*NEW*advice or help or suggestions would be VERY appreciated

[pinkbluepurple]

Hi.

I am currently in the cycle of my first IVF. We have been trying to conceive our first child for 4 years (on the 28th of this month). So this big step is long overdue. I am on day 6 of my cycle, so I am stimming. I had a scan today to check the follicle development and a blood test.

I'm not sure what I'm asking. Just need some help to prevent me from turning crazy, I think. I have tried so much to get pregnant and it hasn't worked. So much so that I haven't even thought what if this doesn't work. But that's starting to dawn on me now. It might not work!

Anyway, this was just supposed to be a brief introduction.
Any information about IVF would be appreciated.

[cillile]

Don't go crazy. IVF can work like a charm. My first one was a breeze. I just followed directions mindlessly and ended up with a lovely baby daughter.

There seems to be quite a few different ivf regimes so I'm not sure how much useful information I could give about the process. The first time I was very busy and it was all new, so that was good as it didn't really leave me much time to worry and I didn't have much idea of what there was to worry about anyway. We didn't tell many people what we were up to. I have found that now with later attempts it was more difficult because there have been too many people to deal with (I'm talking people who know that we are ivfing, which is family. ) I have found that more difficult because they don't really understand and updating them when things haven't gone well has been distressing. Everyones different, but I think it would have been easier if only a few close rellies had known and I had used the professional support services at the clinic earlier. My DP and I are not big talkers.

Any particular concerns at the moment?

[pinkbluepurple]

Aww. Thanks so much for your reply.
I am on a ... short agonist protocol. I started synarel nose spray on day 2. Then Gonal-F day 3. I am taking both of them at the moment, it is day 7.
I'm glad your first IVF worked. What protocol was that? And what were your numbers? If you can remember, of eggs retrieved and transferred, etc.
We also haven't told very many people. When we had exhausted all of our other options and realised IVF was the only way forward we mentioned it to our parents and siblings. However, we didn't specify when we would be doing it. And haven't told them that we are. I like it that way, as I get what you're saying about telling them if it doesn't work. But at the same time it's hard to keep it underwraps. Why did I miss work Friday morning? Erm...doctor's appointment, really bad hayfever. .
I suppose my main concern at the moment is over stimulating. I have PCOS and was told that was quite a possibility. So I have been on quite a low dose (alternating between 150 and 75). But, my first scan yesterday (day 6) showed very many follicles, 3 at 13mm. This sounds quite a lot to happen so fast. So I'm worried. I have had my dose lowered to constantly 75. But still I'm worried. I wasn't told my blood results. Is there any way of preventing over stimulation?
I also don't know whether I should use ICSI or just "normal" IVF?
Thanks again for your reply.

[cillile]

Hi again,
We have used the same protocal each time. Start on synarel on day 21 and then injecting Gonal-F at day 5. At day 11 (a week later) they scan to check folicle development (folicles around 15mm here) and decide on EC date. EC usually day 16 with a trigger injection 36 hours before. ET on day 18. Seem to go in for blood check twice a week or so.

We have had pretty much the same numbers each time.
ivf #1 2006 Gonal F at 300 -7 eggs, attempted to fertilise 5, 3 fertilised, only 2 left (one good and 1 ok) when ET came and this resulted in one healthy baby
ivf #2 Nov 2009 Gonal F at 450 -5 eggs, 4 fertilised (3 good and 1 ok), two transferred BFN
FET #1 cancelled, FET # 2 2010 none of embryos survived the thaw
ivf #3 Gonal F at 450 -7eggs, 1 fertilised but abnormal so no transfer
ivf #4 Gonal F back at 300 -6 eggs, 3 fertilised (2 good, 1 a bit shabby), 3 transferred BFN

We are on the older end of the scale, so it is common I understand for numbers to be much lower and success of transfer is less as egg quality declines. I've heard of much younger people with 30 eggs or just 5 or so like us. I haven't had any experience with overstimulation, but our dr seems to think it is easily managed. Easy for him to say. Your numbers do seem rather large to me. Cross fingers for you that it doesn't get too much.

We had to use ICSI with all ours due to male factors. I understand that it is used for that and our dr said he recommends it for all of his older clients anyway.

Thanks again for your reply.

[pinkbluepurple]

I got my Friday blood results. E2 was 4972! That was worrying enough. Then today I had another blood test. And guess what my E2 levels are! 18400. That is so unbelievably crazy. So I have had my gonal-f stopped. And just waiting to see if the level goes down. I hope it does. I don't want a cancelled cycle. I obviously don't want OHSS neither. But, I just got completely psyched up for this cycle. And to think it may not progress is too much to bear. Also I have been monitored quite a bit because I have PCOS, so they thought I may get OHSS. Which is why this news was quite a shock! Been on only 75 of gonal-f since last week.

Are you currently in an IVF cycle? What stage are you at?

I'm not sure what to do. There's not much I can now. Just have to see if my E2 goes down, and whether I'll be able to go to EC and hopefully ET.

Thanks for your help. I'm saddened to hear about your BFNs. But very happy your first one was a BFP. 2006, so is she 3 or 4?

[cillile]

Crossing fingers that levels normalise for you. I find the worst part of cycling is that there is so much that your body is doing that you really have nothing you can do to control it. Just a taste of what pregnancy is like.. hmm and bringing up a baby is a bit like that too.
I am not cycling at the moment. I've come to a bit of a crossroads in deciding what to do next. Any more ivf would require a rather hefty loan and more debit. We borrowed from relatives for the last cycle. We also would have to decide how to proceed - donor eggs, donor embryos or keep trying with own. We might be finished, not sure yet.
My daughter just turned 3 this month. She is very energetic and so far it has been quite an interesting and rewarding experience.
Good luck with levels.