Getting a second opinion from Dr Gavin Sacks

[collo04]

Hi girls
Well since my last HELP me post Ive decided to make an appointment with Dr Gavin Sacks since BW was kind enough to put me onto him. I was wandering on what he is like? I just hope he isnt like the others I have come across and he actually cares????? I see him on the 17th of next month

[butterfly_warrior]

Collo, he is very gentle, caring, and he listens.

I'll freely admit that my regular FS is arrogant and a pr!ck (in his own words), but I'm sticking with him, because I know he'll kick my butt when needed.

Dr S is totally different. Despite the fact that I'm sticking with a different doctor at a different IVF clinic, he's offered to keep in touch by email to help me out as much as he can with my next pregnancy. To me that speaks volumes.

I hope some of Dr S's other patients will come by soon - otherwise I'll get a reputation for telling you what to do all the time!

BW

[collo04]

Thanks BW Im just scared to be treated like a stupid women. Maybe nothing can be done for us but it just feels that no one has even tried. IVF was meant to be a positive but we are in the same position as we were when I kept going to the doctor when we first started trying and they wouldnt do anything unti; we had been trying for at least 12mnths. Im so glad I found you girls I dont feel so alone and anxious by this horrible journey.

[butterfly_warrior]

I was a bit worried about the same sort of thing. I'd already asked both my FS and rheumy about the possibility of my arthritis causing problems in pregnancy, they both said no. I'd asked my GP and my FS about the spotting when I reduced the dose of prednisone, and they both said it was a coincidence and completely unrelated.

But I couldn't stop thinking that there really was a problem. I was worried that Dr S would think I was over reacting - I'd only had one miscarriage, after all. I was worried that he'd tell me that there was no reason to believe my arthritis (despite being unidentified) could cause a problem, and that the spotting was merely a coincidence... and I've have travelled all the way to Kogarah for nothing...

Not the case... he did mention that the prednisone and spotting thing may just be a coincidence, but he also acknowledged that I was right to be concerned given my history, and he was happy to run the tests to put my mind at ease.

He never once took the line of "I'm the doctor, I know best, stop questioning and just do what I say". He listened, he tested for everything he could possibly test for... And never once did he make me feel silly or paranoid or that I was over-reacting to circumstances.

Collo, I do hope this is putting your mind at ease. You have a reason to suspect a problem, and I believe Dr S will find it, and develop a plan of treatment that will give you hope and success.

BW

[collo04]

THANKS BW it does put my mind at ease. Im seeing him at Kograh too how do you get there if coming in off th M4??

[butterfly_warrior]

I'm afraid my advice can't extend to navigation - I'm hopeless!

When I travelled from home I used the M7 and M5, and relied heavily on the GPS. Other times we've travelled from where DH works (Rydalmere) and I've paid no attention to where we were at all.

I'd suggest whereis, it's probably much better at giving directions than me! And St George public hospital is in pretty much the same place, so it shouldn't be too hard to find.

BW

[Willow]

Collo - Dr S is our FS and I cannot rave about him enough!

Over the last 18 months I've met and dealt with more Drs than I care to remember and he truly is one of a kind. He actually listens and he actually cares.

One of my best friends recommended him to me and she just used to rave and rave about him. But she was absolutely right. We both have a rather bad case of hero worship going on now!!

I think the clincher for me was when I had my second lap done. I'd had a horrendously painful experience just six months prior and when I went to see Dr S for a second opinion I never expected he'd say "we have to do another lap". I was beside myself but trusted his judgment.

On the day of the surgery (which he did for me on his public list at St George Hospital because we didn't have private health insurance at the time) I was a mess. He came and sat with me and talked to me and tried his best to reassure me. Then when we got into theatre and I was still crying, he stayed with me and held my hand and rubbed my arm until I went to sleep. I'd met the man once before but I can't tell you what a comfort this was.

He called me the next day and every day after that for a few days to see how I was going and to make sure I was OK and my pain was being managed. After a few days I was pain free and could not believe the difference in my recovery compared to the first time. I'm not sure if this is due to his skill as a surgeon or the actual procedures themselves but I was very happy! I could not have been more impressed.

We then went on to do an IVF cycle with him and he continued to impress us. After our previous prg ended in m/c I was extremely nervous so he let me come in as often as I liked to have a scan done and to reassure myself that everything was OK. I couldn't get in to see my ob till after 12 weeks so he continued our care and then handed us over to our ob at 12 weeks (I would have loved to have stayed with Dr S but it just wasn't practical due to the distance and traveling etc). Without those appts with Dr S I wouldn't have coped with those first 12 weeks.

We had a very big scare at 9 weeks with some bleeding and when I contacted the clinic he called me straight away and had me meet him down at Kogarah a few hours later to do a scan and make sure everything was OK.

Anyway, I'm sure I've rabbited on enough! I've spoken to quite a few of his patients and haven't met one yet that didn't think he was wonderful.

Good luck - I hope you have as much success with him as we have!

[Inanna]

Collo,
I have had the pleasure of meeting Dr S as well as consulting via telephone and email.

I know of him being a very very straight talker. He is incredibly empathetic, gentle and kind. However, he will not promise the world and will call a spade a spade. I like and admire that.
He is a dad and a husband - he has an empathy and sensitivity for women. He is passionate about what he does and in my humble opinion he knows his stuff. He doesn't pretend to know what he doesnt'. That to me is vital.

I will go so far as to say you will not be disappointed. You will come away with a firm understanding of what has been discussed and what youdon't understand he will be happy to explain.

Without Dr S (and my own gorgeous obs) I would not have this baby in my belly - nor would I have learnt so much. He truly is a lovely man - and trust me I am not a worshipper of doctors by any means!

Good luck my love and do let us know how it goes...

[collo04]

Thanks so much ladies I feel confident that we are doing the right thing. I just want answers or at least a plan...... THANK YOU again>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[nicole2202]

Hi girls
Well since my last HELP me post Ive decided to make an appointment with Dr Gavin Sacks since BW was kind enough to put me onto him. I was wandering on what he is like? I just hope he isnt like the others I have come across and he actually cares????? I see him on the 17th of next month

hi collo,
i seen dr sacks and he was brilliant
better than any other dr iv'e seen in my 15yrs of trying to get preggars
you will love him
he will give you great advice and will tell it how it is

yours nicole2202