Summer Board 2011

[babydreamz]

Crashing!

Lauren- If you don't my asking, has RE done TESE/MESE on DH?

[Lauren]

Babydreamz-I dont mind your question at all..........No one has offered us this...Im not sure i even know what it is or what the qualifications are for it...they told me we only need ONE sperm...my concern is the sperm quality. I know they can pick a sperm out but is it a good one? does he make any good ones? Would PGD be something to consider? I dont even know...were lost for words...ANY IDEAS???? SUGGESTIONS???? we will take them! Our last cycle we were lucky to get 7 eggs out of 13 follies...and only 1 fertilized. which was crazy...the RE seemed to think it was a sperm issue. ive been on a search for how to improve sperm quality and all ive come up with is the antioxidants and all. Tell me more about those procedures or any ideas you might have!! Sorry if im rambling but Im running out the door.....THANKS AGAIN

[babydreamz]

Babydreamz-I dont mind your question at all..........No one has offered us this...Im not sure i even know what it is or what the qualifications are for it...they told me we only need ONE sperm...my concern is the sperm quality. I know they can pick a sperm out but is it a good one? does he make any good ones? Would PGD be something to consider? I dont even know...were lost for words...ANY IDEAS???? SUGGESTIONS???? we will take them! Our last cycle we were lucky to get 7 eggs out of 13 follies...and only 1 fertilized. which was crazy...the RE seemed to think it was a sperm issue. ive been on a search for how to improve sperm quality and all ive come up with is the antioxidants and all. Tell me more about those procedures or any ideas you might have!! Sorry if im rambling but Im running out the door.....THANKS AGAIN

Lauren- I know how you feel, this is such a tough journey.
My DH also has major sperm issues.We met with at least 4 Male Fertility Specialty, but only one recommended TESE (sperm aspiration).

TESE was performed on ER day,DH had to take 2/3 days off from work,10 day on antibiotics, costs around 3500 (many insurance covers the procedure) We had 2 previous failed attempts, last time we did TESE and we were successful, but unfortunately it was ectopic pregnancy. We had frozen 3 embies for the same batch and did FET and got BFP!! So I would like to think that we were able to get good sperms quality due to TESE.

Here's the link to info about TESE/MESE/MESA

http://malereproduction.com/male-infert ... spiration/

It might be worthwhile meeting male reproductive specialists for consultation regarding sperm aspiration.

Did you guys do ICSI?

All the best buddy!! Feel free to pm me if you have any questions.

[Sunshine1576]

Awww Rio thank you for crashing, so nice when we hear from old friends! Always nice to have the grace of your presence and your thoughts make this journey so worthwhile! Well I've been on the phone today trying to get insurance taken care of for that laproscopic surgery we had done...Turns out they did not have our insurance up-to-date and she told me our doctor is in network with the hospital so we shouldn't have any further problems with filing the claim. What a nightmare that could of been! Thankfully all is calm with the storm right now... Will be back here later on!

[Lynzee22]

Sunshine so happy to hear that!! The last thing you need is insurance worries!

[brit1612]

I know there are some other teachers on this board. Does anyone know if ANY teachers insurance covers IVF? Not that I could even get another job even if I wanted to, just curious. Texas teachers are getting laid off like crazy, so I guess there are not too many options for me!

[riogirl71]

Sunshine - what a relief on the insurance part! Have you gotten the job thing figured out? I think you posted ont he other board about an opportunity? I am keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Lauren - I would not go for PGD because you don't have a high number of embryos to risk. I wouldn't even go to 5 days if you have less than 6 perfect embryos on day 3 (I never got to do 5 days, always had less) They say there is a 50% attrition rate from day 3 to day 5. There are a couple of girls and I think moorebaby just went to a bunch of specialists and maybe she can help you with some of the TESE questions. Are you having him and you do COQ10 also? I really hope this is it for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keeping my fingers crossed!

brit - I think CT michele got a teaching job with benefits for IVF

[rypell1985]

Just wanted to crash and wish you all GOOD LUCK! I know I cycled with a some and have been quietly stalking others I'll be watching you all and cheering you all on to your much deserved BFP!!!!!!!

Brit....I teach in Illinois and my insurance covers IVF.

[akdelp]

Lauren - Welcome. I know this may sound funny BUT - my DH sperm is perfect, so we decided to test one of the "rumor/myths" that they had out there to increase sperm count. We had done one test just normal everyday routine and numbers were great. Test number 2 he had a tuna sandwich everyday for lunch for a week prior to sample/testing (no soda either). We already had good numbers and the numbers when up 9 million and the mortality went up 13%! So, we thought with the third time (at retrieval) we would do the same thing and his numbers were again higher! We made sure everything was the same during the last two "donations". Just something to think about....not sure if it was just a fluky thing or the tuna helped...

