12 replies to this topic

[WendyMtl]

Hi:)  I have my first appointment- initial IVF consult on October 1st. We started ttc last April(2014), in June we got a bfp, and ended up miscarrying not too long after. Then we got pg in January, again, another loss. Same thing in March, April, and again just last week. 

 

The January miscarriage, I went to the RV, because I knew it was happening before it started happening, and I was then referred to the EPL (Early pregnancy loss clinic). I was referred to Dr Buckett, and through months and months of testing, both on myself and DF, it was discovered that the reason behind all of our losses, and difficulty getting pregnant is because DF has a balanced translocation. When asked what our options were, we were told IVF. I asked about IUI, but unfortunately, they said it wouldn't work, because the same issue remains. So we are going to be doing IVF with PGD testing. In a million years, I never thought that I would be here.. waiting for IVF. We were told we could continue to try naturally, but that every time we get pregnant, there was a 70 % chance of miscarriage. 

 

After this latest loss, I was absolutely devastated. I miscarried on Sunday Sept 6, and I got the call on Monday the 7th to make our appointment for initial consultation. We are also part of a research study on PGD, so we are definitely feeling way more optimistic . 

 

I have tons of questions though..do the meds really cost THAT much? I saw 1 poster said it was like $4200? I have insurance, but they only cover $3k.. per lifetime

if doing pgd, does that mean we have to wait til the next cycle to do the transfer, or can a fresh transfer be done?

 

In your experience, from initial consult how long was it before you got to ET? 

 

I have all these questions listed to ask my doc, but just looking for personal experiences as well 

 

Thank You 

[eyedoc]

Welcome to the site! Sorry to hear about all your losses.

As for med costs it all depends what meds you are on and how you respond to them. My clinic quotes $2000-6000. I ended up being on the lower end of that stat, but I have pcos and tend to over respond to meds. I think my meds were less than $3000 but that is definitely not the norm. So, yes expect to spend several thousand on the meds. You won't know the costs until you get going.

As for time from initial consult to treatment, that will vary depending on your clinic.

Good luck!!

[WendyMtl]

So in terms of the meds, are those amounts something that need to be paid out all at once, or is that an "over time" sort of expense.. Just trying to get my ducks in a row

[eyedoc]

With our ivf cycle I would usually get more meds at each monitoring appointment (so typically every day or every other day). I would have enough to get by until at least the next appointment. Your med dosages may be adjusted during the course of your treatment so you don't want to end up with much more than you need or you have wasted money!

[Lola1973]

Hi Wendy,

Welcome here:)

I am really sorry for your miscarriages. I know how difficult they are.

I'll share a bit of info with you. About PGD vs fresh transfer, it seems that what I've seen and heard happening at most clinics (but I don't know how McGill processes specifically- you could ask) is that it takes a few days to test the embryos so that you end up doing a frozen embryo transfer as opposed to a fresh one. It is not necessarily a bad thing since some people believe it gives your body a time to recover from all the IVF drugs.

McGill was my first clinic so I can also answer your question about timing of first consult vs embryo transfer. Or at least let you know what it was like 3 years ago. In my case, from when I first met the Dr (after our tests were all done), it took 4 months: 2 because the Dr decided I needed a laparoscopy for a cyst (so you can take these off), and about 2 more due to their waitlist. Of course things could be different now:)

Wishing you the very best of luck:)

[WishinNhopin]

First off im very sorry for all of your losses..I can't say I've ever had to deal with that heartache .I'm very new to this myself...I just had my consultaton last Friday! . ..I also can't tell you what to expect but I wanted to touch on the meds thing. ..I called my company-sunlife and was told that I was covered 80% up to $3,000 out of pocket up to a max of $100,000 which means i wouldn't pay more then $3,000 (unless it surpassed $100,000 for the year)..I always thought the 3,000$ meant that's all they would cover me...are you sure that's not the case for you? I would call..it wouldn't hurt! All the best!

[WendyMtl]

Wishin- I guess I'll have to call them to be sure.. I'm with sun life as well . Thank you guys so much for the responses. My appointment was now moved to the 8th instead of the first

[WishinNhopin]

Yes call for sure. I asked the guy 100 times are you sure it means I only pay 3,000$ & he said yes for sure. That's what that 3,000 means! Keep us posted...who knows maybe we will be on the same ivf cycle?

[Heregoesnothing]

Also, to add to the cost of meds... You know that in Quebec, there is a maximum that the government allows you to pay out of pocket for medication in a year? (Jan -Jan). So for us, we did 2 ivf cycles in a year which were covered at 80% (roughly cost us 1000$ out of pocket per cycle) and for the third, our medical bill was zero. We were shocked! Ask the pharmacy about this. For baby #2, we were on a higher dose of meds and so our second cycle was actually already free... That went for all of our medications that until December 31st. We stocked up DHs Chrone medication too...

Sorry, I wish I knew what the amount was... I would guess it's somewhere in the 2000$ a year.

Hope this helps! Best of luck moving forward!

[WendyMtl]

Wishin -  maybe we will be.. do you know when you're cycling? I have no idea yet, I'll know more on the 8th. I have this tiny hope in me that maybe they'll say since I'll be 2 days away from CD1 that they'll let me start right away, but the secretary did mention that there is a waiting list/. I just hope I can get in before they pull the IVF funding. I have no idea what's going on with that anymore..lol

[WendyMtl]

Heregoesnothing - I did not know that!1 I will definitely inquire about that as well. That is awesome information to have. I swear, I've never been as lost as I am since they told us we'd be doing IVF. It's the waiting that is driving me nuts.lol. We are still trying naturally in the meantime, until they tell us differently, because I wouldn't be able to just sit back and patiently wait..lol 

[Lola1973]

I thought there was something like what Heregoesnothing explained since I also got free meds for one cycle. I just didn't know how it worked so couldn't explain it to you. It is definitely worth asking about:)

[WishinNhopin]

Wendymtl I'm at Mt. Sinai in toronto. I have to drive 2 hrs an appt so I'm really hoping (if anyone can answer) if when I'm suppose to go to all the appts -a nurse there explained returning day 3,5,7,9 ect for bloodwork and ultrasounds if it's possible to just have a Dr down here do it??? Or no. I really hope it's possibly that they will allow you to because it's so close....but who knows. I'm just really excited for the first time ever to get my period..lol should be here Tuesday. ..but seems like the process is taking forever.