IF Testing and Treatment w/o 5/20

inthewoods23

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's your favorite TV show?

inthewoods23

Diagnosis (if you've been): unexplained

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WFIVF

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): just started lupron yesterday. Don't go in to see the RE until next week Thursday for US and BW before stims

How are things going?: Good, the injection was easy, but it made the injection site itch a little

Any questions?: The nurse I did the injection training with mentioned that I can either pinch the skin or actually pull it taught, but I don't recall when that might be a better option. I can't remember if she recommended it when I do it in an area with little fat or more fat. My stomach isn't fit but I'm also not very large so.... Should I just stick to pinching my skin?

GTKY: What's your favorite TV show? The Office is always a favorite that I can watch all the time. I also really enjoy a lot of the cooking competition shows on the Food Network. I wish they would bring back Cutthroat Kitchen!

chichiphin

@inthewoods23 I'm glad your injection went well! I've heard things about icing the area prior, but not sure if that applies to the injection you're doing

Diagnosis (if you've been): LPD, some MF issues

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): letrozole + progesterone TI cycle

How are things going?: as good as they can be. RE thinks I released 3 eggs and we HIO -3,-2,-1,O, +1... so I'm not sure what else we could have done this cycle. however, I'm now 2dpo and I'm already in my head about it... HERE WE GO

Any questions?: nerp. 

GTKY: What's your favorite TV show? too many. RHONY, Project Runway, Schitts Creek, Call the Midwife, etc. etc. etc.  

jennifer_louise

@inthewoods23 I have no idea on your injection question, but good job on that! Even if it's for a good cause, needles are never super fun.

@chichiphin really sounds like you've got all the bases covered this cycle! That timing is 💯. 

Diagnosis: none yet, possible MF with  "slight agglutination" from his sample but still haven't gotten a straight answer on if that could be a factor.

Status: WTO, but got a near +OPK this morning so I expect a + tonight.

What are you doing this cycle: SMEP, praying for a miracle, and continued testing. I think next cycle will be my HSG/ultrasound so treatment won't likely start for 2 cycles. My doc thinks that might be Clomid but we shall see.

Any questions? My next test is progesterone on 7 DPO. Does that just confirm that I've O'd? Or will it show any LP issues too? My LP is super inconsistent, I've had 8-13 days across all my TTC cycles. 

How are things going? Okay. MH and I are tired of timed intercourse after a year so my FW always feels like a slog.

GTKY: What's your favorite TV show?
Hard to pick just one but if I had to only watch one show forevermore, it would probably be Parks and Rec. Lately I've also been watching Bones and Jane the Virgin. 

celticknotfire

@inthewoods23 the purpose of pinching the skin is to add some more distance between the injection site and any underlying muscle.  When I use to administer SubQ injections into the abdomen on people that didn't have a nice fat pad I would always pinch a little bit to make sure the medication went into the right area.  Freedom has some really great videos you can watch too if you ever need a refresher on any of your meds.

Diagnosis (if you've been): PCOS, anovulatory, AMA

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WFFET

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Stopping BCP on Tuesday.  US on Friday and I'll start estrace and aspirin that day too!

How are things going?: Good if Friday ever gets here!  I have all my meds and I'm ready to go.

Any questions?: Not at the moment

GTKY: What's your favorite TV show? Most of my favorite shows aren't on any more.  I love Buffy, Parks and Rec, and almost all HGTV shows

chichiphin

@jennifer_louise it will show if you O'd, but also any progesterone issues. my RE likes to see progesterone above 10 at 7DPO. Mine was around 7 I think, so I'm now on 400mg of prometrium every LP.
@celticknotfire yay you're almost there for the FET!!

celticknotfire

@chichiphin that is some amazing timing!

@jennifer_louise it does both actually.  I've also noticed that different RE like different numbers just to add to the confusion. 

inthewoods23

@chichiphin doh! How could I forget schitts creek!?

@jennifer_louise I believe it primarily will indicate if you O'ed. Someone else will have to speak to whether it can detect LP issues. Might not be a bad idea to ask in the questions thread

@celticknotfire thanks! That's the part I wasn't sure about with the muscle.

For anyone interested in another entry to my "My Brain of IVF", here's some detail about how my injection went yesterday:

Let me preface this by stating that my experience with injections has just been the trigger shot which, after mixing the liquid with the powder, you draw up everything in the bottle. Lupron obviously is a little different in that the bottle lasts you the entire 20+ days.

