Low AMH Level

emmasemm · April 2018

@jamieh2000 ohhhh I hope your lining grows. My functional medicine (naturopath) feels being sick can affect lining thickness and quality a lot. She recommends lots of natural antioxidant foods and foods that encourage blood flow - beetroot, pomegranate juice that kind of thing - might be worth a try for the next week?

@hopefuljj I’m so glad you got that done! And wow to cutting off your hair - that’s awesome. I bet you feel like a new woman. When I was a teenager my mother broke her arm and couldn’t help with my hair any more so I had it cut to just below shoulder length - before that it was almost down to my knees! I then grew it out to mid-back length and have had it there ever since.

@adc0417 I’m also intrigued did you do your ER and what was the outcome?

AFM I had a one hour call with the nurse to run through the main topics today. I’ve got quite a few different drugs on my list this time! And she is still waiting for final decision from the doctor on dosage of the blood thinner and steroids.
If my cycle is 28 days then CD1 should be Monday. However I have a feeling it might come a few days sooner. Let’s see. But then CD2 I go for baseline and that evening they will call me to confirm dosages and which day to start (or discuss if we should skip a cycle).
Just now waiting for the giant email with all documents attached and links to all the medication details. I’ve got a couple we will need to mix which we didn’t have to do before. But I’m confident to manage it.
They also want me for the planned last scan already in their clinic, so that means we’ll be getting some long weekends in London over the next months it seems. At least I hope it’s long weekends... if it falls in the week I might have to rethink my strategy of not telling my boss. Especially as it will hopefully be three back to back cycles...
But right now my number one priority is checking with the pharmacy if they will accept a prescription in a different language from a different country or not, and if not how I can get it reissued in German quickly. Also that I can get all drugs in Germany. If not I might have to fly to London on Saturday for the sole purpose of picking up the meds... and enough for the whole cycle as getting refills on short notice will be damn complicated.
Second priority is checking with my local monitoring place that I’m good to go in hopefully Tuesday.
Its going to be some crazy weeks ahead. Final comment from the nurse was “of course you should try to relax as must as possible and keep stress to a minimum”. Ummmm. Not sure how that fits with all the complexity... but we will see. I will have to practice being more Zen!

JamieH2000 · April 2018

@emmasemm- holy cow, its all getting started! Sounds like you have quite the comprehensive plan! I am SO excited for you! It does sound like it was will be some crazy cycles with the flying back and forth, but hopefully this will be just what you need to get those embryos. I really am so impressed by your research and perserverance on this! So many ladies would have just given up before cause is SO much to handle and deal with!
I am definitely going to try more POM juice and increase my vitamin E and L-arginine. i do feel like having both the flu and a cold really did effect me. My estrogen came back at 104, which is the lowest it has been at this point in a cycle. So I'm hoping as they increase my estrogen, my lining will respond to that. We are adding in estrace twice vaginally, so I will be on between 2-4 patches, 1 pill orally, and 2 vaginally, so just hoping that gets me above 7mm at least!

capps42613 · April 2018

@JamieH2000 I have hope for your lining! Hang in there. My fingers & toes are crossed it thickens!!

Kp214 · April 2018

@JamieH2000 fingers crossed for a great lining check next time! **tw** my lining was barely over 7 with my successful transfer. It can be successful with a thinner lining. Try not to panic/worry.

adc0417 · April 2018

@JamieH2000 sorry about your thin lining. Agree with emmasemm about adding pomegranate juice and beetroot. Also try acupuncture which increases blood flow.

@emmasemm Can’t wait for you to start your cycle soon

AFM, My estrogen went back up and so I went thru the egg retrieval this past Sunday, but they couldn’t retrieve anything as I had already ovulated. Therefore, they turned it into an IUI. I just feel numb to the whole thing ughh

JamieH2000 · April 2018

@capps42613 and @KP214- thanks ladies- you are so kind to still check in and cheer me on. I'm just trying to stay calm and remind myself its still early. I'm pretty certain we will move forward with transfer as long as its over 7mm by Tuesday. Its just scary since I had never been so low at the first check.

