New doctor, new round of tests

[kjs1]

Wish me luck! Husband and I are going to a new fertility clinic to get a second opinion essentially. It is our two year mark of ttc with no luck and unexplained infertility. My current RE gave us a four percent chance of getting pregnant without medical intervention. I'm hoping this doctor will see me more as a patient and instead of a nail (with typical treatment being the hammer). I have ulcerative colitis and I felt like my current doc did not take that into consideration at all. I was taking some herbs that I should have stopped taking earlier (according to her). Anyway, feeling slightly hopeful today and wanted to share as this forum has been such a comfort to me.

Happy Monday ladies!

 

[BelleNuit]

Good luck with your testing! Your situation sounds a lot like mine. Let me know if the new testing reveals anything!

 

[kjs1]

Hi Belle,

Well, the testing didn't reveal anything groundbreaking. I had a complete meltdown after it too. I didn't like the doctor at all and she said my ovarian reserve was average to less than average. I also have ulcerative colitis and she focused on me basically eliminating everything from my diet, which was very overwhelming, but didn't actually know anything about my disease. After, my husband didn't get why I was upset and felt like the appointment was a waste of time. So, we got in a huge fight. Anyway, that was Monday of last week and I am still waiting on blood test results. She did recommend starting FH Pro for both of us, which we just started yesterday. It is expensive! Have you taken it?

Thanks for following up and the well wishes! How are you doing?

 

[BelleNuit]

Oh I am sorry that the appointment didn't go well. Sometimes I think these REs forget that we're people too! I was also told my ovarian reserve was pretty average/a little below average which is kind of a blow to the ego!

I've read about FH Pro but it is SO expensive. We will probably take it for 3 months leading up to IVF (which is yet to be declared). We're planning to do one more IUI, some time between December and February. Honestly I've kind of checked out lol. We're just trying naturally for now and are working with a naturopath. So I'm taking tons of herbs.

Diet changes are tough. Improving diet is something that I have been working on. Each day is a struggle of will power for me! If you are taking a break from treatment and wanting to try naturally for awhile and are looking at diet changes/supplements maybe consider a naturopath who specializes with infertility? Seeing my naturopath and acupuncturist is actually pretty nice. I feel like there are people who are on my side who are trying to help me get pregnant. I can't say I always felt that way during my IUI treatment cycles.

 

[LadyLovenox]

Sorry to jump in....but I was told at 28 years old , that I had low ovarian reserve...my afc was 11 (total) and my.amh was anywhere from .88- 1.34. I took dhea (somewhat controversial) for 3 months and my afc jumped to 22...doubled! So it def helped us! Worth a shot!

 

[BelleNuit]

Wow Lady, thats amazing! I've heard really good things about DHEA. My Naturopath actually tested my levels to make sure they were good (they were right smack dab in the middle). So won't be something I end up using, but its good info regardless! I wonder how the DHEA worked to increase your AFC?

Having unexplained infertility has made me research everything, and the more I learn the more amazed I am at how everything in the body is all connected. I mean obviously its all connected lol. But I'm used to thinking about the body broken up into different systems and that these systems have very little impact on one another. Which is so untrue!

 

[mimi4]

@LadyLovenox - good to know. A friend of mine is in the same shoes.
@kjs1 - good luck, hope your dreams come true

 

[kjs1]

Sorry for the delay in responding! It was my husbands birthday this week so we had fun with friends bowling and I tried to just not think about any fertility stuff! Belle, I have a friend who used the same RE as me and was told she had 5percemt chance of conceiving on her own (she has a child previously who is here years old). She had some other issues too and our RE was treating some the same way. She also told me I have a four percent chance of conceive no naturally. That really bothered me. Like we are all nails and she has a hammer just pounding away. So, my friend went to an acupuncturist for several months and got pregnant naturally at her two year mark of ttc!!! Her insurance covered acupuncture and mine doesn't so it would be really pricey. I seriously may come snider it though. FH pro is indeed expensive but I've noticed this week I am sleeping SO well on it! I never feel rested and I guess since this has a bit of melatonin in it, it is helping me sleep. I'm also taking vitex and it has bumped my ovulatin date up to cd 14 where it was anywhere from 16 to 21 previously. It also seems to have increased my ewcm. So positive things. However this month it was so early that we almost missed it and only BD once maybe twice in the window. Lady love nox, thanks for the tip on dhea! The specialist I went to in the or Final post mentioned that to me as well. She didn't say anything about it being controversial though. Why is it? They tested my amh two weeks ago and it was in the average range, so I was really happy about that! We are planning to do another iui in December (I'm not thrilled). Have y'all done many iuis? Belle, when did you decide to go to ivf? I feel like I'm not ready yet (mentally).

