Weekly checkin - July 1

dolphin012

This check in is for anyone on this board to participate in and will occur every Wednesday. If you are new here and haven't made a separate intro on the main board please do so before checking in so we can "meet" you! It's easy to do just click the new discussion button in the top right and post away. 

1. Your Name or Screen Name (not full names) and State you are from. 

2. How long have you been TTC? Are you TTC #1,#2,#3, etc.? 

3. What are you doing this cycle? Are you seeking help with a fertility specialist (RE)? If so, what stage are you in? Charting/temping? Testing? Medicated cycles? IUI? IVF? DE? 

4. Where are you in your cycle? (Waiting to O, 2WW etc) If in the 2ww when will you test? 

5. How do you feel about this cycle? (Are you hopeful, anxious... etc) 

QOTW: Yikes its already July!! What is a fun 4th of July memory you have?  

Feel free to add any vents or shout outs.

carrieandr

Carrie from Florida

TTC #1 since January, 3rd post-d&c cycle

Charting/temping, opk

CD17 / 5DPO

Hopeful, anxious, obsessed, frustrated, impatient, and trying to ignore the defeated feeling that this isn't the month. I think luteal phase hormones are messing with my head.

QOTW: Watching fireworks on my parents' boat 

KLake42

1. Your Name or Screen Name (not full names) and State you are from. 

Kathleen from Georgia

2. How long have you been TTC? Are you TTC #1,#2,#3, etc.? 

TTC #1, 3 cycles done.

3. What are you doing this cycle? Are you seeking help with a fertility specialist (RE)? If so, what stage are you in? Charting/temping? Testing? Medicated cycles? IUI? IVF? DE? 

I'm actually taking a bit of a break this cycle.  I'm going to get an HSG test next week, and we'll see what it says.  I've also started acupuncture, and will start taking Chinese herbs.  Also, focusing on diet and exercise, since that's slipped since I've been taking fertility meds.  I've done 3 medicated IUIs so far, and I expect to do another next month, so long as I don't have a problem with my tubes.

4. Where are you in your cycle? (Waiting to O, 2WW etc) If in the 2ww when will you test? 

CD 3 and just so glad to sit back and observe a natural cycle.

5. How do you feel about this cycle? (Are you hopeful, anxious... etc) 

Totally confident that pregnancy won't happen this time!

Relieved to have a break, so I can get geared up again in August.

QOTW: Yikes its already July!! What is a fun 4th of July memory you have?  

Fireworks exploding everywhere!  I spent the 4th in Boston a few years back, with Neil Diamond and the Boston Pops, and the biggest fireworks show ever-- 20 minutes of the entire sky filled with light and BOOM!!!  It was unbelievable!  

amimhof

1. Amanda Marie from Maryland 

2. TTC #1, Cycle 1

3. Just charting/temping

4. TWW - CD 23/DPO 7

5. I feel eh.  It's our first try, so I'm not feeling anxious/frustrated/etc.  I've also just came of the pill, so I know my cycle could be a little wonky, or I could be unusually fertile.  Just waiting to see what happens.

QOTW: We used to go out to the Antietam battle field to see the Maryland Symphony perform patriotic pieces (highlighted by the Overture of 1812, complete with live cannon fire courtesy of one of the local army base) followed by fireworks.

emsmama15

@CarrieandRoy - we'll be TWW'ing together.  I hope this is your month.

@Klake42 - I took a break after my 4th IUI, not by choice, but it was actually the best thing that could have happened for me.  It ended up being a 3 month break due to a break cycle for cysts, an overstim cycle, and another break for cysts, which was a bit maddening, but my mental health and outlook are in a much better place now with IUI #5!    I hope you can achieve the same zen.  

@amimhof - I hope your cycle isn't too wonky and everything straightens out post-BC quickly.  

AFM...

