Last cycle with OE?

BzeetyD

Ladies -

I know from yesterday that there were a bunch of gals who were going to be doing their last cycles with their own eggs.

I'd like to chat with those gals as we're in the same spot. Or, if you've been through this before, feel free to join in.

Here are some Q's:

When do you think you'll be cycling?

How are you feeling? Where are you on the hope-o-meter?

If you know, will anything be different protocol or doc wise for this last cycle?

What, if anything, is your next step?

Are you pursuing that already?

Thanks gals.

I'm hoping we can get to know one another and offer support in the process.

 

 

hootie123

Hey Bzeety!  My history is complicated but we are at the breaking point where we just can't keep doing IVF and not having it work!  We've always been told that it was our MFI that was causing our failed cycles and we did our last IVF with half donor sperm and my husbands sperm made better embryos than the 'proven' donor.  So apparently I am one of the lucky PCOSers with crummy eggs.    

When do you think you'll be cycling?

We'll be cycling sometime in early 2013 - depending on schedules.  [Although, I don't do cycle buddies anymore b/c all of them get pregnant and I get left behind!] 

How are you feeling? Where are you on the hope-o-meter?

meh - I'm not very hopeful.  I do have a tiny bit of hope since several of the doctors from top clinics that I talked to all had hope for us still.

If you know, will anything be different protocol or doc wise for this last cycle?

We are going to travel to cycle at S.IRM in NYC and I know he wants to do an agonist/antagonist conversion cycle with a FET and not a fresh cycle.  On the fence about PGD.     I've also been adding supplements that they recommended (CoQ10, myo-insoitol and melatonin).   

What, if anything, is your next step?

We still need to do some of the testing he ordered for us before anything is finalized with our plan.

Are you pursuing that already?  yep - It's just hard to get my husband to go get b/w done!  And we need to travel to NYC for a hysterscopy during my next cycle.

I love the idea of checking in with others in a similar boat  

BzeetyD

After our most recent loss (c/p on 3rd IVF cycle) we're looking into consults from nationally known clinics/docs and debating traveling for our "final" OE cycle or continuing with our current clinic (which, overall we've been very happy with).  I'm putting "final" in quotes because if somehow, magically we had frosties, we'd use those before moving to other options.

When do you think you'll be cycling? I'm hoping we'll be cycling sometime in the first 3 months of the year.

How are you feeling? Where are you on the hope-o-meter? Medium. I believe I can get PG again, but not miscarrying would be a miracle to me. I have little hope with our current clinic (we have our WTF/consult tomorrow - maybe I'll feel different then) and I'm interested to hear what other docs think - then, maybe my hope meter will light up.

If you know, will anything be different protocol or doc wise for this last cycle?I'm hoping for a different protocol to boost egg quality or boost our maturation rate, which is typically around 30%. I would be willing to cycle again with the protocol we used on our 2nd IVF - the most PG I've ever been...

What, if anything, is your next step? We're also looking into DE and into domestic infant adoption. Both of these are more difficult, emotionally and timeline wise they almost give me a heart attack. I feel like we've been patient for so long. It's hard to stomach another year or 2 of waiting.

If we do DE, we're looking for a semi-open donation so that our child could, if they want, contact their bio mother after the age of 18. _ I want to add that I have no judgment on those who chose to use an anonymous donor. It's just not the right thing for us.

Are you pursuing that already? Somewhat. We're in a "gathering information" mode right now and there are a lot of balls in the air. I have registered to look at some donor registries. DIA - haven't made much movement on.

That's all I know right now. More info tomorrow after our WTF/consult.

BAKERMOMHDS

BzeetyD:

Ladies -

I know from yesterday that there were a bunch of gals who were going to be doing their last cycles with their own eggs.

I'd like to chat with those gals as we're in the same spot. Or, if you've been through this before, feel free to join in.

