CRGW

[Jacky83]

Is anyone else on here having treatment with CRGW in South Wales? Just wondering what other people's experiences with them have been.

Hi Ladies

I'm a bit confused re partners having tests? Is this because there are issues re sperm? Do they arrange the tests after the consultation?

@Cat028 Who is Wanda? I looked up the staff and couldn't see this person. I thought Amanda was the person who does the consultations.

@Becbelly
I had a nurse do my scan. Did a doctor do yours (as per your post?)

@Blueron123 I'm pleased everything went well. Hopefully the embryo implantation will also be June?

@Becbelly I'm sorry about the sperm result. It's such a horrible thing to go through. We were in the exact same situation as you but we were so lucky that my husband does produce sperm but he is missing the tubes. It was such a relief when he had the retrieval.
Yes it was Gareth Brown. He's based in the Vale Hospital. We booked everything through him. He arranged for the CRGW embryologist to attend the procedure.
The consultation was from the Llantrisant clinic. Yes there's lots to complete 🥴. They give you two weeks to complete them and then they book you in for a video call with a nurse. I asked if there was any chance of having the appointment during the Easter holidays; the consultant has given us a week's deadline instead of two weeks so hopefully we can have the video call and blood tests over Easter. I work in a school so it's hard to get time off.
The consultant, Amanda, is fab. I emailed her last night and she responded straight away.

@Cat028 I would definitely chase them. I hope you're feeling ok.

@JemInher40s I hope your HSG goes well.

@JemInher40s my husband was sent for a sperm analysis when we first went to the GP.
I think CRGW offer it as well when you have your first appointment. We didn't need it because we have 4 frozen vials.
Yes, hopefully we'll be having a fresh transfer in June. It just depends how many follicles I have. If there are too many then I'll be at risk of OHSS.

Wanda is the name which is used in the infertility world for the internal ultrasound probe thingy!

@Blueron123 oh! Haha re Wanda
My OH had sperm analysis tests in October last year under NHS. Fingers crossed CRGW accept them.

Also, thank you for your well wishes re HSG.

@JemInher40s we were asked by our GP. To take a sample to CRGW when we first started investigations, before we were even referred to the hospital. It turns out that we are male factor infertility after we both had a LOT of tests done. So OH needs to have a sperm retrieval done. They think it's from and operation he had as a child.

Yes she introduced herself as one of the doctors at the until and wasn't in scrubs. She was really nice.

@Blueron123 I was in the llantrisant until yesterday for my scan... really not a fan of Wanda 😂

It's so frustrating. I'm dreading our consult if they say we have to use donor sperm as I don't know how he feels about... won't talk about it as it's not issue at the moment 🙄

@Blueron123 it could have been Amanda I seen yesterday. Was hard to tell with a mask and she did say her name but I didn't catch it. She had brown hair though and looks blonde in her photo on the website.

@Becbelly that's fab news that you'll have the results back in time for the consultation. I'm sorry to hear about your results. Is the sperm retrieval your next option or will the bloods give you more info?

@JemInher40s Sorry! I should have been a bit more specific about Wanda! Didn't mean to confused you! My DP had 2 sperm analyses with the NHS and they accepted them. They wanted the latest one to be in the last 3 months for them to accept it. If not they offered us one at consultation.

@Blueron123 I'm going to ring tomorrow. It'll be 2 weeks since we had the forms then. Fingers crossed they'll be able to give us an idea of when our appointment will be then.

@Cat028 the bloods will let us know his hormone levels and if he is producing sperm. If he is not then I think they are going to tell us to go down the donor route. 😩

When we were with WFI the one consultant advised we go straight to donor but the urologist said that he'd be happy to do the retrieval to see if he did have any. I was taking that as a good sign that there was some hope. So I guess we will see what they say next Saturday 🙄 he has done three samples now. One for the GP, one for the hospital and now one for CRGW. The sperm analyst was included in the consultation price.

Hope you get some answers tomorrow. Busy week for us all this week with tests and phone/video calls.

@Becbelly fingers crossed for some positive news for you. Definitely! Lots going on this week!

Spoke to the Swansea branch today. They said that our consent forms have been looked at and passed by the admin team on Monday and a clinician was looking at them today. Hopefully won't be long until we have a date for a planning meeting. 🤞🏻

@Cat028 fingers crossed you won't have a long wait now! Will you have more treatment in Swansea or is the next step to move to Cardiff or llantrisant?

We bit the bullet and moved our wedding to next April now. If treatment is running along side it then so be it 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Becbelly I'm not sure who our planning meeting with be with. We were told we'd go to Llantrisant only for egg collection and transfer with all our other treatment/monitoring scans done in Swansea.

Big decision! How do you feel about it? I'm sure you'll figure the treatment out whenever it's time for you to get started.

@Cat028 ok about it now it's done. But all the excitement has gone now. If we wouldn't lose so much money I'd just cancel and do something else now I think, like go away and do it 🤷🏼‍♀️

Aw that's good that you don't have far to travel all the time. with WFI I'm so glad we have the heath and Neath would have been to far for us considering DP doesn't drive.

