feb when we see her next.

our pct would have funded 3 cycles iui then one of icsi but sadly it looks like we will bypass the iui.

its a real shame pct's dont look into the stats further and see that most male factor issues mean that icsi is the only viable option it's unfair that we miss out on several funded treatments.

do you guys find yourselves contantly thinking about drugs injections time of work stress side effects timimgs etc? it rules my mind constantly maybe this time next year we will have babies or be due very soon madness.

good luck to you all on your journeys 2011 will be good for all of us.

 

[Tinks85]

Hi Annie, it does seem unfair that we have to bypass other funded options. I do worry about the drugs and being able to work through the treament as thats another thing thats not fair. In my work if your a pregnant then you get as much time off as you need for appointments and sick but because I cant get pregnant it goes on my record??? WTF!!! Its discrimination lol.

The injections are worrying my a bit, I really dont have any problems with needles, its the thought have having to do it to yourself. I would get hubby to do it but he cant stand the sight of needle and would be useless, bless him

My mind is constantly worrying about TTC, mostly that it wont work, I really dont know how I will cope with a failed cycle and know that the whole process has to be repeated.

Are you still activley TTC Annie? What PCT are you under?

 

[annie25]

yes it's madness that fertility treatment is seen in the eyes of the law the same as plastic surgery after all we dont choose to have a fertility issue! ironically i work in a hospital and they been ok so far but im not convinced that they will continue to be ok im hoping that my second gp will sign us off after all she diagnosed our problems after the first one didnt want to know!

my pct is south glos - i live near bristol. where do you live? is your funding the same then? at least theres no waiting list at my clinic which is good news.

im worried re injections to my dh is the same as yours i think im gonna get my friends to it if i cant cope!!

i find it difficult to stay open minded about it all and not get carried away with thinking it will or wont work! and twins all i think about is twins and how we would cope ha its just a emotional rollercoaster.

 

[Tinks85]

I never thought about getting signed off. If things get bad then that is an option. They have been ok so far but they only allow you 8 days for infertility and if you are poorly due to the drugs its normal sick leave. They wont give me time off for hubbys appointments or allow hubby time for mine (we work in the same building) NOrmally you both really need to be at the appointments though, even if its just for suport.

I am not sure how we would cope with twins but I would over the moon if I were to have them. I am a twin myself so I think thats changes my opinion.

I am a civil servant and its down as plastic surgery as well???? who makes these rules

We are under Lancashire PCT, we live about 10 miles from Blackpool. Our specailist said that we would be referred to St Marys, Manchester but a girl that I have spoken to has really advised against that Clinic. Liverpool has a lot better reveiws so now I am even more confused. I wasnt even aware we could choose a clinic as we were just told St Marys, I dont know how I would even go about changing clinics as I dont even know what our next step is.

Do you also feel like your head just cant take any more info

I think our PCT will fund 2 cycles but they wont fund sperm retrieval so we will have to fund that, not sure how yet lol.

 

[annie25]

I dont even get the 8 days i have to take all the time off for ec etc as unpaid or annual leave so i know a collegue had ivf 3 years ago got signed off for four weeks.

thing is im a radiographer and my job is quite physical and stressful and could effect the outcome of treatment so im def gonna discuss this with my gp ill take a couple weeks unpaid if needed gonna give this my best shot.

i wish i was still a civil servant i miss my flexi no core time sooo much!!

i am as you say overloaded with info and thoughts etc it all just seems alot to take on sometimes! i would like twins too i was also meant to be a twin but mine didnt survive i always wonder what it would be like to have had my twin!

xx

 

[Tinks85]

Yes flexi is fab and will come in very handy for appointments. Our clinic will be 1.5 - 2hours away so we are going to spending loads of time just travelling.

Its rubish you have to take anual leave, rules are not fair.

