REACH in Charlotte NC

[sokru8]

CKL: How are you doing? Any news about the Shared Risk program?

Ashley: So glad you joined the March Thread!!!

[ckl]

sokru8 thanks for asking! I was out of my office all day yesterday so excuse my late response... so the shared risk think all got sorted out on monday. i have to say that Dr. Teaff and Alice (nurse) really went out on a limb to rush our appeal. Sara You absolutly can appeal these decisions and you are totally right that the program is focuses on them making money. however...you can use it to your benefit if you can just stay in it! so we were given the option of dropping out of the program and paying for the IVF ourselves, or staying in it and taking our chances of being kicked out again. The way I see it, if we have the opportunity of staying in it, I think that is the best thing to do. at the end of the day, no matter what we get 70% of our money back if they decide to kick us out at any point. I don't know, I am trying my best to not think about the financial side of this, but it is not that easy to do!

As for telling friends and family...we have been very open about it and in some ways I am regretting that. on one hand for me it helps to talk about all of this so that it becomes less taboo. on the other hand you are all completely right that everyone is concerned - which is very nice - but i am honestly sick of trying explain this over and over and over to people.

I am currently on day 3 of stim. with gonal F and low dose HCG. I go in on friday to see how all the follicles are looking and am a bit nervous.
Dr. Teaff said that i just have stubborn eggs...whatever that means.

[saralee]

ckl,

In a rush so this just a brief reply, will comment on other things later. Had to say something when I saw your comment on "stubborn eggs" though ... got me wondering if this is any indication of what type of children they will turn out to be.

I'm wishing you the best. I feel good about this for you ... I think being accepted back into the program is a good sign.

May the remainder of your week go gently.

saralee

[CMSAllen]

Hi Girls!!! Just wantedd to introduce myself! I, too live in Charlotte. I have previously been at the Women's Institute for the past year (CMC) ... but am now at REACH (seeing Dr. Teaff). This is my first ever IVF cycle (we got pg twice last year... one was an ectopic, the other a m/c). I am very curious to hear your opinions about the clinic, as well as know what your diagnosed infertility is. >...Also, FSH etc (interested in knowing what they consider to be a reasonable 'go ahead')
Thanks so much for your time and attention!!!!!

XOXO
Courtney

[ckl]

Saralee that is too funny...but most likely true! I was just reading up on some of the earlier posts and notcied that you have adopted children. we are also considering adopting should it come to that. i am not too sure, i have some mixed feelings about using donors should that become an issue, but ultimately we will be parents...so really the end product is all that matters right now. Thank you so much for your positive thoughts...that is really important right now!

CMSAllen, to answer your question, Reach is the first clinic that i have ever been to but I have found my experience to be fine. i mean, i am not pregnant yet (2 failed IUIs w/clomid) but of what i understand they are a really well reputed clinic. i think that what is important to keep in mind is that for them, this is all everyday stuff and they are not going to hold your hand through all of the crappy stuff. so, knowing that, and staying informed on your own is definitely important. Would everyone else agree or no?

OUr situation is Male Factor (mid - mild but enought to make IUI odds not so great). The last FSH level that I asked about was 6.5, but i havn't really asked again. the only reason i know that one is becuase it is a determaning factor in being accepted into the shared risk program was my fsh level.

Ladies I just have to say, this is really great to be able to talk with people who are going through similar things...

[sokru8]

Hey Girls
GREAT NEWS AF IS HERE!!!!!!!!!


Welcome Courtney! So glad you are here with us! Sorry to hear about the pg's. I hope you will have success at REACH. I do like this clinic. I did have an issues with them on my last IVF cycle which was a bfn the clinic made a mistake but they are taking care of us. When will you start your next IVF? I agree with CKL you need to educate yourself and be aware of all situations. If you have questions or concerns call!

CKL: So glad to hear that you are back in the program! Congrats baby!! Like you I am going to do this IVF but adoption is our next option. We have started to read up about it but have not done the next step.

