@misshelen86 thank you for that. I feel like I felt bad when the OB was just like it may or may not be blocked keep trying but the fact that the RE said that it may or not be blocked but it doesn't change that I am recommending a medicated cycle made me feel seen. I'm glad you didn't end up having to do the surgery!
*TW LC*
Me & MH: 32 DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU) TTC #2: 12/2019 Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
@krash_ it actually wasn’t as bad as I was expecting it to be! I think it helped that I didn’t have a lot of time to think about it and freak out since I had to get to work haha.
@runningoncookies SO excited for you!! Fingers crossed this is your cycle! Did you use Ovidrel 250 ug (that's what I use)? When did your RE say the trigger should be gone from your system?
@krash_ I totally understand why you'd feel nervous about your trigger shot (I did too the first time), but I've done it 3 times now and I promise you it is not as bad as you're thinking. The needle is so thin, you barely feel it going in and I haven't had any soreness at the injection site afterwards. Trust me, you're going to be great!
Here is my long & detailed update from getting the LIT treatment and having our first consult with a new IVF clinic. Lots of good info to share, so I am going to try to summarize it more succinctly after this and post somewhere for posterity, in case it helps anyone in the future.
The travel: Might sound nuts, but desperate times call for desperate measures!! First, we did Covid tests last week before traveling. We flew from Hawai’i to Los Angeles, drove to Arizona, then Mexico, then drove back to San Diego, then down to Mexico, then back to L.A. for our flight home. We did this from Friday night to Tuesday morning this week--one day longer than we had planned for. We were lucky that the 5-hour flight from HI was basically empty. We each got our own row to lie down & sleep the whole time. I also did some work, as I knew it would be too hectic to do it on the ground. We landed in Los Angeles, CA at 11 pm and drove all night to Arizona since there were no direct flights due to COVID, and no flights from LA at that late hour to get us to our appointment on time. We hit Phoenix at sunrise, then drove 2 more hours to a nice hotel in Tucson, showered real quick, and drove the additional hour down to Nogales, Mexico. The treatment took all afternoon. We had a good sleep in the Tucson hotel that night, then met up with family friends in Tucson in the morning. Got back on the road and spent that whole day driving to San Diego, CA. My local RE called me during that drive for our WTF follow-up appointment for my failed transfer last month. Got to San Diego at sunset, met up with a friend who had some unopened medicine for me that she didn't need anymore (saving me over $15,000 in IVIG!!!). Checked into our hotel, had a lovely date night in Little Italy, San Diego. The next morning we drove 20 minutes to the border at Tijuana, Mexico, caught a taxi to the clinic, arrived by 8 am for our consult. The appointment was much longer than we were told it would be, more on that later. After our consult we tried to drive back for our 2 pm flight at LAX but the border crossing line was too long--even though I had a letter about treatment from the doctor and this allowed us to go in the much shorter ‘handicapped’ line--and we ended up *just* missing our flight home. So we had one more date night in Little Italy & arrived at LAX early the next morning for our flight home. I had used airline miles & upgrades so we got to enjoy First Class on the way back. The flight was almost empty again, thank goodness. Slept the whole time with double masks on my face. We've now been home for less than 48 hours. We did another round of drive-thru Covid tests & will probably do another one next week for safety. My arms have been itching like crazy after LIT but I'm feeling great about all that we accomplished in such a short amount of time! Pic of treatment result on arms.Super minor:
LIT treatment is actually fairly simple. The injection sites on the forearms get a little swollen & itchy. Today is Day 6 & the swelling, itchiness, & lumps under the skin are subsiding. I didn’t blister.🙏🏽 (Ignore my veins--my bi-weekly blood draws have me looking like I do drugs.)
LIT Treatment:
The clinic in Mexico has been doing this for decades. Dr. Quiroga is a Reproductive Immunologist with 2 locations in Mexico. He trained with the esteemed Drs Beer and Kwak-Kim in the U.S. He gets a lot of American patients referred to him from the Alan E. Beer Center for Reproductive Immunology in CA. (It's very hard to find Dr. Quiroga's contact info or how to get an appointment without being referred, but thank goodness for the internet & helpful strangers!) So LIT is where the partner comes along to donate his blood sample. It gets spun down, the white blood cells are collected, and injected under the skin in the forearms of the future mama. It's like an allergy test. The injection sites get itchy & red, small blisters can form, it hurts a bit, and can't be scratched or touched for 4 days. No lotion or soap on the arms, no herbal vitamins or teas, no anti-inflammatory meds, no medicine except Tylenol. We had it done in Nogales, MX, just across the border from Nogales, U.S. Interestingly, I visited here once as a teenager with a family member who lived close by on the U.S. side, so I was familiar with Nogales, MX, and not nervous about crossing the border. It was super easy. We parked & walked across in 5 minutes. The clinic picks you up once you cross the border, although we missed the memo and walked all the way to the clinic. At the appointment the doctor first gave MH a rapid Covid test, as he HS to be clear of all contagious disease before doing the treatment. We’d done other STD/HIV/Infectious disease testing in the weeks prior. Dr explained everything to us, took our health history, and the nurse took 10 vials of blood from MH. After taking MH's blood, the clinic's driver took us to a super beautiful restaurant where other patients were having their lunch. Locals were having a gorgeous baby shower, and other super chic locals met up for drinks and appetizers there. Our tables were spread out and everyone wore masks except when eating. It seemed to be a very trendy and popular spot. We returned to the clinic for the treatment to be injected into my forearms. I had misunderstood in the paperwork that was emailed to me the week before the appointment and had accidentally ordered a "double" treatment, thinking this meant I would get a single dose in one visit, then return a month later for a second dose. Nope! I got both arms done at the same time, a real double dose! The doctor said he recommends LIT, followed by IVIG, then LIT once more. When I get a BFP I would get one more LIT treatment, as well as IVIG at least every 3 weeks. ETA: LIT single treatment=$300 LIT double treatment=$600 LIT triple dose $750
