TTTC Checkin 2/7/2017

GoldenKeys

Hey Everyone,

Checkin time... congrats to @Worldtravler0522 (fx for more good betas) and to @BecauseLove for your BFPs! 

Also, welcome to the checkin, @MountainLady!

How is everybody doing?


2017 BFP Hall Fame

BecauseLove dx: amenorrhea, PCOS  Rx: IVF


PAGING:

@Bababatty: dx:Low Motility  Rx: Letrozole + trigger + IUI
@blessedmomma88: dx: PCOS, anovulation Rx: Clomid, Metformin
@ChristinaV2015: dx: blocked tubes, PCOS, endo + MFI  Rx: lap, OPKs + TI
@CrunchyBaby2: dx: Unexplained Rx: Clomid
@eadams08: dx: PCOS Rx: Clomid
@emgem819 dx: PCOS, Rx: provera, femara + Bravelle
@hoffmanr7: dx: unexplained Rx: Letrozol 5mg+trigger shot+IUI+Progesterone
@iloverocksalot dx:High FSH/PCOS/Auto-Immunity, DH low morphology, Rx: DHEA + Microdose Lupron +
IVF/ICSI
@Jaje09182010: dx: Unexplained Rx: Clomid w/IUI
@jmr1515: dx: Mild MFI/morph, fibroid  Rx: Surgery + TI
@jojomama25: dx: MFI Rx: supplements + TI
@JRB3: dx: PCOS Rx: Clomid
@Kay6519: dx: PCOS rx: testing
@lablover78: dx: unexplained/irreg and MTHFR
@mackenzie07 dx: PCOS and Endo  Rx: metformin, letrozole, ovidrel
@madasm0530 dx: PCOS Rx: Provera+Femara+IUI
@MamaMunn: dx: PCOS Rx: Clomid 100mg + Ovidrel + TI
@mandasand: dx: low AMH  Rx:IVF (Lupron, Menopur + Follistim)
@MandyBeeSLP: dx: low progesterone, borderline PCOS, vitamin D insufficiency Rx: metformin
@meli123k: dx unexplained  Rx:  IVF + ICSI
@Mlight28: dx Unexplained Rx: Clomid
@MrsM00re87: dx: DOR PCOS, low morph Rx: Femara + TI
@MrsMcMilkshakes: dx: cysts, testing
@MurphyGrace dx: Unexplained Rx:  Letrozole + Menopur injections + Ovidrel+ IUI
@Mythril: dx: PCOS (anovulatory) Rx:levothyroxine to lower TSH
@NikkiPSU: Unexplained Rx: TI
@Plainjanie: DX- mild MFI. Rx- Monitored cycle with TI.
@pretzel2plus1: dx: Endometriosis Rx: laparascopy
@rachlee2010: dx: DOR Rx: IUI
@ReesaAnne16: dx: MFI, high DNA fragmentation  Rx: Letrozole+ IUI
@Samanthaarielxo dx: anovulation Rx: still in testing
@sarah0985: dx: PCOS, possible blocked tubes Rx: Lap
@seethosestars:  Dx: low AFC + MFI and Rx: letrozole + testing
@SM746830: dx: PCOS, blocked tubes Rx: Surgery, Clomid
@smokinangel: possible PCOS, MTHFR gene, slight MFI Rx: trying to regulate hormones naturally
@SoonToBeMommaHowe: dx: Unexplained Rx: Letrozole + IUI
@Starlight811 dx: DOR Rx:  Menopur + Gonal F + Ovidrel + Progesterone suppositories + IUI
@starlitfae dx: MFI & balanced translocation, thyroid  Rx: ivf with pgd testing
@vssbrm: dx: Minor Vercosis, morphology, high prolactin  Rx: Clomid + IUI + ovidrel + prolactin meds
@Mrs.RedHead dx: Unexplained Rx: Testing with RE
@PoeMasque dx: unexplained Rx:Clomid + IUI, acupuncture, supplements
@Labluver2 dx: testing
@avocuddle dx: testing
@laurad75 dx: possible DOR  Rx: IVF
@funkykey dx: unexplained Rx: Clomid + IUI
@kmallery08 dx: unexplained Rx:Clomid, GonalF, Trigger Shot, IUI and Progesterone
@greenange dx: anovulatory PCOS w/insulin resistance Rx: Metformin, Letrozole, trigger + TI
@KariShoe dx: Unexplained Rx: Preparing for testing
@kaitlink33 dx: IR pcos Rx: Femara + trigger + TI
@Spaniard: dx: unexplained Rx: Clomid + IUI
@notamyrtle: dx: unexplained Rx: IUI + injects
@BunnyW23: dx: vasectomy (reversal) Rx: IUI
@kyersten: dx: Scar tissue Rx: IVF
@RunsUponATime: dx: in testing Rx: Clomid
@whenwillieversleep: dx:low progesterone Rx: Testing, suppositories
@MountainLady: dx: Unexplained, Rx: Letrozole
@lindybird: dx: low hormone levels Rx: homeopathic treatments
@Kim41313: dx: MFI Rx: waiting for testing
@pawcall: dx: MFI(morph) + testing Rx: unmedicated IUI
@MJDsquared : dx: PCOS Rx:Letrozole
@MountainLady!: dx: Unexplained Rx: Letrozole + IUI / possible IVF
Worldtravler0522 dx: PCOS/Unexplained Rx: 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?


