Anyone attending ACU ninewells hospital Dundee??

[wishingalways]

Hi, Ladies hope you dont mind me jumping in. I am currently at Kirkcaldy victoria hospital and am pushing for an appointment to dundee. I have been told Ive just to wait for partners blood work to come back then doctor will write to me and then refer me on it seems to be taking too long. We have went through blood tests, checking tubes (right one blocked) and sperm tests will Dundee just repeat these tests all over again once we get referred.

Hi, i live in cowdenbeath so went to kirkcaldy once i had been referred from my GP. The one thing i would say about kirkcaldy is that they are very slow about sending out letters for appointments etc.

We took a three year break from visiting the clinic whilst i was studying my nursing degree and in June went back to the gp to say we wanted to pick it up again, so she referred us back to kirkcaldy i got an appointment for July 5th i think and the doctor was really nice spent time going over all the test results from 3 years before, said my DH sperm test was so good that he didnt even want to do it again. He said the only thing i had not done was go for a scan of my ovaries so he said an appointment would be out in the post and then an appointment to go over the results would happen and then he could refer us onto dundee.

Well 6 weeks went by and no letter so i phoned the scanning department to see if was even on the waiting list as i thought they had forgotten about me. She said i was but the wait was really long unless i wanted to go to St andrews as they had opened 2 slots because of the back log. I jumped at the chance and went up there 2 weeks later. After the scan which the sonographer said was all ok nothing to see, she said that kirkcaldy would have the results by the end of the week.

I left it two weeks because i know what there like and apparently no results yet. I phoned back a week later for them to say that the file had been looked at but that they werent sure what was happening next. I explaine my scan was fine and was just waiting for an appointment so the consultant could refer us to dundee. She finally said well you dont need to come in i can just pull your notes again, get the doctor to look at them and then refer you to dundee. I thought great, perfect finally.

Well after about 7 more phone calls and nearly 3 months i finally got them to write the freckin letter. The fustrating thing was as soon as dundee got the letter we had an appointment for jan 12th, that was 6 weeks ago and its nearly time for our first appointment.

The morale of the story is keep chasing them, every week and if you know everything is ok get them to just refer you because you will wait 6 weeks at least for an appointment and then it takes another 6-8 weeks for them to write the letter.

Good luck and definately keep in touch. xxx

 

[wishingalways]

Hi ladies,

Just wanted to say hello and wish you all the best for your treatment coming up. As the name suggests I'm a Fifer although I live in Edinburgh now. I'm self funding at spire in Edinburgh, we unfortunately failed our first ICSI in December but getting ready emotionally for our second go probably in March/April time.

Never thought I would have to go through this journey but it certainly helps having a forum like this to turn to.

Fifer x

Hi great to talk to a fellow fifer, we thought about going to spires but the travelling across the bridge and then up that bypass was far too much. I used to live in edinburgh and hate traffic at the best of times. LOl

I hope everything goes well second time around. My fingers are crossed for you. xxxx

 

[Minno]

Girls, I am from Edinburgh but now live in Fife Wow, there's a lot of us isn't there. We looked into Spire and in the end went for consult with Glasgow and Manchester too. We're on three lists for ed ivf but Dundee would be the best option for us cost-wise and location. I am desperately hoping the new HEFA regulations to pay women for ed up to £750 will encourage more women to come forward.
I went to Kirkcaldy too and had to chivvy them along. We hardly waited at all for our appt at Dundee and since then its all been plain sailing - except the minor matter of 12-18 months current wait list even for self-funders like us! In the meantime I am trying acupuncture and vits and attending the natural fertility centre in Edinburgh. Anyone ever been or tried acupuncture? Also taking coq10 (or I will be when they arrive from amazon lol)
xxxx

 

[girlydreamer]

Hi, Ladies hope you dont mind me jumping in. I am currently at Kirkcaldy victoria hospital and am pushing for an appointment to dundee. I have been told Ive just to wait for partners blood work to come back then doctor will write to me and then refer me on it seems to be taking too long. We have went through blood tests, checking tubes (right one blocked) and sperm tests will Dundee just repeat these tests all over again once we get referred.

