IVF chat, part 2

The last RE consult left me with kind of a bad taste in my mouth.  I left feeling like the doctors aren't particularly interested in figuring out the cause of our infertility and that they're just advising us to move on to IVF because it's the next step.  I also was somewhat annoyed that the doctor dismissed the chemical pregnancy, telling me that it was probably just the ovidrel.  Other than semen analysis, no bloodwork or tests have ever been done on my husband.  I also haven't had any tests other than hormone levels, saline sonogram and HSG.  I'd be interested to have an immunology or RPL panel done to see if anything shows up there. 

I have an appointment with a well-renowned clinic in another part of the state for a second opinion.  I still plan to do IVF with my current clinic, but maybe this other doc can look at my chart and give me some insight as to what they think may be the problem. 

I got the quote from the financial person at my clinic.  The IVF will cost $6725 (including ICSI and freezing), plus the cost of meds.  While it is quite expensive, it's a little cheaper than I expected.  They mark it down a bit for people who are not insured.  I'll talk to the IVF coordinator sometime next week to schedule the saline sonogram and bloodwork, so that we'll be ready to start in January or February.

Doctor consult post-mortem

We had our consult with the doctor today to discuss our next options.  It looks like IVF is in the cards for us.  The doctor said that due to the high cost of the injectables cyles (about $1900 a cycle), it makes more financial sense not to do any more IUIs, but to go for IVF.  They provide discounts to uninsured patients, but it's looking like it will be about $10K, including meds.  She couldn't really give us any insight as to why all the failures.  They don't do a lot of screening at this clinic, such as to check for chromosomal issues or recurrent pregnancy loss or anything like that.  At least, not for us.  We're "normal" according to them, though the doc did mention Bunny's low sperm counts which have gotten better since our first IUI's.  She recommended that we ICSI at least some of the eggs.  I raised concern that my luteal phase is getting shorter and shorter, she just said that I'll be given progesterone during the IVF cycle, like they do with all patients.  We'll figure it all out over the next few months, then probably start treatment in the spring.

Moving on...

I'm going to take a little break from the blog.  I need to regroup and heal from this last IUI failure.  I really lost it on Saturday but feeling much better today.  I think I got it out of my system.  The doctor is still making me go for a beta tomorrow, just to make sure it's not an ectopic or something, I guess.  I guess I should be somewhat encouraged that "something" happened this cycle, even if it didn't stick.  It shows that at least the eggs are capable of being fertilized.  I'll decide later whether to move on to IVF or do one more IUI, after speaking with the doctor.  Thanks for all the support, you guys are the best.

It's official - BFN

It's official that this one was a BFN.  Must have been a chemical or something.  They say that the digital tests don't lie, but I guess this one did.  The tests last night and this morning were clearly negative, then AF arrived.  It sure was fun to be pregnant for 2 days.  I'm going to call and cancel my beta for Monday.  The sucky thing is that I told my husband and he was super excited. 

I'm thinking that we may start IVF in the New Year.  This IUI was picture perfect and it failed.  I don't see the point of doing more IUI's if they're not going to work.

Inconclusive...

I tested today and yesterday and the results are, well... inconclusive.  I guess that's my punishment for testing too early.  Yesterday I tested in the morning with an "internet cheapie" and it had a faint second line.  I tested after work with a FRER and it was also very, very faintly positive.  This morning, both the internet cheapie and the FRER were negative.  I thought, what the hell, and peed on a digital and it was positive.  So, no big announcement yet.  I thought I'd have a blaring positive and be able to make a big announcement here, but it looks like it won't be official till I see a beta.  Here's a pic for your viewing pleasure...

7 DP monitoring appointment...

I had my 7 DP IUI monitoring appointment this morning.  They drew blood to check my progesterone level and I learned my number from last cycle - it was 34, I think.  They also did an ultrasound to check on my ovaries.  The right one was pretty big and had 2 corpus lutei.  There was a pocket of fluid outside my right ovary but the doctor said it should resolve itself.  The left ovary was huge! and there were also 2 or 3 corpus lutei.  She said I really need to take it easy until the ovaries get back to their normal size.  I'll need to make it through this week and maybe I'll test on Friday or Saturday.

5 DP IUI...

Not much to report at the moment.  Bunny is camping this weekend, so I'm at home alone with the kitties, cooking up a storm.  Tonight I'll go to the Philadelphia Film Festival and out to dinner with my sister in law.  I made homemade chicken tortilla soup for lunch, check out the deliciousness...

I'll attempt homemade won tons tomorrow.  Yum!

I'm not testing out the trigger this cycle.  Why bother?  It's fun to see those positive HPT's, but once they go negative it's a bummer.  I know the trigger is probably out of my system by now.  I'll try and wait to test until around 11 DPO or so, which is next Saturday I believe.  I've had really bad dreams during the 2 week wait, both last cycle and this cycle.  Last night I dreamed that I was undergoing chemotherapy.  I literally thought to myself in my dream "this will kill the babies for sure, if there are any."  How depressing!!  Let's hope this week goes by quickly and that there is a BFP on the other side!