My I.V.F Diary

At the moment Chris and I are currently at no 8 on the waiting list for donor eggs,

fingers crossed we will not have to wait too much longer to start treatment. Please keep

an eye out for more information about our treatment as and when we are going through

it, I will be keeping the diary on this page up to do date so others can see how we are

feeling and what we are going through as well as information on the actual treatment.

NOV 1994 We visited a Gynaecologist after a referral from our G.P discussed the

options and asked Chris for sperm sample to check it ok. Now awaiting appointment

for I.V.F clinic.

JAN 17 1994 Had an appointment with a counsellor today, was great an informal chat

which raised points neither Chris or I had thought about. Told about the I.V.F cycle and

what to expect emotionally and physically and an opportunity to ask any questions

either of us had and also the legal side of things.

JUNE 19 1997 Finally, an appointment with the I.V.F Doctor at St Mary’s Hospital,

Manchester, I was scared stiff but it was fine had no reason to worry.

Had a chat about medical history, about the treatment and to make sure we understood

what we was doing. Blood tests on both Chris and I was done and I was given a physical examination, (internal) to check womb. Then the Doctor inserted the catheter they use for implanting the embryos, to see make sure implantation would be possible.

This sounds worse than what it is, it was painless and no worse than having a smear

done. Chris given an appointment for a sperm check as the hospital like to do their own, then sent home with consent forms to sign.

SEPT 9 1997 Just another appointment to chat about blood and sperm test’s and

return the consent forms, they where fine and told can go ahead with I.VF treatment,

big smiles all around and put on waiting list for donor eggs.

NOV 2 2001 Received a letter today, no 8 on the waiting list, bit down hearted after

waiting so long, feels like never going to have treatment, but excitement keeps creeping

in as it is getting closer to our time.

JULY 17 2002 Decided to phone the I.V.F clinic to check on progress and see if

everything was ok, progress is slow but we have got a little closer to starting treatment.

We have been told that we are now No 6 on the waiting list, so fingers crossed will be

our turn soon.

AUGUST 24 2004 Well a total surprise today, we got a phone call from I.V.F clinic saying they may have a possible donor and was asked to go tomorrow for an appointment to speak with the doctor. Trying to keep calm but hard not to get to excited but we have to keep clear head as still a long way to go.

AUGUST 25 2004 Went to see the Doctor today, was very nervous but excited at the same time, we was not sure what to expect. The Doctor asked us a few questions to catch up with our medical background to check nothing changed health wise, Chris having had a kidney transplant recently had to do a sperm test to check everything was still ok and that dialysis and the medication for transplant had not done anything to his sperm. We were given a few details about the donor hair, eye colour and height, that is all we are told for legal reasons. Blood tests needed to be done on both of us, just to check things again, as it had been a long while since the last lot. Dr said she was happy to match us with the donor. All being well with the blood tests and Chris's sperm, it was all go, another nervous wait now while we await the results.

Another good day, we received a letter saying that our blood results where fine and that Chris sperm was ok and all was fine to go ahead, can't believe we are so close to actually getting to do I.V.F. It as been such a long wait it seemed we would never get the chance. Now it just a wait for the phone call to say when donor ready and they need Chris's sperm for fertilization.

NOVEMBER 02 2004 Another day to smile about, we got phone call to say donor ready and Chris be needed to give sperm day after tomorrow, we can't help but get excited now we are getting so close, another step closer and time to cross everything crossable and hope egg retrieval is a success.

NOVEMBER 04 2004 Both very nervous today, Chris has to give his sperm for fertilization, time to pray to anyone who is listening and double cross everything. A sleepless night ahead wondering if egg retrieval and fertilization was a success.

NOVEMBER 05 2004 After a restless night and watching the clock tick by slowly to 11 am the time we had to phone clinic to see if fertilization was a success. I was to nervous to phone and made Chris make the call, we was told they managed to get 18 eggs from the donor and 12 had fertilized. Great news we was so relieved, now we are the proud parents of 12 cryogenic babies :) and could not help but get excited. Now we have another wait of 6 months as they have to retest donor to make sure nothing can be passed through the eggs. Compared to the long wait for the eggs 6 months will be nothing, we are just happy we got as far as we have, we thought it would not happen. Tune back in 6 months to find out more .

SEPTEMBER 15TH 05 We phoned the IVF clinic to find out what was going on as we had not heard anything from them and was getting anxious and nervous. The office said no one was available to talk to us and said we should of heard something by now, so she promised to put our file on the Dr's desk and someone would phone us back either that day or tomorrow, more waiting, guess we deserve a certificate in patience and waiting.

SEPTEMBER 16TH 05 Well what a wasted day, no one phoned and we are now totally annoyed, to put it nicely, but what can u do on a fri and office staff gone home early. Given them the benefit of the doubt and will see if they phone monday.

SEPTEMBER 19TH 05 Waited most of the day and no one phoned got to late to phone them so we decided to phone them first thing tomorrow, all this waiting is turning a normally non pmt, calm and pataient lady into a bad tempered woman with a tendancy to murder someone lol.

