Multiple IVF failures...what now?

[oneof14]

Agreed!

 

[L4hope]

Yeah. Imagine those family dinners!

Families are crazy enough right?! Let's not add to the madness!

I agree persistence is the key. Eventually our bodies will give in and say, "fine I'll give you your damn baby already!" We can do this girls!!!

 

[oneof14]

L4, that what my old RE said. I said I dont have the time as I am 38 nor the money to be persistant!

 

[L4hope]

I hear ya on the finances sister! Other than not being pregnant yet which is by far the hardest part of this process, to keep shelling out all of this money is killin us. Somehow we keep finding a way though.

 

[whattheiveff]

I hear you on the finances. I didn't realize I had an infertility max for medications until today when my pharmacy called to confirm my order and told me I owed $9700. WTF. I know I shouldn't be complaining because my other 2 cycles were fully covered, but I just wasn't expecting it so I'm still reeling. I also wanted to get your advice on something. I still have 9 days worth of menopur and gonal-f from my last cycles. Initially my RE wanted to do the same protocol (gonal-f and menopur) for this cycle, but the doctor I saw for the second opinion said I should do straight menopur. When I told this to my RE, she said that was actually a good idea and would be willing to try it. But now that I'm going to have to pay out of pocket, it would be a savings of about $4K if I did the combo of Gonal-F and Menopur since I already have a full supply of Gonal F. I have a call into my RE to ask if she really thinks the straight Menopur is worth it, but wanted to get your opinions. Thanks!

 

[oneof14]

Whatthe, I would tell the dr exactly when you are telling us about the money and having more gonal and see what she says. I am sure RE's do understand that most of not all IVF is oop. I would so the same thing, especially if it saves $4k and I am sure she wouldnt say anything to jeopardize yoru cycle.

 

[whattheiveff]

Thanks Oneof...waiting on her response now. This surprise was a lovely way to kick off the long weekend!

 

[L4hope]

I think that was good advice and the way to go Whatthe. Let us know what you hear? Sorry for the shitty news on a Friday.

 

[oneof14]

When do you start you next Cycle, Whatthe?

 

[septbride]

Whatthe, that is seriously shitty news. I'm sorry. I think you're right to run it by Dr. F and let her know there are $ issues at stake.

Oh and I was just in with her for my hysteroscopy while you were waiting for her to call you back. Sorry!

 

[whattheiveff]

Thanks for the advice ladies! Just spoke to my RE. She suggested I ask my nurse if she has any extra menopur that she can give me, but if not, said she would probably just do the combo since she has no proof that the straight menopur would yield better results. I doubt my nurse will have $5k of menopur just sitting around so I'll probably do the combo.

Oneof - I start estrogen patches 5 days after I ovulate and then stims after AF starts. Today is CD 14 and I usually ovulate late so I've still got a bit of time.

 

[oneof14]

I'm happy your FS was able to work with you on the protocol. You'll be started soon enough.

AFM, I have to call with my next AF and then go for a biopsy the end of Feb and start stims in March, I have a ways to go too.

In the meantime, I am boiling my herbs from my acupuncturist and drinking the disgusting concoction, hope to get better results when it's time to stim.

 

[lucylou7]

Hi girls

Do you mind if I join? I know you ladies know what I'm going through

We have been ttc for over 3 years no problems with both of us.

1st ivf 14 eggs collected, non fertilised all immature and abnormal RE mentioned we may need to look at DE

2nd IVF - 1 egg collected, didn't fertilise advised immature again

I feel like my life has crashed down infront of me as there seems to be an issue with my eggs, we are both 32 and no one can tell us why?! I don't know if DE is the only way forward now

We have an urgent appointment 5th feb and hoping to get some answers

Look forward to getting to know you guys better x

Xx

 

[whattheiveff]

Lucylou - I'm so sorry you have to join us, but welcome! I hope you get some answers at your appointment. Are you getting a second opinion? It seems strange that there were 14 eggs with round 1 and only 1 egg with round 2. Did they switch up your protocol? You also might want to ask how the immature eggs were "rated." My second IVF we got 10 eggs but 6 were immature. At my WTF they explained that 4 out of the 6 immature eggs were M1. A mature egg is M2 which is significant because those 4 immature eggs weren't "bad," they just needed more time to mature. The other 2 immature eggs had a different rating (can't remember what it was) but those eggs were bad and would have never matured. So the takeaway was that they made some adjustments to my protocol as well as giving me a "booster" of FSH in addition to the trigger, and lengthened the time between trigger and retrieval by 1 hour. I haven't started this new cycle yet so who knows if it will work, but it might be something to ask your RE about, especially if you feel they're being too quick on the draw in suggesting DE.