New IVF Clinic:
We had one day off of in-person appointments for driving back to California, then went to our first consult at Vida IVF in Tijuana, MX. I had stumbled across this clinic online when a woman in one of my other TTC groups said she had spent $100,000 on TTC over 10 years with no luck, and then got lucky on her very first try at Vida! She and others formed a small FB group last year and now there are about 600 of us in the group. IVF there is $4,000-$6,000 total, including meds and PGD testing!!! They do DuoStim, which is why we chose them, plus they are on the West Coast and closer to us that any CNY location that we had been considering. Anyway, Vida was also super easy to access. After driving 20 minutes from San Diego, and walking across the border at Tijuana in 5 minutes, we got a cab in Mexico for $5 and he dropped us off at the building 10 minutes later. Vida is a super nice clinic on the 7th floor of a commercial building. (Nicest RE/IVF clinic I've been to.) It's super new and modern, the technology is advanced. The head doctors are young-ish females (LOVE!) and they train other doctors on a rotating basis. So we met with our doctor and the doctor she was training. He took the notes while she did all the talking. She spoke to us at length (in English) about our health histories and challenges with TTC. I gave her all of my paperwork from past appointments with specialists and all my RPL bloodwork/blood-clotting mutations/latest Day 3 bloodwork from last month, etc. She still wanted to do 2 more blood tests for things she always checks for with RPL history. We were totally surprised when she said she also wanted MH to do a sperm analysis and DNA fragmentation on the spot.😳We had just done the dirty the night before because I suspected we were starting FW! We knew he wouldn't be able to produce much for his sample after just 8 hours in between. Anyway, she then did my U/S and we were all THRILLED that she saw 1 large follicle on my left (16mm) and 3 large follicles on my right!(16, 18, and 20mm). My lining was already at 9 mm. That IVF last month really did make me hyper-fertile this month! She said this was a great sign and offered me the trigger shot so we could take a break from HIO & "schedule the exercise" as she put it.😄LOL! I got my blood drawn, MH gave his sample, then we met back up in the doctor's office. She recommended DuoStim for next month if we don't have luck naturally this month. She gave me a new stims protocol that does NOT include birth control--hallelujah! She recommends estrogen priming instead for my situation. I also asked her if she knew about or had opinions on LIT: she replied that she does it in her clinic! She said it is not 100% guaranteed and there have been some issues with the formal studies conducted on it, but she uses it in vital cases. I could not believe it! So that will make things much easier in the future if we go down that path with Vida. I was super impressed with her, with her clinic, and the whole extremely professional environment. I see that some ladies in the FB Vida group have been getting HGH (Omnitrope) recommended to them at Vida too, which I like because it was recommended to me by Dr. Kiltz at CNY and by the renowned Dr. Sher. It’s also 1/20th of the cost at Vida compared to the $300 I paid for it in the US. The doctors at Vida seem to be really up on their game. So now we do the TWWaiting game and see what the next steps will be. ETA: We got all of our blood tests & SA results emailed to us by 5 pm that same day by the doctor-in-training! MH’s sperm analysis confirmed what I recently learned from my local IVF clinic: he actually does have borderline low morph, ranging from 5% at Vida to 7-12% at our local clinic. But his motility is amazing at 75%! So he has only a few healthy swimmers per sample but the fastest strongest ones seem to almost always find the egg. So that explains part of why IUIs have been successful for us, despite ending in chemicals. ETA: First consult at Vida is $1,000 pesos, about $45 U.S. dollars. My bloodwork & ultrasound cost $125 total. MH’s SA and DNA fragmentation were $220 total. We just had DNA fragmentation done a few months ago in the U.S. and that alone cost us $274!
WTF Follow-Up Details:
On the phone with my local RE, whom I love, she said she always gets nervous before we have a call because she doesn't know what else she can tell me since I'm so well-researched. I was surprised by this admission! I told her I love talking to her because anything I ever bring up to her she is already familiar with and can give me good advice one way or the other. I told her how I could feel implantation happening after the embryo transfer, and how it followed a pattern of getting a higher-than-normal temp and then my body shutting everything down so that PG did not happen. She said she has had a couple of patients who know their bodies very well and have weird allergic reaction-type things at implantation, like tingling in the bladder, etc. She said we could try a histamine protocol in the future and prescribed me some things. Without me telling her about anything I've been up to, she also recommended that I take the DQ/Alpha match test through ReproSource to see if MH and I have a DNA match that is stopping implantation. This is the same test that Dr. Sher recommended a couple weeks ago that we just sent in to ReproSource. My local RE also said that I should check out the research coming out of Australia, as that is a more homogeneous population than in the U.S. and they have higher incidences of things like Immunologic Implantation Failure--probably due to closer DNA matches. She said they are ahead of the U.S. in researching these things. (Her office also ordered the LAD test for me last week through ReproSource, which Dr. Sher would not order because he knows it could lead to me doing LIT, which he does not recommend.) My local RE also said that in her honest opinion I have very good eggs for my age--that my embryos looked perfect under the microscope-- and I am not crazy for thinking of trying a few more times, despite my AMA. She said I haven't exhausted my IUIs that are covered by insurance and I haven't exhausted all meds that are currently covered by my insurance plan. She thinks we can try that in the near future if I want, and I could bank some of the meds this year. Then, I will change to new insurance coverage for next year which will cover one more additional lifetime shot at IVF. I could use the banked meds to save some money there in January or February. So, we have a lot to think about during this next TWW!
