19 replies to this topic

[schlepp]

Does anyone have experience with satellite monitoring in Toronto? Anywhere they would recommend? Did anyone successfully get their family doctor to order some of the testing?

 

I'm looking to Europe for IVF w/ ICSI OE as there are substantial savings and we like to travel. Just trying to figure out what costs I would have here in Toronto before. I would probably try to order meds from IVFmed.com this time around if I was to start stims here before going over. But I'm assuming I would need a CD3 ultrasound and bw the cycle prior and then the cycle of as well to confirm I can start. 

 

Thanks in advance to anyone that knows what these would cost and where is the best place to get them done. I can see Fertility Clinics not being super keen on providing this service at a reasonable rate. 

[quandry]

Not sure about regular ivf... As that's money the clinics could be making themselves. I know some clinics support overseas de ivf but even then the clinics can be picky.

Google satellite monitoring ivf Toronto and see what comes up. I found a clinic in Barrie that will do it but not sure about Toronto.

Be careful ordering ivf meds online. Often customs seizes them.

[schlepp]

I did and only came up with Astra at 2k. The rest are more for clinics in smaller towns doing satellite monitoring for the larger clinic their affiliated with. 

 

Interestingly they offer it in Vancouver at PCRM a la carte at $200 for us and $100 for estradiol. 

 

If I only need CD3 us and bw for the cycle prior, when I would start BCPs, maybe my family doctor would be fine. 

 

I'm looking at Zlin and in their email to me they want you there for the entire cycle. So actual IVF monitoring I wouldn't need in TO. Maybe just betas which I could also ask my family doctor for. 

 

I've seen women on the IVF Canada facebook group have a lot of success with ivfmeds.com. But, Zlin sent me their rx price list and wow is it cheap even in comparison to ivfmed.com. Like their 900iu pen is marginally more than what I paid for a 300iu pen here. 

[quandry]

Yeah. Meds in Zlin are dirt cheap.

Look into going outside the city. For me all j need is a Drs referral and my clinic in Barrie will do all the work ups for free. No charge. (I used to commute to Toronto for all my ivf appointments so I know it's a pain but at least you're going opposite to traffic!)

[schlepp]

That is a great suggestion. Would need something on the GO Train as I don't have a car.  Did Barrie provide it for free as you used to be a patient? 

 

The communication from Zlin so far has been amazing. I'm going to check out a couple of other clinics as well but so far I'm very impressed. 

[quandry]

I really loved Zlin. Dh too.

I called the barrie clinic. They said all I needed was a Drs referral. And then I can just have them prescribe what I need prior to leaving (bcp, a shot that shut down my ovaries can't remember name sorry, and crinone). I'll need some testing - day three, shg, and dhs semen analysis. And yes. I believe it's all free. They are a satellite clinic only and do not do ivf in house so they don't lose any money by you choosing to go overseas.

Mfc was my original work up clinic. We were originally going to do DE with them, but the costs changed out minds. They were disappointed but supportive of our decision and gave us everything I needed (already had all the testing done by that time, just needed meds). Until I got home that is. Suddenly they refused to prescribe the drugs I was already on, and would need to wean off of and not go cold turkey. In a panic my gp got us in with hannam who supported us till I hit 12 weeks and was transferred to the high risk clinic.

My advice - buy all the drugs you need in Zlin!!! That's what I'll be doing next time.

[schlepp]

Reading about the issues with medications, and then seeing the price list!, I see no downside to stocking up. I go to Europe for work occasionally and was thinking if I didn't somehow cycle over there, I should still try to find a way to stock up on a cycles worth of meds. I bled every pen dry and gave myself lots of extra injections the last cycle to keep my med costs down. Saved myself about $1000 but still ended up spending $4200 on Gonal F. 

 

That is such a great point about satellite clinics as I forgot that they are not loosing out on money and can still bill OHIP. Thank you! Such a brilliant suggestion!

[Waiting2017]

Dear Schlepp,
I have found your post from last year and was hpoing you found way of doing CD 3 ultrasound and blood work. I am looking to do my treatment is States but i cannot find a way of getting all meds and bw and us. If you figured thia out do you mind sharing the info? Hope everything is going well with your treatment.Thank you!

[schlepp]

Dear Schlepp,
I have found your post from last year and was hpoing you found way of doing CD 3 ultrasound and blood work. I am looking to do my treatment is States but i cannot find a way of getting all meds and bw and us. If you figured thia out do you mind sharing the info? Hope everything is going well with your treatment.Thank you!

