IVF with endometriosis

[jenn1979]

Just a question...I have 2 cysts on my right ovary. One is fine but the doc said the other one is an endromitriosis...hope i spelled that right. Anyway is that considered the same thing as what you are all discussing? Or is it different because it's just the one and only?

Thanks.
Jenn

[buckeyegal]

hrobinson--Wow! What a remarkable story! I too am a teacher, so I know what you mean about trying to schedule IVF....I had mine done in Indiana (I live in OHio), so I had to go live there for a week....a bit of a pain, but so worth it!

I don't know about your situation, but I went through IVF even though my endo was not cleared out. However, I only had stage 2.

Good luck with your research...I'll keep you in my thoughts.

[99]

I am so so sorry for all you've endured but it made me so happy to hear you have a beautiful daughter now! As for your fear that the endo will cause problems with this IVF attepmt, my RE told me that IVF bypasses endometriosis and that it is the #1 recommendation for patients with severe endo who are having trouble conceiving. So it is my understanding that endo would not really affect the outcome of IVF and that endo patients conceive at basically the same rate (maybe just a little lower) as the general population undergoing IVF. All I can say is, pray about it constantly and ask God to give you signs as to what you should do. You would not believe the peace that I have had in the past month as we prepared for our first IVF cycle (The ER is this Monday!) because I finally asked God to take this burden off of me and trusted Him to give me what I am meant to have, even though it might not be what I want or when I want it... Just a thought, it has made all the difference to me...

[hrobinson]

Hearing from everyone makes me feel so good. You guys are all so positive. That is definately what we all need in the stages that we are.
Last year when my doctor told me the endo had returned, he said I had better get pregnant within the next 2-3 years because of the severity of the endo. He was afraid that the worse it got, the harder it would be for me to conceive. So, we are hopeful that everything works this time.
I have to undergo a polisectomy, and then an SHG. Does anyone know anything about either of those procedures?
I know one of them needs to be done about 6 weeks prior to beginning endo, but I can't remember which one.
Being a teacher, everything is so planned. UGH!!!

[hrobinson]

Buckeye Gal, I see you are pregnant with twins, what does BFP stand for? (I am new to all this). Congratulations.

99- Please keep us posted, I know everything will go wonderfully for you:) Positive thoughts are being thrown your way.

[wannababyIVF]

HI Everyone! I too suffer with Endo. Have for as long as I remember. I was probably diagnosed about 10 years ago. Due to the heavy and very painful periods. Not to mention intercourse didn't feel that great. But anyway, I had 3 laps to remove endo and 1 Myomectomy (fibroid removed). Over the years my doctor has told me that I have adhesions due to the surgery and how that may make it harder for me to get pregnant. In my opinion the endo is back, but my dr has advised me not to have the surgery again because of the adhesions. He said we should give IVF another try. It has already failed once. My tubes are not blocked. Uterus is fine. I just have severe endo.

My adhesions are so bad that one of my ovaries are stuck to the wall of my uterus. But dr's do not think it's advisable because of the risks. I also have severe pain around AF when I try to move my bowels (sorry TMI), and when the craps come.

After the first failed IVF, I wanted surgery. Dr said to wait and try IVF again. I have heard mixed stories about IVF working for those with ENDO because it by passes the tubes and ovaries. Someone else told me that's not always the case because Endo can also be in your uterus. So I guess it just all depends. Some woman get pregnant first time with IVF that stage 4 endo and other's do not.

I'm so stressed and worried about this IVF cycle. I'm trying to stay positive and not go crazy. I want to be positive but also realistic.

Is there such a thing as focusing on other things while going thru IVF. It doesn’t feel like it. Yes, like goes on and there are other things in the world to be concerned about. but as soon as my attention is diverted, I see a pregnant woman. lol Argh, it's so frustrating.

I want to stay positive but it's difficult when the first IVF has already failed. I want to be positive but realistic. Not sure I can handle the disappointment again.

Any ideas as how to cope. I was thinking about doing acupuncture. Or Massage therapy. Also, writing in a journal. Maybe I need a good book or a LOT of good movies.

To make matters worse, I am going out with a friend who is 9 months pregnant Friday night. I hope I can make it thru the evening without breaking down into tears. She tries not to talk about the baby too much when I am around. But it's hard not to when....it's right in your face...literally.

Good Luck to all of you guys. Please keep us posted. I enjoy hearing all the stories.

Hugs and baby dust to all!

[hrobinson]

I don't know if you are willing to travel, but I saw Dr. Redwine out of Bend, Oregon, for my endo. He is one of the top 5 doctors who treat endo in the world. I sent him my records and he reviewed them and then sent back his recommendation for me. He was outstanding. Very thorough, honest, wonderful bed manner.
Unfortunately, he either didn't get all my endo, or it just comes back. (That is an issue that can be debated).
I understand to a degree your frustrations with no baby. What got me more worked up than anything is when people would tell me they understood what I was going through, that it took them a long time to get pregnant. When I would ask how long, they would say 2 months. (on their own). UGH!!!!
I wasn't going to do IVF, but my sister - in - law told me that if I thought 10 years down the road I would regret not trying, then she thought I should do it. I cried and cried over the decision and went with it. I had such awesome supporters, and wonderful people praying for me all along the way.
I prayed, and I know God sent me a sign saying it was going to happen. And it did.
Stay positive. Surround yourself with positive people.
I know how hard it is to be around people who can so easily get pregnant, just believe it WILL happen to you to.
I recommend trying the IVF proceedure again:)

[wannababyIVF]

thanks hrobinson so much for your post. You brought me to tears! It's so amazing how people you have never met can be such a huge influence on your life. Everyone on here is so helpful and nuturing. It just warms my heart to know there are such caring people in the world...that I dont know.

