Aa
Bad FSH
After trying for a year and a half and with 1 miscarriage, I had my FSH checked. The news was not good. on CD3 it was 15 and after Clomid on CD10 it was 17. I'm trying not to get to down about it, I know others have gotten pregnant with high FSH levels and mine aren't way high. My doctor told me bluntly that he didn't think I could conceive on my own and said he thought the Clomid might work. I'm just so upset. I need some encouragement. I've been crying all afternoon. I'm thinking of taking wheatgrass and maybe DHEA but I'm not sure which or if DHEA is really what I need. The doctor asked me if I thought I was ovulating which I think I am. How can it be high and still have regular AF. I have never missed a period except for after the miscarriage. I just don't know what to think. To top it off, I've been so down because my due date was supposed to be Dec. 7th and I really needed some good news. I'm trying to be strong like so many of the wonderful ladies here, but I'm just not sure how much more I can take. Any advice? Thank you all in advance for your responses.
Thank you so much. You are such an encouragement and your story does help me. I know how hard those losses were to you. I didn't realize you had a high FSH. I have been reading of more and more women getting pregnant with a higher FSH so I know it's possible. I read "Inconceivable" in a day and now I'm on a book by an RE who has a hormone balancing lifestyle he uses in his practice with alot of success (although even he says it's not likely to help with a FSH over 14 or so. I'm going to try his advise and I'd like to try acupuncture if I can afford it and if I find someone I can trust. Thank you so much for your support, everyone really. It means so much to me, I couldn't do this without all of you.
OK, now that I'm in tears, I need to go start supper! Thank you
OK, now that I'm in tears, I need to go start supper! Thank you
Hi Ladies wow you all give me and all of us such strength and encouragement to carry on,i feel stronger and so much better with all the wonderful words and support.I am still learning about all the abbreviations like FSH etc etc but DHEA im not sure what it means can anyone explain thank you SSBE Bev xx
Oh sweetie, my heart just breaks for you. I pray every day that good news comes your way. You of all people certainly deserve it. I know and understand the heartbreak of passing due dates first hand, I've had 2 of them now. to add insult to injury, my sister in law got pregnant a week earlier than me and had her baby girl on april 10, 2010 (my wedding anniversary). My baby was due April 19th, 2010. I cried forever over that one and thought, how could God let that baby come on my wedding anniversary of all days. All that baby ever did was remind me of my loss. My second due date was September 22. It doesn't get easier ever, I will never forget those 2 little angels. Now that I'm pregnant again I can finally look at that little girl that was born when my angel should have been. she's now 8 months old and will be 1 year old when her new cousin arrives. Ironically my due date is almost a year exactly when my first one should have been. NEVER give up on your dream.
My FSH was 13 when I started this process at 41. My RE wasn't hugely encouraging, but he did say....you may not have alot of eggs, but we will find a good one. At the time in my life when I completely gave up, God sent me my gift. I'm didn't get pregnant with this baby until 2 years later. I'm sure within that 2 years that my FSH was much higher than yours is, so as I always say....don't key into that number at all.
I checked into DHEA and found alot of bad things about it. I actually had my shopping cart with it ordered on the internet and decided maybe I should read as much as I could about it. Its not closely monitored and can have some negative health consequences for you. That scared me slightly. As much as I DESPERATELY wanted a baby....I also wanted to "raise" that baby and see them grow up. I didn't want to do anything that may adversely affect my health. I went to acupuncture instead to help get my whole body systems back in check with peace of mind and body. I don't know if it worked for me or not, I don't know if any of the chemicals or stimulants work, or if God just has a plan for us. I know many women will swear by the projects they use and some will swear by DHEA, but for me after reading pros and cons....I just decided it wasn't what I was willing to take. You'll have to make your own decisions on that one.
I don't know what worked for me, I don't know if its an exact science, but here I am...maybe just by the grace of God. the only things I used were femara cycle day 3 - 7 and gonal-f injectibles CD 7 - whenever they told me to take the Ovidrel. I also did acupuncture EVERY single week for over a year. I think the combination of eastern and western medicine was helpful, but it did take over a year, so was it that, or was it "just God's plan".
I would listen to the practices that "work". Talk to the women who are pregnant, find out what they did, find a plan that you are comfortable with, stick with it and have faith. I would constantly go into my acupuncturist or my RE and talk about things that other women were trying that I read about on the internet. Finally my awesome angel nurse sat me down and said.....Remember....those woman are all "trying" too....is it working for them? The RE usually has the plan that works statistically the best. Maybe it doesn't work for everyone, but they have alot of education and experience behind them combined with alot of medical research. If you trust your RE...then really trust in them. If you don't....find a new one. Talk to them about your thoughts and what you have researched on your own and ask their opinion. Doesn't mean you have to follow it, but talk to them.
