First fertility appointment at st helier hospital, UK- what to expect?

[mk8]

Hello ladies,

So ive been trying for 14 months now and am on cycle 4 of clomid. My gp undertook some basic tests- 21 day bloods (borderline prog at 26nmol/l, highly likely I did o), dh's sperm are great 35m/ml, 51% motile, 7% morphology), I have regular 26-28 day cycles. My doc did an internal scan on me last may as I had pelvic pain but results showed everything normal- no cysts, no fibroids, normal shaped uterus and ovaries).

He's now referred me to st helier hospital, which I initially thought was for an hsg to check my tubes, so I asked him whether it needs to be at s certain point in my cycle. He said not for the first consultation. I asked what happens then- he just said they discuss what they can do for me. That's it. He told me to wait for a letter but has no idea that the waiting time is... I've also read time between appointments can be months! If anybody can shed some light in what to expect, pls do. Thank you.

 

[charbaby]

hi i had my first f/s last week, i'm in uk but different area, so i imagine what they do and the waiting list can vary significantly, but thought i would reply anyway. My f/s has put me on metformin and a 4 month waiting list for a lap n dye and also a laparoscopic ovarian diathermy (this is because i have pcos tho so you wont have to have that) then she said if this doesnt work she will try me on 6 months of chlomid. I had to have an internal scan at the appointment aswell. x

EDIT... Just noticed we have been trying to conceive same time x

 

[mk8]

Thanks charbaby. Hope metfirmin works for you! I'm surprised that they're trying clomid last though as the others seem more invasive. Best of luck!

 

[charbaby]

Yeah i was hoping for chlomid, I think it might have something to do with how many cysts i have, and they want to try get rid of them first but not to sure x

 

[jcaow]

Hey there, I've had a different route to St Helier - my GP just did day 3 & 21 blood tests, SA & ultrasound, no treatment so we knew we were getting a consultation. We were referred in November 2011 and waited 41 days for our first appt (we could book it ourselves and it tells you the exact wait, it wasn't that I was counting!). The registrar offered an HSG which she said might take 3 months but actually I had it 2 weeks later. I think it just depends on how many other people are in the queue that week. She didn't give us much information about the process or what happened after the HSG so I would be prepared to ask questions to get the most out of your appointment.

Unfortunately she also didn't have any of our original tests from the GP which prompted me to get copies for myself, which meant I then picked up some mild/borderline abnormalities that no one else had picked up. This has moved things on for us so just like being prepared to ask questions I have found it helpful to be informed about exactly what is happening.

They have open evenings - advertised on their website - which you might want to go to as the whole team is there and it gives you a bit more a feel for how they work. I liked their approach and want to stick with them. I'd be interested to hear what you think as we might be crossing in the corridors! Hope you won't have to wait too long!

 

[mk8]

Thank you Jcaow. That was really helpful. I will certainly bring a copy of my test results with me. I managed to get an appointment after I called them myself to find out how long the waiting list is. Goodness knows when I would have got an appointment otherwise.

WHat kind of abnormalities did they find? Best of luck in TTC! Hope you get that BFP soon.

 

[jcaow]

Hey, well my FSH was a little high (and my endometrium a little thin) so I had it retested along with AMH and it turns out I have the dreaded diminished ovarian reserve. Due to go back to discuss what the options are for treatment in April. Its definitely worth being a bit assertive! Glad it worked for you too! Wishing you a bfp soon too x

 

[mk8]

Thank you JC- wishing you all the best going forward. Will update you all following my appointment

 

[Sizzles]

I have my first FS appointment on Thursday (UK). I will definitely be requesting my GP test results to take along. I assume as the SA was processsed at the hospital I'm attending that they'll have access to that; I don't have a copy - we were only told 'normal' - I'd actually love to see the details to see whether I agree with the 'normal' assessment (like I'm a doctor or something! I have viewed a few though!)
When I've been I'll try to remember to post about what they said/asked etc.

 

[mk8]

Best of luck for Thurs Sizzles. You could ask your hubby to obtain a copy of his results from his GP. The hospital post it to the GP. Dont wanna waste time during the appointment for them to try to look for his results. Hope everything goes well for you.

 

[jcaow]

Hey Sizzles, I think MK is right - if you can get the results I would. My husband's results were with our hospital but they didn't have them on file. Although they found them during the appt on their system I'm not sure they really had time to review them properly in the appt or that they printed them out. Feel like I'm having a right moan but I definitely think that to get the best out of the NHS (and I work for them too!) its good to know what's going on! Good luck with your appt. Hope all goes well. x

 

[Sizzles]

Requested our test results today and should be able to collect them tomorrow. Do you know if I'm 'allowed' to open them?

The receptionist really annoyed me though. I said I had a hospital appointment later in the week and would need my test results. She said 'For January?' and I said I'd need them from January last year (when I first started having investigations.) She said "You're joking! It's Monday morning!" (Yeah, and?) She was actually ok; I didn't respond and she asked when I needed them for, so I told her "Thursday. That's why I'm ringing now - it's a few days away and I haven't been able to call up until now." I'm not being funny or anything, but it's not like I was saying I'd be there in half an hour to collect them!
Sorry! Rant over!

