Conference turris::womannotes-v2

    I see Dr. Kathleen Thurmond at 1415 Beacon St in Brookline (phone
    number is 738-6666). Although I live out in the 'burbs, I think it's
    worth the trip into town to see her. Apparently other people think so
    too; I once met someone from Rhode Island in her office. 
    
    What do I like about her? She's gentle, seems very human, takes me
    seriously, acknowledges my nervousness, and believes that I have the
    right to make decisions about my body (strange concept, eh?). It's
    reasonably easy to make appointments with her (she doesn't seem to
    schedule months and months in advance). She sends letters to let me
    know what the results of my tests are, and she once even called me up
    to apologize for a potentially hurtful mixup. Her staff members
    are gentle and sweet, too. They always help me feel more comfortable,
    and I imagine that they're screened pretty carefully. She's definitely
    the best GYN I've ever had and I have a large sample size to choose
    from!
    
    Liz
    

    
    Dr. Promila Mathur (393-2999)...I like her a lot.  My sister recently
    was in lots of pain.  We went to the ER at Marlboro Hospital and
    got some jerk who made us wait 3 hours to tell us that it was probably
    an OB/GYN problem and if she was still in pain the next day she
    should call her family doctor.  Well, my sister was in so much pain
    that after I got home I called Dr. Mathur while she was at home.
    After listening to the symptoms she told me to give my sister some
    of my prescription Motrin and bring her in 1st thing the next morning.
    Her office scheduled an ultrasound for 1pm but my sister was in
    so much pain the Dr made them move it up until 10am.  They thought
    it was a cyst and the Dr had her admitted that afternoon (Tuesday)
    and planned on operating Wed.  However, when she came in Tues night
    she decided that my sister needed to be operated on immediately.
    What looked like a cyst was actually blood caught in my sisters
    fallopian tube which had twisted 3.5 times.  The Dr says that .5
    a turn is excrutiatingly painful and she had never seen one twisted
    as badly as my sister's was.  The thing is she was very good, very
    competent and said that, if necessary, the tube could be repaired
    with micro surgery.  If she hadn't performed emergency surgery,
    chances are my sister would have started bleeding into her stomach
    which would have caused all kinds of complications.
    
    I saw her today for my yearly checkup.  She's very nice, will talk
    about anything, knows me and my family well(especailly after the
    past few weeks) and she really cares about what happens to us. 
    The wait for an appt is usually about 2-4 wks and sometimes the
    wait in the office can be long(although today it was only 3 minutes
    for me) but I feel that it's worth it.  There's another OB/GYN that
    she shares office space with, Dr. Trudy Donovan, and I've heard
    that she's very good also.  The building is on 112 Main St about
    .5 mile before the police station and on the left is you're coming
    from Marlboro.
    
    One ps....for anyone in their early 20s who has never gone to an
    OB/GYN please consider going.  A friend of mine had a cousin die
    of cancer which, if she had gone to the gyn. regularly, would have
    been detected in the yearly pap smear and she would have probably
    lived.  The same can be said of many cases of breast cancer.
    
    GO IRISH!
    
    Rachel	

    I go to Dr. Maureen Beurskens at Fallon Clinic in Westboro.  She's
    popular, so you may have to wait for a while for a first appointment.
    She also usually runs behind schedule.  However, I really like her,
    she takes the time to answer any questions I might have (unlike
    my previous doctor).  She delivered my daughter with an emergency
    C-section.  I feel confident that she saved Caileigh's life with
    her prompt action--and yet she was sensitive to my feelings throughout,
    acknowledging my fear, explaining everything that was happening,
    etc.
    
    -Tracy
    

	I see Dr. Trudy Donovan mentioned a few notes back.. Shes
	WONDERFUL...  She delivered my son john.  She just had a
	baby herself about a year ago.

	/Robin

Jennifer Thulin -- highly recommended, except that:

I called two days ago to make an appointment for a regular exam.
Imagine my surprise when the receptionist said, "Let's see... we have
an opening August 24 at 3:30!"  It was shocking about a year ago when
the appointments were moved out to just two months. 

I asked her if the long wait had to do with what I'd read about
Ob/Gyns leaving the state because of high malpractice insurance rates.
But she said no, it's just that huge numbers of women are switching to
female gynecologists. 

She assured me that they could handle any emergencies or pressing
problems I might encounter before then, though. 

Brenda

    Any recommendations for a newcomer to the
    Fitchburg/Leominster/Lunenburg area (home) or Concord area (work)?
    
