[Rubysmom]

Hanan, yes this year has been extremely difficult for me. I've had 2 surgeries within 4 months and TTC has been on hold because of the cysts/surgeries. I don't know why all of a sudden I'm having these cysts never had them before this year. My RE says that I will probably get cysts again and recommends IVF. He says with IVF they can do the egg retrieval even if I have a cyst then freeze the eggs and transfer when the cyst is gone. Which means surgery again to remove the cyst. I don't know if I can go through another surgery. This is so hard on my body. I am praying that the cysts will not come back. We are going to take a few months off and try naturally. Maybe with the cyst gone we'll get preggers. Good luck to you and yes we need to keep in touch.

[MrsWog]

Erin,
Funny that you are Auburn fans...DH is a recent Auburn fan b/c he coached Kodi Burns in junior high! We definitely rooted for them last year when they came to Arkansas.

Hanan,
The website is Tulsa Fertility Center - IVF infertility treatment in Tulsa, Oklahoma infertility clinic and I think you should consider them. I have met so many people who have had success there. I don't know about statistics according to age, but you could get that information from them I'm sure. We were (relatively) fortunate that our IF issue was male-factor. We didn't know that until we went to Tulsa, though. They did a SA on DH about 3.5 years ago, but here locally I guess they don't do as comprehensive a test. After our first visit at Tulsa, we found out that he only has about 4% normal sperm. There was absolutely nothing wrong with me, so IVF with ICSI was the best option for us, and we were successful the first time. However, I've had other friends who were not successful the very first time, but it worked the 2nd or 3rd try, so I wouldn't get TOO discouraged!

[HananMG]

Originally Posted by Rubysmom

Hanan, yes this year has been extremely difficult for me. I've had 2 surgeries within 4 months and TTC has been on hold because of the cysts/surgeries. I don't know why all of a sudden I'm having these cysts never had them before this year. My RE says that I will probably get cysts again and recommends IVF. He says with IVF they can do the egg retrieval even if I have a cyst then freeze the eggs and transfer when the cyst is gone. Which means surgery again to remove the cyst. I don't know if I can go through another surgery. This is so hard on my body. I am praying that the cysts will not come back. We are going to take a few months off and try naturally. Maybe with the cyst gone we'll get preggers. Good luck to you and yes we need to keep in touch.

Erin, unfortantly cysts are so very common. And I too get them... I actually had one on rt ovary and did not know it until a work related accident happened last week and went to the doctor and he said that the impact from the fall had ruptured the cyst. Typically, I don't feel them but when they rupture it hurts like MAD... When I was going through my 1st IVF cycle I had a cyst that they removed during the ER. And it seemed to stay away for a little bit.

I understand the surgery stuff especially the mulitple ones...
Please take time and heal! Have fun for the next few months with DH (if you know what I mean)!

Hopefully, you will not need the aid of a RE, but if you do, you will be just fine!

Us AR girls and the other ladies on here will help you through the process when you are ready to jump in the IVF world...

Hanan

[HananMG]

Originally Posted by MrsWog

Erin,
Funny that you are Auburn fans...DH is a recent Auburn fan b/c he coached Kodi Burns in junior high! We definitely rooted for them last year when they came to Arkansas.

Hanan,
The website is Tulsa Fertility Center - IVF infertility treatment in Tulsa, Oklahoma infertility clinic and I think you should consider them. I have met so many people who have had success there. I don't know about statistics according to age, but you could get that information from them I'm sure. We were (relatively) fortunate that our IF issue was male-factor. We didn't know that until we went to Tulsa, though. They did a SA on DH about 3.5 years ago, but here locally I guess they don't do as comprehensive a test. After our first visit at Tulsa, we found out that he only has about 4% normal sperm. There was absolutely nothing wrong with me, so IVF with ICSI was the best option for us, and we were successful the first time. However, I've had other friends who were not successful the very first time, but it worked the 2nd or 3rd try, so I wouldn't get TOO discouraged!

Jennifer, Thank you so much for the link! I know it may take another try or two for us, but do I have the strenght??? The answer is YES, I have always wanted children (3 to be exact) but I will be blessed to have 1 who would be the light of my life and DHs life too....

I think for us it had been hard when the clinic in LR said after our last attempt that they would not treat me any more for IVF unless we use DE! and the real sad part was that none of the RE's or nurses relayed that message to me, it was just a regular person working there and it was done over the phone... So the next day I got my records and started looking out of state.

I will definately look into the clinic, by chance with your inital consult did you go to see them in person or did you do a phone consult? And if it was a phone consult what was the cost? I am not too concerned with in person consult since our insursance should cover the visit...

I will definately have lots and lots questions, so I hope you won't mind me asking!

thank you again! Hanan

[MrsWog]

We went over to Tulsa for our first appt in person. They actually took most of my medical history over the phone, but then we met with Dr. Blackwell in person to discuss our family plans and treatment options. She examined me and DH left a specimen for SA. I chose Dr. Blackwell b/c I had 3 other friends who'd used her, but the other RE, Dr. Prough, is wonderful also! He actually did my ER and ET b/c he was on call those days. You'll actually see whoever is on call when you are going for observation and procedures during the IVF cycle.

