IVF with very high FSH?

[Tigga]

Thanks to everyone for sharing this with me!! It's been quite a ride. It's still very surreal. I'm just taking one day at a time. I have another BT next Tues and scan in 2 weeks after that. Will continue to post updates here.

BulieJ - Here's a run down of what I did this cycle.

PROTOCOL
No pill to start this time. I had a one cycle break (4 weeks).
CD 2: Scan for Antral Follicle Count showed 4-6 between both ovaries. My FSH was 10.
CD 3 (am) Started Puregon 450
CD 4: Puregon 450
CD 5: Puregon 450
CD 6: Puregon 450
CD 7: Puregon 450. Scan Right Ovary=1x13mm / Left=2x13mm. Started Orgalutran today.
CD 8: Puregon 450 + Orgalutran
CD 9: Puregon 450 + Orgalutran
CD 10: Puregon 450 + Orgalutran. Scan Right Ovary=1x20mm / Left=4x20-21mm.
CD 11: Puregon 450 + Orgalutran - Last day. Evening, Ovidrel Trigger x 2
CD 12: Drug free day
CD 13: EPU (3 eggs). Physically felt amazing post EPU - very surpised as last time I felt very yuk!
CD 14: Start Crinone (pm). Did IVF rather than ICSI. 3 eggs fertilised.
CD 15: Crinone (am)
CD 16: Crinone (am). Transfer 2 x embies (1x8cell=Excellent & 1x9cell=Good)
CD 17: Upped Crinone to am and pm
CD 28: Beta HCG 500/Pg 300.
CD 29: Stopped Crinone.

A bit of History:
I had severe endo removed in 2007.
I started acupuncture with a new therapist (he didn't specialise in fertility BTW, but was very spiritual, Yin/Yang etc etc - helped me manage my control freak nature). I went 2 x weekly for last 3 months (3 x weekly during 2ww's).
(I had been going to someone else twice weekly since July 2008 - but felt it wasn't doing anything so changed in March)
Since 2007, I have made MASSIVE lifestyle changes. Gave up smoking. Took up regular exercise. I have not drunk caffeine (coffee, tea, coke etc) since Sept 2007. Alcohol intake limited (with the exception of post BFN results of course!) Since late 2007, 95% of the time I have a very good diet - organic, natural foods, daily juices, very little processed foods, sugars etc.
In the last 4 months I committed to 1.5ltrs-2ltrs of water a day
Since around August 2008 (when I first learned of my ridiculously high FSH levels), I converted to all organic soaps, body lotion, shampoos etc - used gloves for cleaning, even washing dishes to eliminate any exposure to toxins.
Probably the biggest change for me: Around November 2008, I made arrangements and cut down my work week to 4 days and really started to focus on "me"...more forced relaxing time (I'm an A-type personality, workaholic). Walks on beach, meditations...just to try to slow my pace down. (Very new for me!!)
I've been taking Blackmores Conceive Well Gold for about the last 4 months too.
Was vigilant about getting 7-8 hours sleep a night. (I used to live on 4-5).
Kept BMI to within healthy TTC range.

I think the biggest thing for me was to get my FSH settled (it bounced around from 44 - 6) and I think this had a lot to do with my busy lifestyle. I also found a more spiritual side to me, I prayed...I found for me, it gave me peace of mind, especially for this cycle and helped me be less obsessed and more accepting of whatever happened. At the end of the day, who knows what worked? Who knows if any of this made any difference. I think everyone's different and what works for one may or may not work for someone else. Maybe when it's meant to happen - it just will?

All I can say is stay hopeful, even in the darkest of times, remember, it may and can happen!

If you want more info, just let me know.

Best wishes to everyone - I hope everyone finds a resolve to this journey...I always said that that's what I wanted..."resolve"...be that a baby or peace of mind to move on and live a wonderful life irrelevant.

I'll continue to check in at least weekly (on the other thread buliej supplied) and touch base to see how everyone is going.

[Tigga]

BDT - Do I have this right? Are you carrying twins? I had two embies transferred...FN said with HCG of 500 it could be twins or it could be one robust singleton - won't know until Scan.

I REALLY need to get time and log onto the other thread to catch up on where everyone is at.

[Baby Dreamtime]

Hi Tigga,
Yes, lol, so far so good for twins, I ended up seeing a GP to get a referral for an ultrasound at 6w5d and there were two little heartbeats (as all my FSs are at this conference in Amsterdam until Wed next week). Now just praying all goes well.

My hcg wat 15dpo was 203 and at 19dpo was 1526. It did get me a bit excited as it fell within the twin range on The BetaBase. Have a look. You never know....

The biggest congratulations again! xx

[buliej]

Tigga - thanks so much for that - very impressive what you've done and how well you've taken care of yourself. Can I ask, why did you forgo the ICSI this time? We've been using ICSI and I wonder if we'd be better off letting nature take its course. but then I wonder, what if that means a good egg goes to waste because the sperm can't figure out which way is up (hee hee).

BDT - posting on your visitor message board!

[Dutchie80]

Hi girls,
Tigga- Thanks for posting all that info, it's interesting to see exactly what someone did when they got their BFP. When's your first scan hun? I'll eagerly await updates from you.

AFM- Have just started my fourth IVF/ICSI cycle, having had my fsh tested and taken my first dose of synarel this morning. Gosh, I'm really banking on it being <10 again as it has been since Feb, but this month I really, really want it to be low. It didn't really matter in previous months as I wasn't cycling but this month it does matter as the clinic won't let me cycle if it's >10 and I'm just really ready to get back into it. I kinda feel positive about it being low enough to continue but it is still causing a touch of angst for me. The not knowing what the heck it will be is the killer but I guess I have to resign to the fact that what will be, will be.

