TTC Check-In

StacyLH24

How is everyone this Monday morning? What's happening with your journey?

QOTD: If you could have any animal, reptile, arachnid, fish, etc. as a pet, what would you want?

wishiwaspreggo

BFN.  Blargh.  This was my 3rd cycle (2nd real cycle, anyway) and my doctor wants to do an HSG now.  I called my insurance company and they're going to cover it (YAY!!) so I'm happy to move forward with it now.  I'd love to finally bill something to Anthem after all I've had to pay for out of pocket.  Is it painful though?  I've heard bad things about it... but I suppose it couldn't be much worse than my extra-rough first IUI (when the doctor grabbed my cervix with a tenaculum - ouch!).  Well, if it will help me get pregnant then I won't complain.

I'm taking this cycle off to let my reproductive bits rest a little, and so I can enjoy the holidays without worrying about TTC.  I'm also going to hit the gym harder, eat healthier, and listen to my Circle + Bloom program when I start back up again in January.  I'm also going to track my temperatures and see if I can find a better pattern this month.  Last month was awful because I was on medication and it just wasn't accurate.

Anyway, that's where I am now.  Congrats to @2mamaz on her BFP!!!!  So exciting

healz413

wishiwaspreggo said:

BFN.  Blargh.  This was my 3rd cycle (2nd real cycle, anyway) and my doctor wants to do an HSG now.  I called my insurance company and they're going to cover it (YAY!!) so I'm happy to move forward with it now.  I'd love to finally bill something to Anthem after all I've had to pay for out of pocket.  Is it painful though?  I've heard bad things about it... but I suppose it couldn't be much worse than my extra-rough first IUI (when the doctor grabbed my cervix with a tenaculum - ouch!).  Well, if it will help me get pregnant then I won't complain.

I'm taking this cycle off to let my reproductive bits rest a little, and so I can enjoy the holidays without worrying about TTC.  I'm also going to hit the gym harder, eat healthier, and listen to my Circle + Bloom program when I start back up again in January.  I'm also going to track my temperatures and see if I can find a better pattern this month.  Last month was awful because I was on medication and it just wasn't accurate.

Anyway, that's where I am now.  Congrats to @2mamaz on her BFP!!!!  So exciting

I'm sorry to hear about your BFN! Craptastic!!

The HSG does really vary from person to person. I'm really glad you're getting it, though. There's no way to know about blocked tubes without that sort of procedure and it increases pregnancy rates moderately for the first 3 months after if you don't have blocked tubes because it clears out whatever minor buildup there might be in there.

For me the HSG was excruciating and I scared the folks in the waiting room with my screams. But it turns out that I had 1 completely blocked tube and one shitty almost fully blocked tube and stage 4 endo (the last two things were diagnosed via a laprascopy). SOOO-- if I hadn't had the HSG I wouldn't have known I had a blocked tube (making the pain worth it) and if I hadn't had such crappy tubes, it probably wouldn't have been nearly as painful.

I think for most people without blocked tubes most of the pain and discomfort has to do with manipulation of the cervix--so you're probably correct to compare it to your horrible IUI. I would definitely recommend taking whatever pain medication the doctor gives you or, if they don't, taking 800mg ibuprofen. (Obviously I"m not a doctor, so follow doctors orders on any medications. I'm just saying that you'll want a painkiller that will also help with cramping).

good luck!

wishiwaspreggo

healz413 said:

wishiwaspreggo said:

BFN.  Blargh.  This was my 3rd cycle (2nd real cycle, anyway) and my doctor wants to do an HSG now.  I called my insurance company and they're going to cover it (YAY!!) so I'm happy to move forward with it now.  I'd love to finally bill something to Anthem after all I've had to pay for out of pocket.  Is it painful though?  I've heard bad things about it... but I suppose it couldn't be much worse than my extra-rough first IUI (when the doctor grabbed my cervix with a tenaculum - ouch!).  Well, if it will help me get pregnant then I won't complain.

I'm taking this cycle off to let my reproductive bits rest a little, and so I can enjoy the holidays without worrying about TTC.  I'm also going to hit the gym harder, eat healthier, and listen to my Circle + Bloom program when I start back up again in January.  I'm also going to track my temperatures and see if I can find a better pattern this month.  Last month was awful because I was on medication and it just wasn't accurate.

