IVF April/May 2014 Buddies

[Sparkle_13]

Hi ladies!

Anyone else started IVF or starting over the next few weeks? Looking for cycle buddies?

I'm waiting for AF to arrive in a few days and will be starting my IVF cycle. I kinda feel like it's my first even though I did a week of stims last month, but my cycle was cancelled as my meds dose was too low and 1 of my follicles became too dominant and stopped the others from growing Was disappointed at the time but now just can't wait for AF to arrive so I can start again. Very strange feeling looking forward to AF haha

Our fertility issues are, I have mild endometriosis and DH has low morphology.

Anyone else?

 

[mowat]

Hey there, I'll join in! Not sure if we're going to proceed this month or not, we might delay until next cycle, but I'm excited anyway!

We have one child, and trying for number two has resulted in three miscarriages. Since my last miscarriage I haven't been able to get pregnant even though I used to be able to get pregnant very easily.

I'm really nervous to be spending all our savings on something that might end in another miscarriage. Even with all kinds of testing no one has been able to find an explanation. Still, I guess I'm happy to be here?

 

[Sparkle_13]

Hi Mowat :wave:

I'm so sorry for you losses and I hope you get a sticky bean soon How long has it been since you last loss? I haven't had a losses but Ive heard a lot of ladies her talk about natural killer cells and that it's not always tested for, you may have already been tested but I thought I'd mention it in case.

Does your insurance cover anything ivf related or are you out of pocket the full amount?

 

[mowat]

Hi Sparkle.

My last loss was last July. I thought I had a complete miscarriage, but I had hysterscopy a month later and she found a lot of retained tissue---but fortunately no scarring (I was previously diagnosed with Asherman's syndrome).

I am looking into having testing done for NK cells as well as myco/ureaplasma. My doctor said it wasn't necessary/relevant, but I'm going to try and do it anyway. Just not sure how it works with getting blood samples to the US from Canada.

I don't know yet if our insurance will cover anything. Definitely not the procedures, but I'm hopeful about some of the drugs. The OH is being resistant and hasn't looked into what his insurance covers. He's not really on board yet.

ARe you covered at all? What does it cost in Australia? We've been told $10 000 to 15 000, plus the cost of travel ($500/flight and hotel for a week or two).

 

[Sparkle_13]

Where do you have to travel to do ivf?

We are very lucky in Australia that ivf is partially rebated by the health system. My out of pockets will be around $6k as we've choose to try one of the bigger clinics but you can even do it much cheaper than that.

 

[Ironmom]

HI!

This thread is perfect for me! Thanks for starting it!

I am waiting for af to arrive and then the fun begins! I will call the doc and go in for my baseline ultra sound.

A little background...

Our journey began about 12 years ago. My partner and I did 11 unmedicated IUIs. In hindsight I wouldn't have done so many but I trusted my doc. I know more now and would definitely have done things different. Instead of moving on to IVF we chose to adopt. We adopted two infant girls that are now 9 and 10.

I am 37 (June 1st I'll be 38) and we want to expand our family. The plan (in a perfect world) is to have two more children. All I know is that my eggs are getting 'old' and it's time!

So our journey begins. Thank you for this thread as I have many many questions.

We are paying out of pocket...ugh! When it works it will be worth it. Our clinic has plans that you can pay for one, two or three. We opted for the two cycle plan...increase our odds?!

Thanks ladies for being here!
Looking so forward to this!

 

[mowat]

You're so lucky to get some funding Sparkle! I live in northern Canada so I have to fly to Vancouver (about 2 hours) for any kind of treatment. It's really killer. Not sure how I'm going to get 2 weeks off work.

Hi Ironmom. Where do you live?

 

[Sparkle_13]

Hi Ironmom :wave:

That's wonderful that you adopted!

My AF arrived today so we might just be a few days apart. I go in for my baseline blood test tomorrow but my first ultrasound won't be till later in the week or early next week.

