It wasn't good news yesterday. Sorry I didn't post, I cried a mountain of tears.
My HCG dropped to 25 (was 33) and Prog 43 (was 69), so now I just wait for AF to come.
Where to from here I'm not sure? I always suspected that my high FSH levels (which have bounced around from 44 to 6) impacted my egg quality and the Blighted Ovum and this result would testify to that. Age is not on my side, so I will be seriously thinking about donor option and ruling it in/out over the next month. I haven't given up on it all yet - but I would love my old life back - the one where I was ok about living child-free (before TTC consumed it and my mind).
I noticed the moderators are asking that we take general chat elsewhere, but I think it's important that we continue to post our updates here, because as sufferers of high FSH (which I think we all are)...it's a good place to record treatments and outcomes for others to read. I know that when I first found out I had high FSH, I searched and searched for a group in similar situation, but this is the only place I found. Perhaps we can keep posting here any updates regarding our FSH levels and treatment outcomes?
Thanks so much for everyone's support and encouragement! I sure do hope success comes for all of us at some point!
I am so sorry to hear that Tigga . It is a tough journey for us LTers.
I haven't closed the thread so FSH specific questions and discussion can continue but I ask that all cycle specific discussion and support move to the general LTAC threads.
If you would like to journal your personal TTC journey we have blogs available that you can peronalise and post whatever you like in and the ladies can follow and support you. There is also a Older Women's TTC Buddies thread you may like to jump into. A few of the ladies in here are also on there.
Hi tigga - I'm so sorry. It is like an emotional roller coaster.
Dusty's suggestion about the older women thread is a good one. That is my usual posting place.
While we all might not have very high fsh I thinkmost have egg qualitity and/or quantity issues (my fsh is always below 10 yet I can't get a good egg)
I've posted details about by treatment as well as all the supplements I am taking in that thread.
Tigga, I am so sorry to hear that. Please take some time and be kind to yourself.
I think we may be at a very similar point in our journey as I just emailed yesterday to a friends saying similar things about TTC and egg donors as you are writing. Please join the older Women thread and lets keep track of each other there.
Dusty - I understand what you're saying and agree that there is a lot of general LTTC discussion which probably repeats things said in other threads - I am one of the "Offenders".
But if we don't do this, there will be much less postings and this will probably make it really hard to find this thread for others. FSH is a really big problem when it occurs and I've seen it coming up in other discussions - it's also one of those things where noone can give you guidance - could you perhaps consider to make this thread a sticky which then really only looks at FSH questions and treatment outcomes for women with high FSH? There were a number of posts here which would be helpful for other girls facing this problem.
Tigga Im so sorry hun, IVF is such an emotional, hard path to travel. Take care of yourself and DH.
Dusty- I too was worried that this thread would become quiet and was also wondering if this thread could become a sticky? I am also guilty of "general cycle chatting" and wouldnt like to see this thread closed but I would still like to keep in touch with women in a similar situation to me.
I have looked at high fsh threads on other forums but BB is by far the best so I wonder if we could have a permanent thread for high fsh that we could post fsh updates and treatment results in (as Tigga suggested too)
I'd like to continue to stay in touch and share treatments and outcomes, so I will pop my head into the other thread and only post major relevant updates here.
I too would still like to post my fsh updates and ivf treatment outcomes and will continue to post in the LTTTC/AC thread. Is this ok?
Just a quick question- just wondering if anybody knows if it is worthwhile stimming for a few extra days say 12 instead of the usual 9 days I have in the past to try and get a few more eggs to maturity. I intend to ask FS at next appt but wondered if anyone here knew? TIA
Dutchie - I stimmed for 15 days in total on 450 gonal-f (got two follies/one mature egg/1 fert but chem preg). I am going to ask about a lower dose. I've been thinking more and more about that fact that if naturally high FSH levels = poorer egg quality...then wouldn't high doses of injecting FSH further compound the problem down the track?
Ladies, I have made this a sticky. Thanks for your understanding on not making this a general cycle chat thread. Please keep conversations based around issues of high FSH. We will rely on your commitment to do this so as to keep the thread an active sticky.
Hello everyone,
Yay this thread is a sticky!!! Thanks heaps Dusty.
Tigga- Thanks for the info. Ive only ever stimmed for 9 days, Ill definitely be asking FS about stimming for a few more days and you bring up a great point about high doses of gonal f further compounding the problem of high fsh. Im also on 450iu gonal, something to also ask the FS about thanks heaps.
