IF Testing and Treatment w/o 6/10

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: Have you ever met a celebrity before? If yes, then who?

inthewoods23

Diagnosis (if you've been): unexplained, maybe some MFI

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WFIVF

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): egg retrieval tomorrow 😬😱

How are things going?: Everything was good until yesterday afternoon/evening when I started feeling extra tired and nauseous. Maybe it's from the cabergoline I'm now taking for 8 days. Took it without food, which it says you can do, but maybe that just really upset my stomach.

Any questions?: What things should I buy/do/have to make the time before and after my ER pleasant? I've got Gatorade on my list and a note that I need to find out heating pad. Any other recommendations?

GTKY: Have you ever met a celebrity before? If yes, then who? I had the opportunity once to get a picture with the lead singer of a band by their merch table. Unfortunately I was crabby about something and arguing with DH that I just wanted to buy a damn shirt and leave so it didn't happen. I might have been hangry 😆

emmasemm

How did it come to be almost half way through the year already???

Diagnosis (if you've been): DOR AMA adenomyosis, autoimmune issues

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): Growing my lining

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): FET!!! (Just writing that makes me feel a bit sick...)

How are things going?: The estrogen patches are kicking my butt. Well, they’re stuck on my butt but wow do they make me exhausted. Like can’t keep your eyes open exhausted. Need a morning and an afternoon nap kind of exhausted.
Next scan tomorrow morning. If my lining is thick enough then I will start prednisolone that night and have my first intralipids the next day. If it’s not thick enough then will need to go back for another check probably end of the week. Hoping for it being thick enough!
Work was crazy last week, but lucky for us we had a long weekend as today is a public holiday. Saturday we did jobs, then yesterday we went to the beach for the day. It was a bit windy to start but by the end of the afternoon it was just perfect. Today there are some showers so we’re on small paperwork and indoor jobs. The rest of the week is work like normal.
This is our last public holiday until October though... 

Any questions?: Nope

GTKY: Have you ever met a celebrity before? If yes, then who?
Depends on your definition of celebrity I guess... I’ve met members of the British royal family a few times at horse events and especially princess Anne quite a few times as she is patron of the RDA and visited the championships a few times. Even presented me with a trophy once.
When I was 18 we went to a big outdoor concert at Knebworth Park where the headline act was Oasis. Long story short, my friend fainted and we ended up in the VIP zone and stood next to lots of celebrities. We had a great conversation with Keith from The Prodigy after they had done their set. It was said to hear he died earlier this year.
Oh and I did crowd surf onto the stage at a Skunk Anansie concert around a similar time to that... and was allowed to stay on the stage with them!
Oh the wild things I did before IF! 

jennifer_louise

@inthewoods23 ER tomorrow?! Eeeek! Best of luck, friend, come back and update us!

@emmasemm you're so close!! All fingers crossed for you. And your GTKY makes your life sound so exciting.

Diagnosis: unexplained

Status: WTO

What are you doing this cycle? Clomid, 50 mg

How are things going? Things are okay. I had a hard weekend, and I sincerely hope that my marriage can withstand IF. MH and I have been having some really hard conversations and I still don't know if we're on the same page or not. My terrible mood swings didn't help, not sure if that's a post-Clomid symptom or if it's just real life.

Any questions? Nope. 

GTKY: I honestly can't think of any famous people that I've met! I have felt super giddy meeting some "famous" people in my chosen career field. Then I have to remind them that they're not actually famous, just to me. 🤦‍♂️ If I remember one later, I'll update!

celticknotfire

@inthewoods23 you are so close!  My only real suggestions for post-ER are comfy clothes, gatorade and rest.  I didn't really feel sore but really bloated after mine.

@emmasemm I'm sorry the estrogen is kicking your butt.  I noticed an increase in fatigue that correlated to an increase in my Estrace.  FX for your next scan!

@jennifer_louise IF can be hard on a marriage and it is really important to be on the same page.  Those conversations can be tough enough but are only harder when you are on IF meds.  Just be honest with him about what you are thinking and more importantly feeling.

