Quick Question re FS Referral

[rachelle1975]

Morning lovely ladies

Just a quickie....

.... How long did it take you to hear back from the clinic after your GP referred you to them for fertility issues?

I was thinking it might take 3 weeks and then prob another 4-6 weeks after that for an appt - but just wondering!!

 

[maz]

Morning hun!!!

I was referred by my GP in October 2007 and had my first appt at the hospital on 10 December. I think your first appt will come very quickly as the hospital has then met their waiting list target ... What happens after that though is the real lottery.

I've just spotted your siggy. Are you going for investigations or have you had them done already?

 

[rachelle1975]

Morning hun!!!

I was referred by my GP in October 2007 and had my first appt at the hospital on 10 December. I think your first appt will come very quickly as the hospital has then met their waiting list target ... What happens after that though is the real lottery.

I've just spotted your siggy. Are you going for investigations or have you had them done already?

Morning Chick!

That's pretty speedy for the first appt - were they helpful?

Had some investigations done already on the NHS - I have had my bloods done and all is okay. DH has had 2 SA's with no improvement but he has 1 million lovely sperm all waiting for a hot date with my eggs .... so referral for IVF due to the low count (not suitable for IUI).

What have they done for you over the past 10 months?

P.s. love your ticker - i am also on a Christmas Countdown!!!

 

[Mrs R]

Hi rachelle,

I was referred by my G.P almost 3 weeks ago and I rang the hospital yesterday to make sure they have received my referral but we're not even on the system yet!!!!

I've had the same tests done as you but it seems like Im in for a looooooooooong wait. Was told the waiting list is approx 10-13 weeks for an initial consultation but Im 3 weeks in and consultant hasn't even read my referral yet!

 

[rachelle1975]

Hey Mrs R

So sorry for your wait - i got told by our GP that NHS guildlines stipulate 18 weeks max wait to start treatment but that this was different for IVF/Fertility! So who knows! If i can get the first appt before end of this year i'll be happy. Fingers crossed for the both of us x

 

[DaisyDuke]

Well round by us there is a new referal system. My GP refered me and gave me a print out, 5 minutes later i phoned them to book, i hope round by u they have the same system. XXX

 

[rachelle1975]

Well round by us there is a new referal system. My GP refered me and gave me a print out, 5 minutes later i phoned them to book, i hope round by u they have the same system. XXX

Hey Daisy - have you got a new appt yet?
I live in greater London so i have to wait for the clinic to get in touch. I don't mind waiting a bit for the appt - just so long as they write to me to say they have got my info!


Does anyone know at what point you get put on the waiting list for IVF? would it be at the first appt?xx

 

[DaisyDuke]

I see his nurse specialist on Monday, my friend is a dr and he says she may well be able to prescribe, and if she is a specialist nurse then that is all she does, so she really hould know her stuff. I just hope it goes ok, and it wont be to long till be see the specialist himself. To be honest babe i have lost a lot of my fight. XXX

 

[rachelle1975]

I see his nurse specialist on Monday, my friend is a dr and he says she may well be able to prescribe, and if she is a specialist nurse then that is all she does, so she really hould know her stuff. I just hope it goes ok, and it wont be to long till be see the specialist himself. To be honest babe i have lost a lot of my fight. XXX

Ah hun don't lose it - just think how fab next year could be for you. Swollen ankles, piles and a screaming baby at the end of it!

I'm sure Monday will be fab - if they are prescribing you some drugs you could be good to go by Christmas.

Chin up hun

 

[maz]

Hi Hun

When my GP referred me, she sent Day 21 blood results, and results from DHs SA. On December 10th, I went to see the consultant for the first time and I had an internal scan and chlamydia swabs done. After the Q&A session, I was told to phone back on CD1 to book in for my HSG. I had that done on January 2nd.

