Thursday, January 27, 2011

FET – Postponed

First, I want to thank you all so very much for the sweet comments about my little one’s due date coming and going. You are the only people in my life that get it. You understand what it’s like to long for someone who isn’t there, and have it cloud everything in your life. So thank you, I cherish each and every one of you.

On Tuesday, I not only had the due date of my baby, but I also had an ultrasound and blood work to determine how I was reacting to the Lupron. It had been eight days since I started the Lupron, so they expected me to be nice and suppressed, and started my period already or very soon. In the ultrasound, they could tell that something was wrong. I had a beautiful follicle developing, about 15 mm! This isn’t supposed to be there! The nurse said that the blood work will tell us what’s really going on, and they’ll let me know what to do. Well, the blood work shows my hormones were raised, not suppressed. They expected the estradiol to be below 60, and instead it was 308. Basically I had the complete opposite reaction to Lupron than most people – instead of getting my period and suppressing everything, it stimulated everything and I was about to ovulate! I was instructed to stop taking Lupron, and start BCP’s. Hopefully these will suppress me sufficiently, and I will be able to start the estrogen patches and pills in 2 weeks when I go back, and do the FET on or around February 25. Which would be awesome (not exactly) – we have a friend coming and staying with us for a week, and he’ll be here during my three days of bed rest. Oh well, you do what you have to do, right? I told the hubs he could have a guy’s weekend – kind of. He reminded me that coming home to a lonely emotional woman stuck in bed is not the ideal guy’s weekend…

The hubs is more concerned than me about the Lupron reaction, it seems. He keeps asking why I reacted this way to Lupron, and I have no answers. I’ve done a little googling, and I can’t find any other stories of people stimulating on Lupron. This doesn’t make him happy. We probably should ask the doctor, but it takes a few weeks to get an actual appointment with the doc, and I’d rather wait to see if the BCP’s suppress me enough. I wonder if it’s because I didn’t do the BCP’s first before Lupron, because I was impatient and just wanted to go forward with the FET. Who knows. I’m just glad to be off Lupron – I am not a fan! I was feeling all kinds of rage (I yelled at the remote control on Saturday), and it gave me huge headaches and I couldn’t sleep. Last night was my first decent night of sleep in a week – it was wonderful!

I’m annoyed about the two week delay, but not that upset. Another two weeks where I can live my life, and not stress or freak out, and not worry? Doesn’t sound so bad. Awful, isn’t it? This is where I am, I feel like I’m in a huge rush to have a baby, and yet I don’t really want to do it, because it’s just so darn hard!

41 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear about the postponement, but it sounds like you're handling it very well. I can completely understand why you're exhausted. I would be too. You have my support!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sorry you are delayed Alex, I got nothing regarding Lupron's opposite effects. Two weeks will fly by. Best to have optimal conditions! Hang in there :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, that just sucks. I'm so sorry. I hope the BCP do the trick. ((hugs))

    ReplyDelete
  4. We seem to be having a similar week. My doctor was sick when I went to see her today, and told me to come back the following Thursday to schedule the lap. She was just too sick to go through with it today (the scheduling).

    I'm pleasantly surprised you're not pissed off, because I totally am. I hate delays and postponements because they make me doubt myself and lose strength.
    You're a strong one, Alex. :D

    ReplyDelete
  5. You are a strong one, Alex. Sorry to hear about the Lupron and the postponement. It seems, though, that you are ready to have some feel good/healthy time and good nights sleep! I hope the weeks fly by and the BCPs work!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Alex, I stumbled upon another blogger for ICLW yesterday who had the exact same reaction to lupron. I will do some backtracking to try and find her link for you. I remember the title of the post "E2 = MC Stalled"

    Sorry things have been postponed, how frustrating. I know it is hard, it really is.

    ReplyDelete
  7. E2 = MG Stalled, not MC but MG, for Melissa G. She writes a blog called Banking On It. The comments were very informative.

    http://bankingonafamily.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow, that's wild about the Lupron. I'm sorry it set you back, but if it's allowing you to have a little fun while you wait, then that's a good thing. Thanks so much for your thoughtful, supportive comment on my last post, btw. I'm glad we're in this community together. Take good care of yourself.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So sorry it was postponed. Hoping the BCP does the trick!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sorry it was postponed, what a weird reaction!!!!
    Enjoy your amazing 2ww!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ugh!! I feel you so much right now! I know this might sound bad coming from someone who is pregnant, and I hope you don't think I'm a total bitch for saying so, but I feel the exact same way-- things are dragging on forever, i am desperate to have a baby, it feels like the day will never come, and I am also dreading the day because it will be so hard...

    Just getting to the pregnancy stage is so damned hard that you think the wait will be OVER when you do, but it is just beginning-- I am just as desperate to become a mom, and it still hasn't happened for me either! And sometimes I still think it will never happen!

    So anyways, I just wanted to say that your post today was very inspirational for me-- you are handling waiting really well, much better than I am. I am going to try to take a page from you and be patient.

    I'm glad you learned what you did about Lupron-- at least you won't have to take it again!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm so sorry the FET was postponed, Alex. I hope that the BCPs do what the Lupron didn't. Thinking of you! <3

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have heard of this happening in the IVF world, but it is rare. Also, my doc does non-lupron FET cycles, where you monitor yourself daily and then go in on the appropriate day for transfer. So, maybe this would be a possibility for you, if Lupron doesn't work.

    In any case, none of that helps you when you are feeling emotional. So for the emotional bit, I am sending you some big hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lupron was HORRIBLE on me. I had the worst side effects ever and didn't even do what it was suppose to do...Blah. If I had moved forward with the second IVF, the doctor said that we wouldn't have used it...I yelled at everyone. Here is a big hug going your way <> Take care!

