IF Testing and Treatment Week of 9/24

lulu1180

This is a place for those of us who have already started TTC, but have started infertility testing and/or treatments. You can express your thoughts, feelings, and frustrations on infertility. TTC can be a long journey naturally, then add in the difficulties associated with infertility, and it becomes a whole new ball game. The road to infertility can be lonely, frustrating, and complicated, so let's make this a place where we can vent, ask questions, and support one another. Feel free to resurrect this thread at any point in the week if you have something to say. Treat this as an ongoing conversation. 


Diagnosis (if you've been): 

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):

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

How are things going?: 

Any questions?:

GTKY: What is/are your favorite piece(s) of decor in your home?

zamoraspin

Diagnosis (if you've been): RPL

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): IVF

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): ER

How are things going?: I went in for monitoring on Saturday expecting my RE to say I was ready or just about ready for trigger, based on my appts with the other RE all last week. Instead she wanted my follicles bigger and told me to come back today. I was a little disappointed because I had started having more med side effects Thur/Friday and was ready to get those suckers out. I ended up feeling better over the weekend and today am feeling pretty good, although I can def feel those marble sized follicles in my ovaries when I move around. This morning my RE was satisfied with my follicles (10 of them are now over 2 cm at their "longest" point) and said pending bw we will trigger tonight. I should get a call this afternoon/evening with instructions and time. Today she saw 9 on the right, 6 on the left, and the smallest one was just under 1.4 which she says is the minimum size for a mature egg so we may get more eggs than the 11-13 we expected. She overall was very pleased and said my right ovary is "giving us all it can"   

Any questions?: 

GTKY: What is/are your favorite piece(s) of decor in your home? Last Christmas I commissioned a hand drawn portrait of our oldest dog (my husband's had him for about 14 years). It came out amazing and I also had it professionally framed. If anyone wants the dets on a great artist who does pet portraits PM me, she's my BIL's sister and has an etsy shop. 

tamalahoops

Hi friends! Nothing really new, just wanted to pop in and say hi. 

Diagnosis (if you've been):  poor egg quality

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): wfhs (waiting for home study)

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): still gathering up documents and trying to get some good pictures for our eventual profile book. 

How are things going?: just chugging along! Excited that we have a plan and are working towards it. 

Any questions?:

GTKY: What is/are your favorite piece(s) of decor in your home? I have a gallery wall that I spent forever on. I will edit my last name out of it and post a pic soon. (Eta: pic in spoiler!)

tamalahoops

@zamora_spin yay for lots of follies! I've always wanted to commission a portrait of our dogs. Dm me that info!

beachbunnyxo123

@zamora_spin that’s great news!! So excited for you and hoping for great numbers and fert report after your ER. Keep us posted when you get the word on triggering!

@tamalahoops so glad that you are getting things together and moving forward! So excited for you friend!

Diagnosis (if you've been):  unexplained 

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):
Waiting (literally) in the waiting room for surgery 

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): 
Hysteroscopy today 

How are things going?: 
Good waited a bit of time for this surgery and am glad it’s finally here. 

Any questions?:
nope 

GTKY: What is/are your favorite piece(s) of decor in your home?
my FIL passed away almost two years ago from cancer. My friend refinished a desk he had in his house and we have it in our office now it looks gorgeous. So glad we were able to save it. 

beachbunnyxo123

@tamalahoops girl that wall is goals!!!! I love it!! 

AlohaKumu

Diagnosis (if you've been): AZFc, endometritis

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): ERA/biopsy today

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): In a few hours, I'll be getting a double biopsy. The first one will check to see if there are any signs of infection that could indicate a recurrence of endometritis. The second will be the ERA--finally! Then tomorrow I will pick up the ERA sample and mail it off to wait.

How are things going?: I'm happy to be at this step, although I know it will take 1-2 weeks to get the results. We also need to do a repeat SIS before the transfer. I'm just hoping everything comes back with good news.

Any questions?:

GTKY: What is/are your favorite piece(s) of decor in your home? My dining room table is my favorite thing! It has two removable leaves and seats up to eight people. It had to have cost a fortune originally, but I got it on Craigslist for $500. Score!