Hi, i live in cowdenbeath so went to kirkcaldy once i had been referred from my GP. The one thing i would say about kirkcaldy is that they are very slow about sending out letters for appointments etc.

We took a three year break from visiting the clinic whilst i was studying my nursing degree and in June went back to the gp to say we wanted to pick it up again, so she referred us back to kirkcaldy i got an appointment for July 5th i think and the doctor was really nice spent time going over all the test results from 3 years before, said my DH sperm test was so good that he didnt even want to do it again. He said the only thing i had not done was go for a scan of my ovaries so he said an appointment would be out in the post and then an appointment to go over the results would happen and then he could refer us onto dundee.

Well 6 weeks went by and no letter so i phoned the scanning department to see if was even on the waiting list as i thought they had forgotten about me. She said i was but the wait was really long unless i wanted to go to St andrews as they had opened 2 slots because of the back log. I jumped at the chance and went up there 2 weeks later. After the scan which the sonographer said was all ok nothing to see, she said that kirkcaldy would have the results by the end of the week.

I left it two weeks because i know what there like and apparently no results yet. I phoned back a week later for them to say that the file had been looked at but that they werent sure what was happening next. I explaine my scan was fine and was just waiting for an appointment so the consultant could refer us to dundee. She finally said well you dont need to come in i can just pull your notes again, get the doctor to look at them and then refer you to dundee. I thought great, perfect finally.

Well after about 7 more phone calls and nearly 3 months i finally got them to write the freckin letter. The fustrating thing was as soon as dundee got the letter we had an appointment for jan 12th, that was 6 weeks ago and its nearly time for our first appointment.

The morale of the story is keep chasing them, every week and if you know everything is ok get them to just refer you because you will wait 6 weeks at least for an appointment and then it takes another 6-8 weeks for them to write the letter.

Good luck and definately keep in touch. xxx

Thank You so much for the heads up i phoned today to chase what was happening and was told they are waiting to write the letter this is also the 4th time ive phoned and just being fobbed off by margaret and maureen seath. Its great to find someone who's been through it at same hospital i hope everything goes well for you at first appointment

 

[Wallie]

That's definitely what I've found and as I said before you have to chase everything along as nothing really happens unless you do!

Minno why is there such a long wait for self funding? We haven't had to wait on anything like that. Maybe 8 weeks at the most...

 

[wishingalways]

Girls, I am from Edinburgh but now live in Fife Wow, there's a lot of us isn't there. We looked into Spire and in the end went for consult with Glasgow and Manchester too. We're on three lists for ed ivf but Dundee would be the best option for us cost-wise and location. I am desperately hoping the new HEFA regulations to pay women for ed up to £750 will encourage more women to come forward.
I went to Kirkcaldy too and had to chivvy them along. We hardly waited at all for our appt at Dundee and since then its all been plain sailing - except the minor matter of 12-18 months current wait list even for self-funders like us! In the meantime I am trying acupuncture and vits and attending the natural fertility centre in Edinburgh. Anyone ever been or tried acupuncture? Also taking coq10 (or I will be when they arrive from amazon lol)
xxxx

Minno may I ask how old you are, im 32 and my dh is 31, I was tempted to try soy but decided to wait since appointment was close, I did however start accupuncture about 3 months ago and although it takes time the changes I have experienced is amazing. I used to have to take really strong painkillers the first two days of my cycle for stomach cramps and now I am pain free, also had bloatingand really sore boobs from ovulation to start of my periods..... totally gone as well so I would def say give it a try. I have bad circulation and it has become apparent I may have low progesterone levels. She is focusing on fixing my periods and then moving onto conceiving. X

 

[Wallie]

I'd definitely recomment acupuncture too. I've been going since January 2010 but had a break since August 2011 until now and I've suffered extremely these last two cycles with tender breasts and bloating and I haven't had that in years, so it definitely makes a difference. Just waiting on my therapist to come back from a months hols and start again before I start stimming on this attempt.

I go to a woman in Perth and she is Zita West affiliated. Do all you gals go to Acupuncturists who are fertility trained?

