what we did different for IVF#4 (preg mentioned)..

pria2004 · January 2010

Some of you had asked me about my cycle details and what I did different at my 4th IVF cycle.So here are a few things we did different that may have helped.

Metformin -At my third IVF WTF appt I discussed with my RE about using Metformin. I do not have PCOS. But I may have "PCOS like" ovaries.She was on board with this and after a few blood sugar tests etc starting May 09 I started taking Metformin (1500 mg a day).I have had no major side effects. Except occassions of feeling miserable after a pizza or mexican(cheesy) dinner.
Weight Loss - I have been overweight all my life (150-160lbs). By my third IVF I was 167lbs.Even before I talked to my RE I had already started Weight Watchers.I just needed to lose all that IVF related weight.Later when I talked to my RE she didnt see a real need to lose weight.But she said sometimes even losing 5-10lbs has helped. Well by Sept 09 I had lost 25 lbs. I was down to 140lbs.
Depot Lupron - I suffer from severe Endo,a result of a non communicating uterine horn that empties some residues of monthly period into my pelvis.After IVF#3 I continued to be on and off BCP to keep the endo under control.Around Aug 09 my endo related pelvic pain started flaring up again. I had done 6 months of Depot Lupron( two 3 month shots) before my IVF#1 which was from Apr 07-Oct 07 and then my first IVF was in Feb 08. I think #1 the 6 month dose was too strong and had some damage and #2 the gap from Oct 07 to apr 08 was enough for Endo to come back.So this time we changed that. After discussion with RE we decided to do 3 months of Depot Lupron therapy( monthly shot of Depot Lupron for 3 consecutive months) and move right into a IVF cycle 4 weeks after the last shot.
BCP- After my 3 months of Depot Lupron we chose to not do BCP since this would over supress me. I had found multiple other cases at other centers where BCP usage after depot Lupron and before IVF was avoided.Hence I suggested to my we do the same and she agreed.
Stim Protocol- IVF#1 and IVF#2 were both antagonist(ganirelix protocol) with stims going on for 14-15 days. IVF#3 was micro-dose lupron and again was about 13-14 days of stimming.All cycles I produced 25+ eggs. So at my WTF appt we insisted that we try to stim for shorter period and focus on quality over quantity. For IV#4 I was on a daily dose of 450IU Gonal F and 150IU of Menopur.I stimmed for 10 days, much less than before
Accupuncture- I had done Accupuncture at a local place during IVF#2. I didnt see any significant improvements.but for IVF#4 I chose to go to centre named Pulling Down The Moon - affiliated with Shady Grove.Multiple nesties had recommended them.Plus it was conviniently located right next to my fert center. I did 2 sessions before my stims started, and 2 sessions during my stims. Then they have this "special" accupunsture sessions right before and after the transfer where they do a completely different protocol than before ER.Heat is applied to the feet after transfer vs on your belly before retrieval.I did another accupuncture 7 days into the 2ww.
Progestrone - During all my past IVFs I had experienced severe cramping after embryo transfers. It would always start off like an orgasmic feeling turning into excrutiating cramps right after.All those cycles I took PIO. No body could explain this to me. My RE said technically PIO is supposed to relax uterine muscles.So we decided to try both suppositories and PIO for this cycle. The suppositories would localise the delivery of Progestrone thus reducing the cramping. I think this totally worked. This 2ww I hardly cramped the same way. Maybe some back ache and leg cramps but thats it.
RE- I have an excellent RE who will listen to me.And let me ask questions. I think it is very important to feel comfortable with your RE. That said, we were going to give our current center one last chance this time. We had 2 more IVFs through shared risk but we were planning to opt out and take that money towards another center or another option.
Last but not least,Prayers and tremendous family support

This is what kept me going (from Miley Cyrus's The Climb)....

...There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

I will try to check on this board often but will msotly be on SAIF.Please feel free to contact or page me if you need any information.

albjag · January 2010

woohoo! Congrats on your BFP.

Sue&Pasquale · January 2010

congratulations and thank you for this. I wish you 9 months of health and happiness.

jds0521 · January 2010

Congrats on your BFP!! I go to SGFRC as well, but the Fair Oaks location & I am applying for the shared risk program too. I'm so happy to hear your success story @ SG!! H&H 9 months!

PS - question - Did you have embryo's go to freeze after your fresh cycles? If so, did your RE try any FETs btwn your fresh cycles? I thought with the SG SR program, they make you do those if any embryos are left to freeze after a fresh cycle?

newsbaby · January 2010

Wow...thanks so much for sharing this. Congrats again to you!

pria2004 · January 2010

jds0521:
GL pria! I go to SGFRC as well, but the Fair Oaks location & I am applying for the shared risk program too. I hope this IVF attempt is it for you 7 you get your precious LO!!
PS - question - Did you have embryo's go to freeze after your fresh cycles? If so, did your RE try any FETs btwn your fresh cycles? I thought with the SG SR program, they make you do those if any embryos are left to freeze after a fresh cycle?

