Hello..back with an update

becky · Post by **becky** » Fri Jul 04, 2003 3:41 pm

Hi Girls I have been on the site everyday since we had our ICSI 2 fail in March ..reading..celebrating..crying and hugging with you all..but just very quietly... Dh and I needed some time out from things and have looked into a few options for the future..Burt the puppy arrived and has now been living with us for 2 months..stressful and enjoyable time rolled into one!! I was booked to have a lap and dye and hysterscopy (???) in August..but there was a cancellation last Thursday so I was slotted in. I had had various appointments with gynies and drs and it was almost certain that I hd a blocked tube??or at least some problems and also bad endo in my bowel and uterus..but until I had the op they were unable to be sure and treat me.. So last Thursday I went into hospital and had the two ops..woke up to be told that I am perfectly well and endo free and tubes are both well and healthy..I am just one of the small number of women that get painful and heavy periods for no reason. Our next step is to get another sample from DH to see if his count has improved as it stayed at 1 million for 18 months and then on the day of ICSI 2 it jumped to 7 million ?? The clinic did say that there may have been a counting error and so we must retest.. We are hoping that the count was correct..fingers crossed and that it may have increased again as we are desperate to be able to try IUI..either natural or drug cycle..we are also thinking about IUI with donor rather than doing another ICSI cycle?? We really have come to the end of the road with IVF/ICSI but would try IUI as it is a little less invasive and also a lot less money.Any ideas of opinions success stories or failure stories would be great. I am also going to ask my clinic about clomid for men ?? I have heard that this increases count. DH is taking folic acid, zinc, EFAs, Arginie..and eating Brazil nuts and pumkin seeds daily..is there anything else he should be taking? I am thinking of getting him to take the ACE selenium too..any comments?? I am taking the well woman vitamin which contains folic acid - I found that when I was taking lots of other supps too I was always feeling unwell and my skin was spotty ?? Do you think some people need not to take any extra vitamins and minerals? What I would wish for in the whole world would be a miracle!! Wouldn't we all?? Wishing you all the best luck in the world ..we will all be a mummy one day!! love Becky B

july ann · Post by **july ann** » Fri Jul 04, 2003 4:32 pm

hi becky nice to have you back. i'm in the same boat as you and we are going down the donor route, we have failed icsi. i was just going to have donor iui but i might have got on a new trail at bourn so will be having ivf with a donor. well it is not for everyone but it seems it is our only hope to get our much wanted baby. wish you lots of luck with what ever you decide from july ann

caz · Post by **caz** » Fri Jul 04, 2003 4:40 pm

HI Becky welcome back. Sounds to me like you are doing everything you can! On your dh - someone recommended CoQ10 to us. Might be worth a try? Am on 2ww for 1st ICSI - can really appreciate why you are reluctant to go down that route again - I really underestimated how stressful it would be. But heres hoping for the right results. If we fail after a couple of times I think we too will consider DI. Altho I do still have a few massive questions about it - namely would you ever tell anyone, including the child?/ There seems to be alot of pressure to be open about it, I know its not very pc, but I'm not sure if openess doesnt sometimes cause more problems than it solves?? What do guys you think? Anyway - good luck! would love to chat anytime Cazx

Alison · Post by **Alison** » Fri Jul 04, 2003 5:57 pm

Hiya Becky, great to see your news and catch up with you - busy as ever! Glad you've managed to have some time out and do some thinking, and also that the results of your op were so encouraging. Don't go away again! Alison x

lou · Post by **lou** » Fri Jul 04, 2003 6:27 pm

Hi Becky and girls, just a quick comment on the vits for men i work with vits and all that stuff, when u say zinc is it zinc picolinate 22mg as this is the best absorbed from a company Solgar it is 7.49 for 60 tabs, me and dh had male factor for the last 9 years, with the not drinking as much a healthier diet, plus omega 3,6 and 9 fish oils and the zinc we went from 17 million in Nov to 43 million in march, i cant say it was only the vits but they definatly worked for us we went from icsi to IUI which we r on our 2nd go and the moment insemintation hopefully on tues/wed.Iui is not as bad as the icsi we had but i felt really odd in the 2ww as with ivf u have an embryo put back in u know there was something to start with, where as with iui u know all there was, was sperm it might be clean sperm but still not the full thing!The success rate is alot lower with IUI aswell not only that but there is also more cycles abandoned as they will only go ahead with 3 follies, i have got 7 at the mo so hoping and praying only 3 will grow to 16-23 mm otherwise will be stopped till next month. Well so much for a quick comment!!!! I hope all will work out for u if u want anymore oinfo on IUI just ask away not that i know all the ansa's!! one more thing the reason u felt bad with the vits and got a bit spottier is because your body was ridding itself of toxins b4 it started to help u most people find this dont worry about. anyway i'm off take care love Lou xxx p.s look up the thread from Rachel her dh was given a drug called Tamoxifen it helps women with breast cancer but also it is used sometimes for sperm count she is now pg. hope this helps x