AlohaKumu

@zamora_spin I'm glad the weekend wait was a bit more tolerable. I remember feeling so uncomfortable before the ER and I couldn't wait to get it over with. That's fantastic that your ovaries are chugging away to get as many follies as possible!

@tamalahoops It's so good to hear from you. I think of you so often and you really give me hope, no matter what the "other side" brings for me. I hope all goes very well with your home study. That wall is fantastic. They should expedite your paperwork after seeing that wall!

@beachbunnyxo123 I hope your hysteroscopy goes smoothly. I know we've both had some awful experiences with them getting in there in the past, so you deserve to have everything cooperate with you today.

nitnat007

@zamora_spin Glad that you felt better over the weekend and those follies are growing nicely. FX that you get to trigger tonight and all goes smoothly with the ER. That picture sounds lovely. 

@tamalahoops That wall is amazing! Just love how you pulled it all together. Glad to hear this are moving ahead for you. 

@beachbunnyxo123 GL today! Sending you positive vibes for it all to go smoothly. 

@AlohaKumu FX for your biopsy today and for getting speedy results back from those tests too. 

Diagnosis (if you've been): MFI, AMA

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): We are just waiting until I start AF so we can call in and get the next steps going for IVF. 

How are things going?: Keep looking over the calendar and trying to figure out when things will happen etc. Nervous to start, but also just want to get started already! I watched way too many YouTube videos over the last week so now I feel like I am prepared as I am ever going to be. 

Any questions?:

GTKY: What is/are your favorite piece(s) of decor in your home? Our coffee table in the living room. Made it ourselves, cedar top, solid wood and rustic. I think we would have been able to sell it for a decent price if we ever wanted to. People compliment us on it all the time. 

Sparty18

@zamora_spin Yay for all the follies!

@tamalahoops Gorgeous wall!!  Also love all the colors on the couch.  

@beachbunnyxo123 Hope everything goes well today.  

@AlohaKumu Hope everything goes well today and the wait for results goes fast.

@nitnat007 Glad you are feeling prepared.  I'd love to see a pic of that table!

Diagnosis (if you've been): Nothing official

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Clomid 100mg days 4-8 and back to back IUIs

How are things going?:  Feel like I already know this cycle was a failure because of the monster follies so I'm just waiting for a fresh start.

Any questions?: Nope.

GTKY: What is/are your favorite piece(s) of decor in your home?  Hmm.  I had a large canvas made of a fave pic from our wedding.  It's black and white and has the water and city skyline in the background with us walking side by side in the grass.  You can't see our faces so it's not screaming "look at us!" but it's a beautiful pic and we get a lot of comments on it.

tamalahoops

@AlohaKumu hey girl hey! I'm always thinking of you and all the OGs too. Hope your biopsy goes well! All of our furniture is bargain furniture too. Literally every big piece of furniture was a floor sample or damaged in some other way and deeply discounted. You would never know it looking at our home though!

suzycupcake

Hello ladies, gonna do a post and go today because we have friends here to visit for the next couple of days. I'll be lurking and rooting y'all on. 

Diagnosis (if you've been): ovary adhesions 

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WFER

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): ER

How are things going?: Pretty good. It was not fun to do 3 injections last night but I got through it. U/s this morning showed 18 follies went from 9s and 10s on Friday to 14s, 15s, and 16s. Will stim and Ganirelix (thought it was Cetrotide before) again tonight to go back for another u/s in the morning. RE says he will know for sure then whether I will do ER Thursday or Friday, and I'll pick up Lupron trigger after the appointment. I also got put back on Levothyroxine because my TSH levels went down a lot med free for that 5 months, but still not optimal. 

Any questions?: Nope.

GTKY: What is/are your favorite piece(s) of decor in your home? My favorite is our kitchen table. My husband has been wanting to get rid of it and make a larger table (he builds stuff) for the longest time, but I won't let him because it's the very first piece of furniture that we ever bought together. It's a small little wooden table from IKEA but Idc. I love it so much. I did paint it recently, made the chairs white, the top and legs of the table a pastel yellow, and the trim that runs around the table top is white. I sewed some seat cushion covers with some Minnie Mouse fabric I found (red with white polka dots) and I plan to tuft the seats soon. 

