u/Remote_Owl_7188

So little back story:

My MIL is 61 - in March of this year she was sent from her RLS specialist to a dementia specialist because of her symptoms she reported.

Leading up to March she started getting very dizzy, so much so she went to the ER because she was so concerned and couldn’t wait for her ENT appointment in 2 weeks (another specialist this RLS specialist sent her too).

She also was experiencing extreme hallucinations (hair growing out of the walls, dead bodies in her living room, doorknobs moving, bugs on the wall, etc), sudden “black outs” and falling asleep out of nowhere - even while driving. At this point she was too scared to drive until we figured out what was going on, and she lost her job because she had no way to get to work. This caused even more issues because she is on a fixed, low income.

Cherry on top, it also caused excessive spending habits where she has built up quite the financial issue for herself, and has also gained about 60-80lbs due to binge eating.

She also had started falling multiple times when she would wake in the middle of the night use the restroom & busted her face open on her night stand.

By March, all of these symptoms had been reported to every doctor she had been seeing, and when we talked with the RLS specialists she jumped to dementia and since then we have been in the emotional roller coaster of her potentially having dementia.

Fast forward to about 5 days ago, we are told the only way to confirm her dementia diagnosis is through a PET scan that would cost us $5k to have done due to her insurance. Keep in mind, we’ve been paying for appts and specialists since this potential diagnosis and considered moving her into independent living to give her more support, even though every test was coming back normal.

I got so fed up with everything we were spending on these doctors for everything to come back normal and just took a chance asked her to send me her medication list. The only one I didn’t recognize at the time was pramipaxole. When I saw from a 15s Google search what side effects could come with this medication I was FLOORED. But not only that, the dosage in her bottle was 1.5mg 3x a day, prescribed by the RLS SPECIALIST.

I very quickly discovered this is the max dose for Parkinson’s and have learned just about everything that comes with a dopamine-agonist, augmentation, and long term use of these drugs. Every single thing she reported to multiple doctors fall under warnings for this dosage and not a SINGLE doctor questioned this - and yes they had this dosage in their charts.

Turns out, she’s been on a dopamine agonist since at least 2021 (this is as far I’ve been able to go back on records so far) where she was maxed out for Requip with in 2 months. She stayed on that 4mg requip medication for 5 years before being moved to pramipexole, where she was started at .25mg at night and was bumped to 3mg within 2 months due to it not working at the lower doses. This increase happened 1 month before her first sleep attack episode behind the wheel.

Here’s a couple more kickers:

- she’s also on 150mg of an SSRI, and has been on one (at a lowers dose but still) for 20+ years.
- the prescribing doctor wrote the script for 3mg (1.5 AM & PM) but the pharmacy filled it incorrectly at 4.5mg for 8 months. The only reason she didn’t end up taking 4.5 is because she said she forgot to take it at lunch all the time and luckily only ended with 3mg consistently.

** I have a couple questions for real people, not the doctors that are now terrified of what could potentially be a malpractice issue and are only giving politically correct answers. **

1. has anyone ever heard of being prescribed this dosage? And if so, did your dr tell you not to drive?
2. what should we expect as she comes off this slowly? (We are titrating her off this over the next 3-4 weeks)
3. what alternatives have you found that help RLS symptoms?

We feel like since discovering this and bringing it to her doctor’s attention, nobody is concerned or alarmed like we are, so maybe we are missing something?? But I can’t find a SINGLE medical journal or literature that supports this dosage for RLS.

I have some questions regarding what our options are as we stare down the barrel of IVF & navigate the beast that is VA/champVA coverage.

Background:
My husband is a 100% p&t vet with a 100% ptsd rating, with service connected ED. He is an SMC-S & SMC-K. He also receives meds for the ED every month. He served in Afghanistan for 2 deployments so he also falls under the PACT Act.

I am not a veteran, but I am fully covered under ChampVA as my primary insurance.

We have been trying to conceive for 5+ years, but in the last year decided to move to fertility clinics. We have since gotten a community care referral to our local fertility clinic and started the IUI process. We’ve done 3 medicated IUIs that have all failed, and our RE told us this week our best chance is with IVF since we still fall under “unexplained infertility”. She wrote us a letter to submit to the VA requesting further support, and she is also submitting a Request for Service form to the community care center to see if we can get approved for IVF coverage. Does anyone have any insight or advice on this process? Is there anything else we should be doing to see if we can get some coverage?

