TTTC Checkin 3/1/2017

GoldenKeys

Hello all,

I'm sorry this is another post & run checkin...  I'm still on jury duty (ugh) and trying to get caught up with work at nights.  How  is everybody doing?  I'll do a full update on the next checkin.

kaitlink33

I'm still not sleeping through the night, I have gotten maybe 2 or 3 hours a night combined not consecutively it's driving me insane. Ive tried the magnesium that people have suggested among a few other things and nothing has worked. On top of that, I'm still feeling down about ttc and have been for a while now. I'm hoping I can get back to feeling positive about it like I was the beginning of this year. 

hoffmanr7

@kaitlink33 I am sorry you are having difficulty sleeping.  Have you tried any essential oils?  Maybe a diffuser in your room with some lavender would help.  I am also sorry you are feeling down and I hope you start feeling better soon

As for me...1st IUI resulted in a BFN.  I tested Monday and am just waiting for AF.  Should be any time as I have been spotting since last night.  I just wish she would hurry up already so we can get going again.

DH and I both promised ourselves at least three IUI attempts, so once AF makes her grand appearance we'll be starting IUI #2.

We are definitely feeling the strain of our first IUI on our wallet.  We were hoping we could hold off...but looks like I am going to have to dip into my personal savings to help pay the first one......and probably the next one too. Blarg.  I guess I don't need to retire.....I'll just work until I drop.

Bababatty

@kaitlink33 I'm sorry you're still not able to sleep, and also that you're feeling down. I've gone through phases of depression and hope, and I understand what you're going through. Are you seeing a therapist at all? I also recently realized that I was letting IF define my life, so I've made a concerted effort to change that. Less obsessive reading and thinking about it. More enjoying my life as it is now. That may not be the case for you, but I figured I'd mention it in case it helps.

@hoffmanr7 Ugh I'm sorry about the BFN and the financial strain! Creepy internet hugs to you! And FX for the next round.

AFM we finally got DH's follow up SA results back after the first three (now more like four) months of clomid. It's still not normal, but it is an improvement so we're happy. His total motile count more than doubled from the first SA back in July, from ~4 million to ~9 million. He's staying on clomid and we have a follow up with the urologist at some point. In the meantime, we're meeting with our RE on Friday to talk about next steps. Even though he's still below normal, I'm hopeful that his motile count is high enough that we'll get the at least 4-5 million post-wash that our RE wants to see. Plus I'm tired of waiting and I want to try IUIs again.

RatParade

@kaitlink33 Sorry about the insomnia  I get a couple days of it per month and it about makes me crazy, I can only imagine if it lasted longer than that.  And I understand about the emotional roller coaster of TTC.  Sometimes I fluctuate between optimistic and depressed multiple times a day.  What helped for me was taking a few months away from forums and internet research (like @Bababatty said).  While forums are helpful, they can also encourage fixation.

@hoffmanr7 Sorry about the BFN, those never get any easier  If you don't mind me asking, how much does each IUI cost?  I haven't gotten there yet but it's likely in my near future.

@bababatty I haven't heard of men taking clomid - interesting!  I'm glad it's helping.  My husband hasn't done his semen analysis yet but we're both thinking the problem might lie with him.  So that's good news to hear that it's helping!

I got a positive OPK this morning and now I'm seriously regretting choosing sleep over sex the last two nights lol.  I wasn't expecting it for another day or two.  I fell into the rabbit hole of researching how HSG's can increase the chance of pregnancy (I had one last week) so now I'm feeling extra optimistic this cycle, which will make a BFN harder to handle.  I'm just rolling with it though.  I like feeling optimistic

kd0202

@kaitlink33 I hate hate hate it when I can't sleep. It happens to me when I am stressed and its the worst. I have had some luck with melatonin. Sometimes I take two and it does the trick. Doesn't work for everyone though. 

@hoffmanr7 So sorry about the BFN. We are starting IUI next cycle and I know how much you want to hope that it will be the answer after all of the trying. 

