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Girls....I am so sorry most of you had AF visit. I know I am only a cheerleader right now but please keep your heads up. I have walked in your shoes and at 37 I felt so depressed I could not have a child with my hubby. I think Anna might agree and so would others who know have to wait a month or so to begin IVF, taking a break is not the worst thing. I almost cried when my doctor told me at my post op appointment I was going to have to wait until Dec. or Jan. to heal after my surgery. I pleaded that he let me begin because I was not getting any younger. Now that I have a month under my belt, I can say it has helped with my piece of mind. Think about taking a month off Carrie before you give up totally. I am sorry to get on a soap box but I have come to like each one of you and think you are caring and deserve to have a little person in your house. We are not giving up yet...just a little set back. Welsome to anyone who has joined us recently. These girls are GREAT!!!!!! Mari...only you know what to do about a 2nd opinion. When I was getting the run around and it finally ending in a tubal pregnancy, that was my final straw. Good thing there were more than 1 doctor in the practice and I just changed to the one I saw who seemed to fit my personality better. I wish I would have thought of doing it sooner but was afraid to hurt someones feelings. However, old doctor did not seemed worried about me so...I changed. I have asked many questions of what you all have gone through adn how I have not had some of the procedures. My doctor told me everyone is schooled a little different so that leads to different procedures. Keppe that in mind. Okay..long wnough..Sorry...happy baby thoughts!!!!!

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hi girls..well, I went in today and met with the Dr...had an ultrasound. There are no cycts (thank God) and I am moving to round two. She said that she wasn't going to change anything with my meds for this month because I responded so well last time. I am taking Ferma then the follistim..I'll be going in Nov 5th to check the follicles. She did tell me that my progestrone level last time was 32.9. Anyway, she said that she knew I was disappointed but that she felt really hopeful. Maybe in a few days I'll feel better and think the same. Thanks so much for letting me vent and then helping me pick myself up..

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Carrie...keep your chin up and positive. Try another cycle and see what happens...I hope everyone is doing well. Have a good weekend ladies!!!!!!

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hi girls..sorry Mari and Carrie for your AF. that really sucks!! i was hoping that at least one of us would get a BFP. Carrie, good luck on your new cycle, you've probably already started the meds. i know how frustrating this all is and it is sooo draining. at least you don't have any cysts and you can start right away. Mari, when do you go in for your u/s? i'll probably set my appt. this thur. for the hysteroscopy. i'm kind of nervous about it though. Lynn, you are the greatest support. and i agree with you about taking some time off. it gives your body some time to relax and heal. Debbie, how is your 2ww coming along? Anna, haven't heard from you in awhile. how is your cycle coming along? Edy, Erin, how are you girls doing? hope everyone is having a great weekend!

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Helen....thanks for the positive comments. I am going to need support from you girls when I attempt this again. I am a little scared but I still have another month to get myself together. I am wondering if I should wait until after the holidays to begin another cycle. I actually have no clue what happens now that I only have one tube and 2 ovaries. Guess, I better get my list of questions ready. Anna....where are you in your cycle? Mari, Beth, Carrie, Erin, Edy, Okiejpb, Debbie (I hope I did not forget anyone)...how are you all doing?

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Hi Ladies, Hope all is well with everyone. I have been on Menopur for 3 days, today i went in for blood work and thursday i go in for u/s. i will know then wether or not it's working. i am having bad headaches as well as moodiness. the dr said this will be my last iui. if i do not get pg this cycle he will put me on lupron for 3 months in order to begin ivf. the reason for this is because they need me to stop producing estrogen for a couple of months to clear up an endometioma (chocolate cysts) they found in my ovaries. this is usually caused by the over stimulation of estogen in your body due to the meds. they will also due a hysteroscopy after the three months on lupron to make sure everything is ok to start ivf. I pray this cycle works so i won't have to do ivf, i have heard it is a very stressful process (well iui is as well) also my insurance will not cover the whole cost but i guess every little bit helps. and lupron has many negative side effects (hot flashes, bone loss, mood swings, etc). good luck girls and hope to hear from u gals soon we need to support each other in order to go through this painfull and stressful period in our life, i know we will all have good news in the near future.

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Hey Everyone! I am doing good. I went in for my u/s and blood work yesterday after being on 75iu of Follistim for 7 days. I don't have any dominant follicles but that is okay right now. I have 24 instead of 38 like last week.(Because of PCOS) My RE is taking everything very slow so I will not hyperstimulate. My E2 was 20 so they increased my Follistim to 112.5iu x 4 days and I go back for u/s an b/w on Friday. Then they said they will probably increases it to 150iu and maybe we can do IUI on 11/12 or 11/13. I can't even remember what cycle day I am on because I had to take the Lupron longer than expected I think I am on cd18! I hope everyone is doing good today!! Lynn- you just try to relax on your month off. Helen- The Hysteroscopy is not too bad. The only thing that really hurt me was the gas pain after. Just remember to take it slow after surgery!! Debbie- How are you doing? Good luck to everyone!!