I am very lucky and get on extremly well with my twin, we have a really good relationship. Having 2 newborns to feed and wind is a wee bit scary mind

When you girls were referred did you get to choose your clinic or was you just given one?? Just looked at HFEA website and my clinic is below the average for sucess with IVF/ICSS. I am now really worried we wont get the best chance

 

[GillAwaiting]

Hi Annie and Tinks, nice to have you here! :wave:
Im envious that you guys can get anything funded at all. The Irish government fail to realise that if you have children, there is more chance of someone looking after you in your old age, so in turn costs the taxpayer less. The literature my clinic gave me said that they use those pen-type injection things so you can do it yourself. It might not be too bad. Cant be any worse than getting leg waxed! If I thought for a minute that it was guaranteed to work they could use me for a pincushion

My brother in law got the sperm extraction thing done for ivf with my sister. Their little 2 year old is proof that miracles do happen. I dont know what his sperm count was but he is over 60 so it cant have been great. It's hard to stop thinking about all this. Shopping and groceries are now my most hated thing to do. Kids and new babies everywhere. Thank the lord for internet shoppping

Im defo going to get doc to sign me off work for a few weeks when all this is going on. I read Zita West's book on ivf and she recommends it. I know that I can't take a day or two here and there without going back to mayhem to catch up and this is just far too important. It means I to go into work now on the 30th and tell them I have to back out of a 6mth project that I was starting up again. I had m/c last year right at the end of the same project so no way in hell taking any chances this year. Could your doc not put something else on the cert for you? "Medical investigations' or something like that? "gynecological treatment"? My doctor is really lovely. He hasnt confirmed that he will do this yet but Im going back into him on Thurs to get Thyroid test done (just to dot i's and cross t's)and will talk to him about it then. Im sure it wont be an issue.

DH is great but I dont want to drive him nuts by keep talking about this. It doesnt mean Im not thinking about it though. The only break from it is .

 

[Tinks85]

We are lucky to have things funded the only down side is you lose some control over treatment. I am not complaining though

GillAwaiting do you know how much your brother in law had to pay to retrieve the sperm???

A pen thingy will make matters a lot better than if you have to use a needle.

So sorry to hear about your loss hun. You are doing the right thing for sure getting time off. We have to do whatever gives us the best chance. You are very lucky to have such a nice GP. I am lucky if you see the same one twice.

Must be nice to be able to talk to your sister if she has been through this process also. She will understand just what you are going through and your niece must give you so much encouragement and like you said, proof it works

When are you starting treatment GillAwaiting? sorry of you have already said

 

[Reilley]

huhu
@Tinks. Orthomol is a vit supplement with folic acid, zinc and all that. It is not granted that it works but it cannot harm either.

Well I am pretty eased on the injection matter, I will probably do it myself and if not DH is a doc (well he is a psychiatrist, but hey he learned it somewhere along the way, right?!?!)

we have no clue yet how to fund all of the treatment but I will sit and wait till the next SA shows us exactly what needs to be done and what it will cost!

The working matter bothers me a lot, either I will have to take my anual vacation time or take sick leave which wont be appreciated. I am coordinating a therapy programm at my workplace. Too many sickdays wont be good since I am the only one who does the grouptherapy and that is four days a week. If I am not there there wont be any program.

SO good too hae you here girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Please]

Hi ladies! This thread sounds awesome, can I join please? I am new to the world of IVF me and DH have our first IVF appointment on 3rd March to start April...eeeek!!! Wishing you all the best of luck.

 

[Nayla82]

Hi Ladies :wave:

Would Love to Join also, Hopefully My ICSI will be in April/May 2011

In a nutshell we were trying for 16 Months, Got all my tests done all came bk Ok (Thank the Lord) I begged my Husband for so long to go, (very stubborn and said will happen naturally!)

In the end when my Gyno told me that she will book us in for IUI he had no choice but to do the test.. Words could not explain how excited I was for IUI! To my horror it came back ZERO & 1 DEAD Sperm... My life smashed right in front of me 2 weeks ago it was a major major blur and a head spin...

In a nutshell Yesterday we got our 2nd semen analysis done they found 2, yes just 2 not 20 200 2000 2million just 2, Urologist said that they are not even the best of sperms but it was 2. They are going to put my husband on strong medicine for the next 3 months to see if that 2 can move up a little.. ?? Im over the moon that they found something....

