Is this normal for an RE's office?

jenkellen

Hi ladies. I want to know if I am being unreasonable about wanting to move to a new RE. Sorry this is so long! 

This month was my first treatment cycle. I was supposed to call on day 1 of my cycle to schedule baseline monitoring. No prob right? Well there was no answer at the office and then they didn't get back to me...after two days and two more phone calls. I was a bit panicked because I was worried I wouldn't be able to get in and have to skip another cycle.

So I go in and everything looks good. My appt was literally two minutes I was giving a prescription for Clomid, no details on what time of day to take it or anything.  They then scheduled another appt for day 12. 

On day 12 I go in and they ask me if I have my HSG shot. Um no, what are you talking about? They said I was supposed to bring a shot with me that they ordered. I got no phone call from anyone. Luckily they had shots in the office, but my insurance did not cover the pharmacy they ordered it from which is why I never got a call from the pharmacy. So now I have to go through all this crap to get reimbursed. (I might not even get reimbursed). So I had a quick ultrasound my doc mentioned taking baby aspirin and progesterone and said hey ok go in the hallway and we'll give you a shot. Then went into another dark room where a nurse left the door open and gave me an HSG shot she handed me some papers to give to the front desk for billing and said see you later. On my way home, I realized I had no idea what kind of aspirin to get, how much to take, and never got script for progesterone. I called the office to get that information, but was really irritated again that they told me to leave without giving me everything I need!

So day 13 was my IUI. We go in at 6:30am for my husbands sample. Then we sat around and waited to get called in. Literally right before I got called in the front desk called my name and realized they had never given me a piece of paper explaining that I had to register with my health insurance before a treatment cycle or wouldn't be covered. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This was the 3rd time in the office in a matter of weeks, and the 7th time I've been in there! So I spent the next 30 minutes on the phone with my insurance, had my IUI later than planned, and was just overall in a really bad mood. My IUI experience, my husband compared it to inseminating cattle (he grew up on a dairy farm). She came in said basically nothing, did the procedure and left. There was no chit chat, or good luck, nothing. I just felt like I was in a baby making factory.

So is this normal? Do you have more of a personal connection with your nurses and physicians? Would you try to find another fertility clinic? Is this just how it is everywhere and I need to suck it up?

If you got through all that, thanks for reading! I really appreciate it!

jszy10

Omggg....I would NOT have the patience to stay there.  I don't think you are being unreasonable at all.  I felt very overwhelmed and underinformed my first month with my RE, and noticed that they aren't the best at sharing information sometimes (I think maybe because they assume we already know).  I think if you have something else close, it's definitely worth a shot to see what its like!

indianaalum

OMG, so disorganized. I would find a new one.

My place has a "portal" system that informs me quickly about lab results, appts, insurance approvals, and is highly organized. I was also monitored almost every other day until once I was given follistim for an IUI. BECAUSE of my frequent monitoring, my doctor knew quickly IUI wouldn't work for me because of my overresponse. Honestly, had I not been monitored so regularly, I could have been disastrous results due to my overresponse. That alone to me, says you aren't being monitored properly

I would pick a new one

jencity9

That sounds like a horrible experience.. I'm so sorry!! There is so much that is already stressful and overwhelming about this process without having to deal with that! Is there another RE locally as another option?

jenkellen

Sorry one more thing I forgot to mention.

The other clinic closer to me, I have less interaction with a physician. Most of the appts are done by nurses and nurse practitioners. I've heard that they are way more organized. My gut is telling me I'd rather have an organized office than seeing my doctor for every appt.

indianaalum

jenkellen said:

Sorry one more thing I forgot to mention.

The other clinic closer to me, I have less interaction with a physician. Most of the appts are done by nurses and nurse practitioners. I've heard that they are way more organized. My gut is telling me I'd rather have an organized office than seeing my doctor for every appt.

