Looking for Calgarian or Albertan cysters Winter/Spring 2008 - Page 12

weemes · 05-13-2008, 04:46 PM

Violet: I'm so sorry you're getting lost in the shuffle. Stand up for yourself girl! Are you in Calgary or Edmonton because there are only 2 clinics in Alberta. If you're in Calgary then go to this website:

http://www.regionalfertilityprogram.ca/index.php

Call them, NOT your doctor. Your doctor is not responsible for making the appointment for you. What happen is, they fax a referral request- that's it! Then the clinic calls you directly to make the appointment. Call them, push the button for reception and you'll get a voice mail. Leave a message asking them to give you a call because you just found out your family doctor had a really old phone number for you and you're scared they sent the referral with the wrong one and won't ever be able to get ahold of you. Spell your name slowly on the voice mail. They will call you back... This happened to me and when they called back the said "never heard of you" because somehow they never got the original fax from my doctor. Thankfully I had only waited 1 month before calling.

I'm sorry if I sound bossy, I don't mean to be, I'm just trying to help. I think you'll understand once you go to the clinic and see how painfully unorganized they are.... I know they try but they have so many patients that no one person has a "special" case. You need to stand up for yourself, it's hard enough to get your first meet and greet, we waited 7 months where they sat with us for 7 minutes and sent us away for 12 more weeks. The sooner you get in the better... don't rely on your doctors office to make the arrangements for you. Good luck :-)

Violetblue · 05-13-2008, 07:43 PM

Wow, thanks for the help Weemes!! It is appreciated. I had no idea that there was only one clinic in Calgary...Really?? The way it sounded there was multiple. But I guess even if there were two or three it doesn't hurt to call them and see if they got my referral at least.

Quote:

I'm sorry if I sound bossy, I don't mean to be, I'm just trying to help.

Not at all. I totally appreciate the help. I am not a forward kind of person especially on the phone. I always have to get in the right mind frame to call anyone. I hate phoning, I wish this were easier, but I guess the sooner I jump this hurdle, the sooner we can get the show on the road.

weemes · 05-13-2008, 07:47 PM

Good Attitude Violet, making the call will be so worth it. Even if they say yes they have your name but you're 2 or 3 months away, at least you know you are indeed on the list. You'll feel so much better actually having someone acknowledge your name. There is only one clinic in Calgary which is why the wait is so terrible. They are known for having a high success rate though so that's makes things a bit easier. Glad to have helped :-)

Cheryl123 · 05-14-2008, 12:00 PM

Violet- I asked my Dr.'s office for the clinic's phone number just to make sure I hadn't gotten lost in the shuffle. As Weemes said, I just left a message asking to confirm that they actually had the referal from my dr. They called back and said they did, so at least I know I'm on the list now. The Dr's office wasn't much help.

I got rather cranky last night at the wait time when I realized I might be moving away from AB before I even get in! My fiance lives on Vancouver Island and I'm considering moving there in the fall. Since we're not even married yet, I'm just trying to get my body ready for ttc next year. So, I don't want to go on met just yet.

weemes · 05-14-2008, 12:08 PM

Cheryl: Have you done any research to see how many clinics there are in Van? Apparently in Ontario the wait is very minimal, hopefully it will be the same there. Just so you know, when I started the met I hadn't had AF since the month I came off BCP. I started Met in Feb with a dose of 500mg, then March I went up to 1000mg, then April 1500, then 2 weeks later 2000mg. Finally in May my cycle started to react to the Met and I got my first AF. It might take longer than you expect and the s/e can be tough on your body so starting slower is better. It's never too early IMO, especially if you're IR because the sooner you get your sugars in check the sooner your PCOS s/e start to ease up a bit including any weight problems you might have. Just a suggestion... I sooooo don't want to sound like a know it all.

nikkyb01 · 05-14-2008, 12:49 PM

Hey Violet,

There is a fertility specialist in Red Deer whom you could get in to see within the next couple of weeks.. his name is Dr. Awad Micheal and you can reach his clinic at 403-347-2650. You'll need a referral from your family doc. Do you see an Endo? I see Dr. Corenblum at Foothills and I've been on Clomid and now on my first cycle of Gonal-F without having to go to the fertility clinic. I asked to be referred to both the fertility clinic here and in Red Deer so I can get an IUI with my Gonal-F so I don't have to play the waiting game. I've learned to be proactive with this less than perfect medical system after circumstances forced me to put a hold on babymaking due to abnormal pap results last year. I've also learned to do my our research because no one tells you nothin! So you're way ahead of the game by being on this message board...lots of peers to help you along. Good luck!

Nikky

Cheryl123 · 05-14-2008, 12:53 PM

Please, I need a know it all! I dont' know anything. I'm not over weight, but I haven't had any blood tests to find out about IR. I've been going to a nutritionist to try and work on my diet. I started out really well in Feb, and AF arrived 3 weeks after my first apointment. Then I had a 40 day cycle, which was fantastic, and I think I even o'd. I've become complacent with my diet after the intial 'sucess', so I'm not sure if now it was just a fluke that things started working, or if the diet does really impact it. I was hoping I could get my body to work through diet, but maybe that's not realistic. I really don't want to do any drugs. Not that I'm a big hippy or anything, I'm just don't think I want to start down that path. The fiance and I haven't really discussed options and how far we want to go. Right now I'm just trying to improve my lifestyle and see what happens.

Nikky - Thanks for the info on the Red Deer clinic. I think I will ask my doctor to send a referal there too! What a great idea.

nikkyb01 · 05-14-2008, 02:39 PM

Cheryl... you're more than welcome! I just got an appoint to setup an IUI 2nd of July and I had the referral sent last in last Thurs... talk about quick!

