I think my gyno is STUPID!

Does this sound like a normal doctor to you? I called my gyno to request and internal sonogram before going ahead with the hsg test. I wondered why they didnt do this first and it was bothering me so I decided to call. The nurse calls me back and says she will send a script for it in the mail. So I then ask if she can also send a referral for updated blood work to be done...she says...what kind of blood work? I tell her to check my levels because last time they were checked was last March...she says...I dont know what levels you are talking about..goes away to ask the doctor and the doctor says shes not sure what I am talking about either! Are you kidding me?!?!?!?!??!

Is it just me or is that just not normal?? How can you not know what blood work to run?!?! I dont get it!

Re: I think my gyno is STUPID!

tell them to pull your chart and review it and then talk to them. These doctors are so frustrating. Really. You'd think they could HELP somehow, right? Sorry your OBGYN is a pain in the a$$ - I can relate!

Re: I think my gyno is STUPID!

Thing is...she was looking at my chart! How bad is that?!! I just dont get it sometimes. Sometimes I think my doctor just likes delivering babies...she seems to give way more attention and concern to only those who are pregnant...hence why I am looking for a new doctor. UGH!

My heart goes out to you too if you are dealing with someone like this..its sooo frustrating!

Re: I think my gyno is STUPID!

You shouldn't be treated like that - maybe you should consider going to an RE. Due to the recommendations of others on this board I am going to RS of NY (516-739-2100)and I really feel like things are moving.
My first appt was 6/20 and so far I've had the HSG, an internal sonogram and I've gone for all the necessary bloodwork (including the genetic screening series) and I'm getting put on progesterone when I start ovulating this cycle
My next appt with her is 7/26 to discuss the next steps

Good luck!

Message edited 6/29/2005 12:58:34 PM.

Re: I think my gyno is STUPID!

When you are trying to conceive, and having difficulty, or when your cycles are irregular...and Af is not showing...you need to go to a RE. They are trained in understanding the endocrine system. They also do all the proper bloodwork and put you on the path for pregnancy. Ob/gyn......unless they are fertility specialists...do not deal in that realm. It's confusing because most ob/gyn, are sort of 'intimidated' by REs.......it's hard to explain. But my ob/gyn, told me the story about his own sister.....gave up on him and went to a RE lol

Re: I think my gyno is STUPID!

I would ask to speak to the Dr, and then say you got a little worried when you heard she didnt know what levels you were talking about..thats a scary thing to hear from a Dr taking care of you. Depending on how much i liekd the dr..I might find another. There are 50% good Dr's and 50% bad dr's in my own experience...

As far as going to an RE goes...I may be one of the only who dont think you should go until its time to go. I think your dr should explain how long you should TTC on your own ( give you have no pre existing medical conditions) before she or he feels there may be a problem.

Most see it as 6-12 months of trying. 6 months being when your over 30.

I would hate to see someone try for like 2-3 months and maybe not on the right days and run to an RE...they are specialists, they charge a lot of money which causes people to not only spend what may be cheaper at an OBGYN , or cause insurance rates to go up, or insurance companies to drop services from being covered due to increase it costs.

Also , as Kathy has experienced...Sometimes its a 2 month or so wait to see an RE ( for an evening appointment) ...I for one when I go want to make sure I should be there, am not taking time from someone who needs it and vice versa.

This has nothing to do really with your post...but a response to redstar's about going to an RE seemingly "right away".

Re: I think my gyno is STUPID!

When you aren't menstruating for months.... there is something wrong with your endocrine system. Perhaps because, I have gone to an RE....and even an endocrinologist...and speak to many women,....around the world and see the agony they put themselves through....with useless procedures and so much 'waiting time'....I suggest that an RE is who to see. They deal with reproduction...., they are ob/gyns who have focused on fertility and no longer deliver babies.

