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HARI Referral
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01-05-2010 11:57am#1Hi All,
just got referred to HARI Rotunda yesterday by my GP (am ttc a little over a year, age 31). Suffering from long cycles and it's severely affecting ttc (last cycle was 73 days and was also anovulatory, although previous cycles have all been ovulatory), I'm charting since May 2009 using FAM (Fertility Awareness Model via FertiltyFriend.com).
I have a few questions, am hoping you can help. I know I should have asked my doc these, but the phonecall was very quick so I only thought of the questions later, and I can't call her back (She has a massive patient load and calls are taken only by the receptionist)..
- How long will I be waiting for an appointment? (ball park)
- Will they prescribe Clomid to reduce cycle length (doc was going to do this herself, but after a low progesterone blood draw result she reckons I'll have to see a fertility specialist anyway so did the referral) btw, thankfully all other hormones came back normal e.g. FSH, Prolactin, LH etc....
- If my next cycle starts before the HARI appointment, should I request Clomid from my GP while I wait? (Clomid can affect hormone blood tests, but seeing as I have had all of them done, I doubt HARI will want to do them again, after all they are the basis for the GP referral)
- Do I bring my husband to first appt?
- What should I do in preparation for the HARI appt? I want them to know I am fully informed about my cycles but don't want to be overbearing; should I bring my charts? My GP was very impressed with my charting, but I have heard stories from others that this can irritate some medical professionals....
- should I request a Semen Analysis for my husband (my GP told me that in Ireland it is assumed that fertility issues lie with the female :rolleyes:, I don't agree with this so would like my husbands semen tested at some stage to rule out/address abnormalities on his side). On HARI's website it states they do this for €100, so would it make sense for my husband to tag along?
TIA for any replies
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hi.
firstly sorry you are having issues, but great that you have been proactive on your fertility issues.
to answer some of your questions, i cannot give you any info on hari as i have attended a different clinic, but maybe some one else might know.
on your long cycles i am not a medical person but i dont think clomid will cause you to have shorter cycles, though it most definately help you ovulate. it would probably be one of the first line treatments you will go through with the clinic. while you are waiting the gp may be reluctant to prescribe clomid (my gp point blank refused to.) and especially as you now have a referral, they will most likely suggest waiting to see the specialists.
on your first consult you need to bring dh, your gp is wrong in that all fertility clinics worth their salt treat infertility as a dual problem, not just the lady. they will send your dh for detailed semem analysis, but if they dont suggest this well def say it to them. on that if you are waiting for a period of time to be seen the semen is a three monthly cycle so start your dh on zinc, selenium and maybe a good fertility suppliment. get him to cut back on smoking,coffee, alchol all the usual suspects, it just may make the difference!
regarding the charting, you are right in it peeing off some speciallists, take it as it comes, have them with you, but its more than likely the speciallist will take a cursory history of your cycle pattern and lenght, they are usually more interested in your blood results as this tells them definitively more.
best of luck.
thanks for the reply Straycat.
Yes, you're right about Clomid and that it brings on ovulation, but a bi-product side effect (or benefit, in my case) is that it can make ovulation happen quicker. I'd be delighted if I could bring it back to Cycle Day 30. With a 14/15 day Luteal Phase, my cycles would be back to about 44/45 days. Before contraceptive pills I had long cycles anyway, but they were regular, always at 42 days. The last cycle was soooo frustrating and depressing. I got positive digital ovulation strips twice (CD 48 and 66), but no thermal shift to confirm ovulation thereafter, total headwrecker.
My doc seems fairly ok with prescribing Clomid, so I'd say she'd give it to me if I was in for a long wait with HARI. She's a really great and supportive doctor.
RE DH, unfortunately he does all of the above (smoke [although trying to quit], drink, caffeine) but he eats well. I'll definitely get the supplements for him though.
I know you said you were treated in a different clinic, but can I ask how long you had to wait between referral and appt?
thank you0 -
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I have just got a cancellation appointment to Rotunda for next week. Like yourself am wondering what course of action is? I wasn't going to bring hubby but now i am thinking i better?
oooh good luck, let me know how you get on. you might as well bring DH, if he's needed and he's not there you'll be p1ssed.
I emailed them asking how long I can expect to wait but got no response :rolleyes:
best of luck 0 -
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Hi there.
Had my app yest. Was very nervous but Doc was lovely. Says PCOS is mild but obviously an obstruction. Have to stay on metformin, got prescription to start provera and clomid. He was very very positive and very matter of fact "happens loads of women, start with the basics and we'll worry if we don't concieve in 6 months" It was blunt but great to hear. DH was in. He has been asked to get his swimmers tested as a precaution. No point in treating me if he's not up to scratch
. Going to get script filled today and start tonight or tomorrow. Need to exercise loads and eat well to keep side effects to a minimum. All in all i was delighted. I got a cancellation app otherwise i would not have got in until the end of June. We're a month ahead of it now. Hopefully things will be ok. When is your app? Is it in Rotunda? 0 -
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Just finished course of provera. Have to wait on Af which could take up to two weeks to arrive then the clomid. Felt a bit achy with provera but that all so far!
