Question/Poll about your IF clinic or RE

CheezeFace

So there has been a lot of scrambling with my last two cycles and my RE has met me every step of the way.  8pm, weekends, etc…I have her direct office line,  mobile number and text with her if I have questions.

 

When I was chatting with my little sister last night I mentioned that I was O'ing 48hrs earlier than predicted and she immediately said, "Oh, that's a bummer. Maybe next month…"  Apparently her IF clinic only works with women between the hours of 8-5 / M-F.

Is this normal?  It seems so strange to me. 

What kind of access to your RE do you have?  

chucktgirl

I have very little ability to contact my RE. If I call the clinic, I basically can only speak with a nurse. And that's *if* they return my call that day. Usually it's the next day. Once it was two days later. This clinic does not have good communication. Consider yourself VERY lucky. I'd love to have the communication you have!

amandaleigh1

I went to a large practice. I did not have communication access to my RE, but I did to my RE's nurse, who was very good at answering my questions. She was also the person who delivered test results, beta numbers etc. My RE practice is open for procedures every day of the week year round, except for Christmas day I think. 

owlprof

I'm somewhere in the middle.  I don't have my doctor's direct contact information, but he (and his staff) is very responsive to any issue/problem I have.  In the past, he has called me many times after hours and weekends.  After my IVF, I was headed out of town and realized that I was out of prometrium.  His nurse met me at their office on a Saturday morning. 

OutdoorGirl10

My experience so far has been similar to the others. Only met with the RE a few times and since then it's been the nurses doing the bloodwork and ultrasounds. The nurses have a intranet site and they are pretty responsive if a message is sent through that, less responsive if you have to leave a voicemail. But, the nurses are always incredibly helpful and patient with me.

dajhughes

My RE is amazing. Office is open for procedures every day. I have his cell and he even called me personally while he was out of town on a Sunday during my last miscarriage...just to tell me he was sorry.

Mayzie15

I'm really lucky too. My RE is very helpful - after hours I just leave a message and within a half hour he will call me back.  His office staff is incredibly helpful during our first IVF cycle - I'm a little concerned for our next cycle because his office coordinator and nurse are no longer there and there is all new office staff - hoping they are as good as the previous staff.  MH has reminded me that it's the RE and the embryologist that did well for us last time and they are still there - hoping he's right

CheezeFace

That's really good to know.  Thanks All.

I think my sister is getting the short end of the stick with her clinic.  Not working on weekends? What the heck is that all about?  I kind of assumed that I had a pretty close relationship with my RE. I credit her for saving my son's life the 1st time I was pg and she has taken me on as a full time patient since then but not to have an IF clinic open on the weekends is just dumb to me.

If I had been at that clinic, I would have been medicated this cycle with no other intervention because my body didn't stick to a schedule.

stephzrn

When I was seeing the RE, they were very helpful and there was always a nurse available 24/7 to ask questions to.  I always got a call back the same day.  They even saw me on the weekend because they wanted to make sure they didn't miss my ovulation.  Your sister should maybe find someone else.  I couldn't imagine having to wait a month if I happened to ovulate after hours. 

MarylandWed

Mine is open weekends. I was assigned a nurse and talked to her tons via email. Anything she couldn't answer she would ask the RE and I would have the answer usually that day. They were great.

MarylandWed

And to add, my egg retrieval was on a Sunday. I think I was there at six am!

cu97tiger

My clinic has several locations, one of which is ALWAYS open on weekends and holidays (I have a tentative IUI appointment for Thanksgiving morning). I haven't really had any emergency issues, so I don't know how quickly they call back, but most of my dealings have been with our nurse, who responds to emails or voicemails within 24 hours.

CheezeFace

I had a chat with my sister last night and she was just astounded that so many clinics are run differently than hers.  I think she's going to make a change soon.  

@MarylandWed - good Luck!!  how exciting!!  How are you feeling now?

@cu97tiger - That should make for an excellent dinnertime story to share with the family.  LOL

mrs.chaiffetz

I see my RE at the Cleveland Clinic.  He is not very accessible but if you email him he usually gets back to you within 12-24 hours.  His responses are very indepth and he seems to put some time into his answers.  He also has a great CNP that will call you back within an hour usually.  I started this cycle with going to the actual fertility clinic and I can tell these people in the office know their stuff.  I also like it because they are open 7 days a week.