Private Fertility Investigations - How Much ?

[WorzselMummage]

Df and i have been TTC for #2 for 2 years, we've recently had a miscarriage.

I went to the Drs at 12 months and was told to go back at 18 months then at 18 months was told 2 years. Just before 2 years we got pregnant but had a missed miscarriage, the baby had stopped developing at 9 weeks or there abouts i found out at my scan at 13 weeks, I had a erpc to remove it in Feb, we've been ttc since then.

I've had day 21 bloods done twice, the levels were 2 and 30 so low whatever way you look at it.

I've been to the Drs today again and have been fobbed off, The Dr was completly ignorant to what needed to be done. I asked her straight for a referal and she didnt know how to do it. I asked for my day 21 hormones to be done along with day 3 and my thryoid as these have never been checked.

You'd have thought i'd have asked her to amputate my legs

I am fed up to the back teeth of being fobbed off now and am thinking about getting the tests done privatly.

Does anyone have any idea what this would cost ?

[rubles]

No idea on the cost I am afraid, but I don't think you should waste your money.

I am for you.
Insist on your doctor referring you and if he/she doesn't know how to then complain as this shouldn't be such a complicated thing for a doctor to do. Get an appointment with another doctor, or suggest that the doctor speaks to one of his/her many contacts to get advice on how to refer to the fertility unit of your local hosp.

I had a very similar situation happen to me a couple of years ago and in the end the doctors took 'early retirement'. Really they were completely inept and there were a number of fuck ups at the surgery that lead to the spotlight being put on them.

When I asked the doctor for the hormone tests I had to pretty much spell out what I wanted as I knew better than her from being on MN. I even doctored the bloods form as she had still done it wrong.

Good luck.

[WorzselMummage]

This is my 3rd attempt.. 3rd Dr.. The first was rude, the 2nd didnt have a clue and sent me for day 25 bloods after fobbing me off the 3rd is the first woman i've seen and i kinda expected a bit of solidarity or at least some sympathy. She told me she knew how it was as she was ttc herself when she clearly didn thave a clue. Alomst threw the tissules at me when i started blubbing. She told me that the fact that i was so stressed would have an effect on my hormones if i went for my progesterone test today and i wouldnt get the result 'i want' and that there was no point doing any tests.. they may as well have said ' it'll happen when the time is right' i think i'd have knocked her off her chair if she had .

How can it be so hard ! My mates been ttc for 12 months and has just been refered, has had to wait less than a week for an appointment and her drs already done all the relevent tests anyway.

God i am seething !

[Bellie]

Oh sympathy for you xx

I don't know where you are in the country, but At a clininc in Wimbledon it is about £600 for a man and a woman one stop fertility assessment.
This includes - pelvic exam, 3d ultrasound (measuring blood flow to womb and ovaries) and a tubal patency test and semen analysis.

You can also have the ovarian reserve test for £250.

However, these should all be available on NHS once refered.

We looked into the private option as not sure how long the NHS referal would take (been trying 16 months since ectopic), but our NHS referal came through in a month.

If your friend is in the similar area to you find out who she has been referred to and go back to gp and just insist that they write a letter to said consultant and refer you.

Good luck

[Bellie]

Oop - sorry - not sure that the ovarian reserve test is available on the NHS

[rubles]

AAArhh!! Of course you are angry! Who ARE these people?! 2 years is way too long to have been trying unsuccessfully, you are well overdue for going to see someone who actually does know what they are talking about.

Platitudes about being stressed will not help. What, does she have xray eyes and she can tell that all is well within you just from one 3 minute consultation??!

I think if needs be you should take someone along with you for support, but go again and just keep restating what you want and do not leave the room until you get it. That was what happened to me.

On the other hand if you really can't face it I know that the price lists for the different fertility investigations are published on the web for the different clinics so if you find one that is handy for you, you should be able to find out. It would be quicker, but I just don't see why you should, just because these GPs are the gatekeepers and they don't seem to know what they are talking about.

[WorzselMummage]

Thats a lot of money

I am so fed up, i have been feeling really good about going to the drs today and being assertive and finally getting some help. I feel a bit like i've had the rug pulled out from under me now.

My miscarriage was my 3rd but they wont run any tests cos the previous 2 were before DD, I am usually a real advocate of the NHS but at the moment if i could afford to go private then i would

[rubles]

I was referred but it was about 3 months until first appointment and then another 3 months until I went back for the results.

[WorzselMummage]

I have to go and get DD, Thank you both for replying and agreeing with me

x good luck to you both

[Heron23]

If you are in London, i can refer you to an excellent private gynae. let me know if you are interested.

[lulu1414]

Poor you! It is so, so frustrating. I was also fobbed off at my GPs, but finally got help after keeping at them. I ended up paying to go private as I was so fed up, but found out it was covered on my DP new plan. But then reverted back to NHS once that ended.

