TTC Check-In: 01/14/2019

sincethelastday

Good morning ladies,

As always, please double-check your name and confirm your Dx & Rx.

QOTW: What book, movie, TV show have you read/seen lately that you would recommend and why? 

2018 BFP Hall of Fame:
lablover78 dx: PCOS, Compound Heterozygous MTHFR Rx: IVF
Tops-2: dx: anovulatory PCOS Rx: Metformin, Letrozole & TI
halfanewt: possible PCOS, MTHFR gene, slight MFI Rx: IVF
seethosestars: dx: DOR Rx: IVF + FET #1

Kim41313: dx: unexplained Rx: IVF
soehlerk: dx: Unexplained Rx: Femara + IUI
Mlight28: dx Unexplained Rx: Clomid
SoonToBeMommaHowe: dx: Unexplained  Rx: naturally until IVF
honeybeebub: dx:septate uterus, MTHFR  Rx:  septum resection surgery, baby aspirin & progesterone
be08ryan:  dx: PCOS and AO Rx: Clomid
kiwielopingbride: Dx: Unexplained Rx: IUI
thothscribe81: dx: unexplained Rx: IVF
kristimh80: dx: unexplained Rx: Injectables + trigger + IUI
BWhitta: dx: PCOS, low AMH and endo Rx: letrozole
Worldtravler0522 dx: PCOS/Unexplained Rx: IVF
Bababatty dx:Low Motility  Rx: IVF
funkykey dx: unexplained Rx: IVF

PAGING:

@aeb1116: dx: unexplained Rx: IUI
@allisona66: dx: waiting for testing
@amac2313: dx: unknown Rx: Clomid
@Asampson87: dx: unexplained + MFI  Rx: metformin + testing
@Bgreenfield10: dx: anovulatory PCOS, LPD Rx: Clomid + trigger
@Brooke4131: dx: Secondary unexplained Rx: in testing
@BenJay: Dx: PCOS/unexplained Rx. Metformin + supplements
@beec2421: dx: PCOS, hypothyroidism Rx: metformin, synthroid, clomid
@bbtobumpie - dx: irregular cycles, in testing. Rx: pending.
@ChristinaV2015: dx: blocked tubes, PCOS, endo + MFI  Rx: lap, OPKs + TI
@ChristenMA83 : dx: MFI Rx: IVF w/ISCI
@Charligirl28: dx: unexplained Rx: Clomid
@courtneyh2013: dx: MFI Rx: IUI + clomid
@drewsdarlin: dx: RPL, PCOS, Hashimotos, low vitamin D and Iron RX: ?
@echocharlietango: dx: Unexplained Rx: trying naturally
@emgem819 dx: PCOS, Rx: provera, femara + Bravelle
@emmasemm: dx: DOR & autoimmune Rx: IVF
@eranvo27: dx: anovulatory PCOS Rx: metformin
@floridanursegirl: dx: unexplained anovulation Rx:Metformin, IUI+Femara+trigger
@fluffybookworm: dx: Anovulation + insulin resistance Rx: Metformin + prometrium + testing
@funkykey dx: unexplained Rx: IVF
@hannahlce: dx: anovulatory PCOS Rx: metformin + letrozole
@Happyin14: dx: unexplained, RPL Rx: IVF
@inthewoods23 - dx:unexplained. Rx: IUI.
@jrm_14: dx: Adrenal/overian insufficiency, Borderline-low AMH, Low progesterone Rx: IUI w/ injectables.
@jmr1515: dx: Mild MFI/morph, fibroid  Rx: Surgery + TI
@kgabhart: dx: Unexplained/PCOS  Rx: letrozole + IUI
@Kate437: dx:anovulatory   Rx:Letrozole + trigger
@Knottie1467155066: dx: unknown Rx: letrozole + trigger + TI
@kls2016 - dx: in testing. Rx: pending.
@ladystout08: dx: unknown Rx: waiting for testing
@leafyarch: dx: MFI, no thyroid Rx: IVF
@linz36: dx: Low AFC, MFI  Rx: testing/IUI
@manhattanmama2: dx: unexplained Rx: IVF
@mirabelle33: dx: endometriosis/endometrioma, DOR, AMA, Rx: IVF
@meganttc3: dx: PCOS, unexplained Rx: waiting to test
@mrsjcrane: dx: unexplained Rx: femara + trigger + TI + 2nd HCG booster
@mighty-mouse: dx:pcos & HA Rx: provera/letrozole + trigger
@mackenzie07 dx: PCOS and Endo  Rx: metformin, letrozole, ovidrel
@MicahDahn: Dx: irregular cycles Rx: preparing for testing
@moloninge Dx:PCOS, hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, fibroids. Rx:Metformin,Synthroid,IUI w/letrozole, ovidrel, and progesterone.
@mandasand: dx: low AMH  Rx:IVF (Lupron, Menopur + Follistim)
@Mythril: dx: PCOS (anovulatory) Rx:levothyroxine, metformin and femara + TI
@nurseerin2012: dx: unexplained Rx: letrozole + IUI
@oklahomak: dx: PCOS Rx: metformin/letrozole/estradiol/progesterone+ trigger
@PoeMasque: dx: unexplained Rx: letrozole with TI
@rachlee2010: dx: DOR Rx: IUI
@rmarble23: dx: MFI Rx: IVF
@Samanthaarielxo dx: anovulation Rx: still in testing
@sarah0985: dx: PCOS, possible blocked tubes Rx: Lap
@SM746830: dx: PCOS, blocked tubes Rx: Surgery, Clomid
@starlitfae dx: MFI & balanced translocation, thyroid  Rx: ivf with pgd testing
@SP128: in testing/unexplained
@serownarain: dx: in testing
@sarahven dx:anovulation and PCOS. Rx: femara
@sincethelastday -  DX: irregular cycles and low morph RX: Letrozole 
@sailorariel - dx: fibroids. Rx: fibroid removal surgery.
@wishing-and-hoping: dx: unexplained rx: poss. IVF
@prpl11butterfly dx: RPL rx: TBD consulting with RE

