Repeat Immune Testing Follow-Up

There's nothing quite like being told that your body killed your embryo.  While I had suspected that was the case, hearing it from my RI (Reproductive Immunologist) sucked big time.  On Monday, Dr. B's partner Dr. V called me with the results to my repeat immune testing panel.  I was actually given a copy of the blood work so I was able to see for myself the "high" ranged tests (even though I wasn't sure what it all meant). There were a lot of them.  My body had an immune response to the embryo that was transferred, which meant that my body killed our baby.  I asked specifically if it was even worth trying this again and was given a huge YES.   Dr. V said I wasn't on the most aggressive protocol and if we did start over, I would add another medication called Neupogen.  It's a daily injection to increase white blood cells-typically used for cancer patients.  It does look like Tricare would cover the cost which is a positive thing (looks like it costs between $5,000-7,000! Ouch!).  Dr. V said pretty much what Dr. B had told me previously...that I was still young for this and that I didn't necessarily need IVF. He wasn't convinced my surgery in AZ was good enough and wants to see the report and pictures from that surgery before telling me his recommendations.  I am willing to try timed intercourse with monitoring/meds for 3 cycles instead of IVF.  Why?  It would be way easier on my body, cost would be almost nothing (Tricare picks up all ultrasounds, blood work, and meds), and I wouldn't have to interact with my local RE much if at all.  Obviously, the chances of me getting pregnant this way is very, very low but maybe with the right combo of immune suppressant medications, it could happen.

Another option was presented to us.  CNY has been on my radar before and the clinic popped back up again.  They also work with Dr. B and are based out of NY but they are nearly a 1/3 of the cost of doing IVF here in AL.  They have a satellite campus in Atlanta where I could do all of my monitoring (which is still a 2.5 hour drive each way mind you) and then I would fly to NY for the actual retrieval and transfer.   The waiting list just to get a consult is 6 months so I need to call now to get the ball rolling.  I can always cancel it later if we decide that's not the way to go but it's nice to know there is another option instead of going back to my RE. (The thought of seeing her again makes me cringe.)

One thing that did annoy me when talking with Dr. V is that he insisted that Metformin wouldn't cause my kidney infection.  Um...the ONLY thing I was doing differently at the time was taking that medication.  With the first round of antibiotics, I kept taking the Metformin.  The infection didn't go away.  With the second round of antibiotics, I stopped the Met and guess what?  It finally went away.  He wasn't convinced.  He wants me to go back on it.  Yeah, I don't know about that.  He also said I should be on 6g of Myo-Inositol.  That my friends is A LOT.  For the last couple of weeks, I've had TERRIBLE wrist and hand pain again, now in both hands as well as my back (to the point that I can't hold anything in my left hand and I have trouble closing my right fingers into a fist).  I believe it is inflammation caused once again by an immune response.  Granted, my diet went to crap after getting the negative beta and going through the death of our beloved cat.  I do think stress and my diet have a big part in the inflammation issues.  Well, I started the Myo-Inositol back up a couple days ago (3g not 6g) and my pain has lessened considerably.  There might just be something to it.

I am proud to say that I was successful in getting my vit D levels up by 13 points from the first immune panel to the second.  I refuse to supplement other than what is already in my multivitamin so I made it a point to sit in direct sun every day for 10-20 minutes as well as eating wild caught salmon once a week.  I do believe it helped.

Thank you once again for following along with us in this.  I'm still not sure which direction we will go-if any.

I leave you with pictures of our sweet kitty cat.  She is so dearly missed.

We started letting her outside in the backyard once we knew her cancer was back. It was her most favorite place...besides sleeping next to our dog, Jax.