Tubal Reversal Message Board Need Help Making a Choice-PLEASE..

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Posted by darkfeary474 (Member # 11949) on June 09, 2009 04:34 PM :
Hi Ladies!!! I know it has been a long time sense i have posted on here and I am sorry for that!!!... but I am still on my journey to get my TR done, It's just with the research that i have been doing < i am just not sure as to what direction i want to go,.... here is my problem.. - when i first started my search for a TR doctor, Dr. Berger was the first Doctor that I ran into on the net and he has already seen my post-Op report and said that i am a good candidate for the TR.... but i have sense ran into on my search another Doctor .. Whom I wont mention here out of respect for Dr. berger of coarse , but my problem is I am just not sure who to go with it this is driving me CRAZY!!!! .. can anyone possibly give me some insight or advice?... its not just a price thing either I am thinking of my Safety and health also , like one of my questions is if something was to happen out of the ordinary while getting the TR and an emergency occurred how would that be handled? is there an emergency room or area at Chapel Hill? Thanks SOOO much For all the Insight that i can get.. I need this info kind of soon. as our funds will be comming threw soon!! Dana W From Ohio.

Posted by alwayshope (Member # 13603) on June 09, 2009 04:43 PM :
I can understand your concern but there is a hospital very close if anything were to happen but I had my done on the 29th of May and I do have heart problems and they just had me get some test done to make sure that I was cleared t have surgery and they can handle most things and I will tell you as a nursing student and working in the medical field for 13 years I freak my self out by knowing a little too much but he and his staff are very knowledgeable about what they do and I trusted them 100 percent.....but at the end of the day go with whom ever you feel confident with I hope this helped soon best of luck to you in your TR journey. Miasha

Posted by AngieMP (Member # 13304) on June 09, 2009 05:34 PM :
I believe they mentioned on the off chance that should something unexpected come up, that you would be transported to a nearby hospital. I am thinking, but don't quote me, that I was told that it only happened like 3 times in 08, and it was done for precautionary measures, not serious issues. You will be asked about your health history and anything of concern would have to be addressed before you have surgery. We traveled to NC (18 hours from home) and had complete trust in CHTRC. I would not have done it any other way. We loved the experience and would do it all over again! (yes, I really mean that)

Posted by StephSH (Member # 11919) on June 09, 2009 05:55 PM :
Hi Dana,
I too looked at other websites in my search for the right Dr for my TR, and I'm from Southern Ohio, so there was one in particular that was MUCH closer to me than NC is. The deciding factor for me was mostly the websites. I know that seems stupid, but I decided based that the professionalism put forward in Chapel Hill's website was a good way to judge the professionalism of the practice and staff in general. I found the other website to be childish, unprofessional and it spent more time saying why you should NOT go to someone else than just simply stating why you SHOULD go to them. Chapel Hill didn't even hint that they had any "competition" they simply state their business, and their website is classy. Not sure if that helps, but that is how I made MY decision :-) Steph

Posted by cindy0714 (Member # 13204) on June 09, 2009 06:00 PM :
I struggles a little bit trying to decide who to use. I have a doctor right here where I live that specializes in TR. My heart kept pulling me toward Chapel Hill so I went with it. I used Dr. Monteith and 2 months after surgery I was pregnant. I am now 11 weeks. I promise you will not receive the kind of patient care Chapel offers anywhere else. That I am sure of.

Posted by 1forhubby&me (Member # 13707) on June 09, 2009 06:11 PM :
Dana, I also looked at other sites and decided on Chapel Hill because the "other doctor" had more negativity about everyone else and could not prove to me that he was worth the time. As for Dr Berger and staff they are always professional and willing to answer questions no matter how silly they may seem. The decision is ultimately yours if you are uneasy about anything just call and speak to the staff. Good luck on your decision and I'll keep you in my prayers. I'm scheduled for next week so I'll let you know about how I felt being face to face with everyone but looking at the posts and the conversation confirming my appointment today, I look forward to a great experience. Tee

Posted by darkfeary474 (Member # 11949) on June 09, 2009 07:01 PM :
Thanks for all of your opinions ladies!!! it is much appreciated. And StephSH You Make ALLOT Of Valid Points about the "Other Site" I never looked at it from that point of view but you are completely right! .. Have You had any luck concieveing yet sense getting your TR? Dana W From Ohio.

