I had my first appointment with the new fertility clinic on November 3rd. This was after several phone calls and emails with their research coordinator. I had 9 pages of demographics and health history to fill out online ahead of time. I had all papers filled out and in hand at the time of my appointment. I had read the new patient packet online and there was explicit information regarding the consultation fee of $315. I had called the financial representative regarding billing my consult to my insurance company. I do not have fertility coverage but specialists are covered. I asked this lady to speak with the doctor regarding my situation and she was supposed to get back to me BEFORE my appointment. Of course, they called and verified that I do not have fertility coverage and never returned my call. When I arrived for my appointment, the lady at the front desk asked me 3 questions. 1. Do I have the paperwork that I was supposed to print, fill out and bring (check). 2. Do I have my picture ID and my insurance card (check) 3. Do I have my $315 for my consultation (crickets). I explain to this lady (her name is April) that I was awaiting a phone call back regarding the use an any other diagnosis besides infertility and that I AM NOT INFERTILE!!! She very sweetly asks me to take a seat as she slides the glass door closed that separated her and I, and disappears from the desk. A few minutes later, a woman clad in black dress suit, fishnet type tights, stilletos and Dallas hair requests my attendance in her office. We sit down and she starts to tell me about insurance blah x 3. I interrupt her and ask, "if I were in a relationship with a female and desired pregnancy and wanted to use frozen sperm, would you label me infertile?" Her response: yes. I told her immediately that labeling people who are otherwise reproductively challenged for other than biological reasons was absolutely inappropriate! We had reached a stalemate. She sat there with her big Dallas hair and crossed legs, me in my business suit and crossed arms. It was a silent battle of wills and I waived the white flag as I pulled my checkbook out of my purse. Clearly I wasn't going to get past her office until I paid the fee. I don't remember paying a consultation fee at the first clinic I used. Maybe the doctor decided to waive it given the HELL my husband and I had aldready been through. I had to grit my teeth writing that check knowing that things were going to be excruciatingly tight for the following two weeks.
As soon as the receipt was printed and handed to me, it was liked I walked into a whole new office. Everyone was chatty and smiling. I was taken back to another room where a woman reviewed my health history. She never even gave me her name. She asked me all the questions I had already filled out on the 9 pages from my online profile. From there I was taken to meet Dr. Nackley. She was kind and patient. She didn't ask many questions but I gather from my emails with the research coordinator and front desk, she figured I already knew what I wanted, and we avoided the small talk. We went straight for the ultrasound and there she examined my uterus and ovaries. Everything looked good preliminarily and then we discussed the qualifications to participate in the drug study. I needed to have a special blood test done that tests my ovarian reserve, called an AMH level. They kept saying what sounded like "antimalarian" hormone and I told them I'd never been to a country with Malaria. No one responded to this statement. After researching this fancy new test later, I realize now they were saying "anti-Mullarian" hormone.
From the ultrasound room, I had my meeting with LeeAnn. I was hoping our in person meeting would go better than our email meeting. (lets say we didn't get off to a great start). LeeAnn will be my point of contact for this whole process. She has adorable dimples and she dyes her hair dark, which looks great. Definately NOT Dallas hair. I asked to sign any and all papers I could to initiate the study protocol. For now, I just have to wait and see when my peroid starts. I have to begin the study medication by a certain date and I have to get past several screening phases to participate in the study. This will reduce the cost of the invitro to $6500, including ALL medications and IGSI. I was excited and nervous when I left the office.
Now I just have to wait until the elusive .;)
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My first appointment with a new clinic
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