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IVF Thread #4

  1. Winnie13

    kiwi / 501 posts

    @Mrs. Pajamas: So glad to hear the cyst is gone and everything is looking good!! That's great! What is your timeline looking like?
    @MissKabers: 7 embryos! That's great! Hoping for some great testing results!
    @LibbyLou: I'm sorry that you're here. I definitely remember you from the TTC 6 months board. I can say that this is a wonderful and supportive group of women who will answer any questions you have!
    @PointeShoesTutus: That's awesome about your 9!! Sorry you're not feeling so hot! I had a pretty moderate case of OHSS and had to do a "freeze all". It's definitely not fun! Hope you feel better soon! I agree with everything @Amorini says!! Lot's of electrolytes, protein, and sodium!
    @SweetiePie: So glad things are rolling along for you! Hoping you have some nice, healthy follies growing! Can't wait for an update!

    AFM, I have my last u/s & BW scheduled for Wed. Hoping I get the green light and then we are all set for transfer on the 22nd! Can't believe how fast the time goes by! I started my 4 estrogen pills today! I will definitely be a leaky faucet next week!! Lol!

  2. SweetiePie

    honeydew / 7463 posts

    @Winnie13: Good luck on Wednesday! That will be so exciting to FINALLY prep for a transfer!

    I'm on day 3 of stims and go in tomorrow AM for bloodwork and ultrasound. Hoping for some nice progress but trying not to get my hopes up.

  3. SweetiePie

    honeydew / 7463 posts

    Well this morning is day 6 on stims and just got out of my monitoring appointment. Nothing. Like, at all. It's as if I haven't been taking anything. I'm just so upset. I knew it would be more challenging this time but wasn't expecting this.
    He's going to try to change my meds to Menopur only, 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening. Any experience with this? I feel sort of defeated already.

  4. yellowbeach

    nectarine / 2648 posts

    @SweetiePie: oh gosh I am so sorry. I haven't been there myself, but I know that was one of my huge fears. It sounds like your RE has a plan already. Thinking of you

  5. Mrs. Pajamas

    kiwi / 702 posts

    @Winnie13 hope you get the green light today...so exciting!
    @SweetiePie how frustrating! You still have time though and it's great your RE is switching things up. It'll happen...hugs to you

    My transfer got moved up to 9/27 due to our move and everything. So excited! I'm also able to get an early beta since we are going to Italy soon after the transfer. My nurse is nervous if I get a BFP that I will not be around for repeat betas but I'm not. Is that crazy???

  6. SweetiePie

    honeydew / 7463 posts

    @yellowbeach: thank you
    I just emailed my RE to let him know I'm done with my "one round only" BS. Lol. He probably internally rolled his eyes when I first said that.
    I'm wondering if it makes more sense to cancel this round and start again fresh with different meds next cycle. But we'll see what he says.

    I've been on 300iU gonal-f in the morning and 2 vials Menopur in the evening. I was told it was a high dose of meds before I even started. Does that mean this is hopeless???

  7. SweetiePie

    honeydew / 7463 posts

    @Mrs. Pajamas: thank you Wonderful news about the earlier transfer!!! How long will you be in Italy for? Where are you going?
    I also wouldn't be terribly worried about missing repeat betas. Is there any way to go to a lab in Italy if your clinic is REALLY worried?

  8. SweetiePie

    honeydew / 7463 posts

    @Winnie13: good luck today! Praying for the green light! 💚

  9. MissKabers

    olive / 51 posts

    @Winnie13: Good luck today!! The 22nd is coming so fast - YAY!

    @SweetiePie: oh no! I am so sorry to read this. I am glad that your RE has a plan already in place - when do you go in for monitoring next? ....oooh, just saw your last reply. I wonder what your doctor will say re: stopping and restarting or to keep going. I think we this news it makes a lot of sense to change your mind about the "one and done" I'll be thinking of you!

    @Mrs. Pajamas: how exciting! less than 2 weeks to transfer day! when are you headed to Italy? I SO want to plan a trip there and am trying to figure out if we could swing it in early spring.