I would recommend you 1) try to find someone good in your area who you would like to be referred to- look on the Internet, ask friends etc. Once you do perhaps call them and explain your situation. Many private consultants are also NHS consultants.
2) go in to your GP with a firm request and push them until they comply. Go in with a list written down so you can stay focused and know what you want to say. Take someone with you. I found I would get so upset I would forget everything so having DH there was necessary.

It sounds to me that you should be referred even if its to say all is well and keep trying.

Good luck.

[herbaceous]

I might be interested Heron.

My GP said, six weeks ago, that if we have all the tests, then we'll be referred on to having a lap and dye. I've just phoned to try and arrange this, but was told by the receptionist that I have to come and see him to do that, and that the first appointment is 24 April!!!

I'm getting so Farcked Off with being made to wait, and buggered about, I'm thinking of just doing it privately.

Not helped by trauma with a boob lump. Went to a breast clinic a month ago, told to come back in a fortnight for a mammogram and ultrasound, horrid woman then stuck a needle in my boob which hurt like nothing on earth, told to come back in two weeks for results, which was yesterday. As I went in the office she said 'I'm not saying it's cancer, but we need more tests'. So I've got to have ANOTHER biopsy done next week, then wait ANOTHER two weeks for the results.

After each of my FOUR miscarriages I've had to nag and nag and press and nag for appointments, information, interest, anything. I'm now just about ready to KILL the next doctor who makes me wait any longer for anything.

Rant over.

[herbaceous]

Sorry, at the beginning of my rant I should have explained that now we've had all the blood and semen tests, so now it's time for lap and dye...

[Heron23]

That is terrible, Herb, i do not blame you for being frustrated and narked off. i hope your boob is ok. the waiting is the real killer here.

the NHS just cannot cope with anything other than emergencies

[JulietM]

Hello Worzelmummage
A couple of things I can recommend - don't know where you live but the place for recurrent miscarriages is St Mary's Hospital, London under Professor Lesley Regan.

Also if you can find a fertility awareness practitioner then I'd pay her (or him) a visit. Unfortunately there are very few around - we have two in Edinburgh - but an organisation called Foresight might be the closest you would get in England.

If you could even find someone who teaches the Billings Ovulation Method that might help as getting a day 21 or day 3 test is not going to work if you are having an ovulatory 'peak'that is slightly earlier or later - if you learn how to read your cervical mucus signs then you will know exactly when you are peaking or also, if there is a problem.

Good luck and hope this helps a bit.

[NorthernLurker]

You could contact the PALS service at your PCT - they should help you with your relationship with your GP. The not knowing how to refer you is total bollocks btw!

[WorzselMummage]

Thanks Juliet I cant get a referal to a Recurrant Miscarriage Clinic as my miscarriages were not consecutive, In fact the fist one was 8 years ago and the second was 7 years and they were both with a different partner. I read Lesley Regans book recently though and found it facinating.. slightly scary though.

I also read TCOYF which made it seem asif you must chart.. i cant chart as i'm a terrible sleeper and work nights. I sdo try to keep on to of Cp and Cp and other signs though and know when i do ovulate but its not every cycle.

I moans atthe Dr and she said she was going to call me back today, we'll see what she has to say.

Thanks everyone for replying

[WorzselMummage]

Cm & Cp even

[WorzselMummage]

Thansk too Heron, i mist have missed your post. We're in the West Midlands so Londons a bit far to travel really, thanks though

[WorzselMummage]

NorthernLurker, We've been at this surgery for 3 years and i've never once had any confidence in the Dr i've had to see. Its such a shame because all the drs i have ever had before wherever i have lived ( london, essex and oxford ) have been fantastic.

During my last pregnancy i had to see a dr at ta different surgery as i was worried it was ectopic becaus eof pain and this Dr was so lovely, only young and very attractive but really put me at ease and listened to me, no like the cow i saw yesterday. If only ic could remember his name

[WorzselMummage]

NorthernLurker, We've been at this surgery for 3 years and i've never once had any confidence in the Dr i've had to see. Its such a shame because all the drs i have ever had before wherever i have lived ( london, essex and oxford ) have been fantastic.

During my last pregnancy i had to see a dr at ta different surgery as i was worried it was ectopic becaus eof pain and this Dr was so lovely, only young and very attractive but really put me at ease and listened to me, no like the cow i saw yesterday. If only ic could remember his name

[NorthernLurker]

Time to change practice in that case? PALS could be worth a call though - they could ask the practice why they won't refer you after 2 years without a successful pregnancy?

[WorzselMummage]

Is that patient liason ?

I could do if you think it would help ? I certainly receieved a shoddy service yesterdya but part of me feels that the Dr was obviously very green and just needed to find her feet a little and i dont want to get her in trouble.

she was so dismissive though

[WorzselMummage]

i might so some research and see if i can find the lovely man from the other surgery, he had such a nice bedside manner.

I did consider acupuncture but from what i hear it can ended up costing a fortune ?x

[WorzselMummage]

i might so some research and see if i can find the lovely man from the other surgery, he had such a nice bedside manner.

I did consider acupuncture but from what i hear it can ended up costing a fortune ?x