Best SG Doc for My Situation?

[Anonymous]

Could you take anti-anxiety drugs or a tranquilizer prior to doing your blood work? It sounds like you might have to tackle this issue before doing IVF again. In addition to bloodwork you also have to give yourself injections. Being pregnant also requires a lot of needles an blood work so you might also want to consider that as well.

The interesting thing about anxiety type issues is that they can be relatively easy to treat compared to other types of mental illness. I wouldn't discount the fact that you might be able to overcome this fear thought therapy, medication and behavioral changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could you take anti-anxiety drugs or a tranquilizer prior to doing your blood work? It sounds like you might have to tackle this issue before doing IVF again. In addition to bloodwork you also have to give yourself injections. Being pregnant also requires a lot of needles an blood work so you might also want to consider that as well.

The interesting thing about anxiety type issues is that they can be relatively easy to treat compared to other types of mental illness. I wouldn't discount the fact that you might be able to overcome this fear thought therapy, medication and behavioral changes.

I can handle the shots after 10 years of therapy and meds. I still haven't made progress on the bloodwork, and my current therapist says there is nothing more that he can do, particularly since needle phobia is one of the few known phobias that has a physical, genetic component and sometimes simply cannot be overcome. I've done a number of medications, all of which help with the anticipatory anxiety, but none of which slow down or stop the physical reaction.

[Anonymous]

I am going to try and say something, please know that I am *not* trying to be judgemental, but genuinely trying to understand why you would subject yourself to IVF if you cannot comply with the necessary bloodwork. There are many wonderful ways of expanding your family. Have you considered donor egg and/or a surrogate? There is still some bloodwork you would be subjected to (with donor egg) but nowhere near what you would go through with 'regular' IVF. Realistically, it sounds like IVF may not be the best fit for you, but there are many other avenues available to expand your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would try to see Dr. Levy at SG. He is one of the founders and if anyone is able to override standard operating procedures, its him. Not saying he would be willing to -- he was very evidence driven when he was my doc. But he isn't just tied to the standard, and if you have any hope of getting special treatment at SG I would say its with him. And he's a fabulous RE.
Good luck.

Dr Levy is very kind. I saw him years ago. Tell him the problem. They can do the cycle without every blood draw. Or you can take medicine. You are a person, not a machine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am going to try and say something, please know that I am *not* trying to be judgemental, but genuinely trying to understand why you would subject yourself to IVF if you cannot comply with the necessary bloodwork. There are many wonderful ways of expanding your family. Have you considered donor egg and/or a surrogate? There is still some bloodwork you would be subjected to (with donor egg) but nowhere near what you would go through with 'regular' IVF. Realistically, it sounds like IVF may not be the best fit for you, but there are many other avenues available to expand your family.

I truly appreciate your input and don't feel judged. As to your questions, my DH would much rather adopt than do DE, but really wants to proceed with IVF, as do I. (Adoption would be a challenge for us because of our histories...nothing that would preclude us from being good parents but too personal to get into on DCUM.)

I would happily do a gestational carrier if we could afford it, but we just can't (plus, I'd have to do most of the bloodwork to get to that point anyway)...my whole reason for trying to make SG work is so that we can do shared risk. I'm starting to think this just won't work out, which makes me feel incredibly weak-willed and sad.

[Anonymous]

I don't know how to advise on your phobia. . . but I like Dr. Widra at SG, and would avoid Nair--she doesn't know what she's doing and is condescending and unhelpful. I switched from her to Widra after one cycle when it was clear she couldn't be bothered to read my chart and had me go forward with a 12 mm lead follicle on day 3--another friend got the donor egg speech from her, even though they have male factor, and now is pregnant with her own eggs--very unpleasant, and incompetent.

[Anonymous]

OP, I have a friend who had similar issues with bloodwork, etc. She's had two children through SG and used Osborn. I'm not sure about all of the details of how they achieved this, but I do know that they tried to accommodate her. I think it's worth at least an appointment to discuss with her.

[Anonymous]

Bump..
OP ....What did you end up deciding to do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bump..
OP ....What did you end up deciding to do?

OP here. I'm planning to have a consult with Dr. Osborn and go from there. If they can't accommodate even somewhat, I'm heading back to CFA. I'd be happy to keep you posted offline if you are interested,

[Anonymous]

Have you seen the salvia test they use in Boston instead of blood? http://news.yahoo.com/boston-ivf-fertility-clinic-adopts-salivary-estradiol-assay-082219061.html

If it is just as good, it should be available in more places soon. If you ask your RE about it, let us know.

[Anonymous]

OP Shady Grove isn't the best practice in our area, you should try CFA of DF

[Anonymous]

This summer my clinic, Dominion Fertility, was out of power for almost a week and they weren't running labs. Made me nervous as hell, but they mentioned that Dr. DiMattina used to monitor via ultrasound only and that it was fine she he was handling it. Dr D isn't my doc and I imagine he can be quite cocky...maybe even cocky enough to take the 'challenge'! He is supposed to be excellent though. May be worth a consult.

[Anonymous]

I have a blood phobia too - (and needed fertility treatments too that succeeded). have you tried the ross center for anxiety? they have an amazing therapist that was an OR nurse - she'll go with you to the blood draws - hold your hand - also - and i know this sounds crazy - have you tried singing during blood draws? I've been told 99 bottles of beer on the wall is a popular one therapists recommend (and count down backwards by threes) - I've also been told songs that are like nursery rhymes and require thinking are good. You can do this - honestly, the more blood draws you do the better it will get - I ended up with a c-section - oy! but I did it and you can too!! I also recommend taking an ipod, a fan, and someone to hold your hand!

[Anonymous]

A friend of mine has the same medical condition and worked with SG at the same time I was there doing IVF. We both had Widra, but she only ever did ICSI and not sure if SG would have allowed her to do IVF. But, the reason I mention it is because I know Widra is familiar with this condition so he can tell you straight up what he can and cannot do. FWIW, my friend did do some serious Valium for the one blood test I know that she did and they were ok with that. Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A friend of mine has the same medical condition and worked with SG at the same time I was there doing IVF. We both had Widra, but she only ever did ICSI and not sure if SG would have allowed her to do IVF. But, the reason I mention it is because I know Widra is familiar with this condition so he can tell you straight up what he can and cannot do. FWIW, my friend did do some serious Valium for the one blood test I know that she did and they were ok with that. Good luck to you!

Thanks, and thanks to all who have weighed in with alternative suggestions (saliva test, who knew)! BTW, do you mean IUI instead of ICSI?