So I thought that I would take the time to post what I've learned and done thus far...

Desparate to lose my "muffin-top" which was recently acquired in my mid-20's courtesy of PCOS, I allowed myself to fully succuum to the "wedding-diet". I went to see a nutritionist who educated me about portion controls and eliminating/minimizing sugars in my diet. Who knew that fruit juice and artificial sweetener was too sugary for someone like me dealing with insulin resistance? What an eye-opener! To maintain my bloodsugar throughout the day for my 5'2" frame, I eat 5 small meals (3 bigger than the others) and drink plenty of H2O and careful to cut all food/beverage intake past 8pm.

Then I hired a personal trainer at the gym and learned that for women who have a difficult time losing weight and carry it mostly around their midsection and arms, the best workout was to alternate every other day between upper body and lower. I start with the eliptical for 45min within my target heartrate zone followed by weights with quick-high reps combined with core excersizes.

Needless to say... I lost over 25lbs to reach my ideal weight of 120lbs just in time to say "I do." I was able to have one or two periods on my own (non-existant before) however it still wasn't regular so I started taking Vitex and other herbal supplements... still wasn't regular. For some herbal alternatives out there it generally takes 4 - 6 months to see results... I just didn't have the patience.

My husband and I decided to really start trying and booked an appoint with my Endo. He told me that when I'm off the pill I might experience what's called a "rebound effect" where it would be the most likely to OV within the first month.

Didn't happen and in the meantime went to get a Pap where I found out that I had precancerous cells and it was dangerous to get preg at the time. I suppose hormones during pregnancy can accelerate the growth of cancerous cells. That was in Oct. and the soonest appointment here in Calgary for a colopscopy was end of Jan. I was able to get in to see a specialist in Red Deer MUCH SOONER and had both the procedure and LEEP treatment done by mid-Dec... way before my consultation in Calgary! Post treatment, had to abstein for 6 weeks then went straight on Clomid. Wish I would have been on Clomid during those 6 weeks... just so that I would know if it was possible for me to OV at all (wasted a month there).

Three cycles later... no OV and in fact little response...even after seeing an acupunturist (which did help me deal with the wicked side-effects I was having). Also learned that clomid drastically reduces CM and tracked down Pre-Seed online (took a month for it arrive). Asked to go straight to Gonal-F and got in for HSG 2wks later. All clear now and had referral sent for fertility clinic here and Red Deer. Wish I would've asked for one when I was on my 1st cycle of Clomid... considering it's half a year wait to get in here in Calgary. Now if I OV but no preg, will be able to get in to a clinic in time for IUI for cycle 2! My argument is, why spend $900 a month to take a chance on nature when IUI is only $200 - $400?

I'm 4 days into injections and responding well... good news soon hopefully! I hope what I have to share helps someone just starting on their TTC journey.

Sincerely,
Nikky

Cheryl123 · 05-14-2008, 04:42 PM

Wow, good for you for loosing the weight and getting in shape. Too bad it didn't help with the cycles, but at least you're healthier now. I bet you'll have better results with other options being in good shape and eating healthy. I am so glad I know about the Red Deer clinic now. It's not such a long way to go, and so much better than having to wait. I'm seeing an accupuncturist also. I started for headaches over a year ago and it has really helped with that, so I figured I see what he could do for fertility. It certainly can't hurt.

Violetblue · 05-14-2008, 05:15 PM

So here is what I found out. Had I known there was only one clinic in Calgary I would have done this much sooner. My referral was sent in February 28. The wait is at least 4 to 6 months and she said they call a month before the appointment. Simple and easy, that is all I needed to know. Thanks for the suggestion Weemes because now I can relax a bit knowing that I am at least on the list.

weemes · 05-14-2008, 11:52 PM

Nikki: I wonder if your Red Deer doctor might entertain the idea of an arranged donor?

nikkyb01 · 05-15-2008, 01:15 PM

Hey Weemes, I sure hope that he could do it.. that would be awesome! Try calling and asking the receptionist or book a consultation with him. Doesn't hurt to ask, right?

Cheryl - I originally went in to see the acupunturist for fertility (reg. cycle and such) and found out that it helps to prepare the endometrium which most fertility drugs fail to do.. hence the increased risk of miscarriages doubled by the high miscarriage rate of those with PCOS. Highly reccommended for those considering IVF... why not the rest of us?

Cheryl123 · 05-15-2008, 01:24 PM

Nikky, have you been in to see the dr. in Red Deer yet? I googled him just to see if there was any info on his clinic on the web. I came up with a website that people rate their doctors. Can't remember the name of it now.. Anyway, he did not get very high praise! Lots of people complained about the office conditions (dirty) and his lack of bedside maner and compassion. A surprising number of women said they would leave in tears... not something I am interested in subjecting myself to. Just wondering if you've got another opinion. Granted, most people who feel strongly enough about a doctor to seek out a web site to make comments are probably have negative experiences, and less people who thought he was good would do the same.

nikkyb01 · 05-15-2008, 01:33 PM

No I haven't met him yet... I heard about him through an acquaintance. She didn't say what his was like so I never was led to believe he had poor bedside manners. I'm going to have to ask her next time I see her... I'm really curious now. I'll make my judgement when I meet him in the next couple of weeks. Thank you for looking into it because that is something that is important to me!

Cheryl123 · 05-15-2008, 04:32 PM

Nikky, If you want to check out the rating, here's the website. Maybe you want to go meet him first and form your own impressions without having read this. Definately let us know how the apointment goes and what he's like.

http://ratemds.com/doctor-ratings/41.../Red+Deer/Awad

If you