AlohaKumu

I'm back home resting after the biopsy. It was a really painful process again, but my RE was able to get enough tissue out in a few moments so she didn't have to do it a second time. I'll mail off the ERA sample tomorrow and wait to hear about about the other tissue results, too. Hopefully I'll have an update by very early October.

sparklingdiamond

Diagnosis (if you've been):  PCOS

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): Kind of both WTO and TWW....today should be O day based on when I did the trigger shot.

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?):  Femara, Gonal-F, Trigger, TI

How are things going?:  Going okay.  I went on Sat to check again and had two follicles over 19 and one that was like 15 or 16 that they said could probably catch up.  My lining was 8.34.  So they told me to trigger anytime on Sunday. Our timing wasn't as great as I wanted, so hopefully it is enough.  It's weird to think that even with three follicles, it still may not work.  You would think it would with those odds you know??

Any questions?:  Nothing at the moment.

GTKY: What is/are your favorite piece(s) of decor in your home?  In our bedroom we put pictures of all the places we have traveled and I really like that.  I love looking over when I'm in bed and seeing Edinburgh Castle or St Lucia where we took our honeymoon.

@zamora_spin Yay that is great news!!

@tamalahoops I love your wall and couch!  Great colors!

@beachbunnyxo123 I hope everything went well for you today.

@AlohaKumu I hope the biopsy went well and you get the results quickly.

@nitnat007 I hope AF comes soon so you can get the process started.

@Sparty18 Hoping you still get a good result even despite the big follies.

sparklingdiamond

Actually I did remember a question I had.  Have any of you tested out the trigger?  In one of my past treatment cycles I know it was still present at 9 DPO.  Just trying to decide when to actually take a test this time...coming from a chronic early tester.

beachbunnyxo123

Just wanted to update. Sorry I’m still a little out of it but I’ve read all the posts and love tits to all. Everything went great today. It was a long day but I’m so thankful all went well. He actually found and removed three polyps and did a repeat d&c to remove leftover placental tissue. I now have a healthy, shiny new uterus. Amen to that. So glad that’s over with. I waited for that surgery and have been learning a much needed lesson in patience these past few years! 

crookshanks10

@sparklingdiamond I just thought I'd chime in on your question. This past month was my first doing the trigger shot. I didn't test it out, but I triggered on CD13 and on CD26 (11dpo) I could still see a very faint line on a pt from the trigger. I know some people have said they tested out and it was gone earlier than that, but that's been my experience! 

suzycupcake

Update. This morning's u/s concerned me a little bit but my RE says we are ready to trigger tonight at 12:15am for a Thursday morning ER at 11:15. We started out with 18 follies growing. My right ovary this morning had 17.6, 18, 17.7, 16, 17 The left ovary was 17, 17, 17, 17, 18 He said that the growth from Friday to Monday and 2-3mm from Monday to Tuesday is really great so he has complete confidence that more will catch up from now until ER. Not gonna lie though. It's nerve racking, but strangely, there is also this peace filling me up. Such excitement that there is only one needle left to stick in my stomach. I cannot wait to be put out and get this part over with.

Like, whatever happens, happens. No more getting upset for me. So much time has been spent being upset about IF for almost 7 years and I refuse to allow it to take any more joy from me. <-----hold me to it, please. 

purplg8r

@zamora_spin I’m so excited for you!!  And what a cool idea about your dog painting!!

@tamalahoops do you know when your home study is? And I love that wall!!

@beachbunnyxo123 yay to a shiny new uterus!

@AlohaKumu I’m sorry that the biopsy was so painful but sooo keeping my FX for some great results!!

@nitnat007 I always hate the waiting phase. I’d much rather be doing something!

@Sparty18 FX that you’ll be pleasantly surprised and the follies weren’t too big! 

@suzycupcake good luck on Thursday!!

@sparklingdiamond I tested out my trigger. It was negative 12 days after my trigger (10 days after iui) 

Diagnosis (if you've been): AMA, mild pcos 

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WFFET 

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): FET

How are things going?: They’re going.  I feel like things are taking longer than I expected. 

