Trouble TTC

Introduction

Hi everyone! I've been "lurking" (sounds so creepy lol) for the past couple of months now, and I have found that you ladies are really helpful and supportive, and that is exactly what I've been looking for. I have been to other websites but have not found the level of support to be quite the same elsewhere. I'm hoping I'm at the right board, if not, any suggestions for other places would be much appreciated. So here's a little about me: 

Me (27) DH (28). We did the NTNP thing for a few years, 2008-2011 (info should be in siggy, but I'm a total newb so please bear with me if it didn't show up yet). We decided to start working towards "trying" in 2011. Nothing, zip, nada. All those years and not one BFP. I decided it was time to seek out a specialist, but with my insurance and financial situation, the best I could do was an OB/GYN that specializes in fertility. I started clomid in Feb. of this year, and have taken it through this month, but after reading about how not doing monitoring while on Clomid is VERY dangerous, I've decided to stop for the time being. So, that's where I'm at now. I do have a lot of questions about RE's because that is the route I'd like to take next. Since it will be all OOP for me most of my questions as of now are about cost. I don't know if it's appropriate to ask financial questions right off the bat, and if not I'm very sorry, but if anyone has any info they can, or would like to, share regarding RE's I would be extremely grateful. Sorry it's such a long post and thank you for taking the time to read.
Me: 27 DH :28
NTNP for 3 years 2008-2011
TTC since Nov. 2011 (BBT, Charting, OPK's)
"Actively" TTC since Feb. 2014
HSG Feb. 2014 - all clear
SA - all good
Mar. 2014 Clomid 50 mg days 3-7 - BFN
Apr. 2014 Clomid 50 mg days 3-7 - BFN
May 2014 Clomid 50 mg days 3-7 - BFN
Learned Clomid unmonitored is a NO-NO
July RE appointment - finally!

Re: Introduction

  • No, unfortunately nothing at all, not even diagnostics :/ I don't know if it's possible for some of my testing to be coded differently though, that's definitely something I will have to look into. I am very much a step-by-step kind of person so just having an idea of initial visit cost is a great help. Thank you :)
    Me: 27 DH :28
    NTNP for 3 years 2008-2011
    TTC since Nov. 2011 (BBT, Charting, OPK's)
    "Actively" TTC since Feb. 2014
    HSG Feb. 2014 - all clear
    SA - all good
    Mar. 2014 Clomid 50 mg days 3-7 - BFN
    Apr. 2014 Clomid 50 mg days 3-7 - BFN
    May 2014 Clomid 50 mg days 3-7 - BFN
    Learned Clomid unmonitored is a NO-NO
    July RE appointment - finally!

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  • Welcome.

    Seeing a RE is definitely still worth it. A lot of us are OOP and still go to a RE. Do you have specific questions on costs? I don't know much about the costs of testing, because my insurance covered that. Many RE offices are able to get a lot of that billed as diagnostics instead of infertility. Clomid is usually the first step. Like @packerfan4life said, the drug is very cheap. It's the monitoring (very important) that is expensive. Mine is $1,500/cycle, which includes all of the bloodwork and ultrasounds. An IUI is an add $350, but depending on your diagnosis you could potentially do timed intercourse instead.

    Good luck with everything. I hope you can get to a RE soon. They usually have financial counselors that will walk you through all of the OOP costs and possible financing options (though you might be better off financing on your own, if needed).
    **siggy warning**  **everyone welcome**

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    DS- 11.07.02
    DSS- 6.26.04
    Married- 6.29.13
    TTC Again- Sept. 2013
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Test Results/Diagnosis- HSG & SA totally normal
    DX: 3/2014 Prolactinoma/Hyperprolactinemia- Started cabergoline 2/2014
    5/2014 Possible mild PCOS in addition to hyperprolactinemia??
    7/2014 Adding probable tubal factor to the diagnosis list
    9/2014 And now adding hypothyroid to the list- Started synthroid 9/2014
    Cycles 1-4 - Sept.-March- All Anovulatory 
    IUI #1 March/April-  Clomid 50mg + Clomid 100mg +Trigger + IUI #1 = BFN
     IUI #2 April/May-Clomid 100mg + Clomid 150mg + Trigger + IUI #2 + Endometrin=BFN
    IUI #3- June- Follistim 75iu + Trigger + IUI #3  Benched due to a 40 mm cyst. :-(
    IUI #3- July- Follistim 75iu + Trigger + IUI #3 + Endometrin = BFP! on 7/25/14
    Slowly rising betas - Ectopic suspected on 8/8/14 & confirmed on 8/11/14
    Methotrexate on 8/12/14 -HCG negative on 9/2/14
    IVF #1- November- Antagonist protocol: 11/1: start stims, 200iu of Follistim; 11/12 ER 17R/14M/14F; 11/17 5 day transfer of two blasts, 2 blasts and 2 expanding morulas frozen; 11/22 BFP!! (On FRER at 5dp5dt)
    Betas: 9dp5dt 205, 11dp5dt 497, 14dp5dt 1,709
    u/s at 5w0d- 1 sac; u/s at 6w0d 1 baby with heartbeat, another sac without a heartbeat
    image


