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Maybe it's a smarmy idea, but I may just do it anyway.... I am thinking of wrapping up Dr. Berger's DVD for my obgyn. Lord willing I get a positive pregnancy test, I'll give it to my doc as a gift from the baby!
Maybe if more folks passed their DVD's on to their obgyn's then they wouldn't try to over treat so much.
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Kirsten, I believe that some Dr's push IVF because it puts more $$ in their pockets in the long run. I had 2 cyles of IVF before I found Dr. B. I was also told that TR was costly & the recovery was awful. Each IVF cycle cost us approx. $8,000...and my insurance paid for the meds. There was one couple there that was on their 7TH time. It is emotionally & financially draining and every time it doesn't work you have to wait and start all over again. With TR you get to try to conceive every month for free the old fashioned way! There are women who have had great success with IVF but I felt like I was a check and a number to my RE. Doctor Berger & his staff made me feel like I was the only patient they had that day. P.S. I am 36 weeks 5 days today!
I have a almost 2 yr old and I am 13W 6D pregnant! This works and Dr. B is the best! Alot of people believe IVF is pushing the envelope. TR is just putting you back together! That is my 2 cents! Lisa EDD 3-30-08
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Oh thank you, thank you, thank you! My husband is a hardcore numbers guy, as am I. We also like to be able to check things out on alternate sources. While there is a lot of info out there, it is only good. But, the CDC info will definately be a boost to my side of the argument!
I think I understand the discrepancies you are hearing. Most doctors are not experts in tubal reversal surgery, so they believe that the surgery and recovery will be long and costly -- as you would expect to see with the traditional approach. Experience is most assuredly the reason things are different with Dr. Berger.
To perform surgery as an outpatient procedure, you have to be able to do three things: 1) minimize blood loss, 2) control post-op pain with oral pain meds and, 3) control post-op nausea and vomiting. When surgery is 3 - 4 hours long as it would be when a doctor has limited experience with this procedure, you can count on finding that there has been higher blood loss due to the longer operation time. Additionally, the longer anesthesia time typically means more nausea and vomiting and more discomfort. When these things occur, the patient must stay overnight in the hospital so that an IV can be left in to replace fluids, provide IV pain medication, etc.
When Dr. Berger performs TR surgery, the surgery takes about an hour and the blood loss is typically one teaspoon to one tablespoon. Our patients report an average pain score of 2 (on a 1 - 10 scale) on the first day after surgery, and we have minimal nausea post-operatively. This is due to Dr. Berger's as well as the experience of our anesthesia team. Like anything else (cooking, sewing, tennis), the more you do, the better you will become.
In summary, I think those other doctors are reporting what they know based on their own experiences -- and are likely not even aware of Dr. Berger's practice and expertise. Our statistics are published on the website based on accepted standards for reporting data and IVF statistics are published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on their website. www.cdc.gov . The CDC data shows the most current IVF pregnancy rates at around 28% -- those stats are not old at all! When you compare this to reversal surgery with Dr. Berger (pregnancy rates around 70%), it becomes more obvious that reversal surgery is the most succcessful way to have a baby after a previous sterilization.
We are glad you are here and we are eager to answer any questions you may have. This is a great place to get information or simply find support.
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I have a very cranky 2 year old to prove that TR works! LOL! I got pregnant the month after my surgery, so I have to say that I am COMPLETELY satisfied with it!
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Kirsten, I had the same issues here in Az. the cost was too high and they wanted me to stay in the hospital and not even try for so many months after the procedure. I went to Dr. B and the hotel, the 2 roundtrip airline tickets to fly across the country and the procedure combined was less than what I was quoted here and my recovery was awesome. I didn't have any issues and have concieved 2 times so far. I hope that you find the answers you need to make an informed decision and I truly hope that you will someday have your own little baby to love.
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Those dr's are thinking of traditional inpatient reversal surgery - not out patient like Dr. Berger does.
There is infinetly way more money involved in IVF and while it may be a good, sound choice for some women (depending on circumstances) reversal allows most of us to try month after month to get pregnant. But most dr's will push IVF due to the money they make.
As for me IVF failed, did TR and am 30 weeks pregnant. TR with Dr Berger was the best money I ever spent!
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I think many doctors push IVF because they don't believe there is much success in the TR procedure or a successful outcome. Most doctors don't do it with any regularity. I think some of the push to IVF is cost as well. Even some of the shared risk programs are going to cost a pretty penny.
As far as old references - everything you mentioned is on this website. The cost ($5900.00), success rates, and hospital stays (None required at Chapel Hill - it's in and out with two overnights at a hotel)ect. You can check out the weekly pg reports as more of a testimonal to CH's success rate. Your recovery is more based on your own health and pain management, but most ladies recovery fairly quickly with little pain or complications.
There is no guarentee regardless of which route you take. Neither is going to promise a baby. However TR offers you the oppurtunity to conceive in the conventional way, with a lower one-time fee.
I've know many ladies here that are completely satisfied with the results, and several that have not been. No program will satisfy or meet the expectations of all the clients. Personally, I've conceived THREE times since my surgury and I feel very successful. The surgury was exactly as described, I was treated respectfully and professionally by every staff member and I have no regrets. IVF was never an option for me; financially or personally - so CH provided us the oppurtunity to have another baby at a reasonable price and in a easy in-and-out procedure. Very little to it - IMHO.
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Oh I had the same but I did not want IVF. I wanted TR for ptls and another baby. Well I got to hear that IVF would cure ptls.(what?) When I told this to Dr Berger he said oh really and shook his head in disbelief. I had enough of their high and mighty attitude which is why I researched it myself. See IVF would make them a lot more money don't forget however if you want to have a baby natural then this procedure gives you a change at that and Dr B is the most experienced Dr in his field.
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Not exactly sure what you mean with sites old stats and costs. However most professionals don't believe in this operation being a success as it is still relatively new and unheard of. I went and saw my specialist here in the UK and he would not hear of it. So I researched here and there and found this website and had my TR done in Jan of this year without any regrets. Have had 2 BFP's so far. Good Luck
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Hi there, I had my tubes tied when I was 25. Didn't have any children and my situation wasn't good. I am now 32, my life is totally different, never thought anyone lived this good! Anyway, every medical professional I ask about this procedure sites old stats and cost. Why is this?
One doc conceded that medicine advances when folks push the envelope, and maybe doc Berger is just pushing the envelope. I still get confused about what is right and true in all of this.
Since I have never been pregnant, I would like to do this the way everyone else does!
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