 

[wishingalways]

I'd definitely recomment acupuncture too. I've been going since January 2010 but had a break since August 2011 until now and I've suffered extremely these last two cycles with tender breasts and bloating and I haven't had that in years, so it definitely makes a difference. Just waiting on my therapist to come back from a months hols and start again before I start stimming on this attempt.

I go to a woman in Perth and she is Zita West affiliated. Do all you gals go to Acupuncturists who are fertility trained?

Its a small world, I go to maggie too, cant wait till she gets back, my next appointment isnt till beginning of feb. X

 

[Fifer77]

Minno, 12-18 months for self funding is awful! I think I had to wait a month to get started at Spire! I do agree about the by-pass though, it's a nightmare at times! I have to say though I really like the people at spire, the nurses are lovely and our consultant (Dr Thong) was professional but personable too. Just a pity it didn't work....

I've thought about acupuncture at times too, just never gotten round to getting started. I'm not great at getting going with things, appointments, booking stuff, etc.. Fine if someone does it for me though!

We've got our follow up appoint on the 20th of this month so hopefully we should have a plan for our second cycle. Wasn't a great success in any area tbh - only 9 eggs collected (they tell me I have pco as well!!) with 4 mature and 2 fertilised. Had a day 2 transfer as we were terrified they wouldn't survive. Got a beta of 15.2 so something tried to happen I guess, just failed at the final hurdle. Oh well, next cycle will be the one!

Fifer x

 

[wishingalways]

Minno, 12-18 months for self funding is awful! I think I had to wait a month to get started at Spire! I do agree about the by-pass though, it's a nightmare at times! I have to say though I really like the people at spire, the nurses are lovely and our consultant (Dr Thong) was professional but personable too. Just a pity it didn't work....

I've thought about acupuncture at times too, just never gotten round to getting started. I'm not great at getting going with things, appointments, booking stuff, etc.. Fine if someone does it for me though!

We've got our follow up appoint on the 20th of this month so hopefully we should have a plan for our second cycle. Wasn't a great success in any area tbh - only 9 eggs collected (they tell me I have pco as well!!) with 4 mature and 2 fertilised. Had a day 2 transfer as we were terrified they wouldn't survive. Got a beta of 15.2 so something tried to happen I guess, just failed at the final hurdle. Oh well, next cycle will be the one!

Fifer x

I have read that it often takes the first try to fine tune the treatment if you like so fingers crossed this time will be the one. X

 

[Minno]

Hi girls. The wait is because we are going for egg donation ivf as recipients, so we have to wait for donors to come forward and there is a national
Shortage even for private patients. I take it all of you are going for ivf using ur own eggs? Wishingwell, I am 42 and Amh is low so we felt egg donation would give us our best shot at having another lo as success rates are 55% compared
To about 14% using my own eggs. If I had unlimited time and money I would give normal ivf a try but no such luck
Fifer, i think that only spire in london participate in the egg share programme.
Xx

 

[Wallie]

I'd definitely recomment acupuncture too. I've been going since January 2010 but had a break since August 2011 until now and I've suffered extremely these last two cycles with tender breasts and bloating and I haven't had that in years, so it definitely makes a difference. Just waiting on my therapist to come back from a months hols and start again before I start stimming on this attempt.

I go to a woman in Perth and she is Zita West affiliated. Do all you gals go to Acupuncturists who are fertility trained?

Its a small world, I go to maggie too, cant wait till she gets back, my next appointment isnt till beginning of feb. X

Ahh, small world eh! She is good at what she does. Can't wait til she comes back too, I do miss my treatments.

 

[WoodvilleGirl]

Hi girls, I've been offline for a couple of days but great to come back and read everyone's responses and see there's quite a few of us on here. I too am originally from Edinburgh and only moved to Angus to live with my DH and have now become a real country girl, who also hates the Edinburgh traffic!

Went to the information evening at Ninewells tonight and was glad I did (even although I was was the only one on my own as DH couldn't be there). Certainly learnt more about what to expect and also saw some of the different personalities in the team. We saw Dr Metwally at our appointment but it was Dr Kini that took part tonight and I agree that he wasn't the easiest to understand.

Definitely going to speak with the Glasgow clinic (GCRM I think) and have a look at success rates. Trying to work out whether the inconvenience of travelling outweighs the better past success rates. Anyone got any thoughts?

