Frustration with FS

[Nasey79]

Hi All,

I have just completed my 3rd IVF cycle & had an ET last Thursday. I am now in the agonising TWW period!

I am becoming increasingly frustrated with my FS and I am wondering if anyone else is using them and having the same issues?

I am going through Assisted Conception Australia at the Greenslopes Hopsital. I am constantly waiting for in excess of an hour for appointments then when I get in there I have to tell her what I'm there for & where we're at. It all becomes too much for my DH sometimes & he dreads coming to appointments with me!

My first ET was on Mothers Day, I was so excited & optimistic that I was on a total high on my way to the hospital. When I got there she was running late and I had to sit on the floor in a hallway & wait my turn for over half an hour! I felt so deflated & angry about the situation that it really took most of the joy out of it.

Today I had a call from the receptionist to say that there was a gap in between my referrals from my GP so unless I got a new one that I would not be able to claim my latest cycle from Medicare! If they had told me a week before my referral expired instead of a month afterwards I wouldn't be in this situation!

Am I being unreasonable or should I expect more service? It's such an emotional rollercaoster that I really don't need the extra stress.

Does anyone else have any experience with this clinic?

Renee

[marcellus]

It is really hard
A lot of clinics are very busy and you can end up being treated like a number.

I think the best suggestion I can give is that you ask around about other clinics - they're not all the same. Maybe you can find one that's not so busy, or that takes a little more time to look after you better.

All the best~~

ETA - also, I think maybe your GP can back-date a referral...?

[juniper76]

My clinic is nothing like that! My FS does all his monitoring between 7-8am every morning on a first come first served basis. It works out quite well for us because I'm then at work at my usual time.

I can't imagine sitting on the floor in the hall for my first ET!! I would have been in tears if I'd had to do that!

And when I got a surprise bfp on a non-treatment cycle (they hadn't seen me for 3 months!), they still got me in for a blood test within half an hour of calling!

And I was warned a month before my referral expired!

I hope your GP can back-date your referral for you.

ps. I'm with QFG at Spring Hill. I also know someone who was very happy with their treatment at Life Fertility (also at Spring Hill I think). And I'm sure there are more...

[Nasey79]

I keep hearing good things about QFG....fingers crossed for a BFP this time but if not I think I will give them a call!

[Ninah]

In my opinion we pay a hell of a lot for our IVF cycles, so we're entitled for someone to alteast remember where we are up to!! I wouldn't stand for that kind of treatment.

I'm sorry you're going through this, remember that you're there on your own choice hun, and you can seek another opinion at anytime. I'm pretty lucky, we go through Sydney IVF. (We live in Tamworth, so our options are limited) But he, and his nurse Rhonda are just fantastic. But had I have not been happy there, I would have thought of going elsewhere.

Your body hun, you are the only one who cares for it the most *hugs*

[lilmisshavachat]

Hi Nasey79

Reading your post and thinking back on my own IVF journey brought the tears up to my eyes as I acutely remember the frustration of my very first appointment after waiting 1 1/2 hours for it to be given a pap test and sent for some BT's and it was over... I thought this was probably a one off and I would see how it went next time... Same deal.. Over an hour late and only to be told I needed another Pap test and that was it again... When I got home I got straight online and asked "Is it important to like you FS?" and a BB member who i'm now really good friends with rang me and said "Hun,This is the most important journey you will ever undertake and it doesn't hurt to get a second appointment... My biggest worry was that it was all too complicated and would take too long but all it takes is a referral which you have to go to your Doctor and get anyway, make an appointment with the specialist you want to see and if you like them their office will request all your medical records from your old FS... When I first met my FS I thought this is the man who will get me my baby and it was a calming prospect... He was never late, I was never rushed and I was always made to feel that this was my time... Anyway I'm prattling but I just wanted to try and edge you towards getting a new FS because it feels so much better when someone is excited for you to be having your FET instaed of making you feel like a number.. Good luck and I look forward to seeing a BFP from you very soon...

[kasam]

I would definately go elsewhere.

On our first IVF cycle I went away from our first FS appointment feeling that it was over way to quick but I thought this was normal so we went away and had tests and then went back to the second appointment on my own to get results. The FS spent the whole time looking at my boobs (FS was a she) and I felt so uncomfortable. I really wanted to change specialists but DH worked away and was never home during the week to get an appointment with our normal doctor to get another referral so we put up with it. I really wish we had of changed and waited etc. We were driving 1 hour and 20 mins one way to the clinic and we would get there and have a 2 mins appointment. A couple of days before we were to start our IUI we were told that DH hadn't had an antibody test done so we were then delayed another month only to be told that his antibodies were no good and we would have to have ICSI. I was devasted and in turn hated going to the FS and clinic from there on in. We changed FS and clinics and I couldn't be happier. We still haven't got our BFP (this will come in 2 weeks time hopefully ) but I have nothing but praise for our clinic. When we did our FET earlier this year and it came up negative the clinic called me to make sure I was ok, they called DH to see how he was going and sent out a little letter in the mail with a little "gift" (a special quote) to say that they were there if we needed them. I am elated with their service and best of all they are a small clinic and know me by name not number.

I hope you find the strenght to do what you feel best. LIke one of the othe rgirls said, this is the most emotional time of your life.

GOod luck! xoxox

[Nasey79]

Thanks ladies for your advice & support.

I am hopeful at this stage that I will get my BFP on Monday...failing that I have decided that I will look elsewhere to continue my treatment.

I think that the whole process has been so overwhelming & daunting that I assumed that this was normal but it's become obvious that it's not.

Enough is enough!!

[SeaChange]

Hi everyone,
Can I just gently remind you not to mention the names of your FS? If you need further details on why please PM me. Thanks.

[Mildez]

I wouldn't be happy to be treated like that. You are paying alot of money and they should be trying to protect your emotional health also not treating you like a number as if your in a bank or deli in the supermarket. If possible I would look else where if its an option but of course I am praying that your emby is burrowing in deep for a cosy 9months and the long waits will be history. I know clinics are busy but nothing excuses the stress you are put through when your journey is already stressful.