My appointments this week
On Monday, I met with the diabetes nurse. She taught me how to inject insulin, if it should come to that. She asked me, "do you want to try it now with saline?", and I just looked at her and said, "no. Does ANYONE want to stick themselves with a needle?". Of course, I did try and it took me three attempts before I could actually get myself to let the needle pierce my skin. It barely hurts...a gazillion times less than when I test my blood sugar. The weird thing is they like you to do it in your belly, and I know once the baby gets bigger, that is really going to freak me out. Other things we talked about were what to do if you are sick (my HMO actually supplies "sick kits" for diabetics with things like gatorade and other things...), getting a medical alert bracelet, and ketones (protein I think? found in urine...not a good thing apparently, means the body isn't getting enough nutrition) which I now have to test every morning. The nurse commented that she didn't think I needed insulin at night...so hopefully that will be the case. I also got results from my labs that I took on Saturday...and it was all great news, my A1C was fantastic (5.3!) and my cholesterol was down/up in the right places, all within normal range.
On Wednesday, I met with the nutritionist. It was a different lady than I met in January. We went over meal by meal what I have been eating, looking at my blood sugar results one hour after eating them and discussed changes. The nurse had told me that my snacks were supposed to be bread and protein, and no fruit, however, the dietician decided since I had been eating fruit and my numbers were good, that I could continue having fruit for my snacks, which was reassuring (the thought of a half sandwich at 8:30 am makes me nauseous..LOL). In all she was pretty happy with what I was eating and my numbers, except for breakfast. She really wants me to add more protein into breakfast. This is never a problem on the weekends when I always have eggs, but during the school week I just never feel like getting up any earlier to take the time to cook anything...cereal is so fast, filling (for me), and delicious. I am trying though, and had toast with peanut butter on Thursday and noticed that my numbers after breakfast were much MUCH better...I forgot (yes, I really did...I am so tired in the mornings and cereal is just so automatic...) on Friday. She wants to follow-up with me, by phone, next Friday.
And, on Thursday I saw my OB. I have really come to realize that I don't think she is the right OB for me. The very first time I saw her, I remember asking her something (I wish I could remember what it was...) and I remember her response clear as day, "And what do you want ME to do about it?". When it just happened that one time, I figured she was having a bad day and let it go...but she continues to be curt and I just am very unhappy.
This week, I asked her about the letter I had received from my HMO on Monday that stated that my referral to see a specialist had been approved. It was unclear what specialist this was, whether it was the diabetes people that I cancelled last week or the perinatologist or someone else. When I asked her, she told me, "I don't know. I don't do paperwork." I told her, "but it came from you" and showed her her name at the top as the doctor referring me. Again, she told me, "I don't know. I don't do paperwork." Then I tried to explain why I was concerned, that it said it was only for three visits, and if this is the perinatologist, this just wouldn't do since they wanted to see me monthly. Again she told me, "I don't know. You will have to ask my staff." But her "staff" was not her real staff...her nurse has left this practice and in the meantime they have a temp (she actually told me so when she came in to take my blood pressure..which was wonderful, by the way!). She also told me that the perinatologist will have to deal with it (if indeed it was even for her!), which seems a little odd as usually the person you are referred to is not the one who assures you are covered...
The other thing that really bothered me about this appointment was my referral from the perinatologist. Last time I had seen her, I had told her everything that was said, but she didn't want to do anything until she had it in writing (as if I would lie!). So, she goes down the list of concerns, stating exactly what I had told her as detailed in the letter she had apparently just received. I suppose that is not the end of the world...but what really got to me was the diabetes stuff. So, she asks me about my blood sugar numbers, I show her my book, and she tells me, "well, let's wait and see what the perinatologist says." H-E-L-L-O!!! The perinatologist said TWO WEEKS AGO to start insulin at night. While I may not agree that it is necessary, the perinatologist HAS already spoken. So now I am waiting another week and a half until I see her (the peri). I really hope that these FOUR WEEKS from the time she told me to start insulin have not caused damage to my baby...
One thing I learned that I don't think I was told at my appointment with the perinatologist last time, is that I need to have some special consultation (in Seattle) at the university hospital between weeks 14-16. I am in week 14, and the temp nurse was supposed to set up that appointment, today. I have not heard from her...
