IVF/ICSI in South Wales

[happylass]

Hi. Yesterday we were told we're being referred for ICSI on the NHS. We were also told the waiting list here in South Wales is 12-18 months. Just wondering what other people's experience of the waiting list is? Is it closer to 12 months or more likely to be 18 (or more? ). Also we've pretty much decided that we are going to have one private cycle whilst we wait. We've already been to an open evening in CRGW. Would be interested to hear experiences of this and other private clinics in the area. Many thanks.

Ok.
Ill keep it shush.
Just feel with NHS (as grateful as i am) is there is just so much waiting around, appointments i wait months and months for last 5 minutes at that, and im back waiting again!
I suppose it will all happen eventually.

Ah thats fantastic fingers are crossed for you this time..?? yes im hoping that when the 1st injection is done i should be ok ..not a lover of needles 2bh but keep telling myself that it will all be worth some day ?? please keep us updated on how ur journey is going. X

Thank you. Got 6 embryos (hopefully) growing in the lab. ET will be tomorrow or Saturday.
You will be fine with the injections - they are nowhere near the worst part.

Thank you :) if you have already had ET hope it went well for ??

Just a quick update , my 1st injection was a nightmare 2bh ...i was very shocked how much it stung ..i was nearly in tears but today injection went superb ! I put a bag of frozen peas to numb the area and also laid down this time while the hubby did the injection ! It was painless :) very happy atm , fingers crossed that this keeps up !

kelsey I'm sorry the first injection hurt. It may well have been because you were anxious. Having said that one of the worst injections I've done was the last one in my most recent cycle and I like to think I'm a pro by now! I just find every once in a while you get one that really stings/bleeds/ bruises for no apparent reason! Glad to hear the second was better and hoping it's a breeze for you now.

My first injection was horrendous.... I basically treated my rummy Like it was a dart board and stabbed the injection in! Needless to say the next day I had a giant purple bruise! I found easiest way was to hold the needle like a foundation pen (as the tip similar shape) and just slowly press it in. Then I released the fluid as slowly As possible. By the time you're doing 2 injections a day you'll be a pro at it! Hope the last few injections have continued to be better xxx

Thank you , yes they have been fine since but 1 or 2 of them have left bruises for no apparant reason , my husband reckons it must be my skin.. im a bit confused as to where exactly i should be injecting , do i go closer to the middle lower part of my stomach or more towards my hips? How are u feeling happylass and sunshineonarainyday ? How many cycles have u had ? Happylass , i hope ET went well for you and ur feeling ok? : )

Kelsey you should inject anywhere south of your belly button and go no further across than your abs. I tend to go just to the left or right of my belly button (I alternate). Bruising sometimes helps as it shows you where not to inject!
All went well with ET thanks. 2 blasts safely back on board.

Like happylass I would alternate between left and right of my belly button and about an inch below and an inch to the side of it....if that makes sense?
Happylass, congratulations on the 2 being back on board! When is your otd? Hope you're doing some nice relaxing things over the next two weeks xxxx
Kelsey, we had 1 cycle (luckily) that produced my DD. Looking to start again in the new year in the hope of a second child. Wish I could start now tho!!

Thanks you ladies thats how i am doing it but i have read on here other people injecting elswhere which confused me a bit...i am alternating everyday to try and even it out so its not so sore ..thats fantastic news happylass :) wishing u all the best over the next 2 weeks . X

Sunshineonarainyday , thats fab for it to happen in ur 1st cycle...im new to all this terminology so im guessing 'dd' means you have a daughter? Fingers crossed that your 2nd go turns out aswell as your first :)

Yes DD is daughter! She's now 14 months and every day we are so grateful for our little miracle!

Ah thats fantastic , its so encouraging to here people who have had succesfull treatment ...always gives me a boost of hope, that one day that could be us :) xx

Hi, we were referred to the Heath in July, can anyone tell me when they received their initial appointment? All our tests and blood work has been done at Neville Hall and our referring Dr told us it would be a few months before we heard about an appointment. I've tried to be patient but am suffering badly with period pain atm and am feeling a bit disheartened that once again we haven't cracked it! It's unexplained fertility, any answers and advice will be greatly received.