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

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): FET Wednesday!!!

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Continuing my estrace, prometrium and PIO until my FET on Wednesday. 

How are things going?: I am a mess of emotions.  Just about every possible scenario has run through my head and I'm trying not to make myself crazy.  Of course while all of this is happening I'm dealing with a wonderful tax letter from the IRS from my 2017 taxes.  It's such a rare situation that the account we are seeing has never seen it in her 25 years of experience and neither has her co-workers.  I guess at least it's keeping my mind off the FET for a little bit.

Any questions?: I know I'm jumping ahead but how many days after a FET should I wait to test?

GTKY: Have you ever met a celebrity before? If yes, then who? In high school I met Mia Hamm.  It was right before the '99 World Cup and she was a guest at our preseason camp for high school soccer.  I actually got to play one-on-one with her and she said I had good skills and an amazing shot.  After that I almost passed out to hear my idol say that.  In college Blessed Union of Souls played and I got to hang out with them and even got some drumsticks from the drummer.  They weren't really relevant then but we were a small school so it was a big deal to us.  Other than that I've met several Cleveland Browns players throughout the years.

[Deleted User]

@inthewoods23  So exciting!  Any other salty snacks you love, post ER is the time to treat yo-self!  This is where the McDonald's fries tradition comes from. ;)

@emmasemm I feel queasy thinking about FET, and we're not even there yet! Lol GL!!!

@jennifer_louise the meds are no joke!  I'm sorry you're feeling the stress at home right now. (((Hugs)))

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Diagnosis (if you've been): Azoospermia

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WFAF

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?):  Last cycle before F/u consult and CD3 Testing, added back PNVs, DHA, Calcium and Vitamin E

***<b>TW</b>*********BR/TFAS***
<div class=" Spoiler">I also stopped pumping last week, which is freeing for sure, but still a little sad.  But it was time, and heading toward FET is quite the silver lining. :)</div>
How are things going?:  Okay, idk why I'm a little bummed today, it's rainy.  I'm in my second week of my new job / promotion, so I'm still adjusting and trying to get into some new routines.  It's all good stuff, but a longer commute and longer Friday hours.

Any questions?:   l always took coq10 before, but I'm wondering if there's any point this time if it's only FET prep, and no ER? 🤷‍♀️

GTKY: Have you ever met a celebrity before? If yes, then who?  Mark Wahlberg and Geen Day, plussome other bands / musicians and a former Senator lol

littleredm

@inthewoods23 I'm sorry you've been feeling crummy these past few days. Keeping you in my thoughts tomorrow for your ER. Idk how true this is, but I saw on another site that it's recommended to have a high salt, high protein diet right after ER. People were talking about eating beef jerky, but again idk if that actually helps or not.

@emmasemm FX that your lining is thick enough tomorrow and you get the go ahead!

@jennifer_louise IF can be such a hard thing to navigate within marriage. DH and I have been in counseling and it's really helped us a lot. No matter what it's just important to keep that communication open and have those tough conversations even though they're hard.

@celticknotfire I'm so sorry to hear about the tax letter. I hope that it gets resolved soon.

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

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

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

How are things going?: Feeling very uncomfortable and a lot of pressure in my lower abdomen. Had monitoring yesterday and the doctor said that ER would most likely fall sometime between Thurs-Sunday. I have 8 follicles on my right side and 10 on my left and my estrogen was at 1400 ish yesterday. The follies still have some growing to do.

Any questions?: Not that I can think of right now.

GTKY: Have you ever met a celebrity before? If yes, then who? I've met John Lithgow after seeing him in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels on Broadway and then this is really random but my dad used to dj at a very big oldies station on the radio and every year they'd have a huge concert and have celebrities show up so I met the girl who played Cindy Brady from the Brady Bunch there in the VIP booth. Oh and I met Robert Picardo who played the Doctor on Star Trek Voyager at a convention. If anybody watches Rupaul's Drag Race I went to college with Bob The Drag Queen and was in a show with him my freshman year.

ruby696

@inthewoods23 Good luck tomorrow! I'll be thinking of you and sending all the good vibes!