1. Your Name or Screen Name (not full names) and State you are from. 

Heather from MN

2. How long have you been TTC? Are you TTC #1,#2,#3, etc.? 

TTC #2 for 13 months with a few breaks (on my 7th medicated cycle currently)

3. What are you doing this cycle? Are you seeking help with a fertility specialist (RE)? If so, what stage are you in? Charting/temping? Testing? Medicated cycles? IUI? IVF? DE? 

IUI #5 this morning, with Gonal-F 175 IU CD 3-7, 150 IU CD 8, trigger, progesterone.  Also doing all the things I've been doing: CoQ10, Vit E, D, & C, DHA, PNV, no alcohol, decreased carbs/sugar, decreased caffeine.  I've lost 30 pounds as of today!!!  WHOO HOO!  And, I'm going to go really off the rails and I'm adding in pineapple core starting today and through the next five days.  Oh, and acupuncture because I love it and it relaxes me.  

4. Where are you in your cycle? (Waiting to O, 2WW etc) If in the 2ww when will you test? 

O-day, IUI day, etc.

5. How do you feel about this cycle? (Are you hopeful, anxious... etc) 

I feel great physically, emotionally, and mentally and I'm very hopeful that this is our month (do I say that every month?).  I think we've optimized everything we could possibly optimize.  And the NP said everything looks perfect...

QOTW: Yikes its already July!! What is a fun 4th of July memory you have?  

Probably going to the parade every year with my whole family.  My dad knew the guy who owned the gas station right downtown so he parked a pickup truck there every night on the 3rd, so we'd have a great vantage for the parade.  All our friends would stop by and visit.  It was a great time.  Then a big party at my parents' house after.

But of course my favorite fourth of July was spent in the hospital 2 years ago with my 2 day old baby girl!  Gosh, that's gone so freaking fast.

carrieandr

@emsmama15, good luck TWW buddy! By the way, my sister is an MD that does acupuncture. Unfortunately she lives 3 hours away, so I don't get it as much as I'd like. The spot between my eyebrows is my favorite. :>

suziq1978

1. suziq1978, central IL

2. TTC#4 - forever - I think this month is 12

3. charting and temping

4. waiting to O (I think) last month and this month so far temps have been super rocky so we'll see if I get a clear shift.

5. I'm hopeful and anxious.  This is it for me.  H says no more trying after my birthday (7/15) so this is my last chance.  Fingers crossed, but legs open

QOTW: Yikes its already July!! What is a fun 4th of July memory you have?  I really don't have any except fireworks with the kids.

Feel free to add any vents or shout outs

Stairbear

Sorry I've been missing from the board for a little while. Last week I had to move my mother, who has advanced Alzheimer's, from one facility to another. After that wrenching and emotionally and physically exhausting task, I took a much needed mini-break at the beach with my husband and our little one. Lots of lobster, lots of wine, and as much relaxation as is possible with a 2-y-old.

@emsmama15 -- you wrote a heartbreaking post on a thread I started a couple of weeks ago about losing your mom while you were pregnant with your first. I just wanted to say that even though I didn't respond at the time, I certainly read it and my heart goes out to you. I feel like the sense of loss is magnified by motherhood, because our mothers are missing out on enjoying their grandchildren, and our grandchildren are missing out on their grandmothers, and we are missing out on sharing the experience with our moms and saying, "I get it now, this is how you must have felt in 1976 [or whenever] when you had me."

Anyhoo:

1. Stairbear, CT

2. TTC #2 since the start of the year

3. Using a fertility monitor.

4. CD 13, waiting to ovulate. Haven't gotten a peak or even a "high" reading yet on the monitor. But my cycles tend to be long (which sucks) so this is not unexpected.

5. Feeling relatively optimistic. I got my cycles back, and the monitor will help me with the timing.

QOTW: Running around my grandparents' lake house with sprinklers. In retrospect, those things are totally unsafe, but they were so exciting and fun when I was a kid!

