Kind of a month off

PPL2011

It was a really dark week for me after hearing about my horrible PGS results. AF arrived on Thursday and Friday I went in for bloodwork/u/s. Everything is good to proceed with ivf #2, but I'm not jumping into stims right away. I talked to my RE about possibly switching things up and we are going with the EPP (estrogen priming protocol) for ivf #2. It begins with taking estrogen after I ovulate and then wait for AF and then start stims w/ganirelix. She said she would also give me some growth hormone. The conversation I had with my RE was good, positive and hopeful. She's so smart and we talked about several studies she recommends I read (instead of googling random boards and blogs). Part of me wishes I would just shut up when she says "ok, you responded well, we'll do MDL protocol again". We spoke at length about egg quality (mostly me looking for excuses for my 41 year old eggs) and she was fine with doing something else. After we came to a conclusion, I'm like..."wait...don't just change it up to try to make me happy...will this be good?!" Oye...vay...I trust her, she wouldn't do something she didn't think would suit me, but I'm constantly second guessing everything. Anyone else do this? 

Anyone have any thoughts on EPP?  

Jacque Sills

I am sending you many (((((hugs))))), PPL.  I am so sorry that you had to go through that, so unfair. 

Would you mind telling me more about the PGS protocol, only if, you are up to it.  I don't want to upset you.  I know that this must still be very fresh and hurts.  I can't even imagine. 

As you know, I am just starting out, so I will not be able to help answer your questions on the EEP, but I look forward to hearing the future posts from the other ladies with their knowledge and experiences.

By the way, in regards to egg quality, what types of supplements does your RE have you on, if you don't mind me asking?  Mine has me on a superwoman's dosage...Lol.  Maybe, we can compare notes....

Oh my, the very first lab slip they gave me, it only took 3.5 minutes before I asked them, why I was taking my progestrone/estridol blood work on the same day, I thought Dr. Google was right and I should have it done differently....Wrong!  Lol.

Yes, trusting is very hard, especially when emotions are involved.  I hope that you get your answers and some rest before you start round 2 of your journey...

Know you are in my Thoughts and Prayers.  Best of Luck to you. 

BAKERMOMHDS

Hi PPL!

I think a month off is a really good idea .  Hopefully, you'll have some time to relax and be more comfortable with the process.

I've never done EPP, I did a semi-modified EPP for #2, but i'm pretty sure Brooklynesque did EPP for IVF#3. Ganirelix is my least favorite fertility drug, dull needle and it always gives me a itchy rash .

I'm super rooting for you!!! I'll dust my old pom poms off and get ready for the cheering section!!

PPL2011

Hi Jacque-Thanks for your kind words. And thanks for being sensitive...I'm totally up for sharing....My last protocol was the micro dose lupron protocol. I did bcps for 7 days, waited for af, then did 10 units of micro dose lupron in the am and pm for two days then added 150 menopur in the am and 450 follistim in the pm. It's 4 shots a day plus dexamethasone.  I triggered after 13 days. The PGS comes into play after the egg retrieval. My eggs were retrieved, after 3 days I got a report letting me know how they were still growing, then after 6 days, they turned into blastocysts and formed the trophectoderm (which is essentially the future placenta). The embryologist took a biopsy of the trophectoderm and then froze my blastocysts. The biopsied samples were sent to genesis genetics and 48 hours later my RE called me with the results. If the results were good (hopefully that will happen next go around) they would do a frozen embryo transfer (FET) in the next cycle. Here's a description of the test https://www.genesisgenetics.org/pgs.html

As for supplements, my RE suggested: CoQ10-200mg, DHEA-25mg (I don't take this) and Vitamin D-4000iu. I also take one baby aspirin a day, Metanx (which is b6, folate and b12) for my MTHFR, Synthyroid (very low dose) because even though my tsh is normal, she likes to see it as close to 1.0 as possible, and last but not least, Citra-Natal with DHA prenatal vitamin. What's superwoman's dosage?

Thanks again! 

PPL2011

BAKERMOMHDS:

Hi PPL!

I think a month off is a really good idea .  Hopefully, you'll have some time to relax and be more comfortable with the process.

I've never done EPP, I did a semi-modified EPP for #2, but i'm pretty sure Brooklynesque did EPP for IVF#3. Ganirelix is my least favorite fertility drug, dull needle and it always gives me a itchy rash .

I'm super rooting for you!!! I'll dust my old pom poms off and get ready for the cheering section!!

Thanks for cheering!! That's so nice of you and I appreciate all the pom poms you can get your hands on.