@adc0417- I'm sorry girl, that is so frustrating! Its so rare to ovulate through the ganirelax

Lots of prayers that this IUI works for you!! Hope the tww goes quickly!

adc0417 · April 2018

@JamieH2000 thank you for sympathizing. It’s always something. I’m trying to keep my expectations down and preparing myself for DE, which too seems to be getting pushed back. She is starting a new job and can’t come in for a donor day screening for another couple of weeks

emmasemm · April 2018

@adc0417 oh no!!! I’m so sorry. That is unbelievably bad luck. Or not luck, but... ohhhh I would be sooooo pissed.

AFM
We start CD2 evening with 5 days of Rekovelle which is FSH only at 12 units daily.
Then Zomacton (HGH) starting CD2 EOD 12 units per day ending CD10.
CD7 we start Meriofert (FSH and LH, like menopur) at 450iu per day. This one is not available in Germany. And previously I took max 300iu per day. So I’m really intrigued how my follies respond.
Same day we start daily cetrotide 0.25mg per day.
Trigger is a 15000iu HCG of a brand called Gonasi (which is not available in Germany). So far I only took 5000iu doses to trigger, so this is a huge jump. Good job I don’t have to worry about overstimulating!
I’m still waiting for name and dose of antibiotic, blood thinner and steroid.
They're aiming for ER CD14 or 15.
We decided to skip Intralipids this time. If we need it we’ll have a gap before round 2 to do several treatments in my LP and one at the start of stims.
But I think I’ve got more than enough changes so far!!!

Overall today I’m super stressed! And anxious. Details and DD in spoiler as it’s huge.

Freaking the hell out about getting all of the meds. I went to the two big fertility specialist pharmacies in the city this afternoon. One had zero interest in even trying to look for the medications. The other tried but OMG the pharmacists are clearly not proficient internet users... In Germany there is a special list of licensed medications called the “Rote Liste” or Red List which traditionally was a big red book published once per year, but now is also online. Except you can’t look up any details of medications unless you’re a doctor or pharmacist with a login linked to your licence. So when they told me to go look online in the red list myself, I explained I don’t have access, they suggested I get my doctor to look, I explained my doctor is not a doctor licensed in Germany so has no access either. Then they pretty much just shrugged. I was so frustrated after more than an hour in both places I was almost in tears and shaking with sheer frustration. Keep in mind I had already talked to both pharmacies at the start of March to ask what I needed to do when I got the med list.
I called DH and he was awesome, he drove to another pharmacy and also got the brush off. So we drove home and then went together to our local little village pharmacy. We talked with the head pharmacist who was super helpful. They don’t normally handle fertility meds, but we emailed him the copy of the prescription and he will research tomorrow and then call DH to let him know if there are really two we can’t get. We said even if he can’t get those two then we will buy the rest from him just to give him the business as thanks for his effort. Well have to pay for an express delivery but I’m willing to pay to reward good service in this case.
If we can’t get the two, one we might be able to switch (waiting for confirmation tomorrow) and the other we might have to fly to the UK on Saturday to fetch in person!!! But that would be another 1000 Euros on flights... ouch.
I’m also feeling a little freaked out about some of the med doses. I mean I know I complained my previous RE was far too conservative but I could also always tell myself my ooor response was due to that. If I don’t respond to that list of meds above, then nothing is going to get my old ovaries going.
So if I get my meds - then most of all I think I’m really afraid of failing.
In good news I went into the local OBGYN this afternoon who will do my baseline and monitoring too and they are totally relaxed and happy to see me whenever I need to get scans and BW.
Now the question is when will AF come. If it comes Sun/Mon it’s ok. If it comes Thurs-Sat we might have a problem with scans needing to be done on Sundays and public holidays. Which is impossible in Germany. Unfortunately my O date was a bit inconclusive - either CD12 or 14. So it could be any day from Friday if my cycle is normal for me...
So please send any good vibes to being able to get all meds in Germany on time and AF not coming before Sunday.

Ilky · April 2018

@adc0417 omg! I'm so sorry that happened

did they tell you how that can happen while you are on medication? Sorry that you are going through this. I hope IUI will work and you wont need to worry about the next treatment...

@JamieH2000 so the transfer is on tuesday, right? I have a feeling it will be way over 7mm.

good luck!

hopefuljj · April 2018

@adc0417 I am so so so sorry lady:( my heart aches for you. Even on ganarelix? I’m just so so sorry. I completely understand feeling numb

@JamieH2000 come on lining!!! I’m sending my thickest most beautiful trilaminar vibes your way!!! We want the perfect environment for beautiful embabies to settle down into!!

