Abandoned treatment - anyone else?

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 7:29 am

Hello I'm back again, I was on the board around February, HELLO again to Traci. Sending you all our support and platting and crossing everything in sight for you. You are an inspiration and very brave. Anyway back then failed tmt at that time - but successful IVF procedure (8 eggs etc. Grade 1 and 2 put back). Tried again in June with NHS attempt, but hit a wall. Downregged fine. Consultant put me on 150 Gonal F, after considering 225. He said ovarian reserve fine, so kept to lower amount. Anyway, after a 9 days things seemed to have stopped growing.. Follicles but empty! The whole thing was abandoned. They could only suggest that sometimes this happens, hormones etc... Has anyone had these symptoms, and what have they suggested? My clinic is intending to double my dose. Will speak with them today, but very concerned that "sledgehammer" approach is being used..... FSH is 7, but going to have another test today. Probably not thinking clearly. Has this happened to anyone else? Nicky

Traci · Post by **Traci** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 7:36 am

Nicky Poor you how bloody fustrating, No this hasnt happend to me , sorry I cant help at all, good luck for you new test. Thanks for you kind wishes it certainly helps going through this ordeal! {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} Trace x

Jo Locker · Post by **Jo Locker** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 8:12 am

Hi Nicky. Mine aren't exactly the same circumstances as yours but we had our first ICSI cycle abandoned at the beginning of this year due to my poor response to the drugs. I know this isnt the same, but I just want to let you know that I understand your disappointment - its terrible when you're all built up for the treatment and they pull the rug. They couldnt explain it to us either - I think you have to take heart in the fact that you've had successful procedures before - as they say sometimes this just happens but it's such a letdown mentally. Hang in there - all the best for the next round. It'll happen. Lots of Love - Jo. (16 wks pg)XX

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 8:53 am

Jo and Traci, Thanks so much for your replies. Wishing you both such indescribable luck. As I am Post MT. feeling tearey, incapable, undecided, really appreciate your comments. Jo: Can you remember whether and how much they altered your dosage?? At the moment, really undecided whether we stick with our NHS. tmt. I know this seems mad, possibly ungrateful, as I am one of the v. lucky 25%- but their success rate is abyssmal - 11% from 5%. We have a clinic, tiny one,round the corner which treated us privately earlier. The procedure was good and successful but no success. It is a one man band and about 20%. I'm worried that the abandoned tmt and the NHS decision to just simply double dose (vulnerable to OHSS) is a bit radical - Do we drop both and head to the big London hospitals? Nicky

Helen GB · Post by **Helen GB** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 9:16 am

Dear Nicky I am sorry you are feeling so low and unsure at the moment. It is difficult to know what to do at the best of times but I would stick with yr current treatment if I were you. Even if it doesn't work out, every failed cycle helps them assess a better tmt for you next time and you can take yr NHS results with you to a private clinic. I had 1 failed IVF in May/June. I responded OK to the drugs, got 6 good size follicles but all but one turned out to be empty...so I only got 1 egg which did fertilise and was but back but did not implant. I have been told that as this was our first attempt it is impossible to say that the reason for this was definitely low ovarian reserve - it could just be bad luck/hormone imbalance/bad reaction to the drug they used etc etc. So, we have been recommended a 2nd attempt, same drug but slightly higher dose. BUT as we are paying (I am 38 and have a son from previous marriage so no NHS for us) we are still undecided as to try again...if we get empty follicles again it just seems such a waste of time. Also, we didn't know we had empty follicles until egg collection. How did yr consultant know yours were empty after 9 days and I assume before egg collection? I would be very interested to know more about your experience. Take care Love Helen

july ann · Post by **july ann** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 11:51 am

hi nick sorry to hear that your tmt was stopped. I had a tmt last year all went well 14 eggs collected i was egg sharing so half went to another lady I had 2 put in grade ones but no pg. I tried again next month but had a poor responce to drugs 6 eggs but really small,so tmt stopped. I waited 6 months and tried again with another clinic and 1 was on 375 of puregeon had good tmt 10 eggs still no pg. went for fet and eggs did not make it so no et. Well tried yet again back at old clinic started on 375 of gonal f went for scan and only 4 eggs, they up drugs to 450 and by the end of week had 12 eggs. all i'm trying to say is every tmt is so different and uping the drugs might work for you. I have normal fsh and i'm 34.I look at every tmt as a new one and try not to worry about what as happened before. good luck with your tmt from july ann

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 7:33 pm

Everyone thanks for your responses, July Ann - you seem to have been through it with all your treatments and in spite of a normal fsh the number of eggs vary so widely. AAAAAaargh! It's bad enough being an infertility statistic and then an abandoned statistic ASWELL. I mean we'll be winning the lottery at this rate. Are you cycling again soon? Helen GB. Thanks too for your response, very similar to mine. Well I was on 150 for a week, then they saw me on Day 9 and in those two days they had not grown, only one at least was slightly larger. They decided to up dose and a couple of days later still nothing. Blood test on Day 9 too - v.low in oestrogen. Cycle abandoned. Although they could have chanced an IUI. Fortunately it was NHS cycle, so as it was abandoned I can have another free go. That was something cheery at least. I am JUST 38 too. I know how anxious you can get. Thanks for your advice to stick with tmt at present hospital. I had a good chat with them today, poor hubby can't appear each time, but he is right behind me - if you know what I mean! I feel much happier. On Friday will get results from a new FSH test so will know what they intend to start me on. 8 or lower - 225 above 300 Gonal F. Was in the past, 7 - praying it is still static. When will you be cycling?? I think I recognise from May/June - but at the time, thought that be reading the message board, it would make me more anxious, so only peeped occasionally. Hang in there, Nicky Hopefully for both of us, it should be unlikely that the same thing would happen again - I have been told. The fear is to OHSS - and abandon for those reasons, although it is more common with PCOS.

debb · Post by **debb** » Thu Oct 02, 2003 5:15 pm

Hi Nicky, I too had an abandoned cycle last July. It was our first IVF, started at medium dose and only 2 small follicles. Upped the dose but no response so abandoned. FSH Ok but am 43. Had a bad time as the hormones really affected me badly. Feeling better now and ready to start a short flare protocol at end of Oct. No reasons really given, so am hopeful this time to get at least to ET. I would keep going, I think after getting over the last tmt you start to feel stronger and more positive. Lots of Luck Keep us posted. Love Debbie ACU Leeds

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