TTTC Checkin - 09/21/2015

GoldenKeys

It's checkin time, everyone!   What's going on this week?

@Drove2u We've been thinking about you this weekend and hope that you're ok!  HUGE HUGS

Welcome to new members @tiffany929, @hrenee721, @mackenzie07, @lily55d,  and @calfherder

Congratulations to last week's BFP's  @AdorkablePixie and @Kistra <:-P


TTTC Graduation Hall of Fame (BFP):

stac12679: dx: Bilateral tubal blockage  treatment: mini IVF
tripplek1988: dx: PCOS  treatment: Clomid
KidShrink: dx:Immature follies, thin lining   treatment: Femara/Ovidrel/Prometrieum
krbjoy: dx: unexplained, low AMH, fibroids  treatment:Lupron, Follistim, Menopur + trigger
AdorkablePixie: dx: Hpyothalmic amenorrhea   treatment: Menopur, Ovidrel, IUI
kistra: dx: MFI  treatment: Clomid, Ovidrel, IUI

PAGING:

@GoldenKeys: dx:unexplained  treatment: currently benched, getting healthy
@kittycap  dx: PCOS  treatment: Clomid
@kristylang dx:Low counts/quality  treatment: Clomid+IUI
@jurba25 dx:PCOS/hypothyroidism  treatment: Clomid
@starlitfae dx:Unexplained, thyroid  treatment: Synthroid, femara, trigger+IUI
@chaconvanessa: dx:testing phase  treatment: Charting
@mandasand: dx: low AMH  treatment:IVF
@jnissa: dx: DOR   treatment: IVF
@AnnieBananie90:  dx: PCOS   treatment: Clomid + TI
@Boogaloou: dx: PCOS +MFI  treatment:metformin, femara, Purgon + IUI
@27alex: dx: unknown  treatment: waiting to test
@SmileyMcGee
@tiffk10: dx PCOS  treatment: Femara +TI
@J_k4ever05  dx: PCOS + MFI (morph)   treatment: benched/getting healthy
@nickis32: dx: Endo + MFI (morph)
@dmsmth
@lifeislove87 dx:autoimmune challenges
@Alyeena dx: PCOS + MFI  treatment: modified IVF + ISCI
@BlissfulWifey: dx: Anovulatory: Progesterone + trigger
@SandyBrook: dx: irregular bleeding  treatment: testing phase
@Aera11: dx:mild PCOS treatment: Clomid
@AndieB83: dx:unexplained  treatment: Clomid/IUI
@Cupcakegal930: dx: MFI: count and motility  treatment: IVF+ISCI
@graphicgranite: dx: Possible PCOS treatment: Clomid + testing
@eekers: Unexplained treatment:Femara, Ovidrel, Prometrium
@amazeballz: DX: pcos treatment: TBD
@mmkipper: dx: MFI/motility treatment: Clomid + IUI
@ACleanLife24: dx: PCOS, MCTD and IBS:  treatment: testing phase
@Mando15: dx: PCOS  treatment: Clomid + IUI
@Inge Molon: dx: PCOS  treatment: Letrozole + Ovidrel
@AshleySchulte87: dx: PCOS, Premature ovarian failure   treatment:Clomid
@clt2pwm11: dx:anovulatory PCOS  treatment: Provera + Clomid
@linne23 dx: PCOS  treatment: Clomid + trigger
@CopperLane dx: PCOS  treatment: possible Clomid
@mylienc: dx:low follicle count  treatment: Clomid + Novarel
@ceclarlinetlo: testing with RE
@babyexpress: dx: unexplained  treatment: Clomid + IUI
@GoatSnakeMouse: dx: MFI  treatment:waiting for RE
@Osteoblastic: dx:Irregular cycles, unofficial pCOS  treatment: Getting healthy
@riveridgional: dx: Unexplained, hypothyroidism, suspected ovulatory dysfunction  treatment: injectibles
@smfeuro:  dx: Unexplained and RPL  treatment: Clomid + Ovidrel
@Drove2u: dx:unexplained  treatment: IUI
@LauraNick2010: dx:unexplained  treatment: Provera + Clomid
@yellingbanana: dx: PCOS  treatment: Letrozole, metformin, trigger, TI
@twomommiestobe: dx: anovulatory treatment: testing + getting healthy
@turtle148: dx: LPD  treatment: Clomid + progesterone
@kaitlink33: dx: PCOS  treatment: Clomid + provera
@kmetcalfe77: dx: PCOS treatment: Letrozole and Ovidrel + IUI
@gardeniagirlknits: dx: hypothyroidism & thyroid cancer  dx: synthroid, thyroidectomy
@roosh1982: dx: Unexplained infertility  treatment: Femara, estrace + trigger
@rachlee2010: dx: DOR treatment: IUI
@AL_TwinCities: dx: Unknown  treatment: continued temping for now
@jclaire2: dx: Unexplained Infertility & hypothyroid  treatment:  Letrozole, trigger shot, IUI and progesterone
@tiffany929: dx: Endo treatment: Lupron injects
@hrenee721: dx: MFI treatment: Clomid + Ovidrel + IUI
@mackenzie07: dx: Endo + PCOS  treatment: Provera + Clomid
@lily55d:  dx: Endo + PCOS treatment: Metformin, Clomid + trigger
@calfherder: dx: MFI treatment: IUI then IVF





