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So so sorry to hear about you BFN Megan....hugs are never enough at a time like this but you have extra mega ones from me.
Well we had a phone from the illustrious Dr. S today and finally have part of the answer to our failure to conceive puzzle.
The blood test we had done showed normal levels of NK cells well within the normal range he said. The biopsy told a different tale however. He said he would class 6% as high......well I have 36% NK cells in my uterus......no wonder the little buggers wont stick...they havent got a hope in hell with mummy killing them off all the time.
It was such a relief to finally have an answer so that we know how to treat the next cycle more effectively. He said he had women with NK levels in the 50s that have had successful pregnancies so I am hopeful that with steroid treatment we may have solved part of the puzzle. Geoff still has to get his SCSA done to check if he may be contributing to the dogy embies in any way but still we have a start.... Now to finish the detox with Antonia and grow some super eggs and spermies and we will be cooking with gas!!
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wow mel that is great that you finally have an answer ..
I too had the BT from DR S and that came back normal - i didn't proceed to have the biopsy done as i have always gotten an infection whenever a FS goes near me and Gavin didn't want to temp it!!! so he recommended that i do the steroids anyway and recently got a BFP which i sadly mc a few weeks later
Im now in the middle of deciding whether to have a D&C as i have only just finished spotting and have been having some pain and discharge.
i wish you all the best with the steroids - i didn't want to take them and am still weaning myself of them so GL
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Mel, I hope the steroids work for you. I'm sort of in two minds about them... my blood test level was ok-ish, but as I was on prednisone at the time, we felt that it could be affecting the blood test results. My arthritis has been so bad that I haven't been able to get off the sodding things, though! I've always been worried that the impact of the prednisone on my blood sugar levels is causing the insulin resistance to be worse and thus making the PCOS side of things even worse again (it's already frightened my other FS to see just how my insulin levels got during a GTT)... If you get any information on that side of things, I'd love some help! It's all been getting a bit much for my brain to cope with.
BW
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i'm so glad you have an answer Mel - it is about time something jumped up and said "hey, it's HERE" - now we just have to wait for your BFP to do the same!!
Lou, i'm sure you've spoken to the clinic again about the d&c - if you're still having pain now, i would think that it might be necessary - if for nothing else than to give your body a chance to recover and head into the next FET. you've had a positive recently - i'm sure you want another soon (and take this one to term...)
as for me - BT results today. hormones are flat lined, so we can kick start - and look at that - NO PILL!!! grrrr, would be great if the FS had listened to me about this ooh, about 3 months back BEFORE i had to go on the bloody thing for four weeks!! HRT starts on Saturday with FET in a couple of weeks. have spoken to my supervisor at work about some leave next month for my birthday and to encompass the FET, and looks like it might be able to get the time off - which will be awesome! i don't have to work on my birhday anyway, but getting the whole week off (and the one before) would be soooooooooo awesome!
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im back to girls some of you may rember me and i hope you do lol..
im just waiting for af then we can start the pill for ivf # 2 and cant wait i wish you all the best on your journeys xxoo
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welcome back Smithy
things quiet here. just waiting for the 16th (weds) so i can start sniffing puregon...
chat soon.
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Welcome back Smithy :)
Very very best wishes for this cycle... I hope this one is the one for you hun :pray:
Mel - Wow... funny to say thats great news, but at the same time, YAY that you have an answer and a reason as to what has been wrong :dance:
You must be so looking forward to your next cycle now, heading into it with new ideas and a new plan - thats great :D
As for me, the test that Mel got her results back for - the NK cell test is the one we're waiting in doing - day 21 is tomorrow for me, but there is absolutey noooo way I'm going to get to the hospital in Sydney to have it done :(
I have a zillion things I need to do tomorrow in preperation for our pizzeria to be open this weekend for the school holidays... and have a big afternoon teaching as well - Just not going to happen :(
NEXT month :rolleyes: SURELY nothing can get in the way of this damn BT???!!!!