QOTW: A hand written letter from your S/O's crazy, obsessed ex shows up in your mailbox. He hasn't seen it yet.  What do you do?

a)  Throw it away without even opening it.  She's a crazy loon and he doesn't need the aggravation.

b)  Open it to see what she's up to, then call her and scream her out.

c)  Leave the unopened letter on the coffee table, making a mental note to interrogate your S/O to find out what this is all about.

d)  Mark it "Return to sender", draw a skull and crossbones on the envelope and send it back.

e)  Other (explain)

hoffmanr7

Not much going on at the moment.  Took my last dose of Letrozole this morning. Just waiting for my follicle check on Friday and feeling....honestly, I'm not sure how I'm feeling about our first IUI.  I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high.  The only thing I know for sure is that I'm feeling impatient.  I just want Friday to get here so we can get on with it.  It's going to be a loooooong week.

QOTW: I would probably just hand it to him and let him decide if he wants to bother opening it or not.  If he did open it, I would probably at least insist on reading it though. lol.

Worldtravler0522

Thanks @GoldenKeys! I'm hanging out here one more week because we aren't in the clear yet.

TW

 I started bleeding again on Sunday for about two hours. My beta and ultrasound was yesterday and they found a gestional sac but no yolk. My HCG did go up to 1,312 so that's encouraging but Friday will give us the full answer. 

@hoffmanr7 I hope this is it for you! Come on Friday.

QTW- I would read it with DH. I couldn't NOT open it, I'm way too curious Haha. 

GoldenKeys

Worldtravler0522  I sent you a P.M.

Bababatty

@WorldTravler0522 Oh this is so stressful for you! I am so sorry you don't have a clear consensus yet and you have to wait another three days. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you get good news!

@hoffmanr7 Good luck with your follie scan!

AFM 6DPO and our timing was pretty good. I've got some hope that DH's count has improved enough on clomid to give us a chance at conceiving on our own. This will all be confirmed after he goes in for his follow-up SA this Friday. Fingers crossed! For now, we've decided to re-start the IUIs next cycle (which would start next week). We may change our mind depending on the SA results, but I'm all for moving forward. 

funkykey

@Worldtravler0522 - Oh man, FX FX. I'm not even in your shoes, and I'm stressed for you! Your TWW is like a three month wait. Gah! Stay sticky, little beans! 

@hoffmanr7 - let us know what happens with your follie scan! FX!

@Bababatty - FX.

AFM I am 9dpo and POAS is all I am thinking about. This TWW, after our first IUI, has been killing me!

ETA: Actually, it's been killing me. I have been coming out of my skin, I feel so itchy... though I joke with DH that it might be the come down from the estrogen - before I ovulated, my estradiol was something wild, like 1150 pg/ml. Likely the highest it's ever been. I keep thinking, if I feel like this now, I cannot imagine how crazy the mood swings are during IVF.

QOTW: c) 100%. But only because DH and I have had many, many conversations about his ex's one-time need to be in constant contact with him, and I am trying to be gracious in my victory.  

laurad75

@Worldtravler0522 I'm following you so closely and hoping that everything turns out okay.  Hang in there.

