3 failed IUIs. How do you cope?

[Maverick007]

Sorry to hear that Stay Hopeful. I gotta say, I hear things like this all the time from ladies doing IVF. Seems like there's so often some kind of holdup. It makes me pay attention bc I know it'll be so hard to just surrender to the process and go with the flow.

I had my IVF appt yesterday. Went over scheduling and costs (yikes) as well as our test results which all came back normal except that my vitamin D was low (no surprise there, apparently everyone in my part of the world is deficient). I thought they were testing every hormone but it was more immunizations and that kind of thing. The only hormones were prolactin (that had come back high back in sept) and AMH. So I'm about to get AF any moment now so once I get my NEXT AF I'm going to call with my day 1 and start on BCP and get an endometrial biopsy. Then it looks like I'll start stimming with Gonal F somewhere around Aug 9. I haven't got my head around it all yet. Going on vacation tomorrow for a week and a half so I'm just going to try to forget about it until I get back.

It sounds like full speed ahead, but I totally agree with what you said about all the delays you hear about...I feel like I need to prepare myself for the same possibilities and get ready to go with the flow. No matter what you do though, those delays are always going to suck and stress you out.

You sound like you will be starting things pretty similar to me. I am expecting next AF around July 2 which is when i should start on BC for 2-3 weeks and then start stims for 10-12 days or so. I am currently wrangling w/ the loan people and just found out that you can't use the loan to pay for your meds (what?? why didn't the dr mention this to me is a total mystery since they use this company constantly). so I'm looking into other ways to pay for those.

keep us posted on your progress but definitely make sure you don't think about any of this craziness during your vacation.

 

[Strawberry13]

Stay hopeful I'm so sorry your plans changed, this whole process is just so incredibly frustrating. But 2 weeks will fly by and at least it's just a delay, not an all out halt on things.

Pink that is so great that you're moving on things! It must be a good feeling to have a timeline and a plan. I always do better when I have something to look forward to. Is there any reason you can't start bcp on this coming cycle? I agree you should try your best you can to forget about everything on vaca!

Over here, AF arrived today and I go in for baseline sono Friday, then start clomid, then iui likely next weekend. I can't believe I'm on #4 already. It's been a long long year...

 

[StayHopeful]

Thanks, ladies! It was just disheartening to hear. But you're right, delays happen all the time and it's just part of the process. This means that I can have a drink to celebrate my anniversary on Fri and that I can go to a waterpark one more time before everything starts, too.

Maverick, are you going to be using gonal f? My husband and I applied for the EMD Serono Compassionate Care program and got 50% off gonal f. We filled out the application, but since we were on the higher end of the income bracket (we're both full-time teachers) we also wrote a cover letter detailing our expenses so far with all the infertility treatments we've done so they could see how much of our income we've spent on it.

 

[Maverick007]

Aww, well happy early anniversary! How many years will it be? If we get a BFP on this IVF cycle in August, it will be a 10th anniversary present to us, what a great thing that would be!

I don't know yet what meds the dr wants but I assume I should find out at the appt. where we sign consents and all that...should be within the next week or two! I'm already checking into various online pharmacies, and I appreciate the tip about the discount program too.

 

[Maverick007]

Strawberry, I hear ya...I really hope this next one is the one that works for you. I have been keeping a journal on my Google Drive throughout this process and I am calling it "just keep swimming" ... it amuses me and I think it's pretty apt.

 

[StayHopeful]

Aww, well happy early anniversary! How many years will it be? If we get a BFP on this IVF cycle in August, it will be a 10th anniversary present to us, what a great thing that would be!

I don't know yet what meds the dr wants but I assume I should find out at the appt. where we sign consents and all that...should be within the next week or two! I'm already checking into various online pharmacies, and I appreciate the tip about the discount program too.

Thanks! It will be 5 years on Friday. Some days it feels like yesterday, some days it feels like ages ago...

Good luck with the appointments, it's exciting that you're on your way! I don't know if other ladies mentioned this, but one thing that caught me by surprise in the consents was that we had to sign what we wanted to happen to any frozen embryos if we got divorced, if one of us died, etc. It was definitely worth a conversation outside of the doctor's office when we could take our time with it.

 

[Bma11]

Good luck stay hopeful and pink!!!

Stay hopeful - keep positive, everything happens for a reason and this delay will only make sure you are completely ready to get your bfp!

Pink- have fun on vacay! The ivf process isn't so scary once you actually start going!

 

[PinkPeony]

The scariest thing for me right now is the price lol! Having a bit of sticker shock after that appt. i knew when I saw vases with fresh cut orchids in the waiting room I was about to spend some major bucks. I'm just going to go on vacay as if everything is normal, live in denial, drink wine and deal with it when we're back.

 

[gprunner]

Hi ladies! I hope I can continue with the positivity your bringing I am also headed in the direction of IVF late this summer I think. I am scheduled for a hysteroscopy to remove a polyp on the 24th and then have to take a month off before starting- if things go as planned.

I have not tried IUI's but wanted to go for the best success rate.

So far we've been diagnosed with MFI- 4% low morphology and my FSH was at 9.1.

What are you guys doing to chill out and try to remain positive?! Summer vacation starts for me tomorrow and I need to figure out how to stay busy and less stressed!

 

[Maverick007]

Pink, I am afraid of exactly the same things right now! The money scares me. I know it will be so worth it, but it's still just scary.

gprunner, welcome! best of luck with your upcoming procedure. i don't have any secrets for de-stressing but i have been keeping a journal which i think has helped get my thoughts on paper so i can get them out of my head this board is super helpful too, it's nice to actually find people who can relate since no one I know in "real life" is experiencing this. if you go forward with IVF this summer, you will be joining Pinkpeony and myself, as well as StayHopeful. Good luck!