Sara- Ill be sure to look over your last cycle results, I know we've both had similar issues with having a decent amount of follicles but then only getting a limited number of eggs at EPU, so I just wondered how many days your FS had you stim for. Ill check out the PGD thread again.
Also, I wasnt sure if my age meant that I couldnt/shouldnt post in the Older Womens thread. Ill definitely be posting again in the LTTTC/AC thread as Im gearing up to cycle again soon (maybe even when next AF arrives). I havent yet posted in the LTAC thread as Ive havent quite been cycling for 12mths+ - very soon though. Look forward to chatting with everyone there.
Have a great day!!!
Last edited by Dutchie80; May 14th, 2009 at 03:34 PM.
I didn't know that you have also experienced empty follicle syndrom -- wondering if you could tell me a bit more about this.
My FS thinks it could be connected to high FSH - did you have high FSH in the cycle that it happened? How many follicles and how many eggs did you have and what was the size of the follicles?
I havent read all of the posts on this thread, but just wanted to add quickly (am at work) about my experieince.
I had IVF 2 years ago at 39yo after an FSH reading c ame up as 20. I had two IVF cycles. On each of these my FSH was under 10 (cant remember the exact levels).
On my first cycle, I had 4 follicles, 4 eggs, 4 fertilised and 4 developed to day three (cant remember their grades); two were transferred fresh, and two were frozen. I had a chemical pregnancy from that cycle.
I then had another fresh cycle, and had 7 follicles, 4 eggs, four fertilised and three made day 3. two were replaced and one frozen. My DS (14mths) is the result of that cycle.
Certainly at the time I had low egg count, but presuemeable had fair quality.
I have no idea what my FSH is now... presumeably much higher, but I am WAY grateful that my FS was willing to try IVF based on the 20.....
I am shortly on track to try again with my frosties. Am crossingmy fingers that we will have success, but if not I will probablybe back in this thread with my high FSH looking for inspiration!
drbee - thanks for posting your story! It sure gives me renewed hope. And good luck with the FET!! Did you do anything different on the second IVF?
Thanks Dusty - I think loads of people would read this thread, when like me, they first find out about High FSH. It's a valuable sticky. Thank you!!
Sara, Dutchie, buliej and others - I will continue to post FSH related updates here and for general stuff I will go to the thread Sara suggested - that way Dutchie can join in too.
AFM, AF arrived and my Day 2 Baseline BT today has my FSH at 8.5 (Est and Prog baseline too). I'm happy with that given I've come off a stimmed cycle (15 days x 450 gonal f) - would that affect my natural FSH in anyway?
Drbee, thanks for your story, that is really good to hear , was the FSH of 20 on a CD2?
Tigga I didn't measure my FSH after my BFN as my FS said coming off a stimulated cycle it would be lower than normal - she may have just wanted to discourage me wantng to start immediately if the FSH was low. In any case I think a FSH of 8.5 is a very good result especially as all your hormones must still be in dissarray from the cycle.
drbeee- welcome to BB. Thanks for telling your story, it's certainly encouraging. Good luck for your FET.
Tigga- 8.5 fsh is great. TBH I'm not sure how a stim cycle affects one's FSH, but I can tell you that after my first down reg cycle was cancelled my fsh was at 16 (not a day 2 reading) but my next day 2 result was 5.7- the lowest it's been to my knowledge.
I cant work out how to go back and check the questions again...so will answer from memory. Sorry for inaccuracies if they occur
Tigga, no on my second collection I did nothing differently. Psychologically I remember being calmer...a bit more resigned if you will, but the protocol was minimally changed from memory. I am planning on speaking to my F/S (appt in 2 weeks) about perhaps trying acupuncture this time around though.
Yes (sorry cant remember who asked) the FSH was on CD2. For some reason it had not been measured at all on the first two 'timed intercourse' cycles, then on the third one they measured, and I got a very negative letter from my F/S). She was not hopeful about my chances with IVF, but was happy to try (unlike some I have heard of who seem to prefer not to)... as it happens she was right to back my horse!
If these embies are not meant to bless us with a baby, we are considereing fresh IVF again, ut I am now 2 years older (41 in 2 days aaaargh...) so I am not terribly hopeful
. It is a tough journey for us LTers.
. 
Thanks heaps Dusty.
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