IVF with PGD

[Where there's hope]

Sara - HOORAY for the trigger and no more jabbing With up to three a day I am sure you are ready to kick back and watch all your little spotties on your tum disappear. I actually got bruises - from the accupuncture. Still had them 3 weeks later! I really wish you well with EPU. Like Meredith said, the follies continue to mature. While SIVF talk about wanting follies over 18mm, I was also told anything over 14 can be mature. You're looking great, hun. Also, my BB cyberfriend Mollycat had just one eggie at EPU. She did not do PGD, but is now 10 weeks, and she is our age. A sweet reminder that it only takes one

Meredith - my goodness you and I are on the same page! My thoughts exactly. Why am I so brilliant at implanting dud embies Yet I knock back the good uns ?! But yes, it is my first loss without a HB. Technically, it has only delayed my IVF cycle by a few days (though this past week has felt like a month). Glad to hear you are sounding so upbeat. Looks like we are gonna be jabbing-buddies

Cuddlepie - my cycle was SUPER screwed up this cycle. I had quite a heavy period. I normally O on Day 15 but this month I was temping and FF said it was Day 20. You may also recall I also had a four day LH surge (definite darker positives), which I have never had before. My clinic warned this cycle might be late. Were it not for the PG my AF was due on Day 35 (normally 29 day cycle). Just adds to the darned waiting... On the FET discussion, I humbly feel like the Devil's advocate, too. I think it is interesting that your FS rang and was enthusiastically discussing a change in protocol to improve quality. I do not think it is greedy at all to do a stim cycle right now. Fresh cycles have better implantation rates, and it is hard to hinge so much on your one frostie. I guess for me the age factor is my greatest motivator. I really don't want to confuse you, Cuddlepie. But definitely worth thinking about, especially if you can afford the $$ right now

AFM - emailed my OB who took me through the Miscarriage Investigation Program to see if I should maybe have an NK cell biopsy before AF arrives (normally performed about this time). I actually skipped this test during the program because I was so darned eager to do IVF. But it just seems strange that I felt so sick before and after my BFP. I really felt like I was fighting something off! I did get an NK cell BT last year, but it was mis-timed due to a miscalculation in the time of my cycle (post-miscarriage). Despite being at the wrong time I still managed a "borderline" result. So, will see what comes of my email.

[Where there's hope]

Just found these articles sourced from Oxford University and Colorado Centre for Reproductive Medicine and dated November 2008. Links:

BBC NEWS | Health | IVF screen 'boosts baby chances'

Medical News: ASRM: New Embryo Screening Technique Boosts IVF Pregnancy Rates - in Meeting Coverage, ASRM from MedPage Today

They are talking about a new IVF embryo screening procedure with a HUGE pregnancy success rate. Test subjects were average 37 or 38 years old (depending on which article you go by). 18/23 pregnancies, plus 2 MC's. Here they test all the chromosones, not just up to 10 (the limit of IVF with PGD). Apparently it takes a while to get the results, so the blasts have to be frozen.

I posted links to two separate articles as they had some extra info in each of them.

luv your obsessive Googler, WTH

[Kel81]

Sara/CP/WTH/Meredith: Thanks for the warm welcome! It's slim pickings (as you would all know) for forums relating to PGD. I've been posting with FF for about four years now, but was only Dx with the BRT in September 2007 (after almost three years TTC #1); there's a great bunch of women there with chromosomal translations/inversions, too, but none are actually doing IVF/PGD, or are in Australia.

Mollygirl: I'm seeing Dr. Molloy at QFG in Brisbane. The short version is that I was seeing Dr. Ng at Monash IVF (then ACA when he transferred) for 18 months, but found a new FS after a few things left me with a foul taste.

AFM: I've finished down regulating now (04Jan09 was last OCP) and have been on Synarel since 30Dec08. AF turned up on Tuesday, and I'm starting injections (112.5 IU of Gonal-F) on Monday coming. Is there anyone else about to start stimming in the next week or so?

[Where there's hope]

Hi Kel.

