Hi Girls
I am sure that there is someone on here who has asked this question before but here goes........
Is there anyone on here at the ARGC?
What do you think of it as a clinic??
I am fed up with all my disasters and have read a lot about Taranissi and am thinking of moving here.
They come across quite snooty on the telephone, also, I read the brochure and it seems to have a lot of references to waiting lists to be seen initially and follow up post failure.
I am not patient and do not relish the idea of moving somewhere that is going to drive me bonkers through waiting even if it is brill!
Can you guys let me know your feelings on this place please??
Has anyone had any experience of Donor Sperm....quality, amount and availablility of characteristics??
Thanks in advance
JenFxx
ARGC
Hi Jen
I'm at the ARGC and have mixed views on the place, though it's my first time and I have nothing much to compare it with. I did go to my local hospital in Bath for all the diagnostic stuff to find out why we couldn't conceive and I think they were a bit more human in Bath and had more time for people, but I'm not sure how it would be once you start on the process. We went with the ARGC because they have the best results in the country and I had also read a lot about Mr Taranissi, who I have to admit I've got on a bit of a pedestal. We waited about 8 weeks, I think, for an initial consultation, but could have started pretty much straight away after that (we didn't for other reasons). I was very naive and thought I could just phone up and make an appointment but the most important thing is to get the form sent off (and the deposit, of course) and then they send you an appointment - that'll teach me to skim read letters!
So here are my impressions, having been with them for a couple of months now. Things I'm impressed with:
Attention to detail and personalisation of treatment - they monitor you for a month first to see what your cycle is like normally and you really do get the impression that they tailor the treatment exactly to suit your body. This may be true in other places too, but they seem to take it to the limit here. For example, yesterday I went for a scan and blood test to see if I was ready to start my stim injections and they wouldn't decide which stim medication to put me on until they'd seen all the test results and even then they made me wait another extra day (I've already been waiting since Fri) because my hormone levels weren't quite 100% what they'd want.
The involvement of Mr Taranissi - although I've only met him once, briefly, when he happened to be passing at our initial consultation, I do feel as though "the hand of God" (told you I had him on a pedestal!) is involved in my treatment. I know that he looks at every single person's test results every day (I've seen the huge pile of files on his desk) to monitor progress and decide whether their treatment should be tweaked in some way. This is what they attribute their success to.
Their efficiency - they seem to be treating a hell of a lot of people at the same time and they've got a pretty smooth running process without too much waiting around. Mind you I get there for mid-morning because I travel a long way - I don't know what it would be like going for first thing in the morning scans before everyone goes to work.
Things I'm irritated by:
Feeling like I'm on a conveyor belt - because they treat so many people and have worked out such a smooth system which works for them, I can't help feeling like I'm being processed and it's not very warm or reassuring. They're friendly enough (mostly) when you interact people but there isn't an awful lot of interaction. I imagine the whole system would fall to bits if everyone stopped for a long chat but it still annoys me.
Lack of information - it's part of the same thing really, they don't seem to have a lot of time, so tell you things on a "need to know basis". So you have a scan, get sent round to Harley St (which does make me feel a bit posh!) for a blood test and then wait for someone to ring you that afternoon with instructions. No indication of what's happening, what they're looking for in the blood tests, what the next course of action might be etc. I'm the sort of person who needs to understand what's happening so it drives me bonkers. I've started thinking of questions to ask and making sure I've got a reasonable understanding of what's happening and I'm getting less frustrated about it. Also I think you just get used to not being in control at all after a while, which is a big thing to deal with in IVF.
I think what it boils down to is that I have a lot of faith in their technical ability and that's what I've chosen them for. Their "bedside manner" might leave a bit to be desired but in the end I think it's the technical skill which will deliver the goods. I'd rather have brilliant but a bit cold than all warm and lovely but second rate!
Hope that helps and good luck whatever you decide
Caroline
I'm at the ARGC and have mixed views on the place, though it's my first time and I have nothing much to compare it with. I did go to my local hospital in Bath for all the diagnostic stuff to find out why we couldn't conceive and I think they were a bit more human in Bath and had more time for people, but I'm not sure how it would be once you start on the process. We went with the ARGC because they have the best results in the country and I had also read a lot about Mr Taranissi, who I have to admit I've got on a bit of a pedestal. We waited about 8 weeks, I think, for an initial consultation, but could have started pretty much straight away after that (we didn't for other reasons). I was very naive and thought I could just phone up and make an appointment but the most important thing is to get the form sent off (and the deposit, of course) and then they send you an appointment - that'll teach me to skim read letters!
