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IUI #4 and unusual 14 week wait

blkern23blkern23 Member Member
I had my IUI #4 today. I am hoping for success this time. However, I got news this week to make this much longer than just a 2ww. I haven't had a hard time getting pregnant and am hoping this cycle isn't any different than the past. I had 2 GREAT follicles this cycle. So maybe twins???

However, I found out I am a carrier to a chromosome disorder which can cause recurrent miscarriages. This is the answer to my past 3 miscarriages but it's hard news to digest. My RE suggests IVF with PGD which I can't even think about right now. I guess if this cycle doesn't work it will be something to consider.

But for now I wait for 2 weeks to find out if I'm pregnant and then another 12 weeks to know if the baby is healthy and I won't miscarry.

Anyone in their 2ww with me????

I'm praying for success this time around!

Comments

  • yanla_tilyanla_til Senior Member Senior Member
    Wow, twins. That would be great. I forgot Becky, how old are you?

    I know IVF is quite an intimidating option on the surface, but after you've done a few IUI's there is very little difference in cost. My doctor discussed PGD with me, but here in Canada it adds another $5,000 to the cost.

    Let's pray that not only is this cycle a success, but you have two gifts to make it all worthwhile.
  • blkern23blkern23 Member Member
    The first hurdle is complete and many more to go. I had my HcG today, 13 days past IUI and it was 72. It seems this is pretty average but I have to say I am not excited at this point. I would have been devastated if I weren't pregnant but now that I am it won't feel real until I know everything is fine and that's a long time from now. I go back for my 2nd beta on Sunday but won't get the results until Tuesday because of the holiday. I'm a mess already and will be all weekend. But even if I get a good beta this weekend, I still won't be able to happy/excited yet. I am taking it one day at a time for the next 10 weeks...at least.

    Tamara, I just turned 35 this summer. How are you doing??? You should be getting ready for your IVF cycle, right?
  • blkern23blkern23 Member Member
    My first beta was 72 on day 13. My second beta on day 15 was 176. That is a 38 hour doubling time. So far so good. I have my first u/s next Thursday. It is just for location, no heartbeat yet, but I'll at least know if things are measuring correctly. It really is going to be a long 10 weeks, but things are looking good so far!!! Still can't get excited about it but am pleased with things at this point.
  • yanla_tilyanla_til Senior Member Senior Member
    Wow, I wish I got pregnant that easily. It has been an uphill battle for me. I am glad things are moving along perfectly. Be positive and cross each bridge as you come to it. Keep me posted. I am still on birth control pills. It's a long road ahead.
  • blkern23blkern23 Member Member
    Unfortunately things didn't work out again this time. I went for a 7 1/2 week u/s on Friday and there was no heartbeat. There was a heartbeat at my 6 1/2 week u/s but the heart rate was only 108 and the yolk sac was slightly enlarged. They wanted to see me in a week because they said things were borderline. I go in for another D&C on Monday. This is my 4th miscarriage. I am afraid this may have been my last chance doing things this way. My FSH and AMH levels were very poor in August and there is a good chance my eggs aren't any good. I will have testing on this baby to see what happened. But it seems using my eggs may be out of the question for the future. Now I'm not sure what to do. I could use donor eggs and donor sperm which would be quite expensive. Or I could try to adopt an embryo which is also expensive and a lot more difficult as a single mom. I've been doing lots of research but will have several months to decide since I'll be out of commission after the D&C anyway.

    Tamara, I hope things are moving along for you. When will you be starting your cycle? Are you still on birth control?
  • latebloomerlatebloomer Senior Member Senior Member
    Hi Becky I've been following your story and am just amazed at the outcome. Do you have any immunology issues (thyroid, etc?) You've gotta have a good egg in there as you fall pregnant quickly! I'm still rooting for you from the sidelines. I see that you've been doing IUI but with IVF they can take a look at the eggs and find out more about the quality. Anyway just wanted to wish you success on your next step!
  • blkern23blkern23 Member Member
    Thanks so much for your support Latebloomer. I do have a Thyroid disease but it was caught pretty much right away and it's been controlled by medication ever since. I do know that Thyroid disease can cause early menopause though. So I'm not sure if that is the reason for the poor egg quality so soon. I know I'm 35, but that shouldn't make all my eggs bad. I haven't given up yet. One way or another I plan to get another baby. My 8 year old told one of her teachers today, "I wish my mom would find a nice guy so she can have a baby. I really want a baby brother or sister". And she doesn't even know I've been trying to have a baby for the past 2 years. And she still thinks I need to have a husband to do so! Won't she be surprised some day.
  • latebloomerlatebloomer Senior Member Senior Member
    Becky, 35 is young compared to my ripe 41! I have thyroid issues as well and finally found a doctor that would test me for immunology issues and turns out I have high natural killer cells so he thinks my body's been attacking my embryos after my IVF transfers. So hopefully I'll finally get it right on this last go 'round in December. I go in Tuesday for my consult/calendar. Since you're 35 and seem to get pregnant easily perhaps all you need is a little steroid treatment during your cycle? I'm no expert but my doctor has a blog under ivfauthority.com. Maybe you can read over there and see if any of it applies to you and you can talk to your doc about it. Many docs don't like to test for immunology issues because they don't know how to treat the patient if the test is positive. In the end we're willing to give up so much to get pregnant I figured I'd pull out all the stops but I only wish I'd done it many thousands of dollars earlier!

