Wednesday, December 12, 2007

I love my new doctor!

My mom and I was sitting in the exam room waiting for the Doctor. First the nurse came in and I excitedly told her I had my combined screen today and also an ultrasound. She kind of gave me a blank stare and didn't seem to know what I am talking about. I tried to explain that it's one of the genetic tests the last OB I saw in this office suggested. She gave me another blank stare. I gave up and she went out.

A few minutes later, the doctor came in. I was really looking forward to seeing her, Dr. Holly Holter. Her name is listed first in the list of doctors for the San Francisco Physician for Women group. She has a degree and internship from UCSF, so I was expecting a lot. She barely looked up from the charts she was carrying when she walked in. I told her the same thing I told the nurse. Amazingly enough, she too gave me kind of a blank stare and said isn't there another blood test before I get the results. I said no I took the combined screen and not the integrated one. That was the end of that conversation. She either was thinking about something else or she wasn't sure what I meant. Weird.

Mechanically, she proceeded to pull out the heart rate monitor and let me listen to the baby's heart beat. I was trying to make some conversation but she barely cracked a smile or looked at me. I then asked can she confirm my due date, she of course didn't know it, look at my chart, and then proceeded to calcuate it using the wheel thing doctors use. She said May 15th. I said the last doctor in this office said May 10th. Why didn't it change so much? She wasn't sure.

That was the end of that appt. I was fine and progressing well, but felt like I was going through a cattle call. Are all OBs like this, I wondered. This group was recommended by my primary doctor but I didn't know any friends who went to them. I was able to subtle for lukewarm experience, so I started checking with friends. Luckily, one of Jaime's good friends just gave gave birth two months ago and loves her OB. I decided to give her a try.

I just had my appt two days ago and loved her! Her name is Dr. Fang and she is part of the Golden Gate Obsterics group. Despite waiting for her for one hour because she had a delivery, she was wonderful once I saw her

- she was patient and listen carefully to me
- she didn't rush me out even though she was running behind
- she answered all my questions and look at me in a caring way the whole time
- her nurse raved about her when I saw her and the nurse was pretty sharp as well
- she also told me the last blood test my previous doctor ordered was unnecessary (I wasted 2 hours doing that one)
- I heard in general she has mostly OB patients and the nurses in the hospital love her!

Overall, I am so glad I switched. Simple morale of the story: ask a friend to find a good OB and it is worth the hassle to switch. I left the office smiling and am looking forward to my next visit in January! :-)

- Lei

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh, sis, I had no idea. I'm so glad you made the switch too. I'm not even a mom yet, and I know that it would mean the world to me to have a good relationship with my doc (not someone who doesn't have my information correct, barely looks me in the eye during an exam, and orders the wrong blood tests!). I know now that I will take the recommendations from trusted family and friends when I become an expecting mother (some are so excited for the day that I become one that they've already given me recommendations!).

Michelle said...

I love Dr. Fang too! She's the best I've been going to her for like 7 years. I know 4 other women who have gone to her and they love her too. I agree that she's totally great with questions and super nice. I thought her pic looked familiar on your blog. How funny. I won't go to anyone else but her. I've changed my primary care physicians more than I have my obgyn. Seriously, how many women can say that they love their obgyns? I can't say I love the visits, but she sure makes it a lot easier.