How long does referral take? (Exeter)

[Jadebons]

Hi all,
I have just been referred to Exeter Fertility by my doc and am awaiting my letter with an appointment.
I am also ridiculously impatient (which is exactly the right personality trait to have when TTC ).
Anyone had any recent experiences in this area and can tell me roughly how long they waited?

Thanks :)

If I remember correctly they called back within a month or so

@Viletta Thank you so much! Here’s hoping!

Hi I'm with Exeter Fertility now, it was only a month from the hospital sending referral to our first appointment at the clinic. Last appointment at our local hospital was mid August first at the clinic was end of September. Things moved really quickly after that. Good luck x

Thank you so much! I’m hoping it will be nice and quick for us too! Best of luck with your journey hun. Rooting for ya! X

Thanks Jade you too! I had egg retrieval yesterday and going back in for transfer next week so keeping everything crossed for a successful cycle 🤞🏼 x

Awesome! Fingers crossed for lots of good ones for you love!! Xx

Hello ladies
I am also under the Exeter fertility

Hope everything is going well for you both. Be great to share some stories on here

@Lizzybee80
Hey, that would be great. I’ve just had my referral letter through so I have my first appointment booked for the 30th. Eek! What about you?
@lucyinthe how was your egg retrieval and everything? Are you in the 2ww now? X

Yes it’s nice to be able to chat to likeminded people as I haven’t really discussed much, or anything at all with friends or family.

@jadebons that’s good you’ve received your referral letter. Hope it all goes well. First appts can feel quite daunting but I came out of ours relatively positive that one way we’ll be able to achieve our family 🤞🏽

We were referred in Aug, had first appt in Sept now just going through the processes.
I’m booked in for a laparoscopy tomorrow and feeling a bit apprehensive but hoping all goes well.

Yes Lucy hope progress is good for you too. X

Hi! My test day is this Sunday but had cramps, backache and spotting today so not feeling very positive. But we have 2 embryos in the freezer so we can go again if this round hasn't worked.

Egg collection was a lot more painful than I thought! And progesterone pessaries have made me feel awful the last 2 weeks but everything else has been pretty straight forward. Had a bad headache for a few days when I was on buserelin for down reg but that eased off as soon as I started doing the menopur jabs.

Good luck to both of you ❤️❤️

@Lizzybee80
I imagine this journey can sometimes feel pretty lonely without a support system!
How was your lap? I have a weird feeling that I will have one of those too, am already dreading it. At least they knock you out I suppose? 🤷🏻‍♀️ Xx

@lucyinthe
Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that love. I suppose there is still a chance that it could be positive? At least you have enough embryos for round 2 - am I right in thinking that in this part of the country we only get 1 free go on the NHS?

Bah, sounds like a right cocktail of meds, no wonder you felt awful.

All this will be worth it in the end when we have our little ones ❤️❤️

@lucyinthe Try and remain hopeful, they can be signs of early pregnancy too! I have everything crossed for it being positive for you! Must be super nerve wracking waiting for that test.
Aw that sounds tough- I said to my partner yesterday they so obviously get the easy part in all of this!

Yes it’s sadly only one round under this CCG. Unlike the recommended 3 cycles set out by the nice guidelines.
I know some places don’t even fund one :(
Exeter don’t do payment plans do they??

@jadebons My Lap went ok thank you. Feeling a bit sore but nothing I can’t manage, they found and removed some endometriosis (which explains a lot about my pain) but everything else was healthy so that’s a positive. If you’ve gotta have one, you’ll be fine. Just feel a bit rubbish for a few days and like a big ballon that needs popping! 😂

@Lizzybee80 Glad it went ok! It’s so good that they can perform procedures at the same time - wahoo! See ya later endometriosis.
I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 16 (specifically ‘a significant amount of cysts on both ovaries’) so who knows if they can get rid of those - I have no idea what a ‘significant amount’ is or if that’s removable in a lap!? I suppose I will find that out in due course.
Have they told you what the next stage is after this? X

@jadebons Thank you. Yeah pleased they managed to treat that whilst checking out everything else!

