North Florida Panhandle Destin Dr. & Cysters

KSinclair13 · 06-23-2006, 05:20 AM

Is there anyone who lives in the Florida Panhandle area TTC? I live in Destin and am looking for TTC cyster? Also I am hoping someone might be able to recomend a good OB or RE in area. Baby dust to everyone and looking forward to hearing from you!

edugator7373 · 07-23-2006, 03:57 AM

HI!

I

just moved to the area a few weeks ago. I live in Tally. I was diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago- I am not TTC, but am looking for a knowledgeable or PCOS friendly doctor in the area as well.

Gillian

KSinclair13 · 07-25-2006, 01:16 AM

Hi Gillian!

I used to live in Tally when I went to FSU. I was only able to find one reproductive endocrinologist in the panhandle, his name is Dr. Ripps at the Sacred Heart Pensacola Hospital.They are a bit more specialized in PCOS. From all the info Dr.'s have given me there is one thing you may want to have done... a fasting glucose tolerance test, to see if you are glucose tolerant. Are you diabetic or is anyone in your family diabetic? If your numbers are >100 they may prescribe Metformin which some people help with the symptoms and ovulation & period regulation. That is all that I can tell you I know of if you are not TTC. Keep in touch!

sunrae6276 · 08-14-2006, 05:09 AM

Hi Ladies....I have been seeing Dr Ripps for over a year now. I went to him after ttc for one year with no success. I was diganosed as PCOS by ultrasound before seeing him and my gyn finally decided to write me a referral to see him after trying for a year. He did all the testing and confimed PCOS by bloodwork and ultrasound. His office isn't in the Sacred Heart Hospital...but it's only 1/2 mile away. My experience there has been very pleasant. I know several people who are current and past patients and are pleased with the entire staff. I know of several patients that see him and live in Okaloosa and Walton counties.

Speaking of Destin....I drove through there for a wedding yesterday. It was at the Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Resort. We love to go ot Destin!!!

Anyway, I am pregnant now with an EDD of 4/12/07, so I believe in Dr Ripps and his staff. YAY! I don't know if he sees patients just for PCOS that aren't ttc. I could ask if you'd like me to! I still have to go there weekly and I talk to the nurses frequently!

KSinclair13 · 08-14-2006, 06:35 AM

Hi Sun!

It is so nice to hear your story and CONGRATS on th BFP!!! It is also nice to speak w/ a local! Thanks for all the info on Dr. Ripps, my family physician's wife also used Dr. Ripps and recommended him. That makes me feel more confident that he will be successful in getting us pregnant. I am hoping Clomid works but I wanted to get in with him in case we have to go to more extreme measures to make this happen. I have only O'ed 2 or 3 times on my own in the past year and had a very large cyst a few years back.

If you don't mind me asking what should I expect on the first visit. They said it will take an hour and my DH would have to be there which is great because I feel like the Dr is going to be very thorough. Will they want to get a sperm analysis from my DH again or do an ultrasound on me to check for cysts? What where some of the treatments he had you on prior to IVF? Sorry for all the ?'s I am just very grateful to speak w/ one of his success patients.

Look forward to hearing from you and wish you a very H&H 9 months!

sunrae6276 · 08-14-2006, 05:09 PM

Not too many questions at all!! I wonder if I know your Physician's wife......I met a lady who had 2 babies thanks to Dr Ripps and her husband is a GP or Family Dr in your area or Niceville area. hhhmmmmm. What is your Dr's name? I will find out her last name. Wouldn't that be too funny if we were talking about the same people???

The 1st visit with Dr Ripps is just a consulatation....if I remember correctly. He goes over all the paperwork that you have filled out prior to coming. He talks about infertility, infertility trreatments, how your age is on your side or not on your side, some statistics, and pretty much the meat of what is about to happen as far as testing goes. I don't think he did an ultrasound on the 1st visit....but, I might have forgotten. I remember that my husband wasn't there for my 1st u/s with him, but he could have left early since he works down the sidewalk from NewLife. He will also go over your insurance coverage or lack thereof.