I then went back for my review in March, and at that stage we were told we have unexplained infertility, I was given a prescription for clomid and referred on to the hospital that does IVF in Northern Ireland. I went there on 17th April, where the consultant told me to stop clomid and organised a CD3 blood test. Had that done in early May and DH had to have another SA done too.

We paid to have our review appt in June which is just as well as we would have been going at the end of this month otherwise. We were put on the waiting lists for IVF as of 9th June, and currently have to wait until approx March for unfunded treatment and approx September 09 for NHS.

I hope that makes sense. I don't know whether each part of the UK is different, but try not to get your hopes up that you'll be put straight on the IVF waiting list - just in case!!

 

[maz]

Mrs R - don't worry too much - when I got my appointment letter it only gave me about 4 weeks notice, so there's plenty of time yet. And I think, until you're actually on the waiting list, the admin side aren't really able to 'see' you. If you want I'll PM you the telephone number I have, just to make sure you're phoning the same place.

My friend went yesterday for her review appointment after SA and CD3 bloods which she had done back in May, and she was told that changes were being made. Do you remember there was something on the news about the NHS boards all merging to make one 'super-trust', and there'd be job cuts and all that nonsense that goes with it? Well I think she said that will happen in April. What it means is that instead of having 5 different waiting lists - one for each board area - there will be one. Which should mean that everyone should be treated on chronological basis and not because of postcode. So on the positive side, you've got the ball rolling.

 

[rachelle1975]

Thanks Maz,

We were only going by what the GP said re the IVF. He said that IUI wouldn't be suitable due to the fact tha DH has only 1 million sperm when he should have 20-99 million and that IVF would be the only option. All my tests came back fine with no concerns re ovulation etc.

I didn't know how the IVF waiting list went in the UK, i guess it depends on what tests you have had done and the results etc. I guess i have all this to look forward to! I don't mind waiting i would just like to know how it all will play out you know?? Need to find someone with male factor only as an issue and who is on the NHS with ICSI in the UK! xx

 

[Beckic]

Hi Hunni,

I saw the doctor on the 19th february who referred me and had my first clinic appt on the 3rd april - so didnt have to wait that long - BUT I only saw a registrar on the 3rd who asked me the same questions as the doctor and told me to keep on trying and to come back after a few months - and my next appt was then the 21st Auugst - which was when I actually got to see a doctor and things have started moveing. However - cos you have already identified a potential issue hopefully they will not make you wait like this and will get straight to it? Once I saw the doctor in August things have moved alot faster - so hopefully you will skip the part where they fob you off for 6 months cos they want to weed out time wasters.

Really hope it comes through fast for you,

Bx x

 

[rachelle1975]

Hi Hunni,

I saw the doctor on the 19th february who referred me and had my first clinic appt on the 3rd april - so didnt have to wait that long - BUT I only saw a registrar on the 3rd who asked me the same questions as the doctor and told me to keep on trying and to come back after a few months - and my next appt was then the 21st Auugst - which was when I actually got to see a doctor and things have started moveing. However - cos you have already identified a potential issue hopefully they will not make you wait like this and will get straight to it? Once I saw the doctor in August things have moved alot faster - so hopefully you will skip the part where they fob you off for 6 months cos they want to weed out time wasters.

Really hope it comes through fast for you,

Bx x

Thanks B,

Yep i'm hoping that since we already know what the issue is, they won't drag it out. GP said she would put it all in the referral but you never know!! We are still TTC, i've not lost hope - we only need 1 so he's bound to have an olympian in there somewhere... hopefully!!

 

[maz]

Thanks Maz,
Need to find someone with male factor only as an issue and who is on the NHS with ICSI in the UK! xx

One of my best friends is going for ICSI - she has no issues at all, but her DH has very low count although motility, and shape, etc is very good - just not enough of it. Her waiting time NHS is approx 16 months so she is going private at the same clinic as me - and the freaky thing is that our egg collection is likely to be on the same day.

