The APRIL 2008 Infertility One Thread!!! - Page 2

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

Kristin - wonderful, wonderful news! You must be over the moon! Congrats! Sounds like we're on similar cycles - 21 days of bcp (I lose track of where I'm at... 7?) starting suppression on the 6th. Typically (I can say that now I've done 2 cycles...) I am a slow responder so I imagine it'll be close to the end of the month for ER/ET. I have to fly to Toronto for a conference on the 20th so we're kind of booking the stims around that. Freaked out about the conference - not only traveling with needles and jabbing myself (luckily I'm rooming with my BFF/coworker - about the only person who won't be visibly freaked out I'm packing both sharps AND a breastpump LOL!) but also leaving my DD for the first time. But trying to zen... fingers crossed REAL tight for you. How's DH recovering? I tell you, some of the best news I heard in years was when they wheeled DH out of the TESA and the nurse turned to me and said "we've got sperm". I think I may have cried.

Rita - welcome - I'm in Ontario too (um... obviously!). I also am doing this out of pocket - in our case because we're MFI (DH has no vas deferens which in the end comes to the same thing as two blocked tubes, but Ontario doesn't see it that way...).

Hi to everyone else - I'm on my way to bed and meant to just subscribe for tonight! Mischevium thanks again for setting this up - it's marvelous.

[Aly22681]

Originally Posted by kristenok18

That really stinks. I'm sorry they're being jerks about coding. ARGH!!!! Can I ask how you are able to do IVF with military? I was told be the tricare rep that absolutely no way would I be able to do that.

IVF is not through tricare its through the military (it never even crosses tricares desk) There are a few MTF's across the country that do IVF for an really discounted rate. Walter Reed does it, and there is one in TX and HI that also do it. It cost $4152 for the entire thing (including your meds) You have to qualify for the program, but from what I have heard if your RE is talking to you about IVF then you pretty much qualify (they are about as strict as civilian dr's) You also have to pay for your own travel expenses but from what I have heard you only have to travel out there 2 times.

[Julia'sMom]

Have any of you ladies used progesterone support after O until the preg test? I'm using Crinone gel and it seems to be having some side effects such as (tmi) very loose stools. Is that from the medication?

[mischievium]

Changes made to here.

Originally Posted by kristenok18

mischevium- have you found a new re yet and just waiting for an appt, or are you still looking?

This will actually be our first RE, it took up until now to get a solid diagnosis that meant that we'd need to pursue IUI or IVF. It's complicated by the fact that DH and I are supposed to be moving to Seattle-- we have some flexibility with this, as DH's employer is happy for him to stay in their Bay Area office as long as he is, BUT we do need to move at some point (the move has been initiated by us because I have family in the Seattle area and because home prices are "cheaper" there). DH's initial reaction was that we should just stay here until I get pregnant (I think that's because he trusts the urologist he's been seeing here)-- I, however, am really leaning towards moving first and pursuing ART in Seattle because we have no idea how long this is going to take. I've done some looking around at different fertility clinics in Seattle and will probably go with Seattle Reproductive Medicine. I've read a bit about the practice and doctors there on another board and will probably go with Dr. Klein.

Originally Posted by kristinc

Perdita- Great news...they got 4 vials of epididymal & testicular sperm today!! Woo Hoo!!! and i think you and i are on nearly the same cycle. I started suppression on friday. I am 21 days of BCPs and then 5 days of nothing and then follistim, ganirelex & menopur. Is that the same protocol as you?? of course all assuming that my cyst is better in 3 weeks.

Kristinc, that's awesome! I'm so happy for you that the TESA was successful!

Originally Posted by Criolla12

Hi ladies,

Long-time lurker, third-time poster. My name is Rita. On April Fool's day I was informed by my RE that either endo / post-partum infection from my (only) DC has not only wrecked both tubes, but also killed some of the follicles on my ovaries, leaving my both tubally infertile and with diminished ovarian reserve.

As he is a busy doctor, I never have time to really process the news emotionally, I just throw out questions in his office (I always have more later, though!) and we work out a strategy. Unfortunately, even though Ontario pays for IVF for bilateral blockage, I have 90% blockage, which means it's all out of pocket.

I know I should be thankful that we even have this option, and my RE recommends only doing 1 IVF (& hopefully 1 FET) before he can try to convince the province that they should cover any subsequent tries.

Rita, welcome to the club that no one wants to join ! It must have been so hard to get the news about your ovary and tubes . And, wow, that's frustrating to hear that you're going to have to pay out of pocket just because your tube is 90% not 100% blocked .

Originally Posted by Perdita_in_Ontario

Sounds like we're on similar cycles - 21 days of bcp (I lose track of where I'm at... 7?) starting suppression on the 6th. Typically (I can say that now I've done 2 cycles...) I am a slow responder so I imagine it'll be close to the end of the month for ER/ET. I have to fly to Toronto for a conference on the 20th so we're kind of booking the stims around that. Freaked out about the conference - not only traveling with needles and jabbing myself (luckily I'm rooming with my BFF/coworker - about the only person who won't be visibly freaked out I'm packing both sharps AND a breastpump LOL!) but also leaving my DD for the first time.

Hi to everyone else - I'm on my way to bed and meant to just subscribe for tonight! Mischevium thanks again for setting this up - it's marvelous.

You're very welcome! : for your cycle (and the conference!).

Originally Posted by Aly22681

IVF is not through tricare its through the military (it never even crosses tricares desk) There are a few MTF's across the country that do IVF for an really discounted rate. Walter Reed does it, and there is one in TX and HI that also do it. It cost $4152 for the entire thing (including your meds) You have to qualify for the program, but from what I have heard if your RE is talking to you about IVF then you pretty much qualify (they are about as strict as civilian dr's) You also have to pay for your own travel expenses but from what I have heard you only have to travel out there 2 times.

