Another middle class mum jumps the queue for fertility investigations

[jamiesam]

That mum is me, this is a different sort of rant!

I was referred by my gp in April for investigation to find out why my periods are so eratic (have been so since having ds2 - age 2 1/4 now). Dh and I were 'waiting' until cycle settled down before ttc no. 3. Have now seen two consultants at hospital - the second one referred me for the scans that my gp told me I needed when I saw her in April. I got a scan appt for March '06.

After seething for a bit and moaning to a few friends, I finally phoned gp this am to find out if I can be seen more quickly at another hospital. Shortly after, consultant's secretary phones me back with offer of a scan on 20 Oct. The difference is between the infertility clinic (full til March) and the gynaecology (sp?) clinic (obviously sitting around with nothing to do ). And yet I want exactly the same examination, whichever blo*dy clinic I go to, for the same reason......

And I am also ttc (although seems useless at the moment but hopes springs eternal)

Just inclined to think that if you're told that it will take 6 months (or in my case 11 months) to get investigation, it's worth complaining and making a nuisance of yourself.

We were waiting to see a genetic counsellor and were told it would take 3 weeks for one department to write a letter to another department in the same hospital!!!! I phoned the patient liason office and spoke to a fab woman who was outraged on our behalf. She took up our case, and the letter was written within two days.

We also found that if we phoned the secretary of which ever consultant we were waiting to see, and said that we would take any cancellation appointments they had, we were always seen quicker. Often months before our original appointment.

Try having 6 sessions of Reflexology before you do any hectic fertility/medical stuff. I am a Reflexologist and have been amazed at a number of clients who became pregnant after 4 treatments (who had already done two years of hormonal and tube unblocking to no avail)... its worth trying and far more pleasant... and if anything, you're guaranteed to just feel a bit more healthy after the sessions.

How well is it generally known though, that you don't have to wait for ever for investigations/treatment?

I think when I was first given the March scan appt and laughed hollowly, the staff at the bookings desk just said 'its always like this'. I think I sort of vaguely thought that I've heard you have to wait a long time, and that's just the way it's going to be. And I reckon most people just go along with that.

Fairi - I'm not sure if we would do any hectic fertility/medical stuff anyway, but I'd be interested in more facts... What is reflexology? What does it do? What does it cost?

erm honestly - my DR tol me my fertility apt would be 3 months - imagion my surprise when it came in after 2 anyhow, apparently I was put int he rong que for apts, so they cancelled the day b4 I was due to go in (was in normal apts que not infertility) anyhow after a heated chat with thereceptionsist she apologised etc and said nothing she could do and she'd ring me in 6 months- yeah right ok then- I left it about another 8 weeks then rang them and played merry hell on the phone really kicking up a stink at how my apt had been cancelled twice and I was being penalized etc she gave me an apt for two weeks later! started the palimarys - had bloods/swobs done at the first apt, then HSG was also boked and done the following cycle - got PG that cycle (sadly m/Ced but now PG again straihgt away).

so i short if u ask me kicking up a stink really works well. our lot don't tend to do much if u're nice and relaxe/get upset and cry which was why I got angry cos I was mad.

God, fertility clinics must be a really crp place to work - everyone either pised off that they'd had to wait months and months for appt, or full of fighting spirit, raging for a fight...

To answer your questions, Jamiesam: "What is reflexology? What does it do? What does it cost?"

Reflexology is a very specialised kind of foot massage which has a profound influence on the rest of the body (understood and explained well with Chinese medicine). Its normally very relaxing and enjoyable (hard to believe it can be so beneficial to your health, when its so nice to have!) You would normally need about 5 treatments quite close together (about once a week or less), to really get the benefit

Its main thing is that it helps to bring balance to the body - or restore the balance it should have. Eg: very often, those struggling to conceive may have hormonal imbalances. Reflexology can help with dealing with that, and depending on what the therapist picks up from the feet about where the imbalances are, they may give dietary or lifestyle advice or refer to another therapist or doctor if necessary.

Cost wise - I'm based in South Africa and I know our prices are much cheaper than in UK - but a ball park figure may be about 20 to 30 pounds.

where do you live jamiesam? Here in London initial appointment at infertility clinic is about six weeks after which everythign seems to be fairly quick - ofcourse some investigations take longer than others a HSG can only be done in the early part of your cycle but you have to have stopped bleeding - all v complicated esp as the hospital I went to only did HSGs on a thurs! good luck and keep ringing persistance does work.