Dr. Rode is an amazing OBGYN. Highly, highly recommend her.
Having a baby during COVID was not easy. Primary care doctors appointments everywhere were cancelled, surgeries were postponed, every pregnant cough or headache was approached with utter fear and anxiety by me, but Dr. Rode was there for me. Dr. Rode checked in on me. I don't know what I would have done if she was not my doctor during this time.
Dealing with secondary unexplained infertility, Dr. Rode was sensitive to my desire to conceive and she went above and beyond to offer solid medical suggestions and referrals so that I could say I tried everything. I did have fibroids that we could not tell if were causing the infertility or just making me uncomfortable, so she sent me for test and labs, and she never gave up on me. In fact, when I gave up on myself and said I was done trying and wanted a hysterectomy, she was the one who told me to take time and really think about the hysterectomy versus another myomectomy (fibroid removal) and waiting to try to conceive again.
As it turned out, with her conscientious approach to my care, we discovered that somehow I had become pregnant. I was high risk because of fibroids and my post-35 year age. Dr. Rode continued to surpass my expectations at each appointment with a calm attitude, a fabulous bedside manner, patience with my constant questions, her trademark sense of humor, and something not often found in physicians, faith. Dr. Rode was the one who kept my spirits up and reminded me to stay positive because of this utter miracle that was my pregnancy.
Repeat cesarean at the start of lockdown was definitely jarring. No hospital visitors, limited capacity maternity floor, and limited nurse visits was a mental defeat. Dr. Rode continued to call and come in to check on me after delivery. She filled that void left vacant from family not being able to visit my baby, she became family that day. I am truly grateful for Dr. Rode's care. I would, without hesitation, recommend Dr. Rode to anyone in search of an OBGYN.
Post delivery follow up appointments did not disappoint. I was offered virtual appointments, if that felt more comfortable to me. I appreciated both that offer and the availability for me to come into the office. As it turned out, I wanted to go into the office because I was experiencing shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, night sweats, and fatigue. While these could be typical post-pregnancy symptoms, they also had me panicked. Dr. Rode did not dismiss my symptoms and in fact, conferred with other physicians on the phone to figure out if I needed COVID testing or other alternative care. It turned out to be Post Partum Anxiety, which was able to be managed.
As if that isn't enough already, we still had the fibroids to deal with. While they were a threat during delivery, Dr. Rode was patient and explained everything clearly so that I knew what to expect with them during and after delivery. It was too risky to remove during the cesarean, so they had to stay. That being said, I knew I was done having babies so I opted for a hysterectomy. Dr. Rode was so patient and understanding with my circumstance. A hysterectomy at 36 years old is not the most common thing, but neither were my painful fibroids. Dr. Rode helped me to feel more at ease about this. The day of procedure was stressful because the hospital was dealing with oxygen issues in the surgical room, but Dr. Rode literally moved Heaven and Earth to find a room to get my procedure done because many of the other patients had to reschedule that day. As for the hysterectomy with fibroid removal, let me just say this woman is a miracle worker. I am still in disbelief about the size of the fibroids she removed, the intrusiveness they had caused in and around my stomach cavity, and the affect they had on my body. The recovery on this surgery was again, alone in the hospital, but Dr. Rode checked in, shared stories about the fibroids, and explained that she was able to save the ovaries and partial cervix that I had desired to try to keep.
This review is entirely about her because I want anyone looking for a new OBGYN or curious about Dr. Rode, to get a viewpoint from someone who has been with her through multiple issues and will recommend again and again. Dr. Rode will go above and beyond to make sure you are comfortable. There are other people and patients that exist in an office and a hospital, and despite them taking priority in times of emergency or scheduling, Dr. Rode will never leave you unsure. Life is unsure and unpredictable, but Dr. Rode is not. I really wish she was the only doctor I ever had to see again, because I know I would be in great care. read more
