IF Testing and Treatment Week of 11/18-11/25/19

emeraldduchess

Yikes, this thread is on fire! I will do my best to chip away over the next few days.

@inthewoods23 oh friend, I am so very sorry about sweet Pinecone. All the hugs. It's so hard to say goodbye to a beloved pet. I am sure Pinecone knew how much you and your DH loved him. 💙 He brought us all so much joy!

@keikilove I am glad it's 11 dpiui without any spotting, but the progesterone delays AF so I can't get my hopes up. I hope your insurance will finally listen to you and cover IVF if that's ultimately the best option for you and your DH. 💜

@misshelen86 that's a lot of info to take in! I am so glad that you're comfortable with your RE. That's so important. 

@mvt2003 Tieks are a little tight at first, but they do stretch because they're leather. They take a while to break in, though. I am on my feet all day, so I need good quality shoes. Plus the color choices are awesome. My mom gave me a gift card last Christmas and I still haven't used it because I can't decide!!

@bows22 that gif cracked me up! I agree, don't google IF stuff, it only leads to trouble. 

pom9207

@emeraldduchess sorry you are not feeling hopeful, but I hope things turned out to be the opposite of what you felt!

@NYTino24 sorry about the bfn. I hope the IVF consult goes well on Thursday & you are presented with clear plans.

@nitnat007 glad that the first round of shots went smoothly. I am excited for you!

@mvt2003 glad that you are keeping the BSC at bay during TWW. Living a normal life during TWW (especially the second week) is a win for me haha!

@misshelen86 sorry about the bfn. But seems like you had a very productive RE appointment & were given different options! 

@ellieemc26 I am excited for your upcoming IUI! Hope the estrogen suppositories do the trick to help the linings grow thicker

@kpearse99 yay for progesterone after IUI I am excited for your Friday monitoring appointment.
I have a funny anecdote about follicle check for my monitoring cycle in my home country, putting in spoiler: 

I love seeing what's going on with those follicles in my ovaries; I just wish follicle check can be as cheap as in China. I'd do it everyday. It's like $30 each time there, and you get color printed results detailing how many eggs on each side, what's the leading follicle's size(s), what's the lining etc. The only downside: there is essentially no privacy. Imagine 10 people lining up inside the exam room while you are undressed from the bottom, no covering sheet or gown at all, being poked by the ultrasound probe... There was a curtain, but I still had to undress/dress myself while the previous woman/next women are presented... It was shocking to me at the first time haha.

@keikilove Thank you, friend!  
uh, This is so unfair... I hope AF arrives soon & you get a fresh new start soon. I really hope the insurance can approve IVF if that's the best option. Fx for you that things will become better!

@inthewoods23 hugs. Hope you liked your haircut

@bows22 haha that gif is totally me when I got my prolactin results and searched on google. I hope the follow up appointment provides you with some reassuring answers.

@meri-mac Sorry that you are having tech issues at work but glad that it got resolved

@kiki047 I am excited for you for starting stims soon! Hopefully the withdrawal bleed won't be too awful.

@shoogapoff yay for "nice and quiet" ute!

NYTino24

@pom9207 That’s a shocking lack of privacy! But it is a very densely packed country. I agree that we should be sent home with printed info. It’s so much at once!

kpearse99

@pom9207 I'm sorry for the failed IUI, it sucks and hurts but I am happy your RE appointment is quickly approaching and I am hopeful you will come up with a plan that works for you!
ETA - OMG that follie check process in China... I can't even imagine that!!! 

@misshelen86 that is a lot of information that you had to digest, my goodness. I am so happy though that your RE was really detailed and caring and took all the time that you needed to answer all of your questions and provide a clear and understandable plan for you. I also love that you have options. I think you are making the right choices. Your outlook on everything is amazing.

@inthewoods23 I am so glad to hear that you are doing well. We were all thinking of you!

nitnat007

@mvt2003 I definitely got to that point with the TWW as well. Only right before AF would arrive I would catch myself thinking, but maybe..... lol. Nope! At least for us anyway. Dec 9 will be here before you know it. 

@misshelen86 That sounds like it was a really positive appointment with the RE with lots of good info and plans to move forward. Hopefully your HSG will give you better results next week, but like you said, I think fixing any issues that you can now, is the best course to hopefully getting you to be successful on your own. 

@ellieemc26 Good luck today!

@kpearse99 Last night he was totally amped again. Walked into the bedroom and he already had all the shots prepped and ready to roll. I just had to lay back and pinch skin. I am starting to think he may enjoy it a little too much lol. Yay for small wins. Glad you are having a better week. Come on follies! 