If you made it this far, thanks for reading the latest chapter in my IF choose-your-own-adventure series! I hope some of these details help someone else in this group or someone trying to find answers in the future.
ETA: Details of the costs of each appointment/ treatment.
@keikilove WOW! Holy cow girl, you have been BUSY! And those follies! I hope they turn into little sticky babies! Especially with that stellar sperm YH is bringing to that table. Real Michael Phelps's!!! Thanks for keeping us all up to date, and for leaving such excellent record for future generations of IF warriors. You're a role-model, and you will get your 🌈🦄.
TTC History TTC#2
Me: 41; MH: 40 | Met 02/2009 | Started Dating 08/2017 | Married 02/02/2020 Mar 2024 | consult to get established with a new reproductive immunologist (Alan Beer Center) Apr/May 2024 | required testing & waiting for a protocol May 2024 | protocol given / decided to go back to my old reproductive immunologist, Dr. Jubiz Jun / Jul 2024 | more testing, incl. SIS, ultrasound, and endometrial biopsy Jul 2024 | Dx chronic endometritis; 14 days of 100mg of doxy given Sep 2024 | Repeat endometrial biopsy; still + for chronic endometritis. 2 more antibiotics + an antiviral Oct 2024 | Hysteroscopy turned polypectomy; endometriosis consult w/ specialist who confirmed high likelihood of endo based on symptoms and ultrasound; lots of blood tests ordered Mar 2025 | Endo excision surgery. Stage 3 endo found! Recoveing Apr 2025 | Planning transfer w/ RE & green light protocol w/ RI; target transfer July or August 2025 May 2025 | Surprise BFP! EDD 1/11/2026
TTC #1
Me: 36, MH: 34 | Met 02/2009 | Started Dating 08/2017 | Married 02/02/2020 TTC #1 02/2020 - 07/2022 2009 | Dx PCOS; likely a misdiagnosis 07/14/20 | Dx Hashimoto's Thyroditis 07/21/20 | 1st RE appointment 07/2120 - 08/20/20 | so much testing; no signs of PCOS 08/20/20 | Dx Unexplained; AMA 09/08/20 | IUI #1 Clomid + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN 09/30/20 | Urology consult; more testing required 10/2020 | Clomid + OPK + TI + Prometrium | BFN 10/26/2020 | Starting 2nd IUI cycle, with Letrazole and with a new RE / different clinic 11/03/2020 | New Dx "poor egg quality"; IUI cancelled in favor of Trigger + TI + Prometrium | BFN 11/26/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Menopur) + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN 12/20/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Gonal-F) + Trigger | IUI Cancelled due to thin lining; TI only | BFN 01/14/2021 | Combo IUI (Letrazole + Menopur) + Trigger | BFN 02/06/2021 | Switched to a new RE (TEW) ; trying naturally until we complete additional testing 03/14/2021 | Hybrid Double IUI, with Zymot (Letrazole, Gonal-F) + Trigger + Endometrin | Ovulated 4 mature eggs but still a BFN ☹️ 04/07/2021 | Natural cycle while we regroup | BFN 04/09/2021 | Employer announces fertility benefits starting 05/01/2021! | Search for a new doctor who accepts insurance 05/10/2021 | New RE consult & plan for IVF 05/13/2021 | Mid-luteal IVF cycle #1 interrupted; had to get cancer genetic screening done to make sure I didn't have the same SDHA gene mutation as MH. 06/10/2021 | Aygestin priming IVF cycle #1; opted to Cx after 9 days of stims since only 5-6/12 follicles responded 07/26/2021 | Attempt #2 at IVF cycle #1 (mid-luteal start): 8 retrieved, 8 MII, 6 fert (1 PN3), 3 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 3AA, 3AA, 6AB; 3 euploid 08/09/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC | Shockingly, a BFP! EDD: 5/25/202 | CP at 4w4d 09/23/2021 | IVF cycle #2 (mid-luteal start): 14 retrieved, 13 MII, 11 fert, 5 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 2 x 3AA, 2 x 3AB, 3BB; 2 euploid 11/12/2021 | IVF cycle #3 (mid-luteal start): cancelled due to ovaries being on vacation 12/20/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + Pregmune Immunology Testing; BFN 01/22/2022 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + understanding uncovered immunological issues; BFN 02/18/2022 | Mock transfer cycle! ERA, ReceptivaDx, EMMA/ALICE; start Prednisone to address NK activity 03/16/2022 | Final, "Hail Mary" super-ovulation + TI cycle before FET; BFP! EDD: 12/21/2022 | MMC 05/08/2022 05/20/2022 | D&C; recovering... 06/21/2022 | Trying naturally until October 2022 07/21/2022 | BFP! EDD 04/02/2023; 👦🏼 born on 4/5/2023
@acleverusername Thanks so much!💓 I just went back & added a few more details. It’s probably helpful to others who are interested to know the costs. Waaaaay less expensive than the U.S.!
Question for ER veterans (lurking grads are welcome): my friend just had hers earlier this week and I’d like to send her a gift but am light on ideas. Anyone have any? Did you receive anything after your ER?
