June/July Trouble TTCAL check-in

BornReady

@Cmckenzie I had an HSG as part of my testing work up with the RE. I had no pain at all. Very minor period like cramping for a few seconds. Mine was literally done in 90 seconds. Basically long enough for the radiologist to say, "Dye being injected, filling and spilling on the left, filling and spilling on the right, all done".  As for clomid, the only side effect I had was feeling very hot at times. Otherwise, no big deal! 

@SnobunnieMel Glad you had a good visit and are on the route to some answers hopefully!

roxgibbons

@Cmckenzie welcome to this thread. I had an HSG done as well and it was really more uncomfortable than painful. It's a pretty quick procedure. I had some cramping afterwards but felt fine by the next day. 

@SnobunnieMel it's good to hear from you here and glad you are taking next steps and getting answers. 

I'm meeting with my RE tomorrow to discuss next steps and moving me to injectables if this current IUI doesn't work. For  some reason I'm a bit nervous about our meeting.

AandDM2014

I can finally report that I'm moving ahead with a cycle! I got my calendar yesterday and have started scheduling pre-cycle appointments! Yay! It looks like we'll have another FET during the last week of July.

I'm feeling some mixed emotions about doing this whole process again. Especially since my loss was from my previous FET. I truly feel like if none of my other transfers/embryos have worked, why would this one. DH and I have decided that we will try another round of IVF (when)if this cycle fails, and get PGS testing.

SnobunnieMel

Alright guys, for the first time in a long time I just left a doctor office feeling optomistic. Saline sono went great, no adhesions or new polyps, great ovarian reserve on both sides and even one 22-23mm follicle on the left side. (yet again proving previous convo's last month that we all feel we ovulate from the left) 

my Dr was very happy with how my ovaries look and that has been my biggest worry so I feel a big stress lifted. Now we are just waiting for the genetic testing to come back and determine next steps. 

Just hate wasting that beautiful follicle while benched

brooklyngirl18

@SnobunnieMel i'm so glad to hear you're feeling good after your dr appointment. Fx the good vibes keep on coming!

BrightenMySky

@SnobunnieMel I'm glad it went well.  I did not know that saline sono could look at ovarian reserve.  Interesting.

@AandDM2014 glad you are moving forward, but I understand the mixed emotions.  It is such an emotional rollercoaster.  Hugs and fx.

I am in the TWW from IUI #6 currently.  I having a meeting with my RE at the end of the week to discuss next steps if necessary.  I'm not sure how eager I am to move to IVF, but I trust my RE and want to get his thoughts, and he is generally low intervention but supportive and provides information, so I am not worried about being pushed too hard in any direction.

SnobunnieMel

@BrightenMySky since I am cd12 he was able to see one mature follicle with lots of small on he left and well over 12 small follicles on the right and he said that looked like really good ovarian reserve. I'm going to take his word on it. When I asked about cd3 blood work he almost didn't order it since that's what he saw but we are drawing it anyway just to document and cover our basis. 

AandDM2014

@BrightenMySky I understand about not being thrilled about moving to IVF. When we first started with our RE, waaaaaaay back in August 2014, I said I would not ever consider doing IVF, yet here I am, on the verge of having to do a second round. It's definitely not an easy choice.

@SnobunnieMel Yay for your US going well and nothing unwelcome in your uterus!! Too bad about the lovely follie though

BrightenMySky

@AandDM2014 when I saw a friend going through fertility treatments, I didn't think I would ever consider them.  Then our RE said we might have a diagnosis that would make IVF our only option, and I was open to it.  Then we did not have that diagnosis.  But I still was open.  So now here I am on IUI #6 (all medicated).  

roxgibbons

@SnobunnieMel that's great news! I'm glad so far everything looks great. That's very promising and in this journey all the little victories are awesome. 

I met with my RE today to have a review of next steps etc. We discussed doing my last two IUI cycles with injectables which he thought would be a good next step for me and he mentioned in the mean time to consider IVF if we wanted to go that route.

@BrightenMySky I am also hesitant about IVF and DH isn't excited about it either. My RE didn't push me in one direction or another and said we can schedule the consult in the mean time. It's a lot and because we would do PGS and ICSI our cost would go up by a lot ( this is all OOP). Plus the frozen cycles are more expensive then fresh. Hopefully this IUI takes and this is all a moot point. 