So I'm spending a dumb amount of time making sure I'm drawing EXACTLY 10UI since I'm so particular about measurements. Anyway, since I'm used to the trigger shot I just take the needle out when I'm at the right amount and then I start to panic because some of the lupron leaked out from the hole the needle made. Thankfully I was in the right mind to flip it over to stop the leaking (I lost tiny tiny drops). Now I will always remember to put the bottle right side up before removing the needle. Whoops!

begging4abump

@inthewoods23 It sounds like things are moving along for you and that you’ll be an injection master quite soon! Also, mh and I are currently rewatching all of the office when we exercise. It’s great, except when they phone it in with episodes that are basically reruns chopped up. 

@chichiphin Yowza with that timing! Good luck holding it together this tww! I’m super excited for you!

@jennifer_louise that’s annoying that you are still waiting to hear what the results actually mean for you. I hope they get back to you soon! Sorry about the forced quality of timing. (possible TMI— we’ve had to hold off for WAY too long because of all my procedures and then laparoscopy all in a row, with a 2 week wait tacked on to avoid infection, so we went from one extreme to the other.) Oh this process 🙄

@celticknotfire I hope this week flies by! Did you ever watch the Buffy movie? I for some reason was so upset that a different actress was cast as Buffy that I refused to watch the tv show when it came out. 🙄 such a weird thing to put my foot down about. Lol. But, I ended up watching a few episodes here and there after my angsty phase wore off.

Diagnosis (if you've been): endometriosis, stage 3

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): benched 

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?):
 I’m taking Orilissa, which should basically make me menopausal. The plan is to take it for 3 months to calm down all the endometriosis. I’m hoping it doesn’t make my emotions go haywire. I go in on Friday to make sure I don’t need the higher dose. It just got on the market last year, so it makes me nervous to take such a new medication.
I’m hoping mh will get his sa taken care of; he’s had the orders for bloodwork and the sa for 2 months, but he promised that he’d call his dr today to get the referral since it was my re who prescribed it.

How are things going?: back and forth, up and down. I’m trying to see this 3 months as a break/recharge/back-to-being me time, but I also keep feeling anxious/impatient about getting back to trying.

Any questions?: I don’t think so

GTKY: What's your favorite TV show? I really liked the first couple seasons of crazy exgirlfriend, but it definitely went downhill. +1 for office and parks.  Currently enjoying imposters on Netflix 

jennifer_louise

@chichiphin Thanks! I'll be interested to see how the Progesterone goes. I wouldn't be surprised if it was off (bc of my LP).

@celticknotfire so excited for you! Man I can't imagine the impatience of waiting this week...

@begging4abump sorry for your dry spell oof. And I'm equally sorry that I seem to have missed a few developments in your life while I was gone... Stage 3 sounds scary!? Care to share how you found out and what the plans are? (you can PM me if that's better for you). IKWYM about the impatience of the "reset", but I hope it's just what you need. I feel like I'm playing the "long game" now which is why I don't feel totally stoked about hanging out in the dailies right now.

begging4abump

@jennifer_louise YGPM

b_1029

@jennifer_louise @begging4abump Im with you guys on lack of enthusiasm about the dailies. I don’t think I even belong on this thread right now so...

@begging4abump I also went into this break intending to “get back to myself” but I’ve been feeling pretty lost. Basically all it looks like for me is drinking as much as I want and not analyzing every twinge in my body.  I hope you’re able to use this time to refocus! Other than the lessened stress of not tracking things, I’ve been feeling more anxious since I don’t feel like I’m doing anything and I want to get back to TTC. It doesn’t help that I know *TW* 5 people who will be having babies / had babies in the 3 months we’ll be benched 

Edited- posted before I was done. 

jennifer_louise

@b_1029 ❤️ You belong anywhere you feel like you need support. I know I can't talk (because I totally just left for a month) but we are here for you. IF is just completely unfair and you shouldn't have to feel like this. 

emmasemm

@inthewoods23 if in doubt, pinch a bit. It should be fine if you’re not ultra thin, but better safe than sorry. 

@chichiphin oh I love love love call the midwife! And yours really was a text book cycle this time!

