TFAS 4/10

[westiemom]

@idubhawksfan (I think congrats are in order?!)
nikiswimr
dp21

How's it going, ladies?

QOTW: What's your favorite rainy day activity?

[westiemom]

AF finally started for real. I'm on CD 5. Just chugging along waiting to O and using a fertility monitor this round. I am hoping my PP hormones will balance out this cycle. DD is back to sleeping through the night and we are nursing 4x a day. However, I have heard it can be a few cycles sometimes so I'm not getting my hopes up.

QOTW: reading a good book.

[ldubhawksfan]

Thank you. Yes, as of right now, I'm pregnant. I'm shocked and very scared of another loss. I tested early, so today is 14 dpo and I went in for my 2nd betas.

Wishing you all the best and I'll go back to lurking on this thread.

[whatsit]

Apr 10, 2017 13:50:20 GMT -5 ldubhawksfan said:

Thank you. Yes, as of right now, I'm pregnant. I'm shocked and very scared of another loss. I tested early, so today is 14 dpo and I went in for my 2nd betas.

Wishing you all the best and I'll go back to lurking on this thread.

Fx'd for good betas today! Please let us know how it goes (and N15 too. We're thinking of you!)

[nikiswimr]

westiemom I hope your cycles regulate soon. From what I've read it's not uncommon for the first couple to be weird but then things straighten out (not that I would know anything about this personally as I never cycle 🙄)

ldubhawksfan, congratulations! I totally get being scared. I hope second betas are good!

[nikiswimr]

AFM, doing the estrogen patch thing. Have bloodwork this Thursday then progressively more estrogen and the dreaded PIO. Hoping my lining responds... hoping my one little frosty survives thaw. You know. Not loving the estrogen.

QOTW: if it's not cold, I love running in light rain. I used to go out on the tobacco trail when I lived in NC and it was gorgeous. Do not run in crazy OK storms. A good book would be perfect!

[westiemom]

Apr 10, 2017 13:50:20 GMT -5 ldubhawksfan said:

Thank you. Yes, as of right now, I'm pregnant. I'm shocked and very scared of another loss. I tested early, so today is 14 dpo and I went in for my 2nd betas.

Wishing you all the best and I'll go back to lurking on this thread.

Please keep us posted! I totally get being nervous. I am praying you have a happy, healthy 9 months!

[westiemom]

Apr 10, 2017 14:16:17 GMT -5 nikiswimr said:

AFM, doing the estrogen patch thing. Have bloodwork this Thursday then progressively more estrogen and the dreaded PIO. Hoping my lining responds... hoping my one little frosty survives thaw. You know. Not loving the estrogen.

QOTW: if it's not cold, I love running in light rain. I used to go out on the tobacco trail when I lived in NC and it was gorgeous. Do not run in crazy OK storms. A good book would be perfect!

I'm keeping everything crossed for you!

[dp21]

westiemom, thanks for the check-in!!!

ldubhawksfan, cautiously hopeful for you. Congrats!

So since this check-in is so infrequent, here is long update I posted in my other groups:
Basically had my WTF appointment this past Friday and I have two consultations at local clinics the end of this month. I also plan to finish all my school work for my master's by tonight! Excited to coast the rest of the semester till graduation

Here is my long update I posted in DOR with ****Warnings****sprinkled throughout

My WTF update: I made my appointment with the fellow at my current clinic. It went surprisingly well. I think it’s because she’s young, excited, and wants to use her brain.

I honestly think this would not have happened if I met with any other RE in the clinic.

So here is what we discussed:

#1: I was open about the fact that we are seeking a second opinion. Her recommendation was CCRM out in Colorado and she agree that it was a good idea. I said we are not ready for that road yet but I’m well aware of CCRM and their amazing rates.

#2: I discussed how the clinic has not been supportive of me taking supplements. Told her about the book I was reading, “It starts with the egg.” She actually supports some supplements and recommended ubiquinol + DHEA. She asked what else I was taking and said it was fine, and reiterated it takes 3 months to see results. So we should delay cycling till then.