So I think that in the next couple of months we should all get together and have lunch and meet. What do you all think?

Enjoy the weather Ladies!!!
XOXO

[saralee]

OK ladies, our circle is widening. It's going to take some work for me to keep up. I'm definitely dealing with diminished brain capacity these days.

Sonya,

WOHOO!!!!! Go Sonya!!!!!! And way to go AF!!!!! You're moving and groovin!!!!

ckl,

Yes, we are a classic blended family so I'm not new to motherhood. We actually have four children total, two at home. Our oldest is 21, with a 10-month-old son. Kind of funny becoming a grandmother at 29. Sometimes I have fun at other people's expense as I watch them try to figure it out. We are a family by choice. And, we might adopt again should this not work out or maybe we'll decide that our family is complete. We'll see. As for a donor, I am totally OK with using a donor, I really can't say why (maybe because we've already adopted) but that was a no brainer for me!

CMSAllen,

I am so, so sorry about the pg. Wishing you much success with REACH. If it helps at all, the stats are incredibly inspiring. Have you seen this?
http://www.sart.org/find_frm.html I've heard/read nothing but good things about the folks there. I have only had my initial consultation but I got very good vibes from Dr. Whelan and his nurse, Selina. A couple of years back I worked with a crappy clinic in Jersey and did two IUI cycles with injectibles. I don't ovulate. The former clinic diagnosed me with PCOS but I don't have any of the classic symptoms. I am very interested in finding out what REACH has to say. I haven't had Day 3 testing yet so I don't have any numbers for you. Plus, DH has not had his SA yet. He told me to schedule it.

I actually live in Union County. The ride to REACH is just under an hour for me.

A future lunch date sounds great!

saralee

[REACH-AEJ]

Hi Girls!!

Welcome CKL and Courtney!!!
It's really great to meet more girls that are going through this and in the same area.

Sonya - Yeaaaaahhhhh!!! Good for you! What's next?

Courtney, how was CMC? Why did you switch?
I also have only been to REACH - have had some issues with feeling like a number, but like Saralee and Sonya said, if you can get past that you'll be OK. Definitely make sure you keep up with your meds and insist on more information if you need it.

CKL - I know what you mean on the friend issue. More people know than I wish right now, but it's selfish b/c I like the support when I need it, but want them to leave me alone when I'm having a rough time! Guess you can't have it both ways!!

A future lunch date does sound good!

I may have some bad news today...this may be TMI, but I had heavy brown discharge today - a significant amount. I am so afraid that AF has arrived ...this has happened once before right after my last IVF cycle. I am only on day 24 and just surged on day 20. How bizarre. I am praying that it's not the case b/c I don't think I can bare to put it off for another month. And who's to say it will be normal next time!!

My cycles have always been like clock work until I starting doing IVF - they got longer after my first try and now they are a bit irregular since the 2nd try. So frustrating!
Say some prayers for me b/c I already ordered all of my meds and they are arriving tomorrow!!

[sokru8]

Ashley:
Sorry to hear about the discharge. I will pray for you. I know How ready your are for this to get started again!
Lets us know what the clinic says. We are here for you sweety!

As for me I dont really know my protocal yet. I called Jenny (IVF Nurse) but is was after 5 so I should hear from her first thing this morning.

Take Care Ladies
Sonya

[ckl]

Hey Ladies,

AEG I am sorry to hear about you cycle as well. when do you see the doctor next? I do hear you when you talk about your cycle being all crazy once starting treatment, I feel the exact same way. That is actually one of the most frustrating things for me is that I feel like my body no longer belongs to me. I honestly don't even know what day of my cycle i am on, i just know what my shots to take and when to call the nurse. it is very frustrating...but hang in there.

Sonya I am eager to hear about your protocol that is great that you are moving forward. It is still funny for me to hear people actually excited to get a period...that darn aunt flo....we either love her or hate her!

