Urologist appointment

[Springflower]

Hey Deb

My name's Alex

I have to admit I love a holiday esp ones abroad, but owww I know exactly how you feel about your cats. Whenever we go away my mum always feeds them (she only lives a couple of streets away) and texts me every night to let me know that they are in and safe. We lock them in at night as its safer. One is very good and always comes in when its dinner time, the other is a complete nightmare!! And there is always a problem when we go away. She is a madam and I do think she does it diliberately (sp). If she stays out at night I convince myself that somethings happened and can never sleep. My poor OH has to walk the streets looking for her. Do you have someone to feed them and keep a close eye on them while you are away? I find it easier now my mum texts me to let me know they are ok.

Where abouts are you going in Cornwall? We went recently and visited Boscastle, if you haven't been, go it's really lovely and I think your Westie would love a costal walk there.

How about going away instead for shorter periods of time but more regularly would that be easier for you?

We're having a chilled bank holiday and spent yesterday pottering about in the garden. I think we might brave Ikea today but we'll have to see. We are trying to avoid spending money at the moment but it's hard thinking of things to do which are free! TBH I'm very eager to get this apppointment out of the way I'm excited but also very nervous. It's my birthday on Wens. Normally I love birthdays but this year I really can't be bothered, I'm too obessed with ICSI to think of anything else! I need to stop thinking so much but it's so hard. I'm hoping after the appointment I'll calm down but I have a feeling that will just give me more to think about!

Hope you are ok chick.
xxx

 

[Deb111]

Hi Alex

My Mum and Dad are going to come over and sort the cats out, but they live 20 minutes away so I don't like putting on them really, plus if she doesn't come in when they come over, they end up having to wait or give up which worries me (I say 'she' because the other one dashes out onto the drive for 20 seconds when you open the door and then dashes back in - she's a real scaredy cat!) My mum will give me daily updates, but then she knows how worried and upset I'd be if she didn't come home one night that I know she would tell me all was fine anyway so I didn't worry.

With regards to TTC etc - I have been researching on google about my blood test results and whilst my FSH is good, it seems my oestradiol level is high in terms of TTC and that can suppress FSH level so it looks good - it really is one thing after another!

We do have a catflap but they haven't used it for the last 2 years since we had the dog and just go in and out of the front door or upstairs window onto the flat roof and I don't think they'd rick using it whilst we're away just incase there's a dog lurking lol

We're staying in a cottage down in Penzance and hubby left it to me to find and book so I've found one that's as much home from home as is possible and I keep telling myslef home is only 5 hours away - at least we're not a flight away.

So did you make it to Ikea? I love their things but hate going shopping there!

Wishing you a very happy birthday in advance for wednesday - do you have anything special planned?

Lots of hugs
Deb xx

 

[Deb111]

Ooohhh and good luck for your appt tomorrow - what time is it? xx

 

[DillyC]

To be honest, I wasn't really expecting them to be that soon so I wasn't too bothered

Anyway, the results are back today

FSH - 6
LH - 3.6
Oestradiol - 196

I'm told by my GP that they are all within normal limits for a pre menopausal woman so I guess that's good. However, I don't know exactly what the 'high' FSH level was last time as results went straight to the clinic and I forgot to ask

Anyway, having looked over the ifno the GP has printed off for me there's a couple of things I'm curious about (and an NHS nurse may be able to help )

Firstly, I was on CD4 (was told to have them done CD2,3 or 4 - CD2 was Saturday and CD3 Sunday) but by CD4 the bleeding had pretty much stopped ... does that matter?

Secondly, I have a note of the limits for follicular stage, ovulatory stage and leutal stage but not sure which one CD4 comes under ... ovulatory and leutal?

Hope you have both had a good day

I've just finished school for 2 weeks! (we get an extra week at whitsun where I work )

Deb xx

Hey Debs.... Excellent results....great FSH, its not important whether you have finished your period or not...CD4 is perfect timing and will give a nice accurate level. You want the FSH to be nice and low it shows it is not struggling to work too hard and in turn should provide nice quality eggs.

