[lisa_kev]

Has anyone had more than 2 methotrexate shots? As you can see from my signature my 1st IVF is ending badly. I go back in tomorrow for another scan to see if they can find the ectopic. Last scan didn't show anything, but my beta was much lower. I've already had 2 doses of the shot and my nurse is now telling me that it's up to the doctor, but sometimes they administer a third dose of this drug. I read everywhere online that takes up to 3 months to get out of your system with a small dose, let alone having to go in for a 3rd.

My other option is a D&C. Either option isn't great, I just don't want to keep getting the shot.

Tell me your stories please.

[sharonb]

I'm so sorry that this is happening to you. Its hard enough to get a bfp, but then to have to constantly go in for testing and treatment later...argh.

My only experience has been with 1 shot, and that did the trick for me. Maybe its different when its with ivf because of all the hormones we're pumped up with.

Have they seen anything in an us? By this point, I'd think they'd have seen a sac, right?

It does take 3 months before you can try again. You need to wait for the methotrexate to completely leave your system as it stops the growth of any new cells.

Again...I'm so sorry. I know how difficult this is.

[lisa_kev]

Sharon,

Thanks for the reply. I had an ultrasound on the 6th and nothing was showing then. No sac, nothing. However, the doc told me that there wouldn't be a sac with numbers below 800. I'm now at 920, so possibly tomorrow they'll see something, somewhere. At this point, although still sad and dealing with it, I just want everything to go back to normal so we can heal and try for FET as soon as possible.

The 3rd shot scares me, if given the choice, I think I'd want the D&C but will wait for what the RE suggests tomorrow.

My worry is that he won't be able to find anything and I'll have to keep going up there every other day as my numbers keep climbing.

[sharonb]

Lisa.

Going to the office regularly is certainly a drag. I feel the same way going and having my blood drawn, knowing that they are looking to make sure that my one and only bfp so far is disappearing. It's terrible.

That is true...you usually need to be above 1000 from what I understand to be able to see any sort of sac. The most important thing to remember in all this as that because you have been so closely monitored, you are safer than most women who have an ectopic and don't know until its too late and a tube or something else bursts. I know this doesn't make it easier, but it is true.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that your numbers will be going down tomorrow and you won't need another shot or a D and C, allowing your body to have a speedy recovery. I think one of 2 things will happen tomorrow...your numbers will drop or they will find something and will be able to deal with it directly...no more mysteries. You WILL be fine and before you know it, you'll be on your way with your FET.

Please keep me posted...I know how hard this is...we're in similar boats and will both come out in the end, prayers answered...

[sharonb]

Lisa....Just wanted to check in with you...

[lisa_kev]

Originally Posted by sharonb

Lisa....Just wanted to check in with you...

Hi Sharon,

Thanks for thinking of me. Friday was not good. They did an ultrasound and nothing was found, no surprise there, but I had hoped at least a sac had formed. They cannot tell where the ectopic is. I got my 3rd and final meth shot and retun on Monday for another beta. My RE said if my numbers don't go down then he will do a D&C. I didn't want the 3rd shot nor do I want a D&C. I just want this to be over with already. I have good days and bad days. The constant 2 hr one way trips to the RE are waying on me heavily. Tommorow will be trip #16 in a 35 day time frame.

I decided to keep my signature short, it was getting too long with all the dates to and from for beta's, shots and whatnot. My beta on Thrusday was 920. Two days eariler it was 760.

As far as needing a 3rd shot, my RE assured me that the FDA recommends waiting one full cycle of menses before repeating a IVF or FET cycle. He said that the doses that are adminstered are so little that it won't effect furture and nearing cycles.

Thanks again for thinking of me. I saw somewhere you've mentioned your birthday this month. Happy Birthday!!!

[sharonb]

Lisa.

I'm so sorry you need to go in for more blood work again. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that your numbers go down tomorrow. I'm going in for bw tomorrow too...not fun at all, especially under our circumstances.

That's a drag that your clinic is so far? Was there one that was closer? If I were you, I'd listen to books on tape. I LOVE them!

Keep me posted about tomorrow.

[lisa_kev]

Originally Posted by sharonb

Lisa.

I'm so sorry you need to go in for more blood work again. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that your numbers go down tomorrow. I'm going in for bw tomorrow too...not fun at all, especially under our circumstances.

That's a drag that your clinic is so far? Was there one that was closer? If I were you, I'd listen to books on tape. I LOVE them!

Keep me posted about tomorrow.

No, they're the only clinic that's close. There is another one, but it's about 30 minutes further. Good tip on the book tapes. I'll have to remember that! DH says learning another language is a good idea too. What else would I be doing with the 4 hrs? LOL.

I'll keep ya posted & will update tomorrow.

[kellis]

Hi Lisa-
I am pretty much going through the same experience as you with all of this. I just did my 2nd shot of methotrexate last Thursday and still no sign of a period. I have had several ultrasounds done that are showing nothing but my numbers are continuing to rise. My beta last Wednesday was 1200. I don't think that a 3rd shot is an option for me. They basically said that if the 2nd shot didn't work that they were going to have to do a D&C. I am so ready for this to be over with. I was due to start my next fresh cycle at the end of November but now it is looking more like end of December/beginning of January. It is so extremely frustrating! We have a big trip planned at he end of January and I am praying that I will still be able to go. I am so sorry that you are going through this as well. I am praying that the 3rd shot works for you. Please keep me updated if it does because maybe I can convince my clinic to give it one more try.