SEPTEMBER 20TH 05 Phoned the clinic as soon as we woke up, was told that Dr Pease knew we had phoned and that she had our file and was consulting with other Dr's about our case and that she would phone us back as soon as she could. Yeah heard that line before, getting rather fed up now just want to get it over and done with, but I guess waiting paitantly is all we can do, it got us this far.

SEPTEMBER 21ST 05 Surprise of all surprises, was busy doing things around the house with ivf out of my head when the phone rang, Chris answerd and had a big smile on his face, he was mouthing something but could not get the jist of what he was trying to say. I thought he was making arrangments with a friend or something but when he put phone down he said "that was Dr Pease" and we had to go tomorrow afternoon for an appointment. Can not put into words how I felt, really excited but at same time keeping feet on the ground as we are so near yet so far, still a lot of if's and but's and what if's. Crossing everything crossable and praying to whoever listening above. We seem to be finally getting to the starting block and starting a cycle, not sure what to expect from the appointment, guess we will find out tomorrow.

SEPTEMBER 22nd 05 Was in waiting room waiting for Dr Pease and was really nervouse, me and Chris was talking about if's and but's and trying to second guess what was going to happen. Things went fine firstly Dr pease checked all the relevant paper work was correct, upto date and signed, she then went on to tell us the donors blood tests all came back negative so was ok to go ahead and use the embryos we had. Then we discused what would be the best number of embryo's to replace on transfer, after discussing the pro's and con's we all decided 1 embryo would be best because of the chance of multiple pregnancy and with my height that could cause problems. We then went on to talk about next stage of action and we again decided on the following.

1st do a test cycle to check the ivf meds and my uterus work well enough to carry a pregnancy.

2nd if all well with meds and uterus do a cycle and transfer with one embryo, but if embryo does not survive the defrost process then would do another cycle and defrost 2 embryo's and implant the strongest one.

We was then passed onto the nurse and given the meds and instructions for test cycle to take home, I had to phone on first day of next mentstral period and start taking meds. So of home we went with medication and instructions in a bag and a big smile on our faces thankfull we was another step closer. Never knew a woman could want her period to come so much lol, more waiting but what the hell was on the road to starting treatment finally.

October 10th 05 Woke up this morning and never been so happy to see my menstural bleed arive, phoned the ivf clinic as instructed and gave all my details and was then told to phone back in the afternoon and speak to a nurse. Was really nervouse thought something was going to go wrong and not be able to do test cycle as the lady in the office did not seem very helpfull or know what I was going on about, no worries though got through to the nurse in the afternoon and she knew exactly who I was and told me to start the meds and arranged an appointment for a scan in 15 days time. The scan is to check the uterus is the right size and to measure the lining and suitable to take a pregnancy. Yet again more crossing of everything and praying to anyone and everyone, can't believe we finally of the starting block and got going, another step closer. It is really hard to know what and how to feel, want to be optomistic and at the same time I know things can go wrong and want to keep feet on the ground, guess the homones won't let me have a say in how I feel once they kick in, let the roller coaster of emotions commence.

OCTOBER 15th 05 Well today is day 6 of being on the hormones and have to up the dosage from 1mg of eastrogen a day to 1 mg twice a day for the next 3 days, so far things been ok. I have had a few side effects, nausea, headache, restlessness at night, sore bust and heavier menstural bleed and cramps than I normally have, but nothing to bad, the mood swings not kicked in yet but have felt a little emotional up and down last few days. Not really much to report and just a case of waiting for the scan in ten days time. Fingers crossed meds are doing what they r supposed to be doing, have been a little worried as I have still been bleeding up to now and not sure if that normal or not, guess it just a case of my body geting used to the new meds and is probably just doing what supposed to be doing, will carry on keeping everything crossed and praying to whoever listening :)

OCTOBER 19th 05 It is day ten of the cycle and have to change the dosage of eastrogen to 2mg 3 x's a day untill told other wise, so far so good, most of the side effects have settled down. Have felt moods starting to go up and down last few days but nothing to bad yet, hopefully won't suffer to badly. Finally stopped bleeding on day 7 so happy about that, just nervously waiting now for the scan on day 15 to check how well the uterus linning as grown. I really hope it is good enough to be able to do a cycle and embryo transfer. Well that's basically all there is to report at this time everything ok so far and will see how the next week goes :)

OCTOBER 25th 05 It was the day of my scan and not one I was looking forward to, but anyway everything turned out to be great, the nurse said my linning had grown fine and was not a problem with anything, that was the end of the test cycle. I asked what happend next and she said I would be phoned later after she had spoken to the Dr, I got the phone call and the dr was very pleased with the scan and wants me to do a cycle and transfer right away, was told to commence with the progesterone pesseries for 5 days to end the cycle and induce a period, I now have to wait for my first day of bleed and then phone up the clinic and start the cycle again, only this time we will be implanting an embryo. Words can not describe how I feel, I feel so relieved that my womb is ok for an embryo transfer, emotions running riot as we have finally got the the finishing line and I thought we never would. Well I guess the next bit is to pray and hope the embryo survives defrost stage, this can be a tricky bit and they dont always survive the thaw, but as before just keep everything crossed and pray to anyone who is listening lol.