IVF HAMMERSMITH

[CarolynB]

Mags

We must have only just missed you as we were there so blimin early as well.

I have to say that me & dh thought that Mr Trew was more down to earth & practical than Mr Magara. Shame you have to wait so long but will give you plenty of time to prepare all your questions & get yourself ready.

I think that a consultation is like around £150. Ask if you can pay and see Mr Trew sooner but they may want all the test results before it is worthwhile anyway. You cannot do any harm by asking.

Terrific that you might be able to get 2 cycles on nhs. No joy for us there as I am 40.

Had my 3rd session of acupuncture today. Hope that it is doing me some good. He has given me some weird herbs to drink during my AF. Looks totally disgusting but he claims that it will clean out my system and so the lining will be better. Today as well as the needles, I had a funny little heater over my tummy. Well weird but I am beyond caring. He was telling me that Hammersmith used to be very much controlled by Winston and Magara was his second in command. Trew & Lavery were the youngsters. He said that with Winston no longer on the scene and Magara moving on that Hammersmith were more open to newer ideas as Trew & Lavery are younger and keener to up there game. Just one persons view but thought that you would be interested to hear.

Keep us posted.
Carolyn xxx

Lola - hope that studying is not too shocking

Vicki - awaiting word & extensive de-brief from the impending 2nd agent to visit next week

[CarolynB]

Dear All

Thought that you might be interested in this piece in The Times today which my dh found on number of embryos to transfer and recent stats if you have not seen already.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 95,00.html

Have a nice weekend.
Carolyn xx

[margaretgo]

Hi Carolyn

Thanks for the info on Mr Trew - I must stay Mr Margara did go at break-neck speed - at one point I had to stop him to write down instructions for various appointments etc.

I'll definately call to try to move consultation forward to just after my tests. Should save me a couple of months and for £150 seems very much worth it.

Brilliant article also - my DH woke me up this morning as they were reporting similar stuff on BBC Breakfast.

I'm facinated by the success rates and trying to interpret them. The fact that Hammersmith has a zero triplet birth rate seems like another reason to stay with them - if their figures are ased on transferring 2 embs. ARGC must have been putting 3 embs in up until regs changed which is bound to boost their figures - would suggest that Hammersmith looks after the ones they do put in pretty well???

Can't wait to see more recent stats.

mx

[CarolynB]

Hi Hammers

Mags- Good to hear that you are through your first appointment. Any joy in getting your next appointment moved forward?
Do let us know.

Vicki - Think that your date with Mr Trew is either tomorrow or Tuesday. Good luck. Will be looking out for a full de-brief. Hope that he can give you some answers to all your questions

Lola - sure that you are busy with your head in books - hope study not too shocking for you -and in this nice weather - how dam cruel

I am off to curl up on sofa with dh and watch a back episode of the West Wing!

Have a good week everyone.
Carolyn xxxxxx

[poochie]

Hello

My appointment with Trew is Tuesday 13.20, I will debrief you all once returned from my mission. My questions are already typed up and I don't have as many as I thought I would, however I'm sure once i'm in there I will talk the guy to death.

I'm very chilled about Tuesday, I've had a lovely week with dh hes head of sixform so had week off and since I don't work anyway we've had the whole week to do whatever we fancied and it was fab!

Take care

Vicki X

[CarolynB]

Vicki

You sound in great frame of mind.

Hope that you have a good session tomorrow.

Best of Luck.
Carolyn xxxxxx

[lolajones]

Hey 'smiths

Good luck Vicki for your appointment - hope all goes to plan and looking forward to the debrief. Sounds like a lovely week you've just had.
Mags, Carolyn hope you're both well, enjoying the london sunshine.
I'm stuck in my study booth of crappy doom, exam is a week today aarrgghhh. Time seems to be dragging, it's still ages until my follow up appointment... hmmmm. Hurry Up!

take it easy

lola
x

[Vickyp]

Hi all

I am a success story from Hammersmith - actually just about to write my thank you letter as I had a little boy 5 weeks ago!

I thought (and I promise I would say this even if I hadn't been successful) they were fantastic. I am with Stuart Lavery who has been sensitive and extremely clear throughout. I am a bit of a weird case as I have a lot of breast cancer in my family and am at a familial cancer clinic at Guys. Mr Fentiman who I see there was not keen on me doing IVF at all due to the large amounts of oestrogen involved.

I had many long chats with him and Lavery and we finally decided to do some natural cycles (after much investigation). Did 3 cycles but each time something went wrong with egg fertilisation and I never had an embryo to put back.

After these three attempts I phoned Lavery and said I was prepared to take the risk and try a 'normal' cycle of IVF with all the hormones to which he replied that he had been reading about a clinical study that had just been done in America where they used a drug called Letrozole on women who had had breast cancer and were about to undergo chemo but still wanted children. Letrozole is an anti-cancer drug which reduces oestrogen but also stimulates the ovaries so was not deemed to be a risk to these ladies.

