14 May 2013
Rolling
Well my period finally arrived and I've been in touch with the clinic to arrange my norethisterone start. When I contacted them I pointed out that my period is definitely not on a 28 day cycle. After my first collection, my period came March 8. My next period started April 11. This period has taken it's time and come May 14. Of course everything seems to be scheduled around a 28 day cycle and that is not me. So I commented on this and heard back that they want to put me on an extra day of norethisterone that starts June 1. For the first cycle I was on 8 days so now I'll be on 9. It also looks, based on this, that my collection will be late June and my injection start will be mid June. So it's still a bit of time yet, but the ball is rolling!
11 May 2013
OMG I Hate Waiting!
I'm waiting for my period so I can let the clinic know the first full day so I can plan my norethisterone for my next cycle. Now, my period is slightly over the 28 day cycle, but my period was like the 8th, then the 10th, then the 11th.... and now it's the 11th and where is my period?? I'm getting a few 'hints' from my gut that it might be on the way, but really nothing. Not a glimmer. It's ridiculous. It's like the more I think about my period, the more my body decides it's going to keep it from me. It's amazing how easy it is to get stressed about things that you normally wouldn't care at all about. Because if I'm not thinking lighthearted thoughts about how silly it is, I'm thinking more damaging thoughts like, "OH MY GOD THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG." Which is also silly, in its own different way. But it's so easy. It's so easy to slip into these sorts of mindsets. And I think it's particularly easy to do it when you've only got yourself to talk about it with. I'm sure there is nothing wrong and my period should arrive tomorrow. Or maybe it arrives the day after.
It's fine.
But it's also annoying.
It's fine.
But it's also annoying.
27 April 2013
Drug Delivery
About a week after I'd sent off my prescription to Healthcare at Home (HaH) I got a call to arrange payment and delivery. They were really helpful and friendly on the phone. There was a bit of a mess because it was going on my mom's credit card and she's in the States and they needed her to verify the payment but actually in the end it was all rather simple and easy and so the drugs were paid for at the price I was quoted (still can't believe it) and delivery was arranged for today.
They made a point of telling me that some of the drugs require chilling and so would need to be put in the fridge straight away and instructions would be provided. This proved to be true. It was marked on the box...
...as well as on the inventory.
So all of that has gone straight into the fridge, super easy. The rest is all the Cetrotide which apparently does not need to be refrigerated. That's a lot of Cetrotide!
The only disappointing thing about this was that the drugs and the inventory were all that was in the box. I had asked if the sharps bin came with the drugs and I was told in my original contact by email as well as over the phone that everything I needed would be included, but I'm sad to report it was not. On the other hand, I don't think it's that complicated to get a sharps bin (I'm fairly certain I can pick one up from a pharmacy or from my GP). It's just a small hassle that I wasn't expecting. In the grand scheme of things, it's fine. And I think it's probably an oversight or error since multiple people told me that it would be there.
I'm really not complaining all things considered.
So it's weird to have all the drugs again. It's still a month away and I've got a three week trip to the States that's going to happen in between now and then. Part of me is sort of looking forward to getting it started though, and part of me is looking forward to just getting it done.
They made a point of telling me that some of the drugs require chilling and so would need to be put in the fridge straight away and instructions would be provided. This proved to be true. It was marked on the box...
...as well as on the inventory.
So all of that has gone straight into the fridge, super easy. The rest is all the Cetrotide which apparently does not need to be refrigerated. That's a lot of Cetrotide!
The only disappointing thing about this was that the drugs and the inventory were all that was in the box. I had asked if the sharps bin came with the drugs and I was told in my original contact by email as well as over the phone that everything I needed would be included, but I'm sad to report it was not. On the other hand, I don't think it's that complicated to get a sharps bin (I'm fairly certain I can pick one up from a pharmacy or from my GP). It's just a small hassle that I wasn't expecting. In the grand scheme of things, it's fine. And I think it's probably an oversight or error since multiple people told me that it would be there.
I'm really not complaining all things considered.
So it's weird to have all the drugs again. It's still a month away and I've got a three week trip to the States that's going to happen in between now and then. Part of me is sort of looking forward to getting it started though, and part of me is looking forward to just getting it done.
08 April 2013
Reducing Drug Costs
I could have also called this post, "I won't do that again!" or "I wish I knew then what I know now!"