NEWCOMERS:

To be added to the Weekly Checkin, please answer the following:

1.  How long have you been TTC?

2.  What is your diagnosis?

3.  What is your current treatment plan?


Question of the Week:  What is the worst gift you ever received?

AdorkablePixie

Thank you! I was going to say I will miss everyone, but I still haven't really left yet. This board feels like home.

GoldenKeys

Hi everybody  (drum roll please)

WE GOT THE HOUSE!!!!!     I am totally freaking out because I had almost given up hope.   This is the house of our dreams, and one that we normally could never afford (it has a 4 car carriage house in the back).    A rich older couple are retiring to Florida and had restored this Victorian house hoping to make it a family gathering place, but none of their kids wanted it.

The man is a champion amateur gardener and has a huge rhododendron tree and an orchid garden in the back.  The previous buyer was being really greedy and demanding a lot of extras, and the owners wanted a couple like us who would love the house as much as they did.   It has a 4 seasons room that he used to grow plants indoors.... I'm so happy right now I could scream!!!!

Anyway, we hope to close within 30 days and moving is going to be a real pain since we've been here for 7 years.   I also don't know what the financial costs are going to do to our IVF timelines but I'm proceeding as normal for now.

QOTW:  The worst gift I ever received was an apron with a Sponge Bob pattern on it.  It was done as a secret santa at my job.   I have NO idea WTF my coworker was thinking and I'm wondering if she mistakenly gave me somebody else's gift.

GoldenKeys

AdorkablePixie  Nobody is kicking you out. :-)   Besides you might be able to give some newbies some helpful advice!

AdorkablePixie

@GoldenKeys Congratulations! That is fantastic news!

Aera11

Well the last 10 days have been an emotional roller coaster...  I got a BFP on September 11th and was shocked/excited/nervous.  I took 3 HPT and all came back positive.  Since I found out Friday night, I waited until Monday to call my RE and let them know...it was so early, I didn't even know what would happen.  I went in Tuesday for bloodwork and got a call that afternoon confirming the BFP and all levels looked good.  They scheduled me to come back Saturday for another round of bloodwork to make sure the HCG was going up.  We went in and they followed up that afternoon saying my levels had dropped and they thought it was a Chemical Pregnancy.  

I am trying really hard to be positive because I know even a chemical pregnancy is one step closer to a baby, but it was heartbreaking.  And now I have so many questions.... I got back Wednesday for bloodwork again and am expecting my HCG to be back to zero by then.  I have never had normal periods or really any at all on my own, so I don't know if one will come or not.  Has anyone had a chemical pregnancy and if so, how long did it take for AF to come back?  The nurse was kind of surprised I hadn't been bleeding at all, so I have been waiting for that but so far nothing.  I am just really sad and haven't told anyone but my parents (since they knew we were going through).  I took Wednesday off because I think it will be really hard and I don't think I'll be able to focus; I can barely focus on anything today.  Hugs to anyone else needing them this week

QOTW:  My in-laws got me a pillow pet for Christmas one year.  What 26 year old wants a pillow pet?!  And it was like a sports themed one that was definitely for a boy.  I re-gifted it for a white elephant gift with my family one year and it made one 5 year old very happy.

