Worst RE Appointment? or am I the crazy one?

nycbride0731

I finally made an appointment with an RE out of my health insurance carrier.  I read up on what to look for in the office and what to expect from appointment.  It turned out to be nothing like I had expected.  There were 2 doctors, one who took my history and was a little condensing (she was telling me how I should correctly say my last name, WHAT!). She asked me some general questions and was very abrupt when I tried to fill her in on what I had done with my OB/GYN.  I was then bounced to the other doctor.  Elderly women in her 60s? My first thought was "okay, so maybe she has a lot of experience and can guide me better", Nope....no guidance at all. She asked me why I was there (after reading the history) and when I was looking at my phone for days of procedures and AF, she abruptly asked if I was talking to someone else. I had no idea what she way saying, so dummy me, I was like "what?" and she tells me "the phone, are you talking to me or someone else on the phone." I just looked at her and thought, oh no, give her the benefit of the doubt, she is old and maybe has not caught up with technology. So I explained to her that I keep my calendar on it.  But the rest of meeting just kept getting worst. She took 10 minutes telling me about how she feels about Chinese people in chinatown (where my ob/gyn is locate), never explained anything about infertily or hormones and decided she was going to do some tests on me without telling me what they were for....she also did a pap smear (even thou she told me that she was not going to since I might have done it with my ob. in the last year)...I was so numb by that point that I did not even think...that maybe I might be pregnant and she never checked to see before she did the pap or the ultrasound....

I started to cry when I got out of there....i practically ran out the door....Am i crazy (I am PMSing a little cause the time is close to AF) or was that just a horrible experience?  Does anyone know an RE in the NYC area that they can refer? Did anyone on here ever experience something like this ?

Glowconsin

Nope, you were totally right to go running screaming from there.  I'm not from NYC, but there has to be better RE's out there that know what they're doing.  Hang in there, dear.  Not all RE's are that inept.

tosh24

Oh my goodness. I am so sorry that you were treated the way you were at your appointment. You are definitely not crazy. That RE practice is unprofessional and rude. I think you're right in looking for another doctor. I would also put in a complaint to whatever the governing medical board is that oversees doctors in the U.S. (sorry, I'm Canadian.....).

What about the NYU Fertility Center? Isn't that where that awesome doctor that writes the infertility blog works? I think it's in the city. I think Dr. Licciardi is his name? I have no idea how long it would actually take to get in there. I would imagine that he's pretty well-known!

Good luck finding a new doctor

Jezebell26

Awe sweetie i am so sorry about this appointment! That sounds horrific! I know what you mean when u said that u were numb and couldnt think straight about what was happening. I would definitely be looking for a new dr. I am in NJ but there has to be tons of RE's over in NYC. Depending on how things go im even considering finding a specialist in NYC. If you decide to cross the river let me know, i love my RE and its only him in his office and i get very personal care and attention. Im sorry for this not so typical first experience and i would definitely shop around!! I know there are websites out there that rate doctors and i would personally look them up and check out their ratings and leave some feedback! GL!

MTooms

Does anyone know an RE in the NYC area that they can refer?

Well, where did you go?

I am going to Colmbia. It is a little bit impersonal and factory-ish, because they take almost every insurance and have a high volume. However, it has (despite some initial worries), worked out pretty well for me so far. I have my first IUI next week, so I can tell you more after that. It was not worth the extra personal touch for me to consider paying OOP, when I can get away with just co-payments, and they have a very good reputation. I don't have anything bad to say about them really.

 https://www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/obgyn/services/infertility/

I have heard very good things about Cornell, if you can afford OOP (or I think they might accept United HC, not really sure on that one).

https://www.ivf.org/

jiffy-pop

Wow. I would not go back to that place if I could help it. I hope you find a better RE soon!

peppersnic

I am soooo sorry!!  You are not crazy and yes that was a HORRIBLE visit.  I would consider changing.  The office I go to is wonderful and with this horrible thing we are having to go thru you shouldn't have to deal with a bad experience.  Going to the RE is bad in it's self and you just shouldn't have to feel that way.

 I am so sorry you went thru that!!  :::HUGS:::

maybebride

You are not crazy. I have not yet been to an RE, but I would be tempted not to go back to one ever if I had an experience like that.

Do not go back there!

One thing I will say between this post and going back and looking at your intro post on TTGP is that for the next appointment with a new doctor, go in armed. You have to be an advocate for yourself, so don't go in there just waiting for them to give you information. Tell them what's going on with you, not just basics but specific issues. Research yourself what the next steps and the tests and the medications are. Ask specific questions.

Good luck to you!

mishele

I don't think you're crazy at all.  I see different doctors in my RE's practice but mostly for monitoring.  My first appointment my doctor spoke to me for as long as I needed and I was not shuttled around.  You need to be comfortable with any doctor but especially when going through fertility treatments. 

I can't recommend a RE in NY but in NYC there has got to be someone better! 

XXXXX222

OMG, what a nightmare! Stay away from them!

punkymama

No you are not crazy! That sounds like a horrible RE appnt.

Are there other REs you can go to for a consultation?  I wouldn't go back there.  They don't sound very helpful at all.

halo_tx

Wow, that sounds awful! I'm sorry you had to go through that! I would definitely find a new RE! You have a right to be treated a dr. that you like and is respectful to you.

nycbride0731

Thanks everyone for your support, I needed to hear that I was not going crazy.  I made another appointment with another RE (only this time I took ppls recommentation and called and asked questions before the appointment).  Will let you know how it goes. Thanks again.

99luftballoons

That's pretty outrageous.  There is no way I would go back there.  We are going to Cornell and I love my RE.  He came highly recommended from a good friend who used him.  I don't know what insurance you have, but I have BC/BS and he takes it.  PM me if you want more info.  Good luck!