That is how it works for me. I really only see the nurse, unless it was for the HSG, and then a consult once my IUI was cancelled (though it was clear it was the DOCTOR choosing to cancel vs a nurse's call). 

Again, I walked into my office and I knew instantly the doctor knew my specific case in detail

jencity9

Yeah I agree, the other clinic sounds better. For so many appts I saw my doctor and thought it was so great, but now that I'm doing IUIs and regular appts it is always a different nurse (and a diff doc did my last IUI) but it hasn't been bad at all. Everyone at my RE's office is really friendly and supportive.

jenkellen

Thanks so much ladies! I'm going to call and set up an appt for next month in case this doesn't work out. I'll probably have to take a month off of treatment, but I think it will be worth it. 

Rachaeleigh

@jenkellan, that honestly just sounds horrible. I sought a 2nd opinion for less than that. One small thing I like about my REs office, the main nurse gave me her cell phone number. I understand that her doing that may be way overboard and might border on poor boundaries ) BUT, she cares...and that makes me feel important.

jszy10

@jenkellen -- I think you'll be ok seeing nurses sometimes without the DR.  Hell I only ever see my RE for about 2 minutes and I basically stare at him writing on my paperwork before he tells me what to do next and ships me out the door.  The nurses at my office are great, and I much prefer spending time with them!  I feel like they are very knowledgeable about everything, and I'm actually more comfortable asking them about things vs. my RE.

Hope that helps!  GL!!

rox825

I'd also suggest meeting with a different doctor/practice. I wouldn't want a disorganized practice handling important things like sperm and embryos! Sorry you had a bad experience.

ronniesgirl1981

I completely agree with the prior posters. I, too, have fairly limited interaction with my RE, but the nurses and PA at my office are amazing. Good luck!

Pintobean39

jenkellen said:

Sorry one more thing I forgot to mention.

The other clinic closer to me, I have less interaction with a physician. Most of the appts are done by nurses and nurse practitioners. I've heard that they are way more organized. My gut is telling me I'd rather have an organized office than seeing my doctor for every appt.

I have only seen my Dr twice in probably my last 10 visits, once was the consultation and the second was to give me a plan. The nurses do everything else. The nurses are so sweet and spend lots of time explaining everything. They are also very organized. When all my lab work comes in they take it to the Dr and he decides if I up doses or not.

If this isn't your cycle I'd look into another clinic. If it were me.

jenkellen

I'm going to make an appt today for another clinic. Thank you all soooo much.

jaztastic

Im probably repeating what has already been said... but this is not normal at all. I would recommend trying to see another RE. Best of luck!! 

pcrumley

That's rediculous, did they at least let you lay down after your iui? I'm so sorry you had to go through that, I'd switch right away.

pmpknbride

I'd be out of there!  That sounds awful!  I see the Lab Techs & Nurses for Bloodwork only, anytime I have an Ultrasound or IUI my RE is the one doing the procedure.  There have only been 2 times I went and she was unavailable and so another Dr. in the practice or the Physicians assistant stepped in to do the Ultrasound.  I love my RE and the entire staff, and I would only go some place I felt entirely comfortable.  

cymber217

wow did we go to the same place? mine was a robotic assembly line. None of the staff communicated with one another. I would say what about my blood test results? "oh im sure there fine" was their response. *given an iui* oops no one did an ultrasound to see if I even ovulated.. which i hadnt. Then slamming me with an unexpected bill!? so frustrated!!!

ktupiak

I had the same kind of issues with my RE. I could never get a hold of anyone at any of their 2 offices and would take days for them to call me back. They never called in the perscription for provera, twice, then called me a week before my HSG was scheduled and told me I had to have my whole deductible before they would do anything and that the procedure wouldn't be covered at that clinic. I decided I couldnt handle them anymore because I felt horribly uncomfortable and when the doctor keeps talking about the money we will owe it just set up red flags. The back part is I don't have any other REs near me so im back at my OB for now. I would deffientally try somewhere else I wouldn't like there either.