Aera11

Congrats on the house @GoldenKeys!!  How exciting

Whiggrrl65

@GoldenKeys OMG! What fantastic news!!! Congrats!!!

I am in the midst of Bravelle injections for my 4th IUI cycle. My DH and I made some decisions this last week that give me some relief as I am a constant planner and worrier. If I am not pregnant by December, we are taking a break and then in January finding a new RE. I have two names from two friends who had successful IVFs. We had been dead set against IVF for a number of reasons but might start to consider if I continue to have failed iuis.

Of course, hopefully this cycle finally works!
My next appt is tomorrow morning for US and BW. Hoping to have next IUI Friday or Saturday.

GoldenKeys

Aera11  I am so sorry about your CP.   I had a CP many years ago.   My period came back normally with no interruption to my cycles the next month.  However everybody is different and some people have more disruption and symptoms.   I'm sending positive thoughts for you, please take good care of yourself...  HUGS

Whiggrrl65

@Aera11 so sorry to hear about the CP. Sending you positive thoughts and hugs.

Aera11

Thank you @GoldenKeys and @kmetcalfe77  Good luck with your next IUI cycle, FX!!

babyexpress

@GoldenKeys congrats on the home.  I love the feeling of getting a new home, especially if it is your dream home.  So exciting!

@Aera11 I'm sorry you are going through this.  Chemical pregnancies just seem like a sick tease and it has to be emotionally draining.  Big hugs  >:D<

I am on CD10 today and have my RE appt this morning to see what is going to happen over the next couple of days.  This month has really been somewhat of a bust for me.  Had to leave town for work for a full week right after AF came and I couldn't go see RE.  So I am unmedicated this month, but it does look like I will O this weekend, which will allow lots of BD time. (even though my DH is working Saturday (  )  I'm still trying to think positive, but at the same time not feeling very hopeful. 

QOTW:  My mother in law gave me panties for Christmas one year.  I had to open them in front of everyone and they were these very large lace granny panties.  My DH almost threw up at the sight.  It was embarrassing and I don't know what she was thinking.

ceclarlinetlo

@Aera11 I'm so sorry! Chemical pregnancies are so tough. I think I had one back in May but didn't have any blood work to confirm (I had a few days of faint hpts that never got darker and then went away) My period was like two days later than I was expecting. Giants hugs to you!

@goldenkeys congratulations!!! how exciting! I am so glad that you've had a bit of good news to make you happy while you're waiting for your IVF cycle. You do such a wonderful job of making this board an welcoming place - you are more than deserving of such a great home!

Update on me: I'm stilling waiting for the RE office to call me. It's a very busy practice so I'm not surprised, but the nurse at my OB office told me if no one contacts me in 2-3 business days to let her know and she'll contact them for me. Today is the 3rd business day since I filled out my paperwork so I am hoping they will call today.

I'm trying really hard to not get too frustrated or too worried about scheduling appointments and figuring out insurance but it's so hard to not get discouraged. I've mentioned before that DH is going to be traveling starting next week through the end of February. I was really hoping to get my septoplasty done and have everything healed up so we can get back to trying in March before I lose my insurance when we move at the end of May - so when I found out I was being referred out it just broke my heart because it feels like we are starting back at square one. As far as insurance I found out I do have coverage for testing and treating underlying medical conditions but not assisted reproduction - but I have an HMO so I'm really afraid someone will screw up the referral/coding/billing and I'll get screwed financially.

I'm also nervous about DH needing a SA. We haven't had one done yet and I am sure the RE will want one but after this week DH is living in a different city every month through February and his insurance (he is in medical school) requires him to see his Student health clinic first before going anywhere else and it just seems like it will never get done.

QOTW: back in high school I had a boy give me an opened/already watched DVD of the movie Tom cats.

ceclarlinetlo

@kmetcalfe77 FX this cycle is successful! But I'm glad to hear that you have a plan you feel comfortable with if things don't work out by Christmas.