@emmasemm lady! Sounds like you have an adventure ahead of you!!! I love the plan and I know you can handle it! If anyone can it’s you!

adc0417 · April 2018

@llky @hopefuljj I was actually on lupron up until the trigger shot. Not sure if those 2 days of no lupron caused the ovulation. My clinic says that it’s quite rare but it can happen when there are only a few follicles to work with, and of course I was the lucky one

Hopeful_mom · April 2018

@adc0417 ugh I was so frustrated reading ur updates I'm so sorry!! Everything was headed in the right direction. I've always used cetritide to keep my ovulation at bay....really praying this iui could do the trick for u!! Keep us posted!!

@JamieH2000 ugh sorry u were sick and hoping ur lining improves I think the vaginal estrace will help as I responded better to it vaginally. Remember my transfer was delayed as my E2 wasn't where they wanted it to be before starting the PIO. And i kept at it till I was and here we are...so hoping ur still on the right track!!

@hopefuljj hey lady when r ur results suppose to come in?

@emmasemm u can literally start teaching a class on this topic already!! I'm overwhelmed just reading about all ur meds! It's ridiculous all the hoops u have to go through. It shouldn't be this hard! Hope ur pharmacist can get you everything! Excited for you to get started!! Assuming you're done with your thesis?
And I had an awful haircut when I was 9 and it's been long ever since

@Ilky how are things? When is your US??

adc0417 · April 2018

Did you guys take cetrotide all the way through the cycle, up until the retrieval?? Did anyone do lupron instead (MDL protocol)?

JamieH2000 · April 2018

@emmasemm- wow, how frustrating over the prescriptions! While the U.S. is so ridic on how expensive all the IVF stuff and meds are, at least it is easy to get them and have appointments all days of the year. You are managing all this like a BOSS though, so impressed. I know its stressful, but praying it can go smoother from here and you can bank some embryos!! keep us posted girl

@ilky- my last lining check is on Tuesday. If its thick enough, we start progesterone on Thursday for a monday (4/30) transfer. I'm trying to remain optimistic, but as you know, its hard when you body just doesn't behave as it should (and has every other month!) haha

@hopefuljj- thanks girl!! Can't wait to hear those ERA results and hopefully good news!! DId you decide on your next steps?!

@ADC0417- aww you were on microdose lupron then to prevent ovulation instead of cetrocide/ganirelax? When I did MDL, i did not use cetrocide either. When I did antagonist protocols, I believe I did NOT take cetrocide the night that I triggered. I really hope the donor stuff goes smoothly. I know that is a not a quick process either, so glad you were able to do these in parallel.

@hopeful_mom- thank you! I may be able to stay on estrogen longer to try to get it thicker, but ideally it will be ready since my Transfer is scheduled on my REs transfer day and it would be sooo nice to have her do it. Also, my lining in past cycles didn't seem to get much thicker with longer time on estrogen (usually the second week), so that is why I am so nervous. If it doesn't get above a 7 by Tuesday, I would maybe want to do another saline to check for polyps. My hysterscopy was only 5 months ago, but I have had 3 cycles of meds/estrogen since then, so i guess it is possible they grew back from all the meds. I sure hope not

Hopeful_mom · April 2018

@adc0417 I believe the dr looks at ur levels that indicates it ur body is getting ready to surge AND your follicle size. One cycle I had a follie at 15/16 and the others were still small so to give them a chance to grow we started the cetritide super early, it was different each cycle as there were always a few factors considered.

@jaimeh2000 I'm chuckling at ur post as I was in the same position with my dr she was pregnant at the time and her due date was the week after my transfer and I believe my transfer day was suppose to be her last day of work so I was thrilled. Fast forward to my E2 issue AND her lil girl deciding she wanted to come early so I had to use a different dr. We know I was freaked about it. However I do love the dr that did my transfer he did my fresh transfer and even though it ended disastrously technically he did both transfers that did take. I know we have plans but we have to listen to our bodies to decide what's best! Hang in there!!

emmasemm · April 2018

@adc0417 I also really hope you get lucky with the IUI. When is your beta?
Also yes it’s normal during IVF to have last stims and ovulation preventer (cetrotide, Lupron etc) the night before the trigger shot. This made me super nervous every round - either you were really unlucky or they tried to push you longer to let the second follie be big enough but the bigger follie tipped over and they both ovulated...