Finally, there was one very wonderful and positive thing about my appointment. I got to hear the heartbeat for the first time!! :) At first I was getting worried as she didn't find it right away, but then just as I was saying something she said, "I think we were just kicked!" how cool! And then soon after she found the heartbeat. A beautiful 165 bpm. :)
I am taking this weekend (well, tomorrow really since I leave for leadership retreat with the kids Sunday morning until Monday afternoon) to figure out what to do about my OB. I feel strange changing, but on the other hand, I am just not happy. My choices are: stay with her and grin and bear it..it is only another 6 months, change to another OB at that same clinic, go to an OB in Seattle (30-40 minutes away on a GOOD traffic day, an hour back in the afternoon). If you made it this far (I know it is a long post), do you have any thoughts?
On Wednesday, I met with the nutritionist. It was a different lady than I met in January. We went over meal by meal what I have been eating, looking at my blood sugar results one hour after eating them and discussed changes. The nurse had told me that my snacks were supposed to be bread and protein, and no fruit, however, the dietician decided since I had been eating fruit and my numbers were good, that I could continue having fruit for my snacks, which was reassuring (the thought of a half sandwich at 8:30 am makes me nauseous..LOL). In all she was pretty happy with what I was eating and my numbers, except for breakfast. She really wants me to add more protein into breakfast. This is never a problem on the weekends when I always have eggs, but during the school week I just never feel like getting up any earlier to take the time to cook anything...cereal is so fast, filling (for me), and delicious. I am trying though, and had toast with peanut butter on Thursday and noticed that my numbers after breakfast were much MUCH better...I forgot (yes, I really did...I am so tired in the mornings and cereal is just so automatic...) on Friday. She wants to follow-up with me, by phone, next Friday.
And, on Thursday I saw my OB. I have really come to realize that I don't think she is the right OB for me. The very first time I saw her, I remember asking her something (I wish I could remember what it was...) and I remember her response clear as day, "And what do you want ME to do about it?". When it just happened that one time, I figured she was having a bad day and let it go...but she continues to be curt and I just am very unhappy.
This week, I asked her about the letter I had received from my HMO on Monday that stated that my referral to see a specialist had been approved. It was unclear what specialist this was, whether it was the diabetes people that I cancelled last week or the perinatologist or someone else. When I asked her, she told me, "I don't know. I don't do paperwork." I told her, "but it came from you" and showed her her name at the top as the doctor referring me. Again, she told me, "I don't know. I don't do paperwork." Then I tried to explain why I was concerned, that it said it was only for three visits, and if this is the perinatologist, this just wouldn't do since they wanted to see me monthly. Again she told me, "I don't know. You will have to ask my staff." But her "staff" was not her real staff...her nurse has left this practice and in the meantime they have a temp (she actually told me so when she came in to take my blood pressure..which was wonderful, by the way!). She also told me that the perinatologist will have to deal with it (if indeed it was even for her!), which seems a little odd as usually the person you are referred to is not the one who assures you are covered...
The other thing that really bothered me about this appointment was my referral from the perinatologist. Last time I had seen her, I had told her everything that was said, but she didn't want to do anything until she had it in writing (as if I would lie!). So, she goes down the list of concerns, stating exactly what I had told her as detailed in the letter she had apparently just received. I suppose that is not the end of the world...but what really got to me was the diabetes stuff. So, she asks me about my blood sugar numbers, I show her my book, and she tells me, "well, let's wait and see what the perinatologist says." H-E-L-L-O!!! The perinatologist said TWO WEEKS AGO to start insulin at night. While I may not agree that it is necessary, the perinatologist HAS already spoken. So now I am waiting another week and a half until I see her (the peri). I really hope that these FOUR WEEKS from the time she told me to start insulin have not caused damage to my baby...
One thing I learned that I don't think I was told at my appointment with the perinatologist last time, is that I need to have some special consultation (in Seattle) at the university hospital between weeks 14-16. I am in week 14, and the temp nurse was supposed to set up that appointment, today. I have not heard from her...
