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12-14-2012 at 9:19 AM
adunkin
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Joined on 08-29-2003
11,338 Points
adunkin is online. Last active: 05-22-2013, 4:41 AMBronze

Intro (Americans in Brussels)

Hello all!

DH (38) and I (32) started TTC in May '12. We live in Brussels, Belgium and I'm finding the system a bit frustrating. [Like earlier this month the GYN did initial BW for me and said everything was fine. But I've no idea what she actually tested and am having problems getting a copy of the lab report.] 

Just started using CBFM this month and after POAS for 11 days finally got my first high reading yesterday morning (yay!). Unfortunately, committed to trying not to conceive for the next 2 months so we can fly back to the US for my brother's wedding in Sept '13. (Why oh why did I agree to that?!) BUT good to have a couple months for the CBFM to get to know me - or at least that's what I keep telling myself. (The doc has already prescribed Clomid but again - waiting until Feb at least.)

Looking forward to getting more involved here. The support and comfort is great!

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 BabyFruit Ticker
Married May 2011; Living in Belgium since June 2011;
TTC #1 since May 2012
Me: 32, Chronic Pain Condition since 2009, CD21 BW & sonogram-clear;
DH: 38, Slightly Abnormal SA
Clomid #1: March 2013 - BFN; Clomid + IUI: May 2013 CXL
BFP on 4/22/13, EDD 1/2/14 
12-14-2012 at 12:40 PM
Elinetrouw...
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Joined on 08-09-2011
13,784 Points
Elinetrouwt is not online. Last active: 05-03-2013, 1:45 PMBronze

Hi, I live in Belgium too, not American though (Dutch, in fact). Sorry to hear that TTC is not working out so far. Is there any reason you were prescribed Clomid?

I'm sorry to hear that your gyn hasn't given you any answers. As in the US, they are quite reluctant to do a lot of testing before a year of TTC has passed, unless there are any clear indications of trouble. But if she tested you, she should be telling you what she did. They usually do.

What hospital are you visiting? And are you covered by Belgian or American insurance? 


 
12-15-2012 at 4:09 AM
PittPurple
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Joined on 12-19-2008
Edinburgh, UK
7,579 Points
PittPurple is not online. Last active: 05-22-2013, 3:25 AMSilver

Hi and welcome! I'm sorry it's taking a bit longer for you, it took me a year to conceive the first time. Usually a doctor won't even see you until a year (at least in the states and the UK) so you're ahead of the game. I am also curious as to why you're using Clomid if its been such a short amount of time and all bloodwork is normal?

Dh and I are Americans in Edinburgh, Scotland. Have lived here for almost 7 years now and just had our baby girl a couple weeks ago. 


TTC #1 since Aug 2010 * BFP Aug 2011, EDD April 16 2012 * MMC @ 7w5d, D&C @ 10w5d
BFP Apr 2012, EDD Dec 19 2012 * twin h/b at 6wk, 9wk scan * Baby A lost at 12wks, Baby B was my rainbow born at 36wks
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12-16-2012 at 10:39 AM
MouseInLux
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Joined on 10-01-2010
17,436 Points
MouseInLux is not online. Last active: 05-21-2013, 8:55 AMSilver

Welcome! I'm a Brit living in Luxembourg! You may want to also head on over to 

http://pandce.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=int ,it's where most of the international nesties went when there was a large exodus a while ago. They are great girls for help regarding anything, including babies.  


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12-16-2012 at 11:30 AM
huntjul
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Joined on 02-10-2012
St. Kitts
16,123 Points
huntjul is not online. Last active: 05-21-2013, 7:51 PMBronze
adunkin:

Hello all!

DH (38) and I (32) started TTC in May '12. We live in Brussels, Belgium and I'm finding the system a bit frustrating. [Like earlier this month the GYN did initial BW for me and said everything was fine. But I've no idea what she actually tested and am having problems getting a copy of the lab report.] 

Just started using CBFM this month and after POAS for 11 days finally got my first high reading yesterday morning (yay!). Unfortunately, committed to trying not to conceive for the next 2 months so we can fly back to the US for my brother's wedding in Sept '13. (Why oh why did I agree to that?!) BUT good to have a couple months for the CBFM to get to know me - or at least that's what I keep telling myself. (The doc has already prescribed Clomid but again - waiting until Feb at least.)

Looking forward to getting more involved here. The support and comfort is great!

 Welcome!  My hubby and I are Americans living in the Caribbean and TTC#1.  I'm a little surprised that your GYN gave you Clomid after you've been TTC only 7-8 months since you are younger than 35.  A year of trying is the standard. 

Health care is very different in different countries, as you've no doubt discovered, so your provider may not do all the things that a US doc would when using Clomid.  I'd strongly suggest going to the "Trouble Trying To Conceive" board (and not posting there, since you haven't been trying that long, they wouldn't appreciate it) but just reading their new person info post at the top of the page.  It details what testing should be done before and during Clomid.  It's can only be used 6 times in your lifetime, so you don't want to waste your cycles doing them without proper diagnostics first (to make sure your tubes are open for example), and it carries significant risks like cysts and thining your uterine lining that make unmonitored cycles not recommended.

HTH!  Good luck and welcome again :)


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BFP 1.25.13, EDD 10.8.13
 BabyFetus Ticker 
12-17-2012 at 4:17 AM
adunkin
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Joined on 08-29-2003
11,338 Points
adunkin is online. Last active: 05-22-2013, 4:41 AMBronze

Hey ladies! Thanks for the warm welcome!