Anyway, that's where I am now.  Congrats to @2mamaz on her BFP!!!!  So exciting

I'm sorry to hear about your BFN! Craptastic!!

The HSG does really vary from person to person. I'm really glad you're getting it, though. There's no way to know about blocked tubes without that sort of procedure and it increases pregnancy rates moderately for the first 3 months after if you don't have blocked tubes because it clears out whatever minor buildup there might be in there.

For me the HSG was excruciating and I scared the folks in the waiting room with my screams. But it turns out that I had 1 completely blocked tube and one shitty almost fully blocked tube and stage 4 endo (the last two things were diagnosed via a laprascopy). SOOO-- if I hadn't had the HSG I wouldn't have known I had a blocked tube (making the pain worth it) and if I hadn't had such crappy tubes, it probably wouldn't have been nearly as painful.

I think for most people without blocked tubes most of the pain and discomfort has to do with manipulation of the cervix--so you're probably correct to compare it to your horrible IUI. I would definitely recommend taking whatever pain medication the doctor gives you or, if they don't, taking 800mg ibuprofen. (Obviously I"m not a doctor, so follow doctors orders on any medications. I'm just saying that you'll want a painkiller that will also help with cramping).

good luck!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!  That's awful I'm so sorry you had such a terrible experience.  What on earth caused the block tubes, do you know?  I've never had unprotected sex with a man and I've been tested up/down/left/right for STDs because I'm so paranoid about them.  I even somehow avoided HPV even though almost everyone has it.  I've heard pelvic inflammatory disease can cause it, too... Huh.  Well, in any case, I am very sorry you had such a painful experience.  My bad IUI was just a cramping feeling.  And the weird pressure/pain I felt from my cervix being held in place.  Oh, and the pain from the catheter being pushed through a cervix that just wasn't ready for it.

Thank you for the heads up.  I'm hoping for relatively clear tubes that get cleaned out by the dye.  @ATXmommas mentioned that to me before because I believe she had the HSG and it cleaned her out, too.  Unless I'm remembering the wrong bumpie!

healz413

wishiwaspreggo said:

Aaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!  That's awful I'm so sorry you had such a terrible experience.  What on earth caused the block tubes, do you know?  I've never had unprotected sex with a man and I've been tested up/down/left/right for STDs because I'm so paranoid about them.  I even somehow avoided HPV even though almost everyone has it.  I've heard pelvic inflammatory disease can cause it, too... Huh.  Well, in any case, I am very sorry you had such a painful experience.  My bad IUI was just a cramping feeling.  And the weird pressure/pain I felt from my cervix being held in place.  Oh, and the pain from the catheter being pushed through a cervix that just wasn't ready for it.

Thank you for the heads up.  I'm hoping for relatively clear tubes that get cleaned out by the dye.  @ATXmommas mentioned that to me before because I believe she had the HSG and it cleaned her out, too.  Unless I'm remembering the wrong bumpie!

Yeah, after we found out about the blocked tube (the HSG only revealed the block on the left), I spent a long time trying to figure out how I could have had undiagnosed PID or an undiagnosed STI that would cause PID. Turns out my tubal blockage was caused by stage IV endometriosis. Everything down there was all twisted and tied up because of endo.

2MamazInSeattle

@wishiwaspreggo - thanks for the good thoughts!

Healz is right. HSG varies by person so much...i too had horribly blocked tubes that had to be removed just like Healz, yet my HSG was totally painless and I had maybe 5-10 of cramps when I left the office. Completely no big deal for me. So unfortunately you kinda just have to wait and see. I hope yours is quick and easy, but it's worth it 100%!

StacyLH24

@wishiwaspreggo - I had a HSG back in July. It was uncomfy during and after for a while. I agree with @healz....take ibuprophen if you are allowed. I didn't, thinking it would be no biggie and I could handle it. I wished after that I had followed the RE's suggestion. I was crampy during and for several hours after.

