I am reaching the point of madness dealing with the NHS. (See my post in ttc if you want details) I know plenty of people have waited longer than me, etc, but I'm not sure I'll be able to handle much more of this. My next appointment with the gynae is June 30!!! So much for soon after my scan.
So, we're thinking about maybe going private. Anyone have any clue what that might cost, assuming we don't need IVF? (I know that's a whole extra fortune)
If we did go private now, can we switch back to the NHS later? I mean, if we do the clomid thing, private, could we still get funded by the NHS for later treatment? Assuming we lived in an area that actually provided good infertility funding, would we be making ourselves unlikely to receive funding that way?
Call them and ask if they offer a fixed price "infertility investigation" service, which should include blood tests, scan, SA and a consultation. Then at least you will know where you stand. This website already has listed prices for IVF etc, but again ask them about cost for treatment with clomid including monitoring.
ALso try looking at BUPA hospitals, some of them have fertility centres. Just phone around and ask.
I was lucky as I had insurance through work, and my Gynae put it down as "amenhorrea" rather then infertility, so I managed to get ovarian drilling done privately as well.
As to switching back to NHS ... I've no idea. My Gynae has retired from private practice, but still has an NHS clinic, and he was happy to switch me over to NHS, but I'm no longer needing fertility treatment, just monitoring for my PCOS about once every 6 months.
Thanks Lis. We're gonna have to do some serious thinking about what we want to do and how fast we feel we need to do it.
The appointment letter today was actually a huge shock. I've worked in the NHS, so I know it can be slow and frustrating, but we honestly did not expect this much wait, especially since I was diagnosed years ago. I'm still really angry about the fact that if I had chosen to waste their time coming in every 6 months, when I knew I wasn't going to take any treatment they recommended at that time (pill or clomid, and clomid was out since we weren't ttc then) then we'd have been given clomid nearly a year ago. But I feel like I'm being punished for not wasting NHS resources and they are treating me as a new patient and totally rediagnosing me before they will even think about doing anything.
hi katiwren, if its any help to you i had a private consultation as my appointments kept getting cancelled at the nhs hospital, i payed £170 for a one off 25 minute consultation at bupa here in leicester, he gave me metformin then consulted with my nhs consultant to tell him i was taking it, then i just went back to my normal nhs hospital and carried on from there. incidentialy i had a word with my gp and he said as id already got the metformin he could now overide what the nhs consultant said if he decided to take me off it ( luckily for me he upped the dose and kept me on it) so if i do decide never to go back to the nhs treatment again i have my gps full approval and backing regarding my care. but yes i know you can swap and change with both nhs and private.
good luck!! julie xxx
__________________ me 38
dh 45
metformin1500mg
2m/c & 1 twin ectopic
lost 31 pounds since jan now 142!
ivf no2 planning date may 9th 2003!!!
I know how you feel... I had about three months of frustration with the NHS and then realized it wasn't going to work for me. I don't know if it was because I am used to more proactive treatment--I had just married and moved here from NY, i.e. don't like waiting for anything! Or that I didn't have confidence in the treatment I was receiving from the NHS--they didn't seem to have a clue about PCOS.
Anyway, I did go private and I thank god that I did. First off, because I was able to get an appointment within 2 weeks. My first appoinment was about 120 (GBP) for 30 minutes, plus 200 (GBP) in blood work. I brought along my enitre GYN history, and he looked at all of it... diagnosing me with PCOS on the spot. Appointments after that 90 (GBP) for 15 minutes and I've visited about three times. I haven't spent more than 100 (GBP) on blood work since my first screening. I basically have follow ups when my met runs out. 6 months of treatment, and unfortunately I haven't seen AF. This last visit, my Dr's prescribed tamoxifen, and we're going to start that in May. I've been really pleased with him overall--very responsive, knowlegable and proactive. If I had asked for Clomid on my first visit, I'm sure he would have given it to me, but I wanted to give Met a chance first.