@babyexpress FX for good timing this weekend!

GoldenKeys

ceclarlinetlo !    Don't be afraid to call today.  In this kind of time-sensitive treatment, sometimes you have to be really aggressive with getting information.   I'm so sorry that you're getting referred out, but I hope that it's to a practice that will move quickly to get your septoplasty done in time.

As far as your husband's SA, don't be afraid to schedule it yourself!  Just call the RE and say that you want to get an SA done right away, can they please give you the script for the test.   I'm sure that they won't hesitate to give you one!  GL

babyexpress

@ceclarlinetlo Thanks and FX to you too.  I would definitely think about getting the SA for DH.  My DH's numbers were borderline and RE put him on supplements to increase his numbers.  You never know if DH's numbers could be a potential factor that you would want to address. 

@kmetcalfe77 are you on CD10 also?  I would be doing IUI on Friday also, but not sure if RE will be moving forward with that or not.

riveridgional

@Aera11 I'm so sorry you are going through this difficult time! Hugs!

@GoldenKeys I am so excited for you about the house! It sounds amazing and like it will have a wonderful, relaxing energy in the backyard with all the gardens - perfect for spending time relaxing there during your IVF cycle!! I absolutely love orchids!! I'll need to look into how you can grown an orchid garden and if it would even be possible where I live!

Turns out, it most likely wasn't IB for me. The spotting was really toying with my emotions this time around especially after it stopped mid-day Saturday and hasn't returned. I got a BFN this morning and was told to stop taking my prometrium. Since my only cycle without spotting so far was when I took estrace and prometrium, I'm thinking my estrogen levels may drop too much after O. I'm going to ask my RE to look into causes for my post-O spotting and possibly getting post-O bloodwork down this time around.

Once AF comes (hopefully soon), I'll do another round of injects. My co-worker is due with her second baby 11/30, so we decided not to try and squeeze IVF in before her leave. We just thought it may add a whole new level of stress and emotions. I also won't be able to do it when she is on maternity leave, so if the next round of injects doesn't work, we'll likely take through her maternity leave off/schedule the IVF process after her return to the office. If we get antsy during the wait, we may do a third and final round of injects. It just really sucks having to put everything on hold while someone else has what I want more than anything! Oh well, at least I've accepted it by now.

My worst gift was a lingerie present from my crazy uncle's girlfriend. I was a size 4 at the time, and she gave me a one piece lingerie piece that was probably a size 16, and I can only think previously used by her (no tags, looked like it had been washed). I say it's the worst, but it's kinda the best because she gave it to me around Christmas time (delayed wedding gift) and I got to open it in front of the entire family. It was hilarious, but she was dead serious.

babyexpress

LOL @riveridgional we had similar things happen to us on QOTW.  Mine was huge too and it is always possible it was hers that she just gave to me because she didn't want it. I do get bad gifts every year from MIL, but this one was just plain embarrassing. 

turtle148

@AdorkablePixie Congratulations!!

@GoldenKey Awesome news on the house!

@Aera11 Thinking of you. It is an emotional Rollercoaster for sure.

I just started day 1 of provera. Once af arrives it's back to clomid on cd 3-7. Then on to estradiol in cd 8-12. Hopefully I will actually get to start my progesterone on cd 17.

Qotw: Two years ago we received a package from my mother in law. I opened it up and was distributing the presents on Christmas day. I got to the last one and handed it to my dh. He looked at it and said wtf! It had his name and the dogs name on it. He then wanted to know where my present was and I told him I didn't have one. Needless to say he was pissed. So yep the dogs got a present from her but I got an excuse. So he got mad and told her not to send anything if she wasn't going to recognize his wife. So this last Christmas we got nothing from her not even a Christmas card.

ceclarlinetlo

@turtle148 wow. Your MIL is one classy lady. Glad your DH stuck up for you!

Drove2u

Congrats @GoldenKeys and thanks for the shout out. :-)
I'm still in limbo. Got a BFP this morning but line isn't getting darker. Have to wait til Wednesday for some real news. Just praying it's not really an ectopic.