@emmasemm Good luck to you to, and FX for a thick lining!

@jennifer_louise Keep having those hard conversations. As awful as they are, it will help keep your relationship strong. Sending hugs.

@celticknotfire Good luck Wednesday! Jeez ladies, this is an exciting month on this board!!

@BusinessWife I don't think you NEED to take CoQ10, but it probably won't hurt either? But I don't think I'd go out and buy more if you're out.

@littleredm Good luck with your ER!!

Diagnosis (if you've been): Early stage DOR

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): We decided to NTNP this cycle. After realizing that I wasn't emotionally ready to proceed with adoption (apparently unresolved IF issues are a thing agencies are wary about in adoption), we decided we need to go forward with IVF, even if only so we know we tried everything. I'm going to call my RE's office this week and schedule a new consult, and then we'll go from there.

How are things going?: Good! I've always said that I would never do IVF because of the cost, but I'm so excited we're moving forward with this. 

Any questions?: Nope, not yet.

GTKY: Have you ever met a celebrity before? If yes, then who? No, I don't think I have... at least not anyone famous enough to remember. 

jennifer_louise

@celticknotfire with the FET this week too?! Omg I can't wait until you all just graduate and this thread dries up into nothingness as it should!! 

@BusinessWife congrats on the promotion! I'm sure adjusting is hard but I'm sure it's a good thing for the long run. Thanks for the hugs, new friend, and ****TW LC*** sending some your way as you adjust to the bittersweet transition of weaning! ****end TW***

@littleredm grow follies grow!! And I'm so impressed with all your "celeb" encounters. Your lives seem so cool! I've been raking my brains all day, and the only one I thought of is I've been in the same room as Rick Perry (current secretary of energy).

@ruby696 I understand the "unresolved IF" thing so well. As appealing it is to jump into adoption, it's hard to let go of wanting the whole BFP/pregnancy/giving birth shebang. It would take me a while to get there too. 

emmasemm

@ruby696 I hope you’re both feeling ok about deciding to give IVF a shot. No pun intended!!! 

@littleredm sounds like those follies are coming along nice and steady - guess they might have you on the cabergoline too if your estrogen does end up getting really high with all those follies!

@businesswife like was already said - if you’re not doing a retrieval it’s not so critical, but also won’t hurt either. Hope you get into your new work routine soon.

@celticknotfire oooooh Wednesday is sooooo close! Keeping everything crossed it runs smoothly 

@jennifer_louise this whole process can be so tough on relationships. And yes the meds make us extra emotional. I wanted to kill DH for breathing several times over the last week! Normally he’s allowed to breathe ;-)

@inthewoods23 excited for retrieval tomorrow! Gatorade, salty snacks, something to watch/read and a good blanket to keep warm under. Wear comfy clothes to go to the clinic in, as you’ll be pleased afterwards when you’re getting dressed and not struggling to pull jeans on etc 

rikiteacup

***lurking****

@emmasemm FX for your FET! Your celebrity stories brought me back to my teenage years. I haven't heard about Skunk Anansie in over 20 years. May brain automatically played their hit song. Crazy how the brain works. 

celticknotfire

@BusinessWife congrats on the promotion!

@littleredm grow follicles grow!  Sounds like you have some good numbers and progress going on.

@ruby696 a lot of people don't realize how much goes into deciding if/when adoption is right for them.  I can relate about wanting to make certain all options are exhausted before taking a different path. FX you can get a consult in soon!

inthewoods23

@emmasemm GL on your FET! I hope to be in your boat soon 🙂

@jennifer_louise I totally get your feels on IF and marriage. DH and I definitely had some difficult conversations along the way. He's in no way religious yet seemed so upset at the idea of not conceiving naturally and was even hesitant back when we were doing IUIs! We're getting so close to (hopefully) having a FET next month I know he'll be so thrilled when it finally works out for us. I'm just a PM away if you want more perspective 🙂❤️

@celticknotfire rooting for you so hard for your FET on Wednesday!!