TTC History TTC#2
Me: 41; MH: 40 | Met 02/2009 | Started Dating 08/2017 | Married 02/02/2020 Mar 2024 | consult to get established with a new reproductive immunologist (Alan Beer Center) Apr/May 2024 | required testing & waiting for a protocol May 2024 | protocol given / decided to go back to my old reproductive immunologist, Dr. Jubiz Jun / Jul 2024 | more testing, incl. SIS, ultrasound, and endometrial biopsy Jul 2024 | Dx chronic endometritis; 14 days of 100mg of doxy given Sep 2024 | Repeat endometrial biopsy; still + for chronic endometritis. 2 more antibiotics + an antiviral Oct 2024 | Hysteroscopy turned polypectomy; endometriosis consult w/ specialist who confirmed high likelihood of endo based on symptoms and ultrasound; lots of blood tests ordered Mar 2025 | Endo excision surgery. Stage 3 endo found! Recoveing Apr 2025 | Planning transfer w/ RE & green light protocol w/ RI; target transfer July or August 2025 May 2025 | Surprise BFP! EDD 1/11/2026
TTC #1
Me: 36, MH: 34 | Met 02/2009 | Started Dating 08/2017 | Married 02/02/2020 TTC #1 02/2020 - 07/2022 2009 | Dx PCOS; likely a misdiagnosis 07/14/20 | Dx Hashimoto's Thyroditis 07/21/20 | 1st RE appointment 07/2120 - 08/20/20 | so much testing; no signs of PCOS 08/20/20 | Dx Unexplained; AMA 09/08/20 | IUI #1 Clomid + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN 09/30/20 | Urology consult; more testing required 10/2020 | Clomid + OPK + TI + Prometrium | BFN 10/26/2020 | Starting 2nd IUI cycle, with Letrazole and with a new RE / different clinic 11/03/2020 | New Dx "poor egg quality"; IUI cancelled in favor of Trigger + TI + Prometrium | BFN 11/26/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Menopur) + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN 12/20/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Gonal-F) + Trigger | IUI Cancelled due to thin lining; TI only | BFN 01/14/2021 | Combo IUI (Letrazole + Menopur) + Trigger | BFN 02/06/2021 | Switched to a new RE (TEW) ; trying naturally until we complete additional testing 03/14/2021 | Hybrid Double IUI, with Zymot (Letrazole, Gonal-F) + Trigger + Endometrin | Ovulated 4 mature eggs but still a BFN ☹️ 04/07/2021 | Natural cycle while we regroup | BFN 04/09/2021 | Employer announces fertility benefits starting 05/01/2021! | Search for a new doctor who accepts insurance 05/10/2021 | New RE consult & plan for IVF 05/13/2021 | Mid-luteal IVF cycle #1 interrupted; had to get cancer genetic screening done to make sure I didn't have the same SDHA gene mutation as MH. 06/10/2021 | Aygestin priming IVF cycle #1; opted to Cx after 9 days of stims since only 5-6/12 follicles responded 07/26/2021 | Attempt #2 at IVF cycle #1 (mid-luteal start): 8 retrieved, 8 MII, 6 fert (1 PN3), 3 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 3AA, 3AA, 6AB; 3 euploid 08/09/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC | Shockingly, a BFP! EDD: 5/25/202 | CP at 4w4d 09/23/2021 | IVF cycle #2 (mid-luteal start): 14 retrieved, 13 MII, 11 fert, 5 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 2 x 3AA, 2 x 3AB, 3BB; 2 euploid 11/12/2021 | IVF cycle #3 (mid-luteal start): cancelled due to ovaries being on vacation 12/20/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + Pregmune Immunology Testing; BFN 01/22/2022 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + understanding uncovered immunological issues; BFN 02/18/2022 | Mock transfer cycle! ERA, ReceptivaDx, EMMA/ALICE; start Prednisone to address NK activity 03/16/2022 | Final, "Hail Mary" super-ovulation + TI cycle before FET; BFP! EDD: 12/21/2022 | MMC 05/08/2022 05/20/2022 | D&C; recovering... 06/21/2022 | Trying naturally until October 2022 07/21/2022 | BFP! EDD 04/02/2023; 👦🏼 born on 4/5/2023
@keikilove Wow what an adventure you’ve been on! Your journey is so inspiring! Thanks so much for sharing everything you’ve learned along the way. It’s so good to see all the other options that are out there! Amazing that you have so many follies and I’m so hopeful for you!
@acleverusername I didn’t receive any gifts, but my bestie did make me a card with a really nice message inside. I look at it when I’m feeling down.. I think that means more to me than any gift!
Me: 35 DH: 35 TTC since 9/2018
Dx: MFI 10/19- First RE visit 2/20- DH had surgery for bilateral varicoceles 7/20- IUI with 5 mg letrozole- BFN 9/20- IVF. 9 eggs retrieved, 9 mature, 8 fertilized with ICSI, 7 blasts, 4 PGT-A normal 11/20- Mock transfer/ERA 12/20- FET #1- transferred one 4AB- BFN 3/21- FET #2- transferred one 3AB- BFP! Due Dec 2021 12/21- Baby girl born!
@keikilove wow! Just wow! You have worked so hard you will get your THB! I hope with all those follies, the trigger for "scheduling the exercise" and your super fertile cycle are just what you need.
*TW LC*
Me & MH: 32 DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU) TTC #2: 12/2019 Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
@keikilove You inspire me. Truly. You have so much drive and spirit, and I am just amazed at how graciously you've handled everything that's been thrown at you. Wishing you all the luck as you travel this path and I can't wait for the day when all your efforts pay off. Please keep posting updates!! ❤❤
@misshelen86@krash_@ruby696 Aawww, thank you, friends❤️ Hey, we all just do what we gotta do, right? My dogged determination with this is the same way I operate in the rest of my life. That way, even if things don’t work out, I know I gave it my best & don’t have to second-guess or have any regrets. Hopefully all this effort will be enough in this situation!🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 Also, I’m just super grateful that my road hasn’t been as long as some others. Like the lady who told me about the new clinic: TEN years of trying?!?! Now that’s commitment. God bless her & everyone else on that loooooong journey!
@acleverusername I only told one friend about my ER beforehand. She sent me a very thoughtful text before & after, which was very sweet. Personally, I would’ve felt weird receiving a gift, as the ER feels like just the first step in the whole process. But that’s just me. As @misshelen86 said, a nice card seems appropriate and very thoughtful.