AandDM2014

@BrightenMySky I'll be hoping for you that you don't have to move to IVF and that this IUI works wonderfully for you!

BrightenMySky

@SnobunnieMel I met with my RE this morning and talked about ovarian reserve.  He said that FSH & estrogen, AMH, and follicle count (all on CD2) are what he looks at.  I don't think the follicle count needs to be saline sono, it sounded like it will just be regular sono...although my hope is that I don't have CD2 for a long time!

@chloe97 I also meant to add that I learned from my appt this morning that using ICSI with IVF can prevent triploidy of paternal origin (what my baby had, not sure if yours was maternal or paternal).  

SnobunnieMel

@BrightenMySky I'm sorry if it came across as the saline sono needed to be done to look at ovarian reserve. It doesn't. We were doing one to check for possible adhesions after my d&c that may have lead to the implantation issues with my next two loses. He just happened to check my ovaries when he was doing the transvaginal US prior to saline infusion and was pointing out stuff to us. I am always worried about my ovaries after how much pain I am constantly in on my left side and a history of cyst  rupture. He is drawing cd3 labs to look at my numbers as well 

BrightenMySky

@SnobunnieMel got it, thanks for clarifying.  I also have a history of cysts rupturing...not fun, sorry you have that, too.

roxgibbons

Cysts rupturing is the worst!!! Worst pain I've ever been in. 

@BrightenMySky how did the appt with the RE go? Any helpful info? I'm just curious since I had my appt a couple days ago as well.

BrightenMySky

@roxgibbons it was actually a little demoralizing.  I mean, I always like feeling like I have a plan, so that part was good, but it looks like that plan will probably be IVF next if this cycle did not work (and I am so so hoping it did).  I had high FSH at my baseline this cycle, which my acupuncturist said could be due to the CP last cycle, but my RE did not think so (although is not diagnosing me DOR based on this one read obvi), but we're going to do CD2 AMH, FSH, & follicle scan if I'm not KU this cycle.  In addition to this issue, we also only have a few months left of coverage with the plan that we have some IF coverage through.  My RE did make me feel a bit better about IVF in general, although still scary.  

roxgibbons

@BrightenMySky I've heard and read that FSH can be high post loss. I'm sorry you felt demoralized- it's hard hearing the stats and making those decisions. My RE did say IVF would be the most effective thing for us too but when I told him it is unlikely we will do it we focused on the injectables. I hope this is your cycle and won't have to move on. When are you taking a beta for your IUI? 

BrightenMySky

@roxgibbons my beta is Friday, so it will be 15 dpiui.  I am hopeful that if I make it that far, it will be good news, although last time I made it but then it was the CP.  Although if AF showed on time that cycle, I probably couldn't have made this IUI work around our travel schedule, so there's that, I guess.  And progesterone was good yesterday, so that makes me feel a little more optimistic for this cycle.  When is your beta?

roxgibbons

@BrightenMySky my beta is scheduled for next Friday as well at 14dpiui but I may wait it out till Saturday so I will be 15 dpiui. I don't know, I figure maybe give it an extra day? We'll see. My birthday is the following Monday so it would be an awesome gift if all is well. If it's negative I plan on taking the next cycle off. The rest of the month is really busy work wise and we leave on vacation on the 30th so we'll resume when my cycle comes back. 

I go in for my progesterone this morning so I'm hoping all is well on that front. 

roxgibbons

Hope everyone is having a good 4th. I got some test results back. 
The good news is that my mid cye progesterone level came back on Friday and it was 19.2 so a good range. The kind of not so great news is that my RE retested my AMH and it came back at 1.13. My AMH last September was 1.45. I wasn't diagnosed with DOR since my FSH and AFC were all in normal range. But my REs email was a bit gloom and doom- he said I'm in a gray area. It's not terrible for my age but not great either. He suggested I start DHEA. I'm so frustrated because I've been under his care since September, why didn't he suggest I start DHEA then?? I'm really hoping there is one good egg left in there. I'm just frustrated and it's not the greatest news to hear just one week from my 38th birthday. He didn't say I'm a hopeless cause just in the gray area. Now I'm scared that even if this cycle did work, was it a good egg?  DH is kind of in a funk and basically said we are doing the best we can and just left it at that. I'm just kind of bummed out. 

