Top of the waiting list appointment

[ProfessionalPirate]

DH and I have been TTC just over 3 years now. We've had all the preliminary workup done at our small local hospital (HSG, scans, bloods, SA) followed by 6 months of clomid, which didn't work.

At our last post-clomid followup appointment in July we were told the next stage would be referral to James Cook for assisted conception and that we should call them to make an appointment.

When I called, we were immediately offered an appointment for the end of August. I assumed it would be some sort of booking-in/eligibility check and we would then get put on a waiting list for treatment. But i've had all the documents through in the post now, and it turns out it is our 'top of the waiting list' appointment! I'm now a bit excited at the thought that this may all be happening sooner than I thought, but also worried that there has been some kind of mistake/misunderstanding. Are waiting lists not as long as I thought now? Does anyone know how quickly I am likely to move onto treatment? Or what the likely sequence of events will be?

[Mw050389]

I have to call if I haven’t started by the 20th! I’m due on anytime from today, feel like I can feel it but nothings happening yet, hopefully I won’t come in whilst I’m at the gym 🙈😂... soo due to start stims the 25th with egg collection scheduled the week of the 6th obviously all depends on when I come on! I’m assuming itl be earlier if I come on before the 20th 🤷🏼‍♀️ So many ifs and buts!

[Mw050389]

Has anyone heard anything from James cook about their cycle?? I’ve seen lots of peoples getting cancelled! I came on last night so going to phone this morning see if I can still go ahead or not 🤞🏻

[Mw050389]

My cycle has been cancelled

[Nattx]

I rang them friday too and mines been suspended too, think everyone is in the same boat with the current situation. In a way I'm glad it has because being healthy during is important but gutted at the same time. Will they cycle you started class as a lost cycle then since you had already started down regulation? X

[Mw050389]

Yea, I was gutted and I cried but I agree lol... nor it won’t because it’s something out of everyone’s control

[Nattx]

Hey, have you heard anything since? I've seen there was an update on the HFEA website that clinics can resume from the 11th May providing that they "can demonstrate that they can provide a safe service for patients and a safe working environment for clinic staff that complies with recommendations from professional guidance." JC aren't on the list of approved clinics yet but still early days so fingers crossed they're added soon!

[Mw050389]

Hey, no nothing yet... I rang the last time my period came and they said I didn’t need to and to just wait for a nurse to ring me... I keep refreshing the HFEA website though 🙈 and will probably ring them again haha

[Nattx]

I'm literally just finishing one so will be annoyed with myself if they ring straight after I finish but knowing my luck they will 🙄😂
Quite a few more have been added since the 11th so it's looking good. They said I wouldn't be pushed back when they do resume but then I'm thinking to myself would it be a good idea to just jump straight back in while this virus is still hanging around.. 🤔

[Mw050389]

Have you seen James Cook has been given the go ahead to start treatment again 😁 hopefully they’ll be in touch with everyone soon 🤞🏻

[Nattx]

Yeah I noticed them on the list, I gave them a call and they said they were still waiting on full approval then they'll be in touch so hopefully it's any day now! Hopefully we get atleast one good thing from this terrible year! 🤞

[Hoping1]

Hi ladies i am also with James cook I rang the other day and said waiting on the trust now to decide when they can go ahead. They also said FET will go first less time in hospital its such a waiting game isnt it its very hard at times. I have it in my head that it be next year then if it sooner be a bonus xxx

[Nattx]

Hi! Yeah I called them too and they said basically the same to me of having to wait until they get the go ahead to start treatments again. I'm excited to get started so it's giving me something to look forward to during these times. Hope you are both doing well x

[Mw050389]

It’s frustrating as hell isn’t it! I’m due on tomorrow and my partner is insisting we phone them! Even though I’ve told him they’re going to ring people when they’re starting back up again. I feel daft ringing knowing what they’re going to say 🤷🏼‍♀️ X

[Hoping1]

