It has been amazingly beautiful here this weekend. So much to be thankful for!
I am 6dpo and going for progesterone bloodwork on Tuesday. (Tomorrow is 7dpo, but I am just too busy tomorrow.)
Which brings me to my thoughts about my current RE practice. I'm almost surprised that they didn't give me any trouble about getting the blood draw. I am trying not to hold it against them that at least two times in the past (the progesterone issue, and the estrogen/lupron issue), I have had a gut feeling that something isn't (or won't be) right, and both times my worries have been minimized until I forced the issue and, lo and behold, it turns out I was right.
I am thisclose to cancelling my consult (semi-WTF appointment) with my RE and just scheduling a consult with the other RE in town. I know two people who have gone there (one went home with a baby, one did not), but they both spoke volumes about the compassion and care they received there.
And while I have generally felt cared for at my current RE, I have to admit that I am a little hurt that no one called me to see how I was doing after my cancellation last Saturday. When I left my nurse a voicemail to schedule the bloodwork, I said "You probably heard, I got cancelled for lack of response." And when she called me back she didn't even mention the cancellation or that she was sorry or anything! How would you have felt?
And, I am trying not to be too upset at the lupron issue because the more people I tell about it, the more people reinforce my conclusion that exactly what my fears had been actually happened. Okay fine, RE, the lupron only affects the pituitary, but guess what signals the ovaries to start making eggs?!?!?!?!?! And after searching for reputable studies online, it is widely known that the antagonist (or microflare lupron, but I am now anti-lupron) protocol is often times a better protocol for people with poor response. I am trying not to be too annoyed that just because he always uses lupron, he didn't look at my specific situation and see that maybe a different one would have been in order.
I don't know what to expect while talking to him on Thursday. I'm expecting him to restate that he doesn't think it's the lupron's fault. And then I will say, well, no matter if you think it is or isn't, I want a different protocol. The one concern is that I'm not sure he has much experience with any other protocol, another reason why I'm considering changing, because I know the other RE uses it often (both my friends used it). So even if he says, okay fine, we'll do antagonist, I'm not sure I'm 100% confident that he will be able to manage it correctly. I guess maybe that answers my question- if I'm not 100% confident, maybe we should switch.
(Plus, depending on my progesterone results, I'm asking for PIO next cycle. My RE has said that there really isn't a difference between suppositories and PIO, and PIO is more uncomfortable than suppositories, but if that is one of my issues, we're going to upgrade to the gold progesterone!)
I'm going to feel like a traitor if I leave my current RE. But people do it all the time, right? I don't really want to leave, but we can't keep having cancelled IVF cycles and borderline hormone results. Maybe training for 2 marathons and a handful of half marathons and other 10+ mile races made my body flatline in the hormone department, but that was almost 3 years ago, so let's kick start it again, shall we?
But what am I rambling on for. I'm pregnant this time, right?
22 comments:
Don't feel like a traitor. I switched clinics back in January and there's never been a moment where I've regretted that decision. This is your body and your life. You need to make the choice that you feel most comfortable with and that's best for you.
I say go with your gut...if your gut says see a new RE, then do it! It never hurts to get a second opinion, and if you don't like the new guy (or girl) then you can always go back!!
I say go with your gut. And don't feel like a traitor if that means switching. This is your life, your body, your treatments. I also say a consult with the other RE could never hurt. Plus if 2 of your friends have already gone there and had good experiences tha't always a good thing. But yea I agree...why are we even talking about this b/c you're going to be pregnant this cycle. =)
You don't owe your RE anything...if you want a second opinion you should get one. It's you body and money and you have choices.
Hopefully none of this will mattet because you will get pregnant this cycle!
GL!!
I am like you and I get to feeling like I owe loyalty to people even when that's not the case, as with doctors. I ran into an issue with my primary care a while back and I finally switched and was so happy after. If you will have more peace with the other RE then I say go for it. This is certainly not a situation you want to wonder "what-if" about. Hugs and prayers!!
