No Change in the Est. Numbers???

gel · Post by **gel** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 8:56 pm

I'm a little freaked out, and could use some feedback. I am scheduled for egg retrieval on Tuesday morning. My bloodwork showed great estrodiol numbers yesterday - 1021 - and 15 maturing eggs with the largest at 17.5. This all looked great, and we were very excited. We're coming off of a failed IVF in December and these numbers are much better than the numbers we had then.

I went in for bloodwork only this morning, and they just called to say that my estrodial number didn't change at all. I am to take my Hcg shot tonight for retrieval Tuesday morning. I didn't expect to be triggered until at least tomorrow. They said they're doing it now because I have "plateaued" and "stalled out" and that they don't expect the numbers to get better from here.

What does this mean? Poor egg quality? I have had such a good attitude about this cycle - withstanding 3 shots a night, etc., and hoping for the best. Now with one phone call I'm down in the dumps and scared that it has all just gone down the toilet.

Has anyone had this experience? Or does anyone know anything about this and what it might mean? Any thoughts would be so helpful. I would love to recapture my good spirits and don't know how.

Thanks, Gel

gel · Post by **gel** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 10:43 pm

well, i answered my own question with searching the web. basically, it doesn't look good.

Smita · Post by **Smita** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 1:25 am

Gel,
Since your clinic has advised you to go ahead with the trigger, they must be happy with the size of the follicles..
Numbers arent everything, neither is perfection..
There are ladies here who have had 'perfect'cycles with all great numbers and had to face a BFN.. so keep the positive outlook and pray and things will be just fine.
Wishing you lots of luckfor a good EC and ET.
Keep us posted.
Good Luck,

smita

ally01 · Post by **ally01** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 1:09 pm

Hello there,

I did have a similiar situation.....We started and IVF cycle but due to low follicle numbers (4 then to 5) they abandoned that and switched to IUI. Three follicles were doing just great and I got really hopeful and excited. On Sat, my estrogen was 530 and then on Sun, it was 494. Basically, the doctor said that I could even abandon IUI and just try it the natural way.

I don't really understand it but I guess it means that these follicles aren't good quality or if they were, they aren't likely to be. What research did you find on the INternet? I'd like to source it too. Does it also mean that the next cycle would look like this too or can meds control the drop?

I'm sorry for your disappointing news...please keep us posted.
Allyson

gel · Post by **gel** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 2:04 pm

hi - from what i found on the web, a drop or plateau in estrodiol levels resulted in fewer successes by a considerable amount. the stuff i was reading was pretty technical, and was correlated to gnrh medications, but the bottom line was that if your estrodiol levels don't rise it doesn't look good - not impossible, but not optimal with very few actual pregnancies resulting. the good news was that one cycle with this happening didn't indicate that it would happen the same way they next time. in fact, they can't figure it out.

i have a lot of follicles, though none of them had reached the right size at the last U/S. i guess i have to see what happens, as we are proceeding with the retrieval on tuesday morning. you never know i guess, and i'm trying to believe i still have a chance.

gabriella

gel · Post by **gel** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 2:07 pm

smita,

thank you for your post. it's just what i needed to hear. gabriella

ally01 · Post by **ally01** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 3:28 pm

Gabriella

How did your e/r go yesterday? I hope your follicles kept growing over the past days! Please let us know how many transfered and such plus which ones continue to develop.

I had my 2 IUIs on Monday and Tuesday, even though the estradial level was less than ideal. They said it happens when the body is preparing for ovulation but b/c I was on Lupron, that should have repressed that from happening. They weren't sure that it would be worth 2 shots until they got my LH levels, which had not yet surged. I guess that was good news.

They didn't do another u/s so I'm not sure if 3 or 4 follicles were considered possibilities. I'm trying to remain positive in the 2ww but I've also started strategizing for the next IVF attempt. Do you have thoughts on Lupron? Some say that I should switch to something more effective, but the nurse kind of blew me off after I told her I'd been on these chat rooms! YIKES. Also, I called to get an initial consultation for an acupuncturist. I wonder how many sessions they will recommend?