@Mw050389 I would ring just say you come on and wanting some info on what is happing they told me to ring everytime I come on for an update xxx

[Nattx]

What's even more frustrating is that when you're a member of a fb page and everyone on there are pretty much posting about starting injections and having egg collections done and we are just sat wondering what's going on 🤷‍♀️ throughout this whole lockdown I do think they could of had more communication with patients especially ones at the top of the waiting list. They've even approved through the HFEA and they only get approved if they have measures in place and can demonstrate safe procedures so they obviously must have these in place? 🙄 xx

[Hoping1]

I get myself really upset that people starting again I feel better if they just give a ruff date xxx

[Mw050389]

@Nattx tell Me about it, on Instagram there’s loads of Americans still getting their treatment and some ul clinics started up again as soon as the government announced they could open! I rang today they said them SamE to me as They did you @hoping1 waiting for risk assessments to be passed and then starting with FETs to minimise footfall, their admin have a list of people who’s treatments were suspended so they will ring when they’re starting others up... but said to ring each time I start a new cycle x

[Hoping1]

Don't get me wrong I am happy for them just wish it was all of us. @Mw050389 pleased you rang do you feel better speaking to i did as they were lovely just didn't have the answer I wanted to hear xxx

[Mw050389]

Yea same, a little... feel like it’s a little baby step forward knowing they’re just waiting on one thing and going start back up, fingers crossed for next cycle!

[Mw050389]

Yea same, a little... feel like it’s a little baby step forward knowing they’re just waiting on one thing and going start back up, fingers crossed for next cycle!

[Nattx]

I was itching to give them a call but since you already have I will just do what they've advised and call when my next cycle is due, I can imagine them being really busy and I fully understand they're doing their best to make everything safe but when you're clueless it does get frustrating. One good thing this break has given me more time to prepare and get myself in the best possible place such as weight/healthy eating and things! Were both of you referred as priority? I was with already going through years of failed treatments at the ACU x

[Mw050389]

I wish I could say the same🙈 since my cycle got cancelled and we’ve been on lockdown I’ve thought fuck it! And just gone for it with food and drink! I’ve cut back and barley drank since they said they were reopening and starting treatments back up again though but I just can’t get my head into gear with a diet! I have such a sweet tooth it’s unreal... we were referred from Hartlepool hospital last year after 3 year of trying so this would have been my first ever round ... will be my first ever round

[Nattx]

Haha that me with exactly the same at the being because there was literally nothing to do apart from eat but busting a button on my wok trousers was the final straw 🤦‍♀️😂
We started off on metformin then added clomid for 6 cycles and failed every time. Had a couple dye tests and then had ovarian drilling done but literally nothing worked so this is basically our last option. This will be our first round of ivf too, I'm so glad I was given short protocol though! It's the injecting myself that will be the hardest, he has said he will do it for me but he's so heavy handed I get images of that going terrible wrong 😂

[Mw050389]

Oh ovarian drilling does not sound pleasant!! They didn’t try me on clomid, just progesterone pessaries for w few months then referred me! I started long protocol, I was injecting buserelin for 2 weeks before they stopped treatments and was just about to start injection for stims and start scans etc... I was so terrified at the thought on injecting but honest to god they are fine!! Little nip sometimes but nowhere near as bad as I was expecting! I done all mine my partner never had to do any, but he liked being there as much as he could when I was doing them x

[Nattx]

It's the drilling in the name that is abit scary but the procedure was pretty much straight forward, it's general anesthetic day surgery so I couldn't remember a thing and didn't have any pain from my ovaries afterwards apart from the actual incisions when getting up and down but the trapped excess gas they use to inflate your stomach for easier access to the ovaries travels up and gets stuck in your shoulders, so painful! 😫 I've started bleeding today so my cycle will probably start full flow tomorrow so I'll give them a ring and see what they say. I bet they're sick of everyone ringing and having to say the same thing 🙈