3 MC's. Starting IVF & PGD, any advice?

WTH - honestly I dont quite understand it. I am curious as to what your estrogen level was. I guess they had their reasons. If your E was low - could be the reason. But totally agree with you - am not sure why you couldn't cook a little longer - I always have to..

Anyway - onwards and upwards for next time..will keep an eye out for you..and totally totally understand the immediacy of it all - I would do the same thing..

WTH - So sorry about your cancelled cycle. Don't you just hate our stubborn woman bodies sometimes!!
Just wondering if I may have explanation for the cancellation? If you only had 3 follies over 10mm then the others would have been very small (what they call antral follies). If the 3 larger ones were nearing maturity then leaving you to cook longer for the smaller ones could have risked "overcooking" the larger ones ... IYKWIM. They all have to be within a narrow range of each other at collection time to be sure of egg maturity and quality. Not sure if this what happened with you but just a thought. Hopefully your FS has an answer for you tomorrow.
And even more hopefully, you don't need to worry over another cycle because you will have caught a really good eggie this time!
I will be doing an antagonist (short) cycle in a few weeks (well hopefully!) so praying I get ok egg no's. I don't ovulate on my own so am naturally down-regulated, so to speak - hence the antagonist cycle.

CP - thanks for asking re where I am at.....Banging head against wall atm!!!
It is now almost 10weeks since the loss of my twins and BT yesterday showed HCG still at 25. Soooooo slow to come down, it is driving me insane. Have not heard back from my FS as to next plan but hopefully we are sticking with starting IVF/PGD cycle around 10th Nov when we are back from a holiday. Levels should be down by then... I hope!
Emotionally, I really, really NEED to do this cycle. Focusing on that date is whats keeping me going

Just letting you all know I feel MUCH better after my appointment today with my FS. He basically said he had cancelled my cycle because he did not think the smaller ones were going to get anywhere this late in the cycle. He felt we needed to get them all up and running from the start. He has agreed to the orgulutan (short cycle - maybe like you Meredith) when my period arrives in two weeks. Likewise, it gives me a bit of a focus. Not long to wait. My FSH dose will be upped to 375 from the start (from my 200 then 300 units). So bring on AF and here we go again :D

WTH,

That's great news, very happy your FS seems to make sense. Looks like we might be cycling buddies, I'll start Lucrin on Nov 12, so hope to see you in the TWW forum very soon.

Cuddlepie - hope you're hanging in there - have you decided what to do?

Tam - how are you going ? Hope you've found a solution for your question.

Meredith - sorry to hear you're not going so well, hope your holiday will help with the levels.

Finally the weekend is here, was a really long week for me as my DH had to resubmit his thesis today, hope that when this is finally over his swimmers might recover a bit.

Sara

Ladies, hello and happy Friday! So looking forward to the weekend for just DH and I and have the house back to ourselves (guests left today) :D

WTP, so glad you had some satisfying answers from FS and going to start with a short cycle, YAY! :dance: do you need to down regulate for a short cycle?

Meredith, have a date to focus is exactly where I am doing right now, hope you have a great holiday and HCG level will be down to zero for you start...

Redlady, so happy that thesis has been submitted now, I know the feeling when everytime DH finishes his exam. Time to look after the swimmers.:pinksperm::bluesperm: Unfortunately DH is going to start his LAST semester in mid November, here we go again...:rolleyes:

AFM, here is some drama I blogged re my current FS (https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ealing-fs.html).

But more importantly, I have booked in to see Dr. Lok next Friday. I have decided to cancel my cycle for this month, as I want to start as a clean slat with Dr. Lok plus my EPU this cycle will fall into the time he is away. Seems like waiting for one month is the easiest plan and DH can be on Menevit and Vitamins for longer as well. As much as I hate waiting, in the grand scheme of things, I don't mind to wait another month, I am just glad I can fit another cycle before Christmas. I feel lighter for making this decision. Last a few days have been rough emotionally...

So guess what, we are all going to be cycle buddies:hooray: My estimates is I will start Lucrin somewhere around 15th November. Here is hoping for a Christmas BFP for all of us! :D

Minnie, where are you at ATM?

Have a super weekend everyone! :hug:

Hi Cuddlepie. No down reg on short cycle. Just start FSH injections on Day 2. I have been meaning to tell you that my FS recommends the BioAce Excel over the Menevit. He thinks Menevit is very "well marketed". I have compared the two and it the BioAce has much more goodies in it. Might be worth running it by your new FS? Good luck. Definitely sounds like moving on from this guy will serve you much better in the long run!

