Back to testing again :-/

[popchick75]

I'm basically starting over on everything. I'm going in for Day 3 blood tests and ultrasounds this afternoon. Can you think of anything I should ask to be tested along with the standard day 3 bloods?

Thanks

Amy

 

[Ginnie]

Have you ever had your AMH level tested? My new RE puts more stock in it than FSH--and a bonus is it can be drawn at any time in your cycle.

Also--looks like you've done a lot of treatment already. Can I ask why they're starting you over on testing?

 

[popchick75]

My AMH is actually better than average for someone my age, so I don't think the problem lies there.

The reason I'm starting over is because nothing worked the first time....IUIs, IVF, etc. It's unexplained secondary infertility, so there really isn't anything left for them to do. Since I have a 12yr old dd, they know that certain things must work, but they can't figure out why it isn't happening for us now.
I can't afford any more IVF, and frankly i'm not sure i would want to go through that again. In the 9 years of treatment, we've gone through about 5 REs, but we've stumped them all. I'm 37, so i made the decision to start from square one and give it my all for a year. My doctor is pretty much going along with whatever i want to do since he really doesn't have any answers either. It was his suggestion to start over with some basic tests since it's been a while since they were done. Who knows....maybe something will show up?
I'm doing a monitored clomid cycle this month. Maybe move on to IUIs this spring depending on what the tests say.

 

[Ginnie]

Fingers crossed a fresh look brings some new perspective.

A new doctor can help. We're only on our second RE and going to be starting IVF as soon as I recover from a laproscopy and hysteroscopy (hydrosalpinx, endo, and uterine septum and polyp) scheduled in a few weeks. This RE found at least three things the first one missed with me (hence all the surgery). We think the first RE stopped looking for factors once it was determined I had mild PCOS. To top it off, we think they screwed up when they did his SA at the first RE--it came back relatively normal...but then when we had our first IUI in July, we were told we only had 1.44 good swimmers to work with. Numbers that meant the only thing that would work, regardless of any of my own factors, is IVF with ICSI. So, if your DH isn't opposed, might want him retested, too?

Was IVF that bad? I have to admit it terrifies me, as does the surgery, but I'm willing to try just about anything for the BFP.

Best luck. Each time I have another test, I find myself inbetween wanting them to find something--just so I have a reason and something to treat/fix and restore hope--and terrified the WILL find something. It makes no sense, but I think we've all been there.

 

[popchick75]

Lol...OH was tested a few months ago and it came back that he has 3x the number of sperm/volume, etc than average. He hasn't shut up about it since

I think some people have an easy time with IVF, but i just wasn't one of them. The dosage of meds they gave me was a little high, so i ended up with 45 follicles. Really painful! After the egg retrieval they ended up having to give me pain meds, but it turned out I was allergic to them. Part of it is that i am just very sensitive to hormones. I even had trouble being on the pill way back when. My body just never felt the same after the IVF.
Even the clomid is difficult, but there really isn't much to do other than push through it! I know what you mean about hoping to find something wrong on the tests....at least it would give me a little hope that whatever the issue is it can be corrected!

When is your surgery?

 

[Ginnie]

Scheduled for Feb 4. Blech. I react horribly to general anesthesia, so not looking forward to that. Made me sick as a dog after having it for a kidney stone a few years ago. Most worrisome to me is the darn septum. Since we have to do IVF for DHs issues anyway, the tubal stuff doesn't change much.

I know what you mean about the pill--I was on low dose for a few years and it made me ill in the mornings even if I took it at night. Think it might have been the brand, though. I've been on a different pill for the last few weeks (in preparation for what we thought was IVF this month--before the water ultrasound confirmed we need surgery first), and just had a headache first few days, no issues since.

Was on Clomid 50 mg for three cycles, and worst side effect was some wicked hot flashes a week or so after my last dose each month.

My husband, a doc, enjoys pointing out that this means when we do get that BFP, I'm going to be morning sick as heck. Unfortunately, also means I'll be more prone to side effects from the injections for IVF. Do you know what protocol you were on? I think they were going to have me on a short lupron.

 

[popchick75]

Honestly, I don't remember. It was several years ago.

Yes, your morning sickness will suck. I was in and out of the hospital so much that they finally put me on an IV at home with a traveling nurse to help me out.
Zofran is a miracle drug! It's the only thing that worked. Needless to say, I was
not one of those pretty glowing women who breezed though 9 months and
loved every second of it. And despite all of that, I would give anything to be able
to do it again