    Karen

    I go to Dr. Bettyann Cirillo at Montachusett Obstetrics & Gynecology
    Inc., 955 South Street, Fitchburg MA -- Just a few minutes off of
    Route 2. 
    
    Dr. Cirillo was recommended to me by my father-in-law, Dr. Charles
    Gerry, who is also an OB/GYN in Leominster's Fallon Clinic.
    
    I find Dr. Cirillo is patient and understanding, and is willing
    to give me time to talk about anything that's bothering me.  She
    even has socks on the stirrups!!!
    
    There are also two other Gyns at Montachusett Ob/Gyn, Dr. Flanagan
    and Dr. Schatz, both also highly recommended.
    
    Good Luck finding someone
    cin
    

    
    I took the suggestion for Dr. Mathur and Dr. Donovan in replies
    .2 and .4 because I live very close to there.
    
    I was very disappointed - not with Dr. Mathur, because I never even got
    to see her, but with the office.
    
    When I arrived prompted at 9:29 am for my 9:30 am appointment yesterday
    morning, I went to the receptionist and started to say, "Hello, I have
    a 9:30 am appointment with...", she cut me off, and curtly said,
    "What's your name?"  I replied with my name, she paged through the
    appointment book for a few seconds, and then asked, "Who's your
    appointment with?" to which I responded, "I was about to tell you that
    before you cut me off.  It's with Dr. Mathur."  She had no record of my
    appointment, which I waited *TWO WHOLE MONTHS* for !
    
    Then she asked if I was a new patient, I said yes, and she handed me a
    couple of forms to fill out.  I filled them out in 5 minutes, returned
    them to her, and sat down.
    
    Not ONCE in the half an hour I waited did anyone give me any indication
    when I would be able to see the doctor.
    
    I walked out at 10:00 am.  I've never had to wait for a doctor before
    in such a crowded (and noisy) waiting room with all the chairs fills
    and so many people waiting to see a doctor for 20, 30, 45 minutes, etc.
    The receptionist was RUDE.  Dr. Mathur may be okay, but she's not worth
    it, in  my estimation.
    
    I'm mailing her a letter about my experience too.  I was positively
    infuriated.
    
    

    If anyone is looking for a *great* gynocologist, I suggest you see
    Dr. Paul Richer at Wellesley (sp.) Hospital.  He is an excellent
    doctor.
    
    I moved to Florida in November of '88 and I have yet to find a doctor
    as good as he is.

    I would recommend Johanna Perlmutter, who works out of Beth Israel
    Hospital in Brookline/Boston area.  She is terrific.

    Dr. Richer's been my gynecologist for over ten years, and I'm very
    pleased.  He listens.  (He was recommended to me by my mother who
    used to be a nursing supervisor in obstetrics at NWH.)

    He's still affiliated with Newton-Wellesley hospital, but his office and
    the group he works with "Women's Health Associates" recently
    moved to a new building in Newton.  The phone number is 617-237-0800.

    Moved to a more appropriate topic....
    
    -Jody
    
           <<< RANGER::$2$DUA8:[NOTES$LIBRARY]WOMANNOTES-V2.NOTE;1 >>>
                        -< Topics of Interest to Women >-
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Note 1062.15              Questions and Answers -- FSNO                 15 of 15
EXIT26::WILSON                                       13 lines  30-MAR-1990 11:26
                       -< need a Gyn in Lexington area >-
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    QUESTION....
    
    Could some one please recommend a good Gyn in the Lexington area.
    
    I had been going to Stephen Berkowitz in Framingham...but since
    my move to Lexington I find the distance to far to travel.  In
    fact I am overdue for a Pap.
    
    Thanks,
    Suzanne
    
    
    

    Suzanne,
    
    I was in the same boat and found great care.  There is an all-woman
    and rather feminist oriented ob-gyn practice in Lexington.
    
    Three doctors.  Robin Richman, Sharon Margulies and I've juist drawn a
    blank on the third.  (It must be Friday.!!)  Phone # 861-1991.
    
    Office is at 35 Bedford Street, across from the Stop and Shop.
    
    They have a number of DECcie patients I gather from discussing
    insurance with them.
    
         Margaret  

    Margaret,
    
    Thanks for the info.  I called their office yesterday and was surprised
    to get an appointment for this month!  Most offices make you wait at 
    least 3 months.  Karen McCreedy (sp?) is the third doctor.  My
    appointment is with her.
    
    Suzanne