There is a gestational sac and a tiny yolk sac. Everything looked good for 5+3. I was so scared. We passed one hurdle.
Awesome!! These next few weeks are hard, I am not gonna lie. Every time they did an u/s I would get so nervous and brace myself for bad news. Luckily that has not happened yet. I am so happy things are going well now for you.
Yay!!!!! I’m trying to recall your history- is this the farthest you’ve gotten so far?
Yes! My other losses were VERY early - all 3 of them ending roughly 4 weeks. I never got high enough initial betas, and never had any sort of rise, nevermind a reasonable doubling. I know it seems small to some people but even having intrauterine imaging this time is a HUGE win for me. This pregnancy doesn't just live in my heart, it's a real thing. I am so immensely grateful and hopeful.
Yay!!!!! I’m trying to recall your history- is this the farthest you’ve gotten so far?
Yes! My other losses were VERY early - all 3 of them ending roughly 4 weeks. I never got high enough initial betas, and never had any sort of rise, nevermind a reasonable doubling. I know it seems small to some people but even having intrauterine imaging this time is a HUGE win for me. This pregnancy doesn't just live in my heart, it's a real thing. I am so immensely grateful and hopeful.
Yay!!! Is there anything you did different this time around that you didn't last?
Yes! My other losses were VERY early - all 3 of them ending roughly 4 weeks. I never got high enough initial betas, and never had any sort of rise, nevermind a reasonable doubling. I know it seems small to some people but even having intrauterine imaging this time is a HUGE win for me. This pregnancy doesn't just live in my heart, it's a real thing. I am so immensely grateful and hopeful.
Yay!!! Is there anything you did different this time around that you didn't last?
I tried a semi-natural transfer with letrozole and trigger instead of fully medicated with estrace. I supplemented progesterone with endometrin 2x a day after ovulation and when I had some spotting right around beta time I also started PIO nightly. All 4 doctors we consulted with suggested trying a natural transfer as I’d never done one before.
My dr refused to prescribe a steroid or any other immune protocol so I got prednisone from a friend and followed CNY’s instructions for use. I also did the “DIY immune protocol” with Claritin, Benadryl, and Pepcid. My doctor knows about the latter, not the former. I don’t necessarily recommend doing this, but if I had to guess what made the biggest difference I’d put my money on the prednisone.
I also mega-dosed on omega 3s and took açaí berry, which CCRM has a study on improving transfer results. Pretty woo but whatever.
It’s also possible I just had a good embryo this time, although I still maintain that it is highly improbable that all the rest of my embryos were terrible given my age and risk factors.
Yay!!! Is there anything you did different this time around that you didn't last?
I tried a semi-natural transfer with letrozole and trigger instead of fully medicated with estrace. I supplemented progesterone with endometrin 2x a day after ovulation and when I had some spotting right around beta time I also started PIO nightly. All 4 doctors we consulted with suggested trying a natural transfer as I’d never done one before.
My dr refused to prescribe a steroid or any other immune protocol so I got prednisone from a friend and followed CNY’s instructions for use. I also did the “DIY immune protocol” with Claritin, Benadryl, and Pepcid. My doctor knows about the latter, not the former. I don’t necessarily recommend doing this, but if I had to guess what made the biggest difference I’d put my money on the prednisone.
I also mega-dosed on omega 3s and took açaí berry, which CCRM has a study on improving transfer results. Pretty woo but whatever.
It’s also possible I just had a good embryo this time, although I still maintain that it is highly improbable that all the rest of my embryos were terrible given my age and risk factors.
I keep checking back on this thread for updates. Sending so many good wishes your way. I really hope this is it for you!!
Would you mind sending me the info you have about the immune protocols? I am meeting with a reproductive immunologist next month and hoping for some answers, but I've been trying to gather information and learn about immune influence on pregnancy and miscarriage.
Post by seeyalater52 on Jun 12, 2019 13:43:36 GMT -5
pinkpeony08, absolutely! I have done a LOT of research on this topic because while I haven't been able to get in with an RI, I am pretty convinced that immune issues have something to do with the challenges I have faced.
Love of my life baby boy born 11/11. One and done not by choice; 3 years of TTC yielded 4 MMC and 2 CPs, through 4 IUIs and 2 IVFs. Focusing on making the world a better place instead...and running.
Yay!!! Is there anything you did different this time around that you didn't last?
