First appointment

Our first appointment went really well. We both came away feeling happy to be moving forward, relaxed and sure that we had chosen the right clinic.

I can't believe how nervous I felt before the appointment. It didn't help matters that, on the Sunday, I had decided to join the clinic’s forum. It was great to read positive posts and it prepared me to expect a wait (as others who had had appointments in January were not scheduled to start treatment until the March) but, it also made me feel slightly apprehensive as there were a few posts commenting on administration errors.

One woman had phoned the clinic to ask a question and whilst on the phone she checked her appointment only to find out that she wasn't booked in. Living an hour and a half away from the clinic I thought that it would make sense to phone on Monday morning to check that there hadn't been a change to the appointment. When I phoned the receptionist was a bit funny with me, she asked why I was phoning to check (so I told her about the forum comment and that before embarking on the long journey I wanted to double check), she proceeded to tell me that the clinic’s administration is top quality and that there are never any mistakes! I suppose we will be able to judge this for ourselves over the next few months, I did wonder though whether we would have a black mark against our names.

Anyway, we got there in time (just). The clinic is within an NHS hospital which is huge, a complete maze. We finally located it and, no sooner had we walked in, a doctor was there to greet us. The doctor was lovely, really down to earth and a female which helped when talking about things. She asked us a few questions, nothing too taxing and then proceeded to tell us about the whole IVF process although she stressed that they would always only give us two steps to remember.

The plan is as follows –

1. Obtain FSH blood test results from doctor because, although she said that she would send them with the referral, they didn't. No real surprise there. (UPDATE - it's taken me so long to post this that I have already managed to obtain these).
2. Phone the clinic when I get my next period to arrange a 3d scan and STI blood tests (again) for both the husband and myself. Our results from the G.UM clinic cannot be obtained due to confidentiality.
3. Following the scan the clinic will send in the post my protocol, consent documentation and prescription for drugs.
4. Complete and return the necessary paperwork and return
5. Call the clinic when I get my next period to start our treatment (booked in for 17 March).

So, things are moving forward at last.