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!

@notyetamumbuttrying Glad the call went well and things seem to be moving a little quicker now.

Will they not be doing a scan on Monday then as well as the AMH and SA? x

@RiverRiot thanks, they didn't say so I've booked my afc scan privately. Will cancel it should Monday be a scan as well! Hope you're ok?! X

We’ve been told to expect scan and bloods and semen analysis at our appointment but appreciate slightly different as we already have funding. Hope all goes ok.

@PeigiSu how long were you told was the wait now that you've got funding? We were told 1-2 months.

@notyetamumbuttrying our funding is for PGD and we are out of area so a bit different but they said to expect to be given the pill to start with next period from our appointment, then scan at 6-9 weeks after being on the pill then start drugs after that so probably about 3 months from our appointment in April as far as I can tell.

@PeigiSu ah I see. Not too bad then. X

Hi everyone

Glad to hear people are still able to go to their appointments, sounds a lot more promising than a few months ago!

@PeigiSu can I ask when it was you were told it would be 3 months to start PGD treatment from initial appointment? Just trying to get an idea for us as we were told 3 months when we saw our genetic counsellor in August 2020 but then when we actually went for our initial appointment with the consultant beginning of Dec 2020 she told us 6-8 months from that appointment so we were absolutely gutted.

I called Guys last week to ask what's happening now after the email I received beginning of lockdown to say some treatments will go on hold as they had to redeploy staff due to Covid but seems more positive reading other people are still having appointments but wondered if they were just initial appointments rather than ones to start treatment?

Guys said they'd call me back within 5 days so I'll update on here once I've spoken to them..... if I speak to them! You know what they are like with communication haha!!!

@Kit82 mine were all initial appointments. Not to start treatment. That won't be for months yet, for me anyway. Hopefully others have positive things to say.

I’m booked in for FET mid March. From the last posts I saw on the PGD group I think they’re giving out May/June egg collection dates at the moment

Thanks ladies

@ThePurpleFairy sorry to sound a bit thick but were the May/June egg collection dates from initial appointments attended end of last year? Or do you mean people who had initial appointments in May/June are now going in for egg collection?

I'd love to join that PGD group, what's it called?

How exciting you have having your FET soon, wishing you lots of luck xxx

@Kit82 I’m just getting that from the information they sent out with the appointment but it’s fairly generic so wouldn’t be surprised if it isn’t accurate and your conversation in December is more on the money.

I guess if they’re giving out May/June egg collection dates now then that does suggest a bit of a backlog but that things are moving? @ThePurpleFairy I didn’t know there was a PGD group. Is it something I can join?

@Kit82 on Facebook it’s called ‘Guys PGD’ lots of women on there and helpful advice. I’m not sure when they had their initial appointments sorry but the May/June is the dates for their egg collections actually taking place

Thanks @ThePurpleFairy

Ah I see, that's great there's a specific page on FB as Ive struggled to find any current threads on here! However, I'm a little apprehensive about joining on Facebook in case it all comes up on my page/profile? I'm guessing it's a private closed group but wondering if when you join it tells people?

Not many people know about our situation, just makes me feel bit uneasy, silly I know, it's not that I'm embarrassed but just a super private person xxx

I've just had a read up about private groups on FB and decided to join. Think my desire for info and support overrides the fact that someone might see I've joined!! Although seems as though no notifications come up anyway, hopefully. Thanks so much @ThePurpleFairy see you on there

@Kit82 I don’t think it shows anywhere on my page that I’ve joined it because it’s closed. I’ve joined a few other groups and I’ve never had anyone say anything to me, we are somewhat secret but then I just think if anyone would go to the lengths to actively look then fine if they’re that nosey 😂 but I don’t think closed groups show up

@PeigiSu sorry I didn’t see your post, yes it’s ‘Guys PGD’ on Facebook, it’s a closed group so you request access and usually you’re let in within a few hours to be honest even pre covid that was the wait, I got my original EC slot for end of June in Feb last year, then it was cancelled in March and rebooked in the July for October

@ThePurpleFairy thanks that’s really helpful. I’m very lucky in that I’ve actually got a few life reasons why later in the year might suit us a little better (potential new job, age gap and free childcare hours, best friend’s wedding) anyway so I guess just wait and see and we’ll take what we’re given regardless! I know we’re so lucky to feel like that when other people are desperate.

Hi everyone

Hope you’re all well

i’m 8 weeks since my funding forms got sent off and hoping i hear something soon! other ladies in my area have had theirs approved recently and it took 6 weeks

Xx

@Welshpea ooh that's good to hear! Hope you hear soon then 🤞🏾

Hi again

Hope this gives you some positive. I know some of you submitted funding at the same time as me. I got my approval today and my first appointment is 29th March which is super quick.

Hope you get an email soon !

Hi Everyone,

Hope you're all ok, sorry I've been radio silence just lately, been a difficult time family wise but am returning home early next week - looking forward to getting back to normal!

I sent an email to Guys a couple of weeks ago as I had no feedback on our male & female questionnaires we completed online around the end of Jan & a lovely lady phoned me after a few days to say we should get an appointment within 2-4 months.

@Welshpea that's great news about your appointment, definitely gives me hope that other people are progressing!

We submitted our funding in September and got a phone call in December saying it had been accepted and they made our initial appointment for 1st Feb which was cancelled in Jan due to the pandemic. I then sent an email on Tuesday last week and they offered me an appointment for yesterday! We re-did all of our tests and went through lots of form filling and protocols etc. She said their times from initial appointment to starting treatment is currently six weeks and then depending on your cycle so we’re super excited again and now on the 6 week countdown to get started! I’m glad to hear that everything is moving again for you all too

@Etonmess20

Sorry to hear you’ve been having a bad time. Hope everything gets better

Those forms you queried are the ones i sent. I sent them on 7th January so Id hope you’d hear something in the next few weeks🤞

@Welshpea we are getting there now thank you!

Ooooh exciting, just checked & ours were sent back 28th January so really hoping we're not too far behind you!
Is it a virtual or phone appointment or have they requested you go into the hospital (if you don't mind me asking)?

@Etonmess20

It’s one at the hospital it says a clinical appointment which is with a doctor and takes 1 hour. It says to bring proof of identity and both of you need to attend

says about going through medical history and going through treatment too