I've been going to Dr. Zebella's offices for over 15 years. I usually see a nurse practitioner for my exams, and only saw Dr. Zebella for anything related to surgery. The past few years I've seen Nurse Practioner Debra Martin.

Two days ago I woke up with a UTI and was uncomfortable but was unable to call for an appointment because it was a Sunday. I took OTC Azo to help relieve the discomfort on Sunday and telephoned the Dr's office on Monday. First they said I could come in that afternoon and I was pleased with their understanding about my discomfort. Five minutes later their office telephoned me and informed me that I could still come in, and take the urine test, but would not be given medication for a UTI until THURSDAY. I was told this information was coming from the nurse assistant; that the Azo I had taken changed the color of my urine and that they would be unable to get a reading on my white cell count due to the discoloration. I was truly upset and asked for an appoint with Debra Martin sooner the following day, which I was given.

Unable to overcome my discomfort Monday evening; my husband drove me to an Emergency Care Clinic where they did a urine test (color and all) and determined that I needed antibiotics and my blood pressure was high due to my pain. The staff also told me it had nothing to do with COLOR, but the white cells in the urine. A simple litmus test was all I needed.

I was basically lied to by the staff at Florida Fertility Institute in St. Petersburg, FL about what procedures can and cannot be performed while taking Azo for discomfort. They wanted me to make 2 separate trips to their office, suffer during the entire time, and I am self-pay; so it would have been a high cost to me. These people are not concerned with their patients.

I will be shopping for a new Gynecologist that doesn't deal in BULK care.