Tomerine

1. Your Name or Screen Name (not full names) and State you are from.

Tomerine from MA

2. How long have you been TTC? Are you TTC #1,#2,#3, etc.?

TTC #2 since Dec/Jan

3. What are you doing this cycle? Are you seeking help with a fertility specialist (RE)? If so, what stage are you in? Charting/temping? Testing? Medicated cycles? IUI? IVF? DE?

Prenatals, temping, OPKs. Started Clomid today.

4. Where are you in your cycle? (Waiting to O, 2WW etc) If in the 2ww when will you test?

Day 3. Waiting to wait to O.

5. How do you feel about this cycle? (Are you hopeful, anxious... etc)

Anxious. I feel like a ticking time bomb, waiting to see what, if any, side effects I have w the medication. Feeling a little sad today, too, that this isn't as straight-forward as it was w DD. Still, I know we're lucky. And I'm hopeful. I think. My emotions are all over the map today.

QOTW: Yikes its already July!! What is a fun 4th of July memory you have?

Vacations in Maine with my family. Nothing more specific, just being together

amimhof

@esmama15 - thanks!  I'm hoping it settles out soon.  Although my cycle was not the most consistant before BC anyway.  Good luck today, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.


@suziq1978 - I'll keep them crossed for you too!  Does hubby mean actually preventing baby, or just stop actively trying?  

suziq1978

@amimhof - he wants me to schedule a tubal ligation once I get my period in July.  Happy Days!  

I really don't want to make him sound like a big huge jerk because he's not.  Our youngest is 7 and he has made it very clear that he is happy with the three we have.  I told him that I felt like our family wasn't complete and he agreed to try for one more for a limited amount of time.  His biggest argument is that he will be 40 next year and he is looking forward to the kids being out within the next 11 or so years.  If I did get pregnant he would not have any issues with it.  However; now that the deadline is here I'm super bummed that it didn't happen.  I think I went into this thinking I would get pregnant right away and he has believed I wouldn't get pregnant all along.

Anyway, didn't want to hijack the post but I haven't shared the fact that we have even been trying with anyone else and he doesn't listen to me when I complain about him.  

thistle8677

1, thistle8677 in Oregon

2. TTC#5 since September 2014. Got pg twice in that time, two early mc's. 

Currently cycle #4 post d&c.

3. Going to have a sonohysterogram this month.  Waiting for call to schedule.

Thinking about taking Fertilaid...anyone try these supplements?

Charting temps, OPK's, gf diet, clean eating.

4. Today is CD1 just got AF this morning 

5. I am hopeful for this cycle, especially since I will have the sonohysterogram done to hopefully rule out any lingering concerns.

This last cycle I was so excited and now I guess I'm just kind of recovering from the roller coaster.

QOTW:  Three years ago, SO and I took the kids to Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks, Oregon to watch fireworks.  It was really a nice time and the kids still talk about it.  We might go back this year.

Shout outs to all of you!  Wishing baby dust on everyone!!!

Knottie16743552

1. Knottie(some number) aka Erin from NJ

2. TTC #2 for me, #3 for him and #1 for US

3. Right now just charting, temping, and opks

4. Waiting to O, CD 16

5. I dunno. I'm feeling kinda meh, DH is super positive. It's weird. He's SOOO into it...

This 4th we're just going to chill, watch the parade, and BBQ at my aunts.

KirstenAlecia

1. Your Name or Screen Name (not full names) and State you are from. 

Kirsten from Southern Ca

2. How long have you been TTC? Are you TTC #1,#2,#3, etc.? 

4 years TTC #1 for H, # 2 for me

3. What are you doing this cycle? Are you seeking help with a fertility specialist (RE)? If so, what stage are you in? Charting/temping? Testing? Medicated cycles? IUI? IVF? DE? 

Prenatals, Vit D, Charting/Temping. I will be adding OPK's this month and we will probably consciously be doing more BDing this month......H was really sad about AF arriving. 