Posted by ismagirl (Member # 13074) on June 09, 2009 07:02 PM :
Dana
i too am from Ohio (columbus)
i looked at rate my md dot com and they had very good comments one negative but it was directed to a nurse specifically and not to the doctors or chapel hill. and as you know being human you can't please everyone all the time. I went to Chapel Hill because God lead me there, plain and simple it was Gods will. i had my tr in Dec 08 and am now 6wks preggo saw heartbeat today.
i really think that you already want to go with chapel hill cause you are asking ladies who have nothing but good to say about them.
i hope that no matter what you go with that all is well for you and that you follow your heart.
Shawna

Posted by StephSH (Member # 11919) on June 09, 2009 08:00 PM :
Dana,
I got one BFP the second cycle after my TR but it ended in MC about a week after I found out I was pregnant. Havent gotten another BFP since then, but I'm starting Clomid this month, both tubes are open, and I have very regular cycles, so I'm hoping that it will happen soon. I have short tubes, 3.5 on each side and that is probably what's causing the delay.
What part of Ohio are you in? I'm in Western Ross Co.

Posted by pkubes68 (Member # 13466) on June 09, 2009 08:11 PM :
darkfeary474
CH told me IF you needed some kind of ER care you would be transported to The University of North Carolina Medical Center (hospital). It isn't likely but they do let you know just in case.
When I found CH on the internet I just knew that was the place to go. I'm so glad I did and I have no regrets. Go with your gut instinct. Good Luck.

Posted by Julia, RN (Member # 10) on June 09, 2009 10:02 PM :
Thanks to each of you for the helpful posts (and very nice comments)! In the unlikely event a patient needs hospitalization, we do have a transfer agreement with The University of North Carolina Hospitals approximately 1 mile from our facility. Dr. Berger and Dr. Monteith have both been on staff there, so we have a nice relationship...if needed. All of our nurses are ACLS (advanced cardiac life support) certified and we have only board certified MD's. As some of you know based on the testing we have asked for pre-operatively, we err on the side of caution and have policies and procedures in place to ensure patient safety. This occasionally means that additional testing - or a delay in surgery - is required, but it is based on our commitment to safe and professional care. Please let us know if you have questions! Julia S., RN

Posted by darkfeary474 (Member # 11949) on June 09, 2009 10:32 PM :
Thanks Steph Again . and sry to here about your MC, I hope the clomid helps ya! Also Thank You Julia for your info on - just in case there is an emergency , wow i didn't realize that the hospital was only 1 mile away from CHTRC that in itself sets my mind at ease, I do not have any kind of major medical problems so that shouldn't be a problem the only problem I do have which isn't to much of a problem now is, I am a Type 2 Diabetic but have my Diabetes under complete control with an A1C level of 5.3 which my Doctor told me is at Non-Diabetic Levels!!!! Whoohooo... I have worked hard to get where i am at right now and in turn have also lost 66pounds in the process .. the only medication i am taking right now is Metformin. As of now my husband and I have talked over and it looks like we will be going with Dr. Berger for my TR!.... so i will be getting in contact and finding out what is left for me to do.. Thanks Again!!!!
Dana

Posted by TulipGarden (Member # 13451) on June 10, 2009 12:01 AM :
Dana, I had my surgery on June 4, 2009. All I can tell you is that we traveled half way across the country, and it was well worth it. I dont think I have ever gone into surgery and felt more comfortable. They are a terrific group of people. What steered us was the fact that Dr. Berger has a long standing history of focusing just on TR; we did not want someone who was going to try to push us into IVF. I could have gone to someone here right in town and it cost much more, but they only perform 3 or 4 a month. Dr. Berger's credentials are impressive and he specializes in TR. Once I met with Dr. B I felt confident in choosing him, he answered my questions very thoroughly and was open to any and all questions. He was realistic, and I appreciate that more than anything. I can tell he intelligent but yet willing to explain it understandable terms. As far as my surgery, I liked the fact that I went into surgery a little later than anticipated because this meant that Dr. B took his time with the patient before me, which in turn assured me that when it came my turn that Dr. Berger would also give me the same care and attention, and he did just that. Dr. Monteith caught my eye with practicing in high-risk OB. I guess because I am considered high risk. While I chose Dr. B, I have heard many great things about Dr. M. This is what my husband said: Marc liked that Dr. Berger is straight forward, logical, professional, and has excellent knowledge about his specialty. He liked that Dr. Berger takes good care of himself, and while you shouldn’t judge by looks, it shows that his character exudes some type of concern and determination that most likely carries over into his work. And I agree, Dr. Berger is a very handsome man. But that is not what made me comfortable lol! Regarding the staff, if I haven’t said it a million times, it's true what everyone says. They work so well together as a team. They made me smile, and feel so comfortable. The anesthesiologists made me feel comfortable also. They asked questions that made me feel confident that they knew what they were doing. Goodness, even the receptionists made me feel comfortable.

