Patients @ Heartland in Omaha

meggowiggle · 11-03-2009, 11:16 PM

I figured we should have a place of our own to swap our experiences as patients; this way we aren't hijacking others' threads.

Current patients, graduates, and interested cysters welcome!

Anonykat · 11-03-2009, 11:47 PM

Hello from a graduate!
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Good luck to all! Dr. Ramey is a really great guy. But watch out for Dr. Gondra and the speculum - she likes to see it come out your throat.

kmh123 · 11-03-2009, 11:58 PM

Yay! Glad to find a group from Heartland. My husband and I met with Dr. Ramey last spring, but we didn't start any treatments there until September. Before going to Heartland, we tried on our own for about a year, then we started seeing Dr. T. Foote (Hastings). I liked Dr. Foote a lot, but there was a limit to what they could do at his office, so he transferred us to Heartland. Like I said, in September we started treatment there. We had our first IUI (failed). Now, we're just saving up money and trying to regroup our emotions to try again. In the meantime, I am going to watch what I eat and exercise more in hopes that this will help. Can't hurt, anyway! Thanks for starting this thread.

kmh123 · 11-04-2009, 12:05 AM

Anonykat, could you please fill us in on your experiences at Heartland? How long did it take for you to get pregnant? What meds/procedures did you do? What ended up working? Just wondering. I would appreciate any info about Heartland. Congrats on your pregnancy! It's getting close!

meggowiggle · 11-04-2009, 01:19 AM

Hi, Anony-the-graduate!! Thanks for popping in. I'm with kmh, tell us everything you can.

kmh, it sounds like you have a plan there. You guys are trying for another IUI when you go back? What was your first IUI like? Tell us everything about it
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DH and I have been off b/c since 2005, and started trying this year. The beginning of the year I lost 30 pounds and regained ovulation. I've since gained it all back, but I still ovulate every cycle. We toyed with actively TTC at the beginning of the year, but did not take our first purposeful step until this cycle, doing Clomid through my OBGYN.

Our first RE appt was this morning. So far so good. We loved Dr. Ramey from the start. Even DH was grinning by the end, and he's as stoic as they come. When/if AF shows up after this cycle (pray she won't!!), we go in for bloodwork, then my HSG and his S/A. From there, if everything's good, he thinks we'll do Clomid+trigger first.

How are the other Drs? Dr. Maclin? Any good experiences with Dr. Gondra?

Anonykat · 11-04-2009, 11:04 AM

I was blessed to get pg on the first cycle, with a combo of femara+follistim+trigger+iui.

What helped me a bit was that I had had success with that protocol (also on the first time) with another doc in another state, which led to my 3 yo twins - that being after an anguished year of utter failure with Clomid (Clomid + trigger, or even Clomid alone, works GREAT for a lot of people; I'm just not one of them.) So I went in knowing exactly what I wanted, and one of the reasons I liked Dr. R. was that he agreed to my wishes, since I was experienced in the issue - not all doctors are real appreciative when a patient comes in saying, here's what I want and how I want it done. But I went in knowing what doses I wanted and everything. After this little dude is born, we want to try for one more baby, and we plan on going back and doing the same thing. We hope for a singleton and not twins with that, but having experienced both on that protocol, I guess we shall see!

I read some nasty things about Dr. Maclin online, but spoke to her briefly a few times and she seemed nice enough to me. Never was treated by her, though. Only saw Dr. Gondra the once, after I'd gotten the BFP and had an infection and Dr. R was booked that morning. Once was enough!!!

willowstotts · 11-04-2009, 11:55 AM

I saw Dr. Gondra. She's a bit hard to understand and a little "rough," but knows what she's doing and she's very to the point, doesn't mess around. She got me preg. my first cycle with her. Our first appointment we did a whole gyn history and a ttc history and she discussed the options with us and asked us what we preferred. When I say rough, I've referring to my HSG and she's not very gentle with the ultrasound probe. Some of my friends have experiences with Dr. Maclin and they thought she was really sweet, but I've never met her. Obviously, overall I was pleased, I will go there for more my next baby and maybe more!

mjrsmommy · 11-04-2009, 12:18 PM

I am a current patient, on day #6 of cycle number 5 with Dr. Ramey. I love the office, and Sheryl (the ultrasound tech) is absolutely WONDERFUL!!

I have had the pleasure of being treated by Dr. Gondra. She is very matter-of-fact, but knows her stuff. We met with her during our Hyper-stim cycle. She knew what I was going thru, and how to treat it!!

