Second FSH level Confirmed Yesterday

[Paula]

Hi everyone. Well I'm new here. I was just reading up on egg dononation and stuff like that when I came across this site. I'll give you a brief run down about me and what i'm going through. I'm 39, my husband and I have been trying to have a baby for a year and a half. Last Dec I went to the dr. had FSH level come back at 80. Waited a month and a half to get into specialist. Had FSH level done again last week and found out yesterday it was 22. She said it had to be below 17 but phoned 2 ivf clinics here in Australia and they both said it could be 20 but at 22 there was basically no hope for me. Only hope I have is egg donor.

I'm so confused and mixed up right now, I really don't know what to think or feel. I feel like someones died. I feel like our dream has died and it's my fault. I can't stop crying and I don't know what to do. The thought of egg donor is there but then I can't stop crying about that because it won't be my baby. I know that sounds pretty selfish, I hope I don't offend anyone here. I know it would be half my husbands baby. That should make me feel better but its hard. I feel like I've disapointed our dream.
Has anyone here had a baby after having an FSH level of 22 or higher???

[Jjj]

Hi Paula, Welcome to the site. There will be some people who have had successes with higher Fsh, though not very many. I am 36yrs and have had high fsh since I was about 30. I personally found that reflexology managed to bring my fsh down before I went into an ivf protocol. In the Uk the clinics I have dealt with will only take you if you have an fsh of less than 10. I did on some three occasions but that still did not create a positive. Even girls with good fsh face many different hurdles in order to get a positive. There is just no easy formula, every person is different. Try the reflex or other alternatives it might bring the levels down, it will definately relax you. The fsh levels for acceptance on a protocol in Australia seem a lot higher than here. I have always been told the lower the fsh, the better as the ovaries are more likely to stimulate and produce eggs. I had taken a two year break after three failed ivf's, trying to gain some weight and also waiting on an appointment to have a tube removed due to gynae pain. Please know that you are not on your own, any questions or emotions you have then just let out, as you will see we all have our moments. I too am told my only possible option is donor and yes it is a big hurdle, but we cannot delay really. I kept saying about going on a list but to date have not.... but I did get the information. Everything just takes time both emotionally and physically, I look at different babies around me at times when I go out and ask myself could that baby look like me and as time has gone on the answer is yes and truly I would give all the love that is there. It is a part that is missing, I am incomplete but I am not alone in these thoughts and I never give up hope. That is a part of me that keeps me going, we need some luck and who knows we might get that positive one way or another. You take care, take time out and try if you can some positive alternatives, maybe put yourself on a list as a back up but still have a few goes with your ivf. I talk too much...... Jjj x

[Dolly]

Hi Paula,

Welcome to the board - your post made me feel so sad and I'm glad you've found us. Hopefully girls with experience of high fsh levels will be able to offer you some advice. But for what its worth I have read posts from girls who have had acupuncture to lower their fsh levels and from all accounts it seems to work - so that might be worth looking into.

I can imagine that having egg donation is a difficult decision to make. It may not be your egg - but it will be your body that supplies the embryo with everything it needs to become a baby - so it would be your baby.

Love and big hugs

Dolly

[Paula]

Hi Jjj and Dolly,

I was just going to go to bed but decided to check back and see if anyone had written. Thank you both so much for your support and kind words. It means alot to me. To just talk to someone here means alot. I'm very grateful for finding this board. I'm alone in Australia, my family is in Canada and my husband is away right now on business, he won't be back till friday....2 more days. Its been horrible finding this out without him. Sorry for making you feel sad Dolly. I didn't want to make anyone sad, it's just that i feel so sad. Its not fair, but like they say, life isn't fair. I am blessed with a 14 year old daughter. I am grateful everyday for her.

Since I met my new husband we dreamed and talked about our baby, what it would look like, who it would look like, joked about things and now to know its all gone is just very hard to deal with.

I've read your advice, both of you. I will look into reflexology and acupuncture. I am willing to try anything!!

Anyways, I should go to bed and get some sleep. I'm a bit delerious.. sorry for rambling on...and thanks for listening . Night night

Paula

[Sand]

Hi there Paula

Welcome to the site. You'll soon find it invaluable

I will have to recommend a book to you : Zita West's "Fertility and Conception". The book covers many areas - from fertility facts, lifestyle, testing fertility, assisted conception ..... it really is an excellent informative read (and I should be on commission !).

