Anyone been to Pope Paul VI Institute/Dr. Hilgers?

[brbgrl]

Has anyone been to see Dr. Hilgers in Omaha, NE? If so what was your experience? I am especially interested in hearing from anyone who has had surgery. I am considering trying to get an appointment to see about a diagnositic/therapeutic laparoscopy. I have had all the symptoms of endometriosis for years (which was treated with BCP, shots, etc in my teenage years). After getting engaged we started doing Creighton Model NFP. Going off the pill caused a HUGE increase in symptoms. I’ve been treated by several Napro Doctors and despite being told I may have infertility problems I did have 2 successful pregnancies (with hormone support through Napro). Since my cycles returned after my last pregnancy my symptoms are worse than ever before (they go away completely during pregnancy and lactational amenorrhea). I’m to the point I’m considering going back on the pill because I can’t function, but I’d like to exhaust all other options first. Any success stories?

 

[Pickle_Breath]

I had very high hopes for my Pope Paul VI Institute experience. While the charting taught us some things and Dr. Hilgers seemed very concerned about my rare hormonal situation, in the end I am very careful who I recommend see them based on my experience.

He put me on a low dose heart med to try to get my pulse and temperature to normalize, so he could adjust my hormones. I asked the nurse before I took the heart med if I would have any side effects, no, she said, you’re on a low dose. (Keep in mine I do not have a heart problem so why use a heart med?) The next 30 days were awful because the med made me suicidal!!! When I called to talk to a nurse at the Institute, they blew me off and said they couldn’t offer me support and I needed to seek help locally. Thanks for abandoning me after putting me on the med in the first place! I stopped the heart med and stopped working with the Institute… My next step was surgery in Omaha but if they couldn’t help me with a small thing… We didn’t trust them with a surgery.

Best of luck in your search for information! I truly hope the good outweighs the bad.
Blessings,
Pickle

 

[TraderTif]

I had good experience with them, although I never saw Dr. H personally. (I saw his major assistant - Dr. Keefe.)

Went out in 2008 for laparoscopy/hysteroscopy/D&C. Confirmed my initial diagnosis of PCOS, they took out some incredibly minor endometriosis and polyps while they were in there. Started hormone treatments/medications for the next few years. (Fertility not being an issue at the moment, as I was single.)

Hormone treatments made me feel better, but didn’t truly “fix” anything. (Still not cycling at all.) I found a “local” (4-hour-drive) NaPro doctor, who was amazingly helpful. (I can’t recommend that enough - find a local doctor if at ALL possible!!!)

Got engaged in 2011, went out to Omaha again, and had an ovarian wedge resection (bigger surgery). Began cycling immediately. I couldn’t believe it!! I’d only cycled 3 times in my life, between age 12 and 30. Got married in 2012, and got pregnant before we got the thank you notes out. Stunning!! Had a baby girl 9 months later. And then, 9 months after that, as soon as we decided to “stop avoiding”, we got pregnant immediately, AGAIN.

We’re expecting a boy in September.

So, I gotta say, overall, my experience was great.

That said, when I got married, I moved from VT to KY, and looked for a new local NaPro specialist. Visited a few times, but was VERY unimpressed. (To the point that I actually go back to VT once a year, visit my folks, and swing by MA just to see my old NaPro doc.) So, they’re not all great.