If you can afford to go private, I would say it's totally worth it. I waited in tears for 3 months for an NHS appointment, only to be told to lose weight and handed a prescription for clomid. No attempt to diagnose or treat PCOS, which I found completely irresponsible. I guess my biggest fear of going private is that if the tamoxifen doesn't work and we have to do injectibles or IVF, then the bills could start to mount. But, I guess we'll cross that bridge if we get to it.
How are you doing? Do you think you'll go private? Are there PCOS doctors in your area? Hope it works out for you--I know exactly how you feel!
cheers,
jen.xxx
__________________ me(39) dh(35)
- two beautiful children after IVf and every method possible before that
- Still nursing DS at 11 months
- Not sure what happens to my life with PCOS after babies... watch this space
I know what you mean about changing from the US system to the NHS. The difference is really unbelievable. Thanks for sharing your story so far. I'm glad to hear about a situation that hasn't cost thousands of pounds (at least not so far).
Julie,
It's good to know that a decision to go private for at least some of it won't cut me off from NHS help altogether.
I've got my next appointment June 2nd, and a scan on the 24th of April, so we're gonna do those and see what we think. If the appointment in June doesn't get things moving, we're going private. We're going to get all the info and be ready to move then. I've already spent half a fortune on Traditional Chinese medicine and supplements and stuff, so I can't really object to paying out for this.
What I'm really hoping (though it isn't all that likely, I know) is that I'll be pregnant before that appointment in June.
Yep, the NHS is pretty maddening. I hope that you and dh get the results you are looking for (a little one and a responsive NHS dr!). Hopefully the prenatal care is a lot better than PCOS. That's my next challenge (as if PCOS isn't enough!).
By the way, I saw your chart on FF and the herbs look like they're working for you! You never know... June isn't too far away, but at the same time, you're chart is looking great!
jen.xxx
__________________ me(39) dh(35)
- two beautiful children after IVf and every method possible before that
- Still nursing DS at 11 months
- Not sure what happens to my life with PCOS after babies... watch this space
I posted on this thread b/c my question is quite similar but not exactly the same.
I am in the NHS system. I have a regular Consultant and she's completed all the necessary tests.
Basically, I had an HSG on 14th April and am not able to get a review appt until 3rd June. Does anyone know if I am able to pay MY normal Consultant to see me earlier, as if I was a private patient? Is this normal practice if you want to do this?
I basically want to know my HSG results earlier than 3rd June b/c I'm driving myself nuts wondering what exactly the result was and my Clinic won't tell me over the phone. I don't want to swap to private treatment totally, just for these results and I'd like to stick with my current Consultant as she knows my history and I plan to stick with her.
I don't want to start going to a completley different Clinic just to have my HSG results looked at. I mean, by the time I made an appt and got my notes sent over - it'd be time to see my usual Consultant on the 3rd!
1. Look up your consultant on www.specialistinfo.com. This will tell you where s/he has her private practice.
2. Phone the hospital where your consultant has private practice and make an appointment to see the consultant.
3. Phone the consultants secretary (you can get phone number from either the website OR from the private hospital OR by phoning your usual NHS hospital and saying "I would like to speak to the secretary of Mr X". Explain to the secretary that you want the consultant to have your current NHS notes and results available when you see him/her privately, but after that you will be returning to NHS care. The secretary should make sure the right notes are in the right place at the right time.
OR try another plan .. I wanted some blood test results from my consultant which they would not tell me over the phone. I got the consultant's secretary to fax them to my GP, and he WAS prepared to give them over the phone (cos he knows me well enough to recognise me on the phone), or if he hadn't recognised me I could have made an appt to see the GP and get my results.
Thanks very much Lis - That's great. I'm going to look at the website now.
One last question - I don't know if you'd know...Although I was referred to the Consultant, I see his SHO. When making a pricate appt, would I have it with him or the SHO? I couldn't find her name on that site so maybe she doesn't do private consultations b/c she's only an SHO?
