TTC and endometriosis :(

[Coolstar]

Ladies:

Spoiler

I overresponded. I have about 15 follies that are > 10 mm. Another 30 or so in the 9-10 range. I was given two options: cancel the cycle or convert to IVF.

If I do cancel, then these stim drugs are not an option for me, unless it's an IVF cycle.

I have to decide how I want to proceed by tomorrow at the latest, as they have to start me on meds to prevent early ovulation.

I am not even a little bit emotionally prepared for IVF.

Oh pbl , cant you cancel this cycle and go for low dose stim drugs next cycle. I totally get you when you said to be emotionally prepared for IVF. I know its the last step anyone wants to take. Why something so natural needs to be so difficult for us. When the RE told me about IVF I came home and cried that evening. We are all with you.

 

[Coolstar]

Gold if you don't mind me asking , was your IVF long or short protocol. And on what basis do they decide which to follow (long/short) any idea.

Coolstar - I was on long protocol (downreg on buserelin and stim on Gonal-F). I was told that long protocol allows for better control of eggs growing at similar rate and has similar success to short protocol. I plan on doing IVF #2 at a different clinic to the first one and they recommended long protocol as well (due to my endo, as they want to dampen it a bit first).

Thanks Gold, I am trying to learn as much as I can about IVF.

 

[pbl_ge]

Edit: doc just called. Bloodwork contradicts scan results. I have no idea what's going on.

 

[Coolstar]

What blood results ??? What did the doc say.

 

[pbl_ge]

What blood results ??? What did the doc say.

They monitor your estrogen at the same time as they do scans. I'm not 100% of the endocrinology behind it, but apparently the fact that my estrodial levels plateaued means that there's something going on aside from follies growing growing growing. My doc said it might mean that some of them have started to shrink, so it's still possible for this cycle to continue as planned to timed intercourse.

So, my dosage was increased to see if there are a few or a lot of follies, OR, worst case, an in between number that is exactly too wrong for either course.

If I were a betting woman, I'd say this cycle is toast.

 

[YearningHeart]

CoolStar - Heyy how are you? I was like you, well I still am - Trying to learn about IVF as much as possible. I was told by the GYN that my best choice is to have IVF (I didnt have any clomid or anything) so I started doing so much research on IVF which is pretty intesting..

However I dont think I understood it well until I experienced it, Well Im experiencing it now. I just stated my IVF process, Im currently taking Gonal-F injections. I guess you know well when you experience something. Anyways I hope everything works out well for you. What stage are you currently at?

xx

 

[YearningHeart]

Sorry excuse the spelling errors. I have a bad habit, I dont double check what I type. I just think of it, type it, send it. lol

 

[Goldfish]

Pbl - oh I'm sorry this cycle is so odd! The promising thing is that you seem to have a lot of potential follies though, so hopefully they will learn something about your response to the meds! it means that next time they'll be able to balance the meds better!

 

[pbl_ge]

Pbl - oh I'm sorry this cycle is so odd! The promising thing is that you seem to have a lot of potential follies though, so hopefully they will learn something about your response to the meds! it means that next time they'll be able to balance the meds better!

Thanks, Goldfish. The second doc I spoke to yesterday, my usual doc, disagreed with the first doc about the future use of these drugs for me. First doc said they were not for me outside of IVF. My regular doc thought differently.



Yearning, I've been on the Gonal-F, too. Found it pretty easy, although I had a tiny bit of dry mouth. Keep drinking fluids!

 

[YearningHeart]

pbl - Thanks for that tip! Today is my day 4 of Gonal F injection. I have a scan on Monday. How many days have you been taking the Gonal F injection?

 

[pbl_ge]

I'm CD11 now, and started on CD3. I have another scan tomorrow, and should know what the plan is then. I'd be okay with either insemination or IVF conversion, but I'm having a hard time seeing how all those follies they saw yesterday will pare down to a small enough number to do regular insemination.

Good luck at your scan! Since you're doing IVF I hope you have gobs and gobs!

 

[YearningHeart]

Sorry I didnt get that fully. Your doing IVF right? As far as I know, on Monday the doctor will do a scan and then tell me when I should take cetrotide injections.

I wish you the best too! x

 

[pbl_ge]

I'm as confused as you.