Here's our actual timeline of treatment from last fall...
9/12-initial consult and examination
9/20-learned DH's diagnosis (low morphology)
9/28-second consult to discuss IVF w/ ICSI treatment
10/17-patient education class, mandatory counseling session with therapist in Tulsa
10/20-start bc pills
11/5-baseline u/s
11/8-start stims
11/12-u/s, b/w
11/14-u/s, b/w
11/16-u/s, b/w, trigger shot
11/18-ER
11/23-ET
12/3- beta....BFP!!!

8/5/08-Sweet Caroline was born!!

As you can see, we were very fortunate to have a "picture perfect" IVF/ICSI cycle. However, I feel confident that even if we weren't successful that first time around, we would have definitely gone back to Tulsa b/c their REs, nurses, and office staff were so kind and caring! We had a truly wonderful experience there! We traveled about 2 hours each way to go there, and I realize it'd be farther for you, Hanan. You could definitely have your b/w and u/s locally, then go to Tulsa for the procedures, though.

Good luck...feel free to ask ANY questions. I hope I can help. I don't feel like I have a lot of answers, though, b/c it all went so smoothly for us. But, like I said, just ask away. :-)

[Rubysmom]

Hanan, I am feeling much better today and recovering faster than the first surgery. I wish my cysts would rupture or go away on their own but they just won't. Mine are apparently filled with blood and from what the RE said would take months to go away or stay the same. They are also pretty large, measuring at 6-7cm and 4cm. I am already feeling better since it has been removed. Yes, we will enjoy the few months off from fertility treatments and try not to stress about it. Thanks for your encouragement.

Jennifer, You mentioned you DH morphology. My husbands morphology was 6% and Dr. Prough said it was "probably normal". His count was good though. Normal I believe is 6-14% and he's right on the borderline of being abnormal. I don't know if it is his morphology that has been contributing to our infertility because there is nothing wrong with me(except for the cysts but that's just been this year). Anyways, what did Dr. Blackwell say about morphology and what she would consider normal? Thanks

[MrsWog]

My DH's morphology was about 4%. Basically, she explained that ICSI was going to be our only option b/c of the abnormal shape of the head of his sperm. They also said his count was a little low. Funny, b/c in April of '06 he was told by the local lab that his count was high. We did IUI 3 times in spring of '07, and each time they said the sperm concentration was good. I guess it all has to do with the fact that they are not shaped correctly, therefore they don't penetrate my eggs. ICSI completely bypasses that problem, though. Kind've like taking it straight to the source!

[wannabigbabybelly]

Hannah it's so good to hear from you again!!

Mrs. Wog- No, I don't suppose we've ever met then. But you do have very familiar features.

My Dh and I are military. We've been stationed here for the last 7 years in December. We've lived in Jacksonville since we've been here, close to the air force base. We've been through Spingdale once (we took a train ride up there...by van buren. But we've driven through Fort smith several times traveling to visit family out of state.

We had some problems with the Little Rock clinic....mostly related to insurance (they still have a bill on us...from over a year ago...that our insurance is fighting with them over). I also wasn't thrilled with one of their doctors...but the other two I liked and eventually it worked out for us.

We'll probably go back to them in a couple years...when this baby is 1-2 and try for one more.

After that we'll just leave it up to fate and my crazy body...for any miracle babies, heavenly father might want to send out way.

[wannabigbabybelly]

Are you all ready for what Gustav, might send our way?

Little rock was on the outer right side of the circle and our local news said last night we are looking to get lots of rain, wind and most likely some tornadoes from it...since the right side of the storm gets the brunt of the bad weather.

It's supposed to linger here for a while once the eye stalls in Texas.

I think we're ready, we just need to get some more flashlights/batteries. We always seem to loose them or the kids play with them and waist the batteries. I think we only have one flashlight in the house that actually works right now...lol...and it's my sons Thomas the Choo Choo one. That lights up and makes noises, but it only lasts for about a minute or so...so you have to keep pressing it...and making the choo choo noise to make it come back on...lol

[MrsWog]

I'm not so much worried about the actual storm itself, as much as I'm worried about all the kids that may enroll at my school b/c of the evacuation. I know that might sound callous, but we received SO many kids after Katrina and it was very difficult. Right now my school is pretty much at capacity, so I hope they'll at least enroll them in a school that has more room, like DH's school. I wouldn't be surprised if quite a few of the evacuees decide to stay here again. Fort Chaffee had been approved to accept 4,000 people, but yesterday they authorized 2,000 more. I just wonder how many of them will stay...

[Lawyerlady]

Caroline is just darling!

[MissusJones]

Hope you get your grill and beer on really soon!! LOL The pic of caroline and daddy is too sweet for words.