We finally heard back on the results of our repeat DNA test. It has been great working with this doctor as he took so much time with us even on the phone. In his opinion he feels that we have moved into the normal range. Normal for people who do not need IUI’s or take up to a year to get pregnant are <20%. Since we now sit at below 30% we’re in the +1 year TTC, IUI and possibly IVF range so this is an improvement. He gave us some tips for TTC naturally but did recommend that we should still look for assistance only because it’s been such a long time. After some discussion between Hammer and I, we decided that we would at least get the second opinion. Dr. R gave us some suggestions for the RE’s in his area which he works with often and they were the same names that were recommended to us by others. So today I put in a call for an appointment with one of them. We’ll have to see when we can coordinate a trip to the clinic (~2 hours away) with our crazy schedules so I’ll post more when I know. Thank goodness I have family down there which would make any treatment we might do so much easier and a bit more affordable.
As far as naturally trying, Hammer and I have been doing the ‘Hopeful Protocol,’ as I like to call it, along with our TTC modifications for Hammer. I got this from the Happy Hopeful’s who are to welcome their first baby after TTC for several years and ended up getting prego this way. It involves taking the supplements evening primrose and flax seed oil during a cycle. It also has you take high amounts of soy isoflavones on the same days when you would have taken clomid which supposedly help make a healthier egg so it’s almost like poor man’s clomid. I can tell you that I definitely ovulate very ‘strong’ when I take this. This past month my temps started to go triphasic and I was late which I never have been before on the last three months taking these supplements (or ever for that matter). I even went out and bought some HPTs because I was two days late. I got a box of FRER and an EPT. The EPT was the only one where both Hammer and I swore there was a very, very faint start of a ‘+’ but that was all we got. So we think we might have had a ‘blip’ but there is no real way to confirm it. I am concerned that maybe the soy is messing up my lining similar to clomid so I’m taking a month or two off to see if it helps at all and made an appointment with my regular Gyn to see if she has any thoughts as well. We’ll still be doing the ‘prepping’ before TTC with some modifications as suggested by Dr. R on our phone conference. I now feel that I have the hang of the Ovacue and I love that it confirms ovulation (I got the extra attachment) which makes me feel more confident in our TTC efforts BUT we still have to use OPK’s to help us with timing things. So it’s not the money saver I was hoping for but when your DH has to do his thing for practically 2 weeks straight it is nice to tell him with confidence that he can take some time off. I’m actually feeling bad for him. I know it’s not like taking shots but seriously, if you were told you had to have a “big O” every day for two weeks imagine the pressure that would put on you. It’s not like with woman where getting prego doesn't depends on us having an “O” or not but it does require our DH’s to do so. And while it’s fun, I would l think 2 weeks straight of fun would really start to get old. He’s been a real trooper and I have to give him some credit. Thanks honey :)
Showing posts with label supplements. Show all posts
Showing posts with label supplements. Show all posts
Monday, May 2, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Back from the Andrologist
The long awaited, long overdue andrology appointment for Mr. Hammer was yesterday. We were actually concerned it wouldn't happen because a snow storm came through the day before. Since we were going to a satellite clinic where both us and the Dr would have to travel we had reason to be concerned. But the storm was not as bad as predicted and the snow quickly melted in the midday sun. We did make sure to leave earlier than planned and had no problem getting there.
We had been asked to complete a very extensive health history for Hammer which included the history of infertility on his father's side. And I also brought copies of every SA Hammer had ever had done by our RE plus the DNA fragmentation results and the list of supplements he is taking. I have to admit that I was nervous the Dr would look at how Hammer's SAs had improved, dismiss the DNA test and laugh us out of the clinic. When we arrived at the clinic we did not have to wait at all and Hammer was immediately weighed and we were taken into an exam room. Once in there we did wait nearly a half hour before the Dr came in. Hammer began to get increasingly more nervous but he never complained considering everything I had already been through, this was very minor. Once the Dr came in he apologized and explained that there was a lot of information to review and that Hammer was in a small but 'elite' group of men vying for the most SAs ever performed. Lucky us.