AFM... I had my post op and inject consult on Wednesday. Our RE confirmed that we are ready to start new. Septum was fixed just fine and endo was removed without a problem. I will be using Gonal-F now. My period came about a week early so looks like I will be starting meds around Christmas. We will have to make several trips to Buffalo for close monitoring, so hopefully the weather won't be bad. We are excited. I have picked a new donor and just need C's approval before buying our new vials. I'm hoping so bad that everything works now.

QOTD: I want a moose family! I think they are beautiful animals and would love to have some.

KH826

@wishiwaspreggo - just popping over (hope that's ok!) to give my 2 cents about the HSG. Mine was pretty awful, unfortunately, and turns out my tubes were both clear. We did however discover that my cervix is "tilted" during this procedure, and that was likely why I had as much pain as I did. The Dr had to remove and reposition the speculum 3 times b/c he couldn't get the catheter in properly. This was a good dress rehearsal for me though, because it turns out that the Dr had a difficult time getting the catheter in for every IUI that I ever had b/c of my tilted cervix. Anyway, I just want to echo that the experience is different for everyone, and it you probably won't know what truly to expect until you are on the table (unfortunately).

In terms of prep, I agree with the tylenol/IB profen suggestions. I didn't take anything first, and I wish that I had. Also, I recommend bringing pads with you in case you need them. It is common to have spotting after, but I had heavier bleeding b/c of all the manipulating of the speculum, etc. A panty liner was NOT enough for me, so I wish that I had come prepared with a pad. One final tip, if it is at all possible for your partner to come with you, let her. My test was in the middle of the afternoon and I thought it would be no big deal, so I told my wife not to bother. I wish she had been there to drive me home after b/c I was in a lot of discomfort and I was crying and kind of a mess. I am in no way trying to scare you, b/c many people have easy, breezy experiences with the HSG, but I am usually one who likes to prepare for the worse, so I thought I would share my thoughts with you. For me, I would have very much liked to have my wife there to drive me home after, since I really wasn't in the best shape to drive myself.

ATXmommas

@wishiwaspreggo - my HSG was easy breezy. Hope that's you too! I was expecting it to be awful b/c of the stories I heard, but it was painless with minimal cramping.

Manada

Hey Everyone.

H and I are both sitting around waiting to get our periods.  Fun times in our house!   I stopped the Provera last Thursday so it should really be any day now for me, but no sign of it yet. 

As for the topic of the day:  My HSG was more emotionally bad then actually painful I think.  I have a pretty sensitive cervix and having it manipulated so much just felt "wrong" to me. I didn't like it at all and felt pretty powerless.  Mind you - I was also less than a year out from a LEEP procedure at that point, so I had had some pretty awful cervical experiences in the last year...   I cried through it.   When I had my sonohysterogram just a few months ago I took a couple of ativans and it was much better - although in that one I cramped badly during it.

I'm really tired of dealing with Infertility.  Today I said to H  - "Well, we're going into 2014 with a goal to have a baby by the end of the year" and she reminded me that we went into 2013 with the same goal -- how depressing!        Gross.   That is a terrible feeling for sure.   I'm struggling with some depression and panic these days, but we're okay.  I just really hope that we can be done doing this infertility business soon.... and actually be able to move on with an infant.

QOTD:  We already have a cat and a dog, and we can't feasibly bring more animals into our home.  But I think --- when these animals expire - I would like to move toward having two cats and a much smaller dog next time around.   I'd love to have more cuddly fur-beings around.

wedinpitt

my wife and I dd our first at-home AI late Thursday/early Friday!! so we're in the TWW and I'm hanging in there pretty well so far. I know it's early to do, but I'm pretty sure we're going to start testing on 8dpo. I stocked up on some early HPT so we can keep testing. I keep second guessing we got the timing right but then I remember how my wife said my cervix was wide open. good sign right? fingers crossed and lots of positivity. trying to envision the BFP.

good vibes to everyone!

pauljl

2ww....glad work is keeping me busy. Decent timing, and a temp shift ( was worried I wasn't ovulating). I feel pretty relaxed about it...we did all we could. Either we will celebrate or start focusing on our next round. Either way we have a plan I kind of feel like I have no right to obsess after one round when most of you gals are the very definition of perseverance! @2mamazinseattle CONGRATULATIONS! Sending best wishes your way for your beta!