Just a little update (stand to be corrected). Sara is due for EPU tomorrow, I am starting FSH in the next few days (short cycle) and Meredith is due to start jabbing next week. Cuddlepie is either doing an FET or new stim cycle in Feb.

None of us plan to be here after that

[Kel81]

WTH: Thank you for that. What's deemed a "short cycle"?

Meredith: Looks like you and I are going to be cycling together. And I didn't even have to buy you a drink first...

Sara: Good luck with your EPU tomorrow.

[Where there's hope]

Kel - it is my slack way of saying I am not down-regging, ie, doing the pill and Lucrin in the lead-up to FSH. I tried this in my first cycle and had a bad response (though my FSH dose was also probably too low that time).

Instead, I just go straight onto FSH injections around Day 2 of AF and some days in use Orgalutron to suppress the LH surge and prematurely ovulate. In November I did Puregon injections for FSH. This time I am trying Gonal-F to see if the different brand of FSH improves egg quality.

For me, it all kicks off in the next day or two (just waiting for AF) so it looks like I will be cycling with you and Meredith

[Kel81]

WTH: Sounds like the start of an IUI cycle. I've done two courses of Puregon for IUI before, one on 50 IU and got one follicle, and one on 75 IU where I got more than 20 follicles and it was cancelled. I'll be on 112.5 IU of Gonal-F this time, so I'm interested (if a little apprehensive) to see how many follicles grow and eggs are retrieved. The PCOS generally means that I respond ridiculously well to FSH (hence the 20+ on 75 IU). I am cautiously optimistic that this will work.

[Where there's hope]

Kel - I guess my shorter is similar to the start of an IUI cycle, only I continue on to IVF and PGD. That is incredible how the small increase in your Puregon doses gave you such immensly different results!

EVERYONE - I have just been reading up on something called L-Arginine - something which is not only good for DH/DP's swimmers, but also is said to be good for improving poor ovarian response in IVF'ers. Anyone here taking it or can help me with the dose?? I know about seeing a naturopath (la la la ) but you know how impatient I am. Is there a safe dose that anyone knows of? I checked my BM conceive well and it is not in it.

[Cuddlepie]

Hi Kel.

None of us plan to be here after that

Well said WTH, I love it!

Seems you have been busy today hun, I just caught up on the two articles you posted it and now this L-Arginine, you are such a little researcher...well, share with us once you know more, can't help you on that sweetie!

[Kel81]

WTH: Enough L-arginine is usually produced by the body (a blood test will tell you if you have the right amount). If you have PCOS or other insulin related disorders like diabetes you shouldn't take it because it increases blood sugar, as well as sometimes causing heartburn and ulcers. You might find this helpful: L-Arginine - What You Need to Know About L-Arginine

[MeredithD]

WTH - wow, you have been a busy little bee. Haven't had a chance to read those articles yet but does sound very ineresting. Just goes to show that there can be plenty more things wrong with embies than the standard 8-10 chromosomes they routinely test for in PGD. Having to freeze all does sound a touch scary to me - you would have to have plenty to start with

Oops gotta go - DS just not sleeping past few days!

[MeredithD]

Ok, back.

Sara - wishing you all te best for tomorrow and praying you get lots of lovely eggies

CP - its a tough decision for sure. I must admit, I do tend to agree with the other girls in that there is defnitely no shame in thinking ahead to no 2. 3 yrs ago, I was doing IUI to TTC #1 and was fortunate to eventually get a sticker but I do occsionally think maybe it wold have been better if we'd done iVF and perhaps had some in the freezer from the days when I had 34yr old eggies!
On the flipside, however, you really do need to focus on getting that one precious baby. There is no guarantee that even if you did another sim cycle and had 1 or 2 left over in the freezer, that any would actually produce another live child. Do what feels best for you. Your body may well have a better chance at pg without all the drugs and I can totally understand the desire to be pg ASAP.

