Cycling In 2012 Board (formerly Fall/Winter 2011-2012)

[WeHaveHope]

Crashing ...

WeHaveHope, I also used IVF FLORIDA and loved them.
Keep the faith, they are a great clinic, I brought home a beautiful baby boy on 07/22/2009 on my 3rd attempt.
While my doctor, Dr. Keegan isn't there anymore, the clinic is wonderful.

helen

Oh Helen, thank you so much foe the encouraging words. I am so happy to actualy communicate with someone who had had positive results and brought home a baby after using IVF Florida. I always see all the pictures of all the beautiful babies when I go to the clinic but have never known someone who has used them personally. I pray that they wl give me my little miracle a's they gave you. Have a blessed day.

[krrice28]

WeHaveHope wrote:

krrice28 wrote:Sunshine 1576, I noticed that you are from Panama City and are using an RE in Pensacola. I live in Pace (right outside of Pensacola) and have just found out that both of my tubes are completely blocked and that my only chance for having children is with in vitro. My OB is referring me to Barry Ripps in Pensacola. Have you used him? I'm trying to gauge costs in this area and I know that in Pensacola there is Dr. Ripps and there is the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Gulf Breeze. Any thoughts or advice?? Can you tell me how much IVF is costing you?? I'm new to this so anything would be helpful!!!



Hello krrice,
First of all welcome to the board, and who knows maybe one day this Fall our paths might meet at the clinic, which would be so awesome girl. My sister-in-law (who is fm Clemson, S.C.) had blocked tubes and went through laproscopic surgery to help flush them and this also helped her with the severe case of endometrosis, so determined they tried IVF (with the IVF Attain Refund program mentioend earlier) and it worked on the first attempt! She and my brother both believe it worked on the first attempt because maybe she was relaxed and not stressed with the finances b/c if it didn't work on the first round she still would have two more attempts. The most challenging part is finding a RE who you can trust and has the best proven success rate...Dr. Ripps originally had my chart mainly because of convenience but personally after one year I felt we were spinning wheels and not reaching our goal...and I'll explain more about the cost as you read on.

I was under Dr. Ripps care for fertility treatment from August 2010-July 2011...He has a satelite office in Panama City which my husband first was the courteous one and walked in the clinic while I was at work that day, it took me 6 months until they could finally get me in there, b/c I was so in denial that we needed help. Hey we got pg once before naturally, but after 6 months of no such luck I was finally persuaded by Dr. Terri Bishop at Dr. Ripps office here in town. She doesn't sugar coat anything and told me I wasn't getting any younger. I can still hear her tell me my work schedule was more complicated then any lawyer or doctor she ever dealt with and I worked at a bank (at that time) and their office was only 15 minutes from work...So you would think it shouldn't of been that complicated, but their clinic didn't open any earlier then 8:30 and I was a keyholder at the bank so had to be there to open the branch and get the vault opened at 8am so I really had a schedule conflict. But when they finally got me in, some baseline test were ran... Then Mich and I met with Dr. Ripps, he told us we would only have 5% percent chance of conceiving with iui and our best shot would be an IVF only because we have unexplained infertility. We were told it would cost us $10,000 for an IVF (not including meds), but we felt like we didn't have any other option.

Last October we went through IVF with Ripps...We were able to retrieve 13 eggs with 7 to fertilize...On transfer day we had 2 that made it to blastocyst (day 5) but I kept questioning why none were frozen but there was a gray area and I never found out why. Also I was not happy the night I had to do the trigger shot with lack of support. I was on the board here asking everyone for help b/c she never told me how much saline solution to mix with the powder for the trigger shot. I remember trying to call her from 9 that night all the way up to midnight and we were so upset b/c I couldn't get through to her for this emergency. She told me she was throwing a party for her niece and so her phone was turned off. That was the night my my husband was so mad he threw a chair across the room and we had to wing it the best we could. So this taught me to ALWAYS make sure you have a backup for an emergency contact, because each clinic is going to be different.