I have just received an estimate for drugs from Healthcare at Home for the drugs and I am blown away by the price difference. Now, just to be clear, my prescription is not quite for enough drugs so I don't 'over order' but let's compare. This was the previous drug breakdown from my first egg collection cycle:
This is what I was just (April 2013) quoted from Healthcare at Home:
Based on my previous cycle, this is two doses short of Gonal F and two doses short of Cetrotide- if my protocol lasts as long as my first. But lets be clear. This means my drugs would be almost 1/3 the cost of the drugs from the clinic!! That is a HUGE difference. Even if I have to order a couple extra doses, it will still be significantly cheaper, even with the delivery fee and credit card fee. I mean, I will be getting a Gonal F 900 pen for LESS than the cost of the clinic 450 pen!!
So this means if my previous projected cost for cycle 2 with no changes was £4471, my current projected cost for cycle 2 with the drugs listed above is £3384. Even if I have to purchase a Gonal F 450 pen and two more Cetrotide from my clinic (although why would I?) the projected cost will be £3628 for a total projected savings of £843. And if I do need extra drugs and buy them from Healthcare at Home then I will save a bit more (around £40 more based on the above costs) even with delivery and credit card fees, so still worth it!
Part of me is annoyed I didn't know to check this out for my first cycle. I'm also a tiny bit annoyed that my clinic never mentioned it, although obviously they make profit on selling the drugs, so I don't entirely fault them. To be honest although I think it would be a nice thing to do, it's really not their job to mention it- I didn't specifically ask if there was any way to reduce my costs either. However, I definitely know where I'll be getting my drugs from for cycle two. I need to get on with ordering them now as I'm out of the country for most of May and when I get back for the start of June it will be time for round two. But I'll keep updated here with my drug purchasing experience. So far Healthcare at Home has a huge endorsement from me (if you can't tell by my repeating their name and posting the link :) )
I have just received an estimate for drugs from Healthcare at Home for the drugs and I am blown away by the price difference. Now, just to be clear, my prescription is not quite for enough drugs so I don't 'over order' but let's compare. This was the previous drug breakdown from my first egg collection cycle:
| Drug | Cost |
| Gonal F 900 pen x3 (£360 each) | £1080 |
| Gonal F 450 pen | £180 |
| Cetrotide x12 (£32 each) | £384 |
| Ovitrelle single dose | £16 |
| Total Cost | £1660 |
This is what I was just (April 2013) quoted from Healthcare at Home:
| Drug | Cost |
| Gonal F 900 pen x3 (£142.56 each) | £427.68 |
| Cetrotide x10 (£10.80 each) | £108 |
| Ovitrelle single dose | £6.48 |
| Delivery Fee | £30 |
| Credit Card Fee | £11.44 |
| Total Cost | £583.60 |
Based on my previous cycle, this is two doses short of Gonal F and two doses short of Cetrotide- if my protocol lasts as long as my first. But lets be clear. This means my drugs would be almost 1/3 the cost of the drugs from the clinic!! That is a HUGE difference. Even if I have to order a couple extra doses, it will still be significantly cheaper, even with the delivery fee and credit card fee. I mean, I will be getting a Gonal F 900 pen for LESS than the cost of the clinic 450 pen!!
So this means if my previous projected cost for cycle 2 with no changes was £4471, my current projected cost for cycle 2 with the drugs listed above is £3384. Even if I have to purchase a Gonal F 450 pen and two more Cetrotide from my clinic (although why would I?) the projected cost will be £3628 for a total projected savings of £843. And if I do need extra drugs and buy them from Healthcare at Home then I will save a bit more (around £40 more based on the above costs) even with delivery and credit card fees, so still worth it!
Part of me is annoyed I didn't know to check this out for my first cycle. I'm also a tiny bit annoyed that my clinic never mentioned it, although obviously they make profit on selling the drugs, so I don't entirely fault them. To be honest although I think it would be a nice thing to do, it's really not their job to mention it- I didn't specifically ask if there was any way to reduce my costs either. However, I definitely know where I'll be getting my drugs from for cycle two. I need to get on with ordering them now as I'm out of the country for most of May and when I get back for the start of June it will be time for round two. But I'll keep updated here with my drug purchasing experience. So far Healthcare at Home has a huge endorsement from me (if you can't tell by my repeating their name and posting the link :) )
04 April 2013
Follow-Up Consultation
Today I had my fist meeting with the doctor since my collection. I am sad to report that I was charged for this visit. I feel that this is not ideal and that a single follow-up consultation should be standard with an egg collection procedure. But, you can't be pleased with everything. So the new update on costs is:
But it is what it is. Either I choose a different clinic, or I accept that this is how it is. Can't be pleased with everything. And overall I am really generally pleased. So I am going to stick with them.