@jamieh2000 do you have another lining check before Tuesday?

@hopefuljj I’m waiting for your results keeping everything crossed

@hopeful_mom how many more weeks do you have? I do hope your vag doesn’t get too angry with you, we know how pissed she was about the transfer and progesterone hehehehehe

AFM Well we got our meds!!!
Those were some damn stressful few days. Really stressful.
But in the end DH totally charmed our local pharmacist who basically researched the shit out of everything, called favours at his old university to check drugs between countries, arranged for translation of the prescription, got the drugs ordered without us even paying for them and let us pick them up today before the bank transfer had cleared. We offered to pay an extra fee for all the extra hours he spent, but he said no...
***spoiler for mention of kids***

... because when we’re successful he just expects us to keep using his pharmacy for all the things kids need!
I nearly cried in the middle of the pharmacy.
One for his words, but also for a little restoration of my faith in humanity, that people go above and beyond to help when they can sense someone else is struggling.

So we have all the meds, now I’m just praying to the old gods and the new that AF holds off until Monday, so I can have my baseline Tuesday and then get this show on the road!

dragonette505 · April 2018

**lurking** @emmasemm your pharmacists is amazing! It totally restores my faith in humanity!!

emmasemm · April 2018

@dragonette505 thanks for lurking! And yes, sometimes when you’re feeling like it’s the last straw someone stepping up like that really really makes a huge difference

moly416 · April 2018

Just went through my ER for IVF cycle #2 earlier today.
As background, I had my first IVF in January which yielded only 4 eggs, 2 of which were immature. This was unexpected as I had close to 20 follicles! Found out later that my AMH had dropped to 0.6 compared to 2.8 from a year ago.
This time, the doctors increased my stim meds and did a dual Lupron/Ovidrel trigger.
I’m so happy when I woke up to hear the news this morning -22 eggs!! Obviously, I have to wait til tomorrow to see how many are actually mature and fertilize!

hopefuljj · April 2018

@emmasemm oh lady! So grateful for good and kind people like your pharmacist!!! So excited for you to get this show on the road!!!

@JamieH2000 Tuesday monitoring is almost here!!! Sending those thick beautiful trilaminar vibes your way!

@adc0417 I always used cetrotide starting about 5 or so days into stims. Never used Lupron. Until (mock)transfer that is.

@hopeful_Mom hi lady:) I hope you are doing a feeling great! I bet you are getting everything all finalized for the baby now:) it’s going to come soon!! I can’t believe it!!

hopefuljj · April 2018

@moly416 wow, that sounds like an incredible result!!! Any news on fertilization? I can’t rven imagine collecting half of that at ER!

moly416 · April 2018

Fertilization Update:

of the 22, 6 were immature. I expected this because I knew that only around 16 or so follicles were the right size.

We did half icsi and half Ivf and so far we have 9 fertilized. 56% fertilization rate, I wish it was higher but i’m happy I have 9 right now. We are doing PGS so we are letting them grow to blastocysts and will be doing FET later.

Hopeful_mom · April 2018

@moly416 wow I've never heard of someone even getting so many at ER with low amh, great update hope they all make it to blast!!

@emmasemm yay for someone being human and actually being helpful!! If anyone deserves it you do!! Let's hope it's smooth sailing from here on in!!
my update below @hopefuljj

AFM: Will be 34 wks on wed!!

it's exciting and nerve racking all at the same time! It's true my vag and I don't see eye to eye always

I'm actually going to ask my OB about a csection at my appt on Wednesday.
@hopefuljj and I'm so not prepared for this baby first thing u need is the car seat and outfit to bring baby home!! I need the lil one to get here first!!! Many have so much done but tradionally in my religion you don't do prior shopping for the baby anyway. No baby shower etc. so with that and on top of what happened last time we sit and wait!! And lots of praying!!! I will say this baby is trying to kick their fit out through my ribs on a daily basis so that's fun

JamieH2000 · April 2018

@emmasemm- omg that pharmacist is amazing!! do you have Yelp or Google reviews or anything like that where you can leave positive feedback? So glad he was able to get your meds sorted out. That is SO stressful! Any AF yet? so excited for you to get started!