Wow, that is a huge discount! If tickets to HI weren't so expensive, if I were you, I'd be tempted to go there. I'm glad there's some sort of upside for people in the armed forces (not HI, but the price).

[momoftworedheads]

Could you please add that I have had another m/c? Thanks!
momoftworedheads

We are going to see an RE as well as a midwife.

Take care!

[mischievium]

I'm so sorry to hear that, momoftworedheads .

[angel1895]

sorry momoftworedheads

[kristenok18]

momoftworedheads, i am so so sorry to hear about your loss.

[BurtsGirl]

I'm not sure how I've been missing this thread but am so glad its here! I'd like to be added please.

TTC since Aug 2007. I have low progestrone. We've been using Femera/HCG Trigger/IUI with frozen donor sperm. I'm also taking chinese herbs and doing acupuncture, started in March 08. We just tested today at 12DPIUI and got a BFN so we'll be sitting this next cycle out to give me and my ovaries a break because we've done 4 back to back medicated cycles. I also want to give the acupuncturist a shot so we'll probably try at home the following cycle before presuing another medicated cycle. I also would like to talk to my RE to see if I can get any other tests done.

[mischievium]

BurtsGirl, welcome to the thread and I'm sorry you need to be here !

[Needle in the Hay]

Hi there

We've been TTC #2 for over 5 years. I'm not charting at the moment but may start again soon.
I've been taking medication for hypothyroidism for the past 6 months.

I have another endo appt. in May then will likely restart appts. with my OB/GYN this summer. She's the 3rd one I've seen and she's by far the best. She detected my thyroid problem right away.

For now I'm working on eating well and enjoying life. My DS and I are taking a little trip to Paris and my mom and sisters are coming to visit us this summer. Good things to look forward to!

My DS is really ready for some siblings. He's hoping for a brother and two sisters (twins). He also gets dragged to all my appts. Luckily he doesn't mind sitting in the waiting room playing his leapster.

[kristenok18]

Hi Needle and BurtsGirl

Sorry you have to be here, but welcome!

Needle- My ds is 5.5, and gets dragged to all my appts. He's not quite as optimistic, though, and keeps telling me he doesn't need brothers and sisters (he thinks I won't be sad then, ) Good luck with your appt!

Julia'sMom- how are things going? any better? I'm sorry I wasn't able to offer any insight...I didn't start taking prog supplements until a bit later when my levels came back a little low.

[mischievium]

Welcome, Needle! Sounds like you've got a fun summer planned-- I need to work on that (planning some things I want to do and not worrying so much about where I'll be with TTC at that point).

[WeasleyMum]

Originally Posted by momoftworedheads

Could you please add that I have had another m/c? Thanks!
momoftworedheads

We are going to see an RE as well as a midwife.

Take care!

I'm so sorry. I'm seeing an RE for the same reason, I think it's the best thing to do in this case. I hope they can give you some answers as to why this is happening!

[momoftworedheads]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and hugs. I am trying to see an RE but it is so hard to get an appt-Arrgh! I cannot wait for my acupuncture appt Thursday. I am hoping she can shed some light on this stuff.

Take care ladies.

Jen

[BurtsGirl]

Originally Posted by Needle in the Hay

I have another endo appt. in May then will likely restart appts. with my OB/GYN this summer. She's the 3rd one I've seen and she's by far the best. She detected my thyroid problem right away.

For now I'm working on eating well and enjoying life. My DS and I are taking a little trip to Paris and my mom and sisters are coming to visit us this summer. Good things to look forward to!

Good luck on restarting your appointments. We're taking this month off and possible the next two depending on how well acupuncture works for me. If she can keep my progesterone up without meds, we're hoping to try some more without intervention. Your trip sound so fabulous! What a wonderful thing to look forward to!

Originally Posted by mischievium

Welcome, Needle! Sounds like you've got a fun summer planned-- I need to work on that (planning some things I want to do and not worrying so much about where I'll be with TTC at that point).

This is by far the hardest thing I've found about TTC! Planning a vacation! How do you do it? I have to project out to make sure we aren't needing to insem anywhere around that time. I also have to think about how pregnant I MIGHT be at that time, it's all very frustrating! How are you guys planning your vacations?

[crazyrunningmama]

Vacation? Planning to take all my vacation time during the last part of stimming, ER and ET. And tell my work I am available for emergencies, since we are just doing things around the house ie. NOT telling them I am doing IVF.
Talking my dh into accupuncture is going amazingly well.....

[kristinc]

Yey for acupuncture! I am glad that so many of you are using acupuncture along this trying journey. It has helped me tremendously

Kristin

[hope4light]

mischievium - Please update me as follows:

TTC since March 2006 with MFI and slightly low progesterone. Currently TTC with IVF, cycle 1 cancelled due to hyper stim. BCP start 4/8 for an antagen cycle, er tentatively scheduled for the week of 4/27. Yeah round 2!

Anything that you can tell me about an antagen cycle would be great. My first cycle was with lupron, and my RE didn't like the way they mixed (hello huge hyperstim!!) He's going to keep me on the repronex, but start me on a very low does if I have the amt of follies that I did last time, so that he can starve off some of the little one's and get a much lower number (last time was at least 50 - 60 that he could count!).

I have a hard enough time w/the repronex, and I'm hoping that the antagon doesn't make it worse. But I have promised God that if he will just let this time work I won't complain about the meds at all!!!!

[songbird45]

I guess we should change my description to match my signature. It'll change again after the 24th - hopefully we'll come away with a plan at that point - but I'm not on Clomid anymore, so I guess we should note that. Thanks mischievium!