Hopefully by April/May we can start ICSI just hoping and praying that they find a little more than 2 and that there healthY enough for ICSI.

Its very very scary, just wish spring was here now and we can get the boll rolling. Have any of you told family and friends or just keeping it quiet? Myself and my Husband decided to undergo this Journey alone.. Im very close to my family and so is he, we just dont want to stress them

Really wish that this year will be ours ladies GOOD LUCK TO US ALL

 

[Please]

Nayla - u poor thing I can not begin to imagine how that felt to hear those results. Fingers crossed the medication for 3 months will improve the results, just remember you only need one good spermie for ICSI...chin up those swimmers are gonna do just great. We have told a few close friends and family members but Hubby doesn't want it to become common knowledge, to be honest i don't either. Is your treatment through NHS? mine is (I'm so very grateful).

 

[Tinks85]

Hi Nayla, I am so sorry to hear your news. My hubbys was less than 1m but they didnt give us an excact amount, i thought that was bad enough. Fx that they increase in a month or 2 and you can get going with the ICSI, Like Please has said, my specialist said you only need one so dont give up hope. Where abouts in the country are you?

Have you told anyone (apart from B&B) that you are TTC??? Maybe it would help you to be able to confide in someone face to face

Only a few people knew we were TTC until the tests came back and we knew were we stood. We have now "come out" to most people. Its hard for my hubby to talk about it and he wont tell his brother due to pride but he knows all my friends and familiy know. Its good when they know as well because if you are having a bad patch or you are on a downer then they know why. Thats how I feel anyway.

Please, we are soooo gratefull for the NHS also

 

[annie25]

we have also 'come out'
as its just too difficult not to with my work etc but its hard to do i know but at least its put a stop to all the crappy when u gonna have kids questions! i dont believe there any best way to handle it in or out the closet they both have thier own issues.

im not coping well at the moment to be honest but 5 weeks today and i might have some idea when we will actually commence icsi cant wait!

welcome to the other newbies here maybe its time to start and name a future icsi thread with start dates etc?

its lovely to have the support of eachother xx

 

[Reilley]

huhu!

Well two good friends know that we are TTC and that we are going to do ICSI.On of them is in the same position as we are and they just got pregnant with no 2 after the 3rd IUI. The other one is a girl I work with but she wont say anything at work, which is good. I am not working in a pregnancy friendly place. If my boss knew I would be off all projects in notime and I would be off the funding for congresses and stuff. We are living in a really small town and therefore I cannot risk getting more people to know.

We are really close to my family but since money is not just laying around they do not understand how anyone could "throw money out of the window" for something like that........THANKS. Well guess what: we did not tell them that we are having trouble to conceive!
Oh and we do not see DH parents a lot and they are not the type to discuss something like that.

Sometimes I wish there would be somebody in person I can go out to coffee with who knows.

Glad to have you!

 

[Nayla82]

Hi Ladies

Thank you so much for your kind words xx Im definitely trying to think Happy thoughts. 2 weeks ago I really was a nervous wreck and had very bad panic attacks and was at the darkest place I have ever been in my life.. 2 weeks later (Yesterday) they found 2 Sperms and I have faith in God that in another 3 Months it will be a little bit better! (Fingers and toes crossed) You girls are correct it just takes 1 healthy Hope hes going to be there at the end of the 3 Months!

If it was not for this site i would not know what to do.. I was totally All cried out and I just thought if I carried on like that I was going to cause problems to my body Thank God I came across the Thread 'Azoospermia' just a handful of lovely ladies are in there that also have Partners that have 0 Sperms, they really did help me for the past 2 weeks, God Bless us all that are TTC.