I'll just say it now, this appointment was everything that we prayed it would be. For the first time in a long time somebody took us seriously. He even created an excel sheet timeline (A man after my own type-A heart!) of each SA and had us fill in when the various supplements were added. He said that from where we were at right now based upon the most recent two SAs everything was finally looking normal and he felt we were on the right track. He reviewed the supplements and was very pleased with every thing Hammer was taking and said it was exactly what he would have prescribed (yea!) He did not think anything else was necessary which I was glad to hear.
Then came the part Hammer was dreading; the physical exam. But the results were good as well. There is a small spot on the left side that he'd like to get an ultrasound of but said it very well could be a benign cyst. He prefers to be thorough and still would like to get it looked at just in case especially with our long history of infertility. So we'll be getting that scheduled in the next few weeks. Hammer will also get his testosterone and estrodiol levels tested and if they are off he will be medicaid as appropriate.
Finally he discussed our DNA results which he agreed was a major problem. What vindication we felt after having our current RE tell us he "didn't believe in it." He confirmed that at our level it would not only prevent creation of a healthy embryo but would lead to early miscarriage. The fact that we had a healthy fetus this last time was a good sign that we are figuring things out. Of course if my body was involved in the loss of our last pregnancy then it does give us hope to know that we really might be getting closer. He is also going to have us do a repeat DNA test in March after we've done a few lifestyle changes i.e. get that darn laptop off you lap like I've been telling you for the past 3 1/2 years *sigh* And also because I discovered that while we were in Marco Island, FL Hammer sat in the hot tub so the Dr wants to make sure that we've had 3 months of supplements post 3 months from the hot tube incident of 2010. He also confirmed that 'cleaning the pipes out' before the test would be helpful except instead of seven days he wants ten days, abstain one day and then provide the test sample. When we told him we did about 6 days prior to our most recent IVF he was very encouraging about the benefits of that technique for our success.
We left there so encouraged and hopeful. I wish I would have demanded a referral the minute we got the first DNA test results. But in reality we would have likely ended up going to the super old local guy and not this one. I'm so glad we chose this Dr. and both Hammer and I agree it was not only a great decision but we would refer anyone we knew to him in a heartbeat. He took so much time with us, listened to us, made us feel so comfortable, was so professional and knowledgeable and we haven't had that sort of treatment in a long time.
So the plan:
If our results come back close to or in the normal range then he would have us do the 10-day technique for our next fertility treatment. Of course Hammer and I need to talk about that part. Ever since Hammer found out that our baby was healthy he's pulled back from adoption. It was totally unexpected so honestly I'm not sure what this means quite yet but we're just taking this one step at a time. This coming Tuesday we'll learn about the results of my labs.
We had been asked to complete a very extensive health history for Hammer which included the history of infertility on his father's side. And I also brought copies of every SA Hammer had ever had done by our RE plus the DNA fragmentation results and the list of supplements he is taking. I have to admit that I was nervous the Dr would look at how Hammer's SAs had improved, dismiss the DNA test and laugh us out of the clinic. When we arrived at the clinic we did not have to wait at all and Hammer was immediately weighed and we were taken into an exam room. Once in there we did wait nearly a half hour before the Dr came in. Hammer began to get increasingly more nervous but he never complained considering everything I had already been through, this was very minor. Once the Dr came in he apologized and explained that there was a lot of information to review and that Hammer was in a small but 'elite' group of men vying for the most SAs ever performed. Lucky us.
I'll just say it now, this appointment was everything that we prayed it would be. For the first time in a long time somebody took us seriously. He even created an excel sheet timeline (A man after my own type-A heart!) of each SA and had us fill in when the various supplements were added. He said that from where we were at right now based upon the most recent two SAs everything was finally looking normal and he felt we were on the right track. He reviewed the supplements and was very pleased with every thing Hammer was taking and said it was exactly what he would have prescribed (yea!) He did not think anything else was necessary which I was glad to hear.
Then came the part Hammer was dreading; the physical exam. But the results were good as well. There is a small spot on the left side that he'd like to get an ultrasound of but said it very well could be a benign cyst. He prefers to be thorough and still would like to get it looked at just in case especially with our long history of infertility. So we'll be getting that scheduled in the next few weeks. Hammer will also get his testosterone and estrodiol levels tested and if they are off he will be medicaid as appropriate.
