NEW - What to do next?

Emma · Post by **Emma** » Sat Aug 09, 2003 8:17 am

Hello All I am new to this forum. We have been trying for about 3 years. I have mild endo which was found and the main parts taken away in an op in Dec. The doctors have now said there is no reason why we cannot conceive and we have signed up for IVF. Through the NHS it is a 2 year waiting list in our area. Now I feel left not knowing what to do. The doctor didn't give a lot of info about what happens next. I have so many questions now and am not sure who to ask. If we decide to go private, does this cancel out an attempt with the NHS? From beginning discussions re IVF with a private clinic how long does it take before you begin? How do you find out where the clinics are in your area? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

SJ BROWN · Post by **SJ BROWN** » Sat Aug 09, 2003 9:05 am

Welcome to site!! I am not an old hand at this either bit you are in the right place for support & advice!! I have found everyone on this site a godsend. You dont say how old you are?? If you have youth on your side I woild say have some fun over the next 2 years & due to ENdo gone you may conceive naturally & also as you are on waiting list if you do not get pregnant you have that to fall back on. Knowing you are on list for IVF may help you relax & not worry..(you are v lucky to be offered NHS in your area, I live near the NEW FOREST & we get no NHS help at all-not even for blood tests) If you feel however you need to start as soon as then I am sure someone on this site will be able to advise you. I think if you click on IVF/ICSI icon on this site it tells you clinics in the country Hope this helps & good luck with whichever path you take Sarah xx [Edited by SJ BROWN on 09-Aug-03 02:08]

Lynned · Post by **Lynned** » Sat Aug 09, 2003 8:31 pm

Hi Emma, Welcome to the site!!! As sarah says you are definitely in the right place for support and answers, we have just had our first IVF e/t today and the support and holding hands I have got from this site has been amazing. I can totally sympathise, we went on the NHS waiting a year ago, I too have mild endo. We were lucky we only had to wait a year but at the time a year seem a long time, but in the end I was quite glad of the time off to enjoy life again, as we had no more tests and appointments. In answer to your question re. going private we where told that if we went private it would mean that we would not get NHS funding, the hfea which monitors clinics has a good site www.hfea.gov.uk they list all clinics and lastest success rates. Hope this helps and good luck Lots of Love Lynne

kathryn · Post by **kathryn** » Sat Aug 09, 2003 9:26 pm

hello emma, my situation is different so Im not much help., but someone once pointed out that why should the nhs know youve had a private go? I may be being stupid and it may well be due to being refered etc. It may well be worth you talking to a private clinic to find out. Although we have had to pay for our goes as the nhs dont fund our area, it meant that we didnt have to wait around, so the decision was thankfully out of my hands. Im not a very patient person! I had both my laps done and a uterus check thingy (cant think what they call it but privately it would have cost £800!)on the nhs and that took 2 years and then once my consultant finished with us at the hospital, she wrote to the private clinic and we were seen 4 weeks later. Because we donated eggs 1st time it took 3-4 months until we were actually sniffing as we had to be matched up to a recipient and our cycles timed together. hope this isnt too much of a garbled essay! I wish you well with whatever you decide emma and good luck! loys of love kathryn x

Dawn Blake · Post by **Dawn Blake** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 8:00 am

Hi Emma, I agree with all the other girls, if you are still young and are lucky enough to get offered IVF on the NHS I would party on for the next 2 years and see what happens (you will be surprised just how quickly it will go). I too couldn't get funding in my area, so had 5 private attempts (now 6 weeks pregnant on number 5), and each time, excluding if I have had minor surgery for tubes, I have only had to wait 1 or 2 months, depending on my cycle (I was at the Lister Hospital in London). Whatever you choose I wish you well. Dawn x

bubblymichelle · Post by **bubblymichelle** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 9:53 am

Hi There Firstly I would like to welcome you to the site, its such a great place to come. We are on the NHS waiting list but the wait where I am is 3/4 years which is hell of a long time. I am 28 years old but we had been trying for a baby for 3 years and I didn't want to wait any longer. Luckily our first attempt at ICSI worked and I am just over 16weeks pregnant. I am not sure if the NHS does cancel if you pay private, do they have to know? I am still on the list even though it worked for me. I couldn't afford to sit back and wait I just wanted to go straight in everyone is different but I wish you all the luck in the world. Love Shell. xx

gem · Post by **gem** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 9:15 am

Hi Emma Welcome to the site Its been a god send to me while we were having our first ivf in June,it didnt work for us this time but we froze 6 embryos so we are going for fet in Oct. I am 25 dh is 28 we have been trying for a baby for 4 years so when I turned 25 we went to jessops in Sheffield,the waiting list for nhs was 18months-2 years,so we decided to go private but our consultant still put us on the nhs waiting list for ivf,when we went for our follow up appointment they told us we were only 6months away from our nhs go so if this cycle of fet doesnt work we will wait til our nhs go.so we have been able to have our private treatment as well as wait on the nhs list. I also had mild endro which they found by doing a lap,I saw my consultant private but he did the lap on the nhs. Hope this is some help? Keep in touch Love Gem xx

Chaweng · Post by **Chaweng** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 12:57 pm

Hi I should be top of the waiting list next April. My healthy authority states that it will take into account any IVF treatment you have had or decuct this from your "allowance". Our waiting list was only a year, so we decided to wait, get the free go's and then if that fails mayve do an eggshare swop for free ivf at a private clinic? The money thing is such a nightmare as we don't want to spend all our money for it not to work and then not be able to afford an overseas adoption (the back up plan). If you can hang in there i would, but it's easier said than done! take care C xx

Chaweng · Post by **Chaweng** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 1:47 pm

sorry meant to say health, not healthy authority...I keep saying sex instead of six as well - crackin' up!!

Emma · Post by **Emma** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 6:37 am

Thanks for all your comments. It certainly does help to hear other peoples views. For those of you that asked I am 26 and hubby is 32. I know that is young in relation to many people, however we have been together for 8 years. 2 years to wait seems such a long time when you have been ready for so long!! Reading your comments has made me realise that to have the NHS option available is a bonus. I will let you know what we decide.....

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