@meri-mac Sounds like a blissful weekend. 

@kiki047 Do they have you on baby aspirin as well? Our clinic does nasal spray instead of BCP, and af was quite a bit worse for me. I wasn't sure if it was the added aspirin or not. Normally I never have to reach for the heavy flow tampons, but for two days I was there every few hours. I hope that you are much better off and that it is mild for you. have your treats ready, you will deserve them!

@shoogapoff 'nice and quiet' is exactly where you want it to be right now. FX for you. 

@keikilove Sending you positive AF vibes to get this back on the road and not be benched. Hopefully your RE has some thoughts on what your next steps are and ideas on implantation for you too. Sending you hugs 

@bows22 The stabby part is not so cute lol. But he is actually really good at it and doesn't hurt me. It is just good to keep him involved in the process too, in whatever way he can be. 
Haha that gif, how I feel about most of my ttc related google searches. Hoping that your reality is not anywhere near that. FX!

@pom9207 Thank you! And so sorry about your failed iui. Hoping your RE visit brings you more luck. And that is crazy! Really neat to have that much detail and info. But to be in the same room with that many people and have to undress etc with them there as well? Should not be like that at all. I don't know that I could.....

kpearse99

@nitnat007 I'm starting to think YH is enjoying it a little too much too    ....

mvt2003

@misshelen86 I'm so glad the appointment went well and that you liked the RE! I'm glad you're going to be able to address your tube issue as well, I think your plan makes total sense. 

@inthewoods23 Still thinking of you, I'm sending you  

@bows22 I'm so glad that your testing is starting to give you answers! I totally agree that sometimes it's so hard to tell with wondfos for this purpose!! 

@pom2907 So sorry about this cycle, keeping my FX for the next one! 

@keikilove sending you so many hugs and good vibes. I'm so so sorry that this is all still happening to you.  

@shoogapoff Glad everything looks great for this cycle!!! 

@kiki047 So glad you're on track for this ER!!!!!!!  

ellieemc26

@nitnat007 your husband bring so excited about the shots is cracking me up!  I think mine was ready to rethink the whole process when I told him he had to give me the trigger shot 😂. Good point about it keeping him involved, though.  I think it’s hard for our guys when they want to do whatever they can to help us but there really just isn’t much they can do sometimes!  

misshelen86

@keikilove So sorry you’re feeling exhausted and crappy. I hope your RE is able to help you decide on next steps. The biopsy sounds like it might be worth it, if it will give you more answers. I hope you don’t have to be benched for 2 cycles. 

@pom9207 GL with your appointment today. I hope you’re able to do IUI again. 

@bows22 Stay away from google! I fell down that rabbit hole last night too and it was not fun! Do you know when your surgery date is yet?

@bows22 @keikilove @emeraldduchess @pom9207 @kpearse99 @nitnat007 @mvt2003 Thanks for all your kind words 

prpl11butterfly

***lurking****

Apologies for popping in but I can't not send all my love to @inthewoods23 today. I am heartbroken for you. Pics of Pinecone always made me smile. He has touched so many of us for such a small being. His presence is going to be missed so very much ❤

kiki047

@nitnat007 the notes I wrote down show baby aspirin for my FET but not for the ER? I meant to ask about that, thanks for the reminder. Glad your first round of shots went well, too funny about DH being a little overenthusiastic there. That's good he's all gung-ho about it tho! 
@pom9207 OMG to the privacy thing in China. I'm not super modest and have been butt naked in a room full of people in hot springs in Asia but the idea of being practically out in the open while they're doing the scan horrifies me a little. If not for that, the system there seems so much better! 
@keikilove so sorry you're still in limbo. I hope AF shows soon so you can just get this cycle over and done with. 
@bows22 oh man, I feel like all my clutches from "back in the day" are so tiny now, even trying to jam a tube of lip gloss in there is a struggle.
@misshelen86 I'm sorry the results of the repeat SAs were not good. Trying to keep thinking positive for you that it isn't what it seems! FX for that repeat HSG next week too. 
@shoogapoff lol to your 'nice and quiet' uterus. I don't know why that made me laugh. I suppose that's like best case scenario for a lot of us these days! And no they're not going to do a repeat beta because they believed me when I told them where I *should have* been at in my cycle. I really don't think there's any chance I can be KU, I'm just reading way into everything as usual.
@meri-mac how are you feeling being PUPO? When is your beta again? 
@kpearse99 yesss to warm jackets! So necessary. I would not hesitate to splurge on a really good, warm winter coat. 
@ellieemc26 hope your IUI went well this morning! +1 to spending on the kitchen remodel. We also got exactly what we wanted, and we LOVE it.
@mvt2003 Hope you're able to keep your brain occupied throughout your TWW, it's kinda nice to feel like you don't have to stress about it for once. You have enough on your plate!
@emeraldduchess keeping my FX for you!!! 
@NYTino24 I'm so sorry about this cycle, but I hope your consult goes well on Thursday. I was just super overwhelmed at mine that I'm pretty sure I blacked out and don't remember what happened. I did ask about PGS, which you already mentioned, we said we'd test up to 8 embryos (assuming we even get that many). 


