Dh and I were talking. He informed me that his mom is willing to help us in any way to conceive. If the Big C is willing to pay, I say we do what ever we can at this point since my clock seems to be ticking faster every day. Dh is wanting to stop (that's his feeling today) if this current cycle is a bust. Since my RE doesn't consider a treatment unsuccessful until after 3 cycles, I'd like to do clomid/IUI again.

If that doesn't work, I had mentioned doing injectibles which he kind of freaked about and also an unmedicated IVF (which would actually be done with clomid, but they call it unmedicated because there's no cycle supression, stimulation etc - at least that's how I understood it). I can't do a regular IVF cycle just because it's not for me, but I would be open to doing clomid with retrieval/transfer etc. Now, dh says emphatically NO he doesn't want anyone taking things out of me and putting things back because he thinks it is like surgery. I told him that it isn't, but I don't know *exactly* how they do it.

Can you IVF girls shed some light for me?? I'd really like to know exactly what they do, how they do it and how you feel afterwards. I remember many of you mentioning that you had some slight cramping/discomfort......

Here's a link if you're not sure what the 'unmedicated' IVF is....

IVF Without the Fertility Drugs

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Rac- That was very interesting. I have never heard of it. Thanks for sharing. HUGS for your discussions and decisions.

Rac - I am really excited to see you being so proactive about this. I hope you get pg this cycle, but if not I hope your dh jumps aboard and lets your MIL help out. That's very nice of her.

Bec~ I think that sounds great! I guess I can be the ivf pusher. teehee...

Anyway, about ER and ET... For ER I was given an iv with meds to make me sleep. I laid down, and dont remember a thing. It lasted about 45 minutes. I woke up and walked into a recovery room where I stayed for about an hour. I went home and slept for the afternoon. I didnt have any pain. Maybe a *little* cramping like af, but nothing memorable. I was scared to death before ER, but it was so easy. I wouldn't consider it to be anything like surgery, but they do put you to sleep. I have heard from women who dont go to sleep (in canada it isnt common practice to put you to sleep) but it can be very painful. Basically they are using an u/s guided needle through your uterine wall to your ovaries to pull eggs out of the follicles. Sounds terrible, but overall it was MUCH easier than my hsg experience.

For ET it is just like an IUI, except they did an u/s at the same time (on my abdomin) to see where they were putting the catheter, since they like to place it at the back of the uterus. It was easy too.

Ask away if you have any other questions! I think this sounds like a great option for you!

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Well, there's still time, plus we don't know what is happening with this cycle. It's an option. Ultimately, dh said he'll do what ever I want to do, so we'll see. I still have to hear the words from MIL's mouth myself, also!

Lauren - Wow, that was quick! Were you reading my original post in the car?? LOL Thanks for the explaination. I've done a general before, so getting knocked out isn't a big deal. The transfer sounds like a breeze!! I'm sure it's a different catheter than for a regular IUI??? I've noticed that my cervix is extremely sensitive for IUI after clomid.

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HA, yes, I can read ctips on my phone, but I cannot seem to login on my phone to be able to post. I read it in the car when we were coming into Myrtle Beach, but we're now at my mom's house so I can get on my computer here.

I'm not sure if it is a different catheter or not, but it would seem that it would be... I was very worried about ivf at first, I think anyone would be. But as everyone always told me, the emotional aspects of all of this are much harder than the physical ones.

((hugs))

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Rac Hopefully with whatever you guys choose to do it will bring you success!!! I had light bleeding after the ER and that was about it. The procedure itself was painless. More discomfort than pain. I had some mild cramping but that was when the embryos were implanting. Just curoius on why you dont want to do the medicated IVF???

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Lisa - I have some personal moral issues with it. I would never think badly of anyone who does it, but personally, I can't fertilize several eggs and only put one or two back and possibly freeze the rest. To me, they're babies at the point of fertilization. Besides that, I don't like messing with the body by using all of the chemicals/hormones. Clomid was a stretch for me.

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Well...this is an interesting turn of events!

You know I'm always behind you a zillion percent no matter what, Bec.

