Harlow Pathology Department, what a joke

[SXGuy]

So my wife and i are trying for a baby, she has PCOS so we are discussing with our doctor some of the ways we can improve our chances.

As im male, testing me and ruling me out is fast and simple (or so i thought) so the doctor advised me to make an appointment at Harlow pathology, he said, it only takes a week.

Well, i rang them today, the earilest appointment, is over 4 weeks away, the only do tests on Tuesdays, and between 9am and 9:15am.

The thing is, to test a mans infertility, you have to produce a sample within an hour of your appointment.

At that time, i would be stuck in traffic for over an hour, to get to that appointment time, i explained to the woman it isnt possible. She just went quiet, had nothing to say.

Theres no other pathology departments in my catchment area, so im screwed (mind the pun)

How do they expect anyone to be tested with such strict times and days, and such a short window between sample and testing? its just not possible!

So ive decided to forget them, and order home tests instead, 98% accurate, they tell you if you are over 20million per sample, which is the required amount to be fertile, and another test which tells you if you have good or bad mobility.

So sod the Doctor, ill do my own tests.

[vossy]

Re: Harlow Pathology Department, what a joke

Good luck with it.

On a lighter side - perhaps wear a full length burka and do it in the car on the way there.

[The Tech Clerk]

Re: Harlow Pathology Department, what a joke

So my wife and i are trying for a baby, she has PCOS so we are discussing with our doctor some of the ways we can improve our chances.

As im male, testing me and ruling me out is fast and simple (or so i thought) so the doctor advised me to make an appointment at Harlow pathology, he said, it only takes a week.

Well, i rang them today, the earilest appointment, is over 4 weeks away, the only do tests on Tuesdays, and between 9am and 9:15am.

The thing is, to test a mans infertility, you have to produce a sample within an hour of your appointment.

At that time, i would be stuck in traffic for over an hour, to get to that appointment time, i explained to the woman it isnt possible. She just went quiet, had nothing to say.

Theres no other pathology departments in my catchment area, so im screwed (mind the pun)

How do they expect anyone to be tested with such strict times and days, and such a short window between sample and testing? its just not possible!

So ive decided to forget them, and order home tests instead, 98% accurate, they tell you if you are over 20million per sample, which is the required amount to be fertile, and another test which tells you if you have good or bad mobility.

So sod the Doctor, ill do my own tests.

Could you not go little earlier and um you know in the toilet cubicle at the venue???

[Scarlet x]

Re: Harlow Pathology Department, what a joke

My daughter and her partner are going through a similar thing, but he did his 'sample' at the hospital..

Good luck!

[The Tech Clerk]

Re: Harlow Pathology Department, what a joke

My daughter and her partner are going through a similar thing, but he did his 'sample' at the hospital..

Good luck!

So I was right then as he did just that? and it is o.k.

[Scarlet x]

Re: Harlow Pathology Department, what a joke

So I was right then as he did just that? and it is o.k.

He's absolutely fine, so is my daughter, but they've been trying for over a year and nothings happening.

[vossy]

Re: Harlow Pathology Department, what a joke

Its difficult for couples going through this, best of luck to all

[SXGuy]

Re: Harlow Pathology Department, what a joke

Thanks guys.

The hospital have no "facilities" to make a sample there, it has to be done at home prior to appointment.

I thought about doing it in the carpark or toilet, but im not really happy with that, nor would i feel comfortable.

Plus id get a better sample if it was at home, and well, with particular material if you get my drift LOL

[vossy]

Re: Harlow Pathology Department, what a joke

Thanks guys.

The hospital have no "facilities" to make a sample there, it has to be done at home prior to appointment.

I thought about doing it in the carpark or toilet, but im not really happy with that, nor would i feel comfortable.

Plus id get a better sample if it was at home, and well, with particular material if you get my drift LOL

Like you say it is a bit of a joke to have a clinic like that and no facilities.

[philnicandamy]

Re: Harlow Pathology Department, what a joke

Hmm shape of the NHS...if i'd have had my way things like this would NEVER have happened in the time I managed...have you not spoken to your local primary care trust offices ?

its a shambles now for sure...when my son was born at a supposed centre of excellence in liverpool the treatment we had for 10+ days was terrible..might as well have dropped in the middle of a field..

but a huuuge good luck to you SX we had a similar thing with issues from my side I wanted to know if baby could inherit anything from me..we had a referral to a genetics counceller they were superb (the only ones!!) and in the end have said the little guy is at risk of juvenile arthritis...so watch & wait they say for now, they said it could be an issue with conception, in the meantime I had a CA scare as well with an op at the end of it..asked me to store a sample as treatment later meant it could be difficult..we were referred to a consultant BUT in the meantime found out my OH was pregnant..VERY lucky the specialist said!

[Scarlet x]

Re: Harlow Pathology Department, what a joke

Thanks guys.

The hospital have no "facilities" to make a sample there, it has to be done at home prior to appointment.

I thought about doing it in the carpark or toilet, but im not really happy with that, nor would i feel comfortable.

Plus id get a better sample if it was at home, and well, with particular material if you get my drift LOL

Don't do it in the carpark..you'll be arrested..

[philnicandamy]

Re: Harlow Pathology Department, what a joke

Don't do it in the carpark..you'll be arrested..

being on a few boards groups etc...you really would be suprised what some people do on NHS premises

[SA Gold]

Re: Harlow Pathology Department, what a joke

He's absolutely fine, so is my daughter, but they've been trying for over a year and nothings happening.

I know a couple who were in the same boat a few years back. After a year of waiting to see a consultant the woman was prescribed Aspirin. Pregnant within 3 months. Consultant advised many women don't conceive and indeed do but miscarry at a very early stage (and too early to know about it) due to blood clots.

Best of luck to your daughter/son-in-law.

[SXGuy]

Re: Harlow Pathology Department, what a joke

Thanks again guys.

My wife has an appointment for a blood test, in Epping, sadly thats also too far for me, and she doesnt need to give her blood within a set timescale so its easier for her.

They will check to see if she is producing the correct hormones 21 days after her period, if all goes well, then i guess its down to me, but she has PCOS so, likelyhood is, she doesnt always produce an egg every month.

We had a termination 5 years ago, so she can get pregnant, its just a case of when really.

Joke of that was, she was on the pill at the time, so my little soliders had a lot to overcome!

I found a home testing kit for 35 quid, im gonna do that instead, if the result isnt good, then ill go private, im not wasting my time with this hospital, i can see it now, rush to get there, miss my timeslot and be told that the results were inconclusive and would have to do i again.

I dont think so!

And im gonna tell my dr how stupid their times and days are as well.

NHS is becoming a bit of a joke really.

[Scarlet x]

Re: Harlow Pathology Department, what a joke

I know a couple who were in the same boat a few years back. After a year of waiting to see a consultant the woman was prescribed Aspirin. Pregnant within 3 months. Consultant advised many women don't conceive and indeed do but miscarry at a very early stage (and too early to know about it) due to blood clots.

Best of luck to your daughter/son-in-law.

Thankyou, never knew about this, and will ask her to see her Doctor about the Aspirin.