Louisiana

meauxlove · 06-14-2002, 12:40 PM

Dr. Peter Lu w/Fertility Institute of New Orleans with offices in New Orleans, Metairie and Lafayette

Madmarsha · 06-23-2002, 06:11 PM

Meaux,

What has been your experience with Dr. Lu? I saw him a couple years ago but was put off as he pooh poohed low-carb eating even as he told me he was following "The Zone". I never went back and got whatever bloodwork he was recommending because the hospital I saw him in was out of my network and I just figured I'd have to fight to get Metformin/Glucophage prescribed as I am not really interested in conceiving, just dealing with the problems of PCOS.

I guess I really need to get back as I have yet to find any other doctors who deal closely with PCOS in an area convenient for me to get to!

Marsha Donnelly

meauxlove · 06-25-2002, 03:54 PM

Marsha, I was really pleased with him. I went to him to ttc and he was very attentive. He did my Lap. in Sept. 01 and I was preg. in Dec., although I m/c in Jan. 02. Now there is another there that deals w/pcos. I'll look it up and get back with you and I'm sorry you didnt have a good experience there.

Good Luck
Meauxlove

gnobles1 · 01-04-2005, 12:46 PM

I just wanted to post a review of Dr. Peter Lu of the Fertility Institute in New Orleans. I saw him yesterday and have very mixed feelings. I DO NOT feel like he should be included on a PCOS list AT ALL... but if you are ONLY interested in getting pregnant... he may be the Dr. for you. Here is what happened to me.

I went in yesterday because of severe pelvic pain. It has been going on for over a month and I have a history of PCOS as well as a 12 cm tumor that had to be removed and took my left ovary and left tube. I chose this Dr. after seeing his name on this list and because I'm new to the area, I didn't have much else to go by. So yesterday was my "new patient" appointment.

The nurse was very nice to me and took my history etc. and apparently she went and shared it with him before he came in to talk to me. He barges in the door and his first words to me were: "I canâ€™t do anything about your pain. I donâ€™t treat pain. I get people pregnant". This was before I could even say hello. Now... understand, that when I made the appointment I had told them that my primary reason for the appointment was for pain, but that ultimately I wanted to get pregnant. The appointment desk person made NO mention to me that I shouldn't see him unless I was ready to start fertility treatment immediately.

So the tears start flowing 5 sec after he barges in and I was hopeless. I'm not sure if it was the tears, or if he had planned on explaining his approach all along... but the more he talked to me, the more I could understand what he was trying to say. Basically, he was telling me that there were two paths - 1 to get pregnant and 1 to be pain free. He said that the treatments to become pain free would include things like putting my body into a type of menopause or to do a complete hysterectomy. Neither of which would help me get pregnant one day. (And neither of which he would even do even if I wanted him to)

He also thinks that I have this certain kind of endometriosis where it is inside the lining (not on the outside of it... not on the inside of it... but literally inside it) and because you can't see it through a laproscope it is only diagnosed for sure by having a hysterectomy and cutting the uterus in half!!! NOT great huh? He had some big name for it that I have no hope of remembering... but the bottom line is... their only hope for me is to either #1 get pregnant... or #2.... Have a hysterectomy! Ahhhh what a joy!

I even asked him about the PCOS and maybe Glucophage... and he said... "I really don't care about the PCOS... I'm not sure that Glucophage even does any good" This is why I wanted to share my experience. Because I don't know how his name got on this list... but he is most defiantly NOT a PCOS doctor.

I am still debating about going back when I am ready for the fertility treatments, at least he seems focused on "getting people pregnant" as he states it! I'm just depressed that no one seems to be able to offer any help for the pain I'm in.

Anywayâ€¦ this is too long already... I just wanted to save someone from the tears I had yesterday!

By the way... if anyone knows of good PCOS docs in the New Orleans area - Plese speak up and share any personal experience! I would also love an "in person" support group - even if it's only once a month or something. Let me know if any of you are also interested

Thanks for listening,
Gretchen

eternal · 02-16-2005, 03:00 AM

Hi Gretchen,

If you haven't found anyone yet, you may want to try Dr. Alan Burshell (endocrinologist) at Ochsner's Clinic in New Orleans. He understands PCOS pretty well and I found him to be kind and supportive. You may not be able to schedule with him now, because last I heard, he was out on leave.

HTH

virtuous1908 · 02-16-2005, 01:12 PM

Dr. Clisham is a very knowledgable and concerned reproductive endocrinologist. I am not TTC and that never stopped him from treating me. He has made sure to do blood work as needed to make sure that the meds aren't doing harm to my liver. I never had to beg him to give me metformin. He understands that you don't have to be TTC to get treated for PCOS. He really listens to my concerns and I couldn't ask for a better PCOS doc. Please don't stay with a doc who isn't PCOS friendly when there are some in the N.O. area.

