Please help me make the most of Friday's appointment!

Deeds2 · 03-12-2002, 06:55 AM

I know you ladies know your stuff and dh and I have our first appointment at the infertility clinic on Friday morning. I really want to make the most of it, ask the right questions and feel I've got a step forward at the end of it.
I'm going to the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh so if anyone's been there I'd love to hear how you got on. But any tips good ideas for questions to ask and any info on what to expect would be much appreciated.
Thanks !!!!!

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The new & improved Deeds!!
Soulcyster since January 2001, mysteriously disapeared February 2002 - returned as Deeds2!!
Age:31, DH:32
Came off BCP Dec 1998
Dx PCOS July 1999
TTC#1 ever since
Miscarriage Oct 2001 - would have been a mum on 19th May 2002
No meds
Patiently (?) waiting for fertility appointment 3/15/2002 - hopefully will get Clomid!
=^.^= two fuzzy babies!! =^.^=

email me! deeds@soulcysters.com

[This message has been edited by Deeds2 (edited 03-12-2002).]

Dawnmc · 03-12-2002, 08:55 PM

Hiya Deeds, I had my first appt in Feb. Don't expect clomid on your first appt. If your gyn is anything like mine, he will want to do atleast an HSG before he will prescribe it, as he said, there is no point making you o if your tubes are blocked. Mine is doing a lap and probably Ovarian drilling, April 17th. Should have been tomorrow but then dh got sick. (He is getting better, might te home Thurs

). The gyn will then leave us alone to try for 3 months, then clomid if no success.

Expect a blood test and of course dh needs an SA. He will not get out of that, as the gyn will do nothing to you until he is ruled out. (Don't forget, it doesn't hurt them, and remind DH of that!).

One suggestion is ask to get your rubella checked - if you need an injection, you can't conceive for at least 3 months (or is it 6?) after, so better to check it now whilst you are waiting.

Hopefully the waiting for the next appt. is not too bad - about a month for surgery in Bradford.

Good luck, and let me know how you get on. I am on cd 110, and looks like I will make it all the way to my lap!

DAwn

Lorna P · 03-12-2002, 09:10 PM

Hi Deeds,

I’m so glad your appointment is finally coming around…. Here’s a list of the questions that I wrote down for my Dr’s appointment some of which I already have the answers to but most of which I was told I would have to ask a specialist about – not all fertility related but still important to me to hear “the specialists version”

1. What is the difference between PCO and PCOS. I’ve been told I have PCO but after further research I think I’ve probably got a lot of symptoms associated with PCOS – confirmed – stupid Gyne (who has the bedside manner of a dead Halibut)

that I saw in April 2000 only told me I had Polycystic ovaries – Dr looked at the letters Gyne wrote – I definitely have PCOS.
2. Is it true that I could go on to develop Type II Diabetes and have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease?
3. Gyne took blood tests but I was just told that they were “normal” how can this be? – more blood tests arranged.
4. Is it possible that I may suffer from insulin resistance which has been adversely affected by my PCOS or vice versa?
5. Re 4 above – I have heard of a registered drug to help insulin resistance that is now also being used for PCOS sufferers – Metformin – will you prescribe it? – and yes I have read all about the possible side affects.
6. Can I get specific medication for PCOS/Infertility- for example drugs I’ve read about
a. Infertility drugs to help stimulate ovulation – i.e. Clomid (my Dr told me this was extremely cheap and there should be no problem whatsoever with a specialist prescribing it.)
b. Provera or something similar to help initiate withdrawal bleed (although Deeds I don’t think you have a problem with this do you)
c. Metformin which I understand can help with the effects of insulin resistance and can be used in conjunction with Clomid and has been proven in studies that greater success of fertility is achieved when both are used?
7. Cross referencing to 6c what are the pros and cons of using drugs in conjunction with each other?
8. Re Metformin – I have heard of this and other drugs that are used to help prevent miscarriage – what would you recommend/use on me?
9. What are the different roles that are played by an RE and a Gyne and where do the duties of 1 stop and the other take over and also where do they cross?
10. How many treatments/cycles of Clomid am I allowed to undergo?
11. What monitoring will be undertaken while I am taking any of the aforementioned drugs and how long aprox do I have to wait for/between each appointment.
12. What is the next step if drug treatments don’t work?
13. I am now 32 – nearly 33 and am already starting to think that time is passing me by – what reassurances can you give?
14. How many successful pregnancies have you achieved approximately this year in comparison with patients seen?

13 and 14 are only if you’re feeling really brave!!!!

Questions 2-14 would all have to be addressed by said specialist – I also went into lots of detail about whether I could go private initially while I’m waiting for an NHS referral to come through which my Dr was really helpful on. He told me that I would be better seeing a Gyne and not an RE as a Gyne would probably be able to take me further on infertility treatments (eg IVF) – I’ll reserve judgement before I challenge this. Also I have now had bloods taken and DH has had to give a SA which we are waiting for the results of before I book my Gyne appointment. Dr suggested I go armed with results and this will cut down some of the testing/costs of my initial private consultation.

Pheww – this is getting a bit long winded….. hope it helps a little….

All sounds a bit formal but it really helps me to first type out and then keep reading through… I will be taking my “little” list of questions with me when I get my appointment.

Very best of luck to you Deeds – thank you for always being there for me. I have every flexible bit of me crossed (and believe me I’ve got some flexible bits!!!)

