Chart Stalk/Questions- May 2019

ruby696

@kpearse99 We probably spent about $5k for the treatment I had (why do I need to pay $60 for a pregnancy test, when I have boxes of them at home??), which included two IUI's, but I think I needed to at least try for my own mental health. I think you'll be glad you went. 

kagesstarshroom

@brookert615 lol, now I feel honored to be part of such a rare percentage. But glad you've heard of it! I was like, "is this a made up thing for the internet that wildly over-observant TTGP ppl invented."

kpearse99

@ruby696 holy crap!!  Was any of the testing to see what was going on covered?  Or is all of that included in the 5k?!

ruby696

All of my treatment was OOP. So I had meds which was a little over $2k. Clomid was only $30 at full price. Follistim was $2k. Blood work didn't cost me anything (they had my ins info for that), but I had to pay for each US, plus both IUI's. And those included costs for washing sperm. So it adds up. 

bows22

@kpearse99 My insurance’s summary of benefits has fertility testing and fertility treatment listed separately - fertility testing is almost totally covered while fertility treatment has a 2K lifetime max. So if/when we do go to the RE I’m going to be asking a lot of questions about how things will be billed 

kpearse99

@bows22 thanks!  I've been looking through my benefits for a while now and they provide very limited information on this topic... ugh!

ruby696

Also, @kpearse99, I don't recall the area you live, but I'm in the Bay Area and fertility treatment is crazy expensive here. 

kpearse99

@ruby696 I'm outside of Philadelphia. I have no idea what I'm going to be looking at, but I guess we'll know more about costs and insurance coverage at our first appointment. 

kagesstarshroom

I don't exactly know the details, but for those of you struggling under fertility-related bills, maybe looking into what you can claim on your taxes is worthwhile? This is specific to fertility & came up via Google, & this is just general info on medical expenses & taxes from TurboTax.

varimama

@kagesstarshroom I wonder if ovulation spotting is what I had this time. It was a couple days after my estimated ovulation and the smallest amount of pink. I was like this is way too early for implantation bleeding and the wrong color for my TMI hemorrhoids. Plus it was just one time wiping. I’ve never noticed it before this time!

kagesstarshroom

@varimama omg we are probably o-spotting twins bc yr experience sounds exactly like mine. maybe bc we are ttc we are just... more likely to look at bathroom tissue before discarding it than usual?

kpearse99

@ruby696 - So my first RE appointment got moved up to tomorrow now.  They called and and said there was a cancellation and that I could take it, if I wanted it.  At first I said I couldn't because MH couldn't be there but then they told me he wasn't needed at the first appointment because it was mostly all about me and that they just needed him to complete his online questionnaire.... does that make sense?

varimama

@kagesstarshroom that has to be it, you’re right I didn’t really look at the TP before discarding it before TTC! How cool were part of a small percentage group! 

ruby696

@kpearse99 Yes, that totally makes sense. MH was there, but he really didn't need to be. They'll want to know his history, which you can mostly give. And they'll want to know if he smokes - weed or cigarettes. You should be able to provide any info they might need if they want to send him for labs. I'm excited for you!

kpearse99

@ruby696 I'm glad to hear, from someone who's been through this before, that it seems normal.  He has to answer a bunch of questions online, so it will cover all of that, but like you said - I can answer probably anything else they may ask.  I'm anxious and nervous at the same time!  

ruby696

@kpearse99 Has YH done a SA? If not, it might be nice to be able to ask if he needs one without him being there. Then you can tell him at home and he won't know that you suggested it. 🙂

brookert615

@kpearse99 I don't have any helpful advice but just wanted to say good luck at your appointment tomorrow!!! 

brookert615

Because I'll forgot if I don't mention it now and I have a coupon (lol). Are the Sperm Check tests at the pharmacy worth it? Or are there any at-home tests that have been reliable? 

ruby696

@brookert615 I have no idea. MH didn't do a SA. I might consider spending the $60 just for shits and giggles. I mean, you have a coupon...

ETA: words

kpearse99

@ruby696 that question is already on my list 
@brookert615 thanks for the good luck wish!  Also, I was really confused at first about your coupon comment, because I didn't think doctor's offices accepted coupons.... but then I kept reading the rest of your post! hahaha

brookert615

@ruby696 @kpearse99 Yeah I was thinking of just getting it and seeing what happens lol. But yeah, couponexpires in like a week haha. My mom taught me well  . 

whitealbum29

Hey ladies...does anyone have experience living in old houses/apartments where there is still lead paint from back when that was used? We just signed a lease on a new apartment and the landlord had to disclose that since the building is 100+ years old there was lead paint used in the past. She showed me some results from when the apartment was tested in 2014, the lead levels were very low and not considered dangerous. The people who lived in the apartment before the current tenant were a couple who had three small children (and got pregnant and had one of them while they lived there)...and according to my research last night, millions of homes in the US have traces of lead paint including like 87% of buildings built before 1940. I guess you just have to make sure it's not deteriorating, especially if you're TTGP, KU or have kids...and not chew on the walls etc which I don't plan on doing. I think it's just a "power of suggestion" thing where because it was brought up at all I'm doing worst-case-scenario thinking. Do you guys think you would be worried?

