Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

My OBGYN referred me to Dr. Kang in Garden City for elevated FSH levels. :( of course, I'm ridiculously stressed already and am expecting the worst. Im seeing her next week. Some research on the Internet and this site shows that she has positive reviews.

However, I'm concerend about the monitoring hours. They are only open M-F from 8-9AM? What if I need monitoring done on a certain day of my cycle that falls on a weekend? And I definitely will not always be available from 8-9AM. My work hours are erratic, so this seems ridiculous. Should try another fertility clinic?

Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

I can't comment on that dr / practice, but monitoring is definitely a pain in the butt, so make sure you are comfortable with the location and hours. Different practices have different hours and some are first come, first serve and some are by appointment. Some are early morning only and some are all day. Find a good dr that you are comfortable with, but you don't need the stress of always being late for work if you can help it by going somewhere else.

As far as weekends, the larger practices often have 1 location that is open on the weekends and all the patients who need monitoring have to go to that one location.

Re: Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

Thanks. According to the website, the only location with with weekend hours is in NYC. That's insane! I don't understand how a fertility clinic can only have one hour a day of monitoring availability. I guess I'll meet with her and see what the deal is. I just don't want to waste any time. I'm already stressed!

Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

I agree with the flexibility and location- my office usually does monitoring between 7-9am but they have been flexible if need be but their standard is 7-9. I chose the office based on not only good reviews and success rates, but for location to my office- I work 10min away and just run over quick. Try not to stress- I know it's hard but to keep me sane I get a list of everything I need to do from my doctor for whatever point in treatment I'm at, let my boss know as far in advance as I can and I schedule work things around those guidelines. It's though but telling your boss may help. I told my boss right away so she knew what was going on since I was always needing off for doctors and stuff.

Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

I used Dr. Kang last summer and just had my DD last month.

If you need to be monitored on the weekend you will have to go to NYC. FYI: Monitoring hours for most REs are in the morning. With my cycles at RMA and Columbia I also had to be in the office before 8:30 for morning monitoring. Also retrieval and transfer for Cornell are also done in the Manhattan office.

I would go to Dr. Kang and do a consult. Explain to her your work hours and see if there is any way they can work around it. I'm sure you're not the first one with this issue

Re: Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

Yikes! Going to the city is super inconvenient. What about for IUI? Would I have to go to the city as well?

I work in law enforcement and work in the city a lot...but it's not easy for me to take off. A lot of things come up at work and I have to do a lot of running around. I want to go to Dr. Kang because I feel more comfortable going to a woman...but I guess if it doesn't work out for me, I can try the place in Lake Success. My primary care doc recommended Dr. Brenner.

Look at me....I had one round of blood work and I'm already convinced I'm doomed and will need IVF or can't conceive at all. Lol. I always expect the worse...I can't help it. My FSH was 13.6. My AMH was not checked yet, so I'm worried about that now. But the few other tests that were done were normal. We shall see. Trying to calm down...but it's tough, especially because I'm older.

Anyway, thanks for the helpful info!

Re: Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

I didn't use this practice because of their monitoring hours. I knew my only option was IVF, but that may not be the case for you. When I first started this IVF thing I had to be at work by 7am(didn't happen in the beginning since I was using NSUH and they started monitoring at 7am). On monitoring days I would get there by 7:30am(work). Things did get easier when I switched to RSofNY since they start monitoring at 6:30am and I worked across the street at Winthrop but once pregnancy was achieved (twice) it was difficult again because those sonogram appointments weren't until at least 7:30/8(so I was late again for work).

Good Luck

Re: Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

Thank you! They definitely don't make it easy! I am going to meet with Dr. Kang and see how I feel. If I need serious help I will have to switch to a more convenient clinic. People seem to have postive things to say about the clinic in Lake Success. I live in RVC so that's probably the most convenient one for me.

Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

Honestly, monitoring hours are a VERY important aspect because you can be there A LOT (for me 8-10 days a month with both IUI and IVF). You may get pregnant right away or it could take you months. Which means for months you could be faced with dealing with the hours at the RE of your choice. If it's very important to you/your job you should pick a clinic accordingly. There are many good clinics on LI to choose from. For me 8-9 would NEVER be possible with my job and I would eliminate that practice right away. RS of NY and LI IVF start their hours at 6:30. LI IVF is first come first served which I loved. Rs of NY is appt and was hard at times. Good luck!

Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

I have been to 3 different clinics and all 3 had monitoring hrs in the morning only.

You have to find and office close to either home or work. I work in the city so 2 of the 3 were in the city. I felt it was easier for me to have to come in on a Sat or sun than constantly be late to work.

You could be going to monitoring appts every day or two. I agree with others that state monitoring hrs are important. You will be going to monitoring more than a regular appt. you need to be happy with the clinic not jsut the Dr and also you might not see your dr every much, Even for transfers/retrievals.