@BusinessWife there's a McDonald's on our way home from the clinic! "Hey honey... Could we just take a minor detour...??" Hehe. Hope things get much smoother in your new job!

@littleredm don't make me post my Jurassic Park gif again!! Grow little follies grow!

@ruby696 yes, the cost makes IVF such a hard decision but it is so exciting to look at the future with it!

[Deleted User]

Omg FET week! That is so exciting!!! @celticknotfire  any pre transfer changes in your protocol to remember?

@ruby696. Wow, that is awesome. Big decision, big step, but you're so right, you never know unless you try. Some couples, maybe it's not for them. But if you find a way to cover the cost and you're up for it, might as well give it a go! Squeee!!!



Yeah, that's the boat I'm in pretty sure, I think I'm out, so I wasn't sure if I should get more, or save my money.  Lord knows PNVs and DHA cost enough as it is! Lol

emeraldduchess

Diagnosis (if you've been): Still in the beginning stages of testing. Genetic testing results should be back in about a week. 

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): DH is going for his SA next Tuesday. Next cycle I have the saline ultrasound. 

How are things going?: Things are OK.  I've been preoccupied with the end of the school year, so it's been a welcome distraction. If I need to do more testing and/or a few cycles with medication, I am glad that it will be over the summer break. 

Any questions?: Nope. 

GTKY: Have you ever met a celebrity before? If yes, then who? Nobody famous. My life isn't that exciting. 

inthewoods23

@emeraldduchess regarding the famous - same lol I don't even live in an area where you'd easily see celebs (like those that live in LA or NY) so of course my chances are low

Question for all, and maybe this is dumb, but... What should I bring with me to the clinic for my ER tomorrow? Is it silly to bring myself multiple shirt options depending on how I feel post-procedure? A puzzle book while I wait to be discharged?

[Deleted User]

@inthewoods23. You wont need the puzzle book, I dont think.  You will be waking up, coming off the twilight, they will bring you a snack, someone will tell you how many they got, and just watch to see that you're waking up okay.  You'll carefully get dressed when you're ready, with any help you may need, and then you'll be cleared to go!  At least that was my experience anyway.

As for clothes, I would bring whatever is (eta easy to put on), loose and comfy, and shoes you dont need to bend over and tie.  Like honestly a maxi plus flip flops and maybe a cardigan since the recovery rooms can be chilly, plus your *comfiest* granny panties lol. They will provide you a pad if needed.  So like, maybe bring a thinner liner if you prefer? cos like, pads. :p. ETA maybe bring some Advil so you can pop some in the car on the way home, too.  As long as the nurse says ok.

Just whatever clothes will just help keep you floating on a cloud off to your happy place for the ride home. :)

inthewoods23

@BusinessWife lol thanks! I took the pad once after a baseline appt and I was just like God, who the hell even likes maxi pads? Why are they even a thing still when you can get nice thin pads??

Had a similar thought with the tampons they provide when I realized I was short on tampons in my stash (free tampon woo). It was the cardboard kind and I had the hardest time inserting it! Felt like I was tearing up my insides.

celticknotfire

@BusinessWife my protocol was actually pretty simple.  Estrace twice a day starting with 1/2 tablet and increasing to 1 tablet then back down to 1/2 after this last US.  My progesterone was a little different than most because I take prometrium three times a day and the PIO every three days.  I also started medrol a few days ago.  They also started me on baby asprin when I started the Estrace.