Hope everyone is great xxx
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Is there a reason Dr S wanted the test done on day 21 of your cycle, Holly? Mine wasn't. Although, that could partly be down the the fact that I don't actually HAVE a cycle.
BW
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not sure about the blood test but the biopsy has to be done on days 22 - 26 if have a normal 28 day cycle or day 28 if youhave a longr cycle so sas to catch the NK cells at their "best"
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I think its fairly much the same thing with the BT - if you have a regular 28 day cycle the BT should be done on CD 20 or 21.... the nurse told me approx 7 days before AF is due, to catch them at their 'best' :rolleyes:
My cycle is like clockwork, so I guess thats why.
Last month we were actually at a 40th on CD 24 5 mins away from the hospital, but when I rang his clinic to see if that would be ok to go on that day, they said best to leave it until I could get there on the right 2 days....:dunno:
I could have gone today as it turns out... DH has had me running around doing useless things that he could have done himself :wall: ..... such is life I guess :rolleyes:
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Hi everyone
Firstly some personals and then an update on our appointment with FS yesterday.
Shannon - a huge congratulations hun! That is amazing news! :cheer:
Mel - I am glad to hear that things are moving forward for you with more information that you and Dr S can work on together! Hopefully this is the critical piece of the LTAC puzzle for you. :pray:
Holly - good luck with the new business this weekend. A pizzeria - now that would be just too tempting when on a low carb eating plan!
Sonya & Smithy - welcome back and good luck with your next cycles. It looks like you are only days apart!
BG - that's a bummer about your bt result. But great news about being able to take some time off work! Hopefully this next FET will be good news for you & DH.
BW - glad to see that you are feeling a bit better. You need to take things easy and rest up after all your poor body has been through.
Pitapata - I hope that you are feeling better soon and can make whatever decision is right for you.
Megan - I am so sorry for your loss. Be kind to yourself, thinking of you. :hug:
TL - How is the sniffing going?
To everyone else I have missed, a big hi.
Now for me. Well I have been fighting off a cold for the last 4 days now and have finally given into it, which is really bad timing as I am so busy at work with a big report due in a week and a uni assignment due at the same time! GRRRR!!
We saw our FS yesterday to get the results of the lap, hysto, biopsy, D&C. Everything was all clear and normal, which is nice I guess but a little frustrating as well. FS reiterated that the trouble she had with my cervix may have meant that the one and only transfer we had wasn't successful because it wasn't put in the 'right' place. With all of the problems still going on here in Canberra, we have decided to go with pickup and transfer in Sydney at NGF which means lots of travel for us. All the bts and scans will be done locally but it is going to mean a lot more input and control on our part to make sure things don't go off the rails! I still have to speak to the nurse, Bev, at NGF to organise a phone interview but FS is confident that we will be okay because we have done this all before, but with a different clinic and in Melbourne! I wish I had her confidence!
Our FS has also re-designed my cycle, again! This time she wanted me to tell her what it should be - as if I am the doctor! Anyway, plan is a flare with synarel and 275 of puregon with a scan and b/t on day 8. My first cycle which was a downreg started on 300 of GonalF with no response which was then increased to 450 - only 2 eggs collected and 0 fert. The second cycle was a flare on 450 GonalF with 3 eggs collected and 1 fert to transfer, BFN. My concern is that 275 is going to be too low but FS believes that higher doses can actually have the opposite effect and 'poison' the eggs. AAAHHHH! I just don't know whether this is the right thing to be doing. It is so hard with a new FS and a clinic that is 300kms away!
And the other thing that she wants to try is human growth hormone. I will post a thread on this as I am curious to find other people's experience of using this.