Re: Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

Agree with jess237, you will be at monitoring appointments quite a bit during your cycle so you need to make sure you go somewhere that works for you. I don't like the practice I used with DS but part of my reason for staying there for as long as I did was that their location was convenient to my job and they had early monitoring hours so I was able to get to work on time.

Re: Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

I lived in the city and then Queens when I started at a clinic in the city, so 7am monitoring hours were great. I stayed with the same clinic for my 2nd when we were living on LI. I was working in the city, though, so during the week I'd wake up at 4:30am to be on a 6am train. I always still got to work on time. On the weekends I'd drive (fly) into the city at 6:30am and would be home by 8am. No traffic. You do what you have to do and remember that it's only temporary.

Message edited 5/13/2016 8:15:08 AM.

Re: Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

What everyone else said is 100% correct. Be comfortable with your office locations and know that you may have to adjust work schedules to be seen. At RSoNY and many other clinics, the monitoring times are a set time of the day and you have to get into the office during those times. Many offices work weekends, just limited hours. SIRM does monitoring all day which I liked but their scheduling was still tough and if you happened to cycle on a weekend, you would have to go to one of their other offices depending who's on call. I know Cornell is similar that you have to go to a specific location on weekends bc the satellite offices are closed.
Reproductive treatment can be very tedious and you will have to allow some flexibility in your schedule if you begin cycling.

Re: Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

Thanks, everyone. I'm going to see Dr. Kang this week and see what she says. But I think I will be switching to LI IVF. At least they have weekend and holiday monitoring hours in Melville. My primary doc recommended Dr. Brenner. Does anyone have recommendations on who to see?

Re: Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

I went to Cornell.. My primary doctor was dr Chung but I saw dr kang all the time at the garden city office where I got monitored. I used to get there at 630 was first one there blood was drawn at 7 and just waited for dr kang who usually came in by 730. Honestly weekends in the city weren't ideal but also weren't terrible. There is parking garage right across street or I would go with my mom or husband and would park on street while I ran up. I love love love Cornell and dr Chung and dr kang.. They gave me my amazing beautiful daughter after other doctors told me to give up... I will be going back for my second soon.. Any questions feel free to pm me! And good luck!

Re: Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

So, I'm assuming blood work would have to be done there too? They won't take blood work from Quest Diagnostics or wherever? This is a shame. If my work schedule wasn't so random, it wouldn't be a big deal.

Re: Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

Yes blood work is done there too. I know this all seems overwhelming but once your in middle of cycle it seems to go quickly. Cornell is one of the best and has one of best labs so I think that's what most important. I went to another re office before Cornell and the two don't even compare.

Re: Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

Thanks. Gosh, I'm already stressed and I haven't even had my first appt. Yet. I'm going Thursday. I'll let you know what I thought of Dr. Kang.

Re: Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

It is so so so stressful! Take it one step at a time and keep eye on prize.. I have recommended two people to dr kang and they have both been successful. Good luck!

Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

Love Dr. Brenner at LI IVF. I'm holding my 6 month old son because of him. Monitoring hours were great for me 630 to 8 and we're first come first serve. I went to the lake success office but on weekends and for the actual iui you had to go melville.

Re: Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

Yeah, the more I'm thinking about having to into the city on my days off...when I absolutely despise the city already because I'm there frequently for work...the more I'm thinking I should listened to my primary and made an appt. With Dr. Brenner. I'm hoping Dr. Kang will at least do some blood work and or do an ultrasound or something...I'm worried this appt will be a complete waste of time because the hours and location are just way too inconvenient. Maybe I'll call LI IVF on Monday and make an appt but still see Dr Kang next week.

What can I expect during my first appt other than medical history? I'm will be on cycle day 23 when I see her...so I know they can only test my FSH levels on day 3. I hope she can test for other things!

Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

So I saw Dr. Kang today. I did feel a bit rushed, but I liked her very much. She is VERY nice, considerate and especially optimistic, considering I had hardly eggs in my ovaries....my FSH is high....so that killed me. But her optimism was very refreshing. I'm going to try some meds first so see if they help stimulate my follicles, if not then IUI. I have to get my tubes checked as well.

After the sonogram she asked if I had any questions and of course I didn't., but 5 mins after leaving the office my head was spinning with questions. My insurance does not cover in vitro....does anyone know if they will work with you on the price? I didn't ask because I was hoping it won't come to that. But I know it's like 20K without insurance. Wonderful.

Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

At LI IVF they do have a a discounted price based on your income. I've been looking into going to Mexico where it is about 7,000-8,000 meds included. Someone on here went to the Caribbean, I think Barbados.

Re: Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City

Re: Weill-Cornell, Dr. Kang, Garden City