Louise · Post by **Louise** » Sat Jul 05, 2003 10:17 am

Hi Becky Glad to see your back and that your operations went well. You sound busy with your little puppy. I read on this site too about the girl whose husband took Tamoxifan and his count went from 1.4 - 19 million, so it may be worth your dh asking his GP. I am trying to find out if it is suitable for my DH too. Your dh sounds as though he is doing all the right things to increase his sperm. Take care Becky and good luck Lots oflove Louise XXX

becky · Post by **becky** » Tue Jul 08, 2003 2:58 pm

Amazing how you can switch between 'normal' life and 'IVF' life so quickly. Now that DH and I have discussed trying some other treatments by the end of the year..the blood test forms..sperm pots and ..healthy food fll the house..no sign of any wine bottles or instant coffee. We went last night to see DH doctor - for the first time since he was referred to a specialist as we had all of the other tests and IVF via my Doctors in an other surgery. We were delighted with the service that he gave us and trying to get me transferred over. We have been told that the next step is to repeat all of the tests so that we have up todate results..and also have a more detailed testosterone test for DH as he thinks there may be a problem..then a post coital test..and then maybe ICSI 3 (self fund) or IUI...depends if the last sperm count was an error count?? This IVF thing is like a drug.. Oh yeah also thinking about handing in my notice at work and just giving the next go everything and more as this really is our last chance ..without using a credit card!! love Becky B

Helen G · Post by **Helen G** » Tue Jul 08, 2003 5:25 pm

Hi Becky B Great to see you around again. Glad to hear your op showed no major problems - it just raised a whole new load of questions, doesn't it. I'm so glad that you feel listened to and understood by your doctor - it makes all the difference to have faith in them. It sounds like you and dh are doing everything you can to be healthy and stress free. I must admit I didn't work during my last cycle and I'm now 21 weeks pregnant so it worked for me!! Good luck with your test results and keep us posted! LOL Helen xx

rachel r · Post by **rachel r** » Tue Jul 08, 2003 5:35 pm

Hi Becky You probably won't remember me, but when you were doing your second cycle, I'd just started sniffing! I am so so pleased that you've decided not to give up. When our icsi failed, the thought of starting it all again terrified me and I was convinced there was no point - plus, like you said, its the cost as well. Also excellent news that your DH's gp is so much better. Its amazing how having a crap GP or a brill GP can change so much. Mine was crap - totally disinterested. To have a GP who's willing to go the extra mile for his patients is great! Well, it was my DH who was on the Tamoxifen, as one of the other girls said, and yes, our ICSI resulted in a bio-chemical pregnancy so it was technically a no-go. However, straight after the cycle we trotted off on holiday, and I came back pg! Please God, third time lucky for you and DH! Im sure stopping work will help big time - its an extra strain that isn't needed at such a tough time. Loads of luck and love to you both. Rachel x

fiona_lk · Post by **fiona_lk** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 11:26 am

Hi Pinky-slippers me old mate, Can't believe I missed this post - what brilliant news (well, you know what I mean, that you're back posting and feel strong enough to face treatment, whichever you decide to do). I'm like you - have (or certainly did have before the ectopic) healthy tubes and such, but have painful periods for no real reason. I did 7 donor IUIs and sadly this didn't work for us (but of course it can!), but then I had my little natural pg incident - Les has always had a decent count, but on the last ICSI cycle we've just done (I'm on the 2ww right now) they confirmed again that only 2-3% were any good, so those miracles can happen. My acupuncturist/chinese dr says that they can do wonders for low counts and low mobility rates (don't think they are too hot on the abnormal shape thing tho') and on Fertility Friends BB > Male Factors in Infertility > especially the Male Infertility - Just seen an Andrologist thread (you don't need to register to see it) there may be some interesting info for you. Good Luck with whatever route you take sweetie - miss our chats, perhaps we could arrange a quick one to swap details so we can keep in touch? Lots of Love Fiona xxxx [Edited by fiona_lk on 11-Jul-03 12:34]

becky · Post by **becky** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 5:25 pm

Hi Girls..big hugs to you all...poor Dh had to do a sperm sample today..in the dingy hospital toilets..whilst men wandered in and out..and then to make matters worse he had loads of blood taken again so that they can recheck his testosterone breakdown. As for me..well very nervous about having my FSH again as last time it was 14 and the time before it was 12..please dont let it go up again as our choices and chances will be reduced!! I am also going to get my GP to send me for a thyroid blood test - although nothing showed up 2 years ago alot can change and all my problems seem to be symptons of an underactive thyroid..ie high FSH, weight loss, anxiety, cold feet and hands..always tired and bad periods not to mention the IBS bloat thing!! Perhaps I am just a freak!! Hi Fiona - I am sorry to say that I now have purple slippers..but I do have pink PJs..and still have the pink Jasper Conran dressing gown which I proudly paraded around the womans ward when I had my lap and dye. It seems like I have been on this site for years..feels wierd when cycle buddies get pg whilst you know them ..and also have the babys.. One of my friends has had 2 whilst I have be ttc and recently mentioned that she wants another one...NOOOOOOOOOOO!! Great to back in the girls just wanna get pg club love Becky B

becky · Post by **becky** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 6:46 am

Where are you Fiona??? love Becky B

Advertisements