TTC Super Ovulation part 3

[Arianrhod]

Hey ladies -

There are a few of us who are ttc after mc's, however there will be ladies out there who are also ttc for the first time or second or third without success. If anyone is on, considering or had success on a super ovulation programme then do join us. How long did it take ? Did you try IUI with it.. ? Did you have PCOS?

Kicking this off and hoping some of you will join....

part 1 here:
//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/1385998-TTC-Super-Ovulation

Part 2 here:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/1475108-TTC-Super-Ovulation-part-2?pg=1

[brownstag]

Sorry, that should have said:
... have you had any more infections than usual? Since being on it for three months I have had an outer ear infection ...

[gransol]

Hi all been following thread for a while but never written anything until now
I have just finished 6 months of SO with dr s on 50mg clomid as he said for my age that would be better as one of his younger patients (30) has never took us this long to fall naturally so totally confused as to why with clomid, ovitrelle and timed sex it never worked. Now taken a two month break as been on steroids too long
I have had seven very early loses never seen a heartbeat, not sure what to do next, Dr S says after break try SO again in the break nhs has agrred to dye test and a lap fingers crossed this helps, would welcome hope you dont mind me joining.

[Mel3062]

Welcome ladies x I've heard good things about lap and dye so fingers crossed itl work for you x

[brownstag]

Welcome and good luck with the laparascopy gransol. I'm in the same boat, waiting for a dye test and laparoscopy and I'm pinning all my hopes on it as I haven't had a BFP since having my DS and he's nearly 4. Of course I am ancient though. My NHS consultant said just because my tubes were open 4 years ago there's no reason to assume they still should be. When I Googled it, it seems tubal abnormalities are the top reason for secondary infertility. That had never even occurred to me. So obviously things can happen to tubes when you're least expecting it! The only down side to that is, if they do find something wrong with your tubes and they open them, it isn't always a magic cure and some people still need IVF. But at least the mystery would be solved.

[brownstag]

Ari, what treatment are you having now, if any?

[Arianrhod]

Hi ladies - welcome gransol, I recognise your name from the Pred thread a while back, am I right? And hey brown /wave .. and you think you're ancient? lol I'm the old lady of the thread, I think! :) Interesting to hear of you both looking to have lap & dye, and also interesting that I've not heard of Mr S suggesting this to anyone, wonder why?

Your question about hydroxy brown - me personally I have had no side effects at all, and no infections at all. Given that hydroxy is an immunoregulator, which should balance your immune system down to 'normal' levels (theoretically) then perhaps it's doing what it should for you brown, if you're finding you're getting infections (meaning your immune system isn't overactive)?? Just a thought.

pebbles Doesn't sound silly to me that you want to put your feet up at home and take it easy after transfer, sounds exactly what I'd want to do if I were doing IVF too. I've heard really good things about Dr Gafar at NLC, I think he's the one who actually does the IVF treatment, isn't he? He came from ARGC, Mr S seemed very impressed with him when we were discussing things recently. I understand they do chromosome testing on the embryos there too.

duggs Fingers crossed for this SO cycle, hope the 7.5mg Letrozole does the trick!

lemon It's great to hear you're getting some proper treatment from your GP surgery, and isn't it interesting that it took you seeing a male GP to get this - you would think a female GP would be more understanding, wouldn't you? And thanks for that bit of info on LIT treatment - I've never heard of it possibly causing more miscarriages, seems a bit odd really.

Me, I'm now heading into cycle six on SO, having got 'pregnant' twice, cycles one and five, albeit both ended as early miscarriages. AF is due on Saturday (ish - it's always a little bit unpredictable in the cycle following a miscarriage), and then Letrozole/Gonal-f again. If that cycle doesn't work I will be doing more SO cycles, since Mr S says there's no reason why I can't carry on, at least for a few more cycles. Still chasing that good egg, I'm sure it's in there somewhere! I'm also going to do what I did last cycle, just take 10mg pred from OV rather than 25mg to avoid the bad side effects on my general fertility.

/waves to everyone

[Mel3062]

That sounds a good idea ari think ill do that with the pred too as this cycles v delayed :/ x

[brownstag]

Yes, it is interesting that Mr S never seems to suggest anything but carrying on with superovulation treatment as far as I can tell. Has he ever suggested IVF to anyone? It sometimes seems that you have to do all the thinking yourself, as I really had to push with the NHS to see that consultant and was so relieved when he suggested something else, and he seemed more than happy to help once I got there. If it turns out my tubes are blocked I wil have to look back on the last two years with a sense of irony, all those rollercoaster two-week waits, all those drugs, all those tests, etc.
Ari, was that your idea with the 10mg, or did Mr S suggest it? I think even I could handle 10mg ... Good luck for Saturday.
Coopde, if you're on here, I have ordered Dr Beer's book. We'll see what can of worms that opens up! I seem to flit from one theory to another; currently DHEA and 'proximal disease' but I'm sure it'll be something else after reading it.

