NHS /Private ?!?

missyjo · 07-07-2004, 09:38 AM

Hi All,

I'm kind of new here - hello to you all.

I was diagnosed by my gp with pcos about 6 weeks ago following blood tests and a scan. I'd previously been told by a different GP to stop wasting his time with my symptoms (7 years ago). Anyway - my GP has referred me to the hospital to see a gyn. I've just received a letter telling me its going to be at least 18 weeks b4 I can have an appointment. I really want to get started on treatment for excess hair and TTC.

I've booked an appointment to see a laser clinic to get my face zapped but I don't want this to all be a waste of money if I'm not on treatment to get my hormones under control.

I would love to hear whether anyone has gone private and if any health insurance covers PCOS. Have you found the treatment by the NHS to be ok?

Please let me know what your experiences have been,

take care all

Missy

Deeds2 · 07-07-2004, 01:11 PM

Hi Missy
Welcome to Soulcysters.

I'm sorry to hear about your original GP. Grr, they just don't realise the damage they do.

I have been treated through the NHS. I think I had to wait about 12 weeks to see the gyn. He was excellent though and knowing that I don't mind about waiting.

Hope you can come to a decision.
Deeds x

EmChops · 07-07-2004, 03:00 PM

Hiya
I have been seeing a 'specialist' on the NHS for about 2 years now and at first they were really responsive and supportive, I was just trying to loose weight and get my AF back. Now I have lost 2 stone (but have about 2 stone to go) and I am struggling to loose any more they are being quite rude and insinuating I am not trying; what happened to the support?! Do they understand how PCOS works?
They were quite good when we first started ttc and put me on met but I am still quite upset by their attitude over my weight. Maybe I am being sensitive (DH says I am, but lets face it, how easy is it to loose weight???) and hopefully they will be a little more understanding next app.
I hope that was helpful! i guess I am saying there are good and bad on the NHS!
Emma

missyjo · 07-07-2004, 05:06 PM

Hi Deeds and Emma,

Thanks for your quick responses! I'm sorry your not getting the support you need Emma- hopefully this will change. I guess really I should just wait and see what the gyn says and hopefully find them to be as good as yours Deed.
I've waited for years so another couple of months makes no difference (although I'm so impatient now I know I'm not a freak and I have a real condition lol)
I've looked at a couple of web sites for private medical insurance/cover and it looks like PCOS is not really a condition they help anyway.

If anyone knows of any different then let me know.

Thanks everyone - I can't begin to tell you how glad I am I've found this site. Your all brill

Missy xx

NYbird · 07-07-2004, 08:48 PM

hi missy,

I've gone private for my treatment. while my GP diagnosed me 2 years ago, dh and I decided to go private for 2 main reasons: the NHS wait and that our local gyn practise didn't seem to be knowledgeable in treating PCOS. When I went in for a consult, they sent me off with 3 months worth of clomid (starting out at 150mg!) and told me to call them if I didn't fall pg. I just had a really bad feeling about the whole thing, mostly because while I did want to get pg, I also wanted to make sure the PCOS was being dealt with.

I found a great Dr up in Ilford who specialises in PCOS and for about 1.5 years we worked on the PCOS and ttc. He started me on Met for 6 months and then added ovulation meds. I got as far as ovulating on clomid but never fell pg. Unfortunately, with him being so far away (I'm in staines and he's in ilford) I had to find a practise that is closer to me because the monitoring is so intensive. So now I'm at a fertility unit in London. I've had 2 IUIs (no pg) and this month we're moving to IVF. Being 34, I feel a lot of pressure. If I were younger I probably would have tried ovarian drilling or a couple more IUIs, but I don't really feel like I have that luxury of time.

As for insurance, we pay for it all out of pocket--my insurance has excluded anovulation and any underlying causes. Honesty hurts! (well, the purse, at least!)

Hope this helps! Good luck with everything...

jen xx

AndreaC · 07-08-2004, 01:39 PM

Hi,

I haven't found treatment on the NHS to be TOO bad but I think it helps if you are very knowledgeable yourself and know which questions to ask.

I went to an Endocrinologist around 3 years ago when struggling with ttc. I pretty much DEMANDED they give me Met + Clomid and they did! If I hadn't been so forceful then who knows??

They basically gave me 6 months of Clomid and said "come back in 6 months if you're not pregnant"!!! Not sure why the Clomid has a label on it saying "For use under hospital supervision only".....huh....yeah right!!!

Luckily I got pg on the first cycle and have a lovely 26 month old little boy.

I am now in the process of ttc again and my GP has referred me back to the Endocrinologist. I am even more clued up this time and am going to make sure that the PCOS gets treated, especially after pregnancy (if I get that far!!). The waiting list is October to see the main Consultant and 4-6 weeks to see someone else. I told them "hey I'm not fussy", doesn't make any difference who i see cos I'll just demand what I want anyway

he he!!!

By the way, I requested info on going private today because I want to get seen ASAP. Basically, she charges around £150 for initial consultation, £70 for a follow-up and you have to pay for all the blood tests, scans, fertility drugs etc.!!!! Think I'm gonna wait

I think it's great to use the NHS to get what you want for 'free' but get clued up before you see them so you can challenge them and make sure they're doing the right bloodtests etc. Knowledge is power!!!!!!

Go across to the ttc board to find out what tests you should be having for ttc and what the 'normal' levels are. This way you can be prepared and get the most out of your appointments seeing as we have to wait so long for them

HTH! Sorry for rambling!

Andrea.

Shira · 07-08-2004, 01:48 PM

NYbird; was the doctor in Ilford a GP or a specialist? My mum lives in Ilford so I'm there quite a bit, and if he's a specialist I'd be able to try and see him, since I'm getting no joy with my current doctor (there's nothing wrong with you, you're just fat, etc etc) who seems to think that PCOS only needs to be treated if you're TTC.

NYbird · 07-08-2004, 02:32 PM

Hi Shira,

My dr was a specialist--he's a gyn and really into PCOS. Mr Viniker, and he's at Bupa roding, Holly House and Whipps Cross. He's really nice--very understanding and compassionate! I actually really miss him compared to my fertility clinic.

cheers
jen x

Shira · 07-08-2004, 05:04 PM

Ah, Mr Viniker, yes, I've heard of him a lot, and all good things too. I've avoided him so far though because I really feel I needed to see a reproductive endocrinologist rather than a gyn. I'll definitely keep him in mind, though. Thanks!

mordillo · 07-11-2004, 04:30 PM

Hi Missy,

I have in the past few days decided to see an endocrinologist privately. I have an appointment on the 20th of this month. I was told I would probably have a 3 month wait on the NHS. My problem is that I have had a chronic muscle spasm in my back for over 6 weeks now. I have been off work as I am in so much pain and I have to knock myself out with diazepam and and a whole host of other drugs.

At the moment I am spending between £75 and £100 per week on an Osteopath and reflexologist. The reflexology has been crucial as my endocrine gland is very sensitive and I believe that it is my hormone imbalance which is causing my body to spasm. My doctor is very supportive of my theory. I just hope I am right. I also read on the soulcysters forum about other women who had similar problems.

I fully intend to ask the endocrinologist if he would be willing to take me on as an NHS patient. I may get lucky.

I would like to hear from others who may have had similar problems to mine. I was diagnosed with PCOS about 14 months ago although I suspect I have had PCOS for much longer. I have Type II diabetes and Hypothyroidism.