stimulation day 5 of 1st IVF

[natailia3]

Hi guys! Just wanted to share that I got my tests back from Chicago and have found some REAL answers to why I am miscarrying!
I have very very low blocking anitbodies (1.9% when they should be 50%)
A 50% HLA DQ alpha match with husband
This give me some real closure to all my questions of WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING! At least I now know. Its a huge relief and now I will not keep thinking...maybe it was because I had my laptop on my tummy or drank that coffee before I knew I was pregnant.
We have some major issues but still plan to do the FET after several rounds of LIT (one good reason to live here, they do the LIT) and see what happens.
I also found a Reproductive Immunologist here in Brasil. I will see her in a week and she is only a 3 hour drive away in Rio de Janerio.

Hope everyone there is doing great! Take care.

[Carlaliz]

WooHoo!!! Things sound soooooo much better and I'm very relieved to hear it! A good talk with the hubby and now answers to your concerns.... This must all do a lot to help you feel better and cope with the saddness you've recently endured. (Did your body ever miscarry, by the way?) It sounds like you've got a gameplan and everyone needs one of those! What exactly does the LIT involve and how long does it take? Does your husband now have a better understanding of why the miscarriages occurred? I do think that it takes men longer to "connect." But I think that sometimes it's b/c they shut themselves off after a miscarriage or two. I guess that's how they cope since they don't talk about things like women do. I think it took that 12 week ultrasound, and hearing the doctor say what gender he thinks it is, before my husband was ready to let go of his anxiety and start talking about this pregnancy. I bet getting these treatments and having a few months to heal and focus on other things will help. I'm just very happy for you and feel like you've made it through the worst of it once and for all. Congrats and please continue to keep me posted on how things are going.

[natailia3]

Yes, thanks! I do feel better. Just knowing why makes such a difference.
The LIT its where you take the white blood cells from your partner and inject them into your arm, just under the skin. You do it every 3 or 4 weeks until your body makes the proper amount of anitbodies. It may take me 3 or 4 times. So several months of waiting for the FET which was the plan anyway. Since mine are so low, we shall see if they go up. Alternatively in the USA they use IVIG because LIT isn't allowed there. Beer used LIT for recurrent loss and immune isses before there was IVIG so its a immunotherapy. I hope it works but if it doesn't, we will know why at least. I huge relief. And finding a RI here is huge for me.
I was ready to fly to LA for treatment and now traveling 3 hours is like nothing.

Can you believe you are 1/3 of the way down with your pregnancy?
Can people "see" now you are pregnant? I am imagining you now retuning to school and all the kids will know and be so happy for their teacher yet never knowing what a long road its been for you to get where you are! I am so happy you made it! Does it still look like a boy? Guess its hard to mistake the boy parts for female?
I want updates up until the big day of delivery!

[Carlaliz]

LIT sounds interesting. I hope that you can start to see a difference soon. How will you know and what do you do if it doesn't help like it should? I'm really glad that you found an RI too. 3 hours definitely beats flying to LA! That's all very encouraging and I'm super happy for you. Your FET cycle is gonna be right on track for success and that's gotta feel great too! WooHoo, WooHoo!!!!!

No, I can't believe that we've officially started our second trimester. I've definitely "popped out" this past week. My husband even commented on it. My stomach feels hard, not squishy like I imagine it would be if I'd just put on weight from eating. It's kinda cool. My mom and I went shopping for maternity clothes and I was able to find some great sales. It's fun to be able to buy these kinds of things now. Only 4 or 5 people at school knew about our cycle, so most folks will be surprised to see me with a tummy. It will be fun to see their reaction. I'll have to start making plans to be out for awhile too. It's all still so unbelievable but we're loving every minute of it! Yes, the doctor said that he thinks it's a boy. Apparently, he's 90% accurate at 12 weeks. He'll confirm it at the 21 week ultrasound and he's 98% accurate then. My hubby thinks that they'll tell us it's a girl at the next visit. Neither of us really cares which it is. We would love one of each somehow, one day. Guess we'll see.....

So glad that we both have positive things to report! I can't wait to continue giving and receiving more updates.

[Veronica]

natailia

wohoo! an answer! sometimes that alone is enough to ease some of the pain, at least for me it was. you must be so thankful to have some closure at last.

as for infertility sisters - u said it perfectly. it's how i feel too. we can grumble all we need and everyone knows where we're coming from.

i will keep u in my prayers. let us know how things go with the wbc injections.

[natailia3]

I had a busy last 2 weeks with doctors. One phone consultation with a RI from California, another in Rio de Janeiro (RI) and my RE to discuss whats going on.
Overall, the USA doc consult was unfortunately a waste of time and money.
After his hour long lecture how the immune system effects infertility. He said he wants me to redo my testing with him because some of the tests were old (they were done not 1 month ago in Chicago) and some he uses different methodts in his lab. For a total of ANOTHER $1450 dollars and then he won't even write a prescription for me. So that does me no good.
My RI in Rio will do the LIT starting next week.
My RE wants me on prednisone and asprin. I will retest the APA before the FET but thats not for a few months.
I am anxious to do all this before december as I don't want this stress to be around or any disappointment over the holidays.
Anyone out there reading this that had had a FET, I would love to hear about it. My RE does not use Lupron or other BCP just estrogen.
I wonder how much monitoring you need before the transfer is done.
My re made it seem like only one ultrasound. But I guess that its all is on track.
Hope everyone is doing well.

[Carlaliz]

Hey Natailia!