AFM, still rollin' along. Having nightmares about the mock transfer and biopsy on Thurs. I know it's no big deal, my cervix is just really sensitive and I'm a big wuss. Pretty sure I'm just psyching myself out over nothing. 

meri-mac

@kiki047 I am weirdly calm about the whole thing. Not much BSC or SS. I do keep going back and forth on the HPT before my beta on the 26th. I do keep calculating the due date though; at least once a day. Fx for Thursday. I am sure it will all be fine. My advice remains the same: deep breaths.

inthewoods23

Alright! Feeling good and ready to take on the world! Lurking just isn't for me 😎 that's the funny thing about grief. I started feeling better about Pinecone quite quickly! No need for me to take a backseat here this week. DH posed the question the other day about us both getting our own hedgehogs. At first I was like, there is too much going on for me to be attentive to another pet. Me today is like shit maybe I do want my own hedgehog, they're so cute!

@emeraldduchess you're still in this! FX!

@NYTino24 sorry for the BFN 😕 I wish I had a suggestion on things to ask about IVF! I'm always just anxious about know the timeline! Do you know if there is any additional testing that needs to be done before starting IVF?

@nitnat007 glad the shots went well! Hope everything looks great come Thursday

@mvt2003 I have the same feelings about our house. The bedrooms are nice and big - it is a 3000 sq foot house after all! I wish we had started smaller but the plan was to have lots of kids and be here for a long time until we decided to build our forever home! Time better fly to the 9th for your appt 🙂

@ellieemc26 I think I've seen others with a thin lining and something does the trick to kick it in high gear. FX the suppositories work their magic!

@kpearse99 nothing beats being nice and warm in a jacket! Always a good splurge

@kiki047 we splurged on our honeymoon too. But who doesn't love traveling out of country. I never had issues with my withdrawal bleeds so hope they aren't bad for you either!

@keikilove hope AF shows her face! I haaate delay when AF takes her time

@misshelen86 a plan is a plan! That would be great if you can move to IUI instead of IVF but I know fixing sperm issues can be incredibly difficult. The road is never easy

@bows22 I have a couple of those accessory items too designed specifically for the smaller phones we used to have.

NYTino24

@inthewoods23 I’ve done all testing they need - they aren’t considering an HSG either. I am going to ask that they do an US and BW a couple of days after IUI instead of waiting a week for BW and not doing an US. My temps don’t look like I’m ovulating after the trigger, which is weird. 

inthewoods23

@NYTino24 strange! Definitely worth checking that ovulation did occur. Sounds like you can move right into IVF though after the last needed SA which is nice. Keep that waiting game as short as possible.

pom9207

@kiki047 Thursday is approaching quickly! Fx for your mock transfer and biopsy

@meri-mac everything crossed that you will get the great news on the 26th!

AFM, my first RE appointment is done! Feeling really good now. We discussed my previous treatment history with OBGYN (3 cancelled medicated IUI, 1 failed natural cycle IUI), and all the bloodwork/HyCoSy, SA etc. I got my blood drawn for prolactin and AMH, as well as other day 3 tests. The RE also did a baseline ultrasound that showed I have 10 follicles on the left ovary and 15 on the right ovary. Lining is 7mm; nothing abnormal in the uterus.

The clinic is open during Thanksgiving, so we can do an IUI this cycle! The RE suggested me switching to Clomid for this cycle as I wasn’t able to get more than one follicle on Letrozole previously. Overall I am so glad that we made the decision to switch to an RE before 2020

meri-mac

@pom9207 That's great news!! Fx for your IUI!

kpearse99

@inthewoods23 Do hedgehogs get along with other hedgehogs?  If so.... GET TWO HEDGEHOGS!!!  They are adorable!!!

bows22

 @nitnat007 I was thinking YH was excited because he got to help or excited about getting things rolling. 😂😂😂 excited about stabbing is not as cute. I’m assuming it’s a combo of all of those things but still funny!