I tried a semi-natural transfer with letrozole and trigger instead of fully medicated with estrace. I supplemented progesterone with endometrin 2x a day after ovulation and when I had some spotting right around beta time I also started PIO nightly. All 4 doctors we consulted with suggested trying a natural transfer as I’d never done one before.
My dr refused to prescribe a steroid or any other immune protocol so I got prednisone from a friend and followed CNY’s instructions for use. I also did the “DIY immune protocol” with Claritin, Benadryl, and Pepcid. My doctor knows about the latter, not the former. I don’t necessarily recommend doing this, but if I had to guess what made the biggest difference I’d put my money on the prednisone.
I also mega-dosed on omega 3s and took açaí berry, which CCRM has a study on improving transfer results. Pretty woo but whatever.
It’s also possible I just had a good embryo this time, although I still maintain that it is highly improbable that all the rest of my embryos were terrible given my age and risk factors.
I'm with CNY and I know everyone gets put on prednisone. They have me on a full immune protocol as well.
I tried a semi-natural transfer with letrozole and trigger instead of fully medicated with estrace. I supplemented progesterone with endometrin 2x a day after ovulation and when I had some spotting right around beta time I also started PIO nightly. All 4 doctors we consulted with suggested trying a natural transfer as I’d never done one before.
My dr refused to prescribe a steroid or any other immune protocol so I got prednisone from a friend and followed CNY’s instructions for use. I also did the “DIY immune protocol” with Claritin, Benadryl, and Pepcid. My doctor knows about the latter, not the former. I don’t necessarily recommend doing this, but if I had to guess what made the biggest difference I’d put my money on the prednisone.
I also mega-dosed on omega 3s and took açaí berry, which CCRM has a study on improving transfer results. Pretty woo but whatever.
It’s also possible I just had a good embryo this time, although I still maintain that it is highly improbable that all the rest of my embryos were terrible given my age and risk factors.
I'm with CNY and I know everyone gets put on prednisone. They have me on a full immune protocol as well.
Tell me more about this immune protocol. Is this something I should ask my dr about?
I'm with CNY and I know everyone gets put on prednisone. They have me on a full immune protocol as well.
Tell me more about this immune protocol. Is this something I should ask my dr about?
It's somewhat likely your Dr. won't do it, as there are very few non-Reproductive Immunologists who believe in this area of treatment, but it's worth asking about.
CNY uses a particularly aggressive approach including things like low-dose naltrexone, anti-organ rejecting medication and intralipids, but there are definitely more middle-ground treatments like longer-term steroids and even blood thinners that "regular" REs might be willing to use even if your history doesn't necessarily indicate it. The biggest issue seems to occur when you're in the situation I'm in, and have an RE that doesn't believe in immunology and bloodwork panels that don't come back for anything in particular in the clotting/autoimmune tests, since technically these treatments aren't medically indicated.
I'm with CNY and I know everyone gets put on prednisone. They have me on a full immune protocol as well.
Tell me more about this immune protocol. Is this something I should ask my dr about?
CNY tends to be a bit on the aggressive side when it comes to a full immune protocol. For my first transfer I went with the basic stuff that my old RE would have had me one - just endometrin, pio and estrace.
A full immune protocol is what we're doing this round and that's prednisone 10mg, LDN, cleocin, prograf, plaquenil, neupogen, lovenox, intralipids, baby asprin, endometrin, pio and estrace. They don't do a panel testing though which I tend to disagree with. A lot of RE's in my area though don't want to do any immune protocol (even a middle of the road one) however I've learned from talking to others and through enough research that if you have a failed transfer(s) or any miscarriages that an immune protocol is going to help greatly and increase the chances of success.
I think it's worth talking to your doctor about and getting their opinion. A friend of mine is 6 weeks pregnant and after 4 failed transfers she went on 1/2 of the meds I'm on and was successful (she's at a different clinic) but she had to bring it up to her dr.
Yay!!! Heads up I had a lot of crampiness and breast soreness around week 6/7 that made me nervous, but it was fine, in case you have that. So happy for you! When is your next US?
Yay!!! Heads up I had a lot of crampiness and breast soreness around week 6/7 that made me nervous, but it was fine, in case you have that. So happy for you! When is your next US?
Thanks! I do have sore breasts but they’re not consistent, some days or times of day they’re more sore than others. It’s so hard not to analyze! Aside from that no other real symptoms.
oh my god. my heart sank when i saw your update. i'm so so sorry. i have no advice since i've not been there, but just know so many of us are thinking of you and sending thoughts of comfort and peace for whatever your next steps might be. hugs.