I was wondering how things were going and am happy to see your update. Sounds like you're doing well and working hard for a successful FET cycle. We did one of those, but our embryos didn't survive the thaw. I hope that you have lots of success with yours! I also hope that you can have happy news to make your holiday celebrations even better! Please continue to let me know how things are going. I'm wishing you tons of luck.....

[Veronica]

You must be so frustrated. I know I am just listening. Ugh! If we were closer we would have to have a spa day or do lunch - something! AGH!

I just heard about a program called Compassionate Care from Fertility Lifelines sponsored by EMD Serono. They offer a 1 time free medication program for Lupron. I am trying to get it now, but I don't know if I qualify yet. Their number is 1-866-lets-try (1-866-538-7879). Maybe they have something local to you or know of someone who does.

Let me know what's going on. You are in my prayers.

[natailia3]

Hi carlaliz! How are you feeling these days? I hope you are doing well. Getting ready to face another new classroom of kids?
I am well and just had our fist LIT (leukocyte immunization therapy). It was hard for my DH because he had to take 8 of the 30ml tubes of blood and he has a hard time with this process. The injections under my skin were more painful than I expected but I can take it. Now its been interesting to watch to see what kind of reaction I make. So far, its only like 3 small mosquito bites.
Everyday I think about what I should be/could be doing as far as treatments and tests and it makes me exhausted. I don't want do be so obsessed with all this but at the same time, I feel a bit desperate because if I miss something now and my FET fails, then it will be too late. This last chance thing is a blessing and a curse! I am ready to do it, all or nothing. And be at peace with the results.
So glad to hear from you . Please let me know how you are coming along! Still looking like a boy??

[Carlaliz]

Hey Natalia!

Sorry it's been awhile since I've been in touch. School is starting and things have been super busy. Getting up at 5:30 am and working all day is rough! I need to win the lottery!

I'm curious to know what kind of reactions you ended up having. Are you getting any other tests done? You know I like the full update.... I know what you mean about wanting to be sure that you don't leave any stone unturned. However, I can tell that you're very thorough and I'm sure you'll be 100% prepared when the time comes. I can't wait to hear that your FET cycle was a success!

I'm feeling good most days - just tired a lot. I've been surprised at how much the heat and humidity has been bothering me. I'm at 20 weeks and can't believe it! I've definitely gotten the belly and have been feeling movement. However, it's not all the time and the stretches of hours with nothing make me worry. I guess I'll always worry about something! We go back for an ultrasound on Sept. 1 - two weeks away! That's when they'll confirm if it's a boy or not. We can't wait! We'll get started on the baby's room after that. As exciting as that idea is, it's also exhausting. My husband and I have somehow managed to take over both of our extra guest rooms with our clothes and stuff. Packing all that up or finding other spots for it will be intersting.

Please continue to let me know how the testing and all goes. Please know that you're doing all the right things and maybe that will help you relax some. I think that the next time is gonna work for you.

[natailia3]

Good to hear from you Carlaliz! Cannot believe you are half way through your pregnancy! Congratulations! I know it must be hard going back to work after the time off but it will make the remaining 20 weeks fly by I bet!
Getting the little room ready soon will be so fun. I have to say I was really "nesting" my last few months. I sewed and sewed and made all kinds of things. I miss that. Its harder to find the time now.
I am still on that road now just waiting for my next LIT infusion.
It was not as bad as a reaction as I was expecting. I have had worse mosquito bites (and much worse things on my skin after living in the tropics for the last 9 years!)
My issue is that my husband cannot handle the blood thing. I don't know how many times more he can do it. The alternative is IVIG and I talked to him about that and he would rather do that. So I have my protocol all worked out I just need to find a doctor to cooperate with me!
My RI wants me to do the LIT every 6 weeks following a positive pg test.
My RE wants me on prednisone and aspirin. I read that the prednisone will decrease the effect of the LIT so I was thinking to go for the IVIG.
And because of my APA finding, I want to do the heparin shots.
Its just hard because I don't feel that either of them are going to be very concerned with me once pregnant and I think that is when I will need alot of tests to make sure things are good. And ultrasound to see if the placenta is abnormal or if the amnio fluid is low, I just don't feel confident that I will get even that level of care. I need to find a high risk OBGYN.

Anyway, I am ready and could do the FET as early as October but most likely will be November. Like I keep saying (to make myself believe a bit more) I am ready either way for this to be the last stop.
I decided to plan a trip if its negative. Something I couldn't do otherwise.
I am planning to go to India to visit some national parks on elephant safari. Just my husband and I. We haven't taken a trip alone like this since our honeymoon. So at least I will have something else to focus on if its negative. That and the knowledge that I gave it my best last try!

So glad to get an update from you and you let me know when the ultrasound confirms the sex! Thats so exciting! Hope you are feeling well and can stay awake through your classes.

[Carlaliz]

Wow! It sounds like you've got a great plan all mapped out! Very impressive.... Now I just hope that you're able to track down a doctor who specializes in high risk pregnancy. I think you're very wise to want to do that. A trip to India sounds like an awesome way to distract yourself as well. However, with all the hard work that you've done to prepare for this FET cycle, I bet you won't be going. I can't wait to hear all about it once you start the process!

Staying awake at work hasn't been hard. It's walking upright and having cohearant conversations once all the kids leave that's hard. I guess I feed off their energy and once they leave, I'm ready to pass out! Yes, can't wait for Sept. 1! I'll be sure to give you an update!