Anybody IVF progesterone ring study in Texas?

[stressball]

Hi,
I got a call from the clinic that I have to do prelim exam to see if I qualify. Anybody participating in this study in Texas.

[IndieBlue]

I'm not in TX but in GA and I am going in a week to sign consent forms for the study too...sounds like an interesting study.

[stressball]

Hi,
have you done your prelim tests already? I know there is going to be some monetary benefits? but dont know much about it. How about you?

[IndieBlue]

I think the main monetary benefits are the reduced cost of the cycle (and from what the coordinator told me you also get a FET included in that initial cost). She mentioned getting some money at the end of the study too....but again, not sure how or why all that happens.

I'm just excited to be getting 2 cycles at that cost! It's made it possible for us to start a year earlier then we'd planned.

I go to sign consent forms and such on the 6th....so we'll see Have you signed all that yet?

[stressball]

Hi,
I know nothing about it yet. I have to go to an orientation tomorrow. Will let you know soon.

[stressball]

Hi,
I had been sick for past few days. My husband went to the orientation and he got a package which describes the study. Basically this study will use ring instaed of prog. shots and the rest will be the same. The overall cost will come around 4-5000 dollars.

I have decided to participate in the study but I am concerned about how I will get treated during the study. My nurse as it is not returing the phone calls and delaying everything. I have done one IVF in Texas fertility clinic before but I am seeing a huge difference. Earlier the nurse always called back and above all I could start the IVF when I wanted to. Now I am all dependent on them. Still waiting for her to call me back and start my prelim. test so that I can start the IVF in March.

How is it going with you?

[JNIGRL]

Hey Ladies,

I'm a new lurker here and just found this post. So far I'm in the study. I have had all my prelim exams, DH had SA and we've completed the Injectibles class , then on to IVF class mid-month . So far so good for us. Just have to remind myself not to get too excited -too early! I call the coordinator on CD1 and she will put me on BC pills at that time. My insurance covers nothing, so this is an answered prayer for me. I would love to have "Study Buddies" so we all can track our progress.

Praying for all of us!
Jen

[IndieBlue]

Hello ladies Checking back in....I have my appointment tomorrow to meet with the doctor but AF isn't due again until the end of March so who knows when I'll begin. I called them and asked if I could go ahead and get my FSH done last Saturday when it was day 3 of AF, but they said that they'd run test on me based on my 'history'??? HUH? So maybe they don't run the FSH for the trial purposes?

Anyhow, really really hoping I get to start before April or May but with the way things are flowing it might be then before I have done all the classes, BCP and series of shots.

I've only donated eggs prior to this, and that was a very fast process. I had 2 visits with a psychologist to discuss the procedure, then went in for the initial visit and test...etc then I went straight to shots, ER and I was done. I think overall it was maybe a month....definitely less than 2 months from contact to ER. I'm thinking this will be a much much longer process LOL

Please do keep posting as you go through it all....I'm eager to see who gets started first and how things progress . My insurance pays for Diagnostics and my RX plan pays for IVF meds....just not sure how that will work with the study. They quoted a price of 3500 for the study and approximately 2000-2500 for meds (although as I said...praying my RX plan can take care of 90% of that). Without this study we'd not be able to afford to start for another year...so it's WONDERFUL in that aspect.

I was reading up on Progesterone Rings and one said something about putting the ring in place 2-3 days prior to ER and then after ER they put in a ring that is a higher dosage....then changes are made if pregnancy occurs and the ring stays in place for 12 weeks???? I don't know why but I envisioned a waxy ring (like a tiny toilet bowl wax ring LOL) that you had to insert daily (like a suppository). Anyhow...something that goes and stays in place will be different....maybe not so messy? And hopefully with less side effects and stress over those PIO shots.

Well, off to bed....gotta get up EARLY to make that appointment. Will check back in tomorrow

[IndieBlue]

Good Friday morning So how are both of you doing? I finished up a LOT of stuff yesterday, we left the house at 6 to get there by 9 and just barely made it!!! Traffic was AWFUL! Anyhow, once I got there I didn't leave until 11:45 or so....long long day. They did a regular ultrasound to check things out, then did another pap (even though my other one was only 3 months old) then the STD test. Then they took 6-7 vials of blood....and I hadn't even stopped for breakfast that morning so by then I was SICK!