Anyway, that's me. I am feeling a lot of mixed emotions at this time. I am a little scared about starting a new cycle which I am not 100% confident with and also a little concerned about using a clinic in another city. But I also want this cycle to be successful. I am seeing a new accupuncturist next week so hopefully she will be able to help out with my stress levels etc. She comes highly recommended from another BB LTAC lady who is now UTD! She might also be able to help with my FSH levels, which were too high at the end of last year and we had to cancel before we even started!
Ok, this post is too long already, so signing off now. Take care of yourself everyone and hope you have a great weekend.
cherylxx
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Chez thanks for asking sweet sniffing going well 3rd day now just in limbo as to what happens next with the long cycles.
I am a bit crowed inthe brain so will catch up on personals
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Chez, Bev is just lovely. She sounds really gruff and sometimes a bit grumpy but she is absolutely the most amazing and beautiful woman. She's the nurse at the clinic that sat with us for ages when we lost Caterpillar, she's the one who forced me to stop working when I wasn't coping with the last stim cycle, she's the one who threatened to take me to hospital herself if I didn't go, and the one who called to check on me when the hospital had finally released me. I like all the nurses there (except Gloria, ugh!), but Bev is by far my favourite. I have heard about the higher doses of FSH effectively poisoning the eggs - through another patient of David's that's in a similar situation to you. She's getting more eggs now by following the same diet that David put me on. I want to wish you the most amazing successes with NGF... just look out for David's black fingernails, but I'm sure everything will be fine! David's a stubborn bugger and takes great pleasure from getting success with his more difficult patients (like me :rolleyes:), he's always willing to try new things or change things in order to get a better result.
Going to go back to bed and doze again... Now that the school holidays are here, the term has finally caught up with me. So tired...
BW
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Hello Lovelies!
Good luck to all of you girls that are cycling, and luck to those who are waiting to cycle.
Only 22 days till I'm off to Thailand, the place will never be the same after I've visited.
Always thinking of you all
Ann :dance:
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Have a great time in Thailand, Ann.
Have my first puregon injection for the current cycle tonight. And my first half a nizoral tablet. Rather nervous... and I suspect it's only going to get worse through the evening. Rather tempted to just do it now instead of around 9pm, just so it's out of the way and I don't have to stress any more. I will wait, though.
BW
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Have a lovely time in Thailand, Ann :D
Where are you staying?
BW - You should do it now if it doesn't make any difference to your cycle and the shots... no need stressing yourself about it if you don't have to ;)
Hope everyone is having a great weekend - As for me, I think I jinxed myself when I posted that my cycles were like clockwork... have been in pain all day with my back, head and ovaries... seems AF has decided she may visit early on CD 23... aaauugggh :rolleyes:
Just about to get myself a hot water bottle and a nice warm cup of tea... damn witch, sometimes I dislike her more than usual ;)
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Hollyboly,
Staying 10 nights in Phuket, 4 nights in Bangkok and 1 night on the River Kwai
Yooohooo, Finally something to look forward to
Ann
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You'll have a great time, Ann - we stayed in Phuket for 10 days in Feb :)
Let me know if you guys are planning to get any clothes etc made while you're there - we know a shop there, and Mike, the guy who owns it is just fantastic ;)
We went to the temples while we were there, Mike the taylor took us to a special one just outside of Phuket where you can go and ask for your greatest wish - when he heard about our IVF issues, he took us up there himself! He said we just had to go!
When we were finished at the temples, we had to pick up a piece of paper on our way out (after throwing sticks, etc) - the paper was an answer to our prayers (kind of like a fortune cookie) - it said that our dream would happen, but not right now, as when we got home there would be a big issue that would be life changing for us, and we had to deal with that first, settle into our new 'lifestyle' first, and then the baby would come.... as it turms out, the day we got home, DH lost his job and now 2 months on we are opening up our new business and DH is going back to working nights again.... hhhhmmmm! ;)
Here's hoping they were right about the next part as well!!! :pray:
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Well lets hope that your wish does come true.
