The OB and MFM offices only seem to be able to calculate EDD's based on LMP, which is not how an EDD should be calculated with IVF. So they keep saying my EDD is 10/5/12 (versus 10/3/12). In their minds I'm 18w5d today, but I know I'm 19w. It's all irrelevant since my c-section has been scheduled for 9-24. I definitely won't be pregnant on 10-3 or 10-5. The OB today said she hopes I make it at least to 37w (September 12). Given the contractions I had last week I think that's dubious, but it would be awesome as that should mean no NICU stay for this little guy. I was at the OB office for 1hr 50 minutes today. Unfortunately I didn't bring my laptop or a book. I admit sitting in a doctor's office is one of my least favorite activities in life. I was there 90 minutes before the doctor walked into the exam room I was in (and I arrived right on time for my 1:45 appointment). I am going to try to stick to morning appointments in the future in the hopes that they will go more quickly (I figure they can't be really backed up at say 9am). I really got spoiled at the OB office I went to while I was pregnant with Nadia. I was in the clinic for an average of 15 minutes total. Today the nurse weighed me, took my BP, and did the urine check. She was going to have the OB do a pap smear and cervical cultures, but I said NO as I knew I had those done at the RE a few months ago. The doctor looked at my chart and listened to the baby's heartbeat (altogether that took about 5 minutes). Since I had an ultrasound last week and have felt stronger and more frequent movements from the baby the last few days, having the heartbeat checked wasn't a big deal to me.
I would have viewed the entire appointment as a complete waste of time except for the fact that the nurse gave me my first P17 shot, the doctor gave me an Rx for the rest of the P17 shots (she said almost all the patients choose to have it at the office instead of doing it at home, but I think having it at home is far more convenient), and the doctor wrote a little note explaining why I had the GD test in the first trimester. They scheduled my next appointment to be with a midwife in 4 weeks. In 3 weeks I plan on asking if I can be weighed, have my bp checked, and urine specimen done at the MFM appointment so I can cancel that OB appointment. If I'm seeing a MFM doctor every other week, why do I need to see a midwife every four weeks? Hopefully, they'll agree to my suggestion.
When I got home I looked up all the other procedure codes to see what tests the insurance declined the first time around. I have typed a list and am going to bring that to the office next week and ask if someone will write an explanation to the insurance why the other seven tests were medically necessary. I am not sure if they'll agree to help me out, but I hope so because the total came to $1,073.98 that we owe, and the glucose test was only $49.63 of that total. The most expensive test was the blood typing ($486), which was actually not needed since I've had that done in the past, but I'm not going to mention that to the insurance company! Maybe at least this will give the OB office a reason to pause the next time they automatically order all these tests. I certainly am going to decline as many tests from now on in light of this hassle (and potential expense). Regina, thanks for the tip about contacting the hosptial. If the appeal process doesn't work, I will definitely do that. I know that if Blue Shield was paying these bills they would NEVER pay the entire amount that was claimed. They always pay a heavily discounted amount. Why should someone paying cash have to pay more than an insurance company would pay?
I am not sure if Paul will have trouble filling the Rx tomorrow. The OB office said it might be difficult. If so, I'll have the P17 shot at their office next week (MFM appointment) and then I'd have to skip a week as we'll be on vacation, and then I have another MFM appointment in 3 weeks. Hopefully by that point PSU could get this Rx filled. Paul won't be on campus this week due to attending a conference in Philadelphia, so I'll have him take it in tomorrow morning, and hopefully they can fill it by Friday afternoon.
Whenever I started feeling annoyed at the OB office today I kept reminding myself that the reason I was there is a VERY happy reason, and that this too shall pass (as far as the frequency of needing to be at a doctor's office). Next time I'll definitely bring a book. That will help. I was very grateful that the kids were with a babysitter. The almost two hours would have seemed MUCH longer if they had been with me that whole time (there aren't any toys there).
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