Switching RE at same practice?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone switched their RE at SGF? I feel like possibly switching but I know at SGF all of the RE's do monitoring and I feel like it would be awkward if my original RE ended up having to do one my my monitoring appts. Or should I talk to my RE and tell him how I feel....that I feel he should be more aggressive and not generalize my protocol. I feel that my protocol needs to be more individualized. I hate confrontation and I certainly would hate to tell a licensed professional how to do his job but I have been there for almost a year with 6 failed IUI's and a protocol on each IUI that doesn't change.

[Anonymous]

OP - May I ask who your RE is? I am trying to find a RE at SG and was trying to decide who to pick.

[Anonymous]

Protocol decisions are made by the group at SGF, so I doubt switching doctors would fix your problem. I think telling your doctor your concerns would be far more effective. However, if he/she doesn't change the protocol, or offer a really good explanation for why they are keeping the current one, it might be time to switch practices. I found my doctor to be very responsive to my concerns and very willing to listen to my input.

I hate to say it, but most doctors will not do more than 6 IUIs, because if it hasn't worked by then, statistics suggest that it will not work and it is time to move onto IVF.

[Anonymous]

OP here...My RE is Dr. Levy. He is extremely nice and professional but I rarely get to talk to him directly unless he's the one doing my monitoring that day.

13:13: So do all the RE's meet and make their decisions on each patient there? Is my RE not the only one making the decision about my protocol? I've heard that Dr. Chang is the most aggressive RE at SGF and I was thinking what I need is aggressive at this point. Especially on my 1st IVF cycle.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if all the doctors meet or if just the ones each location meet together. I just know several times they mentioned consulting with the other doctors regarding protocol.

[Anonymous]

From my experience at SGF - the REs might consult with one another but in my case at least - my RE always made the final decision. For instance, when I would ask my RE about trying an unusual protocol he was usually up for it and sometimes he might say he'd talk to some of his colleagues to see if they had any other ideas. We were in the shared risk program and he would also sometimes mention bringing our case up b/c we were a tough case but I honestly don't that he ever did or if he did - the REs never had any other ideas b/c I did 9 IVF with SGF and we always stuck with the protocol my RE and I would discuss. I also had a lot of REs that seemed pretty dumbfounded or surprised at what type of protocol I was on so I really think my RE was ultimately responsible for deciding what we did.

I think switching REs at SGF can make a difference in the respect that some of them are more aggressive and willing to try new things. Others are happy to tow the party line and keep things status quo because it's just easier. My experience with Dr. Chang has been nothing but fantastic and he isn't my RE (I have Sagoskin) but there were several times that I didn't agree with the daily monitoring decision being made on my case and ultimately would end up speaking with Dr. Chang b/c my RE was unavailable and I always felt like he took a vested interest in my case. I sent him a thank you note after one of my cycles which ultimately resulted in a miscarriage - and I actually received a hand written note back from him.

I have heard although I don't know if this is true or still standard practice that if you switch REs that your 1st RE signs off on it. I don't think he can actually deny you from switching - I think they just want everyone to be in the loop that a switch has been made. Ultimately it's your body and your decision to be made - I wouldn't worry about hurting his feelings. I never switched REs although I did switch RNs and I know at least switching RNs is quite common because I'm still friends with several after going there for so many years. Follow your gut and don't worry about rocking the boat. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I switched from one doc to the other at Columbia and it wasn't completely fluid, but it was fine. I was at the point with my current doc there that I looked at other practices, had consults, etc and just happened to like another Columbia doc the best. They gave me a hard time at first, but after I explained to them that it was either switch docs, or leave the practice all together, which made them more willing to accommodate.

The trouble was mainly with switching mid-cycle, which they pretty much considered to be the state at any point, even immediately after a negative pregnancy test, due to scheduling and ordering meds for the next cycle. My biggest push was so that I didn't have to sit out a month (which just wasn't an option for me) to make the transition. I did blame things on the office schedule and location, which helped ease things w/my doc, but her and I both knew we weren't meshing. The old doc did see me sometimes, and even did our 1st iui after the switch, which was awkward, but still worth it to me. So much of your outcome is in our doctors hands, you should be happy with him/her even if it hurts some feelings. I think all docs are used to it and aren't as bothered as we think they would be.