    As for us, we got our test results back last night. We've got 3 fabulous looking embryos! (Crazy from 27 eggs, but looking on the positive and thinking that I am very happy we did the testing since there were 4 out of the 7 that "didn't make it" and those could have been the first 4 we tried to transfer). Meds arrived Monday so now we are just waiting for her AF to arrive and we'll be on the road to transfer day!

  10. Mrs. Pajamas

    kiwi / 702 posts

    @Misskabers huge congrats on 3 good embryos!! That is HUGE news. Transfer day will be here before you know it!

    We will likely be in Italy for about 10 days. We still haven't bought plane tickets with so much up in the air with the move and the FET but we've been planning to go around this timeframe for a while since it'll be just before DD turns 2 (and we can still get away with her being a lap infant). Plus now that we are moving to CA, it'll be way harder to travel to Europe. We're thinking Tuscany/Amalfi coast--renting an airbnb and just exploring. Any advice? We've done Rome and Sicily in the past but want to do something different plus we'll have our toddler with us this time.

    The only concern for repeat betas is that plateauing HCG would indicate an ectopic pregnancy. Obviously this is super scary and something we want to avoid but the risk si super low and I keep going back to the fact that if we were not doing IVF there would not be repeat betas to freak us out. So I'm hoping for the best on many levels and just focusing on relaxing the next several weeks before Italy and the MOVE.

  11. momazon

    kiwi / 613 posts

    @SweetiePie: I'm so sorry about the lack of progress - that's so frustrating! No specific experience/advice to share, just wanted to send along some good luck vibes!!!!! Hopefully the additional meds will give you the boost you need!!

  12. SweetiePie

    honeydew / 7463 posts

    @momazon: @MissKabers: thank you for the kind words.
    I emailed my doc this morning and told him that he shouldn't consider this being my only round into the equation. I'm going to trust him to make the right decisions for us, including canceling the cycle or changing meds midcycle. He replied quickly and said that he is concerned with my lack of response but isn't ready to call it quits yet. He wants to give it a couple more days and then make a judgement call. Still waiting on bloods to decide about meds.
    He also just said some encouraging stuff about always being able to email him directly and that's what he's here for. I had been nervous to email him thinking he was too busy and that's what his staff is here for. So it was nice to hear him say he's here for me to ask questions or reassure or whatever.
    I'm still disappointed but since it's had a few hours to sink in I feel like whatever will be will be. If it doesn't work after a few rounds then I know I tried but it's not in the cards. If it works then of course I'll be overjoyed. One step at a time.

    Has anyone else just not responded at all in one cycle/protocol or very very poorly, then changed things up and it was totally different? I know things can vary cycle to cycle and different meds can make a difference. But I haven't read here (so far) about NO response, just poor response.

  13. mrswin

    nectarine / 2433 posts

    @SweetiePie: Lurking...but I wanted to let you know that one of the girls I know IRL did a cycle and had no response at all. She ended up being over supressed. The next cycle she did and estrogen priming protocol and had a much better response. Is this cycle a different protocol from last time? Did they ever figure out you prolactin issue?

  14. SweetiePie

    honeydew / 7463 posts

    @mrswin: Thank you for commenting I'm glad to hear that your friend had luck with a different protocol!

    So from what I remember, I was on the same meds last time but a lower dosage. That was 3 years ago this November.
    I don't remember being on BCP primer last time, that's the only thing that really feels different.

    As for the prolactin, they explained to me that they couldn't do much else (insurance reasons) without putting me on cabergoline first. So I'm on that for another week. Then they will check my prolactin levels again and if it's the same or higher, that's when they order an MRI to look for a tumor. But, the nurse did a pretty good job of making me feel like the cabergoline will work.
    But I'm glad you asked this, it reminds me to ask my RE if that could have anything to do with it. I also have "new" diagnosis of hypothyroidism which I didn't have last time. I know it can cause miscarriage but I wonder if it can have other impacts on fertility (admittedly I know very little about causes of infertility in the more "traditional" sense because that wasn't why I initially did IVF. I'm doing it for the PGD - so I feel really uninformed and kind of like a dummy for just assuming that everything would be fine and the same as last time).