@hoffmanr7 Ugh the waiting.  So much waiting.  GL on Friday. 

@Bababatty FX for you but I think its good karma to have a plan b in mind.  I hope you don't need it. 

AFM: Tonight will be my 12th night of stims for IVF #1.  Yesterday's u/s only showed 3 measurable follies which is disappointing.  I will go back for monitoring tomorrow morning and will likely trigger tomorrow night for a Friday ER.  mentally I'm trying to find a healthy medium between thinking positive and realistic expectations.  

QOTW: I would not open the letter but make it clear that I knew it was there and ask to know what it said.  My H has quite a colorful history with women and some that he still sees in social circles so I'm pretty good at managing this type of awkward situation.  

Worldtravler0522

Thanks ladies!! I'm really hopeful and so ready for Friday.  I really appreciate all the support and well wishes. 

@laurad75 hoping your follies go crazy between now and the next scan. When is your ER? 

laurad75

@Worldtravler0522 Thanks.  I hope so too.  We don't have a date for ER yet but the nurse I spoke to today said there was a note in my chart that I will likely trigger tomorrow which would make ER on Friday.  Otherwise I may do one or two more nights of stims and push ER back to Monday.  

Worldtravler0522

@laurad75 I hated that part of ER, the unknown was stressful! 

kaitlink33

I triggered yesterday so now I'm going to be HIO and starting my TWW. Hopefully it goes by quick.
QOTW: I have to deal with his crazy expensive anyway since they have a child together so not muchanging I can say here.

notamyrtle

Hey guys, just checking in.

@Worldtravler0522  Ohmygosh. I am so rooting for you and nervous for you. Ugh, I hate that this has to be as nerve-wracking as it is. Truly hoping for the best outcome.   

@laurad75  Also sounds nerve-wracking... Fingers majorly crossed for your ER.

@hoffmanr7   Happy that you guys are getting on the IUI bandwagon!! Definitely seemed like time to step it up from the medicated cycles.

I got a BFN today after IUI #2.  I had a rough day or two over the past few days, while PMSing. I swear, the combination of PMS and infertility is the worst. On Sunday, this sudden sinking feeling of certainty came over me in which I felt that I would never, ever get pregnant no matter how many treatments I did. I burst into tears in front of DH. 

Two days later, I'm feeling more rational and even-keeled. It's remarkable how PMS works. 

As I said in another thread, my RE wants me to get an endometrial biopsy due to a sole low lining measurement "to rule out endometritis". I'm sketched out and semi-convinced she was just drumming up a reason to do a procedure, but I'm going along with it. So yay, this next month will be the cycle of the painful biopsy. Whoopdedoo. 

I'm also contemplating starting an infertility blog, but every infertility blog writer seems to have this truly gargantuan, off the charts battle with infertility. Call me superstitious, but I don't know what's cause or effect in that association. 

QOTW: #3. We're pretty good about respecting each other's privacy. But yeah, I'd still feel entitled to know what was going on of course.

kd0202

Hello! I did an intro thread but this is my first check in.

1.  TTC for 11 months

2.  Dx: Unexplained. Short luteal phase is the only thing the doctor says is abnormal.

3.  Treatment plan: Clomid 50mg. 

I've been a little worried that my OB put me on clomid without an HSG test first. I asked if I should get one and she said no need. Also, DH semen analysis came back and some of the numbers were on the low side--but like, low side of normal. Doc said she didn't think it was a problem. But I'm wondering if maybe it is? She wants me to go through 3 rounds of clomid before seeing the RE but I made an appointment for one next week. I'd rather be under the care of someone thats an expert in fertility troubles. 


QOTW: I just let him open it and hover over him reading it over his shoulder. 

funkykey

@laurad75 - GL! FX for your retrieval - grow follies, grow!

@notamyrtle - that sounds awful. I have a few days to go before I know, but I had a moment today where I thought: "I'm not pregnant", and just felt this exhaustion and dejection. I don't think it's just PMS, I think it's also all the horomones we're on, and the added stress of the continual disappointments. I'd cry too. Good luck with the biopsy - if you're worried, may be worth getting a second opinion.