Saralee your family sounds great, it must be a lot of fun in your house! as for the donor, i am definitely not against it at all. i actually think that is the way that we would go before adoption, but again, i have no idea. i change my mind daily. I guess that i am still in denial about all of this sometimes and i can't get my head away from options other than our own biological children. most of the time I am totally ok with it, just sometimes i relapse!

As for lunch, i would love to! We just moved to charlotte a couple years ago so meeting new people is always fun for me.

Well ladies i see the doc tomorrow so I will fill you in on how things are looking. i will need to give my ovaries a pep talk tonight to get those follicles in line! If anyone has any special powers send them my way please!

[REACH-AEJ]

Well....whew! Just a major ovulation with some spotting. That's what Jenny (ivf nurse) said when I described. I haven't had any "discharge" today so I do believe it was isolated and AF did not come to visit!

After going through this so much...you would think I would be more relaxed. i guess each time is just as important as the first.

We also thought about donor and I still think we may have to do surrogate if this doesn't work. It's just making the call on when enough is enough! That's the hardest part...

Sonya ~ did Jenny call with your protocol today? I know you are excited!

CKL ~ hope your DR appt goes well tomorrow. Let us know how it goes and sending lots of prayers and "ovary powers" your way!
We moved here from ATL 3 yrs ago. Where do you move from??

[sokru8]

Nope no call back from Jenny. I am really upset. She acted like she had no idea that we were doing this cycle again and then she went to get my file and Dr Whitesides had it. She said that she would call me back and then never did!!!

DH is really pissed. Trying to keep him calm.
I just dont know what to think.......but trying to stay positive
XOXO
Sonya

[REACH-AEJ]

Ok, this is what I was referring to when I said I had had issues and felt like a number sometimes.
My DH got really upset b/c of no call back and some other issues on our first try and ended up calling the IVF nurse himself (it wasn't Jenny at the time) and discussing the issues. He made it clear how important this was to us - they should remember that even though they do this all day long - it's a huge deal to us EVERY time. He then voiced his opinion to Dr. Whitesides and our one on one meeting.

They really should think about the stress that this causes us ~ we do not need any added stress.

Sorry hun, try not to let it get you down too much. I would call and leave her a message this evening and let her know she forgot to call you back, so she knows how much it matters...
Her direct line is 8182!

[ckl]

AEJ that is good news, I am glad to hear it! We actually moved here from Winnipeg Canada - yes a long way! all in all we love it here, to be honest this is the first time that I have really noticed that difficulties of not having my family around. My husband travels quite a bit and while we have tried very hard to coordinate his schedule with all of this stuff, it is not always easy or possible.

Ok I totally hear you ladies about the lack of attention sometimes at REACH. Like AEJ I also had to confront the nurse and the doctor about this because I was so angry with them not giving me the level of attention that I thought that I deserved. at one point during my IUI process they actually missed my ovulation because they didn't keep up on my situation. had they checked my chart properly they would have seen that I ovulated early the previous month! i was so mad. My husband called them as well after all of this shared risk stuff happened. Sonya I would say that you need to just make sure that you are pressing the issue that you are waiting for them to call and that when they don't it is very frustrating to you. you are putting a lot of time, money and energy into this and you would expect that they would appreciate that. i do have a very good tip though. i have been communicating with my nurse through email, and the response time is way faster. i would ask Jenny if that works for her. it is also easier for me to ask questions since i work in a very open office.

My appointment went well this morning. I saw Dr. Whelan....l really liked him. he said that everything looks good and i should be in pretty good shape. i just have to get those folicles to keep on growing! If all goes well we should be doing the retreval by next weekend. I am crossing every finger and toe that I have!

[sokru8]

Hey Ladies
I finally heard from the Clinic!!! We were really upset because we never heard back from them last night but it turned out she got the pills for me so we didnt have to buy them. But I still think a call back last night would have been nice!

My protocol is:
BCPs 3/3/07-3/15/07
BW and U/S 3/19/07
ER 3/30/07ish
ET 4/4/07ish

Take Care All
Sonya