Hi Waiting2017. We decided not to go abroad for IVF as I have lining issues which would make it very complicated to time any FETs with travel.

I think the best advice I got was just to approach a satellite monitoring clinic (one that does not have a lab to do IVF) and ask if they would do the monitoring. One member even asked her satellite monitoring clinic for me and they said it was possible.

I'm in Toronto so, ironically, it would have meant commuting to a smaller city for satellite monitoring but it could have also saved me money as technically they could bill OHIP for the ultrasounds and bloodwork.

Good luck!

[Waiting2017]

Thank you Schlepp. I hope everything is going well for you;)

[Chevygirl2]

Hi everyone. I realize this original post is 2 years old but I have the same question and I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. My hubby and I are planning on going to a clinic in the states for a fresh DE cycle. My local fertility clinic and Trio (where I did my ivf cycle) as well as my GP aren't willing to cosign prescriptions from the states. I've left messages with Astra and Barrie so fingers crossed one of them will help me out. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
Thanks.

[returnable]

Chevygirl the satellite monitoring does not include the cosigning of prescriptions.

[kayte1]

Chevygirl,

try showing your family doctor what you need. I did an IVF cycle in Czech Republic in the Fall... I printed off the prescriptions they emailed me and (with some difficulty and double-checking back and forth with an coordinator on behalf of the Czech doctor, and my family doctor) my family doctor figured out the meds, dosage and repeats and I picked them up from my local pharmacy I did this all in advance, which was good... as like I said it took a little back and forth.

[Chevygirl2]

Thanks Returnable, I'm learning something new everyday with this process.
Kayte 1- that's good advice and I asked my GP after my local fertility clinic said they had just changed their policy and wouldn't co-sign international prescriptions any longer. My GP wasn't eager to help. I'm glad your family Dr was willing to work with you though. I feel like there's enough things to worry about with infertility without having to worry about sourcing meds. How was the Czech Republic? Which clinic were you working with? I looked into Reprofit last summer and was impressed by their services and loved the price. I'm just worried about coordinating things overseas...I'm having a heck of a time just trying to coordinate things with the states.

[returnable]

Chevygirl come to the donor buddies forums. There are a few ladies there that are currently working with CR clinics. I think whether you are going to the US or elsewhere overseas, the coordination is about the same.

[WinterfellGirl]

I too have been trying to get answers about satellite monitoring in Toronto from my former IVF clinic (Create). With no luck yet. It's been over two weeks of emailing and calling and being passed from one person to the next. Very frustrating.

 

I'm planning on doing a donor egg cycle in Greece possibly in late April. I was told that yes, my RE could do satellite monitoring, but he wanted some more info first. So I sent the info but still no one will get back to me confirming we can get the ball rolling. All I need are a few standard pre-treatment blood tests and two scans once the cycle begins. And a few prescriptions. That's it! And nothing compared to regular cycle monitoring where you're in the clinic almost every day. The lack of communication or follow up is so unprofessional. The only reason I'm hounding them is because it's a one-stop-shop. Less running around for me. 

 

I've already started a backup plan and called my family doctor and asked for a requisition to get the blood tests done at a local Life Labs. Lucky for me my family health clinic has a Life Labs on site. But there are several around the city too.

 

During my last appointment with my doctor a few weeks ago I had to get my pap test done and brought up the whole satellite monitoring situation. Good thing I did because we lumped in a few of the other "swab" tests required from the clinic in Greece. Got those out of the way in one appointment. I discussed with my doctor that if my old fertility clinic wouldn't do satellite monitoring, if she could help me out with requisitions, scans and scrips. She said she could, with the exception of the sperm DNA frag test which their on-site lab doesn't offer.  Everything else the clinic can do and it's covered by OHIP.

 

So now I'm going ahead with that plan because I don't have much faith in Create getting back to me. If they do, great. But it will also depend on whether there's a fee for this mini satellite monitoring. I'm not paying $700 or $900 for two blood tests and two scans when I can get those done at a Life Labs for free.

 

We have to take it upon ourselves to get s*** done, right ladies!

[WinterfellGirl]

Update to my previous post. Create finally got back to me and does offer satellite monitoring. Cost is not cheap. $300 for the "coordination" fee, $188 per ultrasound scan and $110 per blood work order. So you can imagine if you need 2 scans and a couple blood tests, you're looking at $700-$900 easily.