Here are some Q's:

When do you think you'll be cycling? **right now, egg retrieval will be Friday 11/9**

How are you feeling? Where are you on the hope-o-meter? ** Down .  I actually had a long talk with the DE consult at the new clinic today (we are trying our last shot with OE at a new clinic). I'm not 100% sure this will be our last round with my OE, but i'm 85% sure and I want to be educated on the DE process, give my husband and I time to research the "in's and out's" of DE.

If you know, will anything be different protocol or doc wise for this last cycle? ** yes, I switched to a micro-dose lupron flare protocol this round, I'm stimming longer / slower with a different combo of meds **

What, if anything, is your next step? ** Hopefully a successful ER on Friday, then.. we wait, to see if anything makes it to a day 5.  We've never made it to day 5 and this clinic will only do PGD  testing at day 5** If we make it to day 5, we'll do PGD testing and freeze all embies for a FET in january 2013. (giving my body time to rest after all the meds)

Are you pursuing that already? **yep, see above **

Thanks gals.

I'm hoping we can get to know one another and offer support in the process.

 

 

may2806

Hey, I'm a DE vet so I thought I'd chime in here. Making the transition from OE to DE was pretty tough for me, but I got to a point where I just couldn't take another failed cycle. After having one egg retrieved and it not fertilize, that was my breaking point. I took a summer off and thought, I could get off this roller coaster and try something that could actually work, and just move on with that and be happy; or I could continue to go through this misery. At that point the choice seemed easier. I actually did one more "gentle stim" IVF cycle to see if that approach would work, but when it didn't I moved on right away to DE.

Unfortunately DE was not (yet) the answer for me, but that's another story!

(also, the donor is never called the bio mother... your body, your biology, you give birth, you are the bio mother. Maybe you would call the donor 'genetic mother', but in the donor world as I know it, the donor is never referred to as 'mother'. But that's up to each individual how they want to think of her.)

BzeetyD

may2806:

Hey, I'm a DE vet so I thought I'd chime in here. Making the transition from OE to DE was pretty tough for me, but I got to a point where I just couldn't take another failed cycle. After having one egg retrieved and it not fertilize, that was my breaking point. I took a summer off and thought, I could get off this roller coaster and try something that could actually work, and just move on with that and be happy; or I could continue to go through this misery. At that point the choice seemed easier. I actually did one more "gentle stim" IVF cycle to see if that approach would work, but when it didn't I moved on right away to DE.

Unfortunately DE was not (yet) the answer for me, but that's another story!

(also, the donor is never called the bio mother... your body, your biology, you give birth, you are the bio mother. Maybe you would call the donor 'genetic mother', but in the donor world as I know it, the donor is never referred to as 'mother'. But that's up to each individual how they want to think of her.)

Hey thanks! I'm clearly new to this and that's helpful to me. 

hootie123

BAKERMOMHDS:

BzeetyD:

Ladies -

I know from yesterday that there were a bunch of gals who were going to be doing their last cycles with their own eggs.

I'd like to chat with those gals as we're in the same spot. Or, if you've been through this before, feel free to join in.

Here are some Q's:

When do you think you'll be cycling? **right now, egg retrieval will be Friday 11/9**

How are you feeling? Where are you on the hope-o-meter? ** Down .  I actually had a long talk with the DE consult at the new clinic today (we are trying our last shot with OE at a new clinic). I'm not 100% sure this will be our last round with my OE, but i'm 85% sure and I want to be educated on the DE process, give my husband and I time to research the "in's and out's" of DE.

If you know, will anything be different protocol or doc wise for this last cycle? ** yes, I switched to a micro-dose lupron flare protocol this round, I'm stimming longer / slower with a different combo of meds **

What, if anything, is your next step? ** Hopefully a successful ER on Friday, then.. we wait, to see if anything makes it to a day 5.  We've never made it to day 5 and this clinic will only do PGD  testing at day 5** If we make it to day 5, we'll do PGD testing and freeze all embies for a FET in january 2013. (giving my body time to rest after all the meds)

Are you pursuing that already? **yep, see above **

Thanks gals.

I'm hoping we can get to know one another and offer support in the process.