Hi Redlady. Yes - looks like a few of us will be cycle buddies. It is nice we have got to know each other a little first :D

Thanks lovely. I am starting to write down all the questions I am going to ask FS, so I will add this one in...thanks for the heads up. I will let you kow how I go...Friday, just hurry up! :D

HI girls, Hope you all had a nice weekend.
WTH - hope the TWW is treating you well. Any signs yet?
CP - Write down EVERYTHING! I always forget to ask something at my FS appts if I don't look at my list.
Strange happenings going on with me and I think I have found myself in TWW.
All last week, I had cramping and strong ovary pain. Felt like I was on FSH injections. Also had what looked like EWCM but there was some blood as well (sorry TMI!). Given my HCG was still up from the prior m/c, I kind of ignored all the signs assuming just stil my body recovering.
Purely out of strange habit, I check my BBT every morning. Lately had been actually to track whether retained product was going - temp had stayed up for weeks after first D&C but did come down after 2nd surgery. Well, since friday morning my temps have been way up and all the ovary pain gone.
I very rarely ovulate on my own but I am fairly sure thats what has happened even despite HCG still being up. Now I should be overjoyed but we DTD a day or two prior so there is a chance we could fall pg. Why am a terrified? The whole purpose of doing IVF/PGD was to combine it with a concoction of meds and try our best to avoid another m/c. I haven't been on any meds and wasn't planning to get pg this way! I really don't want to lose another.
My FS also wanted me to wait a few more weeks before trying given all the complications from last pg as there could be a real risk if a new embryo implants on old site .
I could ne worrying over nothing cos may not even get pg but knowing how strange my body is.... anything could happen,
Awaiting a call from my FS to see what I should/could do.. really don't want to fall pg this time and potentially go through hell again

Hi Meredith, I can understand your concern and why terrified. As much as we long for a pregnancy, we want it to be a valid one that eventually deliver a healthy baby into our arms because to be pregnant is not the only goal...that's also the reason that I am so reluctant to go into another stim cycle without being given a satisfied answer by FS.

Maybe have a chat with FS and have a b/t regarding the possibility of being UTD, so if you are indeed pregnant, at least you can have some measures in place earlier...just wondering, if you are not pregnant, are there any medication can bring HCG down a bit quicker, sorry it might be a silly question, but I thought the sooner you get over this HCG thing, the quicker you can get back onto the swing of things.

Isn't that funny that sometimes you think at least out of this TTC journey, the only benefit you get from is to save money for contraception, and then your body is playing up.... :p

Hi Meredith,

Can very much understand how you feel, the last thing I wanted would be to fall pregnant accidentially now as for me the whole purpose of the IVF is to ensure that the baby is health and does not have my genetic condition.

Keeping fingers crossed that your FS can give you some answers.

Sara

Hi WTH,

I am doing IVF with PGD as I found out I carry X Linked Hydrocephalus the hard way by getting pregnant with a boy who I had to terminate at 30 weeks, the decision was hard but we knew it was the best thing for Brendan as he would have had no quality of life. I am up to day 6 of Synarel, having a blood test and u/s Friday to check progress. My first U/S prior to commencing the cycle showed 6 folicles over 10mm in each ovary, I think that is good???

The PGD we are primarily using for sex selection to choose a girl as it is a boy thing. My tentative egg pick up date is November 7 with November 13 being transfer date. We are crossing our fingers that we have success first go as we are lucky in knowing that we can fall pregnant naturally, but shouldn't.

Keep your chin up and I am sending you lots of positive vibes

Hi Lisa,

Very sad to hear your story, I had a similar experience but in the 14th week, so understand how hard that must have been.

Sending lots of positive vibes for this cycle.

Sara

Sending :hug: to you both Lisa and Sara...it must be hard to find out that way....here is lots of hope to look forward to the upcoming cycle...

Sara, all good on thesis' front? You must be counting down the days to your holidays....

Hi Cuddlepie,

Thanks for the good wishes, it's five years ago but was very hard at the time. Really happy to now having a second chance at it.

About the thesis just got an sms that it has started to print, so nearly done finally!

Wanted to let you know about an article I found about the DNA issue Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA) and DNA Fragmentation;

After reading this I've emailed my FS to ask her to tell me more about the option of testicular biopsy - while she had said it's only something to consider when the first cycle fails I'd like to seriously consider it from the start as I think we should try to have the best chances possible right away.

Wishing you good luck for your appointment with your FS on Friday.

Meredith and WTH

Hope you're both hanging in there and are closer to getting answers for the TWW

Sara

Lisa - I am so sorry for the loss of your dear brendan - praying this cycle goes well for you and you get a healthy little girl out of it

Red Lady - i would be with you on doing everything possible to give your next cycle the best chance of success. IVF/PGD is a huge financial and emotional weight - you want everything to be "right".