@chiblackhawkie - rx: Clomid, trigger, and ti    

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 Rx?

inthewoods23

Well... Nothing exciting for me to report. AF showed up Saturday so I called this morning to schedule baseline stuff for IUI #2. I go in the AM.

Hope everyone else is doing well!

QOTW: What book, movie, TV show have you read/seen lately that you would recommend and why? DH and I just finished season 1 of Westworld. We recently went and bought a 4k ultra HD Blu-ray player since we've had the show since Christmas of 2017 but couldn't ever watch it because we have a standard Blu-ray player. Turns out there are standard Blu-ray discs in the box too... But that's beside the point!

The show is really cool and very intriguing! We just started rewatching it to pick up on all the things that we missed that you don't understand the first time around.

chiblackhawkie

I was given the thumbs up to trigger tonight, which means TI starting Wednesday morning through Friday.. RE also agreed to let me start IUI next cycle if this one does't work out. Small victories.

QOTW: We were excited to get back into Brooklyn Nine-Nine this week. Hilarious show with actors like Andy Sandburg and Terry Crews, following cops in their precinct in New York.

@inthewoods23 - The summary of Westworld definitely makes it sound like you'd have to watch it a few times to fully understand it all.

sincethelastday

@inthewoods23 - How is it feeling going so quickly into the next IUI? Must feel quite different just continuing onwards with the next treatment cycle after so many months waiting around for appointments and tests. 

Also, LOVE Westworld!! Just got into it and have a few more episodes of season 1. Definitely the kind of show where you probably get more out of it the second time around watching it (or third lol).

@chiblackhawkie - yay for triggering tonight - good luck this cycle! That’s also great knowing the next step in the plan if this cycle doesn’t work out. 

My sister is a huge fan of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but I haven’t given it a shot yet. So many TV shows to watch, so little time! 

AFM: expecting AF to show up this Saturday probably. Past month and half I’ve been cruising along quite well without feeling really down in the dumps about the whole IF thing. However, it’s my birthday this week and I find it hard to enjoy birthdays anymore. I’ve never been a huge birthday hound with having to celebrate big, but it’s just a reminder each year that I’m still not pregnant. That my body is slowly getting older and less fertile each passing year. Anyone else feel a similar way with birthdays now?

QOTW: for anyone that likes fictional crime shows, True Detective is a must (at least the first season). And for more light hearted fare, I really like The Good Place. Love the quirky humour and Kristen Bell! 

inthewoods23

@chiblackhawkie yay for trigger! FX! I never watched Brooklyn Nine Nine but from the little bit I have seen I can tell I need to watch that from the beginning to understand things and get the humor. I was the same way as Parks and Rec. I didn't understand why people liked the show so much until I had seen it from the beginning.

@sincethelastday it's quite exciting to be able to start on #2 so fast. AF was only delayed by 2 days so it's nice to go straight into the swing of it. The wait from baseline to midcycle felt the longest to me last time since nothing was going on and after the first midcycle US was Christmas (I triggered Christmas night) and my TWW included New year's so that part went by.

I have other things iny life that I hope will make this cycle go by fast too!

cigaline

Hello all! 

In answer to the questions at the top (most of the info is in my intro post, but just in case):
1. TTC since Sept 17
2. Dx : unexplained/MFI
3. First appointment at a fertility clinic on 6 Feb, possibly IVF or maybe IUI to start

@inthewoods23 Good luck for your 2nd cycle of IUI. When I first heard about it I preferred the idea of it to IVF as it sounded more natural, but then I found out that you have to take a lot of the same drugs anyway. It sounds as though they didn't mess your cycle up too much though if AF was only 2 days late?