To everyone else- Has anyone ever had a D&C before?? If so, could you please let me know what to expect? It looks like I am on my way.

Thanks!

[lisa_kev]

Sharonb & Kellis-

Went in for another beta result from my Friday 3rd Methotrexate shot. Ughhhhhhh, I'm so frustrated! I know my nurse could tell from my voice I was too overwhelmed. She said my numbers had climbed a little bit to 994, they were at 960 if I remember correctly on Friday. She said she wants to repeat the beta on Thrusday, which would be one week from last Friday's injection. Why on earth have me come in 3 days after? They still cannot tell me why it's rising, only that many respond well with one or two shots. Gee, that makes me feel good. I asked my nurse once again what the next step would be. Now, my RE said on Friday that if the 3rd shot doesn't work then he will do a D&C. Today however she's telling me that he said "he thinks it'll go down and wait for Thursday's numbers".

Kellis,

I'm not that far behind you as far as beta numbers go. I don't know why your RE isn't doing another shot. Puzzeling to me how one RE does one thing and another does another. I've had 2 ultrasounds and neither showed any sign of a pregnancy.

As far as your trip, boy that is dissapointing. Where are you planning on going? DH and I went to Jamaica last year and loved it. Wish I were there right now. I know and understand your frustration. DH and I wanted to jump right into our FET and with no AF in sight, that and add the 3 shots, it looks like it might be as late as Januaury. My cycles are out of wack anyhow, before all the IVF treatments.

Sharonb-

You went in for bloodwork today, how'd that go? Please update when you can.

[sharonb]

Hi Lisa.

Well...hope you got that book on tape for your next long ride to the clinic! But...I'm so sorry for the run around. It is quite frustrating that REs do different things in respect to ALL parts of IVF. I mean, really...can't they work together to find methods that work best... It seems so wrong from an ethical perspective. I wish you good luck on Thursday...please let me know how it goes.

As for me, my numbers are dropping but they're not at 0 yet. They want me to come in again on Monday...my birthday of all days to be able to maybe tell me that my bfp is totally gone. Argh...happy birthday to me, right? Not at all the way I anticipated this cycle going after I got my bfp wish.

I know this is hard...but soon it will be all behind you and I pray that soon this whole ivf process will be behind all of us...and we'll finally be mama's, holding our babies.

[lisa_kev]

Originally Posted by kellis

Has anyone ever had a D&C before?? If so, could you please let me know what to expect? It looks like I am on my way.
Thanks!

Kellis-

You've not posted since the 19th. How are things with you? Did you need a D&C? I had mine yesterday. They found out that it was in my uterus and ruled out ectopic. I'm sore the day after, but minimal bleeding. I was told to enjoy the holidays then in Jan we can talk FET. Please update. Hope you're ok.

[lisa_kev]

Originally Posted by sharonb

As for me, my numbers are dropping but they're not at 0 yet.

Sharonb-

Just following up. How are your #'s now?

[sharonb]

Lisa_kev.

I'm sorry for what you are going through but I am glad that you will now be able to move forward. How did they discover it was in the uterus...they never saw it on ultra sound there?

I just got my numbers yesterday...on my birthday no less. It's hard to believe that for a few days this month I thought I would have the best birthday of all. My numbers are below zero, so I'm going to meet with my RE in 2 weeks to discuss future plans. I just don't know what to discuss with him. He says its egg quality issues, but I think that's just an easy excuse for not knowing or looking harder for a way to fix/improve the quality. I feel like I'm my own RE, and this is frustrating, especially since he's our 3rd RE so far. I'm just really scared seeing as this was cycle #4.

[lisa_kev]

Originally Posted by sharonb

Lisa_kev.

I'm sorry for what you are going through but I am glad that you will now be able to move forward. How did they discover it was in the uterus...they never saw it on ultra sound there?

I just got my numbers yesterday...on my birthday no less. It's hard to believe that for a few days this month I thought I would have the best birthday of all. My numbers are below zero, so I'm going to meet with my RE in 2 weeks to discuss future plans. I just don't know what to discuss with him. He says its egg quality issues, but I think that's just an easy excuse for not knowing or looking harder for a way to fix/improve the quality. I feel like I'm my own RE, and this is frustrating, especially since he's our 3rd RE so far. I'm just really scared seeing as this was cycle #4.

Sharonb-

When they did the D&C, the tissue removed from my uterus was sent over to pathology and they detected pregancy tissue. Nothing was ever seen in ultrasound. I had a beta drawn locally at the hospital this morning post-op and they expect my #'s to drop drastically. They will follow me down to 0 here at home. I have a post op appointment in 2 weeks. I will be in contact with my fertility clinic off and on, but will wait until after the holidays to roll forward with FET. I guess I'll call sometime in Dec if I have a period to see what they suggest at that time.

I was able to find a new OBGYN in a hurry and I really like her very much. She's my own age and I felt like we were on the same level. Not once yesterday before the proceedure did she make me feel unsecure with her. We hit it off at the 1st impression. I didn't have a consultation with her prior because this was being treated as an "emergency D&C".

Boy, it seems you're having such a rough time and I pray that you are able to find the answers you're looking for at your next appointment. You are one strong woman! I don't know anything about egg quality issues. Do you think you will be able to use donor eggs? It's a personal choice and not for everyone. We had to use donor sperm.

I will be thinking of you. Please update from time to time. Happy belated birthday.