I know - there was a blogger I loved who wrote about her IF. Her blog is down now, but she had a terrible time. I keep hoping I'll see something on social media that will make me think she's happy/at peace, but in the meantime... not a happy ending. (If you do decide to go forward and not let the superstition get in your way, I will read your blog!)

@kd0202 - I hope the RE appointment goes well!

mountainlady

Worldtravler0522 rooting for you so much right now! 

Bababatty & funkykey Good luck with the TWW!

laurad75 oooh good luck with the first IVF!

notamyrtle Oh man, so sorry, it sounds like this may not be a fun month but hopefully it shows absolutely nothing! I would definitely be interested in a really factual IF blog - there is so much mystery and bulls*%t around conception... when you're feeling low and you go to google, ugh.

We were meant to be doing our first round of Letrozole+IUI this cycle (I'm on CD8), but I just heard back from the clinic that it will not be possible. 

My RE said that Letrozole has "diminishing returns" after the 3rd cycle, so we were pretty gung-ho to do IUI this month and IVF next month. Now I'm not sure whether we should just skip the IUI stage and go straight for the IVF?

We don't have medical insurance (so no requirements to satisfy) and do have the savings to pay for it... and we're going to be looking at some serious counselling bills if I can't sort my hormonal brain out soon, so the money's being spent one way or another! 

Do you think my RE is just a good salesman? Or interpreting my limited reserves of patience?!

QOTW: I would definitely give the letter to him, but ask to be let in on it when he's ready... I have a jealous step-mother, and have witnessed how destructive that behaviour can be. I will always TRY to avoid it! 

limeburst

@Bababatty how long did you guys wait for a follow up SA? My OBGYN offered a repeat, she said she usually waits 6 weeks. I declined, assuming the RE will order a repeat, and by then it will be more than 2 months since the first one. 

@funkykey FX!! 

@laurad75 hope the u/s shows some more follies for you!! 

@notamyrtle hugs to you. Sorry it was a rough few days, but glad you are feeling a little better now. If you are looking for an outlet but don't want to jinx yourself with a blog, have you thought about journaling? I started after a few months of TTC, when I started to suspect that this wasn't going to be an easy road for us. I feel like it has helped, even if it's just to collect my thoughts when things are kind of crazy in my mind 

@kd0202 I think that's great you made an RE appointment! I understand your skepticism, since I believe an HSG is pretty standard for fertility testing so not sure why your OB would say you don't need one. Good for you for taking things into your own hands.

AFM, my D&C to remove my polyp is scheduled for Friday. After that we will be benched for 4 weeks for recovery. 

I have a lot lot of fun things coming up is the next few weeks I am trying to focus on (concerts, shows, and a trip with DH!) So I am hoping the next 4 weeks go by quickly! 

Worldtravler0522

@MountainLady thank you!! Looking back on everything part of me wishes I would have jumped to IVF sooner.  I feel like we wasted a lot of time and money with Clomid and IUIs/timed baby dances. In some ways I've been more peaceful and less hormonal with IVF. It's a tough call to make, good luck figuring everything out! If you have questions about IVF I'm an open book, feel free to ask.  

laurad75

Thank you for all the support gang!  This morning's u/s did not show any additional follicles measuring over 11 but there are a few more just under who could possibly catch up by ER.  I will get further instructions later today.  

@kd0202 Welcome.  I can't help but advice you to push back on your OB to see an RE before going on medicated cycles.  There is no point in taking clomid if the reason for your IF is that a tube is blocked.  Also, would the OB be monitoring you while on clomid?  It can be dangerous to take clomid without regular bw and scans.  

I will refrain from getting on my usual 'you must advocate for yourself' soapbox but I really think you should consider telling OB you would be much more comfortable completing all IF testing with a RE before going on medication. 

Worldtravler0522

@laurad75 I'm still hopeful you get a couple of surprise follies during retrieval.

laurad75

@Worldtravler0522 i'm still rooting for you so hard

Are surprise follies a thing?  Does that ever happen that they find one or two bonus follies they didn't see on the u/s?  Please someone tell me that it happens. 

funkykey

@MoutainLady - ugh! I hate the IUI delays! What happened? A clinic closure?

If we had some MFI at play, we probably would move to IVF before doing the full 3 IUIs. I don't think your RE is being just a good salesman - I think it pays to be aggressive with treatments.

