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Gonal F
Anyone on Gonal F or Follistum for hormonal issues and recurrent miscarriages?
Thanks for the info. I actually think I had that test at the OB's when I was pg with 2nd, before MC. I am so pleased to have you to talk to. I am starting right away with the injectables. I heard that my fertility specialist is not a big fan of Clomid. I think it is also used more in those with PCOS. My lining is also borderline so I know Clomid can thin out also so maybe another reason not good med. for me. It sounds like they are using it more for me to get my cycle exactly regulated as someone with a normal 28 day cycle and to have all my hormones at the correct levels at the correct times. The only med. I started last cycle was the progesterone which I will also cont. I guess even with luteal phase defect it is not just the progesterone that is low but also interferes with the corpus luteum and follicle quality so another reason for the Gonal/Follistum. It seems it helps to mature the follicles and hopefully help to release the best one. It is just so frustrating that everything is just on the line and someone else could possibly carry and deliver a baby with these issues but I can't. I really hope next month works. You made me feel better. I do seem to get pg easy so hopefully it happens 1st cycle. My sister-in-law went to the same specialist and Gonal worked well 1st cycle but they were told she had a 75% chance of triplets so they waited that one out by choice (have 1 daughter and would have went for it if just risk of twins). But, next cycle she was pg and delivered a healthy girl. She has mild PCOS, luteal phase defect/low prog. So, hopefully it helps. I have decided I will also start accupuncure. Thought about it before but thought 3rd time would be OK with just prog. Have you done accupuncture? I think for me it will be good also to do something alone by myself and help to relax me. I know stress is not good but after 3 MC this year, how can I not be stressed and not be afraid that next pg will end up the same way. There are women out there that have even had more MC than me. I don't know what I would do. Are you working? I hate being at work, I feel so stressed but I can't afford not to work. Also, someone here that with 2nd MC we were due around the same time so being here reminds me of being pregnant, Everyone here knew about it and it makes it so hard. Did not tell anyone here about 3rd except one MD I work with that also lost 2 so she can relate. I trust her though to not tell anyone. So sorry this is long again. Don't worry about that with me. I like getting all the info I can get. Good Luck next week. Keep me posted on what it is like. I hope this next cycle is the one for you . I keep counting down my days.
I think I will be starting next cycle, which will likely be next week. Did your MD try clomid 1st or are they going straight to injectibles?
The unexplained thing is so frustrating. So here is some more info about how my IR was diagnosed bc they can't always find it with a glucose test. My 1st MD checked my fasting glucose and fasting insulin and both were normal. My 2nd MD had me do a 2 hr glucose test (where you fast the night before, then you have to drink a glucose drink, then they take your blood 3 times over the next 2 hrs) which was also normal but some borderline levels. When I went to the RE, he said I need to re-do the 2 hr test, and test both glucose and insulin at each draw. I kind of felt like he was just trying to torture me bc it is an awful test to have to do twice. I almost didn't do it bc I didn't think it was necessary. But results showed that although my glucose was normal, my insulin was >5x normal, so my body can still regulate my blood sugar but needs way more insulin than normal to do it. High levels of insulin in your blood can mess up other hormones (bc insulin is a hormone too). Anyhow, I did a lot of research on it and women with IR have a very high rate of mc. There was a study where they followed pregnant women with IR with a history of recurrent mc. Half of them did not take anything to control the IR during early pregnacy and their mc rate was 80%, while the half that took glucophage to control the IR had a mc rate of 10%. IR is often associated with PCOS but not always, bc I have IR but not PCOS. Anyhow, since I started taking the glucophage I have way more energy and feel way better. I used to get low blood sugar sometimes where I thought I would pass out if I don't eat, and also used to get super tired every afternoon after eating lunch, but now that almost never happens. I am really hopeful this will help the next pregnancy be successful. So sorry this was so long bc I know it probably doesn't even apply to you, but I just wanted to share.
I hope your bleeding stops soon and HCG is going down as normal. I know the feeling of just wanting to have it over with and put it behind you. Your next cycle will be starting before you know it, and I bet you will be pregnant right away again once you start the injectibles. Please keep me posted on when you are starting your injectibles, and I'll let you know how it goes for me, too.
The unexplained thing is so frustrating. So here is some more info about how my IR was diagnosed bc they can't always find it with a glucose test. My 1st MD checked my fasting glucose and fasting insulin and both were normal. My 2nd MD had me do a 2 hr glucose test (where you fast the night before, then you have to drink a glucose drink, then they take your blood 3 times over the next 2 hrs) which was also normal but some borderline levels. When I went to the RE, he said I need to re-do the 2 hr test, and test both glucose and insulin at each draw. I kind of felt like he was just trying to torture me bc it is an awful test to have to do twice. I almost didn't do it bc I didn't think it was necessary. But results showed that although my glucose was normal, my insulin was >5x normal, so my body can still regulate my blood sugar but needs way more insulin than normal to do it. High levels of insulin in your blood can mess up other hormones (bc insulin is a hormone too). Anyhow, I did a lot of research on it and women with IR have a very high rate of mc. There was a study where they followed pregnant women with IR with a history of recurrent mc. Half of them did not take anything to control the IR during early pregnacy and their mc rate was 80%, while the half that took glucophage to control the IR had a mc rate of 10%. IR is often associated with PCOS but not always, bc I have IR but not PCOS. Anyhow, since I started taking the glucophage I have way more energy and feel way better. I used to get low blood sugar sometimes where I thought I would pass out if I don't eat, and also used to get super tired every afternoon after eating lunch, but now that almost never happens. I am really hopeful this will help the next pregnancy be successful. So sorry this was so long bc I know it probably doesn't even apply to you, but I just wanted to share.
