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.

[35counting]

Sorry @Miss83, missed your questions, I’ve just started the stims. Had two weeks of down regging which stops your natural hormones and the stims replace them. Should be around 10 days of this and then egg collection. I’m not looking forward to it and have had a dreadful first day on the stims, horrendous headache and nausea but I’m hoping it’s just the initial reaction and that it will wear off!

When you get to the top of the list (after all the tests) they ask you to call on the first day of your period and you then have to go in within 10 days for treatment planning. They give you all the drugs and talk you through administering and you start 14 days later. I am on long protocol though and experiences/drugs tend to vary quite a bit depending on your test results. Best of luck, hope you get in soon!

[lucieloos]

Ah ok we didn't have any of those problems and generally found it relatively easy to park. Maybe we got lucky. The clinic isn't far from the main reception so didn't have to wander too far around the hospital. I would have gone to heath had it meant being treated any sooner though but personally I don't think you can go far wrong with either.

[Miss83]

Thanks for the advice both... Will see what happens in October. I have to have an internal x-ray before then and OH needs to go for one more blood test. But they want them all done before October so they can hopefully just refer us on. Our GP has been wonderful though as have the royal glam and CRGW in llantrisant where were sent to do the SA's. We have been quite lucky.

Congratulations lucieloos on your DD. Did you have to wait long before you could do your second attempt? I bet it was hard the first time around to go through all that but now you have a beautiful little girl.

35counting I'm really not good with needles so dreading it. OH will deffo have to do them for me. Hope you start feeling better soon, it'll all be worth it. Think it'll have to write everything down lol. Do you work? If so how are you finding the meds along with work? My company have re-done there family policy and they are offering women 5 paid days off for fertility treatment up to three cycles a year, which may come in handy. Not that I have told my manager yet as I feel it maybe a awkward conversation to have with him.

[35counting]

@Miss83 I absolutely hate needles but have not found it too bad, my DH has been doing them most of the time but I have had to do them myself twice as timings are very specific (between 6-7pm for me but again varies). This causes the biggest issue with work as means I cannot work late (drugs have to be refrigerated).

Yes I work, my boss knows (although I didn’t tell him until we started) and he has told the team leader too. We also have an ivf policy and, although I wasn’t planning on taking any time off, from what others have said on the July/August forum, I may need to. Apparently towards and after EC is the best time, and then after ET. My main issue so far has been tiredness and lack of concentration, I hit a wall around 4pm. I don’t want to take too much time off though as others will start asking questions and I don’t want everyone to know.

[lucieloos]

We had to wait 3 months to have another attempt but only because I had an ectopic which I needed treatment for. If it had been a straight bfn we could have gone again in a month or two if that's what we had wanted.

The needles are so fine you barely feel them at all. I was really surprised the first time. It is nerve wracking though but it's sadly something you get used to fairly quickly. I have had a lot of treatment (also had private ivf abroad) and I never told my employer about any of it. I didn't find the drugs interfered with work at all and I preferred to use my annual leave or sick leave for any time off as I wanted to keep it separate from my work life but that's just me personally.

[Miss83]

I have been refered to another consultant for a different issue the same time so I have so many hospital appointments lately I told two of the women on my team. They are pretty laid back about me going, dont want to see my letters or anything.

It's good to speak to people who have been through the it/going through it. Especially local. You hear so many different things and get so much information given to you it can get so overwhelming so it's nice to understand and beagle to ask questions.

[Miss83]

35counting hope the symptoms get better for you as the days go on. So not nice feeling like that. Funny how things effect people differently. Knowing my luck I'll be unwell, the pill use to make me really sick for the first few days after my 7 day break. Dr said my body doesn't like the change in hormones.

[Believinginmiracles]

Hello all 🤗
I’ve just joined this group 👍in the hope that someone may be able to share their experiences of treatment in the UHW in the 6 months?
We’ve had testing done privately and my husband has low count. We were referred by GP in August and were told there’s a 24 week waiting list until first appointment, which takes us roughly to April.
I just wondered how quickly treatment starts from the first appt and whether it will be quicker as we have already undergone necessary tests. 🤔 Anything you have to share would be great to hear!
😘😘