BrightenMySky

@roxgibbons I am sorry you are getting this news about the AMH.  Your progesterone looks great, though, so I hope all this other stuff will be a moot point.  Hugs.  

AandDM2014

@roxgibbons I don't personally have experience with DOR, but I'm pretty sure IVF is a possibility

AFM - I started Lupron last night for my hopefully-end-of-July transfer! I'm feeling more ambiguous about this cycle than any of my other ones, mostly because of having a loss and partly because we're transferring our last two snowflakes. I'm trying to stay positive though!

roxgibbons

@BrightenMySky  Yes, I really do hope this is all a moot point. That would be awesome. I'm starting to get impatient for Friday. If this cycle is a bust then  we are planning on taking the next cycle off. We are going to DH's family reunion in Glacier National Park, and I would prefer to be relaxed and I also need a mental break from all of this. We'll resume once my cycle comes back. I'm just afraid I will be a wreck on the injectables and I don't want to be a hormonal crazy person on our vacation.

@AandDM2014 Yes, IVF would be the best option for us but we are not planning on moving on to IVF since it's all OOP for us. MY RE still thinks I'm a good candidate for injectables so if this next cycle does not work out, my last two IUI cycles will be with the injectables. I'm holding on to some hope. Good luck to you on your FET!






 

AandDM2014

@roxgibbons I totally get the financial investment of IVF. When we first started with our RE I said we would not ever move to IVF because of the cost. When we did our 6th and final IUI, which failed, DHs mom actually contacted me and said they would be happy to pay for whatever portion of IVF we couldn't afford. So the only reason we did it is because we just had to pay the med fee (which we could afford, it wasn't cheap, but manageable) and they paid for the rest of it, plus the first FET. I know that we are very lucky to have help paying for this expensive ass treatment.

BornReady

@roxgibbons Sorry to hear about the new AMH results. This whole process is like one never ending stream of murky, "grey" news. I struggle between wanting to know every detail and the "ignorance is bliss" I had before all of this. FX for you on Friday! As far as the IVF/OOP discussion I am outraged that some insurances don't cover IVF. They get to decide what's a valid medical issue for insurance or not? Gross.

On the plus side, Glacier sounds awesome! I've always wanted to go.

BrightenMySky

Well, I am 13 dpiui today and looks like I'm out.  Time to schedule my follicle count, AMH, and FSH.  

@roxgibbons  my fingers are still crossed for you this cycle!

roxgibbons

@BrightenMySky - Ughh- I am so sorry you are out. It never gets easier even though we've been through this process multiple times. I'm glad you're taking the next steps. Hugs to you. 

@BornReady- I feel like I've been in a constant phase of its not great but it's not terrible. Like you said a never ending murky, gray area. I never thought TTC and TTCAL would be so emotional and draining. I'm looking forward to Glacier too and being in nature and getting back into a better state of mind. The insurance things does really suck. I'm lucky my coverage for my IUIs is pretty good and my Meds are very inexpensive but absolutely nothing for IVF. My RE went over the preliminary costs and because I would do a freeze all and PGS and ICSI it would be minimum $20k and that's not even including meds which he said could be between 3-7K I'm not sure if that would even cover a FET.  They also want a good portion of the money up front.  It is gross. My SIL lives in Australia as a permanent resident and she's looking into IVF and the whole thing is 4K. The price difference is insane. 

@AandDM2014 that's so great about your ILs helping out. I know a lot of families help which is awesome. My fingers are crossed for you. 

BrightenMySky

Thanks @roxgibbons.  

@AandDM2014 hope the meds are going well for you and your FET proceeds as planned (which includes a BFP, of course).  

@BornReady hope your IVF is going well so far.  

I am going to take the next cycle off because of our vacation schedule.  My RE said I can either do BCP or take estrogen post-ovulation to get ready for IVF.  I am leaning toward taking estrogen because BCP makes my migraines worse, and I don't want to rule out my last chance to be pregnant before by due date in mid-August.  Although maybe that BFN will hit me pretty hard, so better to avoid it?  I don't know.  

AandDM2014

@BrightenMySky and @roxgibbons Thanks!

roxgibbons

@BrightenMySky that's a tough decision but I I would definitely want the opportunity to try once before starting treatment, but that's just me. Maybe consider it a bonus round We will be trying on our own during our break as well, and hope for the best.