  15. Winnie13

    kiwi / 501 posts

    @SweetiePie: I'm so sorry you're having to go through this. Your doctor sounds absolutely wonderful though! It sounds like you are in good hands! I am Hypothyroid and if it is left untreated it can affect ovulation, implantation, miscarriage, etc. It's total fertility sabotage! The fabulous news is if medicated properly, it should have no effect on your fertility at all. Have you had your levels checked since you first were diagnosed? I am praying you and your doctor come to a decision in the next couple of days! Hoping you aren't cancelled!

    @Mrs. Pajamas: That's wonderful about your transfer date!! We will be about a week a part! How exciting about Italy! That will be so much fun! That is crazy that the nurse thought you would stop coming... there is no way I could do that.. I need to see that number doubling!!

    @MissKabers: Wow! 3 embryos is wonderful news!! So happy to hear that!

    AFM, my apt. went great! Thank you all for the well wishes!! My lining looks great and my blood work matches up perfectly! We are all set for transfer! So excited!

  16. SweetiePie

    honeydew / 7463 posts

    @Winnie13: thanks, friend. So happy for your transfer 😊

    I haven't had my tsh checked since they first found it. I should add it was only slightly elevated and the dose of synthroid I'm on is very low. They said it was pretty much a nonissue as long as I was taking the synthroid. They found it in my day 3 bloodwork, about a month ago. So I've been on synthroid for 3-4 weeks.
    Although they told me it wouldn't impact anything, of course now my mind is racing.

    I heard back from my RE and I'm doing 3 vials of Menopur tonight and 4 tomorrow morning. They will call me again with the rest of the plan. I'll probably go back in on Friday morning for monitoring.

  17. LibbyLou

    kiwi / 739 posts

    @SweetiePie: haven't been there yet so no advice, but keep us posted. Your doc sounds awesome, though!

    Afm: just left our RE appointment and went over ins and outs of IVF. Have to finish this cycle and then we will monitor a round and start STIMS the following cycle (Nov). Got my list of meds and now sourcing meds out. A couple questions:

    He told me roughly how long I would be in meds in the 9-11 day range. Do you order for the high side? Or low side and overnight if you'll need it?
    And he mentioned the Gonal f overfill. Like I should order less and use overfill to supplement. Is this common practice? I wanted to start getting pricing quotes since it's all out of pocket.
    Thanks all!

  18. SweetiePie

    honeydew / 7463 posts

    @LibbyLou: I am a worrier so I have ordered the higher side. It would stress me out to know I had the lower end and I had to closely monitor what I had left. BUT meds is about the only thing my insurance does cover (I only paid like $150 out of pocket for ALL of my meds). If I had to pay full price out of pocket, I might consider ordering maybe in the middle (10 days) and monitor my stash closely.
    Also, as I'm learning now, there's always a chance that you'll need more of one thing and not need another. I now have like 3 more pens of gonal-f I may not use but I'm on a ton more of Menopur so I'll probably have to overnight more of that (if I don't get canceled). So maybe that is another argument for ordering conservatively since you don't know how it will go.
    As for the overfill, that is something I hadn't heard of till now! My office has never mentioned that, and I think it would sorta make me nervous? But again, if it saves a decent amount out of pocket I would do it. Maybe ask the pharmacists at the places you call?

    I get my meds from Freedom Fertility and I find them to be very helpful (both the sales folks and the pharmacists they have on staff that you can call with questions).

  19. momazon

    kiwi / 613 posts

    @LibbyLou: I was out of pocket too and always ordered on the low side (after my first cycle, when I ordered the full prescription my nurse called in and ended up with over a thousand dollars in leftover meds.) You can always get more overnighted! Good luck!

    Oh, and yes, use of the overfill is very common.