When the first IVF didn't work, (AND most of the time it will take more then one attempt, but had to learn that the hard way) anyway, we met with Dr. Ripps who tried to talk us into trying another IVF with PGD testing (where they test the embryos)--BUT I didn't understand the point of testing the embryos, I mean this was our first time with IVF, two made it to blastocyst and I was 34 so thought it would be an expensive procedure that would only tell us the quality of embtryos tested for that particular month, and we were told each month the quality of embryo makeup will be different. I told Ripps that I wanted to have laproscopic surgery because I wanted to see if they medically could fix something wrong and if not an IUI might be all we need...So in March we had the surgery and come to find out nothing was wrong, still no diagnosis for us..But at the next consultation he told us our chances for an IUI being successful would now be 15-20% so we tried two times with Terri, but what I never understood was why bloodwork wasn't being monitored at all during the IUIs. She said we will use a opk test to detect ovulation and once we detect ov to call her. Overall I wasn't satisfied with this particular clinic because I felt limited and at times not having the support I personally needed. Not to mention with Ripps everything is paid upfront and they want your credit card number in case you have any remaining charges...

One of my coworkers had been talking to me about their success with Dr. Inge in Gulf Breeze but I felt the drive would be long and didn't know how I would be able to make it work with my job...Months later I'm visiting my favorite obgyn in Panama City and he tells me about the same clinic in Gulf Breeze offering financing options AND they have an IVF ATTAIN REFUND PROGRAM, where you can get 3 tries for around 17,000 and if you don't bring home a baby you'll get 60% of that money back.Personally it says alot that my own obgyn is closely linked to this fertility clinic, where they pass out brochures/ with online advocate care to patients seeking fertility treatment, yet there is a 2.5 hour driving distance apart. So long story short, I changed jobs in April and now able to travel to the the Center of Reproductive Center in Gulf Breeze! Dr. K is wanting to try 2 iuis before moving back into IVF....We completed our first iui cycle with 7 robust follicles...He recommended that I cancel b/c this was SO RISKY for multiples but I didn't, however it ended with a negative pg test. He is rechecking my thyroid levels and will get those results back tomorrow. Overall I like them so far (I'm still new) but they seem a little more aggressive then Ripps and definately have the state of art equipment (more upscale machines) and they are always available, because even if they are at lunch they have an answering service and will call you back. I finally feel like I'm in the best care. nNow if we can get them to open satelite office in Panama City (which is greatly needed) life would be very good!

Thanks Sunshine 1576!! I'm so torn because my OB is referring me to Dr. Ripps and says he has worked with him for 15 years so a part of me feels like I should give him a shot because I do trust my doctor. Maybe going to the Pensacola clinic (his home office) will be a little better. I guess I can hope. I looked at the SART data for Ripps and Center for Reproductive Medicine and they seem to be pretty much the same. However, cost is a big concern for me, as well as quality obviously, and if it would be a much better situation financially to use CRM then I kind of feel like I want to give them a shot. AHHHH. I'm so confused.

So even though you didn't have a positive outcome with your IVF cycle the first time, how did you feel about the process?? Was it greuling?? Was it physically and/or emotionally draining? I hope this next cycle of IUI works for you!! That would be amazing!! It would also be really great if I did run into you! What a small world this is! Lord knows I could use a friend that truly understands what I'm going through!

Are you from Panama City originally or did you move there as an adult? My brother plays baseball at Huntindon College in Montgomery with a kid from Panama City....I think he went to Bay or Rutherford high school and his mom is like the public information person for the school board there.

[WeHaveHope]

Krrice28-just wanted to know if you will be joining our group so I can officially add you to the Fall Roll Call?

[WeHaveHope]

Update:
I spoke to my RE today. The Plan is as follows. He is going to order one more week of BCP. He said that he wants at least two weeks of zero Hcg levels before we begin the Lupron. I'm ok with this. It only delays things by a week. We have decided to go forward with the PIO. My RE has agreed to order Lidocain Cream for me to apply to my tush in order to decrease or hopefuly eliminate the pain from the injections. We have agreed to do the PIO until we hopefuly get a positive Beta and then we will continue with the PIO until u/s time and we can hear a heartbeat. Then we will switch to the vaginal progesterone. Finally, we discusses the quality of the embryos we have left. This has been a huge topic for me this weekend. I have been thinking about this alot and researching it online (5 day FET vs 6 day FET). His recommendation is to go ahead with the day 6 embryos which are of higher quality. The two embryos we will be transferring are one 4AB and one 2BB. We are looking at tentative FET on the week of September 26. Keeping my fingers crossed and praying really hard that we bring home a baby or two this time.

[krrice28]

Krrice28-just wanted to know if you will be joining our group so I can officially add you to the Fall Roll Call?

Sorry about that "WeHaveHope"! Yes, please add me to the roll call list. I have my first appointment with the RE on 10/3, but hopefully they will have a cancellation and will call me for an appointment sooner than that. Thanks also for your previous response!!