Thank you in advance!

hi - I need some help, advice, old wives tales, and anything else you got. I’m giving our entire life story here in the off chance someone can save me from the financial insanity that is IVF. Thank you in advance for reading and helping.

For background:

My husband and I have been not “preventing” pregnancy for 6 years, actively TTCing for the last 3-4 years, and then started fertility treatments this year with no luck. We just completed our 3rd IUI and got a negative again. I have never had a positive, have never been pregnant to my knowledge.

My husband: 36 y/o
He is a combat veteran who went to Afghanistan 2x - so burn pits, MREs, nicotine etc. all the typical certain environmental factors you’d expect. When he got out, he got married and his first wife got pregnant 1x - when they did testing, there were some genetic issues and then she ended up MCing shortly after, I want to say about 9 weeks. To our knowledge this is the only time he’s ever gotten anyone pregnant (and he was a little hoe there for a bit before me lol). He has since: quit nicotine completely, takes his vitamins daily, works out consistently, does not drink, does not hot tub, and has very strong blood work & semen analysis.

His numbers post wash for our IUIs:
#1: 46 mil
#2: 82 mil
#3: 56 mil

All are progressive.

Me: 31 y/o
I have been diagnosed 1x with “lean PMOS” meaning they could see markers in my bloodwork for it, but it was regulated with my lifestyle about a year ago. I have completely normal cycles, 4-5 days, start like clockwork, and no longer extremely painful. I ovulate each month according to my Inito, but without meds my LH usually isn’t very high on peak day, and sometimes I get 2, the second peak being higher. With meds it’s obviously stronger and usually 1 day. I had a laparoscopy & hysteroscopy in December to remove my mild endo, and a uterine polyp. They checked my tubes as well and said everything is good and healthy. At my baseline & mid cycle ultrasounds my lining is where it needs to be, and I have had 1-2 follicles above 18mm each IUI. I do not drink, however I do partake in THC from time to time, but I have cut that out completely in hopes it will help our chances. I workout regularly, my stress levels are basically non-existent because we made the decision for me to stay at home to help my past stressors, I take vitamins (prenatal, omegas, myo-inositol, & egg quality support) and eat clean (higher protein & fat to support hormones)

We did letrozole CD3-CD7 & Ovidrel for the trigger for each IUI.

We meet with our doctors at the clinic tomorrow and I KNOW they will push for IVF. I am not against IVF, but I want to make sure I’ve exhausted another options if I can since it is not even remotely affordable.

It is not natural to be infertile, there has to be some underlying issue… is it even worth trying to find it out before or do all roads lead to IVF?

are there any tests I should ask for before we just decide to go all in with IVF?

Any luck with acupuncture?

What about pomegranate juice? Pinneapple core? I’m willing to try it all, give me everything 😅😅

Thank you thank you thank you

hi - I need some help, advice, old wives tales, and anything else you got. I’m giving our entire life story here in the off chance someone can save me from the financial insanity that is IVF. Thank you in advance for reading and helping.

For background:

My husband and I have been not “preventing” pregnancy for 6 years, actively TTCing for the last 3-4 years, and then started fertility treatments this year with no luck. We just completed our 3rd IUI and got a negative again. I have never had a positive, have never been pregnant to my knowledge.

My husband: 36 y/o
He is a combat veteran who went to Afghanistan 2x - so burn pits, MREs, nicotine etc. all the typical certain environmental factors you’d expect. When he got out, he got married and his first wife got pregnant 1x - when they did testing, there were some genetic issues and then she ended up MCing shortly after, I want to say about 9 weeks. To our knowledge this is the only time he’s ever gotten anyone pregnant (and he was a little hoe there for a bit before me lol). He has since: quit nicotine completely, takes his vitamins daily, works out consistently, does not drink, does not hot tub, and has very strong blood work & semen analysis.

His numbers post wash for our IUIs:
#1: 46 mil
#2: 82 mil
#3: 56 mil

All are progressive.

Me: 31 y/o
I have been diagnosed 1x with “lean PMOS” meaning they could see markers in my bloodwork for it, but it was regulated with my lifestyle about a year ago. I have completely normal cycles, 4-5 days, start like clockwork, and no longer extremely painful. I ovulate each month according to my Inito, but without meds my LH usually isn’t very high on peak day, and sometimes I get 2, the second peak being higher. With meds it’s obviously stronger and usually 1 day. I had a laparoscopy & hysteroscopy in December to remove my mild endo, and a uterine polyp. They checked my tubes as well and said everything is good and healthy. At my baseline & mid cycle ultrasounds my lining is where it needs to be, and I have had 1-2 follicles above 18mm each IUI. I do not drink, however I do partake in THC from time to time, but I have cut that out completely in hopes it will help our chances. I workout regularly, my stress levels are basically non-existent because we made the decision for me to stay at home to help my past stressors, I take vitamins (prenatal, omegas, myo-inositol, & egg quality support) and eat clean (higher protein & fat to support hormones)

We did letrozole CD3-CD7 & Ovidrel for the trigger for each IUI.

