2nd opinion was AWESOME!
AmandaMacD
member
Not only did I love the new RE, but I walked out with a diagnosis.
Dr. Drews was so thorough, clearly communicated his thoughts and never once did he discredit my previous clinic. I was there for 2 1/2 hours and he covered everything. Based upon my previous response in IVF, he wanted to check me for PCOS. Even though I don't have any telltale PCOS signs, he wanted to to test me for insulin resistance and PCOS. He did a ridiculously thorough ultrasound and immediately saw 20 small cysts on my right ovary in the textbook PCOS pattern. I had 11 on my left and it looked similar. I had 31 smal cysts on my ovaries...not residual from IVF cysts.....classic, look like a pearl necklace in my ovaries PCOS cysts. WTF? HOW WAS THIS NOT SEEN AT MY PREVIOUS CLINIC? So there it is...I have PCOS.
I go for my insulin blood test on Monday. I will get the results back from that next week. I carry my extra baggage in my middle...a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Since type 2 diabetes runs in my family, I am pretty sure I have this as well, as is Dr. Drews.
I have my RX for Metformin and will be on this until I get pregnant or cycle again, whichever comes first. I also have to be on a low-carb, low-sugar diet, most likely forever. The longer you are on Metaformin, the better quality cycle.
He also discovered the source of my spotting. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? My cervix is positioned a bit funny and is damaged from child birth. We actually saw this on the ultrasound screen. This has no negative impact on me getting pregnant.
So that is is....I start Metformin next week and will be on it until middle Septmeber/October time frame. Provided PCOS and insulin resistence are my ONLY egg quality issues, there is a good chance I can get pregnant on my own!!!!!! YIPPEE!!!!!!
I am beyond happy to have an idea of what is going on and why we are having such a hard time. On the other hand, I am so angry at my old clinic. How did they miss this? How did I miss this? Whatever....I am focused on the now and now is awesome. I am still holding my head high and am enjoying my life. I vow to live this way now until the day I die. This journey of 2IF may suck, but I am blessed beyond beief in every other area of my life.
(Totally C&P this to my blog...ssshhhh!)
"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."
Re: 2nd opinion was AWESOME!
M/C January 2008
DS February 16th, 2009
TTC #2 July 2010
Diagnosed MFI
IUI#1 w/ bravelle 5/12/11 -- 0% morph on day of IUI, but somehow BFP:
Beta #1 38 at 12dpiui, Beta #2 85 at 14dpiui Beta #3 1100 at 19dpiui
DD born December 28, 2011 at 34w6d
oh Amanda! That is wonderful news! I am so happy that you finally have an answer. I am sure you are so relieved!
(ps... your daughter is such a cutie pie! I love the new pic)
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face. -Eleanor Roosevelt
After 1 year of TTC#2 BFP May 2011 m/c #3 4w2d. Off to RE.
Round 1: Femara + Ovidrel +TI = BFP! EDD 2/20/12
2IF does not always equal 3IF...Surprise!
I'm so glad you loved your RE and have a diagnosis! I also have PCOS and have been working on those dietary changes since September. It's tough, but I know you can do it! As a bonus, you'll feel wonderful. I'm so excited for you that there's a chance you might get PG on your own - still holding good thoughts for you Amanda! =-D
"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."
Miracle DD born 12.2005
TTC #2 since Dec 2008 w/ PCOS
***P/SAIF Always Welcome***
Keep it Natural, Baby!
Mom to Teagan 4.11.07 and Cora 9.30.11
D&E @ 22w 9.30.09 CMV infection BFP 10.15.10 C/P 4w4d
Amanda,
So glad you got some REAL answers!!! That's amazing! Best of luck to you!!!
TTC #2, Operative hysteroscopy March 2011; IVF #1 long lupron protocol April 2011-cancelled due to poor response; IVF #2 flare protocol May 2011=hospitalization due to abdominal hemorrhage during ER and no fert due to MFI issues. Moving onto international adoption from Moldova January 2013!
