IF/Testing Check-in Week Jan 30

wabash15

@bluejeanbabi05 I wanted to wish you good luck with your beta tomorrow.  

bluejeanbabi05

@wabash15 thank you friend. time just marches on doesn't it.

saralee797-2

@magnolia131 hey girl!!! Hope you get that ball rolling soon. You're in good company until then! 

@bluejeanbabi05 good luck today!!!

kaitlink33

@magnolia131 welcome back! Feel free to participate as you see fit. Fx you can get everything going again soon. 
@bluejeanbabi05 good luck today and fx!

saralee797-2

So, one more high temp tomorrow gives me CH on CD14 but two more high temps moves it to CD15. I triggered Friday night at 8. Is it possible that I didn't O until Monday? I thought with a trigger O occcurs within 24-36 hours. OPK was still blaring positive this morning which is the trigger I'm sure but it's not fading out yet.  I guess it's okay either way. 

heatherdubrow

@bluejeanbabi05 good luck today!!

wabash15

@Saralee797 temp wise I would stick with sunday O as that would fall in the 36hour range from your trigger.  I think its the EWCM on CD15 that makes it want to move it to monday, but I would stick with sunday.

saralee797-2

@wabash15 thanks yea my body decide to show up to the game a day late! 

kaitlink33

Has anyone used care check brand opks from amazon? The reviews were ok when I bought them, but now I'm wondering because just for control purposes (I used to turn an opk several times a month and this is my first cycle using them again since I've started getting af on my own) I did one the day after af ended and had a light line but negative. The last few days I've had no line at all, I know I haven't ovulated yet and will probably trIngersoll tomorrow or the next day depending on what my scan says tomorrow. I guess I'm just confused on why I don't at least have a slight line since it's leading up to O.

Bababatty

@Saralee787 I agree with @wabash15. You'll probably get dotted crosshairs because of the EWCM, though. You may want to keep the discrepancy in mind when you get to the end of your cycle since 14DPO may be one day off from what FF says. I wouldn't rely on your OPKs after you take the trigger unless you're using them to test out the trigger. They'll be positive until it's out, which could be more than a week from now.

saralee797-2

@kaitlink33 sorry I've only used wondfos and CBAD 
@Bababatty thanks for taking a look! I might just remove the EWCM and put it in a note instead. I'm using OPKs to test out the trigger until it looks gone because I have a ton but I also plan to verify with an HPT to make sure it's out. 

adirat

@saralee797 Here's a third vote -- I agree with @wabash15 and @Bababatty

I have a quick question for those of you who have done an HSG. Did it delay your ovulation day, and if so, how long? Mine will be done on CD8. Thanks!

hartmich

@adirat mine did not. I actually ovulated on the early side for me (which is still CD19 but the earliest I've ever O'd is 18 and as late as 35). 

magnolia131

@adirat mine didn't delay O. Actually, I just checked FF and the two months prior to it I had O'ed on CD16. The month that I had my HSG & SHG on CD8 I ended up O'ing on CD14, so I found it interesting to hear @hartmich say she had a similar experience.

@Saralee797 not that it's much help at this point, but I echo PPs opinions. I tend to still get EWCM for the day after O and it can throw my FF off in terms of CHs. 

adirat

@hartmich @magnolia131 Thanks for sharing! I usually O CD15-17, so I'm hoping not to see a delay since they'd be a week apart. Really helpful to know it might even do the opposite! 

In kind of a funny TTC story, when I called to schedule the HSG, the receptionist told me to make sure not to have sex between now and the HSG, because it can't be done if you're pregnant. I made some kind of comment about how it is being done on CD8 and she said, "I know it's ridiculous advice but I have to give it." 

I see you receptionist!

hartmich

@adirat I had to sign something the day of stating I was not pregnant! Also FX you're one of the lucky ones who gets KU right after. Alas, I was not... 

adirat

@hartmich Ha, thanks. I'm not sure if "getting pregnant after HSG" is real or apocryphal. 

I had a pregnancy test done as part of my CD2/3 bloodwork a couple days ago because of the HSG. Like my period wasn't enough. 

Marley629

@Saralee797  welcome back to ttgp though I'm sorry you find yourself on this thread! I too would be hesitant to use opks to test out. You will always see a second line with an opk so there's no way to tell when it would be negative on hpt and it seems to vary with everyone. 

Diagnosis (If you've been): DOR, MFI, Factor V

Cycle/CD: cycle 17, Cd11

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):  wto 

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?) last unmedicated cycle; pnvs , vitamin d, coq10, baby aspirin, probiotic, gluten and dairy free

  

How are things going?  Good! Signed consents with RE for our 1st Ivf cycle, added to DH's insurance. Everything seems to be moving in right direction. 

  

Any questions? 

