I currently see an endo and she was the first to diagnose me about a year ago. Since that time I have been on met and spiro but am still not having periods. At my last visit she recommended that I see Dr. Brian Barnett in Plano (an RE) because she feels like there is not much more she can do.
I am not TTC now, but hope to in the next year or two. I have read some reviews on Dr. Barnett (and would love to hear more), but am also curious as to seeing a regular endo vs. an RE - what is the main difference? Has anyone had experience with Dr. Barnett who is not TTC? (Also - I made an appt today but it is over 2 months until I can get in - UGH!)
From my experience an RE is more likely to know more about treatment options for PCOS than an endo...
I have never seen Dr. Barnett but have heard mixed reviews from friends. Unfortunately, more negative than positive - about his lack of bedside manner. A few friends have said that they did not feel his protocol was specific to their needs and that he pushed for IVF. Everyone looks for something different in a doctor.
I am currently pg but have been trying for a while to find an RE who will see patients who are not ttc. I did visit with Dr. Chantilis (RE @ Presby Dallas) about PCOS and the things that he told me about my meds and PCOS were very different from what my endo had been saying for years. Unfortunately, Dr. Chantilis only sees patients who are ttc. I made the appt in May at the request of my ob who had started me on clomid in June. The day before I saw Dr. Chantilis I found out that I was pregnant. I really liked him and was disappointed that I could not continue care with him.
I suspect that Dr. Barnett does see patients not ttc since you have an appointment with him? I do not know of any other RE's who see patients that are not ttc. I do know that I have seen 2 regular medical endo's. One was fresh out of medical school who knew a little about PCOS. He moved out of state. His colleague (who I have been seeing) does not know anything about it. He said that I could stop taking met all-together and that he did not see that it makes a difference in PCOS patients. Dr. Chantilis told me that that 2000 is going to be the minimally effective dosage for me and that there is a chnace I would be taking it for the rest of my life. Total opposite protocols...
Sorry to go on and on...I wish you the best of luck. If you have luck with Dr. Barnett let me know. I'd love to find an RE who will see me. I will let you know if I hear of any other RE's who see patients not ttc.
Karen
__________________ Me 34 & DH 38
DD born 6/1/00
DS born 11/30/05 (after 4th round of Clomid)
DS born 3/5/08 (after 3rd round of Clomid)
DX PCOS & IR 2/18/03 (symptoms for 13 years prior to dx)
2000 mg Metformin ER
30 mg Procardia
Thanks for the advice Karen. I will let you know how things go with Dr. Barnett, or if I find another good Dr for not ttc. I currently see Dr. Shea with Endocrine Associates (she has an office in Plano and one in Dallas). I like her but she is just a regular endo and has suggested that I go see an RE, and I kind of feel like I may have reached the end of the road with her.
I'm curious to know what Dr. Chantilis told you about your meds - I am on 2000 mg met and have been told that I am maxed out.
Please keep me posted if you find anyone in the area!
My regular endo initially prescribed 1500 mg of met. I had a hard time getting to 1500 so he said to stay at 500 or 750 - whatever I could tolerate. When he moved his colleague told me that I can stop taking it if I want b/c he did not think it makes a difference with PCOS.
Dr. Chantilis told me that 2000mg is the minimally effective dosage for me. All of the years I was on met were really for nothing because I according to him I was not taking enough to make any difference in my body.
Good Luck!
Keep me posted!
Karen
__________________ Me 34 & DH 38
DD born 6/1/00
DS born 11/30/05 (after 4th round of Clomid)
DS born 3/5/08 (after 3rd round of Clomid)
DX PCOS & IR 2/18/03 (symptoms for 13 years prior to dx)
2000 mg Metformin ER
30 mg Procardia
I went to see Dr. Barnett and I agree that his bedside manner is lacking but I was pleased with him on the whole. He was very thorough and agressive. All the drs I have had to this point have said.. oh just take the BCP and you will be fine... no further blood tests ... nothing. So I was SOO relieved to have a dr that knew what he was talking about and got the 'ball rolling' I didnt care about his bedside manner.
Funny story about 'does pcos make you fat or being fat make you have pcos'. I had had thyroid problems and about 8 months ago I had gone to Dr. Chea ... for some reason she took my pic to put in the computer ... maybe some kind of patient recognition system. She ended up saying I did not need synthroid and I stopped seeing her. So 8 months later I am Dr. Barnetts office. He takes my blood and says I DO need to by on synthroid and sends my to Dr. Sorby (at the same building). So when I see Dr. Sorby's assistant my picture pops up. No drs., even dr. barnett, believed me when I said I have gained almost 100lbs in less than a year... but I had the picture to prove it.. with a date and everything. She looked at the picture, with a shocked looked on her face and said ' Wow'. I just really felt vendicated at that moment b.c I felt I have 'proof' that I wasnt exaggerating or making it up.
Anyway, after my rant... lol. I would reccomend Dr. Sorsby to ANYONE he is just WONDERFUL!!!!
Hey Jess - thanks for your input. I am not as much concerned w/ bedside manner as I am being aggressive and exploring all options. Did you see Dr Barnett for TTC or just PCOS?
I am currently pg but have been trying for a while to find an RE who will see patients who are not ttc. I did visit with Dr. Chantilis (RE @ Presby Dallas) about PCOS and the things that he told me about my meds and PCOS were very different from what my endo had been saying for years. Unfortunately, Dr. Chantilis only sees patients who are ttc. I made the appt in May at the request of my ob who had started me on clomid in June. The day before I saw Dr. Chantilis I found out that I was pregnant. I really liked him and was disappointed that I could not continue care with him.
