I'm a mess

I am posting anonymously.

Me & DH just started infertility treatments this cycle. My FSH is 15 so my doctor said we will try a natural IUI this month. I’m not surprised due to my age (turn 42 next month). This week I’ve been going in for monitoring. Today my follicle size is 14. My doctor said “you have to start thinking about how aggressive you want to get if this cycle doesn’t work”. Ok maybe she is just prepping me & being realistic but she depressed the heck out me. Couldn’t she wait & see what happened with this cycle before she said that. In general she is not very optimistic. Everytime I talk to her she throws in my age as being a major concern.

Then I asked her about acupuncture and if it will help lower my FSH. She said no that won’t help lower it but may help me get pregnant. That totally threw me for a curve due to what I have been hearing on this board. I’m thinking of possibly switching doctors. I have heard so many great things about Dr. B. The only problem is I need a doctor that has convenient hours. Her office opens at 6:30 AM for monitoring & is about 5 minutes from my house. So it is very convenient since I commute into Manhattan. Does any anybody happen to know his office locations & hours?

i have heard of several instances of women giving birth to healthy babies. seems like the FSH /age is the only issue. but seems like i can lower it through wheat grass/acupuncture diet.

Thanks for listening. just feeling a little down and a bit confused.

I know this is a very depressing & stressful journey. A lot of times I feel so alone & really have nobody to talk to about this

Message edited 3/19/2010 7:00:43 PM.

Re: I'm a mess

Hi.....I'm sorry that you are going through this but I just want to let you know that you are not alone in this and we are all here with/for you. I also have elevated FSH (12.7) and I'm slightly younger than you (28). Instead of trying a cycle of medicated IUI, my RE actually recommended me to do IVF directly because she feels that for me, that would be the fastest and highest chance for me to get pregnant. I was so devastated when I first heard this back in February. After being depressed for a good whole week, I started reading about wheatgrass juice, acupuncture, royal jelly or anything under the sun that may decrease my FSH level. In reality, FSH is really just a number. Even if you lower it, your FSH is only as good as your highest number. With that said, I do believe acupuncture can help. As you can imagine, I have started doing everything that I've listed above. I can't tell you if it's working or not since I won't start my IVF cycle until beginning of April but it's worth a try. If you want, I can email you a couple of clinical data done that shows an increase in success rate of fertility treatment when in conjunction with acupuncture.
In terms of your current RE, if you don't feel comfortable with her, it's always a good idea to get a second opinion. From what I read on this board, I believe Dr. B also has office in the city where you can get monitored from. This is such a big life changing event and I really think that you have to be comfortable with your doctor. I wish you best of luck!!!!

Re: I'm a mess

Re: I'm a mess

The last thing you need is an RE that makes you feel miserable.... Have a consultation with Dr. Braverman and I'm sure you will see the difference I, myself have only had a consultation with him, and he made me feel very optimistic when another RE had made me feel like I had no hope.... I'm looking forward to meeting him again when I go in for my CD3 bloodwork - and normally I hate doctor's visits
His address in Woodbury is 800 Woodbury Road, Suite G - phone # (516)584-8710 and in Bayside it's 44-02 Francis Lewis Blvd, Suite 2B - phone # (718) 819-0077. I don't know his hours yet but they're just a phone call away

Good Luck to you and don't loose hope!

Stay optimistic

Re: I'm a mess

I have an elevated FSH too and my doctor skipped right to injectables with IUI. He didn't even want to try clomid first, so I am really surprised that your doctor tried an unmedicated IUI the first round. I actually think that is very optimistic!! Don't get down yet because really you haven't tried anything too different from trying naturally, so you have so many options left to explore that will get you pregnant!!

And don't worry if actupuncture wont lower your FSH.....as your Doctor said it can get you pregnant. That is the ultimate goal!!

I went to Dr. Cohen at NSUH Center for Human Reproduction and he was wonderful.

Re: I'm a mess

Re: I'm a mess

thank you everyone!

i feel better today. i'm not giving up hope! we'll see what happens this cycle.

i think i'm going to try acupuncture anyway. i guess if anything it can reduce my stress

Re: I'm a mess

Go to Dr B .. My fsh was 17 .. Look at my avatar ... I am 44 ...

ETA: DD is 9 mos old

Message edited 3/20/2010 9:18:26 AM.

Re: I'm a mess

Ashley, Im sorry you are going through this. I know its so frustrating and depressing to hear what the RE's have to say at times. I really wish you all of the best with this cycle and hope all works out. Seeking another opinion can sometimes make a difference. I did that last year and it made a big difference; the new doctor found scarring in my uterus, that can be a problem when ttc'ing. My old doctor just wanted to jump into IVF without looking at me a little closer. I'm glad I made the change.
Good Luck to you.