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RAC - I think its great that you are looking into additional options. Science has come so far.
My retrieval was pretty easy. I went to sleep & woke up. That afternoon, I felt a little out of it from the anethesia, and had some cramping (medium pain). I think I was also relieved to have it over, so I just slept.
The transfer was easier than IUI, in my opinion. If possible, I think the catheter was smaller than the IUI one. I felt nothing & it was really cool to watch the bubbles surrounding the embryos go into my uterus.
Overall, the worst part was all the shots, in my opinion, which still wasn't even that bad.

I wish you the best of luck as you decide what your next step is!

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So I just talked to my 'ovulation coordinator' (Dee) since June was a bust. Dh and I talked last night again about what to do and we're going forward with another clomid/IUI in August. I asked Dee about increasing my clomid, but since I've responded so well the last two cycles, she said it isn't necessary. Generally, they only increase the dosage if the E2 and LH levels increase with no follies or small follies with insufficient hormones - whcih makes perfect sense to me.

I also asked about the unmedicated IVF, which she said they do not do simply because the cost involved to retrieve one or two eggs isn't worth it. I'm just not sure I can do regular IVF, though. Dh has serious issues with me being 'cut' and having things taken out and put back in. Personally, I'd be okay with the process. I just can't fertilize several eggs only to transfer 2 or maybe 3. Dee did mention embryo donation, but I don't know that I'd be able to live a peaceful life knowing that I could have a child living as someone else's child - even though I'm sure they only choose fantastic families.

I asked also about injectible meds. She said their protocol is 5 days of follistem or gonal f followed by two triggers (ovidrel??). Luckily, they're in an epi pen type syringe and all sub cutaneous rather that intermuscular. I imagine there's monitoring etc that goes along with that. A ball park figure for the meds is $750, which isn't bad. I just had pictures in my mind of the boxes of meds that's I've seen posted here. Well, Dee is going to mail me some information to look at and go over.

So for now, we wait till the ol' hag shows, get more clomid, do IUI and then wait again. If nothing, then we schedule an appointment with Dr Albert to go over our charts/results etc and discuss more options.

My mind is kinda spinning now, wondering how the heck I ever got to this god-forsaken place in this life of mine. Trying to figure out what my purpose here really is. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be a mother, but stopping now doesn't seem right. I still have a feeling deep in the pit of my gut that there is a baby waiting to grow inside of me.

Now, if I can only get dh to agree to let his mom help.

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My hats off to you Rebecca!!! I will be here rooting you on every step of the way!!! I'm glad you have a plan!! I agree there is a baby waiting to grow inside of you!

Oh Rebecca - I had tears in my eyes as I read this thread. Somehow I missed it from several weeks ago when you first posted it and I've been so hesitant to ask if you were going to do another clomid/IUI cycle let alone any other options. I am SO glad to hear that you're trying again and I really hope the next clomid cycle does the trick. You are such a warm caring person and it breaks my heart that you don't have a child who will benefit from all that you have to give yet. That is great that your MIL wants to help - hopefully you can convince DH to accept - try reminding him that she'll be getting a grandchild out of it so its not completely selfless

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Oh Rac, I am glad you have a plan. We are here to listen and cheer all along the way!

Bec~ I'm sorry this is so hard. ((hugs)) I understand dhs skepticism to start ivf. It is overwhelming to consider. I'm not sure what he means by "cutting," but there is no cutting involved. Only shots, and needles. I'm not familiar with Gonal-F beacue I have never used it (I think Sarah did), but if it just like follistim, and it is in a pen and comes in 600iu and 900iu cartridges. For an iui cycle, I think they usually start you around 75-150ius a day. My triggers were IM, not sub-q, but I guess different doctors use different things. I will say that for ME, the build up to IVF and the emotional rollercoaster if MUCH worse than the actual process. ((hugs)) Please let me know if I can help in any way!!

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Lauren - I think he's referring to the actual retrieval - going in and taking the eggs out. He doesn't understand how simple the process is and keeps thinking... what if something happens and you lose your parts. my reply - like it would be any different than now - they don't work anyway! He just shrugged and kinda agreed.

I think Heidi used the gonal f, too.

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