4. Where are you in your cycle? (Waiting to O, 2WW etc) If in the 2ww when will you test? 

CD2.....meh

5. How do you feel about this cycle? (Are you hopeful, anxious... etc) 

If we actually get a lot more BDing in I will be excited. Seems like after our loss we slowed down a bit.

QOTW: Yikes its already July!! What is a fun 4th of July memory you have?  

I grew up in a military family so the 4th was always a BIG celebration. Block parties on base and just all around awesome. 

happyktmom

@emsmama15 - way to go with the weight loss!! 
@suziq1978 - don't ever feel like it's not ok to vent about your ttc or hubby here.  I feel like it's the ONLY place I can do that.
@Tomerine - good luck with the Clomid, I'm sure you know this already but I found it best to take at night with lots of water and the headaches were less severe.
@KirstenAlecia - it's tough to regain momentum after a loss.  I feel like we only BD'ed once the year we MC'ed and we got lucky and had DD

1. Your Name or Screen Name (not full names) and State you are from. 

2. TTC #2 for 15 months

3.Charting/temping/PNV's/ Vit D/ Vitex / CoQ10

4. CD9, waiting to O

5. Not sure yet. I'm just hoping DH is able to fire this month.  Our Gingko Biloba trick doesn't seem to work anymore. DH has come around to doing IUI but says he wants to do 'unmedicated' because of the risk of multiples.  Not sure if the RE will go for it, but it's better than nothing.
QOTW: I grew up close to DC and I have lots of memories of going on top of our apartment buildings watching fireworks at the monument or from the Potomac River.  

Tomerine

...Child mentioned...
Thank you @happyktmom. Unfortunately, I have to take it in the am. DD still nurses first thing in the am, so I take it right after that. Our pediatrician's lactation consultant ok'd it as we don't nurse often anymore and it won't be fresh in my system. Drinking tons of water, though. We'll see how it goes.

BulgariHeart

'Morning all!

1. BulgariHeart. Bicoastal.

2. Cycle #2 of TTC #1.

3. I tried really hard to catch my LH surge this cycle but, alas, was only able to get an "almost" positive line on the night of CD12. I ovulated two days later so I guess the surge happened during the night? Ugh, sneaky little hormone.

Anyway, I got my cross hairs on FF and yesterday, at 6dpo, I stopped temping. I can't bear to look at my BBT until AF shows, it's too anxiety inducing, so I just stopped and will resume on CD1 if this cycle is a miss. 

Other than this, everything is as usual. During the couple of cycles that we held off on trying because of my H's work-related issues, I went to my naturopath for a reading of all my organs and glands. She had me go through a deep detox, which went really well, and now we're rebuilding. The herbs she gave me to improve circulation are making me feel so great! 

Tomorrow I have my first acupuncture appointment/assessment and I'm really happy to be going in already great shape. 

4. 7dpo.

5. Physically I feel great. Emotionally I feel hopeful. I'm so ready to quit AF. 

I'm hopeful for all of us!

KLake42

@emsmama15- yay for the weight loss!

I *thought* that I'd been eating mostly okay, but I weighed myself for the first time since starting fertility meds, and I've gained 10 pounds in the last 3 months!  I've fallen way off the wagon when it comes to exercise (since the femara hurt my joints), so I'm buckling down and working on getting healthier this month.  No fertility meds, no excuses.  (I'm very body positive and don't like to focus on weight, but the ten pound gain reflects how inactive I've been, and that's not okay for my health or my efforts to TTC.)

Some good news, though-- my blood test yesterday shows that my day 3 FSH is down from 13.5 in January to 11 now!  Not a huge jump, but enough to hope that the supplements I've been taking have helped (DHEA and CoQ10).

jilligan14

Hey all!!

1. Jill from NC

2. TTC #1, not preventing since 11/12, actively trying since 8/14

3. OPKs, temping/charting, prenatals, CoQ10, Vitamin E, Vitamin D, inositol supplements, Increased dose of Vitex (CD 3-9), adding in licorice this cycle and finally starting acupuncture!!

