Help! Need a RE, Fertility Clinic in North Dakota!!!

[GiGiGiGi]

Help!  Desperately looking for a good RE in North Dakota!  I live across the border in Canada.  My RE told me that it would be a 4 week wait to get in for IUI and when I called today it turns out they are booking for SEPTEMBER!  I am so upset!  There is not another fertility clinic in Manitoba, so I cant go somewhere else.

I would like to just pay cash and go see someone in the US who can help me sooner than September.  Of course it has to be more or less driving distance so Grand Forks, ND would be fantastic.

Please help – I am starting to feel pretty darn desperate!  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

Gigi

PS – not sure why the RE would have lied to me like that.  That in itself is enough of a reason to try to find someone else!

[asm3358]

Hi WaitingWinnipeg, How did it go for you in Fargo? How was the clinic and the doctors?

[WaitingWinnipeg]

How did things work out for you?  I'm also from Winnipeg and heading to Fargo for a consult with Dr. Dahl in 2 weeks.

[Kricket212]

How do you order meds online? Do you need a prescription?  i did IVF but my meds cost $6000- & that was thru insurance...I still would love to save money if possible.

[melon3]

Hi there,
            I am sorry that you are going through this and hope that you find an RE in North Dakota who will do your IUI before September.

Take care

Helen x

[GiGiGiGi]

I'm kinda leaning that way myself.

I think i will discuss the transfer of my file with my current RE tomorrow.  He HAS to understand that 9 months is just too long for us to wait.  however, I need to know that he would take me back as a patient if the IUI doesnt work and we need to move on to IVF.  Not that its necessarily what we will do, but  I dont want to burn any bridges.

[mlb1234]

I say go for it!!  

[GiGiGiGi]

Actually, Dr Christensen was the RE that I was looking into.  He works with a female RE named Dr Dahl.  As far as I can see, their clinic has had nothing but excellent reviews.

Geez this is a tough call.

[GiGiGiGi]

Hi Kris.  Unfortunately the clinic in my town wants a $500 non-refundable deposit before i can even go on their waiting list.  I dont want to give them our $500 if we are going to give the American clinic a shot.  The US clinics dont require any sort of deposit.

I actually did google it, and came up with a clinic in Fargo, ND.  I gave them a call and was very impressed with the person I spoke with.  She answered all my questions quite eloquently, filling me in on the costs involved, and their satellite clinics.  It turns out that they have a satellite clinic less than two hours away from us, in East Grand Forks.  The best part is that as soon as I have my consult with the their RE in East Grand Forks, and my bloodwork is done, I will have the IUI next cycle.

While I was given a fairly clear idea of that the procedure and diagnostics will cost, I dont really know how much the drugs are going to set me back.  The woman I spoke with said that they use Gonal F, Follistim, and Ovridel, which she tells me I can order at an online pharmacy.  Not sure how that would work given that I am in Canada.

I am going to call my pharmacist in the morning and ask him about the legalities of ordering drugs that way.

So, now I have lots to think about.  

I have an appointment with my RE tomorrow.  I'm going to ask him about treatment with him, and then I'm gonna let him know that we may go to the states - not because of him personally, just because we dont want to wait nine months!  That is ridiculous!  (although i kindof feel that we are getting second rate treatment - i just dont wanna tell my doctor that, just in case we end up deciding to have our treatment in canada!)

Gonna go online and research the doctors at the clinic - see what other people have to say.

[mlb1234]

Looks like there is one RE in Fargo...but I have never been to him.
Steffen Christensen
Address:
737 Broadway
Fargo, ND 58102-4421
[phone]  

You may have to come here to MN.  There are quite a few clinics here in Mpls/St. Paul area.  

[krichar]

Where are you in Canada? There is no wait for iui at my clinic, just ivf.

[kris71]

Can you make an appt for sept just in case something falls through with finding a fertility clinic in north Dakota doesn't pan out? Might be good just to have as a back up. Also, maybe they can put you on a cancellation list?? Also try googling fertility specialists in north Dakota maybe something will come up and sometimes there will be a review of the doc as well. Good luck!  

[GiGiGiGi]

The only problem is that I desperately need some advice on where to go in North Dakota!  I have no idea where to turn.  Or even if there are any fertility clinics!

When I called my current RE's today, the assistant said that they have about one new IUI referral per day, which just means that the longer we put it off our decision, the longer we will have to wait.

I've got that yucky panicky feeling again,,,, <>

[allie_44107]

Hey girl-I think you are making the right decision.  

I mean, you would still have to make the commute, but IUI doesn't require nearly as many visits as IVF would and I think you could make it work.  Especially if you explain to them you live far out, maybe they could do things to help you out.  (Like have your blood drawn at a local clinic, or things like that).  

I am thinking of you and wishing you the best of luck!