I have never seen the Consultant since I was referred but for private consultations, would he be the 'right' one to see? I mean, all my notes will be there anyhow.
You would see the consultant himself at a private appointment.
An SHO is a qualified doctor, but has probably only been qualified for a year or two, and is learning a speciality (such as Gynaecology or Endocrinology) under the direct supervision of the consultant.
Hospital doctors have the following "ranks" ... House Officer, Senior House Officer, Registrar, Senior Registrar, Consultant. The consultant is in charge, and all the "Lower" ranks are in training under the Consultant. Only the consultant will have a private practice.
Sorry this is a bit late,i am just catching up over the weekend!!!!
Thought i would let you know about my situation at the mo, hope it helps in answering your questions about going private!!!!!!!
After being dx with pcos about a year ago after ttc for about 2 years, i was advised by my nhs doctor to go privately to see a specialist as the waiting list to see the same man was about a year!!!!!!!
Made one phone call and saw him a week later the appt cost us £100 for about 30-45 mins and had u/s that cost £70.
He decided to book me in for a lap, die test and hysteroscapy........as this was going to cost aroun£1500 we decided to wait the 3 months and go on NHS.
We had this done last month and unfortunately found out that i have a blocked tube and only one working ovary.
I am now on the NHS list for IVF, it should take about 6-8 mths(but i will believe that when i get appt!!!!!!!!)
In the meantime we are doing IUI privately, this is costing around £900 a go!!!!
Hope this helps KT
E mail me if you want any more inf
Take CAre
Good luck
Ali
xx
I was diagnosed with PCOS about 4/5 years ago now and in that time I've seen two consultants at the local hospital and the only treatment I've received has been one course of Dianette. I have an appointment tomorrow that I've waited two years for, my consultant keeps cancelling my appts. She won't prescribe Met. because I'm not trying to conceive, refuses to use anti-androgens, and says my problems are my own fault because I don't exercise enough and eat too much!! Last time I went I was in tears, she was running late so I had to wait 3 hours after my scheduled appt. time to see her, and when i finally got in she suggested that I go to a 'fat camp'! Due to the lack of treatment I developed a potentially fatal brain disorder which has led to me losing the sight in one eye, loss of some mobility, memory problems, and having to endure neurosurgery under a local anaesthetic because my brain pressure was so elevated that they couldn't administer a GA. All this because of 11 years of misdiagnosing my PCOS and not taking me seriously! My neurosurgeon and neurologists have actually written to my gynae. telling her she must treat me for the PCOS or my situation could worsen and I could die. She refuses to listen because they're in a different health authority. I'm 25 years old and my life has been utterly ruined because of her mismanagement of my care. Anyway, back to going private, I haven't been able to work or study for the last 4 years because I've been so ill (and to cap it all I'm not even entitled to free prescriptions although I would be if I chose not to work!! My yearly income on long-term IB[gross!] is under 4k, my yearly disposable income is around £400 so I'm not entitled, I'm too rich y'see!), but my parents offered to take out a bank loan to pay for me to see a consultant at the local private hospital, only for me to find out that it's the same bloody woman!! It's bad enough having to deal with her for free, let alone having my parents throw money away in order to see her!! AAAARGH!! I've bought meds online but I got worrying side-effects from met (although it was the only thing that worked sadly) and am unhappy taking it without proper medical backup.
Pleaaaaase wish me luck for tomorrow ladies, because if she refuses to treat me I have to make a choice between a)leaving it alone and losing the sight in my other eye or suffering more brain damage or b)taking my chances with illegal meds because I've got nothing to lose anymore, so fingers crossed PLEASE!
__________________ I know but one freedom, and that is the freedom of the mind
(Antoine De Saint-Exupery)
Hi Lynzie, just want to wish you loads of luck for your appointment! Hope you get some treatment.
Just a thought but if you're paying privately can't you go to any hospital you like? I don't think you have to go to the local hospital (ie that horrible women!).
Cost to go private? 
private treatment 