PattiMac · 03-31-2005, 11:13 PM

I would also like to comment about my experience with Dr. Lu. My DH and I are TTC, and I was diagnosed with PCOS 3 months into our trying. My GYN recommended Dr. Lu upon my diagnosis, and I initially thought he was a specialist with PCOS.

My DH and I both went to my appt, because we primarily wanted to learn more about PCOS, and also see what we'll need to do to eventually become pregnant. We really liked his nurse, she seemed genuinely compassionate and caring. Dr. Lu, on the other hand, was NOT! All he wanted to talk about was how to get me pregnant, and although that is my ultimate goal, I wanted to get a handle on the PCOS first! I must have told him that no less than 3 times, but he ultimately told me (I'm not quoting here) that the name of the practice is The Fertility Institute and that's what he did - fertility. He was also very cold and appeared to have NO bedside manner, which definitely put me off right from the beginning.

I guess if you're just looking for a fertility specialist, he's your guy. Right now, I'm just looking for a good doctor who knows about PCOS. Anyone in the New Orleans area know anyone good??????

tlducote · 04-02-2005, 09:10 PM

I have been going to dr. burshell for years and I like him. He is very thourough and he listens to you. He practices out of Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans. He has had me on the glucophage for years longer before I have been ttc.
As for Dr. Lu- I hate to say this but he kinda has a point. He practices solely in the field of getting one pregnant. Yes he can say it a little nicer. For pre-ttc issues I believe that all people with pcos should see and endocrinologist and Dr. Burshell is the man!!
As for dr. lu- I work in the field of obstetrics and from what I know he is very successful in getting folks pg. He just needs to say that with more compassion. Also he needs to communicate to his office staff that he is designed to treat only those wanting to become pregnant.
tiff

eternal · 04-05-2005, 12:12 AM

Wow, I never dreamed I'd meet another one of Dr. Burshell's patients!

I was always under the impression that he mainly treated little old ladies with bone disease as well as older diabetic patients. Although I don't visit him until every 6 - 12 months, I rarely see any young people in the waiting room.

gnobles1 · 04-05-2005, 11:24 AM

Patti, I'm so sorry that you had that experience! It sounds like it was pretty much the same type of experience I had!

And tlducote - I have to agree with you that the MAJOR problem with Dr. Lu is the communication! If I had been told by his staff when I made the appointment, that he was not going to be able to treat (or even discuss) my PCOS or the pain associated with it, and the endo, I would have gone elseware! Instead, I took a WHOLE day off of work, crossed the lake to New Orleans fought all the traffic, and sat in his office and cried while I was feeling attacked for even having the nerve to mention my pain and PCOS!

I realize that he is in the business of "getting people pregnant" and I'm sure it must be frustrating for him to have patients come in his office and ask to be treated for other things, but if that's the case... then he needs to make is office staff aware of his goals. Not to mention the other Dr's out there that are referring their patients to him for PCOS! It's just setting them up for tears and heartache!

His staff needs to tell people - "Unless you are ready to start fertility treatment, right now, you may not want to see Dr. Lu. He does not treat anything but infertility. He isn't a PCOS or endo specialist." See.... problem solved!

I won't say I'll never go back to him. Eventually, I do want to get pregnant. And if I require fertility treatment to do that, I may even consider it. But I can say - I will exhaust ALL OTHER options first before having him treat me. I'll have to be desperate to go back!

BellyLoveDoula · 05-07-2009, 02:19 AM

I saw Dr. Clisham and did not like him at all... his mannerisms irked me- and he never cuts his fingernails! I know that last part was stupid, lol, but it's just something that puts me off. We just didn't click.

I am now seeing Dr. Burshell and I love him. He went over the stuff Dr. Clisham did when he made my diagnosis and was disappointed to find that all he had done was a blood test- and not even a fasting glucose test- to determine PCOS. Dr. Burshell really rolled out the red carpet and pulled out all the stops for me and I'm so grateful. Now I know all of my levels and he's so open to everything... and the desk nurses LOVE my son.

The only issue I have with his office is one of the nurses is a complete flake. I have called twice now since my last appointment in April asking her where my paperwork is because she told me at the appointment she would mail me a copy of all of my results. I had to call her three times to get her to tell me my FSH, Insulin and LH levels because all she kept saying was "They're high"... okay, can I have NUMBERS, please? But other than that, he is awesome to see!