I wasn't, and may still not be, doing IVF. I started off just using Gonal-F to get my left ovary to do something, as my right tube is non-functional and that ovary is very dominant. The plan was simply to do timed intercourse. But as of yesterday (CD 10), I had ~15 follies over 10 mm and an additional 30 or so at about 10 mm ( ), which is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many to do timed intercourse or IUI. The risk of multiples would be very high. So they started talking about converting this cycle to an IVF cycle.

But then my blood tests (for estrogen aka estradiol) came back with ambiguous results, so they're not sure what I'm doing. I have another scan and blood test tomorrow when I'll hopefully have results that are EITHER good for timed intercourse OR IVF. I'm scared of that middle ground where I'd have too many follies to try on my own, but not enough to make IVF worthwhile.

In the meantime I'm just kind of losing my mind. I do know that I'm very lucky to have ovaries that respond like this--a lot of women are not so fortunate. I'm older, though, at almost 36, so I'm assuming a greater proportion of those are not of good quality. There's got to be some reason I haven't had a bfp in a year, since egg production #s clearly aren't the problem.

Sorry to write an essay.

 

[YearningHeart]

Ahhhh I see! lol

I thought Gonal F is taken only for IVF. Honestly speaking I actually dont know much other than what I experience even with IVF. I read up sooo much when I found out that Im going to start IVF however I dont think I understood well until I started it.

I wish you the best with your scan and blood test. Keep us updated of what happens. Its so intresting how everyone has different stories of their infertility. I have PCOS and my right tube is blocked so because of that Im on IVF now.

 

[Coolstar]

Yearningheart : I am happy that you joined the thread. I have not started IVF, just few days back I was told by my RE that IVF is my best bet since I have endometriosis. I know exactly what you mean by understanding while experimenting. We have decided to go ahead with IVF but I need 2 to 3 months before starting the process.
So are you in long protocol or short ? FXed for you IVF process, I know you must be nervous and excited both at the same time. PLs do update us. Lots of baby dust to you.

 

[Coolstar]

I'm as confused as you.

I wasn't, and may still not be, doing IVF. I started off just using Gonal-F to get my left ovary to do something, as my right tube is non-functional and that ovary is very dominant. The plan was simply to do timed intercourse. But as of yesterday (CD 10), I had ~15 follies over 10 mm and an additional 30 or so at about 10 mm ( ), which is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many to do timed intercourse or IUI. The risk of multiples would be very high. So they started talking about converting this cycle to an IVF cycle.

But then my blood tests (for estrogen aka estradiol) came back with ambiguous results, so they're not sure what I'm doing. I have another scan and blood test tomorrow when I'll hopefully have results that are EITHER good for timed intercourse OR IVF. I'm scared of that middle ground where I'd have too many follies to try on my own, but not enough to make IVF worthwhile.

In the meantime I'm just kind of losing my mind. I do know that I'm very lucky to have ovaries that respond like this--a lot of women are not so fortunate. I'm older, though, at almost 36, so I'm assuming a greater proportion of those are not of good quality. There's got to be some reason I haven't had a bfp in a year, since egg production #s clearly aren't the problem.

Sorry to write an essay.

OK I get it now. I am hopeful that your results will be good and you get PG with timed this cycle. I am very worried that when I go for IVF I will not produce enough eggs so its a good news that you have produced so many eggs. And if you go for IVF you need only 1 healthy egg to fertilize so you have a good chance of BFP this cycle . I am really keeping my fingers crossed for you . Do update us.

 

[YearningHeart]

Coolstar - What is long/short protocol? Lol.

All I know is right not Im taking the Gonal - F injection which today is going to be the 4th day, then on Monday I go for a scan and then after that... Im not sure. I will definitely update you. Thanks by the way! xx

Ok now Im off because I have to take the Gonal F injection now.

 

[pbl_ge]

Isn't the difference between short and long that long involves a period of downregulation (such as birth control pills) first? If you didn't do anything like that, then I think you'd be on the short protocol.

I do wonder if a long protocol would be better for endo women because the BCP could help calm the endometriosis/inflammation problems, but that may be off-the-cuff bs.

V. nervous about scan tomorrow. I don't see how 15 large follies gets to a range that would be safe for , but what do I know? The doc himself is doing the scan, which is weird enough on its own!

 

[pbl_ge]

Btw, Yearning, can I ask what your Gonal-F dosage is?

 

[YearningHeart]

pbl - Heyyyy dont stress, I pray you get good news tomorrow. Make sure you keep us updated. Best of Luck!

Im taking 150 dosage. What about u?