Kel - Looks like it will be you, WTH and I all starting FSH within a few days of each other. i am doing short cycle like WTH so no down reg for me either. I have just been on provera to bring on AF as I don't cycle naturally. I don't have true PCOS but my ovaries seem to react a bit like it. I will only be on 125iu of puregon next cycle. Was on 200iu last time and had 50 follies with 21 eggs collected. There is some thought that the overstimulation may have led to poorer quality embies plus non "ideal" uterine enviroment ...hence the BFN.
Hopefully we will both get enough good ones this time around

[Cuddlepie]

Thanks for your thoughts Meredith, to be honest, the more I think about it, the harder it gets. So I thought I will go with our first instinct, quick and painless, just rub this bandit off.... Thanks girls for your input in this, but Feb FET, here we come...wish us luck!

I am excited to see you guys start another cycle, I have so much hope for you! Have fun with jabbing! Meredith, will you be doing just a stim cycle or with PGD this time?

Sara, good luck with EPU today, I hope you get lots of good quality eggs.

[Where there's hope]

Sara - thinking of you today. Hope it all goes to plan (even better than you hoped for) and that you are not too uncomfortable afterwards

[buliej]

Hi Everyone

I'm still on holiday (another 24 hours) but the weather is so-so today, so I'm at an internet cafe while DH is getting massaged --- FOR THE 3RD TIME THIS WEEK!!!

Sara -hope the pick-up goes well - please keep us posted.

Kel - Welcome - I hope your stay in here is short

WTH - sorry for the crappy start to your year - things will improve!

CP - I was faced with the same decision for my last IVF cycle. I ended up doing back-to-back cycles because I wanted some embryo's on ice. However, just as FS predicted, my body didn't produce any good eggs during the back-to-back cycle - she said that our bodies don't like the drugs 2 cycles in a row. So all that jabbing was for nothing...and I ended up using my 1 frostie...which resulted in a BFP...if it wasn't for the trisomy issue, I would have been on my way to a H&H...and it would have been great, even if it would have been just 1 (and we too would like 2 in a perfect world, but as we all have learned the hard way..this is so not a perfect world).

Meredith - fingers-crossed for you.

Hi to everyone else....

Julie

[Sara69]

Hi girls,

Thanks for all your good wishes. No personals today will catch up later, still very exhausted from EPU. As expected there were three mature eggs, so please keep fingers crossed for good fertilisation and growing so that I get an ET.

Meanwhile was wondering if you have any tips about things I can do to raise my chances of the little embie to stick in case I am really lucky and have a transfer.

Lots of sticky vibes and babydust to all of you.

Sara

[Cuddlepie]

Thanks Julie, what you said makes me feel better about the decision. But again, all in all this is totally in God's hand, nobody can predict what result is gonna be. So I guess we just have to go with what feels comfortable at the time.

I don't know if it is just me, but as this TTC game continue, I more and more believe 'its just God's will, if it is meant to happen, it will.'...I mean we still try to control our destiny by doing whatever we can, but there are so many parameters and factors that FS can't even fully explain in this process, we can only do what we can...

Sara, glad you are recovering from the procedure, I hope this whole thing is not too uncomfortable for you given its your first time. Will be praying hard that 3 eggs will all be fertilized and going strong. Rest up hun!

[MeredithD]

Sara - praying those 3 little eggies are having a great date with DH's swimmers and you will have good result by morning. I know the next 5 days are going to be very stressful for you. Hope you can find something relaxing to do

CP - I agree that the outcome of TTC is mostly out of our control. Very tough for a "control freak" like me! Wish I could find comfort in some sort of devine destiny but I am not religous so really just see it all as cruel twists of nature.Would love to see all the suffering we go through as having a "purpose" but how can it? `The only "lesson" I have learnt from all this is that life can be extremely cruel and that I should have pushed DH harder to have kids when I wanted them 10 yrs ago. Regret is such a horrible emotion.

BTW Just a straight IVF stim cycle this time around for me. GOing by our last PGD results, it would not really be worth the extra money and possible embie damage to do it again. Part of me would still really like that PGD safety net so I don't worry so much about m/c etc but guess we'll see how this cycle pans out

Buliej - nice to see you. Hope you are having great holiday. Where are you?
Will we be seeing back the rollercoaster soon?

Only one more day of Provera for me. This has to be the last time... please, please!