@chiblackhawkie Good luck with this cycle ; I always prefer the TWW to the first half since it feels like there's the potential for things to happen, even if my expectations are usually not very high...

@sincethelastday I understand what you mean about birthdays... I only started TTC at 35, so was already stressed about my age, but for some reason 36 sounds more or less the same so it didn't bother me too much. I admit I am dreading 37 though as it feels as though when you hit the 7 in a decade you might as well round up

QOTW: I've been reading Down and Out in London and Paris (George Orwell) which seemed an appropriate read for a Londoner living in Paris, but although it's fascinating in parts it's also pretty bleak so I'm not sure I could actually recommend it! DH and I have just discovered Mr Robot (4 years late) which is available on demand with the new TV subscription we have. It's also pretty dark stuff but completely gripping!

inthewoods23

@cigaline I could be wrong since we're not looking to IVF yet, but I think IVF has you on the stronger injection meds for follicle growth. I just have to take some pills and then the progesterone suppositories with IUI. I'm pretty sure it would be a waste to be on little ol' letrozole for IVF. Maybe ImI wrong though!

I was actually spotting on the day of my results when AF should have came as well as the day after so yeah, the progesterone did delay it a little (2 days), but that's expected.

chiblackhawkie

BD'ed early this morning. Feeling slightly crampy now, so I'm assuming ovulation is happening. Two more BDs over the next two days, and then back to the waiting game. Going to do my best not to symptom read during TWW as much this time around. Come onnn little guys, do your job.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone drink during their TWW? I have around one or two beers through the week. I was told by a nurse at my clinic that, "technically you're not supposed to, but I drank before I knew my kid came out and he's perfectly normal."

@sincethelastday - I understand where your coming from with the b-day thing.. but here's to this new year in your life brings you the greatest gift.

@inthewoods23 - I know these past few months of being monitored and given treatment have given me more hope and helped me feel better about the time.. I hope you feel the same. Fingers crossed for IUI #2 to be your magic number!

@cigaline - TWW is great except when you start feeling progesterone symptoms and your mind flies to the idea you could be preggo haha. I hope with your upcoming appointment you can feel better about your own TWW. Waiting is the worst.

lg1218

NEWCOMER HERE

1.  How long have you been TTC? 3 years

2.  What is your diagnosis? Unexplained infertility   whatever that means ... 

3.  What is your current Rx? My RE started me on my first supraovulation cycle this month. I was taking follistim and then HCG trigger shot but today I went in for my 3 day check in and somehow I ovulated early so we never got to the hcg trigger . Next cycle he plans to add Lupron to the mix.  

Feeling a little down after today. I know there is a chance it may work but after 3 years I’m not overly optimistic  My insurance doesnt cover any treatment and I’m really hoping it won’t drain my savings with multiple failed attempts.  Plus yesterday I found out my sister in law is pregnant with their second child. I’m happy about it but won’t lie I was a little bummed/ sad when I found out! 

inthewoods23

@lg1218 sucks that you got 2 pieces of bad news so close together! Why can't life just give us a break? 😩

sincethelastday

@cigaline - yeah, the rounding up factor totally exists, at least in my mind it does too lol. I haven’t heard of Mr. Robot, but just looked up the plot synopsis and sounds very interesting! Another TV show to add to my never ending list 

@chiblackhawkie - oh, good luck this cycle! I actually like it when I get those ovulation cramps, because it feels like my body is actually doing something right for once. Thanks for the kind words about this upcoming year - I really hope this is the year for all of us!! 

In regards to the drinking question, I’ve heard so many different things about the TWW and alcohol. I tend to avoid alcohol during that time just because I’m a worry wart, but I have had alcohol during the TWW. Usually if it’s a family dinner and it would look odd if I didn’t have a drink. I just want to avoid dealing with the questioning looks or comments about not drinking. 

@lg1218 - welcome to the board! I get where you’re coming from in regards to finding it hard to be optimistic. I’ll have been trying for 3 years come May and it’s hard to swallow the fact that we’re still not pregnant. It sounds like you’re still making changes to your treatment plan to find the plan that works, so hope the changes make the difference. Royally sucks about the pregnancy announcement - no matter the person it just always stings. Hope you find the support you need here! 

chiblackhawkie

@lg1218 - Welcome to the board. Sorry about your struggles. IF is such a struggle to bear, especially since we can't do much but follow RE orders. And yeah, it always stings when someone else can excitedly announce their pregnant and we're still stuck where we're at. But at least we have each other to share with. 

@sincethelastday - Yes, I welcome the slight cramps as opposed to have nothing happen and feel clueless the whole TWW.

