Monday 28 April 2014

The Cheap Date Application

As frightened as I am that IVF#2 will also be a waste of time and resources, I'm pleased that we can start right away. While we were navigating the potential scheduling conflicts, I feared that we would need to wait for a cycle and then proceed during the luteal phase of the subsequent cycle, which could push my stimming and retrieval into the middle of summer. I was supposed to allow my uterus to have one 'normal' cycle after my D+C and then we would coordinate my first FET with the next cycle, but as it took over seven weeks for AF to arrive, my RE felt that enough time had passed and graciously let me start my prep with that cycle. Especially as my 38th birthday is lurking, I'm really keen to start sooner rather than later.

I took an inventory of my leftover meds and called New Girl the next day to review my protocol for this cycle. I pretty much already knew what he was going to use, so I would have been happy if she just gave me a verbal confirmation. She could have also mailed a copy of the list, since I have enough time to gather my supplies. Rather she offered, "I can just take a picture and text it to you." Seriously? "Although you know this is not a HIPPA secured transaction...Wait, I'll fold the corner, now we can't see your name." She is so bad-ass! I love it! I really can't believe that both she and my RE have granted me access to their personal phones, as they must really trust that I won't abuse it (again). I was already so thankful for her helpfulness, but she took it one step further and tried to figure out how much I'll need of each drug. As she looked through the doses from my last cycle, she commented "Wow, you got that many eggs with barely any meds!"

I replied that it really didn't seem like it was that many. In fact, it felt as if my yield was just a touch more than a DOR patient. "Jane, someone with DOR would need three to four times the amount of stimulation to achieve the same number you did." I already knew that, but it was still reassuring to hear her say it. In return, I expressed that it seems like my protocol is sacrificial, why not turn up the heat and see what these girls can do?  "Jane, sometimes less is more." she replied. My RE has commented that higher retrieval rates do not necessarily translate into higher pregnancy rates, but it seems so counterintuitive. If every egg represents the possibility for pregnancy, why would you not maximise that potential?  I did recall an example from my retrieval. While we were waiting to go back to the surgical suite, we could hear the nurse checking in on the patient next to me. "I got thirty-two eggs this time. I had thirty last time." she announced to the nurse. As I was starting to feel inadequate about my mere dozen, Husband (seemingly unaware that if we could hear her through the thin diving curtain, then she could hear him) asked out loud "What are you doing back here if you had thirty eggs last time?" Ah, tact is not his forte. New Girl laughed, "Let's just hope she was a donor..."  

Anyway, that night I started to calculate the costs based on New Girl's projections of what we would need. Just like when we were ordering any building supplies, I added an extra 10% to cover the unexpected. I was able to secure someone's unused Menopur for a steal of a deal. I still had a 14 day Lupron course from my last cycle, as my RE was considering employing Lupron for my trigger. As my instructions for this cycle are to start the Lupron in the middle of my luteal phase and to continue until my trigger, I figured I'd need at least 21-28 days worth. Then I looked closely at the dose. I had a 2.8 ml vial of 14 mg of Lupron, which works out to be 1 mg per 0.2 ml, but my daily dose is only 0.1 ml. I later had both New Girl and Misery check my maths, but apparently I have enough Lupron on hand. I only need to obtain the Gonal-F and Novarel, which I am hoping I can order from my fellow infertile pharmacist friend. Last time we charged over $3,000 to Freedom Pharmacy, which didn't include all my progesterone supplements, which were probably an extra $250. I think I have enough P4 to get me through to my beta test, so we'll only have to purchase more if I actually become pregnant. It's looking like we may have cut the cost of our meds in half, although I did spend $50 on GNC supplements, as I'm going for broke to try to improve my egg quality. Husband's eyes started to light up..."Your ovaries are a cheap date!"

