https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:05:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-re-appt-tomorrow-need-advice#post-385125 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 20:56:15 +0000 fairefaire 385125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks again everyone for the input, advice, and encouragement :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-re-appt-tomorrow-need-advice#post-383509 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 12:01:33 +0000 Modern Daisy 383509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here is my advice from my own personal experience:</p> <p>1) Make sure your DH comes with you to the first appointment, or at least one early appointment with the Dr to discuss a treatment plan. </p> <p>2) Figure out ahead of time what is most important to you, then be your own advocate throughout the process to achieve this. For me, I had irregular bleeding from PCOS and the only reason I went to an RE at first was to figure out why and make sure nothing was wrong. At one point I had to remind my Dr. about the bleeding since he just marked down PCOS and was about to treat me for NOT getting a period. </p> <p>3) Don't be afriad to ask for the same instructions multiple times. Seeing an RE can be very complicated and confusing - every time I went I left with a completely new set of instructions that was like a choose your own adventure novel. I always asked the nurse to repeat the instructions several times so that I understood.</p> <p>4) Be patient and accept the process. I have my greviences about the whole 'running up the bill' aspect of my fertility center, but I understand that the process they have set forth for patients was developed to be the most effective, convenient and painless. There were things that rubbed me the wrong way at first then I was like "Ah! Now I see why they do it that way". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-re-appt-tomorrow-need-advice#post-383392 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:38:31 +0000 fairefaire 383392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCB: @sweetooth: Thank you! It really does help so much to hear from others who've been there! I am sure I am building it up in my mind to be worse than it is.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-re-appt-tomorrow-need-advice#post-383039 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:03:48 +0000 sweetooth 383039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good luck with your first appointment! I know for me, that first appointment was hard because I was pretty sad about reaching that point in this journey. I was emotional, and scared about what was next. I think everyone on this thread has great advice. Understanding the aggressiveness of the treatment - what they typically do and what you're up for is a good thing. And making sure they know you have these pieces of the puzzle already (SA results and no ovulation) so maybe you can jump in to treatment sooner (if you want). Just make sure you speak up, and try not to get too overwhelmed by everything that they will go over with you. It's a lot to take in.</p> <p>As for the ultrasound, I didn't go to mine with my husband. I think I would have felt even more awkward about it. In the end, my first experience with the U/S wasn't as bad as I had imagined it to be in my head. And on my second one, I just wanted to see my uterus and really understand what's going on in there. I was sad that I was looking at an empty uterus, but I know that someday I'll be looking at one with a baby inside. And so will you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-re-appt-tomorrow-need-advice#post-383000 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 08:31:40 +0000 ShootingStar 383000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The ultrasound is not all that bad. I've had to do 5 or 6 of them and DH has come to all of them except one because he was out of town. He's so cute and gets the paper drape for me and adjusts the pillow, and then stands ther and holds my hand through it. Some techs are better than others, and I think cervical position plays into comfort/discomfort physically of the procedure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-re-appt-tomorrow-need-advice#post-382979 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 08:06:15 +0000 fairefaire 382979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarac: @Mrs Green Grass: @hellobeeboston: @everbee: Thanks, ladies! :) You are helping me to feel calmer!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-re-appt-tomorrow-need-advice#post-382973 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 07:57:01 +0000 everbee 382973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we discussed and agreed on how aggressive we wanted to be before we went in. we didn't want to mess around either so we went immediately into Clomid and IUI (you can do them independently of each other if you don't want to take medication or if you want to try to BD with Clomid but not IUI). i also asked how many cycles of IUI would they try before moving on to the next step just out of curiosity. the ultrasounds were not horrible and actually, i didn't have my husband come in the first time because i didn't know what to expect. i sort of wish he did so he could've seen what it looks like on the screen. maybe next time. anyway, Good luck~! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-re-appt-tomorrow-need-advice#post-382947 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 06:57:15 +0000 hellobeeboston 382947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@alie: hey! Just wanted to chime in and say good luck at your appointment ! I think I would prefer the ultrasouds, know as much as possible! My sister has been going to an RE for about 6 months now - they are doing IVF and she has had a good experience.... There are no dumb questions - ask as many as you want! </p> <p>Keep us posted on how it goes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-re-appt-tomorrow-need-advice#post-382848 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 01:09:13 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 382848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You are going to have so many ultrasounds....! I actually looked forward to them because you actually get to see what's going on rather than guess like TTC on your own.</p> <p>As far as questions, ask about now, but also ask about the timeline for the future and what results will cause the RE to try new things, look toward IUI, IVF, etc.</p> <p>When I first went to the RE, I was still convinced we wouldn't need IVF, but we did. It would have been nice to know a little bit more about it right away, including the price. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-re-appt-tomorrow-need-advice#post-382824 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:36:40 +0000 sarac 382824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did not find the ultrasound to be horrible. </p> <p>Having gone through fertility treatments, I'd personally go in with an idea of what kind of treatments and interventions you are and aren't comfortable with. I'd think about how aggressive you'd like to be, very, not very, whatever. I'd think about your age, your goals, how many children you want, and on what kind of schedule (in an ideal world).</p> <p>I would also ask your doctor about their ideal treatment course, how aggressive they are comfortable being, etc. This was a big issue for me. I knew that I wasn't ovulating, and I wasn't interested in messing around with a year of waiting to see if it got better. If you're already seeing an RE, you might not have to deal with that. Just make sure that you're on the same page with the timetable you want.</p> <p>I was not ovulating, and my problems were solved easily with clomid. I ovulated on 100mg of clomid, and got pregnant on my fourth cycle. It wasn't any fun, but it worked, and I got through it. Sperm quality issues are also on the easier side of things to deal with. You've got kind of a crummy road ahead of you, but there is most likely a big fat baby at the end of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/first-re-appt-tomorrow-need-advice#post-382782 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 23:56:19 +0000 fairefaire 382782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have our first RE appointment tomorrow afternoon - I have all our paperwork filled out, copies of our past test results, etc., and am putting together my little list of questions. For those who've worked with an RE in the past (or are doing so currently), do you have any suggestions for questions to ask or things to go over? (quick backstory: I'm most likely not ovulating, and on top of that, my husband's SA showed a lower-than-desirable count). I want to make the most of our time with the doctor and don't want to forget anything!</p> <p>I'm also anxious about the ultrasound. For one, because it seems totally awkward.... like having your husband hang out with you during your pap smear, but worse. And for two, because it just seems sad to me. I should be having an ultrasound to check on a growing baby, not to check on my vacant ladyparts. Tell me it's not so bad? (Or be honest and tell me it is).</p> <p>Any other general advice or words of encouragement??? </p>