Clinic limiting stims to 10 days?

sware2010 · November 2016

***Siggy warning***
Hi all,
I've only posted here a few times, but I follow the boards from time to time. I'm in the midst of my first IVF and have run into a maddening clinic issue. Despite good prognostic factors (age 29, FSH 5.8, AFC 19, AMH 3.1), I am responding very slowly to stims. Today is day 10, and I have only 1 mature follicle (16mm). However, there are 5 more follies ranging from 12-15mm. I was originally told that in this scenario, they would have me continue stims for a few more days to grow those smaller follies, and push back the ER. Unfortunately, today, they informed me that Friday is the last day they will be doing ERs this batch. They advised that I can either cancel or move forward with only 1 mature egg, but I cannot stim for longer than 10 days due to their scheduling. They won't even let me do an IUI because there are too many small follicles.
I am losing my mind. Why on earth would they schedule me so that there was no room for flexibility??? They are giving me a heard limit on stim days that they admit is not in my best interest clinically! The staff will all be at the office on Saturday anyway doing transfers, but they won't have an anesthesiologist. This is a reputable clinic with the best success rates in my state. Is this a normal restriction? Has anyone else been through this? Advice???? Thank you!

KirstenCas · November 2016

Weird, I'm a slow grower too. I missed my window and kept stimming and they let me come in the next week. They should be more accommodating.

mtpbadger · November 2016

I initially only had a tentative retrieval date since it all depended on how long I needed to stim. I too ended up being a slow responder and think I stimmed for almost two weeks. I get clinics having batches of retrievals but everyone's body responds differently. If you decide to cancel this cycle (which hopefully isn't the case!) would they still charge you for the cycle? I feel like if they are refusing to keep going, they should credit whatever you paid so far for this cycle and meds to a future one.

ameliabedelia-2 · November 2016

This is absolutely ridiculous. We stimmed for over two weeks last cycle and had it not been for my untimely and premature LH surge, we probably would have gone another week. I would look for other doctors in your network, this is bullshit.

mandasd · November 2016

Who is telling you this? Your coordinator? Make sure you talk directly to the doctor.

sware2010 · November 2016

Thanks for the feedback ladies. I've been freaking out a little bit, and it helps to know that this is not normal practice. It was the RE telling me, but not my usual one, a woman who is new to their practice. She sounded very sure of herself, but I'm hoping she was just mistaken. I left the office bawling. I have a call out to my RE and the coordinator who seems like a really good patient advocate.
This is probably a stupid question, but no one does ER without an anesthesiologist, do they? Since that's the missing factor, I was going to go way way out on a limb and ask if they'll do it without. It's just a needle, right? I'm pretty tough lol.

APM_SLP · November 2016

Unbelievable. I stimmed for at least 12 days, maybe 14- can't remember now. Definitely throw a fit with your RE.

My RE did an ER (not mine) without anesthesia and he said the girl was fine. I had a needle aspiration of a very large ovarian cyst without any pain meds/anethesia (very similar to an ER), and I was perfectly fine! I almost asked the RE for no meds during my ER, but my husband was like no just do what your told lol!

tiffanyw1783 · November 2016

@sware2010 wow! That's just crazy! My first full cycle was 13 days of stim b/c I was a little slow to progress. My second was 12 days. I've never heard of them not letting you continue b/c of their schedule!!

sware2010 · November 2016

So I heard back from the coordinator this afternoon who told me they will "make an exception" and allow me to stim one more day and retrieve on Saturday. The whole thing still puts a bad taste in my mouth. She did explain that they try to anticipate who will need longer stimming and start them earlier in the batch. But they had guessed that 10 days would be enough for me. Hopefully 11 is enough for my slow follies!!

APM_SLP · November 2016

@sware2010 after you do your ER I would take your frozen embryos and run to another clinic. No one should be managing your care based on THEIR schedule/timeline etc. My clinic is open 365 and does ERs on Christmas Day if that is what's necessary!you invest way too much money, time, and emotions to be treated this way.

With that that being said I pray 11 days works well for you and your ER goes well!

sware2010 · November 2016

@APM_SLP They're open everyday?? That's awesome! I know for one of my IUI cycles, my lead follicle over-matured over the weekend while they were closed. I felt slighted even then, and the stakes are so much higher now. I have loved my clinic except this aspect. I think this might be too much to overlook though .

mtpbadger · November 2016

My clinic is open 365 days as well. They actually have several locations so while all are open for monitoring on weekends, sometimes procedures are only done at the bigger ones on holidays and weekends which means a little bit of a further drive, but I'm okay with that!

tiffanyw1783 · November 2016

Mine isn't technically "open" 365/year. But during cycles they see patients on the weekend and do ER/transfers/IUIs on weekends and holidays. They try to make sure they plan stim cycles and things so you don't have appts on holidays though! I thought all clinics were like mine. It's just crazy to me, that during an IUI or IVF cycle they would cancel just b/c they are closed on the weekend. I pay for everything out of pocket and I would be throroughly outraged if they cancelled me for that reason! I had my last ER on a Sunday. I've had appts on Saturday and Sunday before.

Isthisthereallife · November 2016

That doesn't seem right to me. My clinic is also "open" 365 days a year. I'm sure they're not seeing new patients on weekends or holidays but they are open for monitoring and procedures. Sorry you had that experience! I hope the 11 days works!

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