So I saw my doctor today and we discussed how everything went and he did a scan to check on my ovary since I said that I could still feel it and I knew it had not gone back to normal size. I was of course concerned it was the cyst but I am happy to report that my cyst is still the same size as it was before and has not grown at all. On the other hand, my ovary is currently about twice it's normal size. The doctor said this was 'normal' and that it can take up to two period cycles for it to return to normal size. When stimulated it can be 7 or 8 times normal size. So my ovary has definitely 'gone down' but it's not all the way down yet. In keeping with this he suggested I stay away from impact exercise and twisting until I don't feel it anymore. I'm glad that I wasn't making it up that I still 'felt' the ovary and also glad I was taking it easy and not rushing back to the gym.
We discussed how the retrieval went. In the end there were 10 follicles and 6 had eggs and all 6 were mature. They can't tell you anything about the quality of those eggs. I asked if there was anything I could be doing now to help improve number or quality as there are many things talked about online. He said the only thing he suggested was that I consider some slow weight loss between now and my next procedure. That's fair. But he cautioned me it needs to be slow and steady, not a crash diet as that can negatively impact egg production or quality. So I need to be a bit more serious about seeing if I can lose 10-15 pounds in the next two months.
He said he felt the protocol was good and he didn't particularly want to change it. He said that as I only have the one ovary he didn't want to be too aggressive or risky because we want to protect the ovary as well. That seemed reasonable to me.
He gave me a prescription for my drugs and said they are happy for me to source them elsewhere if I can get them for cheaper, so that was good and I need to follow up with that over the next couple of weeks. He also said that my retrieval procedure was a bit tricky. That surprised me. I asked why and he said that my ovary moved around a lot during the retrieval. Apparently the dermoid cyst can make it wobbly or a bit less stable, or even float inside the gut, so apparently it wasn't exactly straightforward to retrieve my eggs.
So there you have it. I'll post more about drug pricing as I look into that. In the meantime I have 2 months to see if I can drop some weight. That's not going to be easy though if you consider I'm back in the States for 3 weeks in May. But I'll do the best I can.
| Previous total cost | £6876 |
| Follow-up consultation | £120 |
| Total cost to date | £6996 |
But it is what it is. Either I choose a different clinic, or I accept that this is how it is. Can't be pleased with everything. And overall I am really generally pleased. So I am going to stick with them.
So I saw my doctor today and we discussed how everything went and he did a scan to check on my ovary since I said that I could still feel it and I knew it had not gone back to normal size. I was of course concerned it was the cyst but I am happy to report that my cyst is still the same size as it was before and has not grown at all. On the other hand, my ovary is currently about twice it's normal size. The doctor said this was 'normal' and that it can take up to two period cycles for it to return to normal size. When stimulated it can be 7 or 8 times normal size. So my ovary has definitely 'gone down' but it's not all the way down yet. In keeping with this he suggested I stay away from impact exercise and twisting until I don't feel it anymore. I'm glad that I wasn't making it up that I still 'felt' the ovary and also glad I was taking it easy and not rushing back to the gym.
We discussed how the retrieval went. In the end there were 10 follicles and 6 had eggs and all 6 were mature. They can't tell you anything about the quality of those eggs. I asked if there was anything I could be doing now to help improve number or quality as there are many things talked about online. He said the only thing he suggested was that I consider some slow weight loss between now and my next procedure. That's fair. But he cautioned me it needs to be slow and steady, not a crash diet as that can negatively impact egg production or quality. So I need to be a bit more serious about seeing if I can lose 10-15 pounds in the next two months.
He said he felt the protocol was good and he didn't particularly want to change it. He said that as I only have the one ovary he didn't want to be too aggressive or risky because we want to protect the ovary as well. That seemed reasonable to me.
He gave me a prescription for my drugs and said they are happy for me to source them elsewhere if I can get them for cheaper, so that was good and I need to follow up with that over the next couple of weeks. He also said that my retrieval procedure was a bit tricky. That surprised me. I asked why and he said that my ovary moved around a lot during the retrieval. Apparently the dermoid cyst can make it wobbly or a bit less stable, or even float inside the gut, so apparently it wasn't exactly straightforward to retrieve my eggs.
So there you have it. I'll post more about drug pricing as I look into that. In the meantime I have 2 months to see if I can drop some weight. That's not going to be easy though if you consider I'm back in the States for 3 weeks in May. But I'll do the best I can.
29 March 2013
Costs
I know I promised I'd return with a cost break-down post. After a couple of weeks I have returned to do just that! But first some other house keeping.