GTKY: Do you watch the Super Bowl for the game or the commercials?
 Both. I'm a big football fan! I Dvr the game so I can go back and actually hear the commercials 

saralee797-2

@adirat thanks and my HSG did not delay O. Nor did it get me KU. It was kinda cool to see though! 
@marley629 heyyy girl. Whomp I thought I could get away with it. Looks like I'm purchasing more Hpts  so excited for your IVF cycle
@magnolia131 thanks for taking a look. I normally get EWCM for a couple days before O (but don't normally O until CD18-20) so my body is allll kinds of confused. I'm sticking with the consensus here.
Thanks everyone!! 

wabash15

@adirat the hsg did not delay my O but I remember a few other ladies in the past mentioning it did with them. Fx it won't with you!

Bababatty

@adirat just chiming in to say it did not delay my O, either. Your receptionist sounds very cool. :-)

rh10264706

*lurker*

@adirat I just wanted to jump in after reading all the responses because I did have the postcoital test done. Twice actually. Basically, I had an appointment to check my follicles via ultrasound and my RE told us to have sex the night before. The test is SO quick and easy I would push for them to do it. They took the sample from me and then showed me 5 minutes later under the microscope. My husband's SA was normal so my RE wanted to make sure my body wasn't killing his sperm. I appreciated his thoroughness and it was another thing to rule out. (Unexplained secondary infertility). Good luck! 

KristoKekerooni

@adirat - Opposite of everyone else, mine DID delay O. If I remember correctly, by an entire week. 



Anyway, UPDATE on MFI stuff. TW for talks of loss/possible loss


So the RE (from hell) called with an update about the DNAF/SA. First the SA...
WE ARE WITHIN NORMAL RANGE
I repeat
WE ARE WITHIN NORMAL RANGE

I don't even know what to "blame" for this. He's been on the Clomid (off and on) since July now. He's also been on the FertilAid (off and on) since Octoberish. here's a breakdown (from memory since they haven't sent me the paperwork yet):

Count per mL: 33 million (Normal >20 mill)
Total count: 88 million (Normal >40 mill)
Forward motility: 60% (Normal >50%)
Morphonlogy: <1%  (Normal >4% OR >15% depending on which criteria)
DNAF: 15% (Normal <15%)
DNAS: 26% (Normal <15%, Poor 15-25%, Very poor >25%)

So those first three numbers are INCREDIBLE. I can't believe it is even possible. the last three I have very mixed feelings about the last three. We are exactly borderline on the fragmentation... And the the stainability we are very poor on. I still need to do more research on exactly what that means. But for now it just means I am very nervous. I feel like our chances of getting pregnant are pretty average now. Once we toss in the IUIs, we have a fairly good chance of it working... but the chance of miscarriage is pretty damn high. I'm leaning pretty heavily to try the IUIs because 1. why not? 2. H is right, finally. We do have a chance. 3. At least we could say we tried?
But at the same time, even the thought of getting a second line is TERRIFYING. I was thinking about it last night and I ended up just shaking and crying and had to totally walk away and turn on the tv to stop thinking about it. I definitely will take advantage of my solo therapy this week to discuss this. I know the fear of loss never goes away after having four losses, but I also feel like I am just tempting fate and I'm really struggling with the ethics of getting pregnant when there is such a huge chance of loss. I don't know. It sounds silly when I say it out loud. But it's a struggle, nevertheless. 

thoughts, advice, opinions?

hartmich

I apologize in advance for this Dear Diary post...

H's SA is today. He had to come home from work in the middle of the day to do it and I'm going to take it to the lab. He has had a great attitude about it all week, making jokes and trying to be as positive as you can probably be about it. 

Well... it didn't go super well. He finished quickly but the sample is small. He said it was totally weird and awkward (yes even at home) and it was way less than he would normally achieve. And then of course he was pissy and said he is never doing this again. 

Ugh. I had my hopes up so high that for ONCE something could just go smoothly. 

GG620

I'll be back shortly to respond to all you lovely ladies

Diagnosis (If you've been): PCOS and *TW unexplained recurrent MCs*

Cycle/CD: 13 with benched / 30

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):  TWW

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?) Once AF comes again (if I'm out) RE wants to do another ultrasound to check the huge cysts he saw on my right ovary last AF. 

How are things going? Ehh, not so good. Feeling out this cycle and ready to just move on, but at the same time concerned that the 4 cysts have grown even larger. My RE seemed very concerned with the size of one in particular, that measured appr. 55mm. So in that limbo of not wanting to know, but also wanting to know.

  

Any questions?  For those of you that have also been diagnosed with PCOS, have you ever had very large cysts like the RE observed with me? If so, what was the recommended course of treatment?