AdorkablePixie

@turtle148 Thank you! Wow! Your DHs mom sounds like a bitch! How rude.

GoldenKeys

turtle148 said:

 Qotw: Two years ago we received a package from my mother in law. I opened it up and was distributing the presents on Christmas day. I got to the last one and handed it to my dh. He looked at it and said wtf! It had his name and the dogs name on it. He then wanted to know where my present was and I told him I didn't have one. Needless to say he was pissed. So yep the dogs got a present from her but I got an excuse. So he got mad and told her not to send anything if she wasn't going to recognize his wife. So this last Christmas we got nothing from her not even a Christmas card.

^^^  No words!!! :-O

BlissfulWifey

We are in our 2WW... ugh! my period is due around 10/1/15 so i pray that it doesnt come

 the worst gift i ever received was on Christmas an "I Owe You" note ... NOT Joking!!! wrapped in a box. needless to say I was finally given my gift around Valentines day. 

AdorkablePixie

@BlissfulWifey My cousin gave me an IOU once years ago. I still haven't gotten the gift!

Aera11

@Drove2u hoping it's not an ectopic!

Thanks for the support everyone

Whiggrrl65

@babyexpress I'm CD12. I haven't been feeling myself which I'm guessing is from the injections. I'm hoping I will be ready to trigger sooner rather than later so I can stop the shots.
I really hope you will be able to do an IUI this weekend!

riveridgional

Well, AF took no time and arrived today! Just waiting for a call back to make my appointments and get all my meds lined up. I'm excited to give this another shot and really hoping it works. I'll be out of town this weekend, so I hope that won't mess anything up.

@Adorkablepixie What's your next step with your pregnancy? Are you doing additional bloodwork or just waiting on an ultrasound? Do you have an US scheduled yet?

AdorkablePixie

@riveridgional I had another beta this morning. My levels jumped from 827 on Thursday to 3,327 today. I don't need to have any more blood pregnancy tests done. Yay! lol We schedule my first ultrasound for October 2, I should be able 6.5 weeks at that point. After that I have another ultrasound at 8 weeks then I graduate to my OB.

LauraNick2010

@Aera11 I'm so sorry about your CP. I can't even begin to imagine how you're feeling. Take time for yourself.

@GoldenKeys Congratulations on the house! That is totally exciting.

Today I had an US monitoring response to 100mg Clomid. I do see an OB not a RE. He had a student with him today and he was explaining how a lot of OBGYNs don't monitor when they have someone on Clomid and was explaining the importance of it. It made me feel good hearing him educate that. I did have a little better response this time. On CD12 last cycle on 50mg I had 1 folicle at 8mm which ment it was a week off. Today it was 15mm. He said he likes to see an 18 but was happy with it so we will be doing the BD on Thursday-Saturday. He did tell me if it doesn't work we will give it 1 more shot but start talking about a RE referral. He was very hopeful especially since DH and I are headed for a weeks vacation at the end of the week.

QOTW: The worst present was probably getting a birthday present from a boyfriend in the mail with pjs... one set was a tank top that said spank me it's my birthday that had shorts with it with hand prints on the butt and the long sleeve set was the Aries sign all of it in bright colors.

rachlee2010

well it's been a crappy day or two. Yesterday I went in for my CD 9 follicle check for my 3rd IUI cycle. Ia m on femara and gonal f..as of yesterday I was still spotting from my period which the dr said was from the femara and low estrogen and I had no follicles worth measuring..he could see 2 on each ovary.  Both previous IUI's I had at least one measureable follicle by this point.  I took another gonal f shot last night and one more tonight and go in tomorrow to see if anything has changed..if not they are gong to cancel the cycle and then I have no idea what happens.  

ceclarlinetlo

@rachlee2010 I'm so sorry - I hope these last two shots make a difference so you don't have to cancel your cycle.

AL_TwinCities

@Aera11 I'm so sorry. I got my period about four weeks after my CP last year, though I did bleed initially which is how I knew to get a blood test and then learned of my loss. I hate the term chemical pregnancy...it makes me feel like I shouldn't let it hit me so hard, like it isn't a loss. It took me a long time to realize that my feelings are valid. Give yourself permission to mourn as long as you need to.