Suddenly, the 'less is more' principle made sense to me. I recalled how a girl with low alcohol tolerance would often refer to herself as a cheap date. My ovaries are the debutante who becomes incessantly giggly after her first few sips of champagne. Or to use a more modern example, they're the sorority girl who becomes totally wasted after a few swigs of Natural Light. The gentleman suitor must know when to curtail her consumption, otherwise he'll be holding her hair back later that evening...and not in the way that he intended. At the same time, my ovaries need to learn the value of being virtuous. They can't let the intoxicating elixir of nun urine and recombinant gonadotrophins go to their head so quickly that they give up a dominant follicle too early. They must save all their presents and wait to open them on Christmas morning.

Husband and I enjoyed a good laugh, as we acknowledged that this is the first bit of encouraging news since learning we'll have to double our investment for an even more improbable return. I even went as far as to suggest that my ovaries may be offering us a favour. "Well, not really." Husband countered "They're the reason why we're going though this again." Yes, but if your boys would get up at 5:30 and go to swim practice with me, maybe we wouldn't be here... I thought to myself, but didn't say out loud.

12 comments:

  1. Oh Jane, that is excellent news about the timing not being delayed. And not needing to spend as much on meds? A mini blessing for sure (at least in my "strapped for cash" eyes). :)

    I always thought the goal was to get as many eggs as possible, but after my experience realize it isn't quantity (though sometimes that may help) but rather quality. We had 12 mature eggs...only one actually grew properly, and it has so far done the trick.

    Here's hoping that this cycle gives you your perfect little egg that becomes your baby. I'll be thinking of you and cheering you along the way!

    ReplyDelete
  2. As someone with DOR, I do believe that less can be more. Kind of like the old saying- quality over quantity... That's really what you should strive for :). Crossing my fingers for you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, that's great news that you won't have to sit out a cycle!

    "the intoxicating elixir of nun urine" you are too funny! I completely agree that less is more. I will be sending you so many good vibes that you get some great quality embryos from IVF #2 that will result in your take home baby. xo

    ReplyDelete
  4. Good news on the meds - and glad your ovaries are cheap to get drunk. Really hoping this is your cycle!

    ReplyDelete
  5. For sure, more is not better. I had I think 34 eggs on IVF #1, which made me super hopeful, but the cycle failed. I'm excited to keep up with your IVF #2!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm laughing at the visual of your ovaries as drunken sorority girls. Don't forget that there's also usually crying before the puking! I agree with Aubrey, less can be more. I've seen a whole bunch of blogs where people get huge numbers of eggs that are all crap. I think focusing on a solid (but not overwhelming) number of good quality eggs is the way to go.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm glad this show is getting on the road for you! Yay for cheap drunk ovaries! Mine drank a gallon of moonshine every night and barely even slurred a word.

    ReplyDelete
  8. That's great that you can move on to the next cycle so quickly. And yay for cheap dates. Mine definitely expect to be wined and dined and they still barely put out--we maybe get to second base. Total b's.

    ReplyDelete
  9. That is good news, and it must be so nice to have room to increase the dosage of meds. Despite no evidence of DOR and being 27, I required the highest dose of Gonal-F for my first IVF and ended up with 12 eggs, 8 embryos on day 1 and 2 surviving by day 3;. They transferred both and I have an 11 month old son.
    We are going to start IVF again in June because we've been told that even though there is no evidence of DOR, "something" is not right with my ovaries because they just won't respond properly. And I'm nervous about our chances with me being 2 years older this time and no room to up the dosage.
    So yes, I definitely think your cheap ovaries are great news and sometimes less really is more! :) Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Liebster award!! Check out my blog post & link back to me! =)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I can totally understand your fear. "Less is more" is a phrase I'd really rather never hear ever again. I would want the guns blazing because 25 eggs doesn't seem sufficient any more. It's so counter intuitive to believe a smaller quantity might yield more successful results. Hoping you can keep your lightweight ovaries in check, but that they yield some good, healthy eggs. Best of luck! I'm excited for you!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ugh that sucks, i wish i had some of the meds you needed to give to you, but i either don't have those or didn't use the same ones. Regardless, good luck and i hope this one works!

    ReplyDelete