[Arianrhod]

Yes Mr S has suggested IVF twice to me brown and the 10mg was my idea after researching what ladies are often given on the IVF boards. I also have the Dr Beer book, read it cover to cover when I first booked to see Mr S a year ago August, to see what I was getting into :). Def worth a read.

[Pebbles73]

Hi Gransol and Brownstag and good luck for the laparoscopies, hope it gives you some answers.

Thanks for the info Ari re Mr Gafar, I saw him for a scan when Mr S was away and he seemed very nice. How are you feeling about everything? I am feeling a bit down as a year ago today since my miscarriage at 7wks and still not pregnant again and wonder if i ever will be!

Hope everyone else is doing ok, anyone at NLC on Thursday?

[Mel3062]

Aw hun you will, I know how you feel my last would of been due Xmas day. I'm still day 40 no af but a few pains :(
Update from nhs appt-
Had tests after my 16 week loss at this hosp then miscarried 3 times more at diff hosp, 1 8 weeks and 2 5 weeks. Had usual tests there then referred back to prev hosp today.inbetween I privately paid for nk cell test which I have v highly.
Hospital said when preg ring straight away and they'll do a mix of hcg injections and heperin to help prevent later loss. I feel pleased that the nhs are wanting to help me and give a plan!! just shows you ladies to get different opinions as my consultant did! But now do I go with this as well as nk treatment?! Will mr s like the fact I can get free heperin? X

[Mel3062]

Aw hun you will, I know how you feel my last would of been due Xmas day. I'm still day 40 no af but a few pains :(
Update from nhs appt-
Had tests after my 16 week loss at this hosp then miscarried 3 times more at diff hosp, 1 8 weeks and 2 5 weeks. Had usual tests there then referred back to prev hosp today.inbetween I privately paid for nk cell test which I have v highly.
Hospital said when preg ring straight away and they'll do a mix of hcg injections and heperin to help prevent later loss. I feel pleased that the nhs are wanting to help me and give a plan!! just shows you ladies to get different opinions as my consultant did! But now do I go with this as well as nk treatment?! Will mr s like the fact I can get free heperin? X

[brownstag]

Thanks Pebbles.
Sorry to hear you're feeling down about it all. I feel the same lately, or at least rather hopeless. Sometimes I think I am doing all this just so that once I'm menopausal I will know I tried everything, but without much hope any more that it's ever going to happen. (Sorry to muscle in on your question to Ari!)
Ari, have you ever had any IVF? I always said I wouldn't have any, but I seem to be changing my own goal posts all the time.

[brownstag]

Mel, I would have thought yes, to use both treatments, just to let both parties know what you're doing. I don't think Mr S will mind about the free heparin; when I told Louise that we were skint she and Mr Shehata were quite helpful in pointing out ways that I could reduce the costs where possible, such as getting my day 1-3 test done at my GP's.

[Pebbles73]

Sorry still no af Mel, hope it appears sooner rather than later!! Is great the nhs are helping you and agree with Brown that you should go with both treatments. The way I see it the more help the better.
It's hard dealing with these significant dates and such a help having people on here who understand how it feels.

It's tough isn't it Brown trying to stay optimistic, the whole thing really wears you down. I still can't get my head round the fact the fact that it probably won't happen unless i win the lottery and can just keep on having ivf until it works........

[Arianrhod]

Understand it hard to being optimistic, that's exactly how I feel too. Much like you pebbles, I feel my last proper pregnancy was so long ago (July last year, got to 9 weeks before baby died) with nothing but early miscarriages since, it feels like I'm never going to manage to get 'properly' pregnant again and maybe I'm just kidding myself - not to mention throwing away so much money on all this treatment that I just don't have. OH pays for a bit, sometimes, but it's mostly down to me, and I just don't have £320 to spare every month, and that's just for SO :(

brown Truthfully I would do IVF like a shot now, if I could, just for the array CGH test to be able to rule out chromosomal issues. But I am never going to be able to afford IVF, ever - OH won't even consider it, we just don't have that kind of money (my DD is in private school, and school fees are horrible :( ). So, unless like pebbles wishes we win the Lottery, it's the natural way or no way for us.

mel I don't think for a second that Mr S will mind you getting free heparin, of course not, and it's fantastic that you have NHS support - wish they were that accommodating around here, I was told after my third miscarriage that I most likely wouldn't even be seen at the RMC at my hospital because I already had one child! That's why I didn't ever bother even going the NHS testing route, I went straight to Mr S.

pebbles Do you think you will do IVF again then, and have you decided where? I know it's a rough thing to put your body through, but you know, if it's your best shot then it's worth doing. Have you had the conversation with Mr S about why you're not getting pregnant now - or have you still got to have a review with him? There may be something else going on there that still needs to be found?