We stopped TTC, IVF and seeing all the other miracle workers. They all said that they could help, sadly after many dollars and endless disapointments we accepted defeat, but to let you in on a little secret - shhh, if I was to fall pregnant it would be the greatest gift I could ever recieve.
Anyway enough dribbling.
Yes we would like to get some clothes made while we are in Thailand. We are taking empty suitcases, so we can fill them with all of our shopping!
Ann
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Ann- my DH goes to Phuket every year for the last 3 years with his friends. its nice for us to have a break from each other - abscence DOES make the heart grow fonder! He usually stays at Patong Resort and loves it! next time WE will be going. saving up now. i want to do like you and see phuket, bangkok, and definately Bridge over River Kwai - the movie about that is one of my fave childhood flicks.
have a great time! DH says shopping there is phenomenal... we went to Bali just before Xmas and DH says Phuket is waaay better with a lot more variety of shopping and activities.
sounds like that temple with the wish thingy is the place to go too.
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Hi lovely ladies
Have decided to take today off work and rest up from my cold which has allowed me the time (and privacy) to call NGF about our upcoming cycle. BW is right, as always,Bev sounds absolutely lovely. I am so glad that this is not my first time around trying to do a cycle 'remotely'. Even after chatting to Bev I still feel like I have a million questions, most of which I can't actually vocalise at the moment, but the big one screaming in my head is: Is this the right thing to do? I know we have SIVF and CFC here but I am really hoping that the extra travel and coordination that is required will end up with the result we want. Does anyone know where I can get a crystal ball :rolleyes:
Anyway, seems like HGH requires a scan and b/t at day 6 - if I don't have a follie of 14mm or bigger than they can't start the HGH. And then I need another b/t and scan at day 8 or 9... So many speed bumps along the way. I am really hoping that my FSH levels will be ok on day 2 so we can at least start this time around. :pray:
I read recently that chasteberry can help with lowering FSH levels. Does anyone have any experience of this?
Anyway, time for some personals...
Ann - it is lovely of you to check in on us. Have a great time in Thailand and we will want a full report. We are planning on getting married there next year in Chang Mai but will also be spending a few days in Bangkok and another week or so elsewhere and would really like your opinion on Phuket etc. And definitely a visit to that temple sounds in order!
Holly - I can sometimes be a bit sceptical when it comes to matters of faith but your recent experience has reminded me that the universe is much bigger than any of us... and the prediction seems spot on so far... hopefully it continues to be :pray:
BW - how did your first round of drugs go? Did you make it to 9pm after all? I wish you every success with this cycle xx
Sonya - how are you doing with your cycle. Are you doing a stim? I seem to have lost track.
To everyone else, hi and I hope that your Monday is going well.
Take care all
Cherylxxx
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YEP. my second full stimulated cycle
start sniffing wednesday AM yay!!! sorta?
hope to start 150 puregon just after anzac weekend.....
so excited and after having learnt so much from the previous 15 months i feel so much more aware and calm.....
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Getting back to the post that was munched several hours ago... I made it to about 8:30 last night before I decided I just couldn't sit and wait any longer. By the time I'd gathered all my bits and pieces - puregon pen, puregon cartridge, lucrin vial, syringe, alcohol wipes, nizoral tablets, pill cutter, water... and then got the injections ready to go, I had them done by 10 to 9. It seems like so much stuff to juggle this time! Injection went ok, apart from the strange tendency to sting, but I've still got nothing more than a couple of tiny little bruises, so we're doing ok so far!
Chez, I've been doing a bit of reading for you. The Getting Pregnant Faster book that I bought is very much along the same lines as the diet David's got me on, but has a bit more information on supplements and stuff, and there's a few foods that I've decided I need to eat more of so I'm doing so. I thought I'd seen something about high FSH levels in there, but when I looked, there was nothing. Just the comment that if FSH levels are high because ovarian reserve is low then following the diet for three months will ensure that the eggs that are left are going to be of good quality making you more likely to get pregnant. Nothing about high FSH levels where they talk about chasteberry/vitex/agnus castus.