    Your daughter will be quite surprised but it's a great story you have to tell her! She will be proud of you. keep me posted!
  • blkern23blkern23 Member Member
    Yes, I never imagined I'd have so many issues when I started this journey. I got pregnant the first time with my daughter and really expected the same this time around. Which I suppose is true but I just can't stay pregnant. I did ask my doctor about the immunology and killer cells. They said they'd send me somewhere to get checked if they needed to but after testing on my last miscarriage showed it was chromosomal problems that caused the miscarriage (trisomy 21). I am guessing the testing this time around will also be chromosomal, either due to me passing down my chromosomal problem or another fluke.

    Between me being a carrier of chromosomal problems and my low AMH it doesn't look promising to find many good eggs. I have looked into IVF-PGD where they would do genetic testing on the embryos. However it costs A LOT of money. I'm willing to spend some money to get this baby but it could spend all that money and may not have any embryos that are healthy. So to spend that money and have nothing to show for it scares me.

    I was making phone calls this week to start the process of getting a home equity loan. Just saying that is crazy. I never thought I'd be doing anything that crazy. Everything up to this point, which hasn't been cheap, I've done from savings. I think I'm going to go the route of embryo adoption. It is a longer process so I want to get started as soon as possible. The first step to that is having a home study done for adoption. So that is my focus for now. It's been a busy week. Instead of resting after my D&E on Monday I spent the whole day researching all my options and calling all kinds of agencies and doctor's offices. I didn't slow down since then. I really can't wait to tell my daughter I'm pregnant. I've been waiting 2 years to tell her! There is a chance I'll have to tell her early with the embryo adoption because they may talk to her during the home study. I'm hoping not because I don't want her to be anticipating as much as I have been.

    How many IVF transfers have you done so far? Do you get pregnant and then miscarry or do the killer cells prevent you from even getting pregnant? I've heard one other person dealing with this but never really understood how it worked. So what do you need to do differently this time than you did before? How many embryos do you implant each time? Are you doing FET's with embryos from past IVF's or do you need to retrieve more eggs each time for a fresh transfer? I'm sure you're excited for December to come. It sounds like this could finally be your baby.

    I can't wait to hear good news for you! Do you know when in December yet or is it way too soon to know?
  • latebloomerlatebloomer Senior Member Senior Member
    Hi Becky,

    It took me a minute to find our thread!! Anyway the embryo adoption sounds interesting. I thought about it but doctors kept saying we aren't there yet so I just figured I'd cross that bridge if I have to! I've had 3 transfers so far (1st was 1 5 day blast-BFN; 2nd was another single 5 day blast-chemical; 3rd was two 3 day embies-chemical); I had a 4th cycle finally with the right protocol but didn't have any embryos make it to day 5. All 3 where I had the transfers the embies were from their own cycle and frozen (2 cycles we froze on day 5 and one was froze on day 1). Prior to IVF I had 6 IUIs (3 medicated & 3 unmedicated) and got pg on 3rd IUI w/injectibles but had MMC at 8 weeks; IUI #6 was ectopic. So I've had every result except for that healthy baby in the end!

    With my 5th and final cycle I will have steroids that I will start about 3 weeks before the retrieval and then 3-5 days before the retrieval I will have intralipid IV infusion therapy (looks like milk in an IV!). Both of those down regulate things and are supposed to make the uterus a happy place for the embryos to implant and get comfy. So this will be a fresh cycle. With my history I usually only get one embryo but that's all I need as long as it's healthy! The doctor said I can't look at that because I've not ever had the right protocol so I'm looking forward and not backward! As far as the high NK cells, the doc says that basically the embryo tries to implant but then the cells attack it because they only recognize half of it (me but not the Donor Sperm). With my MMC I was scheduled for a D & C on a Monday but the miscarriage happened at home on a Saturday so I was not able to get it tested but my doc then said it was most likely egg quality which is common for my age. So many numbers, so many tests and so much confusion, it's a wonder we don't all end up on the crazy farm!

    So right now the retrieval is tentatively set for 12/6 or 12/7 so the plan is set so now I wait! Keep me posted on the embryo adoption. You can always send me a PM. BTW where are you from? I'm in Vegas
  • yanla_tilyanla_til Senior Member Senior Member
    Hi Becky,
    I am so sorry to hear about your lost. I have read the threads and you seem to have rebounded with a great plan. You do have to ability to get pregnant and carry a child to term so it is a great option for you.
    Please keep us updated.
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