 

[oneof14]

Lucylou, I'm sorry to have to meet us here and I'm sorry for what you've been through. But as whatthe said have you gone for a 2nd opinion? Surely someone has to give you some answers. I hope you get some answers on your WTF visit.

 

[lucylou7]

Thanks girls xx

Whatthe - we thought it was strange that 14 first time and 1 the next, they changed a few things. First time stimming for 11 days and they reduced the menopur throughout stimming, only two scans and we were ready. Second IVF stimming for 15 days, they didn't reduce menopur kept on same and gave me a double trigger shot they also doubled my bruserelin this time. Both times they kept me on long protocol aswell

My OH agrees that it seems odd the difference, I will make sure I ask what they rate them at. The first time they said they were abnormal and immature and this time just immature so maybe like you say they could possibly tweak things?

I really hope the tweaks they have made for you work Hun xx

Oneof - thank you, we are going for our second opinion after we have had our NHS appointment on 5th as we need to get a copy of our notes too

What drugs have you girls been on if you don't mind me asking? X

 

[L4hope]

Lucy welcome and sorry you have to join our thread. It is nice to share with ladies who are also experiencing similar struggles. Whatthe and One have had good advice for you. I hope that you get some answers at your WTF and think it sounds good to get a second opinion. The drastic change in your cycles is puzzling. If both gave low numbers of eggs I would think the long protocol might be supressing you, but you responded the first time so it's very odd. When is your WTF?

As for meds, I was on the long lupron schedule for both cycles.
First start bcp, then add Lupron at 20 units on day 21
After AF and good baseline, reduce Lupron to lunies and start stims. My stims were Follistim and Menopur. I took 225 of follistim the first cycle and 200 the second cycle. Menopur I took 75 both cycles and for both I stimmed for 11 days. The first round I had 15 eggs retrieved but only ended up with one crappy blast, an early blast and three morulas. Needlesss to say bfn for that and a horrible FET. The second cycle I had 14 eggs retrieved and ended up with two excellent blasts and three good blasts. Unfortunately the two best still ended in bfn. Waiting for fet on two of the good frosties.

Hope that helps, but it seems everyones bodies are so different and respond differently to meds.

 

[whattheiveff]

Lucie - I have diminished ovarian reserve so my first cycle I was way oversuppressed. I did long lupron with gonal f and menopur. Second cycle I did BCPs for 10 days, then used 300 gonal f and 4 vials of menopur daily with diluted lupron to prevent ovulation.

 

[oneof14]

Lucy, I've done 3 cycles total (one was converted to IUI) the 1st I did the Estrogen priming protocol, started off with estrogen patches, then got AF went for baseline and stim with bravelle and menopur and ganerelix to prevent ovulation.

2nd cycle was similar to L4, only difference was i stimmed with the same as my prior bravelle and menopur

3rd cycle was similar to my 2nd but w/o bcp.

My 2nd and 3rd cycle I ended up with 8 eggs, and 5 embies. Altogether transfer 6 embies. 1 2BB blasts, 2 Mourals, 1 8AA, 1 6AB and 1 6AB. My 1st cycle was a 5dt, 2nd was 3dt.

 

[lucylou7]

L4hope - thank you I think that's what I can't understand the most 14 eggs first time and 1 second time it doesn't make sense at all can I ask (sorry to sound thick) what does WTF mean? Hope you excellent frosties Hun xx

Whatthe - does that link in with AMH? And when did you find this out was it before your first IVF? As my AMH is low and OH has issues with morphology but RE wasn't concerned about OH low morphology I thought it may be a a concern but they didn't think so x

Oneof - thank you for sharing your storey too x