Not sure what to do...

kellyrn9956 · April 2012

RE's office called. All of my insurance has been paid, and I have a $500 credit, which was what we were waiting to hear about. I will have $0 OOP - yes, zero - to do one more IUI. I would only have to pay for more Follistim, which is covered, just a $75 copay. But for some reason, the Lupron scares the sh*t out of me. I am OK with using Lupron for IVF since the chances are so good. But taking that drug with only a 4-5% shot of success makes me nervous.

Maybe I am overthinking things. I only know how Lupron affects the women I take care of with breast cancer. Maybe the dose is a lot smaller for IF.

Anyway, WW3TD? 4-5% chance of success with another IUI. And I am deathly afraid of the Lupron. Would you take one more shot at IUI, or just move to IVF?

bandwife928 · April 2012

I think I'd just let the $500 go toward an IVF expense. When you're in the throes of paying OOP for IVF, $500 will seem like a drop in the bucket but every little bit helps.

BethanyB2609 · April 2012

My opinion is to put the $500 towards your IVF. With such a small chance of success I wouldn't want the added stress/potential disappointment of another failed cycle. I hope you are able to find peace in your decision, I'm really pulling for you!

Now, I have a question for you! I will be using Lupron for my IVF cycle and now I'm a little scared. What do you know about Lupron? Please share!

BlueEyes313 · April 2012

I agree with PP's about putting the $500 toward IVF. What ever you decide to do GL!

bandwife928 · April 2012

BethanyB2609:

My opinion is to put the $500 towards your IVF. With such a small chance of success I wouldn't want the added stress/potential disappointment of another failed cycle. I hope you are able to find peace in your decision, I'm really pulling for you!

Now, I have a question for you! I will be using Lupron for my IVF cycle and now I'm a little scared. What do you know about Lupron? Please share!

Ditto! I didn't use it for my fresh cycle but I'm supposed to use it for my FET. Share!

alb245 · April 2012

I'm new to all of this, but I wanted to respond because I've been lurking for a while and have read your posts and your blog (Sorry - that sounds SO stalkerish!) I agree with pp that a $500 credit toward IVF sounds good. Especially with only a 4-5% success rate with the IUI and the fact that you've already done IUI a few times. GL and keep us posted!!

Gregermis · April 2012

With that low of a success rate I'd move on to IVF even with the next IUI paid

amd1982 · April 2012

Before I read everyone's responses, I was ready to say "try the free IUI! why not?" but decided to think it over as i read through all of the 3T responses. I know deep down how low the success rates are (with anyone) when it comes to IUI, however i still kept a ridiculous amount of hope alive with my first one. And i know how devastated i was when that didn't work. Money aside, i would look at it as what's best for you and DH's mental health. Any kind of medicated cycle is an emotional roller coaster. But for me, I'd rather put that emotion into something I know has the best possible results. If it were my choice, i know it would be difficult but i'd probably put that $500 into IVF as well. Unless something comes up where you can't start IVF for a while due to finances (although I think you said you cut your wait time down right?) and are really wanting to cycle.....then that's your chioce. But if finances are in order, I'd hold out for the IVF to give you the best possible chance for your take home baby. GL!! Do you know what your IVF timeframe is??

LyssRob · April 2012

I messed up the quote feature, but amd said: Before I read everyone's responses, I was ready to say "try the free IUI! why not?" but decided to think it over as i read through all of the 3T responses.

Me too! I know nothing about the Lupron, but is it worth even the emotional roller coaster for such a small success rate? Probably not...when are you planning IVF? Did you ever fill us in about coverage from the hospital being taken over?

kellygksu · April 2012

I would probably put it towards IVF too, but I have almost no faith that IUI's work anymore! Of course, I also have my doubts that people actually get pregnant from having sex : )

That said, I had no problems with Lupron for my IVF cycle. I was on 10 units for 7-10 days, then dropped to 5 units when I started stims. Maybe the dosage is much higher for breast cancer patients. I may have had little headaches here and there, but I'm not even sure those could be blamed on the Lupron. My RE is debating putting me on a different dose of Lupron for IVF #2, and for a longer time, I think. But that's to control endo. Who knows what the s/e's will be from that. Anyway, if Lupron is the only thing holding you back, I didn't think it was too bad at all, for me.

Good luck, whatever you decide!

katib77 · April 2012

If you had already decided not to do any more IUIs before the found $500, I would stick to that plan.

kellyrn9956 · April 2012

Thank you ladies! I appreciate all of your opinions! This is all so difficult, and I am a horrible decision-maker anyway. Lol.

So, I probably should clarify why I am scared of the Lupron. I know that it mimics menopause - maybe that is just after long-term use like we give with breast cancer. The dose that a breast cancer patient gets is many, many times higher than with IVF, which I found out this morning, so that's somewhat comforting.

My issue is that I have pretty bad generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder that highly correlates with hormonal shifts. Any medication that completely shuts down my hormonal system could cause me major anxiety and/or depression. I did very well with Follistim, surprisingly, and hope that I would do okay with Lupron, but it just scares me. My issue is rarely with having high levels of hormones; it usually relates to major drops in hormones, like post-progesterone and I had a terrible time post-m/c when I had my drop in prog and HCG. Which means PPD is very likely for me, which is another whole scary issue.

Anyway, to answer the question about insurance coverage, I won't find out until around September, which is fine since I am not doing IVF until January either way.

Jezebell26 · April 2012

I have never used Lupron for more than a trigger shot but am starting it next month. The dose is very very low. I used 0.2 to trigger and I believe that is around the same dosage for daily use. I have heard some stories about lupron headaches and such and I guess I am hoping its just like bcps and am expecting some s/e from it.

I was also in the boat of hey just do the "free" iui and now I read the responses and want to side with put the money towards IVF. But now that I see you aren't doing it until around January I am leaning towards the last IUI so that you have something before January. But then again Id rather you stay focused and prepared for IVF and im sure you dont need another cycle in the mix to stress over. Hmmm tough call. But I think I am back in the save it for IVF boat. Maybe if the success rates were higher I'd reconsider.

I am sorry you are in this position. I will be started lupron next month and will let you know how it goes! I am concerned about it messing up my emotional state. I dont know much about it. I do have depression and have been in therapy for over a year from all of this crap. I think she also said I have dysmorphic disorder or something of that nature. I am going to start circle+bloom in hopes of keeping my head on straight this time and am continuing therapy.

Best of luck to you dear! Sorry that was a novel HUGS

LSU Tigers · April 2012

bandwife928:
BethanyB2609:

My opinion is to put the $500 towards your IVF. With such a small chance of success I wouldn't want the added stress/potential disappointment of another failed cycle. I hope you are able to find peace in your decision, I'm really pulling for you!

Now, I have a question for you! I will be using Lupron for my IVF cycle and now I'm a little scared. What do you know about Lupron? Please share!

Ditto! I didn't use it for my fresh cycle but I'm supposed to use it for my FET. Share!

Just my .02....

I am currently on monthly injections of Lupron to suppress ovulation to prohibit the remaining Endo from growing. Really, the only major side effect that I've had is hot flashes. I find that they get more intense towards the end of the cycle. I've had a couple of headaches here and there, and I've been incredibly forgetful, but I think that could also be attributed to school craziness! Other than the hot flashes, my Lupron experience really hasn't been all that terrible!

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