Any questions?:

GTKY: What is/are your favorite piece(s) of decor in your home? I have these two glass cabinets with all sorts of things from our wedding—my bouquet, our sand ceremony, pictures, our invitation, cake topper, champagne glasses, cake cutting knives, our candle ceremony, tiara, shoes, and anything else Disney wedding related 

lulu1180

@zamora_spin Wow, that’s a great response!  Does that mean today is your ER?  If so, good luck!

@tamalahoops So glad to hear from you friend!  It sounds like things are starting to really get moving for you now; I hope the rest of the process goes smoothly!  Also, that wall is amazing!  How long did it take you to put it together?

@beachbunnxo123 I’m so glad the surgery went well; IF in general is definitely a study in patience!  I hope your shiny new ute helps lead to your take home baby!

@AlohaKumu I hope you get the ERA results quickly!  Where do they get mailed to?

@nitnat007 I can’t believe it’s almost here; you got this girl!  Did your RE give you a rough schedule of when they expect things to happen?

@Sparty18 I’m sorry you’re feeling out; I hope the plan you have in place for next cycle helps you feel better.  How many IUIs will your RE do before suggesting moving on to IVF?

@suzycupcake GL tomorrow, if you figure out how to stop letting IF take joy from your life, let me know your secret

@sparklingdiamond I know what you mean about the odds; but I just tell myself that even though the odds are sucky, there’s still a better chance with a medicated cycle than without one.

@purplg8r I’m sorry things aren’t going quite how you thought they would; but what matters is that you’re almost there and you are giving yourself the best chance you can!

Diagnosis (if you've been): DOR/AMA; high prolactin

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): trying on our own

How are things going?: *TW child/pregnancy mentioned*

I was doing ok until a coworker (who works remote) sent an announcement to our department that her great niece was born yesterday.  I almost just deleted it but I at least sent her a congratulations before doing so.  I didn’t expect it so it was a punch to the gut and hurt much more than I would’ve expected it to.  How can announcements like that still hurt so much??

*end TW*

Other than that, I’m just waiting for this cycle to end so I can figure out what we’re doing next cycle.  Depending on when CD1 is, we might still be able to do the IUI next cycle; if it comes earlier than I’m expecting, I won’t want to cut it too close as we are going out to the ILs for a weekend around when O could be.  We’ll see!

Any questions?:

GTKY: What is/are your favorite piece(s) of decor in your home? When we bought our house, MIL gave us a piece that is in the shape of the state of Ohio with a script Ohio on it; and it’s made from the old siding of their barn.  If I remember, I’ll get a pic and post it later (not sure how I don’t already have one)

zamoraspin

@lulu1180 Yes - on our way to the clinic for retrieval! Sorry about that experience. The world is such a minefield for people struggling with IF 

crookshanks10

***Does anyone watch This is Us? Last night, her birthday scene.. OMG. I felt that in my soul. 

@beachbunnyxo123 Hooray for a shiny new uterus! I know you're glad to have that part done. 
@suzycupcake I'm so excited for you! I hope your ER goes well. 
@purplg8r I love all things weddings! I love that you have all that on display.
@lulu1180 Those announcements can always sting a bit Your favorite home decor piece sounds pretty awesome! I'm such a fan of anything old/rustic! 

lulu1180

@crookshanks10 I forgot that was on last night!  I was too busy baking an apple pie for a friend's birthday at work.  I'll have to watch it on Hulu tonight!  Any TWs in the episode that I should know about?

chichiphin

**dirty lurker** @lulu1180 I don't even understand how that is an appropriate office-wide email announcement? I'm sorry you had to experience that and I'm sorry that person is an over-sharer.... 

crookshanks10

@lulu1180 You have got to watch it!! No TW, but it sheds light on loss but mostly infertility and how difficult it is. Let me know what you think after you watch it! I was in tears. But I always am with that show haha. 