I am over the MOON for you!!! I am so glad you opted for a second opinion and that it turned out to be such a good decision. I can only imagine how good you must have felt leaving that office. I would totally be mad at my other RE too, if I was you. Good luck with your IR testing....I mean, it would suck to have it, but suck not to too, since at least you have Metformin as a treatment option if you are. I have two friends with IR PCOS and Metformin has worked wonders for them. One of them was TTC for 2 years and before moving onto IVF she begged her doctor to try her on Metformin and within 2 months she was pg on her own. The other one got pg on her own too. Just a word of caution - Metformin can cause a B12 deficiency which can affect negatively affect your pregnancy (happened with one of my friends) so make sure you talk to your pharmacist about taking a B12 supplement while you're on the Met.
I have a feeling you're never going to have to cycle again
Wohoo!!!!
*TW loss and children mentioned*
Apr 17: IUI #1 = BFN
May 17: IUI #2 = BFN
Jun 17: IUI #3 = Late BFP (18 DPO) | NMC 17Jul17 @ ~6w
Aug 17: IUI #4 = Cancelled due to premature ovulation | TI = BFN
Sep 17: IUI #5 = Cancelled due to overstimulation (10+ follies)
Nov 17: IVF #1 = Cancelled due to non-IF related health issue | TI = BFN
Dec 17: IVF #1 = Puregon 200, Menopur 75, Orgalutran, Suprefact trigger due to OHSS risk | 22R, 18M, 16F, 10B frozen
Feb 18: FET #1 (medicated) = BFN
Mar 18: FET #2 (natural cycle) = CP (beta 1: 54; beta 2: 0)
EDD: 07Jan2019 Team Green
My Rainbow Baby Boy born 03Jan2019
I'm so glad your 2nd opinion went well! I'm surprised you were never diagnosed with PCOS before! I tuly believe the metformin for me made all the difference. As soon as I started metformin, I responded much better to other IF meds and even got PG my first cycle with metformin + femera, and although I m/c that pregnancy, I became pg again without any meds the next month with just metformin which means I ovulated on my own for the first time in years! Good luck with the met and maybe you wont have to wait til sept to cycle again, cuz you'll get PG on your own!
TTC #2 since Nov '07
Tried 4 cycles of Clomid, TI, Gonal-f, and IUI's - all BFFN's
Both tubes removed Nov '09
Low AMH = 0.3
IVF #1 for Feb '10 - cancelled due to poor response - Gonal-f and Repronex
IVF #1.2 for June '10 - Gonal-f, Menopur, and micro Lupron
ER - 6/19 (2 retrieved), ET - 6/22 (1 transferred with ICSI), Beta 7/5 = BFFN
IVF #2 for Nov '10 was cancelled due to poor response - Follistim, Repronex, and micro Lupron
IVF #2.2 for Feb '11 - Gonal-f, Repronex, and Ganirelix
ER - 2/24 (8 retrieved), ET - 3/1 (2 transferred with ICSI), froze 3, Beta 3/11 = BFFN
FET - 4/19 (3 transferred), Beta 4/28 = BFP, EDD 1/4/12
Hi Amanda,
I used to be on this board and check up on all of you a lot so I came across your post. I'm so happy that you have a diagnosis. I wanted to share with you that during my struggle to get pregnant with my first son....that's all it took for me was Metformin. We were trying for 1.5 years and I finally went to see a specialist. Without any examination or tests, she diagnosed me with PCOS just based on the fact that I didn't ovulate regularly and the number of family members with diabetes. So after 3 months of being on Metformin....I conceived. And that was with my husband's sperm count being extremely low. So good luck to you. I'm assuming you will use ovulation predictor sticks to time intercourse correctly? I also suggest temping every morning too, not sure if you have tried that but as I'm sure you know...timing is everything! I'm very happy for you and I have a feeling this will work for you!
I am so thankful to finally have the answers I have been looking for. I am thrilled to be on the right path now and I know that this is what is going to do the trick for me. I am so lucky to ovulate on my own, but adding diet and metformin into the mix is going to work in my favor....I JUST KNOW IT.
I really have no idea how I would even be where I am not without all of you. Thank you so much.
"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..."
TTC #2 since 9/09 --- mild PCOS; Endometriosis
IUI x4 = BFN
IVF = sometime in 2012