No sperm analysis that day....you will have to dring it another day. I think you will probably bring a sample in when you come for your next appt. You will have to do the fasting glucose tolerance test to check your insulin resistance. And just regular bloodwork for your hormone levels. You will find out lots about yourself!

The u/s aren't bad. They are transvaginal...don't know if you've ever had one. I will explain it if you want me to. Dr Ripps will do the 1st one most likely...to get your diagnosis. Or he will be in there with Donna while she does it. The nurses and the staff there are wonderful. The lady (Dr Lori) that does the analysis of the sperm and blood work is Dr Ripps' wife. She is sooooo nice too.

Once he gets all of your bloodwork back, you will have to come beck to getthe results...maybe that is when you get your 1st u/s....can't remember. Anyway, he will recommend a treatment plan based on those results. They have a cycle every month and everyone is on the same cycle. If he starts you with clomid, you will take the pills as directed and then come beack to check your blood and ovaries to see how you are progressing. You may have to come back several times during a cycle to check your status. If you look good, they will make you ovulate and do the IUI 2 days later or you have sex on your own....whichever you decide to do.

Let me warn you now....some people love Dr Ripps and some people don't love him. He is VERY intelligent and a leader in what he does. Some times the most intelligent people aren't as compassionate as you'd like. I have had mostly wonderful experiences. I am very emotional and cride almost everytime we talked to him...so he thinks I am crazy...(not really crazy)

During my IVF egg retrieval, I was on that great relaxing truth serum stuff. I said some pretty funny things...I kept the staff laughing.

OK - now for my treatments:

1st I have an HSG (hysterosalpingogram) done at the hospital to check to make sure my fallopian tubes and uterus were good and open. My insurance did not cover it.

2 rounds of clomid that didn't do anything for my ovaries.
1 round of femara (latrazole) that got my ovaries to wake up, but not enough. These 3 cycles were cancelled-no IUI.

I then had laprascopic surgery to make sure everything looked good and to clean out my uterus if it needed it and to do some ovarian drilling if needed (no drilling done).

Then we brought in the big dogs.
I started Lupron injections to suppress my ovaries and Follistim injections to make them produce. I finally got a response and had 1 2 follicles. We did the IUI followed by sex with DH for 3 days. BFN
We then decreased the Lupron and increased the Follistim to try to get a better response from my estrogen since it was a little low. Well, we got that response...but too much of it. While I was getting scanned my last time for that cycle before the trigger shot, I ended up with 7 good fillies. He actually came in my room as they were scanning me and said...."This is getting cancelled" He didn't want me to have septuplets. I lost it!!!! My insurance doens't cover anything and I could not imagine not going through this cycle after spending so much money. Then he said I looked good enough for IVF. So, since I had worked 2 jobs for a year and a half, we had the money to add to the cycle for IVF. We did it.

My 1st u/s is Friday! YAYYY! When is your appointment? I will be praying for you as you begin your journey!

Sorry for the loooog response...I had so much to say! Feel free to ask more if you need to! I wish I had been able to ask more!

best wishes! rae

KSinclair13 · 08-14-2006, 08:34 PM

Hi Rae!

Thank You, thank you, thank you for all the info!!! I am so grateful to have met you. My apt w/ Dr. Ripps is Aug 28 8:15. My FP name is Dr. Christopher Hansen, he practices in Ft. Walton Beach. I do not know his wifes name, and they did have two children. How crazy if it were to be the same person! I think I will give Dr. Ripps a call and ask him to do any tests or u/s during the first apt. if at all possible because it is such a long drive out there and I will need to consolidate my time away from work as best as possible.

I had a few T/V U/S's when I had my ovarian cyst before so that is no biggy for me. I also had a feeling they would recommend to have an HSG. I have checked with my insurance and they will cover anything that is not considered infertility, so I interpret this as any meds or tests needed to DX me or to just get me O'ing would be covered but above and beyond that it would not be covered. I hope that is the case.

