Hi Dusty. BG mentioned your interest in David while I was in hospital, and I've just been checking back over the last thread to see where everyone's at. I'd have to say that she's described my feelings about him very accurately. He's blunt - doesn't beat around the bush with anything and will call a spade a bloody shovel if he must! He treats things aggressively - no messing about, it's once again straight to the point and no time wasting. However, he does focus on the aspects that many others seem to ignore. He's big on getting healthy and staying healthy while you're undergoing treatment and if you're overweight he will put you on a diet and exercise program, and he will check up on you with it. If you're not coping with the emotional sides of things, he'll call a halt to treatment and force you to get yourself in order first... he's done all of these things to me, and I have to admit that they are necessary. He can be the tough butt-kicker when needed, but can also be incredibly supportive and sensitive when needed also. I've had surgery with him twice - first time for a D&C and the second time for EPU - both times I was really freaked out about the anaesthetic and he held my hand the whole time they were dealing with the canula and putting me under. With the D&C I even got a kiss on the forehead because I was such a mess and so upset... He doesn't give false hope (and this has been confirmed by other people I have encountered who have been treated by him), which is something I feel is absolutely vitally important in this game!

I will admit that there are times I want to kick him, others when I could just simply hug him... He's an interesting doctor to work with, and I really wouldn't change to anyone else! DH loves him, they seem to have a very similar sense of humour and share an interest in all things (particularly TV series) sci-fi. He's also a huge AFL fan, particularly following west coast... you can guarantee a fantastic appointment with him if his team won over the weekend!

Anyway... if there's any more you want to know, feel free to PM me. I find NGF's charges to be quite reasonable (particulary in comparison to SIVF!), and the nurses there are simply wonderful! I cried all over three of them in the process of getting through this stim cycle and they organised medical certificates for work when I wasn't coping, they forced the day surgery to open on a day they don't normally work to get me (and another woman) through EPU at the right stage, and the scientists rang me every single day after EPU through to day 6 when the last of my good embryos went into the freezer. I even had a phone call from one of the nurses to check on me when she heard I landed in hospital - this was the one who threatened to come and get me and take me herself if I was as stubborn and pig-headed about it as last time! Best thing... the way they work with the day hospital, you wake up from EPU with a nice, friendly wheat pack... bliss!

Excuse all the babble... I do think VERY highly of my FS, my clinic, the nurses... everyone I've encountered there has been brilliant (even the receptionist I cried to over the phone when we lost Caterpillar).

BW