Did you get as many eggs retrieved with #2 as you did with your MDLs? And, dull needles...jeez...you'd think the drug company would address that!! 

Thanks again!! 

happywifemomofone

I did do EPP, but to be quite honest-it was over a year ago and I don't remember all the details.  I also used HGH.  Only suggestion that I have is to triple check with the pharmacy and make sure that they send you the vial of HGH that you mix yourself.  We had a problem with out December cycle.  There is HGH that comes in a contraption that you load into a administration gadget.  There was absolutely NO WAY to access the medication without the gadget-which they didn't send.  I was hysterical and on the phone with the pharmacy for hours, missed a day of HGH, and then they finally sent me a same day shipment with the correct HGH the next day.  It was my last cycle with my OE and I was a hormonal mess to the poor woman on the other line.  Think that I used Saizen HGH and we used Walmart Specialty Pharmacy.  Freedom Fertility did not carry HGH at that time.  GL with your cycle, we might even be cycling together.  I am expecting my donors ER in early April.

HeathernSteven

I have no advice, but wanted to say how much I admire all you are doing!! It takes a lot of strength to stick with the protocalls - so I just wanted to let all the ladies know how much I admire and cheer you on!!

As for dull needles, shees why aren't they all super sharp, i would think that should be no brainer!

BeckyP005

HeathernSteven:

I have no advice, but wanted to say how much I admire all you are doing!! It takes a lot of strength to stick with the protocalls - so I just wanted to let all the ladies know how much I admire and cheer you on!!

As for dull needles, shees why aren't they all super sharp, i would think that should be no brainer!

All of this!

Jacque Sills

Hi PPL,

 Hope you weekend is going well.....

To answer your question:

 What's superwoman's dosage?  Lol, I wish I was but my doses are!

Here goes:

*Myo-Inositol, 2 grams, twice daily, that regulates cellular response, it has to be the Myo powder version per my doctor.  Can't remember why...

*CoQ10 w/Qsorb, 800mg

*Pycnogenol 100mg, Antioxidant

*PreNatal with Folic(1,000mcg)

*L-Arginine 2,000mg 1 morning/1 night, supports proteins/creatine synthesis,nitric oxide production and the detoxification of ammonia in the body.

*D3 2,000IU

*E 200IU

*C 500mg

*Omega3 1,000mg

*Melotonin 3mg at bedtime....

Whew....that is my superwoman regime! 

By the way, I concur with the other ladies about your strengh and determination, very admirable!  Wishing you the best....

brooklynesque

Hi, PPL.  I did do EPP this last time.  There are a lot of variations; in mine I started estrogen patches on day 21 of the previous cycle and gave myself 3 ganirelix injections starting on day 22.  Then basically stims + ganirelix a few days into stims.  The cycle didn't turn out well for me as you know, but I've definitely heard that it can improve egg quality in some women.  I think it's definitely worth a try -- I've also heard that switching protocols can make a dramatic difference in some cases.  So it's not a bad idea to experiment a bit if you've had less than optimal results in your previous attempt.  Best of luck!

HeathernSteven

Jacque Sills:

*L-Arginine 2,000mg 1 morning/1 night, supports proteins/creatine synthesis,nitric oxide production and the detoxification of ammonia in the body

By the way, I concur with the other ladies about your strengh and determination, very admirable!  Wishing you the best....

Is this 2000 Am & pm or 1000 am 1000pm......?

Jacque Sills

Hi Heather,

Sorry for the confusion.  It is 1,000 am/1,000pm.

PPL2011

brooklynesque:

Hi, PPL.  I did do EPP this last time.  There are a lot of variations; in mine I started estrogen patches on day 21 of the previous cycle and gave myself 3 ganirelix injections starting on day 22.  Then basically stims + ganirelix a few days into stims.  The cycle didn't turn out well for me as you know, but I've definitely heard that it can improve egg quality in some women.  I think it's definitely worth a try -- I've also heard that switching protocols can make a dramatic difference in some cases.  So it's not a bad idea to experiment a bit if you've had less than optimal results in your previous attempt.  Best of luck!

Thank you! Yes, I'm switching it up in the hopes that maybe I could get better egg quality. Obviously, it's my AGE, my AGE, my AGE. We shall see...

PPL2011

HeathernSteven:

I have no advice, but wanted to say how much I admire all you are doing!! It takes a lot of strength to stick with the protocalls - so I just wanted to let all the ladies know how much I admire and cheer you on!!

As for dull needles, shees why aren't they all super sharp, i would think that should be no brainer!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!