@jennifer_louise it will first of all check you ovulated. Then it will see if your progesterone would be high enough to sustain an early PG. However! Be aware that progesterone levels in blood fluctuate multiple times each day and quite big fluctuations so if you’re at a peak it might look great, but if I’m a trough it might look too low, but actually the peak is fine... My doctor tested multiple times across multiple cycles to get a clearer picture.

@celticknotfire come on Friday!!!

@begging4abump  hope your DH gets that SA sorted

Diagnosis (if you've been): DOR AMA Autoimmune stuff, adenomyosis

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): Hmmm good question, I guess I’m WFAF

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): On a few weeks of Lupron prior to FET!

How are things going?: 
First Lupron injection for this cycle last night. Super smooth. Also got lots of love for the photo I posted on IG after a month break so that was really nice.
Today I felt good, no hot flush.
But this evening I am definitely short tempered and feel I might cry at the slightest thing. DH asked me if I was going to put my plate in the dishwasher (completely reasonable) and I had to blink back tears. So I think I’m going to need to come with a safety warning for the next weeks.
Not sure if it’s the meds or all the feelings brewing for officially starting. 
If this were an exam or a big presentation at work I would feel confident that I have prepared for success. But IF is not like that. You can do everything perfectly right and it still not succeed. And that lack of control freaks me out a bit. When I say “a bit”, remember I’m British. It’s like saying people were “a bit” excited about the royal wedding last year...

Any questions?: Nope

GTKY: What's your favorite TV show? Greys Anatomy. Hands down. I’ve watched every episode more than 20 times in two languages and I still don’t get bored of it.

begging4abump

@b_1029 First off, I’m sorry you are feeling lost. I dipped into feeling that a bit yesterday after a few things set me off (including finding out that our AC is not working for the 4th summer in a row after having work done each summer). I’m trying to blame the super new medication, but it’s probably just me and these circumstances. My best bet will be if I can plan out some projects that I can knock out during this waiting time. With this house, that list is never ending, so yay? Again, I’m so sorry you’re feeling that way, but you’re not alone! ❤️ Can you believe I’m still taking my bbt? I don’t know why. I’m not even supposed to ovulate now. I think having a similar situation as your Tw situation just keeps reminding me that I’m falling behind, and I want to feel like I’m doing something. So I hear you; that crap sucks. Anyway, I’ve totally missed seeing your regular posts, so please camp out here with us if you have any desire to!

littleredm

@inthewoods23 I'm glad that your injection turned out to not be that bad.

@chichiphin that timing is excellent. Fx for you my friend!

@jennifer_louise the progesterone test should confirm that you ovulated and might also be able to pin point issues with your LP if it's related to your progesterone levels. I feel the same way about fw stuff feeling like a chore. It really does remove all the fun. Parks & Rec is a great show!

@celticknotfire I'm hoping that the week flies by for you so Friday gets here soon!

@begging4abump oh wow I didn't know that you could take Orlissa for just a few months. My OBGYN has mentioned wanting to put me on a medication that will cause me to have early menopause but she said that was for after I was done having children. I hope that it works and causes the endo to calm down with minimal side effects.

@emmasemm I'm sorry that your emotions have been all over the place. IF is so frustrating in that you can do everything but it really is out of our control. As a fellow control freak I hate it so much and can commiserate with you on that.

Diagnosis (if you've been): Endometriosis, unexplained

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WFIVF

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

How are things going?: I just had my saline sonogram this afternoon. It was really painful which I was not expecting. The RE said that sometimes with endometriosis it can make that procedure really painful and I guess I was a lucky one who experienced that. Good thing is that my uterus looks great and she counted 16 follicles and got the go head to move forward with IVF. Also I went and bought myself a bunch of comfortable clothes today to wear during the IVF process because I've read that the meds can cause you to bloat and feel uncomfortable. Nothing like retail therapy I guess?

Any questions?: None right now.

GTKY: What's your favorite TV show? That's a hard question.....I like reality tv a lot and watch Survivor and The Bachelor/Bachelorette with my family. As far as other shows I love Frasier, Star Trek: Voyager, Crazy Ex GF, Bob's Burgers etc.

inthewoods23

Echoing what a couple others have said about feeling meh about the dailies. Ever since my not so great SHG I've been feeling a little down about this process too. I'm worried about having to repeat the test and having the surgery to smooth things out in there (if needed). I keep wondering if it's going to delay our FET into August instead of July.