To summarise (from the book) - re raised FSH levels - the book does say that FSH levels fluctuate naturally, especially in reaction to stress, although there could be other underlying causes. There is no conventional treatment, but there are a number of lifestyle factors that can be considered, that may encourage your FSH levels to come down :

* Take regularly, gentle exercise - but nothing too strenuous
* Try to lose excess weight if you are overweight
* Practice meditation and deep breathing techniques on a regular basis,
to reduce stress and improve relaxation

Also, there are a number of dietary measures you can put into effect to try to bring down your FSH levels :
* Put yourself on a detoxifying programme, including drinking at least 2
litres of still bottled or filtered water a day. Cut down on salt intake
and avoid coffee, tea and sugary carbonated drinks. Drink hot water
and lemon juice instead.
* Consult a qualified herbalist about taking a daily supplement of chaste-
tree berry (vitex agnus castus)
* Take a B-complex supplement containing 50mg of B6, and a zinc
supplement to help regulate hormones generally
* Take 1000mg of essential fatty acids a day, either evening primrose oil
or fish oils
* Eat pulses, onions and garlic to help the liver break down oestrogen,
and cabbage to increase the rate at which the liver converts oestrogen
into its water-soluble form so that it can be excreted from the body
* Eat foods containing phyto-oestrogens - such as pulses, linseeds,
alfalfa sprouts, oats, cabbage and sprouts - which bing to oestrogen
receptors, causing a weak oestrogen-like response. This will help
balance hormones


Sandra x

[Paula]

Thank you Sandra,

I'm going to buy that book! I do drink coffee and pop on a daily basis. I'm going to stop that.

I went to a chinese medicine doctor here in december. At that time I had total amnorehia for 3 1/2 months. One week after I went on the herbs my period started. Jan my period was back again. My FSH went from 80 to 22, but i'm not sure about the first FSH level because I had gone without a period for 3 1/2 months. Second FSH test was done on Day 2. I still think it went down quite alot. My specialist told me the other day to stop taking the chinese herbs because they could be giving me a false menstration. I'm not sure I want to listen to her

You guys are great. Thank you for your support. I'm so glad I found this place and i'm already starting to feel a little bit better. Just having people to talk to that know how i'm feeling. That have been through and are going through the same things as I am is comforting. So thank you all for your thoughts and advice.

[Sand]

Hi Paula .... one other thing the book says is that FSH levels can be raised if ovulation has not occurred. So, this could possibly tie in with your lack of AFs..?

Sandra x

[nwtyng]

Halo girls....

Just like to share my experience with you...

I too have a very high FSH at 87 and was diagnosed as POF, due to autoimmune disease. I went to many doctors and they all said my ovary cannot produce my own eggs... I insisted on trying IVF and after a 5 days injection of 350ui Gonal F, my body did not react to the drug at all. So now, I am asked to opt for egg donor. My only problem is that there is no readily available egg donor program over here. Found one in another state, but financially, I wont be able to cope... I tried agnes vitex which I bough off the shelf quite some time ago, but after taking it for about 1 week, i started having my period... and my gynae said that the pills might contain hormone that induces my period... well, anyway, i stopped taking that and i'm currently on HRT.

Well Paula, I just wanna say that I completely understand how you feel. I cried for weeks when I found out I got POF, but then I know that there's no use in mourning. So i remained as calm as I can when the doctor said I have autoimmune (SLE) 2 mths later. It's ok to cry, I still burst... I felt like it's the end of the world, that i could never have a baby that will potentially have my traits & features. but now, that's better than having none right? In my culture, not being able to conceive will cost my marriage and people will look down on me. that is why this is still a secret kept between me & my dh. i would do anything to have a baby, even if that means risking my life. So i can understand your feelings totally Paula... you are not alone....

[Paula]

Hi Paula .... one other thing the book says is that FSH levels can be raised if ovulation has not occurred. So, this could possibly tie in with your lack of AFs..?

Sandra x

Hi Sandra, I'm not sure what you mean? So if i'm not ovulating then no AF? What do you think about the AF after being on chinese herbs for a week? Do you think they were forced or do you think theres something to the chinese herbs? My specialist wants me to go off them and see if AF returns naturally, but i'm afraid to. Know what I mean?????

