August 2016 Moms

Recently not happy with OB & not sure what to do!!

I have gestational diabetes, had with my 1st also and was on insulin then. This time around my Dr put me on a pill for the ease of not having to give myself shots (different Dr from 1st baby since we moved). I've been on the pill since Feb and have had 3 Hypoglycemic episodes since, a bad one on Mother's Day evening where my glucose levels dropped to 36 (very dangerous and in the fainting/seizure category but luckily I didn't & was able to get it back up).

That episode happened at night, I called the Dr office the next morning and they wanted me in that day to check on me & baby. Dr said "Yes, that is a common side effect of the pill, I think it's best we go on insulin now". Ok, wish I knew that was a common side effect because I wouldn't have taken in from the beginning. Insulin is apparently the more natural approach to balance your levels. She verbally told me (and my DH was with me) that she will start me on a shot during the day and 1 at night. Said she would call it in by end of day so that I could pick it up and start the next day. So, 10am the next day rolls around and I call pharmacy and they say nothing was called in. Then I call the Dr office and they call it in then. By time it was ready it was 6pm, after office hours and now almost 48 hours since I've been off any type of meds. My sugars were all over the place that I was testing. When I picked up my insulin the directions were to take it all in the morning, contradicting what she verbally told us. The pharmacy wasn't much help saying "Yeah, we thought that was odd too". So, I am left not knowing what the heck to do. I call the answering service at my Dr office to get clarification but apparently they don't answer any questions about prescriptions after hours.  

So, at this point I have no idea what to do. Luckily I come from a family full of doctors. I called my brother who is an internal specialist and has dealt with many diabetic patience and is familiar with the insulin dosages. He felt very uncomfortable with what the Dr did prescribe. Since I had no direction and hadn't been on anything he suggested I start the insulin and gave me directions (different then my Dr) which I began. He lives in a different state and obviously can't be my Dr but said that he would recommend me seeing an Endocrinologist. He doesn't want to step on toes and understands that OB/GYN is her speciality and that I should in conjuction seeing a specialist for diabetes since I've bottomed out 3x in the past couple of months.

I called my Dr yesterday morning at 9am leaving a message that I would like to speak with my doctor (or her nurse) about getting a referral because I would like to see an Endocrinologist asap. I've never received a call back at all yesterday.

My dad(retired), my brother & his wife and then my other sis in law are all Doctors (and both sis in laws dads are Dr's), so I have alot of input on that end. My dad was furious that day I picked up my meds and that there was no one to talk to me about my prescription. They aren't comfortable that the office or any doctor is not easily able to get a hold of. And weary about the amounts of insulin and times I was told to take.

Would you switch Dr's? Talk to your Dr? Of course this makes me uncomfortable as well. I don't know what to do at this point. 

Lilypie - Eu0n
BFP: 12/3/15     EDD: 8/11/16     IT'S A BOY!!!
MAXIMUS POWERS   8♥5♥16
 
Lilypie - pXE7
BFP: 8/5/13      EDD: 4/13/14     IT'S A GIRL!!!      
AYLA BLAIR   3♥27♥14

Re: Recently not happy with OB & not sure what to do!!

  • I'd look into switching ASAP. Diabetes is nothing to mess with, and although GD is usually pretty easy to manage, you should not be having to second-guess your meds! It'd be one thing if they just called it in late and the directions contradicted what you were told, but the fact that you can't get a hold of anyone for clarification would have me running for the hills. 

    Married May 2014
    DD born August 2016
    Baby #2 due December 2017
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  • charmedlifex3charmedlifex3 member
    edited May 2016

    Honestly, if you are uncomfortable - switch doctors NOW.

    I went through something kind of similar at about 20 weeks - regarding a chronic condition, not GD, but still. I felt like my doctor was treating me like "just another pregnant chick" rather than a patient with a unique (and fairly rare) diagnosis trying with all my might to have a healthy pregnancy. It's okay for your doctor to admit this is over her head - my new doctor did, and referred me to a MFM and a neurologist, and suggested I meet with the anesthesiologist ahead of time to formulate a plan for dealing with pain caused by my condition and exacerbated by labor. Its not okay for your doctor to attempt to treat something (or fail to treat)something which is over her head, which it sounds like is what is happening.  

    I would make sure you find someone new before you let your other doctor know you are leaving - being so far into your pregnancy some practices may not take you, and you want to make sure you find something you are happier with.

    We toured four hospitals before making the decision to switch, and ended up somewhere I am MUCH more comfortable with on a lot of levels.





  • KatienuKatienu member

    SWICH NOW is right.  You have to be a good consumer of your healthcare and advocate for yourself.  I switched with my first pregnancy and I wasn't dealing with even a drop of what you are dealing with.  My doctor spent every appointment talking about her own pregnancy and did not give me the attention I needed as her patient.  It was such a good decision! 

    Best of luck to you!

  • I'm sorry your having to deal with this! Just the lack of availability would probably make me switch. It should never take them that long to respond back, especially with a health/medication issue. I would do it ASAP though, because some OB's are hesitant to take someone who is really far along. 



  • I hope you get this worked out! It certainly is a complicated situation. You might also want to ask your doctor if an MFM is a better fit over an endocrinologist, as they often aren't versed in prenatal issues.  I think all MFMs would be comfortable treating this. 
  • Thanks ladies.... I requested a referral to endocrinologist, they won't do that they say since I am pregnant they will refer me to the maternal specialist. They followed up with me this morning saying that they put the call in Friday afternoon and that office will call me to make an appointment. We've seen the specialist once before at our 20 week anatomy scan since I am high risk (GD + 37 at delivery), everything looked great then so they said I could continue seeing regular OB unless something came up. 

    I have been comfortable with my regular OB all along until this bump in the road. I have another appointment with her next week so hope to maybe talk about my concerns in person and if I still don't feel comfortable I may look into another doctor then. 
    Lilypie - Eu0n
    BFP: 12/3/15     EDD: 8/11/16     IT'S A BOY!!!
    MAXIMUS POWERS   8♥5♥16
     
    Lilypie - pXE7
    BFP: 8/5/13      EDD: 4/13/14     IT'S A GIRL!!!      
    AYLA BLAIR   3♥27♥14

  • SkiChic626SkiChic626 member
    edited May 2016
    I call the answering service at my Dr office to get clarification but apparently they don't answer any questions about prescriptions after hours.  

    I'm sorry, but this alone would make me switch doctors.  It's not like it's a prenatal vitamin.  When a diabetic has a question about how to take insulin, it literally could be life or death.  If their policy is to not take rx questions after hours, then fine, but certain cases need to have exception guidelines, such as insulin.
    DD  <3 6/15/2014
    Baby #2 due 8/11/2016

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