As some of you know, I'm most likely going to have another lap surgery this summer...this time I'm going to go with Dr. H or one of his proteges. My question is did you have surgery with Dr H or was it with one of the doctors that have been trained by him? I have three options facing me and being that I have to make this decision relatively soon...I decided to ask my fellow bloggers.
1) I can try to get an appt with Dr H. This will take time and there's a risk I'd be having surgery in August...which is not good. I'll be very busy getting ready for the next school year. I'd rather not be in recovery mode or in pain.
2) I could get into Omaha sooner if I was willing to see one of the dr's that are working closely with Dr H. This option is appealing to me. I've been reading blogs for a long time and the general feel I've gotten is that I will be well taken care of in Omaha...they know what they are doing there. It's a well oilded machine as my creighton practioner has informed me.
3) My third option is to see a different dr who is closer to where I live. She's relatively new and she's been trained under Dr H. also. I guess there are some "hiccups" with her new practice but anyone that has gone to seen her...loves her. She also requires a few visits before surgery time..which could be tough with being a full time teacher. This hsp is 2 1/2 hours away where Omaha is about 5 hours. I do think about travelling home after surgery. Eeek.
So, We've been praying to discern which option is best for us. I just do not want any "run arounds "this time or issues that are going to put a "kabotch" on this. I want smoothness this time. I want to be taken care of. Lord willing...this will be my last surgery and I will be healthy. We haven't gone through the costs which may change everything. But it sounds like Omaha is very good about helping in that dept (I know..JB you just got hit with a big bill. I guess there's always a risk of that happening, right?).
Please let me know your thoughts and experiences on Omaha...I know I could go back and read all of your blogs but I'm just hoping for a brief re-cap, if you will. Thanks!
I appreciate your help and please know that I am keeping the IF community in my prayers (those still dealing and those now expecting or those who have been blessed with babies).
I never had surgery with Dr. H...but my stance is always...GO TO THE BEST FIRST.
ReplyDeleteThat's me.
I worked with Dr.Ke.efe in Dr. H's office. Had a great experience
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of people who worked with Dr. Keefe and loved her. I was a stickler about having Dr. H himself, but one of the docs there now, Dr. Pakiz, was doing her fellowship while I had my first set of surgeries, so she assisted him, and she is on staff there now. I absolutely adore her and would DEFINITELY recommend her. She's terrific.
ReplyDeleteIt really just comes down to personal choice--which would bother you more, the wait time, or not having Dr H?
I had my lap with Dr. Sti.gen in CA who trained with Hilgers and I'm not sure if was worth it. Lots of qualified surgeons can do a great job with those types of procedures. But, I can understand the attraction to Hilgers. It's great you are doing research and discerning your best options.
ReplyDeleteHi, I found your blog through MHE and thought I would respond to your questions. I had surgery in 2005 with Dr H. My experience was great...except that he made me come back for the laparotomy two months later. Be prepared for that possibility. It took 16 months...but I did eventually conceive. In 2008 I had surgery with Dr Stegman (now retired). I actually preferred Dr S as a surgeon...but the overall Omaha experience was much better than working outside of Omaha. SO, #1...go to Omaha. #2 find out your options...get as much info you can about the other doctors and decide from there. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteAlthough our new financial hardship was brought upon us by our decision to "go for broke" and have surgery with Dr. H, I do not regret going to the best. I, too, had the option of seeing one of the other surgeons at PPVI, but I knew that this was going to be my last surgery (at least in the US!) and that we were okay with waiting to see the "big guy."
ReplyDeleteMy care in Omaha was top-notch (and I keep reminding myself that!). I am now pain-free, something that I have never had!
I went with Dr. Keefe @ PPVI. I used her b/c of the wait time to see Dr. H. I did have a lap and had to go back for the big surgery a few months later. The care at Creighton is amazing. I've had other surgery (non-IF stuff) and Creighton is AMAZING compared to my local hospital.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hebrews ... I'd pick Dr. H if you didn't mind the wait time ... and Dr. Keefe (or another) if you wanted to get in sooner. I think another doctor shaves off a couple of months.
So far I haven't conceived (surgery in Aug & Sept 2010), but I'm happy I went with the best.
Thanks everyone for your helpful comments! I'm in the process of getting the referral letter done to dr. H. I'd love to see him but if we can't get in during the summer...than it will be one of the other dr's. It's in the Lord's Hands!
ReplyDeleteI don't think you'll run into the bill issue that JB had, because you do have American insurance. Hers was an issue of being non-US citizen self-pay.
ReplyDeleteI went to a Hilgers' trained surgeon, who was often referred to as "Hilgers' #2." He was excellent. In your case, I would recommend Hilgers, or at least PPVI.
I am SO EXCITED about this for you!!!! Sorry I've been MIA on your blog for a while so this is new to me :) Yay!!