GHOST---should I bother or am I crazy??

[brit1612]

Don't have any great advice for you, but I just wanted to say good luck to you. I understand where you are coming from; it took us 5 years to have our DS and we are now wanting to try for a sibling. We actually have 4 frozen embies, but can't even afford the FET at the moment. If we can't give him a sibling out of those four embryos, then I don't think we will be able to try anymore.

[miyaya]

thanks Brit. Good luck to you as well. I hope #2 is easier than #1. I never thought #2 would be such a long and hard road for us. I would not wish this on any one.

[Ghost]

Dear Ghost~ Its been a while since I have been on the boards. I had been an active poster and was so thankful for your advice/feedback....I am wondering if I should even consider IVF again. In a nutshell, here is my hx:

34 yo. PCOS
TTC#1 2.5 years. Conceived my ds with 100mg clomid, monitoring and hcg trigger.
TTC#2 for 3 years. I started with clomid again, moved on to 6 FSH cycles. All producing large follies bt resulting in BFN.
IVF#1: 9/18/2009 started first IVF cycle using 225iu gonal f, lupron:
9/22/2009: e2 343
9/25/2009: e2 1100
9/26/2009: trigger
9/28/2009: egg retrieval 2 eggs. 1 mature. Transferred day two 4cf. (thoughts were ovidrel was not strong enough and therefore not all eggs releases/mature)

1/18/2010 started IVF #2. 225 iu gonal f, added 75 units repronex, lupron
1/22/2010: e2 207
1/25/2010: e2 1280, LH 1.2, progesterone .69
1/27/2010: e2 2509
1/28/2010: e2 2530 trigger
1/30/2010: egg retrieval: 21 eggs. 9 fert. 2 made it to day 3 transfer: 4Bf, 2Bf. Ended in chemical (thoughts from RE is that while 9 fert, more were mature but did not charge egg. Possible protein issue. Will add ICSI next time)

7/20/2010 started IVF #3 225 iu gonal, 75 units menopur, lupron
7/20/2010: e2 495, LH .5
7/22/2010: e2 1203
7/23/2010: e2 1893 trigger
7/25/2010: egg retrieval 12 eggs added ICSI….7 mature, 6 fert, 2 survived. Transferred 1 on day 2 6cf (thoughts from RE is that possible maturity/egg quality issue).

I have had fragile x, vit d, thyroid and chromosome testing as had dh. My three IVF cycles were with Reproductive Science Center in Lexington.

I then consulted with Boston IVF and they felt they triggered me too early given my PCOS status. They recommended ovarian drilling to to possibly try a femera cycle before doing IVF again due to costs.

October 2010 I had drilling done. Since have done 3 clomid cycles, 1 I added FSH. All cycles produced 2-3 mature follicles. BFN. Recently my dh had another
Density: 97 million (>20mil)
Motility: 60% (50%)
Forward Progression: 3+ (3+ or better)
Morphology: 14% (12%)
Fertile score 1.7 (1 being most fertile, 15.8 being sterile)
slight sperm antibody detected

and I had some labs done through I was on day 43 of cycle. they were as follows:
86.1. slightly high
FSH: 6.6
LH: 15.2

So here I am....desperate to have another baby and give my son a sibling. We looked into adoption but with no financing available and the tune of 35K...we cannot afford it. We are considering IVF again. But I am so scared. I know its my decision and there are no guarantees......but is there a chance in heck? Would you recommend anything different?

I am also trying to decide what clinic to use....RSC in Lexington or Boston IVF???? Please help....anyone....am I nuts to consider this?

Is UConn too far to drive? May I suggest a consult with them?

[miyaya]

yes its a good 5-6 hours away for us. Its basically RSC or BIVF. We have already done the three failed with RSC.

[Sweetpea614]

miyaya- Have you tried the Fertility Centers of New England in Reading. It's really easy to get too. When your on 93 North and you get off onto 128North it's two exits up where The Jordan's is. I would try consulting with them. Dr. Hardy is awesome.

Kat

[Sweetpea614]

By the way I got pregnant with just one embryo. I had quality issues and wasnt responding to the meds.

[miyaya]

sweet pea~ thanks for the post. I have called them but honestly monitoring is an issue. I live in central/northern maine so the drive for appointments would be brutal and nearly impossible. If you do not mind me asking, what protocol and meds finally work? Its so encouraging that you got preggars with just 1. Good for you!

I met with Dr. P at BIVF today and he suggested lowering my dose of FSH and increasing my LH drugs to help with egg maturity. He would also suggest pushing my follicles to be a bit on the larger side given to dat the 18mm seem to be immature.

[Sweetpea614]

I'm actually originally from the Waterville, ME area. Moved to Boston when I was 18.

I did the long lupron cycle no birth control. I started taking Lupron about a week before my period and when my period started on cycle day 2 they lowered lupron for 2 days than I started stims and stimmed till cycle day 12 and triggered and did er on cycle day 14. Unfortunetly I got 7 and 2 were not mature so we only got 5 mature and ended up fertilizing 4 and only one ended up making it and it was the one and it was the best embryo they had seen out of me. This was my 4th fresh cycle.

Good luck with what you decide.

Kat

[miyaya]

Congrats again. I actually live in Readfield (outside Augusta). Small world. I have to do BCP....I am one of the lucky ones that never gets a cycle if not. So its induce or bust. This will be my fourth fresh cycle. We are only going to do these last two and we are DONE. I am fortunate to have a three year old (I am reminded every day what a miracle he truly was) and I cannot keep putting myself through IVF nor the debt. I would have loved to have adopted but we could not come up with teh money. Sadly there is no financing options for adoptions but there are for IVF:(.

[Sweetpea614]

That's crazy they don't have financing options for adoptions.

IVF can be very taxing on the body and expensive. Living in Mass I was fortunate to have insurance pay for it.

I'm sure you will get your BFP though!! Don't give up hope!

Kat