  20. PurplePumps

    pomegranate / 3809 posts

    @LibbyLou: I would order on the low side and overnight anything more you need. You should be able to get a good idea before the very last drop if you will be needing more and having at 2-3 days to get more if needed. Yes... overfill is a thing. Tell your doctor to order you 300 iu pens instead of 900iu pens. They both come with about 125 iu overfill... so 3x300 iu pens you get almost 400iu in "free" overfill vs just 125iu overfill with 1 900iu pen and the cost is the same. My dose was 187.5 gonal/night, so I was able to get 6 doses out of my 3 300iu pens, where as my 900iu pen, I only got 5 doses out of.

  21. LibbyLou

    kiwi / 739 posts

    @SweetiePie: really good advice, thank you! I know the overfill makes me nervous too but the re said that can save a lot of money! Lots to figure out- I'm glad I have a little time still.

  22. Mrs. Pajamas

    kiwi / 702 posts

    @Purplepumps You disappeared! What's your timeline like? How are you?

  23. NorthStar

    pear / 1881 posts

    @LibbyLou: I agree with everything @PurplePumps: said about the overfill. Freedom Fertility is the best pricing for some meds and Winfertility is the best for others. Maybe see if you can do a search for my posts regarding it (as I know that I had some long ones about this particular issue). I called around to a ton of places and they had the best prices. I ended up splitting my prescription between the two places to get the lowest overall price (this is if you have to pay out of pocket for everything). I'll see if I can find my posts and link here.

    Also, I would order 10 days worth of meds. Both of these places will overnight for free, so as long as you have enough to get you through until delivery (depending upon when your injections are), you should be fine. Your RE might also be able to supplement a dose with free samples that they have (they did that for me several times)

  24. NorthStar

    pear / 1881 posts

    Check out this thread, but I know there are other places where it is noted about pricing and best place to buy:

    http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/medication-costs-help#post-2135452

    Also, from what I remember, Winfertility had the best pricing for follistim, menopur and ganirelex. Freedom had the best pricing for everything else. Also, gonal F and follistim are interchangeable (they are the same thing), so make sure your RE includes in your prescription the choice of either. That way, you can choose whichever you can get for the cheapest (and definitely do the 300IU pens).

  25. NorthStar

    pear / 1881 posts

    @LibbyLou: The overfill seriously saved me over $1,000. Instead of 10 pens, I bought like 6 or 7. It was crazy. So many women don't know about that..you will have to give yourself more injections, but think of all the money you could save

  26. LibbyLou

    kiwi / 739 posts

    @NorthStar: so crazy! The extra injections are definitely worth that. Thank you for all the awesome resources 😘
    @purplepumps @momazon perfect, low side it is. Thank you all so much! ❤

  27. NorthStar

    pear / 1881 posts

    @LibbyLou: You are totally welcome! It was unbelievable how much time I spent researching this particular issue (and calling around everywhere!). MDR is another pharmacy that might be worth checking out as I think their pricing is similar to Freedom. Also, look for rebates or coupons that you might be able to use. for example, endometrin has a $50 off per box coupon out there that you can use every 2 weeks. So, if you order one box now and another box in 2 weeks, you could save $100. There was a follistim coupon out there, but I'm not sure if it still is. I didn't qualify to use it. I don't believe Winfertility takes coupons, so I typically ordered my endometrium from Freedom so that they would apply that coupon. I seriously had to make a chart of all this stuff. lol

  28. LibbyLou

    kiwi / 739 posts

    @NorthStar: I started a spreadsheet last night! Lol

  29. yellowbeach

    nectarine / 2648 posts

    This med discussion is really interesting. Do most clinics have you order your own meds, or did y'all do that because it was cheaper than whatever pharmacy your RE usually worked with?

    My RE had a relationship with one pharmacy located onsite at his office complex. I think I paid ~$450 for my Gonal-F, 3 ganirelix, one ovidrel and 30 days of vaginal progesterone. I had to pay an additional $320 for more progesterone to use during the first 10 weeks of this pregnancy. Just for comparison.

