My clinic is upsetting me

annalisel

This is mostly a vent, but if I'm being unrealistic being upset let me know. 

I go to a medium sized clinic that is run factory-like. They are professional and caring in the moment, but won't remember you. Or at least they don't remember me. I am usually fine with this.

However, I'm getting annoyed that I have to be the one to remind them basic facts about my medical history - you know, like I have elevated prolactin and they'd better test it post miscarriage to show I'll need medication to suppress it, or my TSH medication changed at their direction and they need to retest, OR I need to schedule the saline ultrasound way early relative to the IVF cycle in case, you know, my D&C caused scarring that would need to be dealt with. You'd think they would have some record of that and be able to incorporate this fact into a scheduling phone call.

Oh, and the NP who was the one to deliver the news that our embryo was measuring behind and without a heartbeat canceled my birth control prescription the very next day (I don't think we were rude, but who knows, we were pretty upset) and now I have bug someone to get a refill because of course they don't have any appointments in the next couple of weeks so I'll have to be on birth control pills for almost 2 months in order to both fit in the saline ultrasound and match their bunched cycle dates. 

I am seriously wondering what would happen if I wasn't so on top of things. Plus I'm wondering what other things I'm not catching. 

ukyankee

That does sound bad.  Have you considered moving clinics?  Have you sat down with your consultant and talked about all of this?  I would definitely say something about it and see if they can get on top of it...and if not, then take your business eleswhere if you can.

Mitzi Bishi

This sounds eerily similar to the RE office we just left. There is too much tied up emotionally, physically, and financially to feel like you're at a factory.

We left because we felt if you're "only" having issues of egg meeting sperm and the stars align then you'll hopefully get and stay pregnant then they can connect the two puzzle pieces. 

If you happen to have some other unknown issue the chances they are going to sit down and think about each little part of the equation is slim to none.

You have enough pressure as it is. I'd high tail out of there if you have other options!  

winofairy

That is awful!  I was so happy with our first RE but he doesn't do IVF so we kept trying with IUI's.  Now I'm kicking myself because we wasted so much money that could have gone towards IVF/Meds.

The 1st place we went for IVF consult I hated.  He kept pushing for donor eggs and I left crying.  It was just 2 months shy of my 40th birthday and he made me feel like we were a lost cause without doing any further testing.

We chose to do another IVF consult at another place and I love my new doctor.  She remembered things we discussed in our consult when I saw her yesterday for my SIS/mock transfer and that was 2 weeks ago.

Can you look for another place maybe? I know some towns are small and choices are limited but they just seem like you said "so factory" like.  IVF is already so stressful without adding the chaos from your clinic.  I'm already a nervous worrying type and this place would make me nuts.

LaLe09

I'm sorry. I was at a similar clinic, it was very large and factory-like. I've since left to a smaller, more personable clinic and i'm so much happier. You are paying for a service (and a very expensive service at that) and you deserve to be treated with respect and by staff who are knowledgeable about your case. I hope that things get better for you!

ForTheLoveOf Pink

YOu are certainly not being unrealistic. I also go to a clinic that sounds very much like this. During the appt with the RE, He seems so plugged in to our situation and then when you are proceeding into a medicated cycle it drastically changes. The assembly line gets put into place.  For sure they need to use a "system" to serve all of their patients, but my clinic also seems to require reminders of whom they are giving the instructions to, oopsy wrong person!!!! 

It is hard knowing how much money is being spent on these cycles and it would be nice if they treated you as a person that is donating $$$$ to a cause. They would certainly call you and give you updates in a timely fashion. Many of us would have buildings named after us with the amount of money that is being spent on fertility.

I guess you just have to continue to be your own advocate. This why the bump is such a great source of info.......love it!!!

 

marieinmonaco

No, you are not being unrealistic at all. I would be upset too if I were in your shoes.

annalisel

Thank you everyone for "listening" to and validating my vent. Yesterday was CD1 for me and I suspect I was interpreting everything in the worst possible way and conveying that to you. With just the information from yesterday, I would have urged a poster to switch too! But, there are a lot of other things that are positive about this clinic that lead us to take a second chance with them.

Thankfully I talked to the nurse again today and, no she didn't immediately remember who I was, but once she was reminded, she was on the ball and was able to have a nuanced conversation about where I was in the process. Phew. I feel much better now. Yesterday I had talked to her 10 min after she started work and maybe she wasn't quite in the zone yet? 

Thank you again for listening to my vent.