Finally, there was one very wonderful and positive thing about my appointment. I got to hear the heartbeat for the first time!! :) At first I was getting worried as she didn't find it right away, but then just as I was saying something she said, "I think we were just kicked!" how cool! And then soon after she found the heartbeat. A beautiful 165 bpm. :)
I am taking this weekend (well, tomorrow really since I leave for leadership retreat with the kids Sunday morning until Monday afternoon) to figure out what to do about my OB. I feel strange changing, but on the other hand, I am just not happy. My choices are: stay with her and grin and bear it..it is only another 6 months, change to another OB at that same clinic, go to an OB in Seattle (30-40 minutes away on a GOOD traffic day, an hour back in the afternoon). If you made it this far (I know it is a long post), do you have any thoughts?
posted by Katrina | 9/16/2005 09:06:00 PM
7 Comments:
Katrina! How wonderful that you heard her heartbeat. I am so excited for you. Yeah 2nd trimester!!
& if you are unhappy with the OB now you should change. Is the only other option a 30 minute drive away? oy! But fwiw I do think a 30 minute drive is worth it if it gives you an amazing OB.
Safe travels for you this weekend.
Cali
Hi,
Not sure if I've posted before, but great blog. Ancedote:
I changed OBs at 4mo. The OB was high-risk oriented and, although I could have gone high risk (AMA, sugar issues), I didn't want to be treated like a high risk unnecessarily; I tend toward the unmedicalized when possible. For example, she refused to consider not doing an episotomy. And she also refused to do cord blood storage, saying she thought it was a scam trying to take advantage of people. Inappropriate. When her partner would not commit to caring for me exclusively b/c she decided I was hands off in the practice, I went forward with the midwife (CNM) I'd chosen, a 25 minute drive. The drive was worth it for me to get the care and treatment I wanted.
As it turns out, the OB in question made (another, so I heard) snafu in a birth and lost her privs at the local hospital. I know I made the right choice leaving her.
Your situation is different in that you need somebody to pay a bit more attention to you. A doctor entrusted with your health and that of your child must earn that trust.
Thanks girls.
Cali - no I do not HAVE to go to Seattle for an OB, there is another female OB and two males I think at this same clinic. I could choose to do that. The problem is I always try to avoid conflict, and the thought of running into my current OB scares me a bit, not that she would really care I suppose...
Circket - It sounds like you absolutely made the right decision. I see no reason why anyone would need to say before labour that you were going to need an episiotomy...how can you predict that? I am definitely daunted by the idea of the long drive into Seattle, more because it would mean that is also where I will have to deliver than anything else. If, for example, I went into labour very early, my parents might not be here yet, and I will have to take a cab (or ambulance I suppose) in to Seattle..and that would be very very costly.
I think Monday afternoon (if I don't crash immediately upon returning from retreat!) I will call my current clinic and see if there is any chance of getting into the other woman...I really would prefer a woman. I just have to find the courage somewhere between now and Monday to do it! LOL
Katrina,
I will be praying for you to have courage! I know what you mean about avoiding conflict. It sometimes makes you feel weird to change doctors in the same clinic but rest assured it is YOUR health and the health of YOUR BABY so they don't have a choise!
Try not to stress out too much and Cograts on the Heartbeat! Sounds very strong! She's gonna be a soccer player! :)
God Bless you love! Take care and when you get a chance swing by our blog!
An OB is no different than any other doctor, in terms of what you should expect.
You need someone who's going to be your ally over these next few months, working with you to keep you and your baby safe and healthy. Someone who takes the time to listen to your concerns and doesn't try to brush you off. It sounds like your current doctor isn't meeting your needs.
It's not too late to make a change, but I wouldn't wait too long if that's what you decide. I also wouldn't worry about conflict or making a big scene. Plenty of people switch doctors all the time (for all sorts of reasons). Just remember to keep in mind that this is one case where it's truly about you (and that baby!) and do what you feel will be best.
I think you should change OBs- BUT go to another practice because once you get towards the end and need to go every 2 weeks and then every week, they will require you to rotate docs so that everyone knows you for your actual birth. I, like you, would avoid conflict!
Good luck with everything.
Hi Katrina - Just had a few rare min. to catch up. Personally, I would change OB's (and did myself if you remenmber). You need to find a dr. and a staff that you are comfortable with and trust. This should be a great wonderful journey for you (yes, with the stress of the unknown and worrying that everything will be okay included). It is hard enough not to have an OB that you respect and that you don't think you are getting the best care for you and for the baby. If you think changing will be just too much right now, that is an option, but 6 months while preg. really is a long time as fast as it goes and you will be getting more care, not less as time goes on. Debbie
Post a Comment
<< Home