TTTC Interim checkin 8/25/2016

GoldenKeys

Hello everybody!

I've been working on our checkin list for two days now and just realized that I'd better just go ahead and put an interim post up in the meantime.

The nice thing about this research is that we have quite a few unannounced BFP's, which really makes my heart glad!

Housekeeping: If you have not posted anything in the last 6 weeks and still want to be in the checkin (even if you're on a break) please be sure to let us know in this post.

The next regular checkin will be this coming Monday and will include last week's updates. Even so, feel free to let us know how you're doing/feeling in this post.  Congratulations to BFP's and hugs to anyone who needs one!

lablover78

I loved seeing this week's BFPs and embabies-- it has really helped me have hope that my luck can turn around! Currently sitting here getting some labs done to see if the regimine my dr put me on had increased my tumor necrosis factor & lowered by DHEA. If it has we will be able to ttc again this month! Fingers crossed.

meli123k

I hope everyone is doing well! I took a break from the boards earlier this month but am back now. We had to put our elderly kitty to sleep on the 14th   Our main focus around that time was taking care of him, hoping he might bounce back, and eventually just spending as much quality time with him as we could before the inevitable. We had been treating him for intestinal cancer for a good 22 months, and we are trying to remember to be thankful for that extra time we had and all the great memories he brought us. He passed away peacefully at the vet's office surrounded by DH and I.

We did manage to get our 3rd IUI done the morning of the 13th. I had one good follicle at 23mm and my lining looked great (so femara definitely worked better for me than clomid). DH's count was also the best it's been. My beta is scheduled for 8/29, but I'll probably test tomorrow and/or Saturday. I haven't felt any different, except some headaches and tiredness today and yesterday but that usually comes before my period anyway. After lots of discussion with my RE and DH, we've decided to plan to move forward with IVF if this cycle doesn't work out. I was pretty hesitant about it at first, but I feel more confident about our decision after talking to our RE and these boards have definitely helped ease my mind about it too.

ReesaAnne16

Last week was encouraging for me too

Thanks for cleaning up the check-in list @GoldenKeys  I wish the ladies with unannounced BFP's would have shared! It's so encouraging to see them


Not much new here, I'm on my 4th day of letrozole for the first time, and haven't had any side effects, which is a relief. It is so nice to take a break from scheduled BD'ing this cycle. I really needed a break. I have my follicle scan scheduled for next wednesday! 

I wish there was an easy way to follow those who have gotten a BFP with IUI; I've seen a few recently who ended up with twins (and 1 with quadruplets!) Twins would be awesome, triplets (or more) not... so... much...

clt2pwm11

@ReesaAnne16 I'm so glad you aren't having bad side effects. Letrozole for the WIN! @meli123k I'm glad you have peace about moving forward. I am rooting for you and everybody else on this board.

halfanewt

@ReesaAnne16 seeing IUI success would be great! I'm glad you've heard success stories lately! Hope Wednesday gives you great results

I'm looking at doing my 3rd IUI this cycle and if it doesn't work we'll be taking a break for a bit to regroup. Having a hard time not being pessimistic about this one. Day 12 US is Sunday. Here's hoping for good results. 

BWhitta

@lablover78 FX for good results and that you can start again this month!!!!!

@meli123k I am so sorry for your loss, that is so hard!!!!!!!  I'm glad the Femara worked better for you, it did for me, too.  FX that this is your cycle!  

@ReesaAnne16 FX for your scans!!!! I didn't have any side effects on letrozole either, and it worked much better for me than clomid!  

@smokinangel FX for Sunday!!!!!!!!!!

I'm thinking of everyone on this board so much this week, I followed you all for months before I posted and it is such a comforting place to be.  My blood tests on Wednesday went well, though hCG is still a little low (41) it quadrupled from Monday's tests so they were happy about that!  Now we wait....they'll do an ultrasound on September 6th to look for the sac!  I'm finding it really hard not to take a pregnancy test every day until then!!!!  But I am really really tired all the time and my boobs are killing me so I am just taking those as good signs! So nervous though!!!!!!!!!  

meli123k

@lablover78 I hope your labs show good results!