[Mel3062]

Aw ari that's awful to hear :( I must admit my local hosp weren't much help that's why they referred me! I feel cross I've had to suffer 4 times to get here :( ari it's understandable that you keep going but as time goes on its bound to get on top of you, it does me and as you say theirs all the expense on top :(
Thanks pebbles its driving me insane now :(
Ill mention it all when I see mr s next
Happy halloween xx

[Arianrhod]

Oooh the Hallowe'en smileys are back! Been icing Halloween cookies this morning, was still baking them at half-ten last night due to something of a mistake on my part with the earlier batch of cookie dough. Here's a tip for you all; when the cookie dough recipe says 'chill for 30 minutes' do NOT chill them for 2.5 hours - the dough goes rock-hard that no amount of leaving out of the fridge (including for 24 hours!) does anything to improve. [hblush]

Happy Hallowe'en, everyone - may all our AF witches decide to fly off with their brethren tonight, never to return! [hgrin]

[lemonsherbet]

Ari it may be worth seeing if the NHS will do any of the basic investigations again for you. You hear of people having "normal" problems after having one child. I don't have any children and was initially told no because I had had a late miscarriage. So went to see a male doctor (in truth it was an accident-told the receptionist it was a gynaecological problem and so she booked me with a man). Anyway far more sympathetic than the female GPs I have seen. Said he did not see why I shouldn't be referred.

Like you I sometimes think I will be menopausal when I stop trying. I do feel guilty like I am putting our life on hold and stopping us doing exotic holidays and the like due to the money side. I often wish I had a crystal ball and could see if this is the right path. I guess what I am trying to say is I understand how you ladies feel.

Happy Halloween and may AF fly off not to return for 9 months.

[Arianrhod]

Thanks lemon but you know, I've had enough tests to last me a lifetime, and enough problems that I really couldn't handle anymore! I don't think there's anything in the basic tests that I haven't already been checked for.

Crystal ball - oh yes please, I need one of those! Only want to borrow it for a bit, happy to share [hsmile]

[Pebbles73]

Just sitting in waiting room at NLC traffic here was nightmare and going back looks dreadful so not looking forward to that!

Must be hard paying for it all yourself Ari. Defo going to do more ivf as I am assuming this last super ov doesn't work. Going to ask Mr S about doing some more tests first though. Thought hoping super ov would work was a bit of a long shot but much cheaper than ivf so was worth a go.
Maybe we should start a lottery syndicate! [hwink]

I second lemon re af flying off. [hsmile]

You are very good making cookies Ari!

[Arianrhod]

How did you get on at NLC yesterday pebbles? See any witches flying around while you were there? [hsmile]

[Pebbles73]

Well good scan three good size follies on the left and one good one on the right. Lining was 11mm so was really pleased. [hsmile]

Had a chat with Mr S about what I should do next and he wants me to have the tnf alpha test if this cycle first work and if it is high to have humira. He said he is starting to offer this to ladies who have had three failed ivf's or taking a long time to get pregnant or never been pregnant. He said he is having really good results with the humira and a couple of ladies have got pregnant while wsiting for ivf after taking it.
I asked about Lad and DQ alpha and as expected he said it is a waste if time and he doesn't believe in it as there have not been enough trials. He said he is happy to do if if I want to so will go with the tnf alpha for now and see what happens with that. If I had the other tests and it turned out I needed Lit I can't really afford that along with ivf and all the other drugs anyway. He also said I should do another cycle of super ov as I have responded well while waiting for blood tests etc.
I do like the way he is so positive, he always says I am still young which I think at 39 is a tad optimistic though!!

He did say to me he had a lady who recently had the tests done but decided not to have Lit and I wanted to go ohh I know her as we are on the same forum! [hwink]

[Arianrhod]

LOL pebbles I find myself doing that so often, when he refers to people and I think Oh yes, I know her! [hgrin] Pity he didn't clarify exactly why I decided not to have LIT - because paternal LIT wouldn't have worked (due to DQa matching) and I was nervous of having donor LIT, plus I would have had to have gone to Greece to do it (ker-chinggggg! £££).

Fan-bldy-tastic result on the follies and the lining pebbles! Did you take the EPO/Starflower oil this month, just out of interest - I know you were thinking of stopping it, weren't you, due to last month's response? Very interesting about the testing - Mr S did say to me too that he was more interested in the TNF alpha test than he was previously, for women who are finding it difficult to get pregnant.

I know what you mean about his positive attitude - he said much the same thing to me, about how I might be 44 but my body isn't 44, it's younger. He definitely has the 'feel-good factor', his patient manner is excellent - I just hope we get results with him!

Fingers crossed those fabulous follies and fantastic lining do the trick this month - when do you trigger?

[lemonsherbet]

Congrats on the result pebbles thats a fantastic result. If someone had told me 5 years ago I would be cheering on about follicle and linings I would of thought they were crazy.