4.21.2011

I'm a ICLW Virgin

Welcome, April ICLWers!  Thank you for stopping by to visit and say hi.  I finally started blogging last month after years of lurking while trying to cope with my own fertility struggles.  This is the first time that I am participating in ICLW and I look forward to visiting many of your blogs this week.  You can see a timeline of our TTC journey to the right.  We only recently shared our fertility struggles with our family and friends and I'm contemplating going public during NIAW on Face.book.  We just experienced our third loss on March 25 and will be going to a follow-up appointment with our RE tomorrow.  I've been compiling a list of questions I'd like to ask including quesitons about moving onto IVF as a potential next step.  I'd really welcome any suggestions you all may have for questions I should ask that I might not be thinking of at this point.  My husband and I want to make an informed decision before we pursue IVF as an option . . . especially since we've conceived and miscarried three times already.  I guess I'm just not sure how IVF would improve our chances of preventing another loss.  Any thoughts, suggestions or experiences you are willing share would be greatly appreciated!! Also, if anyone visiting has been diagnosed as heterozygous MTHFR C677T after experiencing pregnancy loss/losses, I'd love to hear if, and how, you were treated. Happy ICLW!

15 comments:

  1. Wow, you've been through a lot. I hope your next appt goes well. We tried IVF once and moved on to adoption. We have MFI though, so different situation.

    Happy ICLW!

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  3. Have you read the book Coming to Term? I feel like your diagnoses might have been in there. I read it really quickly and a lot of the content went over my head.

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  4. ICLW #91 I'm a first timer too! I'm glad I participated because like you I just started blogging a couple of months back. From your time line I'm about Oct 2009 form your experience. So far identical almost. We're now considering clomid.

    I look forward to reading through your blog this week. It's so unfortunate to be a part of this club but it's nice to find others out there that understand. Kudos to you for coming out and on Facebook! That's a biggie. I'm not there yet. Only some coworkers, our close friends, my parent's and DH's sister knows. I hope I can come out soon! I'm interested to know how your facebook community will react. I know most people don't know how to react to the news.

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  5. Thanks for visiting my blog. Everything I have read indicates that MTHFR is very treatable...some docs prescribe Folgard and and some do Lovenox. If not, then aspirin. So, it's good news that you know what's wrong and can fix it. Good luck to you. And, if you have to do Lovenox, I have some injection tips on my blog.

    Good luck!

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  6. Happy first ICLW! I was a virgin ICLWer last month myself. First of all I am sorry about your recent loss. I don't know anything about MTHFR, but I hope someone else can offer information!

    --Leigh
    http://hormonacoaster.blogspot.com/

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  7. Welcome to ICLW!!

    I am so sorry for your losses and truly hope that blogging will help you find peace with everything you have going on. I know it has always helped me!

    ICLW #24

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  8. I second coming to term. So sorry for your losses, rpl really sucks. Hope you get the answers you're looking for and I'm looking forward to following your journey.

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  9. Hi "On Standby"-
    I'm happy to have come to your blog after you commented on mine. Thank you! I'm surprised but very happy to know that the Chinese herbalist you saw said pancakes with butter were okay to eat! And I absolutely know what you mean about the ease of pregnancy for some women, while others of us struggle away. My next door neighbor's daughter is about 20, unmarried, and pregnant with her second in less than two years. GRRR!!! I also understand your weariness of second-guessing everything and wondering if the blame for my losses lies with me. But I know those thoughts do nothing positive for the situation, so I do try to block them out.

    Reading on your blog, I see you have been through so much. Of course I hope that things will change in your favor, and soon. As for if/how IVF would help your chances for a sustainable pregnancy, I don't have hard information or facts to back this up (just don't have the personal experience or knowledge), but it would seem your chances should improve, since everything is being tested and screened for the best possible outcome. Of course, there are many factors to consider in making the decision and I wish you the best as you sort things out. I'll keep checking your blog for updates!

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  10. I hope you are enjoying ICLW. I've done it twice so far (was too busy to take part officially this time). I hope you also get some better answers now that you may be getting closer to a diagnosis.

    I wanted to let you know I nominated you for an award. Stop by and check it out...
    http://violettamargarita.blogspot.com/2011/04/rainy-saturday.html

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  11. I love ICLW, I always find lovely new blogs to read and the ALI community is really so supportive, I hope you're enjoying your first time.

    Sorry to read of your RPL, especially your most recent loss, that must be hard. I don't know much about MTHFR, but everything I have read has said it can be treated so that's at least a start.

    Good luck as you take the next steps on your journey, I hope your appointment went well and you have a plan in place or at least an idea of where to go from here.

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  12. Hi Standby,

    Firstly thanks for stopping by my blog during ICLW. Secondly, I am very sorry to read about your losses. It is a very difficult situation to be in (and your insurance company...oh my).

    OK, about the MTHFR thing. As you have said, all the docs that I have seen (and that would be quite a few) do not think being hetero for the mutation is a problem UNLESS you have elevated homocysteine levels. When I was first diagnosed, I DID have slightly elevated levels. The good news is that this can easily be controlled and corrected with high dose folate. I take 5mg per day. It halved my homocysteine level in a few months. Of course some docs offered me clexane (lovenox) or aspirin as a "we don't think this will help but maybe it will and if it makes you feel better then ok" solution. I would recommend trying aspirin and high dose folate first, but get a full RPL panel when you go to your RE.

    Wishing you the best and hoping you get some answers.

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  13. I'm sorry to hear of your losses. *hugs* I hope your doctor can come up with a great plan for you! I've seen great success with IVF and RPL. Thanks for stopping by my blog and lending support. Good luck to you!

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  14. Happy ICLW!

    So sorry for your lossess. I hope that the doctor gives you some answers and has a plan of attack for where to next.

    There is plenty a doctor can do to try and prevent miscarriages. I am about to have my transfer for 2nd round of IVF and my new doctor has prescribed a whole lot of medications..he's willing to do whatever he can so I don't miscarry this time round.

    Wishing you the best of luck with whatever path you go down next. xx

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  15. Happy ICLW week to you and well done for joining this awesome community! I agree with you that I'm not sure how IVF would improve your outcome, I think it's mainly an issue of managing the pregnancy. Have you look at immuno issues?
    Love, Fran

    ICLW #131

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