I have to go back on day 3 of my next cycle , I was afraid of that....wished they'd let me do that day 3 last Saturday!!!! Husband has to have a SA, even thought he fathered both our bio children and then I'll have to do a Saline ultrasound. Any of you done one of those?

So looks like I'll be going back on day 3, end of March sometime for the FSH test then back on day 10-14 for the Saline ultrasound, then starting BCP's on day one of the April cycle. So all in all I won't really 'start' anything until end of April But that sort of works out, since Summer is a much more relaxing time for me

Oh well, so now on to the waiting. I did get my notebook though....do you both have those? I never take meds so that part of the log will probably be pretty empty, I don't even take any vitamins. The health changes probably won't be too full either...although she told me you're supposed to write down everything from headaches to diarrhea? Is that the same kind of log book you all have?

Hope to hear from you soon

[IndieBlue]

No one reading this thread anymore? I'd love to hear how everyone is progressing...anyone????

[Knrjack]

Hello All. I am on the Duramed Progesterone Ring Study as well. Although I am based out of Boise Idaho. I know they are doing this nationwide. Are you all on the same study? I have the lovely Pink book too.. I call it my pink bible. I asked what else I should be doing or not doing and she said to only take Tylenol and if anything else to call before taking anything. I was also told to start taking Prenatals just like any other person starting to conceive.

I had all the pre-exam done allready, water ultrasound. When I signed Consent forms here in the begining of February my coordinator had the ring with her. it is a plastic bendable ring. Reminds me of the Instead cups without the cup. Will be interesting if I am chosen for the Ring part of the study. Don't know that yet until I do ER. I was told you have to insert it 3 days prior to ER as well and take it out the day of.

My RE here in Idaho is amazing. They contacted me with the study information and have called me back within hours of me calling them always. The coordinator is always excited for me. When I called on last Thursday I left a message that my period had started. She calls back and first thing says "Are you ready to start" I have had some really bad experiences with RE in colorado so this is a life saver and blessing all in one. I am expected to only pay 5,000 out of pocket after all said and done. Could not have come at a better time.

I just started BCP today and get my Plan of Care tomorrow. I am thinking May is when IVF/ICSI will be for me.

[IndieBlue]

So glad to meet you KnrJack That's great about starting on BCP already! I have to go in next week and have my FSH, Estradiol and a V Ultrasound on day 2-4 of my cycle...that'll be YUCK I'm sure LOL She said it would probably be uncomfortable for me but that they do it all the time so it won't bother them at all LOL

Then between day 6-11 I'll go in for the Saline ultrasound and a mock transfer. If all that goes well then I'll go in for my psychological a week later to be evaluated (which is between 200.00 and 400.00 for my husband and myself that wasn't included) and then husband has to have a SA and some bloodwork....again, not included in the cost they quoted me. Oh and then I have to go in for classes in injections....will I never start a cycle?

Husband wants to quit now, with all these new 'additions'....I have to say that I'm almost discouraged enough to stop too I've been taking my Prescription Iron pills everyday though, and eating prunes and veggies like crazy to keep the Iron moving LOL....so I'm trying to stay on track and make it through all those hurdles.

She said I'd probably start in April during that cycle, but who knows.

What all do you write down in your pink book? I wrote down a sinus headache...but do I write down everytime I have a small ache? I took it to mean things that went on for more than say 5-10 minutes. And the only meds I've taken are the Iron pills....but I may take some Tylenol or Aleve the day I have to have the Ultrasound, as day 3 is a rough day for me as far as cramps go and I am usually sitting at home, take an Aleve and holding a heating pad on my tummy LOL...so an ultrasound probe won't probably feel too good LOL

So did you have to take all these steps to get to BCP? And then you were accepted? They told me I could wait on the psychological evaluations until I got through all the other test to make sure I first qualify for the study....I'm thinking, why couldn't I have waited on the consent, iron meds, pink record book....etc till I was accepted? Odd, that I'm doing all of this and still not accepted in to the study.

