Another Newbie

[jssgps]

<br> Hi - I am newbie too. My friend who did IVF in September suggested I try this chat forum. (I am happy to report she had a positive and is waiting for her 1st ultrasound in a few weeks). <br><br>I am in Florida and am a bit confused by the names you refer to things as and the abbreviations. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. I cxan already tell you do things differently (I had no options of nasal spray) but I am getting the basic gist.<br><br>After two ectopics and a miscarriage since 1999 - we decided on IVF in April. The docs said we were a great case since all that had been wrong was my fallopian tubes (one removed with ectopic, one removed in May to increase chances of IVF success because it had become a hydrosalpinx) and we are young (28). They chose us for a minimal-stimulation protocol that only included follistim then antagon, repronex and finally ovidrel (no drug to shut my system down first). We got 6 days into the follistim when I then stopped the protocol because my estrogen had shot up too high (even on the minimal drugs) and when they tried to put the stopper on it - the estrogen level crashed - making for an increased risk of problems they said. <br><br>Now we are starting again - under the hyperstimulation protocol. The docs also had me start taking metformin - which they said was used a lot in Europe for people who react like I did - even tho my blood work didn't bear out that I had polycystic ovarian syndrome (the docs said my body acted like it did anyway). So now I am on Lupron shots to shut my system down and go for my first bloodwork and scan on Monday - hopefully to start the stim drugs a week from tomorrow. <br><br>Does anyone have experience with Metformin or something similar to what happened to me? I have heard Lupron makes you crazy - but I have been getting this great feeling of peace (most unlike me by the way) and wonder if it is the metformin. This web site had some confusing info on the drug and I was hoping since most of you are in Europe - you might have experience with it.<br><br>I did feel awfully alone when we went through this before and was devastated when they made us stop (my emotions went on a roller coaster when the drugs stopped). I am so happy to find this site and wish you all the best. <br><br>Gayla<br>

[kathryn]

hi gayla,<br>left you a message in the ocb thread<br>(october cycle buddies!)<br>kathryn<br>x

[Dagny]

Hi Gayla<br><br>Welcome to the site. I have had 3 ivf/icsi attempts and the first time I got OHSS - ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, in the worst possible way. Hospitalised for weeks and felt like dying. I was coasted for 3 days. The other time I hypo'ed slightly, coasted for 3 days and with good monitoring didn't get to be an hospital inmate thank god. This time the same but ended up in hospital day after ET for 2 days with ovrian pains. The Dr's were convinced I had polycystic ovries but on further investigation they were fine. I have had both tubes removed too. I produce about 30 follies each time and they don't know why I get such a rapid response usually within 2 days of injecting. I have been on different drugs to you. Look on the other Newbies site Michelle, and those are my drugs.<br><br>Good luck Gayla and let us know how you get on.<br><br>Keep smiling <br>Dagny x

[jssgps]

Thanks for the welcome Kathryn and Dagny. <br><br>Dagny - I had no idea hyperstimulation could be so bad. I read your other recent posts and will hold a good thought for you. I made a ton of follicles too within my first few days - and many were already pushing 14mm by the 6th day when they pulled the plug last time. I wonder if there is a correlation to the missing tubes? My doc said that in Europe they put everyone on thid drug who has this reaction - whether or not they have polycystic. I guess from talking to you that is not true -- that makes me nervous. I hope someone will write back who has some experience with it and can tell me how it works. All I know is that it is supposed to regulate my adrenal gland and keep my estrogen from taking off so much this time. If all goes well I should be doing EC around the 17th or so. <br><br>Thanks to everyone who helped with the abbreviations!<br><br>Gayla