Im still trying to digest the information that my husband has almost no sperms and the daunting fact that ICSI/IVF will be on the cards.. Never in a million years did I feel I would be in this situation its still very raw and very real, I have done all the reading I can on ICSI just hope and pray it works 1st time for us all

Please- All my family and friends are in Scotland we have been living in London for a while now. We were using NHS Until we got the dreaded results. Never seen my husband react the way he did and got appointments sorted out very quickly :thumbup Were doing everything Private from now on as having an appointment to see a Urologist on the NHS was Months and Months away, The past 16 Months getting a was so so painful and the thought of waiting around would have been too much for me. The Dr told us that in her 25 years my husbands Semen Analysis was very rare and a very sad result indeed

Luckily he saw the private Urologist the same day he got the Zero Count. I dread to think about the costs it really is adding up, (few blood tests were done yesterday and an ultra sound) I will have to dip in to my savings now and just be extra extra careful. I so wished the waiting list was not too long on the NHS. We will just see how it all works out. We definitely will not be able to afford more than 2 ICSI Private. I just pray will work out 1st time.

No one knows that me and my husband have been TTC at all and now that we may be doing ICSI its just a very painful secret to keep in. I would love to have someone to chat to face to face, I promised my husband not to mention this to anyone. My husband has always been a very private person and he makes out its Top Secret and now that ICSI will be a must he's like dont even breath a word to anyone... Its very frustrating but I promised him (gets very painful when friends and family say you have been married for almost 3 years what are you waiting for If only they knew that i breath dream BaBy)

This website really is my escapism to chat to other women that 'TRULY UNDERSTAND' this journey My poor Husband really is half the man he use to be and i really feel its crushed his Ego. I told him My love will never change we just need to be strong and wait for Spring

Im looking forward to see all the in this Thread! Will definitely be hanging around here now patiently waiting for Spring

For the next 3 Months im planning to gain some weight (im 7.3st and 5'5) im just thinking with all the drugs they give us during ICSI we need to be at our peaks, and also if we get lucky to be blessed with twins! I need to prepare myself.. Any ladies doing anything to prepare yourselves..?

Ohhh so exciting and very scary at the same time...

Wish everyone the best and its great we have each other to bounce off closer the time xx

 

[annie25]

nayla we totally understand you on this thread thats for sure!! im on cycle 28 now - it does not get easier sadly.

ive been on this site two years today and have met some fantastic friends that keep me strong and remind me contantly that this pain i have now will all be worth it somtimes it doesnt feel like it - but yes it's true.

i know when the time comes i will expain to my child(ren) the journey we went on and how loved they are it will be truly special this journey has made me and dh stronger than ever who would have thought that?!

DH is feeling low too keeps blaming himself i keep reminding him i dont care whos problem it is but i know it hurts him to see me so sad.

my big thing to get reffered and try to succeed was to lose weight ive lost 2 stone 1lb since july and im very close to a healthy bmi now.

im going to start a journal about this journey from new years day maybe one day soon it will become a pregnacy journal i hope

xxxx

 

[Tinks85]

Reilley I would come for coffee with you if it wasn't for the distance

Unfortunatly but good in some ways we all know how it feels to know ICSI/IVF is your only shot but we can all support each other. It does not get any easier

I think names on the first page is a good idea I dont know my dates just yet though.

Nayla, thats shocking how long they wanted you to wait to see an urologist!!! Hubby did his second SA first week in November and we saw a urologist 21st December, it was delayed a bit as the specialist was on holiday. It doesnt seem fair that some have to pay private, we are in the same country! Thank god you have savings though

My hubby seems to be holding up pretty good, he has been amazingly strong and suportive. He has said the hardest thing is to see what it does to me and how it effects me. He blames himself but like annie I dont care who or what the problem is. Neither of us can do it alone.

Thats a lovely thought Annie, our babies can never feel unwanted

I am going to prepare by trying to lose a few pounds and get my BMI down. Its 29 at the minute. Going to eat more fruit and veg, drink more water and exercise a bit more, that sort of thing. Of course have my folic acid.

 

[annie25]

i'm pushing for another half a stone loss too and yes get on the folic acid, think i will but dh some supplements too in the hope it will help with sperm quality when icsi is done.

i dont know my dates either yet but im sure we can add it after as we all find out im starting to realise it takes ages to get any idea of time scales from hospital!

xx