#3: She recommends that I do ERA. She said it wasn’t a must for me but if I wanted to exhaust all tests it can be done. Said 50/50 chance it would give us some useful information. ERA basically tells if if we are transferring embryo on the correct day. ***warning**** It is hard to say with 2+ pregnancies (so possibly right day) and 3 failures.***end********

#4: She agrees that 3 implantation failures are not due to chromosomes and says something else must be going on but failed to talk about immune issues (seemed not on board).***Loss warning**** She said the miscarriage though was likely chromosomal.***end warning*******

#5: She recommended a more aggressive protocol next round. FSH/Menopur 225/225. It is called a split cycle.

#6: I brought up SART data and the fact that my clinic has really low FET success rates. Not great knowing I went through two FET failures with them. I said is it a protocol thing? A lab thing? I mentioned how they were not creative with my protocols and use very basic medications (oral estrace + vaginal progesterone). I mentioned how my friend got a protocol change after a chemical and that I know many clinics still do PIO with suppositories. She did say that studies of PIO being equal to vaginal progesterone were fresh cycles and not frozen cycles.****Warning****** She also said because I had success with PIO before (with G) that she would personally do PIO with any future cycles…especially frozen cycles. I am so glad that someone here is saying something different or what she would do personally even though it’s not my clinic’s policy.****End Warning********

So overall, I felt it went well but it was with the fellow. At the end of the day, she is the fellow and not the RE. Also my clinic still has history of low FET rates. If I didn’t know better, I’d stay, but she was refreshing for this clinic for once. I also expressed my frustration with them over the past year, slow to respond/change protocols and I cried in office discussing my IVF in August which I feel was a waste of a cycle.*****warning*********I could tell she agreed with me somewhat that things should have been better and that they probably should have used a different protocol knowing my poor response when we conceived G (our miracle baby, one of two embryos total created, 3 day transfer).****end warning********

[westiemom]

Apr 10, 2017 17:37:44 GMT -5 dp21 said:

westiemom, thanks for the check-in!!!

ldubhawksfan, cautiously hopeful for you. Congrats!

So since this check-in is so infrequent, here is long update I posted in my other groups:
Basically had my WTF appointment this past Friday and I have two consultations at local clinics the end of this month. I also plan to finish all my school work for my master's by tonight! Excited to coast the rest of the semester till graduation

Here is my long update I posted in DOR with ****Warnings****sprinkled throughout

My WTF update: I made my appointment with the fellow at my current clinic. It went surprisingly well. I think it’s because she’s young, excited, and wants to use her brain.

I honestly think this would not have happened if I met with any other RE in the clinic.

So here is what we discussed:

#1: I was open about the fact that we are seeking a second opinion. Her recommendation was CCRM out in Colorado and she agree that it was a good idea. I said we are not ready for that road yet but I’m well aware of CCRM and their amazing rates.

#2: I discussed how the clinic has not been supportive of me taking supplements. Told her about the book I was reading, “It starts with the egg.” She actually supports some supplements and recommended ubiquinol + DHEA. She asked what else I was taking and said it was fine, and reiterated it takes 3 months to see results. So we should delay cycling till then.

#3: She recommends that I do ERA. She said it wasn’t a must for me but if I wanted to exhaust all tests it can be done. Said 50/50 chance it would give us some useful information. ERA basically tells if if we are transferring embryo on the correct day. ***warning**** It is hard to say with 2+ pregnancies (so possibly right day) and 3 failures.***end********

#4: She agrees that 3 implantation failures are not due to chromosomes and says something else must be going on but failed to talk about immune issues (seemed not on board).***Loss warning**** She said the miscarriage though was likely chromosomal.***end warning*******

#5: She recommended a more aggressive protocol next round. FSH/Menopur 225/225. It is called a split cycle.