How many embryos does your clinic allow you to transfer? Maybe you'll be lucky and get twins 1st time and your family will be complete

With the plan that you have what happens if you are successful 1st time do you get a refund on the 2nd cycle? We don't have this in Australia so I haven't heard of this before.

Do you know what the cause of your fertility issue is or is it unexplained?

 

[Sparkle_13]

So my blood test today went fine and I had my first injection tonight, yay! Very happy to have started! Next blood test will be Friday, FX this month is more successful than last.

Anyone else?

 

[mowat]

Nothing new for me. Still trying to figure out how to get testing for Nk cells and myco/ureaplasma. Why does this have to be so complicated!

Crappy day at work. Won't fell bad about taking time off now! Still trying to figure out the schedule for all this. When would I need to be down at my clinic? I"m guessing a week or more before ovulation until just after? Trying to figure out if we're starting in May or June.

Was it hard to do the injection? Scary!

 

[Sparkle_13]

DH does my injections, it's not too bad...

Is there an option to do some of your monitoring closer to home and then just go to your clinic for the EPU and transfer? Otherwise you will definitely need to check with them regarding timings as every clinic seems to have different protocols for monitoring.

 

[JViti]

Can I join too? I am on my 3rd week of BC and just started Lupron last night. This is my first IVF cycle and we are going to do 2 embryos.

I have been TTC #2 for 4 years now. I had my first one naturally at age 18. Go figure...

Hes 7 now. I have severe PCOS and take metformin ER 1500 mg. I have not ovulated on my own in about 5 years. It has always been brought on by BC, or fertility drugs. Hubby has perfect sperm so its just me who sucks. lol.

 

[mowat]

Hi JViti! I have a child too---now nothing is working.

Unfortunately I can't get monitoring closer to home. Guess I better start looking for some short term rentals. More money!

 

[Ironmom]

Hi Ladies

Sorry I have been gone a few days. On top of this we are negotiating on a house and putting ours on the market! In a weird way it's nice to have the house distraction from ttc stuff and it's nice to have ttc stuff to distract me from house stuff.

I live in Ventura California...none of this is covered through insurance so it's all out of pocket.

Sparkle...I believe you asked about the 2 attempts cycle option. Well, if the first one works you have 12 months to use the other one. Not likely, right? So, it's just a financial loss but it's only about $4k more than the one cycle package so we thought it was worth it. Thanks for the continued updates. We are definitely cycle buddies as I am expecting af today or tomorrow! I've never been so excited for af! Lol! I know you started af (Yay for you) and I'm curious to know your process? Baseline ultrasound? Meds? Blood work for what exactly? What kind of meds? Sorry for all the questions! I plan on being very well educated when I see my doc and the best way to do that is to talk to ladies who have done this~!

Thanks everyone

 

[JViti]

As far as the whole money thing goes, I got really lucky. My state is 1 of about 7-10 states where infertility coverage is MANDATED. Without it I would be SOL.

 

[mowat]

That's amazing JV!

Been trying to get through to someone at my clinic for two days now. Just trying to find out some more info and I'm starting to get pissed off! Airline tickets are on sale right now (until Monday), but I can't book unless I talk to the office first. Just wondering about getting my drugs here or there, and about timing for everything. I had to tell one girl at work because I'll have to leave work for about two weeks at a time and I didn't want her to have a bit of warning. Agh, I'm so irritated! I'm going to pay these people $15 000 and they can't return my call!

 

[JViti]

omg that is so frustrating!!! the least they could do is call u back. I hope it all works out well for u!

 

[Ironmom]

It is so frustrating being in the unknown. Especially all the money you are spending!

 

[mowat]

Finally talked to them. I guess there is a lot of info in the mail. She did tell me I'd need to be there for around 3 weeks the first time! I don't know if I can do it. Might have to bring a cardboard box and live in it.

 

[Ironmom]

Mowat...That's so hard! I know your feeling frustrated but I know you'll come up with a solution.