Anybody IVF progesterone ring study in Texas?

[IndieBlue]

YAY Becca...good news on the Beta!!! Hmm, on the visits question I'm not really sure. All I have is that you return 2 weeks after ER/ET which of course you've done for the Beta, then visit 6P which is 2 to 3 days after that Beta test for a blood draw to confirm you are still pregnant. You've done that also Then visit 7 is listed as 3 weeks after ER/ET, so that would be 1 week after that initial Beta test. This visit is supposed to include questions about any health related issues, checking the study notebook, blood pressure, pulse, temperature and another Beta to make sure you are still pregnant. It says during this visit you will remove your 3rd ring and replace it with VR#4 and leave with replacement rings.

So looks like you'll be going back soon to get replacement VR's and another Beta?

For me..no change Still no AF ....but tomorrow is our psychological consult, so again...I think I'm just completely stressed. I hope having a late period doesn't disqualify me before I even get accepted LOL

Well, off to pay the phone bill and then to the post office

[StayingPositive]

Hey Ladies,

Becca, congrats on the great Beta results! Indie, I can't believe AF is still not there. I am so sorry...I'll be thinking Red thoughts for Blue...

I had my ER on Saturday. They retrieved 11 eggs, 7 mature/4 immature. All 7 fertilized. I am scheduled for my ET on Thursday. I can't wait. I wish they could transfer all 7, that way at least 1 would stick!

I am still uncomfortable from the ER and am walking around the office like a 100 year old woman with osteoporosis! Ugh, everyone keeps asking me if I am ok and I just smile and say yes. I told a couple of women about my retrieval and explained why I was in pain. They went on an on and on about all of the pain they felt during childbirth and then one of the women turned to me and said, "See, don't feel so bad." I looked right at her and said, "Well, at least you got a child out of it!" People can be just so supportive and sensitive to others, don't ya think?

Oh, by the way I got Crinone. I didn't really mind either way...Anyways, I am feeling cautiously optimistic this week and am looking forward to being a couch potato!

[IndieBlue]

StayingPositive: YAY!!! So glad you got that many fertilized! So you're going back in for a 5 day transfer...so they'll be blast? I don't really mind which Progesterone I get either....both have been proven so I'm just eager to get to that point

Still no AF...I even took a nap trying to see if she'd show if my mind was asleep She didn't....but I got a 20 minute nap out of it LOL

Now out to play

[angram]

Hi everyone, mind if I join?

I'm waiting to start my 2nd IVF (BFN 4/7) and have been accepted into the study. AF should hopefully arrive this weekend and then I'll start BCP's and get the ball rolling. Looks like there's already a BFP on this thread, so that is great news! I used Crinone during my last cycle and I'm fine either way, but sort of concerned with having to remove the ring.

Well just wanted to say hello and introduce myself, just not much going on until I start BCP's and Lurpon.

[beccatx]

Welcome Angram- it's exciting to have people in all phases on board. Indie and you will be on nearly the same timeline.

Staying positive- that's great news on your fertilization! Thursday will be here (it's a breeze for the transsfer) and then begins the glorious 2ww! I hope your cramping subsides for now and then picks up again when those blasts are implanting!

Stress...how are you? New US and bloodwork today or tomorrow? Thinking happy thoughts about your follicles?

I do have another beta on Friday and "study" stuff...new rings, check my book, etc. Just tell me my numbers!!!! Here's a question...do they purposely NOT tell us our progesterone levels? I know they must monitor them- that's what the study is all about...what if they are too low? Is that why they don't tell us? I'm going to ask about that.

Make it a great day

[IndieBlue]

Welcome Angram We'll be about the same timeline...if AF every shows her face LOL

Becca: A girl on the other board said that they do not test the progesterone!!! Said that was what the previous phase of the study was about? But from what I've read....the progesterone in these rings is just as steady as the gel that has been approved for use and there have been 3 BFP's on the other board from ring users....if that is of any comfort

Well, off to the psychologist! Still no AF and I'm on day 35 now.

[StayingPositive]

Hey Ladies,

Welcome Angram!

Indie, were there any BFP's with Crinone? My last IVF's I did not use Crinone. Of course, they were BFN's, but just wondering...

I got a call yesterday from my RE that my pregnancy test is moved to May 10th. They said that the study requires participants to test 14 days after RETRIEVAL. I am glad that my 2ww has turned into 9 days!!!

Becca, I thought I saw you tested earlier than expected too? Was it 14 days after retrieval?

All my best!