The guy who does my acupuncture is in Dundee and has an interest in fertility issues. He is also an osteopath and naturopath, so get a little bit of everything at my appts.

Wishing everyone lots of luck xx

 

[Fifer77]

Im pretty sure that GCRM have a satellite clinic in Colinton (Edi traffic!) so you only go to Glasgow for EC and ET. I did a quick google to see where I read that and it was on fertility friends (does this mean obsessively read anything related to fertility?!?!). If our next cycle at Spire doesn't work we have spoken about trying somewhere else although I really hope it doesn't come to that. Pricewise Im sure they are cheaper than spire.

Well I'm patiently sitting in the car on the bypass at the moment, you can certainly tell when the schools are back!

Have a good day ladies!

Fifer x

 

[Wallie]

Hi girls, I've been offline for a couple of days but great to come back and read everyone's responses and see there's quite a few of us on here. I too am originally from Edinburgh and only moved to Angus to live with my DH and have now become a real country girl, who also hates the Edinburgh traffic!

Went to the information evening at Ninewells tonight and was glad I did (even although I was was the only one on my own as DH couldn't be there). Certainly learnt more about what to expect and also saw some of the different personalities in the team. We saw Dr Metwally at our appointment but it was Dr Kini that took part tonight and I agree that he wasn't the easiest to understand.

Definitely going to speak with the Glasgow clinic (GCRM I think) and have a look at success rates. Trying to work out whether the inconvenience of travelling outweighs the better past success rates. Anyone got any thoughts?

The guy who does my acupuncture is in Dundee and has an interest in fertility issues. He is also an osteopath and naturopath, so get a little bit of everything at my appts.

Wishing everyone lots of luck xx

WVG, yes Dr Kini is difficult to understand!

I had thought of GCRM but it is more expensive and adding the travelling as well, it just wasn't an option for me at the time. Now I am positive this is going to work this time, but if needs must I may reconsider GCRM. There's no point doing 3 times at one clinic and it doesn't work, it may be best for me to try somewhere else.

 

[WoodvilleGirl]

Thanks Fifer and Wallie - contacted GCRM today and had a chat with them.

They do have a satellite clinic in Edinburgh, which you can go to for certain appts. They would also combine the first 2 or 3 appts into 1 if that suited better, though the girl said it does make it a very long day if you combine the first 3. She's sending me out the brochure so we can have a look - we're off on holiday on Saturday for two weeks, so it'll give us some time to think about it.

Good luck for tomorrow WishingAlways - hope your appt goes well. Let us know how you get on.

xx

p.s. Fifer - hope you weren't stuck on the bypass for too long!!

 

[wishingalways]

Hi ladies,

Well had my very longed for appointment at ninewells yesterday and to be honest am feeling a bit deflated. We waited an hour after our appointment time to get seen because they were running late but being so excited to be there it didnt matter. Saw the doctor who didnt do much but take another history and then got passed to the nurse to explain everything. Got bloods taken to test AMH ( egg reserves) so they can work out what dose of drugs to put you on, but were then told cant really do any more till the results come back and they take 4 weeks to process, however there is a problem with the machine so may take a bit longer as we have a back log and also the bloods dont get sent today but in batches.

SO basically it could be another two months before we even get a start date. Just been fobbed of for another 2 months... gutted to say the least so looks like wont be starting now till probably may.... its ridicolous especially when we are self funding.

Anyway rant and crying over, suppose just have to get on with the diet and get myself nice and healthy for the process. xxx


They did give us a good idea of when scans are needed and the process basically goes like this:

