Help!! What are my next steps?

[LaurenN23]

Hi everyone,

I'm in desperate need of some reassurance and information.

We've been ttc for over 1.5 years. I've been diagnosed with PCOS (currently on CD140) i haven't ovulated once since we've been trying. I've had 2x blood tests at GPs, an internal and external ultrasound and my GP has now referred me to the gynaecologist dept at Walsall hospital (West Midlands) the appt is on 4 September. My GP requested this appt as a fertility appt but I thought fertility appts were always at clinics? I wondered if any of you know what this appt is likely to entail?

My husband had a semen analysis and all is good with him so that's great.

I feel so lost and lonely and just want someone who understands to talk to. Please help xx

[Maybe2020]

Hi Lauren this website is great for advice and feeling lonely is very normal during this rollercoaster ride that is ttc, I am in the West Midlands area and was referred to Walsall manor but my appointments kept getting cancelled so asked my gp for an appointment at Birmingham women’s ( it’s where ivf route begins for us).
That’s great that everything is fine with your husband, I had internal scans, day 21 bloods, have you had day 2-3 fsh levels?. They might want to give you a hsg test to check your tubes, I’ve had it done and it wasn’t nothing to worry about.
I think you will likely talk about this at your appointment at Walsall then get booked in for that, I’m not too sure on treatment steps for you as our issues are due to my husband.
They might suggest clomid and iui I doubt ivf would be the first step for you just yet. I know how hard and lonely it is, I’ve felt exactly the same for the years we have been ttc. Good luck to you Lauren hope I was a bit of help x

[LaurenN23]

@Maybe2020 thank you for writing back so soon. Do you know how long it takes to get an appt to check your tubes etc? Worried that we go in September to then be told it's another few months wait to have the check done. Just really want to start treatment ASAP!!!

How long away is your ivf appt? X

[LaurenN23]

@Maybe2020 Sorry, forgot to answer no I've not had bloods that specific as I don't have regular cycles so day 21 kind of doesn't exist for me at the moment! X

[Maybe2020]

Oh I’m sorry for being insensitive, my gp really messed about with us and to be accepted for a referal to Birmingham women’s we needed specific tests done before they’re give us an appointment. We were referred last October apppointment for Walsall manor in the jan which got cancelled rang my doctors and got into Birmingham women’s for March I then had the hsg test done the 1st of may. The nhs is slow! I know it’s really disheartening but patience really is key even though it is shit!. We should be starting our first ivf cycle October/November this year. The wait between appointments for follow ups/results was what we had to wait for it was a 4-5montb wait from my hsg to a follow up appointment and that’s when they referred us. We are just waiting for funding x

[Maybe2020]

Forgot to add we were told it was 4-5 months between appointments ( that’s normally average) but because our issue has been identified our consultant pushed it forward x

[WhyDoesItAlways]

Hi, I have been in your position but in a different area. These are the steps we went through with the rough times they occurred:
Sept/Oct 2014 - blood tests and ultrasound through GP which confirmed PCOS and referral given to fertility consultant.
December 2014 - first appointment with fertility consultant. She gave me another ultrasound to confirm PCOS and talked though treatment routes. She told me the NHS way of doing things is to give clomid for a few months, if that doesn't work they would prescribe Metformin (think Metformin is more effective but more likely to result in multiple births), if neither of those work they would do ovarian drilling to stimulate the ovaries and then if that didn't work it would be IVF. She told me she preferred to start with the ovarian drilling so that she could have a good look at my womb and tubes to check everything else was working because if there are more problems than PCOS then clomid and Metformin are unlikely to work anyway so would be a waste of time.
July 2015 - ovarian drilling done. This was the longest wait I had to get this operation but the wait was made longer due to the fact I had to have a BMI below 30 to qualify for NHS treatment so I needed to loose a few lbs before they would book the op.
October 2015 - follow up appointment after ovarian drilling. I still wasn't pregnant so was referred for IVF.
December 2015 - first IVF appointment where I was given treatment plan and told how to inject etc.
January 1st - began IVF injections.
Mid January - egg collection followed by embryo transfer 5 days later.

