GKU IF informal check-in 3/28

[wannabmama]

Mar 31, 2016 10:59:11 GMT -5 ohinvrtedworld said:

Mar 31, 2016 10:50:53 GMT -5 wannabmama said:

@ohinvertedworld I needed it for my insurance, but I'm guessing that is an insurance-specific thing. I'd call your insurance company and ask (it probably is a way for them to monitor that you've been trying for the required time period, etc.)

Gotcha. Calling them in general is probably a thing I should do anyway but this is definitely something I will want to know! Thanks

My RE gave us a helpful "questions to ask your insurance about fertility coverage" I'll see if I can find it and post a pic (if tapatalk ever lets me post pics again). Or you might be able to google something like it.

[ceejay]

ohinvrtedworld - As others have said, I think the only time you NEED a referral is if your insurance requires it. My insurance didn't require that, so I did my own research and picked the RE I wanted to see. Many OB-GYNs are familiar with REs in the area, so you could also ask for a referral/recommendation if you aren't sure which RE to pick. My OB-GYN was ready to recommend an RE at my recent annual until I told her we had picked one ourselves and had been seeing them since October...


ETA - My insurance DID require "pre-approval" for infertility related charges, which basically meant a statement from the RE that we had been TTC for over 1 year without success. So it's important to see what your insurance requires for infertility coverage.

[cateyes]

Mar 31, 2016 9:43:43 GMT -5 easilyunamused said:

I also get cd3 testing done for the IUIs

Finally got my IUI done today. Post wash was only 10 million. That seemed low to me, but they said they only require 5 million. Is this normal?

It is interesting to see what all these other clinics do across the country.

We had a count once of 3 million and she said it was possible. I guess new research is saying anything over 500K is all the same chance of working! FX!!!

[cateyes]

Double post!

[Evelyn3]

achromia, I'm sure they do, I guess I'm nervous.
And 6 weeks before we started, government funded IVF was cut. So I guess part of me feels that they maybe decided things based on the fact "everyone was allowed 3 cycles" so freezing together or not was probably not something that people worried about because they weren't OOP. So maybe their decisions are still based on things like this, but maybe I'm just paranoid and overthinking.

[Evelyn3]

Mar 31, 2016 9:43:43 GMT -5 easilyunamused said:

I also get cd3 testing done for the IUIs

Finally got my IUI done today. Post wash was only 10 million. That seemed low to me, but they said they only require 5 million. Is this normal?

It is interesting to see what all these other clinics do across the country.

I've heard the 5 million thing quite a few times, so seems normal to me

[Evelyn3]

Thanks everyone for input and answers!

They've never tested my LH apparently.
The one time they did CD3 bloodwork they tested FSH and Estradiol.
It was 7.7 and 226 respectively.

Should I request it get done again with LH included?
I guess I have to read up a bit on this now...

[mustloveerica]

Welp...DHs urologist has finally thrown up his hands and said "I dunno". I kind of feel like he blew us off since he only had DH take supplements for 6 months. But none of his numbers has changed. The urologist has not recommended Clomid or anything but just said to consult our RE. Our RE says given our "sperm problems" that IVF is likely our only choice.

I'm almost relieved.

Finally someone has given us an answer.

But I'm also pissed. IVF is expensive. And we knew that...and we've been saving like crazy. But still...I hate the idea of blowing our savings on medical treatment. Question...for those of your OOP, when you pay for your IVF cycles what happens if you don't have enough embies? Are you just out financially? Or have any of you don't the ARC guarantee programs?

So we have to make a consult appointment to go in and discuss the IVF plan.

[Evelyn3]

Apr 2, 2016 5:35:47 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

Welp...DHs urologist has finally thrown up his hands and said "I dunno". I kind of feel like he blew us off since he only had DH take supplements for 6 months. But none of his numbers has changed. The urologist has not recommended Clomid or anything but just said to consult our RE. Our RE says given our "sperm problems" that IVF is likely our only choice.

I'm almost relieved.

Finally someone has given us an answer.

But I'm also pissed. IVF is expensive. And we knew that...and we've been saving like crazy. But still...I hate the idea of blowing our savings on medical treatment. Question...for those of your OOP, when you pay for your IVF cycles what happens if you don't have enough embies? Are you just out financially? Or have any of you don't the ARC guarantee programs?

So we have to make a consult appointment to go in and discuss the IVF plan.

I understand how you feel. I felt almost happy to move on to something else, but so angry we had to spend so much on what is still a gamble and has no guarantees.

Most of the time they can adjust your stims during the process if you have a weak response. If for some reason you really didn't respond well and there really weren't enough, then you can usually cancel before the transfer. You would still have paid meds and some monitoring, but saves you a good chunk. I asked my RE extensively about each stage and what if we had to cancel at each stage, etc. The medication is a big expense though, so rather than start over, if tweaking the meds makes you respond it's a good way to salvage it.

I haven't heard of ARC guarantee cycles, so I'm no help there.

[ohinvrtedworld]

mustloveerica, the ARC guarantee is something like buying multiple cycles and being refunded if none are successful, correct? I guess the gamble with that would be paying for several if it only takes one? I'm so sorry that the most expensive option is the most promising, but if you are happy to at least have steps to consider, that is a relief and I'm glad you got some clarity.

[cateyes]

Apr 2, 2016 5:35:47 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

Welp...DHs urologist has finally thrown up his hands and said "I dunno". I kind of feel like he blew us off since he only had DH take supplements for 6 months. But none of his numbers has changed. The urologist has not recommended Clomid or anything but just said to consult our RE. Our RE says given our "sperm problems" that IVF is likely our only choice.

I'm almost relieved.

Finally someone has given us an answer.

But I'm also pissed. IVF is expensive. And we knew that...and we've been saving like crazy. But still...I hate the idea of blowing our savings on medical treatment. Question...for those of your OOP, when you pay for your IVF cycles what happens if you don't have enough embies? Are you just out financially? Or have any of you don't the ARC guarantee programs?

So we have to make a consult appointment to go in and discuss the IVF plan.

Our clinic has a price tag for everything. So if you do a whole fresh cycle, it's X amount. Then it breaks it down and states how much you get back if it cancelled before ER or before ET. Most clinics, even if you have no embies left over to freeze, you still pay full price.

Then there are packaged deals where you get X amount of cycles and FETs for one discounted price. If you get KU on the first try, you don't get any money back and the RE got the better deal (cause you paid so much). If you take all the cycles and then get KU, you got the better deal. If you don't get KU, the only silver lining is you get a partial or full refund depending on the program.

[aprilz81]

Mar 30, 2016 18:28:38 GMT -5 Evelyn3 said:

Sorry Im no help on that one lilsneezy

Leads me to a question of my own... do most of you get CD3 bloodwork done every month?
Should I be getting it done monthly? (so everytime I do an IUI, or IVF, or FET)

Mine RE doesn't do it for TI cycles.  Not sure about IUI, I'll find out in a few days.  :/