My husband and I visited a local fertility specialist for the first time last December. He put me thru the standard tests, including a hysteropingogram, and a laproscopy/hysteroscopy.
During the hysteropingogram the clinician told me she could clearly see a defect in my uterus which was likely scar tissue. When I visited the doctor to go over my results he told me everything was normal. The clinician's report was in front of us both with the words "abnormal" on it and I pointed that out to him. He apologized, but he didn't even have a picture of the scan.
After the laproscopy/hysteroscopy he gave us photos of the surgery showing a healthy, pink uterus and told us everything was normal and that to his surprise he hadn't found any defects of any kind. He told us we had "unexplained infertility" (despite my husband's poor sperm results) and suggested we move on to IUI.
We decided to go to an RE instead. She performed a (very painful) saline hysteropingogram and immediately saw multiple defects. When she performed surgery there was so much scar tissue in my uterus she had trouble getting in and, in fact, half of my uterus was basically closed up. In addition there were a number of polyps. She cleaned everything up, we went through IVF with ICSI (because we would never have had a chance otherwise) and got pregnant on our first try. The photos she gave me after the surgery she performed looked nothing at all like the ones from the previous doctor and she said quite openly that she couldn't figure out why he hadn't found anything or why he had recommended IUI.
I've wondered if I should register a complaint against the first doctor but am not really sure if it would be appropriate because, after all, I'm not a doctor.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? Whether you have or not, what would you do in this situation?
What would you do?
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txpacotaco
- Member
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:55 am
- Location: Austin, Texas, USA
What would you do?
Me: 40 - Asherman's, Polyps; DH: 42 Varicocele
1st IVF: BFP - lost @ 8 weeks
1st IVF: BFP - lost @ 8 weeks
I haven't been in the same situation as you, but I have had the hysterosalpingogram, and it was one of the most awful things ever! I had crap tubes and lots of scar tissue that i had to have removed...
If I was you I would complain as it seems the doctor was incompetent and didn't really know what he was doing. He also sounds like he was either fobbing you off, or looking at someone elses notes!
Good Luck with whatever you decide.
If I was you I would complain as it seems the doctor was incompetent and didn't really know what he was doing. He also sounds like he was either fobbing you off, or looking at someone elses notes!
Good Luck with whatever you decide.
Nes X
Mum to Twins Jess & Kai, born 1.06.06
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/2;10719;34/st/20060601/n/Jessenia+and+Maqkai/dt/-18/k/286d/age.png[/img]
Mum to Twins Jess & Kai, born 1.06.06
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/2;10719;34/st/20060601/n/Jessenia+and+Maqkai/dt/-18/k/286d/age.png[/img]
Hi there,
I would definately complain. Scar tissue doesn't appear, disappear then reappear again! He was obviously looking at someone else's results. And although it hasn't altered your treatment as you sought a second opinion, some poor girl out there might be having unrequired surgery because they thought she was you.
I work in the medical feild and unfortunately stuff ups do happen. It is all to easy to not enter the right patient's details into the computer before a procedure and the wrong name is attached to those records until it is picked up incidently down the track. The doc won't take it personally and if it indeed has been a mix up of notes, they will be eager to rectify the situation.
Hope this hels and good luck with your pregnancy!
Em
I would definately complain. Scar tissue doesn't appear, disappear then reappear again! He was obviously looking at someone else's results. And although it hasn't altered your treatment as you sought a second opinion, some poor girl out there might be having unrequired surgery because they thought she was you.
I work in the medical feild and unfortunately stuff ups do happen. It is all to easy to not enter the right patient's details into the computer before a procedure and the wrong name is attached to those records until it is picked up incidently down the track. The doc won't take it personally and if it indeed has been a mix up of notes, they will be eager to rectify the situation.
Hope this hels and good luck with your pregnancy!
Em
TTC 5yrs - Unexplained Infertility
3xIUI's (April, June & Aug 06) - BFN,s
1st IVF - Oct 06 - Jasper & Finlay born 07/06/07
Natural preg - Addison Grace born 15/10/08
3xIUI's (April, June & Aug 06) - BFN,s
1st IVF - Oct 06 - Jasper & Finlay born 07/06/07
Natural preg - Addison Grace born 15/10/08
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Welshgirl38
- Valued Contributor
- Posts: 1653
- Joined: Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:46 pm
I agree
COMPLAIN - He could be saying the same things to other women who trust him and they will be going thru hell with unexplained infertility! Sounds to me like was looking at someone elses notes OR he didnt want to tell u truth for u not to give up! - i would def complian, think of all the other women he is seeing right now! If that stuff up happens again, there could be more women out there who are trying their hardest to have children and getting the wrong treatment!
Congrats on ur BFP too
Becky Xxx
COMPLAIN - He could be saying the same things to other women who trust him and they will be going thru hell with unexplained infertility! Sounds to me like was looking at someone elses notes OR he didnt want to tell u truth for u not to give up! - i would def complian, think of all the other women he is seeing right now! If that stuff up happens again, there could be more women out there who are trying their hardest to have children and getting the wrong treatment!