@fingerscrossed1 yep that’s what I used! I forgot to ask when it would be out of my system...but I’m going to try my best to actually wait the full 14 days before I test to be safe.
@keikilove you seriously are so amazing. This is some journey you have been on, and I think you’re incredibly brave. I’m so very hopeful for you!
AFM, IUI went well this morning! Other than sitting in the waiting room for an hour which was stressful because I had to get in to work this morning. But my RE was happy with DH’s numbers - said they were the best of the day lol! I don’t even care if he says that to everyone. So now I’m about to spend the weekend laying around on the couch doing nothing and sending good vibes to my body haha!
@runningoncookies So glad to hear the IUI went well! I love that YH had “the best numbers of the day”!😄 Enjoy your lazy weekend on the couch—you’ve earned it!
@runningoncookies“the best numbers of the day” is the most fabulous of compliments! So happy that all went well today. FX for you. Please please please do rest and relax all weekend and think positive thoughts!
TTC History TTC#2
Me: 41; MH: 40 | Met 02/2009 | Started Dating 08/2017 | Married 02/02/2020 Mar 2024 | consult to get established with a new reproductive immunologist (Alan Beer Center) Apr/May 2024 | required testing & waiting for a protocol May 2024 | protocol given / decided to go back to my old reproductive immunologist, Dr. Jubiz Jun / Jul 2024 | more testing, incl. SIS, ultrasound, and endometrial biopsy Jul 2024 | Dx chronic endometritis; 14 days of 100mg of doxy given Sep 2024 | Repeat endometrial biopsy; still + for chronic endometritis. 2 more antibiotics + an antiviral Oct 2024 | Hysteroscopy turned polypectomy; endometriosis consult w/ specialist who confirmed high likelihood of endo based on symptoms and ultrasound; lots of blood tests ordered Mar 2025 | Endo excision surgery. Stage 3 endo found! Recoveing Apr 2025 | Planning transfer w/ RE & green light protocol w/ RI; target transfer July or August 2025 May 2025 | Surprise BFP! EDD 1/11/2026
TTC #1
Me: 36, MH: 34 | Met 02/2009 | Started Dating 08/2017 | Married 02/02/2020 TTC #1 02/2020 - 07/2022 2009 | Dx PCOS; likely a misdiagnosis 07/14/20 | Dx Hashimoto's Thyroditis 07/21/20 | 1st RE appointment 07/2120 - 08/20/20 | so much testing; no signs of PCOS 08/20/20 | Dx Unexplained; AMA 09/08/20 | IUI #1 Clomid + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN 09/30/20 | Urology consult; more testing required 10/2020 | Clomid + OPK + TI + Prometrium | BFN 10/26/2020 | Starting 2nd IUI cycle, with Letrazole and with a new RE / different clinic 11/03/2020 | New Dx "poor egg quality"; IUI cancelled in favor of Trigger + TI + Prometrium | BFN 11/26/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Menopur) + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN 12/20/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Gonal-F) + Trigger | IUI Cancelled due to thin lining; TI only | BFN 01/14/2021 | Combo IUI (Letrazole + Menopur) + Trigger | BFN 02/06/2021 | Switched to a new RE (TEW) ; trying naturally until we complete additional testing 03/14/2021 | Hybrid Double IUI, with Zymot (Letrazole, Gonal-F) + Trigger + Endometrin | Ovulated 4 mature eggs but still a BFN ☹️ 04/07/2021 | Natural cycle while we regroup | BFN 04/09/2021 | Employer announces fertility benefits starting 05/01/2021! | Search for a new doctor who accepts insurance 05/10/2021 | New RE consult & plan for IVF 05/13/2021 | Mid-luteal IVF cycle #1 interrupted; had to get cancer genetic screening done to make sure I didn't have the same SDHA gene mutation as MH. 06/10/2021 | Aygestin priming IVF cycle #1; opted to Cx after 9 days of stims since only 5-6/12 follicles responded 07/26/2021 | Attempt #2 at IVF cycle #1 (mid-luteal start): 8 retrieved, 8 MII, 6 fert (1 PN3), 3 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 3AA, 3AA, 6AB; 3 euploid 08/09/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC | Shockingly, a BFP! EDD: 5/25/202 | CP at 4w4d 09/23/2021 | IVF cycle #2 (mid-luteal start): 14 retrieved, 13 MII, 11 fert, 5 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 2 x 3AA, 2 x 3AB, 3BB; 2 euploid 11/12/2021 | IVF cycle #3 (mid-luteal start): cancelled due to ovaries being on vacation 12/20/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + Pregmune Immunology Testing; BFN 01/22/2022 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + understanding uncovered immunological issues; BFN 02/18/2022 | Mock transfer cycle! ERA, ReceptivaDx, EMMA/ALICE; start Prednisone to address NK activity 03/16/2022 | Final, "Hail Mary" super-ovulation + TI cycle before FET; BFP! EDD: 12/21/2022 | MMC 05/08/2022 05/20/2022 | D&C; recovering... 06/21/2022 | Trying naturally until October 2022 07/21/2022 | BFP! EDD 04/02/2023; 👦🏼 born on 4/5/2023
Re: IF Testing & Treatment w/o 10.12
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
Sending you great karma for the IUI tomorrow!
