QUOTE(Nitrous @ Mar 29 2014, 10:54 PM)
1. First IVF, I was 35 and she was 34. Just a FYI, the reason why we went for IVF was because wife had both her fallopian tubes blocked, hence no other method besides IVF to get pregnant. But as noted earlier, we have gone through 2 failed rounds, hence we are thinking there are more than meets the eye (literally).
2. Round 1 : Sunfert around 30k-ish, including freezing of remaining embryo and a day-care surgery to remove some polyps.
Round 2 : KL Fertility and Xi TCM Fertility Center (they work together, one Western medicine and one Chinese medicine), 25k-ish and adding up, excluding upcoming FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer) to transfer the remaining frozen embryo at a later date.
Total to date (more to come) : 55k with some spare change to pump petrol and parking, so be prepared...
3. So far my wife has been good throughout the IVF process. Not all women gets hot flashes. She did shed a tear though, when the pregnancy test results came about... so be strong, and encourage her. Speak to those who have gone through the experience, that would help a lot sometimes...
4. No. A few reason to keep it a secret :
4.1 They do not understand the process and what is going on, and will probably insult you for going through that process ("Why do u spend do much on it? Just go for a break la! Don't work so hard." or "SEE! Told you to marry the other women")
4.2 Without realizing themselves, they are actually a burden and a source of stress to your wife during the process. You and your wife needs a quiet time to go through this peacefully, not yapping or nitpicking aunts and mothers... Imagine if the IVF process fails, you'd need to answer to them too, in which the answer probably be "I don't know".
4.3 Further repercussion later on when the baby is born. I know coz I have cousins conceived via IVF, and they nicknamed her the "million-dollar baby". That is something that your kid had to go through unfortunately if they were to know.
5. Don't expect any answers from them. With 2 failed rounds, both doctors are unable to fully diagnose why it has failed (refer to 4.2 as well), although KL Fertility was better managing our expectations by helping us analyze where they think has gone wrong (and next steps to overcome them). There are still powers-to-be which controls human's destiny, and it does not come from the doctor's room or the operating table.
Good luck in your journey.. and all the best to both of you
QUOTE(abcde90 @ Mar 30 2014, 09:51 AM)
For couples who are still trying to conceive Keep ur chin up.
And may all of you be blessed with beautiful and healthy babies.
QUOTE(megane5439 @ Mar 31 2014, 09:57 AM)
Hi, me and my husband planning to do our IVF with Dr Helena also. I also hope she can really help us on this. My problem is my two fallopian is block too. So seem alot of people here are said Dr Helena is good. So i hope i really choose a correct doctor n fertility center then. Any idea how to prepare our self before proceed to IVF?
Now i really worried my 1st ivf will fail as financial are tied after this. Good to hear that some of you are success in IVF. Happy to hear that.
Thanks
Thank you all for your kind words.
Megane5439,
My wife and I have only met 2 doctors, Dr. Menon and Dr. Leong (Alpha Fertility). Both are excellent, however Dr. Menon does not do IVF anymore. I can't say for anyone else, but I'm sure all of them are exceptional in their fields! Go with any doctor whom you feel comfortable asking questions to.
If you are thinking of doing IVF, usually the hospitals would have IVF counselling, ask anything there. No holds barred! Mentally, I guess you would need to be prepared to do more than 1 round of IVF. Always hope for the best, though. You will start having sleepless nights thinking about "will it work?", "what if it doesn't?", "It's going to be very expensive", "how do we keep our spirits up?". I know, currently going through that.
Meditation, prayer, being around friends and even focusing your energy on your work or any other activities does help, albeit temporarily. Just remember, once it works, looking back 1 or 2 years, it would all be worth it.
Stay positive and happy always!
Nitrous,
Thank you for your advice, it couldn't be truer! Families can be really toxic at times, I can totally relate. My wife shed a tear when we read that your IVF cycles didn't work, we wish you all the luck in the world for the next.
We'll be starting our first cycle on the 15th, so we're nervous, hopeful and scared.
We'll update more once we start.