I hope they don't have to do a more in-depth S/A from DH again. He had one done and it was a fiasco. I have had the standard GTT test done where you do not have to drink that nasty serum. When you had your GTT did they have you just fast and take your blood or did they also have you drink that syrup and wait an hour, than have more blood drawn? Also, what is all involved w/ the IUI, does my DH just do his business, the DR sort out the sperm (for lack of better words) and then inject it into the uterus? How much does he charge for that procedure if you don't mind me asking?

It sounds like you had a very challenging road to get where you are today. You must be on top of the world right now! I couldn't be happier for you! Lookforward to hearing from you!

sunrae6276 · 08-14-2006, 11:32 PM

Karen!

I am trying to find out if we are talking about the same Dr.....funny! I will keep you updated!

You could definitely ask them to do most of the testing on your 1st visit. I did have to do the GTT where I had to drink the nasty Glucola and come back. I am pretty sure he will want your DH to do another s/a. He likes to have his own results. But, if you have results that are not too old, I would definitely brin them! Why was there a fiasco. All the DHs that are there have done it...it is just a thing! My DH had to have another one done b/c he had had testiclar cancer in 6/00 and had a super low count at the time. We thought he would be a problem too, but it was fine! His cancer really affected his sperm count at the time.

I did have insurance for a while that would cover any diagnosis...I unfortunately didn't have it for the HSG - boo. I did have it for the laprascopic though. But, I quit that job and work for myself now! If you want to know up front what your insurance will cover, photocopy the exclusions re: infertility and give it to Kelly, the business office lady. (Tip - there is a Kelly, a Kelli (nurse), and Lorie (nurse), and a Lori (Dr Ripps wife)!!

IUI costs an extra $350 on top of your cycle. On the day of IUI, you will bring in DH's sample. Dr Lori will take it and wash it and concentrate it. She will put it in a syringe with a small catheter attached and either Dr Ripps or a nurse will insert the catheter through the cervix and into the uterus and squirt 'em in! There will be a nurse in there with a ultrasound thingy on your tummy so that they can see exactly where the catheter is in your uterus. You have to lie there for 20 minutes and then you go home and take it easy for the day. Then you have sex for the next 3 days. Boy, that is super fun when you are both sick!

I like your picture BTW - I am a photographer, so I notice those things! I hope I answered your questions!! Keep them coming....I am full of chattiness!

KSinclair13 · 08-15-2006, 01:43 AM

Hey Rae!

Thanks for the info yet again! I hit the jackpot when you answered my thread! The IUI wasn't as expensive as I had thought. It's not cheap but I was expecting over $500. I am so sorry to hear about your DH having cancer. Between both of your challenges this baby is a true blessing. There sure are a lot of doubles at that office, hope I can keep them all straight!

So far I have only spoken w/ Carol and she seems nice!

As for my DH S/A fiasco...they said he could do his business at home as long as he got it to the lab no more than 30 min later. Well, he got there after 25 min...he had never been to the lab at this hospital before (sacred heart Sandestin) so he wasn't sure where it was located in the hospital. Two volunteers, who looked to be 80 years old, told him the wrong place to go, so he was running really short on time. He finally got to the lab and he told the lady he had 'a time sensitive specimen which needed to be precessed', she took the bag w/ it in there and sat on the counter for 20 minutes while he filled out his paper work. After filing out his paperwork he saw it still sitting there and he politely kept telling them 'he had a time sensitive specimen and it needed to be processed'. They looked at him like he had three heads. It had been an hour. Finally he was fed up and said 'my sperm are in there and the count is going down the longer you let that sit there' Well, there was like 10 ladies waiting to have their blood taken sitting right there hearing this whole ordeal and he was mortified. When he came home and heard the story. I found it to be quit comical but he didn't see it the same way. He said he was never doing that again.

Thanks about the picture... my Mom used to be a photographer many years ago and she took it. I bet you must get a lot of work in this area. I feel like every time I drive down the beach there is a wedding, especially on Okalossa Island.