The travel:
Might sound nuts, but desperate times call for desperate measures!! First, we did Covid tests last week before traveling. We flew from Hawai’i to Los Angeles, drove to Arizona, then Mexico, then drove back to San Diego, then down to Mexico, then back to L.A. for our flight home. We did this from Friday night to Tuesday morning this week--one day longer than we had planned for. We were lucky that the 5-hour flight from HI was basically empty. We each got our own row to lie down & sleep the whole time. I also did some work, as I knew it would be too hectic to do it on the ground. We landed in Los Angeles, CA at 11 pm and drove all night to Arizona since there were no direct flights due to COVID, and no flights from LA at that late hour to get us to our appointment on time. We hit Phoenix at sunrise, then drove 2 more hours to a nice hotel in Tucson, showered real quick, and drove the additional hour down to Nogales, Mexico. The treatment took all afternoon. We had a good sleep in the Tucson hotel that night, then met up with family friends in Tucson in the morning. Got back on the road and spent that whole day driving to San Diego, CA. My local RE called me during that drive for our WTF follow-up appointment for my failed transfer last month. Got to San Diego at sunset, met up with a friend who had some unopened medicine for me that she didn't need anymore (saving me over $15,000 in IVIG!!!). Checked into our hotel, had a lovely date night in Little Italy, San Diego. The next morning we drove 20 minutes to the border at Tijuana, Mexico, caught a taxi to the clinic, arrived by 8 am for our consult. The appointment was much longer than we were told it would be, more on that later. After our consult we tried to drive back for our 2 pm flight at LAX but the border crossing line was too long--even though I had a letter about treatment from the doctor and this allowed us to go in the much shorter ‘handicapped’ line--and we ended up *just* missing our flight home. So we had one more date night in Little Italy & arrived at LAX early the next morning for our flight home. I had used airline miles & upgrades so we got to enjoy First Class on the way back. The flight was almost empty again, thank goodness. Slept the whole time with double masks on my face. We've now been home for less than 48 hours. We did another round of drive-thru Covid tests & will probably do another one next week for safety. My arms have been itching like crazy after LIT but I'm feeling great about all that we accomplished in such a short amount of time!
Pic of treatment result on arms.Super minor:
LIT treatment is actually fairly simple. The injection sites on the forearms get a little swollen & itchy. Today is Day 6 & the swelling, itchiness, & lumps under the skin are subsiding. I didn’t blister.🙏🏽
(Ignore my veins--my bi-weekly blood draws have me looking like I do drugs.)
LIT Treatment:
New IVF Clinic:
for my situation. I also asked her if she knew about or had opinions on LIT: she replied that she does it in her clinic! She said it is not 100% guaranteed and there have been some issues with the formal studies conducted on it, but she uses it in vital cases. I could not believe it! So that will make things much easier in the future if we go down that path with Vida. I was super impressed with her, with her clinic, and the whole extremely professional environment. I see that some ladies in the FB Vida group have been getting HGH (Omnitrope) recommended to them at Vida too, which I like because it was recommended to me by Dr. Kiltz at CNY and by the renowned Dr. Sher. It’s also 1/20th of the cost at Vida compared to the $300 I paid for it in the US. The doctors at Vida seem to be really up on their game. So now we do the TWWaiting game and see what the next steps will be.
ETA: We got all of our blood tests & SA results emailed to us by 5 pm that same day by the doctor-in-training! MH’s sperm analysis confirmed what I recently learned from my local IVF clinic: he actually does have borderline low morph, ranging from 5% at Vida to 7-12% at our local clinic. But his motility is amazing at 75%! So he has only a few healthy swimmers per sample but the fastest strongest ones seem to almost always find the egg. So that explains part of why IUIs have been successful for us, despite ending in chemicals. ETA: First consult at Vida is $1,000 pesos, about $45 U.S. dollars. My bloodwork & ultrasound cost $125 total. MH’s SA and DNA fragmentation were $220 total. We just had DNA fragmentation done a few months ago in the U.S. and that alone cost us $274!
WTF Follow-Up Details:
If you made it this far, thanks for reading the latest chapter in my IF choose-your-own-adventure series! I hope some of these details help someone else in this group or someone trying to find answers in the future.
TTC History
TTC#2
Mar 2024 | consult to get established with a new reproductive immunologist (Alan Beer Center)
Apr/May 2024 | required testing & waiting for a protocol
May 2024 | protocol given / decided to go back to my old reproductive immunologist, Dr. Jubiz
Jun / Jul 2024 | more testing, incl. SIS, ultrasound, and endometrial biopsy
Jul 2024 | Dx chronic endometritis; 14 days of 100mg of doxy given
Sep 2024 | Repeat endometrial biopsy; still + for chronic endometritis. 2 more antibiotics + an antiviral
Oct 2024 | Hysteroscopy turned polypectomy; endometriosis consult w/ specialist who confirmed high likelihood of endo based on symptoms and ultrasound; lots of blood tests ordered
Mar 2025 | Endo excision surgery. Stage 3 endo found! Recoveing
Apr 2025 | Planning transfer w/ RE & green light protocol w/ RI; target transfer July or August 2025
May 2025 | Surprise BFP! EDD 1/11/2026
TTC #1
TTC #1 02/2020 - 07/2022
2009 | Dx PCOS; likely a misdiagnosis
07/14/20 | Dx Hashimoto's Thyroditis
07/21/20 | 1st RE appointment
07/2120 - 08/20/20 | so much testing; no signs of PCOS
08/20/20 | Dx Unexplained; AMA
09/08/20 | IUI #1 Clomid + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN
09/30/20 | Urology consult; more testing required
10/2020 | Clomid + OPK + TI + Prometrium | BFN
10/26/2020 | Starting 2nd IUI cycle, with Letrazole and with a new RE / different clinic
11/03/2020 | New Dx "poor egg quality"; IUI cancelled in favor of Trigger + TI + Prometrium | BFN
11/26/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Menopur) + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN
12/20/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Gonal-F) + Trigger | IUI Cancelled due to thin lining; TI only | BFN
01/14/2021 | Combo IUI (Letrazole + Menopur) + Trigger | BFN
02/06/2021 | Switched to a new RE (TEW) ; trying naturally until we complete additional testing
03/14/2021 | Hybrid Double IUI, with Zymot (Letrazole, Gonal-F) + Trigger + Endometrin | Ovulated 4 mature eggs but still a BFN ☹️
04/07/2021 | Natural cycle while we regroup | BFN
04/09/2021 | Employer announces fertility benefits starting 05/01/2021! | Search for a new doctor who accepts insurance
05/10/2021 | New RE consult & plan for IVF
05/13/2021 | Mid-luteal IVF cycle #1 interrupted; had to get cancer genetic screening done to make sure I didn't have the same SDHA gene mutation as MH.