I never worried for a moment there would be a situation in which I wouldn’t be taken care of if there was an emergency, but I also attributed that to my husband whom I trust. My husband is intelligent and on high alert when it comes to my well-being. In my state of consciousness I know that my husband would not allow me to be in any type of sub-standard situation. Even if we are never able to conceive, without a doubt, we picked the best surgeon to give us the very best chance. I do not regret it for a moment. HTH. Lots of luck to you and your journey. Cindy & Marc

Posted by BearsGirl (Member # 13092) on June 10, 2009 12:30 AM :
I am going through the same thoughts also. When I first started my journey for a TR I thought about Chapel Hill for sure. I do have a TR Dr. right here in my town but it was the site and the communication here at Chapel Hill that attracted me. The care that is taken to give responses is just wonderful. I have a couple of months to do some soul searching and will be ready for TR. I believe my choice will be Chapel Hill though!

Posted by purplelisa12 (Member # 13618) on June 10, 2009 08:55 AM :
I agree with TulipGarden,
I'm always the one who "shops around" but kept coming back to Chapel Hill. It was a matter of who has been doing "ONLY TUBAL REVERSALS" for me. At my age etc, if I was really going to do this I wanted "the best" and I found that to be Dr. Berger. I too must admit that the website and all the info they share as well as having this very board was also a deciding factor for me. It just feels more like a "home" for us who decide this is the journey we want to take. Where there is support, there is knowledge. And I think in this journey we all need as much knowledge as possible. The staff are great and very caring. Dr. Berger is "yes, handsome" but very professional, and I felt like he cared about each of us that day. So you will ultimately have to decide whats best for you. But if you do choose Chapel Hill and Dr. Berger you will NOT be sorry.

Posted by AnitaA68 (Member # 8709) on June 10, 2009 09:11 AM :
I called clinics and doctors in my area that performed TRs. I had a list of questions including how many performed, costs, success and website availability. What I found was very few did as many as CH, the cost was less at CH, the others didn't keep records of pregnancies, and they had no web site. I feel that since CH specializes in TR, they would be better than someone who did them only a couple of times a year. I also liked being able to see statistics and be in contact with people who were sharing my experience.

Posted by darkfeary474 (Member # 11949) on June 11, 2009 08:19 AM :
Yea , I was checking into a Clinic Here IN cleveland and have asked some about there experiences at this other Clinic and they have warned me NOT to go to the Clinic just because they are close to me because this Clinic Uses Stints and put the Stints in your tubes and that this can harm your tubes and has caused there tubes to be even more damaged than what they were in the beginning before there TR, and i Definitely do NOT want this to happen to me and it does not look like Dr. Berger Uses Stints for his TR's, At least i have no seen that he uses Stints, so this is yet another one of many reasons that i am Choosing Dr. Berger. Dana

Posted by Amy1234 (Member # 5192) on June 11, 2009 11:37 AM :
I'm pretty sure that Dr. B does use stints...

Posted by nycmom2be (Member # 12893) on June 11, 2009 11:43 AM :
I came across the CHTRC in 1999 as I was dating someone and they asked about having children if the relationship continued to progress. Well two relationships later when I finally met the one who I knew would be my life long mate, I am back at CHTRC. When we decided to go through with this, this was the first place I came back to. I found a few others that were local but I did not get a feeling of confidence. Funny how 10 years later I am actually going through with this at the same place I found initially. The website as one other member pointed out is professional and that sold me years ago. I wish you all the best in your decision making.