Average timings for a 28 day cycle are..........
Follicular stage is D1-D12 ish ( FSH stimulates follicle growth and oestrogen rises = follicle growing phase) Ovulatory stage (varies and very short -2-3 days between D11-D16 - mid cycle, oestrogen high and LH surge to trigger ovulation = ovulation phase) D14-D28 Luteal phase (corpus luteum forms progesterone rises preparing for a pregnancy)


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...ycle2_en.svg/350px-MenstrualCycle2_en.svg.png...

I found this little chart it might make more sense???

Hope you have a nice couple of weeks off..... I have just got back for the long weekend camping....great fun but glad to sleep near a toilet last night!!

 

[DillyC]

Hello Ladies

Hope you are both enjoying the bank holiday weekend!

Deb so glad you got your results and they are in normal range, that's great news! I'm afraid I don't really know anything about these tests so can't other any advice. I don't remember having mine done, although you have so many blood tests I stopped asking what they are for! I'm sure Dilly can help though!

Am VERY jealous you get two weeks off! They will be a lovely break. Are you going away at all or just chilling at home?

Dilly I love the South Africa option! I've heard once you have the eggs put back in most women then take the two weeks off work, to escape any stress that might be there. So chilling there after would be great for you! Sounds like an interesting option.

Apparently the Dr's at NHS hospitals like you to go to their ones because then the money that you pay is going back into the hospital. They get frustrated when people go for all tests etc which are expensive then take those results and go elsewhere. Understandable but still it's our choice. I haven't heard of QM's, I take it it's not great there. You can also slef fund at The Bridge though? I have a friend whose doing that at the moment and she's had a postive experience so far. If LWC isn't right for us we may think about there.

So many decisions aren't there! I can't wait until Tuesday for our appointment. I keep telling myslef that I've got to listen to what they are telling me. With each appointment I'm getting much better at that, but it's difficult I find myself nodding and then 10 minutes later not having a clue about what we had spoken about!

Can I just brag about OH, he hasn't touched a drop of alcohol since our urologist appointment. We went out on Friday night with his mates and he just had lemonade bless him! He is determined to improve his swimmers for ICSI. I hope to god there is an improvement next time he tests, even if its really small. I want so much for him to feel better.

Love to you both.

xxx

Hey Springflower.... Really hope your appt goes well today, I will be thinking of you .......... Please stop them and ask them to explain again if you don't understand something, they won't mind at all.....Its all a bit mind boggling ...my OH says, you do all the talking cos you know what they are on about , then i explain it all to him later!!!

Really impressed with OH self control.....FX it helps him.....

GOOD LUCK....let us know everything later xxxx

 

[Springflower]

Hello Ladies

Well I'm back! Appointment was 1st thing thank goodness so I didn't have much time this morning to get too hyped up beforehand.

Well they all seem very nice there. I have to say though things seemed a little confused and we were left waiting without knowing what was going to happen next. lot during the appointment We also sat in three different waiting areas during our appointment, which was quite funny. OH got a bit annoyed with all the waiting. He's just started a new job so it's difficult for him to take time off work. They also had trouble finding the results which my GP had sent through prior but these were located in the end.

They took my blood pressure and I had another ultrasound. I pointed out that it had only been 6 weeks since my last one but they wanted to do it anyway. Which was fine, it's not like its painful. I didn't realise at the time but what the DR was also checking for was my follicles. Which seem normal, which is good!

We then went to see the DR and she talked us through a cycle of ICSI. That was really interesting and answered a lot of my questions. She was very helpful and patient with all my questions! Unfortunately Dilly I didn't check her name, I'll have to find that out next time.

After the DR we went back to the nurse who talked us through costs. That bit was very handy. Obviously we haven't gone through a cycle yet but I felt that they were being upfront about costs. They were also happy to give to give me a prescription for the drugs I would need (a lot cheaper then if I was to buy them at the clinic)

Apparently we can start on cycle day 21. I'm currently on day 5 so thats soon! TBH I'm not sure we'll start then I think we might have one last shot naturally. OH and I need to have a proper chat tonight, but it's exciting knowing I wouldnt have to wait!

