Time for an intro? and questions, of course. **UPDATE in OP

[dharmachick]

Hi there!  I'm excited to see a lot of familiar names from 3T here!

After about two and a half years TTC (due to PCOS and mild MFI), we ventured to IVF, with our ER on 2/11 and ET on 2/16.  I had an early beta (6dp5dt) while at the ER on Sunday, which was 47.  My 'official' first beta last Wednesday (9dp5dt/14dpo) was 202, and the second one on Friday was 504.  I was holding off on an intro here until there was a third beta, but I'm not sure that they are running another one.  Is a third one usually done?

I had mild OHSS after ER that cleared up after a few days, but then returned with a vengeance last Sunday.  I have had paracentesis twice since then to drain the extra fluid, and have felt increasingly better yesterday and today.  I had gained 9lbs on Sunday from the fluid, and weighed in at 2lbs less after draining, and 1.5lbs less yesterday and another 1.5lbs less today.  This is a good sign, right?  It's funny that I'm nervous about the OHSS symptoms improving, but it's making me anxious.

After finding that I had high progesterone on Wednesday, they had me stop taking the Endometrin suppositories as my overstimmed ovaries are apparently producing enough progesterone on their own.  Now that my symptoms are improving, I am hoping that my progesterone is still ok.

As I'm feeling better today, my appointment with the RE is postponed until tomorrow.  I asked the office if they needed any b/w and they said no.

Anyway, I obviously have major IF brain, and I'm worrying up a storm.  Sorry for the long post.  Any info that you could share is greatly appreciated.

ETA: UPDATE:  I did have a third beta today and it 2178.     I am so relieved, as all of this OHSS craziness had me extra worried about how everything is going.  She also ran my progesterone levels, I think just to calm my nerves, and reported that they are "off the charts" so I should be ok there.  My 6-week ultrasound is scheduled for March 17.

[lolasky]

Congrats, and welcome! I don't know about OHSS, so I'll let someone else try to answer your questions. But it's totally normal to be nervous with IF history!

[DrHooch]

Welcome and congrats! Glad to see you over here! I have no experience with OHSS, but I totally get you on the worrying. No advice, though

[mrswillie]

Welcome and congrats! No experience with OHSS. Some RE's will run a 3rd or more beta, but it really depends on the individual's history and what the #'s look like. Likewise, I've seen a lot stop after a good 2nd beta and schedule the u/s. Good luck!

[Deleted]

Welcome over here! I had mild OHSS, and I was on top of drinking gatorade and protein shakes. It seemed to work, at my first u/s at 6w5d my ovaries had settled down and my RE was happy, they were still pretty puffy for my transfer. I'm not sure about it being worse though, mine wasn't that bad So hopefully everything settles down for you.

[luchich]

Welcome and congrats! My RE did a third beta and I'm glad she did. It made me feel better seeing that huge number!

[SweetieShellie]

I had OHSS after my retrieval in November. It sucked. We opted out of having a fresh transfer because I already had a moderate case. They said I had a 30% chance of becoming severe if the transfer worked but my brain decided it was 100% and I decided to wait. I'm glad you are starting to feel better! My clinic only does 2 betas and then books your 6 week u/s. If the scan shows baby is viable they kick you out the door (hopefully yours is nicer then mine!)

Edit: In case you notice my siggy, I had more then 2 betas, but that's because I work in a lab and did it myself

[kam10]

Welcome! I had a mild case of OHSS, but was able to combat it with lots of vitamin water and protein shakes. I don't have any experience with draining, so hopefully someone else can weigh in on that.
I had 4 betas drawn, but that was because they were slower rising. If they had been normal I think I would have only had 2 or 3.

[viola]

Welcome and Congratulations! I only had two betas and then had to wait until 7 wks for a u/s.

It's normal to be nervous about well, everything! I hope you feel better soon, the unpleasant symptoms will settle in soon enough.

[llm100811]

Welcome!

[ProfessorChaos]

Welcome and congratulations!!

[hbanana18]

Welcome & congrats! Sorry about the OHSS - no experience but i am sure it is not fun.

My RE ran 3 betas, but mine were lower to start with than yours. My first was 34 then somewhere in the 200s. After it was over 600 they stopped.

[julie216]

dharmachick, Welcome & congrats...no experience with OHSS, but just wanted to welcome you!

[ginnyjones82]

Welcome and Congrats! No advice to give, but I'm with ya on the IF brain!!!

[bluefairy5]

Yay! Hi!

Let's run a cohort study to see whether being an enduring LOST fan elevates one's risk of OHSS. There might be something here. (Desmond + Penny 4eva)

As my symptoms have started to improve due to taking cabergoline (I am down 5 lbs. of fluid! w00t! 4 more to go!), I've also had the same worries/thoughts. Our OHSS bouts started near the same times, and my RE seemed to be surprised mine wasn't resolving a little more quickly even with beta #3 of 1558 (hence the cabergoline). So I get the sense that they don't really correlate resolution of OHSS symptoms with any negative implications for the pregnancy. I imagine they'll recheck your P4 tomorrow (mine's also sky-high right now), but you can always ask them just to put your mind at ease. That is, to answer another of your questions, the only reason I ended up with a beta #3: to make me feel better. My RE's office usually doesn't run them for >66% doubling.

[dharmachick]

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone! I don't think that I have any b/w scheduled, but I'll ask my RE tomorrow about checking HCG and progesterone, if only to settle my nerves.

Mar 2, 2015 15:23:09 GMT -5 @ketchup said:

Enjoy an RE visit without bw for once

Haha, good point! Between the b/w and the IVs for OHSS, my arms are so bruised up that hubby is calling me his little junkie. They are running out of veins to use.
I think I've gotten so accustomed to the b/w that I'm almost insulted that they don't want more of my blood! (Ok, it's more about the reassurance of seeing the numbers.)

Congrats on the improvement, bluefairy5, and thanks for the info! It sounds like we are on a similar track with ditching the extra fluid. It's funny how excited I am to be peeing regularly again.
Also, you might be onto something - Desmond was my favorite, too!!

[bluefairy5]

Mar 2, 2015 17:53:31 GMT -5 dharmachick said:

It's funny how excited I am to be peeing regularly again.

YEP.  "It's 3am and I have to pee rightthissecondnow!  I just peed at 12am!  AWESOME!"

GL tomorrow. Even if they don't run bloods, I'm sure they can talk you through why there's likely not a need. (I tend to be of the school of thought that they want to succeed as much as we do, so usually if there's reason to check something, they'll check it.)

[katemonster]

Congrats and welcome!

[purpledaisy923]

Congrats and welcome!

[dharmachick]

OHSS is on its way out! I am down another 3lbs today, and an ultrasound showed a lot less fluid.
The RE said that my bloated belly (as my ovaries are still HUGE) will likely stick around. In her words, I will likely look 12 weeks pregnant until I'm actually 12 weeks pregnant. My lungs may also take some time to recover but are on the mend. Otherwise, I'm feeling a LOT better, and will try to go into work for a little while tomorrow, and hopefully a full day on Thurs and Fri.

[DrHooch]

So glad to hear this update!

[alaskadee]

***lurking in****
dharmachick! I missed this! How exciting. Congrats buddy
***lurking out***

[bluefairy5]

Glad to hear the update dharmachick! I know you'd think moderate-severe OHSS would have negative implications for early pregnancy, but shockingly enough, it seems to have no bearing whatsoever. Who knew?

[hbanana18]

Great beta!!! Glad OHSS is on it's way out!

[dharmachick]

Thanks again, ladies! I went back into the office today, which was a little ambitious with all of the walking I do as part of my commute, but I'm feeling okay.