Protocol:

I'm getting impatient. It's now been 10 weeks since I completed my necessary blood panels for Dr. B. I just wanted to complain...

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Today I FINALLY I received a call from his office to let me know that my blood work results are back.  I've scheduled an appt with Dr. B to go over my results next week.  I'm hoping I'll be able to do IVF three weeks after that appt. I've been researching possible medications that he uses for his patients. I'm not sure if you've heard of LDN (low dose naltrexsone) but that drug looks promising. I've been reading medical journals and studies on it and the results are quite interesting to say the least.  It does have to be made in a compounding pharmacy so maybe that's part of the hesitation and I've learned that the FDA will not approve dosages less than 5mg (I may use either 1mg or 3mg). Here's a link to many studies showing it's benefits for treating immune issues/chronic pain/anti-inflammatory activities etc. It lowers certain cytokines and stimulates the body's own production of endorphins.

"The increase of β-endorphins to reduce pain levels is only one aspect of the use of LDN in pain management, especially when the source of the pain is related to an inflammatory process. It has been shown that LDN reduces inflammation by reducing multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines."

That could be a very helpful tool with dealing with my fibro/endo issues.  Now it's more waiting to see if Dr. B prescribes it.

Other medications could include prednisone, Neupogen (which by the way is a super expensive injection typically used with cancer patients to increase white blood cell counts to fight infections), lovenox, IVIG (another massively expensive intravenous drug) and who knows what else. I'll keep you posted....

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Waiting, waiting...today is my phone appt with Dr. B...So anxious to find out my results!

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Just finished talking with Dr. B! I need to write this all out so I can try and remember it all.  If you remember, I did 19 vials of bloowork that was shipped to ReproSource in MA back in August.  Then I did another 7 vials (DH did too) of fasting bloodwork a week later.  I've been anxiously awaiting those results...and today I got them!  I have ZERO markers for immune responses. ZERO.  But I did have many markers for inflammation which is consistent with endometriosis. I will be starting Metformin 750mg twice a day for four weeks beginning as soon as I can get the prescription written and filled by my local doctor. Even though I do not show symptoms relating to PCOS, Metformin has been shown to help with inflammation and egg quality for those with endo. After four weeks, I will do IVF either here in AL or go back to AZ (I have a big decision to make on that).  My embryos will be frozen, then I will do Dr. B's standard immune protocol consisting of Prednisone,  Lovenox, and intralipid therapy for the transfer. Basically, this is the best case scenario! He said several times today that I should have no problem conceiving on his protocol.  Music to my ears!!!  It's still a much longer process that I'd like, but we are inching in the right direction.

Since I do not have any immune markers, he said I can do either a paleo diet or Mediterranean diet. I don't have to do the AIP diet and boy am I thankful for that!!

If you've been following all of this, I appreciate your kind words of encouragement more than you will ever know. You all bless the socks off me! This has not been easy at all and now that we have some more big decisions, will you be praying for us?