@kiki047 I hope time goes quickly and Thursday is here and gone before you know it ❤️

@inthewoods23 glad you’re feeling good. You’re a tough cookie, my friend ❤️ 

inthewoods23

@kpearse99 no they really don't get along so we'd have to buy a 2nd cage and cages aren't exactly cheap (cheaper than the hedgehogs though!) 😆 I think the rule is that 2 males together will just fight, a male and female will just be the male harassing the female, but 2 females I think is okay. Sometimes hedgehogs are okay together, but usually not. DH would actually like to get 2 so it doesn't feel like we're just replacing Pinecone with a new one.

keikilove

@pom9207 @nitnat007 @misshelen86 @kiki047 @mvt2003 @inthewoods23 Thank you for the encouragement! Still no sign of AF but hoping this next 24 hours brings it.

@NYTino24 Sounds super smart to demand that U/S & BW be done after the next IUI to confirm ovulation has happened. You seem to be really lining up all your ducks for the next cycle! Good luck! 

@kiki047 I feel for you with Thursday approaching.❤️ Hugs being sent to you for calm & that the procedure is smooth, quick, & painless! (I have a little bit of nerves just thinking about the actual experience of my upcoming biopsy as well, so I get it!) Just think of all the good info you & your doctor will have after Thursday—so worth it!

@pom9207 Hooray for a great appointment with your new RE! I’m so glad you & YH made the switch, so glad you’re feeling that it was the right choice! That’s a great number of follies, hopefully this new RE really knows how to make things happen for you. And omg—your story in the spoiler!!! I don’t think I could’ve gone through with it in front of all those people!😬 You’re very brave.😄👍🏽

@inthewoods23 I’m so glad
you're still feeling good about everything.💕 I LOVE the thought of you guys getting two hedgehogs! That’s the cutest thing ever! 

AFM, I just love my RE. The truth is, she is a little stumped with my case but she is forging ahead and I love her for it all. I appreciate that she is humble enough to tell me she hasn’t really seen anything like this, but that she is consulting some colleagues who have. She is also totally willing to work with my RI & support all treatment from that camp, even though some of it sounds weird or outdated to her. I just appreciate that I don’t have to deal with an RE who refuses to work with an RI, which is a very common issue. 

She thinks we can try with the hCG injections a bit longer next time, although she has to research exact amounts & timeline. She also wants to run some more tests before AF shows to see if anything in my system shows flares or spikes compared to before. And she wants to rerun some RPL tests that might have different results now that I’ve been on meds for awhile. So my saga continues but I have some hope again today that we haven’t exhausted all options. 

Also, I chatted with some people in a reproductive immunity group I belong to online; some of them have TTC histories almost identical to mine & they were able to finally see success after working with this RI for awhile. So I have renewed hope there too.
  
Now, after a few days of wallowing in being “off the wagon”, it’s time for me to put down the pastries & decaf, lace up my running shoes, & get my butt back in gear! 

kiki047

@keikilove I have SO much admiration for your strength and resilience as you continue to march ahead in this battle in your fight for your rainbow baby, despite all the pain and loss you've faced along the way. You are really and truly one of my heroes, and I consider myself lucky to be one of the many supporters you have cheering you on.   I have such a good feeling about the RI and your RE sounds absolutely wonderful.   

kpearse99

@keikilove your RE is amazing!!! I love how she’s looking into every nook and cranny of your case and doing everything in her power to get you the result you want and deserve! I love that she’s constantly researching. You have so much support all over! You’re amazing and I am blessed to know you throughout this TTC journey, even on just a stranger level ♥️ You’re an inspiration to me and a freaking warrior. 

keikilove

Aaaaaaww @kiki047!!! That is so sweet of you to say!♥️ Thank you so much, friend.

Honestly, without this group to check in with I don’t know that I would’ve had the strength to keep it up to this point. I think it would’ve been too lonely & disappointing to keep going alone. So THANK YOU for being in my corner!

ETA: @kpearse99 We must’ve been posting at the same time. Girl, you are the blessing to ALL of us on this journey with your bright light! I know we’ve both had it rough lately (actually, so many of us have) but glad to see we are both finding our way out of the doldrums together. Love ya!❤️

NYTino24

CD1. Cycle 12 is here if you don’t count trying before ovulation started again. Beta was negative as expected and I’m glad I didn’t take my Tuesday night or Wednesday morning progesterone so we can move on. DH is picking up my Letrozole after his SA today and I’ll be getting my Ovidrel after work. IVF consult tomorrow. I remember when I was irregular and my ovulation was all over the place. This is much easier to deal with, even if it means the failed cycles come closer together. 

kpearse99

@NYTino24 I'm sorry about the beta results. But I am right there with you on liking the regular-ness of my cycles while on the meds. My cycles were always all over the place too, which some not even Oing, so it's nice to at least know what's going on.

