I so appreciate all your comments and input! (Though no one in my area has emailed me; maybe no one in the Phoenix metro area reads this blog?)
While talking with MM about this last night, I thought of something that I hadn't really considered in regard to changing practices. Doing so will likely mean at least a 1-2 cycle delay for us, just in order to get an appointment with someone else. A nurse friend of mine pointed out today that a new doctor might also make me/us repeat some of the testing that has already been done (bloodwork, HSG, semen analysis). We have already had too many delays already--this cycle's will only be my second IUI since we decided to start intervention in APRIL--so that is another consideration. I am 38 and will be 39 in March, so I don't have a lot of time to waste.
My other concern in changing practices is that it will be more of the same elsewhere. None of what I have experienced at my current clinic could have been anticipated or learned prior to becoming a patient there. I was assured at our initial consultation and later sit-down appointments with the doctor that they get you quickly in and out for monitoring appointments, something I later learned through (painful and expensive) experience is not the case. The only person I know who had been a patient there had nothing but good things to say. . . . but then again, she did IVF there, so perhaps her experiences were different.
In reality, most clinics are more focused on IVF because that is how they make the most money. We are paying about 1/10 of the cost of an IVF cycle for each IUI cycle we do.
At this point, I think I am going to discuss the situation and my concerns with the one NP in the office with whom I have had regular contact and established some rapport. Perhaps she can guide me and help alleviate some of my concerns.
In any event, I cannot do anything until this cycle is complete. Perhaps I will get pregnant this cycle, the pregnancy will stick, and I will be referred back to my OB/GYN and won't have to worry any more about this. A girl can hope. . . .
Happy ICLW, and good luck with the current cycle. Here's hoping it all works smoothly, and you don't have to worry about changing doctors.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good plan... good luck with the NP and this cycle! Hoping that you don't even have to worry about changing REs because you get your BFP this cycle! :-)
ReplyDeleteICLW
I was going to comment yesterday and say that I would switch, but I never got around to commenting! You have a good point, though. What would you think of continuing treatment at your current RE's office, but make an appointment at another in the meantime? That way, you aren't wasting time and could get pregnant by the time you would have had an appointment. You could have a consultation to see what they say. If it would cause too much of a delay, you could stick with your current office.
ReplyDeleteMy experience with my RE's office years ago (from my previous marriage) was just like yours. It was so frustrating, and I felt like it made a difficult time so much worse. I hate to see people going through that. I know a lot of RE's offices are that way, but it doesn't make it right.
I hope you have a successful cycle, so that you won't even need to figure it out!
Through a message board I follow there is a girl who lives in the Phoenix area. I will see if I can ask her if she would be willing to tell you (or me to you) which RE she uses. It might take a few days, but I'll see what I find out.
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