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 Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:11 pm |
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Hello, am totally new to this so am looking for a descriptive note on what this is all about and what it involves. I had 1 failed cycle and 1 miscarriage. My DH suffers from auto-immune syndrome so wonder if that's the cause of failures. I am going to have my review with Dr Ken Dowell shortly where I would like to suggest an immune test. So would like to be informed beforehand on what this involves. So here is what I would like to know:
1. What are the different tests that Care offers? Explain what is level 1 / level 2 immune tests and how many levels are there?
2. How do these tests take place? Are these just simple blood tests or something more?
3. What is the cost of these tests?
4. Can any of these immune tests be taken under NHS? So I don’t have to pay for these?
5. What medicines are involved in an immune cycle? How often do I take these and for how long?
6. What is the cost of these extra immune medicines for the full duration that I will have to take? I am a PCT funded patient so any "extra" medicines and tests I will have to pay from my pocket |
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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 8:57 pm |
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Hi Smiles123,
I can give you some details based on my experience.
To have all the level 1 and 2 tests done at the same time costs about £2,500. Yes it is just blood tests, but about 20 vials for you and 5 for your husband (and he has to produce a 'sample')
The costs of the additional drugs depends on what you need. If it is Intralipid for your immune system it's about £380 for each one. (I had 3).
I do think some of the tests might be available on NHS, if you have a willing GP. If you look back through some old posts, there is one that lists what the tests are and which GP#s will do. (it might have been started by Melski)
Hope that helps a little bit
Dianne |
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5th attempt, ICSI with immune system treatment - BFP |
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Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 10:56 am |
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Hi Smiles,
Dianne has given you loads of info there. My GP did some of the level 1 tests, but I don't think they can do the level 2s. I think I ended up paying about £1800 in total for the tests I had done.
I was PCT funded too, and the PCT were happy to fund all of the drugs apart from the Intralipids (as these are not technically licenced for fertility use). They're £380 each time and I needed 2 lots in each cycle.
Hope that helps,
Amanda |
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Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 4:48 pm |
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1. What are the different tests that Care offers? Explain what is level 1 / level 2 immune tests and how many levels are there?
Level 1 tests are similar to what the NHS does for recurrent miscarriage tests (can have after 3 miscarriages) but more detailed. Willing gp's may be able to do many of them, most struggle to offer all - eg my gp couldn't get some done as the lab says I had to be under a haematologist for them... but worth an ask as they all vary. Gp doing it means often you need to chase results, make sure you get all print outs to take to care and can take a few more weeks. Level 1 looks at thrombophilia panel, karyotypes for both of you, hormone levels etc. Level 2 go to Chicago and are the ones that look at killer cells, TH1:TH2 levels etc. There are two packages for Level 2's, the more expensive one is the fully comprehensive one - worth asking your Care consultant which they would recommend.
2. How do these tests take place? Are these just simple blood tests or something more? Blood tests.
3. What is the cost of these tests? If all under Care about £2,500 in total. If Gp does many then under 2k. My cost was £1,600
4. Can any of these immune tests be taken under NHS? So I don’t have to pay for these? Many level 1's. You need a full print out to take to your gp - they will not know what to do otherwise.
5. What medicines are involved in an immune cycle? How often do I take these and for how long? Many are simple - utrogestrone pessaries at a higher dosage until 12 weeks, aspirin, steroids, possibly femibion/higher dose folic acid, clexane injections, intralipids, possible thyroid medication. Just depends on what they find. Many medications stop at 12 weeks.
6. What is the cost of these extra ..... If PCT funded then depends on PCT. The pessaries they fund anyway, so that should not be an issue. I was private and my total cost was £1200 including 3 intralipids (were 285 last year, price gone up since by the company that does them!) as the NHS funded my clexane injections as I had a blood clotting issue they recognised. If you don't need intralipids then much cheaper.
All the best |
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