What we expected to be our first IVF appointment turned out to be anything but that.
In a previous post I explained how amazingly our appointments were moved forward (after human error causes lots of delays) but that the most recent change shook me up. We were promised that our first appointment at Addenbrookes, Cambridge IVF, would be with the lead IVF consultant there. YAY!
We were excited (sort of), terrified (completely) and desperate (more than anything).
I’d had a major emotional outburst a couple of days prior and spent the next few days feeling really anxious and overwhelmed. But I had a sense that things soon, we wouldn’t be wondering anymore as we would know what was happened.
Sadly, this was not the case and our expectations were met with disappointment and even more frustration.
Disappointment 1) We didn’t meet with the lead IVF consultant as we were confidently told we would be when these appointments were made.
Disappointment 2) We were there only to fill out forms to send off to our CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) to see if we are eligible for NHS funding for at least 1 round of IVF.
Disappointment 3) The lady said we might not even be eligible for NHS funding because it’s even more of a lottery than we thought.
Disappointment 4) She can’t send off the form to request the funding until we have had more bloods done, but this can’t be done until day 2 of my cycle to check my AMH levels. Day 2 will be in about 3 weeks.
Disappointment 5) Addenbrookes, although an NHS IVF clinic, only do self-funded IVF and so once the blood tests have been done and the form for funding has been sent off and accepted, they will then need to refer us to another clinic for the treatment itself. We’ve chosen Bourn Hall, Cambs, as it’s the closest to us.
Disappointment 6) All of this leads into the biggest disappointment of them all; when looking at timelines now, it looks like it could be 5 months at least before we start any sort of treatment.
I cannot even begin to explain how absolutely and completely gutted I am. What we thought was going to be an exciting, life-changing appointment – because after all we were told we were meeting with the lead IVF consultant there – turned out to be a complete anti-climatic let down. I finally felt that we were getting somewhere but it feels like we have gone 20 steps back.
What my wonderful husband has helped me to remember and understand is that actually that appointment had to happen. The problem was that they didn’t explain the process clearly enough to us and also sold us something that it wasn’t… “…lead IVF consultant…”
So really, we aren’t further behind. We just didn’t know how far back we were in the first place.
BUT, the one positive that has come out of this is that they have confirmed we are eligible for IVF.
It sounds strange to actually say this but… WE ARE GOING TO HAVE IVF. Like actually, properly, for sure.
And hopefully soon.
Journeying to Family 