I have been tracking my basal temperature, and it appears that every month, after the spike showing ovulation, it falls off. Goes of a cliff. Enters an ice age. What does this mean? Well, it could mean many things, including a progesterone deficiency. The one thing that during all of the poking and prodding that was done to me -- I was never tested for. After all, they reasoned, my luteal phase was long enough, so the progesterone had to be there. Of course, as we all know from MB the length of the luteal phase is just one of the markers, a progesterone deficiency can still exist, even if there are a full 14 days after ovulation.
I was sure it was a break through! My acupuncturist thought so too, and said I should call my doctor and see if she would order a test. I decided to call my naturopath, who has ordered testing like this before, sure she would help me out. I had an appointment already scheduled, so we could discuss the results.
She refused to do it.
She said she doesn't order tests just because an "acupuncturist" has a theory. I told her about the basal charting. She said we could discuss it at my next appointment. I said by then it would be too late because according to all the books it needed to be tested seven days after ovulation. I said it would be another month down the drain. She still refused. Oh, then she asked if I was trying to get pregnant. I guess she has short term amnesia.
Now, I know that doctors can't just order tests whenever a patient wants them. But when a doctor is working on a certain problem with a patient, and a test could help get to the bottom of it, shouldn't they be interested in having it done, no matter where the idea came from? Especially when the year of other medications they have prescribed haven't made any difference?
It made me wonder if she was just waiting to get her fee for the next appointment before she would help. Yep, that's how distrustful her response has made me. It also makes me want to dump all the pills she has put me on, at some cost, down the toilet. And it definitely makes me wonder if I want her involved in this process any more.
So, what do you think? Am I being a baby? Or is she being unreasonably unhelpful?
Doctors suck. Period.
ReplyDeleteI feel like they don't really care about me, have no clue what is going on and just throw medicine around.
You are not being a baby. I would be so pissed. Would you want a new doctor?
This makes me want to scream. Isn't that just a simple blood test? And the fact that she didn't remember you were trying to get pregnant is ridiculous. It might be time for a new doctor.
ReplyDeleteOh, man. Thats frustrating. I know someone who was seeing a doctor for infertility and at the end of the appointment the doctor asked her if she wanted a prescription for birth control. Apparently she hadn't been listening the whole time.
ReplyDeleteI like my current doctor because when I go in and say "I have a theory, and I want to do x or y or z" she LISTENS. She will almost always do what I want, and if it doesn't happen it's because she has listened, and we've talked about it, and she's given me reasons (reasons that I agree are reasons) why not. IMO that's what a doctor SHOULD do.
ReplyDeleteSo yeah. You're not being a baby. Your doctor should be there for you, not the other way around.
Thanks everyone. It's nice to know I'm not nuts...
ReplyDeleteLibby, you are not being unreasonable. That test could be helpful and certainly will not hurt anything to run. There's no reason not to do it but arrogance and stubbornness on her part. Different doctor.
ReplyDeleteNO- You are not being a baby! There are doctors out there who listen to their patients & take care of them. The good ones realize that we know our own bodies as well as anyone can and that we're the best resoure for information. You just have to not accept the crap treatment and keep fishing until you catch a good doctor. We've been TTC for 8+ years and last summer, DH went to a urologist because through our various treatments and his semen analysis, we'd noticed his motile sperm count dropping drastically. He explained all this to the doctor and that we wanted to have a baby really badly. He was diagnosed with a varicocele and the doctor told him that his testosterone was a little low and then he gave DH a testosterone injection. DH didn't realize it until he went to another urologist for a second opinion (because he had a bad feeling about urologist #1), but testsosterone injections sterilize men!!!! He went to the doctor with the major complaint being that his sperm count was low and we wanted a baby and the doctor's "treatment" brought his sperm count to zero. It took about 4-5 months to bring it back up to it's previous low levels. You have to be your own best advocate and trust your gut. If you feel your doctor does not have your best interests at heart- she doesn't and you should find someone who will work with you instead of at you. GL!
ReplyDeleteThanks Eileen! I am so sorry you and your husband had to deal with treatment that borders on malpractice.
ReplyDeleteThat is a simple test she should have been happy to have done. The kicker was her not "remembering" you were trying to get pregnant...I would find a new doctor. That alone shows she is not vested. So sorry babe!!
ReplyDeleteThat sucks. I say get a new doctor. I've found that many "traditional" western doctors scoff at acupuncture and regard it with contempt much as they would for a witch doctor.
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky in that my practitioner actually referred me to an acupuncturist as an option for pain treatment.
The fact that she asked if you were trying to get pregnant just shows that she's not listening to you or even trying to help you. Get a new doctor. FAST.
This is completely unacceptable. Even my bitch-ass doctor will run whatever tests I want, even if she thinks I'm full of shit. This bizzle sounds like she's on some kind of power trip. I say "S that D." Shut it down.
ReplyDeleteGo to an RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist). I wish I had YEARS ago instead of messing about with my OB/GYN. Every time I'd mention we were having trouble getting pregnant and they'd blow me off. Finally, I decided to go to the RE and they will FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. My RE is just lovely and I wish I had consulted with her years ago.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with everyone. Your doctor not remembering you were trying to have a baby is insane.
ReplyDeleteSounds shady to me. Trust your instincts. I've found from experience that when a doctor refuses to run tests that could possibly resolve/explore an unexplained issue, you need to dump them. Had I stuck with one doc, I wouldn't have known about my clotting disorder, another refused to give me an HSG. I finally settled on one that not only remembers my name when I enter his office, but also LISTENS to my concerns and sends me for testing when needed. You need to feel taken care of, and if you're not, definitely move on. (but don't dump the pills yet)
ReplyDeleteIt's a blood test, for gosh sakes. You're not drug seeking. You're not asking for something that you aren't willing to pay for...
ReplyDeleteI'd call any of your other docs, like your OB-GYN, or your Family practitioner. Anyone you can get on the phone to order a test. Since you have a small window here. Anyone can tell you the results. You don't need a naturopath to do so.
And... you can always go into one of those walk-in labs, where you can order your own tests. Ha!
As an aside, to make you laugh, my computer wants to change to naturopath to naturalist. That's a nudist, right? :O)
The difference between good care and bad care is huge. When you have good care, you know it. Sometimes when you have bad care you don't know it and you question yourself.
ReplyDeleteThis is not good care.
Do not settle for less than good care. You deserve good care. You deserve to be well taken care of. You deserve to be heard.
I agree with EVERYONE ELSE.
ReplyDeleteI had a bad doctor, who I didn't know was a bad doctor at the time. The second I told her I was having really painful periods, she fucking tuned out and said "All women have a difficult time during their periods" and sent me on my way. Come to find out (years later and thanks to another doctor) that I have endometriosis.
Seriously, some doctors are fucking worthless. SWITCH NOW.
I feel so lucky with my doctors when reading all this! We havent't even started yet and they've tested everything in the book and then some. Even small surgery to make sure the embryos can land nicely. My doctors want to know everything beforehand as to prevent unpleasant surprises. Most of the time I'm like "oh no, another bloodtest?". AND they take all the time I need to explain stuff.
ReplyDeleteSo, in short: get another docter. Stat!
I can't believe she asked if you wanted to get pregnant...doesn't she KNOW you?! AARGH.
ReplyDelete