@hopefuljj- Thanks girls!! Any ERA results yet? this week hopefully right?

@moly416- that is a great amount retrieved and fertilized for lower AMH! Congrats!

AFM- lining check is tomorrow. I definitely feel like my estrogen is pretty high (sore boobs, etc) and I have been taking lots of l-arginine, vitamin E and Pomegranate juice. Hopefully this will get me to over 8 tomorrow and we will feel good about starting progesterone on Thurs. I will keep you guys posted.

adc0417 · April 2018

@moly416 really amazing numbers despite low AMH. I wish I had that many retrieved too

@emmasemm has your AF arrived yet? I have my beta on 4/30. Not feeling any different as of now, so let’s see

Ilky · April 2018

@moly416 great numbers! hoping most if not all will come back normal!

@JamieH2000 good luck tomorrow. I didnt transfer until the 26th day of my cycle. The dr. said it doesnt have to be at an exact day (like day 22) they will wait until the lining is ready. So dont stress if they push it few days. It will happen when the timing is perfect!

AFM, I'm about 7 weeks (wednesday) and we will do another ultrasound on Thursday to see the heart beat. I'm constantly worried thinking something might go wrong. For so long, nothing went right, so its hard to get over the negative thinking.

capps42613 · April 2018

@JamieH2000 good luck tomorrow!

@Ilky It's definitely hard to turn off the feeling that something is going to go wrong during pregnancy. It's like the feeling comes along with the infertility disease, but it does get easier.

hopefuljj · April 2018

@jamieh2000 good luck tomorrow lady!!!!!!!!!!!!

@hopeful_mom

once baby gets here you will get everything you need and everything will be just perfect! I totally understand that it still must be very nerve wrecking even though you are getting so close now. I’ll keep up the prayers for you myself!

@ilky I 100% understand it must be so hard to think positively after all you have been through. Crossing everything for you! And sending all the positive vibes your way.

@moly416 wow! That’s incredible results for someone with low AMH!! Seriously impressive!!!!

AFM still waiting on results over here. Wednesday makes 2 weeks and they said 2-3 so I can start becoming impatient in just a couple days;)

moly416 · April 2018

Good luck to everyone waiting for results!

Ilky · April 2018

@capps42613 how are you doing?

you are only 6 days ahead of me. Are you on any of the other boards? Since it hasn't really sunken in yet I'm still lurking here on IF boards, I love to support people who supported me through the years. But, I also want to join a support group for mom-to-bes.

Hopeful_mom · April 2018

@Ilky see below!

This process is so hard and we finally get to the point we've been dreaming about forever so of course you're going to worry it's normal! I like to try and think with each US and milestone u will start to fee better. (TW) I was pregnant with twins last year and lost them and 10wks I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop and it did, the worst did happen. And I guess that's why even at 34 weeks tomorrow I still keep
worrying. It never goes away I wish it did...but isn't that what being a mom is, worrying never stops. First trimester is tricky! I had terrible nausea so at times it makes u feel better yet so sick!!
so excited for u to hear the heartbeat I took video of mine

enjoy!!

@JamieH2000 waiting to hear some
good news!!

emmasemm · April 2018

Well AF finally arrived this evening so tomorrow is CD! Baseline on Thursday and keeping everything crossed that FSH is not too high and we get the green light to stim Thursday night!

@hopefuljj come on results!

@jamieh2000 How was your appointment today

@adc0417 oooh Monday is so close already. That felt like it went fast for me. Slow for you I’m sure!

@moly416 when do you get an update on your embies?

JamieH2000 · April 2018

@hopefuljj- It should come soon I think! My first one took only 9 days and the second one took 13 days. Thinking of you!!

@emmasemm- yay for AF and getting started! Crossing everything for you to get the green light to get started!

Thanks for all the thoughts ladies. Unfortunately my gut was right and this is somehow my worst cycle ever for lining. It only grew from 5.0 to 5.5 in a week, despite being on 3 pills per day and patches. I guess they want to give it two more days before cancelling, but I am 99% certain its a waste of time. Overall just devastated that yet another thing could go wrong and did. Today is one of those days where I just feel like giving up again. I know it will pass, but if we cancel I won't be able to transfer until June since we have a trip 5/26-5/30. anyways, thanks again for everything.. i feel bad I keep have disappointing news to share.