I will continue to pray for you everyday. You are always in my heart and my thoughts.
My FSH was 13 when I started this process at 41. My RE wasn't hugely encouraging, but he did say....you may not have alot of eggs, but we will find a good one. At the time in my life when I completely gave up, God sent me my gift. I'm didn't get pregnant with this baby until 2 years later. I'm sure within that 2 years that my FSH was much higher than yours is, so as I always say....don't key into that number at all.
I checked into DHEA and found alot of bad things about it. I actually had my shopping cart with it ordered on the internet and decided maybe I should read as much as I could about it. Its not closely monitored and can have some negative health consequences for you. That scared me slightly. As much as I DESPERATELY wanted a baby....I also wanted to "raise" that baby and see them grow up. I didn't want to do anything that may adversely affect my health. I went to acupuncture instead to help get my whole body systems back in check with peace of mind and body. I don't know if it worked for me or not, I don't know if any of the chemicals or stimulants work, or if God just has a plan for us. I know many women will swear by the projects they use and some will swear by DHEA, but for me after reading pros and cons....I just decided it wasn't what I was willing to take. You'll have to make your own decisions on that one.
I don't know what worked for me, I don't know if its an exact science, but here I am...maybe just by the grace of God. the only things I used were femara cycle day 3 - 7 and gonal-f injectibles CD 7 - whenever they told me to take the Ovidrel. I also did acupuncture EVERY single week for over a year. I think the combination of eastern and western medicine was helpful, but it did take over a year, so was it that, or was it "just God's plan".
I would listen to the practices that "work". Talk to the women who are pregnant, find out what they did, find a plan that you are comfortable with, stick with it and have faith. I would constantly go into my acupuncturist or my RE and talk about things that other women were trying that I read about on the internet. Finally my awesome angel nurse sat me down and said.....Remember....those woman are all "trying" too....is it working for them? The RE usually has the plan that works statistically the best. Maybe it doesn't work for everyone, but they have alot of education and experience behind them combined with alot of medical research. If you trust your RE...then really trust in them. If you don't....find a new one. Talk to them about your thoughts and what you have researched on your own and ask their opinion. Doesn't mean you have to follow it, but talk to them.
I will continue to pray for you everyday. You are always in my heart and my thoughts.
Thanks Sherri. I had already been reading thru your old posts for encouragement. I always draw strength from your positive attitude. I've already had my progesterone checked and it was good. I definitely am not ready to give up and I want to do some reading and I think I'll put those at the top of my list. We're getting ready to go shopping and our B&N bookstore is going out of business so maybe I'll pick one up! I'm not going to let this get me! Thanks so much!
I second Futuremama's comment! Thank you Sherri! You have a great attitude and spirit that shines through in your posts and is very encouraging! Thank you! Linda
Wow Sherri...many thanks for the post!!! Very empowering....I already know all that you wrote but the way you wrote it made me feel even stronger and more determined than ever!!! THANK YOU!!!!
SSBD to all TTC!!
SSBD to all TTC!!
Hi ladies! Most of you know where I stand on FSH! It's a crock! Julia Indichova who wrote "Inconceivable" conceived at the age of 42 in the month where her FSH was also 42! I have conceived in cycles w/FSH higher than that. I would be so happy to have FSH of 15! :-) I do understand, though, that RE's like to tell you how bad that is. But the truth is you can totally get pregnant with that FSH. I would do like you're thinking, maybe add wheatgrass and DHEA Those are both things that I have read over and over have really helped women reduce their FSH noticeably and conceive and deliver!
Sometimes one thing that can cause FSH to be high is the blood flow not being optimal to the ovaries. So acupuncture can help that. I think wheatgrass helps that as well. DHEA pretty much will only help if your levels are either low or in the bottom half of the normal range. If I were you, I would ask to have the following hormones checked prior to starting DHEA: estrogen, DHEA-S, testosterone & progesterone. Best to do those all on CD21. The most important ones to check prior to starting DHEA are testosterone & DHEA-S. And only take a max of 75mg/day of DHEA. If you take too much you can get symptoms of excess testosterone, which I've had and it wasn't fun. Hopefully your hormone tests will yield some helpful info, like if you might be deficient in some of those sex hormones. If you are, then DHEA can be miraculous! But I wouldn't advise just starting it on your own. Do the tests so you can have baseline levels.