 

[kjs1]

Also Belle we can be IUI buddies in December!

 

[BelleNuit]

Sounds like you had a great time celebrating

I have also read that people with unexplained infertility have a 1-4% chance of conceiving each month. It still adds up over time, which is why you hear of spontaneous conceptions for people with unexplained IF.

Where are you buying the FH Pro? I'm considering getting it for my husband and I but want to see if I can find a site that offers it for a bit less.

We did 2 IUIs with femara in the spring. First one I had 3 eggs with a thin lining, so nothing took. Second one I had 1 egg but had a thick lining, still nothing took. I'm hoping for the 3rd round I'll get lots of eggs and a thick lining. Right now I'm trying to decide if it would be worth it to go the injectible route or not for our last IUI. I'm definitely aiming towards just getting it over with in December. Sounds like we could potentially be IUI buddies in a few months

I think the decision to do IVF was an easy one for me to make. I need to have resolution and closure with all of this. IVF will give that to me even if it doesn't work. I think after 3 failed IUIs moving on to IVF is the next step.

 

[kjs1]

Thanks so much for sharing your perspective on IVF. That helps me to view things differently actually. Does your insurance cover IVF? I hope you next IUI works and you don't even have to proceed Also, the percent of spontaneous conception adding up over time is something my husband mentions a lot. I always feel dim about it though. Specifically around the time of my period, which is normal I suppose. I know it is significant though and a good thing to focus on as it is positive.

I bought FH Pro from Fairehaven Health online. I did the men and women package deal but it is still so high. I saw they had it on amazon too for a few dollars cheaper actually.

I'm in my TWW currently on DPO 5 and trying not to symptom spot. Last night, however, I had a terrible night with stomach problems and indigestion, which I have never had in life. I didn't sleep much it was so bad. So, NOT symptom spotting is really hard when things like that happen haha!

When you mention injectables, do you mean the gonal (sp?) and those in that category? My RE kind of discouraged me from that as it can cause multiples but I would be curious as it seems to increase the probability more so that clomid and trigger shot, corrrect?

 

[BelleNuit]

We don't have any coverage for IVF beyond 2400 that can go to fertility meds (lifetime limit). So we are trying to save up as much as we can. We'll probably have to go into debt though (either that or beg our families for help).

Ya, I saw it on Fairhaven health too. I hope it helps for you! I'm going to stay off of it for now because I already have lots of changes going on with the herbs I'm taking.

I keep going back and forth on the injectibles (ya I mean like gonal-f) and ultimately decide each time that I consider it that its not the right choice for me. The risk of multiples is higher, and I don't think its really fixing anything beyond what femara and IUI would for unexplained. Really the injectibles make the most sense for people who aren't ovulating on clomid or femara. I still got a decent response on femara, so thats probably all I really need.

Sorry to hear about the symptom spotting! It can be hard not too! I just started AF today (after AF was a couple days late). So you can imagine how much that played with my head lol. I think its just the herbs lengthening my cycle though.

 

[kjs1]

Oh no!! I am so sorry to hear you started your period. It never gets easier when that happens it seems. I have a shorter luteal phase at 10 days and some spotting before so if you are like me, lengthening would be positive I suppose. However, definitely insanity inducing when you don't know what is going on!

Thanks for clarifying on the injectables. I feel similarly: since I am ovulating and have had a good response with clomid, no need for me to jump to that.

I wish you luck with your next cycle and the herbs! Do you feel anything specific that you are taking is helping? I will let you know about FH Pro. I think vitex has really helped bump my ovulation day up (not entirely sure that matters really) but the past two cycles I am only getting a high reading and not a peak reading on OPKs. So, that is a little confusing but my RE said can be normal if my LH didn't get high enough or shot up really fast. The female body is a beautiful, complex mystery.

 

[BelleNuit]

My LP was 13 days (so not too short), but I often used to ovulate early (like CD 12). The herbs I'm on seem to have lengthened both the LP and the FP. I couldn't pinpoint one thing that is helping because she has me on like 20-30 different herbs a mixed into a couple capsules. But I'm definitely noticing an effect!

I hope this ends up being your lucky month

 

[kjs1]

Thanks! I hope the herbs work for you too!