Kp214 · April 2018

@JamieH2000 you are not alone. We are here for you. Never feel bad for sharing what is going on with you. I wish I could take the disappoint and pain away.

moly416 · April 2018

@emmasemm Today is Day 5 but they usually wait until Day 6 to send out results.

I think we have a bio tex person in here.

Ilky · April 2018

@emmanemm yay! I hope you'll have low FSH and lots of beautiful follies. Keeping you in my prayers!

@JamieH2000 Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that

what CD are you? Can they wait a little longer before proceeding with cancellation? Please do not feel bad, we are here for you and it's your most natural right to feel down and dissapointed. We all have been there, unfortunately some of us way too many times. One thing that I thought really helped me with my lining was mayan abdominal massage therapy. Look up online to find a practitioner near you and once you go 1-2 times they teach you how to do it yourself. I dont remember if you mentioned acupuncture before, but would you give it a try? I did that as well, and thought that helped a lot too. Sending you lots of hugs and love

@Hopeful_mom thank you! you are almost there, that's very exciting! Hoping for a easier last several weeks.

emmasemm · April 2018

callisy said:

Every woman desperately wants kids and therefore asking the above question is understandable. Here I want you to understand and realize that getting pregnant is a quite natural process and you should not doubt at all. Why you are doubtful is that the doctors and the people around you somehow make you believe that something is wrong with the body. What is wrong with your body? Nothing. You postponed your motherhood and therefore your ovarian health just comes down. That doesn’t mean something is wrong with your body. The only thing you have to do is focus on improving your ovarian health and that’s it. If your ovarian health improved, the chances of getting pregnancy also improve a lot. So, ignore what others think about you. It is a wise investment in your remaining fertility if you spend some months refreshing your eggs before getting pregnant. One nutritional supplement which is most often discussed in terms of its impact on egg and embryo quality and stabilizing AMH values is the DHEA.

QFP

emmasemm · April 2018

@jamieh2000 I can’t believe this has happened. For your Era cycles you had no problem at all with the lining!
If your uterus is trying to wait for you, @hopefuljj and me to all be KU together, then I give your uterus permission to go ahead without me!!!
I really don’t know what else to say. To have yet another thing happen is just so damn crappy.

hopefuljj · April 2018

Omg @JamieH2000 I am SO sorry lady!! This is beyond insane!! Ugh what horrible timing to have gotten sick and thrown your uterus out of whack:(. I’m so sorry it hasn’t thickened up:( !! We are all here for you and just wanting this more than anything for you! You have waited and waited and are such a warrior. I am with @emmasemm’s!! I give your uterus permission to go on without me!!!! Lady.....I know you feel like giving up, if it gets canceled, just tell yourself you are taking this one last trip where you can relax and do whatever you want before you will finally be pregnant once and for all!! Thinking about you and truly hoping the extra days get you where you need to be to transfer.

JamieH2000 · April 2018

@hopefuljj- anxiously awaiting your ERA results! They have to come soon!!

@emmasemm- how was your baseline?!

Thank you ladies for all the kind words... It was a hard few days... but I'm close to having peace that this will happen when it should. Ideally with you ladies, but I know we will take it whenever we can get it!

So today..... my lining today somehow grew from 5.5 to over 8mm in 48 hours! I was FLOORED. However, when it grew, the nice trilameter look went away some... They classified it as "faint" and I have always had a beautiful 3 line look, even from my first monitoring this month. If I was going to transfer on Monday, I needed to do my first PIO at 10am today. So my RE called at 945am and wanted to discuss. She said it was thick enough, but was a little concerned the trilameter didn't look as nice as it did earlier in this cycle and during my receptive ERA cycle last month. She was fine with transferring, but left it up to me since it wasn't perfect and this whole cycle has been off. I could tell she was hesitant, and I made the call to cancel It probably would have been fine... but if it didn't work I would have lost 2 more embryos and blamed myself. a 5-6 week delay won't hurt nearly as bad as another negative I figured. Still questioning my call a little, but in my gut this cycle just seemed off and I figure its better to be safe than sorry. Waiting for my calendar now and hoping for an early June transfer.

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