@bababatty FX for good things from your next RE appt. 

@RatParade I totally get you on the HSG googling. I had one last Thursday and did the same thing. Also feeling extra optimistic FX we both get those notorious post-HSG bfps. 

My HSG last Thursday was pretty smooth. Only minor pain and Dr called to say tubes were open and uterus looks good. The nurse told me it can make people more fertile the cycle afterwards. Seems more anecdotal than scientific but I have seen a lot of people say the same thing. SO here is the weird part, I always O on day 20/21 of a 30 day cycle and have never had very much CM (certainly nothing that appears on toilet paper). But four days ago I started to get TONS and GOBS of EWCM. And it wasn't old HSG fluid, this was legit EWCM in quantities beyond belief (although maybe its normal quantifies and Im just not used to it because I've never had it. It was weird because a) I don't ever get it and b) because It was a week before me predicted fertile period. Since we are starting IUI next cycle I just thought we would take it easy and just OPK instead of BBT this cycle. So I randomly took an OPK last night and it was positive! On day 14! I So with the EWCM and the opk Im assuming Im ovulating (although now Im kicking myself for not BBT this cycle). I don't know why I would random ovulate a full week early but we BD'ed last night. Poor DH has to cancel his SA for today because we had sex last night but I thought it was worth it. Anyways, It made me feel optimistic to have my body do what is considered normal (in terms of EWCM and O on day 14/15). But we decided to BD last night and leave it at that for this cycle. My poor sweet husband has been slammed at law school and can barely stay awake. Figured he deserved a little bit of a break and we'll dive into IUI if we don't get one of those post-HSG bfp miracles. 

MJDsquared

@kaitlink33 I feel you. I'm feeling extremely down right now.
@hoffmanr7 Sorry for your BFN. We haven't seen the RE yet but we're coming up fast on needing to and I'm seriously stressing about costs.
@Bababatty I'm glad his count has improved!!
@RatParade FX this is your cycle!!
@kd0202 FX you get your BFP miracle!

Last week my post was all upbeat because I got a positive OPK for the second time ever and EWCM for the first time ever...but my progesterone levels prove that I didn't ovulate. The one time I got a positive OPK before (and confirmed O with progesterone levels) it was on day 21, and it's day 21 now. So I did an OPK last night just to see and it was positive again... This is the first time I've used Wondfos so I think I just shouldn't use them, because I tried with a Walgreens non-digital after and it was negative. I haven't peed since this morning and when I get home for lunch I'm testing again. But I think Wondfos are out for me.

I woke up this morning and got CH on FF for three days ago. I've had tender (to the touch) nipples for three days so I guess that could make sense but my chart doesn't really... (This is my first cycle temping.) I posted it in TTGP and the consensus is that my PCOS is just screwing up everything, as usual.

Anyway, yesterday was full of lots of tears after being so hopeful that I ovulated and learning that I didn't. We'll do one more cycle after this one before seeing an RE. But after a consultation who knows if we'll be able to proceed with testing/treatment right away because of $$$. I'm just feeling really discouraged.

seethosestars

@GoldenKeys - sorry to hear the jury duty is ongoing! hope you find some time for yourself soon!

@kaitlink33 - not being able to sleep is so frustrating! Always start with some good "sleep hygiene" - here's some tips from the American Sleep Association: https://www.sleepassociation.org/patients-general-public/insomnia/sleep-hygiene-tips/. Some people find melatonin helps (5-10 mg).  Sometimes a mediation track can help with getting ready to fall asleep too.  There are all kinds of free apps available!  And of course, if it's mood related it may be time to seek help.  Good luck.

@hoffmanr7 - uggggh about the BFN and the $$ troubles.  I wish we could all just get pregnant the FREE and EASY way!!

@Bababatty - great news on the improved counts! Is 4-5 million post wash what your RE wants for IUI?  I'm super nervous that our <1 million post wash is not going to cut it for IUI but my DH is just not ready for IVF yet.

