TFAS 6/4

[westiemom]

How's it going this week?

mnj05
scrang
nikiswims
katelm
baymare
kristip

[westiemom]

Got my positive opk this AM. DH comes home from a trip tonight so I'm hoping it's not too late. We DTD Thursday and will do tonight, tomorrow, and Tuesday and hope for the best. I'm just glad I got a positive opk on day 20! Much improved from my usual long cycles. Hopefully I don't have a short luteal phase again!

[mnj05]

I have a professional development today and tomorrow, but I'm hoping for a long enough break to call my RE and get on the calendar for the FET.

[nikiswims]

Day 10 of stims for me. E2 is up to 1288 and I have 12 between 11-15. I go back in tomorrow but they're thinking maybe trigger Wednesday. Feeling a bit uncomfortable.

[kristip]

I am just trucking along on lupron nightly and 3 estrogen patches changed every other day. I go in Wednesday for bloodwork and an ultrasound on Sunday. Can't believe we are 2 weeks away from transfer day I am excited and nervous.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[scrang]

Hi! CD9 and we're in the midst of our mock cycle. I had a saline u/s today and my ute is nice and smooth, "beautiful" in the doc's words. I had to up the Estrace and Synthroid dosages, probably cause my body is getting old and doesn't want to do this anymore! Lining check and starting progesterone next. Otherwise, I'm planning Emma's 1st birthday party next month and it's getting a little out of control, I've gotta rein it in.

[katelm]

I met with my RE last week to learn about what's involved to do another FET in a few months maybe. I have a question for you guys about embryo grading b/c we need to make a decision on what embryo to transfer.

I always thought we were going to transfer my remaining day 5 when we went back for the next FET. I have written in my notes it is a 6BA. However my RE wrote it down as 3BA yesterday so I need to double check with her on that. She also said she's a little concerned because of a note the embryologist wrote that it has "poor intracellular bonds" which might mean it's less likely to survive thaw or implant. She's recommending transferring one of my 2 day 6 5ABs instead.

So apparently back in 2015 the decision would have been to transfer the day 5 because day 5 is always preferred over day 6. Now she's telling me latest research says the day doesn't matter so much 🤔 any thoughts? Maybe I should post on the main board for more input.

Current tentative plan is FET in October. I have my saline ultrasound scheduled for July and we have FET class (figure out dates, meds, sign consents) in August. My daughter needs be almost completely weaned by the time I start estrace in Sept. She will be 1 in July so it's doable I think. And I need to lose the last of this baby weight in the meantime.

[mnj05]

We've got a tentative FET date of August 9. RE has to sign off and then they have to work backwards so they can prescribe provera. Hopefully I get that call back in a few days.

[scrang]

katelm, Of our 6 embryos, only one tested normal with PGS - a 6 day 4BB. We had 5 higher graded embryos that were frozen on day 5 (in 2 separate IVF cycles), even a 6AA, but almost all had multiple chromosomal issues. Goes to show you how arbitrary the grading can be without PGS.
On the opposite side of the coin, we have one that has partial monosomy mosaicism (one 1 cell of the 3 tested showed partial irregularity) that is now showing in research to possibly be a mistake in testing, self correct, or stay in the placental cells during gestation. My point is that IVF is still such a young science and the doctors are always learning, but without PGS, I'd still go with her recommendation!

[westiemom]

katelm I think I would also go with her recommendation. I wish I knew more but scrang's reasoning makes sense to me.

[katelm]

@scrange westiemom actually both embryos are PGS normal. I should have mentioned that. I previously had a day 6 6BB PGS normal not survive thaw (according to my RE it's only a 5% chance of not surviving thaw). Another one of my day 6 6BB was PGS abnormal and so was one of my highest rated embryos.

[katelm]

Jun 7, 2017 9:33:44 GMT -6 scrang said:

katelm, Of our 6 embryos, only one tested normal with PGS - a 6 day 4BB. We had 5 higher graded embryos that were frozen on day 5 (in 2 separate IVF cycles), even a 6AA, but almost all had multiple chromosomal issues. Goes to show you how arbitrary the grading can be without PGS.
On the opposite side of the coin, we have one that has partial monosomy mosaicism (one 1 cell of the 3 tested showed partial irregularity) that is now showing in research to possibly be a mistake in testing, self correct, or stay in the placental cells during gestation. My point is that IVF is still such a young science and the doctors are always learning, but without PGS, I'd still go with her recommendation!

Was your day 6 4BB what become of your current child (I'm assuming you have one since this is tfas) or is that the one you plan to transfer next? Sorry I can't see any sig! Also, interesting about partial monosomy mosaicism

[scrang]

katelm,Emma was conceived naturally (huge surprise!) after IVF #2, so yes, this FET will be with the 4BB as its our only healthy embryo. We have everything crossed that she's strong and survives thaw and digs in after transfer! We're also most likely going to try with the mosaicism embryo at some point. The monosomy that showed up in his PGS testing would unfortunately result in an early miscarriage if he actually develops with it. But I have to give it a try, I can't just leave him behind if there is any chance for him...

I was talking with a few moms I know IRL about their IVF cycles. One transferred a day 6 arresting embryo - she now has a healthy almost year old daughter. It's mind boggling how strong these delicate little embies are!

