2021 - 2022, Unknown Success
Dr Wittenberger did our IUI and my surgery...He called a few days after my surgery to ask how I was doing and answer the 100 questions I had about IVF with them...I did an IUI in Dec 2021 with 5mg of letrozole and a trigger shot. I produced one mature follicle. It was an ectopic pregnancy and ruptured. My Fallopian tubes were removed and now IVF is our next step for carrying biological children...
It takes a hot minute to be seen here [Naval Medical Center] solely because as of Jan 2022, it's only Dr. Healy & Dr. Wittenberger running the show and he plans to retire this summer. It also takes a while for them to answer to phone so I blow up their office phone when I need to get ahold of them...I was quoted $6990 for IVF and $1800 for a frozen transfer -the retrieval, creating the embryos, medicine, the transfer, and monitoring....
How was your experience with Michael D. Wittenberger at Naval Medical Center (closed)?
She was very good at explaining our plan for treatment. She was also really awesome at getting back to me by the end of the day when I had questions. We started with 5mg of Letrozole and an IUI. I ovulate on my won however when starting treatment I had ONE functioning Fallopian tube but my husband's motility does not allow us to get pregnant on our own. We did our IUI and I got pregnant! However it was ectopic and I lost my fallopian tubes when it ruptured at 5w+4d. Now we intend to move forward with IVF. Dr Wittenberger did our IUI and my surgery. He was so empathetic when it ended and even followed up with me in his personal time. I know it's not something doctors are particularly supposed to say but it made me feel so much better when he told me, "you're not going to leave this office without a baby". It made me feel so much more confident in our treatment and I am very confident he will finally give us our rainbow baby. I have had four miscarriages now.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Michael D. Wittenberger at Naval Medical Center (closed)?
I tend to guard my heart fiercely after our history of losses so I tend to prepare for the darker outcomes. If you come to NMC Balboa, prepare your bank account for the least favorable outcomes. Now on the happier side, you will have the most dedicated providers here and beside manner is always warm and kind
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Michael D. Wittenberger at Naval Medical Center (closed)?
I met with Dr. Healy as my initial doctor. She had to miss our cycle because she went TAD to Guam but when we did meet with her she ensured we understood all the medical lingo and the way she spoke to use made my husband and I feel like we were a team with our clinic. Our cycle was carried out by Dr. Wittenberger and he made sure I was comfortable with him performing our IUI, he even allowed my husband to insert the sample!
Describe the protocols Michael D. Wittenberger used in your cycles at Naval Medical Center (closed) and their degree of success.
I did an IUI in Dec 2021 with 5mg of letrozole and a trigger shot. I produced one mature follicle. It was an ectopic pregnancy and ruptured. My Fallopian tubes were removed and now IVF is our next step for carrying biological children. My follow up care was amazing. Dr. Wittenberger has taken over my overall care and he's just been awesome. He called a few days after my surgery to ask how I was doing and answer the 100 questions I had about IVF with them. Jan 2022 I was quoted $6990 for IVF and $1800 for a frozen transfer
-the retrieval, creating the embryos, medicine, the transfer, and monitoring.
Describe your experience with Naval Medical Center (closed).
It takes a hot minute to be seen here solely because as of Jan 2022, it's only Dr. Healy & Dr. Wittenberger running the show and he plans to retire this summer. It also takes a while for them to answer to phone so I blow up their office phone when I need to get ahold of them
Describe the costs associated with your care under Michael D. Wittenberger at Naval Medical Center (closed).
My husband and I are AD military so our IUI and meds were covered. IVF as of Jan 2022 was quoted at $6990 and a frozen transfer is $1800. I assume our medication will be covered for IVF, we'll find out.
Describe Michael D. Wittenberger's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Naval Medical Center (closed).
I haven't crossed this bridge yet