Low AMH Level

Kp214

I posted this in the August/September discussion and started a new discussion, but no response. I'm having a really sh*tty day and could use some help.  I'm overwhelmed with everything and trying to get prepped for the next cycle. 

 I just received my protocol for the September cycle. No suppressing, 150 of follistim, 150 of menopur, omnitrope for a few days prior to retrieval, antagonist, and trigger shot (can't remember the name). My RE said we would be doing lower doses since we are going to get a comparable number whether I'm on the max dose or a minimal one. However, the only change is no bcp and a reduction from 300 of follistim. Does this seem standard for a lower stim cycle? Seems like a lot of meds to me. Thanks for any thoughts you have or experiences shared.

capps42613

@Kp214 I was on Lupron, Follistim (same amount to start), Menopur & HCG trigger shot. No bcp prior. Seems pretty standard to me. I often think that had I of been on higher doses, I could've had more eggs at retrieval & may have been able to freeze 1 or 2, but I guess we have to just trust our RE's. Keep your head up!

Kp214

@capps42613 thanks. I also did lupron on the first two cycles.  I appreciate the support. 

Hopeful_mom

@wenikilina hoping ur relaxing and taking it one day at a time!  I've cried enough for the both of us with my AF always showing up on time.  You're doing it, 26weeks down.  Try to relax and enjoy this quite time with ur babies.  I think of u often and pray for ur u.  Ur all going to be ok.

@ShayLatrice it's just amazing ur lil beans r here and ur a mama, so glad to hear things r moving right along.  Sounds like they're going to catch right up with where they need to be, F godly j and stay strong!!

rachlee2010

@Kp214 it seems fine to me. I did a low dose round. Definitely no suppression. I did letrozole pills and Menopur. Started at 75 then upped it as we went. I added in centrotide and then trigger. 

Good luck 

Kp214

Thanks, @rachlee2010. I was surprised that was the only reduction in the meds. On top of everything else yesterday, I had a complete meltdown yesterday. It was too much. 

LSatturo126

@Kp214. Well for me I did low really low and I got one and that was a no go. Last two Retrievals with new dr he put me on the highest of meds and it worked. So I feel everyone is different and only your RE will know best.

Kp214

@LSatturo126 I didn't even consider that the doses might get too low.  I guess I just assume that with my low response at higher doses, that lower doses wouldn't affect egg quantity, just quality.  Thanks!  That helps. 

Stars2016

I know BCP are a big no-no for low AMH but I was put on them prior to finding out what my level was then kept on them to have scheduling worked out with my vacation. I am going in Friday for a baseline and super scared that they over suppressed my ovaries. Did any of you girls happen to be put on BCP and still were okay at baseline?

heather041413

My beta is tomorrow, but I am probably out. I broke down and POAS this morning, BFN. I probably shouldn't have POAS, but I'm not sure I could take hearing bad news for the first time when I get a call at work tomorrow. I haven't completely given up, and I'll be thrilled if a get a BFP. But at this point, it's definitely out of my hands. 

@wenikilina hope you're hanging in there. 

capps42613

@heather041413 Fx for tomorrow. Thinking of you!

LSatturo126

@heather041413 I'm hoping your test was wrong and that you will get your BFP tomorrow through beta. fx! Xoxo

Kp214

@Stars2016 I did bcp for my first two cycles and at baseline had 7-9 follicles. You can see in my signature the results. I will say that on the second one I took the bcp a few days too long. I lost the paper with my instructions for stopping, so I think that played a bigger part in that cycle than expected. Good luck tomorrow!  What's your protocol?

@heather041413 I'm sorry. Maybe tomorrow will bring good news. 

@wenikilina how are you?

LSatturo126

@heather041413 thinking of you! Xoxo 

twomommiestobe

@wenikilina update us on you and the babies! 

heather041413

**tw**

@LSatturo126 thanks for the good thoughts. Unfortunately, just got the call and I'm BFN. hCG was 0.5, so possibly chemical pg. We have our follow up appointment on 8/9 for next steps. We only have funds budgeted for one more cycle, whether we try with my eggs or donor eggs, so we need to figure that out. Or I need to find a job that has IF coverage, but I sort of love my current job. 

Stars2016

So sorry about the news @heather041413  Best of luck figuring out what to do for your next cycle!

@Kp214 Thank you so much for responding. Sorry about the results from your previous cycles, crossing my fingers for you that the next one works out! I am doing the antagonist protocol. I got the overwhelming box of medications today, but won't know until I meet with my RE tomorrow what the doses/order of each is.