Finally he discussed our DNA results which he agreed was a major problem. What vindication we felt after having our current RE tell us he "didn't believe in it." He confirmed that at our level it would not only prevent creation of a healthy embryo but would lead to early miscarriage. The fact that we had a healthy fetus this last time was a good sign that we are figuring things out. Of course if my body was involved in the loss of our last pregnancy then it does give us hope to know that we really might be getting closer. He is also going to have us do a repeat DNA test in March after we've done a few lifestyle changes i.e. get that darn laptop off you lap like I've been telling you for the past 3 1/2 years *sigh* And also because I discovered that while we were in Marco Island, FL Hammer sat in the hot tub so the Dr wants to make sure that we've had 3 months of supplements post 3 months from the hot tube incident of 2010. He also confirmed that 'cleaning the pipes out' before the test would be helpful except instead of seven days he wants ten days, abstain one day and then provide the test sample. When we told him we did about 6 days prior to our most recent IVF he was very encouraging about the benefits of that technique for our success.
We left there so encouraged and hopeful. I wish I would have demanded a referral the minute we got the first DNA test results. But in reality we would have likely ended up going to the super old local guy and not this one. I'm so glad we chose this Dr. and both Hammer and I agree it was not only a great decision but we would refer anyone we knew to him in a heartbeat. He took so much time with us, listened to us, made us feel so comfortable, was so professional and knowledgeable and we haven't had that sort of treatment in a long time.
So the plan:
- Ultrasound of the left side 'spot'
- Blood work for testosterone and estrodiol
- Continue vitamins and lifestyle changes i.e. laptop
- Based upon the results of the blood test we'll do a repeat DNA test in March or early April with the 10 day; abstain 1 day; test sample 'technique'
If our results come back close to or in the normal range then he would have us do the 10-day technique for our next fertility treatment. Of course Hammer and I need to talk about that part. Ever since Hammer found out that our baby was healthy he's pulled back from adoption. It was totally unexpected so honestly I'm not sure what this means quite yet but we're just taking this one step at a time. This coming Tuesday we'll learn about the results of my labs.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Getting my ‘D’ on
I don’t know how many of you have heard of the recent study strongly correlating Vitamin D levels with increase success rates in IVF. This article was published in Fertility and Sterility just this month. To summarize, they had 84 women undergoing IVF participate. Of those women they saw a 6% increase in clinical pregnancy for every ng/mL increase in serum Vitamin D levels regardless of age, race, weight or number of embryos transferred.
Experts are saying that serum levels between 50-70 ng/mL are more optimal and this is higher than standard "normal" levels. So now I’m self medicating. I’m taking 4,000 IU of vitamin D for 1 week and then dropping it down to 2,000 through beta #1 pending a successful cycle where it will continue.
*I've fixed the link
**I found 2,000 IU pills at my local grocery store
***I haven't had the chance to talk to my RE yet about it since I just found out on Friday but I figure it won't hurt and with my background as an RD I feel comfortable self prescribing. Seeing that they've given 4,000 IU to pregnant women I'm not too concerned.
Experts are saying that serum levels between 50-70 ng/mL are more optimal and this is higher than standard "normal" levels. So now I’m self medicating. I’m taking 4,000 IU of vitamin D for 1 week and then dropping it down to 2,000 through beta #1 pending a successful cycle where it will continue.
*I've fixed the link
**I found 2,000 IU pills at my local grocery store
***I haven't had the chance to talk to my RE yet about it since I just found out on Friday but I figure it won't hurt and with my background as an RD I feel comfortable self prescribing. Seeing that they've given 4,000 IU to pregnant women I'm not too concerned.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Revisions
I think the weight of our most recent diagnosis has finally hit both Hammer and I. It was a delayed response because it came right in the middle of loosing Hammer’s dad. It’s to be expected I suppose. Both of us have begun to feel down and defeated every time we think about that 48%. It seems insurmountable. And now we are still awaiting the results of my recent AMH test. This is the test that will really tell us how many eggs are left in my ‘baskets.’ My FSH is fine so my egg quality is fine but I’m such a hard stimmer and lefty has low antral follicle counts so they are wondering if I may have diminished ovarian reserves. I have to admit I’m really worried.
Our first IVF I was on the long lupron cycle and 225 units of Bravelle a day. We were almost cancelled but managed to get 6 mature eggs of which only 3 fertilized.
