IVF/ICSI waiting lists at RFC, Belfast

[jojoD]

No, you don't sound like a bad friend ... you just want to have a baby. I know that feeling only too well unfortunately.

The nicest consultant I have had is in Origin. Dr Sami Farrag. He used to work in RFC, and is really really nice. I just wish I could bring him along to the Royal for my NHS cycle as I don't have as much faith in the consultant I saw last at the Royal. But who knows - maybe it will work...

Think I will go ahead and get referral to Origin. Spoke to the embrologist on the phone today and he was lovely. Forgot to ask him do you attend the clinic during pregnancy or is that separate, any ideas? (Prob shouldn't think that far ahead but trying ti be positive) X

Consultant I saw also works in Royal. Hub and I really liked him, fingers crossed that's who you'll get

 

[maz]

It sounds as though you were speaking to Jim. He's okay - not very good at dealing with emotional women though. But the nurses are fantastic with that. I don't think Origin have any pregnancy clinics ... or whatever they're called. Once you get your positive result and have the heartbeat confirmed at 7 weeks, you're then discharged into the care of your GP.

Good luck with Origin. It is a much nicer environment than the Royal, which is probably why I'm not looking forward to going there. Fingers crossed you only need one go...

 

[DeDa]

Hello

Just found this site and it really nice to be able to talk to people who are going through the same things.
My husband and I have been trying to conceive for over 3 years now and through problems on both sides have now been referred to RVH for IVF.
We have our first appointment in a few weeks time. Can anyone tell us what to expect from the 1st appointment?

 

[maz]

Hi DeDa

Have you been referred to the RFC directly from your GP or have you been to a different hospital for investigations and they're now referring you to the RFC?

The reason I ask is that I had my initial investigations done at Dundonald and then after they did all they could I was referred to the RFC. For us, we were referred to Dundonald in October 2007, had all our investigations done, were then referred to the RVH, and were confirmed as being on the IVF waiting list in June 2008. We're still waiting for our IVF treatment slot but that's the NHS for you.

It will depend very much on what investigations have been / need to be done, for what will happen at your first appointment. Hopefully it will be productive though.

Good luck - oh, and welcome to BnB.

 

[cara trace]

TTC feels like for ever

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello ladies,

Newbie here, just found this site, what a relief to be able to talk about the frustration of not being able to conceive, my story is a bit long winded so I'll try and keep it short, have been trying for 4 years, seen my gp early 06, referred to rfc waiting list got letter july 33 weeks, in mean time went private lisburn rd, got apt oct had bloods done my cycle is between 30 an 44 days, so referred to get ct scan done, apt nhs jan 07 DH to get sem test , ct scan done mar waited no response of results or test, emailed , phoned finally in aug got talking to someone, they had mislead my notes, ct scan showed i needed to get a mri scan done, plus it said my dh had the sem test done when he didnt, any way got results back normal put on clomid 4 6 months in jan 08 usual scans done day 11 -14 had msg scan done mar oh my god painful, results normal great, apt my consultant in may 08 a week before, peroid due so I did a pregnancy test positve, so to be sure I did 1 every day 6 in total all positive cudnt believe it, day before apt bleeding did test negative cons said it happens alot that women dont no they are because they can only be a few days late and dont do test, because i did all the tests i must have been for a very short time. He put me on the waiting list for ivf oct 08both nhs and private as i have unexplained infertility. would lov to here from any of you girls who r on the waiting list. Phoned apr and july told 0ct - dec this year 4 both nhs and private will hold out 4 nhs as cant really afford to go private, i feel as if im holding my breath no one really understands, all my friends have kids and i cant bore them all the time with how i feel.

Thats it for now, sorry it was abit long but glad to get it of my chest.

I introduced myself on the other forum, but wud lov to hear your views as we are all attending clinic's in northern ireland.

LOL Cara Trace

 

[maz]

Hi cara

Welcome to BnB. I was put onto the NHS and self-funded lists for the RFC back in June 08, we got our letter to say we reached the top of the list approx 5 weeks ago. We are due to start with my October period. You will most likely receive your letter around December time. My friend was put onto the waiting lists back in October 08 as well, and she's guessing around December for her to reach the top of the list. Hopefully the remainder of your wait will go in quickly.

xx

 

[cara trace]

Hi Maz,

A big thanks for the welcome, thanks for letting me no about your friend Im hoping it is this year but after reading your posts I dont want to get my hopes up as I no what the RFC is like, Im so so sorry it hasen't yet worked for you, I cant imagine what its been like, I no how I feel and havent even went down that road yet, all I can say is I hope and pray its 3rd time lucky for you.

Keep me posted on your journey. BEST OF LUCK

LOL CARA TRACE

Bye for now: friends:

 

[cara trace]

Hi girls,


Haven't be on this site for a while or done many posts just wanted to say a big hello to everyone. Just noticed maz you are going for ec tomorrow, i wish you the very best of luck, and i hope and it all goes well for you. I have started to DR since thursday, on sunday lost a bit of blood also very tender breasts, thought it was my peroid coming early, day 24 but very soon if it was, but bleeding has sort of stopped today, dont no if this is normal with taking the nasal spray, would love any advice, im starting gonal f on the 3rd of Dec i have never wished for anything more in my life except to be a mother, im sure all you girls feel the same. Trying to stay positive about it all as it would drive you mad thinking, if it didnt work.

