23 Questions Too Many???

JericaLH · August 2014

So I'm super nervous about our initial RE consult on the 18th and I've decided the only way I can move on and get it out of my head is to write some stuff down. So I wrote down my menstrual history (never got to the charting phase because my body decided to quit ovulating...) and I've prepared a LONG list of questions. Some are about the clinic's operations (hours, call times, etc), some are specific to my RE (how do you feel about acupuncture, etc) and some are concerning insurance and financing since our insurance only covers testing up to diagnosis. All together it comes to a grand total of 23 questions.... Is that overkill? Do I need to chill out? Am I going to be the crazy lady at my RE's office who needs to know EVERYTHING right now? Or is it okay to want to be in the know for this whole process?

Edited for Spelling errors

wanderlust508 · August 2014

You have every right to ask whatever questions you have! I think it's great that you have all your questions prepared ahead of time. I did the same but I still came up with more later. :-/ Good luck with your RE appointment! Hope they answer your questions thoroughly and put you at ease.

BunnyBerry · August 2014

Good for you! Lol.

I typed around 5 pages of bulleted questions to take to our consult after we'd finished testing and had something more to work with. The RE ended up talking about much of it, and some of it turned out to be moot based on what he said (for example, after he recommended Letrozole, I didn't have to ask about my Clomid concerns).

I think preparing questions is smart so you don't regret not using the opportunity later. Perhaps you could go through them and pick out the high priorities that you must get answered, and maybe even pick some that the nurses could answer for you easily? And financial questions might be best answered by the front desk. I have to force myself to speak up in front of doctors by counting the issues to bring up and then forcing myself to mention that many!

Good luck!

JericaLH · August 2014

iPutKetchupOnKetchup said:
I had a list of questions that I brought, too, but to be honest - so many of those questions were answered either a) in the packet they provided ahead of time and b) by just listening to her speak. This isn't your RE's first rodeo. Does the office have a website? If so, a majority of the time they have a section for patients that have FAQs or forms uploaded for you to download and fill out ahead of time. If not, you could always drop by the office next week, explain that your consult is on the 18th and pick up the paperwork that you will have to fill out ahead of time. That way you could fill it out at home and drop it back off to the office before your consult and include the history list you're working on. I felt so much better going in knowing that they had an opportunity to review everything ahead of time. Especially when she told me she googled a part of my DX because it was a first.

Thanks so much Ketchup!

The RE's office had all their paperwork online for use to fill out (I had that done two weeks ago right after we made the apt...) and I already sent my medical history file from my OB (and checked that it arrived). I'll be sure to check their website and read through the FAQ's. Hopefully she answers all my questions before I even have to ask.

Thanks again, that was really reassuring to hear. And I'm planning on taking your advice about the wine tonight as well!

PS - Woot! First Quote!

AnnaClaire256 · August 2014

I don't think there's any way you can be over-prepared. If I had a dollar for every question I've gotten home and thought "damn I should've asked that", we would probably be able to pay for a couple months treatment!

You need to be informed about everything so that you can help make this process as smooth as possible. Plus, you're probably paying this person out the ass for their time...make it worth the money!

LindseyM2012 · August 2014

I also had a long list of questions. My RE answered most of them during general conversation with me during the consult, so I didn't have to go back and ask each one specifically. I took my note pad and jotted down the answers to the questions when she brought something up. If anything else was not covered, I went back and asked my specific question.

Hopefully your RE is thorough in the consult so it is less of a patient-directed Q&A. I think the more questions you have, the better your chances of making informed decisions about your treatment. Get armed with all of the information you can have!

TTCBabyJ · August 2014

I definitely don't think it's overkill. While your RE has done this before you are the one that has a personally and maybe even a financially vested interest in getting pregnant. Over the last few weeks I have interviewed 4 different REs after I decided to fire my old RE. And I had a host of questions and I never felt bad about asking them. After getting my initial diagnoses from the first RE, I asked each potential RE to rank my diagnoses and how they would treat each. The answer to this question help me select the right RE for me. The last RE jokingly said he felt he was on a job interview.

Chasity08 · August 2014

lindy04aggie said:

When it comes to IF, I don't think there is such a thing as "too many questions." Ask until you're satisifed that you are as informed as you can be.

Agreed. Only I would say this about all sides of your healthcare. I think it is so important to be knowledgeable about your healthcare and be your own advocate. No one knows your body better than you. Ask as many questions as it takes to be comfortable and confident in your care plan. Good luck at your appointment!!

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