Our second IVF was long lupron again on 300 units of Bravelle + 75 units of Luveris. I had 11 follicles and 9 eggs were collected, 8 were mature eggs, and 7 fertilized.
We’re not getting vast improvements in the egg making department here. My only hope is that my AMH is fine and that the real issue is that I’m just not a good candidate for the long lupron protocol. We could really use some good news here. But I’m feeling a bit defeated and have found myself wondering if we should just drop everything and head to adoption, the sure thing, right? But it’s not a settled feeling, there is no peace in that decision, so we push forward.
Our third and final IVF will be a lupron flare protocol with 375 units of Bravelle + 75 units of Luveris. This is the max you can give a person AND it's a short cycle ~2-3 weeks which I like...a lot.
Hammer is starting to really struggle with the fact that, per his words, “it’s his fault” regardless of the fact that I’ve told him I’ve always known but that it didn’t matter, this is OUR trial and we are doing this TOGETHER and that if given the chance I would marry him all over again even knowing we would go through this. He is my soul mate, the one whom God intended for me,, there is not a doubt in my mind. I think that over the course of this journey he has really held it together while I have been a roller coaster since, as you all know, women are put through the majority of the procedures, drugs etc. I think this is his moment where he needs to grieve but it just kills me to see him struggle because I know full well what he is feeling. But it does not help that this comes on the tails of losing his dad and the fact that we both have always known for years he would never see his grandchildren and now it has come true.
And now we’ve come to the end of the line, last chance IVF. Go big or go home. So to pick us up and give us some hope I resumed my research on IVF/ICSI and DNA fragmentation. It was actually very encouraging. In one article showed that for men who did not meet ICSI criteria (Hammer) and were treated with antioxidants for 2 months, there was an increase in pregnancy rate that went from 6.9% to 48.2%. And that ICSI actually had a more negative outcome. Two other articles supported this outcome. So we are leaning towards not doing ICS because it is believed that the zona of the egg and good ole’ Mother Nature herself may be the best selector of healthy sperm in our case. We are, however, going to ask about assisted hatching which is used in couples who have had several failed IVF cycles, like us.
Hammer’s vitamin regime has been revised to the following (amount increase in parenthesis):
-Vitamin C 1000 mg (+800 mg)
-Vitamin E 800 IU (+400 IU)
-L Acetyl-Carnitine 1 gram
-L Carnitine 1 gram (morning and evening)
-Pycogenol 100 mg
-Co Q-10 75 mg
In addition to vitamins we will both begin drinking antioxidant smoothies:
1 oz acai juice
1oz pomegranate juice
1oz frozen wheat grass
½ cup organic blueberries
½ cup organic orange and/or pineapple juice
½ cup organic yogurt
2 tbsp raw honey
Hopefully this will be an even bigger antioxidant booster. We will also be ensuring that Hammer eats 2-3 dinner salads that contain organic mixed greens. Our chiropractor has an antioxidant screening test that Hammer will have done to get a baseline and then subsequent checks to see if his levels are improving. I’m posting all of this for those women out there who may have or may be interested in testing for sperm DNA fragmentation but then receive little to no guidance from their RE’s about how to treat it. Mainly because that is what we are experiencing but thankfully as a dietitian and background in research I know enough to find out how to treat it. My hope is that I can pass this on to anyone else out there who may need it. If those of you who are reading have any questions I will be more than happy to answer them as there is not a lot of information out there and it’s a controversial topic.
Our first IVF I was on the long lupron cycle and 225 units of Bravelle a day. We were almost cancelled but managed to get 6 mature eggs of which only 3 fertilized.
Our second IVF was long lupron again on 300 units of Bravelle + 75 units of Luveris. I had 11 follicles and 9 eggs were collected, 8 were mature eggs, and 7 fertilized.
We’re not getting vast improvements in the egg making department here. My only hope is that my AMH is fine and that the real issue is that I’m just not a good candidate for the long lupron protocol. We could really use some good news here. But I’m feeling a bit defeated and have found myself wondering if we should just drop everything and head to adoption, the sure thing, right? But it’s not a settled feeling, there is no peace in that decision, so we push forward.
Our third and final IVF will be a lupron flare protocol with 375 units of Bravelle + 75 units of Luveris. This is the max you can give a person AND it's a short cycle ~2-3 weeks which I like...a lot.