Karen
I saw Dr. Chantilis when I wasn't TTC (April 2006). Although when I made the appt. they never asked if I was TTC. I just said I had a referrel from OB/GYN. There was no way for them to know I wasn't TTC. After I moved to Michigan, I saw a new RE and they didn't ask me if I was TTC. I guess I never thought it was an issue. Anyway, I really liked Dr. Chantilis. He took tons of time with me and answered all my questions. I really wish I could have stayed with him, but we moved 1000 miles away so it wasn't an option. He also told me I would be on Met probably for the rest of my life because of the risk of diabetes. He was the only doctor to even think to check for IR. However, he put me on regular Met and I didn't even know about the XR until about a year later. My stomach was very happy to find that out!
__________________ Heather Me(29) DH(30) Married 6/1/2002
Ryan Matthew July 26, 2007
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so jess...do you recommend Dr. Barnett or Dr. Sorsby?
i'm looking for someone to help with my pcos, as i am dissatisfied with my current doctor.
and is it dr. sorby or dr. sorsby? i found info on a dr. sorsby , but no dr. sorby.
take care!
__________________ Hypothyroid Diagnosis April 2005 PCOS Diagnosis October 22nd, 20007! FINALLY!
I am not TTC and I am a patient of Dr. Barnetts. I have been seeing him for about 6-7 months. He has me on 1500mg of Met. XR. I have not lost any weight but we will see how this year goes. I like Dr. Barnett ok.....he seems to know what he is doing and talking about. His bedside manner is not the best but I am not looking for a friend in him....I just want him to be really smart and help me I am going to try for baby #1 this coming Fall and he seems to have a plan set out for that. I have heard great reviews about him and his percentage of girls that actually get pregnant under his care. I would love to know what Dr. Barnett has perscribed for others of you if you see him Also...I am wondering why Dr. Barnett did not refer me to see Dr. Sorsby?? Maybe I should check into an appointment with him. I love this chat things....I find out so much. Thanks girls
Lindsey
Hi all,
I saw Dr. Barnett yesterday and wanted to post a follow-up.
I really liked him and he is extremely knowledgeable about PCOS. I spend almost 45 minutes talking with him and can’t for the life of me figure out why some people say he is lacking in bedside manner. He seemed to be very thorough and understanding of my issues and devised a plan of action for us to follow. I plan to continue seeing him and have an appointment next week for an endrometrial biopsy - something no one has ever suggested but he wants to do since I never have periods.
On another note, Dr. Barnett spoke extremely highly of my original endo - Dr. Shea. He said that she is one of the few doctors who knows how to properly treat PCOS, and said that she had me on all of the right meds and doses. I took copies of all of my labs and he was very impressed and said she was extremely thorough. He had expected to send me in for several blood tests but Dr. Shea had already done those and all I need is just a little bit of fine tuning. (He also said that his daughter goes to see Dr. Shea.)
Please feel free to PM me if you want any further info on either doctor!
I am glad that you liked Dr. Barnett....that is great. I went to see him again a few weeks ago. He is very knowlegable of POCOS and comes up with a good plan. I like his plan for me I just wish I was losing more weight. I have a friend that goes to him as well and she was having a REALLY hard time getting prego and he was wonderful with her and she now has an adorable baby boy. Who is Dr. Shea?? Is that just a regular gyno....is he or she in the same hospital with Dr. Barnett? I am always looking for a good gyno who knows alot about POCOS as well. Do you mind sharing what meds that Dr. Barnett has you on. I weigh about 200lbs and he has me on Yaz BC pills and 1500mg of Metformin a day. I feel a lot better but I have not lost any weight. That seems to be my biggest struggle. Thanks for your help.
Dr. Heidi Shea is a regular endo. She works with Dallas Endocrine Associates and offices out of both NW Plano and Dallas around the Walnut Hill Area. I usually see her in Plano which is closer to my home, but she works at the Dallas office one or two days a week. It doesn't matter at which location you see her - their offices are totally computerized. Their website is endocrineassociatesdallas.com. After seeing Dr Barnett I highly recommend her if you don't want an RE, or if you have other endocrine issues.
As far as a gyno goes, I see Eugene Hunt at Presby Dallas and totally love him. He was the very first one to suggest that I might have PCOS and was the one who refered me to Dr Shea after several tests. When I first saw him several years ago he took about an hour to talk to me in his office and was really the first one to listen to me. I now just see him for my annuals but he receives copies of all of my office notes and test results from Dr Shea so he knows (and understands) exactly what and why we are doing. (He also delivered my cousin's baby and I know if I ever do get pregnant he is the one I want taking care of me.) He has kind of turned over the PCOS management to my endos, but hopefully I have a good team in place for overall care.
Dr Barnett said that Dr Shea had me on all the right meds and doseages - 2000 mg Met er 1x day and 100 mg spiro 2x day. He did switch me up to 1000 mg Met am and 1000 mg Met pm because he was thinking that I might not be getting the full benefits of the met taken all at once. He was going to put me on Yaz, but had 2nd thoughts with my blood pressure and age. Instead we are going to do Provera to force an AF - he doesn't want me to go more than 2 mos w/o one.
About the weight - I was RIGHT where you are last year. I got down to 163 with really watching my diet and doing Curves and the meds, but I have gained back 12 pounds in the past 2 mos - back up to 175. It is SOOO hard - especially since all of my life until 4 years ago I was a size 6.
Where are you located? I am in N Plano/Allen area. I would love a workout buddy and/or someone to chat with about this whole mess. Feel free to PM me!
Endo vs RE in Dallas Area? 
I am going to try for baby #1 this coming Fall and he seems to have a plan set out for that. I have heard great reviews about him and his percentage of girls that actually get pregnant under his care. I would love to know what Dr. Barnett has perscribed for others of you if you see him