I hope your RE will not feel the need to repeatedly remind you of the FSH result going forward. I had two RE's who kept doing that, so I left both of them and went back to my first RE. I know what my FSH level is. It's high. I get it. If I need a donor egg ever, which I do not believe I will, I'll do that when I'm 45 or 46. For now I'm going to keep trying naturally. In January 2010, my FSH was 57! Last month it was 72! (I have regular periods and ovulate every month, too, even at those FSH levels!) But for me I think that since we started blood thinners, I might be getting better blood flow to the ovaries, because today's u/s had 3 follies on it on CD1. (I usually have 1!) So good things are happening!
As was mentioned above, it's good to know the FSH before you lay out a bunch of money for IVF and then only produce a few eggs. But beyond that, this whole "you can't conceive with you own eggs" thing is just bologna! They say this so nonchalantly to us but don't bother to stop and think how much stress it causes us! (And stress is the worst thing there is for fertility!) So work on taking the best care of your body possible. (reducing stress, eating healthy, getting moderate exercise, adding wheatgrass and/or DHEA, and maybe if your doctor says it's ok, a baby aspirin each day can help in some cases)
Good things are going to happen! Don't let them get to you with their doom and gloom speeches! I used to but don't any more! Change RE's if you have to. When I found myself dreading going to the other two RE's because they talked to me like I was crazy for thinking there was any chance I could conceive naturally, I said enough! I think the new blood thinners are helping me but also so is all of the positive energy and feelings I get from the RE I am seeing now.
Hang in there! And totally keep thinking positive! And consider ordering Julia Indichova's "Inconceivable" or "The Infertility Cure" by Randine Lewis, two great books that really help to remind us what this is all really about, getting our bodies in the best shape possible (physically, mentally, & emotionally). I also just got the book "Mind-Body Fertility Connection" by James Schwartz. It is excellent! I think Linda recommended it if I'm not mistaken. :-)
Sometimes one thing that can cause FSH to be high is the blood flow not being optimal to the ovaries. So acupuncture can help that. I think wheatgrass helps that as well. DHEA pretty much will only help if your levels are either low or in the bottom half of the normal range. If I were you, I would ask to have the following hormones checked prior to starting DHEA: estrogen, DHEA-S, testosterone & progesterone. Best to do those all on CD21. The most important ones to check prior to starting DHEA are testosterone & DHEA-S. And only take a max of 75mg/day of DHEA. If you take too much you can get symptoms of excess testosterone, which I've had and it wasn't fun. Hopefully your hormone tests will yield some helpful info, like if you might be deficient in some of those sex hormones. If you are, then DHEA can be miraculous! But I wouldn't advise just starting it on your own. Do the tests so you can have baseline levels.
I hope your RE will not feel the need to repeatedly remind you of the FSH result going forward. I had two RE's who kept doing that, so I left both of them and went back to my first RE. I know what my FSH level is. It's high. I get it. If I need a donor egg ever, which I do not believe I will, I'll do that when I'm 45 or 46. For now I'm going to keep trying naturally. In January 2010, my FSH was 57! Last month it was 72! (I have regular periods and ovulate every month, too, even at those FSH levels!) But for me I think that since we started blood thinners, I might be getting better blood flow to the ovaries, because today's u/s had 3 follies on it on CD1. (I usually have 1!) So good things are happening!
As was mentioned above, it's good to know the FSH before you lay out a bunch of money for IVF and then only produce a few eggs. But beyond that, this whole "you can't conceive with you own eggs" thing is just bologna! They say this so nonchalantly to us but don't bother to stop and think how much stress it causes us! (And stress is the worst thing there is for fertility!) So work on taking the best care of your body possible. (reducing stress, eating healthy, getting moderate exercise, adding wheatgrass and/or DHEA, and maybe if your doctor says it's ok, a baby aspirin each day can help in some cases)
Good things are going to happen! Don't let them get to you with their doom and gloom speeches! I used to but don't any more! Change RE's if you have to. When I found myself dreading going to the other two RE's because they talked to me like I was crazy for thinking there was any chance I could conceive naturally, I said enough! I think the new blood thinners are helping me but also so is all of the positive energy and feelings I get from the RE I am seeing now.