shamrocandroll

@whitealbum29 I'm from Boston, where everything is old, and lead paint was pretty much always in the disclosures.  I was not TTGP at that time, but I did have pets, so it was a minor concern.  As long as it's been maintained well and painted over many times, you should be okay.  You can also get some test strips from Home Depot that you can use to test yourself to give yourself piece of mind.  I will say that although *you* don't plan to chew the walls and window sills, you do have to think about pets and/or future children, who are much more likely to chew on random things.  But again.  If you test and it tests okay and then just make sure you don't have flaking paint, and keep an eye on living creatures who may lick or chew on things, then I think it's fine.   

https://www.homedepot.com/p/3M-LeadCheck-Instant-Lead-Test-Swabs-2-Pack-LC-2SDC6/203313743

whitealbum29

@shamrocandroll - thank you! Yeah I'm in New England too and it's got to be fairly common here. Thanks for the test recommendation! I'll probably get some of those. It sounds like there are "lead safe practices" that you just have to follow if this is the case in your home.

kagesstarshroom

@whitealbum29 I second everything shamroc said! It's of no worry until you have kids around who might chew/eat it OR for TTC/PG,/anyone, really, don't, like, do anything that would make you inhale it. He specifically says, "As long as it's not chipping or anyone scrapes paint in the house." He is a restoration carpenter so he knows his stuff! 

whitealbum29

@kagesstarshroom Thank you!! Oooh yes amazing to hear from a carpenter about it, thanks so much for asking! That's your husband? Big hugs to you both, I'm feeling better about it already!

edited because I tagged myself by accident, something I do like 5 times a week

begging4abump

@whitealbum29 mh and I live in what we now refer to as a death trap. We’ve got lead paint and asbestos siding and lots of other fun things. In regards to the lead paint, as pp said, you just need to worry about chipping and airborne stuff. Don’t plan to sand down walls, and wear masks if doing renovations. I think there are also vacuums that have lead filters. We currently have an issue with chipping outdoor paint that DEFINITELY has lead. 🙄 we’re also concerned about trying to have any kind of edible garden since it’d be in range of chipping paint. So, just want you to be aware if that’s a deal breaker.
tw: lc / ppg 

Around pa/nj they do test kids for lead around 1 year old since lead paint is so common, but I don’t think they do anything for pg ppl. I wasn’t tested when I was pregnant, and I did A LOT of home renovations. Thankfully, everything turned out ok for us. 🤷🏻‍♀️

whitealbum29

@begging4abump - great info, thank you!! Good to keep in mind about not growing edible things and I might look into vacuums with lead filters!

chichiphin

@kpearse99 I’m late to the party, but if you go the IVF route in philly, I’ve heard the Penn Med is actually the most affordable for meds but they’re an assembly line for everything leading up to IVF. Main Line fertility is a fucking arm and a leg, but they have some discount programs and the attention is pretty good there. 

kpearse99

@chichiphin thanks so much for the information!  I'm actually going through RMA of Philadelphia, they are associated with Jefferson.  I have a call with the financial department this afternoon so I'll know soon what I'm looking at, cost wise.

chichiphin

@kpearse99 oh please let me know how you like them. I'm currently happy with mainline because of it's location, but I like to keep my options open!

kpearse99

@chichiphin I have only heard and read WONDERFUL things about RMA of Philadelphia so I am excited to really get started.  I felt really great after meeting my doctor on Friday, he really seems to invest himself in his patients and is super positive.  They have several locations, which is really nice and even though they are a team of doctors, you have your one primary doctor that you work with.... so you never feel like you're being passed off to someone new.  I'll keep you posted!

NYTino24

@kpearse99 my appointment is with RMANJ. RMA has a great success rate!

lcking82

@kagesstarshroom:  days late here, but I've rarely had O-spotting, too.  Freaked me out!

@whitealbum29:  our previous home was old with lead paint, too.  They recommend vacuuming dust up, doing construction with care, and of course not eating paint chips.  I would also mention that in addition to gardening, make sure that kids/pets don't spend a ton of time playing in dirt that lead paint potentially chipped into.  And washing hands before eating is an easy way to decrease exposure, too! 

*TW LC**

I was totally freaked out because I was pregnant and then had an infant in that house, but pediatrician and OB reassured me that the hand-washing was very helpful, and that as long as no chipping was present, and we didn't go sand off a bunch of paint we would fine.  Baby's one-year old lead test was fine (pedi performed it on all 1 year-olds living in possible lead-rich zip codes), too.  

kpearse99

@NYTino24 oh that's awesome!!! Please keep me posted how it all goes next week I'll be thinking about ya!

I'm so glad, so far anyway, that I choose them - especially after hearing so many wonderful things!  My OB gave me two recommendations and for some reason my gut was just telling me to go with RMA over the other one.

whitealbum29

@lcking82 Thank you!