[Dutchie80]

Hi girls,
Well fsh this month is an acceptable 10.6 and I have the official go ahead to start would have liked it a lil lower, I'm a bit disappointed that I missed the months where it was 6.8 & 7 but I have to be happy with 10.6 clinic said anything <12 was ok to start. So here I go jumping back onto the rollercoaster I start gonal f 450iu tomorrow morning with first stim scan on thurs 16th.

[Baby Dreamtime]

WOOHOO Dutchie wishing you all the best for this cycle, praying for some lovely follies for you, thinking of you. xx

Julie, thanks so much for your message, I have everything crossed for you for your coming cycle too. xx

[Dutchie80]

Thanks BDT I've got my for a great follie count too.

[Tigga]

BulieJ - We decided to go IVF (rather than ICSI) because DH's sperm count was on the low side, but within normal ranges. It was a REALLY, REALLY tough decision because we had 3 eggs and clinic was pushing for ICSI - but something just told me to do IVF (women's intuition???) Both DH and I said that, having committed to IVF, if we got no fert we would accept that and be ok with it - we wouldn't go back on it. BUT, who knows? If we got 0 fert, maybe we would've regretted it...who knows?

Quick update: HCG today at 21 DPO = 6393, Prog 376.

Hope everyone's well.

[anyos]

hi ladies,

just wanted to pop in and introduce myself as another high-fsh-er.

Our story: I have endometriosis and after a year of trying naturally we went onto the Natural Fertility Centre's program 5 years ago. We fell pregnant second cycle but lost our beautiful daughter a week after she was born due to hospital negligence( I'm trying to build up the courage to write her story in the loss-section but haven't been able to yet). Our miracle baby boy was born exactly a year later and I don't have the words to express what his presence brings to our lives.

So following the two natural pregnancies, I had two miscarriages last year at 5/6 weeks. Our lovely GP guided us through the barrage of tests they usually conduct with recurrent miscarriages and my FSH came back as high. It?s been around the 14 - 12 - 8 range but not a good sign for me as early-menopause runs in the family.

Just started with SIVF, seeing Dr Lieberman, CD2, Day 1 of injections (thank you DH), FSH on CD1 was 12.8

Was just wondering if anyone has had any luck reducing FSH with natural remedies/acupuncture etc?

Would also like to congratulate Tigga & BBT, your stories give me hope!

take care

[Dutchie80]

Hi anyos, so glad you have joined us. Congratulations on the birth of your son.
Have you looked into Acupuncture before. It's great for reducing stress levels which I, my parner and acupuncturist firmly believe affects my fsh levels, it just seems to run higher whenever I'm stressed.

Wishing you the very best of luck with this new cycle. I'm also in the middle of an ivf cycle, today was day 7 of injections.

Come and join us in the Long Term Assisted Conception thread, that's where I post normally regarding cycles and there's lots of other lovely gals there too.

Tigga- hCG rising nicely , wishing you the best for your upcoming scan.

[anyos]

hey Dutchie, thanks for your reply & advice, I've found a accupunturist and the treatments last week certainly helped with the stress. Will post on LTAC thread as suggested.

Good luck with your cycle!

[Tigga]

Hi Anyos, I'm sorry to hear about your daughter - that's awful for you. I agree with Dutchie - i think stress has a lot to do with early-high FSH. I also am an advocate of acupuncture - it's helped slow me down - calm my forever-thinking brain. I tried wheatgrass for while too - (powdered form from health shops) - others had success with it and it did help...I think? The one thing I can say is don't place too much emphasis on your high FSH - and at 12.8 it's on the very low-end of high anyway. Good luck!!

Dutchie - I had a second HCG BT last Monday and it was 6,393 (21dpo). I had another blood test this morning result is 54,000. I went for a blood test today b/c TBH, I'm still in disbelief. I just need to see it going up to reassure me that this is indeed 'really happening'. My scan is on 30/7. I've been trying to follow your progress on the other forum - did you have EPU today? I hope it was a success!!

[Dutchie80]

Hey guys-

Tigga- hCG lookin' bewdiful I know it's probably still a shock and very surreal but try to be reassured by your numbers, they are doing exactly as they should be and that's a very positive sign. Wishing you the very best of luck for your first scan.
No EPU yet, had another scan today (I'm on CD 12 day 10 of injections) and I have around 7 follies in total. Largest is on the left at 25mm and all the rest are around 10mm. Nurses rang this arvo and advised me that we are going to sacrifice the 25mm follie in the hope of growing the other 6 to maturity Not sure when EPU is at this point, I go in for another scan on friday. I'm really happy with progress so far.

anyos- I'm glad you found the acupuncture relaxing and I look forward to chatting in the LTAC thread.

[Baby Dreamtime]

Tigga,
I am so so sorry, I stalked you on another site to see how you were going, and just wanted to say how sorry I am for your heartbreaking news, I am guttered for you. My thoughts and prayers are with you today, and I hope from here you can move forward, which ever way you decide is the best for you. Sending you the biggest hugs and lots of love

[buliej]

Tigga - I only recently found you posting on the other forum and jumped to it when I saw BDT's post. I am so so sorry. My heart is breaking for you.

[anyos]

Tigga my thoughts and prayers are with you I know how painful this journey can be and am so sorry this happened to you. Take care of yourself & your lovely DH xxxx

[Dutchie80]

Tigga,
I sent you a PM yesterday sweets