NHS Treatment/Assessment

[AllThatSheWant]

Hi All

Posted this on secondary infertility page - but nobody has answered. Thought I would try over here!

I am new to the whole forum thing, but after a year of ttc#2 I am feeling like I could do with a few online friends in the same boat. Some days I just feel so low and burst out crying when I am on my own to let out the tension

Anyway, a quick question about help on the NHS for secondary infertility and what experiences people have had. My doc has just sent off my referral but wasn't clear on what help I would actually get as I already have a DD. She seemed to be inferring that very little was on offer. I am wasting my time waiting potentially months for my referral appointment only to find out that they won't help me? Wonder if we should look at private rather than waste our time, despite the fact that we have both paid lots in taxes and NI for years.

I have already had all the initial checks done at the docs and my husband has had SA and all came back fine - think I would have rather they found something to be honest!

We conceived DD on second cycle off BC, but had her via C section, I can't help feeling this may have something to do with my problems, but doctor says this is very unlikely.

Would be great to hear from anyone - sorry for the rant x x x

 

[Dee28]

Hey, your background is the same as mine, conceived our daughter second month off birth control and nasty emergency section. However for us it turns out since then that hubby's sperm has gone up the swannie and I have a blocked tube most likely caused by the life threatening infection I caught during my birth.

We've had all tests on the nhs aside from hsg as the wait list was too long and I got impatient so we paid to have done privately. I'm having a laparoscopy on the nhs in 3 weeks and after that we're starting private IVF. It's been nearly a year from the first test to now, all nhs but there's nothing left they can offer aside from clomid which isn't suitable for us. To be honest a big part of me wishes a year ago we stumped up the £800 to have had all the tests privately rather than it taking a year...if you have the money I would go and have a fertility mot thing while waiting on the nhs, as you've had some tests it might not be as pricey. My gp has been very accommodating with all the blood tests so we haven't had to pay for those. Have you had an hsg and a pelvic ultrasound?

It's all been a horrible shock given we had our daughter so easily and now she's 4 and we're 38 and 44 I feel really quite desperate. Sorry you've found yourself in a similar position xx

 

[AllThatSheWant]

Hi Dee,

Thanks so much for your reply, it is a relief to talk to someone who feels the same pain and can offer a bit of advice because you are ahead of where we are in this fertility battle!

Have you been TTC for 2 years? Did it take a whole year to get everything from the NHS on offer? I haven't had an HSG (is that where they check for blocked tubes?) or a pelvic ultrasound, I feel like I want one/both of these tomorrow but will have to wait a long time!

Loads and loads of luck with your IVF, I bet you can't believe this is happening to you - that is how I feel anyway. I think I always thought it was other people with these problems not me

 

[Dee28]

I absolutely can't believe it! I think I'm still in disbelief and keep thinking of course it will happen naturally but clearly it won't with our problems.

I had the pelvic ultrasound last April as is had a previous diagnosis of polycystic ovaries and as I'm over 35 and at that point had been ttc for 6 months that was the first investigation. All the other tests came after and we were referred to fertility after a year in September and they suggested the hsg which I had privately in November. We've been ttc 18 months now. How old is your dd? The pelvic ultrasound was a quick appointment arranged by the gp rather than through fertility so if defo ask for that to be done xx

 

[AllThatSheWant]

My DD is 21 months, I really wanted a small age gap between my children, funny when I think about it now cos I am now so desperate that age gap or sex of child or anything else just doesn't seem to matter now - I just want a baby. Beggers cant be choosers!

Can I ask what they can potentially see from a pelvic ultrasound, also given the fact I haven't a history of PCOS or anything if they would give it to me? Having said that I do get an achy back when my period is due and during AF, this is my only symptom of any issues (and not sure if it is a problem or if I am grasping at straws), with this and the fact I had an emergency c section maybe I could egg this up a bit at the docs to get the ultra sound.

Have you tried clomid or IUI? Thought that there is some evidence if one tube is blocked that clomid might help? I guess the tube blockage is still a problem for IUI for you?

Thanks again, your advice is invaluable.

 

[Dee28]

A pelvic ultrasound is normally a first inside look to check for cysts, a first look at tubes and ovaries and endometrial lining so defo a good starting place. I would ask for one, use the section as a persuasive tool if necessary! How old are you btw?

I ovulate fine so all clomid would do is make me potentially ovulate 2 eggs which I guess would be helpful if my hubby's spermies wasn't shite! As for iui you need both tubes open really and as the chances are pretty low it was felt it would be a waste of our money xx

 

[AllThatSheWant]

I am 33 so should still have a bit if time I guess but everyone is different so I can't rule out my age being the problem.

What were they able to tell from your pelvic scan? Sounds like I need to make a docs appointment, if you don't ask you certainly don't get.

Thanks again

 

[Dee28]

You defo have a bit more time before you start to worry too much. My pelvic ultrasound confirmed I still have polycystic ovaries and she commented at the time about my right tube looking good and my womb lining looking lovely, had I questioned her about why she didn't mention my left tube (the dodgy one) at the time things may may have moved quicker. Defo worth a trip to the docs if your feeling stressed about it xx