BornReady

@BrightenMySky IVF is moving along. I'm actually on birth control right now, which is bizarre to be on while trying to make a baby. I am on it for 7-10 days while waiting on the PGS results that will hopefully be in in the next few days. Once those are in, I meet with the RE on Tuesday to develop a plan for transfer should either of the two embryos be normal. This process feels so slow sometimes. 

Otherwise, I'm in a mental funk that's easing a little bit with my first AF post-egg retrievel. I definitely underestimated the hormonal fluctuations at each step of this process. I was totally fine during stims, but the closer I got to AF the more un-hinged I felt. Finally feeling some relief that last days or so.

In other news, to get out of my funk I went on a whale watch yesterday and we saw 30 humpback whales! One was a baby born this past winter that was jumping in the air and rolling around next to the boat exploring it, so cool. Very good reminder of living life!

BornReady

WE got word back that of our two day 5 embryos, 1 was PGS normal and "perfect". Our doctor said she was very happy and and that we are moving along with embryo transfer! She said they expect only about 50% of any embryos tested to come back chromosomal normal.  I am so happy that we at least have 1. It's amazing what a roller coaster this process is. I remember going into IVF thinking it was going to be so easy and I would have a bunch of eggs and it would be worry free. Instead, higher stakes, higher stress, but hopefully worth it all in the end!

SnobunnieMel

@BornReady congrats on the awesome news!!! Knowing they are chromosome normal is a big part oF the stress removed. Good luck starting the process to prep for transfer  

roxgibbons

@BornReady yay!!!! That's wonderful news! Made my day. I'm so happy for you. 

chloe97

Yay@bornready!! I'm so happy for you!! I remember your worries about having not as many eggs as you had originally wanted. This gives me hope if/when I'm in a similar situation!! Let us know when the FET will be!

BornReady

Thanks everyone! I'm pretty happy and trying to stay hopeful. I'll let you know when we get close to putting that embaby in it's home. 

RiverSong15

I'm glad you have a perfect emby @BornReady! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a perfect transfer as well!

BornReady

Just a little update. I'm sure you guys don't want every detail of my IVF life, but I thought I'd give some info for anyone who might end up going down the IVF/PGS route. Today we had our post-op meeting following egg retrieval and to discuss the PGS results. Of the 2 embryos that looked good on day 5, only 1 was normal like I mentioned before. Looks like the one that was abnormal was a trisomy 16 and a partial deletion of chromosome 8. The RE kept saying how good it was that we did PGS because otherwise the embryo looked good enough to put back in without it, so we avoided wasting our time. For now I'll stop BCP in a few days (Thank God!) and wait for CD1, start on estrogen and aim for FET about 20 days from CD1. Thanks for the support everyone!

eta: forgot to mention our little embaby is a 4 AA blast-- 

BrightenMySky

@BornReady that is really great to hear.  I actually just had my IVF consult this morning, and am feeling really disheartened.  Not sure what I want to do.  All the meds (and everything) just feels so overwhelming, and I really did not like the nurse.  Super condescending (to the billing person as well, not just to us), and she told me not to take notes!!  I told her I knew what worked for me but thanks.  

chloe97

@BrightenMySky I'm sorry your IVF counsult left you feeling icky. I've felt that way about both meetings I've had with REs. I feel like I'm being sold something and I don't like the feeling.

@bornready I'm so happy about your good embryo and so hopeful for you!!! It's been really great following your story because if the next time trying naturally results in MC, we will be doing the same thing!

AFM Im still waiting on AF, but I'm pretty sure I ovulated last week. Praying it's a good heavy flow, bc I'm deathly scared that u have uterine scarring because I think that I got what was supposed to be my period at CD 35- but was just intense cramping with 4 spots of blood. Textbook Ashermans symptoms. I go into the RE to get progesterone blood draw and an ultrasound on Friday.

 I just made an appointment with an egg quality nutrition counselor which I never knew was a thing. This practice works closely with IVF clinics and will put you on an evidenced based supplement regime. I've read the book that you all suggested, but decided to take it a step further and go see someone who specializes in this. Handholding will be helpful in this process. I just had to yell at DH for trying to make dinner from all processed foods last night. I'm on a Whole 30 for life kick right now. Hopefully I can keep it that way!