@RatParade - sometimes I wonder if the "extra chance of pregnancy after HSG" is a real thing or just a myth!  Either way it's fun to be more hopeful for that first month . I'm gearing up to start IUI and at my clinic it's $1500 (not including med costs) for the cycle.  What I've seen is that every clinic has slightly different costs - perhaps yours has a list of fees on their website?

@kd0202 - hope this is your cycle! it's awesome when our bodies just do what they're supposed to do!

@MJDsquared - sorry to hear you didn't ovulate - did you have your progesterone checked today and it was low? I wouldn't keep using OPKs throughout the cycle, it might just confuse you more.

AFM, I see my RE again tomorrow.  I'm hopeful we can start our first IUI cycle this month.  Just waiting on AF right now which is actually great timing for once!

MJDsquared

@seethosestars Yeah, I'm done using OPKs this cycle for sure! It's not worth it. I had my progesterone checked on Monday and got the results yesterday. It was only like one-point-something so not even close!

kaitlink33

@hoffmanr7 I haven't tried any essential oils, but I was thinking about getting a diffuser anyway actually do maybe I'll get one sooner rather than later with some lavender to see how it works. 
@Bababatty I'm not currently seeing a therapist although I've been thinking about it because I think it would help a lot if I could just get everything out. DH isn't much of a talker and doesn't get a lot of what upsets me. Ive been putting it off too long now I think. 
@kd0202 and @seethosestars I've tried melatonin a few years ago and just recently and it doesn't help at all. I kinda figured though because nyquil , benedryl, Tylenol pm, none of that helps me sleep. 
@MJDsquared hopefully you start feeling less down too. It's rough ttc with IF. 

hoffmanr7

@RatParade Our IUI is costing us, meds included, around $1,200....which all in all isn't that bad.  It's certainly much better than IVF costs.  As to the sleep over BD......I think all of us would agree that we feel ya.  So many times I would have rather slept, or not BD'd and then wish we had.

@kd0202 Yay for a good HSG result and double Yay for EWCM!!!  I also don't tend to get a lot of CM so I can relate with your excitement.  Fx that this is your month!!

@MJDsquared I am sorry you are feeling discouraged.  I hope your cycle this month goes well for you

limeburst

@kaitlink33 hugs to you. I hope you can get some sleep soon. 

@hoffmanr7 sorry for the BFN

@Bababatty yay for increased numbers! That is good news!! Is 4-5 mil what your RE wants to do IUI's? Also, do you know if Clomid has a lifetime use for men? I have read that women shouldn't take is for more than 6 months and am wondering if that goes for men too? Sorry for all the questions! We have similar situations and you are a few steps ahead of me so I'm trying to get as much info as possible

@RatParade and @kd0202  FX you get some of that post HSG magic!! My OB has told me (twice) that chances of conceiving after an HSG go up 70%! 

@MJDsquared  hugs to you. Have you taken any medications to help regulate ovulation?

AFM, not a whole lot. Sorry I was MIA last week. There was nothing new going on, plus we had just come back from vacation and I was fighting a cold. I did lurk though and I was rooting for everyone! 

I has had my follow up post-op with my OB-GYN yesterday. All is good there. We have about a week and a half left on the bench. I am expecting AF sometime this weekend, so we will be good to go once we are off the bench! 

It is finally March, which means our RE appointment is only 3 weeks away. 

Other than that, just trying to focus on other non-TTC parts of my life right now. Overall, things are going pretty okay. 

BenJay

I've been lurking a bit more lately... still on a break from trying.  I had a recent checkup with my a new GP and my TSH levels were up again, outside of the ideal  range. Doubled my dose - feeling pretty good and tried to time things with my cycle. (Seriously, I have no idea when I ovulate)

**TW - pregnancy mentioned**

I heard news that one of my long distance friend's is pregnant with her second and that she was keeping it from me until she knew. I've found that my friends imagine that the mental anguish I'm feeling is much bigger than it really is. Because they know what a "loss" it would be to not have their children. It's been interesting.. but I'm grateful for the support.

