tubes fixed through laparoscopy-success rates?

[annag]

Hi Cori....I'm feeling your pain with the unsuccessful IUI. It seems so direct and easy and I just don't know why it doesn't work 100% of the time. I had my 3rd one done yesterday with 2 follies (a 24mm and 21mm)on my right ovary with a better count (26mil 85% motility post wash). I'm so thankful that right ovary is doing such a great job ovulating. It has done that the last 3 times. But somehow, I don't know if my rt f-tube is still open. I also met with my RE and he suggested to do IVF my next cycle. But I have to go through another HSG to see if the rt tube is still open and if not, I need another lap to remove it:x. Anyway, I am hoping for the best this last time and if it doesn't work I just have to move on...I'm glad you're taking time off for the holidays...no stress about u/s and meds and iui's! I'll be in the middle of my 2ww on christmas eve and probably get all stressed out about it. Well, let me know what you decide for next year! Hopefully, 2007 will be our year to have our bundle of joy! Happy holidays to you and dh! I will let you know what happens in 2 wks.

[Cori]

Anna,
It sounds like this may be a "perfect" cycle for you. The follicles were perfect size (according to my doctor anyway) and it was on your right side. Hopefeully you will receive good news soon. I am hoping for you. Just in time for the new year. If not, you still have options and that is always comforting to know. We will be starting the Clomid and IUI's again next month and doing that for 3 more months. If not, we will also be looking towards IVF.
One thing is for sure, I truly believe that it will happen for both of us. Good luck to you and your DH and also happy holidays to both of you.
Cori

[annag]

Hi Cori,
Happy New Year! Well, as you can tell my last cycle was a bust. I started spotting at the stroke of midnight last night and it was just devastating to start 2007 like this. Anyway, I feel much better now and have decided to face fate and move on to IVF. My re wants me to start this cycle and fit an HSG in between to see if my rt tube is still open. If not I'll need another lap to remove it before the IVF. I think I'll wait for the next cycle (feb) to start the process so I can have time to heal if I need another lap. How are you doing? Are you starting another IUI cycle this month? Good luck and hope you had a happy holiday!

Anna

[Cori]

Hi Anna.
It is good to hear from you. I am sorry to her your news but am hopeful for you with the IVF.
I will be doing IUI again this month and if it doesn't work then next month also. After that, I think I will be moving on to IVF also.
I hop that everything is going to go smoothly for you from here on out.
Good luck and PLEASE keep in touch. I will be lloking forward to hearing from you.
Corinne

[annag]

HI Cori,

Haven't heard from you in a while. How are you doing? Are you in the middle of your IUI cycle? Good luck and best wishes. I hope you have better luck than I did.

As for me, I'm waiting for af which is due sometime first week of Feb then start bcp's. I did have some kind of good news though. I had another HSG recently and my rt tube is still open but somewhat dilated in the end. RE says that was why my IUI's weren't working. However, that was a big relief since he would have taken me back to surgery to remove that remaining tube prior to IVF if that was blocked.

Hope to hear from you! I've joined the Feb/March IVF thread in the general forum. The ladies there are wonderful!

Hope everything is well !

Anna

[Cori]

Hi Anna!
I just finished my IUI cycle and now am beginning the 2 week wait. I just keep hoping and praying for this to work. I only have 1-2 more shots at IUI and then I will be moving on to IVF also.
Please let me know how IVF goes. Whn to you start the whole process? I will be looking forward to hearing your good news soon and as always I will be hoping for you.
Good luck and please keep in touch.
Cori

[annag]

Hi Cori!

Any news on your 2ww??? I hope everything is well and am looking forward to hearing a BFP from you.

As for me, I have started bcp's and will soon down reg and stim. I had bad news yesterday. Got my FSH level at 12.3. I've been reading how that changes an IVF cycle dramatically. I guess my chances have dropped pretty low. I'm so upset about it but there's really nothing I can do but hope for the best and try to stay positive. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!
Keep in touch!
Anna

[Cori]

Hi Anna!
Sorry, but BFN. I found out last friday. I have already started taking Clomid again and will probably begin my IUI cycle on 2/14. Maybe Valentine's day will be the day. Otheriwse, we are looking into scheduling a consultation with a doctor in Syracuse who performs IVF.
I will continue hoping for good news for you. What was your FSH level last time they checked? My doctor told me that it can vary from time to time and they should have checked you on day 3 of your cycle otherwise the results could be wacky. So, don't worry too much. Also, my doctor also told me (because I have asked this question many times) that anything under 16 is good. I know that it varies from clinic to clinic and maybe from IUI to IVF but that is also something to consider.
Do you start IVF in March? What is actually involved right now. I don't know what bcp's are or anything about IVF. I will be hoping for you. Remember, you are still young and have time. Try to stay calm even though sometimes it is impossible. If you are stressed and I know it is hard not to be, your body releases cortisol and it wreaks havoc on the systems of the body. Have you ever tried acupuncture. Many people say that it help calm you amongst other things and is also indicated for people going through IVF.
Please keep me informed and if I can be of any help to you, please let me know.
Cori