[katelm]

scrang wow to the transfer of an arresting embryo. Was it a fresh transfer do you know?

I feel like I need to give all remaining embryos a chance. I recently found out the sex of them (kind of on accident) and now I know I have a girl and 2 boys waiting for me. Now I know that FET could fail for them all or we try 3 FETs and only 1 works. But I see them as my actual children waiting to be born. My husband says no way to 4 kids and ideally not 3 either but I can't help but wonder what these embies are like now that I have my daughter here. The struggle is real.

[baymare]

Jun 8, 2017 12:47:28 GMT -6 katelm said:

scrang wow to the transfer of an arresting embryo. Was it a fresh transfer do you know?

I feel like I need to give all remaining embryos a chance. I recently found out the sex of them (kind of on accident) and now I know I have a girl and 2 boys waiting for me. Now I know that FET could fail for them all or we try 3 FETs and only 1 works. But I see them as my actual children waiting to be born. My husband says no way to 4 kids and ideally not 3 either but I can't help but wonder what these embies are like now that I have my daughter here. The struggle is real.

We never had anything to freeze, but I feel that way too. Unlikely that we would have many/any to freeze. But I would want to go back for them.

[baymare]

Warning: "IF is unfair" rant ahead.

We had decided to pay for our upcoming​ IVF cycle with a loan from my retirement account. I have contributed a high percentage of my pay to it for several years, and it made sense to be paying myself the interest on a loan rather than a bank. So a couple weeks ago I called the company and applied. They said they just needed a form from my employer and the check would be sent. Well, today I get a call from my company's plan administrator saying that I was supposed to apply through her first and only hardship loans are allowed. Or a loan for buying a house. Medical bills are allowed if the procedure has already taken place and not been paid. Anyway, there is a chance I might be able to jump through hoops involving getting a note from the clinic and then MAYBE they might make an exception and consider letting me take the loan before the procedure (since the clinic requires prepayment) ... But I just feel like it's my own money, I should be able to use it for whatever and I didn't really want to involve my employer in my medical affairs. And I'm afraid they will look at the letter and be like "IVF isn't a hardship. Denied". And then I don't know what we will do and why does this all have to be so stressful anyway.

[westiemom]

Jun 8, 2017 13:58:42 GMT -6 baymare said:

Warning: "IF is unfair" rant ahead.

We had decided to pay for our upcoming​ IVF cycle with a loan from my retirement account. I have contributed a high percentage of my pay to it for several years, and it made sense to be paying myself the interest on a loan rather than a bank. So a couple weeks ago I called the company and applied. They said they just needed a form from my employer and the check would be sent. Well, today I get a call from my company's plan administrator saying that I was supposed to apply through her first and only hardship loans are allowed. Or a loan for buying a house. Medical bills are allowed if the procedure has already taken place and not been paid. Anyway, there is a chance I might be able to jump through hoops involving getting a note from the clinic and then MAYBE they might make an exception and consider letting me take the loan before the procedure (since the clinic requires prepayment) ... But I just feel like it's my own money, I should be able to use it for whatever and I didn't really want to involve my employer in my medical affairs. And I'm afraid they will look at the letter and be like "IVF isn't a hardship. Denied". And then I don't know what we will do and why does this all have to be so stressful anyway.

Ugh. I'm so so sorry you are dealing with that.

[katelm]

baymare I didn't get any embryos from IVF #1 and I got 2 after IVF #2 but they weren't usable All my embryos come from IVF 3 when I was on a ton of meds including human growth hormone and also got OHSS and had a really rough recovery. But I *finally* got good embryos so it was worth it. I hope you can get the funds to do another IVF soon.

[baymare]

Jun 8, 2017 19:06:15 GMT -6 katelm said:

baymare I didn't get any embryos from IVF #1 and I got 2 after IVF #2 but they weren't usable All my embryos come from IVF 3 when I was on a ton of meds including human growth hormone and also got OHSS and had a really rough recovery. But I *finally* got good embryos so it was worth it. I hope you can get the funds to do another IVF soon.

Thanks!

Sorry if this is in your siggy, but was your issue quantity of eggs or quality? Did the HGH help quantity? Sorry you had to deal with OHSS! What we go through ...

[mnj05]

baymare I hope you're able to get those funds. That's frustrating.

[katelm]

Jun 9, 2017 3:57:51 GMT -6 baymare said:

Jun 8, 2017 19:06:15 GMT -6 katelm said:

baymare I didn't get any embryos from IVF #1 and I got 2 after IVF #2 but they weren't usable All my embryos come from IVF 3 when I was on a ton of meds including human growth hormone and also got OHSS and had a really rough recovery. But I *finally* got good embryos so it was worth it. I hope you can get the funds to do another IVF soon.

Thanks!

Sorry if this is in your siggy, but was your issue quantity of eggs or quality? Did the HGH help quantity? Sorry you had to deal with OHSS! What we go through ...

I don't think I have a siggy the issue was egg quality. Between 3 IVFs I got like 50 eggs retrieved total. 100% always fertilized if I remember right, things always still looked great on day 2. Then they were doing downhill big time by day 3 and horrible by day 5 ..not making it to blast, arresting, etc. yes I believe HGH helped as I took a decent amount of it and it's the only cycle that I had some good quality blastocysts