My period came and went and I finally started to feel less bloated. It probably took a good 2 weeks before I started to think I felt "normal". However, I have noticed that I still sometimes feel my side where my ovary is. I have not had a follow-up appointment with my clinic (though I hope to arrange one next week). Part of me is concerned that my cysts somehow grew a lot and that's what I'm feeling. That seems slightly irrational, but I have no other way to understand why I feel "something" even when the rest of me feels normal.
I'm also slightly disappointed that my clinic did not mandate a follow-up appointment post retrieval. That seems poor form to me. I'm not sure if it was an oversight, or if it's standard, but I think follow up care is important. So I'll call that out as something that has not made me happy about my clinic. But, as I say, I'll try to get an appointment next week. Mainly because I need to discuss how to proceed with cycle 2 in June. So while I'm not thrilled with every aspect of my clinic, I'm also not unhappy enough to go elsewhere.
Now, on to costs.
A caveat.
After looking around at IVF blogs, it came to me that in the UK other people try to price their drugs cheaper at certain pharmacies. It may be that I could have gotten my drugs for less had I shopped around. My clinic did not suggest this to me, and it honestly did not occur to me. For my second cycle, I will try to shop around for cheaper drugs, and I will post about that here as I do it. However, below were the costs of my first cycle, using the drugs provided by the clinic, at the clinic cost. I had no left-over drugs at all, which I really appreciated.
So here are some quick facts:
My period came and went and I finally started to feel less bloated. It probably took a good 2 weeks before I started to think I felt "normal". However, I have noticed that I still sometimes feel my side where my ovary is. I have not had a follow-up appointment with my clinic (though I hope to arrange one next week). Part of me is concerned that my cysts somehow grew a lot and that's what I'm feeling. That seems slightly irrational, but I have no other way to understand why I feel "something" even when the rest of me feels normal.
I'm also slightly disappointed that my clinic did not mandate a follow-up appointment post retrieval. That seems poor form to me. I'm not sure if it was an oversight, or if it's standard, but I think follow up care is important. So I'll call that out as something that has not made me happy about my clinic. But, as I say, I'll try to get an appointment next week. Mainly because I need to discuss how to proceed with cycle 2 in June. So while I'm not thrilled with every aspect of my clinic, I'm also not unhappy enough to go elsewhere.
Now, on to costs.
A caveat.
After looking around at IVF blogs, it came to me that in the UK other people try to price their drugs cheaper at certain pharmacies. It may be that I could have gotten my drugs for less had I shopped around. My clinic did not suggest this to me, and it honestly did not occur to me. For my second cycle, I will try to shop around for cheaper drugs, and I will post about that here as I do it. However, below were the costs of my first cycle, using the drugs provided by the clinic, at the clinic cost. I had no left-over drugs at all, which I really appreciated.
| Service | Cost |
| Initial consultation and blood work | £490 |
| Norethisterone plus mail fee (£6) | £11 |
| STD Blood work | £115 |
| Gonal F 450 pen | £180 |
| Gonal F 900 pen | £360 |
| Cetrotide x4 | £128 |
| Egg Freezing Medical Cost | £2800 |
| Ten year storage (unused refundable) | £1800 |
| Gonal F 450 pen | £180 |
| Cetrotide x1 | £32 |
| Gonal F 450 pen | £180 |
| Cetrotide x3 | £96 |
| Gonal F 450 pen | £180 |
| Cetrotide x1 | £32 |
| Gonal F 450 pen | £180 |
| Cetrotide x3 | £96 |
| Ovitrelle single dose | £16 |
| Total Cost | £6876 |
So here are some quick facts:
- The 'egg freezing medical costs' included all of my clinic visits, all of my scans, and the retrieval procedure and associated drugs (including suppository)
- The initial consultation and the storage are one-off fees which I won't pay again. Total: £2290
- Total drug costs: £1671
- Projected cost of cycle 2 if no changes: £4471
28 February 2013
48 Hours Later
I'm finally starting to feel a little bit more normal.
When I wrote my last post, I was at home relaxing after the procedure. I did manage to go up to Cambridge that night and I did note that the more I moved around the more "crampy" and "achy" my abdominal area seemed to be. And it wasn't only concentrated on my left side where my ovary is.
I took some paracetamol as I was told I could and slept okay when I finally got home, although I woke up with more abdominal discomfort and a bit of bloating. When I got up to go to the bathroom, I had a lot of gas but not much productivity. This reminded me that when I had the surgery to have my ovary removed, they told me that abdominal intrusion can make the digestive track seize up. In fact, they wouldn't let me leave the hospital until I'd pooped back then. So I started to wonder if something similar wasn't going on.