Hoping everyone is well. FX for all of you

funkykey

Ugh @GoldenKeys - this jury duty is long!
@kaitlink33- FX that you get a good night's sleep soon. Insomnia is the worst.
@hoffmanr7 - sorry about the BFN. God, BFNs after treatment sting. 
@Bababatty - great news re: SA! 9 million is a lot! FX for you!
@RatParade - Yey re: positive OPK! My IUI costs $500 each time, but I usually end up buying OPKs, clomid and today a trigger shot too, so for us about $800.
@kd0202 - aah! such great news re the EWCM! And the "early" (for you) ovulation... Waiting 21 days to ovulate seems like a long time to me, so I'm hoping this one worked for you.
@MJDsquared - I'm sorry. Hang in there. This all sucks. A lot. Take care of yourself!
@seethosestars - FX for your first IUI!
@Kim41313 - I am excited for you to get off the bench!
@BenJay - Ugh! My sister told me yesterday that she, and most of my friends, are all hoping they don't get pregnant before me. She was like: "We're probably going to start trying for another baby soon, and I know (this friend) and (this friend) are. All of us would rather you got pregnant first. It's so unfair." I (of course) said: "Do not put your life on hold for me! It will all work out!" 
It was really sweet of her. I dunno, it made me feel loved. I wish this would be over soon.

AFM: some bad news. (Not horrific, but not great).

Last cycle, I'd not had an ultrasound before ovulation- just a baseline u/s at the beginning of my cycle and bloodwork. I ovulated on the late side (for me)- CD14 I detected a surge, usually I detect around CD 12/13. 

This cycle, I pushed my clinic to give me an u/s and bloodwork - again, by day 12/13 I hadn't seen an LH surge, so I went in this morning (day 14)... On my ultrasound, I had 4 follicles, 3 of which are HUGE. 34mm, 26mm, 32mm, and 19mm. Immediately, the doctor giving the ultrasound wanted to trigger, and told me that the 34mm one (which looked GIANT on the screen) was probably not going to have a good egg.

I did the trigger (HCG) which was administered by a nurse who (very clearly) would rather gossip about her boyfriend. I felt like such a number. Ugh.

Basically, this is a cautionary tale: make sure you are on your clinic about the u/s when on clomid. Because now I have a super-sore right ovary with 3 oversized follicles, and they're so big I might not have viable eggs out of them.

Next time, I am going to be on them like a dirty shirt. I'll be in for a baseline (in case 34mm is actually a cyst) and then I'll go in CD12. Enough of this "trusting the process" BS.

funkykey

Forgot to mention this:
When I told my sister about my oversized follicles, she was like: "Oh god, what if they make these huge eggs that distract all the sperm from your one little viable egg?" 

They won't, but it made me laugh - like overripe fruit attracting all the sperm flies. She painted it like these giant eggs, doing a hypnotising gypsy dance, lulling the sperm away from my one healthy egg. 

Hahaha. That's all I need: overripe fruit for eggs.

notamyrtle

Hey guys,

Glad to check in here. I've had some ups and downs lately emotionally which I'll partially document here.

@BenJay I also recently experienced that unexpected super deep sympathy from someone who is having trouble conceiving her second... She was so sad for me. It was great to have sympathy but I was almost like, uhh, should I be feeling worse than I am? Is this one of the most horrible things that can happen to someone? I do agree with you that probably those who already have kids look at us and are blown away by what we're going through, because maybe they're imagining not having the kids they have... I guess it's all perspective, right?