Hammer is starting to really struggle with the fact that, per his words, “it’s his fault” regardless of the fact that I’ve told him I’ve always known but that it didn’t matter, this is OUR trial and we are doing this TOGETHER and that if given the chance I would marry him all over again even knowing we would go through this. He is my soul mate, the one whom God intended for me,, there is not a doubt in my mind. I think that over the course of this journey he has really held it together while I have been a roller coaster since, as you all know, women are put through the majority of the procedures, drugs etc. I think this is his moment where he needs to grieve but it just kills me to see him struggle because I know full well what he is feeling. But it does not help that this comes on the tails of losing his dad and the fact that we both have always known for years he would never see his grandchildren and now it has come true.
And now we’ve come to the end of the line, last chance IVF. Go big or go home. So to pick us up and give us some hope I resumed my research on IVF/ICSI and DNA fragmentation. It was actually very encouraging. In one article showed that for men who did not meet ICSI criteria (Hammer) and were treated with antioxidants for 2 months, there was an increase in pregnancy rate that went from 6.9% to 48.2%. And that ICSI actually had a more negative outcome. Two other articles supported this outcome. So we are leaning towards not doing ICS because it is believed that the zona of the egg and good ole’ Mother Nature herself may be the best selector of healthy sperm in our case. We are, however, going to ask about assisted hatching which is used in couples who have had several failed IVF cycles, like us.
Hammer’s vitamin regime has been revised to the following (amount increase in parenthesis):
-Vitamin C 1000 mg (+800 mg)
-Vitamin E 800 IU (+400 IU)
-L Acetyl-Carnitine 1 gram
-L Carnitine 1 gram (morning and evening)
-Pycogenol 100 mg
-Co Q-10 75 mg
In addition to vitamins we will both begin drinking antioxidant smoothies:
1 oz acai juice
1oz pomegranate juice
1oz frozen wheat grass
½ cup organic blueberries
½ cup organic orange and/or pineapple juice
½ cup organic yogurt
2 tbsp raw honey
Hopefully this will be an even bigger antioxidant booster. We will also be ensuring that Hammer eats 2-3 dinner salads that contain organic mixed greens. Our chiropractor has an antioxidant screening test that Hammer will have done to get a baseline and then subsequent checks to see if his levels are improving. I’m posting all of this for those women out there who may have or may be interested in testing for sperm DNA fragmentation but then receive little to no guidance from their RE’s about how to treat it. Mainly because that is what we are experiencing but thankfully as a dietitian and background in research I know enough to find out how to treat it. My hope is that I can pass this on to anyone else out there who may need it. If those of you who are reading have any questions I will be more than happy to answer them as there is not a lot of information out there and it’s a controversial topic.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
One for my Homie
I'm back after a nice hiatus of trying to wrap our mind around another family loss. Thank you all for your kind comments and condolences. (Except for that last comment which apparently links you to As.ian Por.n, classy. And it is not Tickintime's comment, thank you sweetie!) Because of the last tasteless comment I'll be putting on comment moderation. I don't know of any other way to reduce the spam. If anyone knows how to delete a comment I'd love to get that one off of my last post. For some reason I'm just uncomfortable having that on the post announcing my FIL's passing, imagine that. {I figured it out!}
On another note, I thought I'd share a photo with you all. Now normally when people start IVF cycles they posts photos of all their meds. For us the process will start about 4-5 months in advance and this time it has nothing to do with me, yea! Hammer will be downing around 5-6 antioxidant pills each day in the hopes that it will reduce the DNA fragmentation in his sperm allowing us to have a chance at a successful IVF cycle, which will also be our last IVF cycle some time in late spring. When I know the date I'll set up a ticker but until then we're still a bit up in the air with everything that has happened lately. So that was a long introduction just to say here is the picture of all of Hammers pills, minus one that I forgot to order:
On another note, I thought I'd share a photo with you all. Now normally when people start IVF cycles they posts photos of all their meds. For us the process will start about 4-5 months in advance and this time it has nothing to do with me, yea! Hammer will be downing around 5-6 antioxidant pills each day in the hopes that it will reduce the DNA fragmentation in his sperm allowing us to have a chance at a successful IVF cycle, which will also be our last IVF cycle some time in late spring. When I know the date I'll set up a ticker but until then we're still a bit up in the air with everything that has happened lately. So that was a long introduction just to say here is the picture of all of Hammers pills, minus one that I forgot to order:
What he will be taking is the following:
-Vitamin C 200 mg
-Vitamin E 400 IU
-L Acetyl-Carnitine 1 gram
-L Carnitine 1 gram (morning and evening)
-Pycogenol 100 mg
-Co Q-10 75 mg
I looked into Proxeed which is a powdered form of all of these plus some others but Hammer wasn't into drinking his vitamins. Plus there have been studies on high levels of zinc and selenium having a negative effect on sperm DNA and these levels are found in Proxeed. So instead I read up on a few studies that were having positive effects and used those antioxidants and levels.