LSatturo126

@heather041413 I'm so sorry to hear. You ok? I know what it's like to get that BFN trust me. In February I was devasted. It was really hard but I kept reminding myself that it wasnt meant to be. Especially if it was chemical. Can I suggest something? My friend kept having chemical pregnancies and she then decided to get chromosome testing done. Yes it cost a bit more but when she did it, out of 9 she had 2 healthy embryos. Put one in and the first time in several chemical pregnancies this chromosome tested one stuck and she is now 4 months pregnant with a healthy baby boy. That's another reason we did it. Since I'll be 37 we wanted to make sure to have a heathy baby especially at our age. I didn't want to go through another disappointment. Hope this helps somewhat. Sending a hugs your way. If you need to talk message me and I'll be there xoxo

heather041413

@LSatturo126 we intended on doing PGS this time, but because we only had two eggs fertilize out of 9 we were 50/50 between PGS and going ahead and doing a fresh transfer. With a fresh transfer, we knew we had a 30% chance for success, and in our case it saved us about $3500 and we took the coin flip. I think you're right, in retrospect it would have been easier to know ahead of time and not transfer any embryos if we knew they were all abnormal. Next time, whether we use my own eggs or a donor, we will definitely do PGS, because honestly this feels harder than getting a straight up BFN. It's obvious that I have egg quality issues. I got a chance to chat with the embryologist right before the transfer (who was a super cool guy, he has been doing this for 30 years since the early days), and he said that my eggs had a weird texture on them. I don't know the scientific terms for it, but the way he described it, it is much harder to fertilize eggs like this, but if they do fertilize they have the same success rates of any embryo for women my age. If I had frozen my eggs 6-10 years ago, this wouldn't be a problem, as most embryos would be vital. But now, I have to figure out if I want to roll the dice knowing that I'm going to have a very low fertilization rate (even if I respond "ok" to stims). I know very well what you mean about avoiding another disappointment. I really thought I set myself up for realistic expectations, but it hurts a lot worse than I thought it would. Thank you (and everyone here) for being a sounding board. 

LSatturo126

@heather041413 I know it's a really terrible feeling. Whatever you choose whether it's your own egg or someone else's you're gonna be a wonderful mom! Your time will come just like mine will. Try to be hopeful after you have grieved. That's the only wisdom I can give you at this point. Xoxo

LSatturo126

By the way if you decide to get your eggs one more time tell the dr to be aggressive with the meds. This will be your best option of going with your own. It'll make your chances a bit higher.

Hoping4Success

@LSatturo126 so with us low amh i heard lower stims are better but im not sure im waiting for someone to call me from my doctors office to go over my protocol patiently waiting.... 

wenikilina

@heather041413 I'm so sorry to hear the news. Thinking of you! 

Very early Sunday morning my contractions picked back up and my cervix measured at 3 cm dilated. They immediately transferred me back to Labor & Delivery (they had transferred me to the Antepartum Unit a couple of days prior because I had "stabilized."). They loaded me up on the Magnesium and Indocin again. This time the Magnesium gave me such a different reaction. It made me throw up right away. I felt awful. I remember just staring up at the ceiling unable to do anything else. Things stabilized for a few more days. I was transferred back to the Antepartum unit. And then yesterday throughout the day, my contractions picked up again. By night they were very frequent. The doctor checked my cervix again and I'm now measuring at 4 cm. They contemplated sending me back down to L&D. But a couple of hours later contractions began to slow, so they let me stay. It's an ever changing roller coaster here. I'm getting more used to it by now. But it is still scary... Thank you again everyone for all of the support! Today I am officially 27 weeks! Hoping they will hold out at least one week longer to make it to 28 weeks. ❤️

LSatturo126

@Hoping4Success most of us were in higher doses even @ShayLatrice had said they went aggressive. I was on low and it self didn't work and when I went high it worked got five times more eggs. Maybe everyone is different. 

@wenikilina thanks for the update! Almost at the end of second trimester! Wishing you a closed cervix for the next few weeks. Xoxo

twomommiestobe

@wenikilina I'm glad things slowed down! Keep resting and just know whenever they come they will receive excellent care in the nicu! 

capps42613

@wenikilina wow! Hoping they stay in at least another week for you. Glad you're feeling better since the magnesium. Thinking of you always!

Hoping4Success

@LSatturo126 yes maybe i am still waiting for my office to call me with my protocol im annoyed i want ti start sept but i will probably have to bcp first right?

Stars2016

@wenikilina glad to hear you are doing okay! Crossing my fingers they stay in for another week!