I am here to see people speed up their trying to conceive process.... as always....this is just my opinion...but I am a huge advocate for seeing "specialists'.......that's what they are there for. I tried to conceive for too long and dont' want others to have to 'wait' ...as well. And when I recommend going to a RE.....it's not because they can do advanced fertility procedures....it's because they can test you and monitor you....and you will have a much better understanding of your body. A lot of women associate RE's with IVF....but there is a lot that can happen ...before that is an option. Once again, I highly recommend Reproductive Specialists....

Re: I think my gyno is STUPID!

I agree with you redstar, I just think that an RE is not the first step to TTC...I think everyones individual case needs to be looked out before saying go to see a specialist...

I guess Im trying to lessen the idea that "somethings wrong" ...be agressive immediatly..although ALL of us would have liked to get PG on our very first try.

I have been seeing so many post recently from women trying a month or two or right off BCP's and saying I think somethings wrong...and advising them to see a specialist is definatly not the way to go, it simply is not needed.

Although there are MANY MANY women on here, with serious issues that would be best addressed by someone more qualified then the typical OBGYN.

Im simply trying to make that distinsion...I hope I made sense...

We all know what an RE is...and I value your advice, but I would like to see advice, not the push to go see an RE when it is not neccesary in every single persons case, and sometimes you come across as though it is. Thats just my perception of it, and I did not intend to offend you so I apologize if I have.

And Again to address the original post...to you...NYCHIC......, Im sorry to hijack the thread, my posts were not in reference yo your Dr...I think your Dr may need some serious speaking to if you stay about KNOWING who you are and what your going to see them for...since your situation seems to be one of the more complex TTC ones on here. I actually DO think you need an RE to assist you.

Message edited 6/29/2005 9:14:58 PM.

Re: I think my gyno is STUPID!

p.s-NYchick
Have you had an endo biopsy yet? Some of your symptoms sound like endo?

Re: I think my gyno is STUPID!

First off I just want to say that I respect everyone advice and opinions on here all the time. Honestly I have to admit too that I agree with all of what has been said in one way or another. My situation is very different. It is almost impossible for us to ttc at all because I apparently dont ovulate and dont get a period. I speak to so many people with so many different ttc problems but not many seem to have the same problem as me so its a little hard. My plan was to let my gyno handle the "easy steps." Like sonograms, blood work, etc. But apparently she doesnt even know how to do that very well. I didnt want to jump to going to a specialist because I truly thought that my cycle would even itself out and that it would be somewhat normal..but after 6 months of not getting it at all...I have to say that I think there is something very wrong. I will stay with my gyno until all of the regular tests are run and see what the outcome of them are. I have my sono scheduled for July 13th and will have all my blood work done before that. At the end of July we are going away and my goal is to try to relax and get it off my mind for a while. When we come back in August...I will then look into re's and see what the next step is. Honestly, if I were getting normal cycles and ovulating I would have actually held off for a while before seeing an re because I know that sometimes it takes more than 2 or 3 times to become pregnant but this situation seems different again.

I also would like to add that I truly am grateful for all of the replies to my threads. I know I sway back and forth a lot with tests and stuff and sometimes it may seem that my fear of tests stops me from doing certain things but it is a true fear and everyone on here has been so understanding about it. I have to say, you ladies on here seem to be more understanding than most people in my daily life. And that means the world to me.

As far as the endo thing goes..Ive never even been told about that biopsy. I know the symptoms of endo but I didnt really think I had many. Do you know more symptoms that would make you think that I may have to look into this further?? Please let me know! Thanks!

's to all of you! You are all outstanding women!

Re: I think my gyno is STUPID!

I normally don't post over here - but I do have to agree that too many push RE's before they should - BUT if you have gone 6 months without a period and cycles then this is exactly the thing that RE's are there for. They deal with issues such as PCOS, infertility, Endo etc. It certainly doesn't hurt, since you OBGYN doesn't seem to be working for you, for you to at least pick up the phone and ASK if seeing an RE would be helpful in your particular case. I will say though that I have heard if you went off the pill some women can take months and even up to a year to get cycles and regulate IF there is not a problem.