IVF at Guy's & St. Thomas' & general process/timeline

[Lill02]

Hi all,

This is my first ever post, but I've been following for a while. :)

After having all the usual tests, including a hycosy and hysteroscopy, we were diagnosed with unexplained infertility a while ago. We have now finally waited long enough to be eligible for IVF on the NHS. We've got an appointment back at Guy's & St. Thomas' tomorrow (we had to see the GP and ask to be referred back as we've now waited the required time frame).
I'm not 100% sure what will happen tomorrow, but I'm basically hoping they will agree we've waited the required time and suggest we get the ball rolling for IVF, i.e. fill in our funding application, etc. I'm really hoping this will happen, I can't face being sent away again after we've waited so long...
What have your experiences been? Does that sound like realistic next steps? Has anyone been at Guy's & St. Thomas' and can share their timeline?

Thank you!

After a mini break down & sobbing fit this morning it seems the ACU units ears must have been burning! I received this text to enter details for myself & my partner to receive further info/questionnaire via email!
Feels like the little bit of progress I needed today

@Etonmess20

After a mini break down & sobbing fit this morning it seems the ACU units ears must have been burning! I received this text to enter details for myself & my partner to receive further info/questionnaire via email! Feels like the little bit of progress I needed today

Hi @Etonmess20 are you able to keep me updated on the survey? I was referred in November and was told a couple weeks ago that the wait for first contact is 4 months and I didn't receive the survey text you did so I am a little upset to see it. I wonder who is getting these texts. Wishing you good luck with everything xx

Hi @Vparisi yes of course, the link was very basic info like mine & my partners names, date of birth & email addresses. It then said they would be in touch via email (haven't received anything yet)
Seems strange they would text some patients but not others - will let you know if I hear anything more
Are you currently awaiting IVF for unexplained infertility? Just wondering if differences in our circumstances could explain it perhaps x

@Etonmess20

Hi *@Vparisi* yes of course, the link was very basic info like mine & my partners names, date of birth & email addresses. It then said they would be in touch via email (haven't received anything yet) Seems strange they would text some patients but not others - will let you know if I hear anything more Are you currently awaiting IVF for unexplained infertility? Just wondering if differences in our circumstances could explain it perhaps x

Thanks @Etonmess20 . Actually 1 hour after I posted this comment I got an email for an appointment next Wednesday! So strange and surprising. And no not unexplained as I have no tubes. Good luck with getting yours soon!

@Vparisi their ears must have been double burning!!! So glad you've got an appointment, makes such a difference to have had some contact doesn't it? Feel like you've got something to aim for again
When is your appointment scheduled for, if you don't mind me asking?
Also nice for me to see that (hopefully) they're now beginning to book stuff in & get going again!

[quote Etonmess20]@Vparisi their ears must have been double burning!!! So glad you've got an appointment, makes such a difference to have had some contact doesn't it? Feel like you've got something to aim for again
When is your appointment scheduled for, if you don't mind me asking?
Also nice for me to see that (hopefully) they're now beginning to book stuff in & get going again! [/quote]
Yes such a difference! Definitely inspires some more positivity! Next Wednesday at 2pm :) much sooner than I thought!

@Vparisi I've just reread your original message & you did say it was Wednesday sorry!! Ignore me!!
Is it a face to face or phone/zoom?

So sorry about AF @Etonmess20 but also so pleased things are moving forward for you and @Vparisi! That’s excellent news!

A little update from me. So I also got myself into a bit of a tiz and thought “You know what, I’m not bloody happy about this” so I emailed Guys explaining everything that had happened thus far and that I wanted my case reviewed. Well to my surprise they called me this morning and have booked me in for a repeat consult and scan tomorrow!

The Dr did make clear that they are fully booked and are squeezing me in so thankfully I’m not taking up anyone else’s much needed appointment space.

Now my question is, as I’m actually going in this time are they going to weigh me? 😬

@RiverRiot well done!! Tomorrow is a fab turnaround! Is this your first appointment with them? If so, I reckon you will be weighed! My bmi is currently 29.2 and according to guys website they want it under 29...I'm losing weight currently and just hope I lose enough before my appointment in feb! (22nd).

@RiverRiot amazing news! Shame you need to stamp your feet to have that happen but sometimes you've got to do what you've got to do! Hope tomorrow goes well for you!
They may well weigh you by the sounds of things! I had heard of BMI under 30 but not under 29, lucky mine is under (only just mind 😂!) I'm also on the weight loss wagon though, never realised how much emotional eating I did with the stress of all this!
Just had an email with questionnaires for my partner & I to fill in, also mentions having ID so seems funding related but also states it will ask extremely personal questions so not to use a work laptop!
Just waiting for the boring teams call I am on to finish then I am going to give filling it in a go!