[WeHaveHope]

UPDATED 08-29-11 @ 2:25pm EST. Please let me know if I have missed anyone or if I'm missing any updates. Sending you lots of xoxoxo.









Fvrogers-FET 10/2011


Becca-Fall/2011
Tamera-11/2011
Leorira-Fall/2011
Kiminsh-Fall/2011
Fruit-Fall/2011
Alwaysangel-Fall/2011
Sunshine1576-Fall/2011
Cheri76-Fall/2011
Lyd10-Fall/2011
Anton-Fall/2011
Krrice28-RE appointment on 10-3-11


Akdelp-Waiting for AF for Fall IVF


Blueeyedreamer-on BCP for cycle 10/2011
Kerpupples-on BCP for cycle Fall/2011
Toniaa-on BCP for cycle in Fall/2011
WeHaveHope-on BCP for FET 10/2011 Hcg finally Negative. We now start a new chapter. Praying for a Fall miracle.



K8ielovett-Started on Lupron on 8-24-11
Kendra_n_Michael-on Lupron, estimated ER 9-20-11

[WeHaveHope]

Dear friends,
Here is the inspirational quote for this week. Remember, don't ever give up on your dreams. Please feel free to share your favorite inspirational quotes today and everyday. We all need a little, sometimes alot, of inspiration and encouragement. Sending you all much love.



"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."-Henry Ford

[Sunshine1576]

krrice,
Honestly going through my first IVF wasn't so scary because so many on this forum helped me get through it and I know you will do great if you know what to expect ahead of time too and that's what we are here for. Sounds like your Obgyn thinks highly of Dr. Ripps and some do, but you need to know everything and ask as many questions you can think of... Ask if his IVF procedure is board approved? When you call them will tell you Dr. Ripps is board certified in Reproductive Encrinology but is his IVF PROGRAM currently BOARD APPROVED? My new clinic is telling me he is not, so I'm questioning that myself. As I mentioned before an IVF with Dr. Ripps is going to cost you guys 10 grand if you do not have insurance and most employers don't carry fertility insurance but hopefully you do, we paid with a cashier's check upfront. Personally I wish we had looked into the IVF Attain Program, because now we learned that it may take more then one try but nobody knows what each cycle holds either, so you have to go in cautiously optimistic.

As for the dependability and reliability you are right, that does varies from clinic to clinic. Another thing I would like for you to ask them when you are reading the contract with Ripps is make sure they do have the capability to FREEZE your embryos that are left over b/c mine were disgarded and like I mentioned never understood why they couldn't preserve any embryos? This would save you tons of money for a FET cycle later on down the road if needs be. The contract is about 18 pages long and will take 2 hours to read and go over it with you guys. Then a nurse will come in and teach you how to do injections. You'll have to call and order meds from Ascend pharmacy and they will give you a calender when the meds are administered. When it's all broken down it's not so much but I wish you guys the very best I really do. I hope this works on the very first try, but then again Ripps will tell you nothing in life is guaranteed and it may take several attempts, but as long as you are willing to keep trying fertility treatment you will bring home a baby. I'm glad I found you on this forum and I hope our paths do cross each other during this journey because it's friends like you who make it all bearable.

[WeHaveHope]

Krrice-I completely agree with Sunshine. Please make sure you do your homework before you commit to a particular RE or clinic. They RE should be board certified and the clinic should be as well. Another suggestion would be to look closely into the laboratory which the clinic works with. I mean the lab that may do some of the procedures on your eggs, sperm, and or embryos, not the lab that does your blood work. Labs work differently and it is also very important to look into the success rates of the lab. You need to ask about the success rates of ICSI, Assisted Hatching (AH), and thawing. These things are extremely important and vary from lab to lab. I believe I also mentioned the type of program that guarantees a baby or your money back. These programs are definantely worth looking into. They are several thousands more but if you look at the statistics of how many tries it typically takes a couple to take home a baby using IVF it may be worth the extra cost. Please ask lots of questions. I am a nurse and my husband is also a nurse and I have to tell you, I knew absolutely nothing about IVF. I am so happy that I have a great RE, great nurses, and great staff who have always been willing to answer all of my questions. I feel comfertable that i can call someone who can answer my questions (my RE or nurse) any time day, night, weekend, or even a holiday. I have done this on several occasions and feel very greetful for this. It gives me such peace of mind. There is no dollar amount you can put on that. You need to make sure tha you have that kind of support in your IVF team because you never want to feel like you went home without a question answered. I wish you all the best. By the way I added you to the Fall Roll Call. Welcome to the group.