I have a lot on my mind about all this and it's just hard sometimes. I have my good days and my bad days so I know it'll be okay. But would someone else like my anxiety? 😆

chichiphin

@emmasemm I'm sorry the lupron is messing with your emotions - but I did have a chuckle about your british comment lol
@begging4abump I really hope this medication helps you. I've actually wondered about it, as I have a best friend who has incredibly severe endo... let us know how you fair with it! 
@littleredm oh no!!! I'm sorry it was so painful!! But 16 follies sounds like a great number fx 

I am also eh on the dailies right now. It feeds my anxiety too much to count every single day... 

chichiphin

when you pee on a cheapie on 5DPO 🙃🙃🙃🙃

jennifer_louise

Lol @chichiphin we are total opposites. I can't stand to look at a BFN any day of my cycle. I think because that means I can still carry my small shred of hope that I've actually somehow been KU this entire time... 

inthewoods23

My boss is awesome.

I went to talk to him today to figure out what I needed to do about getting time off for my ER since I wasn't sure if I could go in our system and mark the day as unpaid or if FMLA needs a doctor's note or whatever before you can ask for unpaid.

He basically said I could just claim it as a sick day and call in day it happens and we agreed that, if needed, I could work from home the next day. Saves me from having to worry about the whole FMLA crap. I said that works out well since I won't really know until the weekend before what day it will be since I'm being monitored and the doctor says when it will be done so claiming the day in the middle of the week wouldn't be weird.

I might not even bring up needed time off for the FET in July and do the sick day thing again 😏

celticknotfire

@inthewoods23 that's awesome!  One less thing to worry about it always a good thing.

@chichiphin FX for you!!!

I had my baseline US this morning and everything looks good to start my meds for my FET!

*edit because spelling is not my friend!

nitnat007

Just stopping in to wish you ladies a wonderful weekend. And leave this here because I know you all can relate.....

keikilove

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend! I wanted to add another resource my RE just mentioned to me. TLDR: Has anyone heard of or tried Ovasitol or Pregnitude? My RE recommends both. They’re normally recommended for women with PCOS but she says I could take either if I get a BFP from the recent IUI. 

We were on the phone reviewing my Natural Killer cell levels (test results just came in). I was sure they’d be extremely elevated & an explanation for my RPL. Well, she’d already started me on a very low dose of prednisone for the 3 days before I took the test, and my numbers came back just barely elevated. Either my NK cells didn’t play a part in RPL or the prednisone is already working to “calm the system down”.

Anyway, in my online groups I’ve noticed that women with similar histories to me (autoimmune/ inflammation stuff leading to IF/RPL) often take Neupogen and Metformin when TTC & after getting a positive. I asked the RE about this for me. She said these are things she usually prescribes for people who do IVF; Neupogen is to treat thin uterine lining, which I don’t appear to need right now. She also said Metformin is controversial, and that she prefers Ovasitol. Have any of you heard of or used this? For those of you treating PCOS with Metformin, did anyone ever mention Ovasitol as an alternative? She also mentioned Pregnitude as an alternative. She said I could save money by going to any health food store and buying the two ingredients off the shelf: myo-inositol(2000 mg serving) and d-chiro-inositol(50 mg serving). 

My thing is, I don’t have PCOS & am awaiting results after IUI. I’m just not clear why she would recommend these if I get a BFP, but wanted to share in case anyone else finds the info helpful. I did see an Amazon review where the woman had 8 MC, then started taking this, and was finally experiencing success, so it seems worth a try. 

https://theralogix.com/products/ovasitol-inositol-powder

https://www.amazon.com/Ovasitol-Inositol-Powder-D-Chiro-packets/dp/B01BT92C24

kbrown2385

Lurking 

@keikilove I have used myo-inositol. It’s used to increase egg quality and can help with insulin levels. I’ve also read it can help women ovulate. I used it prior to starting metformin as well as in conjunction with after I read it starts with the egg. No side effects and it helped curb my carb cravings so I could lose weight. 

ETA: I’m curious as to why she recommends it after you get a bfp. Tw* I’ve taken it with 4 of my losses so I’m not sure how it would help after the fact. 

keikilove

@kbrown2385 Thank you for the input! I’m not aware of having any insulin issues, but I have noticed insane carb cravings during this TTGP rollercoaster, so it can’t hurt to curb those.  Hope you’re doing great!!