06/10/2021 | Aygestin priming IVF cycle #1; opted to Cx after 9 days of stims since only 5-6/12 follicles responded
07/26/2021 | Attempt #2 at IVF cycle #1 (mid-luteal start): 8 retrieved, 8 MII, 6 fert (1 PN3), 3 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 3AA, 3AA, 6AB; 3 euploid
08/09/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC | Shockingly, a BFP! EDD: 5/25/202 | CP at 4w4d
09/23/2021 | IVF cycle #2 (mid-luteal start): 14 retrieved, 13 MII, 11 fert, 5 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 2 x 3AA, 2 x 3AB, 3BB; 2 euploid
11/12/2021 | IVF cycle #3 (mid-luteal start): cancelled due to ovaries being on vacation
12/20/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + Pregmune Immunology Testing; BFN
01/22/2022 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + understanding uncovered immunological issues; BFN
02/18/2022 | Mock transfer cycle! ERA, ReceptivaDx, EMMA/ALICE; start Prednisone to address NK activity
03/16/2022 | Final, "Hail Mary" super-ovulation + TI cycle before FET; BFP! EDD: 12/21/2022 | MMC 05/08/2022
05/20/2022 | D&C; recovering...
06/21/2022 | Trying naturally until October 2022
07/21/2022 | BFP! EDD 04/02/2023; 👦🏼 born on 4/5/2023
TTC History
TTC#2
Mar 2024 | consult to get established with a new reproductive immunologist (Alan Beer Center)
Apr/May 2024 | required testing & waiting for a protocol
May 2024 | protocol given / decided to go back to my old reproductive immunologist, Dr. Jubiz
Jun / Jul 2024 | more testing, incl. SIS, ultrasound, and endometrial biopsy
Jul 2024 | Dx chronic endometritis; 14 days of 100mg of doxy given
Sep 2024 | Repeat endometrial biopsy; still + for chronic endometritis. 2 more antibiotics + an antiviral
Oct 2024 | Hysteroscopy turned polypectomy; endometriosis consult w/ specialist who confirmed high likelihood of endo based on symptoms and ultrasound; lots of blood tests ordered
Mar 2025 | Endo excision surgery. Stage 3 endo found! Recoveing
Apr 2025 | Planning transfer w/ RE & green light protocol w/ RI; target transfer July or August 2025
May 2025 | Surprise BFP! EDD 1/11/2026
TTC #1
TTC #1 02/2020 - 07/2022
2009 | Dx PCOS; likely a misdiagnosis
07/14/20 | Dx Hashimoto's Thyroditis
07/21/20 | 1st RE appointment
07/2120 - 08/20/20 | so much testing; no signs of PCOS
08/20/20 | Dx Unexplained; AMA
09/08/20 | IUI #1 Clomid + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN
09/30/20 | Urology consult; more testing required
10/2020 | Clomid + OPK + TI + Prometrium | BFN
10/26/2020 | Starting 2nd IUI cycle, with Letrazole and with a new RE / different clinic
11/03/2020 | New Dx "poor egg quality"; IUI cancelled in favor of Trigger + TI + Prometrium | BFN
11/26/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Menopur) + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN
12/20/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Gonal-F) + Trigger | IUI Cancelled due to thin lining; TI only | BFN
01/14/2021 | Combo IUI (Letrazole + Menopur) + Trigger | BFN
02/06/2021 | Switched to a new RE (TEW) ; trying naturally until we complete additional testing
03/14/2021 | Hybrid Double IUI, with Zymot (Letrazole, Gonal-F) + Trigger + Endometrin | Ovulated 4 mature eggs but still a BFN ☹️
04/07/2021 | Natural cycle while we regroup | BFN
04/09/2021 | Employer announces fertility benefits starting 05/01/2021! | Search for a new doctor who accepts insurance
05/10/2021 | New RE consult & plan for IVF
05/13/2021 | Mid-luteal IVF cycle #1 interrupted; had to get cancer genetic screening done to make sure I didn't have the same SDHA gene mutation as MH.
06/10/2021 | Aygestin priming IVF cycle #1; opted to Cx after 9 days of stims since only 5-6/12 follicles responded
07/26/2021 | Attempt #2 at IVF cycle #1 (mid-luteal start): 8 retrieved, 8 MII, 6 fert (1 PN3), 3 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 3AA, 3AA, 6AB; 3 euploid
08/09/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC | Shockingly, a BFP! EDD: 5/25/202 | CP at 4w4d
09/23/2021 | IVF cycle #2 (mid-luteal start): 14 retrieved, 13 MII, 11 fert, 5 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 2 x 3AA, 2 x 3AB, 3BB; 2 euploid
11/12/2021 | IVF cycle #3 (mid-luteal start): cancelled due to ovaries being on vacation
12/20/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + Pregmune Immunology Testing; BFN
01/22/2022 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + understanding uncovered immunological issues; BFN
02/18/2022 | Mock transfer cycle! ERA, ReceptivaDx, EMMA/ALICE; start Prednisone to address NK activity
03/16/2022 | Final, "Hail Mary" super-ovulation + TI cycle before FET; BFP! EDD: 12/21/2022 | MMC 05/08/2022
05/20/2022 | D&C; recovering...
