n00b advice needed, please :)

[luckypanda]

So a little back story... my wife and I have been TTC for two years. We've seen 3 different REs. We FINALLY have gotten all of our ducks in a row...my thyroid, diabetes, and all of that junk. So we purchased our sperm and had a wonky set of OPKs which is what the doctor had us doing (I got a positive and then a negative) so they brought me in for an ultrasound and found out my follicles were too small and not developing properly. So he prescribed me Femara and sent me on my way.



Fast forward to this cycle...I took my Femara CD3-7 and then was to start OPKs on CD11. I got a blinking smiley face which indicated high fertility (it's the Clear Blue Advanced) and called in (which is all I was told to do). I explained what had happened and the receptionist said she'd notify the nurse and she would call me back. I missed the call and called back 11 minutes later and the receptionist said the nurse said to schedule my IUI for the next day. I was under the impression because this cycle was medicated they would do an ultrasound (to check my follicles) and then inseminate.



So we went in and they asked me to pay for the insemination and they would perform it. I asked about an ultrasound, and the weird OPK, and she told me to take a seat. The nurse called me back and basically said that I didn't say I needed an ultrasound and it was too late to take blood work and she had already thawed the sperm so basically we had to go through with the IUI that day... my wife was in tears and I was trying to not stress out, but now I am ready to go in for my Femara check on Tuesday and I want to bring it up with the doctor. Am I right to be pissed? I feel like they should compensate us for screwing up (in the form of another vile or a complimentary IUI if this doesn't work). Or am I crazy town?



They also billed MY ultrasound (the first one they did) on my wife's insurance and never seem to get us correct... with who is the patient and the spouse. The doctor is WONDERFUL and I really like him, but I am VERY frustrated with his staff...



Sorry to vent and sorry that got a lot longer than I thought!

[madamewaffles]

First, I'm sorry that you are frustrated with your RE. It sounds like they are not very organized. Did you have CD 3 blood work prior to starting the Femara? When I was going through medicated TI and IUIs, I was to call on CD 1, and at that time I'd schedule blood work and my first monitoring ultrasound, usually on CD 10 or 11. Depending on how that first ultrasound went determined when I'd come back for either more monitoring or scheduling TI and/or IUI. I would definitely consider scheduling ultrasounds for a few days before you would get a +OPK so you can have a better grasp on where your follicles are at and that you're not over-responding.

[ldubhawksfan]

You have a right to be upset because it doesn't seem like you are being properly monitored. With medicated cycles, you should be getting ultrasounds to check your progression, not OPKs. You should speak up and if the dr is unresponsive, I would look for another RE.

[luckypanda]

Nope, no ultrasounds, no blood work...nothing madamewaffles They also made me feel like it was my fault I didn't ask for all of this. How am I supposed to know?

ldubhawksfan, I thought when I was taking the medication it was just an automatic that they would monitor me, but it seems like the staff hasn't looked at my chart at all.

It was like when the bill came in with the wrong name on it (my wife's) it sent me over the edge...

[madamewaffles]

Mar 5, 2015 22:10:02 GMT -5 luckypanda said:

Nope, no ultrasounds, no blood work...nothing madamewaffles They also made me feel like it was my fault I didn't ask for all of this. How am I supposed to know?

ldubhawksfan, I thought when I was taking the medication it was just an automatic that they would monitor me, but it seems like the staff hasn't looked at my chart at all.

It was like when the bill came in with the wrong name on it (my wife's) it sent me over the edge...

Whoa. Those are all huge red flags. I second ldubhawksfan. If they aren't receptive to your request for monitoring, I'd start looking elsewhere.

[luckypanda]

Reading through your signatures you guys are in my thoughts madamewaffles & ldubhawksfan

Thank you for your advice!

[butlerfan]

I agreevwith above...doesn't sound like you are being properly monitored. You may want to be looking for a new RE.

[ldubhawksfan]

Thank you. And I wish you all the luck too. I am scared to think of what I could have put my body through if I hadn't found this community of ladies and learned how important a good RE is. It makes me sad for you that your RE isn't going through the right steps. Advocate for yourself. Best of luck as you move forward.