Anyway to cut a long story very slightly shorter he suggested we try this. I was obviously over the moon about this until I discovered that in fact Letrozole reduces your oestrogen so much that I would have to have any resulting embryos frozen for three months till my levels were normal before having any thawed and put back. This completley shattered any hopes I had - particularly as it was decided that the embryos should be frozen immediately (Day 1) as this gives them the greatest chance of survival (it also however means that you have no idea of the quality of the embryo.

My cycle was really successful and resulted in us having 7 embies to freeze (this was fantastic never having had any before). I then spent the three months reading about how unsuccessful FET is!! - but did transfer in August last year. We thawed 3 embies and two survived - they were put back two days after thaw and were absolutely minute at 2 & 3 cells (another reason I was convinced it was all for nothing).

Had pregnancy scan 10 days later and found out the following day that that I was pregnant and that the HCG (can't remember if thats the stuff now) was 164 which was good and strong. Absolutely could not believe it and still can't - even though Oliver is asleep strapped to me now in his carrier.

I found everyone at Hammersmith helpful and sensitive without being too 'caring and sharing' if you know what I mean - I particularly like Anna Carby who I saw a lot of and who did my EC and ET. I can't recommend it highly enough and wanted to wish all you there lots of luck and some reassurance that you are at a top notch hospital who are large enough to have the ability to try new things and are constantly researching new protocols 'in house'.

Right hope your all well and Good Luck again - lots of love Vicky

[lolajones]

Hi Vicky

Thanks so much for posting. And congratulations on young mister Oliver! I'm with Mr Lavery and I agree with your opinion, he was very kind (but reassuringly realistic) when I had my ectopic. I am not going to change clinics.
So, I guess we'll be seeing you on the pastel couches of hope for baby number two at some point.....?
Take care Vicky

Love, Lola
x

[margaretgo]

Hi All!

No luck paying for a private consultation only and continuing on NHS - was told by the very grumpy receptionist that this was not possible. Anyone else experienced her rather confrontational style!? I will try for a cancellation - but was told I would be "wasting their time" to book one before having tests - true but perhaps a little blunt!

Also turns out I'm with Mr Basoum and not Mr Trew as I was told previously. Anyone had any experience of him?

Vicky - lovely to hear your story - inspiring me to keep the faith!

mxxx

[CarolynB]

Vicky - so heartwarming to read a nice story about Hammersmith. Thanks for sharing & huge congratulations on your little boy

I have a friend who is a midwife and she was v positive about Hammersmith with me at the weekend too - she said like you that they are big enough to do lots of research & try different things. She is also pretty realistic as she has suffered 3 miscarriages herself so would certainly not say that to me if she did not believe it to be true

Mags - sorry have not heard about your consultant at all. may be he is coming on board now that Magara is retiring. You could always google saerch on his name if you have not done so already and see if any interesting research comes up - may be worth a try. Sorry that you could not get review moved forward but they will need all the test results so that they can get a good picture of you & then recommend tmt

Lola - read on Octo thread that you are having a rough time. Sending you big hugs girl. Hope that the study will pay off for you - the very best of luck for your exam next week - go to it Dr Jones - days ticking down til your review

Vicki - awaiting news of your session with Mr Trew today - I hope that you had a good & information meeting

Love to all.
Carolyn xxxx

[margaretgo]

Nothing coming up on the internet for Mr Bansoum as yet... As my tests will be done by mid July (I realise of course that they need the results before my next appointment )- If I'm lucky enough to get a cancellation I could save a couple of precious months.

mx

[margaretgo]

Just checked the spelling and it's Mr Barsoum - still nothing on Google - he's actually a Fertility Specialist rather than a consultant at Hammersmith so now I'm nervous!

[lolajones]

Oi oi

Mags - Mr Barsoum-Derias is his full name, he is a consultant in fertility and reproductive medicine, just like Mr Trew and Mr Lavery. He used to work at the Liverpool Womens Hospital. I don't know any more than that but please don't worry. I can't see the rest of the team there recruiting some old duffer - bad for their figures and rep! Sure everything will be fine.

Carolyn, cheers, I'm ok, was just feeling a bit sad about the pregnancy. Am still locked away in word jail but am preparing for my escape by copious use of one of those "build up a light tan by using our moisturiser" thingys - do they work? I just look sort of jaundiced....
Hope you're ok and enjoying the gorgeous weather here in the Camden Riviera.

Vicki how did consult go? Hope everything fine.

Keep it locked amigos

Lola
x

[margaretgo]

Lola,

Thanks for the info. Hammersmith Staff lists him as a Fertility Specialist but he must have been promoted or something. Phew! That's a relief.

And incidentally I think those tan moisturizers are pretty good - much more natural than the Dale Winton-esque effects of traditional self tan - and mistakes don't show as much.

mxxx