06/21/2022 | Trying naturally until October 2022
07/21/2022 | BFP! EDD 04/02/2023; 👦🏼 born on 4/5/2023
@acleverusername I didn’t receive any gifts, but my bestie did make me a card with a really nice message inside. I look at it when I’m feeling down.. I think that means more to me than any gift!
TTC since 9/2018
10/19- First RE visit
2/20- DH had surgery for bilateral varicoceles
7/20- IUI with 5 mg letrozole- BFN
9/20- IVF. 9 eggs retrieved, 9 mature, 8 fertilized with ICSI, 7 blasts, 4 PGT-A normal
11/20- Mock transfer/ERA
12/20- FET #1- transferred one 4AB- BFN
3/21- FET #2- transferred one 3AB- BFP! Due Dec 2021
12/21- Baby girl born!
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
married 11.1.14
ttc #1 since 5.18
bfp 12.22.18 letrozole + progesterone
d&e due to trisomy 13/hydrops at 15wks
bfp 7.21.19 letrozole + IUI
little girl A born 3.26.20
@keikilove You inspire me. Truly. You have so much drive and spirit, and I am just amazed at how graciously you've handled everything that's been thrown at you. Wishing you all the luck as you travel this path and I can't wait for the day when all your efforts pay off. Please keep posting updates!! ❤❤
AFM, IUI went well this morning! Other than sitting in the waiting room for an hour which was stressful because I had to get in to work this morning. But my RE was happy with DH’s numbers - said they were the best of the day lol! I don’t even care if he says that to everyone. So now I’m about to spend the weekend laying around on the couch doing nothing and sending good vibes to my body haha!
TTC History
TTC#2
Mar 2024 | consult to get established with a new reproductive immunologist (Alan Beer Center)
Apr/May 2024 | required testing & waiting for a protocol
May 2024 | protocol given / decided to go back to my old reproductive immunologist, Dr. Jubiz
Jun / Jul 2024 | more testing, incl. SIS, ultrasound, and endometrial biopsy
Jul 2024 | Dx chronic endometritis; 14 days of 100mg of doxy given
Sep 2024 | Repeat endometrial biopsy; still + for chronic endometritis. 2 more antibiotics + an antiviral
Oct 2024 | Hysteroscopy turned polypectomy; endometriosis consult w/ specialist who confirmed high likelihood of endo based on symptoms and ultrasound; lots of blood tests ordered
Mar 2025 | Endo excision surgery. Stage 3 endo found! Recoveing
Apr 2025 | Planning transfer w/ RE & green light protocol w/ RI; target transfer July or August 2025
May 2025 | Surprise BFP! EDD 1/11/2026
TTC #1
TTC #1 02/2020 - 07/2022
2009 | Dx PCOS; likely a misdiagnosis
07/14/20 | Dx Hashimoto's Thyroditis
07/21/20 | 1st RE appointment
07/2120 - 08/20/20 | so much testing; no signs of PCOS
08/20/20 | Dx Unexplained; AMA
09/08/20 | IUI #1 Clomid + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN
09/30/20 | Urology consult; more testing required
10/2020 | Clomid + OPK + TI + Prometrium | BFN
10/26/2020 | Starting 2nd IUI cycle, with Letrazole and with a new RE / different clinic
11/03/2020 | New Dx "poor egg quality"; IUI cancelled in favor of Trigger + TI + Prometrium | BFN
11/26/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Menopur) + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN
12/20/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Gonal-F) + Trigger | IUI Cancelled due to thin lining; TI only | BFN
01/14/2021 | Combo IUI (Letrazole + Menopur) + Trigger | BFN
02/06/2021 | Switched to a new RE (TEW) ; trying naturally until we complete additional testing
03/14/2021 | Hybrid Double IUI, with Zymot (Letrazole, Gonal-F) + Trigger + Endometrin | Ovulated 4 mature eggs but still a BFN ☹️
04/07/2021 | Natural cycle while we regroup | BFN
04/09/2021 | Employer announces fertility benefits starting 05/01/2021! | Search for a new doctor who accepts insurance
05/10/2021 | New RE consult & plan for IVF
05/13/2021 | Mid-luteal IVF cycle #1 interrupted; had to get cancer genetic screening done to make sure I didn't have the same SDHA gene mutation as MH.
06/10/2021 | Aygestin priming IVF cycle #1; opted to Cx after 9 days of stims since only 5-6/12 follicles responded
07/26/2021 | Attempt #2 at IVF cycle #1 (mid-luteal start): 8 retrieved, 8 MII, 6 fert (1 PN3), 3 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 3AA, 3AA, 6AB; 3 euploid
08/09/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC | Shockingly, a BFP! EDD: 5/25/202 | CP at 4w4d
09/23/2021 | IVF cycle #2 (mid-luteal start): 14 retrieved, 13 MII, 11 fert, 5 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 2 x 3AA, 2 x 3AB, 3BB; 2 euploid
11/12/2021 | IVF cycle #3 (mid-luteal start): cancelled due to ovaries being on vacation
12/20/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + Pregmune Immunology Testing; BFN
01/22/2022 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + understanding uncovered immunological issues; BFN
02/18/2022 | Mock transfer cycle! ERA, ReceptivaDx, EMMA/ALICE; start Prednisone to address NK activity
03/16/2022 | Final, "Hail Mary" super-ovulation + TI cycle before FET; BFP! EDD: 12/21/2022 | MMC 05/08/2022
05/20/2022 | D&C; recovering...
06/21/2022 | Trying naturally until October 2022
07/21/2022 | BFP! EDD 04/02/2023; 👦🏼 born on 4/5/2023
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18