Anonymous
Post 05/26/2016 08:26     Subject: My Appt (2nd opinion) with Dr. Abassi
Can someone interpret the pricing for this: http://www.preventmiscarriage.com/documents/Patient-Domestic-Package-2015-new.pdf

Does an IVF cycle cost $3000? Is that possible? I realize there are other add-ons, but honestly, SGF charges like $12,000...so...it's a deal???
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2016 08:01     Subject: My Appt (2nd opinion) with Dr. Abassi
I don't think Abassi can insist you transfer your embryos; she just doesn't want to be dealing with another clinic for active treatment. So you could tell SGF you need a break for a while, pay storage fees, work with Abassi and then decide later if you want to try another IVF or transfer the embies you have to try at Columbia. Or just go back to SGF.
Anonymous
Post 05/26/2016 07:07     Subject: My Appt (2nd opinion) with Dr. Abassi
This is exactly why I said Dr. Braverman has the best handle on what it takes for successful implantation and placental development (PP in another thread). His level of understanding WHY is important to the process. Most places are throwing darts trying to find a treatment that works, and he's trying to understand why a treatment works for some patients and not others. We spent a lot of time guessing and trying things and maybe it eventually comes down to that, but personally I would not feel comfortable gambling with embryos. I would believe him, but I also have 3 Braverman babies so I'm biased.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2016 20:38     Subject: My Appt (2nd opinion) with Dr. Abassi
I'm sorry, OP. That's beyond frustrating, to get completely different advice from different doctors. Who are you supposed to believe? I think at this point you have to decide what you have the energy and funds to do, and then pick the option you feel most confident about. And don't look back! I will be thinking about you and wishing you well.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2016 17:16     Subject: Re:My Appt (2nd opinion) with Dr. Abassi
Anonymous wrote:He says it's all about the mitochondria... Pgs shows nothing about this, at last nine didn't. Abassi said some pgs reports can show this. We did ours with FEC, and she never even heard of them. So endo intefers with mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell. If it's comprimised with endo there's not much you can do. Not sure if he's against pgs in general or just with endo...


Geez. It seems like the more I learn about fertility issues the more crazy it gets. Sometimes I wonder if it is all worth it (for me). And I haven't even done anything crazy yet. DH is pretty against adoption though so if we want another child I will have to resign myself to learning way more about this stuff than I ever wanted to.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2016 17:14     Subject: My Appt (2nd opinion) with Dr. Abassi
OP, i faced that decision and switched. I do not have immune issues or endo. Just unexplained failures from several fresh cycles. I didn't have success with SG or with Abbasi. I like her, but CFA SART stats are very low. So switching to her is not a panacea. I had a consult with Davis in Cornell. He confirmed everything I already know and recommended adding clomid to the protocol and transferring up to 6 of 3day embryos.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2016 17:08     Subject: Re:My Appt (2nd opinion) with Dr. Abassi
He says it's all about the mitochondria... Pgs shows nothing about this, at last nine didn't. Abassi said some pgs reports can show this. We did ours with FEC, and she never even heard of them. So endo intefers with mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell. If it's comprimised with endo there's not much you can do. Not sure if he's against pgs in general or just with endo...
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2016 17:02     Subject: My Appt (2nd opinion) with Dr. Abassi
Anonymous wrote:OP here... I consulted with Braverman today as well (phone consult) for endo and he basically says pgs is a waste and sgf recommending ERA is a waste too--he says they never work with him and don't want to listen to literature about immune issues. He also says the embryos we have in storage are probably not good... So he recommends another lap, get endo under control and then go from there. I'm on the fence about doing another ivf... I don't want to... But then why go through with it at all if he says odds of the embryos we have aren't gonna result in a baby? Everyone has something different to say... And surprise, surprise, haven't heard back from SGF.[/quote