GTKY: Do you watch the Super Bowl for the game or the commercials? For the game. I love football! I even won my work fantasy league and won $500 woooot! haha

wabash15

@KristoKekerooni  HOORAY and hugs.  That is amazing that DH's SA came back normal!!  You will have to do what is best for you, TW* I've only had one loss and can't imagine that pain compounded 3 more times end TW** I tend to be more pollyanna about things so I would probably try the IUI for all the reason you listed above. Just because you've had loss before does not mean you will have loss again. TW again** i have a dear friend who had 3 losses before a successful pregnancy, then 2 more before her second child who was just born .  I have another friend who has 4 kids but had a MC prior to each of her full term pregnancies... end TW*** For me holding on to hope is the only way to keep from going insane.  IF and loss suck. hugs lady.

@hartmich I am so sorry that things did not go well today.  hopefully he was just letting off steam and it will go better the next time...maybe if he thinks of it less as a test/something that is his fault and more of just another step towards a goal...  To make it more light hearted my DH does a goofy dance singing that he's going to knock me up.... it always makes both of us laugh. hugs

adirat

@KristoKekerooni Wow! It is remarkable to see such a recovery in the SA! I don't know enough to answer your questions except to tell you that our RE said IUI chances are good with any count higher than 20 mil/mL. This seems like great news considering where you started! 

As to the ethics question -- personally I would not consider it unethical to TTC given the DNA fragmentation. Any conception includes a high risk of loss, even for perfectly healthy couples. It isn't your responsibility to TTA on behalf of an embryo that doesn't exist. To me a greater concern is your own mental health. If it will be too scary or produce so much anxiety for you that you aren't comfortable moving forward with that fragmentation rate, then you shouldn't put yourself through that. If you do want to try, you should.

I know "It's all up to you" is a wishy washy answer but I truly believe you will make the right decision for your own sanity. We're here for you too  

adirat

@hartmich Ugh that blows! I'm sorry it was such a negative experience for him. Plus side -- it's too soon to know what the SA results will be and it's very possible his opinion in the heat of the moment won't be how he feels forever. Give him some time and distance from the experience. I hope it will be OK.

hartmich

@wabash15 @adirat Thank you  he even texted me and said he's sorry and he really tried to psych himself up. I know it's all psychological, and I'm trying to be understanding, but it's just frustrating when this is the one thing I need him to do. The lab said the sample size was fine and they'll call with the results so I'm just crossing every finger and toe that the results are good so that he can relax (because he and I both know that's his biggest fear). 

And @wabash15 He was dancing around the house totally naked last night, saying he was ready and he was really "full" and blah blah! I guess when it came to go time, it really messed with his head. But I'm glad to hear I don't have the only goofy H 

KristoKekerooni

@hartmich - Ugh. It's so hard to be graceful and accepting when it's literally the only thing they have to do. At the very least, rest assured that at lease SA pretty much go off of a per mL system, and not as a per sample system. So even if the sample size was low, the numbers shouldn't be off too much. In fact, this last SA from my H was the smallest ever (his is around 6 mL normally, and this was only 2.7 mL), and we had better results than any of the rest. That's obviously not because of the sample size, rather in spite of, maybe. All is not lost. Also, my H said it gets easier and easier and less and less awkward, so if there needs to be a continuing schedule of SAs, it'll get better. 
Take a breath. It's okay. Hugs.

@adirat - Happy to see you free! Yeah, everyone kinda says IUI *should* be fine, and with the numbers, that's probably right. The DNAF/DNAS is just terrifying. I think we will at least take a cycle to adjust to this new reality before we do anything. I appreciate your opinion on the ethics issue. It just feels so weird to me. But you are right, I guess. Technically it's not like I am gambling with a life that already exists. It's just so hard to know that I am potentially putting myself back into the worst pain I've ever felt (emotionally and physically).

heatherdubrow

@GG620 I have pcos and I did have a large cyst when I was going through stims years ago. My Re eventually just drained it(not as awful as it sounds) and it was fine. The other option was to shrink it with bcps.

@hartmich sorry about your H. I think sometimes we forget that this stuff is hard and emotional for them too. I'm glad he apologized.

@KristoKekerooni great news on the SA!

Bababatty

@KristoKekerooni Wow!! That is fantastic news about the SA! This gives me a lot of hope since our husbands are on similar regimens. As for the losses, I can't really advise--and I think @adirat said some great things I agree with--but I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers that everything goes right. If it were me, I'd probably pursue the IUI despite the risk, but I've also never been in your situation so it's hard to know. I do think it's worth at least a shot. 

zwink1

@KristoKekerooni, wow, fantastic news on the SA numbers, congratulations! I cannot speak to the fear/ethics of TTC again after losses as I have not had a loss, however, I think PP made some great points and I will keep you in my thoughts.  I'm so happy to see someone have success with boosted MFI numbers, it sends some hope this way!