Totally agree, at the end of the day you have to do what's best for you!! And you shouldn't feel guilty at all, people switch RE's all the time. And if something is bothering you about your current one, better to switch and have one less thing to worry about...we obviously have enough on our minds!! Like people said it never hurts to get a second opinion.
i always second guess myself about things like this... like i totally get the "i feel like a traitor" thing. i felt that way when i left both of my last two jobs... i finally realized i have to just do what's right for me. one of the assistant principals at the high school that i left mid-year at told me "we, everyone here, will go on without you. you have to do what you have to do." SO TRUE! you have to do what feels right to you. if that means switching, then that means switching. you don't owe your current RE a thing! praying you're pg and it all doesn't matter though :-)
I say that go with your gut. If you feel more comfortable getting a second opinion than you should! Let us know what you decide.
I agree with the others - this is too big of a deal to not seek out the different options if you are not comfortable with your current RE/protocol. I know it's hard because you feel established with your current RE, but it sounds like you have some very valid concerns. It doesn't hurt to get a second opinion at the very least.
But, of course, hoping this is a moot point because you're pregnant!
I agree, a second opionion never hurts. Although, like you, I have problems switching doctors too. I feel like I'm abandoning them, for some unknown reason.
Your reproductive health is just his 9-5 job (and apparently not one he's very passionate about, given the attitude he has instilled in his nurses). Whereas it's your health, and your life. You owe him nothing.
Also, FWIW, I think lupron is pure evil. I don't know why anyone prescribes it for anything - I don't care if it works, find an alternative. There's no reason good enough to feel like that.
I'd go to your WTF appt but definitely think about getting a second opinion. After 2 failed cycles, we interviewed a new RE, loved him and switched. The new Dr got me pregnant!
It was a fresh set of eye's on my charts, on the meds and on our situation. He suggested some additional testing and we were overall SO HAPPY we switched. Don't worry about leaving your current RE.....it's your body and you have to do what feels right and most comfortable and most promising. :-)
Always remember that your problems are your doctor’s top concern for the 5-15 minutes he/she sees you . . .then off to another patient. You are the one who is living with this day in and day out. Never hesitate to question your doctor, find another one, fire one, etc. This is your life and you are your own best advocate. Good practice for mommy days when you’ll be advocating for what’s best for your little one.
I of course hope you are pregnant and all of this is moot, but I did want to say. . . go with your gut. For sure. I was never entirely comfortable with my RE. (I loved the nurses and their compassion, but there was something about the RE) I finally went and got a second opinion, and LOVED the place. The problem was, by the time I went and got the second opinion, all of my insurance money was practically gone, so I couldn't go to the new clinic even though I KNEW in my hear that is where I was supposed to be.
This is your life. Do what is best for you.
I had a lot of doubts before deciding to switch REs. But in the end I just didn't feel like the first RE was doing anything for me. I think some of this battle is mental and we NEED to know that our RE is thinking of the best options for us as individuals and not just generalize us. Switching is one of the best things I did. Even with my first RE being high recommended.
Go with your gut! You deserve the best :D
I am with everyone else. A second opinion never hurts. However, I hope this cycle works and you won't have to worry about it:).
If it would make you feel comfortable there is nothing wrong with checking out the other re and trying a consult with him. The two times I got cancelled no one called me either. But then again it wasn't ivf.
I can tell by reading your post that you already know you should at least get a 2nd opinion. DO IT!! :) Like many other's have said, I was soooo happy I made the switch to a new RE when I did. Also, I can't understand how your RE would not want to change things up to get a better response?? How could you just walk in there to do the same thing when you only got 2 follicles?
Can't wait to hear about your 2nd opinion ;)
First, I want to say that I am very, very hopeful that you are pg and what follows will not matter :)
But in the event that you do have to go forward with an IVF cycle, you want to be completely comfortable and at peace with your RE and protocol. You don't want any regrets because if there are "what ifs" in your mind it will make moving forward later difficult should the IVf be unsuccessful. Again, not thinking that is going to happen either.
You need to do what is best for YOU. If that means "jumping ship" then by all means honey jump!
BTW I nominated you for an award on my blog.
I switched RE's after getting a 1% chance and IVF recommendation and then finding out that they never did a basic hormone test!! I had always felt like something was just not right in that office although he is a highly respected Dr. My new Dr. diagnosed PCOS right away and I got pg the first cycle. I ended up miscarrying, but the way I see it, we spend thousand's of $$$, they work for us. You do what's best for YOU.
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