doodah1013

So today I went for some blood testing (that I wish we would have done before ever getting started TTC). I am nervous about the direction the Doctor wants to go, as it involves total natural cycles monitored with OPKs which make me feel so nervous... But we will see what happens! Part of me hopes there is something that shows up on the blood test that can be fixed, so we know why we aren't pregnant yet...
I must say I can echo was @Manada said about integrating our current situation with our goals for 2013. As the end of the year draws near I feel so sad that we haven't made any strides towards our life goals. At the beginning of this year we thought by now we would be pregnant, homeowners and I would be up for a promotion at work. Well... Obviously we are still struggling with TTC... We got to the contract stage of buying a house in August and our financing fell through and I had a not so pleasant review where my boss told me I wouldn't be getting a promotion unless someone leaves no matter how much work I do.... It feels like we are trapped and have no way of improving our situations
So I am ready for this year to be over. I am ready for a clean slate. I feel depressed a lot, and am not sleeping hardly at all. We are struggling through and really identifying the positives in our relationship. Sometimes I feel like everything is okay and we are just being tested, and other times I just can't shake the sadness....
Again, I am so thankful that I have somewhere to release all these frustrations to people who understand.

trisholio

Good morning everyone.  I am CD 15, we think.  My period was spotty for a few days, then a little heavier and lasted about 6 days.  That is very abnormal for me.  I usually have a heavy flow 4 day period.  So we weren't sure which day to be CD1.  Due to that I have had many more appointments with our RE to try and get the timing right for our IUI this month.  I went for my midcycle check last Thursday, Saturday and again on Sunday.  Good times getting those internal ultrasounds and probed by different men.  Finally yesterday morning the RE said I had two follies on my right side that were 20mm and 18mm and then two on my left side that were 13 and 14mm.  So we are a go for the trigger shot.  We did the shot last night at 930 and have our IUI scheduled at 930am Tuesday morning.  I had to have a very serious conversation with our KD yesterday and was not too fun.  We are friends with our KD and this whole process is awkward and strange.  Especially since he and his wife got pregnant with no planning involved.  So we tried to have multiple conversations with him about everything, but he preferred to stay in the dark and we would just tell him to be where and when.  Well now that we have moved on to IUI it involves more specific timing and work on his part.  So at the end of the conversation we came to an agreement, but its just not fun to fell like all our dreams depend on him right now.   So positive thoughts would be appreciated over the next 24 hours.  I am pretty nervous about tomorrow and on top of everything my wife can't be there with me :-(  We knew that would be a possibility due to her not having a lot of flexibility in her work schedule right now.  I know that after the first of the year things will be easier for her at work.  I also know that once I get pregnant she will do her best to be at every appointment possible.  

So if all of that wasn't enough to deal with this week, we have an appointment on Thursday with the regional director at the foster agency.  She meets all new foster parents and its a little nerve wrecking.  We also sign our final contract, set up our direct deposit stuff and meet our new case worker that does the placements.  We could get a call anytime to have children placed in our home.  We are living on pins and needles around here lately.   

Enough about me :-)  The topic of the day seems to be the HSG and I wanted to put in my two cents.  I had mine done last December.  At the time it seemed pretty uncomfortable and I had minor cramping afterwards.  Over the last year I have had multiple internal ultrasounds, hysterscopy (water ultra sound) and the uterine laparascopy.  So the HSG seems like a breeze compared to all the probing I have endured.  So I guess what I am trying to say is that its different for everyone and it's all relative to you other experiences.  

lamaitresse

Got a call last week from the clinic and our first appointment with our case manager is January 8th! Finally! Then Jan 24th I apparently have to get an ultrasound, as well. I am supposed to get a packet in the mail with full details, so once that arrives I should have more info.

Last week was sugar pill week and yesterday would have been the day I typically start a new pack of Seasonale. My FS said I would need to be off the birth control pill a good three months to ensure all the hormones are out of my body before we start any new treatment etc., so Smurf and I agreed that, considering how slow this clinic is, I might as well just stop taking the Seasonale now. So I did. Based on the last appointment I had with my FS, I will likely be taking Femara and Metformin.