Hang in there! And totally keep thinking positive! And consider ordering Julia Indichova's "Inconceivable" or "The Infertility Cure" by Randine Lewis, two great books that really help to remind us what this is all really about, getting our bodies in the best shape possible (physically, mentally, & emotionally). I also just got the book "Mind-Body Fertility Connection" by James Schwartz. It is excellent! I think Linda recommended it if I'm not mistaken. :-)
Thanks so much Linda. Your such an encouragement. You all have helped me so much. I am feeling better now and more positive. Hopefully I can get thru the next few days and still feel positive.
Like I said, don't ever apologize for grieving!! Sales lady, bank teller, car mechanic... doesn't matter. I went all over town and got pretty comfortable just telling people that I was really sad but would be okay. I think that's the thing people react to -- they are concerned that you're okay and want to know if they can help. Just let them know that you're going to be okay and are just sad right now but thanks for caring. I told a few people what I was crying about (if I felt like it), but most I just told them I was sad. If people don't say anything but "notice" just tell them the same thing (you're sad but okay) if you feel you need to say anything. This is going to sound weird, but I got to the point of being proud that I am human enough to not hide who I am. Just be YOU -- who cares what "joe doe" thinks of you??
Doesn't matter how big your baby was or wasn't -- still your baby and your body and your dreams and your loss. A person's a person no matter how small... and you have a right to feel however you're feeling about that loss.
Much love,
Linda
Doesn't matter how big your baby was or wasn't -- still your baby and your body and your dreams and your loss. A person's a person no matter how small... and you have a right to feel however you're feeling about that loss.
Much love,
Linda
That makes since to me. Just hearing my doctor say I probably wouldn't be able to do it naturally made me almost sick. I just don't know how much fertility aid we can afford to do. Of course I'm not giving up and you have certainly made me feel better.
Everyone is so great here!
Thanks
Everyone is so great here!
Thanks
Just remember, higher FSH just means that your body has to send out more of that chemical in order to get an egg to develop. That's it!!!! It doesn't mean you are not ovulating, it does not mean that you can't get pregnant.... NOTHING other than your body has to send out 15mc (or whatever it is) and a younger persons body has to send out less. Women who have reached menopause have an fsh level of over 60 usually. FSH is sent out at the beginning of the cycle to get an egg to start maturing, if 5 doesn't work, then it sends out 10, etc... Just like anything else in the body doesn't work to perfection like it did when we were 20, but it doesn't mean they aren't working. Quite the opposite.... if your ovaries weren't working, your FSH would be over 60! So.... chin up.... women get pregnant all the time with FSH where yours is. The doctors started the FSH check thing for IVF to see how well you would respond to produce multiple VIABLE eggs (like 20). They have found that women who have FSH over 10 don't produce as many eggs when given fertility drugs. THAT'S IT. The doctors seem to make us women with higher FSH seem like "it's all over for you baby".... it's crazy! When you really think about it.... of course our FSH will be higher, we can't pretend we're in our 20's.... we're not! We are over 40, of course our FSH is going to be higher than someone younger.
So don't fear about the FSH! The only thing it means for you is that if you went for IVF, you may have a harder time finding a clinic that would accept you as a patient because they want to keep their success rate numbers high for advertising purposes (an I suppose one could argue that they don't want to waste someone's money if it has a lower chance of working).
I would think that if your dhea is already high, you shouldn't take more, but ask your doc.
Good luck and chin up!
So don't fear about the FSH! The only thing it means for you is that if you went for IVF, you may have a harder time finding a clinic that would accept you as a patient because they want to keep their success rate numbers high for advertising purposes (an I suppose one could argue that they don't want to waste someone's money if it has a lower chance of working).
I would think that if your dhea is already high, you shouldn't take more, but ask your doc.
Good luck and chin up!
Thank you so much, I really needed to hear this.
blindbat- I am trying to do things to help me get past it. I bought a Christmas ornament for our little one the other day and I have a candle that someone sent me that I'm going to burn on that day also. I felt so bad the day I bought the ornament because I cried in front of the sales lady! I tried not to tell her what I was doing but she asked and I couldn't lie! I hope I feel better after the holidays. Losing your baby at 19 weeks had to be much harder, knowing it was a boy and thinking you were past the worst of the miscarriage chances. I'm so sorry you had to go thru that.
futuremama- I should look at it that way, at least I know I need to try something instead of just keep trying naturally. I think I'm going to try DHEA and wheatgrass. I'm just worried my DHEA is already high. I might ask my doctor but I asked him if there was anything to help lower FSH and he just said no so I'm not sure he'd be willing to help. I shouldn't be too hard on him, he has been encouraging so far. I think he was just trying to be honest and let me know what I needed to do.
I really appreciate your comments. I need any encouragement I can get right now.