That said, depending on your factors, a couple of rounds of IUIs can be a good thing. For us, because we're unexplained, it's a good move. At the very least, for me, it helps me identify what "could" be going on, a process of elimination. If none of our IUIs takes, we will have a bigger clue as to what could be causing our IF. If one does take, then we haven't had to shell out for IVF. (Like you, all of this is OOP for us.)

Worldtravler0522

@laurad75 thanks!! I'm hopeful
as for surprise follies, I'm not sure it really is but the one thing I've learned in this process is you get surprises at every corner.  Hoping maybe you have some super growth between now and ER. 

Bababatty

@laurad75 I'm sorry your follies are still not behaving, but I'm glad there's still some hope a few more will improve. Will they proceed with the ER anyway, I hope?

@worldtravler0522 Still rooting for you!!

@notamyrtle I'm really sorry you have to do the biopsy. Is that something you want to get a second opinion about, if you're concerned your doctor is pushing for something you don't need? I really hope it comes back negative (negative would be good, right?). I understand your hesitation about starting a blog, and journaling could be a good solution, like others said. Or, hopefully you won't have a strenuous journey and your blog could be one of those that's maybe a bit happier?

@kd0202 Good luck with the RE appointment!

@MountainLady My RE encouraged 6 IUIs and I'd be on letrozole (we've done 3 already, 2 on letrozole) before moving to IVF. Of course my insurance covers the IUIs, otherwise I'd probably rethink doing that many. For me, I've been loathe to jump into IVF because it felt like hitting a nail with a sledge hammer for our situation. If DH's SA doesn't show any improvement after the Clomid, though, I may rethink my position. All of which is to say, go with what feels right to you and right for your family.

@Kim41313 Way back when we were doing testing, there was about 3-4 months between the SAs (the first was done with DH's regular urologist and the lab we used was crap, so we don't even count it. The second was done as the panel of testing at our RE's office. It was corroborated by all the SAs done for our IUIs.) The current one is being done about three months after DH started clomid because it takes about three months to see any changes in sperm count.

Update for me: Our RE's office wants us to meet with him again to go over the urologist treatment before we start IUIs again. So another cycle will go by. Or maybe I'll get a BFP next week and all of this will be moot. :-)

mountainlady

@funkykey It was our fault - the clinic we had our infectious-diseases blood test done at (legal requirement) will not have the results in time for IUI this month.

Our IF is also entirely unexplained - we were worried about MFI after reading the SA tests ourselves, but the RE interpreted them as very acceptable (volume & motility made up for low morph, putting DH in the normal range). 

A part of me wants to give IUI a shot, as it feels more like "we made this one ourselves"... and is obviously much cheaper. The temptation to buy ourselves out of this problem is strong!

@Bababatty So when you try your first IVF (FX it will not even be needed!), will you be on a fourth round of Letrozole?

seethosestars

@hoffmanr7 - FX everything goes well at your follie scan on Friday!  I hear ya on the "not getting your hopes up too high".

@Worldtravler0522 - Glad the beta went up but you must be so nervous for more news!  Thinking of you.

@Bababatty - I am also anxiously awaiting your repeat SA!  If clomid works for your DH then I might try harder to convince my own DH to give it a go!

@funkykey - I always like to think of the TWW as "I could be pregnant, and if I don't POAS then that possibility is still there" -  it keeps me from buying and using more tests haha.

@laurad75 - I'm really hoping you have a few more follies for your egg retrieval!  Will they go ahead anyways even if there are only 3?  I feel like my clinic would convert to IUI if there was less than 5 (but I have never done an IVF cycle so maybe I'm wrong)

@kaitlink33 - hope the TWW goes by quickly!

@notamyrtle - sorry about the BFN =(  If you start a blog I would totally read it! I love infertility blogs.  I have definitely seen some with happy endings so don't stress about that part!  Good luck with the biopsy, that sounds unpleasant!

@kd0202 - welcome!  Definitely hook up with an RE if your OB won't do the right tests.  No point in suffering the side effects of fertility drugs if there are structural problems preventing pregnancy!