 

 

Good luck on Friday - and even moreso getting through the 5 days after that!    I hope you get some good blasts to PGD.  Are you just doing PGD to see if you make normal embryos?   That is what was recommended to us at this point - although he said we don't have to do it.  Part of me thinks that if we can get good blasts to begin with then why bother to biopsy them and just transfer.  I'm still undecided about it. 

BAKERMOMHDS

hootie123:

BAKERMOMHDS:

BzeetyD:

Ladies -

I know from yesterday that there were a bunch of gals who were going to be doing their last cycles with their own eggs.

I'd like to chat with those gals as we're in the same spot. Or, if you've been through this before, feel free to join in.

Here are some Q's:

When do you think you'll be cycling? **right now, egg retrieval will be Friday 11/9**

How are you feeling? Where are you on the hope-o-meter? ** Down .  I actually had a long talk with the DE consult at the new clinic today (we are trying our last shot with OE at a new clinic). I'm not 100% sure this will be our last round with my OE, but i'm 85% sure and I want to be educated on the DE process, give my husband and I time to research the "in's and out's" of DE.

If you know, will anything be different protocol or doc wise for this last cycle? ** yes, I switched to a micro-dose lupron flare protocol this round, I'm stimming longer / slower with a different combo of meds **

What, if anything, is your next step? ** Hopefully a successful ER on Friday, then.. we wait, to see if anything makes it to a day 5.  We've never made it to day 5 and this clinic will only do PGD  testing at day 5** If we make it to day 5, we'll do PGD testing and freeze all embies for a FET in january 2013. (giving my body time to rest after all the meds)

Are you pursuing that already? **yep, see above **

Thanks gals.

I'm hoping we can get to know one another and offer support in the process.

 

 

Good luck on Friday **THANK YOU!!! my Estrogen is a whopping 3962 today, I'm READY for Friday!!!**- and even moreso getting through the 5 days after that!    I hope you get some good blasts to PGD.  Are you just doing PGD to see if you make normal embryos? **Yes, I've had three miscarriages (all under 7 weeks), our first two IVF cycles I produced a good quantity of eggs (IVF#1-11 / IVF#2-19) but by day 3 all the embryos look crappy  IVF#1=BFN, IVF#2=BFN.  So, we researched a new clinic and this RE highly recommended I try the microdose lupron flare and perform PGD to give us better confirmation of my egg quality.  This RE also recommends PGD for most of his patients over 38 (I'm 38).  I understand the risks of biopsy and freezing, but after 4+ years of TTC, 65K+ out of pocket, I'm hoping this will give us some additional information.  I will be devestated if we have nothing to transfer, but that will also give my husband and I the knowledge we need to make a better decision for our IF journey.    That is what was recommended to us at this point - although he said we don't have to do it.  Part of me thinks that if we can get good blasts to begin with then why bother to biopsy them and just transfer.  I'm still undecided about it. 

Julie21613

Hey BzeetyD......Here are my responses:

 

When do you think you'll be cycling? We are hoping to cycle the again the beginning of January

How are you feeling? Where are you on the hope-o-meter? I am midway on the hope-o-meter.  I've heard of so many "5th try" cycles that have worked... so why not me?

If you know, will anything be different protocol or doc wise for this last cycle? I was on the MDLP this past cycle.  Probably doing an EPP for my next.

What, if anything, is your next step? If #5 doesn't work then we are going to really research donor egg.

Are you pursuing that already?I am going to bring it up to my doctor at my WTF meeting next week.

Thanks gals.

I'm hoping we can get to know one another and offer support in the process.

 

 

annalisel

Hi - I post on TTC>35 rather than IF, but this is exactly us. 

BzeetyD:

Ladies -

Here are some Q's:

When do you think you'll be cycling?

Starting stims tomorrow for IVF #3

How are you feeling? Where are you on the hope-o-meter?

Looking forward to closure? If it works, it will be a pleasant surprise.

If you know, will anything be different protocol or doc wise for this last cycle?

