Switching REs

Whiggrrl65

I'm wondering if any of you have switched REs. If so, how long did you wait and what were the reasons that you switched?

My issue is that my RE is super close to my house and has convenient early morning hours for US and BW but I haven't been happy lately with the way that some of my appts are rushed and the subtle and not so subtle hints of suggesting IVF because of my age (37). My diagnosis is PCOS and I have produced one follie each cycle on oral meds. Hoping the Bravelle injections work this cycle and I don't have to worry about switching.
But my DH and I have already started to talk about switching.

whileibreatheihope

I switched REs after our 5th failed IUI... and after she charger me $125 for a five minute phone consult to discuss the plan for the next cycle. Even office visits felt rushed, impersonal, and like she didn't sincerely care about our outcome. She also labeled us as unexplained infertility without doing adequate testing. My current RE did additional testing, found out some of my hormones are a little off, and discovered my husband's morphology issue. I have also had 45+ minute conversations with my nurse and RE who I feel truly care about a positive outcome. Unfortunately, another IUI and IVF later we still aren't pregnant but I am confident that I'm in much better hands and trust my RE completely. My advice is follow your instincts.

Whiggrrl65

Thanks for your response @whileibreatheihope Other than my PCOS, we are labeled as unexplained which annoys me. We did a lot of blood tests and the typical testing but I often wonder if there is something else going on. I've had 3 failed IUIs so far and it just doesn't make sense to me. I have zero IVF coverage so I often feel like they want me to do IVF for the money. I told them to write it in my chart NOT to talk to me about IVF unless they can give me a reason other than it would up my chances. Anyway, just feeling frustrated today. Thanks again.

TheLabyrinth

Keep in mind there could be reasons you're not getting pregnant that the doctor cannot test for or they won't know until they do IVF.  For example, your egg may not be properly traveling down your tubes.  So having more eggs and sperm swimming around won't fix that.  It could be that there is an issue with fertilization: egg too hard, sperm to weak, etc.  Again, this is not something they could test for until IVF.  I'm in a similar boat, and my doc already told me if they did IVF, they'd want to do some of the embryos injecting sperm into the egg in case fertilization is an issue.  You could have issues with your lining that keeps them from implanting.

You can also decide that IVF is just not for you.  Your doctor could try switching up medications to see if any of them work.  However, different meds are not likely to fix all the issues above if one of them is actually the issue for you.  Other tests you can do are a laproscopy, hysteroscopy, and dye test if you haven't already.  Studies have show that the older you are, the higher likelihood of being diagnosed with unexplained infertility.  I'm guessing they're pushing IVF more on you because your well of eggs is diminishing, and they may be concerned that if you wait too long, your ability to do IVF may be reduced.

I'm in the process of switching RE's, kind of.  I'm getting a second opinion.  I actually like my RE quite a bit, but he is unable to successfully and consistently get a catheter through my cervix plus I have unexplained infertility as well.  Not being able to get the catheter in is a major issue for doing IVF, making it not even an option if they cannot figure out how to make this work.  My doc has been doing this for 30 years and has said I'm literally the only person he has had this level of trouble with.  We already tried a D&C to stretch out my cervix more, but it didn't work.  We're starting to get into no-man's land and I wanted to make sure my doc's suggestions were in line with other doctors.

The next closest RE is about an hour away, which totally stinks.  He is confident that he can "thread the needle," but my doc would have said the same thing...  I want this guy to succeed, but going to him will be a huge pain due to the travel time.  Driving an hour there and another back for a 5 minute U/S will be horrible.  Sigh.

rachlee2010

I switched RE's..We started at our first in March and it was super close to our house which was great for early morning appointments before work but I was not happy at all. First of all some of my bloodwork came back funky and I think the way they handled it and told me was horrible. I was at work on the phone with the physicians assistant who basically told me I had lupus (I followed up with a rheumatologist and I don't have lupus but I was in tears over this.  I didn't like that at every appointment I would wait to be called back..then I would get an ultrasound, then wait in a different waiting room to see either the PA or dr..I also rarely saw the DR and usually saw the PA and felt like she and the Dr. weren't usually on the same page. They also were really difficult when it came to scheduling appointments.  I needed as early as possible so I could get to work on time and they were not accommodating even for just a blood draw.  We switched in May and are so much happier...getting appointment times I want is usually not a problem..a dr is present at every ultrasound, not just a nurse and the nurse and/or Dr. calls us back quickly..at the first place I would have to call 2-3 times before getting a call back.

Good luck 

Whiggrrl65

Thanks for all your input ladies. I think we decided to give it a couple cycles but if I'm not pregnant by December, we are taking a break and switching.

pmakrillos

Hi all, I'm quite nervous about the prospect of possibly having to move from my current RE which I love and trust. I went through all my diagnostics and laproscopy w him, and am trying to start my first IVF process w him, after that I w need to transfer to another RE in-network in order to extend my maximum lifetime coverage for infertility coverage. Sure it will be ok but still a bummer, feel so secure w this RE....let's hope the first IVF works so I don't have to move.