#6: I brought up SART data and the fact that my clinic has really low FET success rates. Not great knowing I went through two FET failures with them. I said is it a protocol thing? A lab thing? I mentioned how they were not creative with my protocols and use very basic medications (oral estrace + vaginal progesterone). I mentioned how my friend got a protocol change after a chemical and that I know many clinics still do PIO with suppositories. She did say that studies of PIO being equal to vaginal progesterone were fresh cycles and not frozen cycles.****Warning****** She also said because I had success with PIO before (with G) that she would personally do PIO with any future cycles…especially frozen cycles. I am so glad that someone here is saying something different or what she would do personally even though it’s not my clinic’s policy.****End Warning********

So overall, I felt it went well but it was with the fellow. At the end of the day, she is the fellow and not the RE. Also my clinic still has history of low FET rates. If I didn’t know better, I’d stay, but she was refreshing for this clinic for once. I also expressed my frustration with them over the past year, slow to respond/change protocols and I cried in office discussing my IVF in August which I feel was a waste of a cycle.*****warning*********I could tell she agreed with me somewhat that things should have been better and that they probably should have used a different protocol knowing my poor response when we conceived G (our miracle baby, one of two embryos total created, 3 day transfer).****end warning********

I'm glad you had a good discussion and she was open to at least hearing you out. I definitely think a second opinion would be helpful and am just so sorry you have to fight so hard at your current clinic to be hard. Major props to you for bringing up all your concerns.

[katelm]

Apr 10, 2017 14:16:17 GMT -5 nikiswimr said:

AFM, doing the estrogen patch thing. Have bloodwork this Thursday then progressively more estrogen and the dreaded PIO. Hoping my lining responds... hoping my one little frosty survives thaw. You know. Not loving the estrogen.

QOTW: if it's not cold, I love running in light rain. I used to go out on the tobacco trail when I lived in NC and it was gorgeous. Do not run in crazy OK storms. A good book would be perfect!

Tobacco trail? Sounds like you lived near my part of town. That's a nice long trail! Super flat

[katelm]

I'm just lurking bc I'm already dreaming of a second even though we can't try yet 😜

[nikiswimr]

Apr 11, 2017 20:03:16 GMT -5 katelm said:

Apr 10, 2017 14:16:17 GMT -5 nikiswimr said:

AFM, doing the estrogen patch thing. Have bloodwork this Thursday then progressively more estrogen and the dreaded PIO. Hoping my lining responds... hoping my one little frosty survives thaw. You know. Not loving the estrogen.

QOTW: if it's not cold, I love running in light rain. I used to go out on the tobacco trail when I lived in NC and it was gorgeous. Do not run in crazy OK storms. A good book would be perfect!

Tobacco trail? Sounds like you lived near my part of town. That's a nice long trail! Super flat

We lived by Hope Valley Farms for six years and I ran the Tobacco Trail all the time. Loved it when they finally did the bridge over I40! I miss it.

[westiemom]

Apr 11, 2017 20:04:09 GMT -5 katelm said:

I'm just lurking bc I'm already dreaming of a second even though we can't try yet 😜

Feel free to join anytime even if you are just waiting!

[brettanomyces]

Hi Ladies!

Nice to see some familiar names around here still. I haven't been active on the boards here for a while because busyness. I'm a wahm now, running 2 businesses with H.

DD is 14.5 months. Period came back almost 4 months ago so we are back at the fertility factory. Plan is iuis. Missed out on one cycle because there was a freeze on funding and missed out on current cycle because timing didn't work out with Jewish holidays, so hopefully next cycle we can get going. I don't know what's in my sig, but my pregnancy was a successful iui with femara, ovidrel, and progesterone suppositories. So plan is the same minus femara because I'm still breastfeeding.

QOTW: watching movies and eating popcorn.

[nikiswimr]

Hi brettanomyces ! Good luck with the IUIs! I think you know this but I'm still BF as well.

[katelm]

Apr 12, 2017 20:02:35 GMT -5 westiemom said:

Apr 11, 2017 20:04:09 GMT -5 katelm said:

I'm just lurking bc I'm already dreaming of a second even though we can't try yet 😜

Feel free to join anytime even if you are just waiting!

Ok, it feels silly joining if I'm not doing anything but I guess I'm lurking anyway! You can put my status as pending FET consult with RE on 5/31. C will be 10.5 months by then and I scheduled it to learn about the next steps. We don't plan to do a FET until she's over a year.