47 replies to this topic

[woodsy]

Hey sorry this took so long. Just so you know I never ever thought I'd do Ivf or need to for that matter considering I'm fine with no issues nor my husband, but after 3 yrs I was fed up. And yes we're in 15k debt for it but it worked so its worth every penny
In terms of a support group at first steps there isn't one as far as I know but there are some infertility groups in Toronto but the only one remotely close to me was downtown and during a week night and it wasn't convenient. I just googled infertility support groups I believe.

[lali111]

Hi Woodsy! Thanks for your message. Well, I think I will go for a few rounds of IUI as suggested by Dr. Dixon and we'll see what happens.

I will try to find some support groups on google in Toronto. I'd really like to meet other people struggling with infertility. I will let you know what I find.

[woodsy]

Hey that's cool, I wasn't saying you should do Ivf necessarily just explaining that before I started this whole journey i thought Ivf was just for people with serious issues but then learned that just wasn't the case. I did 6 iui's but the only reason i bothered with so many was because the first one worked so I kept thinking they were worth the try. My first was with clomid ( oral cheap pill) and then I did a few injectible cycles and then a couple more clomid. Each time everything was perfect,follicles,lining, progesterone, ovulation at the right time so it goes to show that no matter how much intervention you use it's still somewhat up to fate that 'all the stars aligned and the egg and sperm met and the embryo implanted lol

[lali111]

Yes, I also thought that IVF was for people that had no other options, but you are helping me understand better my options. Today, I asked Dr Dixon if I could do IVF right away if I wanted to and she said "absolutely". However, she believes that IUI with meds can work for me. She wants to give it a few more tries. So, here I am starting my 2nd cycle on Clomid. Oh, that's the other thing that I did not understand well. Last cycle, Clomid did not do anything for me and Dr switched to Letrozole. This cycle, I am back on Clomid but it's a higher dosage. I am so confused. Why would she give me Clomid again? It just makes me in a really bad mood but does not help me ovulate at all.

Anyway, I'll let you know how this 2nd cycle goes for me. BTW, are you trying to conceive baby #3? How old are your children now?

[woodsy]

When you say clomid didn't work do you mean you didn't ovulate or you didn't develop a few extra follicles or both??
I don't have any children. My first iui worked and I miscarried at 8 weeks and because the first one worked i did several more as mentioned in my previous post and now I'm 11 weeks pregnant with my first and it's a good one so far everything had been perfect

[woodsy]

Stupid iPhone. I meant to say I hope this is a good one but so far the ultrasounds have been perfect ,etc so am hopeful

[woodsy]

Stupid iPhone. I meant to say I hope this is a good one but so far the ultrasounds have been perfect ,etc so am hopeful

[lali111]

Hi Woodsy!
How are you? I didn't come to this site since june. I guess I was just sad that I had to cancel my 2nd IUI. Clomid - even at a very high dose - did not make me ovulate. So, Dr D. gave me the bcp for the rest of my cycle. I will start my period soon and go to the clinic to see what my options are. I believe that I will need injections to ovulate.

How is your pregnancy? I hope you are well.

BTW, I found a few support groups in Toronto and you were right they are all downtown. I think I will go to one next thursday. I'll let you know how it goes.

Take care.

[woodsy]

Hey there
So sorry to hear about your recent cycle:( I know how disappointing it can be:(. Good for you for trying a support group!! I have some very supportive close friends as well as 2 women I email with now and again that I met a first steps. Feel free to email me anytime ( private message me if you want it:) although I believe I sent you my email on pm a while ago not sure that you got it.
Everythjng is going great thanks for asking. I'm 16 weeks on Thursday.
Let me know how things go with you!
Take care

[lali111]

Hi Woodsy,

I am not sure I know how private messages work on this site. I do not see any message from you (with your email in it).

Wow! 16 weeks is fantastic!

Today was Day 3 for me. I went to the clinic and Dr D. was not there. It's been more than a month since the last time I talked to her directly. I always talk to the nurses. Well the nurse asked me what I wanted to do for this cycle. I was like: "hmm how am I supposed to know what to do?" Anyway, she had to call Dr. D. and they decided to give me Bravelle. Then the nurse said I could decide if I wanted to try to BD or if I wanted to do IUI. I did not get a choice before. Why do I feel that they don't look at my history and my file. After I left I decided that I would ask for an appointment with Dr D. next time I go. I need to understand better my options.