* Trigger warning - other people's pregnancies/kids*
I've also had the issue of two close friends hiding their pregnancies from me. It sucks in a weird way...  Sadly, I'm currently not very close to those friends (or at least for now), because I kind of don't want to be hearing pregnancy / birthing / infant rearing details. It wouldn't be fair of me to talk to them and expect them to hide that huge part of their life, but I also don't really have it in me to deal with that right now. On the other hand, I also worry that I'm isolating myself. We hung out with some of DH's friends who have an adorable toddler over the weekend, and it was hard for me. I couldn't really pay attention to the conversation at times, and had to just keep taking deep breaths. It got better towards the end, but I was like, yikes, now I can't even hang out with people who have kids? Do I need to hide in a cave from now on? 
* end trigger* 

@funkykey Wow, that is really frustrating about the follicles. Super frustrating to go through all that effort and have the follies over-ripen and feel like the cycle might have gone to waste. So sorry. The tiny plus side is maybe you're a very good responder? That would be good news for the future...

On my end, I had the endometrial biopsy... It took TWO attempts, the second one with Percocet and misoprostol to open my cervix, because they couldn't get in the first time (ouch!)  It sucked.

On the quasi-plus side, they did find mild chronic endometritis!  (not to be confused with endometriosis)... So now I am on a two week course of antibiotics. I kind of doubt it's going to make a difference in my ability to conceive (just like the 20 other things I've tried to improve my chances over time)... but whatever, I'll take it.

funkykey

@notamyrtle - that is nice of you and BenJay. When my friends are like: "God, that must be so painful." I'm usually like: "It is. Much worse than you can imagine." But I'm not one to suffer in silence. Never have been.

If it's any consolation, I think I'm kind of isolating myself too. I don't think it's just one-sided though - I've found that a lot of my friends who have kids, they're just much busier/more tired/their schedules have changed. I wanted to have kids at the same time as them, but because that hasn't happened, it's like we're operating in different worlds now, and it's way harder to meet up.

That, and like you, I kind of don't want to hear all the infant rearing details. I don't find this with everyone, but with some mothers I know, they're kind of obnoxious. Like will talk about how stressed they are or how difficult they find having beautiful, healthy young children. And part of me wants to listen and be a good friend, but another part of me, the dramatic part of me, responds more in the way I mentioned above... "Having a healthy child is stressful? Try being infertile." Those are the parents I tend to avoid.

FX that these antibiotics make a difference!

mountainlady

@GoldenKeys FX this is your last week on jury duty! 

@hoffmanr7 damn it, that is frustrating... it's such a tough choice to go into debt for it, when other people can make a family for free! 

go Mr @Bababatty! That a huge improvement! 

@RatParade that's the best feeling FX!

@MJDsquared Damn it O... sorry it didn't happen, but hopefully the EWCM last month was your body working it out... and this month it will do the whole thing perfectly!

@seethosestars good luck with the RE!

@Kim41313 welcome back so many things to love about March!

@BenJay you obviously have some loving friendships - I have not experienced any pregnant friends/family approaching it from that angle. How did you respond?

@funkykey 34mm  your poor abdomen must be so painful! FX you get some good eggs out of the month anyway... and thank you for the advice. Ouch! 

@notamyrtle oh that sucks... I definitely understand the struggle of hanging out with parent-friends and their adorable children. I have had to stop meeting with certain friends unless we are planning to do something active - so I don't have to talk too much!

AFM... CD3 today but we start IUI this cycle, so at least it's something to positive about. 

I've been strictly limiting my time with certain friends to try and preserve my sanity... just when I thought I was being foolish, and should just hang out as normal, one of these (recently preggo) friends texted me advice... relax, less exercise, try to be more warm and oestrogen-y... ARGH! It took a lot of self-control to respond with positivity. How can people have so little insight.

BenJay

@funkykey - Aw, that's very sweet of your sister and her friends. And I totally thought of your follicles as sirens, tempting those sperm.

@notamyrtle - I was taken aback by how deeply they felt about my infertility. Both of my friends have kids under 5. I noticed when I talked to parents of teenager/adults, not the same reaction. The nurse who checked me in at recent my appointment was much more excited about having freedom than her daughter turning 17. 

@MountainLady - I congratulated my friend and assured her that she won't be the last person I care about that will get pregnant before me. (I am pretty much of the mind that we will not get pregnant in our last three IUI's.) That I hoped she felt comfortable sharing her happiness with me. She has experienced loss when TTC so for her, that was what she wanted to spare me, if her pregnancy didn't stick.