[stressball]

Stay+: Wow good fertilization report...did they tell you the grades of the embryos...or may be they will tell you after ET....so this is your 2nd ivf too...Do you pay for crinone or the study provides that???? I met with an RE sometime back and he beleives that Crinone is better than IM...so dont worry....crinone is in the market for a long time...another question...forgive me if you have already answred that...what is the diagnosis of your IF....and since how long have you been TTC?

Me: tomorrow is another US and blood work...for past two days I am taking 300 gonal+ 75 luveris...today again it will drop to 225....feeling okay....just a lil moist and dampy down there....

Indie: For me...when I am late...first I do a cheap HPT....and think that will never do that again...and secondly if its BFN..then go for the baby dance...it immediatly get me my AF....just an unwanted suggestion...

Angram: Welcome....once the BCP part is over...days would fly...

Beccca: Thanks..for your thoughts....I beleive it really helps...when someone prays for you....

Whynotus: How are you hun....you should remember that...there are some people who love you and care for you....

[IndieBlue]

Well, I'm back He was a nice counselor...very funny, which made it easier to get through. Still no AF when I got home though....ugghhh. I would do a cheap HPT, but I've had a tubal ligation....so I'm pretty positive she's just being stalled by my stress over starting the BCP's and the psychological this week.

WhyNotUs: I hope you're okay....just know we're still thinking of you and know you need your time to grieve and decide on your next step.

Stress: The study provides the Crinone if you're on that too. It either provides the Crinone or the Ring. And I agree....Crinone has been marketed for a long time and many RE's use it and not the PIO. StayingPositive, you'll have no problem using that!!!! Stay Positive!!! LOL

One person on the other group has had a positive using the gel, but then everyone is just getting started, like us here. Many of them are in the 2ww though....and I know more got the gel, so something should be posted in the next week I'll keep you updated.

Well, off to surf a bit while the little ones take a nap. Take care everyone!!! Oh and where is KNR?

[StayingPositive]

Hi Stress,

Are you almost done with stims? I felt the same way on the stims. Good luck on your ultrasound and bloods tomorrow!

I find out the grades of the embies on the day of the transfer. At least that's what happened the last two times. This is my second IVF but my 3rd transfer. I had a fresh cycle, a frozen, and now this study.

DH and I have been trying to conceive since October of 2005. We got pregnant in January of 2006 and it turned out to be an ectopic pregnancy. I had to have emergency surgery, it was very scary. My OBGYN said that we could still try naturally but that it would be more difficult with only one tube. Funny, how devastated I was just by THAT news! Little did I know what was to come!!! So, we kept trying. I got pregnant in May 2006. I knew I was pregnant even before a missed period. This pregnancy was an ectopic also. Only, because we had caught it so early I was able to "dissolve the pregnancy" without needing surgery. Oh, those cold medical terms! January 2007 we had our consultation with our RE. Both tubes were 100% blocked and IVF was our only option. The rest is history! We just keep trying and trying and trying. We have spent upwards of $30,000 and if this study doesn't work out, I am prepared to keep trying. Bring on the debt!!!!

There is this woman on another board who had 6 failed cycles. She couldn't decide whether to go on. She said, "After that loss I had to do something. I had to decide if the time had come to give up. So in looking for some answers I found a web site and a woman there told me to give up only when the pain of trying again is more painful than the pain of giving up. I realized that the thought of giving up was scarier and more painful than the thought of trying another time. So we did." Her 7th time did the trick, she finally got her BFP!!!

I will keep trying until I feel like the emotional roller-coaster of IVF is just too much to bare!

Of course, it's going to work this time so I won't have to worry about ever feeling like that!!!


I am sure this is more of an answer than you bargained for. But, apparently I felt the need to tell my story. So, thank you for asking. In a weird way, it helped me!!

~Emily

[StayingPositive]

Indie~ Where is she???????????????? It's just so cruel!!! I
am so happy to hear the psych eval went much better than expected! Yay! So glad that it is over and done with. Still thinking thoughts of Crimson for you. (I changed it from Red, sounds more exotic)...

[IndieBlue]

LOL, Crimson.

I completely know what you mean about weighing the decisions. We've always weighed decisions based on how much you'd regret one over the other. Like the decision to do IVF, or be happy with what we have and not take any risk. I said we'd regret not trying at all, especially since we came across the study. Not ever taking a chance, well....we'd regret that more than just never knowing.

We have agreed to only go through 2 cycles though, one fresh and one frozen if we have embryo's leftover. If neither of those results in a BFP...we'll know it wasn't meant to be and we'll be happy...plus we're already blessed beyond measure and we know that.