The only upside is the convenience of doing everything at one place and they can communicate results with your out-of-country clinic quickly. And they have all the meds on site. I'm going to sleep on it. With all the expenses we've been through, that just seems so expensive. If I can get most of the tests and scans through my family dr for free I'd rather do that.

[Chevygirl2]

Hi Returnable-I'll check out the forum. Thanks.

Hi Winterfell Gal- I'm glad you're finally getting the info you need. I get your frustration with this process. It feels like it's always one step forward and two giant steps back. I feel like I've got a second job with the amount of time I put into researching clinics, playing telephone tag with people and trying to coordinate all the things that need to come together. That's terrific that your family Dr will help you out though! It sounds like you've got a few options. I guess you need to decide whether the money saved by going through your family Dr is worth your time and the hassle of coordinating tests, sending them where they need to go and following up. In terms of the price Create quoted you, my local fertility clinic told me around the same price for bloods and us but without a prescription. I thought it was a fair price since Trio was going to charge $2000 just for the bloodwork and ultrasounds. That's pretty ridiculous for just 2 ultrasounds and bloodwork! Unfortunately, I think everyone's out to make a buck. So do you have a timeline of when you'll be going to Greece? It's exciting when things start to fall into place!

[WinterfellGirl]

Hi Returnable-I'll check out the forum. Thanks.
Hi Winterfell Gal- I'm glad you're finally getting the info you need. I get your frustration with this process. It feels like it's always one step forward and two giant steps back. I feel like I've got a second job with the amount of time I put into researching clinics, playing telephone tag with people and trying to coordinate all the things that need to come together. That's terrific that your family Dr will help you out though! It sounds like you've got a few options. I guess you need to decide whether the money saved by going through your family Dr is worth your time and the hassle of coordinating tests, sending them where they need to go and following up. In terms of the price Create quoted you, my local fertility clinic told me around the same price for bloods and us but without a prescription. I thought it was a fair price since Trio was going to charge $2000 just for the bloodwork and ultrasounds. That's pretty ridiculous for just 2 ultrasounds and bloodwork! Unfortunately, I think everyone's out to make a buck. So do you have a timeline of when you'll be going to Greece? It's exciting when things start to fall into place!

The plan is to go late April. Our coordinator will be updating us on two potential donors by week's end. Then I suppose everything officially starts and we'll get a schedule. I'm expecting my period next week and am supposed to start the pill on day 2. But I still haven't got the prescription yet or the other pre treatment blood tests! Getting down to the wire.

Like you said, the amount of time we waste calling and emailing and trying to get answers. Ugh! And trying to do it at work and find privacy is not fun. Yesterday after I had emailed and called Create for the umpteenth time while out on my break, they finally called back the second I was back at my desk. Of course.

Even though my family dr said she would help I haven't been able to get a call back yet or requisition for blood tests. I've called and spoken to one receptionist after another and repeated my request over and over. They promise to pass on the message but I'm still waiting. I might have to go with the fertility clinic after all. Going to give it one more day.

I even emailed Hannam for a quote but they don't work with clinics in Greece. Trio's price is insane. The whole thing is such a cash grab. Especially when we've spent $$$ on multiple IVF cycles. You'd think the tiny satellite monitoring service we need would be affordable. But no.

Oh well! If this fertility journey has done anything it's made me tougher and stronger and not willing to give up. One way or another it's going to all work out. We can't let the process get in our way.

Are you still looking for a satellite clinic?

[Chevygirl2]

The end of April will be here before you know it WinterfellGal. How exciting! Have you travelled to Greece before? Having a vacation thrown in with the ivf sounds pretty amazing. I love the idea of going overseas for ivf but my husband just started a new job and won't be able to get the time off work anytime soon.
I know what you mean about the lack of privacy at work. I can't tell you how many phone calls I've had to make from the washroom or my car in the parking lot. That's usually how I spend my lunch time.
I may have found a satellite clinic that will monitor and prescribe meds. It's Lakeridge fertility in Whitby and apparently it's owned by Dr Browning who also owns the Barrie clinic which people often use for monitoring overseas. I'm pretty disappointed because the soonest consultation appt they had was at the beginning of April. This was after I left numerous voice mails relaying the urgency of the matter and my nurse from my local clinic sent in the referral package marked urgent. Unfortunately the donor we liked at CNY was starting her cycle in April (we would be secondary receipients) so we'd lose our chance at working with her. As for pricing they haven't been very clear. Apparently they've worked with CNY before though so hopefully it would be pretty routine.