IVF in Dunedin/Otago Fertility Services

Hi All. Loving the Easter break - far too much chocolate but sometimes you just need it. Found out another friend has announced their pregnancy this week - "weren't even trying yet". Had to keep poker face at the bbq we were attending. Icecream, I called the nurse a couple of days after the HSG saying I still had some quite strong pains but she reassured me that unless there was any discharge or bleeding that this was normal.   I have been tracking my cycle this month which meant I went in for an internal scan to essentially ‘photograph’ my ovaries to see what their progress was for ovulation, I had a blood test (to check my LH levels which were low on day 13) and have another two blood tests – one on day 21 and then another on day 28 to see what my progesterone levels are to see I am in fact ovulating and possibly when it is happening – the technician said there was a lot happening on my right hand side which was a good sign. Perhaps we are just off on our timing and missing the mark (with my husband’s shift work this is always a possibility). I have found those ovulation tests and the like don’t work for me (I always thought it was a faulty test) and I don’t have all the usual signs of ovulation so really just guessing when is the right time. Icecream I have a niece who is 16 and my sister had the two younger boys with quite a large gap and my niece is fantastic – we weren’t sure whether it would all work out – having a new born and a near teenager but she has been a star! How does your daughter feel about the prospect of a baby in the house? Hi Shoopa – good to hear from you.   OMG 6 shots at IVF – your friend must have been at their end by that stage!!! I am at the very beginning of assistance – it really is a time of patience of wait and see. Lots and lots of dates. It’s amazing to think back to your 20s (and earlier) and how much you put into NOT getting pregnant. My sister had a baby really young so I think this assisted my other sisters and I in contraception.   Hope everyone has had a relaxing weekend enjoying this amazing Dunedin weather.

What happened to the weather? Heat pump on last night. Dogs refusing to go outside to the toilet - standing at the dog door wondering if they can hold on a little longer. I think that is a lovely thing talking with your daughter about the whole little brother or sister situation. Had my day 21 blood test yesterday to check for my progersterone levels and then have another on day 28. I suppose then if we aren't successful this month (or possibly the next) we take it up a notch. Was at the doctors on Tuesday and of course the doctor I saw was pregnant and I clammed up. I had a list of things that I wanted to ask (hence asking for a female doctor) and I just couldn't. She waited until the end and said she had seen my notes and wanted to know EVERYTHING - how long I was with OFS, how long we had been trying, etc etc. Felt really uncomfortable. Maybe I will just see my usual (male) doctor next time and it won't be so awkward. I suppose it is hard not to dwell on the situation. It makes it harder when so many people get pregnant so easily and I think that is the reason why I haven't mentioned anything to my family - no one has ever had any trouble having babies and don't seem to understand. You hear of people getting pregnant the first month they try and I wonder why it is so hard for others. I am far more relaxed now than I was say a year ago. The doctor on Tuesday told me I was still young so there was plenty of time - how many people have told me that in the last 6 months!!!

Oh Epic so sorry to hear about your scan. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this hard time

Hi Jewels,
Glad you have joined us - this posting can be a bit quite compared to the tww one. I can't say not thinking about it gets any easier. We are into our 4th year, 3yr anniversary last month :(
I think about it all the time and I mean all the time! I wonder how I get anything done! I know what you mean about others not really getting it. I am lucky that a girl at work is at the clinic too - takes courage to get that info. At least with these forums you know you will get some support and likely find someone in the same boat.
I would be keen to meet up if others are.

Hi Jewels, I'm at OFS, seeing Barbara Richards though. First appt we had all our bloods done but they wanted to do more, are you going private or public? Try and get all your tests done first so they have them before they see you! Also make sure you know your last few cycle dates etc and if you have ovulated or not, I had a year of charts to show her but she was most interested in the fact that my cycles are irregular and I don't always ovulate, and if I do its often quite late.

So yes, it is very hard, we conceived on our first cycle of clomid but found out at the early scan that there was no heartbeat, just another kick in the pants really.

Hope that answers some of your questions!

Thanks so much for the replys girls. Epic traveller, I am sorry to hear about your loss. That must have been devasting. I hope you are doing ok now?

Thankfully my doctor was on to it and she got me to have an ultrasound, smear, blood test, my husband has had a sperm analysis, and I have been charting for ages, so we should be sorted to begin with. Is there a long wait in between appointments? Whats a HSG? Are you going private or public? At the moment I am in the tww and I already have convinced myself I am pregnant, but I have done that every month for a year. Its ridiculous. I hate the tww.

HSG is an x ray where they fill your uterus up with dye to check for issues there and blockages in fallopean tubes. At the minute we are still public as we don't know what the issue is but if we end up unexplained it depends on the points and we might end up paying for next step - dont know what that is yet. Hope clomid will work for us.
That is great that your doctor was so pro active. Our first sppointment was not too far from our referal as we got a cancelation I think - that was Oct and our second appointment is in a month but we have had letters for more tests in between. Waiting for specific cycle days is a pain. HSG has to be done CD 8,9,10 and with irregular cycles it is frustrating

How are you doing Epic? Have you been able to get a reason for mc? How long have you been advised to wait to try again? One bright side is it might help your cycles??
Thinking of you

Edited by Icecream - 20 April 2013 at 5:05pm

Hi did anyone read in today's paper about Ofs being out sourced as costing too much?

Hey there, thanks for the info on the artical - interesting, wonder what it will mean for patients. I was super lucky and my first appointment was a cancellation the next day! I have asked to be on the cancelation list as we are local and I would be happy to dro everything for an appointment, now roll on 21st May or a cancellation but I think Barabara is on leave for 2 weeks.

Hi. Sorry Epic if I haven't said how sorry I am (or even if I have I will repeat myself). Life just is so cruel sometimes. How is everyone else doing? Welcome Jewels. I am the same as you - come from a really (really) big family. My mother had 5 kids (4 girls) and my sister has 3 kids and all my cousins all have at least 2 kids each. My grandparents - well that is another story. Think we had to hide my grandmother from my grandfather. So when we all get together for a family get together (just on my mother's side) - there are just too many people. Have you told your family what is going on? I have taken my own advice recently and am trying to relax a little. Not doing too much on the weekends and not rushing around so much. I agree it is a very long and hard journey for those who find it hard getting to the pregnant stage - I sometimes wonder (not often) if it would be easier to just move on. Am I up to the whole IVF side of things if it gets to that stage? But then am I being unfair to my husband who would make a fantastic dad.