I guess I should have provided a bit more info initially. I have some other health issues (complicated chronic stuff). I spent 6 months seeing specialists and getting the OK before going off BC and TTC. Now that we're trying, I can't take most of the meds and supplements I'm usually on. I'm pretty sure this is why my specialist GYN (she does specifically high risk pregnancies) said to only wait 6 months before doing tests and getting more proactive. I do know she said my thyroid was fine, but then she just said everything else looked fine. We have to talk this week to find out my husband's lab results. I'll try asking if she'll just send us copies of the lab reports. WML!

@Elinetrouwt - what part of Belgium are you in? We are covered under Belgian insurance. We've got Partena and DKV. My doc is a private doc but is affiliated with Edith Cavell. How about you? Where are you going?

@PittPurple - Congrats!

@MouseInLux - Thanks! I'll definitely check it out. There are so many forums, it's hard to know which ones are best! Regardless, I needed some friends going through similar stuff before I drive my closest friends and husband crazy! Stick out tongue

@huntjul - Thanks - will give it a read for sure. GYN did a sonogram but won't check tubes until 3 failed Clomid rounds. I wonder if they limit Clomid to 6 tries here in Belgium as well... Will need to do some research on this. Thanks for the heads up!


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 BabyFruit Ticker
Married May 2011; Living in Belgium since June 2011;
TTC #1 since May 2012
Me: 32, Chronic Pain Condition since 2009, CD21 BW & sonogram-clear;
DH: 38, Slightly Abnormal SA
Clomid #1: March 2013 - BFN; Clomid + IUI: May 2013 CXL
BFP on 4/22/13, EDD 1/2/14 
12-17-2012 at 7:11 AM
ccip82
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Joined on 01-12-2009
32,697 Points
ccip82 is not online. Last active: 05-20-2013, 11:17 AMBronze

Welcome and good luck on your TTC journey :)

DH and I are Americans living in Scotland with our 1 year old DD. 

12-17-2012 at 7:26 AM
melin_11
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12,214 Points
melin_11 is not online. Last active: 05-22-2013, 3:00 AMBronze
I sometime lurk on this board but I'm an American living down in Mons (Bergen) are you going to a specific fertility clinic? I went to one in Leuven that I really like (and now have my beautiful almost 5 month old girl) I hope that you get everything figured out.  We didn't use insurance so I don't know how that is working but if you have any questions or want to know what fertility clinic we used let me know.

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12-17-2012 at 9:10 AM
adunkin
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Joined on 08-29-2003
11,338 Points
adunkin is online. Last active: 05-22-2013, 4:41 AMBronze
Congrats - she's adorable! We aren't to the stage of using a specific fertility clinic yet. But I'll certainly be looking for recommendations if it gets to that. Thanks!

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 BabyFruit Ticker
Married May 2011; Living in Belgium since June 2011;
TTC #1 since May 2012
Me: 32, Chronic Pain Condition since 2009, CD21 BW & sonogram-clear;
DH: 38, Slightly Abnormal SA
Clomid #1: March 2013 - BFN; Clomid + IUI: May 2013 CXL
BFP on 4/22/13, EDD 1/2/14 
12-22-2012 at 1:15 PM
Elinetrouw...
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Joined on 08-09-2011
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Elinetrouwt is not online. Last active: 05-03-2013, 1:45 PMBronze

Sorry, it's been a while since I was here. But I'm in Ghent (the Flemish part), visiting the a doctor in the UZ Gent and a private midwife on the side. If it comes to visiting a specialized clinic, I think one of the very best places to go for infertility issues would be the UZ Jette (university hospital). They were the pioneers for ICSI, are very, very knowledgeable and people from all over Europe go there for the fertility clinic. I know several girls with fertility issues who went there and are very happy about the service they got there. It is officially a Dutch speaking hospital, but as I said, they are accustomed to foreign clients.

I don't believe there are restrictions on the number of Clomid rounds you can take here. I know many girls who have been on Clomid forever, and I know that many doctors prescribe it without a lot of testing or adequate follow-up. 

I do hope things work out soon for you. 


 
01-06-2013 at 8:58 PM
Cmmo14
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Joined on 04-12-2012
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Cmmo14 is not online. Last active: 04-25-2013, 2:55 AMNewbie

Hi there, haven't been online for a while as I was back home and decided to disconnect from the world. I am an Ecuadorian living in Belgium, I used to live in Brussels and my gyn is there too. Could not recommend him any higher, and he's a fertility specialist. I had NO chance of getting pregnant and my son was an absolute oops after his treatment. He works in Louise Medical Center and ixelles hospital (no longer working with UZ for several reasons) but I also do recommend the UZ very highly! Everyone there is trilingual, and very polite. Their NICU is the best in the country, and unlike Cavel, they charge the prices set by the country, so you get you refunds without a problem. In Cavel they charge as a private hospital so it's more expensive and most insurances do not recognize these rates so they only refund what they have to by law. 

My LO was born with a kidney condition so we still do all the follow ups at the UZ.  


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01-07-2013 at 6:40 AM
kerriayel
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Joined on 12-18-2009
831 Points
kerriayel is not online. Last active: 05-20-2013, 12:54 PMNewbie
Hi! I've been lurking for forever looking for other Americans in the Caribbean! I'm in Trinidad 

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