Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
2022, 4 Eggs Frozen
Dr. Skaznik seemed knowledgable and professional in all our interactions together. However, she was quick to sell me on starting another cycle due to disappointing results, rather than explain why I could have gotten poor results in the first place or show compassion toward my situation. I told her that it was a huge cost financially and emotionally to me and I am not ready to start another one immediately, but she pushed it, saying that I might have unknown fertility problems without giving details on how or why.
I appreciate how Kindbody has really nailed down and modernized the patient experience. The office is warm, welcoming, and absolutely gorgeous, unlike any medical clinic I've ever been to. I always felt comfortable going in for my check ups and the staff were very kind and welcoming to me. I do think that glossy exterior conceals the fact that patients don't really get direct interaction with the doctor through the process. After my initial consultation, the next time I saw my doctor was right before my surgery.
How was your experience with Malgorzata (Gosia) Skaznik-Wikiel at Kindbody?
Dr. Skaznik seemed knowledgable and professional in all our interactions together. However, she was quick to sell me on starting another cycle due to disappointing results, rather than explain why I could have gotten poor results in the first place or show compassion toward my situation. I told her that it was a huge cost financially and emotionally to me and I am not ready to start another one immediately, but she pushed it, saying that I might have unknown fertility problems without giving details on how or why.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Malgorzata (Gosia) Skaznik-Wikiel at Kindbody?
Try to get consultations at other clinics as well to find the right fit. Kindbody is extremely alluring with its nice office staff and beautiful space, but all the glossy millennial marketing doesn't matter if you don't get the medical care you deserve.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Malgorzata (Gosia) Skaznik-Wikiel at Kindbody?
Medical staff were kind to me prior and during treatment, but that ended as soon as my egg retrieval operation was over.
No one had the decency to call or message me about my results, so they were never effectively communicated to me. I had to dig through the web portal the day after to finally locate the total number of eggs frozen by myself. It may have something to do with the fact that my results were very different than what I was told was expected up to the minute before my surgery. Everyone was very excited that I was young (age 30) and had "responded well" to the medication and would likely get 13-15 eggs, of which I was almost guaranteed that 70-80% would be mature. I ended up getting 4 mature eggs, which I unceremoniously discovered by clicking through the web portal.
I understand that results are unpredictable, though, and give the doctors the benefit of the doubt here. What is REALLY disappointing is what happened after my operation. Not only was my egg count not communicated to me, but no one had as far as mentioned anything related to this condition called Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome, which I suffered from immensely throughout the following week. I had no idea what was going on when I suddenly gained 8lbs in 3 days, and felt so fatigued, I slept through most of it.
Before I left Kindbody after egg retrieval, nurses told me that I may experience some residual bloating, and that I would definitely be back to work the next day. The only red flag that I was to contact them about was if I had excessive bleeding, which I did not. Now that it's 9 days later, I still feel like my abdomen has inflated like a balloon, I have stretch marks all over, and it's uncomfortable to sit down. I've done copious research online, because doctors didn't in the slightest inform me that this could happen and why. When I reached out to follow up with the office, the only response I got was to go to an urgent care center if it started to cause trouble with breathing.
Describe the protocols Malgorzata (Gosia) Skaznik-Wikiel used in your cycles at Kindbody and their degree of success.
Pre-treatment: 2 weeks of birth control (Mili) until I got my period, then wait 3 days before starting stimulation injections.
Stimulation protocol:
Days 1 - 6: 275IU Follistim at night
Day 7-9: 250IU Follistim, 75IU Menopur at night, 75IU Ganirelix in the morning
Trigger: 5000IU Pregnyl and 800IU Leuprolide
Went in for ultrasound and bloodwork on days 4, 7, 9, 10.
During the check ins, the maximum number of follicles seen was 18.
At my last check in, there were 15 follicles between 13mm - 23mm in size.
Result: 13 eggs retrieved, 4 eggs frozen.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Kindbody.
Nurses were very kind and friendly in person, but not the most organized. I really liked my ultrasound technician as she always gave me the most detailed and honest answers to my questions and all the context I asked for.
During my first blood draw, the needle slipped out and blood sprayed from my arm all over, but I didn't see that phlebotomist ever again.
I had to remember to ask the main nurse when I should reorder refills of medication, because they didn't keep track of when I would run out.
Describe your experience with Kindbody.
I appreciate how Kindbody has really nailed down and modernized the patient experience. The office is warm, welcoming, and absolutely gorgeous, unlike any medical clinic I've ever been to. I always felt comfortable going in for my check ups and the staff were very kind and welcoming to me.
I do think that glossy exterior conceals the fact that patients don't really get direct interaction with the doctor through the process. After my initial consultation, the next time I saw my doctor was right before my surgery. I didn't receive as much communication as I would have liked about how I was progressing, why I was given a certain protocol, and most of all, what I should expect after the operation. I don't think I know enough to hold the clinic responsible for my poor results (it could have been just me), but I think transparency and communication could definitely be improved.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Malgorzata (Gosia) Skaznik-Wikiel at Kindbody.
$6500 for treatment, $4000 for initial shipment of medication, $700 for extra medication I needed
What specific things went wrong at Kindbody?
- Failed to call with results
- Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Kindbody.
I covered this in my answer to the first question.