~~~tmerone~~~ - Infertility Message Board

MrsR · 05-21-2003, 12:09 PM

I was just reading past posts and I saw that you were a poor responder to injectables. You asked me to share my story...do you still want it? It's kinda depressing.

I did injections three times (after 6 rounds of clomid w/ poor response and a failed IUI). The first time, 2 amps of Repronex w/ IUI. No real response, no pregnancy. The second time, 2 amps Repronex and 4 amps Gonal F. I had a horrible reaction, was psychotic with my moods, and had incredible vomitting. RE thought maybe it was the gonal f, so switched me to 6 amps of Repronex. Still the same. Lots of barfing. Cycle was cancelled on day 10 due to the vomitting and no reponse, but I kept vomitting for the next TEN days. (I guess it's one way to diet

)Third time on injections (we were hoping round 2 was the flu and not a bad reaction), I started with 6 amps of Repronex, and within 12 hours, I was puking my guts up for the next three days. Cycle cancelled.

None of the times I did the injections gave us a response anyway. Only once did I get one small follicle. Pretty sad. Our next step is donor egg.

So that's it in a nutshell. Please ask if you have any other questions! I am glad to help and give my story.

MrsR

tmerone · 05-21-2003, 01:39 PM

Thanks for sharing and I am so sorry that you have not had better results!! I am wondering if you had a bad reaction to the repronex and not the gonal. My last RE said that many people do not respond well to the repronex (the side effects) and he was happy that I was ok with it. My new RE mentioned the same thing. Asked if I "handled" the repronex ok. She is going to put me on it again with something other than the follistim. Maybe gonal-f or Bravelle. Not sure yet. I am terrified and keep having dreams that they tell me I will not be able to use my own eggs!! It is a very hard decision to decide to use donor eggs and I am so proud of you for being able to go forward with it- plus it is very expensive!! Not that it is any of my business nor am I a Dr. but did you seek a second opinion as to why such a bad reaction to the drugs?? My first RE had a great reputation (I found out only for the younger women he treated) and never felt really comfortable with him and now am going with a new RE that I have to pay for but I think when you are in the predicament we are all in you just have to say "what the hell" and go for it. I wish you much luck in your journey and again thank you so much for sharing.

MrsR · 05-21-2003, 02:03 PM

I am not sure if I am able to go through with the donor egg thing. I am terrified of losing my heredity. Plus dh and I share a lot of the same features (both pretty ethnic looking, both from Russian backgrounds), and I always thought our child would be so cute...big brown eyes, long eye lashes, very dark curly hair, etc. It terrifies me to think that may not happen. I am scared that I won't bond with the child because I won't feel like it is part of me. People say that won't happen, but I know myself, and it scares me that it is a possibility. (No, not saying that will happen, just the idea of it is unsettling.)

When I did the first round of injections, I was fine on the Repronex, just didn't respond. When we added the gonal f, I got really sick, so my RE thought it was that. When we changed to all Repronex, I still got very sick. That is why we gave it the third try, but my RE thinks I am allergic to a compound in the injection--not the hormone itself.

MrsR

tmerone · 05-21-2003, 02:35 PM

I completely understand your fears with egg donation. I have not even brought up the subject to my DH because I already know the answer. He is 100% italian and the fact that he is unable to father a child right now is devastating. Even though we have male and female factor, I know that he blames alot on himself. I know in my heart that if we are unable to conceive on our own, there will be no children through donor eggs or adoption. I actually think that I would rather adopt than use donor eggs, don't know why but that is the way I feel. I have watched several shows on adoption and all the couples feel the same way. They wonder if they can love the child as much as if was their own and they do. They say that something overcomes you when you hold the child for the first time. Gosh, I wish I could give you some comfort for your situation right now. Have you done any searches on the net to see if anyone else had the same reaction and what they did?? I am hoping that they can find the right combination for you. Are you in a holding pattern right now or are you ttc naturally??

MrsR · 05-21-2003, 02:55 PM

Your words are very kind, and I appreciate them so much. Something kinda different...my dh is all for the egg donor route. I think he would feel differently if it was donor sperm, and even told him that. But he disagrees. Fortunately we don't have a male factor to worry about.

Right now we are trying on our own, and then going to the new RE in a few weeks. We know there is almost no chance of us conceiving on our own. I am hoping the new doc will have a new protocol or something else for us to try before he says DE. It took me a while to make the call to get into the new RE because I am so scared he will look at my files and records and say, "Well, the old RE is right...donor egg is your only chance for a baby."

Since I was gone for a bit, I kinda lost track. Tell me what you are doing right now and where you are in your cycle (you know, all the "stuff").

MrsR