Have you been on treatment for PCOS? I thought they could medicate it if you want to get pregnant to stimulate ovulation? I don’t know that much about surgical options to be fair.
We are awaiting a follow up letter as my partner had some bloods done too. So hopefully that’ll come soon. 🤞🏽
I like to think we’ve ticked a lot of boxes so can move swiftly onto the next steps.

X

@Lizzybee80
Yeah they can medicate, I’ve been in Metformin for 4 months and it hasn’t made any difference hence the referral. There is another option for medication, called Clomid, but they haven’t offered me that - maybe they will, who knows!?

Things seem to move pretty quickly in fertility treatment which is fantastic. Please let me know what the outcome is!!!! Xx

@Jadebons Yeah I can imagine they’ll try another form of medication for you if the Metformin hadn’t worked. There must be a few other avenues to try meds wise.
You’ll have to keep me updated on your progress too.
Good luck for your first appointment- that’ll come around pretty quickly now!

I’ll definitely keep you posted :) x

Hello ladies

Just thought I’d pop a message on here to see how you are and how things are going.

@Jadebons how did your first appointment go? Hope things are moving swiftly in the right direction for you.

@lucyinthe Hope everything is well for you too.

I’m about 20 days away from starting my Down regulation meds now ( day 1 of my period yesterday) so all systems go very soon. Currently have an unusual mixture of nerves and excitement at the same time.

X

@Lizzybee80
Hello love!

Yes, all good here, am just still waiting for a date for my lap and dye. It's been nearly 2 months now so I'm hoping it won't be too much longer.

Ah down reg meds, that's exciting. How are they administered? Glad to hear that you're feeling excited (I think nerves is normal). It's really important to stay hopeful! How long does an IVF cycle take? X

@Jadebons
Glad all is well with you! It took roughly a couple months for me to get a date for mine too so hopefully you should receive something in the post any day day now. 🤞🏽

How are you feeling about it?

The first set of down regs are taken orally. Then I’ll have a scan to confirm it’s all quiet and down regulated before they start stimulation.
It did feel super overwhelming our first family planning appointment, information overload! I’ve had a good read of all the info and feel so much better.
Roughly the timeline of the process is 9-10 weeks, give and take dependent on how my body reacts to the meds. Hopefully all goes well.. we’ll know by the end of April whether or not it was successful.
Yeah we are trying to stay positive and remain hopeful it’ll work 🤞🏽🤞🏽
Xxxxx

@Lizzybee80

Oh that’s good, shouldn’t boo much longer. I’m feeling ok about it. I hate operations but it’s hopefully going to be worth it!!!

Wow, it’s crazy what they can do now isn’t it? 9-10 weeks, hopefully it all goes smoothly and you feel ok! April doesn’t sound too far away does it!??? Won’t be long xxx

Hello ladies

Hope this finds you all well and coping ok in the current crazy climate.

Were your cycles postponed due to covid?
We had ours cancelled in April- was a massive blow. Been waiting in anticipation since hoping they’ll open back up soon.
I keep getting told to just phone in with my day one :(

Have you heard anymore?

Xxx

@Lizzybee80
Hello hun!
Mental isn't it? All ok here, I hope you are too!

Well I was still waiting for my Lap, which has been postponed obviously and the hospitals can't seem to indicate when they are going to start routine procedures again so who knows! I'm hoping that by the end of this year I may have had it???

Fertility Exeter hasn't reopened yet has it? Have you heard anything? Xxx

@BonBons0

Hello again!

Glad you’re doing well.
Yes doing ok thank you, managed to still work during this time which has been really helpful! Esp on the fertility side, keep my mind as busy as poss!

Sorry to bear your lap was postponed. Hopefully you’ll hear back soon. I did hear they are slowly starting up routine operations again but may take a bit of time as some things will take priority. I’m sure by the end of the year you’ll of definitely had it done.

It’s such a difficult waiting game isn’t it?!
Just want some kind of indication as of when. The HFEA website posted a link of clinics that have had authorisation to re-open, and Exeter is one! I presume they are preparing it to re-open?!

I’ve just been told every time they can’t give us a date yet, but as we had already started the cycle, that it would be prioritised.
I keep hearing conflicting things though so who knows! Very frustrating!

Xxx