Waiting times for initial consultant appointment

[Biscuitsforbribes]

Just that really.

We got put on the waiting list for an initial appointment back in May and still not clue when to expect one.

It's been six months now and we are worn out with waiting. Every day I anticipate the letter to be there waiting for us when we get home. I'm so so tired! How long did it take for your GP to refer you until you got your appointment?

We're based in South Wales.

Thank you

[CatnipMouse]

I would chase things up if I were you. Did the consultant actually get the letter? It's not unknown for referrals to get lost.... Call the hospital and ask to speak to the gynae secretaries to check that you actually are on the list.

This game needs patience but it also needs persistence and sometimes a bit of polite pushiness. Good luck xxx

[misspz]

I would call the hospital.

My go forgot to send the referral letter in. This we realised after I called the hospital to check if they've actually received it.

Good luck, hope you won't have to wait too much longer!

[Biscuitsforbribes]

Thank you catnip, I phoned in June and they said they had received it, but haven't heard anything since. I didn't know if I was over reacting, but I'll call tomorrow just for an update. Thank you!

[Biscuitsforbribes]

Thanks misspz! Will definitely call!

[Biscuitsforbribes]

Just to let you know I called the secretary at the gynaecology department. I am on the list, but the routine waiting list is around eight months. Hopefully we should be hearing something January/February.

Not ideal (I am an impatient person!) but hopefully it could be a very positive start to 2016

[misspz]

God that is a long wait for you Biscuit.
Fingers crossed it'll be a great start to 2016 and that its all worth it.

I'm going in for blood test tomorrow to see what medication I'll be starting on. Scared and exited all at once!

[Biscuitsforbribes]

Ohh good luck tomorrow! Let me know how it goes! Focus on the exciting side hope it all goes well!

[misspz]

Hopefully it'll go well, should know the month on my next appointment in December.
Let's hope 2016 is our year!
I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow

[happylass]

Biscuits I am in South Wales too. Are you talking about wating times to see someone at WFI or at your local hospital? I waited about 6 months to see a consultant at my local hospital (Royal Glamorgan), though I did have a nurse appointment 3 months in which was just a form filling exercise. Then after being referred on to the Heath for IVF it was another 13 month wait, although I've been told waiting times have decreased slightly recently. Good luck!

[Biscuitsforbribes]

Hi happylass! No just someone at the local hospital, hadn't even thought about there being that long a wait for the actual treatment! How did you stay patient?! I've had blood tests, and an ultrasound and my husband has had a sperm test which came back fine. At my GP's last week she said that my notes are pointing to PCOS and that the hospital will probably try Clomid first. Can't believe how bad the waiting times are here, it seems a much more efficient system elsewhere!

[patienceisvirtuous]

Do you have any savings you could use to get a private appointment? They won't need to repeat your tests although may want to - you'd get meds way quicker.

Sorry you're having to wait that long X

[happylass]

Biscuit it is shocking. When I was first referred from the Royal Glam to the Heath I was told to expect to wait 18 months and heard horror stories of couples waiting 2 years plus. I have heard it has improved slightly recently and, in particular, they are trying to reduce the waiting times for ladies over 36 (I'm now 37). We were in the lucky position of being able to pay for private treatment while we waited (unfortunately it didn't work). If you need Clomid or IUI then your local hospital will probably offer that. I hope your wait is short!

[Biscuitsforbribes]

I'm 26 at the moment and were definately not a priority because of our ages!

We do have savings, but I didn't know you could have private treatment while waiting for the NHS? Is it possible?

[happylass]

Biscuits you are allowed to have 1 private cycle without it affecting your NHS entitlement. 2 private cycles means your NHS entitlement drops from 2 cycles to 1. Anymore than 2 private cycles and your are excluded from NHS treatment. But there is no real way of them finding out unless you tell them.....

[Biscuitsforbribes]

Oh god happylass that's amazing! I feel so stupid for not knowing that! Do you think it would be worth looking into it, or hanging on for January/February?

[bananafish81]

Just to say there is a way for them to know if you've had a private cycle in the UK, as all your cycles are registered with the HFEA, so even if you don't tell them, it's still logged.

[happylass]

They don't check though or is that the HFEA aren't allowed to disclose that information without your permission? Whichever way they only know about the cycle that I've chosen to inform them about

[Biscuitsforbribes]

Is that just applicable for IVF or does it include Clomid etc?

[bananafish81]

Ah great if they don't, just def worth checking if that's def the case - fab if you can do it!! Take whatever you can get - I'll never be eligible for NHS funding due to my high FSH / low AMH (and I'm on my second private cycle) so wish I could share my NHS allowance that I can't have with you ladies

Def shouldn't count for Clomid, not at all xx

[happylass]

Biscuits I'm not sure about Clomid as went straight to ICSI. I can't imagine it would count but you could also give them a ring/email to check. I've always found the consultants' secretaries very helpful.
Sorry to hear you don't qualify for NHS help Banana - it's so wrong as I know ladies with low AMH who do qualify. Hate the postcode lottery. All the best for your private cycle.

[bananafish81]

Thanks happy - I haven’t been trying for the requisite 2 years so I wouldn’t be eligible in any case: given my severely diminished reserves, we decided to pursue a BFP aggressively so went straight to IVF. First round ended up being a freeze-all cycle due to lining issues, and also as DH was ill we had to freeze the eggs unfertilised. Going again to try and get more to work with, and hopefully batch together the thawed eggs with whatever we can get this time.

biscuits I don't think Clomid should count as it's ovulation induction - IUI might, but Clomid def shouldn't. However I would definitely check to be doubly sure xx

[Biscuitsforbribes]

We got our referral letter today! I'm sure phoning them did the trick! We've decided to have a lovely relaxed time (she says!) over December and Christmas until the ball starts rolling January 15th. I imagine it's going to be a pretty stressful time trying treatment!

Excuse the overly excessive use of exclamation marks, just so excited and relieved to have an actual date in the calendar.

[misspz]

So happy for you biscuit!
We're hopefully finding out what month we'll start on our next app in December.
Maybe it'll be the same month as yourself

[Biscuitsforbribes]

Oh that's great misspz!

I have no idea what to expect, will they redo the blood tests and ultrasound etc, or just start looking at options?

[mommabear1611]

Hi there, I'm not sure if your question has been answered or if I'm doing this right (I'm new here haha) but we had our initial consultation yesterday. Nurse took my height/weight initially then we went to see the consultant.

We have now officially been referred for IVF based on our circumstances. Consultant ordered blood test for myself (for malaria the nurse said) as well as my husband to check a number of things including cystic fibrosis.

Hubby has to take another sample in next week and I will get a letter about an internal scan in the post. Once all the results are back we sit and wait for our next consultation. We initially went to the GP in July (I'm 30/hubby 41 and we've been TTC for 10 Years so, although we've waited a long time, I don't feel like 5 months was too bad really!).

Best of luck with your upcoming appointment :)