@ReesaAnne16 That's great the letrozole isn't giving you side affects! I felt so much better when a took that instead of clomid...clomid made me cranky, extra sleepy, and worst of all thinned my lining. I only got one follie with the letrozole but it was a much better size than on the clomid. Hoping for good follies for you!

@clt2pwm11 Thank you, and congrats!! Wishing you a happy and healthy 9 months

@smokinangel Fingers crossed that third time's the charm!

@BWhitta Congrats and wishing you a happy and healthy 9 months!

Glad to see there have been a lot of BFP's lately Congrats to anyone I missed while I was away!

PoeMasque

@BWhitta as long as the HCG is rising you are fine! The normal range is very wide. 

Bababatty

@lablover78 FX for your labs!

@meli123k I'm so sorry about your cat!! I'm a bit late to the check-in, but FX for a BFP!

@ReesaAnne16 I'm glad the letrozole is not giving you any issues. I'll be on it next cycle, if this one is a bust, so that news makes me very happy indeed. :-)

@Smokinangel FX for great results on Sunday! I really hope this is the cycle for you.

@BWhitta Congratulations again! FX for a happy and health 9 months!

I had my first IUI last Saturday. We went into it concerned we couldn't because I'd had almost 5 follies at my last u/s. But two vanished so we proceeded with 3--two 26s and a 15. Unfortunately, DH's count was not good--only 2.6 million and they hoped for 4 million. Not unexpected since low motility is our issue, but disheartening nonetheless. RE says I don't need to come in for the progesterone; I'll go in for the beta 9/2. My LP is only 11 days anyway, so I expect I'll know before the beta. Trying to be optimistic! I even bought an adorable onesie--which I swore I wouldn't do--at a street fair on Sunday.

Our RE said we'd need to think about IVF if the count was poor, but I'm not ready so I think we'll do a few more rounds of IUI if necessary. Mostly because my insurance covers IUI but not IVF.

StephyM89

@GoldenKeys - Can you please update my information?
Dx: Amenorrhea + PCOS 
Rx: Gonal-F + Letrozole + IUI
I did take a break last month, but I am back now!

@lablover78 - It looks like there have been a lot of inspiring posts lately, and I am also so grateful for that myself! Hoping you are able to TTC this month! My fingers are crossed for you! 
@meli123k - So sorry to hear about your kitty, that is so sad to hear , sending hugs to you! GL with this cycle! Hoping you don't need IVF, but if you do GL with your IVF cycle!
@ReesaAnne16 - Glad to hear you haven't had any siude effects! I also wish there was a poll or something out there...maybe we should start one on this site? I would be so interested to see the outcomes for everyone!
@clt2pwm11 - Congrats on your BFP! It is so encouraging to see success stories in this group! Especially since your treatment plan is so similar to mine. 
@smokinangel - GL with this IUI! Hoping the third time is a charm! Disappointments definitely get draining, we just took a break last month ourselves. 
@BWhitta - GL on the 6th!! Can't wait to hear the outcome! Fingers crossed for you! 
@Bababatty - GL with your cycle, hoping that one of them makes it through for you. I have also been so tempted to buy a onesie myself to surprise my husband with whenever the time comes that I can...but it is the little things that keep us going!  

Hello again to everyone! DH and I took a break last month due to financial reasons, emotional reasons, and because we went away for a week and it would interfere with our cycle monitoring. When we decided to take a break, we had 2 abandoned cycles, 1 cycle in which we did IUI with one small follicle (17mm), and one cycle where we just took a break overall. 

My doctor didn't know what was going on with me...I would start off as a very low responder to medication, and then my e2 levels would shoot up way too high. He consulted with some other REs and came up with a new plan for this cycle. 

I'm now on CD15 and we just did our second (although much more successful) IUI. This time we had 4 follicles, a 22mm, 20mm, 17mm and 16mm! It is the first time my follicles have really matured and we are so excited for it. This time we did a combination of Letrozole and Gonal-F, and I am so happy that we finally found medication that works for me. We are going in for our second round of IUI tomorrow and then we will be in the TWW. Trying so hard not to get my hopes up, but at the same time I'm just feeling grateful that we didn't have to cancel this cycle, and that we actually have a chance! 