Let me know how you get on.

Lots of Love & Luck

Lorna
xxx

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Age 32 (only just)
DH 38 - Married 5 years
Croydon, Surrey
DX PCOS April 2000
TTC#1 since May 1999

No Meds .. other than "you really need to loose some weight you know.. just the 4 stone will do!!"

Deeds2 · 03-13-2002, 06:44 AM

Dawn and Lorna
Thank you so much for your replies they are really helpful.

Dawn - I hope your DH is getting much better and gets home soon.
I did expect I would need an HSG, but as I got pg last year the dr who saw me when I m/c said that I had proved my tubes were clear and dh was fine (he'd also had a SA done in the summer to prepare for the original appointment we had and all seemed fine) I also had my rubella checked last summer so I'm hopeful this will make things move a bit quicker.
When we get appointment dates they always seem so far away, but they do come around quickly - I hope the wait for yours doesn't seem too long.

Lorna - Wow! What a fantastic list of questions - I think I'll be pinching them all!!!! Was your specialist prepared to answer them all?

I'll let you know how I get on, getting more nervous by the day - legs are epilated ready

and I'll type up as much of my history as I can to give the Dr.

Thank you both so much.
Love
Deeds

------------------
The new & improved Deeds!!
Soulcyster since January 2001, mysteriously disapeared February 2002 - returned as Deeds2!!
Age:31, DH:32
Came off BCP Dec 1998
Dx PCOS July 1999
TTC#1 ever since
Miscarriage Oct 2001 - would have been a mum on 19th May 2002
No meds
Patiently (?) waiting for fertility appointment 3/15/2002 - hopefully will get Clomid!
=^.^= two fuzzy babies!! =^.^=

email me! deeds@soulcysters.com

[This message has been edited by Deeds2 (edited 03-13-2002).]

Lorna P · 03-13-2002, 07:00 AM

Deeds,

Glad it's helped - do re-type them ... it then gives you a chance to come up with any other ideas as you're typing cos you may think... oh yes and I also want to ask about.....

Haven't seen my specialist yet as I'm waiting for my bloods & DH's SA to come back. Once armed with the results I'll make an appontment. Cos I'm gonna go private initially (then hopefully transfer to NHS with same Gyne .. or at least that's the master plan) I should be able to get appointment pretty quickly...I'll let you know how I get on..

Epilady.... ouch!!! Give me a razor any time!!

Lorna
xx

------------------
Age 32 (only just)
DH 38 - Married 5 years
Croydon, Surrey
DX PCOS April 2000
TTC#1 since May 1999

No Meds .. other than "you really need to loose some weight you know.. just the 4 stone will do!!"

lasmus31 · 03-13-2002, 08:06 AM

ooooh what great questions ... hope you don't mind me pinching a few Lorna ... told you i would deeds

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Love
Lisa xxx
Age: 32 DH: 28
Huntingdon, UK
TTC #1 Since 01/90
^I^ M/C and mole pregnancy 06/91

[This message has been edited by lasmus31 (edited 03-13-2002).]

Cyster Sam · 03-13-2002, 09:27 AM

Deeds,

I'm sure by now you have probably gained quite a fair knowledge of PCOS and fertility treatments available. If so, I think it is a good idea that you let your doctor know that you have educated yourself.

This is what I did and I think my Ob/Gyn respected me for it. He always let us decide which line of treatment we wanted to go for next. (I had already been prescribed clomid by my GP and that failed). Initially he gave us a choice of injections or lap/ovarian drilling. Went for the lap and drilling because as my ob/gyn pointed out if my tubes were blocked or I had a polyp or fibroids of the womb making pregnancy difficult it was a waste of time pumping me full of drugs. Immediately after the op I was given the choice of clomid or met. Chose the met and it worked.

Basically my Ob/Gyn expected me to go off and research the options and let him know what I wanted to do. It was great to be treated like that as it made me feel in control of my treatment, there was no resentment about not being prescribed the drugs I wanted.

Good luck on Friday.

Sam

Deeds2 · 03-13-2002, 08:09 PM

Thank you all so so much!! You are truly wonderful women.
I now have an impressive list of questions - all relevant to our own situation (Lorna your list was brilliant - I have Deedsified them!!)
I've also typed up every little detail of my menstrual, opking, testing history for the past year to give the doc, as well as the dates of bd for the last cycles. (Dh should be proud of himself!!)
Thank you, thank you, thank you - I'll let you all know how I get on!
Love
Deeds

------------------
The new & improved Deeds!!
Soulcyster since January 2001, mysteriously disapeared February 2002 - returned as Deeds2!!
Age:31, DH:32
Came off BCP Dec 1998
Dx PCOS July 1999
TTC#1 ever since
Miscarriage Oct 2001 - would have been a mum on 19th May 2002
No meds
Patiently (?) waiting for fertility appointment 3/15/2002 - hopefully will get Clomid!
=^.^= two fuzzy babies!! =^.^=

email me! deeds@soulcysters.com

[This message has been edited by Deeds2 (edited 03-13-2002).]

JenKat · 03-30-2002, 10:22 PM

I am new to this site and delighted to find messages from those in the uk. The questions and advice given is great. I am about to get an appointment with a gyn. and am glad I will be able to go in with paricular things to ask! Deeds, please let me know how how you got on at the Infirmary as I expect I will get an appointment there too.