@MountainLady - it is hard to know what the motives are from the RE office, but I think most of them want success.  If they are recommending IVF and skipping IUI they probably think that will bring you your baby.  If money isn't an issue I say go for it!  Interesting that your RE thinks there is no point to taking letrozole beyond 3 cycles.  I'm starting cycle 4 right now (just with timed intercourse) but our plan is to use letrozole for our first IUI cycle in April as well.  I didn't ovulate regularly (I have DOR) on my own but have had great Day 21 progesterone levels with letrozole so I think stepping up from TI to IUI will be helpful even if the drug we use is the same.

@Kim41313 - good luck with the surgery!!


AFM, just taking my letrozole again.  This is cycle #4 with TI.  We're waiting for our appointment in early March to sign consents for IUI/IVF.  DH wants to start with IUI and I agreed to give him 3 cycles of IUI before moving on to IVF.  Wishing these letrozole headaches would get better with each passing cycle but alas they do not.

BenJay

FX and hoping for the best for all of you waiting for results/procedures/answers.

Not much to report. Just waiting for me until that 90 days is over before we check the out the 'wimpy' sperm with Dr. Johnson (*snicker*).

QOTW: I'd like to think I'd calmly throw it away, but more likely I'd have a loooong talk with DH filled with open ended and/or rhetorical questions.

funkykey

Ugh, BFN for me. Geez. 10dpo, and not even hint of second line. If AF hasn't shown up by Tuesday, I have bloodwork then - so that'll be the "official" no.

ETA: @MountainLady - it was exactly that middle finger HPT. Exactly! Can't believe we have the same brand!

mountainlady

@funkykey well damn it... maybe they've got a defective batch of tests out there, as all the ones I try seem to come out that way   

Bababatty

@MountainLady We'll be doing our fourth round of IUI, 3rd with letrozole. But my understanding is we would just continue with letrozole going forward. We did clomid the first cycle, and my ovaries were a little too enthusiastic, haha.

@seethosestar Thanks! I hope we get good news and you can use it to convince your H to do it, too! It already improved DH's testosterone, so you can try bribing him with that if it's an issue for him at all. :-)

@funkykey I'm sorry about the BFN. :-( FX it's just too early and you get your BFP!

kaitlink33

@BenJay I read this yesterday. I'm not sure what/ if you have YH taking anything, but maybe this is worth a try? https://natural-fertility-info.com/vitamin-c-to-improve-fertility.html

funkykey

@MountainLady - OMG, waiting for a blood test result is why you were delayed? I would cry. I would cry and want to yell at the lab technicians processing the blood to "work faster". Or like: "Um, is there a fast track?" Haha!

I was thinking about what I said earlier - you know, I don't just think we'd move to IVF faster with just some MFI, I wonder if any diagnosis would do it. That's the thing with unexplained, it's so much guesswork. Earlier on, when all of our tests were coming back clear, I kept thinking: "maybe it's just taking us longer, maybe it's x or y or z." Now that we've had this BFN after 1 IUI, I'm like: "Should I be patient and try for 2 more months? Or should we skip to IVF?" Sometimes I wish my AMH had come back differently, so I'd have the excuse.

Even DH last night was like: "Ok, how do they test your eggs? What else can we test? Are there any other clues?!" And I was like: "If we want to test more, we have to do IVF. There's nothing else they can tell us without an egg retrieval." 

I hear you on the temptation to buy yourself out of it. This last TWW was agonizing, and I can't imagine doing it 2x more after IUIs only to end up with BFNs. We don't have $20,000 hanging around to do IVF right now, but I have spent $20,000 on things far less important than this. Like $20,000 to buy a home in a "better neighbourhood", when we could sell it and buy somewhere cheaper that's still pretty nice. 

If we get another BFN with IUI #2, I might say "eff it" and rack up some consumer debt, then beg my dad to buy me a dose of Gonal-F for my birthday instead of taking us out for dinner. I'd feel like such a brat, but I'd do it. ("Please! Only pharmaceutical gifts.") 

mountainlady

@funkykey I *may* have thrown a minor tantrum over the bloodwork... luckily no one around to witness it! 

I have so much respect for people who manage to stay sane in the TWW. I can imagine it is even more intense after IUI - so much extra hope, plus all the ridiculous hormones. 

As @PoeMasque mentioned, another advantage of of just going to IVF would be having those younger eggs for future use... although it won't do any harm to leave em for another 4 months. 