Thanks again for all your info! You must be excited for your first u/s on Friday! It'll be here before you know it! I hope any morning sickness stays at bay, you have had a challenging enough time getting preggos!

sunrae6276 · 08-15-2006, 04:13 AM

Well, guess what??!!!! The lady I know that we were talking about earlier....I found out her last name. IT IS HANSEN! How freaking funny is that!!????? We were meant to find each other!

That story about your DH and his sample....HILARIOUS! That is so much how our life is!!!!! I am glad we aren't the only ones that deal with that kinda stuff.

DH is good now...6 years cancer free! yayy! We were married for 6 weeks when he was diganosed....we have definitely dealt with a lot in our lives. But, "what doesn't kill you will make you stronger"!!!!

We do go to Destin a bit. We also go for fun on the boat too. We love it there! Check out my website: www.raeleytham.com I would love to know what you think since you have been surrounded by photography!

Carol is super nice!! Everyone there is nice. They have very stressful jobs and you can see it on their faces sometimes, but they are super great. Wouldn't you hate to be the person that has to call people to tell them that they are not pregnant? Bummer.

Also, do you have a myspace profile??? I am addicted to myspace too!

I can't wait to hear about your meeting with Dr Ripps. Just mention my name and he will probably laugh!

KSinclair13 · 08-15-2006, 05:04 PM

Good Morning!

How funny...what a small world!!! Dr. Hansen is such a wonderful DR. and is so nice. It is really hard to find Dr.'s these days that actually know the definition of bed side manor and he definitely has it. She is married to a wonderful man. My Mom had referred me, she is a nurse for Hospice. She and all the other nurses go to him. I think that said a lot when people in the med profession respect him.

Your web-site is sooo lovely, you and you hubby are a cute couple and your photography is outstanding! Did you create your web-site or hire a web-graphics consultant? It is beautifully put together! The music is a great touch too! I will definitely refer you to anyone I know is looking for a photographer. I was going to tell you which pics I loved on the web-site but I would be here all day listing them off. You are very talented. The main pic on weddings looks like Baytown Wharf in Sandestin I love it there! My Mom lives right around the corner from there, they have great fireworks and shows of an evening. And the main pic on the families tab looks like the house next to were our family was staying in Seaside, which was for a wedding as well. Am I right?

Speaking of that wedding, I so wish I knew of you then... we were in such a predicament with the photographer. The wedding was scheduled for the day Katrina hit so they had to move the wedding up a day and the photographer they had booked already had that day booked, same thing happen with the caterer... and trying to find a church instead of the beach. They ended up at the chapel in Seaside which was nice, but the poor bride after the whole ordeal was beside herself.

I don't have a myspace, I think I am the only one that doesn't have one! I thought about putting one together but I have just been so consumed with work and this darn PCOS business. Maybe one of these day I will. I am an interior designer/architect for Prescott Architects here in Destin. The web-site is being completely re-done and should be up and running in a week or two. I think the old one is still up but is sooo old school. I will send it once it has been completed. Right now I have had a lot of restaurant clients come in, so I am staying busy with those 6 restaurants. Last year I finished up on a few homes in Destiny and doing the space plans of the units in a few condo's being built this year. So work is great and I truly love what I do and the company I work for. I sometimes wish I didn't like it so much so if/when I get preggos I don't care if I had to just up and leave but that is not the case. They are very family oriented and I know would work with me when the time came though.

Sorry to have rambled on so much!!! I will definitely refer your name when I see Dr. Ripps! TTFN!! Have a good day!

sunrae6276 · 08-15-2006, 09:08 PM

How cool!! We were meant to find each other! I will tell Erin how much you like her husband....that will mean a lot to her. I won't talk about names or anything.

