TWW: Dec 5 - 11

Momifbysea

Tell us how many DPO you are, what you're doing/not doing this month, when/if you'll test, and symptoms that have you wondering if this is THE month! 

If you haven't already made a separate intro, please first do so in a separate discussion thread so we can get to know you! Good luck!

thistle8677

Today I'm 9dpo.
Symptoms are EXTREME irritability, fatigue (slept most of the day and night yesterday), sore bbs, and wet/lotion like CM. 

Not planing to test until after AF is due (5 days from now.)

prenatals, coq10, vitamin d.
We were fortune to bd 3 times in the window this month.

vlagrl29

good luck @thistle8677 - my pre AF spotting stopped yesterday.  AF should come today or tomorrow and it doesn't usually stop - gets heavier the closer to AF.  If it doesn't come tomorrow I will test then.  I just don't want to get upset since I already had a meltdown last week.

thistle8677

Good luck @vlagrl29

Labluver2

AF was due 2 days ago and no sign as of yet. Ive been really irritable and emotional I can go from angry to crying in a second. On and off cramping same as when AF is ready but still no sign of her. Will test Friday if I still don't get AF. It's not normal for me to be more than 2 days late. 

vlagrl29

good luck @Labluver2  I guess its not over until AF shows her head.  I'm just bloated and my boobs are bigger and tender.  I've felt some twinges down below in my uterine area.  I've been crampy on and off - usually don't cramp until CD 1.  In other news I called my OB to go ahead and put an order in for the SA for DH and I left a message with the clinic to ask how much it will cost us.

thistle8677

Had to have a CT scan for my lower back and pelvis this evening and had a negative urine pg test.
So over it. 29mo and so over it. 

Momifbysea

@thistle8677 I'm so sorry to see this, I was hoping this was your cycle, that sucks!

vlagrl29

@thistle8677 - sorry  29 months is a long time.  You are very patient but I can see why you are over it.

thistle8677

I'm honestly heartbroken. This month in particular is an anniversary of 3 losses and 8 years since my brain stroke (a result of a chiropractic neck adjustment.)
I'll pull through it, I always do. I was just really hoping we could avoid IVF. We really don't have the money right now.
I don't want to be a negative presence on the board. It's a major reason I took such a long hiatus. I have therapy Friday and I'm even seeing another grief specialist in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for reading and for the encouragement.
The past two and a half years have been so hard. Sometimes I can't believe our miracle hasn't happened yet.
It's my man's dream to father a child of his own with me.
I'm praying for the strength to surrender. 
Xoxo

Momifbysea

@thistle8677 my heart goes out to you after reading this. And please don't worry about being a negative presence on the board! This is very tough (huge understatement, no adequate word) road and we all have our unique challenges. The stress I've had with this has led me to many vents, whines, etc. on here and I'm so thankful to have a safe place to do it when I don't want to burden my DH with it all! I'm praying for all of us, for that most meaningful miracle. Hugs.

Momifbysea

@Labluver2 and @vlagrl29 thinking of you this week and FX!

As for me, I had tuned out for a few days intentionally before posting my TWW status. Since DH and I were both so sick (norovirus and he with bronchial infection on top of the GI symptoms) I didn't even use OPK as it would have been a waste. So the night of CD14 I notice egg white CM and really pressure him but he said he's too sick and weak still. I'm not gonna lie I cried myself to sleep as when you're 42 a cycle seems so precious to "waste" a roll of the die. I was beyond disappointed and I internally questioned his wanting this as much as me, I know, ugly thoughts in the midst of the disappointment while sick and exhausted... Next morning, CD 15, we did BD which I was thrilled about but I have no idea if we missed the boat. We shall see. 

vlagrl29

@thistle8677 - it's ok I think we've all been negative on here - I'll be honest I'm so over this journey and its only been 6 months for me.  Sorry about your losses - I"m sure that's very hard.

This month is busy for us.  DH's bday is Thursday and I always have lots of stuff on my plate so I don't have time to be stressing about my cycle this month.  I would just love if AF went ahead and came so I can get my blood tests.  I don't want CD 3 to fall on a sunday.  I'm not even sure if my lab is open on saturdays.  my spotting did come back a little bit but it's barely noticeable this morning.  Most of you on here by now know I spot 5 days and AF starts on the 6th day at the latest.  No signs of it yet but the day is young and with the spotting  I don't think I will test today either.  Going to the grocery store tomorrow and if things are still like they are today I will buy a test.  I don't really want to test though.  I just don't want to see the negative.  My body is being annoying by changing it up on me.  Never has spotting lightened up towards AF and lasted longer than 5 days.  UGH! - I will be so happy to get blood test results.  I'm hoping I have a hormone off and we can fix it.

Labluver2

AF showed up today. Does anyone know what a good ovulation test on amazon is? I've never tried that route yet. I've just been basal charting. I have seen an Re which said after all the testing I have some scaring on my left tube but no blockage. Waiting and fighting with insurance to see what's covered with IUI. For right now continuing to try on our own.

I try so hard to stay positive but some days I just cry. This is def an emotional journey. Good luck to everyone and hugs to those who need them. 

vlagrl29

sorry @Labluver2  I cried last week when spotting came.  when I was using OPKs I used the clear blue easy digital - I think $35 for 20 strips on amazon.  I didn't use them last month but will have to this cycle because the CD 21 test my OB said it has to be 7 days after you ovulate.  My cycle is so regular I just don't understand why I'm not pregnant yet.

