A little (a lot) frustrated!!

[jenopher]

I got a hold of AMC today to make a first consultation appt. They told me to call back in August! I know there is another Dr. there and I know there is a Dr. coming from the states while he is gone! You can't just shoo people away for 3 months. I would so take my business elsewhere if there was somewhere else to go. I thought the Dr. from the states wanted as many cases as possible while he is here. Maybe I'll call back in June when the new Dr. is there and see if he'll consult with me. Oh yeah, what happened to the other thread?

Jen S

[jenopher]

OKay, I'm going to see if they can at least schedule something in August. I'm afraid if I wait till August to call then I'll have another 3 month wait for an appt. I think I'd die if I had to wait that long. What is up with them telling me to call back all the time too? CAll back at 1:30- 2:00 or at 4:00-4:30 Is it always like that?

[magpiesvn]

Hey guys, I reported the missing thread to admin, it better not be lost, but I think everything is saved on there server or something, Id be pretty mad if they lost it. ANyway, I hope it comes back soon.

Jen S, I completely am with you on this, it seems so unreal they would tell you to call back in August, they better not tell me that tomorrow when I call! I was told by Dr. V to call on CD#1 and to schedule my initial start up for the next cycle in 2 weeks, which I thought was supposed to be with him. If I dont get to see him, someone is going to hear about it, I am not going to give up and they wont tell me to come back in August either if they know what's good for them....ooooh I am really mad they did that to you! I think Dr. V went away for a couple of weeks in May not sure....??? I know calling back is a pain in the rear, and I am lucky my 2 co workers are Japanese so I get one of them to make the appts. for me or call them when I need to, if you have any Japanese friends you might consider that as an option, it has helped me in the past. Cyn is correct in that they do try to help you as much as possible and they do want the best for you, but being in a different country certainly has its negatives.

There are 3 things I would want to see changed, ok 4, at AMC if if were possible:
1. English speaking person on staff
2. Beta's instead of POAS
3. Email access to Dr.V or Dr. S to ask questions that are non-emergency.
4. AMC's success rates/historical data for the past 10 years.

hmmm, maybe we can petition and ask to have this done somehow? Just a thought, my mom always told me you dont know until you ask.

Well, I really hope you get in to see him sooner than August, maybe if you call back and speak to someone else? Or ask Dr. Sakugawa? Rest assured though that if you did have to wait until August it would not take another 3 months for you to see him, probably just a week, especially if you keep bugging them.

It is frustrating but please don't get too discouraged, we often have to overcome many hurdles and bumps in the road because of where we are, in good old Okinawa!!
We'll get each other through this.
Dawn

[jenopher]

Thanks Dawn and Cyn. I'm feeling a little better after the initial let down. I called at 4:00 and they said to call in July to schedule an appt for August. So at least I won't have a longer wait than just till August. I will call again in two weeks once Dr V. gets back (someone there did say he was gone for 2 weeks right now) and see if I can get in to see him or the other Dr. Do they have better informed people in during the week? Heck, I'll call every week if it gets me in faster. I really hope you all are pg before then, but I'll really miss not having any cycle buddies. Maybe someone new will be here by then too.
Jen S

[missyinjapan]

Hi girls,

How frustrating that our thread disappeared especially on a holiday that for now we all have a hard time dealing with. Hope everyone made it through today okay and are keeping positive thoughts that next year we will ALL be celebrating our First Mother's Day...other than as a step parent!!!! I know you're with me on this one Dawn. I love my SS to death but, that doesn't replace one of my own.

Jen S,
So sorry to hear about the trouble that you are having getting an appt. I can only begin to imagine how frustrating this is for you!!! I think that maybe when that doctor wanted to take on as many cases as possible that it was current cases. Also, I know that they wanted the rise in cases during the short time frame that the lab technician was going to be here...I think that she is only here for 2 weeks. I don't want to offend you by saying that it's just what I took from my conversation with Dr. V. My best wishes to you on this...and even if we are all prego, we'll be here to support you...I promise Please don't give up hope. Remember God has a reason for everything that happens... don't rush Him!!! It will all work out and we'll be here for you!!!

Dawn,
I highly doubt that they will tell you that you can't schedule you're appt. When I was there about 2 weeks ago, I had no problems getting my u/s scheduled. I know that they had previously explained to me when I had my initial appt that the reason that it took 6 weeks to get in is that they had too many patients at the time. I guess the military system is really flooding them with business. You'll still be cycling with me!!! If not I'll have to pay a visit to Dr. V! LOL I have ran into so many people here lately that have had IVF at AMC...it amazes me. I know one girl was told they couldn't do a FET w/ her until August but, she just tried starting that this past week. The frosties she has are from her first cycle that were a BFP. So, maybe they have already lined up as many cases as they can for while Dr. V is gone. I don't think the guy from CA is going to be here the whole 2 months he is gone...only part of it. I also remember Dr V saying that Dr S would only take a certain # of "foreign" patients while Dr V is out of town. I wish that there was some way to get all of our questions answered!!!! I do know that Dr V told me that he is here until Jun 9...hope that helps.

Cyn,
When is your FET??? Are you doing okay with the waiting game? Also, I believe that you mentioned that you used time released Metformin. What pharmacy were you able to get that from? My doc is telling me that neither Kadena or Lester have it.