[Cori]

Anna,
I am just wondering how you are doing? Di you start IVF yet? I have been thinking about you and wondering how you are.
My last IUI failed and I am now off Clomid. We did make an appointment with an IVF clinic in our area and have an appointment on 3/30. In the meantime, I am going to do an IUI cycle without Clomid until we can start IVF.
Did the clinic recommend being off Clomid for a specific amount of time before being able to start IVF cycle? If you have started, what is it like? Does the egg retrieval hurt?
I am hoping and praying for you and I just KNOW that it is going to happen for you.
Please keep in touch.
Cori

[annag]

Hi Cori, I'm so sorry your last IUI didn't work! I know it is such a frustrating process. Good luck with this last one. I always hear stories about people getting pregnant right before IVF. I hope that would be the case for you.
As for me, I'm in the middle of my IVF cycle right now. I skipped a cycle after my clomid/IUI to do it just because we had the IVF consult during that rest cycle. My RE didn't really suggest waiting for months after. He started me on birth control pills in the beginning to time the cycle and rest the ovaries and then on day 20 of that cycle he started me on Lupron shots which is the down regulating part of the IVF cycle. On the 8th day, I got another period which was lighter then they did a baseline U/s to make sure I didn't have cysts and then started me on stim shots (Follistim and Menopur) on day 3 to start the egg making process. I do this for about 10-12 days while they track the follicle size by U/S and estradiol levels and then get ready for the trigger shot. Right now I'm on day 2 of the stim shots. So far, i haven't really had any bad side effects. I'm doing 3 shots a day..it gets pretty tiring but I'm doing my best to stay positive. I hope this will work for me. I am excited and nervous at the same time.

I do hope we finally fulfill our dreams this year. I am praying for you too. Keep me posted of what your plans are.

Take care and best of luck!
Anna

[Cori]

Hi Anna,
I am so glad to hear from you. I really think that this is going to work for you
and I can't wait to hear the good news. You deserve it! Please keep me informed.
Do you mind me asking what your last estradiol and FSH numbers were (day 3), if you remember? Mine were FSH-8.1 and estradiol-71 and I have been stressing as to whether these are good numbers for my age and if I were to do IVF. I know that pretty much anything under 10 for FSH is good but last time my number was 6.8 (8 months ago) and I am concerned that this is a big jump for just a short amount of time. My dr. says that it's normal but I concerned. I have read mixed things about estradiol and was wondering if you know what is a good number.
Good luck to you. I will be thinking of you!
Cori

[annag]

Cori, thank you for your positive wishes for me. I feel the same way for you! Your numbers are great!!!! My day 3 Fsh at the start of my IVF cycle was 12.3 which was pretty devastating for me. It was around 6 1 yr ago. However, I expressed my concerns with my RE and he kind of shrugged it off and said he will tweak the dosages of my stim meds based on that number. He said as long as it was not in the 15 and above range it was fine. But I know in some reports some clinics cancel patients with FSH above 10. They didn't take my estradiol at that time so I don't really know what is normal. I'm just hoping for the best with this cycle and hoping and praying it works. We're both getting closer to our goal though!! Stay positive and keep up your good spirits!
Take care,
Anna

[Cori]

Hi Anna!
Thank you for your input. I don't know why but I worry so much about the levels. I wonder how and why they fluctuate so much, don't you?
Anyways... I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and I sure that this will work for you. Don't ever give up.
Please keep in touch. You have helped me so much and I hope that I can do the same for you .
Cori

[Cori]

Hi Anna!
I am anxious to see how you are doing. Any good news? How are you feeling?
I have my first IVF consultation on Friday.
Cori

[annag]

Hi Cori,

So sorry I haven't replied to you in a while. I did get a BFN for my 1st IVF. It was terrible and I was so devastated when I found out. I thought I did everything I could to make it happen but I guess it wasn't my time yet. I took some time off from the boards and so far, I'm still very heartbroken about it and don't know when to resume all this again. I'm back to just enjoying life right now and going back to my normal routine without restrictions since for the last 2 months, my whole life was IVF. I did get good eggs actually-26 eggs at collection and 18 mature and 15 fertilized by ICSI. I transfered 3 embies and have 9 frozen. Everything just went smoothly until the dreaded beta.

I'm glad you have moved forward to IVF. I think it gives a better chance for us. I just don't know when I would get back on the saddle. But I will definitely give this another try. Right now, I think I'll enjoy the spring and summer-drinking cocktails, gardening, etc....Good luck to you and let me know how you're coming along!!!

Anna