I feel fortunate to have good friends but it sucks at times when I "just don't get" their parenting struggles. I "just can't", you guys....

hoffmanr7

@funkykey The funny thing about this last failed cycle....I think my mom was more upset about it than I was.  I *ahem* tested early.....so I kind of had a feeling it was a no go anyways.  Plus, I was being very cautious with my optimism to begin with since it was only our first one. Of  course it wouldn't be that easy...lol.
@MountainLady Yes, the whole finance part of this stinks.  It would be so nice if our insurance was covering at least a little bit of this.  I am trying to keep positive thoughts. We have been working very hard these past few years to work down our debt....and we are so close.  We will have his truck, school loan, and my bachelors loan paid off by the end of this year...so if we can just limp along for awhile I'm hoping we can recoup our losses fairly quickly.

Quick little update....AF showed up yesterday afternoon.  Called my doctors office today.  Since I responded so well, we will be doing another round of Letrozole.  They may bump me up to 7.5mg this round, but the nurse was going to check with the doctor first.  Follicle check next week friday and trigger shot with IUI #2 after that.

RatParade

@seethosestars @hoffmanr7 @funkykey Thanks for the IUI cost breakdown!

@hoffman7 I'm glad AF came for you!  I don't think I've ever said that before haha

@MJDsquared What kind of OPK do you usually use?  I've always used Wondfo, but now I'm starting to doubt their accuracy


So my husband told me last night that he told his coworker about my "ink test".  It took me forever to figure out that he was talking about the HSG haha!  Ink test.

MJDsquared

@RatParade I've tried at least three different kinds, and the only one that I've gotten a positive on and then actually ovulated was a Walgreens brand non-digital. I'm thinking the Wondfo that I took Tuesday night wasn't positive, just kind of close. Because I took one yesterday at lunch and really squinted at it and I think the test line was just a tiiiiny bit lighter than the control.

My guess is that the first Wondfo I took was actually positive, but I just had an LH surge and didn't ovulate. (Seriously, I dipped it and the lines appeared almost instantly, no waiting.) PCOS can do that to you, unfortunately. I think you can probably trust Wondfos, I've really only heard good things about them.

MandyBeeSLP

*Trigger Warning* 


I tested today (CD 25, 13dpIUI) and I got a BFP! I wasn't supposed to test until tomorrow but I had so convinced myself the cramps I've had for a week weren't normal for me that I couldn't handle it anymore. I almost don't believe it. This was our 25th cycle TTC. I'm going to test again tomorrow morning to confirm. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed right now. 

limeburst

@MandyBeeSLP OMGGG!!! 

WildMagelet

@kaitlink33 - Insomnia is rough.  I hope you can get a solid night of sleep sometime in the near future!

@hoffmanr7 - Boo BFN.  FX for next cycle!  I still need to call and get ahold of my doc's office about our cost breakdown once we start treatment.  Maybe I'll just make an appointment with the office manager after my post-test follow-up visit.

@kd0202 - My radiology nurse during my HSG said it sometimes helps with BFPs because if there happens to be something small causing a blockage that the pressure from the dyes can just push it right out and clear the fallopian tubes.  

@MandyBeeSLP - Yaaaaay!!!  

I had my HSG this morning.  I don't normally experience menstrual cramps, so I'm totally a wuss when it comes to pain down there.  I rank it as worse than my SIS cramping but a cakewalk compared to my O-pain I've had the past 3 cycles.  It was a good 6+ hours before the cramping stopped even with the 600 mg of ibuprofen so I'm glad they told me I couldn't go back to work afterwards.   I'm also glad my RE prescribed Valium to take the edge off, but I was still experiencing so much anxiety during the whole thing I'd hate to imagine what it would have been like without it.   H was a good sport about it and kept making sarcastic comments to try and get me to laugh and relax (His ongoing gag was about the "spatula and the caterer" aka speculum and catheter.)  I had to take a HPT beforehand, which of course came back negative.  I get that they have to cover their bases but obviously if I'm on CD8 and I'm here for infertility I'm not going to have a BFP.  Doc showed me the x-rays they took and said that everything looked good.  DH had his SA on Monday so hopefully we get his test results back tomorrow or early next week and I can make my post-test follow-up with the RE to see what's next.  It's a strange sense of both relief and frustration to have all of my test results come back as normal after all this time.

