I had my final WTF on IVF#1 post loss today & plan for moving on with #2. Because there was nothing genetically wrong with my little boy, he agrees we do not need to do PGD or karyotype testing. And my antibody test for the most common three all were negative so there was no obvious attack on the fetus. As for any more RLP testing, the only one he feels is necessary moving forward is the NK cells test (which is about $500 opp), which if high means I'll need to be on intra-lipids before starting IVF#2. From what I've been told from ladies, it's a single IV done prior to start that takes two hours and then another in first tri. Correct me if I'm wrong on my understanding from what you've said.
Aside from that, he plans on same protocol for next IVF except to add human growth hormone (HGH) to the antagonist protocol I was on before of : BCP to line up with batch cycle. Then FSH drugs of follistim and menopur, start Ganirelix at stim day 5 this time to try and keep my progesterone lower so I can do a fresh transfer (instead of freeze all FET like last time). And if we can keep my progesterone below 1 on day of ER, maybe look at day three transfer if needed since last time I only had one make it to full freezable blast. And agrees he wants Jeff and I on 600mg of CoQ-10 Ubiquinol for a few months prior - so our transfer goal time of early May or June sounds good to him. I'm very pleased with the meeting and looking ahead to moving forward. Nurse will email me tomorrow on any other tests that need re-updating like infectious disease. But next up is repeat Saline Sono on cd6-10 of my next cycle (to look for placenta polyps or whatever do to m/c). His batch cycles for May is start stims April 26-28th in order to for ER and/or ET May 7th-16th. His June cycle is starting stims 5/24 - 5/26 for ER and/or ET June 4th-12th.
From what he was saying about HGH it's only come into vague the last few years and is mainly for us AMA ladies, so I know it's not going to be too common - but I didn't remember hearing about it from the boards - but it turns out when others mentioned HGH I didn't realize that's what they were talking about. I just assumed it was a drug I didn't take or need...until now.
We're excited for why he said he wanted the tests, and the HGH and gave me a research data article from their own study on HGH. For women over 40, live birth rate with HGH IVF that had a previous failed cycle went from 12% TO 21%. And technically, I didn't have a failed cycle, (just not a live birth with) a m/c after a cycle so it can only help matters. He said it improves egg quality as well as embryo development (less fragmentation etc). Eeek!
Until then, just need to redo Saline Sono after next AF (so probably end of the month) and call to get on BCP after March AF in order to fit in with batch cycle (whichever one we choose).
When I first started reading infertility blogs, I had to figure out what all of the lingo meant. I've got that all down now! but...because it's looking like we may need to do IVF to get pregnant again, I'm trying to figure out all of the IVF lingo now. Your sentence that says " FSH drugs of follistim and menopur, start Ganirelix at stim day 5 this time" is soooo confusing to me haha I'm going to go look up all of those words right now! Thanks for sharing this, it helps people like me with possible IVFs coming up! :)
ReplyDeleteSorry sometimes I almost forget I'm writting in a form of "code". As for my antagoist protocol.... FSH is "Folicle stimulating Hormones", there are several drugs that have FSH in it. This hormone gets your brain to produce the needed hormones to make your egg follicles grow. Follistim is one of those drugs. Menapur, however is a drug that has equal parts FSH (grows egg follies) and LH (leutalizing hormone) that helps mature said egg follicles. When you're in IF so long this is all just second nature.
ReplyDeleteGanirelix - is a drug that is used to suppress ovulation. In otherwords, if I have egg follicles large and mature enough that they may want to naturally ovulate - we don't want that to happen. We want it to wait for when I take the trigger shot (HCG) that forces them all to ovulate at once. This times everything perfect so when the doctor goes in with a needle through my vagina to retrieve the eggs, they are still there ready to be released. Last cycle I "stimmed" (ie stimmulated my hormones through drugs) for seven days before starting Ganirelix. And by then my progesterone was on the raise. This shouldn't raise until you're releasing eggs so he wants to start ganirelix earlier to hope to keep my progesterone down.
So my list of drugs will be to take FSH Follistim (to grow) and Menapur (to grow and mature) and then on day five of doing this to add ganirelix to keep them from ovulating before my doctor is ready to go in after them.
Hope that helps. I know it's still not totally laymen's terms but want to help for any others that see this after you.
So excited you have a plan for IVF#2. Crossing everything so f-ing hard that this is the cycle that brings you your take home baby! <3
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear about this plan! I've got everything crossed for you and your DH!
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