NHS messing with my head

[Hopefull90210]

Hi, has anyone had any issues with west Middlesex sub fertility unit? After calling yesterday to chase my prescription for my next round of IUI which I should be starting within a week, I was told I have been discharged because I had a chemical pregnancy last time and I need to be re referred by my GP. I had a faint positive on good Friday and by Easter Monday it was negative - so before I even got to tell the clinic I was pregnant I’d already lost it.....when I called on the Tuesday because the doctor was on holiday the nurse asked me to go to a&e to be checked for ectopic (for which I had no symptoms) where I sat for 4 hours to have my tummy prodded and then sent away again. I called the clinic back and the nurse said when the doctor was back from holiday he’d review my notes and they’d be in touch about the next prescription. Has anyone else experienced such nonsense?? Even for the NHS this has got to be the most inefficient process. I have every ounce of hope invested in this process and I am planning my life around having this treatment every 2 months I just can’t believe it. 😞

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Hopeful. So, so sorry to read all this, it does seem very cruel. I suppose all you can do is to wait for the consultant to get back from his holiday and get in touch straight away again, so that you can get cracking with the next IUI. Meanwhile check out any contract you may have been given to see what the criteria is about chemical pregnancies. Thinking of you. Diane

[Hopefull90210 in reply to DianeArnold]

Thanks Diane. The doctor is back and the nurse told me he would call me today at 12 and have heard nothing - I especially wanted to speak to him as I’ve managed to get a GP appointment first thing Monday and I’m not sure what I am asking her to do. There is nothing in any of the information they gave us other than to say risk of miscarriage. I did find one letter after I had my first IUI which does say in the result of miscarriage you’d have to be referred again. I didn’t have the IUI though it was abandoned....and the only reason I probably got pregnant was because he sent me away with 4 large follicles and to try naturally! So ridiculous.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to Hopefull90210]

Hi Hopeful. Try and get through again. I do feel with what you have said you should be able to carry on without being referred again. However, give all this to your GP on Monday and take it from there. HUGE luck! Diane

[ADC2019]

I think it might be different for different hospitals. I have found communication poor throughout although cant fault nurses. I didnt hear anything after my MC and i finally called a couple of months later to be told i wouldn't hear from them i should just call when i got my next Af to book again. However once i did book in the nurse then said to me oh we cant start yet we might need you to get seen by.consultant as you have had MC, in end they didn't need to see me. I have found it a very lengthy process i assumed it would be monthly not stopping and starting. It sucks they are making you be re-referred. Hope it all goes quick x

[Hopefull90210 in reply to ADC2019]

Thanks. If that’s the process fine, I just want to be told about it properly. The doctor didn’t call yesterday when he was supposed to I ended up chasing the nurse again. She eventually called back and said something similar to “ive spoken to the doctor and he says they had a meeting about it and this is what they decided so......”. I ended up calling PALS who said my request to speak to the doctor was not unreasonable and if he didn’t call back on Monday they’d intervene. Hope your process is going more smoothly now!

[ADC2019 in reply to Hopefull90210]

Yes you should be allowed to speak to the doctor if they are making decisions that affect you they should then talk you through them. Hopefully you get it resolved on Monday 🤞. Currently on my final 2ww. Trying not to be negative but nurse told me that if it doesnt want i need to wait for then to give me an appointment to see consultant again to review my charts then they will decide if im suitable for ivf at which point i get added to waiting list and will start whole fertility process again. Be prepared for it to be slow going its frustrating

[Hopefull90210 in reply to ADC2019]

Oh fingers crossed it works for you and you don’t need to start again 😐 how many IUI did you have?

[ADC2019 in reply to Hopefull90210]

I've had 3 natural and 3 medicated. I did get a Bfp on 1st medicated cycle so i know it works however i MC at 11 weeks.