Had my one day workup at CCRM
I had my ODWU at CCRM on Friday. Wow it was a wirldwind! Was there from 7:30AM - 4:00PM: An entire day of meetings and testing at CCRM. And it was non-stop! The meetings included meeting with my RE (Dr. Surrey) so that he could answer any questions we may have had since our phone consult. We asked whether we could have the FET at CCRM given CCRM is in-network for me and RGI (in Chicago where they want us to do the PGD) isn't. No dice. FET at RGI it is then!
We also met with a genetics counselor who explained how they will coordinate with RGI. Also explained that since we want to do CCS and PGD, the blasts will be biopsied twice -- once at CCRM to do the CCS. Then any genetically healthy blasts will be shipped to RGI for the PGD. I had an u/s to make sure there were no uterine abnormalities that may interfere with blasts ability to implant. I also had a test where we got to listen to the blood flow around my uterus to make sure I don't have high or low uterine BP. It was very cool to both get to see my uterus (they had a big screen TV facing me and DH so we could see everything) and to hear my blood pumping! And happily all tests were normal. Interestingly, it looked like I had just ovulated. Which is interesting as I'm not on any meds so it suggests I can in fact ovulate on my own. Not that it matters anymore given we've decided we will never try to get preg without IVF and PGD but still it felt good to know that my body is working right at least some of the time. During the u/s, they also counted my follies. This gives them a sense of how many follies I'm capable of making each month. They saw SEVENTEEN! This is very exciting because it means that we have a greater chance of having some fertilize and that some of those will pass the CCS and PGD tests. So cross your fingers for us for when we do the IVF that most of these develop. They also did a trial transfer which allowed Dr. S to also look at my uterus to rule out abnormalities (all looked good). However, this test continues to haunt me. He opened my cervix so he could pass a tube through there with a camera so he could actually see my uterus. It wasn't comfortable but it was manageable. But wow I continue to have mad cramping. Last night I awoke at 4:30AM in such pain I thought I had screwed up my antibiotics (to prevent infection given there was scraping etc while in there) and was going to need to go to the hospital. So here's hoping this heals up quick so I can finally catch up on my sleep.
DH's SA results were mostly good -- his numbers are very high and morphology and mobility good. The only test result that came back somewhat low for him was that test sperm speed when they place in the dish (it was good then) and again 2 hours later. Turns out DH's boys are sprinters not marathon runners as his two hour test results were slow. So this may at least partially explain why IUI's and trying naturally haven't worked. Which is exciting. Wouldn't that be great if that's been our problem all along?!? Because this problem is totally fixable by IVF as we're getting ICSI (because of the CCS and PGD). ICSI is where they will inject a healthy looking sperm directly into the egg. So speed won't be an issue. Let's hope this is our problem! In addition to the 6 vials of blood I gave at CCRM Friday I gave another 12 this AM locally to test for some things we can do here and thus covered by insurance. Should get the ones I did today back today although this is just CBC etc so won't reveal anything new. Oh and my mammogram was normal so we're good to go there. Once we get the results from our blood tests, we can schedule our cycle. I'm biting my nails because on Friday they informed us that they are almost totally booked for the next couple of months so we may have to wait :( I don't want to wait so I'm hoping to get results back in time to get penciled in to start when AF comes in a couple week. The other issue is insurance. Turns out that CCRM's lab isn't in network. We knew this going into this. What we didn't know was just how much of an IVF takes place in the lab versus in the clinic. So we're actually going to end up paying much more than we thought we would. We can swing it but we were definitely not prepared for that news! Because RGI is also out of network for us. And CCS and ICSI aren't covered by insurance as they are experimental procedures. So we're looking at $10,000-15,000 out of pocket (plus travel costs). Will hopefully get reimbursed for some of that though so I'm not complaining just sharing.
I'll keep you posted on test results and scheduling. Keep on sending us those good, healthy vibes and good scheduling karma!