Thanks again
Paula

[Paula]

Hi Ntwyng,

I totally sympathize with you. I don't even know what to begin to say to you except that I know exactly how you feel. I never would have imagined something like this happening to me. I guess because we're women we just assume we'll be able to have kids. *sigh* Here's a Hug for you!!! So did you go off the drugs that you talked about that made you get your AF? I'm taking chinese herbs, which i'm sure you've read. I'm afraid to stop taking them because I guess I feel like if I'm getting AF then at least mayber there's some hope. But if it's not real and I'm fooling myself I could be wasting alot of time for nothing. I'm not as young as you are. I will be 40 in May. I'm really not sure which way to go right now. I can't wait for my dh to get home so we can start to talk and try and make some deciisions on what our next step would be. I still can't imagine not having our baby. It's so hard isn't it? Here it takes at least a year on a waiting list for an egg and that's no guarantee either. I'll be going on at least 41. Maybe i'm getting to old for this?? LOL I don't know anymore..... all I know is I want to try anything I can. Today I bought runners. I went for a walk. Went to the mall after work and bought fish oil and B complex. I probably sound pretty desperate but I'm willing to do anything and start anything right away to try and get my body into better condition. Maybe it's my fault? Maybe I haven't taken care of myself enough. I guess the worst that can happen even if my FSH doesn't come down is that i'll get healthier


Well, take care of yourself. When will you decide about egg donor??

Paula

[Sand]

Hi Paula - I could be totally wrong, but it seems logical to me that your AF is your egg (etc) coming away each month, because it hasn't fertilised. So, if you don't ovulate, you don't release an egg, so you can't have an AF .. ??? Maybe there are others out there who can confirm this, or telling me I'm talking rubbish (!)

There are quite a few girls on this site who have used / believe in chinese herbs. It does seem a strange coincidence that you went without AF for so long, then a week on the herbs and it arrives ..... I do know what you mean about being afraid of stopping the herbs, however, I think you have to go with what your specialist is saying. It could be that the herbs have kick started your AFs now, and they continue naturally.

Sandra x

[nwtyng]

Hi Paula,

Well, I'll definitely have to go for egg donor, probably next year? I found a specialist centre in another state that provides such service and they can start now if I want. But it is not possible for me to move to another state, especially when i needed this job & need to be with my dh. Moreover, it is so expensive that with my current savings, i can only afford 1 time of IVF! I'll have to be really really lucky if it is successful at the first try. so with all these constraints, my dh & I haven't really thought of a solution...sigh....

How about you? Have you talked to your dh? Any future plans?

[Paula]

Hi Nwtyng,

Sorry I didn't reply sooner. My Dh took me away this week to surfers paradise to get away for a few days. Just got back!!

I'm still not sure what we'll do. We talked about it and I want to stay on the chinese medicine despite what the doctors tell me. I'm going to continue them for a few months and see what happens. It can't hurt, I mean it's not like I'm next in line for anything quick here. Lots of waiting to do.

As for egg donation I haven't totally made my mind up on that. We're also talking about adoption now. Maybe a baby from China I think it takes about a year to adopt in China, vs. 5 or more years here in Australia and we're also getting to the age that they'll tell us we're to old to adopt.

Anyways, not sure yet what to do, its still a big shock for me. Maybe I don't want to accept it? We're lucky though here in Australia, I don't think it costs nearly as much as it does in other parts of the world. There's a clinic I went to here for information, they sent me a package last week. It's the Monash Clinic. Anyways, they're only around $3000 If I remember correctly The wait in the brochure says 2-3 years but when I talked to a lady that works there she said it was one year. I guess we should decide and get our name on the list hey? We have the same problem as you do with the location of the clinic. The clinic we'd need to go to is in another state, so that means time away from my Dh and home as well.

Have you decided what your going to do?? What does your Dh say?
Gonna go for now. I wish you find your answers soon and if its a money concern I pray something will happen good for you to take the money part out of the equation. Lots of luck

Hugs
Paula

[Sand]

Bimped to the top for Babysoft

Sandra x

[Sand]

Or, even, Bumped