Hi lulu, I was referred the beginning of March and have finally received my first appt for a couple of weeks at the beginning of December so 9 months for us. She did say that this was because they are trying to see those who are 36+ sooner so it may help if you fall into that category.

Thanks for replying lucieloos, I'm coming up 33 so don't qualify for that category. Someone did tell me that they had an appointment after about 6 months and then had the treatment about 12 months after that again but I suppose I'll just have to wait and see! It's taken over two years of going back and fore the doctors to get this far so I suppose a bit more patience won't hurt! All the very best for your appointment, fingers crossed it all goes smoothly and quickly for you xx

Thanks lulu I think they are getting through the back log now so i don't think you have to wait that long after your initial appt anymore. Hopefully you will hear something the first half of next year.

I hope so! Thank you xx

Hi guys, know this is an old thread but was wondering how everyone had gotten on and any new people being refered to on to the Heath?

We are currently under the Royal Glam waiting for our (hopefully) last appointment before we get referred to the Heath. So far we have been told it is a 9 month waiting list to get in. Looks like we are going to be going down the route of ICSI. Thanks.

Hi @Miss83, sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I’ve just started treatment for ICSI after being referred to the Heath in Oct 2016, the process is painfully slow!

We had tests privately at CRGW last year but then the next step on the NHS was looming so we decided to wait. We gave it until May this year when we had the “treatment planning” app through and finally started 2 weeks ago. We also then had the opportunity of being transferred to Neath to speed the process up (which we jumped at as we hate the Heath). I hope your wait isn’t as long!

Hi 35counting that's crazy how long it's taken for you! I had heard that it was a two year waiting list from someone else. All tests have come back that I'm fine but OH has nothing in his samples so that's why they were saying ICSI to us. We can't really afford to go private but I really don't know if I could wait... I'm 35 now, been told it's 9 months to get in to the Heath and then another (possible) two years wait on top of that is giving me anxiety.

How are you finding the process so far with Neath? Maybe we could just ask to go there instead of cardiff. Glad things are finally moving for you.

The staff at Neath are lovely and overall the experience is just far nicer than the Heath, the hospital is newer and far quieter, there is no issue parking and it doesn’t actually take us any longer to drive there than it does battle through traffic to the Heath! I was referred there as I have a heart condition and they have a full time anaesthetist in WFI in Neath (whereas they don’t in WFI Heath apparently) so it’s safer. It is certainly worth asking though. I’m nearly 37 now so was your age when I was first referred.

Had some friends over earlier who went through ivf about 5 years ago and she just searched for ivf trials and amazingly got a free one privately in London (and conceived first time). Maybe that is worth a look? I did look at local nhs trials but hadn’t thought of private ones.

Yes thank you I will look in to that. Anything to get this ball rolling.

At our appointment they did mention to us that I would be cardiff or port Talbot we would be referred to and was hoping for cardiff as we are more local to there, but now after what you said I think I'll try and push for Neath, and yes the parking is a nightmare in the Heath.

It's amazing how many people go through this. I have one close friend who is in the same boat as me, so it's nice to have someone to talk to about it sometimes.

What stage are you at in regards to ICSI if you don't mind me asking? Do they pretty much get going from your first appointment? Thanks for the advice, you have been a big help.

I have a different view of the heath. We had 2 rounds of icsi there and the staff there were amazing they couldn't have been nicer. We didn't have any real trouble parking at heath in the multi storey and the car parking is now free so if it's more local to you I would go for it. We waited quite a while for treatment but that was a couple of years back. I had heard they have reduced the waiting list significantly now so you might get seen a lot sooner.

On our first icsi attempt I got a bfp but sadly ended in ectopic. The second attempt resulted in our beautiful daughter who's now just over a year old. I wish you lots of luck for your treatment and hope you have an equally positive outcome.

We didn’t have a bad experience with any staff at the Heath at all, it’s just the hospital itself, it is so busy we’ve spent nearly an hour trying to find somewhere to park before and usually end up a mile away and walking in. Plus it is so hot, always a building site and so difficult to navigate.

When I say Neath @Miss83 I mean Neath Port Talbot and the hospital is in Port Talbot. Much smaller, quieter and much bigger car park! If you’ve been offered that I’d jump at it.