The Results of our first IVF appt- would love input from Sydney IVF users

We had our first consult with Dr Mark Livingstone at Sydney IVF yesterday. Wow, talk about overwhelming! :doh:

Was going to start me on the pill, but my blood pressure is too high. Soooo, on CD19 I'm going to start Provera. Then injections/trigger shot and EPU.

The costs are going to be around $10 000 in total, which is a little concerning, as we were thinking a few thousand less than that. But I'm going to try not to focus on that too much. Still need to lose a little more weight, but that will come.

I'd love to hear from those who've gone this route, and any experience with Sydney IVF.

Of course AF is now late, typical!! :wall: So it's just a waiting game now.

Hi Ninah, I'm a SIVF girl, I'm also the proud mummy to a 16 month old baby girl who was conceived first go with Dr Lok at SIVF in 2007 :) We had a wonderful experience with them, we were at the Liverpool clinic & all of the staff were awesome. I dealt mostly with two nurses, one for bloods & the other for everything else, they were really friendly & didn't seem annoyed when I called for the 50th time ;)

If the whole thing is worrying you, about what happens etc, you are more than welcome to read my blog ([url=http://fairysarie.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html]here[/url). I posted all of the details each day about what was happening & explained all the things I had to do, so if you want to have a look & get an idea of what happens, go for it :D

If you have any more questions, give me a yell!

Hi Ninah

Another SIVFer here. I am in Canberra. While we have had our moments over time I really like them. I am guessing that the Tamworth office probably only has one or two nurses (we have 3 here) so you very quickly get to know them all and build a real rapport with them. The nurses are great and don't mind at all when I ask silly questions or ring for the 3rd time in a day.

Try not to think about the money - if you think abotu it then you never do it! And as an indication to you - I had a transfer less than 2 weeks ago (and that is when they actually take the money out of your account) and Medicare has already repaid me (still waiting for the health fund but that isn't much and they are a bunch of slackers anyway).

Hoping that AF turns up soon and you can start your cycle.

Hi Ninah, I have been with SIVF for about two years. I guess after the initial consultation most of the time you will be dealing with nurses except EPU and Transfers. And I find the admin and nurses are all very helpful and the clinic is trying to make everything hassle free as they can, I don't have any compliant during the time I am with them. Dr. Livingstone is quiet good with following up phone calls as well after each cycle, which I find was convenient and cost-efficient ;).

Cost wise, I know SIVF is more expensive than other clinics, however, I really like that they don't bill you until transfer and claim it directly from medicare straightaway, so you only have to pay the out of pocket expense rather than the whole lot, which makes it so much easier. I usually pay it by credit card, so that also gives us a bit time to get the funds together. I am with City clinic but I hope regional area will have the system.

All the very best with your 1st cycle and I hope the result is successful.

Thanks girls *hugs*

Unfortunately AF is still yet to arrive, if she's still MIA around mid week I'll call the nurse and she said she will prescribe something to bring it on..

Urgh, so frustrating when you actually WANT AF to arrive and she doesn't lol.

Best of luck Ninah...I am another SIVFer ....I have one nurse at the regional clinic in my area and she is wonderful and very caring. My FS is 3 hours away and I have little contact with them except at EPU etc

I hope you have success very soon and don't have to be on the IVF road very long