Thank you so much and good luck to you all!
blindbat- I am trying to do things to help me get past it. I bought a Christmas ornament for our little one the other day and I have a candle that someone sent me that I'm going to burn on that day also. I felt so bad the day I bought the ornament because I cried in front of the sales lady! I tried not to tell her what I was doing but she asked and I couldn't lie! I hope I feel better after the holidays. Losing your baby at 19 weeks had to be much harder, knowing it was a boy and thinking you were past the worst of the miscarriage chances. I'm so sorry you had to go thru that.
futuremama- I should look at it that way, at least I know I need to try something instead of just keep trying naturally. I think I'm going to try DHEA and wheatgrass. I'm just worried my DHEA is already high. I might ask my doctor but I asked him if there was anything to help lower FSH and he just said no so I'm not sure he'd be willing to help. I shouldn't be too hard on him, he has been encouraging so far. I think he was just trying to be honest and let me know what I needed to do.
I really appreciate your comments. I need any encouragement I can get right now.
Thank you so much and good luck to you all!
Firstly, I am so sorry for your lost..it must be difficult but I agree with blindbat. If you feel you need to fully recover from this experience do it...grieve and cry as much as you need to...I had 2 chemical pregnancies and for the second, I needed time to grieve my loss. I didn't care that some people didn't even consider it as a pregnancy but I did! And I needed to go through the process, so that I can be strong enough for my next cycle.
As for the FSH level, I never had mine checked. I don't know why. My RE never insisted on it. I did do a AMH test, but never a FSH. The way I see it, each time my RE tells me something, I take it as a blessing that I am closer to having my babies. Any new discovery brings me a step closer and I will do whatever it takes to make it work. Also, your RE needs to know that all the negative talk doesn't do you any good. I have hinted to my RE about his attitude and he is a changed person now! LOL! I don't need to hear that I am old and my eggs are old...just tell me what I need to do to be successful and keep your opinions to yourself!! LOL!
I am on DHEA and believe it does help older women. I was told you need to take it for atleast 2 months before you can see any benefits from it. You may lose a little hair, the way I did but it will grow back. Stay positive and believe it can happen. We all have been through the rollercoaster ride and we are here to hold you hand and help you with your journey.....
Big hugs and sending you SSBD....
As for the FSH level, I never had mine checked. I don't know why. My RE never insisted on it. I did do a AMH test, but never a FSH. The way I see it, each time my RE tells me something, I take it as a blessing that I am closer to having my babies. Any new discovery brings me a step closer and I will do whatever it takes to make it work. Also, your RE needs to know that all the negative talk doesn't do you any good. I have hinted to my RE about his attitude and he is a changed person now! LOL! I don't need to hear that I am old and my eggs are old...just tell me what I need to do to be successful and keep your opinions to yourself!! LOL!
I am on DHEA and believe it does help older women. I was told you need to take it for atleast 2 months before you can see any benefits from it. You may lose a little hair, the way I did but it will grow back. Stay positive and believe it can happen. We all have been through the rollercoaster ride and we are here to hold you hand and help you with your journey.....
Big hugs and sending you SSBD....
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear you're so sad right now! I don't have any experience with FSH numbers because I haven't wanted to get mine checked. However I do have experience with passing a due date without a living baby. It's really hard, and especially around the holidays. My baby I lost at 19 wks was due January 2, 1999, and that first anniversary was the hardest. I was a bit different in that I did NOT want to get pregnant again until after I passed his due date. I felt like I needed to "finish" that pregnancy before even thinking about trying again. Interestingly enough, my subsequent pregnancy had a due date of Jan 2, 2000 (not intentional), but he came early and was born on Dec. 16 and is almost 11! We have a couple of holiday ornaments that are for our baby, we have a special candle that we light when we are especially thinking about him (year round), and we have a special rose bush in our garden that is his. These symbols really help to acknowlege that he was and is a significant part of our lives and that we cherish the time he spent with us, no matter how brief. It has been 12 years and we have had another child, but he will never be forgotten. It does get easier to get through the holidays and the anniversaries with the passing years, but that doesn't mean that he was any less loved and wanted. My heart goes out to you as you go through your first anniversary. Do what feels appropriate for you - celebrate, grieve, cry, laugh, hope, dream, share, give to charity, buy a baby gift and give it to someone at the homeless shelter, go on vacation... experience it all in your own way and make no apologies! Find some way to commemorate your baby if that helps, and do whatever feels right to celebrate the gift of sharing a life if even for a little while. BIG HUGS to you!!!
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