And I definitely don't drink as much as I would any other time. I think I also have that worry wort conscience that tells me it could mess something up.. but I also love beer and know it /could/ be one of the last times I could drink for awhile haha.

sailorariel

Hello everyone, I am still benched for a few more months so I haven't kept up with things here. But I wanted to give a little update. This may be icky TMI.

I had my surgery to remove fibroids on 12/27 as planned. The surgeon said it went great this time, much better visibility than the first surgery and she was confident that all of the tissue had been removed. Really great to hear. However, my recovery has felt much harder than the first surgery. Bleeding and cramping was so bad the first week that I didn't want to move at all. Things have been slowly improving but not as much as I want. The doctor said if I don't stop bleeding by tomorrow, then I should call her again. So I am on a waiting game for three weeks now but I'm losing optimism.

Some of this might have been a period. I was on bc before the surgery to thin my lining so that changed my cycle. I took two packs of bc pills back to back to prevent my period from coming before the surgery, but I finished all of those a week ago. Also, the amount of bleeding has fluctuated unlike a period--it was spotting for two days, heavy for five, then spotting, then heavy again. I thought it stopped for a day or two last week but it came back. I feel frustrated that I don't know what my body is doing. I don't have signs of an infection (no fever or vomiting) but I am tired, achy, irritable and wish I could do skmething to get better!

Anyway, I don't know what happens after I heal. My husband's SA finally came through as low on all counts. He is cutting down on caffeine right now, doctor recommended that he also see a urologist and maybe repeat the test to see how he can get his numbers up. I have an appointment with my ob/gyn IF specialist next week to talk next steps but I am thinking of asking for a referral to an RE for more detailed testing. My 35th birthday is next month and I don't want to spend another three years on just trying minor changes that go nowhere. If I need something big like IVF then I want to know now so I can start sooner.

Good luck to everyone else who is still trying!

sincethelastday

@sailorariel - hey, I was wondering how you were doing! Glad to hear that the surgery seemed to go better this time around than the first one. However, the healing process sounds pretty brutal! Must be very frustrating not knowing what’s going on body-wise with the bleeding. Do you have a follow-up with your surgeon to see if there’s anything to hasten the healing/decrease the bleeding? Or is this all sort of “normal” from this type of surgery? Really hope you get some answers soon! Also, sorry to hear about YH’s SA results not being as great as I’m sure you both would have liked. I think asking for a referral to a RE is a good plan and hope you can start working on a plan that is the best fit for both you and YH. 

cigaline

@chiblackhawkie With you on the 2WW symptoms! I have progressively got better at not taking any of them seriously. But you're still bound to find me googling something from time to time!

Re drinking, I never drink much at any time, but the odd glass of wine with a meal is one of the things I really enjoy. At the start of this journey, I did try quite hard not to have any at all in the 2WW (it's sad how naively optimistic I was...), but in recent months I've given up on that. If this all ends in pregnancy, I'll probably have 15 months of no alcohol at all, which will be pretty tough, so I'm letting myself enjoy it for now :-)

@sailorariel That sounds terrible, I really feel for you. I hope you get some helpful answers/it gets better soon. Re the SA, I understand since DH's SA was not great either. However it's worth bearing in mind that those parameters can change a lot based on little things like abstinence period and previous activity. DH has now had several of them and when the abstinence period was reduced from 5 days to 2 his mobility was much better (up from around 12 to 25% (fast and slow moving sperm). I also read that mobility can improve a lot by having regular activity, so ideally that would be in the week prior to the fertile period (tricky when you have a 5 day period but there we are). It seems that if they sit around for weeks on end, say, you don't get very good quality when you need it 😉 I found an interesting paper somewhere about that, will see if I can lay my hands on it again...

AFM: waiting for AF to come tomorrow. My temperature dropped yesterday, which is a pretty sure-fire indication for me. Oddly enough I'm not feeling too bad about it, since on another subject my doctor has put me on some stomach medication which is probably not great for pregnancy, so it means in theory that I have a least a month to see if it sorts my symptoms out. 

*TW*

Also, one of my best friends has just announced her pregnancy after 5 years of IF. I haven't yet found out if she was on meds at the time (I stopped asking as it was such a difficult topic), but I know that for religious reasons she didn't have IVF or IUI. She's 37, had low AMH, rarely got positive LH strips, tried various drugs including patch, trigger shots, etc., none of which had good results (follicles stopped growing etc). Because of their position on IVF, they had kind of reached the end of the road, though they were still seeing a specialist for monitoring etc. My friend has a v stressful high powered job and had taken a few months off to see if that helped. Honestly, it still seems like a miracle after all this time. I was genuinely really happy when I heard (it felt different from all the other announcements from people who got pregnant straight away) but in the days afterwards I have been finding it more difficult not to become a bit obsessed with wondering when (if ever) it'll happen for me. Anyway, I do generally find stories of natural pregnancies after IF really encouraging, so perhaps some of you feel that way too :-)