Congrats on ur BFP too
Becky Xxx
1 IVF=BFN 2 IVF=BFN 3 IVF=BFP
m/c @ 8 wks 
4 IVF=BFNWe must now let go of the life we had planned, to live the life waiting for us..
Adoption course starts March 19th
Hello
That just infuriates me when doctors are incompetent. I just wanted to tell you about my two incidents:
Way back when I was 18 (I am now 40), I had severe abdominal pain, bleeding, weight loss and eventually fever. The doc kept telling me there was nothing wrong with me, but I knew there was. This went on for about 3 weeks. I tried to get into any other doctor and couldn't and in the mean time, my tubes were getting severely damaged cuz that idiot doc wouldn't give me the time of day. THIS is why I am where I am today.... unable to conceive due to blocked tubes.
Then in 2001, I was bleeding, had abdominal pain, was tired and nauseated. I was scared I had cancer. The nurse at my gyno's office didn't even want to give me an appt, but I kept calling back. Finally, she sighed and said "would it make you feel better to see the doctor?" Well, HELLO
She kept telling me that "my body was getting rid of old blood". (Whoever heard of such a thing?)
Anyway, I finally got into the doc and he barely examined me and said "there's nothing wrong with you". Meanwhile my symptoms were getting worse, but luckily I was able to get into another doc. I was diagnosed with an ectopic (tubal) preg and had to have emergency surgery that night. She wouldn't let me put it off for another day. My baby was 5x3cm.
I talked to a lawyer about this, but he said I didn't have a case. Yeah right.
Anyway, if I were you, I'd definitely complain to everyone I could find. Doctors should not be getting away with shoddy work. It's ppl's lives after all. Good luck to you and congrats on your pregnancy.
That just infuriates me when doctors are incompetent. I just wanted to tell you about my two incidents:
Way back when I was 18 (I am now 40), I had severe abdominal pain, bleeding, weight loss and eventually fever. The doc kept telling me there was nothing wrong with me, but I knew there was. This went on for about 3 weeks. I tried to get into any other doctor and couldn't and in the mean time, my tubes were getting severely damaged cuz that idiot doc wouldn't give me the time of day. THIS is why I am where I am today.... unable to conceive due to blocked tubes.
Then in 2001, I was bleeding, had abdominal pain, was tired and nauseated. I was scared I had cancer. The nurse at my gyno's office didn't even want to give me an appt, but I kept calling back. Finally, she sighed and said "would it make you feel better to see the doctor?" Well, HELLO
She kept telling me that "my body was getting rid of old blood". (Whoever heard of such a thing?)Anyway, I finally got into the doc and he barely examined me and said "there's nothing wrong with you". Meanwhile my symptoms were getting worse, but luckily I was able to get into another doc. I was diagnosed with an ectopic (tubal) preg and had to have emergency surgery that night. She wouldn't let me put it off for another day. My baby was 5x3cm.
I talked to a lawyer about this, but he said I didn't have a case. Yeah right.
Anyway, if I were you, I'd definitely complain to everyone I could find. Doctors should not be getting away with shoddy work. It's ppl's lives after all. Good luck to you and congrats on your pregnancy.
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txpacotaco
- Member
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:55 am
- Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Thanks for sharing your opinions & experiences with me. I've been giving this some more thought and I'm definitely going to file a complaint with the medical board. They can sort it out from there.
L & C - Your story is just horrifying! I hope you'll try IVF again, because there are so, so, so many success stories out there. I'm so sorry to hear about the trouble you've had on the road to parenthood. Out of curiosity - are you in the US or the UK or ??? I haven't experienced medical care in other countries but sometimes the insurance policies in the US can make getting good care as expensive as not having any insurance at all.
Take care -
Rachel
L & C - Your story is just horrifying! I hope you'll try IVF again, because there are so, so, so many success stories out there. I'm so sorry to hear about the trouble you've had on the road to parenthood. Out of curiosity - are you in the US or the UK or ??? I haven't experienced medical care in other countries but sometimes the insurance policies in the US can make getting good care as expensive as not having any insurance at all.
Take care -
Rachel
Me: 40 - Asherman's, Polyps; DH: 42 Varicocele
1st IVF: BFP - lost @ 8 weeks
1st IVF: BFP - lost @ 8 weeks
Hi Rachel
I'm in Indiana and in our state insurance doesn't pay for a single thing having to do with infertility. The only reason I may not try in vitro again is cuz of my age. The doc said at my age, the eggs are pretty much abnormal and he suggested donor eggs. I have a problem with that... I would always wonder who the real mother is. I think if I do try again, I will use my own eggs. I produced 16 on my first try and I feel that they are still young.
Good luck to you.........
Leslie
I'm in Indiana and in our state insurance doesn't pay for a single thing having to do with infertility. The only reason I may not try in vitro again is cuz of my age. The doc said at my age, the eggs are pretty much abnormal and he suggested donor eggs. I have a problem with that... I would always wonder who the real mother is. I think if I do try again, I will use my own eggs. I produced 16 on my first try and I feel that they are still young.
Good luck to you.........
Leslie