Update- spoke w/ RE this morning, a little long

dhreczuck

I had my monitoring appt this morning and RE said that the HSG test isn't a conclusive test (why they put you through it then, is beyond me) and that it's definately possible that my tube was spasming and not blocked based on the fact he couldn't really get the dye to go in, only a really tiny amount made it in and he didn't see any of it come out.

He said options would be surgery if it is blocked, he said it's only corrects the issue 50% of the time and even then most women would still need assistance to get KU, we both agreed I don't want to spend the downtime that surgery would require when we're not even sure if the damn thing is blocked.

We talked IVF, he said that since we're 100% OOP, an alternative would be to start the cycle like an IUI, that way I can get meds, diagnostics covered. If I get to 4 or 5 eggs he would convert to IVF. This seems reasonable since the past 2 IUI cycles I was able to produce at least 4 on a fairly reasonable dose of meds. On the one hand, the financial stress would be less knowing that I'm not paying OOP from day 1. The downside in my mind is that if your only half assing the cycle, what are the odds for success? One part of me feels like if your gonna do it, go BIG or don't do it at all.

It's really hard for me to wrap my head around this when i was just pregnant 4 months ago and now my RE is basically telling me IVF is my only way to go? Sometimes I think it's all just a bunch of BS and we should drop all of this and keep trying naturally.

Regardless, we are where we are now, and RE still thinks we should do IUI this month even though my one mature follie is on the (perhaps) blocked side. The other two on the right are still under 10 so he doesn't think there's any way they'll catch up (still holding out hope for those two!)

irishgirl0525

Aside from the possibly blocked tube, I can relate to a lot of your post. I think it's great that your RE will cycle you like an IUI first and convert you, especially from an insurance standpoint.

Mine has been doing the same thing, although I do have coverage for IVF, it's probably best that the insurance company doesn't see multiple cancelled cycles.

My guess is that he will prescribe an IVF med protocol that is more aggressive than you are normally on for IUI, so you will get an even better response than 4 follicles. Just in case that is why you feel like you might be half assing the cycle, you may not be.

I hope this months IUI goes well and you don't need to worry about it!

dhreczuck

irishgirl0525:

My guess is that he will prescribe an IVF med protocol that is more aggressive than you are normally on for IUI, so you will get an even better response than 4 follicles. Just in case that is why you feel like you might be half assing the cycle, you may not be.

I hope this months IUI goes well and you don't need to worry about it!

Thanks! I was thinking the same thing! has your RE mentioned anything about there being a disadvantage of not supressing your ovaries first w/ bcp ect? I've been doing 225 of Gonal F but I imagine he will up that dosage. We'll most likely take June off, I think my ovaries need a little rest based on my poor results this month.

mtlaurel

I'm sorry about the potentially blocked tube. Sounds like your RE is good to work with in terms of flexibility. I can understand your point about half-assing it. On the other hand, just getting to retrieval and transfer will give you more information, like fertilization rates and potential egg quality issues, besides giving you a chance at success. I imagine it would be like a mini-IVF, which some women on this board have done, where the goal is really quality over quantity. Good luck.

Llamamama

I think its crazy that the surgery to unblock the tube that might not even be blocked (seems like they should be able to tell for SURE before scheduling something as aggressive as SURGERY!) only has a 50% success rate. 

There are so many factors that I have yet to even consider and its scary to think that even the RE's don't always know the answer.  Good luck to you with your IUI!

dhreczuck

Llamamama:

I think its crazy that the surgery to unblock the tube that might not even be blocked (seems like they should be able to tell for SURE before scheduling something as aggressive as SURGERY!) only has a 50% success rate. 

Right? I was really surprised to find out that HSG's are often inconclusive and have a 1 in 3 misdiagnosis rate. I'm leaning towards it being a spasm since he couldn't even get the dye in and I'm a bit of a spaz! You only need one good tube and one good egg to get that bfp!

BabyVDM

I've had "Go Big or Go Home" in my head like a mantra all week.  I have no idea why, but your comment "One part of me feels like if you're gonna do it, go BIG or don't do it at all" made total sense to me.

It's good that they are giving you an option to make things affordable.  What is the difference though between "treating it like an IUI" and full IVF from day one? 

You always seem level head, reasonable, and seem to make solid well thought out decisions, so I think go with your gutt.

Hope it works out for you.

P

lindaeverly

So many of us are having to make major decisions lately & it just doesn't seem fair!  I'm on the Go big or go home" bandwagon though.  DH & I had a major discussion (almost fight) on Sunday about sinking money into IVF with ICSI or continuing to do IUI's.  With our problem being MFI, we've decided that we're moving forward with the IVF unless the urologist comes back with some miracle diagnosis to improve the MFI issues.  I hope that you & DH will make the decision that is best for you guys!

dhreczuck

BabyVDM:

It's good that they are giving you an option to make things affordable.  What is the difference though between "treating it like an IUI" and full IVF from day one? 

I think the biggest difference is, they won't shut down my whole cycle by starting me on bcp and surpressing my ovaries, and then stimulating them, they'll just work with my natural cycle and try to stimulate my ovaries to more follies than usual. Saving the 6K or more on med's will be the real benefit to us, plus getting bloodwork and ultrasounds covered. 

My sister did 3 ivfs at 41 with only 5 follies each time and had 3 c/p's yes three in row. so devastating for her.  Of course she did get KU 2 months later at 42 naturally and is now in her 2nd tri..she had no previous pregnancies though so she's a different scenerio than me..

MrsTRAV

That's great about the meds if they can convert the IUI to IVF. Good luck with the cycle.