Already losing faith in this cycle

BananaPancakes02

I went in for my mid cycle ultrasound and blood work this morning.  No dominant follicles, and lining is 4.2,  Estrogen was 275, Progesterone was 0.8.  So I have to start Estrace tonight, and go back Wednesday for another ultrasound and bloodwork.  Ugh.  I am already on a high dose of Clomid 150 mg.  I responded well last cycle, so to see my poor response to the same protocol is discouraging.  I only have one more cycle after this one before my doctor wants to move on to injectables with IUI or straight to IVF. 

I have amazing insurance coverage right now, and I will have zero out of pocket for IVF.  My insurance arranges my specialty medications, and my Pregnyl was covered 100% by them.  So, that's making me think I will have little to no out of pocket costs for injectables or IVF.  I worry about doing injectables and having to cancel the cycle because of over responding, so I wonder if we don't get a BFP this cycle or next, if we shouldn't just move onto IVF? Or would it be good to do a cycle or two of injects/IUI just to see how I respond before going into IVF?  I can't help but think I'm just wasting time bothering with another cycle of Clomid, too.

Mrs.Ess

I can't speak from personal experience but I have heard others say it's good to do an injectable cycle with IUI first to get a good trial run on how you will respond to the meds before IVF.

Good luck to you!

lebradford

I'm so sorry. :-( I agree with PP, I would probably do at least one injects + IUI cycle as a kind of trial run to see how you respond to injects. However, there's a significant risk of multiples, so many people skip injects + IUI completely. I think either options are appropriate.

As for this cycle, would they be willing to either stairstep your Clomid or add a few doses of injects just to salvage the cycle? It's also possible that your follicles will continue to grow on their own. I responded very slowly to Clomid too, but I always ended up with one follicle eventually.

Good luck!

CarSaidYes

I'm sorry to hear this. I don't have any advice but keep your fingers crossed. At least you have awesome insurance!

BananaPancakes02

@lebradford I think I am going to ask on Wednesday if things don't look like they are moving any further.  I have really no problem doing injections, as I had to do about 5 weeks of lovenox before I got started with treatment.  If the clomid is already thinning my lining, I really don't want to take it again this cycle, it just seems like it would be counterproductive.

Mrs.Ess

@Banana_Pancakes09‌ : what are your diagnoses? Do you have any male factor issues? I'm mobile and can't see if you have a siggy . If your insurance covers IVF and you and your SO are open to it I would seriously consider it. It's rare to have such great IF coverage.

BananaPancakes02

@Mrs.Ess I have PCOS and I am anovulatory.  We do not have MFI, although my husband did have a wonky result for his first SA, but the 2nd one was outstanding, and his post wash numbers were 20 million for our first IUI.

emmuffy

If you have the insurance coverage I'd go right to IVF. The odds are so much better. But I'm talking with the perspective of someone who is totally sick of IUIs and is itching to start IVF. If you've done only one or two IUIs maybe it's reasonable to start with an injects cycle fist as others have suggested.

catlover790

I don't have advice but just wanted to say I'm sorry the cycle isn't starting out as well as it should. I hope you get some good news at your next appointment and yeay for good insurance if you do go to ivf!!

DharmaChick

*Hugs*  I hope that they are able to get this cycle on track for you.  It is so frustrating when something that was previously working in other cycles doesn't work.

Your doc may suggest a different med next, if this cycle doesn't work out.  After Clomid, I was switched to Letrozole (Femara).  Your doc may want to try that, as there are less issues with lining on Letrozole.  I didn't have lining issues on either one, but I have responded faster with Letrozole.

I, too, am anovulatory with PCOS.  At my WTF appointment, my RE said injectables + IUI are not an option for me.  This was a surprise to me, but here was the explanation: Though I only have had one mature follie each medicated cycle, I have had a large number of tiny follicles. The RE said that it makes it more likely that I could overstimulate and may need to cancel the cycle if it was an IUI cycle.  If it was an IVF, cycle, though, they would be still be able to retrieve the eggs and freeze them until I am ready.

Right now I'm on a month off of meds altogether, because the timing won't work well with travel, but when I get back I'll need to decide if I will continue with Letrozole + IUI cycles or move on to IVF.

In any case, good luck to you!

BananaPancakes02

@DharmaChick‌ I start out with high antral counts, so that does make me concerned that injects/IUI might not be an option.  DH is open to the idea of going straight to IVF, but he wants to also talk to the doctor first.  If the Estrace doesn't help my lining, I am definitely going to insist on doing something else next cycle.  But I guess I just need to wait and see what happens tomorrow.

I am starting to have pains near my ovaries today, so I am hoping that is a good sign.  But I am exhausted, does Estrace normally have that effect?  I slept for nearly 12 hours last night, and I really want to nap again today before going to work.

Thanks for all of the words of encouragement, ladies.  

theholmanherd

If it were me, and the doc says it's okay, I would just go to IVF. You don't have to pay for it OOP like most people and you'll have better odds. Go for it! FX for this cycle and the future.