Ugh, what a pain. Did he say why PGS is a waste of time? I thought the idea was that you wanted to make sure you're starting with a normal embryo to give the best chance?
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2016 16:51     Subject: My Appt (2nd opinion) with Dr. Abassi
OP here... I consulted with Braverman today as well (phone consult) for endo and he basically says pgs is a waste and sgf recommending ERA is a waste too--he says they never work with him and don't want to listen to literature about immune issues. He also says the embryos we have in storage are probably not good... So he recommends another lap, get endo under control and then go from there. I'm on the fence about doing another ivf... I don't want to... But then why go through with it at all if he says odds of the embryos we have aren't gonna result in a baby? Everyone has something different to say... And surprise, surprise, haven't heard back from SGF.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2016 15:16     Subject: My Appt (2nd opinion) with Dr. Abassi
We did not have any immune issues but consulted w/SGF and Abbasi, ultimately went w/Abbasi. We thought everything would be smooth sailing for us as there were no known fertility issues but ended up running into some weird genetic blood clotting issues we didn't know about.

Dr. Abbasi worked with us in a way that I don't think SGF would have and after 3 years I'm 8 months pregnant. It was a rough ride but Abbasi really worked with us.

I wish you the best with this tough decision!
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2016 15:09     Subject: Re:My Appt (2nd opinion) with Dr. Abassi
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I've been a patient with both SGF and currently Dr. Abassi. We to have had multiple early chemicals and an ruptured ectopic. I had the same experience with SGF. I can get PG very easy but can't stay PG. IVF was pushed as the only option. Nothing was explored. I'm a huge believer in the Immune issues from my research. I also was tested by Abassi for MTHFR (I'm compound Hetero), 4g/4g PAI blood clotting genetic issues (homo-2 copies for this one) and have very low Vitamin D (19). These were things that were never tested before with several other doctors and specialists including SGF.

I didn't have the hassle of transferring embryos etc so I can't help there. But I Think SGF is very good at traditional cases - MFI, no ovulation etc. But with my history and repeat losses and ectopic they didn't have anything to offer beyond the standard treatment. I didn't need IVF to get pregnant, I did that on my own.


12:43 here (the PP) -- this sounds like me. Easily get pregnant on my own but have had 3 miscarriages in 10 months, most recent being a suspected ectopic. (First pregnancy in 2013 was successful but the next 3 have all ended at earlier and earlier stages.) Shady Grove said just keep trying, you'll get a good egg eventually. Also said I do not have PCOS despite irregular cycles, high AMH, and high antral follicle count -- but no hormone issues. Dr. Abbasi suspects PCOS and possible immune/clotting issues.

Did you ultimately have success with Dr. Abbasi?


I'm under her care now. We just did the Beers blood and awaiting the results. Hoping for success this year!
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2016 14:10     Subject: My Appt (2nd opinion) with Dr. Abassi
Also, DEFINITELY transfer one at a time. You are exhausted and beaten down and frustrated right now, and that's completely understandable. But if you believe something about the uterine environmwnt is making your embryos not stick, do not put your last two back on the same shot. If you do one at a time, you have two chances to make a better environment. If you do two and the environment isn't ideal, you're out of chances.

If switching to CFA feels like too big of a task right now, you can do the second ERA plus thrombo-whatever at SG and transfer one. Then take a break until you feel better, and take that one embryo to CFA.

Good luck!
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2016 14:05     Subject: My Appt (2nd opinion) with Dr. Abassi
OP -- Before you decide SG versus CFA, have SG re-test you with ERA to see if you just need one more day. If you want to re-test, ask them to re-test even though that's not the standard. I found SG was willing to do a lot things I asked for (not including immune protocol) even though it wasn't their preference.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2016 13:45     Subject: Re:My Appt (2nd opinion) with Dr. Abassi
I am a SGF refugee that went to Abbasi for immune issues. I am grateful for this thread because my 9 month old twins from Abbasi (first FET I did with her) are really cranky today because they are teething and I am exhausted. However, I did a full immune protocol with her....and it is not snake oil. My bf has her phd in biomedical sciences and is a bio prof and she actually uses IF immune issues as a point of discussion when she teaches immunology. I think she does it because of me.
Anonymous
Post 05/25/2016 13:24     Subject: My Appt (2nd opinion) with Dr. Abassi
OP here, 13:12,i agree with you about SGF. They definitely have their wheelhouse of things they're good at, but immune issues and endo isn't one of them. I wanted to believe in them, but it's hard to anymore. Have you had luck with abassi?