If I could give this "doctor" and her staff of "nurses" (or whatever their title is) fewer than one star I would. I should have trusted my gut instinct when I called to set up my first prenatal visit a couple of weeks ago, and whoever I was on the phone with was immediately rude an rushed with me. She would put me on hold for 5-10 minutes at a time to check what appointment slots were available, then she would tell me one option and want to hang up. I had to stop her twice and say "no, that time does not work, I am available at [insert time I said]." She proceeded to sound annoyed with me and kept putting me on hold to search the depths of Narnia for an appointment that fit my availability (my only requirement was that it be M-W after 1pm, WOW such a wild request!).
Anyway, I wanted to switch doctors after I did go to my appointment because Patel was with me all of 30 seconds before throwing out a time frame for my return and bolting. I figured I would just finish up these first… sets of lab work and move onto someone else. Sadly, I did not have time to change doctors before I began to miscarry.
Without even a shred of sympathy or a furrow of her brow, Patel told me I was miscarrying in the most monotonous, hurried way possible. She asked if it was my first pregnancy, and I said yes. But then she gave me ZERO information about what exactly would happen once the baby and placenta and tissue finally came out. She even told me I could go back to work! But I asked for a note anyway (which she gave me, but only because I asked). I am SO glad I asked for one because two days later I miscarried and it was the most horrifying scene.... I received no preparation at all for that, not even a pamphlet, nothing. The entire conversation took LESS THAN 2 minutes (I recorded it, so I am not exaggerating), and she ran right out of the room without so much as a pat on the back. There weren't even any facial tissues in that godforsaken place.
So after that, I walked out into the hallway, which faces the receptionist area. That area is not enclosed, so the receptionists or nurses or whatever were very much in ear shot. My sister was with me, and, since I was too distraught to event think of questions to ask, she managed to get a few more questions in before the doctor completely left the building. She asked what my chances were of another miscarriage, and she told us 50%! That is NOT accurate whatsoever, seeing as there were no complications and I ended up passing the baby naturally 2 days later (I did not even need a D&C). Anyway, at this point I just wanted to leave, so I go to the receptionist to set a follow up appointment for 6 days later, and she looked at me like I was embarrassing myself. HMMMM I wonder why a pregnant woman would be sobbing her eyes out at the OBGYN! Maybe it's because, as they heard since I was 2 feet away when the doctor was talking to us in the hall, I lost my first baby. Show a little sympathy! Maybe not look at me like I should man up. But no. Then she hands me a whole bag of PREGNANCY PAMPHLETS! Excuse me, I just LOST my baby, you inconsiderate twit!
Fast forward to 2 days later: I am in excruciating pain (lower abdominal area). I call to ask if that is normal, and the person on the phone says to go to the ER. I say it is no problem, and she sets me up with a follow up for the day after. One would think that, given the emergency circumstances, the appointment I made before would be void, but back on that later. I go to the ER as soon as I can, which is about an hour and a half after I made the call (I had to take my step kids to a sitter, at which point I passed the baby, and that took about 20 minutes). While I am checking in, the doctor's office calls me. Why? To confirm the appointment I JUST MADE WITH THEM FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY. I said, "yes I just made that appointment two hours ago, I am in the ER right now."
After all is said and done, I go home. Next day (when my new follow up was scheduled) I received not one but TWO PHONE CALLS about the previous appointment that was now irrelevant. The first call came and I just said to cancel that one since I would be in later that day. Then I get another phone call about the SAME appointment that I JUST CANCELLED. Needless to say, I finally lost it on the person on the phone and said that entire office is incompetent, which, from my experience thus far, they ABSOLUTELY ARE. She has my file in front of her, she knows WHY I am coming in, and she still decided she would get snippy with me. I hung up the phone.
This was today, mind you. And now I am desperately trying to find a different doctor because I seriously canNOT go back to that hellhole. Losing my baby was hard enough without these heartless dumbsh*ts treating me like I just have a cold or something. DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE if you have any regard for your emotional wellbeing and your pregnancy experience.
Read More