jenbethk beta #10.... concerned about beta

[jenbethk]

Hi Girls.

My beta went up, but it didn't double, which has me worried. It went from 1,016 to 1,619. I thought that it has to double in 48-72 hours. Do you girls think this is still ok? I know I saw the sac this morning on u/s, but now I'm really stressed again and won't see the RE again until Monday!

Any thoughts would be appreciated!!!

Thanks so much,
Jen

Your betas are still fine. I've attached a link here that shows that betas start leveling off after 1200. I know it is hard to relax, esp after the rocky start, but your little bean is doing just fine!

http://www.ivfer.com/hcg.htm

Diana

[jenbethk]

Diana,

Thanks so much for sending that link. I didn't realize betas taper off at 1200. I do feel much better now!

Thanks so much!!
Jen

[justkaren]

Jen,
Your beta seems fine to me. I'm sure that it is hard not to worry, and now you have to wait til Monday. So, I vote for "be happy, your pregnant!". BTW, I've been meaning to ask you why you did PGD from start? Also, do you know anything about how Cornell's Pg rates with PGD compare to their Pg rates without PGD? I hear PGD embryos don't survive a thaw as well as non-pdg embryos. Do you know anything about that
Thanks and congratulations!
Karen

[jenbethk]

Hi Karen,
I will try to follow your vote....It still feels like I'm not allowed to let myself feel that I am PG, but I'll try!

As for PGD at Cornell, I don't actually know the statistics of their pg rates with vs. without PGD. I can tell you that all of my frozen embryos went through PGD and all 3 that I thawed survived!

The reason I did PGD to begin with is due to family history of mental retardation in boys. My 2 uncles have conditions that can not be determined with any tests at all. It's undetermined as to what they have and whether or not they even have the same thing. These are my mom's 2 brothers. We were doing it for sex selection, but along the way we were able to separate the approximately 50% of the embryos that had chromosomal mutations, Down's Syndrome, etc. In my first IVF cycle we transferred 2 girls and I was pg until I m/c at 7 1/2 weeks. 2nd IVF cycle we also transferred 2 girls, but got a BFN. Then we had 1 girl and 4 boy frozen embryos. We transferred the girl and 2 boys, so after all that planning, I still don't know what this 1 inside of me is after all!!! Isn't that crazy? I have about a 6% chance of having a son with mental retardation, which is only 3% higher than the average person. I have a twin sister who has 3 children... 2 girls and a boy. All are perfectly healthy. So that gives me hope that if this is a boy, that he'll be healthy G-d willing!!! So that's my story!!

On my first IVF cycle, they retrieved 12 embryos. All 12 fertilized, 10 made it to the PGD stage and then 5/10 were abnormal.

2nd cycle, retrieved 9. 6 were fertilized and I got 4 normal embryos after going through PGD. So that was definitely more about quality than quantity on that 2nd try!!

Let me know if you have any more questions. I'm more than happy to help!!!! Thanks for all of your help and support!

Jen

[justkaren]

Thanks for all the info. I 'm sorry to pry. I'm just trying to figure out what the H**L to do next. I wanted to know if Cornell suggests pgd to all their patients, but figured if I asked you that question it was no less intrusive and I might just get a "don't know" answer. Man, this whole thing is such a god awful messy, horrible process. I really HATE it.
Karen

[jenbethk]

Karen,

Actually, I think PGD is wonderful and I'm surprised that they don't suggest it to their patients more often. No problem.... I'm glad to give all the info. I can and I hope it will help! And yes, this IF stuff is so very messy and a pain in the butt!!! I know you're trying to figure out your next step. I hope soon you'll determine what will be best for you. Maybe once you have your consult at Cornell, the fresh perspective will be helpful. I hope so!!!

Jen

[justkaren]

Jen, Thanks for your kindness. I'm sure that the consultation at Cornell will be helpful. I really think that the result will just be that I arrange to do a fresh cycle there with pgd as soon as possible. I don't think that this test my doc recommended is relevent for fresh ivfs because the outcome depends on your hormones. So, it works with FET protocols, because they can actually control your hormone levels in reproducable ways. But, with fresh ivfs, anything can happen. So, I really doubt he is going to say "do the test before you do anything else". But , we will see. He (Dr. Spandorfer) was took part in the original research study, so I'm sure he has an opinion. I worry sometimes that cornell won't want to take me on with such a black history. But, my ivf nurse said that is nuts. That there is hope and this is a bussiness and so they will take me. Again, we will see. I'm just having a hard time sitting in this place were my plan is so unclear. I can't stop thinking about it.
Karen

[jenbethk]

Karen,

I wouldn't think twice about Cornell or Dr. Spandorfer not taking you. I've heard they take many patients who others have even turned away, and you're not at all in that category!!

I am so sorry you are so frustrated and you have every right to be! Not knowing what comes next is the worst thing in the world. I'm always thinking about the What-Ifs and figuring out my next plan!

Take it easy!! I truly feel for you and I hope you start to have some relief from some of this aggravation soon! Lord knows you deserve it!!!

Jen