I hope your bleeding stops soon and HCG is going down as normal. I know the feeling of just wanting to have it over with and put it behind you. Your next cycle will be starting before you know it, and I bet you will be pregnant right away again once you start the injectibles. Please keep me posted on when you are starting your injectibles, and I'll let you know how it goes for me, too.
Thanks for the reply. I am so happy to have someone else to discuss all this with. Do you think you will be doing the injectables next month? I will be starting then, with my next menses. I hate this wait. I was depressed again Sun because the havy flow started and I passed a lot of clots, tissue, etc. Nothing serious like my 2nd MC that was further along. But, took awhile for being so early, thought maybe just the continuous spotting, light brown bleeding was going to be it. Just when I feel better after a few days I feel something else brings me down. I had to have Hcg checked this AM to make sure decreasing. I am sure that phone call will make me sad yet again. I know the #s will be down but just hearing it still upsets me. My glucose has been checked and was OK. I feel frustrated also because I am not overweight either, exercise, eat healthy. No major issues. Husband is healthy also. So it is so frustrating. My poor husband though has to do the semen analysis for the insurance to cover my injectibles. Hopefully, there will be no surprises. because we get pg easy, MD did not feel that was an issue. Husband also had labs, chromos- all OK. Good to hear someone else out there in same situation. I spoke with a very nice nurse at the specialist's office to clear up treatment and ask any ?s. She said my TSH and LH were normal. Estrogen and lining just slightly lower than they want. And, obvious low progesterone. She stated that all labs are just one cycle so hard to tell where someone is at the next month so I guess best to be overly cautious and treat for. I will also be on baby ASA as a precaution to make sure I am getting enough blood flow. Low estrogen also helps build the uterine lining, supply blood. i never heard much before, usually hear only about progesterone. Sorry this is so long but want to share all that I am learning with you. Talk to you soon. Good luck!
I'm so sorry for the loss you are going thru. I have had 2 mc at 5-6 wks and 1 chemical preg that I would not have known about if they weren't doing blood tests. It took me 18 mos to get 1st BFP. But during that 18 mos I had 4 cycles 34-42 days but never did an hpt those cycles. That was when I was first ttc and did not know all the details about testing, temping, etc., but looking back I wonder if those might have been early losses too. All my hormones are normal, HSG clear, I ov regularly, but temps are slow to rise after ov (usually start rising 3 days after LH and take 2-3 days to reach top level). I feel like I have symptoms of low prog and/or LPD based on what I have read - temps only stay up for 8-9 days and I often have 3-4 days spotting b4 AF. But so far my RE said my luteal phase is still within normal bc >10 days betw LH and AF and my 21 day prog was normal. It is so frustrating that it is all unexplained. RE did find that I am borderline Insulin Resistant, but I don't have PCOS bc I ov regularly and have no other symptoms. Has your RE tested for IR? It can mess up your estrogen level and cause mc. My RE rx metformin for the IR. I am not overweight, eat very healthy and exercise regularly so was very surprised to find out I am IR. I'm hoping that by treating that and supporting the other hormones with meds that my next pregnancy will be successful. I don't know if I can handle another loss. I have been ttc 3 yrs. I go the RE next week to find out about next cycle. I hope the cyst from my last cycle (clomid) has gone away so I can start the new meds. Please keep in touch. Hopefully we will both have good luck with our 1st cycle of injectibles!
I am starting next month with Gonal F or Follistum, pretty much same med just will dep. on what ins. will cover. I am going through 3rd MC now, I was about 5-51/2 wks. So bummed. MD wants me to wait until next cycle. I can't stand this wait. It usually takes me about 32 days to get AF back. Then can start treatment.I started with fertility specialist after 2nd MC. Was put on progesterone d/t LPD but I guess there is more that needs to be done. MD prob. started with minimum, I understand. Some of my labs were just below normal (estrogen, lining). I think LH and FSH were OK. I also have borderline TSH, put on med to be cautious and also had polyp removed. Many other labs, chromosomes done all OK. So guess they were not sure how aggressive they needed to be. But now I fell a little more hopoeless. Thought the prog. alone was going to do the trick. I don't have PCOS but prog, estrogen off. I ovulate and get pregnant very easily but can't hold. Interested in what your situation is like. I don't seem to find many others in my situation. Please write back. I am loking to really being able to vent with those in this situation.
I have had recurrent mc and will be starting injectibles soon. I tried clomid first but it thinned my lining and RE said it would probably be best to move straight to injectibles. I'm waiting for my next appt with the RE to find out which one. Are you starting injectibles too? I am a little nervous about it.
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