After a rather low weekend, we returned home a day earlier than planned so we could get on the phone quickly to BCRM and sort out the mess.
Jon rang them while I sat feeling quite sick with stress upstairs. They said they had no appointments until September 28th. Simply too late to be workable. But good old Jon kept them on the phone and eventually was offered an appointment with an alternative doctor (as if we care!) the following day (Tuesday). Phew #1.
So far, so good, but we have learned never to expect much, so went in highly strung and anxious. We were seen, had blood test results and sperm analysis reviewed, internal scan for me, and told we were eligible for treatment. Phew #2. (Actually, Jon's sperm quality had increased quite a bit. Which is interesting. And means we go for IVF not ICSI. But thankfully that news doesn't affect anything, we are already approved for NHS funding of treatment by IVF Wales - it was just a question of ensuring BCRM could treat us, according to their rules.)
Bad news, we were told there was absolutely no way we'd be through by October 11th, when Jon was due to leave the country. Freezing sperm costs £500 and they seemed to want to discourage us from doing this. So, we planned for Jon to return to the UK some time in November (probably) to do his 'bit'.
The next step was to arrange an appointment with the nurse to go over minutiae of treatment. We organised this with reception for a week later. But on driving home, my mobile rang and the clinic said that was actually impossible. Next available date the 25th. Again, heart sunk. But again, kept them on the phone a bit and was offered an appointment for the next day (September 12th). Phew #3.
Back in the next day, and a lovely nurse called Carrie explained everything we will need to go through. She then checked where I was at with my cycle and suggested we start in two days (today). Treatment needs to begin on day 19 of the menstrual cycle. We could hardly believe it. After nearly 2 years on a waiting list in Cardiff, we were up and running in less than a week of our first appointment in Bristol. Phew #4.
Jon will have to delay his start in Canada, meaning some lost salary. But that doesn't matter. His professor is understanding about all this. Phew #5. And overall, a fortnight delay is a much better solution than Jon leaving me here to start things on my own and then flying back 1 month into a new job.
A medical courier dropped off my pack this morning, full of pills, syringes, nasal spray etc. I started today with the pill. More details on all that later.
But, we're off! Finally. Hurray! IVF at this clinic has a 42% success rate. Fingers crossed.
