Hi ladies!
I usually lurk/sometimes post on the GP board on the Nest, but wanted to introduce myself here and ask a question. DH and I have been married for 2 years, together for almost 12. I'm excited to hopefully join you all or at least learn from you all in the meantime!
MY DH and I have been trying to get pg for over a year now. My GYN has mentioned getting testing started and has said that ultimately we will likely be referred to a specialist. She wasn't overly optimistic about treating us, so I'm taking matters into my own hands and trying to be proactive in our care. DH has a SA scheduled in the next couple weeks. I called Dr. Schieber and Dr. Awadalla's office to schedule a consult and now have an appointment with Dr. Burwinkel, who is apparently new.
What should I expect at our first meeting? Have any of you seen Dr. Burwinkel? I'm pretty stressed out and nervous, but also excited to hopefully get some answers!
Also...I need a new GYN...I am really disappointed in my current practice and am looking for a new one. Any suggestions, pref. west side, but am open to any suggestions!!
Thanks
Re: Question about RE's
Hi there and welcome!!!
I can't help with the specialists and what not but I just moved up here and got some recommendations so I am sure the ladies will be great about giving you some help.
Personally I started going to For Women Inc. They have an office in Evendale that is convenient for me (living in West Chester) but I THINK they have another office, not sure. Thus far I really like the doctors I have met and they've been great with my issues (preterm labor) and helping to keep me out of the hospital and baby safely growing!
They are an all female practice, which I personally like, but isn't for everyone. Other than that I can't help much except to say that being proactive is not a bad thing.
Lots of good wishes for you and your husband and look forward to seeing you around!
Well, from an IF veteran..Expect to fill out a bunch of paperwork for the RE. Your appointment will probably consist of a vaginal U/s, some bloodwork, a bunch of questions. If you have been charting you may want to bring those. However, some RE's just disregard them. Be prepared for that.
Based on the results of the above, they will come up with a plan for the next step. My first RE was not IRH so they may handle it a little differently. I did see them for awhile. I chose to move on to a different RE simply because I don't think they wanted to treat an "older" woman. AMA did not seem to be there forte...I moved on to another practice and DE cycles.
As far as a GYN on the westside--- I live on the east side and travel to see Dr. Carol Egner. Maybe that is who you are already seeing. I love her. She has been supportive of this whole process. Takes the time with me that I need. She did not want to treat me for IF because she wanted me to see a specialist. She would have given clomid and monitored but she really wanted me to have the complete workup. I obviously need more than a monitored clomid cycle. (Clomid NEEDS to be monitored).
HTH
PM me if you have any other questions
I saw Dr. Scheiber and Dr. Awadalla for a while (got pregnant with my youngest son via IVF w/ PGD).
Our first appointment consisted of some paper work, a meeting with a woman about insurance and financial stuff (and getting our picture taken , an ultrasound for me, blood draws for both me and DH, then a bit of a planning meeting with Dr. Scheiber. Before we left we scheduled a saline sono for me and a SA for DH.
I never saw the third doc, he hadn't joined the practice yet when I was there. Both Dr. S and Dr. A are excellent physicians. I would say Dr. Scheiber is a little more friendly than Dr. A (not that Dr. A is unfriendly, he's just more of an all business kind of guy, but still a wonderful doctor!). Dr. Scheiber is a little more chatty, etc.
There are also several other women on this board with precious little ones that came from help from IRH! You'll be in great hands!
Good luck to you!
Hannah
ETA: I see Graig Smith at Samaritan OB/GYN. He's wonderful. There are 4 other doctors in the practice is well (Schuermann, Hoopes, Garnder and Choi - the last 3 are female). I've seen all of them and like all of them but Dr. Smith is my favorite, been seeing him for a decade. The practice is inside the doctors building at Good Sam and they also have a Harrison office.
Thanks everyone for the info, I really appreciate it.
I asked if my DH should come with me to the appt. and the scheduler said it didn't matter. I saw that Hannah, you brought your DH, would you recommend that he come with me or do you think it's okay for him not to come the first time (he has to work, but could get off if necessary)?
I am not currently seeing any of the GYN's that were recommended, so I will defintely check them out!! Thank you!!
I saw Dr. Burwinkle for one of my appts. It was a quick visit, so we didn't get too in depth. (I believe he was just checking my follicle size). He was very nice, just like the others. And I'm sure very knowledgable if he's in that practice. Everyone, staff included, at their office is fantastic. My husband went with me to my initial appt there. I'd recommend yours go if possible. You are going to be bombarded with a ton of information, and it's much easier for him to hear it firsthand.
Also, I see Dr. Egner on the westside. She and the other two OB/Gyns in her practice are wonderful (but she is definitely my favorite). I would definitely recommend them to anyone.
Good luck with everything!
I see Dr. Thomas. Have been thinking of going to the practice you are going to see since the Donor Egg coordinator lost my paperwork.
The first appt you get a lot of information. I would bring DH, it's better to have him there to pick up things you might miss.
Good Luck!
For a OB on the West Side, I would recommend Samaritan OB/GYN. I see them and so do the majority of my friends. We all love the doctors and have never had any issues with them. I have a friend who is an ob nurse and many of her co-workers see the doctors in Samaritan.
I used to see the doctors in Women's Partners which was also recommended above. I really liked them until I had some health issues, which they did not handle appropriately. When I brought it to their attention, they acted unprofessionally and got very defensive so I left and went to Samaritan.
I was a patient of IRH also. I think the other ladies gave you all the 1st appt information. They did mail me a packet of information to look over and fill out before my consultation which helped cut down the paperwork when I arrived.
I saw Dr. Burwinkle twice. Once was my very first cycle day 3 monitoring (think vaginal ultrasound on day 3 of a heavy period) and I was SO embarrassed! He made me feel very comfortable and assured me this was something they see every single day. He was very friendly and nice and I really liked him. He is also the one who did my IUI the cycle I got pregnant. Dr. Awadalla was my primary doctor there and I don't have a negative thing to say about him. I think he's great. Dr. Schreiber did my monitoring once with my 1st pregnancy and he was also very friendly but it was a very quick appointment so I didn't really get to know him very well.
My OB is on the east side, Seven Hills Womans Health Center. I do love the doctors there, but location may not work for you.
Thank you all for the input! I appreciate it. I will look into the suggestions for doctors as well.
Stillwaiting...I would be MORTIFIED!!! I'm used to a female doctor, so I'm going to have to get used to seeing a male...I'm a little nervous about that! I'm glad to hear he was really nice and that you liked him.
Thanks again
I went to IRH and saw primarily Dr. Scheiber for both of my IVF cycles. Dr. A did both my retrievals and one of my transfers though since Dr. S was unavailable. I much prefer Scheiber over Awadalla for personality reasons but they are both competent physicians I was very happy with the group as a whole. Dr. Burwinkle hadn't joined the practice yet when I was cycling but have heard good things about him from a friend.
As far as OB/GYN's go, I also see Good Samaritan OB/GYN and really like them. I like most of the docs in the practice with the exception of Dr. Smith but thankfully only had to see him twice during my pregnancy. I had a great experience with my recent c-section with Dr. Scheurmann and recommend him highly.