@Becbelly @Blueron123 @Cat028

Hi Ladies, hope you're all doing well.
I had my HSG appointment and was told that my largest fibroid is pressing down on one of my fallopian tubes, which I'm sure you can imagine is a cause for concern.

Regarding my CRGW consultation a few days later, I was told that I only have a 5% chance of conceiving, but no reason why I couldn't be within that percentage. A recommendation of a ICSI/IVF split for several reasons including possible limited access to tube on day of egg retrieval. Approximate treatment start of june/July. I wasn't pushed into anything and was even encouraged to think about things before deciding on treatment. I've been sent the consent forms and text with link for progressing with process.

I need to get further advice on the fibroid and the possible impact it could cause on my fertility journey. Ive had enough of Wanda for the moment, so hoping I can get copies of my previous scans regarding my fibroids and discuss with a consultant.

Seems we all have our various dilemmas with this journey.

On another note, does this site allow for private chats??

@JemInher40s a lot to think about! How are you feeling? I don't think this journey is easy on anyone, especially when you are faced with such tough decisions! I am not a big Wanda fan so getting previous scans is a good sound if you can. If you do decided to start treatment then you know that you don't have to long to wait which is good. Did they tell you what options you had? How did you find the HSG?

I asked the other ladies a while back if there was a private chat option... when I used it years ago when we first started TTC it was on the webpage and I could do it there but can't find how you do it on the app. Plus I think it's more a one to one chat thing. Be nice to have a little private chat just for the four of us.

DP has his bloods done on Wednesday... he didn't ask when they would be back though or the best way to get his results... honestly can't trust him to do anything on his own. I'm dreading them coming back as I don't think it'll be good news. He still won't say how he really feels if we have to use a donor sperm... we'll have that chat when it comes to it he says! 🙄

@Becbelly The HSG itself wasn't too bad, just a bit of discomfort and the feelings one can can expect when you're lying in a room with your legs akimbo with Wanda. Not to mention the male consultant doing the procedure and a nurse holding your hand and trying to distract you by general chit chat. Adding to this, the people behind the screen manoeuvring the xray screens for the consultant. Tbh, my monthly menses are more painful than the HSG!

The surgeon asked if the plan was to remove the fibroids, when I said it was more of a MOT of my womb due to infertility, he just looked sympathetic and told me natural conception would be a challenge and advocated for IVF.

Yes, I agree it would be fab for us four to arrange a private chat.

I hope your DP results come back normal. As we know it only takes one good egg and one sperm, so my fingers are crossed for you both.

@JemInher40s aw I'm sorry, it's just so tough. Looks like we all have different reasons for this journey we are all on, but helps to know that none of us are alone.

At my appointment last week as lady started talking to me outside while we were waiting to go in. She said she had no one to talk to about all this and was nice to open up about it to someone ☹️

I was lucky and had four women at mine. Always more awkward with a male doctor.

Yeah a private group chat I'd probably be more open... I always worry incase someone I know would guess it was me... not that they would probably be on this chat though.

@Becbelly Aw I bet moving the wedding was a downer. Hopefully you'll feel more excited again as it comes closer.
That is good you have the Heath. I'm sure it must make places harder to get to. Sounds very much like my DP! Men!! Hopefully they will give you some good news. I know it's really hard but try not to worry too much until you get the results. Hopefully you'll be able to get it soon. I think our results came back in around a week.

@JemInher40s I'm sorry to hear about the news about your fibroid! I'm glad that the HSG wasn't too bad for you. It was definitely worse than my period! I have heard good things about CRGW and their willingness to try everything to help all women conceive. You are right it only takes one! Finger crossed and baby dust for us all! I'm glad have been open and given you all the information you need to make a decision though. Will you get further advice from CRGW about the fibroid? Agreed! Wanda is no fun!!

I tried chat a little while ago but I think it's only available on the website version. I have been in another group that moved to a private facebook group if everyone fancied that? It's completely hidden from everyone on your page and we could give it a name that has nothing to do with TTC/CRGW.

@Cat028 yes I hope they are back before Saturday next week... consultation day. She said if his levels come back over 25 then there will be unlikely to be sperm. I can't remember what his previous results where... he's had them done three times before.

I'm happy to join a secret Facebook group of others wanted to. I have no idea how to set one up though haha.

@Becbelly @Cat028
I don't have a FB account but happy to set one up in order to join a FB group with you all, including @Blueron123 if you're also up for it.

Okay, I have set up a group. If you search Blooming Daffodils on facebook a group should come up with 1 member. Description - Daffodils are life.

The group is visible for you all to find it but no-one will be able to see you have joined as it's private. I will make it invisible once everyone is in :)

@Becbelly fingers crossed you will hear soon and get the result you are hoping for.

@Cat028 sent request ☺️

@Cat028

Okay, I have set up a group. If you search Blooming Daffodils on facebook a group should come up with 1 member. Description - Daffodils are life.

The group is visible for you all to find it but no-one will be able to see you have joined as it's private. I will make it invisible once everyone is in :)

Evening, I've sent you a PM as I'm unable to find the group in FB.

Hi girls! I hope you're all ok.
@Cat028 have you heard from CRGW yet?