We also met with a genetics counselor who explained how they will coordinate with RGI. Also explained that since we want to do CCS and PGD, the blasts will be biopsied twice -- once at CCRM to do the CCS. Then any genetically healthy blasts will be shipped to RGI for the PGD. I had an u/s to make sure there were no uterine abnormalities that may interfere with blasts ability to implant. I also had a test where we got to listen to the blood flow around my uterus to make sure I don't have high or low uterine BP. It was very cool to both get to see my uterus (they had a big screen TV facing me and DH so we could see everything) and to hear my blood pumping! And happily all tests were normal. Interestingly, it looked like I had just ovulated. Which is interesting as I'm not on any meds so it suggests I can in fact ovulate on my own. Not that it matters anymore given we've decided we will never try to get preg without IVF and PGD but still it felt good to know that my body is working right at least some of the time. During the u/s, they also counted my follies. This gives them a sense of how many follies I'm capable of making each month. They saw SEVENTEEN! This is very exciting because it means that we have a greater chance of having some fertilize and that some of those will pass the CCS and PGD tests. So cross your fingers for us for when we do the IVF that most of these develop. They also did a trial transfer which allowed Dr. S to also look at my uterus to rule out abnormalities (all looked good). However, this test continues to haunt me. He opened my cervix so he could pass a tube through there with a camera so he could actually see my uterus. It wasn't comfortable but it was manageable. But wow I continue to have mad cramping. Last night I awoke at 4:30AM in such pain I thought I had screwed up my antibiotics (to prevent infection given there was scraping etc while in there) and was going to need to go to the hospital. So here's hoping this heals up quick so I can finally catch up on my sleep.
DH's SA results were mostly good -- his numbers are very high and morphology and mobility good. The only test result that came back somewhat low for him was that test sperm speed when they place in the dish (it was good then) and again 2 hours later. Turns out DH's boys are sprinters not marathon runners as his two hour test results were slow. So this may at least partially explain why IUI's and trying naturally haven't worked. Which is exciting. Wouldn't that be great if that's been our problem all along?!? Because this problem is totally fixable by IVF as we're getting ICSI (because of the CCS and PGD). ICSI is where they will inject a healthy looking sperm directly into the egg. So speed won't be an issue. Let's hope this is our problem! In addition to the 6 vials of blood I gave at CCRM Friday I gave another 12 this AM locally to test for some things we can do here and thus covered by insurance. Should get the ones I did today back today although this is just CBC etc so won't reveal anything new. Oh and my mammogram was normal so we're good to go there. Once we get the results from our blood tests, we can schedule our cycle. I'm biting my nails because on Friday they informed us that they are almost totally booked for the next couple of months so we may have to wait :( I don't want to wait so I'm hoping to get results back in time to get penciled in to start when AF comes in a couple week. The other issue is insurance. Turns out that CCRM's lab isn't in network. We knew this going into this. What we didn't know was just how much of an IVF takes place in the lab versus in the clinic. So we're actually going to end up paying much more than we thought we would. We can swing it but we were definitely not prepared for that news! Because RGI is also out of network for us. And CCS and ICSI aren't covered by insurance as they are experimental procedures. So we're looking at $10,000-15,000 out of pocket (plus travel costs). Will hopefully get reimbursed for some of that though so I'm not complaining just sharing.
I'll keep you posted on test results and scheduling. Keep on sending us those good, healthy vibes and good scheduling karma!
Replies
So glad your work-up went well, and that they didn\'t find any unfixable problems! It would be great if the ICSI is all the fix you need!
I hear you on the cost. My insurance only donates about $2500 for each cycle, so the other $18000 is on us. I just keep telling myself that it\'s less than a year of college tuition for future kid!
Too bad that cCRM lab isn\'t in network. That explains why the ICSI isn\'t covered (usually it is). PGD is sadly never covered in this country. Apparently in New Zealand and England it is sometimes.
Sorry your hysteroscopy was so painful! I had my sonohistogram on Monday, and that kind of sucked. Never had to have the hysteroscopy though -- I guess they already know I can implant.
Can\'t wait to hear when you get your dates!