2 weeks? really? thought Prover brought on AF quicker than that.... bets of luck with it. Please tell me how the Clomid goes for you - side effects etc., I reckon I'll be put on that. Best baby wishes 0 -
DetectivFoxtrot wrote: »2 weeks? really? thought Prover brought on AF quicker than that.... bets of luck with it. Please tell me how the Clomid goes for you - side effects etc., I reckon I'll be put on that. Best baby wishes
Gone through almost 1 month now of the treatment. Have to have CD21 test on Thurday. Bit nauseous at times. (Still taking metformin) I did not have any side affects on the clomid. I read somewhere to take it at night which cuts down any affects which i did and it appeared to work out that way. I am really tired all the time. Thinking it's down to meds. AF came exactly 7 days after i finished provera. My skin and mood an awful lot better since that. Unreal what the hormones can do. Have a repeat prescritption for provera and clomid but have no idea when to start them. Will have to ask doc when i go in tomorrow. Only GP but hopefully she willknow.0 -
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DetectivFoxtrot wrote: »that's great about not having side effects on the Clomid. Pity you're tired though. Have you been TTC - any news or are you in the 2 Week Wait?
Honestly.... I have no idea! Think i'm in the two week wait now as i had the cd 21 test last week. Feel fine. No difference!:rolleyes:
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sorry - I post a lot on another TTC baord (Trying to Conceive) and all they use is abbreviations like these. It takes a couple of days to get used to but makes for much quicker posting
AF - your period
2WW - two week wait between ovulation and your period (Luteal Phase is the technical term - by the way 2 weeks is an average, normal LP can range from 10-15 days)
DH - Dear Husband
CM - cervical mucous
HARI - this is a clinic based in teh Rotunda Hospital in Dublin - Human Assisted Reproduction Ireland
Others common ones are:-
BFN
Big Fat Negative (pregnancy test)
BFP
Big Fat Positive (pregnancy test)
CD
Cycle Day
CP
Cervical Position
DPO
Days Past Ovulation
EDD
Estimated Due Date
EWCM
Eggwhite cervical mucous. See Eggwhite cervical fluid.
FSH
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
HPT
Home pregnancy test. Measures levels of the hormone hcG which are produced in pregnancy.
HcG
Hormone detected by pregnancy tests. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin.
IUI
Intra-uterine insemination
IVF
In-vitro fertilization
LH
Luteinizing Hormone
M/C
Miscarriage
O
Ovulation
OPK
Ovulation Prediction Kit. OPKs measure luteinizing hormone, the last hormone to peak before ovulation.
POAS
Pee on a stick
RE
Reproductive Endocrinologist- Fertility Specialist0 -
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Sorry to hear that May79 (((hugs)))
I am 12 days past ov. and can feel my period coming on.... ah well. I suppose the next chapter is HARI. Was sort of hoping I'd be cancelling that appt. :rolleyes:
It WILL happen for both of us. Keep me posted on your progress 0 -
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That's too bad. Cycle 11 seems a long way off for me - only starting cycle2. It must be flying by for you. What is the next step for you?
time is flying by too quickly May79, that's the prob. Am actively ttc'ing since May 2009, although was not 'preventing' for a few months before that. HARI appt is 3 weeks away tomorrow. With any luck I'll be given Clomid to ovulate earlier and stronger, and some progesterone support to eliminate spotting in the LP (Luteal Phase), spotting can be known to impede implantation. I was always a pre-AF spotter though....
Got a nice (not!) visitor this morn :mad: am in bits all day and dosed up on Neurofen+ ...
I'm in a great Buudy Group on FetilityFriend.com so there's lots of people in boat I can chat with, and now you of course! 0 -
It's really awful. Time is flying by and everyday there is another unwanted preganancy. It's rough but can only keep trying. Clomid is supposed to be the greatest thing on the planet for trying to concieve 'naturally'. I think the only side affect i'm having is hot flashes in the middle of the night but they're only for a few days. 3 weeks you'll be ready to start as you need af to begin on clomid. fingers crossed. I sincerely hope all goes ok. I must lookinto the other forum you mentioned and see what i can learn there too! 0
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It's really awful. Time is flying by and everyday there is another unwanted preganancy. It's rough but can only keep trying. Clomid is supposed to be the greatest thing on the planet for trying to concieve 'naturally'. I think the only side affect i'm having is hot flashes in the middle of the night but they're only for a few days. 3 weeks you'll be ready to start as you need af to begin on clomid. fingers crossed. I sincerely hope all goes ok. I must lookinto the other forum you mentioned and see what i can learn there too!
I don't think Clomid is natural at all! I've read lots about it and basically it inundates your system with estrogen, and can cause hyper ovulation, potentially resulting in multiple births. It also dries up your cervical mucous which actually makes your cervix hostile to sperm! (I've read thought that drinking grapefruit juice around ovulation counteracts that by making your body more acidic thus your body increases it's alkaline fluids [fertile CM] and sets the PH balance right again!)...
Having said all that though, I can't wait to start taking it!! If I could double the dosage I would! haha. I just feel now that I'll never EVER get pregnant on my own. My friends think I'm obsessed but how can you not be after 14 months!!
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Having said all that though, I can't wait to start taking it!! If I could double the dosage I would! haha. I just feel now that I'll never EVER get pregnant on my own. My friends think I'm obsessed but how can you not be after 14 months!![/QUOTE]
Haha. Double the dosage could end up in double the babies - We'd all start that !!!
I'm in tww but i can feel symptoms of af, tender breasts, lighting cramps etc etc. Another month gone i reckon!
Good luck with mr Hari;)0 -
thanks
I'm just about to ovulate (I think) - have pinching pain on right side ovary (classic sign for me) and OPKs are getting darker...... Am on CD22 so another early (for me!) ovulation hopefully.... the 2WW freaks me out - I turn into an obsessive lunatic! Hope you get through it ok and there is a lovely surprise at the end of it! Remember they are all early pg symptoms you're experiencing!
Keep me posted. I'll post an update after my appt.0 -
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