So all in all was just over a year of treatment.

[LaurenN23]

@Maybe2020 oh don't worry! You weren't being insensitive. That's great to know your appt is so soon - not long now ❤️.

I'm just so worried about a long wait - I'm not sure I can do another year of this hell 😞 just want to start something soon to at least get the ball rolling.

It's amazing to get such fast responses on here, I've been so down today and being able to talk about it with people who get it, makes the world of difference!! Xx

[LaurenN23]

@WhyDoesItAlways ah I see! A year is such a long time isn't it 😞 I feel for you - I really hope things work out for you ASAP.

It's great to hear the process for a similar issue. The GP and hospital just send me for appts and I never know what's going to happen at them!! Xxx

[WhyDoesItAlways]

I remember feeling like I was spending my life waiting for appointments so know exactly how you feel but now it all feels. I was lucky and was successful on my first round of IVF.

I spent my time waiting for appointments making sure I was in as good health as possible to give myself the best possible chance. Good diet and exercise I think really helped even if just for my mental well-being and it kept me busy, made me feel like I was doing something.

I don't like to give advice because I know how annoying that can be if it's not asked for but if you have any questions along the way don't hesitate to ask (although obviously I only have personal experience, no medical knowledge).

Good luck, hope they don't keep you waiting too long.

[Maybe2020]

The waiting is hell! But you don’t know how strong you are till you go through something like this, seriously looking back to last year I was really down and couldn’t see it ever getting anywhere. As the other poster has said exercise and good diet does wonders not just physically but mentally, last year I was sluggish and could just about get out of bed in the morning ( I was literally that depressed I thought there was no point). I still have hard days but a lot less than I did.
Your journey might not be as long though as I’m sure medication is tried first for PCOS. X

[LaurenN23]

@WhyDoesItAlways oh sorry I didn't realise you had already been successful! That's fantastic! It's great to hear positive stories.

To be honest I'm trying to gain as much information as I possibly can because the drs just don't give me any! So this is so so helpful.

My bmi is 24 and I eat really well so I'm focusing on that but no matter what I do I think about it all the time. Everywhere I look there's a pregnant woman or baby and I cry every day with the hope one day it will be me 😞 xx

[LaurenN23]

@Maybe2020 I feel just like that now. I feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel and I feel so so depressed.

I don't know what I can do to take my mind of it as I'm constantly counting down the days to my next appt.

Sorry to sound like a sad sally but I just feel so lost and don't know where else to turn! Xx

[Maybe2020]

Your not sad at all! It’s very common to feel how you do I still feel the same now, I also obsess and think about it all the time. Costa coffee shops are the worst I’ll go for a coffee as a treat on my lunch and the majority of customers are pregnant/mothers with newborns. I can’t wait to get out of their lol.
Time will fly by even though it doesn’t feel
Like it now it really will. You have all of us to chat to on here too if your ever having a really hard time x

[LaurenN23]

@Maybe2020 oh god I know! Costa is hell on earth!! I feel much better just for talking to someone today so thank you x

[2fingers22018]

@LaurenN23 hope ur feelin better hun💗

[LaurenN23]

@2fingers22018 thank you for messaging. I still feel the same. I just want to desperately start treatment, hate all the waiting. Thanks again though ❤️❤️

[2fingers22018]

@LaurenN23 its hard the waiting is the toughest part of this journey. I would try to focus on diet and exercise while you wait it does give u a sense of purpose of course it doesnt solve all ur problems but its a distraction x

[LaurenN23]

@2fingers22018 that's what I'm doing 😊 throwing myself into work too!! Xx

[2fingers22018]

@LaurenN23 glad to hear the gd news is ive heard of ALOT of ladies on here who have went on meds to regulate their ovulation and it has been successful gd luck