[melis74]

Hello everyone. I posted a sep thread asking if anyone was doing the study in FL, but if you don't mind, can I post here?

AF just started this past Saturday, I went and picked up my BCPs yesterday and they drew blood. Now I'm waiting for the nurse to call me to tell when to start my BCPs (Portia).

The way the study works here is a little different. I feel bad saying this, but I only have to pay a flat fee of $3000 for everything, they actually order the drugs and give them to us (Lupron, Menopur & Bravelle and the HCG shot - side note here, we were told about the shortage but the clinic assured us they bought enough to make sure they can put close to 200 ppl through the study). IF DH had to do an SA then we would have had to pay for that, but we had already had that done w/our other RE. So we did pay for it, just w/our other RE. They did take blood from DH and submitted those charges to our insurance. We also don't have to do a psych visit. They did have to do a pap on me, because your prior one had to be w/in 6 months and mine was 7 months. I did not have to have a saline ultrasound either because I had a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy w/my normal RE earlier this month(4/3). The study Dr did do a mock transfer tho and had no problems w/that....yay!

As to why we're doing IVF, DH had a vasectomy while he was married to his ex-wife...he has two sons. We were married in 2000(after being together for 6 years) and in Dec '02 he had a reversal done. His first couple SA's weren't very good, but then they improved until they were finally w/in the normal limits. For a year I temp'd, charted, bought the fertility monitor...asked my GYN to run tests on me but she said no due to me having regular cycles and being young. Starting in '04 we had several losses in our family and TTC was put on the back burner, FF to 11/07 went to new GYN who asked me what I was waiting for and did I realize I wasn't getting any younger and I had been thinking about what our options would be so she referred me to an RE. I had actually heard about the RE as they are one of the best in this area so off I went. DH's SA came back great w/them, my HSG came back great...they decided to test us for ASAs which came back positive. The ASAs were listed at 46% and are attached at the head....RE said we could try IUI or move right to IVF, for the price and % results I knew I really just wanted to skip to IVF...Re asked that we do hysto and LAP just to rule out anything else before we moved on. Lo and behold I had stage 3/4 endo and a uterine septum...she took care of the endo the best she could and repaired the septum. The day before my surgery I had heard an ad on the radio for the study and called immediately....now here I am! I had my post-op w/my current RE and told her what I was doing...she was very nice about it and said she understood for the price, but made a point to ask if I've compared the results between the two REs, which I have and hers were better, but at a discounted rate...I HAVE to try it. With my other RE it would have been 12k - 13k w/meds.

Sorry for the long post, I'm just always curious as to how people ended up on this path so I just wanted to share my story...thank you for listening!

My condelences to the BFNs, I hope that should I be in your group that I have as much strength and PMA as you. Congrats to those of you w/BFPs already and good luck to everyone still on their way!

PS - I met another woman on another board doing the study at the same clinic I am and she is currently pg, had 3 betas all going up..she goes in for her u/s this Thursday.

Melissa 33 - Endo Stage 3/4
Rick 48 - ASAs
TTC#1 for me

[IndieBlue]

Melissa: Nice to meet you I'm just right across the state in Georgia I have had a tubal so we went straight for IVF, instead of tubal reversal due to the risk..etc. Plus with the study it's around 8000.00 after meds, administrative cost, psych visits...etc and that's just a tad more than the reversal and 1/2 the cost of a local cycle of IVF.

I'm waiting to start BCP's (late right now), and then if everything progresses then I'll have ER and ET somewhere near June first

Again, nice to meet you.....can't wait to hear about your journey.

[beccatx]

I go off to work for a day and you girls have a party!?! Welcome to Melissa and good to hear from all the "oldies".

Indie blue, I wish you "scarlett" as well. I know God just has some very special timing and thats why you are late...we can't see what's going on behind the scenes. Maybe you'll have a Valentines baby or something really cool for all this waiting Stress is may right too- go BUY the test- then you'll start...save it for crazy 2ww. Thanks for the progesterone reminder- sometimes I lose my head thinking I can usurp the study if something goes wrong...I forget- NOTHING will go worng

Staying+- yes mine was only a nine day wait...and I started hpt on day 7 (actually day 6), but I'm not condoning this behavior. I went cuck-coo.

Stress- when is projected retreival...later this week or early next...will you "call in sick" for work...how's that going? I had some wet, clear stuff and panicked I was ovulating while on all my stims and lupron and the cycle would get cancelled....overactive imagination again.

Yeah- KNR are you OK?

Bye y'all!