@wishiwaspreggo - I had an HSG in August and it is hands down one of the most painful medical procedures I have ever experienced -- but it truly is different for everyone. At the very least, expect some discomfort, and take an ibuprofen or something beforehand. If I had to do it over, I probably would take some kind of muscle relaxant first. Do lots of deep breathing and do your best to stay relaxed and you should be fine. Although my results were frustrating (see my signature), I kinda liked that I got to watch the results on the monitor as it was happening. Don't know if it's the norm to let the patient see it in "real time" so to speak, but I found it fascinating. Also, take a pad with you to wear afterwards!!! You may not bleed, but the dye has to come back out... not all of it gets absorbed by the body.

GoaliesWife123

So happy to hear all the positive news this week!

@Trisholio, I'm thinking of you!

As for me, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, I am finally able to purchase insurance that won't cost me my first born. Due to the fact that my insurance will begin on January 1 and will cover almost EVERYTHING related to TTC, we are going to wait to start testing and a monitored cycle (if at all) until my next cycle. I am currently CD 38 and no sign of AF. My acupuncturist is frustrated but hopeful that we have turned the right direction. I will be continuing working out as well as yoga to get and stay centered. I will also be almost completely eliminating sugar. That means carbs and sugar. My wife is amazing and is completely on board and we are excited to see how this improves our lives! 

That's all for us! 

GTKY: I love my cat, but I would love a dog! 

StacyLH24

@doodah1013 - My heart goes out to you and @firstcomeslove.  It sounds like you have had a rough year for sure...even beyond TTC.  Have you thought about possibly seeking some counseling, if you aren't active in it already?  Our RE's office has a social worker who runs an infertility group, so I'm guessing most of them do.  At the very least, they might be able to give you a referral.  Any counselor might do, as long as you have a connection and feel comfortable with him/her.  As a social worker myself, I always advocate that folks seek counseling when necessary.  That being said, I have sought counseling myself a few times.  When I was in my undergrad years, counseling was my saving grace and that is not an exaggeration in any way.  It is important to take care of yourself at all costs. 

@Manada - My heart also goes out to you and @healz.  I think I remember reading somewhere that you both attend an infertility support group?  If I'm incorrect in that, then I would echo the same thing I said to @doodah and @firstcomeslove.  Also, while support groups are great things, there is so much more you can get out of individual sessions as well.

 

At the very least, counseling offers you an insight into yourself.  It helps you get out of your own head and there is a neutral person who can be objective when you need it the most.  I'm glad you are both in supportive relationships and that you have the support of this board.  Get as must support as you can, from wherever you can. 

Big hugs to all four of you!

 

StacyLH24

@trisholio - Good luck tomorrow morning!  I hope it goes as smoothly as possible and that you graduate to the Pregnancy Check-In in two weeks .  I'm sorry that your wife can't be with you.  When we first started this process, I thought it wouldn't be a huge deal if I ever had to go alone.  Well, a few months in now, C hasn't missed an appointment yet.  We make early morning appointments so that we can both get back to work in time.  When that isn't possible, she takes the day off.  She gets no paid time off, so when she doesn't work, we lose money.  I find a way to make it work though.  I'm glad that the inflexibility of your wife's job won't last for much longer. 

@pauljland @wedinpitt - Congrats to both of you on your first inseminations!  I think the TWW is nerve racking whether it is the first or not. 

@lamaitresse -  I'm glad you're making more forward movement!  Your first IUI will be here before you know it.  I'm sure it doesn't feel like that right now though.  Hopefully with all this prep work, the first one will be the only one you need. 

@Goalieswife123 - That's great that you'll be getting such wonderful coverage!  It can open up a lot of doors for you in the TTC process that you might not have considered otherwise.  If you would, keep us updated on how cutting out so much sugar is going.  I LOVE bread...I was saying this to C as she and I ate lunch at Pizza Hut today....  More power to you for everything you are doing!

trisholio

StacyLH24doodah1013 that you are able to process all the emotions and things you are going thru right now.  This process is grueling and so difficult to understand and grasp, let alone add financial stresses and emotions on top of it and its amazing we are functioning people in society.  I believe in doing what you can each day to take care of yourself and let people be there for you.  I hope that 2014 is better for you and so many other people on this board.  

