OB on sabattical during my delivery...

[cpatow]

This is probably going to be long but I can't stop crying because I am SO frustrated. I just need to vent and ask you gals what you would do.

So, first things first, I am high risk having had a blood clot in my previous pregnancy. That coupled with being 40 and I'm being watched closely....or so I thought.

Before we moved to Atlanta I was part of a small one-doctor practice in So. California. He was a great doctor, knew me by name, new my history by memory and took great personal care of me. When my blood clot developed I was immediately seen by a high-risk doc, of course, but my regular OB was there every step of the way.

I got pregnant 3 weeks after moving to Atlanta and had to find a new doc quickly. I landed on this practice that is huge and is tied in with another fairly big high-risk office. From Day One I feel like I'm part of a giant cattle call (and that's not because my butt is big at 31 weeks along :-)).

This offices' front office staff has screwed up nearly every single appointment I've had. They have me on the books for appointments I never made and don't have me on the books for appointments I HAVE made. I complained to the front office manager about this and the fact that for the first 5+ months they messed up on not one, but EVERY SINGLE APPOINTMENT I had. She apologized and scheduled me out from there on. STILL WRONG. I still ended up with appointments I never made, so I finally stopped canceling them. I figured if they can't get their own s(*& together I'm not going to do it for them and so help me if they charge me a missed appt fee I'd GO OFF. Don't know...have never seen even one bill from them.

Because of my high-risk nature I asked to settle in on one doctor who'd be with me thru the process. Having had a previous DVT is serious and there are ramifications if you go into a c-section while still on anti-coagulants and timeframes and such. I wanted to have an OB who was keenly aware not only of my own background but also of blood clots so I would know that my life and baby delivery was in good hands during a C-section.

So I figured I had a good pair: my regular OB and my high-risk OB. So a month ago I started paying attn to the fact that my high-risk OB comes into my room with only that check-out form;  no chart on me, no history, no notes, no computer, nothing. Every single time I've been there he's asked me, "Um, WHY are you on Lovenox? How much are you on? Who's managing that Rx?" Freakin' idiot...YOU ARE managing my medicine for a blood clot I had during my last pregnancy and you've now asked me this same question every single time I've been here for the last 6 months.

So last week I asked my regular OB if I should be concerned about my high-risk OBs lackadasical professionalism. To say I feel slipped thru the cracks is an understatement. He told me not to worry, that they were there for my ultrasounds each visit and as consultants given my high-risk nature, but that HE was my regular OB. He and I spent a LONG time talking about blood clots and history and his knowledge and I left feeling immensely relieved and feeling like I was in good hands.

In fact, he handed me my c-section scheduling papers and asked that I hand them in on my way out. I did so and they said I'd be getting a call within 2 days to schedule.

That was Thursday. As I hadn't rec'd a call yet I called them today and spoke to the back-office manager. She informed me that not only will May doctor vacation schedules not be made available until April but that my doctor, the one I felt so comfortable with and who assured me I was in good hands, was going on SABATTICAL and wouldn't be back until after my )*&^% delivery.

I went OFF. I started crying (oh so professional, I know) explaining my history and everything I'd been through with their practice and that this patient support / patient care was substandard AT BEST and if I could switch practices at 31 weeks I would, but knew I was hosed as 21 weeks is the cut-off for most doctors to be willing to take a new pregnancy from a previous doctor.

She explained this and that and that they'd just sold their practice and that doctors are lazy with turning in their vacation requests and blah, blah, freakin' blah. She said, trust me, we'll find you a good doctor.

WHEN????!!!! Two days before I deliver? What happens if I go into labor early?  Plus not all doctors have even a clue about blood clots and what to do concerning them in pregnancy. I didn't want to get stuck with just any doctor that happened to be available. I want and need to have an OB who is well experienced and versed in delivery via c-section  with a blood clot history.

(I just got off the phone with them)

They've scheduled me next week with a new doctor who supposedly is good and that patients really like. But they can't tell me for sure if he'll be the one doing my c-section for another 2 weeks. I guess this is what it is and I just have to live with it, but I just feel so pushed around and like a mere number in their practice. I have ZERO confidence that anyone has any clue how to take care of me and I'm really scared and frustrated.

Am I being hormonal?

