Microdose Lupron Flare Protocol

katezta

Anyone have stories?  I have been canceled twice.  Once on long lupron, once on antagonist.  No idea why I am not responding since I had a sort of successful long lupron cycle last January. 

I am scared.  Scared of being canceled again and scared of the medications.  It is a much higher dose of gonal-f and menopur than I have been on and FIVE NEEDLES a day.  Lord, how am I going to survive that? I have a needle issue. 

Did you do your sub-q shots in any other place besides your abdomen?  I bruise easily and have literally run out of space in the past.  I have heard you can use your thigh.

Thanks for the advice!

charmcitygirl

Oh honey...do I have a success story for you?!  Check out the cutest kid on the planet in my sig - he is thanks to microdose lupron! 

I had one IVF converted to IUI and that was Lupron Stop Protocol.  For some reason, my ovaries HATE lupron.  They get scared when they see it!

I know its a lot of needles.  Shooting yourself up 5 times a day is no picnic.  Believe me I know.  I stimmed for 11 days - so 55 stim shots, plus the trigger and PIO.  I was a pin cushion!

Here's a couple of things that I noticed about my MDL cycle:

-I started with 7 antral follices (yup, 7).  By the time I had stimmed for about 9 days they were counting 18 follices.  So what you start with isn't necessarily what you're going to get.  This protocol is designed to reign in more follies as it goes along.

-Like I said, I stimmed for 11 days.  On a REALLY high dose of stims.  450iu of gonal-f and 150iu of menopur.  That is a lot of drugs.  But you're monitored closely, especially at the end when things can get out of control, so they can cut you back if you need to.  I never cut back.  Full throttle.  11 days.

-My E2 never soared like many of the ladies here do.  At my trigger, it was 1563.  Based on that number and my u/s measurements, they anticipated about 6-8 eggs.  They got 16, 15 of which were mature.  I know it makes no sense, but I was THRILLED!

I don't have much advice for the fear of needles.  Except that you would do anything to have a baby and if that means sticking yourself 5 times a day, I know you'll do it.  You won't like it, but you'll do it.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.  I'm by no means an expert, but I feel like I learned a lot during my cycle and can help a bit!

And most of all...GOOD LUCK!

ETA - Oh!  I just saw that you're in Rockville.  Do you go to SGF?  I live in Silver Spring and Jacob is a SGF miracle!

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MDL has been a VERY successful protocol for many many women!  Sadly, it wasn't for me.  I did it twice, one resulting in a downgraded IUI and one cancelled outright. But, honestly, it is likely that no protocol would ever have worked for me (lord knows I did most of them!), so, I'm not a good example!

You will survive the needles, I promise!  I've heard of women doing their shots in their thighs, but, that always seemed to me like it would hurt!

mel72

It worked for us!  lupron long produced poor embryo quality and antagonist was converted to a failed iui.  GOOD LUCK!!

tapgirl

It worked for us, too!  Our first 2 IVF cycles were long lupron - the first time I developed a cyst before even starting stims, and the second I only had 4 follies, so we did IUI instead.  We did MDL for our next 2 cycles and I did get pregnant both times.  I did m/c the first pg, but the second gave us our son!

As for the shots, I always did the MDL in the outer thigh, follistim in the stomach, and repronex on the backside in the upper and outer hip area.  Not sure if that helps.   I think follistim is like menopar and  repronex is like gonal-f.

Good luck!

JillAly

Sorry charmcity but the cutest microdose lupron baby is in MY siggy   Ok- we'll compromise.  Yours is the cutest boy and mine is the cutest girl!

I did a different protocol for my son but when I went back to have #2, it didn't work and I had my IVF cancelled.  We switched to MDL and I got the most eggs I ever made (ok- only 7 but it was better than 3 prior IVF attempts).  I only had 2 follies the day before ER.  I had 2 additional follies pop up at the last minute- MDL may make you stim a little longer but it works!

I don't have a problem with needles- I had some extra "padding" in my stomach (weight I didn't lose from having my son) so it didn't hurt to inject myself.  It seems a small price to pay to be able to hold a beautiful baby in your arms - keep that prize in mind as you do the shots.