Last night we decided to give at least one IUI a go - partly to try and eliminate one potential cause of our IF. 
__
On another note - IVF is $20,000 for you? If you're funding everything yourself anyway, have you looked into taking a "fertility holiday" across the Canadian border?

We have been quoted CA$8,000 (US$6,000) for the retrieval and first IVF, followed by CA$1,200 for subsequent IVFs. I'm sure there would be an additional "international patient" cost as we have a semi-public health care system (funded through monthly contributions), but it might be interesting to see how much that came to. Time off work may be tricky though...

I know prescriptions can be significantly more expensive in the US too - I had to buy an inhaler on vacation in Hawaii and it cost about 3 times as much! 

BenJay

@kaitlink33 - I think I have pushed DH over the edge. He put his foot down at mutilvitamin + CoQ10 + Clomid. Hopefully the multi has enough C to do the trick!

notamyrtle

Wow, I am really touched by what a supportive community this is. Never thought there'd be compassion on the internet! And this BFN was hardly even the worst of it in my time TTC... I feel like I should save the next pity-party for when I really, really need it. 

@funkykey Arrgh, so sorry for the BFN. That totally sucks. I know you probably don't want to hear it (because I don't like it when DH tells me this), but it's still a bit early. My LP is like 11 days, so 10 days post ovulation is not early for me, but for women with a 14-day LP, it may be.  But yeah, assuming it is a BFN, I'm sorry.  

Re: the mind-**** that is unexplained infertility - totally hear you. I sometimes sift over my 'case' in my head, trying to find any clues as to a reason. Most REs don't really seem to adopt such a detective-like mentality. It's just like, let's start treatments.  To a large extent, they're supposedly right, because the treatment for everything is IUI, then IVF anyway. I once read that once you're at the IVF stage, your diagnosis does not even matter much in terms of predicting outcome. I'm sure not all REs would agree with that, but yeah. Interesting.

And then there are the lots of women who do have apparent serious barriers to conceiving (i.e. lost a tube and their DH has a low count or whatever) and they conceive. The whole thing is truly mysterious. 

Like you said, IVF can be diagnostic in itself. That prospect (of what we may discover if we do IVF) terrifies me. Ooof, I need to keep a more positive outlook. Sorry guys. 

Will respond to others in the next post.

notamyrtle

@MountainLady
No expert here, but I think it's reasonable to do 2 or 3 IUIs before moving on to IVF. The usual teaching is 3 of them, then IVF. I did two IUIs with injectables, and was actually kind of relieved to get practice with doing injections on myself and such. I would imagine jumping right into IVF would be kind of intimidating given the various injections. Plus the RE says it gives some hints as to how you're going to respond to IVF meds. 

@laurad75 and @Worldtravler0522   Fingers majorly crossed for you both.
@Kim41313  Good luck with the procedure!
@seethosestars  Good luck with the appt and moving onto IUIs.
@Bababatty  Good luck with the urologist appointment... 
@kd0202 Sounds like a good idea to make the RE appt. 

Worldtravler0522

Thanks @notamyrtle!  I'm so nervous for tomorrow, I tested today and the line was ever so slightly lighter but DH swears its the dye and the fact I didn't do it first thing this morning.  Tomorrow can't come soon enough!! 

laurad75

Thanks for the support ladies! 

@seethosestars As far as I know they are going through with the ER tomorrow  morning.  At my scan on Wed morning they were able to see two more smaller follies that may have grown enough to be retrieved tomorrow.  That will be five total which isn't ideal but I will take it.  

Bababatty

@notamyrtle You can have a pity-party here any time you want. I think we'll all understand.  Re: IVF I feel the same way about the whole IVF can be diagnostic thing. I had never thought about it until I was in my group therapy and there were women doing IVF who were uncovering issues with their eggs. It was enlightening and terrifying. 

Good luck tomorrow, @laurad75 and @worldtravler0522!

Worldtravler0522

TW

im out. They didn't find anything this morning. I'm so frustrated and angry that we've lost 4 embryos. I don't even know what we're going to do next.  Thanks for all the well wishes and support.  Wish I had better news. 

seethosestars

@Worldtravler0522 - oh I'm so sorry to hear this.  my heart breaks for you this morning. take care of yourself.

BenJay

@Worldtravler0522 - So sorry to hear. Sending virtual hugs.