We meet with our doctors at the clinic tomorrow and I KNOW they will push for IVF. I am not against IVF, but I want to make sure I’ve exhausted another options if I can since it is not even remotely affordable.

It is not natural to be infertile, there has to be some underlying issue… is it even worth trying to find it out before or do all roads lead to IVF?

are there any tests I should ask for before we just decide to go all in with IVF?

Any luck with acupuncture?

What about pomegranate juice? Pinneapple core? I’m willing to try it all, give me everything 😅😅

Thank you thank you thank you

Hi! I am currently on DPO 11 of my 3rd IUI… I am scheduled to test tomorrow buttttt I tested today and it was negative. Obviously I didn’t follow instructions but I was anxious to test and now I’m emotional lol. Can someone tell me if this is most likely accurate or not? I’ll test again tomorrow but I’m seeing in some other threads that waiting to test on DPO 13-14 is better.

For reference: we did a trigger shot & I’m on 7.5 letrozole. I have had a polyp in my uterus removed and endo surgery over 5 months ago. I take vaginal progesterone each month during the TWW.

I’m honestly so devastated, we’ve been trying for over 6 years and started meds and IUIs this year. I’ve never even tested positive or been pregnant to my knowledge. They say it’s “unexplained infertility” I am a healthy 31 yo. I take all my vitamins, I’m a healthy weight, I exercise, etc. I have PCOS but it is completely regulated through diet and exercise, My bloodwork comes back normal each time, my period starts like clockwork & is 4-5 days, and my husband’s numbers are perfect. I don’t know what to do or try anymore 😭 we really don’t want to do IVF if we don’t have to, it’s so expensive and will be hard for us to get covered since we are insured through the VA.

Hi! I am currently on DPO 11 of my 3rd IUI… I am scheduled to test tomorrow buttttt I tested today and it was negative. Obviously I didn’t follow instructions but I was anxious to test and now I’m emotional lol. Can someone tell me if this is most likely accurate or not? I’ll test again tomorrow but I’m seeing in some other threads that waiting to test on DPO 13-14 is better.

For reference: we did a trigger shot & I’m on 7.5 letrozole.

I’m honestly so devastated, we’ve been trying for over 6 years and started meds and IUIs this year. I’ve never even tested positive or been pregnant to my knowledge. They say it’s “unexplained infertility” I am a healthy 31 yo. I take all my vitamins, I’m a healthy weight, I exercise, etc. I have PCOS but it is completely regulated through diet and exercise, My bloodwork comes back normal each time, my period starts like clockwork & is 4-5 days, and my husband’s numbers are perfect. I don’t know what to do or try anymore 😭 we really don’t want to do IVF if we don’t have to, it’s so expensive and will be hard for us to get covered since we are insured through the VA.

Hi! I am currently on DPO 11 of my 3rd IUI… I am scheduled to test tomorrow buttttt I tested today and it was negative. Obviously I didn’t follow instructions but I was anxious to test and now I’m emotional lol. Can someone tell me if this is most likely accurate or not? I’ll test again tomorrow but I’m seeing in some other threads that waiting to test on DPO 13-14 is better.

For reference: we did a trigger shot & I’m on 7.5 letrozole.

I’m honestly so devastated, we’ve been trying for over 6 years and started meds and IUIs this year. I’ve never even tested positive or been pregnant to my knowledge. They say it’s “unexplained infertility” I am a healthy 31 yo. I take all my vitamins, I’m a healthy weight, I exercise, etc. I have PCOS but it is completely regulated through diet and exercise, My bloodwork comes back normal each time, my period starts like clockwork & is 4-5 days, and my husband’s numbers are perfect. I don’t know what to do or try anymore 😭

I’m a new player and am still learning the game a lot. I’m on level 7 and my horse is on 10! I just did the full subscription- please give me any pointers or tips you would’ve liked to know as a beginner! I’m having lots of fun but want to learn more. Thanks in advance!!