 

[mk8]

Sizzles- ignore the silly woman. You have the right to look at your own results, they tend to be just printouts. Hopefully you will get some answers. Keep us posted on your appointment. Happy to also share our test results so we can cross ref whatour gps said was normal or not. If you want to of course. Good luck!

 

[mk8]

Hi again

Jcaow- quick q- how long was your consultation and what did they ask you?

I was told I will have just 10 mins

 

[jcaow]

Hi MK, are you counting down the days yet?! I am - two weeks to go til my appt! Can't wait to get things moving.

As for the first appt, I don't know how long it was but definitely more than 10 minutes, and probably more like 30 but might even have been longer. I certainly didn't feel we were pushed for time and that was even after they slotted us in when there was a mix-up and we were late. I had my weight and height taken and then was interviewed by a registrar with a nurse present. The registrar went through a questionnaire which was bit (frustratingly) basic about medical history, diet, how long we'd been trying, about how regular my periods are and what they are like, what meds I was on, smoking, drinking, exercise etc etc. all pretty much standard stuff. She briefly reviewed the tests I had done already. She didn't really tell us anything new - recommended that we didn't use those ovulating predictor kits and just have regular - as if we need encouragement! - and gave us the forms for the HSG. She said that might take 3 months and then because it can increase your chances of they would see us in 6 months (I thought yeh right then read that its true!). When we got to the desk the next appt was 7 months so I was a bit disheartened by the wait. After I had my HSG (which took 2 weeks) I rang a few times for cancellations and was eventually offered an appt in March so 2 months after the HSG. I had the HSG (I'm thinking I might just tell you everything! I hope that helps ) and the doctor that did it gave me feedback straight away but also the report went to my GP surgery so they also gave me the results rather than wait for the appt.

Its definitely a bit frustrating waiting now but otherwise its not as been as bad I thought it might be! Are you just hoping for the HSG or are you hoping for a bit more out of the first appt? I think I saw on another forum that you have ?low progesterone is that right? They'll probably ask you to repeat that which would make sense - confirm either way. Hope you're not not hating waiting as much as me! x

 

[jcaow]

I just re-read your Q and I can't believe they told you that you'll just have 10 mins, that seems crazy.

 

[jcaow]

And was thinking - can't sleep so brain in overdrive - that 10 mins doesn't make any sense for an initial consultation anywhere in the NHS - 30 mins is more like it and I'm wondering if in practice that's what you'll get. On the otherhand, if they had given me the questionnaire to complete beforehand and had all my test results to hand they could have done my appt in 10 minutes. If its just to sort out what test you need that's do-able.

 

[mk8]

Hi JC! Thanks for your responses. The lady I spoke to when I booked the appt said its 10 mins and when I yelped '10 mins?!?!?' she did say 'oh don't worry, if you go over to 15 mins that's ok. But anyway, good to know what they will ask/do. I am going to be armed with my test results and qs I have. Priority is to push for an hsg. I will ask about the spotting though. I just hope that whatever happens, I'm able to get my bfp soon!

What do you think your next stage is?

 

[Sizzles]

Hiya,

Just popping in to update you on my FS appointment today. Mine was 30 mins long, but I felt no pressure to leave at that point and nobody had given any indication as to how long it would be. However, it wasn't with a doctor, it was with the 'sister in charge of fertility'?!?! I was rather surprised!

Another nurse weighed and measured me first. Then the sister and some other nurse from 'early pregnancy' (not sure why she was there - professional development maybe?) looked through all the test results I'd taken; they seemed very pleased I'd taken those with me though as they said it takes them ages to track them down otherwise (and I kind of got the impression they would just do their own). However, they said my surgery hadn't done as comprehensive a testing as they would, so they still want me to have cd2 and 21 bloods done again. They also said someone would contact me to arrange an ultrasound scan. Next appointment won't be for 4-6 months, when they'll talk through the findings and assuming all is well, refer me for IVF. No mention of HSG or Lap and dye or any of those tests I was expecting.

On the plus side, she said all my test results and medical history (she asked if I was in 'good health' - it didn't extend further than that really!) were good, so there was every chance I'd fall pg in the meantime. Hmmm, it's been 2 years, so why would it happen now? She also 'advised' I stop charting.

So that's where I'm at. Oh, and OH has to do another SA: his first was good, but they always have 2 samples just to be sure apparently.

 

[mk8]

Hi Sizzles, glad to hear that your appointment went well. Fingers crossed with all the tests.

So you are to do the scan and the blood work then wait around 4 months ish to talk through what they found? Can you not revert back to your GP for an indication first? I am surprised about bypassing the hsg and going straight to IVF referral. Do you know if there is an option to be seen quicker if you pay?