UPDATED: Today is the day! First RE Apt!!!

JericaLH

Wish me luck ladies! I hope I get some answers and maybe a game plan. I hope I like the Dr and the staff. I hope that this will finally get me that BFP that we're all hoping for more than anything... I'll be back with an update in a few hours! 

UPDATE:

Sorry it took me so long to update this! DH insisted on having both our parents over after the apt to bring them up to speed on what the Dr. said. I let everyone know that wasn't going to happen after EVERY apt but seeing as we have been waiting for this consult for almost 2 months everyone was just excited to get the ball rolling. 

Everything went well for the most part. We checked in and almost immediately were taken back to get my BP and take pics for our files. Then it was a bit of a wait in the conference room for the RE to meet us. Overall I think Dr. Erb is really nice, though definitely soft-spoken! My only.... complaint? I guess? is that there wasn't much of an introduction. She said hi and immediately dove into our past history. She didn't go over any policies or ask us how familiar we were with this whole process... I didn't even get like a "new patient packet." But I guess I'll learn as I go so that's not a huge issue. It was a long talk and we went over a lot of things, luckily I took notes on the important stuff! Afterward a coordinator came in to explain the tests and procedures for the next month and the nurse drew blood for testing, FSH, LH, Estradiol, etc. All of that, except for the genetic tests for CF & SMA (have to be sent out) are in today. 

So what's the prognosis? Her prime suspect right now is PCOS. Kinda sucks because that means I really need to lose some weight. (Any pointers!?) She's ordered a 2 hr GTT and a bunch of other tests to confirm her theory. I have to call and get those scheduled today. Based on my progesterone levels they say I should get a period in the next 10 days (way to be a month late AF) and that I should call on CD1 to schedule my sonohystagram (ultrasound version of HSG) and also they will put in my script for Letrozole. Then its OPK's with a trip into the office to confirm O (only the first month), and finally progesterone at the end. (I'm hoping maybe a beta at the end for a BFP!?!?!) 

That's the quick and dirty summary. My bloodtest results are all in the normal range so I won't bore you with those. Thanks for all your well wishes! Hopefully this puts us on the path to parenthood! 

cm312rn

Good luck today!!!

RNCrystal

Good luck

theholmanherd

Good luck! I hope it all goes well!

Sewfie

Good luck!

steen9713

Good luck!!

Pintobean39

Good luck!

LindseyM2012

Good luck!!!!  Definitely keep us updated.  It can be overwhelming, but hopefully you have a good experience and have a direction by the end of the day.

EmilieT10

Good luck and hope all goes well!

BunnyBerry

Hope your appointment went well.

LindseyM2012

I'm glad it went well and that you're comfortable!! So very glad you're seeing an RE.

Just something I've learned through the process: OPKs are quite unreliable for us PCOSers. Very high likelihood of false positives because we typically have constantly elevated LH compared to non-PCOSers. So a small variation in LH can trigger a positive OPK but not be enough of a surge to trigger ovulation. Therefore, if the RE does confirm PCOS, that's something to look out for and ask about.

JericaLH

LindseyM2012 said:

Just something I've learned through the process: OPKs are quite unreliable for us PCOSers. Very high likelihood of false positives because we typically have constantly elevated LH compared to non-PCOSers. So a small variation in LH can trigger a positive OPK but not be enough of a surge to trigger ovulation. Therefore, if the RE does confirm PCOS, that's something to look out for and ask about.

She said the first month I would have to come in on the day of the LH surge to confirm, hopefully it works. Thanks! 

edit: I wouldn't show my comment on the quote. 

LindseyM2012

Good catch @iputketchuponketchup!  OP, another good question for the RE!

JericaLH

iPutKetchupOnKetchup said:

Wait. Wha? They took your blood to test your FSH/LH/E2/P4 this late in your cycle? Those tests, especially for initial diagnostic purposes, need to be done on certain days of your cycle (usually 2-4) to be accurate. 

I would call and ask why they are doing them now, especially if you are OOP, because they are going to have to be repeated. If you are OOP, I would demand that if when you have those levels retested that you not be charged for the office visit or the lab fee. 

Thankfully our insurance covers "testing up to diagnosis" so I'm assuming the FSH, etc will be covered. And as for time during my cycle, I'm currently on CD 71 since AF decided she doesn't want to come visit me anymore. Idk if they decided to just go ahead and do the tests since we have no idea when my next cycle will be? But I agree I will ask. (And based on my Progesterone results they say I should expect AF by Thursday now... not holding my breath.)