So I resorted to google... "Chasteberry has been shown to inhibit prolactin secretion by competitively binding to dopamine receptors. Available evidence suggests chasteberry may be an effective treatment option for hyperprolactinemic conditions, and premenstrual syndrome. Chasteberry does not appear to affect levels of leutinizing hormone or follicle stimulating hormone." Afraid there doesn't seem to be any magic solution. :( But hopefully the diet will help.
Sonya, looks like I'll be going to EPU about the time you start stims. Assuming all goes well. Good luck!
BW
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Hi again
BW - thanks for doing the research for me. There is obviously still so much that science doesn't know about how we reproduce. The book I have, which was only published last year and was written by an English lady whose bio says she is a writer and journalist who specialises in issues surrounding female fertility and has had 2 IVF babies herself, has a completely different take on chasteberry. I will talk to my accupuncturist on Thursday to see what she has to say. At this point, I am willing to try to anything. I am worried that this cycle will finish before it starts if my FSH levels are high again, even though it has only happened to me once before that a cycle was cancelled because of FSH. In the meantime, I am trying to be very good and sticking to David's diet. :)
Sonya - if you could just send some of your calmness my way, that would be really great! Good luck with this cycle. Hopefully your knowledge and calmness will bring you the outcome you want.
Take care all
xx
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Hi all
Just a quick update - saw my chiro today and he reckons that I am in the best shape physically in a long time to be undergoing an IVF cycle, which has kind of put me on an upward feeling. I don't want to read too much into this, but the more things I have on my side the better :)
And BW - I re-read my post from yesterday. :redface: Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you and hopefully I haven't. What I was meaning to say was isn't it frustrating how two different published sources can say completely different things about the benefit of herb such as chasteberry? No wonder this AC trip is just such a minefield and thank goodness we have BB to help us navigate through! Anyway, I hope you understand that that was what I meant.
Hope everyone is doing well.
xxx
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No, Cheryl, wasn't upset at all. I've found the same thing with conflicting sources of information. I'm sure that statistics can be massaged to show anything you want them to! It's so hard to decide what the right thing to do is... eventually it comes to a point where you've just got to make a decision and hope for the best. Good luck with making your decision, and I hope it turns out to be the right one.
Sonya, I can use calm being sent this way, too...
I am on the edge of falling apart after an insensitive email from my mother, and the second night in a row of DH being home late. I'm just glad it's school holidays and I can spend the day in bed in my PJs with my nose stuck in a book if that's what I need to do!
BW
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Hi ladies
Chez - i just wanted to add that my np did not want me to take vitex. although there is evidence too say that it helps women with PCOS and 'o' she said given my PCOS, my age(26 at the time) and my weight (65kg) it could cause me to increase my number of eggs so much that i could OHSS even without IVF drugs!I have also heard that it will help with egg quality
my cycle after speaking with her (and not taking the chasteberry) i got 26 eggs, her first Q was did i take it !!
HTH
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Thanks Pitapata - I will talk to my acupuncturist about it on Thursday and see what she recommends. It would be great if it could help with egg numbers as I only got 3 last cycle, with one fert, so a few more would be nice. Not sure about 26 though!
BW - I am so relieved that we were on the same page with that. Hope your enjoying your time off - I envy you right now. I would love to just bury my nose in a good book (like one of the 3 on my nighttable at the moment) rather than uni text books!
xx
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im sure it will help and wish you all the best with it - but do recommend that you speak to a health care provider with more knowledge
GL
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hey BW - your new book sounds great and one right up my alley. who is the author?
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It is Getting Pregnant Faster by Dr Marilyn Glenville. I picked it up in Big W for about $20. Simply because it deals with IVF and preventing miscarriage as well as doing it the old fashioned way.
BW
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