Hi jds. No I did not have any embryos frozen after any of my cycles. I was a case where I would produce large number of eggs (20 to 30) and equally many embryos(15-20) and they would all look good until Day 3 but gradually die out between day 3 and day 5. By day 6 I would usually have none left.This past cycle,I had one which made it past day 6 but i guess being bad quality and SGFC having high standards they chose not to freeze it.

Good luck with the shared risk program.It is an excellent program.I had 6 cycles. Did they make it 7 now? Also only recently did I find out that they now have shared risk with meds program.

catery18 · January 2010

pria, that's awesome, thanks for this info!! i am so happy for you!

what med did you trigger with??

jds0521 · January 2010

pria2004:
jds0521:
GL pria! I go to SGFRC as well, but the Fair Oaks location & I am applying for the shared risk program too. I hope this IVF attempt is it for you 7 you get your precious LO!!
PS - question - Did you have embryo's go to freeze after your fresh cycles? If so, did your RE try any FETs btwn your fresh cycles? I thought with the SG SR program, they make you do those if any embryos are left to freeze after a fresh cycle?
Hi jds. No I did not have any embryos frozen after any of my cycles. I was a case where I would produce large number of eggs (20 to 30) and equally many embryos(15-20) and they would all look good until Day 3 but gradually die out between day 3 and day 5. By day 6 I would usually have none left.This past cycle,I had one which made it past day 6 but i guess being bad quality and SGFC having high standards they chose not to freeze it.
Good luck with the shared risk program.It is an excellent program.I had 6 cycles. Did they make it 7 now? Also only recently did I find out that they now have shared risk with meds program.

Sorry for my first reply - I didn't realize that you got your BFP when I first responded. But then I remembered & went back to say congrats!!!

Thanks for the well wishes! The SR program is still does 6 cycles & they have a meds option now, but it's $7,500 & we have meds coverage from my insurance company so we didn't do that.

nikinikinine · January 2010

thanks for sharing!

kthappy76 · January 2010

Many congrats! I love PDtM acupuncture too!

svp1537 · January 2010

Thanks for all the info

I have three failed IVF's under my belt, and am so nervous about walking into the 4th cycle. Your post gives me some hope!

pria2004 · January 2010

catery18:
pria, that's awesome, thanks for this info!! i am so happy for you!
what med did you trigger with??

catery18. I triggered with generic HCG. not ovadril or pregnyl. however my trigger has always been 37 hours instead of 36 hrs before. My RE believes the extra one hr gives them more time to mature

pria2004 · January 2010

svp1537:
Thanks for all the info I have three failed IVF's under my belt, and am so nervous about walking into the 4th cycle. Your post gives me some hope!

I know it is hard to strap yourself onto that roller coaster ride again. We were this close to calling it a closed chapter of our life and move on. Wish you very best of luck. May 2010 be lucky for you too!

pria2004 · January 2010

jds0521:
pria2004:
jds0521:
GL pria! I go to SGFRC as well, but the Fair Oaks location & I am applying for the shared risk program too. I hope this IVF attempt is it for you 7 you get your precious LO!!
PS - question - Did you have embryo's go to freeze after your fresh cycles? If so, did your RE try any FETs btwn your fresh cycles? I thought with the SG SR program, they make you do those if any embryos are left to freeze after a fresh cycle?
Hi jds. No I did not have any embryos frozen after any of my cycles. I was a case where I would produce large number of eggs (20 to 30) and equally many embryos(15-20) and they would all look good until Day 3 but gradually die out between day 3 and day 5. By day 6 I would usually have none left.This past cycle,I had one which made it past day 6 but i guess being bad quality and SGFC having high standards they chose not to freeze it.
Good luck with the shared risk program.It is an excellent program.I had 6 cycles. Did they make it 7 now? Also only recently did I find out that they now have shared risk with meds program.
Sorry for my first reply - I didn't realize that you got your BFP when I first responded. But then I remembered & went back to say congrats!!!
Thanks for the well wishes! The SR program is still does 6 cycles & they have a meds option now, but it's $7,500 & we have meds coverage from my insurance company so we didn't do that.

hey no problem!! thats great that you have meds coverage. I wish i had that. It was all OOP for us.

Ali212 · January 2010

Pria-Thanks so much for sharing this....as I mentioned last week, I'm in a similar boat as you were in that I've had 3 failed IVFs so I was so anxious to hear what was different on #4 for you....my RE and I had spoken last month about my next cycle and made some changes / additions but I wanted to hear more real life examples from people that are struggling to have successful IVFs like me. I'm so happy for you - I hope you have a h&h 9 months!

theworms · January 2010

Congrats again cutie!!

Thanks for sharing and I'm wishing a H+H 9 months.

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