I don't know if I should cry or be pissed

I'm so annoyed and upset and such in a jam. Little bit of background, I'm a nurse and work three 12 hour night shifts per week, my hours are from 8p-8:15a...believe it or not this is my issue! I go to LIIVF and their monitoring hours are from 7a-8a (some office have 6:3a-8a) clearly these hours don't work for me. So now tomorrow I have to go in for my day 3 bloodwork and sono to start my next clomid/IUI cycle and of course i'm working tonight. So I called the office and expressed my issues and at first they made it sound like I couldn't be helped. Then I called the SB office and the nurse there was soo nice and said that if I get there by 8:30- 8:40 I should be fine. Then I said i'm willing to drive to melville for the bloodwork since I know they have a lab on site and they said no because they do other procedures there and wouldn't be able to do my blood....this is soo wierd to me. So then I was practically crying on the phone and said to one of the ladies that IF is stressful enough but that the monitoring hours issue is stressing me out even more than IF. Then I asked how they have dealt with these issues in the past, I said I know it can't only be me who has these issues with the times and she said "everyone is able to do it, for the teachers they come in at 6:30 or they get people to cover for them, they make sacrafices but they all do it". This really made me almost fall off my couch. So basically for all the LI ladies experiencing IF I am the ONLY one who has ever had a conflict with their work schedule. And theres not much more sacrafice I could make, my issues is that their hours are so slim for monitoring. I am willing to drive anywhere I have to but it's like their not even bending for me a little. I am a nurse who works nights and unfortunately nursing could be so unpredictable although my shift technically ends at 8:15 its not a guarantee that I will get out at that time. I have to give report first and pray that my mornings run smoothly. If I have a code in the morning I could be walking out of there at 9am. So how does everyone else do it? I know I can't be the first LI chick that is experiencing this. I also emailed my doctor and he was very understanding and said that he is willing to work with me and take me in for sono's in the afternoon hours as long as I am willing to travel to whichever office he is at (which of course I am) but this still doesn't take care of my bloodwork issue.

Message edited 2/6/2014 4:28:43 PM.

Re: I don't know if I should cry or be pissed

See about getting an Rx for STAT bloodwork and getting it done at your hospital or a walk-in lab. I have had scheduling issues, too, and this is what I worked out with the office, they need to bend a little too!! They want your $$$, so they will work with you...and I they don't I would look elsewhere for a new RE.

Re: I don't know if I should cry or be pissed

Does your RE allow for outside monitoring for bloodwork? If so, could your PCP or OB/GYN do the blood draws?

It's ridiculous that they can't/won't find some way to work with you.

I don't know if I should cry or be pissed

I think that's a load of crap and I would be pissed. I went to RMA in the city and once I was preg and still under their care I forgot to go to monitoring to check my progesterone. They called me after monitoring hours and asked if I wanted to come on my lunch break or wait until the next morning, but they were flexible.

Re: I don't know if I should cry or be pissed

I never had off hours so I dont have any experience there. But at least you have your sonos covered.

The BW is not a big deal. Just make sure the nurse can email you or fax you a script for bloodwork that is needed and go to a local lab on your own time. I've done that numerous times.

Re: I don't know if I should cry or be pissed

I told the nurse that if I had a script
For STAT labs I could just run downstairs to the lab in my hospital and have them run the tests for me and she was like well that could be a little tricky if they don't run them stat and get them to us right away. When I go in tomorrow I'm gonna run this by her again I don't see why my hospital would not run the tests STAT if that's how their ordered!!! I could have them drawn at 5 am and print my own results out before i leave and hand deliver them to the office if I needed to for Godsakes! This is just stressing me out so much I've even thought abt switching my job and working at a hospital that has 7-7 shifts!!! I mean come on this is crazy.

Message edited 2/6/2014 4:59:36 PM.

Re: I don't know if I should cry or be pissed

day 3 blood and sono can be done between days 2-4? 2-5? i cant remember, it's been so long. maybe you can go the next day?

Re: I don't know if I should cry or be pissed

Re: I don't know if I should cry or be pissed

Re: I don't know if I should cry or be pissed

That's awesome to know that there is a window, now this I can totally work with!!!! And babyfever trust me I so wanted to scream when she made me feel so isolate and said that every other women makes sacrifices and makes it work!!! I can't make anymore sacrifices than I am already unless I just quit my damn job! I know she was completely bullsh*ting me abt no other women ever having these issues. It upset me more than anything that's why I cried instead of screaming! As if IF doesn't already make you feel alone as it is, I mean this lady should've just packed me up in a box and shipped me out to sea! I think I'm just gonna switch offices after this and go to SB instead, the staff and nurses there seem to be a little more understanding.

Message edited 2/6/2014 5:31:31 PM.

Re: I don't know if I should cry or be pissed

I'm sorry they are giving you a hard time I would cry AND be pissed.

There is a +/- of a day as far as the monitoring goes. But, I would also speak directly to you RE about your scheduling conflicts and express your concerns. You may get further with the RE than front desk staff.

Re: I don't know if I should cry or be pissed

I've so been there. I can't tell you how many times RSNY almost cost me my job

I don't know if I should cry or be pissed

I found LIIVF hours to be so limiting as well....and the blood techs in Melville was so rude. Zero customer service over there. I did one cycle and switched to RS of NY. They have much longer monitoring hours in Stony Brook - I usually arrive near 9

Re: I don't know if I should cry or be pissed

You should be pissed. You are a patient and should be treated with respect, you're not a number. You're also paying for this service on top of that. I would address your concerns with your Dr. Like the other ladies mentioned, you have a couple of days for your "CD3" bloodwork. In the past, I have gone to an outside lab. It happens all the time. It should be fine. I've also had my blood taking in the afternoon. Try not to let this stress you out.

Re: I don't know if I should cry or be pissed

Wow I would be upset too with that whole "they make it work" speech. If it were me I would start to call other RE's that have later monitoring hours like around 9am so you are not stressed out even more than you already are.

Re: I don't know if I should cry or be pissed

The Stony Brook office is amazing. I loved them. The hours are not easy for many people. I need to be at work by 7 (and my job is 1/2 hour away from there), so going in for monitoring at 6:30 was difficult for me. They typically came in early and I was able to be out of there by 6:30. If they tell you they will take you at 8:30-8:45, I'm sure you will be fine if once in a while you can't make it there until 9. Just call them and let them know you're on your way. They're flexible, caring, and go above and beyond to help their patients. I hope everything works out for you. I know that it can be such a stressful time and you don't want something else to worry about, but I'm sure things will work out in the end.