Consultation-shun-shun-shun (Long)

Scoop77

It was weird.

We went in, 100 percent certain that we wanted to switch clinics. We were even willing to consider keeping our frozen embryos on ice and starting again with a fresh cycle. I was fine with moving the embryos, too. Whatever it took.

The RE, though, said that he thought our best chances lay with doing an FET with our clinic from last time, which still has the embryos. He also said that 99 percent of the time, they don't accept frozen embryos from other labs.

He had some critiques of my last fresh cycle, specifically that he would never have upped the gonadotropins. The higher dosage, he said, was almost certainly to blame for the OHSS risk that caused my transfer to be canceled. He also said he doesn't truck with the intralipid, which we'd dumped anyway, and agrees with me that ICSI should be reserved for cases in which it's indicated. He agreed with me that our case didn't look like an ICSI one. 

I really, really liked this new doc, and so did DH. But if we trust him, he's telling us to stay where we are for an FET.

Meanwhile, a nurse from our old clinic called "just to check in." I'm sure she was tipped off by my requesting they send my records to a new clinic that I was looking around for a new RE. I did my best to spin things as if we were just preparing for an eventual third fresh cycle. After all, the RE there did tell me that his statistics after two failed fresh cycles "weren't good." (Sigh.)

Possibly complicating, but probably not, is that the frozen cycle for me was much worse than the fresh. I was on two PIO shots a day, plus Lupron, prednisone and all the estrogen and whatnot. It was horrific. I hated it and my @ss still hurts (seriously, my hip actually has never stopped hurting from the knots those shots caused). I know I sound like a baby with that complaint but I currently choose not to care!

Anyway, DH and I talked about this all last night and now we're torn. If we're going to stick with our old RE/clinic, I should probably get on the BCPs they'll have me on for six weeks sooner rather than later. I'm expecting Day 1 in a couple of weeks so we have a little time to decide.

Here endeth my novella on the consultation. Thanks for listening!

DoublePortion

Aw I'm sorry the consult didn't help you reach a clear cut decision. Did the new RE agree with the old clinic's FET protocol? I'm not familiar with how many FET protocol options there are, but perhaps they would try something a little less awful? Maybe at least let you use Crinone? ((hugs)) I hope you & YH are able to reach a decision you both feel comfortable with!

Julie21613

Hey Scoop....  It sounds like a pretty good consultaSHUN..... disappointing that they don't except frozen embies from other clinics though.  If you decide to stay with current clinic for your FET hopefully you won't need to switch clinics after all!

Enjoy your Valentine's Day!

Scoop77

DoublePortion:

Aw I'm sorry the consult didn't help you reach a clear cut decision. Did the new RE agree with the old clinic's FET protocol? I'm not familiar with how many FET protocol options there are, but perhaps they would try something a little less awful? Maybe at least let you use Crinone? ((hugs)) I hope you & YH are able to reach a decision you both feel comfortable with!

Thanks, DP. The new RE said he didn't think there was much need for as long of a course of prednisone as I had been on but otherwise he was OK with it. Sounds like there's not that much difference between them.

And I would LOVE to switch to Crinone. Maybe I'll ask, but my current RE is old-fashioned and said he likes the PIO.

Scoop77

Julie21613:

Hey Scoop....  It sounds like a pretty good consultaSHUN..... disappointing that they don't except frozen embies from other clinics though.  If you decide to stay with current clinic for your FET hopefully you won't need to switch clinics after all!

Enjoy your Valentine's Day!

Thanks! You, too.

We'll see what happens...

liz4paws

Interesting info...sounds like a lot to soak in. I hope that you feel good about whatever decision you decide to make I bet you're itching to be able to move forward one way or another.

joules12

I'm glad you were able to get his feedback/thoughts on things, I'm just sorry that it didn't lead to more definitive answers and clear-cut options.  I hope that, after a few days of consideration, you and DH are able to make a decision that you both feel comfortable with.  I am clueless about frozen cycles (or fresh vs frozen), so all I can offer is support and best wishes!

Citygirl1015

I'm sorry that your second opinion didn't give you more definitive answers.

Even though this doesn't help your current dilemma, I like that the new RE didn't push you to do the FET through them. I don't know why, but it makes him seem like he's not just trying to push his own agenda and get you to switch even if it doesn't help your chances for success.

Hopefully after some consideration over a few days, your choice will seem a little clearer. Best of luck with whatever you decide!

BzeetyD

I'm glad you had a good appointment but sorry about the outcome/reco.

Echoing others, can you ask to do prometrium or something? At our clinics it's patient's choice. Hopefully you can try it and use PIO as a back-up, if they're not satisfied with your results.

What shape are your frozens in? 

Hope you can come to a decision you feel happy & good & hopeful about.

kflynn81

Oh wow, thats a lot to take in!!  Hopefully you're able to make a decision you're both comfortable with, thats a tough one, I'm sorry!!

luvboston

I would go with the new person and do a fresh cycle

PurpleIris30

Citygirl1015:

Even though this doesn't help your current dilemma, I like that the new RE didn't push you to do the FET through them. I don't know why, but it makes him seem like he's not just trying to push his own agenda and get you to switch even if it doesn't help your chances for success. 

I had the same thought.  

What quality are your frozen embryos? 

MommyKayla11

kflynn81:

Oh wow, thats a lot to take in!!  Hopefully you're able to make a decision you're both comfortable with, thats a tough one, I'm sorry!!

This. So sorry! 

Scoop77

Citygirl1015:

I'm sorry that your second opinion didn't give you more definitive answers.

Even though this doesn't help your current dilemma, I like that the new RE didn't push you to do the FET through them. I don't know why, but it makes him seem like he's not just trying to push his own agenda and get you to switch even if it doesn't help your chances for success.

Hopefully after some consideration over a few days, your choice will seem a little clearer. Best of luck with whatever you decide!

I totally agree!

Scoop77

PurpleIris30:

Citygirl1015:

Even though this doesn't help your current dilemma, I like that the new RE didn't push you to do the FET through them. I don't know why, but it makes him seem like he's not just trying to push his own agenda and get you to switch even if it doesn't help your chances for success. 

I had the same thought.  

What quality are your frozen embryos? 

Notso hotso, apparently. Fair quality. 

Scoop77

BzeetyD:

I'm glad you had a good appointment but sorry about the outcome/reco.

Echoing others, can you ask to do prometrium or something? At our clinics it's patient's choice. Hopefully you can try it and use PIO as a back-up, if they're not satisfied with your results.

What shape are your frozens in? 

Hope you can come to a decision you feel happy & good & hopeful about.

If we stay with the current RE/clinic, I will definitely ask about alternatives to PIO. I also want to scale back on the prednisone on the rec of this new RE. He scared the crap outta me with some of the risks associated in germs of gestational diabetes and eclamypsia.