[tori2344]

Hi Ladies,
Just starting a new thread for all of us looking to get a BFP in January! This will be my second IVF and I will need all the support I can get. As you all know this can be a bumpy ride with more ups and downs than a roller coaster. Hoping to participate in a study for PGS during IVF. Is anyone out there currently involved in this yet? Still waiting on my phone call from the RE. I'm currently taking Natures choice prenatal with dha and a fertility concoction from GNC called fertility blend, which I read a study on. About to start taking Coq10 and Melatonin since reading a few studies on these as well. Hopefully this time it will work! Good luck to us all!

[HisLovely1]

I ran across the fertility blend on GNC's website. When doing your research what type of information did you find on it? I was considering purchasing some for both me and DH. I have my first appoint with the RE on Friday and just trying to do as much research and exploration as possible before hand to mentally prepare myself.

[tori2344]

This study was conducted by Stanford University School of Medicine. Here is the link:
Daily Wellness Company Unveils FertilityBlend Optimization System at 60th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. - Free Online Library

Thirty (30) women, age 24-46 years, who had tried unsuccessfully to conceive for six to 36 months completed the study. After five months, five of the 15 women in the supplement group were pregnant (33%), and none of the 15 women in the placebo group were pregnant (statistically significant at p (less than) 0.01). Measurements performed at 3 months showed the supplement group (N=15) with a significant increase in the average number of days in cycle with basal temperatures over 37(degrees)C (98(degrees)F) during luteal phase (6.8 to 9.7 days, p=0.04) and, a trend toward an increase in mean mid-luteal phase progesterone level (from 8.2 to 12.8 ng/ml, p=0.08). The placebo group (N=15) did not show any notable changes after treatment, in any of the parameters studied. No significant side effects were noted.

[tori2344]

I found this one the other day: Electro acupuncture improves pregnancy rates. Here is that link too
IVFConnections.com - Electro-Acupuncture During IVF Embryo Transfer Improves Pregnancy Rates

[akg]

Hi ladies! I will be preparing for ivf try #3 for the beginning of January. We have never made it to retrieval. We switched to CCRM, and they said they will be able to get us to a retrieval so I am very anxious to get started. They definitely think Bravelle is not a good medication for people with dor and who are poor responders so I am glad we switched doctors. A new doctor and protocol can really make a difference. The next 7 weeks seem like they will take forever!

The is the supplement cocktail they recommended which I had to be on for 6-8 weeks before we started anything:
myo inositol- 2 grams- twice daily (ordered on Amazon)
melatonin- 3 mg at bedtime
coenzyme q10- 200 mg- twice daily
l-arginine - 1000 mg- twice daily

Along with this, I am on 75 mg of dhea. The diet recommendations were: gluten free, lots of avocados, nuts, olive oil, and salmon.

Here's hoping that all these changes make a difference and that we all get a BFP for the start of a great new year!

[tori2344]

Wow, did the RE recommend these? This is great! Been doing some research on this subject and these are def on my list to purchase for this cycle. I was lucky enough to be selected for the study with a Jan. retrieval. Hoping a new RE makes a difference.

[akg]

Yes, my RE from CCRM recommended all the supplements and diet changes. The gluten free part has been the hardest change. I totally believe a new RE can make a difference.

[tori2344]

Are you following a recipe book for the gluten free diet? If so what is the name? I'd love to get the info, maybe it could help me too!

[akg]

I am not following a recipe book. I am just avoiding anything with gluten/wheat. I did have to go through my recipe books and find some new things to make for dinner because meat/fish, veggies, and a potato were getting pretty old. Eating out is definitely not as fun. Mexican is the easiest thing to go out to dinner for though. Everything is gluten free at Qdoba and Chipotle except for the tortilla. There are more restaurants that offer gluten free menus, but it's still not the same. As for gluten free bread items, Udi's is by far the best. I wouldn't even try any other brands. I like their cinnamon raisin bread and their cookies are excellent.

There are a lot of articles online that say there is a correlation between gluten and fertility. I figure if the best fertility clinic in the U.S. is telling me to go gluten free, it is worth trying.

Also, my thyroid level was 2.5. They changed my dose of synthroid from 25 mcg to 50 mcg. After a month of this change and being gluten free, my level went down to 0.96.

[tori2344]

Wow! This sounds promising... I think I am going to give this a try as well. That's why I love this forum; wish I would have discovered it with my first round of IVF, maybe these suggestions would have helped. Which IVF clinic are you using? Do they have a great success rate? You can look them up in the CDC website to see how they have been doing the past few years. I will be going to Huntington in California. I live in Washington state so this is probably going to cost a fortune in the long run. As part of the study I get medications for $10 dollars a day and the round of ivf is $6900 so it's not too bad. They are throwing in icsi and hatching for free and hopefully I will be in the group that does the PGS. Thanks for the info, I hope we both have great success!

