[mrsbyrd03]

Hi Kristen

Well, today is a new day. I got a good night's sleep, and as usual things look different on the other side. DH I had a REALLY REALLY long discussion about where things stand last night. We discussed all the pros and cons of the IVF study vs continued IUIs, and he didn't realize that in the IVF study ANY embryos that you had over 2, you would HAVE to freeze them. Thus leading to either letting them be adopted by other infertile couples, or having to come up with $ for a FET, (which would not be fully covered by our insurance), or having to pay to keep it in storage indefinitely. None of which sits well with him. He didn't catch that it was the actual EMBRYO that would be frozen. He thought it was just any eggs that they retrieved from me.

I have several issues of my own that I have trouble with. I have set by the end of the year as my deadline. If we don't get pregnant by then, then I'm done with the actively trying. (Unless we have more insurance coverage left.....I want to max out the infertility part obviously! *L*) In order to participate in the IVF study, it would take 3 cycles for 1 try. I'm not sure if I want to give up 3 chances for 1 try, when I've got my deadline. I know my chances with the IVF are higher than with IUI, but if I went through all of that, and KNEW for an absolute fact, that we had 2 embryos that were transferred back, and we STILL didn't get a positive, I think that would absolutely wreck me. It's hard enough knowing that we had SO MANY eggs this time and nothing happened.

So, we decided to take a little time off......no more than 2 cycles......and then we're going to go back to my normal doc and tell her that we want to just stick with the IUIs mostly due to the ethical reasons involved with having frozen embryos just floating around out there. DH just can't get comfortable with that idea. It's a plan we both have peace about....and .....we've decided that if nothing happens, then next year we're going to look into becoming foster parents. We both think we would LOVE to do that. (And it's always possible to adopt from that avenue.....)

So, today I'm in a MUCH better place. Neither of us believe we will have any regrets about turning down the opportunity for this study. Even if we don't get pregnant with a child of our own, I am extremely blessed to be stepmom to his 3 girls.

Good luck to all who are participating!

[Passionscientist]

First Appts Scheduled:
Sparky704 - Jennifer (TX): 3/17 appt at CORM
babywishes13 - Appt on 3/20 at CORM
babydust*** - Mandi (Spring, TX): 3/13 appt at CORM

Waiting on to start BCPs!
Babybearjmd - Janice (Lubbock, TX)
Chinadoll08 - Stacey (TX)
Webb - Kari (KS)
Rhart - Rose (TX)
jhlucas - (TX)
bottlebrunette - Heather (FL)
girlymech - Pris (FL)

BCPs
Marcia9043 - Marcia (Dallas, TX): 2/29
Melanee2255 - Mel (UT): 3/7

Lupron start!
Marcia9043 - Marcia (Dallas, TX): 3/14
Melanee2255 - Mel (UT): 3/21

Stims Start!!!: (Yippee!!)
Passionscientist - Kristen (League City, TX): 3/14
Nursamp - Tomeka (SC): 3/15
Marcia9043 - Marcia (Dallas, TX): 3/28
Melanee2255 - Mel (UT): 4/4

ER
Passionscientist - Kristen (League City, TX): 3/25
Nursamp - Tomeka (SC): 3/26?
Marcia9043 - Marcia (Dallas, TX): 4/3
Melanee2255 - Mel (UT): 4/15

ET
Passionscientist - Kristen (Houston, TX): 3/30
Nursamp - Tomeka (SC): 4/1?
Marcia9043 - Marcia (Dallas, TX): 4/8
Melanee2255 - Mel (UT): 4/20

[babybearjmd]

Mrsbyrd, I'm not sure about having to freeze the embryos. You could choose to destroy, but seeing your ethical concerns, that might not be a choice for you. Keep in mind that the chances of having any embryos to freeze are only about 20%. I a little confused about the 3 cycles for 1 try. Are you talking about IUI vs IVF? The average time to get pregnant with IUI is 6 tries and with IVF it's 3. I respect your decision about not doing IVF, I was just a little confused about some of the things in your post. I wish you luck with what ever you pursue.

[mrsbyrd03]

Hi Janice.

It was the IVF coordinator there that we spoke to that told us that no matter how many embryos we might have, the doctor for the study will only put back 2, and all the rest have to be frozen. (She repeated that over and over, and we even had to sign papers stating that we agreed to do that if we did the study.)

As for the 3 cycles for one chance......well, she told us that based on where I am right now, by the time we would get to possibly transferring any embies, it would be 3 months from now. That's just not a timeline I'm comfortable with at this point in my life.

I've only done 4 IUIs to date, so we'll definitely be sticking with those since my husband has such a hard time with the idea of frozen embryos.

[babybearjmd]

I wish you luck in the future with your IUIs. Does your insurance cover IVF? Some docs will work with you and only fertilize the number of eggs you want to put back. It is taking a chance, but it may be something might consider.