I have an ultrasound this Friday with Dr. Maclin. Hopefully it goes smoothly.

mjrsmommy · 11-05-2009, 04:19 PM

Wow - did this message board come to a complete stand still or what?? Any words of encouragement or anything from the graduates? I do my first IUI this cycle, and am really not looking forward to it. I had an intern do my HSG, and I was in tears by the time they were done!!

meggowiggle · 11-05-2009, 07:54 PM

I am so encouraged by all of your experiences!

Anony- Excellent, I am so impressed knowing they let you call the shots, and that they trusted you. A general concern I had before starting with them was that they would move to fast for us, and be pushing procedures we weren't ready for. I know they won't pressure us to do anything we don't feel comfortable with, so that great. I'm glad they use Femara too. I've read a few docs aren't comfortable prescribing it since it isn't approved by the FDA (or something like that). It's obviously a great drug, since you have a little guy on the way!

willow---eek, I'm sorry she wasn't very gentle, but hey, whatever she did worked. Congrats on your little one!

Christine-- I'm glad to hear Dr. G left a positive impression on you. YAAY! I don't want to be unnecessarily nervous if we have to have an appointment with her, so thanks for sharing your experience. Good luck with your ultrasound tomorrow! An intern did your HSG??? At Heartland?????? uhmm... shaking in my boots right now. You aren't looking forward to the IUI because of your HSG experience? I am so sorry! Maybe you can request one of the seasoned doctors to do it?

Anonykat · 11-05-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

You aren't looking forward to the IUI because of your HSG experience? I am so sorry! Maybe you can request one of the seasoned doctors to do it?

Just a note, at Heartland a nurse did my IUI, not a doctor. I don't know if that's general procedure there or not though.

Such things tend to hurt me - paps hurt terribly, HSG is torture, etc. I told the nurse I was nervous and she promised she would do everything she could to make it not hurt - and she really did a good job. At the end, they stick this crinkly weird plastic-y sponge in you
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which I was not expecting - she said I had to keep it in for 4 hours. By the time I got home, though, it was so uncomfortable I HAD to take it out. Obviously it worked anyway.
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The IUI itself was nearly pain free though, which for me is amazing. So I'd say she did a really good job.

kmh123 · 11-05-2009, 09:19 PM

Okay, so plenty of good things about the clinic. That's always good to hear. I am shocked about a nurse doing the IUI though. Dr. Ramey did my IUI. A nurse was in there to handle paperwork, etc., but he did the actual procedure.

Anonykat- I agree about that weird "plug" that they put in after the IUI. After the first little bit, I didn't really notice it anymore though, so I didn't take it out until I got home (about 5 or 5.5 hours).

Has anyone ever called and tried to talk to one of the drs? Also, have you ever received any charges for phone calls? I have called a few times and talked to nurses/billing dept., but never a dr., yet I got a $30 charge for a 5-10 min phone convo. ??? No one ever told me there would be such a charge. I also would kind of expect a charge if I talked to the actual dr., but a nurse?!?! Just curious if anyone else has had a similar experience.

Anonykat · 11-05-2009, 09:25 PM

A charge for a phone convo?!?! That can't be right. Did you call to ask about it?

kmh123 · 11-05-2009, 09:30 PM

Okay, so plenty of good things about the clinic. That's always good to hear. I am shocked about a nurse doing the IUI though. Dr. Ramey did my IUI. A nurse was in there to handle paperwork, etc., but he did the actual procedure.

Anonykat- I agree about that weird "plug" that they put in after the IUI. After the first little bit, I didn't really notice it anymore though, so I didn't take it out until I got home (about 5 or 5.5 hours).

Has anyone ever called and tried to talk to one of the drs? Also, have you ever received any charges for phone calls? I have called a few times and talked to nurses/billing dept., but never a dr., yet I got a $30 charge for a 5-10 min phone convo. ??? No one ever told me there would be such a charge. I also would kind of expect a charge if I talked to the actual dr., but a nurse?!?! Just curious if anyone else has had a similar experience.

kmh123 · 11-05-2009, 09:45 PM

I haven't called yet, but I was thinking the same thing. I'll just have to find time to call about it. Hopefully I don't get charged for that one too!
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BTW - I ended up with a duplicate post and tried to delete it, but it won't for some reason. Sorry for the extra long duplicate!