My AMH level is back - finally!
It is 1.29
According to my RE:
Normal AMH is >1.5
Between 1 and 1.5 is OK.
Less than 1 is very worrisome & more likely will result in a lower pregnancy rate.
So my AMH isn't bad but it's not normal either. My entire IVF calendar was being based on that lab result so since I am in the "ok" range, the dates on the calendar still stand:
12/20 - start Estrogen priming protocol
2/14 - begin Provera
2/20 - take last Estradiol & Provera tablets
2/24 - start birth control pills, aspirin & dexamethasone
3/9 - "suppression check" appt
3/11 - start microdose Lupron shots
3/13 - start stimulation shots
3/24 - tentative egg retrieval
3/29 - tentative embryo transfer
Looking forward to getting the ball rolling! Here's hoping the month of Jan & Feb fly by!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Happy Holidays
LOL - I saw this picture & cracked up so I just had to post it :)
For those of you who aren't familiar with what the pic is, it is an X-ray from an HSG procedure. Something that those of us who suffer with IF has done at one time or another. Actually, I am having one done in a couple of weeks.
Oh joy - I can hardly wait to get to lie on yet another exam table with my legs put into stirrups yet again & have a speculum shoved into my "hoo hoo" while a catheter is pushed through my cervix, contrast is injected into my uterus & x-ray's are taken. Sounds awesome doesn't it?? And when it is all done I get to lay there on the exam table until I have recovered from the severe cramping caused by the contrast swirling around in my uterus & fallopian tubes. Wow - I can hardly contain my excitement to get this fabulous procedure done!!!
All humor aside, I did just want to take a minute to wish all of you who read & follow this blog a very Merry Christmas & here's hoping we ALL get our BFP's in the New Year! Thanks to you all for the kind comments & words of encouragement that I have received on this blog throughout the year as well as on www.thebump.com! You ladies are awesome & I wish you nothing but the best in 2011 :)
Monday, December 20, 2010
Ready, set, go...
It hasn't even been a week since my 2nd opinion visit with a new RE & I am WAY impressed already. These people mean business & don't mess around which is making me feel really optimistic for our upcoming IVF cycle.
In just 5 days, I have had 4 emails sent to me by my RE's Nurse Practitioner re: upcoming labwork, appts & what is planned for our next IVF. Today I went & had my CD 4 labwork drawn for FSH, Estradiol & AMH which showed FSH: 9.4 (8 or less is normal, 9-11 fair) & Estradiol: 20 (50 or less is normal). We are awaiting the AMH results which should be in by Thursday. My RE would like to see that result greater than 1.5 so I am crossing my fingers it comes back where she wants it. My entire IVF protocol is based around that result so I am hoping it is good.
I was also told today that my RE wants to do an "estrogen priming protocol" before I start suppression meds - hence starting the Estradiol today. She said taking the extra estrogen helps make sure that all of my hormone receptors are "awake & ready" to respond to the stimulation medication when it is time which she said might help them get more eggs!?
In just 5 days, I have had 4 emails sent to me by my RE's Nurse Practitioner re: upcoming labwork, appts & what is planned for our next IVF. Today I went & had my CD 4 labwork drawn for FSH, Estradiol & AMH which showed FSH: 9.4 (8 or less is normal, 9-11 fair) & Estradiol: 20 (50 or less is normal). We are awaiting the AMH results which should be in by Thursday. My RE would like to see that result greater than 1.5 so I am crossing my fingers it comes back where she wants it. My entire IVF protocol is based around that result so I am hoping it is good.
Today I received via email a tentative IVF calendar for our next cycle (depending on AMH results), was scheduled for an HSG test (which I'm not sure how I have gotten this far in the game without one?!) & was given a list of what OTC meds I need to start taking now (prenatal/multi-vitamin, DHEA). She also told me to start taking Estradiol today so I stopped by the pharmacy to pick up my prescription. So - I guess our IVF cycle is getting underway.
I was also told today that my RE wants to do an "estrogen priming protocol" before I start suppression meds - hence starting the Estradiol today. She said taking the extra estrogen helps make sure that all of my hormone receptors are "awake & ready" to respond to the stimulation medication when it is time which she said might help them get more eggs!?
