Immunology Level 1 uk. How did your gp go about these?

[Baylea]

Hi Ladies,

I hope a few of you will be able to share your experiences of how your gp went about Immunology Level 1 tests in the uk?

I recently turned 30, and my DH and I have been trying for a baby for 2 1/2 years. I'm devastated!

We have lost two angels in that time, and the treatment by our local NHS board regarding our first loss shocked me. I have been reluctant to go back to ask for any further help, and kept the second loss to myself. After much encouragement by two close friends, and also a telephone appointment with Zita West (who after a chat said she felt we were far too young to still be in this position, suspects we have had other early losses, and highly suspects immunology issues), I felt bolstered into approaching my gp practise.

I have to admit I told a white lie '3 mc', but I am fairly sure there have been more than that (I chart, and know my cycle well). I feel quite guilty about this, but I felt that if they would refuse a few reletively inexpensive day 3 tests despite a year of nothing happening even with perfectly timed BDing , then they wouldn't consider doing anything after 2 mc, and I couldn't handle the stress of fighting to be taken note of. At this stage I feel very worn down.

Anyway I told the gp, she said that I obviously didn't have a fertility problem, as we have conceived 3 times (shot myself in the foot there), and that my local board has a standard practise to refer to a gynea, who I will have to wait up to 3months to see, for him to get back to her to instruct her what blood tests to do, then I will have to wait to see him again for treatment. Is this standard across the uk, or just here?

So it may be 6months for me to get the tests done and any treatment to be started.....does this sound about right to you?

She also refused to redo any basic fertility tests that were done 18months ago, before any mcs, as they were fine, and wouldn't do a vit D test as it is 'irrelevant'.

I would go private, but there are two reasons I really grudge this; I just feel sick of people who have no regard for their health being taken care of, while me and DH who try our best to be healthy are left to languish. Also my hubby works away, and doesn't get paid to be at home. Having to be home to ttc during certain weeks has put a dent in our income by 25-30% over the past 2 1/2 yrs. We've both tried so hard and sacrificed so much to be in a good position to have our family, and now everything feels like it's slipping away. This is sooo frustrating!!!

Thanks for reading ladies xx

 

[Ss83]

Hi baylea. I'd absolutely ask to see another gp. Mine was so supportive after just 8 months ttc as I'd been told I have cysts during a scan for something unrelated. She got all the bloods down to check for ovulation and hormone levels, and dh sperm and then referred us straight to the fertility clinic when it showed no ovulation. I felt so lucky to have a gp so switched on.
Get yourself another appointment for a second opinion. Good luck x

 

[Baylea]

Thanks for the reply Ss83

Nice to hear there are places in the uk where fertility and mc are taken seriously by gps.

This may be an imposition, but would you mind private msging me the name of your practise? I live in the far north so I'm fairly certain it's not going to be anywhere near me, but I'm genuinely thinking of trying to move somewhere else to get help. I have tried all 3 of the full time gps in my surgery over the last 18months (it's hard to get an appointment with the same gp twice, so at least it doesn't look like I'm being flaky :-/), and the others are temp locums who do nothing without the other's say so. Unfortunately it's the only gp practise in my catchment area.
Thanks again xx

Any other ladies with Immunology level 1 experiences willing to share?

 

[bernardblack]

Hi Baylea,

It sounds awful the way you've been treated but in some ways the 6 months waiting around sounds about right considering it's the NHS

I went to my GP 9 months after starting TTC and told a porky (said we'd been trying over a year) and he sent us to a gyne' straight away. But this was after having some tests done already cause I had stupidly long cycles so I don't know whether that went in my favour.

I've not actually had any immunology testing but after having 2 losses my gp won't do any investigations unless there's a 3rd one - I don't know how to feel about that, I'd love to know what the causes were but at the same time I would rather have a baby and never know the reason for the losses if that makes sense.

With regards to your situation have you done any research into private care? I know you said about your hubby being away but you could still have it as an option. E.G get a ball park figure and then see if family\friends can help out with the funding. Or another example is something I'm considering (should I need to go private for IVF) is taking out a health care credit card. I've already decided if I go private I'm going to Care, I've had some consultations with them and trust they'll do the job. When waiting around for the appointment I discovered you can apply for a credit card through them and put your treatment expenses on it, the repayments aren't that bad either.

It absolutely sucks big time and reading the first part of your post it sounded like the exact same heartbreak as myself, come August it's 3 years trying for a baby and if I had any inkling that it would be this difficult to have a baby I would have tried years and years ago, so I know how frustrating it is for you

As a side note I've read your considering moving, apparantly Wales is the best place to be to receive decent NHS care but unfortunately there will still be delays no matter where you are. I've learnt the hardway if you choose the free way (NHS) the price to pay is one hell of a wait

For info I live in the north west of the uk.

One other idea to ponder is you could see if there are any research trials going in your area, then if you're involved they usually want to take some blood\urine samples etc.

Really hope you find some peace of mind and get some answers soon. xxx

 

[Mrs B.]

I've not had any immunology testing either...and I also got told vit D test was irrelevant. I was referred to fertility specialist at 18 months (originally went to doc at 1 year and had to wait until 18 before referral) after having 2x Day21 bloods and a sperm analysis. Fertility specialist then took Day3 bloods and sent me for an HSG (everything came back fine at this point). She then told me there was nothing more to do and to wait 6 months. I made her refer me for an ultrasound (also fine) and I am about 3 weeks away from my next appointment where she will be referring me for IVF. She has told me its IVF or wait and try naturally (never conceived in over 2 years so I don't expect anything to change any time soon!). I also would like to have some immunology tests but I will probably bring that up with the people at the IVF clinic. Can't say the doctors or the fertility specialist (mine is just a GP with an area of interest in fertility) have been bad...but they haven't been perfect either. Because I have 'nothing wrong with me', they just seem to shrug their shoulders and say well there's not a lot we can do...rather than thinking outside the box and looking into what is actually causing my problems.

Also in the North West here. Good luck, let us know how you get on!