Should I change Clinic?!

[Ruby92]

Hi all.... me again!

I am looking for some advice after my hospital appointment today. This was my second appointment at the hospital and i'm currently being treated out of a gynecology unit. I have never met the consultant who is treating me and today my letter indicated i would be meeting with them. I met a trainee (different trainee to who i met the first time).

They ran through my results, i have PCOS with high AMH (over 9) and everything else was normal. She said the next stage was clomid but partners semen analysis isn't back yet (which i understand) so cant start anything and if there is anything which comes back on his results we will have to wait until 23rd April for another appointment. She said if i start on the clomid, it is ideal to have it every month but they may not be able to prescribe it each month because the clinic is so busy and that is just the way it is. I got really upset and she was quite curt with me saying "lady stop crying". She also said i would need provera to induce a bleed before i start with the clomid - the last time i was at the appointment in Jan the trainee went out to speak to consultant who said i didn't need to be on provera for clomid. I have since read research which suggests they now don't always induce a bleed, but when i tried to ask questions she was really quite difficult and wouldn't let me speak and told me to read the leaflet and said she can categorically state no one will prescribe clomid without a bleed. The leaflet says clomid for 12 months, again i have read it should now only be prescribed for 6 months. The prescription for provera is also different to what i was having previously.

They also said i would be having day 3 and day 21 bloods but no ultrasound which again i thought was guidelines to receive?

I am just really unhappy with the help i have had and i'm worried they don't seem versed on current guidelines. I'm also really concerned i have never met the consultant and each time i see someone different and different advice is provided and they have no record of what was said previously. I have contacted my GP about transferring to another clinic which is a possibility but then i understand i would be back to square 1 (almost) and have to wait 6 weeks for my first appointment again. Time is just so precious and i don't want to make the wrong call.

The other option of course is private. I have booked a free consultation with a private clinic not far from me, it is such a lot of money and I'm concerned about that but similarly i have to accept long waiting lists on NHS? I just want what is best and to receive the best care and advice and i know this is what everyone wants but i just feel so let down with the service i'm receiving. Even in the clinic it is based within antenatal and i don't feel there is any kind of empathy and i don't feel comfortable. I can also never get in touch with anyone when i need it.

I just wondered what people's thoughts were on what i should do and if any one has chosen private over NHS and if this is worthwhile? I have waited so long for this second appointment after my first one in Jan and i know the waiting is part of all this for all of us but I felt so positive going in today and i feel utterly devastated after today's appointment.

Hope you can help!

R x

[Hollibob]

Hi.

I would say contact the PALs department at the hospital. They are pretty good when they have to get involved with things/complaints and you can mention to them that you would like to see the consultant you were meant to or ask for someone specific if you have seen them on the website?

[Ruby92 in reply to Hollibob]

Thank you I will definitely contact PALS x

[Hidden]

Hi, I’m so sorry you are having a bad experience. We could only go so far on the NHS as we already have a child but the initial investigations included semen analysis x 3, pelvic USS for me and specific day bloods for me, general bloods for us both. We were very bluntly told we needed IVF and sent on our way.

I do however have experience of not trusting the clinic. We initially asked for a referral to our nearest private fertility clinic but after just 2 appointments and multiple mistakes we submitted a formal complaint and went elsewhere. I just had an awful feeling about the clinic and felt I didn’t trust them to do things as they should be done. I would say trust that gut feeling, you may have a long road ahead and if the trust is not there now it will be all that much harder xx

[Ruby92 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your message. That’s exactly how we feel, it just seems like one thing after the other and I can’t believe I’ve not even met the consultant and I asked to even speak to her on the phone and told she doesn’t do that. It does make the process harder so I think it’s wise I change now xx

[Hidden in reply to Ruby92]

Are you able to call the other clinic you are thinking of moving to? I got a general feeling of the clinics just by calling and asking questions about the referral process, waiting times etc. Paying privately is so expensive so if you can go to a private clinic using your NHS allowance you will be making a huge saving xx