Posted by jess&carlwant1 (Member # 13108) on June 11, 2009 11:59 AM :
darkfeary474,when are you planning to go for tr?
its always nice to see someone on the message board from my area. im also from ohio/cleveland.
im still trying to reach bmi in order to schedule for my tr..well,you picked the perfect place to get your tr, from what i hear CHTRC is great..good luck..
jess

Posted by Julia, RN (Member # 10) on June 11, 2009 03:13 PM :
Dear Dana: Thank you for asking this question. You may read where some doctors use a dye procedure to check tubal patency while Dr. Berger and Dr. Monteith use stents. Due to possible problems that can occur with dye injection (hydrotubation), the use of this technique is not always an accurate indicator regarding whether the tubes are open or not and may leave a question regarding whether there is tubal patency after surgery. The stent technique is the better approach in our opinion to avoid any doubt. Another advantage of the using a stent during the operation is that it is sterile, while injecting dye solution through the cervix into the uterus and tubes may carry bacteria into the fallopian tubes.
The stent does not damage the tubes, and it ensures that they are open so a dye test is not necessary. You can see how this looks on our website at http://www.tubal-reversal.net/tubal_anastomosis_implantation.htm . There is an illustration showing the placement of the stent. I hope this is helpful. Julia S, RN

Posted by lifesfunnylikethat (Member # 13380) on June 11, 2009 04:48 PM :
Dark and Jess...I am in Akron, Ohio and had my TR at Chapel Hill on 3/12/09. Last month my OB asked me why Chapel Hill did not use the dye to be sure my tubes were open. After being informed of the info Julia just gave I have an answer to bring back to him, IF I ever go back to him. Just by him being skeptical about my tubes being open makes me want to find another doctor! I just want to say, though, that I researched TR for around five years and the decision to use CHTRC was the best one we could have made. The stories you see on these boards are no joke, these guys are wonderful, caring and passionate about what they do. I am so glad that I was lead to Chapel Hill for my TR. BTW, the drive is only about 8 hours from Akron and the Chapel HIll (triangle) area is BEAUTIFUL. The trip alone with my DH was so nice. I had very little pain on the way home and was a little groggy. If you have any questions I can answer just let me know! ~Dawn

Posted by darkfeary474 (Member # 11949) on June 11, 2009 04:59 PM :
Hi Jess! My husband and I are hoping to have the funds for my TR soon , like within the next 3 to 4 weeks so we are hoping to be able to get my TR , sometime torge the middle to end of July possibly the beginning of August , I will know more about the Exact date once we get our funds for it , my husband is taking out the loan for my TR from his 401K )... It is nice to here of someone so close that is also going to have there TR at CH, I have so far lost 66 pounds to be able to be healthier and get my TR surgery done ) it hasn't been easy but i am truly dedicated to this 100% and that is what helps, I actually live about 30-40 minutes east of cleveland out in Lake County the Mentor Area . My Parents Live In Cleveland. Dana

Posted by TulipGarden (Member # 13451) on June 11, 2009 05:13 PM :
Wow 66 pounds, that is awesome! That shows a lot of dedication to be able to do what you want.

Posted by darkfeary474 (Member # 11949) on June 11, 2009 05:15 PM :
Thanks Cindy

Posted by jess&carlwant1 (Member # 13108) on June 11, 2009 05:59 PM :
dana, thats realy great news that you lost 66 pounds, soon u will be blessed with having your tr done.
i use to live in lake county also(eastlake)to be exact. you will probably go get tr before me since i still have to lose weight but it will still be nice to know i have a tr sister close by...good luck! dawn, thanks for the info, everytime i hear from ladies like you it gives me the stregnth to try harder to lose this weight..you guys stories about the experience you had with CHTRC is what helped me choose CHTRC to do my reversal..thanks a bunch for sharing it and good luck on you ttc journey.. jess

Posted by pkubes68 (Member # 13466) on June 11, 2009 06:49 PM :
wow Dawn,
didn't know you were so close. I'm 20 miles south of Youngstown.
Paula

Posted by Hutch09 (Member # 13592) on June 12, 2009 09:42 AM :
I am from Ohio as well.

Posted by Emmie (Member # 10376) on June 12, 2009 03:01 PM :
Hi there Just scanned the board a bit and saw your question. Well I am from the UK and came to see Dr Berger. Why? because he is the best as far as I can see and I have not seen any other sites where people from all over the world will travel to for this procedure. So if you can I would go for it.

Posted by darkfeary474 (Member # 11949) on June 12, 2009 07:42 PM :
Thanks Emmie, WoW all the way from the Uk huh?, Yea my husband and I have talked it over and we are going to go with Dr. Berger. Hopefully i will be able ot call and Schedule my TR sometime within the next month!!!I SOOOOOOOO Can't Wait!!!!! Dana

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