All of this stuff plus other life situations are really breaking our wallets. THat's a bummer. My DH and I are self employed and unfortunately, all of this stuff has made me less than productive and that has a very negative effect on our income. I just need to pray for peace and pray for a baby through God's will. All the rest will work itself out, right?

Allyson

gel · Post by **gel** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:10 pm

hi allyson,

thanks for writing.

i don't know if the follicles continued to grow because they didn't give me another ultrasound, which surprised me.

the retrieval was yesteray, and they gave me mixed/no news. they said they got 18 eggs, but while that sounded good they didn't know if any of them were mature, or if they were good quality. there's no way to know, apparently, but my numbers suggest that while they got a lot of eggs i shouldn't get my hopes up that any of them will fertilize. not the most positive feedback but i am trying to be "cautiously optimistic." they'll call me tomorrow afternoon to tell me how many fertilized if any, and to schedule my embryo transfer for friday if there's to be one. it was weird - in one breath they tell me they got 18, which sounds really good, but then they say it may be that none of them are up to snuff.

i don't know about the lupron. they tend to blow me off when i ask specific questions about the merits of various protocols (can you tell i'm pretty down on my clinic?).

wait and see, wait and see. i'll post tomorrow with my next news. i think ALL employees of fertility clinics should be required to go to sensitivity training! good thing we have each other here, or it would be vey hard to look on the bright side.

gabriella

Dizzie · Post by **Dizzie** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:41 pm

Gel,

I've just been reading your story and I just want to say hang in there. You've got this far which is fantastic, and don't let the clinic get you down. You got 18 eggs which is great and they can't tell by looking at them whether they'll fertilise or not, so don't take it for granted that they wont. I got 4 eggs and they all fertilised so you just can't tell. One thing I've learned these past few weeks and am still learning is no-one can predict what will happen at any stage in IVF, they can only assume and go on past experiences, but everyone is different and individual. My cycle has been full of setbacks from the beginning and still continues to be so, even after getting a positive result. My scan picture shows an earlier pregnancy than what should be, but hospital says all looks well, so as I've already said, YOU NEVER CAN TELL AND DON'T GIVE UP.

Hang in there and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Take care.

gel · Post by **gel** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:51 am

well, it's not looking good, though not all is lost. of my 18 eggs, 3 fertilized and i'm told they're not of great quality. i'm tentatively scheduled for et tomorrow morning unless they call me to tell me that the embryos have stopped progressing. how can this be. 18 eggs to 3 embryos to potentially nothing? i do understand that it's not an exact science but even so, how can it be? i'll write in when i know more.

gabriella

Smita · Post by **Smita** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 4:16 am

Gabriella,
I'm keeping everything crossed for you to have a good transfer- once your embies are inside, then you needn't worry.
Remember to take rest abt 2-3 days afetr ET as much as you can..
You are in my thoughts.. give us news of a successful ET- I'm sure the 3 embies that have gotten so far are fighters and so will make it.
Hugs,
smita

Dizzie · Post by **Dizzie** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 4:43 pm

Gel,

Everything is crossed for tomorrow and I'll be thinking of you. Three embies is great, that's 3 potential babies.

Take care and think positive.

BecP · Post by **BecP** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:18 pm

Be positive, there's lots going for you and when you least expect it these things happen!
I had 16 follicles, yet because I was coasted on the drugs for a few days before EC (because of OHHS they wouldn't give me the HCG until my est levels had dropped), I actually only ended up with 5 eggs - as the rest were all post mature and had dissolved!! I was sooooo disappointed after thinking I'd have a bumper crop. Yet of those 5, 4 fertilised and all were of qood quality so we even got two for the freezer! So don't give up, you've got three little ones, that's more than enough. GOOD LUCK!!!
x

Smita · Post by **Smita** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 3:26 pm

Gel,
Just checking to see if all went well..

smita

sue e · Post by **sue e** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 5:21 pm

Hi Gel,

How are you?

Thinking of you

love

sue e xx

No Change in the Est. Numbers???

No Change in the Est. Numbers???

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