[Knrjack]

IndieBlue ~ I had my plan of care today. I asked about why some are doing Psych evals and I don't. It is because it is with each clinic that has the option. Plus, since Rich and I are a married couple for (13 years now) they assume we don't have to worry about saying where little petri came from or how he/she is conceived. Makes sense. Interesting how different places handle things. I joked that if it were a FET then my mother was going to be at conception instead of my husband. Explain that one. LOL. It is all hillarious at times.

Here are my dates:
3/31/08 Start Lupron Shots
4/04/08 Take last BCP
4/09/08 Baseline Ultrasound, blood test & Start Fertility Meds
(Follistim & Menopur)
04/13/08 Last day for Excercise & Intercourse
4/14/08 Blood Test
4/16/08 ~ 4/18/08 Daily Ultrasounds (hcg in one of those days)
4/19/08 Be in Reno
4/20/08 ER
4/21/08 Receive stdudy med (duramed ring or other)
4/22/08 GAMBLE (she even said. lol)
4/23/08 ET (Princess Days)



Oh, I wrote down my sinus headaches and that was all. I get them all the time which is a nusiance really. I don't take any meds if I can't help it. Otherwise if it is something less than 20 minutes I don't write it down either. Keep me posted on your appointments too. Seems I am just slightly before you. Glad to have a study buddy.

I had my water ultrasound back in january. It wasn't bad at all. I never heard of it being called a mock er. But I could see that. I had 5 at the time in good size so I am very optimistic for the real deal.

[IndieBlue]

Hey....glad to see you have a schedule, and wow...they cover everything LOL As far as the mock ET, it's done the same day as the Saline ultrasound. She said it was to measure my cervix or something for the correct catheter? The psych visit seems to be something they do no matter what. I donated eggs a few years back and went to the psych then too....with a different RE. I won't do that till I get my FSH and other test done though. We've been married 15 years and have secondary Infertility so really wish we could get around it. Called today and it is around 300-400 for a session and only 1 session is needed....so that was a relief.

What did she mean by Gamble? I don't know which one I want really...the gel or the ring. The ring seems easier to deal with, but then again....gel seems more 'normal' LOL I guess I really don't care....which ever one works is fine with me

I'm glad that you're only writing down major health issues too. When she asked me about medication last month I said I'd taken one Aleve for cramps on day 3 of my cycle. She said "that's it?" like I was holding back LOL I haven't had the flu (knock on wood) and really I just never take anything....except on day 3, it's a killer. My sinus headaches are something that I get in March and they don't go away till May or June....although I don't have them everyday, they don't really 'bother' me and unless I'm sedentary I usually barely notice them. Oh and I take black horse chestnut for the hemi's I got with my other pregnancies LOL, but again...not regular and haven't taken those in months. I kind of felt bad when she asked if I took a multivitamin...LOL, nope. Not that I probably couldn't use one, but I just don't take them.

I had less than 5 follicles on day 9 last month....on both sides. I think she counted around 3-4 on each side, so not too bad When I donated eggs I had 11 mature, although they don't tell you anything past that since they are going to someone else.

Did they give you a price sheet with your meds and cost on them? My contact said that some of the meds were reduced in cost through the study (probably the BCP and Lupron as I saw that listed in the paperwork) but wondered how much the other meds were and if I'd be able to price shop or they had to be purchased from the office/study.

Well, it's nice seeing your schedule....and having someone that we can relate to throughout the study. Let me know how your Lupron goes I remember it and it's a tiny little needle....not bad at all (although I did bruise easily LOL).

[Knrjack]

It is funny and exciting all in one. I am really optimistic about this whole process.


The gambling part is a side note Janna (coordinator) added in. Because we will be in Reno she said on the day between ER & ET to go what ever see a show and I said gamble. She said she was going to add that into my calendar when she mails it out. They are very light hearted and easy to talk to. I am very fortunate.