  • Welcome :) sorry that you have found yourself here but I think you will be really happy with the support and information you get here. I absolutely have and it's become so important for me! As for costing for the RE it really depends on insurance coverage and what you're having done. You mentioned no coverage but you may want to double check because I was told I have no coverage but turns out I have some testing other things covered, just no treatment. My RE's office has an AMAZING insurance/payment coordinator who did a lot of research for us at our consultation and got more information in 5 minutes than I did in 6 months. That assistance alone was almost as valuable as talking to the doctor for me, lol! My consult was $150 and that went towards treatment, etc. and that pricing is also what I found at the other local clinic. You can ask when you call about an appointment if you want and they can explain their policies. We are just getting going on our stuff but so far they have gotten all my blood work covered by insurance and are very helpful getting whatever they can covered so my OOP costs are as low as possible. Best of luck!!

    Trying to have baby #1 since April 2013

    DH SA March,May 2014 - Low motility and shape issues. On vitamins per RE to help

    Me testing April 3, 2014 - FSH and LH good, HSG showed blocked right tube

    April 29, 2014 - First RE appt., right tube needs to be removed and possibly left also if

    it's bad too. RE suggests going straight to IVF

    June 4, 2014 - LAP/HSC and unexpected endo. removed but tubes got to stay!

    June 13, 2014 - Post-Op appointment. We decide where to go next since main issue

    is MFI influenced. Trying naturally until decision... Repeat SA  in September. Aiming for IUI #1 November 2014.

    image

  • I wonder if your RE's office can at least give you the negotiated rate that your insurance company had with them? I don't know if that has to do with coverage or not. Even though we have insurance, we have a high deductible so we've been OOP with treatments this year so far but do get that discount. So for instance an u/s is maybe $400 each by itself but my negotiated rate with my insurance, even though insurance isn't covering it, is $150. I just did an HSG the other day and it was $288. Other than that my IUI cycles including meds, ultrasounds, and IUI were about $600-$700 a month. I also took progesterone afterward during the 2ww.

    Me: 32  DH: 33  Married: March 2004

    July 2006: started TTC
    2008: HSG (normal), couple rounds of clomid through gyno
    2008 - 2010: dragging my feet out of fear and procrastination
    October 2010: first consultation with RE, dx PCOS and fibroids (DH slightly low count/motility)
    Oct. 2010 - Dec. 2012:  In DENIAL! avoided the issue because I was scared of surgery
    January 2013: returned to RE, fibroids grew significantly
    February 2013: second HSG, fibroids pushed on tubes which blocked them somewhat
    March 2013: MRI to determine what type of surgery may be necessary

    July 29, 2013: fibroids (5) removed via robotic laparascopy
    August 2013 - Nov 2013 : benched due to recent surgery

    IUI #1, Dec. 24, 2013, BFN 
    IUI #2, Jan. 25, 2014, BFN
    IUI #3, Feb. 25, 2014  BFN
    IUI #4 canceled due to lack of response to letrozole
    IUI #4.1 April 28, 2014, BFN

    May 16, 2014: wtf consult, start prepping for IVF in June and add injects for one last IUI in the meantime
    IUI #5 started letrozole and bravelle but canceled after HSG led to new diagnosis

