Cancelled cycle - Doctors strike!!

[Pintu88]

Hey everyone,

I had my baseline scan this morning, purchased all my stims meds, just to get a call from the nurse advising that I have to cancel my entire cycle as the doctors strike falls on what would have been my ER day!

Has this happened to anyone else, and is there anything I can do? I thought going private meant that this wouldn’t be the case. Although I am with a trust rather than private clinic.

Sorry to moan but I’ve been anticipating this cycle since April (my second miscarriage) and have been eating healthy and exercising so it just feels like a massive blow. We also purposely chose to go on a relaxing holiday just before this treatment to ensure we were as relaxed as possible.

Sounds super dramatic and I know a month isn’t going to change much but I can’t help but feel defeated and that this isn’t meant to happen 😔

Any words of encouragement will be appreciated xx

[OurMiracleBabies]

A month can feel like a long time in the IVf world. So I get it and hear your frustration. You aren't being dramatic.

All you can do is stick with your prep work for an extra month. Remember it's a delay not a deny.

Wishing all the best.

[Pintu88 in reply to OurMiracleBabies]

Thank you for your kind words, they really helped me xx

[Habibi87]

it’s infuriating we hen delays happen and during IVF they just seem so so long. Just wanted to send you all my understanding! In our case the cycle that was delayed was the successful one 💕

[Pintu88 in reply to Habibi87]

Thank you for your message, I love that your delayed one was the successful one. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason but right now I’m just tired of always justifying my misfortune. But I’ll get back to it in a day or so 💪🏽

[Kitkat10]

hi, I 100% understand how you feel, my treatment start coincided with the arrival of covid and it felt totally bleak. I had no idea when the clinics would re-open and I felt like I was ageing every day. But… the month will soon pass, I found it helpful to set myself little challenges to help the time pass. I did things that I couldn’t do once treatment started. I ran every day until the clinics re-opened and it helped me feel that the time wasn’t wasted. It is very frustrating but the time will pass. Try if you can to use it positively. Before you know it, you’ll be starting that treatment cycle xx

[Pintu88 in reply to Kitkat10]

Ahh I can imagine that covid must have been 100 times worse because of the unknown. I commend you for your strength making that through. You’re so right, I was gutted to have stopped gym as I felt I was making some strength progress so it does feel good to know I can continue a little longer. Thank you for the kind comments xx

[Mcher]

Hello! Your feelings are so valid and completely understandably frustrated. Maybe try thinking you have another month to prep the body for the new embaby to come. I know it's now much but it's helped me in similar situation. Sending best wishes.

[Pintu88 in reply to Mcher]

I love that you guys just get it and thank you for the advice. I’m slowly coming to terms with the fact that it just gives me more time to get my body to it’s best. Thank you xx

[Mcher in reply to Pintu88]

This network has helped me so much, was feeling lost before!Take some time to be frustrated then focus forward.

Sending baby dust x

[Football61]

You’re not being super dramatic at all - I would be pulling my hair out if my cycle got delayed! Agree with the other comments on here - I believe that everything happens for a reason, and you’ve been given extra time to prepare your body, guzzle lots of supplements, etc. I hope the time passes quickly, and wishing you the best of luck ❤️

[Pintu88 in reply to Football61]

On my way to the gym right now haha. Thanks for the good wishes, Football61 x

[JoyfulStar]

Delays have happened to me twice because of Covid. The first was at the very beginning of the pandemic. After my egg retrieval, I was advised to freeze any embryos instead of having a fresh transfer. It was absolutely devastating. I then had to wait for months not knowing when I would be in a position to transfer.

The second time was receiving a text on the one day I went out by contact tracing to isolate for 14 days! I knew I did not have Covid but the clinic said they had to follow government guidelines. I was just about to start stimming that day. To make matters worse, it was in November and the clinic said I had to wait till January because of closures at Christmas. I was 43 at the time and I knew time was not on my side so I was again devastated. So I completely get how disappointed you would feel.

The way I coped was to focus on exercising and getting my fitness levels up and eating healthily to give myself the best possible chance of success.

Really hope the time passes quickly for you.

[Pintu88 in reply to JoyfulStar]

I’m sorry to hear about your delays, really puts my month into perspective. Thanks for the advise and understanding x

[Twiglet2]

not dramatic at all! Delays and waiting are the worst part of IVF… give me the meds and the procedures any day but delays I cannot cope with! If it’s of any comfort we were delayed just before transfer due to the clinic closing for covid in 2020 with no idea when it would open again it ended up a 4 month delay (after a miscarriage) but when it finally came around this was the successful one for us! Hoping this is how it works out for you too 💜 xx

[Pintu88 in reply to Twiglet2]

Yeah totally agree about the meds part. I’m sorry you got caught up in the covid delays but also very happy to hear it was successful after, makes it all worth it. Im apprehensive because I’m also starting a new protocol and have no idea if it will work so delays now just give me more anxiety. But I’m feeling a lot more positive this morning thanks to all your wonderful comments and stories x

