Feb/Mar 08 Cycle Buddies

[itsgottawork]

IrishHope - I was happy with how they kept me posted when things were going on. For bloodwork, they typically just said things were good. I didn't ask for numbers but I think they would have given them to me if I did. At the end of the cycle, my doctor showed me a whole report with all of the bloodwork information on it.
For the ultrasounds, they would tell me right there how many follicles they saw, how many eggs were of a certain size, etc. (I was really happy about that because when I had gone in for an ultrasound previously to look for cysts, I had to beg for the results and only got them when the technician got permission from a radiologist. Everything was clear so I am not sure why they couldn't just say I was fine without the special permission). I typically had bloodwork at the same time as the ultrasound. The nurses would then call the afternoon of the ultrasound and give the results again for both. They were really helpful in answering questions then and helping me predict when I would trigger.

[RunnerKate]

Hi Ladies,

I am on day 5 of Lupron and no real side effects except what appears to be more pouch in the belly, but I think that's because my hubby is trying to fatten me up with sweets every night after my shots. I kind of feel like the kids in the gingerbread house getting fattened up before the witch ate them. Anyone else have side effects?

For the ladies that have had IVF/Lupron before were your periods delayed? Did you get your period?

Kate

[IrishHope]

itsgottawork - thanks for the info. I am relieved to hear they tell you how many follies etc. I am anxious about that given this is my first time on any fertility drugs etc. do you go in Danvers?

RunnerKate/All - glad you seem to be tolerating the Lupron well. Good question...I am curious to see what the girls who have been thru this have to say in answer...I was on Lupron 10+ years ago not for fertility as I wasn't trying/married/etc. I got a shot once a month for 6 mos. in the butt to hold the endo at bay...I had hot flashes BAD (try explaining that at 22) and I remember my period being much lighter/darker in color...can't remember my cycle being longer/later though...I think I've read on other forums everyone is different - that some ladies their period comes later/others on time/etc.

[itsgottawork]

IrishHope - I go to Newton-Wellesley for everything except ER and ET. I have to go to Brigham's in Boston for those. Do you go in Danvers for everything?
RunnerKate - My period was pretty much right on time when I was on Lupron. I didn't notice much of a change at all. They had me nervous because they said I couldn't go for the first ultrasound until I got my period so I figured I could be late but I wasn't.
I was definitely feeling bloated and over emotional towards the end of my Lupron days and throughout the stims. I am not one to cry much but after the injections, I got teary at everything. My DH and I would laugh at it because I would get teary at the littlest things, songs on the radio, commercials, etc. It actually is pretty funny.
Congratulations on 5 days down already!

[IrishHope]

itsgottawork - I will go to B & Women's for ER/ET as well. Yes I will be able to go to Danvers for everything else ...

glad to hear your cycle started on time on the Lupron...I am hoping mine does so I can start...

[kbat]

Sounds like everyone had a busy week-end. The current clinic really doesn't let me in on too many things about schedule. I really liked the idea of having the target date just to get a ballpark idea when e/r and e/t happens.

Started back at work today at my seasonal job working at RI Division of Taxation during the tax season. It goes until the beginning of May. If I go through w/ cycle in March, I will just have to be late a couple of mornings and just be "sick" one on day of e/r and et. But at this point I am not going to worry about it. DH has another interview on Fri. so who knows what'll happen w/ insurance??? All I can do is hope that all goes well. My clinic needed updated pap smear, etc. so I went in last Tues to have my obgyn send them to clinic--which can take up to 2 weeks. I do tend to worry/obsess about such things, but I suppose it's out of my hands at this point, so the best I can do is "go w/ the flow" and trust that all will work out the way it's supposed to work out. But at least a job keeps me occupied and I don't tend to have time to worry about such things.

On a positive note, I do go in for my acupuncture treatment, which is really relaxing!!!! I am looking forward to it!!!

Talk to you soon

Kara

[keita1981]

i'm 26 and dh 27. we had 4 pregnancies and lossed all of them. one was chemical (first clomid cycle). the next was presumed ectopic (2nd clomid cycle). jan 2007 (3rd clomid cycle) found out i was pregnant and everything looked great except nothing on u.s. it was an ectopic. On a natural cycle got pregnant again dec 2007 and another ectopic. had surgery to remove both my tubes. so ivf is our only hope. no other problems w/ me and dh. my tubes was it and now they're gone, so i'm hoping to a successful IVF cycle in feb/march. I have read up on some of the things you ladies have been through. I see you all are a great group of women as well and i hope to join you, if you would have me.
I should be starting AF from now until Wednesday. not sure when exactly. when she starts of course i will go in for my cd3 baseline to determine what my protocol will be. so I can't wait. I'm sure it will be the long protocol (lupron protocol). i respond very well to ovarian stimulation...just hope i don't hyperstimulate.

HI Keita! Welcome, Wow you have had a long journey so far. Im so sorry for everything you've been through. You will find alot of support from everyone here. I hope your first IVF proves to be successful for you! Best Of luck and can't wait to hear about your journey!

Thanks G! I appreciate your welcome and yes, i have been through a long journey...as we all have. but i'm going to conquer this and not let it get the best of me.

[IrishHope]

kbat - I feel your tend to obsess/worry...I woke up at430a.m. realizing my insurance changes on 2/1...same Company but out of NY now not NJ so I have new id/new plan # etc. So today I have to call my nurse and hopefully the whole "approval" process is simple etc. just another thing to worry about getting organized...my bloodwork Thurs. 1/31 is under my old plan but everything forward after that is the new plan so I need to call the hospital/pharmacy...oh well I'll deal with it today and hope it gets squared away this week...