So here are my impressions, having been with them for a couple of months now. Things I'm impressed with:
Attention to detail and personalisation of treatment - they monitor you for a month first to see what your cycle is like normally and you really do get the impression that they tailor the treatment exactly to suit your body. This may be true in other places too, but they seem to take it to the limit here. For example, yesterday I went for a scan and blood test to see if I was ready to start my stim injections and they wouldn't decide which stim medication to put me on until they'd seen all the test results and even then they made me wait another extra day (I've already been waiting since Fri) because my hormone levels weren't quite 100% what they'd want.
The involvement of Mr Taranissi - although I've only met him once, briefly, when he happened to be passing at our initial consultation, I do feel as though "the hand of God" (told you I had him on a pedestal!) is involved in my treatment. I know that he looks at every single person's test results every day (I've seen the huge pile of files on his desk) to monitor progress and decide whether their treatment should be tweaked in some way. This is what they attribute their success to.
Their efficiency - they seem to be treating a hell of a lot of people at the same time and they've got a pretty smooth running process without too much waiting around. Mind you I get there for mid-morning because I travel a long way - I don't know what it would be like going for first thing in the morning scans before everyone goes to work.
Things I'm irritated by:
Feeling like I'm on a conveyor belt - because they treat so many people and have worked out such a smooth system which works for them, I can't help feeling like I'm being processed and it's not very warm or reassuring. They're friendly enough (mostly) when you interact people but there isn't an awful lot of interaction. I imagine the whole system would fall to bits if everyone stopped for a long chat but it still annoys me.
Lack of information - it's part of the same thing really, they don't seem to have a lot of time, so tell you things on a "need to know basis". So you have a scan, get sent round to Harley St (which does make me feel a bit posh!) for a blood test and then wait for someone to ring you that afternoon with instructions. No indication of what's happening, what they're looking for in the blood tests, what the next course of action might be etc. I'm the sort of person who needs to understand what's happening so it drives me bonkers. I've started thinking of questions to ask and making sure I've got a reasonable understanding of what's happening and I'm getting less frustrated about it. Also I think you just get used to not being in control at all after a while, which is a big thing to deal with in IVF.
I think what it boils down to is that I have a lot of faith in their technical ability and that's what I've chosen them for. Their "bedside manner" might leave a bit to be desired but in the end I think it's the technical skill which will deliver the goods. I'd rather have brilliant but a bit cold than all warm and lovely but second rate!
Hope that helps and good luck whatever you decide
Caroline
Hi Jen
I too am at ARGC and all of what Caroline says is true.However I have been with them since 2000 when they were very quiet and got to know a lot of the staff. They are actually really friendly when they are not busy(whenever that is!!)
Mr T has gort a sense of humour as well once you get to know him!
i think they don't give you much info because they don't know what is going on until they check your results so they dont waste time speculating.
As long as you can accept that you will not be in control for any of your cycle you will be in good hands. They also dont let you start until all is 100% right which is annoying but miles better thatn goinhthrough the whole think and getting a negative result.
Why dont you make an apppointment and go along for a chat.
good luck whatever you decide
Ellie
I too am at ARGC and all of what Caroline says is true.However I have been with them since 2000 when they were very quiet and got to know a lot of the staff. They are actually really friendly when they are not busy(whenever that is!!)
Mr T has gort a sense of humour as well once you get to know him!
i think they don't give you much info because they don't know what is going on until they check your results so they dont waste time speculating.
As long as you can accept that you will not be in control for any of your cycle you will be in good hands. They also dont let you start until all is 100% right which is annoying but miles better thatn goinhthrough the whole think and getting a negative result.
Why dont you make an apppointment and go along for a chat.
good luck whatever you decide
Ellie
-
Guest
Caroline and Ellie
Thank you soooo much for your help.....you have been wonderful and so thorough!
It means a lot to hear it from someone who has had experience there.......I get so worried that these places are money making institutes that publish figures etc to make themselves look good.
I will let you know what I do.
Thanks again
JenFxx
Thank you soooo much for your help.....you have been wonderful and so thorough!
It means a lot to hear it from someone who has had experience there.......I get so worried that these places are money making institutes that publish figures etc to make themselves look good.
I will let you know what I do.
Thanks again
JenFxx
I started at the ARGC for the reason that their statistics seemed so much better than everyone else, living in Somerset it meant a huge inconvience with regards to the travelling and I did manage to get their for 9am appointments.