Although the waiting around was a bit annoying once we were in they were all very helpful. In the end we had to rush out but this wasnt the clinic's fault, OH was starting to stress about time which in turn was stressing me out.

I feel like there is a lot to think about at the moment! But it's all very exciting!

Deb - I am never going back to Ikea again! I say this every time but it was a nightmare. It was full of pregnant women and I did feel jealous also we spent what felt like hours choosing some furniture only to go to pick it up to buy and discovered they were out of stock!

Great news about your results Deb, you must be pleased! Thats one step nearer!

to you both
xxx

 

[Deb111]

Hi girls

I hope my blood tests are ok but I'm very worried about the oestradiol level having done some research. It seems that although my levels are within normal range that when ttc a level much over 50 suggests DOR too as it is the oestradiol suppressing the FSH level

Alex - glad your appt went well - unfortunately there always seems to be a lot of waiting around. It's scary when they say you can start so soon - I think I'm glad we have to wait a few months - time to get my head round it all a bit They haven't gone through an ICSI cycle with me yet but I've gathered various info from people on here - it all sounds overwhelming!

Dilly - glad you had a good camping weekend and thanks for the info and the website link

Phoned our clinic today to make sure they have hubby's blood test results back and on their system ready for our appt on Friday, which they do - so at least they haven't lost them this time The nurse said his HIV and Hepatitis tests are negative but she couldn't discuss the hormone ones with us and she's not qualified to do such, which I totally understand.

Hope you've both had a good day xx

 

[Springflower]

Hello ladies

Hey Deb - Have you had your urologist appointment yet? It's today isnt it? I hope it well, do let us know. When will they discuss your oestradiol level do you have to wait for another FS appointment?

Well OH and I have had a talk and we've decided to go ahead with ICSI in July, I'll start taking the injections around 14th July so it will actually be nearer the end of the month. Although I'm desperate to get started asap, it was a bit shocking that it could get started so soon. June is a very busy month for me work wise so July is the sensible choice. This means also that we get one more natural attempt in before, which OH is desperate to do esp as he's stopped drinking.

Get this! we decide to go for July then OH opens his post and discovers he's been called up to jury service at the same time! How typical is that!! Never been asked before and then gets asked when we're embarking on something so important! He's going to asked to be excused and it looks like IVF is a valid reason so all should be well on the front.

Dilly - camping sounds lovely (well for a time ) glad you had fun!


Love to you both

xxx

 

[Deb111]

That's great news about starting the ICSI Alex

Our appt is at 3.30. I'm not evedn sure who it is we're seeing - I don't think it's the urologist we saw before as when we were booking our last appt with him, we were told he only does one morning clinic a month there. So it depends who it's with as to whether or not I get to discuss my blood test results.

I'll update later - hopefully with something a bit more positive for a change!

Deb xx

 

[FBbaby]

Deb, I've read your worries about your E2 results being high and its implication on your fsh results. Do you know which measure was used? I went through the same thing than you as my results were almost 300 and I read that anything over 100 was very high. It turned out all the guidance I was reading on the internet was in mg when my results were in mol. Anything under 300 mol is fine. I think mol are used more widely in GB. If your results are in mol too, then you are absolutely fine.

 

[Deb111]

Thanks so much for your post. You may be right - I will check out the paperwork before we go for hubby's appt. I just assumed that because the levels they were talking about were 'similar' rather than being hugely different (ie one in the 100's and one in the 1000's) that they must be talking about the same scales. Thanks so much for bringing this to my attention xx

 

[Deb111]

Deb, I've read your worries about your E2 results being high and its implication on your fsh results. Do you know which measure was used? I went through the same thing than you as my results were almost 300 and I read that anything over 100 was very high. It turned out all the guidance I was reading on the internet was in mg when my results were in mol. Anything under 300 mol is fine. I think mol are used more widely in GB. If your results are in mol too, then you are absolutely fine.