CP - not long until your appt now!

WTH - hope you are doing ok in your TWW.

I have calmed down a little from yesterday although still very anxious about my silly body.
BT yesterday confirmed I have indeed ovulated ( first time on my own in years!!). HCG still slowly coming down ( from previous pg). Its to early to say whether i am pg or not from this cycle.
Spoke with FS this morning - nothing i can do now to avoid pg. just have to sit back and wait until another BT on Mon. if levels still going down, likely all will be ok to still do PGD in NOv. If going up then would just start the steroids and clexane and pray it doesn't implant at same site!
I might laugh about this one day but can't believe I am really praying NOT to fall pg and wanting AF ASAP. Would then be onto the pill quick smart for couple of weeks until we are ready to go again

Hi Sara, thanks for the article, I think I read that one on my mad-research-day last week. That's why I raised the question to my FS and he brushed it off said its no good, no explaination.

From what I gathered collectively from my acupuncturist and also Dr. Lok's patients (in same situation), it is more or less the last resort to try as we (or they) don't know that at what point the DNA is damaged. If it is during the process of ejaculation, yes, directly abstract from testi's will definitely improve the quality of it. However, from what I understand if the DNA is damaged earlier in the system, this might not help as much.

I completely with you on the thought of 'maximize your chance' (very much my whole rationale behind this 'changing FS delay cycle' decision), as I don't see at our age, mucking around is the best opition, time is the essense. However, on this decision, I have decided to try PICSI first without doing the testi thing, purely due to our circumstance. DH will have his second test on EPU day so we know what quality of sperm we are going to deal with and then take from there. To me, it is a reasonable risk that I am ready to take after being esclated from IVF directly to PICSI...

From memory, your DH's result reduced to 28 which is not too bad, so maybe can give it a chance first?. But I don't know the implication with PGD part though. It is such a hard game to play isn't? I was very much torn at the time as well. Good luck on making whatever the decision you make.

BTW, also check with your FS if down the track you DO need this procedure can she do it? From what I know, Dr. Lok is specially trained in performing this procedure, not everyone can do it. That's another reason that I decide to change sooner than later.

Good luck hun!

Hi ladies.

What a special little thread we have going here. A bit different to TTC after MC or the LTTTC with AC thread. Sort of a combination of the two. I think we are all very similar. We generally are able to conceive. But to do so naturally is such a huge gamble. I find this really frustrating. That is why I was very excited about turning to IVF with PGD. It seemed to solve everything. I have such a low FSH level (around 3) that they thought I would respond beautifully - in fact we were worried about OVERSTIMULATION. How ironic. And now I am in the 2WW when perhaps I really should not be. I am such a silly impatient thing! This cycle I will be unhappy if I am not pregnant. I will be terrified if I am. Anyway, enough about me...

Cuddlepie - not long until your FS appointment now. Like you, I am the type to jot down questions for my appointments. At first my FS was a little weird about it, but now he knows I am just stupendously thorough (and regretably forgetful if I don't take my list). Looking forward to hearing how your first consult goes. :D

Meredith- You can see by my above paragraph I know exactly how you are feeling. It seems we just can't win. For once, maybe we will be happy to greet AF :rolleyes: I did have a bit of a rant above, but I am actually doing OK in the 2WW. The weird thing is the two HCG triggers I have taken have really hit me. Have had mild MS pretty much since O. Meanwhile, I had a BT yesterday. My progesterone was 82. Not unusual for me this time in my cycle. But because the Lucrin had shut everything down the progesterone has made me incredibly tired. I am now 6DPO so if there is to be any implantation it should happen between today and 10DPO. Will be hard to know what is a symptom and what is from the trigger as the side FX seem to really hang around. Take care, Sweetie.

Lisa K - I was so sad to read about your loss. It must have been so difficult. 12 follies over 10mm is brilliant! :clap: It sounds like you are responding beautifully to your first cycle (I had 11 follicles, only 3 over 10mm, which is why they cancelled - I need higher stims). Please keep us posted on how you go :crossfingers:

Redlady - hi there potential cycle buddy. I did not know about the circumstances of your loss. I'm sorry, hon'. :hug:

MinnieMouse - I just realised I did not get back to you about my E2 level. On the Monday (after 10 days of FSH) it was 2400 - with 11 follies and only 3 of those being over 10mm which is the cut-off with my FS.

I was thinking exactly the same thing, what a great little thread, I am staying put now...thanks WTH for starting it...:D