BYE FOR NOW Cara Tace

 

[maz]

Thanks cara for your wishes for tomorrow. i'm raring to go tbh - i want these eggs out of me as I'm feeling quite uncomfortable today - not sore but definitely uncomfortable.

i didn't have any early bleeding from down regging but then I was on the injections instead of the nasal spray, so i dont' know if it's normal for what you're taking.

Good luck for 3 december ... i hope all goes really well.

 

[cara trace]

Hi Maz,

A Big congratulations that everything went well , hopefully your next thead will be to say you have a i will keep everything crossed for you. I start my injections thurs hopefully i can do them myself lots of threads from other girls say, its not that bad once you get the first one done. Take Good Care of yourself.

Bye for now :wave: Cara Trace

 

[maz]

The injections really aren't that bad. The needle is very fine and you barely feel it. It gets to be a bit of a drag toward the end, but that's more to do with wanting to get on with things than it being sore. Good luck with your injections - I'm sure it will be fine. When's your EC booked for?

 

[cara trace]

Hi Maz

My EC is booked for the 15th. When i had my apt with the nurse my sister in law came with me and of course the nurse explains the whole procedure of ivf, both of us thought that she said that the embryologists (not sure of spelling) would do icsi instead of ivf if they thought thats what needed to be done, as this is my first free attempt i thought you r only offered ivf, as i know icsi is alot more expensive have you heard of any body getting icsi done first? my sister in laws first attempt at ivf failed so they did icsi the second time and it worked, it is suppose to be more successful. Had to phone nurse today if i had no peroid as she said the schudule they gave me could change, but it came yesterday, cant wait till next tuesday to see the first scan to see that the spray and injections are doing what there suppose to. have to be there at 8.00 have early start to beat the traffic. God the next 2 weeks for you must be very nerve wrecking but exciting too, as always i wish you the very best of luck that everything is going to be fine and that a little is on its way. take care


Cara trace

 

[xJRx]

Hi im new on this site. just a quick question regarding previous posts. iv been to rfc for intial app in oct 09 hubbi has sa next wk. i see tht some of you went private to get results how did you do this? i really dont want to have to wait months to just get flipping results. any help would be appreciated

Thanks
Jr

 

[darcys]

Hi JR, welcome,
I thankfully didnt need to go private for treatment, had just been placed on ivf waiting list at royal and got pregnant.
I did however have alot of tests and things done at The belfast Clinic, through nhs, under Prof McClure and D Hunter.
Im not sure but i think you can try it for private treatment, it is on the lisburn road, and also Origins in Belfast , google them and see if this helps you, im sure some of the other girls will give you better advice, everyone is very helpful here, and it wont be long until you have your answer
Hope this helps you a little bit,
take care, xx
Darcy

 

[joleen22]

Hi im new to this site

I am going to start IVF soon at the royal in belfast its my first app.
thanks
Joleen

 

[Irish_eyes]

Hello, just wanted to see if this thread is still active.
Desperately need advise and support from NI girls regarding IVF.

xxx

 

[TessaT]

Hi I am new to this site and also wondering if this thread is still active? I have been ttc for 2 years now and on the (very long) waiting list for the RFC and attending Origin privately. Starting short protocol with Origin for ICSI next week and nervous as dont know what to expect. Any advice would be great!!

 

[Happymumto2]

Hi Steph

Thanks for that info. I have emailed the RFC to find out how much longer we'll have to wait, but so far the feckers haven't got back to me. I did get a letter a few weeks ago, to say that due to staff shortages, and extra funding from the NI Assembly, the self-funded waiting list has come to a standstill and they are concentrating on the NHS slots. My acupuncturist told me last week that they have the nurses, they have the specialists, but they don't have enough embryologists - hmmm - kind of an important link in the chain don't you think??? I'm going to try and sit down this weekend and write a letter to my MP - don't think it'll do much good, but it'll make me feel better.

I hate the Royal, and just hope that I don't have to worry about going there. It's so impersonal, and it's ridiculous that you have to walk through the maternity waiting room to get to the infertility centre... Talk about kicking you when you're down...

Did you have your preliminary tests done at the Royal or did you go to Dundonald? I live in East Antrim, but decided to go to Dundonald for tests, as it's a much nicer hospital than Antrim or the Royal - it's also where i hope to go for delivery (fingers crossed, at the end of this year).

I see from your sig that you're on tamoxifen - isn't that the cancer drug?

I had an ovulation induction at the royal which worked extremly quick. worked so well the first time i had to cancel. was only on injections for 3 weeks then when i restarted ijections i was on them for 4 and preg My little boy is now nearly 2 in January.

I strongly recommend Professor Neil McClure from RFC or DR Traub. The royal has changed now with a separate entrance into the RFC and the maturnity. I understand how upsetting this may have been but i guess there are goods sides to it being in the same place for those who are private and concerned about who knows where your going.

Cant wait to start my second OI in RFC. pROFESSOR MCCLURE REPLYS TO EMAILS EVEN WHEN HES ON SICK LEAVE AS HE DONE WITH ME TODAY

 

[Irish_eyes]

The RFC has now been moved to the Grove Wellbeing Centre on York Road.

 

[threebirds]

Hi ladies, good to see this thread coming up. We have our first consultation at Origin this wk. Have had various blood wrk done up to this point but this wk is AMH for me & SA for him. Then back to Origin when they for the results for a chat about where we go from here...
Good luck to you all. Hope we see bfps in here really soon! x