[40smama]

I hate what you're & montie had to go through (or are currently going through) - that's terrible!!!  I don't know what advice to give at this point except if you need to rant, please feel free to do so.  I agree w/Patty - your ob should've said something about his scheduled sabbatical when he gave you the paperwork.  I wouldn't accept the excuse that the doctors wait till the last minute to schedule their vacations, etc.  I think that's ka-ka also.  You give 'em hell, sweetie!

[montie2]

I don't know if you ever read any of my posts about my doctor during my pregnancy but I so relate to your frustrations.  I too have felt like just a number with my OB. I can tell you that I was scared to death and stressed the entire pregnancy.  I too am high risk and knew that I would have to have a c-section because of my uterus tearing during my first c-section 18 years ago.  Because my records were so old, they had been destroyed and my doctor only had what I told him to go by.  We talked about tying my tubes from the very beginning.  Several different times at my following appointments, he would ask me if we were going to tie my tubes like as if we had never talked about it before.  Also, I had told him that with my second pregnancy, I was having contractions very early and was put on bedrest until it was ok to deliver and I delivered at 37 weeks, just days after they let me up.  I feared this baby coming early too and had been having contractions.  At 30 weeks, I happened to have a dr.s appt and was having serious contractions that day.  He actually got to witness them and sent me directly to the OB ward in the hospital to get them stopped.  After two rounds of the medicine they finally subsided and they sent me home with really screwy instructions. Bedrest for a week then go back and see him in 2 weeks.  Huh???? I thought, do I really go back to work before he sees me again? Plus, he never came to the hospital.  So, my next appt. they weighed me, he measured me and then was done. He did not bring up the contractions, the medicine, the hospital, he didn't ask if I was still having contractions.....needless to say, I was so pissed.  I had to bring it up.  Plus, I had told him about the stress level of my job and I was just really ticked that I had to bring it up and I just felt like my situation was not being taken very seriously at all.  Plus, I had been told during my previous pregnancy that labor was a big NO NO.  So, I knew that I was not supposed to go into labor.  I left my appointment bawling.  From then on, it didn't get much better.  The day I went into labor, I met the doctor at the hospital and as they were getting everything ready to do the c-section, he asked me again....."um, now, are we tying your tubes?".  I can tell you that I have never prayed like I did before that surgery.  

In the end, everything went smooth, and I have a beautiful, perfect baby boy but my relationship with my OB just sucked.  It was not a special, comfortable relationship at all.  As a matter of fact, I look forward to getting my 6 week check up over with and never having to go back to that clinic again.

I just wanted you to know, I felt your frustration and I know what you are going through.  I can only tell you to hang in there, be your own advocate, keep reminding them of what they need to know, and just try to look forward to that special baby that is on it's way!

[pcarsey]

Dang Christina! I would have went off on him, I believe I would have made an appointment to do just that IN PERSON! My niece was in the same situation, she went off on the doctor and got another one at the office where I'm going. I don't know which doctor I will have during delivery but it is one of two.. and both I know very well and trust each very much! I don't see why he would have given you the papers and not mentioned that he would not be the one delivering unfortunately. That would just PI$$ me off to no end!

I hope you get some resolve on this and find a good doctor, for our time is dwindling down and we need to know we are in good hands and so will our baby be!

Good Luck!!

[azqtpies]

That just sucks.. I feel so bad for you ! to do that too you so late in the pg is just uncalled for. I sure hope everything works out ! Wish there was more than I could say or do to help you ... but hang in there is all  you can do at this point ... I will say a prayer that all turns out well and this doc will be great for you and you lil one


Kelly
34w1d

[Sheri1972]

Umm.. no!  Not hormonal at all!  Doctors do have to take vacations, and sometimes that leaves their patients in a bind, but they should have a handle on when they are taking vacation so their patients have the OPTION to choose another doctor that will be there when they deliver and not be put in the position you are in now!!!

I'm not sure what to tell you on this one if you're already at 31 weeks.  Perhaps meet this new doctor and make him/her very aware of your concerns and see if you feel comfortable.

I have to choose a new OB too, and I am in a big city now so I'm concerned how I'll be treated.  I was at a practice with my last that was private, and the doctor was very personable.  I was high risk for that one too.  This one will be a c-section, hopefully not high risk, but I'm going to a large multiple doctor practice so ... eh.

I hope everything will be okay!  I'd definitely continue to give them a piece of your mind and tell them how disappointed you are in how you've been treated, and let them know you won't be recommending them to anyone else! (Though I might wait on that until AFTER the delivery)

Sheri