After the first appointment at the Mayo Clinic, I realized that there is a big difference between a general obstetrician/gynecologist with a specialty in infertility and a RE: Reproductive Endocrinologist. A reproductive endocrinologist is a type of medical doctor who specializes in treating people with reproductive disorders. It’s their specialty – so it’s all they focus on. They are highly gifted, competently trained, compassionate, and devoted to providing the best treatment available. (Or at least they should be!)
I was relieved to be at a specialty clinic where infertility was all they dealt with, every day, all day. I wished I could have been here from the get-go, but you need to start with the “normal” clinic before you can be referred to the big guys. How nice to sit in a waiting room with other people who you knew were going through some sort of the same thing as you. What a blessing to not have to sit there next to some big ol’ pregnant bellied lady like at the OB/GYN.
I’d often find myself looking at the others waiting in the room, thinking of how far along they were in their infertility journey and what appointment they were on. We received blue binders of information that we were supposed to bring to each appointment. And each had initial labels on the sides referring to what was inside. So, I’d try to peek and see if they currently matched mine. Were they having an IUI? Were they starting IVF? I wondered what their stories were and how long they had been trying to conceive.
I am very thankful for our experiences so far at Mayo. The 45 minute drive back and forth from Mayo has actually given me a lot of time to debrief over appointments, which is nice! The medical staff has been very knowledgeable, supportive, and caring. We feel very blessed to live so close to and doctor at such a prestigious clinic/hospital.
Friday, October 9, 2009
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