NYTino24

Good / bad news. My IVF coverage is amazing, but biased against women with bad eggs since we need two abnormal SAs to proceed and only have one. Glad it went well, but I’m still not pregnant.

meri-mac

@NYTino24 Oh that sucks...sort of. It's good that YH's SA was normal! I'm sorry your insurance company is being an a-hole.

keikilove

@NYTino24 I’m sorry you’re having a rough go of it right now. However, I’m glad YH’s sperm is so phenomenal—those numbers are amazing! One less thing to worry about. 

We are in the same boat as you: insurance is requiring one more SA to reconsider us for IVF because of my history & because DH’s first SA was normal. I just told my RE I’m really worried about this. She said we might just have a lot of sex before the next SA so that he barely produces anything for the sample. Hope this can help you! 

kpearse99

@NYTino24 I was going to suggest/hint at something that @keikilove love mentioned! I was going to say... could you have sex and just not "with-hold" the recommended 2-4 days and have sex before he does his SA?

mvt2003

@NYTino24 I would absolutely do a SA without a hold in that case. Also, if you happen to accidentally not catch some of the sample, I wonder if that would help too? 

kpearse99

@keikilove and @mvt2003 I'm so glad we were all thinking the same thing!! 

nitnat007

@kpearse99 hahaha that is exactly how I see it too! Thankfully he is actually quite good too, and has not hurt me. Last night was the first time we had a little blood show up after the needles. 

@ellieemc26 Thank goodness MH is ok with it because I am not sure I would be able to give them to myself. I would be giving myself major pep talks every night. And it is nice to just have him helping and caring about what is going on. We wear so much of this on our own, it is good to share it too. 

@kiki047 Interesting. I am fairly certain that we do it for both. They had me start that three weeks before I started stims. 

@inthewoods23 I vote get two hedgehogs. Two would be cuteness overload! And who can say no to that?! 

@pom9207 Really positive appointment with the RE and great news that they are open over Thanksgiving and you can jump right in. FX!

@bows22 There was one occasion last cycle that MH was quite happy about the stabby part. We had a big argument right before shots. There was definitely signs of an evil grin, I do not recommend domestics right before you hand them a needle to poke you with lol. 

@keikilove Girl, you are such a warrior! You handle this all with such grace too, you are my hero. It is so amazing that you have an RI and RE that will work together to help you get your thb. You truly do have a team behind you. Sending you so much love 

@NYTino24 Sorry about the beta. And the frustrating coverage news. When should you get word on the SA? Awesome numbers on the last one though. If only insurance would come to the table too. 
I was in a similar situation a few months back and felt very conflicted. I hope it works out for you. 

NYTino24

@nitnat007 The second SA results are in the spoiler above. I knew they’d be better than the first. I’d like to avoid IVF and all the meds it entails if possible, but I just don’t think I have the egg quality despite decent AMH (2.15) for my age. Everyone else - trust me, that was a possible plan in my mind! 

pom9207

@NYTino24 sorry about the insurance’s strict requirement. At the same time, great that YH has good SA!

By the way, how to know if the eggs are of good quality or not? I have a slightly lower than average AMH for my age, but am also wondering if egg quality has been the blocker for my TTC journey...

kpearse99

Guys, what does AMH stand for? Why don’t I know this?! 

ellieemc26

Anti-mullerian hormone (not sure spelling is right!)

I worry about egg quality because of my age as well, although my AMH levels were normal.  I think it has more to do with count than quality, doesn’t it?  

Quick update- had my IUI yesterday morning and everything went good.  Officially in TWW.  

pom9207

@kpearse99 maybe you can have your RE ordered the test for you! It checks your ovarian reserve. Usually higher is better (but not too high; too high indicates possibly PCOS)
I think AFC (antral follicle counts, shown on day 3 ultrasound) should also give the RE a good idea of ovarian reserve!

@ellieemc26 glad your IUI went well! FX for you!

bluetickgal

Hey ladies!! I’m going to do my best to catch up on this thread tomorrow! But just wanted to let you know I’m thinking about all of you, this week has just been a little crazy!! 

emeraldduchess

@ellieemc26 glad things went well! 

@NYTino24 I have been wondering if egg quality is our issue too. This is cycle 15(we were benched for one) and with *TW* 2 very early losses* I feel like that might be why this just isn't happening for us. My insurance IVF coverage is also really good, but I wonder what hoops we will have to jump through to get there.