@Momifbysea  even though you didn't have the best timing you never know.  I've had shitting timing and we had great timing I thought in November and still nothing.

vlagrl29

I'm out for sure now - AF came today.  On to cycle 7 and blood work and SA.  Good news - my OB nurse sent the pre determination letter to blue cross yesterday about the HSG being covered and they called her back today saying it is.  OMG I can't believe it.  Plus I will only owe 10% of it since the first half of my deductible has been met.  OK so not only is it the holidays I also have all my fertility work done this month.

thistle8677

Sorry AF showed @vlagrl29...
So very excited for you to move forward with testing! Congratulations! 

thistle8677

Sorry AF showed @Labluver2
I use wondfo's until the second line starts to get darker, and then I move onto clearblue advance digital. 
(This way a 2mo supply of clearblue ends up lasting 3-4 months.)

PoeMasque

Sorry to hear about AF @vlagrl29 and @Labluver2 I used to be a staunch "no testing till I'm late" gal, but a friend pointed out that I would never know if I was having CPs....which might help with a diagnosis or treatment. Just something to think about. 

@vlagrl29 I'm 36 (was 35 when we started trying) and my cycles are spot on regular, OPKs positive every month, I get O pains, all the right CM signs and we have yet to get a BFP after 16 cycles (14 mos). I have a friend who tried for 5 years, two MCs early on and then nothing for the last 3 years, I just found out she's 4 mos pg. this will be her first child and she's 40, so there is hope! 

@thistle8677, a urine test at 9dpo is too early! There's still hope  

AFM - I think I'm 5dpo. I stopped using OPKs last month, but I definitely had loads of CM and severe O pains 5 days ago. We had good timing, but I'm not expecting anything after so many months of BFNs. We have our IVF consult next Thursday, the day after AF is due, so just waiting for that. 

Last month I had the WORST sore boobs I've ever experienced from 9-12dpo, took a test at 12dpo and it was BFN, but a friend made me take it out of the trash later that day because all of her internet cheapie tests took 10 mins to show a BFP and I'd only waited 2 or 3. When I dug it out there was a super faint line. I went bananas internally and took another test. BFN. Then AF started. It was my first evap line. Worst roller coaster ever!

The nice thing is I feel zero pressure this month and am not going to freak out over any symptoms. It's actually a really peaceful feeling.  

vlagrl29

I'm happy about getting all this testing done but at the same time I'm bummed out because there was like zero stress in November because I stopped stressing over it and now I have to track again and use the OPKs.  Then there is christmas and oh still trying to BD.  I told DH tonight I don't want to do anything extra that we don't have to do.  First year I will not be mailing out xmas cards to friends.  We usually send out a photo card of us - DH is a photographer and designs it up.

I don't know much about chemical pregnancy but all I know is I'm regular on the spotting lol and it was very light this month unlike all previous months.  I'm kinda nervous about the HSG.  I will call tomorrow to schedule it and I want to find out how much it costs so I know what to expect on our end.

PoeMasque

@vlagrl29 they will likely not be able to tell you a cost, I was going to pay OOP for mine until I found out that they charge $60-$2000 for the DYE alone. The lady said "it depends on how much they use". FML. I ended up driving an hour away to have it covered by insurance, but the insurance didn't cover it because the stupid MD billed it as just "INFERTILITY". I was billed $735. Thankfully several calls to Moda and the billing office got it covered. 

I asked around on here here before getting mine done and I planned on about $600 OOP, mine was a bit more, but I would say $400-$800 is a good range to plan for. I think the extra expense comes when people have issues with blocked tubes....more dye. My tubes were clear. 

vlagrl29

@PoeMasque - yeah my doctors office sent over the approval letter with the diagnosis of irregular periods.  If it was infertility it would not be covered.  They won't cover the blood work because its not needed to see results for irregular periods which is fine because I purchased that myself.  CD3 draw is tomorrow.

vlagrl29

well I got some phone calls out of the way today.  Both my HSG and DH's SA will be on the 13th about the same time at different locations.  Luckily that is not in my fertile window because he can't have sex 4 days prior.  Getting it out of the way before the holidays will be good then all I will have left is CD 21 progesterone test and we're done.

Momifbysea

@vlagrl29 that's good you have them scheduled for the same day, and bonus that it's before the holidays! My DH is really dragging his feet on the SA, to the point I'm not sure if he will do it. He's been busy at work so it hasn't been possible yet, honestly, but once the semester is over, hope he follows through. My testing is all done so I need him to do the SA to determine if we move to IUI now or if there are other issues.  Btw, I was nervous for the HSG but for me at least, it was mild cramping during, but the whole thing lasted just a couple of minutes. Hope it goes well for you!

vlagrl29

@Momifbysea ugh I'm hoping we don't need iui or Ivf because we don't have IF coverage and don't have the money. I'm hoping it's an easy fix like progesterone or clomid.

PoeMasque

@Momifbysea my SO really dragged his feet too and when I finally confronted him about it he told me he was scared that his sperm would come back "bad". we talked about it and I gave him some time to deal with his feelings and he eventually did it....but not without my "if I can deal with tubes, q-tips, and prodding up in my vag, you can shoot some sperm into a cup" speech. Haha

@vlagrl29 IUI isn't too spendy. Ours was $240 for the IUI, $64 for sperm wash, and the progesterone suppositories were only $19 for a three month supply. Clomid is cheap OOP, but any injectable meds will likely be spendy. If you ovulate predicatably with OPKs there's no need for the trigger shots or US that are spendy though. Hopefully that helps! 

vlagrl29

@PoeMasque - oh that's not bad at all regarding the IUI - I guess its just the IVF we can't afford.

DH wanted me to come to his sperm test to help him out. lol.  I told him I was going to be at my HSG.  He was joking hoping they had a good collection of porn and wondered if he should call to find out.  He's very positive in feeling that his sperm will be great.  Although he wasn't a fan of not having intercourse for 4 days prior.  Said he may need several cups to collect it all -ha!

Momifbysea

@vlagrl29 love his humor about it all!