In other news I'm going to have to work my ass off over the next 9 days to get my on-line class completed.  I'm so glad we just have quizzes/tests and no legit homework because there has just been one thing after another that's eaten up my time instead.  I'll probably end up taking one of my personal business days at work sometime next week just to give my self ample opportunity to play catch-up.  I'll be thrilled when it's done.

mountainlady

@MandyBeeSLP I would like that Post a hundred times over... woop!!!

funkykey

@MandyBeeSLP - GREAT NEWS! Congrats!!! I can't even imagine getting to 25 cycles of trying - I can't believe you persisted so! Amazing!!!!!!! I'm tearing up just thinking about you!

FX FX FX Congratulations and big hugs!!!!!!

MJDsquared

@MandyBeeSLP Oh my gosh CONGRATULATIONS!!! So happy for you!!!

hoffmanr7

@MandyBeeSLP Yay for your BFP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


@WildMagelet I'm glad to hear your HSG results were good...but sorry you felt so crampy afterwards.  GL on your class

Bababatty

There's so much I want to respond to but I don't have time, so I'll be back. In the meantime:

@seethosestars and @Kim41313 Yeah, last summer our RE said we really needed 4-5 million motile sperm after the wash for IUI to be successful. He also said that anything above that was nice but didn't increase our chances. I'm curious if anyone else's RE has said something similar. FWIW for each of our first three IUIs we did not have that many sperm but they did them anyway--all while saying "you really should see a urologist." Haha. I think we had around 2-3 million each time? I can't remember now.

@seethosestars I'd ask your RE what your percent chance of success is with that number and decide if it's worth it. (We actually couldn't get our RE to give us a percent chance, but maybe others are more forthcoming.) Remind me, are you working with a urologist?

@Kim41313 I'm actually not sure about the clomid lifetime use limit in men. I should remember to ask our urologist! I've heard from others that the effectiveness of clomid for MFI can go down after a number of months--9?--but our urologist said clomid could have a permanent positive impact on count. 

seethosestars

@Bababatty - my RE is not interested in giving us numbers either.  I'm guessing he likes to keep the hope up and doesn't like to be wrong?  We are not seeing a urologist but I want to.  The RE didn't think a urologist would have much to add (riiiiight), and my DH has not been back to our primary care doc to seek a referral to one on his own. C'est la vie I guess.  We are going to go ahead with IUI this month anyways and hope for the best.  I have heard that sometimes SA results can vary widely from one part of the year to the next so maybe we will get lucky.

seethosestars

@GoldenKeys - when you get a chance can you change me to Dx: DOR + MFI and Rx: letrozole + IUI? thanks so much.

Kate437

Hi! I new to posting, but not new to TTC. I've done 3 cycles with increasing doses of Clomid, 3 cycles with 5mg Letrozole, and most recently 7.5 mg Letrozole. I haven't ovulated with any of my prior cycles and didn't detect a LH surge with this last one  .
Next cycle will be monitored with 7.5 mg Letrozole and a trigger.

kd0202

@Kate437 welcome! FX for 7.5 doing the trick. 

PoeMasque

Good gracious there’s a lot to catch up on here!

@goldenkeys is it weird that I’m jealous of your jury duty? I’ve always wanted to be on a jury. My SO is a lawyer, so he will never get picked, but I feel like I have a chance – I’ve never been called though

@kaitlink33 I have nights like that and nothing helps, it only happens once every couple of months though and usually when I’m stressed about something and haven’t been working out enough. I do have a bedtime routine and I KNOW that is why it’s so easy for me to fall asleep normally. Hopefully you can figure it out…….sleep is so awesome!