  30. SweetiePie

    honeydew / 7463 posts

    @PurplePumps: that is SO interesting about the 300 vs 900 pens! I was doing 300iu per day up until today, so I could have had a ton of pens with free overfill. I'll remember that for next time.

    Does anyone know what the rules are about giving away meds? If I end up with 3-4 900iU pens that I'll never use, am I allowed to give them to someone?
    ETA: I don't know why my brain failed me there, I only have 2 pens left over. Lol.

  31. SweetiePie

    honeydew / 7463 posts

    @yellowbeach: Mine has a relationship and they place the actual order for you. But you are of course allowed to place it yourself wherever you want. I would have done that and comparison shopped if my insurance didn't cover it.

  32. NorthStar

    pear / 1881 posts

    @yellowbeach: My clinic gave us a prescription and a few ideas of where to call around. But, these did not include pharmacies that were actually cheaper. If I wouldn't have called around, it would have easily paid $2,000 more.

    The pricing that you paid is insanely low! Did you have any insurance coverage? Mine was completely OOP. I think that I paid close to $2,500 my first cycle and $1,500 my second cycle (but only because I received $2,500 in donated meds from two ladies, so I would have paid close to $4,000 for meds alone). These cycles were both stim cycles.

  33. NorthStar

    pear / 1881 posts

    @SweetiePie: yeah, you should be able to give them away. See my prior post as I received $2,500 in donated meds my 2nd stim cycle. It was invaluable. It's just illegal to sell meds.

  34. yellowbeach

    nectarine / 2648 posts

    @NorthStar: insurance covered my RE's office and procedural time ($4200) but not meds, anesthesia for retrieval or any of the Embryologists/IVF center costs. Those were all tolled, around $17,500. That included 1 retrieval cycle up to 6 transfers, with a guarantee you have a live baby at the end, or you get a $12,000 refund. We of course got our on our fresh transfer, so no money back - but I'll definitely take it!

  35. SweetiePie

    honeydew / 7463 posts

    @NorthStar: ooookay so I can give them to someone but I can't accept money for them. Good to know! I wouldn't want money for them anyway since what I paid was so nominal.

  36. PurplePumps

    pomegranate / 3809 posts

    @Mrs. Pajamas: Hi! Yah, I've been lurking, but was trying to get my head out of obsessing over this IF crap while I was waiting for my FET. I'm about a week and a half from a possible transfer now. Going in tomorrow for a check to see how the linings doing...

  37. MissKabers

    olive / 51 posts

    we might have meds that we would be able to give to someone if they need/want them. I am assuming if we need another stim cycle they'll just give us more prescriptions and since our insurance is at least covering most of that part - I'd love to pass them on to someone who might need them. I can take an inventory tonight of what hasn't been opened tonight.

  38. Mrs. Pajamas

    kiwi / 702 posts

    @Purplepumps that's great news! My transfer is coming up super soon too--9/27. @Winnie13 is a few days before me so we'll all be sweating out the 2ww together. Hope all goes well with your lining check. How are you feeling?

  39. PurplePumps

    pomegranate / 3809 posts

    @Mrs. Pajamas: Wow, looks like it! It's going to be a long 2 week.. well 7-9 days. Physically I'm all good, none of these meds ever really effect me. Emotionally.. ugh, scared.
    What's your FET protocol like?

  40. Mrs. Pajamas

    kiwi / 702 posts

    @Purplepumps. My FET has been a little wonky this time. I was originally scheduled for a transfer 9/7 but I had a cyst that was emitting estrogen so everything got pushed off (not sure if you have been following along--I shared this previously). So I was on BCP almost 2 months ago. Since the cyst they induced ovulation with ovidrel to get rid of my cyst, then I got AF 10 days later and did baseline monitoring at CD3. I started estrogen shots (every 3 days) shortly after. I go in for lining check on 9/22 and start PIO the next day, then FET 9/27. That's the plan at least.
    Is yours similar?

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