Once the AMH result are obtained we will be sent an invoice, then once thats paid we will be sent a nasal spray. I then have to phone them when i start my next period and then wait till day 21 when i will start taking my nasal spray. That shuts down your system like a menopause. I should have a bleed around day 28 of my cycle as usual and then on after 3 weeks of the spray will go for my baseline scan. At the baseline scan they are checking for a thin linning which will be the case if i have had a bleed. If i havent had a bleed then they have to give you a drug to start a bleed, it doesnt affect the outcome but just delays the process further. If the linning is nice and thin at the baseline scan then the injections will start that week. After a week go back for another scan and they will decide when the egg collection will be may after another 3 days maybe 5 depends on the person. Egg collection is done under a general anaesthetic and on the same day a sperm sample is given. The eggs and sperm are put together and left for between 3 and 5 days. we asked about doing IVF compared to ICSI and they said as long as there are over 100,000 sperm in a sample they would do IVF ( baring in mind a good sample should have millions) If however there is less than 100,000 they would do ICSI but nothing is set in stone so they can decide on the day if you want. Egg transfer gets done and they dont tell you to rest or do anything specific just carry on your day to day life as normal.. YOu get a progesterone gel which you have to insert during the TWW and then a pregnancy test is done on day 14 after Egg transfer.

Well thats about all i can remember so hope that spiel helps you guys that are waiting and wondering what will happen first time round.

Well its friday and my pizza sounds done so i will be loving you and leaving you for now. xxxx

 

[Wallie]

That's a good recollection, I can't imagine how you managed to take all that in.

It made me think too. When we first went for our first go I had an appt 28th October, I remember as it was just after my birthday and they took a load more blood for tests too and the AMH one was the one that mucked it all up too. I remember about the batch thing. So that's what held mine up initially and then of course it was Christmas!

They don't get me to do a HPT until 19 days after EC but I suppose that depends if its a 2, 3 or 5 day transfer I suppose.

Oh, nearly forgot. We thought due to OH's sperm antibodies it would be a certain ICSI first go, but seemingly his sample on the day was good so they just did convential IVF. Next day none had fertilized! Nightmare!!! As a matter of course they leave the eggs and sperm a further 24 hours to see how they go and we got one that fertilized. So 6 eggs collected, only 3 mature and we only got one fertilized. That was put back day 2. BFN.

Second go was 12 eggs collected, they did ICSI on 9, 8 fertilized and we got 2 grade A's put back on day 3. None good enough to freeze. BFN again.

Every time I go to Ninewells now I never get my hopes up for a smooth appt or expect to hear good news. It does my head in but nearly everytime until I changed my mindset, I was disappointed. It now works for me. Things don't always go to plan, so you have to plan for the worst outcome!

 

[wishingalways]

That's a good recollection, I can't imagine how you managed to take all that in.

It made me think too. When we first went for our first go I had an appt 28th October, I remember as it was just after my birthday and they took a load more blood for tests too and the AMH one was the one that mucked it all up too. I remember about the batch thing. So that's what held mine up initially and then of course it was Christmas!

They don't get me to do a HPT until 19 days after EC but I suppose that depends if its a 2, 3 or 5 day transfer I suppose.

Oh, nearly forgot. We thought due to OH's sperm antibodies it would be a certain ICSI first go, but seemingly his sample on the day was good so they just did convential IVF. Next day none had fertilized! Nightmare!!! As a matter of course they leave the eggs and sperm a further 24 hours to see how they go and we got one that fertilized. So 6 eggs collected, only 3 mature and we only got one fertilized. That was put back day 2. BFN.

Second go was 12 eggs collected, they did ICSI on 9, 8 fertilized and we got 2 grade A's put back on day 3. None good enough to freeze. BFN again.

Every time I go to Ninewells now I never get my hopes up for a smooth appt or expect to hear good news. It does my head in but nearly everytime until I changed my mindset, I was disappointed. It now works for me. Things don't always go to plan, so you have to plan for the worst outcome!

Omg 3rd feb not long now, I really hope this works for you this time, and hopefully I wont be long behind. x x

 

[Fifer77]

Hi ladies, how are we all?

Wishingalways, i know what you mean about the waiting. You think you are finally there and bam another wait! The AMH does take a while to come back, I think we had a 3 week wait on our results. So at least you know that you are going to do long protocol, I had short due to PCO. Thankfully my AMH level was good but didnt help with the overall number I managed to pop out!

Wallie, really is getting close to getting started again. I know what you mean about not getting your hopes up. I was totally convinced it was going to work the first time, this time coming up i know the reality of our situation. I have my follow up on the 20th so we should be able to figure out our treatment plan and timings. I'm nervous to go again but if I don't do it we can't have a baby so the fear I feel will just have to be swallowed.

Fifer x