Whilst on the face of things they do seem to be working in absolute chaos they are efficient. BUT I soon came to realise that unless you and your partner fall within their specific treatment criteria they are not exactly falling over themselves to treat you. The only box with them we failed to tick was that I had a raised FSH level, which they agreed to monitor, I had 2 high readings (over 10) and one below, after the one below I had to go back the next day for a scan and another blood test. They gave me all the instructions regarding injections, sniffing etc but I had to wait till the BT results to get the green light. Apparently my hormone levels (can't remember which one now) were to high and the scan had indicated my lining was too thick, I has also mentioned that I was bleeding quite heavily which they also attributed to the high hormone level. However following investigations (a scan) with our current clinic I was diagnosed with having a polyp in my womb which was causing the heavy bleeding, this has now been removed.
We could have kept on with them but soon came to realise that they are only interested in treating those patients who they know they are likely to get sucess with, hence the better than average results.
Since the ARGC we have used the clinic local to us in Bristol where they treat you whatever, but explain what the likelyhood of the outcome might be, typically every FSH test they did was way below 10, unfortunately our first tmt proved -ive but up until then it had been good. Planning on a second and final tmt in Sept.
So in summary (sorry to waffle) the ARGC are good if you don't have any contributing factors but you need to weigh up this with the travel factors etc.
So difficult I know but hopefully helpful in making such a difficult decision
DeeDee
Whilst on the face of things they do seem to be working in absolute chaos they are efficient. BUT I soon came to realise that unless you and your partner fall within their specific treatment criteria they are not exactly falling over themselves to treat you. The only box with them we failed to tick was that I had a raised FSH level, which they agreed to monitor, I had 2 high readings (over 10) and one below, after the one below I had to go back the next day for a scan and another blood test. They gave me all the instructions regarding injections, sniffing etc but I had to wait till the BT results to get the green light. Apparently my hormone levels (can't remember which one now) were to high and the scan had indicated my lining was too thick, I has also mentioned that I was bleeding quite heavily which they also attributed to the high hormone level. However following investigations (a scan) with our current clinic I was diagnosed with having a polyp in my womb which was causing the heavy bleeding, this has now been removed.
We could have kept on with them but soon came to realise that they are only interested in treating those patients who they know they are likely to get sucess with, hence the better than average results.
Since the ARGC we have used the clinic local to us in Bristol where they treat you whatever, but explain what the likelyhood of the outcome might be, typically every FSH test they did was way below 10, unfortunately our first tmt proved -ive but up until then it had been good. Planning on a second and final tmt in Sept.
So in summary (sorry to waffle) the ARGC are good if you don't have any contributing factors but you need to weigh up this with the travel factors etc.
So difficult I know but hopefully helpful in making such a difficult decision
DeeDee
Hiya
I'm at the ARGC (my 1st IVF)and have read what the other girls have said. They are very busy and do appear rushed and off hand at times but I can't fault my care.
Mr Taranissi monitors you personally which I think is marvellous. My DH and I have unexplained fertility although it's known I have endometriosis. They have gone down the immunological route with me because all other tests and hormone levels,DH's sperm etc are oK.
It's expensive but worth it I think compared to other centres. The attention to detail is amazing with the blood tests and scans 24/7. I managed to produce 17 eggs of which 10 were fertilized (IVF/ICSI mix). I had my ET a few days ago with 2 blastocytes and have had 5 embies also frozen. I've got all my fingers crossed!
The staff have alot to deal with because it's so busy. I was put off at the beginning because you do feel like you are on a conveyor belt but they do know where you are at with your treatment at all times. I've rung up for advice and always got a positive response.Once you get to the more clinical stuff like EC and ET where it really counts the staff are really supportive.
Hope this helps with where you want to go
Besy wishes with your tmt
j
I'm at the ARGC (my 1st IVF)and have read what the other girls have said. They are very busy and do appear rushed and off hand at times but I can't fault my care.
Mr Taranissi monitors you personally which I think is marvellous. My DH and I have unexplained fertility although it's known I have endometriosis. They have gone down the immunological route with me because all other tests and hormone levels,DH's sperm etc are oK.
It's expensive but worth it I think compared to other centres. The attention to detail is amazing with the blood tests and scans 24/7. I managed to produce 17 eggs of which 10 were fertilized (IVF/ICSI mix). I had my ET a few days ago with 2 blastocytes and have had 5 embies also frozen. I've got all my fingers crossed!
The staff have alot to deal with because it's so busy. I was put off at the beginning because you do feel like you are on a conveyor belt but they do know where you are at with your treatment at all times. I've rung up for advice and always got a positive response.Once you get to the more clinical stuff like EC and ET where it really counts the staff are really supportive.
Hope this helps with where you want to go
Besy wishes with your tmt
j
me 37 with Endometriosis,DH OK
1st attempt IVF Jul 04 positve with twins
1st attempt IVF Jul 04 positve with twins