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I'm just waiting..the wait is killing me. But trying to stay busy. I'm no longer very bloated so that's a plus.

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Mari...We will all say a little pray this works for you. I completely understand insurance not covering. Mine does not cover any IUI nor will it ever cover an IVF. I can handle the 700.00 for an IUI but cannot do the 20,000.00 for IVF so if I cannot get prego on IUI + follistim, we are done. Edy... How long have you been taking follistim this month? If I did not misread your post, you have been taking it for longer than 7 days? Good luck and let us know which day will be your IUI. Debbie, Carrie, Helen, Anna, Erin, Okiejpb and Beth...How are you all doing?

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Hi Ladies, I've been peeking in on a daily basis, just haven't had a chance to post anything. Nothing too exciting here. Just taking a break until IVF in January. Although my insurance doesn't cover IUI nor IVF, it has covered the medications. I even checked with the pharmacy (on-line version offered through my insurance company UHC) and it appears that all of my medications for ivf will be covered. My guess is that since this medication can also be used for other purposes (ovulation induction not related to iui) it's covered. Not sure if this is the case, but I don't want to raise any red flags with my insurance. Given that the medications are covered, my ivf should only be about between $4300-$6000. I was told that medications usually run about $3000. If you haven't already done so, I'd say that it's probably worth checking with other RE's in your area to see what they charge. You might actually find one who's genuinely in it to help people realize the dream of having a child. Not to be naive because I know that there is financial gain in it for them, I have to believe that there's also some feeling of fulfillment in it for them. To be able to help people get pregnant without sending them to the poor house has to provide them with some fulfillment, right? I feel good about my RE. He was referred to me by a co-worker's wife. He was also a fellow at the hospital that I was going to right before seeing him. I live in the Dallas area, so let me know if anyone's interested in his contact info. Although $4300-$6000 is still a nice hunk of change, it beats $18,000-$20,000 which just about makes it cost prohitive. Hope this information helps.

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Cost prohibitive is what I meant to type, not prohitive.

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Just thought of something else that I meant to type with my last post.....$500 of the $4300 for ivf is for the anesthesiologist (which may be billable to insurance). The charges on top of the $4300 are if you need icsi (apprx $1200) and assisted embryo hatching (apprx $400). The other good thing is that ivf is tax deductible. Not sure if I mentioned this already. Every little bit helps.

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Okiejpb...thanks for the info. Now that I am seeing a new doctor, it might be worth asking about. I am in NC and I do know at Duke, it is roughly around 20,000.00 for 2 cycles and they require then to be finished before you turn 38. My problem is...that is in 6 months. Exactly what does it fall under when doing tax return? Wonder if my accountant would have an answer. Interesting to think about but would need to know what Wake Forest Baptist required. I appreciate the new eye opening info Okiejpb. Thanks again....

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Lynn- you didn't misread. I have been taking it for 10days now and will probably take it until next Friday!!! My RE is increasing my dose very slowly so I don't hyperstimulate. They are really trying hard for this to work so we don't have to do IUI. It is not normal protocol, but as my RE has found out recently, I am NOT normal!!! I know all of this will be worth it soon. I go back to the RE Friday am. Until then I am just waiting and trying to find nw places to give my injections. I am running out of room with a shot in the am of Lupron and a shot at night of Follistim!!! Hope you and everyone else is doing good this morning!!!

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Lynn-It falls under Medical and Dental Expenses (Fertility Enhancement). Check out www.irs.gov and type in "vitro" in the search section, something should come up this way. Here's a quick blurb from the site:
Fertility Enhancement
You can include in medical expenses the cost of the following procedures to overcome an inability to have children.

Procedures such as in vitro fertilization (including temporary storage of eggs or sperm).

Surgery, including an operation to reverse prior surgery that prevented the person operated on from having children.

Here's how it's calculated:
You can deduct only the amount of your medical and dental expenses that is more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (Form 1040, line 37).

In this publication, the term “7.5% limit” is used to refer to 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. The phrase “subject to the 7.5% limit” is also used. This phrase means that you must subtract 7.5% (.075) of your adjusted gross income from your medical expenses to figure your medical expense deduction.

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Okiejpb...thanks...I am going to check it out as a back up. My first time with follistim worked but ended in ectopic. Now that I am down a tube, I want to check into a back-up plan just incase. Edy...good luck to you. None of us may fall into that "normal" category but then again...what is normal??? I just never heard of such a thing. Why are they trying to avoid an IUI? I hope the rest of our friends here are doing okay.

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