[Tamera]

Just wanted to pop in real quick (4am about to leave for work) and say i'm so happy "We" that you get to get started again so soon. I am keeping you in my thoughts and will following the board closely. Well off to work .

[WeHaveHope]

Just wanted to pop in real quick (4am about to leave for work) and say i'm so happy "We" that you get to get started again so soon. I am keeping you in my thoughts and will following the board closely. Well off to work .

Tamera-thank you so much. I am praying that this is the one. The BFN's were disappointing enough but the MC was more than my heart could bare. But, I feel even more for our other friends on this board who have been through so much more than I. I pray for all of them and for everyone else on this board everyday. Hoping that this Fall is filled with maby miracles. By the way, where do you live that it is 4am? It is 10:15pm where I live in Florida. And what do you do for a living that you are headed to work so darn early? Hope you have a great day. Sending you much love.

[Tamera]

I live in Germany, so we are 6 hours ahead of east coast time. My husband works for the US Government, why we live here. I am working part time (30 hours a week) at the store on the military base as a morning stocker just to earn money for IVF since we are completely out of pocket on our expenses. I am hoping to be able to take a leave of absence for the month of November while I get treatment, would be nice to have a job to come back to in case it doesn't work, so I can start saving again. If they won't let me then my last day of work will be Oct 31rst. My youngest is 13 and she is home schooled, so working in the early morning hours I am home by 11:30am to be with her.

Fingers crossed everything goes good in November, I will not be returning back to work, but I like to have a back up. I still struggle with the fact that I could spend almost $15000 and it not work, but the need for a baby is far greater.

[k8ielovett]

Hi Ladies,
Sorry I have not been on in a few days!! lupron has decided it likes to make me sleepy as all get out by the end of the day but nothing unbearable. I have been on it for a week and feel like I have no where else to poke on my poor tummy I know it will only get better lol. I have a appt. Thursday to check all levels and make sure we are ready to start the new injections on Friday. I hope everything will turn out ok. I am praying for all of us to have successful and easy going treatments with little bundles of joy.

[WeHaveHope]

Hi ladies,
Quick update. I received a call from my IVF Nurse today. Even though my RE wants me to stay on BCP for one additional week, I will be starting on Lupron injections tomorrow. My RE wants me on one additional week of BCP due to the MC. He wants at least two weeks of negative Beta before starting on the Estrogen Patches. So, my next appointment is for September 12th for blood work and ultrasound and I should start of the Estrogen Patches (Vivelle Dots) on that day. I got a lot of uplifting positive news today. My DH and I had discussed that we wanted the transfer this time to be scheduled for a Friday so I could relax the entire weekend plus maybe Monday as well. The last two transfered occured on a Wednesday and with one i went back to work on Thursday and with the second one i went back to work on Friday. We had also discussed realy wanting my RE to do the transfer this time. Not that we have ever had any issues with the other RE's but I realy want my RE this time. I trust him so much and feel so comfertable with him. We had talked about these things but had not discussed any of this with my RE or the nurse. So today the nurse tells me that my FET is scheduled for Friday, September 30th with my RE. OMG!!! How blessed can I possibly be? Well hopefuly blessed enough to bring home a baby this time. So far I have gotten everything I have asked for with this cycle including what I had not officially asked for but realy wanted. I also picked up the Lidocain Cream yesterday and should receive the PIO injections tomorrow. I am starting to feel realy good and positive about this next transfer. But I know I must be careful not to get carried away. I still need to remain grounded and realistic. I have been through too much and seen too much on this board and I don't want to have my heart ripped right out of my chest again. But, how do I stop that??? I can't, I just have to trust in God. Thank you all for your continued support. Sending you all much love and know that you are always in my prayers.

[akdelp]

HELLO! I have a lot of catching up to do! Sorry I have been MIA....life just keeps rollin'. Time to slow down now - Aunt Flow has arrived! Yippy ya whooooo!!!!!!!!!! Got my schedule today too! Pumped to get on this crazy ride. Here it it:

Pre-op Sept 16th
Transfer Sept 22nd, provided all goes well the 16th.

I can't wait to get to know all the ladies that have recently joined and learn where all my old friends are at! This is our cycle ladies! I can feel it!!! PMA all the way!