4. AF showed up in the middle of the night so today is CD 1 (

5. Honestly, I'm just feeling very depressed about the whole TTC thing. I keep trying new things and keep striking out. I know I should really go back to the RE but we just can't afford it right now. I'm hoping that acupuncture will help or at least relieve my stress over this whole process. I just have this dreadful, sinking feeling that my body isn't meant to have babies I know I need to change this way of thinking, but it's just where I'm at today...I'm sure I'll snap out if it in a few days.

My favorite 4th of July memories are back in Wisconsin, where I grew up. We lived in the middle of nowhere and all of my parent's friends from Chicago would come up for the weekend (or even a week) and camp out in the woods around our house. We'd have fireworks, campfires, and go to a nearby lake for swimming. It was so fun.

Good luck everyone!! I'm really rooting for you all!! We definitely need some BFP's around here ASAP :-)

dolphin012

1. dolphin012 from CA

2. ttc #1 for a while

3. ivf 

4. 1 week from our day 3 transfer and one more week until the beta blood draw. 

5. Just trying to be as optimistic as possible and cheer those 5 embryos on!! It has been pretty busy at work this week (especially since i was out of town for the ivf treatments) so i haven't had much time at all to dwell on it. Main reminder is those darn pio shots i have to do every night 

:-S

QOTW: The fireworks display we used to go to as kids with a live orchestra. 

@jilligan14 -- sorry about AF this morning   So frustrating each month - hang in there. 

hoping we get a bfp from someone this month!!!

emsmama15

@jilligan14 - tell me about the licorice. What does it do? I hope you love acupuncture as much as I do.

jilligan14

@emsmama15 - I've been researching natural ways to stimulate early ovulation since I ovulate so late in my cycle. I keep coming across posts/articles/blogs about about using Vitex from CD3-9, sort of like Clomid. I also found a lot of stuff about combining the licorice root with the Vitex, but it has to be licorice root with the glycyrrhizin still active (apparently a lot of licorice supplements have this part removed since it can cause high blood pressure). I think it's supposed to help suppress estrogen? Either way, it's natural and more affordable/safer than going on fertility drugs (I actually have low blood pressure so not worried about the side effects). I seriously have no idea if it'll do a thing but I feel like I need to keep experimenting otherwise I start to feel real defeated. The acupuncturist actually specializes in fertility issues so I'm real excited about starting that up (first appointment later this month).

efhoping2010

efhoping2010/WY

IVF/ICSI/MESA #4 but FET 2 with 2 CCS Normal Blasts, the first at the big clinic.

Please see history for the details

Had first bloodwork for E2 on Wednesday and am now up to two vivelle patches e/o/d with the reduced lupron, it will then go up to 3 patches e/o/d Sunday and then on Tuesday 4 patches e/o/d from then on.  I have a lining check and more bloodwork on Wednesday and Thursday and start PIO, get rid of Lupron, and start doxycycline and Medrol for transfer on 7/13.

I am nervous/excited/hopeful

efhoping2010

dolphin012 will you POAS before beta????

lubosgirl

1. Candi, CT

2. Month #2, TTC #1

3. Just started Charting/temping; OPK, Fertility Friend.

4. Cycle day 31, 13 DPO, in the 2ww, tested 10 DPO with BFN, will test again in a few days.

5. Feeling hopeful, but unsure...

QOTW: going on my friend's boat on the lake to watch the fireworks, such a good time.

dolphin012

@efhoping2010 - i don't think so, i will probably wait for my beta. I thought about it since i will presumably get the call on the results while at work and in the event it were negative (not that it is going to be!!)  it would be nicer to find out at home. But i would have to test in the am and then go straight to work anyway, which i don't think is any better. 

emsmama15

@jilligan14, very interesting about the licorice.  Huh.  So many natural things to increase fertility!  I hope you like acupuncture.  My acupuncturist specializes in fertility too.  She's awesome.