Thanks so much for the compliments re: my website. We really like it too...is that stuck-up? We actually bought a template from a company called bludomain and plugged in our photos and colors, etc. LOTS of photographers around the world use them. You are right about Baytowne Wharf....we love to photograph there!!! Check out the slideshow of Dana and Monty. We took lots of their pics there. The other one isn't in Seaside. If it is the pic with the couple and the little boy, they are on Pensacola Beach.

What a bummer about your friend's wedding. It is so stressful planning a wedding during hurricane season now.

I LOVE interior designering. I wish I knew more about it. I mean, I have done a good job with my house....well, not the whole house. But, I wish I could do more. We have 4 bedrooms and haven't touched two of them in the 2.5 years we have lived here. Hopefully, one of them will become a baby's room very soon!

It is sooo awesome you love your job and company. I loved my job and the agency I worked for was great, but being a CSI isn't very easy while pregnant or with a small baby, so I quit. Just kidding.....I actually quit because my business had grown so much. April 2006 I became officially self-employed. Scary, but fun. And I don't get called at 2am any more. That is nice.

Hopefully, we can meet someday. Not at your 1st visit....you will be too ovewhelmed with information. Hopefully soon though!

PS - my ultrasound got moved to TOMORROW!!!!!! yipppeeeeee.

KSinclair13 · 08-16-2006, 06:59 AM

Hi Rae!

Sorry I didn't get back to you earlier I was exhausted from work and crashed. That is great you were able to get into the DR earlier! I will be thinking of you. You will have to let me know how the u/s goes! I bet you will be able to see the fluttering heartbeat, OMG you will be beside yourself! It is finally real after your long endevor...is DH going with you? Just think this is the very beginning of a whole new life time journey for you both. You will never have this moment again so take a minute to let it sink in and cherish it for all it is worth!

My Grandmother, Mom, & myself go to Dr. Hansen. I remember right after his kids were born he had photos in his pocket and they where sooo cute!

Being a CSI must have opened your eyes up to what a lot of the world doesn't get to see, except for on TV which I am sure is a warped version. I am sure you have some crazy stories from some of the things you had to investigate. But now you are following your passion and you will be an even bigger success, I am sure at that.

I have one bedroom that is still white,and I hate white walls. The room is just screaming for me to paint it but I am waiting for a BFP. Have you thought of a theme or how you will decorate it if it is a boy or girl? I love designing and I was very lucky that I knew since I was a kid that I wanted to build and design. I hated Barbie's and loved Lego's

I was really lucky to be fortunate enough to study abroad and see what beauty the world has to offer instead of the crap that is built in the US. I finally was able to take my DH over there last October, it was a photographers paradise! I took like 1800 pics but narrowed it down to like 500, if that is what you want to call narrowing it down. There are a butt load of pics, they are labeled. Pic your fav place and try to persuade your next bride and groom to go over seas to have their wedding!

Picture Link- http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slidesho...y=-e3dn3m&Ux=1

GL tomorrow!!! How exciting!

sunrae6276 · 08-16-2006, 07:51 PM

Sorry it took so long to reply. DH and I have colds! :-( Not fun. I HATE post-nasal drip. Anyway, I went to Dr Ripps office today and I had my u/s. I have one baby that is measuring 5 weeks 5 days old and had a heartbeat of 110. YAYYYY! They want to see me again in 2 weeks and if everything is good then....I will be released to OB. Iam so excited!

I am going to bed now. Rest and fluids is all I can get since I am pg.

Talk to you soon!

KSinclair13 · 08-16-2006, 11:03 PM

Hey!!

Awesome, this one sounds healthy, 110 BPM! Were you expecting possibly twins since that is common w/ IVF? So sorry you are not feeling well, I hate being sick. My sister in law who is having her baby Monday found out just a few weeks ago that it would have been safe for her to use Tylenol. She said she wished she knew for when she was running a fever. She also would have loved to have taken Tylenol PM when she had trouble sleeping because of the nauseousness. I don't know about Tylenol Cold and Sinus though. Every DR thinks differently about what & what not to take, maybe ask your DR if they feel the same about Tylenol being a safe drug to take. Hope you feel better!