nitnat007

@Sparty18 I will have to see if I can track down a pic of the table for you. How are you making out? That canvas sounds beautiful. 
@suzycupcake How did you make out with the trigger shot? Hope that it went smoothly. 
@AlohaKumu So glad to hear that it went well. FX for good results from it all. 
@sparklingdiamond Sending you all the positive vibes for the weekend. Hopefully this cycle is successful for you.
@beachbunnyxo123 Yay for a shiny new ute! So glad that things went well for you. 
 @purplg8r The waiting is the pits. Just feels like so much wasted time. How are you holding up? Don't remember if you have been given a FET date yet?
@lulu1180 I have a very rough schedule right now. Three weeks after AF arrives I will start Suprefact for a couple weeks, down regulate and then start stimming. Long Protocol is all the info that I have been given for now until I go in after AF. So based on that I believe I will start stims early November. Our clinic shuts down for Christmas holidays so if we have not started by a certain point we will be pushed into next year. 
Sorry that you had to see that email at work. It was really uncalled for to send out an office wide blast like that. *hugs*
@zamora_spin Ooohhh!! So excited for you girl! Wishing you all the best today. 
@crookshanks10 @lulu1180 LOVE This is Us! It makes me cry every time I watch it though, so I try and watch it when DH is away, haha so I can cry into my pillow on my own. Can't wait for to watch last nights episode. 

Sparty18

@crookshanks10 We watched it last night too, definitely had me in tears.

@lulu1180 I think I would actually give the episode a TW for infertility/loss.

zamoraspin

Just got home - we got 15 eggs! We’ll see what is mature and what fertilizes but are excited to be starting with a good number!

lulu1180

@zamora_spin That's a great number!  This will be me waiting for your update!

AlohaKumu

@lulu1180 My understanding is that there are two clinics that can accept the ERA samples--one in NJ and one in FL. I guess my clinic worked it out to have it sent to NJ based on the shipping label. I hate announcements that come out of the blue and are so unnecessary.

crookshanks10

@zamora_spin YAY!! I'm so happy you got such a good number! (: Things are looking so good for you friend!

nitnat007

@zamora_spin YAS!!!! That is a really good number! How are you feeling? I hope you are resting up and taking it easy. 

zamoraspin

@lulu1180 I refreshed my portal page a lot this afternoon. 

Well we are already down to 10 - 10 mature. My last follie check showed 10 around 2cm on average so I’m guessing those were the mature ones (the others werent far behind). This is good news but it’s also hard to see them drop off so fast, we were expecting about 80% mature, and they’ve told me to expect 75% fert.

lulu1180

@zamora_spin I'm sorry that the news isn't quite what you wanted but those are still really incredible numbers!  And if 75% fertilize, that gives you 7-8 embies; which is actually a really great number for someone who's AMA from what I've seen!

suzycupcake

@zamora_spin Sending you good vibes

sparklingdiamond

@zamora_spin Yay for the great number!  I'm sorry it's already dropped off some but fingers crossed for more good news .

purplg8r

@lulu1180 ugh. I’m sorry about that announcement. It really sucks. And to me, I feel like it gets harder every time. 

@crookshanks10 @lulu1180 I’m not sure that a real TW is needed but I know I was not ready for the whole IF/IVF issue.  And honestly, I don’t want to be reminded of it when I’m watching the show. (Although it won’t stop me from watching it)

@nitnat007 I’m holding up ok. I go back and forth between wanting the FET to be right now and wanting it to be never because of it not working.  I don’t have a FET date yet. I’m hoping maybe they’ll give it to me after my appt next Monday 

@zamora_spin FX for a great report tomorrow! 

zamoraspin

Thanks ladies!
@lulu1180 That is true - and tbh this is how many mature I thought we’d get at the outset given my AFC. I got a little greedy when I heard there were 15, lol.

nitnat007

@zamora_spin I can imagine you were disappointed with that dropoff. Bu like other ladies have said, 10 is still a really good number! I have everything crossed for a great report for you! 

@purplg8r I can related to feeling like that, and I haven't even started yet. I hope that you get that date to move forward on Monday though. I was watching an IF journey on YouTube the other day and something they said stuck. Once you get to that point try and be at peace with the fact that you have done everything you can to make it work and it is now out of your hands. You got this!

lulu1180

GL today @suzycupcake!

zamoraspin

We got good news this morning - all 10 mature eggs fertilized with ICSI! 
Now more waiting, lol.