I'll keep you posted. I am supposed to go back on thursday. My husband will give me the shots. I am not sure I can do it myself.

[woodsy]

Hey! I emailed you a while ago to the email you sent me ---check you junk mail box in your email account!
Yah it's frustrating when you don't get to see dr Dixon and it seemed to be getting worse the past year or so. If you're doing injectibles I'd do iui to increase your chances, if you can afford to.
Let me know what happens!

[lali111]

IUI scheduled tomorrow!!

My follicles grew very well this cycle. Bravelle did miracles for me.

I'll let you know how it goes.

[woodsy]

Yeah!!!! How many follicles???

[lali111]

IUI went very well! I think I have 2 big follicles. I have my 2nd IUI tomorrow and let's the 2WW begin!

[woodsy]

Yah! It only takes 1!! Crossing my fingers for you

[woodsy]

When's the Preg test Lali??

[lali111]

It was on the 14th and it was a BFN. I am starting my 3rd cycle of IUI. It will probably be the last one before I move to IVF.

How is everything with you?

[woodsy]

Sorry to hear:( I know how hard it is
Hopefully 3rd time will be a charm crossing my fingers for you!
I'm well thanks!

[braxma14]

I was with d. Dixon at Create a number of years ago. She had absolutely no idea what she was doing. I have PCOS and I had OHSS. That moron has put me on Repronex (with LH hormone) PCOSers have more than enough LH. It screws up the eggs genetically and drives the Estrogen up, creating overstimulation. At that time I saw several patients with severe OHSS in that clinic, needing fluid suction... They collected my eggs with no general anesthetic, because they did not want to pay anesthesiologist. I did IVF in Moscow and they coasted me very gently with half the meds, no LH. No OHSS resulted. Any way, it turned out that I have immune infertility after all, and very few doctors can help me. D. Dixon would not have helped me even if I made 10 cycles with her. She never even tried to explore immune side of things. Waste, Waste and Waste of money and life.

I have never heard that a woman needs to wait 2 month with long cycle to find out when she is ovulation. All those cycle monitoring is making them money, and make you get up in the crack of dawn for nothing.

[august]

I was also once with Dr. Dixon and at First Steps and the whole thing was a money maker.  Have had terrible experiences there and left.  Thank goodness or I wouldn't have my DD and this one on the way, had I stayed with them.

 

I was an older patient, don't know if your age is of concern to you, but honestly.DON'T Go through months of IUI's if they don't work.  Turned out that my DH had enzym issues and all the IUI's we did were for nothing and we spent hundreds on them.... 

 

Becareful of these Doctors and thier set up... they are definitly in there to make money and don't care so much about what is going on for thier patients!! I know and have met a few women whom have also left FSF, and have been very thankful as they have had greater success elsewhere.

 

Good Luck!

[SoloMummy]

 

I have been with Dr. Weisberg at First Steps since Feb 2012.  I'm single and started out in June 2012 with B2B IUIs, that eventually ended up medicated.  I took a break in Oct 2012 to save for recommended IVF and underwent IVF with Dr. Weisberg in June, unfortunately it failed, but I have 3 blasts in the freezer.  I'm doing a FET next month.  In general, I've been happy with the treatment I've received at the clinic, but I do wonder why they are so much more expensive than everyone else.  If the FET fails, I will need to take a break before IVF#2, but if I need to go that route, I will start researching alternate clinics.  I think the change may just be a good idea, for a new perspective, as well as for financial reasons (e.g. FET is $3K at FSF and about $1500 elsewhere).

 

Did anyone else who switched have any difficulty getting their records from First Steps?  I'm really not looking forward to that conversation...so let's hope I get pregnant with this FET.  (Right now they are using TCart lab).

[Chan]

Hello?  Is anyone there?  

 

Anybody have any success with FSF?  I need some hope!

 

Chan

[braxma14]

If you have PCOS, the doctor should absolutely NOT use repronex with you. It damages the eggs. Basically it inflates them with air, rather that with real genetic material. They look good in a petri dish, and then die off after 3rd day.