I had an appointment with FS on Monday (my second follow since D&C complications). Looks like the antibiotics have sorted me out and bleeding has now all but stopped.
I asked FS about Estrogen Priming Protocols - unfortunately, he didn't go into any detail about it but did say "we could start tinkering with other options" for me. I suppose that was his way of saying it's worth a shot. I also asked about DHEA and he usually has refused point blank to prescribe - but this time he seemed more open about 'tinkering' with it. He said to do one more cycle at same protocol and if that didn't work - start experimenting with EPP and the likes of DHEA. I'm sorry I don't have too much info to share from him - he was not really in the mood to discuss it in detail on Monday's visit (don't you hate it when you feel like your bothering them with your Q's).
I won't be cycling for at least another 6 weeks or so - need to see out one normal period. I'm also still waiting for the cytogenetic testing results to come back - to see if this sheds any light on latest miscarraige. We had had karotype testing done when we embarked on IVF and both DH & I had normal results.
DH and I also went to an Adoption info night last night. Geez, I thought IVF was a challenge...the adoption process is as arduous (2-3 years) and is no guarantee either. It's given us some more thinking to do though. It REALLY shouldn't be this hard should it...all we want to do is share love and laughs and life with a child (or two or three)...how is that too much to ask? It's so unfair - especially when you hear there's 7,500 kids in Qld who for all kinds of reasons require foster care - because their parents can't/won't look after them. Sad hey!
Buliej, thanks again for all that info - it's really valuable!
Tigga - so happy to hear that your bleeding has almost stopped - mine hasn't quite yet - but it did take 2 weeks for it to stop after my first d&c.
We pay our FS so much money - whether they feel like answering questions should be irrelevant - they should suck it up and answer - otherwise, why pay for the consult - the very term "consult" describes something "consultative" requiring discussion. Sorry - I just get so mad - like we do half their work for them.
I have to say, I'm not convinced that EPP is "the answer" - but I just want my FS to consider it and then explain why it is or is not appropriate for me.
I was on DHEA for 2.5 months prior to this most recent cycle - am back on it again. It is suppose to take a full 3 months to really do its job - but that requires patience which I just don't have and my biological clock certainly doesn't have.
Tigga - maybe we will be cycling at the same time - I'm sure I'm approximately 6 weeks away...if not more
I think our Plan B may be a donor egg cycle in the US. We are not there yet, but I've mentioned it to DH and he has gone from a "NO - don't want to discuss" to a "let's see what happens with this next cycle first". I think doing a donor cycle here is just too hard and too long of a wait - in the US you get to preview all this information about potential donors and then pick one. Plus there are other benefits (privacy) in terms of doing it in the US - but this is off topic for this thread so I'll stop here.
I do not understand why adoption is so difficult here. I have read about this - Hugh Jackman's wife...Deborah F...s? has written extensively about this and it's shocking that it's so difficult when there is such a need.
Nothing would make me happier than to find a protocol that increases our chances - I sometimes feel on the verge of being so desperate and worry that I'm finding protocols that are designed only to appease and not to acheive results. I feel very vulnerable in that respect.
Tigga- Really pleased to hear that you can avoid a d&c and your bleeding has almost stopped, you must be relieved.
It's also good to hear that FS is going to try a few different things with you, you just never know- it may work but you'll never know if you don't even try and that's the way I look at it.
Getting a lil worried that I won't be able to cycle next month due to financial reasons so we may be cycling close together after all which would be really nice.
buliej- I agree with you in that I too don't believe EPP is entirely the answer, I've just started reading an exclusively high fsh board and there are some ladies on there who still have quite poor responses even with EPP, so it seems it works for some and not for others. I also just want my FS to consider it and not just say "oh that won't work" because in my mind it is worth looking into but of course it's not going to work if we don't even try. I'd also like an explanation as to why it is or isn't right for my situation, I think I atleast deserve that much. Still putting e mail together for FS regarding this and the A/ACP, will update when I hear back.
Have a great day ladies
Last edited by Dutchie80; August 30th, 2009 at 11:30 PM.
Dutchie - Just read about you starting to cycle again and your fantastic 8.2 fsh level!! and am popping in to say GREATEST OF LUCK TO YOU FOR THIS ONE!! I'll have everything crossed for you.
BulieJ - I have another FS appointment on 18th Sept - to discuss next cycle plan. Perhaps he'll be more up for a discussion about EPP. I know what you mean about that feeling of desperation and the biological clock...it really fogs my head and sometimes I no longer know what I actually want. The counsellor at my clinic mentioned that she had a patient that had gone to Mexico for donor egg cycle - evidently super easy and loads of donors around. Might be something to look into - would be cheaper than US too I reckon. I hope you are well.
I'm still waiting for post D&C AF (it's now been 5.5 weeks). Hopefully not too far away - but I think I have decided to give it another go when FS gives me green light. Afterall, you've gotta be in it to win it!
hi ladies, haven't posted here for a while but thought I might after reading recent discussions.
Tigger I hope you're ok and glad you're back on track with planning the next cycle. Lets hope the FS is a little more accomodating and willing to explore other options for you.
Bulie J, how are you going? It's hard gauging what the right protocol is and trial/error can be so expensive! We've explored pretty much everything out there, natural fertility (which worked for us initially), donor eggs (DH isn't happy about that one) and adoption as well. I can't understand either why donation and adoption is so hard here.
Dutchie how are you going honey? When are you having a scan?
AFM just started new cycle, FSH 10.7, flare cycle, 10mg Lucerin & 300 Puregon. The Lucerin is messing with my head, yesterday I felt like I was under the influence of 'class A' drugs! Much better today thankfully.
btw this some feedback from my FS regarding empty follicle syndrome & EEP:
Answer -I agree, which is why I recommended a different treatment regimen and a higher dose of the trigger injection to try and do everything we can to get the eggs to mature and release from the side wall. *The quality of the eggs, though, if there were any there, would not have been very good: That is why the more difficult it is to successfully aspirate an egg at egg retrieval, the more likely it is that such an egg is chromosomally abnormal and "incompetent" (i.e. incapable of developing into a normal pregnancy). This state of affairs is most commonly encountered in women with diminished ovarian reserve (i.e. "poor responders"), women over 40 and in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) who do not receive an optimal protocol of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH).
Answer -I have used a modified estrogen priming regimen in the past with not such great results.* We can discuss if the next cycle is not any better.
3. What are your thoughts regarding using the Colorado method?
Answer - I have yet to see a clinical paper showing the success of the Colorado protocol. *Some of it is counterintuitive to me, like using antibiotics that, in my view, may
actually hinder implantation. *Colorado is designed to try and improve implantation.
It has nothing to do with improving eggs.
Tigga- Hope AF arrives for you soon and you can get stuck into another cycle. I'll be cheering you on the whole way. Thank you for your kind words and yes, 8.2 is definitely nothing to be sneezed at.
anyos- thanks for all that info, I'm putting together an email for my FS regarding EPP and the A/ACP so the extra info you provided is really great. I too wondered about empty follie syndrome as I have in all my cycles had follicles big enough that should have yielded eggs but unfortunately didn't (they would have been immature but still should have had eggs in them) so wondered whether a higher trigger dose might be beneficial for me. Look I may be way off they have never mentioned EFS but I think it's worth mentioning. Lots to think about and discuss further with FS.
buliej- Hope you are travelling well hun.
Last edited by Dutchie80; September 11th, 2009 at 12:05 PM.
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so we may be cycling close together after all which would be really nice.
and am popping in to say GREATEST OF LUCK TO YOU FOR THIS ONE!! I'll have everything crossed for you.
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