@hartmich I'm sorry your H's sample didn't go according to plan. My H didn't say a word to me about his first sample, he just did it and left to take it in... That being said, he was super pessimistic beforehand and was convinced something was wrong. I felt so awful for him when it turned out he was right.  In any case, like others have said, the amount should be fine to provide base the numbers you need to know. I'll have my FX everything comes back good for you!

H's next SA is scheduled for 2/8, so we'll see how that goes. He has to do it at the clinic thiz time, so that should be interesting for him...

adirat

@KristoKekerooni I get your hesitance. I can't even imagine the pain of RPL so wanting to protect yourself from that is 100% natural. I think taking some time to take stock of how you feel and how you would feel with a positive hpt is the right way to approach this. And here's the beautiful thing -- even if you aren't ready to ttc yet, those SA numbers are moving in the right direction big time. You could be on your way to something you will be comfortable with soon.

@hartmich @wabash15 My husband also did an adorable but kooky/bizarre "sperm dance" the morning of his SA! What is the deal with men???

@zwink1 Good luck! I'm not sure what my husband's response would be to having to do it en suite at the clinic...

kyersten

@wabash15 and @heatherdubrow Thank you for the well wishes!

My nurse(s) also had me do a pregnancy test before my HSG and a stupid part of me was hopefully watching the nurse's face when she read the strip, despite the fact I had my period (rolls eyes). I would love to know if it ever had happened though, since there's usually a reason for rules. 

@hartmich Your story of your husband dancing around made me laugh! I'm sorry that it didn't go as well as you both had hoped.

For my fellow IVF people, my mom sent me these really cute IVF stickers she got from Etsy and a big wall calendar for when we start the process. She knows the way I process stress is becoming as organized as possible! It was a nice gift. Ugh, but I just tried to post the picture and it was huge. Someday, I'll evolve and be able to effectively add pictures and memes to my posts. 

saralee797-2

@kyersten that is super sweet and thoughtful of your mom!!

adirat

@kyersten That's so sweet! I'd love to see a pic someday  

kyersten

NEW SKILL! Spoiler box for the huge picture of my IVF stickers. 

mrsdaddario

I'm a horrible bumper. I'm sorry. I used to be able to Bump at work and therefore had all the time in the world to read and respond. Can't do that anymore so I'm strictly mobile, until weekends. So forgive me for not tagging but here are my disjointed thoughts on some of your posts:

We never got the post coital test done either and I also wonder if maybe it would have been beneficial to us. Just another box to check of in my mind. Our RE never even mentioned it. I wish I had thought to ask! Too late now.

PCOS and super amounts of follicles. Yeah so that is certainly a characteristic of PCOS. Personally even with a NIR PCOS diagnosis I've never had the "string of pearl's" look in my ovaries. I've never produced many follicles during stims/oral stims. It's just not one of the PCOS symptoms I have. But it's definitely a big one for a lot of women with PCOS.

My HSG sucked, but because I wasn't ovulating on my own at the time I can't say for sure if it delayed O or not. I have heard, from experience around here, that it can delay O. Absolutely. Also tidbit, anytime someone brings up an hsg I feel obligated to say this lol because no one told me! It's totally normal to bled for a while afterwards. The nurse told me to expect maybe a day or two of spotting. She told me heavy bleeding was not normal and if that happened to call. Well I ended up bleeding, full AF like, for a solid seven days. The OB told me she more than likely "scratched" (cringe) my cervix during the procedure and it was just irritated. She put me on antibiotics to prevent infection and then I had to just wait it out. So forewarning it's possible, and it's normal!

I've never personally had cysts with PCOS, but large cysts are something that could delay or cancel medicated cycles and should be focused on. I know it's shitty to have something out of your control delay getting the show on the road but better safe than sorry!

@LadyMillil I can't wait for you to have your appointment!! 

Diagnosis (If you've been): NIR PCOS

Cycle/CD: 17/15 CD 3

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):  WTO WFAFTL 

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?) Natural 

  

How are things going? Waiting waiting waiting for insurance to kick in in April. After 17 months of trying though, it's been pretty cool to see ovulation on my own these last two months (after six failed medicated IUI's). I've discovered through temping that my literal phase is 12 days long. I used to temp in the beginning like everyone else. Never ovulated while doing it so I dropped it when I started with the RE. The last two cycles have been the first cycles I've actually observed O with temping and OPK's. I've learned A TON about my body. Now I'm just praying this streak continues. If not I'm basically "hurry up and wait" -ing for April when we get IVF coverage from H's new job. 

  

Any questions? Nope

GTKY: Do you watch the Super Bowl for the game or the commercials?
Half time!

wabash15

@mrsdaddario nice to see you lady! Its great to hear that you have O'd on your own the last two cycles. We're already to February so April is not so far off!