@GoldenKeys congratulations on the house! It sounds amazing!

Nothing new here, just biding time until our initial consultation visit in December. Currently in the TWW but I am not holding my breath.

GTKU: I can't think of a recent bad gift, but I do remember being pissed when I was 12 years old and my grandma gave me two pairs of sweatpants for Christmas, one was pink and one purple, like this image. WTF grandma! Might have been cool in the early 90s, but not anymore in 1998!

Aera11

Thank you @AL_TwinCities -- I took today to relax and it would hit me throughout the day so I'm glad I did. I don't ever have a period on my own anymore so that's what is giving me anxiety; just wondering if it'll come and if not, how long before they'll give me provera. I know, I hate the term CP. it's still a loss, it's just at a different stage. FX crossed for you my friend!

Tawnie2929

1.  How long have you been TTC?

18 months

2.  What is your diagnosis?
Doing my first testing now found out I didn't ovulate this past cycle and will be doing my ultrasound on thursday to get some more answers so...tbd
3.  What is your current treatment plan?

Just started my testing so hopefully will have a more drafted out plan next week


Question of the Week:  What is the worst gift you ever received?

When I was a kid we had huge christmas parties and my grandparents brought gifts for all of my cousins and my siblings and "left mine at home" I am still waiting for them to send that gift

twomommiestobe

My RE appt is next Monday. I am a nervous wreck just waiting until then.
I am on CD 86 today and no sign of AF coming. My infertility jealousy-still through the roof. I can't shake it. It is making me a mess!

Worst gift: I guess I'll be like the others and do the lack of a gift. My mom remarried when I was 6. I never knew my dad, so this was the only other family I knew. At Christmas, I got a pair of jeans. Then my "grandfather " took all 6 of us kids outside. He had a trailer full of toys! I waited while he handed them out. Nothing for me... I was devastated at 7. Needless to say, I cried in the bathroom and was labeled a brat from then on in the family.

GoldenKeys

twomommiestobe said:

 Worst gift: I guess I'll be like the others and do the lack of a gift. My mom remarried when I was 6. I never knew my dad, so this was the only other family I knew. At Christmas, I got a pair of jeans. Then my "grandfather " took all 6 of us kids outside. He had a trailer full of toys! I waited while he handed them out. Nothing for me... I was devastated at 7. Needless to say, I cried in the bathroom and was labeled a brat from then on in the family.

I am flabbergasted by how mean grown adults can be to little children.  I will never understand it as long as I live.

ceclarlinetlo

@twomommiestobe I can't even.... That's just so beyond ridiculous, and so hurtful! I wish I could go back in time and give 7 year old you a giant hug and a giant Barbie jeep (lol my ultimate unfulfilled childhood dream toy)

Small update: the RE office did contact me yesterday so I was able to get my first appointment scheduled for November 12. While it feels far away I had been bracing myself for it to take 3 months to get in, so 7 weeks doesn't sound as bad in comparison. DH is trying to get an SA scheduled for this week before he leaves so I'm hoping and praying it works out!

lily55d

@GoldenKeys congratulations on the house!! How exciting!

Aera11 I am sorry about your loss. I had a CP a few months back and my period came 2 days late, I didn't have any heavy bleeding or much pain. 

AFM, I finished clomid yesterday. It's CD8 and no sign of impending O, so that means the clomid must be working since I would be close to O without it (short cycles, immature follies). Also I was expecting horrible side effects but really I had nothing so I am happy.

riveridgional

Well, so much for rolling into the next round of injects. I had a feeling I'd have a cyst as I have been experiencing pain near my right ovary since late yesterday afternoon. Turns out, from last month's inject cycle, I have 5 large cysts: 2 on the left and 3 on the right. I'll be on birth control for 2 weeks before I can go back and see if they have gone down completely or enough to pick back up on injectables. I'm still amazed at the size of my right ovary on the ultrasound! If I have to move on to IVF, I can't even imagine how painful my right side will be!!

babyexpress

@riveridgional what a bummer. Sorry for the not so great news. Does BC help with eliminating cysts? Just curious how that works

Edit to add: Or is mainly used for delaying O?