@hoffmanr7 sorry about the IUI. I was SO excited for our first one too and that BFN was the worst. We also have used our “not touching it” savings for IUI/IVF. I felt better about it when someone compared infertility treatment to a car loan or student loan and how no one would blink at either of those, so why wouldn’t you go into debt for a baby? Hang in there, it’s worth it!

@Bababatty those numbers are good! Don’t they only need 1 million post wash for IUI?

@RatParade I have access to a lot of medical journals at work and went off the deep end after our HSG in April of last year. Despite the evidence saying there’s actually not an increase in fertility after HSG, I convinced myself the researchers were wrong, hahaha. So don’t be too hard on yourself for googling, I’d rather have hope than be negative every cycle.

@MJDsquared so sorry about the lack of ovulation and I feel you on the $$$. We just paid 5k to the IVF clinic today and made payment arrangements for the remaining….7k, gulp. We’ve already paid about 5k for IUIs/testing/meds. I just keep reminding myself that medical costs are tax deductible, so next year we will get some back. It’s ok to feel discouraged, sometimes you need a day or two to mourn the lost hope before you can refill your cup

@funkykey yikes!! Good advocating though! I’m a nurse and I STILL struggle with advocating for myself FX that one of those follicles has a good egg in it

@notamyrtle ouch! My HSG was like a battle between my cervix and the catheter, so I can’t imagine having issues with a scope for endo surgery. Ugh. Hopefully it wasn’t too painful afterward. I also feel you on the “why would this work when nothing else has?” feelings. They’re real, but at the same time, the odds are always on our sides…..the longer we all try, the more likely it is we get a random success

@Benjay part of my job is to teach people how to be better parents, my friends are either in the “help us!” or “you don’t have kids, so you couldn’t possibly know anything” camp. It’s an interesting place to be and I often struggle with my friends who don’t want help because it’s like they are taking their fertility for granted and then just being ok with “winging it” on the parenting skills. I have zero qualms about not backing them up when people complain that their kids are ill mannered.

@mandyBeeSLP yay! Congrats!!! FX for a sticky bean!

AFM – BCPs are finally done, baseline US was clear and estradiol was nice and low, so we get to start stims tomorrow morning! I’m hyper aware of the fact that we have so many more hurdles to go, but this finally feels like moving forward. I’m just hoping the meds don’t make me crazy……I help other people with their problems (financial, mental health, social….you name it!) for a living and usually get one phone call a week from someone flying off the handle, hoping I can manage to be calm and supportive while raging on hormones. I’ve already warned my boss and he offered his office as a “safe space” hahaha. Here’s to hoping everything goes as planned and we can transfer a “good egg” in 18 days!

Kate437

@kd0202 Thanks.

I'm thinking/hoping that maybe I did end up ovulating and the OPK just didn't detect it. I've been feeling kind of PMS-y since about CD14/15.

MJDsquared

@PoeMasque I didn't even think about the tax deductible thing...that is a good thing to keep in mind! Also, I've never had jury duty and want it too! I got it once when I was in college, but since I was a few hours from home where I got summoned I didn't get to do it.

Kate437

@PoeMasque @MJDsquared I've know judges and lawyers who have said that have said that the people who want to be chosen for jury duty often won't be chosen for that very reason.

kaitlink33

@PoeMasque thanks. I went and bought a diffuser and put a calming sleep oil in it. Unfortunately, it only helped a little for the first night just like everything else I've tried and now I'm back to not sleeping. I think its definitely stress related. 

WildMagelet

@hoffmanr7 - Thanks.  It eventually got better.  Glad I don't have to do one of those again.  H's SA came back normal too so I guess we're back to the drawing board!

MandyBeeSLP

Thanks for the positive thoughts everyone.  I had my first beta on Friday and it was 76. I have my second tomorrow, so hopefully it will have doubled.