To answer your question, yes I am willing to travel. I'm willing to do just about whatever it takes to get my little one. If this round of IVF doesn't work then I will be pursing many more options. But I refuse to give up. I can not accept that not having biological children is my fate. Although it might very well be, I'm just not ready to accept it right now. I guess that goes along with the positive thinking. lol See I am trying. Hmmm, does positive thinking cloud realistic thinking?

I will make a note of your doctors name and location. Thanks a bunch.

[hrobinson]

wannababyivf-
If the ivf doesn't work (which I just know it will), here is the name of a doctor in San Antonio, Texas, Robert Schenken. He is the president of the IVF foundation (or something like that) for the whole USA.
Outstanding man. Though, I must say, even though he did my proceedure, I only saw him a total of 2 times through the whole thing. The rest of the time I dealt with the other doctors in his clinic who were also outstaning.
Please keep me posted on where you are in the grand scheme of things. I pulled out my calendar last night to refresh my memory of when everything is to happen.
I just love hearing success stories, and I know you will be one of them.

[buckeyegal]

99--You are so right in what you are saying. Prayers and PMA truly got me through the IVF procedure. I also had a wonderful, positive clinic helping me through. I traveled to INdianapolis just to see this wonderful doc, Dr. David McLaughlin...he truly does wonders! GOOD LUCK at your egg retrieval on Monday...I hope they get lots of good eggs out of you! And remember, it only takes one!

hrobinson--BFP means positive pregnancy test. BFN means not so good. Before my IVF, I actually had a DNC to clean out my uterus. When they went in, they found some polyps that they removed. Apparently, polyps inside the uterus will cause the uterus to contract--and prevent an egg from implanting. So, if you have endo in your uterus, that might be something to consider. I'm assuming the procedure your docs going to do is similar? I had an HSG when I was going through IUI--that's where they put the die into your tubes to see if everything is clear. So, if your uterus isn't clear, then they'd have to do something before IVF.

wannababyIVF--I'm sorry you're having to go through all this. Even I can't say I know what you're going through. Luckily I haven't had to deal with the pain of a failed IVF. I truly hope and pray that it works for you this time. I have read the accupuncture can increase the success rate. I was going to do it, but I couldn't seem to schedule the accupuncturist around the time of my ET. I think I read that's when you're supposed to do it? I know when I went through mine, I was off work for the week (due to the fact that I went to INDY), so I was able to relax, go shopping (not that I could buy anything--due to IVF! $$$), and I watched lots of movies. And, like 99 said, PMA all the way! Keep telling yourself, "I WILL get pregnant. I WILL get pregnant." It will keep your mind in the right place--and hey, heck with reality when you're going through IVF....you have every right to be positive!

Good luck to all of you!

[99]

It is just so incredibly amazing reading some of the things you all say. I'll look back to see who the sender is, thinking it must have been ME a week ago and I just forgot about it! I guess we just all feel exactly the same way at the same points in our IVF cycles. As for constantly doubting whether or not it's going to work, I have to admit, I am THE BIGGEST WORRIER in the world. But I am constantly telling mywelf this: The result is either going to be positive or negative. So if I tell myself for the weeks or months before hand that it's NOT going to work, then I'm getting a BFN 24/7 day after day. But if I tell myself it IS going to work then I will only get a BFN once or hopefully not at all. I have just as much reason to believe it's going to be BFP as to think it will be BFN so why beat myself up over and over? I can feel horrible AFTER the procedure if it is in fact BFN but for now I'm just hanging on every thread of hope I can get! My worrying about it can only adversely affect the outcome, you know? I know exactly what you mean about being around your pregnant friend. I have a friend who i can't even be around anymroe because she makes me so incredibly depressed, jealous, resentful, etc. every time I see her with her 1 year old. We started ttc at the same time and she has a 1 year old and is pg with her second. One thing that helps me is to know that no matter how I am feeling, there have been thousands of people who are in the same position I am in that have felt exactly as I do. All of this will just make us stronger!!!!!!!!!!

[wendy30]

Hi

Endometrisiosis is a horrible thing. As I said before surgery was never an option for me due to the severity and the concerns over damaging my bowel.

I do think PMA is important both in the cycle you are doing and in the overall picture of seeing this work for you at somepoint. I certainly could never have have taken all the negative results without that. At the end of the day it doesn't work for everyone first time unfortunately but it does work!!!

This cycle I went for Reiki, I had it once a week starting about 6 weeks before my cycle and stopping just before the egg retrival, it was great, it made me feel so much more positive and completely relaxed about the cycle. I felt it was just what I needed, I was stressed about everything and not coping well with my Mums death (a few months before) and couldn't see a positive way through the next and probably our last ivf cycle.

I really hope everyone gets the result they so desire, I can still hardly believe that its finally worked for us.

Wendy x

[buckeyegal]

Wendy--Congratulations on your little one! Wow, 8 times! Your persistence has paid off, huh? I totally agree with you . PMA is sooooo important right now. They say that people who have positive attitudes tend to live longer and healthier lives....I think it's worth a try!

99--You think you're a worrier now? Just wait until you're PG!!! I'm on some other chat boards on this website, and it's funny how we're all worry warts! It seems that for us gals who have to work so hard to get pregnant...we seem to worry an awful lot about every little thing our body does. Just consider your worrying now as practice for the real thing! Good luck.