All I know is that I have to take it for 6 weeks, will take Provera for 1 week during the last week of Estradiol & then I start BCP/Lupron for 2 weeks so we are looking at mid-March for stims & end of March for egg retrieval/transfer. It seems so far away but I'm sure the time will go by quickly! It is kind of a bummer I have to take the estrogen for so long before we get started but if it helps us get more eggs than I can wait!
Here. We. Go.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
2nd opinion
This morning we had an appointment with a new Fertility Clinic for a 2nd opinion & to discuss our options & any changes that might be made to our upcoming 2nd IVF cycle.
When we got there, we were taken into a consult room to go over both our history & last IVF cycle. We also went over how they do IVF at their clinic, what they wanted to do differently with my next cycle, we talked to the financial advisor to go over cost & then we got to meet & visit with the RE.
She was very honest, straight-forward & open with us about her thoughts on our next cycle which kind of bothered me at first but after thinking about it, it is what it is & there is no sugar coating the facts. I am 38 yo, my FSH levels are borderline average, I haven't responded well to ovulation induction meds in the past & we have a 35% chance that IVF #2 is going to work (according to their statistics for someone my age). Doesn't give us a lot of hope after you lay it all out there like that but like I said - it is what it is.
I think she sensed the disappointed look on my face after she went over all the statistics with us because she then told us that she wasn't going to count us out of the game just yet & she believes I will respond well to a different protocol (Microflare Protocol). She is going to be very aggressive with meds putting me on the max dose & seeing how I respond & go from there. She said she would like to see me get at least 12 follicles, then do a 5 day transfer & hopefully have a few embies to freeze. We also talked about OHSS in great detail since she said I would be at high risk for developing this with the aggressive approach to stims.
So, after going through everything in detail, we have decided to begin IVF #2 with the start of my cycle in Jan which is looking to be around the 3rd week with ER/ET around mid Feb.
All in all, we both feel it was a good appointment & I'm glad we seeked out a 2nd opinion. I am glad to hear they are going to be taking a more aggressive approach with this next round as it will be our last IVF cycle. I don't think I can mentally, physically or financially do a 3rd one!
I can't help but feel a bit negative about all the "facts" that were presented to us but I am somewhat hopeful that with any luck, we will fall into that 35% - or that we get a lot of follicles & have a few embies to freeze for later! So for now, I will continue to enjoy our "break", get through the holidays & gear up for IVF festivities in about 4 weeks!
When we got there, we were taken into a consult room to go over both our history & last IVF cycle. We also went over how they do IVF at their clinic, what they wanted to do differently with my next cycle, we talked to the financial advisor to go over cost & then we got to meet & visit with the RE.
She was very honest, straight-forward & open with us about her thoughts on our next cycle which kind of bothered me at first but after thinking about it, it is what it is & there is no sugar coating the facts. I am 38 yo, my FSH levels are borderline average, I haven't responded well to ovulation induction meds in the past & we have a 35% chance that IVF #2 is going to work (according to their statistics for someone my age). Doesn't give us a lot of hope after you lay it all out there like that but like I said - it is what it is.
I think she sensed the disappointed look on my face after she went over all the statistics with us because she then told us that she wasn't going to count us out of the game just yet & she believes I will respond well to a different protocol (Microflare Protocol). She is going to be very aggressive with meds putting me on the max dose & seeing how I respond & go from there. She said she would like to see me get at least 12 follicles, then do a 5 day transfer & hopefully have a few embies to freeze. We also talked about OHSS in great detail since she said I would be at high risk for developing this with the aggressive approach to stims.
So, after going through everything in detail, we have decided to begin IVF #2 with the start of my cycle in Jan which is looking to be around the 3rd week with ER/ET around mid Feb.
All in all, we both feel it was a good appointment & I'm glad we seeked out a 2nd opinion. I am glad to hear they are going to be taking a more aggressive approach with this next round as it will be our last IVF cycle. I don't think I can mentally, physically or financially do a 3rd one!
I can't help but feel a bit negative about all the "facts" that were presented to us but I am somewhat hopeful that with any luck, we will fall into that 35% - or that we get a lot of follicles & have a few embies to freeze for later! So for now, I will continue to enjoy our "break", get through the holidays & gear up for IVF festivities in about 4 weeks!
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