Tax season is so busy -- i used to work in public accounting and oh geez the poor folks who had to deal w/ "tax season"...a good thing to be busy though...makes time go by...

Acupuncture! awesome!! have a great session...I have another one Saturday and totally look forward to it...whether or not it helps with infertility etc. it helps me relax/"let go" of anxious thoughts etc. which is worth it's weight in gold....

[cathann]

Hi all! I hope you all had a great weekend. We had our informational "pre-cycle" visit yesterday. Wow, it sure seems like once things start happening they go quickly - at least that's how it looks anyway. I have my suppression check next Tuesday and as long as everything is ok will start microdose Lupron next Thursday, start stims on the 10th. The tentative ET is sometime the week of 2/20 - 2/25.

We are so excited! I'm trying not to dread those injections (4 per day when we get to stims!). Whatever it takes though.

Hope everyone is well!
Cathann

[IrishHope]

on pins and needles...when I called my nurse she was not too encouraging that we can start due to one insurance thru 1/31 and the other starting 2/1...it is the SAME insurance company just different states....same coverage etc. I told her that was unacceptable and I HAVE insurance so they need to figure out on their end however, they want to pay the bills but we are not skipping a month due to insurance red tape...I had approval on my plan thru 1/31....I am going to flip out...

ok venting - sorry for the hysteria!

[indie_rad]

IrishHope - I am sorry for what you are having to go through with the insurance. I hope things sort out quickly.

Cathann - I am curious about your dates. You are starting lupron only next thursday and stims on 2/10 and are scheduled for ET 2/20 -2/25. On the other hand I am starting lupron on 1/31, stims on 2/15 and tentative ER on 2/26 and ET on 2/29. Does this schedule depend on the kind of dosage we are given for these meds or just is different for everyone? Also is the suppression check you mentioned same as a base-line ultrasound they do before we even start lupron?

[kbat]

Irishhope---I hope the insurance thing works out. I agree w/ you that if it's the same insurance I don't see why there should be a hold up. Can you possibly call the insurance old and new to see what the story is so that if you have to call and bother the nurse you will have things straight. I had an issue and I first called the insurance to make sure that I was right--then called the nurse.

If we switch insurances--I would be in a similar situation--same insurance different state. it will go from Blue Cross of MA to Blue Cross of RI. While we'll probably get similar insurance plan--I am not sure if it's "the same." I know that if I go to my PCP they bill through BC of RI who then submits it to BC of MA. But since my clinic is technically a Mass. clinic, they probably bill directly to BC of MA. Also the laws are different in Mass and RI. In Mass, IVF is covered 100% more or less (have to pay a couple of co-pays) and my meds are covered under my pharmacy plan w/ the lowest level being $10 and the highest being $40. So the most one med will be is $40. Also the Mass plan covers up to 6. In Rhode Island, it's still covered by insurance, but it's 80%-20%. The insurance pays 80% and I pay 20%--that's for the procedure and the meds. Plus, not sure if they will cover up to 6. When I started this process at a different clinic, I remember seeing a notice saying that RI was going to try to limit the age which insurance companies had to cover this--the age limit was 40. The clinic wanted people to write to the legislative. Since my insurance was out of Mass. and covered by Mass. laws, I never really was concerned about it. So, that could be an issue as well (turn 41 in about 2 weeks).

I wish you luck w/ this.... It's tough. I know that's my main concern--starting a cycle then having insurance change in the middle of it--but my dh will be with a different company, but not sure if & when it'll actually happen. So, I was really hoping to start at next period to possibly avoid this situation. But as I said, my nurse is sooooooooo annoying. Due to my age, I need day 3 numbers every 6 months--meaning at end of March. She wants me to do it during next af in Feb & start the cycle in March--just in case it would be a problem. But if they just put it in for approval, maybe it wouldn't be an issue--last cycle the said I had to have completed by April--who's to say they won't give me until end of March/April again? Then there's no issues. And if it were an issue, then we still would have time to do the required test as I am not expecting af until around Feb. 10. Don't think my nurse is the brightest thing b/c the answers she gives me just don't make sense. Either that or she just doesn't want to be bothered. I think if they didn't waste precious time, things would work out. But it's out of my hands The best I can hope for is that things will work out o.k. I pray and know that in the end things will work out--in the end they usually do.

Had my acupuncture treatment today. It's so relaxing. I think it definately helped me out the last time--at least I got pregnant which is more than I can say for the first 4 times. The last time I was doing it twice a month, but don't know if by the time I went it was so close to starting my cycle. Now he said do it once a week until I get closer to doing it and then go twice a week. Toward the beginning of March I will tell him to do it twice a week to really get things in shape.

Good luck w/ the insurance issue and good luck w/ accupuncture!

[kbat]

P.S. here's only one link that will tell you if you live in a mandated or mandated to offer state. Give a synopsis of the state laws--unfortunately only about 10 states out there at this time that will cover some or all of this....

http://www.fertilitylifelines.com/payin ... andate.jsp

[RunnerKate]

Aww, man. I am so jealous of those of you in MA or RI. Nothing is required to be covered here in VA, so I was just happy to get 50% coverage!

[Mrs. G]

Aww, man. I am so jealous of those of you in MA or RI. Nothing is required to be covered here in VA, so I was just happy to get 50% coverage!

I got absolutely NO coverage. I think they have paid a little bit to office visits and prescriptions meds that aren't fertility related only.

Definately a financial burdon.... We had to get financing for it.