[babydust***]

mrsbyrd.... I understand you are hesitant. Just remember you have to make sure you are doing what is right for you and your husband. It took us 5 years to be comfortable with IVF. We are ready for it now and if we get accepted it will be our first round with IVF. Please keep in mind though that your chances are much higher with IVF and this is a rare opportunity to be a study participant. Most doctors are very open and receptive to ethical concerns and are very willing to help with any or all of your concerns. Just wanted to let you know that I have been in your shoes and ultimately decided IVF was the best choice for us. Good luck to you in whatever your decision is.Mandi

[lua]

Hi all,

I will have my first appointment at CORM next Thursday! I'm so excited!
I talked today with Jenifer and she said that I'm pre qualified to this study!!!!!!!
Now I just need to pray!!!

[Passionscientist]

Originally Posted by lua

Hi all,

I will have my first appointment at CORM next Thursday! I'm so excited!
I talked today with Jenifer and she said that I'm pre qualified to this study!!!!!!!
Now I just need to pray!!!

That's FANTASTIC!!! GOOD LUCK NEXT WEEK!!! I'll add you to the list! Yippee!

[Passionscientist]

First Appts Scheduled:
babydust*** - Mandi (Spring, TX): 3/13 appt at CORM
Sparky704 - Jennifer (TX): 3/17 appt at CORM
babywishes13 - Appt on 3/20 at CORM
Lua - Appt on 3/20 at CORM

Waiting on to start BCPs!
Babybearjmd - Janice (Lubbock, TX)
Chinadoll08 - Stacey (TX)
Webb - Kari (KS)
Rhart - Rose (TX)
jhlucas - (TX)
bottlebrunette - Heather (FL)
girlymech - Pris (FL)
AskSeekKnock - Elizabeth (TX)

BCPs
Marcia9043 - Marcia (Dallas, TX): 2/29
Melanee2255 - Mel (UT): 3/7

Lupron start!
Marcia9043 - Marcia (Dallas, TX): 3/14
Melanee2255 - Mel (UT): 3/21

Stims Start!!!: (Yippee!!)
Passionscientist - Kristen (League City, TX): 3/14
Nursamp - Tomeka (SC): 3/15
Marcia9043 - Marcia (Dallas, TX): 3/28
Melanee2255 - Mel (UT): 4/4

ER
Passionscientist - Kristen (League City, TX): 3/25
Nursamp - Tomeka (SC): 3/26?
Marcia9043 - Marcia (Dallas, TX): 4/3
Melanee2255 - Mel (UT): 4/15

ET
Passionscientist - Kristen (Houston, TX): 3/30
Nursamp - Tomeka (SC): 4/1?
Marcia9043 - Marcia (Dallas, TX): 4/8
Melanee2255 - Mel (UT): 4/20

[lua]

Hi all,

I have an appointment with my actually gynecologist here and he asked me for a lot of new exams (HSG, blood tests, semen analysis, PCT, ...) for this Friday.

I'm concerned about my appointment, I'm not sure if at CORM they will asked me to do everything again... because I really don't want to do.

How are the first appointment? Do you think that's better cancell this screen tests now and wait for CORM appointment?

What do you think???

[Passionscientist]

When is your gyno appt compared to your corm appt? I know at CORM they are going to probably run the whole gammut of tests again unless you have them already from your gyno. Also it may also make a difference if you gyno is going to run certain tests that might make things easier like say a Day 3 FSH if you are on Days 1-4 of you cycle. You may have to have duplicate testing if you can't show any of the test syou have already done. Janice may have more information for you on what they do...

[lua]

Hi Kristen,

Yes, I'm not sure if the tests will be ready to them next week. The tests will be this Friday, but what is making me upset is that I will need to do the HSG again. My last one was last September, less than 1 year ago... I had all xrays and the report (that was done in Brazil) it cannot be so different.

I tried to say to him to look the exams but he said that I need to do it again... so I'm sad, it hurts too much!

As I don't have my period since last november, the other exams can be done anytime, then I can do the blood tests again without problems... I just didn't want to do the HSG again

[Passionscientist]

Originally Posted by lua

Hi Kristen,

Yes, I'm not sure if the tests will be ready to them next week. The tests will be this Friday, but what is making me upset is that I will need to do the HSG again. My last one was last September, less than 1 year ago... I had all xrays and the report (that was done in Brazil) it cannot be so different.

I tried to say to him to look the exams but he said that I need to do it again... so I'm sad, it hurts too much!

As I don't have my period since last november, the other exams can be done anytime, then I can do the blood tests again without problems... I just didn't want to do the HSG again

Why would your gyno want to do an HSG again? I would just skip the gyno and do the RE personally. She's going to be the one getting you preggers, not the gyno! If you have copies of your HSG from Brazil and it was less than a year old you should be able to use that. Do you have those records?? Also, the good news is that if they don't take them, CORM only requires an SNG (which is the saline test and not the dye test) so if you absolutely HAVE to do it again, you can do the SNG...which, from what I hear it is not as bad as the HSG.

I hope this helps. Janice, do you have any other suggestions?? Or anybody else??

I personally don't see the need to go to the gyno if you already have an appointment with the RE. Plus if you are accepted in the trial, they will perform these tests for you upfront from what I hear.

[girlymech]

When I went in I didn't have my HSG on me so they just did a SNG which wasn't that bad at all.

[marcia9043]

yes I would just wait for the RE appt also....and as a plus the test will not cost you if you do have to have it again since the study pays for all of the testing they require. Plus I had 2 HSG's with my gyno and they sucked then I had one with my RE for this study and it didn't hurt at all.