[akg]

That's great that you get to be a part of a study especially for the financial aspect. We are lucky to have some insurance help. Initially, we went to Conceptions in Denver because insurance covered 100% there because they are in-network. However, after two failed ivf attempts, I figured another clinic was a better option. We are currently at the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine (CCRM). They are supposedly the best in the U.S., and we are lucky enough to live in Denver so we don't have to worry about travel. Since CCRM has their own lab, they are considered out of network. We are switching our insurance so we have 70% coverage for out of network doctors beginning January 1. Luckily, I will only have to pay for a few things out of pocket in December where most of the lab work and the retrieval will be in January. Including the one day work up costs, I think this whole thing will probably cost us around $6000. All of our medicine has just been insurance copays so I am so thankful for that. Also, my acupuncturist has been kind enough to let me come at a discounted price since my husband has been unemployed for the past 7 months, but thankfully we can keep the insurance through Cobra until October. 2011 definitely has not been our year. I have good feelings about 2012 though.

We are doing ICSI too. CCRM definitely recommends ICSI. Our doctor said that when eggs get older which mine are they tend to develop a harder shell around them making it harder for the sperm to penetrate. Also, at Conceptions, the doctor recommended PGS saying it's worth it for anyone who can afford it, but CCRM recommends a day 3 transfer for me since I have DOR. It's so amazing to me that doctors at different clinics have such differing opinions. I am glad CCRM uses their own lab because I had some labs that were incorrect when they were sent out to Labcorp when I was at Conceptions. Supposedly, everyone says CCRM has such great success because they have such a top notch lab.

I am glad for these forums, too and glad we will get to communicate through our cycles. I have never been so anxious for Christmas to be here which will be when my cycle starts. 7 more weeks to go! Keep thinking positively. I know it can happen for both of us. I also bought St. Gerard and St. Anne medallions to wear around my neck. I figure I will take any help I can get.

[tori2344]

That's great!! I love your thinking, I need to get some medallions myself. I wish I would have never tied my tubes in the first place but when I did it I had cancer and was undergoing chemo. I found out i was pregnant shortly there after and the guilt I had knowing I may have harmed my unborn son was terrible. I tied my tubes then because I was a single mother and I honestly didn't expect to live much longer since I was stage 3 already. Unbelieveably once my son was born the cancer just dissappeared! My doctor didn't believe it and ran the tests twice before she accepted it. Her explaination was that while I was pregnant my body repaired itself for the pregnancy.

After I had my son I met my husband. My husband has no biological children of his own and I would love to give him at least one. Last year I was pregnant naturally but we found out 11 weeks in it was an ectopic. Now both of my tubes are blocked; just had an hsg test. Hoping it will work this time. If not maybe I'll have to fly to Colorado and join you at ccrm. Here's to lifing us both up for our upcoming escapade!! It's so nice to go through this with someone who understands, thank you.

[akg]

Wow, you have been through so much! I cannot imagine being diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. I am sure that changed your perspective on so many things in life. Then, to have your cancer be gone after your son was born. What a blessing! It is so strange how things end up working out in life.

I wish I would have had my eggs frozen when I was 30. I was so content traveling and having fun with friends. I thought as long as I start trying by 35 I will be okay. Wrong was I. As you know, the journey of infertility is so emotional and difficult. My husband and I will use an egg donor if that's what it comes down to, but I have high hopes this will work out on our own. I know all this will be over one day, but it is just so hard waiting and wondering when that will be and how things will work out. It is so all consuming.

It is nice to talk to someone that understands. I have supportive friends, but sometimes they just don't get it. Hope you have a good week! It's crazy not to have anymore dr appts until around Christmas. I am going to enjoy the downtime.

[passion104]

Hello Ladies,

I'm starting my first IVF cycle in January and I'm not sure what to expect. I am doing all of my prescreening in my home town and having the procedure done out of state. Can you ladies please shed some light on what I need to be prepared for. Thanks any advise is greatly appreciated.

[nashworth]

Hi ladies,

I would love to join please. I'm scheduled for ET at the end of Jan/beg of Feb. This is our 2nd IVF attempt and this time we're doing DE.

I'm more excited as we have a greater chance of success but more nervous as I have more of an appreciation of the journey.

Looking forward to sharing this with you.