We've also officially been added to the IVF waitlist (it is 2 years in Ontario). 

clt2pwm11

@StephyM89 It is so encouraging to find a combination of medication that works for you after so many disappointing months! Fingers crossed for you!


@Bababatty I also allowed myself to buy a onesie before my first iui. It felt like a step of faith that I *needed* to do. I know that probably sounds crazy...but it felt right. Good luck to you! I hope there was at least one super strong and fast swimmer in there for you!

starlitfae

Drive by posting .  Had my first blood test for the FET, and for once my numbers are where they are supposed to be. Next week I have another blood test and an ultrasound, and in 10 days we head back to DC for the third time for the final check up and then the transfer. The trip is going to be a little awkward for part of it - my huaband, my mom, and I are all going to be sharing get a room for a couple of days.

I feel so wierd that we are doing the transfer finally. I mean 5 years of ttc with no hint of it working, two retrievals, all that embryo testing and anxiety. I honestly can't imagine myself pregnant. And actually having a baby? Crazy. I feel like I will be trying forever, but hopefully that is not the case.

wifeinraleigh28

Good luck to those of you in the midst of IUI cycles and TWW'ing!  FX for all of you!!!

@meli123k I'm so sorry for your loss  It sounds like your little kitty had all the love in the world, especially in those final moments.  Sending you hugs!!

@ReesaAnne16 Glad to hear you aren't experiencing side effects from letrozole!  I hear you on enjoying the break from timing the BD's.  No fun at all!  Good luck with your IUI this cycle!

AFM, we have our FET scheduled for September 16th!  I just started taking estrace pills today.  I'm needing to take them 3 times a day which is already annoying, but better than injections at least!  Really not looking forward to starting PIO.  Trying to keep my eye on the prize.  @starlitfae It looks like you're just about a week ahead of me for FET.  Good luck to you!  I agree, it is so hard for me to imagine myself pregnant.  I've wanted it so bad for so long but the thought of it actually happening also terrifies me.

ReesaAnne16

@starlitfae  & @wifeinraleigh28  good luck on your FETs!!! I have very optimistic feelings for both of you and I'm praying you both have a smooth transfer

starlitfae

@wifeinraleigh28 - they are just having me start estrace too a few days ago, but they are starting me with one 2 times daily, and I am eventually working up to 2 3 times daily.  And I am doing Lupron injections, and DH will eventually have to give me progesterone oil injections.  My transfer will be sometime the week of the 11th, they haven't told me a date yet.  I hope it's sooner than later, because of finances.  Fingers crossed for both of us!

wifeinraleigh28

@starlitfae I guess our timelines are closer than I thought! My RE is just having me take estrace right now, and then I'll start PIO a week before transfer, along with an antiinflammatory and low dose aspirin. So many different protocols but I hope they all end in BFP!

iloverocksalot

Ugh, all these meds we're taking! Even now, taking 20 pills, 6 suppositories, and 2 injections a day seems like a breeze compared to the stims. Thankful that DH is becoming a pro at the PIO shots, which are only painful the next day for me. We live on the beach and it's a real shame that I'm having to turn down so many invites because people would look at me like "what happened to you?!?!?!" thanks to all the bruises everywhere!

I'm so excited to hear of all the FETs coming up! It seems like such a positive time with good news for so many on our IF journeys. It makes it easier to feel confident that we all have hope! 

@meli123k , your sad story about your kitty made me tear up... We have a wonderful 6 yr old cat and I simply cannot imagine life without her. Losing a pet is one of life's hardest times. I hope you will have good news with your beta soon to give you a (huge) distraction! 

I'm still in the middle of TWW purgatory, mentally torturing myself by POAS every morning. Still bfns at 7dp3dt, and my beta will be in 6 more loooooong days (13 days after transfer). I know that I'm testing way too early but I can't help it!