33 and ready to give up (secondary)

[Anonymous]

Why aren't you doing a mini IVF like last time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:don't give up. you're only 33. If you pull out of shared risk presumably they will refund everything? Including PGS?
Here is what I would do - at the end of the cycle request your records and do a few consults outside of SG - GW, CFA, Cornell. You might need to run extra tests. What are your numbers? FSH, AMH, etc? Are you officially DOR?

Another thing to consider - high dosages are not for everyone. They can actually affect egg quality (Menopur and Ganilerix/Cetrotide).

I know this sucks, but you need to start reading up and understanding the protocols and what is what in the process. Unless you have easy success (like you had with your first child) doing 2nd, 3rd and so on cycles will involve advocating for yourself, understanding the metrics and questioning the proposed course of action.

If I pull out, all SG fees will be reimbursed. We did also have to pay an outside lab for PGS ($4000 for up to 8 or 12 embryos -- we have only sent one) and this would not be reimbursed. If we leave SG, I would want to make it worth my trouble and go to Cornell but DW is understandably very concerned about the OOP cost. We might be able to get local coverage soon, but even that is up in the air.

As far as testing goes, I could probably use updated day 3 testing. It's been almost two years, as far as I know, since the last tests were done and my FSH was at 9 (it's been higher before) and AMH was at .5 -- no other tests have been done. My chart at SG still says unexplained, so not officially DOR, but it looks like I'm headed there very fast.

I know a lot of you have been through far worse. The 2nd tri loss we had earlier this year just about killed me, so I've been pretty shaky since. That happened in January/February, and I don't think that will really change. We are also down to 3 vials of sperm, and that's putting a lot of pressure on things. As of now, we aren't interested in changing donors (ours is a known one with little to no possibility of obtaining more vials). Long story there.

Thanks again, everyone. I am trying hard to keep things in perspective.

Wait, you did a cycle this past May (the abysmal one) but your day 3 testing is 2 years old? This is not possible. There is always a baseline before you start the stims, which includes ultrasound and day 3 bloodwork. Get your records. They list your result and the normal reference range. You need to be aggressive with other testing as well, see a regular endocrinologist for thyroid function testing, etc. Also, is the sperm frozen? Are you doing ICSI or regular fertilization?

I wasn't aware that FSH/AMH was tested when during baseline testing for an IVF cycle. Shady Grove only ever gives me E2 and progesterone levels. I've already requested my records so I should be able to look at everything soon. No one has ever suggested any thyroid testing but I'm going to ask for it before any subsequent cycles.

The sperm is frozen and we always have done ICSI.

The day 3 bloodwork was done only during the diagnostic testing phase. During the cycles the baseline tests included only ultrasound, estrogen etc. I monitor my thyroid on my own with my PCP. SG has never tested thyroid for me. OP, if you have t already get your thyroid tested at least by your regular physician

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why aren't you doing a mini IVF like last time?

We looked into going back to the same clinic and doing mini, but it wasn't any less expensive and both Shady Grove and CFA recommended regular IVF (we consulted with 3 clinics before trying for #2). Finally, the lure of Shared Risk is what got us. We liked the guarantee of reimbursement if we ended up with no baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op I really feel for you. This is a very hard journey and everyone goes through it differently.

So I say this with love and respect for your journey: but you need to get a lot more knowledgable about this process and the protocols available to you. It's nice to feel like you can just leave everything up to your doctor, but there is too much on the line with IF not to be your own educated advocate. There are a lot of really knowledgable women on here and loads of information online that should really help you understand what tests are needed, etc.

I appreciate your honesty. I do nothing but research in my spare time and troll the DCUM IF board, but there is ultimately only so much I can wrap my head around. I was the one who recommended the estrogen priming when my Dr wanted to follow the exact same protocol as before. I suggested a dual trigger to help with egg maturity and he is open to letting me go this route as well. I'm not just sitting back and following orders blindly. I'll admit there is more I wish I understood, but I am constantly learning and I try to be my own advocate but have to bear in mind that at the end of the day, the Dr simply knows more than me so I can't completely discount his advice/suggestions.

[Anonymous]

This doesn't seem right that they don't do Day 3 testing? I've done three IUIs and three IVF cycles and each one started with Day 3 blood work on FSH, LH, progesterone and estradiol.

RE tested AMH at the beginning, but not again. It's a pricey test. New RE retested when I recently switched clinics.