[Sunshine1576]

Akdelp,
Dh told me the only way I could get him to eat tuna is if he went out and caught one himself! He will not touch tuna with a ten foot pole, but I haven't told him about this post yet! Me on the other hand, I love tuna and read it's good for fertility because it is packed with the nutrient selenium. For dh's low sperm count, Our RE recommended vitamin A and E, he also runs every night says he feels "more energetic". But seriously, with the vitamin regimen, S/A has shown an improvement.
AFM: Clinic called me today wanting to talk with us on Monday about setting up our next IUI. I had already told them I wanted to take a month off. I really need to save up, since our insurance doesn't cover meds/fertility treatment.
In the meantime, we'll ttc on our own with the opk and maybe try robitussin again. Have a good weekend everyone!
Sunshine1576

[akdelp]

Sunshine-

Hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd tell him to pack his bags on get on a trip the the guys! j/k.

[Sunshine1576]

lol, dh just walked into the room to show me his gray hairs, he just asked me if he's too old to be a father? I know how he feels, but I'm more worried about the kid's teenage years, b/c I know they're sending us into rehab or assisted living whichever comes first.

Rio, I think I have the job thing figured out...really enjoying my new job, it's flexible and part-time allowing for all the upcoming appts I need. Sometimes I think I can do more... and the bank job would of given me health insurance, but no fertility coverage and being 8-5 everyday M-F it would of been difficult getting the time off for appointments. I'm content with my new job, and the best part is the potential of earning the same as I did when I worked full-time, b/c this job has base pay plus commission. So even though dh has picked up my medical insurance-- I'm hoping to make enough to cover that extra monthly expense and help out somewhat with the fertility treatment, maybe we'll digout of the hole eventually. Maybe that's why we keep leaning on the iui's, so we don't dig too much deeper, but we do have a stopping point after 3 attempts. There are clinics that offer IVF Attain Program which I hear is a great financial plan, but the closest one that offered the IVF attain program wasn't a board certified RE, so we decided to stay put for a while, even though I feel this clinic is a money pit. But the way we have to look at this is, wouldn't we shell out this kind of money on a new car or boat? This is important to us so we shouldn't put a price-tag on how much we have to spend, at the same time we deserve to see some results!

[Lauren]

Hey girls!

Ok So TUNA???? This is the new thing..lol

My DH has been taking Conception XR which has all those vitamins in it! He doesnt drink soda for the most part...just decaf tea. Vitamin C, E Zinc Silenium, folic acid and lycopene. We are praying this helps improve the sperms quality that way the one they pick is hopefully a good one!!

AFM...............NEED some ADVICE?????? OK so my first IVF cycle I had a poor response to meds. They had me on BCP and I kept developing a cyst..big one and was canceled twice. Then I went into stims and only produced TWO eggs So after that BFN they changed my protocol to a estrogen priming...where on day 20 of my cycle I start estrdiolo pills and then when AF arrives I go in for a baseline..AFC and BW and statrt stims on day 1 or 2...........that produced me 13 follies with 7 eggs at retrieval much better! But Fertilization was very POOR So my FEAR is that is the same protocol they are placing me on this 3rd try and im afraid it messed with my eggs....is that possible?!?!?!?!? or most likely it was the sperm? IDK need your help on this one...of course I will ask again...every RE in my group...lol but what is your experience and what do you ladies think??

ALso saw on another board about VIAGRA?? any input? whats that about?

and my AF came friday evening light into super heavy thru the night.......lovely! the thing is my DH will be in IRELAND june 1-10 and I think my ER would fall then totally stinks and then if we put it off again....puts us in early july which I think my RE is closed! IDK waiting to hear...........

THANKS GIRLS!! Hope everyone is having a greta weekend!

[Sunshine1576]

Lauren, I also had poor response to the meds on my first IVF cycle, said I was a late bloomer, so I was prescribed estrodial for my next cycle because I was told my estrogen level was too low. I wish I could help more but it's hard to figure the underlining factor. I feel like even if we tested the eggs, it wouldn't tell us much since we know each month the level of egg quality is going to be different.


AFM: Thinking of you girls this morning, board has been too quiet around here. I'm sorry I've been pma, really trying to get out of the black hole! Gorgeous weather down here, and this is my off day, but seriously thinking about getting outside this afternoon and playing in the garden. Dh is so funny over the weekend we had one brocolli plant that grew 2 foot with a stalk of yellow blooms. He pulled it out of the ground roots and all took it inside and chopped it up. The next thing I know he's boiling brocolli, tried so hard to get me to try it, but I couldn't do it. I think he was so proud he actually grew something. Too funny! On Friday I have an obgyn appt for that yearly exam we all so love going to! But the truth is, it's kind of bittersweet- since I had not seen my obgyn since our miscarriage but I'm ready to move forward. So I'm going to ask him to pray for us, because truly I know one day he'll be delivering our baby. Anyway I love you all and look forward to hearing updates from our SummerBoard very soon!





"To plant a garden is to believe in the future".

[Lynzee22]

Update for the summer board! I start my birth control today for 4 weeks then start injections. The pharmacy called briefly to schedule my delivery of injections and read of a list a mile long overwhelming me a little bit but I know I can do this. I am just trying to keep my PMA that all is going to go smoothly. I have a ton of different emotions running through me and am ready to get started on my first cycle!

Sunshine- such a cute story! I dont think I would have tried it either though!