Quest Diagnostics Sucks

Thanks to the ectopic pregnancy, and the resulting methotrexate shots, I am required to get bloodwork twice a week. So far, I have been going to the Quest Diagnostics clinic in the medical building where the fertility clinic is situated. As of today's experience I will be either incurring the extra cost of bloodwork at the fertility clinic, or attempting to experience another Quest clinic.

Yes, the Quest Diagnostics I have been going to has never been known for its customer service, but I have a 'stat' order and get through quickly with no problem. No problem until today. The doctor's nurse was supposed to fax the requisition to Quest, so when I arrived I signed in but there was no one at the desk for me to talk to about the fax. When someone appeared I approached the desk to mention the requisition/fax and was bluntly told: "I'm busy. I don't have time for that." Wow. I didn't even have time to squeeze in that it's a 'stat' order. Went back to my seat to read a magazine. A few minutes later I hear her yelling across the room at me: "What's the last name on the requisition?". Since I don't like yelling, I approached the desk and asked what last name she was referring to (not sure if she meant mine or the doctor's). This is the reply I received: "What? You don't know your last name?" I was absolutely shocked by her callous rudeness. I gave her my last name and sat down again. Then came another shout from across the room: "What date was it faxed?" I couldn't take it, so I yelled back: " I don't know!!" Then she told me not to yell at her!!! Oh, my God!!! When she yelled back that they didn't have it I got up and left vowing never to return. Luckily DH was there because the tears started flowing as soon as I left.

In a cloud of tears I ended up going up to the fertility clinic to get another requisition and my bloodwork drawn there incurring an extra cost.

What is wrong with Quest Diagnostics??? Why is there no compassion? Do you think that I'm going to let a woman who is rude to me put a needle in my vein? I did not ask for this ectopic to happen to me, and I really do not enjoy getting bloodwork drawn. I am only there because I am under a doctor's order to get bloodwork. Why belittle me in front of a waiting room full of people? What happened to a little kindness and compassion? Quest Diagnostics sucks for hiring such bitchy people to draw blood.

Methotrexate Days, Part II

This morning I had yet another shot of methotrexate as the beta numbers were not going down fast enough. It is all unnerving and I kept it all together until I had to wait a half hour for a two minute shot -- which DH could probably do considering all the times he injected me with progesterone. You see, we raced to the pharmacy late yesterday afternoon to get the medication so we could get an early appointment, but by the time we actually saw the nurse we could have gone to get it this morning.

Yes, I am used to waiting for doctors, but I started getting upset when I saw a handful of people come and go from the waiting room and my name had yet to be called...and we had been waiting for a half hour. So, I went back to the receptionist and enquired as to what was going on. By the time she got back to us tears had started rolling down my face, so they really got busy trying to find an examination room for us...and even then the nurse kept us waiting. When she finally arrived she apologized, but I had a meltdown and let her know why I was so upset. Unfortunately, we had a communication failure as she could barely speak English and she kept asking me to repeat myself, and I really could not understand her, so I just asked that she give me the shot already. Ughhhhhh!!! %$#%$^%$&$^%#!!!!! This experience makes me not want to go back for a long, long time.

Now I must deal with nausea and stomach cramps. Dear God, please let the beta numbers drop dramatically so I do not have to deal with this nurse again.

Methotrexate Days

My bloodwork from Monday showed that my beta grew to 287, and since I started have a funny pain on my side, the doctor recommended that I have a shot of methotrexate. So, we waited until Tuesday afternoon to go back and get the shot -- after another blood panel showed that my liver enzymes were functioning properly.

Perhaps we could have waited it out, but after having a scary ectopic experience from our first IUI I wasn't about to wait until the bleeding started. Plus, the doctor advised that it could go on for up to 12 weeks with the beta rising and falling. DH and I are frustrated by having to wait a couple of cycles after this shot to try a frozen cycle, but at least we don't have to worry about me bleeding out.

The worst part about the methotrexate is the nausea, but the silver lining is that it has taken away my appetite. Here's hoping that my beta will start falling.

The Saga Continues

Today I am going to the clinic to have one of those fun internal sonograms to check if I have an ectopic pregnancy because my beta from Friday was 200. I am full of so many emotions. When I went for blood work this morning they didn't have my requisition and asked me what I was there for...yeah, I was close to tears but I didn't let one salty wet one fall down my cheek. I cried Saturday when I discovered the beta number, but I really do not want to cry again over this. Through with tears. I want this whole thing to be finished and, crazy enough, I am hoping for a shot of methotrexate -- even though I have no pain or spotting, just a beta that went from 30 to 200 in a week. DH and I joked last night that maybe I have a rogue embryo that will not go down without a fight. Please let my beta fall...

Just a Little Pregnant...But, Not Enough

Just got the call from the clinic regarding my blood work this morning as it has been 11 days since the embryo transfer. So, it seems that my HCG level is only at 17when it should be at least 50. Let's see...that means I am technically pregnant but not enough.

Yes, it's the dreaded biochemical pregnancy. I've had one before after my first IUI that started as a 'biochemical' and then scarily evolved into an ectopic as the HCG numbers climbed erratically and I had light bleeding and pain. A shot of methotrexate ended that one.

I am praying that this 'not quite' pregnancy does NOT become an ectopic pregnancy. Crazy as it sounds, I really would like to start another IVF with a couple of the frozen embryos.

But, until we get the lab results from Wednesday's blood test, it's back to the progesterone shots.