GoaliesWife123

StacyLH24 said:

@trisholio - Good luck tomorrow morning!  I hope it goes as smoothly as possible and that you graduate to the Pregnancy Check-In in two weeks .  I'm sorry that your wife can't be with you.  When we first started this process, I thought it wouldn't be a huge deal if I ever had to go alone.  Well, a few months in now, C hasn't missed an appointment yet.  We make early morning appointments so that we can both get back to work in time.  When that isn't possible, she takes the day off.  She gets no paid time off, so when she doesn't work, we lose money.  I find a way to make it work though.  I'm glad that the inflexibility of your wife's job won't last for much longer. 

@pauljland @wedinpitt - Congrats to both of you on your first inseminations!  I think the TWW is nerve racking whether it is the first or not. 

@lamaitresse -  I'm glad you're making more forward movement!  Your first IUI will be here before you know it.  I'm sure it doesn't feel like that right now though.  Hopefully with all this prep work, the first one will be the only one you need. 

@Goalieswife123 - That's great that you'll be getting such wonderful coverage!  It can open up a lot of doors for you in the TTC process that you might not have considered otherwise.  If you would, keep us updated on how cutting out so much sugar is going.  I LOVE bread...I was saying this to C as she and I ate lunch at Pizza Hut today....  More power to you for everything you are doing!

Thank you. I love potatoes, so it will be interesting, but I think we can handle it. Now I have to find new recipes!!

singingmua

We found out yesterday that wel will have to sit this cycle out. My monitoring soon yesterday showed that I'm set to O on the right side, and since that is the side with the blocked tube, there is no point in doing an insem this month. I have somewhat mixed emotions about it, but for the most part we are both ok with it. The mixed emotions comes from the fact that my birthday is next week, and I will be 35+1 (LOL), and while sitting out this month means that I get to enjoy an adult beverage for my bday, it also means that with this bday I'm very near the age my mother was when she started going through menopause. It makes me sad to consider that I may miss my chance to experience pregnancy and childbirth. Overall though, I'm mostly happy to have an extra month to get my eating habits back on track, as with the coming of the cooler weather and the holidays I have been pretty lax in my eating. QOTD - we currently have two kitty fur babies, and I wish we could add a dog to the mix. But since we are limited by our apartment complex in the number of pets we can own, we are not sure how our babies would even respond to having a dog, and our current lifestyle probably isn't best suited to a dog, it's not likely that it will happen.

Manada

StacyLH24 said:

@Manada - My heart also goes out to you and @healz.  I think I remember reading somewhere that you both attend an infertility support group?  If I'm incorrect in that, then I would echo the same thing I said to @doodah and @firstcomeslove.  Also, while support groups are great things, there is so much more you can get out of individual sessions as well.

 

We do have an IF support group.   Even better - it's an LGBTQ infertility support group, so those who come are mostly queer people trying to get pregnant, though we get the occassional couple trying to adopt or using a surrogate.

I urge those of you in communities with strong LGBTQ groups to start one, or a LGBTQ TTC/A group or something - if I had lots of money I would go around North America and start little community groups and courses like the Dykes Planning Tykes and Queer and Trans family planning courses we have here. 

trisholio

StacyLH24 said:

@Manada - My heart also goes out to you and @healz.  I think I remember reading somewhere that you both attend an infertility support group?  If I'm incorrect in that, then I would echo the same thing I said to @doodah and @firstcomeslove.  Also, while support groups are great things, there is so much more you can get out of individual sessions as well.

 

We do have an IF support group.   Even better - it's an LGBTQ infertility support group, so those who come are mostly queer people trying to get pregnant, though we get the occassional couple trying to adopt or using a surrogate.

I urge those of you in communities with strong LGBTQ groups to start one, or a LGBTQ TTC/A group or something - if I had lots of money I would go around North America and start little community groups and courses like the Dykes Planning Tykes and Queer and Trans family planning courses we have here. 

Dykes planning Tykes, I love it.

StacyLH24

@trisholio - Thank you for your kind words

@Manada - I wish we had groups like that around here.  Buffalo is the closest large city and I'm not sure groups like yours even exist there.

@singingmua - I'm sorry that things aren't working out as you had expected/hoped.  Sitting out a cycle, for any reason, isn't fun.