[InspiredbyHannah]

Ugh! I just need to vent...so for 4 days now I've been waiting on AF and today,after all the cramping and other symptoms, all I seem to get is spotting. Now, I never get too much: usually 2 days medium flow. Well because we're doing IUI this cycle on Letrozole I'm supposed to call when I start my period. So I wait all day to see if my period will get heavier(which it hasn't) to call and schedule my US and when I do finally call I feel like I got attitude from the receptionist! When she asked if it was my first "full flow" day I explained that my periods are light and it's hard to tell, but it's been the same all day... And what do I hear on the other line? A HUGE sigh! I feel like I get this attitude all the time from them! Like us "crazy needy infertile women" just really put THEM out. It just makes me feel awful. Like I can't even call me REs office and get compassion. Ugh! Sorry to vent but I needed to get it out!

[teenwolf33]

i hate that!!! like you need any more difficulty. they think they know everything and expect every woman to be the same. DUH, we're not the same, that's why we have to see an RE!!!

[InspiredbyHannah]

Exactly! If we didn't feel like our doctor was so good we'd look for a different practice. But, they are the best of the best around here so we're stuck.

[teenwolf33]

i hear you! i love the nurses and my RE at my place. i just HATE the people that answer the phones and are the first people i have to go through. i have found for most things emailing my nurse or RE is the best method. they use common sense. only if i have to make an appointment or get results do i have to call the main phone. see if email is an option for you!! best of luck!!

[InspiredbyHannah]

Email is a great idea! I never thought of that. Sounds like we go to the same RE!! Haha! Thanks for the input!

[JaidaGirl]

I know exactly how you feel InspiredbyHannah. I'm starting to resent my RE's office. A few things I hate about this place: 1. every time I call I need to leave a message with a receptionist, even though it's the "nurses line," and then you have to wait for the nurse to call you back. Why don't they just have 1 nurse answering the "nurses line." Wouldn't that make sense? 2. everytime you go in for U/S and labwork, they always send you to the lab first, even if they just sent two people right in front of you to the lab. Wouldn't it make sense to send 1 or us to get our U/S so we're not all sitting outside the lab and nobody is getting their U/S. Duhh. 3. I always speak to a nurse, never the MD. 4. a nurse does my IUI, rather than the MD, even if they're not very good at it. 5. Nobody seems to be able to give you any success rates for any of these procedures. 6. It seems like such a crap shoot whether you get pregnant or not, which meds to use, when to inseminate, etc. 7. and this is the biggest kicker....I got AF yesterday and called my RE. The nurse called back just assuming I was doing another IUI with oral meds and just left a message with a time for baseline U/S. The problem with this, my RE never devised a plan for this cycle and he wasn't the covering MD for the weekend. The covering MD doesn't want to make any changes to my plan such as switching to injectables. She wants me to have a "sit down" with my RE. The problem with this, my RE is off on Monday because of the Jewish holiday. So I'm supposed to start meds Monday night and it takes at least a day to get any injectable meds thru the mail and nobody wants to make a decision here. So I may end up missing out on the entire cycle because a) my RE didn't come up with a plan during the previous cycle b) the covering MD doesn't want to write my plan and give me a script for injectables and c) the Jewish holiday falls on this Monday. Errrrr.... I wish the fate as to when and if I bear children wasn't left in these people's hands. Sorry, just had to vent. Good luck to you with your RE.

[InspiredbyHannah]

Ugh, Jaida! How frustrating! Yeah, you would think your RE would have come up with a "if this cycle doesnt work, then we'll do this" plan LAST cycle! I hope they get it figured out for you. As far as the nursing staff is concerned...I wonder how many, if any, of them have struggled with IF. I know it has to get overwhelming with all the emotions they have to deal with everyday, but for the women who ARE struggling with IF its not a job we can leave at 5pm. Its a terrifying stage in life that we're desperately trying to move past and we need all the support and understanding we can get. Regardless of how absurd our hormone driven questions get! Good luck! I hope things get better at your RE's office and for you next cycle!!!

[alisonbaby]

It is really aweful that patients get the runaround like that. You would think that an office such as a RE would ESPECIALLY be more sympathetic and patient with us. I am at a new RE office now but my previous had two girls answering the phones who sounded exactly like you girls have described. They sound like they don't even like their job and really couldn't care less what is going on with the patient. They should be the most polite and caring on the phone when they are the first contact with the patient. It doesn't reflect very well on the office.

JaidaGirl - I am so sorry about the tough time you are having when all you want to do is figure out the best step to take for next cycle. It really shouldn't be an inconvenience to you that the Jewish holiday happens to fall on a Monday. If you need to start your meds Monday night then you should be able to get when you need before then. This really stinks and you shouldn't have to be all worried about this. You should just have to focus on taking it easy and looking forward to your BFP. Wishing you best of luck!!

[sayheyrenee]

When they answer the phone do they state their name? Next time you are there I would ask for the office manager. They may not even be aware what is happening. They should have the most patience ever. They always say a receptionist says everything about he practice or business. Its your first point of contact.

[Jessica10]

Kelly, don't accept being treated like that. Everyone at my RE's office is sooo patient even when I call in a panic because, as usual, I have over-thought something they say "Don't worry, we can take care of this...nothing to worry about..." They are great. I am a very Type A personality and they can always calm me down (but not in a dismissive way).

The only complaint I do have about my RE's process is that they too, as others have mentioned, use the nurse's line voicemail-thing and then I always have to wait for a call back. I find this annoying but understandable -- this way, when they call me back they are always ready with an answer. So I get it but it's frustrating sometimes.

My procedures (IUI, U/S) are done by either a nurse or NP. I seem to be okay with it because I feel like they really know what they are doing. But we'll see...I'm on my 3rd IUI and if it doesn't work by the 5th time or so I may be looking for a new RE.

A funny note: the NP who did my IUI yesterday got pregnant on her 6th IUI with twins...then 10 months later she got pregnant on her own with twins AGAIN! That's inspiring!