Just completed the questionnaires sent via email and questions were relatively simple, included uploading ID & proof of address for funding purposes as well as medical questions.
My only worry is it asked for test results from previous hospitals but surely as my previous hospital referred me to ACU they have all the details of investigations they've done already?
I also don't have copies of results so haven't uploaded anything, hopefully all my notes have gone through but it's got me worried!

Hi @notyetamumbuttrying

I’m not sure if this counts as my first or second consult. The first one was over the phone and was a bit of a disaster so this is a repeat of that really but also (hopefully) looking more closely at my uterine lining.

Well done on the weight loss, it’s never easy! I’m pretty sure when I spoke with them in Dec they said BMI had to be under 30 and I’ve just checked their website which seems to say they same so already looks like you’re under that. 🥳

That’s great news @Etonmess20 does that mean you’ve already had all the tests and know what the potential ‘cause’ is? Sorry I don’t know a more polite way of asking that question! But ask because if they could’ve seen my tubes were blocked they said I would move on to IVF but obvs now have to wait til HSGs, lap and dyes etc. are back up and running by which point I’ll be entitled to IVF anyway.

@RiverRiot I've had a HyCoSy, blood tests & 6 rounds of clomid (including tracking scans) as well as my partner having had two semen tests done & everything has come back fine so we're very much unexplained.
I'll be really frustrated if they don't have my notes already!
Were you treated elsewhere before being referred to ACU?

@Etonmess20 Ah literally just seen your update as I posted. I would have thought that they’d forward them on but it’s always good to have your own copies as well, including SA results.

Your other hospital and your GP should both be able to give you copies and you can email them separately to Guys and ask them to attach the results to your file or upload them if that option is still available to you.

@RiverRiot thank you for the advice, I've just emailed the hospital to see if they will send my results across. As you say, you'd fully expect they send your notes across with your referral but you never know do you!

I've already finished the questionnaire as it said not to delay completion while sourcing information so I'll have to get in contact with them to find out where I can send it to once it comes through!

@RiverRiot they've replied straight back to say everything was sent at time of referral!

@RiverRiot oh how odd. When I looked it said under 29 which is why I mentioned it as I know the ccg says 30. Will look again! I'd say you will get weighed then as you're physically going in. Good luck! Hope all goes well

@Etonmess20 Crikey they are on the ball today! Good idea to check with them direct.

In answer to your earlier question I’d had bloods and a referral from my GP. Oh and a scan organised by them too but Guys will be/are the first hospital I’m treated by.

@RiverRiot I'll see if I can find an email address to get in contact & check they do actually have everything that was done previously
Ah fair enough, you'll have to let us know ho it goes tomorrow! Hopefully they give a better experience in person than they did over the phone!

Thanks! @notyetamumbuttrying. I’ll try to double check for you tomorrow (amongst the circa 100 other questions I’ve written down to ask 🙈) and let you know what the Dr says.

@Etonmess20 Oh sorry I thought you meant Guys emailed you back straight away. If you need their email it’s ivf.info.gstt.nhs.uk

And thanks will let you know, fingers crossed it’ll be better. Also my partner has done a LOT more research this time (he was blissfully ignorant before, like a lot of men I suppose, ha) so he’ll also be able to help ask the right questions and things which makes me feel better too.

Haha 😂 @RiverRiot bless you, thank you ☺️ I really hope it goes well!

@RiverRiot I think my partner needs to do a bit of reading around it as well, I think we've both been in a bit of denial about it all until now but it's becoming more real. You spend so long blocking it out of your mind as "negativity" that it'll get this far but then it does & you're like "oh I know nothing about this whole process"
Thank you for the email address, I'm hopeful it was a one size fits all questionnaire & they do actually have my results but will ask them.
I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't hear more until my funding is approved now, I read somewhere upto 6 weeks for a decision but I'm hopeful it's a very simple choice as we seem to fit the guidelines
Good idea about writing the questions down by the way, I tend to remember all my questions after the appointment so that's a tip I may steal in future!

@Etonmess20 Oh I’m totally with you on the whole ‘head in the sand’ thing.

I highly recommend ‘Get a Life: His & Hers Survival Guide to IVF’. The list of questions idea came from there and if you need any proof of its effectiveness on my partner the last time I did an OPK he said “But we don’t know if you’re at the start or end of your surge so we better dtd now”. 👀👀 😂

Fingers crossed for your consult and funding soon. 🤞🏼

@RiverRiot oooh I'll have a look on Amazon for that book, we definitely need to learn more & get in the best position to begin treatment when the time comes.
Hahaha I love the knowledge they pick up, my partner is very interested in it all "solid smiley, solid smiley" 😂😂
Really hopeful for you & your next steps, so nice to have people going through things at the same time to talk to, especially at the same hospital!