@inthewoods23 I wore a little t-shirt dress and a cardigan because it was still chilly in April.  I brought a book with me but honestly I didn't even read it.  My ER went pretty much like @BusinessWife described.  Other than making sure I could eat some crackers and drink some juice they made sure I could pee and then I was on the way home.  I also brought my own liners and a thin pad just in case but only used the liner.  Make sure YH is there when they tell you how many eggs you got because I do not remember them telling me at all.  Good luck!

emeraldduchess

Good luck today, @inthewoods23! 💜

b_1029

Thinking of you today @inthewoods23! Hope everything goes well!!

kbrown2385

Lurking 

@inthewoods23 good luck today! 

chichiphin

@inthewoods23 good luck today!!!

ruby696

Thinking of you today @inthewoods!!

lcking82

So many crossed fingers @inthewoods23

keikilove

@inthewoods23 Thinking of you & praying everything goes perfectly!

littleredm

@inthewoods23 thinking of you today! Sending you all the positive vibes!

rikiteacup

@inthewoods23 good luck today!!

inthewoods23

@emeraldduchess @b_1029 @kbrown2385 @chichiphin @ruby696 @lcking82 @keikilove @littleredm @rikiteacup Thank you for all the love and support ladies!!!

I am officially home! Cramping when I woke up kinda sucked, but was about on par with the cramping I have on CD1 and 2 of AF. By the time we got discharged I was feeling a lot better - just some slight discomfort and of course a little woozy from the anesthesia. I hope for all of you that ever go through with an egg retrieval that you have as nice of a recovery as I have had so far.

I know what you're thinking - get to the egg number already!!

24 eggs!!!!! I should know in a few hours how many are mature!

rikiteacup

@inthewoods23 wow!!! That's a lot of eggs! Your pic is right (I counted lol). Keep us posted!

inthewoods23

@rikiteacup I googled "2 dozen eggs" 

celticknotfire

@inthewoods23 wow that's a lot!  FX for a good number for matured and fertilized!

stassischroeder

@inthewoods23 YAY!!! I'm so glad your ER experience has been good so far and WOW that's an amazing number of egg!

@celticknotfire GL TOMORROW!!!

@ruby696 WOW. YAY IVF! It's so great that you and YH were able to come to an agreement about what you feel is best, and I can related to wanting to feel like you tried everything and having zero regrets. So excited for you!!!

ruby696

Wow @inthewoods, that's fantastic!!

b_1029

@inthewoods23 daaang girl, that's a lotta eggs! so awesome - FX a lot of them mature + fertilize! 

puppylove8910

**lurking** such wonderful news @inthewoods23! That's a great number of eggs and so glad to hear that you're recovering ok. 

inthewoods23

They still haven't called with how many are mature! But I did just nap for over an hour so that was great 😄

DH just told me that the couple that had their procedure before us (I must have been a bit out of it from the Valium to not have noticed them saying this) only got 3 eggs. Apparently everything on 1 ovary was cysts so 3 from the other was all they could get. But quality is what matters! I hope we didn't just get 24 okay-ish eggs.

ETA: we've got 17 mature eggs 🙂

kbrown2385

@inthewoods23 fantastic numbers! So happy for you! Keeping my fingers crossed fertilization goes well! 

jennifer_louise

@inthewoods23 I missed all this excitement today but I'm so happy this went well today!! How awesome. 

[Deleted User]

So happy to hear it went well today! @inthewoods23. that's rough about the other couple.  I think my place wrote the number really big on a notepad so you could read it, but with a note to be discreet bc others nearby may not have had similar results.  It's so hard.

***<b>TW</b>*** ***IVF Results / Success***
<div class=" Spoiler">But then again, my bff got only three, one was not quite mature, they transferred two on day 3, and one stuck!  They were OAD anyway, so it all worked out.  Maybe 3 turns out to be the perfect number for them - you never can tell!</div>

inthewoods23

Typical.... Now DH and I are in disagreement over when we should have our FET scheduled. We'll start in the next cycle for sure, but the question is whether or not we should delay the transfer date (we've determined that a late July/early August transfer date would put a due date right around the time of a big event in late April/early May next year).

So... What to do. The RN said they can manipulate the schedule fairly well by having me on BC for longer, up to 32 days and as little as 18. Keep in mind this 4 day event is 6-7 hours of driving away from us.

Good thing we have about 2 weeks to come to an agreement!