    ReplyDelete
  15. GAH - can't believe you're postponed! I'm sorry! It sounds like you are definitely taking this in stride and enjoying life in the meantime - good for you. Hope that these bench weeks are enjoyable and the BCPs do the trick.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sorry about the delay. This is sometimes the hardest part of IVF/FET. Glad your doing ok with it. And yes.. Lupron is beyond Evil. I am a Huge B*tch! *hugs*

    ReplyDelete
  17. ARGH:( I haven't heard of that reaction with Lupron, but I bet you are not the only one who has had this happen. Frustrating, especially when all you want to do is move forward. I'm glad you don't have long to wait, though.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I know It is so darn hard to deal with waiting. Sorry that you got postponed. I hope those two weeks wait will be tolerable and PCPs turn things around. Glad you are sleeping better now that you off the damn lupron.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I feel for you 100%. I had the exact same experience with Lupron when we were trying to start our first IVF. We went through about a 4 month waiting period of doing Lupron, seeing if I was suppressed, finding out I wasn't then going back on the pill....Rinse. Repeat. We ended up doing what's called an antagonist cycle where we didn't use Lupron at all, started stims earlier and then used something called Cetrotide to suppress early ovulation.

    Also, just to share...my non-responsiveness to Lupron was a sign of things to come...I was not responsive to the stims either. I hope that's not your situation.

    Will be thinking of you and praying for a frosty baby in your future!

    -Fertility Junkie; 6dp d3t of IVF #2...

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oops, just read your history...clearly you are NOT a low responder! :) Glad you dodged that bullet!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm sorry about things being postponed. I hope that you have a quick wait.

    You're in my thoughts.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Maybe you could call the company that makes Lupron and tell them about you, and they will give you free drugs, since their drug didn't work. And then make them give you lots of money for being special :) You can work on that during your extra two week postponement time, it's perfect! Sorry about the delay...you'll come through it stronger and ready to get going on that FET :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm sorry to hear that you have to be postponed because your body didn't cooperate. What a bummer.

    I'm glad that you think you'll actually enjoy an extra two weeks "off" though. (((Hugs)))

    ReplyDelete
  24. Whoa, crazy. It would be good to see what the doctor thinks and see if this reaction could clue you in to something you didn't know about your body...maybe? Anyway, enjoy the two-week break. And maybe having a friend there will help your husband have more energy to pamper you when he does get home in the evenings!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wooo that's very unusual! The only thing I can think of is like you said that you weren't on bcp beforehand... would your clinic not consider to do a FET on a natural cycle? it may just work better for you. I have always had the pill before any cycles (fresh or frozen) so I cannot tell you much more about my experience as I was always well suppressed.It's a pain about the delay but it will happen! hang in there. Fran

    ReplyDelete
  26. I don't know anything about the Lupron, but from what you said and other comments, it does seem a bit odd. The waiting sucks, but we all seem to be pros by now. If anyone can handle it, you can!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi, Lupron stims me! I tried 10IU and 20IU and both times I grew follicles (and one time a cyst, too), had elevated e2, a developing lining, etc.

    It sucks but it's an easy cure--no more Lupron!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Holy cow. That seriously sounds like something that would happen to me. I always seem to be the exception to the rule too.

    Bummer that your cycle is delayed, but you're right, it gives you two weeks to just kick back and not stress. I'm just glad it wasn't canceled. Just be sure to keep your zen on. I always seem to have a hard time with that in situations like that, at least initially.

    We get to be patch buddies again? Sweet! I just slapped on a fresh one last night. It just never gets old, and neither does trying to clean off the adhesive residue....

    ReplyDelete
  29. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Sorry about the postponement, but your attitude towards it is great!

    ReplyDelete
  31. So sorry to hear that the Lupron didn't do the trick. When I was on Lupron and BCPs, I wound up with a huge cyst that pumped out large amounts of E2 and P4, so you're definitely not the only one. Lupron apparently does have stimulatory effects initially then the suppression kicks in, so maybe your body just responded super well to the stim aspect of Lupron??

    Best of luck with the FET. I know you and your doc will find something that works instead of Lupron.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Stimming on Lupron! That's crazy talk! I guess now we've seen it all, huh? Sorry for the delay and the general weirdness of reaction.

    ReplyDelete
  33. How strange! Hope they figure it out and get you back on track!!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Very interesting...Never heard of Lupron stimming someone:( Hopefully the BCP will get you back on track for your FET...Sometimes more rest on the body is a good thing 2:)

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hey babe so sorry this happened. The road seems never ending right now but you are strong enough to get through. I know it's hard but maybe this period of waiting will help! Thinking of you, here for you as always!

    ReplyDelete
  36. The constant waiting game. You are not alone. Seems like you are handling things well. Have a good weekend, and play nice with the remote control :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. I'll count down with you lovely lady. It's all a "hurry up to wait" game. Though I'm glad your doc is on the ball with everything.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Sorry I'm a little late on this. I think you commented on the post where I mentioned my high E2. My Nurse did say she's seen cases of Lupron stimulating instead of suppressing, I hate falling in to the "this almost never happens" category...

    It sucks that we're both delayed, but I'm glad to have someone to wait with.

    Thinking of you.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I am so sorry about this postponement. But I am thinking of you!

    P.S. I left you an award on my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  40. What a pain :( I'm sorry. Just curious - was there talk of doing an impromptu IUI?

    ReplyDelete
  41. Thank you for your kind words on my blog...i always appreciate your comments. patience my friend:)
    Oh- I so would be yelling at the remote control, cars going by and anything that moves if I was in your situation! What a pain in the A%$ you are going through..I ams so sorry. Sounds like the hubby needs a massage or bath as well...he seems really tense. Maybe you two can go and enjoy a little bed and breakfast or do something special together?

    ReplyDelete