[PiradicalMaid]

Mar 5, 2015 22:10:02 GMT -5 luckypanda said:

It was like when the bill came in with the wrong name on it (my wife's) it sent me over the edge...

This is SUCH a red flag and soooo illegal. I know it's hard to change providers when your in this, but I agree that it's in your best interest to go elsewhere, possibly running.

Best of luck to you and the Mrs. GKU when neither of you have sperm has enough hurdles and can be a frustrating enough process without the extra bother thrown in. Sorry you're having to deal with this.

[lovegrilledcheese]

I agree with PP's and would look for a new RE You should be getting a baseline ultrasound before you start femara and have follow up ultrasounds so they can see how your follies are progressing so they know how they time the IUI. Mine also uses a trigger so they have better timing for the IUI. I wish you two the best of luck.

[luckypanda]

They have another vial of sperm there for us too. We bought two, planning on inseminating twice this cycle. Clearly we only inseminated once... Would they have to transfer that vial over to a new RE?


madamewaffles,ldubhawksfan,butlerfan,PiradicalMaid,lovegrilledcheese,@wineandcupcakes, you all are awesome!

[madamewaffles]

Mar 6, 2015 16:00:10 GMT -5 luckypanda said:

They have another vial of sperm there for us too. We bought two, planning on inseminating twice this cycle. Clearly we only inseminated once... Would they have to transfer that vial over to a new RE?


madamewaffles,ldubhawksfan,butlerfan,PiradicalMaid,lovegrilledcheese,@wineandcupcakes, you all are awesome!

Aww, thanks. I would call. I'm sure they would transfer it but there may be transport costs involved.

[longhornwino0907]

I'm so sorry you're going through this!

Just my experience, but my RE did bloodwork when we first saw him. CD1 of our first IUI cycle, I called and went in for a baseline u/s. Took Femara days 3-7, started OPKs on CD 11. I had a mid-cycle monitoring appointment scheduled for CD12. I happened to get my positive OPK on CD11, so we did the u/s and went forward with the IUI when we saw my follies were mature.

This was only for the first cycle, though. Once he saw that I was responding well, but not too well, to the Femara dosage, he cut me back to only a baseline on CD1 this last cycle. No mid-cycle u/s. This third cycle, we will be doing mid-cycle again because I asked for a trigger shot this time around.

All that to say that my RE, who is known as one of the top REs in the state of Texas, doesn't always do mid-cycle monitoring on medicated cycles. BUT it should be done with your first one for sure, just so you know if you're over responding or not responding at all.

Like PPs have said, I would go elsewhere. The billing situation alone would send me running.

Best of luck to you and your wife!

[ldubhawksfan]

Mar 6, 2015 16:00:10 GMT -5 luckypanda said:

They have another vial of sperm there for us too. We bought two, planning on inseminating twice this cycle. Clearly we only inseminated once... Would they have to transfer that vial over to a new RE?


madamewaffles,ldubhawksfan,butlerfan,PiradicalMaid,lovegrilledcheese,@wineandcupcakes, you all are awesome!

I would inquire about transferring it. I hope you find a RE you feel better with. It's a stressful enough situation and you should feel comfortable and confident with your dr. Best of luck!

[Stringy]

Mar 7, 2015 11:21:31 GMT -5 ldubhawksfan said:

Mar 6, 2015 16:00:10 GMT -5 luckypanda said:

They have another vial of sperm there for us too. We bought two, planning on inseminating twice this cycle. Clearly we only inseminated once... Would they have to transfer that vial over to a new RE?


madamewaffles,ldubhawksfan,butlerfan,PiradicalMaid,lovegrilledcheese,@wineandcupcakes, you all are awesome!

I would inquire about transferring it. I hope you find a RE you feel better with. It's a stressful enough situation and you should feel comfortable and confident with your dr. Best of luck!

I recently switched practices and had to transport my vials myself. But there are couriers that will do it but a technicality made it not work. They rented me a liquid nitrogen tank to transport.