I don't know if the waiting time is different in your part of the UK, but here in Northern Ireland, ICSI seems to have a slightly longer waiting time than IVF - not sure why though.

 

[rachelle1975]

Thanks Maz,
Need to find someone with male factor only as an issue and who is on the NHS with ICSI in the UK! xx

One of my best friends is going for ICSI - she has no issues at all, but her DH has very low count although motility, and shape, etc is very good - just not enough of it. Her waiting time NHS is approx 16 months so she is going private at the same clinic as me - and the freaky thing is that our egg collection is likely to be on the same day.

I don't know if the waiting time is different in your part of the UK, but here in Northern Ireland, ICSI seems to have a slightly longer waiting time than IVF - not sure why though.

how spook is that and HOW cool would it be if you are both successful at the same time!!!

When i asked my GP about NHS waiting times she told me that clinics will lie about NHS waiting times in the hope you will go private with them! The clinic we are going to, she said, is particularly bad for that. She said they will tell us 2-3 years but it would prob be about 8 months!!! Isn't that shocking?!?!

Maz - with the private stuff - how long did it take to start treatment?x

 

[maz]

Thanks Maz,
Need to find someone with male factor only as an issue and who is on the NHS with ICSI in the UK! xx

One of my best friends is going for ICSI - she has no issues at all, but her DH has very low count although motility, and shape, etc is very good - just not enough of it. Her waiting time NHS is approx 16 months so she is going private at the same clinic as me - and the freaky thing is that our egg collection is likely to be on the same day.

I don't know if the waiting time is different in your part of the UK, but here in Northern Ireland, ICSI seems to have a slightly longer waiting time than IVF - not sure why though.

how spook is that and HOW cool would it be if you are both successful at the same time!!!

When i asked my GP about NHS waiting times she told me that clinics will lie about NHS waiting times in the hope you will go private with them! The clinic we are going to, she said, is particularly bad for that. She said they will tell us 2-3 years but it would prob be about 8 months!!! Isn't that shocking?!?!

Maz - with the private stuff - how long did it take to start treatment?x

It is a bit spooky but quite reassuring at the same time. It's been really helpful to compare notes with her. I really hope we both get great news at the same time, although the chances of that happening are relatively slim.

I'd definitely get yourself on the NHS waiting list for treatment, then see how long its going to be. You could always phone the hospital that will carry out your ICSI procedure and ask for a rough idea of timescales once on the waiting list - at least that way you've done your research.

When we decided we were going to go private, I had to get a referral from my GP - that was done in mid August. Had my pre-consultation bloods done at the end of August. Had my pre-treatment consultation on 25 September, and we are now on our treatment programme. So it really doesn't take long. Apparently though, the clinic is getting more referral so there may be a slighter longer waiting time for the next time we go.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[rachelle1975]

Hey Maz,

yep that made perfect sense!

Will definitely be getting on the waiting list for NHS IVF... just don't know when that'll happen! It could be that we end up being at the top of the list after 6-8 months, i do know quite a few people who were told it was 2 years wait and then low and behold, they are top of the list less than 12 months later.

My friend just came round with her 6 week old baby and when she left i realised how much i want one now please!

Ah well, if we aren't getting anywhere by June next year then i think we will remortgage and go private! xx

 

[maz]

Ah well, if we aren't getting anywhere by June next year then i think we will remortgage and go private! xx

Hopefully there'll still be some banks available to give you extra money!!! Stupid credit crunch!!

xx

 

[rachelle1975]

Ah well, if we aren't getting anywhere by June next year then i think we will remortgage and go private! xx

Hopefully there'll still be some banks available to give you extra money!!! Stupid credit crunch!!

xx

The day we found out about the IVF - we had just spent 4k on getting our windows double glazed! timing is everything! MIL said she would give us 2k towards private but i don't want to her - she should be enjoying herself.

GP said that FS would say wait could be up to 2 years but that it would be half that prob less as they want people to pay - evil really.

You still on the NHS list anyway?