[Twiglet2 in reply to Pintu88]

yeah totally hear you! Especially if you’re waiting to try something new!! We have been trying for sibling for nearly 2 years and our consultation was a bit delayed as we waited on some test results and now they are saying clinic is pretty full so I might not get booked in until September now to start stims again and honestly I find the delays physically painful sometimes 😤🙄 but I also know they can force me to chill out and be the most ready i can be 🤪 doesn’t stop me eye rolling though!! Especially if it were a doctors strike! I’d be writing to my MP to tell them the impact that not agreeing on a decent wage for the doctors has had on you personally to get it off my chest 😂 I might be a bit bonkers though! Xx

[Pintu88 in reply to Twiglet2]

Oh gosh, I’m so sorry that you have to wait that long. Have you considered going to another clinic? I do really cherish the moments out of treatment. It’s nice to just enjoy the time without too much restriction. I hope the time goes by quickly and that you have a successful cycle to get your sibling ❤️

I should have written that letter yesterday when I was fuelled by all that anger! And yes you’re right, it’s physically painful but when I think of all the life saving surgery that’s probably been affected it puts my situation into perspective. I’ll still eye roll the rest of the month too though haha

[Twiglet2 in reply to Pintu88]

I think I’ve eye rolled my way through most of this treatment 😂🤪🙄🙄🙄🙄 you are absolutely right though 🤗 xx

[hoping_for_our_time]

I'm so sorry this has happened to you, I'd be absolutely fuming! As others have said, it is only a month, but when you've prepped so much and are mentally ready it feels like a huge blow. Are they going to reimburse you the costs of the meds you've had to waste? I'd be pushing for this if I were you. Best of luck for next month xx

[Pintu88 in reply to hoping_for_our_time]

I was so excited and pumped, so it was a huge blow. I hadn’t used any yet so they’ve asked me to refrigerate them till next month so thankfully nothing wasted. It was just the northisterone which I still have plenty of. Thanks for the wishes xx

[Midsummer_daydream]

it's very frustrating, I am so sorry to hear! If I were you I would be furious... my NHS clinic I was with before told me the strike won't affect their fertility clinic, and if ER falls on a bank holiday or Easter Sunday (which mine was almost on..) they would have people to work. I am also with a big hospital in central London now I am pregnant and they also sent messages regarding the strike that it won't affect their clinic. Is there a possibility you can try to push back on this or at least try? as ER day is never certain, it depends on how your eggs grow. Mine was 2 or 3 days sooner than expected.

[Pintu88 in reply to Midsummer_daydream]

The clinic I am with is both NHS and private so I suspect my private doctors are also NHS ones? Tbh I was so shocked when they called yesterday that I couldn’t find any words.

Congratulations on your pregnancy, would you mind DMing me which hospital you’re at?

[Midsummer_daydream in reply to Pintu88]

most NHS clinic in London are like that, they also operate on private side and they told me as a doctor/ nurse they wouldn't know patients who are NHS and who are private so there is no difference in treatment it is just the wait.

Thank you, I am with UCLH. Comparing to the IVF clinic I was with they are on a complete different league, top notch in communication, appointment booking etc... they are very well known hospital for antenatal in central London

[Pintu88 in reply to Midsummer_daydream]

Thank you for letting me know and good luck for the rest of the pregnancy. Keep up updated once the baby has come ❤️

For now, I’m just going to use this month to relax and stay calm. Everything happens for a reason and I hope mine is a good one 🙏🏼🙌🏽

[Hidden]

I'm so sorry its been cancelled but if my last cycle has anything to go by, we had delays etc but it turned out to be successful. I can't help but wonder of the timings were just meant to be and fell it place for it to work. I find that a good way to look at it

[Pintu88 in reply to Hidden]

Sorry for your delays too but again, so glad to hear that it was successful. I do also believe everything happens for a reason so I’m keeping everything crossed x

[MontsJ]

I just wanted to say I am so sorry for his has happened. A month feels like lifetime when it comes to infertility, sending love your way ❤️

[Pintu88]

Thank you, I really am feeling all the love from you wonderful people ❤️

[FierceGrace85]

I’m so sorry this has happened to you. It’s so frustrating! Any set backs can feel so infuriating. I don’t think clinics/ other people realise what a disruptive process IVF is and how you have to gear yourself up for it emotionally and physically. It’s also frustrating as we can feel so out of control in the process and already wanted a baby yesterday (years ago) so anything that takes us further away from that feels upsetting. I get it. I’d be livid if I’m honest! Glad they called you before you started the meds. Hope you can take a few weeks to look after yourself. Xxx

[Pintu88 in reply to FierceGrace85]

It’s so refreshing to talk to people who understand it, and can so eloquently describe the frustration too. I am really frustrated and have had ups and downs today about it all. I’m currently in a down and thinking really negatively. It’s been 3 full years of trying and I’m beginning to reach boiling point so these delays just further remind me of how far behind I am xx