What happened at your first RE appt?

chelseabare · 09-29-2009, 09:33 PM

What did yall discuss? What kind of tests did he tell you he wanted to run?

My first RE appt is Oct 5th and I'm just wondering what I should expect so I cans tart doing some research so I know what questions to ask him.

Thanks ladies.

theOceanicSix · 09-29-2009, 10:50 PM

Mostly it was just going over history and discussing options. She also wanted to do a vag ultrasound and pap but I didn't want to.
The next time I went I did bloodwork for a bunch of hormones and blood sugar. Then the third time we went over THOSE results and came up with a game plan.

WifeyC · 09-29-2009, 11:46 PM

I had already had an HSG a month prior to going to the RE. Our first visit was a consult that lasted over an hour. We filled out the patient medical history questionnaire online on the fertility center's website. My DH filled his out and I filled mine out. This was very important for our consult. He didn't order any further tests because DH had an SA only like 2 months prior. But a lot of REs want current blood work done to test for estrogen and testosterone levels. They want to know your sugar levels and thyroid, too. I didn't have an endo-vaginal ultrasound done until CD 12 my first cycle with the RE.

wannaova · 09-30-2009, 12:16 AM

My RE explained the basics of repro anatomy and how PCOS throws that all off, then he explained the options and suggested we start with Clomid plus trigger, and possibly IUI. They ordered blood work (infectious diseases, genetic screening, hormone levels, thyroid, adrenal gland) and HSG, and DH SA. He explained the rates of ovulation, rates of cancellation and rates of pregnancy, and the risks of miscarriage/birth defects. He gave me his impression of my likelihood of getting pregnant based on my age and general health. Then the nurse went over all the prescripts and the scheduling of the various things I need to do this cycle. My RE's office also has a financial counselor, so I was able to get prices for the procedures and items my insurance doesn't cover. I also had a lot of medical records from blood work from my OB including recent pap, chicken pox and rubella antibody tests, and prior hormone testing. to the extent you can get any of those types of records from your OB in time for your appt, so you should definitely try to take them with you.

Good luck!

chelseabare · 09-30-2009, 12:52 AM

I think I may have a bit of an advantage there, my ob/gyn and my RE are actually married! So I told my Ob that she could talk to her husband about me and that way she could relay more info than i would be able too. And since she has some of my history, it would help him out... SO anyways, thank you ladies.

KaraATL · 09-30-2009, 12:59 AM

on my first RE appt..we spoke for about 45 mins about my medical hx...i knew i was pcos since I was about 16/17. She prescribed metformin. Scheduled me for an ultrasound and prescribed prometrium to stimulate AF. My ultrasound is to be done on day 4 of AF to measure endometrial thickness. Since I don't have regular AF's without being on BCP, she wants to make sure my lining is not too thick. She always ordered about $2,500.00 worth of blood tests(seriously 2,500..thank god for insurance). I had a 2 hour gluocose and than she screened for other hormone issues.

when I went to my appt i had everything written out so i would be organized.

Melvin'sWifey · 09-30-2009, 01:04 AM

I remember my first RE appt went really well. We were supposed to attend a class first on why we could possibly not be conceiving but I already knew I had PCOS so I skipped it.

Anyways I met the doctor, and she did an ultrasound first just to check things out, she said I had a great uterus but that my ovaries were definitely polycystic. Then we went in her office and she told me the basics about PCOS and their standard protocol for trying to get a PCOS woman pregnant. She gave me some phamphlets and explained that she could start me on Metformin right away, but before we did any clomid cycles (always her first step) my DH and I would have to get lots of blood tests, I'd have to get an HSG and he'd have to do a sperm analysis, that way we didn't waste time, money and effort if there was a problem other than my PCOS.

Then she answered any of my questions, and set us up for the bloodwork, HSG and s/a. It was nice to meet with someone who actually KNEW about pcos, not just somenoe who wanted to shove me on bcp's like most OB's did.

HTH, and good luck!

chelseabare · 09-30-2009, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KaraATL
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Since I don't have regular AF's without being on BCP, she wants to make sure my lining is not too thick.

I have had tons of ultrasounds and my endometrium is always around 22mm. I was told its suppose to be somewhere around 9...?? I know mine is too thick, could this be the cause of my chemical pregnancies the last 2 months? What causes the thickened endo and how is it treated? I was diagnosed Mennorhgia recently.... along with PCOS of course. I tried searching it online a few times, but I dont get far.... they did a biopsy on me and it came out fine. So I dont get it. Help?!

WifeyC · 09-30-2009, 09:15 AM

Chelsea, have you done any rounds of Provera? If your lining is that thick and you're concerned about it, ask about Provera. It will give you a "clean bleed" and shed your uterine lining for a fresh start.

AngelaGrace · 10-01-2009, 01:33 AM

My first RE appt. was 2.5 hrs long. I could write a book about it. Lots of questions from him, some questions from us, lots of info & visual aids, ordering tests & blood work, physical exam. But seriously within 3 minutes, I loved my RE and knew he was going to help me big-time. He's awesome, hope yours is too.

GL

chelseabare · 10-01-2009, 01:38 AM

Thanks ladies! And yes, I have tried Provera.... that was the last sono I had. I will see what my new doc says about it.

I jsut like being prepared!

WifeyC · 10-01-2009, 08:27 AM

Chelsea, maybe you could ask about a D&C. Not the nicest thing in the world, but it cleans everything out for a fresh start. And since it doesn't rely on drugs, it works. A lot of women with endometriosis and other abnormal endometrial issues get this procedure done.

Gwenneh · 10-01-2009, 09:18 AM

My first RE appointment was about an hour long. Since we'd already tried Clomid and I already knew that I had PCOS, this was pretty straightforward. We had some blood drawn for a whole panel of tests, and I had an ultrasound done on that day. After that, we discussed the treatment plan (IUI with injectibles) and risks. I had to go and get an HSG and deliver those films to the office later that week, and DH had to do a semen analysis again, since the clinic has stricter criteria than the NHS. Then it was just taking Met while waiting for CD1 to roll around!

AnnieClark · 10-01-2009, 04:44 PM

loving this post - my first RE appointment is on Nov 3 and I'm already anxious about it.. also, it's possible (but who the heck knows) that I may start my period the week before my appointment & I have femara from by OB - should I go ahead and take in days 3-7 before I go to the RE or should I wait? what are your opinions?