Jen,
I think that we all moved over here since we lost (at least for the time being) our 9 pager!!! There was some good info on there so it does suck if it was lost. When do you start nasal spray and stims??? I don't recall from the other thread. Hope you're getting all geared up for this!!! I know that I am counting the days.

K,
You still around???

Is anyone free for a get together this Friday or next weekend? We need to get together before all the craziness kicks off!!!

Have a good week girls,
Missy

[jenanderic]

Missy-
I start my nasal spray this Wednesday!!! I start the shots on the 3rd day of AF which should be around the 20th or so. I am not sure how I am going to administer the shots yet. I am not going to be able to do them myself and I really don't want Eric to do it. I may just go into flight med everyday and have them do it. What do you think?

As far as getting together... let me know!! I am up for anything. We can still come to my house and order out Chili's and watch movies... whatever is good for everyone!!
Jennifer

[jenopher]

Good Morning everyone. Well I finakly got someone at AMC that spoke a little better English, but said the same thing anyway. Call back in July for an August appt. I'm okay with it now after a good nights sleep. Maybe I can work on that xtra 10 lbs I'm carrying around before getting pg. On another note.. Dr. McAdams (the Lester urologist) did mention that he had a Japanese Dr. that does reversals for 6K here on island. A patient of his went there and got him the info. I'm really having a tough time deciding which is the correct way for us to go. Either could fail or be successful. Reversals are like 85% successful. Making babies the old fashioned way does sound a lot more appealing than meds with side effects. IVF is a lot cheaper though and has great success rates as well.

Any advice??

[magpiesvn]

Hey guys, OMG where to start....
Jen S......I am glad you dont have to wait so long now, thats good news. You have a tough decision though. All I can say is if you are not in any hurry ttc, go for the reversal and try the natural way, if you have stuff against you like "age" they say success rates go down the older you get, then hurry up and do IVF! It is much much cheaper over here. But of course its utlimately your decision and whatever is best for you and dh. I had to pray alot to find out what it was that God wanted me to do and basically the answer to me was "how badly do you want to have children", Cos I have "age" against me so I couldn't wait any longer......and I knew I would do anything so I decided to make it happen. And more cycle buddies should pop up by then, don't worry, we will all still be here for you....we won't let you go until you get a BFP!!!!!!!!!!

Missy - I had a somewhat "nice" day yesterday. I was of course dreading the "will all the mothers please stand" in church yesterday....but being a step mom I was ordered by my dh to stand up....so I did. They did mention "and those that want to be mothers" so I thought that was kinda nice, of course 2 women stand up....and they were 1st time visitors. I didnt stay for the message though, I was upstairs doing childrens church which was such a blessing. I am so glad I volunteered for that, only 1 a month but its worth it! About the kick off, I have ss this friday/saturday and next saturday evening I have something already...so I can do either Saturday afternoon or Friday evening?

Hi Jen! I am soo jealous! You are starting, how great is that!!! About the shots, I know my dh does not like needles and I wouldnt trust him to do it right anyway and if you really dont want to do them yourself, which is totally understandable, then do go to flight med to have them administered, this will take a load off your mind once you decide that..and so much easier and less stress! The less stress you have the better!! Chilis and movies sounds great to me!!!!!!!!!! yaaaay, I cant wait!!

Hi Cyn, your Heprin story and collection cup story had me in stitches, omg, so funny, seven times?????????? easy there fella......and I did the exact same thing when Dr. S asked us about the shots, I looked at my dh and he looked behind him! then his eyes bulged out and nearly fell off his chair, thats when I said, uhhh, never mind, I'll do them! hey sometimes we need to be "off topic" so that's ok. I so hope you will be doing your FET soon, you have been waiting patiently and it's your time!!! I am going to try and talk to the specialist that is here from the States, maybe they can persuade AMC to start doing Betas?

Hey Missy, what was her name again and from which university cos it was on the other thread??? Thanks!!

K - hope all is well with you. Keep in touch.
Virginia - we miss you, hope you are having too much fun!!!

Well, catcha all later!
Dawn

[jenopher]

Hi guys,
Hey, since the other thread seems to be lost...Can everyone please write what day they start doing something? and of course what that something is? I'm a little lost trying to figure out who's doing what and when. I'll spend the next few months following your cycles and learning as much as I can.
I'm okay with my wait now. DH and I really feel IVF is a better option. When we very first looked into things we were thinking November would be a good time for him to fly to the states for a reversal. So really August is way earlier than we planned. I do believe I'm meant to have another child. So, I think he/she will come no matter what way we choose. (DH thinks I'm meant to have 2 more kids)


So, any of you hoping for twins?? I am hoping for one, but accepting of twins.

Are you keeping IVF a secret from family? I am for now.

Thanks for the support,
JenS

[magpiesvn]

Hi Jen S
I am trying to keep track of everyone on the other thread called Okinawa Chart...you can put your info there and I will update the chart..that might help you also to know whos doing what and when...I know it helps me alot!!

Your choice to do IVF is awesome news. I am so excited for you! And I am hoping for twins!!! (girls) but of course whatever God gives is fine with me
I am not keeping it a secret, this is my 4th IVF so I need all the support for family and friends I can get...even my church family know what I will be going through, they were most supportive with prayers in March when I was going through...it was a blessing to have that much support, but its a personal decision..it depends on you so whatever you guys decide. Its such a personal private thing that I totally understand keeping it "private".

Have a wonderful evening!
Dawn