That and I read an interesting study recently which said that rather than abstaining from se.x for 3 days to increase sperm count, men with high sperm DFI should actually have se.x for 7 days leading up to ovulation. The study showed an average of a 10% reduction in DFI levels. Aside from probably having a tired Mrs. Hammer were going to give this a try as well. I know TMI but if it can help someone out there reading then it's worth it.
-Vitamin C 200 mg
-Vitamin E 400 IU
-L Acetyl-Carnitine 1 gram
-L Carnitine 1 gram (morning and evening)
-Pycogenol 100 mg
-Co Q-10 75 mg
I looked into Proxeed which is a powdered form of all of these plus some others but Hammer wasn't into drinking his vitamins. Plus there have been studies on high levels of zinc and selenium having a negative effect on sperm DNA and these levels are found in Proxeed. So instead I read up on a few studies that were having positive effects and used those antioxidants and levels.
That and I read an interesting study recently which said that rather than abstaining from se.x for 3 days to increase sperm count, men with high sperm DFI should actually have se.x for 7 days leading up to ovulation. The study showed an average of a 10% reduction in DFI levels. Aside from probably having a tired Mrs. Hammer were going to give this a try as well. I know TMI but if it can help someone out there reading then it's worth it.
Monday, January 12, 2009
FertilAid for Men Information
Wow, I have had a ton of requests for information on FertilAid for Men (which Hammer took for 3 weeks and doubled his SA results! [26 mill to 46 mill])
I got it for $28.95 at Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com because they had free shipping. Here is the direct link to FertilAid for Men. You take three pills a day at Breakfast Lunch and Dinner to saturate your absorption of essential vitamins and minerals that help make quality sperm. One bottle is enough for four weeks.
I bought the women's version but have not taken it yet because our IUI bypasses the whole quality mucus issue. It's on reserve if this month does not work because we will have one more month "au natural "in between if we need to start IVF. We will be buying more of this if we need too!
Oh and if you ladies want another great product for yourselves I would HIGHLY recommend Pre-seed, which you can also get for free shipping at EPT.com or sometimes the manufacturer has good deals too. It's a sperm friendly lubricant that helps get your cervical mucus at the right pH, gives you MORE CM to get those boys up there, and my favorite side effect is that it's very, very comfortable to use (if you get what I'm saying [ahem]). If you are using it for IF, I recommend the 'you-fill' applicators to get it up where you need it in an amount that is right for your body. But they also have the tube for "other" uses.
I got it for $28.95 at Early-Pregnancy-Tests.com because they had free shipping. Here is the direct link to FertilAid for Men. You take three pills a day at Breakfast Lunch and Dinner to saturate your absorption of essential vitamins and minerals that help make quality sperm. One bottle is enough for four weeks.
I bought the women's version but have not taken it yet because our IUI bypasses the whole quality mucus issue. It's on reserve if this month does not work because we will have one more month "au natural "in between if we need to start IVF. We will be buying more of this if we need too!
Oh and if you ladies want another great product for yourselves I would HIGHLY recommend Pre-seed, which you can also get for free shipping at EPT.com or sometimes the manufacturer has good deals too. It's a sperm friendly lubricant that helps get your cervical mucus at the right pH, gives you MORE CM to get those boys up there, and my favorite side effect is that it's very, very comfortable to use (if you get what I'm saying [ahem]). If you are using it for IF, I recommend the 'you-fill' applicators to get it up where you need it in an amount that is right for your body. But they also have the tube for "other" uses.
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