We aren't going to a specialty clinic. We just don't have the money and I don't think we are a special case - I'm simply old and my husband has poor sperm.

We are trying epp with MDLF rather than an antagonist cycle. 

What, if anything, is your next step?

We have been adoption information sessions. We are leaning towards domestic infant adoption, but are open to embryo adoption. If we get frustrated we might be open to DE, but at this point we are more comfortable with the moral and practical issues of adoption. 

Are you pursuing that already? See above.

Thanks gals.

I'm hoping we can get to know one another and offer support in the process.

 

 

annalisel

BzeetyD:

If we do DE, we're looking for a semi-open donation so that our child could, if they want, contact their bio mother after the age of 18. _ I want to add that I have no judgment on those who chose to use an anonymous donor. It's just not the right thing for us.

I'd like this too, either with adoption, DE or Dembryo. I suspect it will be the law that genetic history be freely available to all donor conceived children by the time people conceived now become adults. 

BAKERMOMHDS

annalisel:

Hi - I post on TTC>35 rather than IF, but this is exactly us. 

BzeetyD:

Ladies -

Here are some Q's:

When do you think you'll be cycling?

Starting stims tomorrow for IVF #3

How are you feeling? Where are you on the hope-o-meter?

Looking forward to closure? If it works, it will be a pleasant surprise.

If you know, will anything be different protocol or doc wise for this last cycle?

We aren't going to a specialty clinic. We just don't have the money and I don't think we are a special case - I'm simply old and my husband has poor sperm.

We are trying epp with MDLF rather than an antagonist cycle. 

What, if anything, is your next step?

We have been adoption information sessions. We are leaning towards domestic infant adoption, but are open to embryo adoption. If we get frustrated we might be open to DE, but at this point we are more comfortable with the moral and practical issues of adoption. 

Are you pursuing that already? See above.

Thanks gals.

I'm hoping we can get to know one another and offer support in the process.

 

 

We are trying the MDLF this round as well.... I have 18 visible follicles this round, which is a huge improvement over the first 2 cycles.  Hoping we have one lucky golden egg in the bunch

illinigal

I will never call last cycle with OE.  I'm positive this cycle is going to work, but if it doesn't, I'm doing it again..... Dh says as long as I'm working, we can try as long as I want.  I'd rather spend the money on something else, but want a baby so badly.  There is no plan b because Dh isn't open to Ds, de, adoption, etc.   If at some point, the dr says he won't let us do OE anymore, I don't know what we will do.  I am open to Ds, de and adoption, but since Dh says he isn't, I will have to slowly whittle him down.

I'm starting lupron 11/14, and stims tent. 11/23.  Bring it! 

SuzanneJesse

BzeetyD:

may2806:

Hey, I'm a DE vet so I thought I'd chime in here. Making the transition from OE to DE was pretty tough for me, but I got to a point where I just couldn't take another failed cycle. After having one egg retrieved and it not fertilize, that was my breaking point. I took a summer off and thought, I could get off this roller coaster and try something that could actually work, and just move on with that and be happy; or I could continue to go through this misery. At that point the choice seemed easier. I actually did one more "gentle stim" IVF cycle to see if that approach would work, but when it didn't I moved on right away to DE.

Unfortunately DE was not (yet) the answer for me, but that's another story!

(also, the donor is never called the bio mother... your body, your biology, you give birth, you are the bio mother. Maybe you would call the donor 'genetic mother', but in the donor world as I know it, the donor is never referred to as 'mother'. But that's up to each individual how they want to think of her.)

Hey thanks! I'm clearly new to this and that's helpful to me. 

Hope you don't mind if I jump here to tack on to May's post.  My clinic has a mandatory consult with their in-house psychologist so that you and your husband can ask all the questions you want.  She also said the above..that the 'genetic donor' is just that, you are the biological mother. The nourishment you give allows the baby to grow, etc.  That consult was really really really helpful for us.  For additional perspective, we also consulted with a private adoption attorney and was far more intimidated by that then we ended up being about egg donation.  Just our side of the story.  Good luck as you begin your process!