 

[Nicedips]

Pink, I am afraid of exactly the same things right now! The money scares me. I know it will be so worth it, but it's still just scary.

The scariest thing for me right now is the price lol! Having a bit of sticker shock after that appt. i knew when I saw vases with fresh cut orchids in the waiting room I was about to spend some major bucks.

I agree with Pink and Maverick. It's too much money not knowing if it works or not but given the success rate, it's worth a try. Good luck ladies who are in the process and waiting to start the process

 

[Strawberry13]

Hi guys how's everyone doing? Any good weekend plans? I'm going to try and keep busy so I don't stress about stuff. Sometimes that works sometimes it doesn't

I forget is anyone here in their tww? Apologies if I forgot anyone!

Stay hopeful are you feeling any better today? Hopefully the bcp only lasts a few weeks...

 

[Strawberry13]

Pink, I am afraid of exactly the same things right now! The money scares me. I know it will be so worth it, but it's still just scary.

The scariest thing for me right now is the price lol! Having a bit of sticker shock after that appt. i knew when I saw vases with fresh cut orchids in the waiting room I was about to spend some major bucks.

I agree with Pink and Maverick. It's too much money not knowing if it works or not but given the success rate, it's worth a try. Good luck ladies who are in the process and waiting to start the process

I agree with you guys on this. The price is absolutely insane and you'd think you get a better chance with that much $$ but you don't! But I agree it is worth it no matter how you slice it.

One thing that gets me upset is when I tell people we're doing ivf they say oh that's great youll have great chances! Of course not understanding the $$ and everything that is involved I want to be like "no it is not great this whole thing is awful". Lol But I guess we are lucky that we all have the resources to do it, even if it is financially difficult.

 

[StayHopeful]

Stay hopeful are you feeling any better today? Hopefully the bcp only lasts a few weeks...

I am feeling better, thanks! It was definitely hard to wrap my mind around a delay, but after I had a chance to process it and got over the initial disappointment, I felt a lot better. It's just a delay and I want to do everything I can to make sure we have our best shot at this. And at least I'm on summer break so I have the time for all of this. In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy these few weeks of summer break. I went to a water park yesterday (FS had said once I start stims, no swimming in anything but a chlorinated pool and no swimming, baths, etc. at all after ET). Today we're headed to a little resort overnight to celebrate our 5th anniversary today. And I'm planning on having a drink by the pool!

An unrelated frustration yesterday: I'd told you ladies that a few weeks ago I got into a fender-bender. I'm still going to the chiropractor because my neck and back are a little sore, but it's getting a lot better and hopefully I can wrap things up before my retrieval. My car has been repaired and I got it back from the shop last week. Well yesterday I was running errands with a friend and had left my car parked by her house and her neighbor backed into it! So now I have to deal with another insurance claim and get my car repaired AGAIN!!!

 

[SashimiMimi]

Stay: the delay is disappointing but at least they are making sure you are in the clear before proceeding. The whole fertility journey has so many unexpected turns its just another reminder this whole thing is out of our control. I'm so glad you feel better!!

Pink: I heard Hammam had the highest IVF prices in the city but they also have the hugest success rate. You can get some of the money back at tax time if you claim all your fertility expenses and drugs. My dad is a financial advisor and did my taxes and I got $3,000 back because of all the IVF and IUI stuff. Every but helps and I had no idea I could get a tax return on fertility! It all counts as medical expenses! Where will you go on vacation? I think getting away is the best thing for you!

 

[SashimiMimi]

PS Strawberry I know what you mean... I had people say Congrats when I told them we were doing IVF. It was not a road I exactly wanted to go down but I had to try everything, as I was so frustrated. Also I had several people also ask how I felt about becoming the next Octomom!!! I'm pretty sure octomom did IUI not IVF. I think people who haven't been through fertility just don't know what to say. They don't get it.

My best friend has now been ttc for a year with no luck and is seeing a RE tomorrow. She was diagnosed with MS 2 years ago and I feel awful she has to deal with fertility medical issues on top of her MS medical issues. Life just isn't fair sometimes!

 

[Strawberry13]

Stay hopeful I'm so sorry about the accident! Ugh when it rains it pours.. But I'm glad you're feeling better and getting out and enjoying yourself. 2 weeks will completely fly by! Happy anniversary and enjoy yourself this weekend.

Sashimi I agree people really don't know what to say. I guess I didn't either before i started going through this. So sorry for your friend but at least you can be her support while she goes through all of this.

 

[Chris_25]

Sashi: Congratulations on the baby that's so exciting! I haven't been on here in a while and just saw this!

Hope everyone is doing well!

AFM: I'm in the 2ww on my 4th IUI and have to do a total of 6 before I can do IVF.

 

[SashimiMimi]

Thanks Chris, he just turned 1 month old and I still can't believe he is reall here. It's amazing that the whole IVF process can result in a little person.

Good luck with your IUI. I know it's tough to keep going with them but often I hear of women getting BFPs on their 4th 5th or 6th IUI. I guess that's why they want you to give it your all before going for IVF.

Hope everyone is well!

 

[dovkav123]

Sashimi,
You were diagnosed with low ovarian reserve. Do you mind if I ask what was it? Mine is 1.29 ng/ml. I am 33.
I am on tww. I did only one thing different-castor oil packs before O.