    May 21, 2014: third HSG, tubes blocked, one at the beginning, one hydrosalpinx??
    June 11, 2014: consult, approved to move on to IVF because the hydro is not completely blocked therefore allowing fluid to move through slowly rather than backwards
    IVF #1 August 8, 2014 - 3dt of 2 embryos, BFN
    September 17, 2014 - 4th HSG, the right tube is very patent (open!!) dye went straight through this time. Weird!
    October 2, 2014 - started metformin treatment
    November 14, 2014 - blood work, brought A1C down from 5.8 to 5.5

    November 26, 2014 - RE finally back from vaca and reviewed my chart, no more IVFs for rest of calendar year
    December 1, 2014 - Right after Thanksgiving, I called a new clinic and got in right away! Plan for IVF
    December 17, 2014 - ER! 29 retrieved (!!), 16 mature, all 16 fertilized (ICSI)

    IVF #2 December 20, 2014 - 3dt of 3 embryos, BFN

    We are done with treatment unsuccessfully. :(


    PAIF/SAIF/All Welcome!

    image    image
  • I am definitely going to see about diagnostics being covered if it's not coded as fertility. I haven't done too much research into my coverage, but I know that it says specifically - no coverage for fertility testing or treatments. I had day 21 blood work that was accidentally billed through my insurance and they didn't cover that. That was $140 vs. $48 cash payment at the office. @jencity9 that's amazing that they give you the discounted rates, FX that the RE I go to will at least do something like that for us to soften the blow lol. I think y'all have given me a good idea of the range of costs which is excellent and exactly what I needed to know. Thank you guys so much!
    Me: 27 DH :28
    NTNP for 3 years 2008-2011
    TTC since Nov. 2011 (BBT, Charting, OPK's)
    "Actively" TTC since Feb. 2014
    HSG Feb. 2014 - all clear
    SA - all good
    Mar. 2014 Clomid 50 mg days 3-7 - BFN
    Apr. 2014 Clomid 50 mg days 3-7 - BFN
    May 2014 Clomid 50 mg days 3-7 - BFN
    Learned Clomid unmonitored is a NO-NO
    July RE appointment - finally!

  • Welcome, though sorry you find yourself here.

    Honestly, I have been really shocked about the costs of things at the RE vs. other doctors, but for the things that my insurance doesn't cover and before my deductible is paid, they have a discounted rate that is about 10-15% lower. You might find that a lot of meds are covered in your drug plan because they are used for non-IF reasons too, and bloodwork might be covered for the same reason.

    Good luck! It's tough planning the finances because we don't know what our bodies will need in terms of monitoring and meds until we're in the cycle, and of course who of us can predict how many and what kinds of treatments it will take?? I don't think there's anything else in financial life quite like this. Sometimes I think it feels like starting your own business without a business plan. Sorry to be negative, oh dear!! That's my my hopeless 2WW talking, lol.

    January 3T Siggy Challenge - New Year's Resolutions
    image
    imageimage

    Me (29), DH (30) TTC actively 54 55+ cycles | All BFNs
    MFI (low everything) | Endo Stage 1 & Stenotic Cervix (treated) | PCO
    Married - July 2008 | Started TTC - Jan 2009RE Visit #1 - Mar 2014 
    IUI #1 ICI #1 - June | IUI #1.1 Laparoscopy - Aug
    IUIs #1.2, 2, 3 - Sept, Oct, Nov (Letrozole) - BFNs 
    IUI #4 - Dec (Bravelle) | IUI #5 - Dec/Jan (Bravelle) - 5 follies + TI - BFNs
    IUI #5.1 - Jan (Bravelle) Cancelled 
    Planning to start IVF in March!
    ***All Welcome***
  • Lol @BunnyBerry, my thoughts exactly. I knew all this IF stuff was going to be expensive but there is no way to know exactly how much so until you are right in the middle of it. I just have to grit my teeth and bear it I suppose. After all, the outcome I'm hoping for, that we all hope for, will be totally worth it in the end.
    Me: 27 DH :28
    NTNP for 3 years 2008-2011
    TTC since Nov. 2011 (BBT, Charting, OPK's)
    "Actively" TTC since Feb. 2014
    HSG Feb. 2014 - all clear
    SA - all good
    Mar. 2014 Clomid 50 mg days 3-7 - BFN
    Apr. 2014 Clomid 50 mg days 3-7 - BFN
    May 2014 Clomid 50 mg days 3-7 - BFN
    Learned Clomid unmonitored is a NO-NO
    July RE appointment - finally!

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