It seems my results are pmol/l and the ones I was looking at were pg/ml - I guess that explains it! Thanks FBbaby

 

[FBbaby]

oh yes, it is pmol and not mol and pg and not mg I went through the exact same anxiety last November and the same relief when I realised it was the wrong measure!
Good luck with the icsi

 

[DillyC]

Good luck for your appt today Debs... x

Thats great news Springflower.... oh my goodness, it not long at all.... keep us posted ....are you going to start an ICSI journal? x

 

[Deb111]

So today turned out to just be an info session with a nurse about hubby's SSR procedure and signing all the consent forms. She told us the blood results but said it was the urologist who would interpret them!! which is why they should have been back for our last appt!

Anyway - his HIV / Hepatitis all ok
- FSH - 15 which she said is slightly higher than the 12 they expect
- Testosterone 5.8 and should be above 8 (may explain the lack of sex drive!)
- Prolactin - normal
- another one which I can't remember without it in front of me was normal
- chromosome test normal
- cystic fibrosis screening clear - although she just want to repeat test to double check as his results came back with incorrect DOB!

She seems to be quite hopeful that we're on the right side of a 50% chance of the SSR finidng sperm

They offered us end of July for SSR but that's awkward for hubby with work and also wont have given him his 3 months on his new supplements regime so we're rebooking for October

Off to Cornwall for a week tomorrow but will try and check in. Hoping it will be nice (although I'm weird ... don't like holidays at all ... I feel very insecure away from home and although we're taking the dog with us to the cottage, I will miss my 2 little pussy cats )

Lots of hugs xx

 

[Springflower]

Hello girlies!

I don't think I'll do a journal, I find it hard enough keeping up all the posts as it is. Although I'll probably change my mind when it gets nearer. At the moment I'm still feeling positive, I'm sure neres will start to kinck in when it all gets a bit nearer. OH and I are going to start going on day trips at the weekend to help them past quicker, as neither of us are really drinking anymore we're not really going out much.

Dilly - The DR we saw was Shailaja Nair? Was she about when you worked there?

Deb - Hope you do enjoy your time away, your little cats had better behaves themsleves!

Woo SSR in July wouldnt be long to wait, but agree it's better to wait until your hubby is ready. October will come in no time. I'm really wishing this year away! 50% is great news as well you must be pleased! How soon after the SSR can you start ICSI?

xxx

 

[DillyC]

Hello girlies!

Dilly - The DR we saw was Shailaja Nair? Was she about when you worked there?

Hey Springflower..... I don't recognise her name, I think most of the staff have prob changed...it was about 10 years ago!

We got a letter from Queen Marys yesterday, giving us an appt for August, saying that we would start treatment anything from 2-4 months after the appt, so that is much quicker than i imagined, thought it would be next year some time....so thats good news!

Arrggh can't believe it nearly starting for you...eeekkkk!!

Hey Debs i have written on your journal so won't repeat myself!!! Hope you do enjoy your holiday x

 

[Springflower]

Wow that's quick Dilly!!!! You must be really excited, that means all being well you'll be starting before Christmas! It's all getting a bit exciting now! I'm really pleased for you.

 

[DillyC]

Ahhh Thanks Spring Flower...

It is exciting... but I still won't believe until i get my start date oficially!!!

Off to see Mr Gordon again tonight so he will hopefully put OH on the waiting list for his varicocele to be treated...YIPPEE!!

So what nice day trips are you up to this weekend??
x

 

[Deb111]

Woo SSR in July wouldnt be long to wait, but agree it's better to wait until your hubby is ready. October will come in no time. I'm really wishing this year away! 50% is great news as well you must be pleased! How soon after the SSR can you start ICSI?

I'm not sure - I don't think there's a waiting list so it would be pretty much as soon as it can fit in with my cycle I think xx