@Hoping4Success at my office they felt it was best to be very aggressive with my meds. I just started yesterday so we will see what happens. I stopped birth control several days before stims.

LSatturo126

@Hoping4Success with the new dr I never went on BCP he's the more natural type when I get my period then we go from there. The old dr put me on BCP because his office was closed and I was on vacation. So I'm not sure what the dr will say for you but most likely no I think.

Hoping4Success

@Stars2016 ya ive heard that too for dor patient agressive aggressive i will call my office on monday do i still need to make a ivf consult and konda go over the plan or how did you ladies do it did you see your re? Last time i seen here in Jine she kinda went over my options and told me a bit and i pretty much had to make a decision on what i wanna do next another iui with increasing my doses or mini ivf or full 

wenikilina

Ladies! I went into active labor very early this morning. My cervix was paper thin and dilated to 6 cm and the sac was bulging out. Ended up with an emergent C-section. Baby boy was born at 7:22am, at 2 lbs, 7.1 oz, and 13.8" long. Baby girl was born at 7:23am at 2 lbs, 1.9 oz, and 11.8" long. They are both in the NICU and are having assistance with breathing but doing fine as of now. I know it is out of my control, but I just hope things go smoothly and they will be okay! They were born at 27 weeks and 1 day today. ❤️

LSatturo126

Omg! I'm glad that they are doing fine. And over 2lbs is great considering how early they are! Do they have names yet? Thanks for keeping us in the loop I'm sure things are crazy right now. 

Kp214

@wenikilina I'm glad they are fine.  Hope you are as well.  I'm sure they are precious.  You and your babies are in my thoughts and prayers. 

capps42613

@wenikilina congrats mama! I'm so happy for you. It seems like yesterday when you transferred your embryos and now they're here! They will be in my thoughts, hoping for them to get stronger everyday.

wenikilina

Thank you, ladies!! Now we start another journey of its own. @LSatturo126 The twins names are Jackson and Katey. Jackson was taken off of the ventilator yesterday evening and they both have CPap masks on now to assist with their breathing. They are doing fine, but we are warned to expect ups and downs daily. This is just to be expected of such premies in the NICU! So I am trying to prepare myself for that.
Thinking of all of you ladies at your different stages and sending positive thoughts your way. Take this as proof and encouragement that it can and will happen!!

rachlee2010

Congrats @wenikilina. I'm so happy to hear that so far they are doing so well. A friend of mine had a little boy at26 weeks in March and he is doing really well. Was in the nicu for over 3 months but is home doing well. You have a great attitude and they will have good days and better days but the fact thT they are doing so well this early is a great sign. Take care of yourself and get all healed so when they do come home you are totally ready!!

capps42613

@wenikilina LOVE the names

Hopeful_mom

@wenikilina I was coming to check in and whoaaa what a surprise, happy birthday to ur bundles.  27 is a great number thrilled they're doing so well praying it continues! So they just wanted to come say hello to u already! I can't even imagine all the emotions ur going through, but how amazing ur a mom!! It's ur story I happened to have read first, and am so thrilled for u and scared too!! You're gonna be a great mom look how far you've brought them already!! Sending many hugs and prayers ur way!!!

Hopeful_mom

@heather041413 I'm so sorry to hear the news and u ladies @LSatturo126 keep giving me so much to think about on this journey.  Heather how old r u if u don't mind me asking.  I believe I'm older then u all and freaked out to say the least!!  The dreaded 40 that I don't discuss but besides that and my low AMH and the dr have nothing else to say.  I'm curious myself if my eggs have a tougher she'll that the soerm can't break through.  It's just upsetting especially as I was trying in my 30s yes it was upper 30s but never thought it would be this tough.

as for me I finished my last day of Clomid and went to the dr and I was a bit disappointed this morning as i only had one mature follicle I was at least hoping for 2 so I could have more of a chance and would love multiples.  Obviously I kno one would be great BUT was hoping for more.  Trying to stay positive and will trigger tomorrow.  Planning and hoping all goes well and do 2 IUIs.  I'm almost afraid to write it thinking something will go wrong and offset it, but I'm gonna try and stay positive and hope this could be the one lucky follie to do it!!! I have to get over the IUI that was cancelled due to a death in the family and I had 3 mature follicles.  You just wonder y can't it all work together.  I kno the IUI is a long shot BUT I've worked 7 days straight and tomorrow will be my 8 and on...meaning my work schedule is soooo stressful these next few weeks that putting ivf off till next month seemed like the best option.  I really am hope for the best, no other choice.  Hoping for the best!!

LSatturo126

GOODLUCK with the IUI!