Hi!

Hope you're doing well!  I finally made an appointment with SGFC for right after Christmas because DH's schedule is hectic this month.  We are going to the one at GBMC and I just wanted to talk to someone that's been there and with success.  I read a few independent reviews online about the Dr. I'm going to see and the reviews aren't that great :/. 

My DH and I are going to the one in Bel Air and I have been to the gbmc one for some tests....they are great. Our RE is Dr.Yazigi.

Hi MrsB good to hear you think they are great! :)  My appt is with Dr. Katz.

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True tovaqt!  I'm excited none the less but I just didn't like to see those negative reviews! :)

I'm still waiting on my welcome package to come in the mail and I hope that it will answer a lot of the questions I still have.

What typically happens on your first appt?  If I'm in the beginning of my cycle will I have to wait another month before they can start doing the testing if I just missed the CD3 bloodwork by a few days?  DH already had an SA done a few months ago.

Did he have the SA done with SGFC? We had one ordered my my gyn when it all started and SG preformed their own in house just to make sure it was correct when we started going. I don't know about the cycle ? becuase I don't O so they had me on meds trying to induce O which never happened but anywho it's all indivudulized with your specific situation. The intro packet is a little overwhelming so write down any and all questins you have. When you go in you will meet the dr and they will discuss options and where to start from then you will meet your nurse. You and DH will have a specific nurse asigned to you that works with you throughout the whole process so when you go in you are seeing the same person and they know your entire history with this process.

thanks mrsb.  He had his SA done with his regular dr. and everything came back perfect.  I had bloodwork done by my gyn and she said I didn't O but looking back the testing wasn't done on any particular day of my cycle and from what I've read it should be done one CD3? IDK...do they do an exam on your first visit or is it just to talk?

Mine was just talking. Do you know when the last day of your last AF was. There are tests that are cycle sensitive. Do you get AF regularly. I was surprised SG actually recommended that I have a biopsy done because when you do not menstruate regularly the layers build up in your uterus and can cause abnormal cells! I have been very pleased thus far with their attention to detail.

Mrsb....I'm actually at the end of my cycle right now and do get a regular period every 30-40 days...so I may be at the beginning of my next cycle when I have my appt.

AHHHHHHHHHHH! Im so sorry I am just seeing this! What a slacker I am! Geez! I'm so sorry!! 

Your appointment is so soon, so exciting! I have to tell you, don't worry about the reviews online. I didn't even read them at all. I went off my gyn recommendations and friends that I knew went there, each and every friend had success. There are lots of Dr. and places to go but there were certain aspects of Shady Grove that I liked, how pro-active they are, you have a personal nurse who is there for you (whatever you need, questions, emails phone calls etc), open 7 days a week, can call anytime, etc. 

My Dr. is Dr. Yazigi and we absolutely loved him! When we met with him in his office he turned on his computer, showed us exactly what my diagnosis was, what they means, what the steps are. what we are going to do first and etc. You will only have meetings with your Dr. but at the ultrasounds you will see both Dr. Katz and Dr. Yazigi. I saw Dr.  Katz many many times and liked him also very much.  

Ok, your first appointment they are not going to do anything but talk to your Dr. He will ask you questions (that you have already filled out in your paperwork but he wants to talk to you, you know what I mean). He will assess from your answers what your next steps are.  Example from my first apt. I dont get a period or ovulate, he said 'have you ever done provera', I said 'yes', he said 'did you bleed' i said 'yes'. He said 'Great, this means XYZ'.

He will explain the possible diagnosis, tests they run BEFORE they start any treatment, the steps they take to get you where you need to be and what might might not happen. You will also meet with your nurse (who is your everything contact from what meds are safe while ttc to your results phone calls) and you will meet with your finiacial councelor about your health insurance coverage and etc. 

Bring ANY and ALL tests results with you! Genetic testing, SA, blood work etc everything.  You will prob still have to get blood work done and DH might still have to get an SA but after those test results come in they will call you and tell you the first steps to start. Hope this helps and please let me know any and all questions! 

If you ever want to meet for coffee or lunch sometime I would love too and we are right near each other =) Again I am so sorry for my delay in responding! (please forgive me!)       If I can say anything to make you feel better about the reviews, Shady Grove helped us acheive our little miracle and the infertility process is so hard and at times devestating but they are there for you the whole time. And just like you they want nothing more then you to achieve your little miracle. I hope this helps and Good Luck! I'll be thinking about you!