WTF

Well, we had our "WTF" mtg.(follow-up mtg. w/our RE to our IVF cycle) today. I, of course, had high hopes for sitting down with Dr. S and discussing what happened and what he thought, but was disappointed. He asked if I had any questions, which I of course had lots of pertaining to the cycle, the baby, testing, and next steps.

We started by talking about the cycle. He was happy with how things went, though he said he'd thought we'd have a few more eggs to work with (we had 10 retrieved, but only 7 were mature, and 5 fertilized w/ICSI), but that it was nothing to be concerned about. I asked about embryo quality, since we had never gotten any information on that. He said it was fine.

Then we talked about the baby. He didn't have much to say other than what we already knew. He said just because the chromosomal report was fine, doesn't mean there wasn't anything wrong with the baby but that there was not any way/use in finding out about genetic issues with her or us. I had never heard anything back on the testing on me the day of the m/c, so I guess they are checking into it.

I asked about other tests that we could do on us: MTHFR, celiac, other clotting issues (Lupus antiphospholipid antibodies), killer cells, infections, etc. He agreed to the clotting testing, though he said it's "unproven" whether having or treating this has any impact on m/c, though it would be std. to do after two or three. He said immunology is "voodoo" (no joke) and said that everyone who goes to one comes back with something and none of it is proven to have anything to do with what he does. So he's not a believer then, clearly. Good to know. He didn't think any of these other things were an issue.

He said we could do an office hysteroscopy before we cycle again (if we want), but that he didn't think my previously removed uterine septum was an issue with the m/c. After railing on about the scientific method for 45 mins., he said that it was just "bad luck". So there it is, I guess.

He said he thought there was no reason not to just do the FET (with our two frozen) vs. a new fresh cycle when we are ready, though we could decide what to do based on interest in shared risk. He made it clear there were no guarantees. Yeah, no shit Sherlock.

Overall, he was pretty defensive, though I very calmly asked my questions, which makes me nervous, but it just reinforced my understanding that his business is to get people pregnant (which he does very well BTW), but that his interests/knowledge/respect, etc. don't expand much beyond that.

My beta hCG is now 11, so "hopefully" I'll be bleeding again in no time (yippee!), though he said that sometimes people have already bled out completely (I can only hope, right?) and then it wouldn't come until a month later.

I haven't decided yet what we should do, I guess we need to think/talk about it more. I could go to see a local reproductive immunologist that was recommended to me by my acupuncturist (or another one by an IF friend) since we have time to burn, or just do the FET and see what happens. I am also looking for a new job (w/IF bennies), so we may do the FET and if that doesn't work, I will hopefully have benefits and likely be working downtown again and could find yet another RE and see what they say before we cycle again.

There's nothing like the intangibility of unexplained infertility and m/c to drive a person who likes to know WTF is going on a bit crazy. Keep Calm and Carry On...