Yesterday I had a course to go on so I did that and continued to have the occasional over the counter painkiller. Uncomfortable, but not really worse than bad period pains. I was noting that it seemed more 'abdominal' than 'right side' and although I was drinking a lot, and peeing a lot, no other action was going on.
As I didn't bring my bicycle up (like I usually do) I decided to walk home last night which is a little over a mile. It wasn't the most comfortable walk, but I took it slow and steady. I felt that getting some light physical activity in might help my system get moving. Got home, lots of air, no action.
This morning however, my abdominal area feels much better. I got up and had results in the bathroom. I have no idea of I'm making connections that aren't there, but I do know I feel much more comfortable and generally better. Still a bit of bloating and now any aches are pretty much identifiable as on my left side where the ovary is still enlarged.
Also, I've noticed that I think I bit my tongue under sedation and maybe it pressed on my jaw a bit funny if they gave me an oxygen mask as both sides of my jaw, close to my ears is sore to the touch. First I thought it was a pimple, but then I noticed it was on both sides and think it was something else. The tongue thing is annoying, but it will sort itself out.
So I guess I just wait for my period and finally my body can return to normal for a bit, before I go for it again in June.
I feel less disappointed by my six eggs. And I'm really pleased that they are there waiting for me in the freezer. It does make me determined to do at least one more cycle, but I am glad that I have done this. My chances at future pregnancy only diminish from here on out, so those six eggs, and whatever I get in June are a great investment.
When I get back to London I will try to do a break-down post about my costs, as I think it's something useful there should be more information about. I should also have my formal letter from the clinic regarding the extraction, so I will post if there is anything interesting from that. I may also, in the interim, post some thoughts on future parenthood. But in general, I suspect this blog will go a bit quiet until my next cycle starts up.
I'm glad that my story has helped some people. Any questions, please email or leave a comment. And if you are starting your own journey and begin a blog, please send me the link and I will add it to the blog roll on the right.
When I wrote my last post, I was at home relaxing after the procedure. I did manage to go up to Cambridge that night and I did note that the more I moved around the more "crampy" and "achy" my abdominal area seemed to be. And it wasn't only concentrated on my left side where my ovary is.
I took some paracetamol as I was told I could and slept okay when I finally got home, although I woke up with more abdominal discomfort and a bit of bloating. When I got up to go to the bathroom, I had a lot of gas but not much productivity. This reminded me that when I had the surgery to have my ovary removed, they told me that abdominal intrusion can make the digestive track seize up. In fact, they wouldn't let me leave the hospital until I'd pooped back then. So I started to wonder if something similar wasn't going on.
Yesterday I had a course to go on so I did that and continued to have the occasional over the counter painkiller. Uncomfortable, but not really worse than bad period pains. I was noting that it seemed more 'abdominal' than 'right side' and although I was drinking a lot, and peeing a lot, no other action was going on.
As I didn't bring my bicycle up (like I usually do) I decided to walk home last night which is a little over a mile. It wasn't the most comfortable walk, but I took it slow and steady. I felt that getting some light physical activity in might help my system get moving. Got home, lots of air, no action.
This morning however, my abdominal area feels much better. I got up and had results in the bathroom. I have no idea of I'm making connections that aren't there, but I do know I feel much more comfortable and generally better. Still a bit of bloating and now any aches are pretty much identifiable as on my left side where the ovary is still enlarged.
Also, I've noticed that I think I bit my tongue under sedation and maybe it pressed on my jaw a bit funny if they gave me an oxygen mask as both sides of my jaw, close to my ears is sore to the touch. First I thought it was a pimple, but then I noticed it was on both sides and think it was something else. The tongue thing is annoying, but it will sort itself out.
So I guess I just wait for my period and finally my body can return to normal for a bit, before I go for it again in June.
I feel less disappointed by my six eggs. And I'm really pleased that they are there waiting for me in the freezer. It does make me determined to do at least one more cycle, but I am glad that I have done this. My chances at future pregnancy only diminish from here on out, so those six eggs, and whatever I get in June are a great investment.
When I get back to London I will try to do a break-down post about my costs, as I think it's something useful there should be more information about. I should also have my formal letter from the clinic regarding the extraction, so I will post if there is anything interesting from that. I may also, in the interim, post some thoughts on future parenthood. But in general, I suspect this blog will go a bit quiet until my next cycle starts up.
I'm glad that my story has helped some people. Any questions, please email or leave a comment. And if you are starting your own journey and begin a blog, please send me the link and I will add it to the blog roll on the right.
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