IF Testing/Treatment w/o 12/28

fitzfizz

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 are you most looking forward to in 2021? What are you hoping will be different? 

acleverusername

I guess I’ll start us off this week!

Diagnosis (if you've been): hypoandrogenic PCOS, MFI, AMA, suspected poor egg quality. 

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Combo IUI cycle for now, but that might change to just TI depending on what doctor says (see below).

How are things going?: Eh... had my CD9 monitoring ultrasound this morning and already gave 1 mature follicle on my right side (21mm). There are a couple of smaller ones on both the left and the right, but not ready. My lining is the issue though at 4.61mm. Anyway, I’m waiting for the call with RE who’ll tell me what to do but I’m thinking doing an IUI with such thin lining isn’t a good idea.

Any questions?: does anyone know anything about luteal phase follicle recruitment? It seems that this is happening in my case and I’m not sure what can be done to prevent that. 

GTKY: What are you most looking forward to in 2021? What are you hoping will be different? In our drive home back from the monitoring appointment, MH and I were reflecting on how it will be nice to see all the family once “this” is over. So that’s what I’m most looking forward to and I hope we can put an end to Covid in the next 6-9 months. 

chindimples04

@acleverusername is there things that can be done to help with the lining? I really have no idea. 

Diagnosis (if you've been): None right now

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): RE consultation.

How are things going?: I sent in my paperwork to the RE last week and haven’t heard back from them. I am going to call today to make sure they received it and see what the next steps are. 

Any questions?: too many right now. 🤣

GTKY: What are you most looking forward to in 2021? What are you hoping will be different? Can we just control the virus? I’m ready to get things back to normal. 

laura-kay

Diagnosis (if you've been): Unexplained

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TTW

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Gonal F plus Ovidril - planned to be IUI but not is a sort of timed intercourse

How are things going?: Well...just had a bit of a let down.  More details below.

Any questions?: Not right now

GTKY: What are you most looking forward to in 2021? What are you hoping will be different? 

I’m with @chindimples04 - I’d love for the world to be set back on its axis again and have COVID be managed and controlled.

@acleverusername Sorry that it looks like it may be converted to TI!  That can be frustrating.  

@chindimples04 - good luck!

So, we’ve had a bit of a rough cycle, as I referenced in last week’s thread.  This morning we went for one more monitoring visit, and suddenly everything looked good!  Two dominant follicles, 12mm lining, plus 2 medium size follicles...my doctor sounded like it was a good sign then.  

Later in the day (about an hour ago), I get a call from the doctor saying that my progesterone level shows I am already ovulating :sigh: so there is no use for the IUI. It is at 1.99ng.  He said to take the Ovidrel and have intercourse as frequently as we can this week.

My doctor said that we will need to look at adding another medicine next time so that this doesn’t happen again.  

So - our planned IUI is now timed intercourse - after ovulation started...

acleverusername

@chindimples04 I’ve found that doctors’ offices have spotty opening days the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Hopefully you’ll get a response from the RE soon. As for me, there’s really nothing that can be done re: lining once there’s a mature follicle. 🤷‍♀️

@laura-kay I’m sorry that you’re converting your cycle to a TI. Do you have MFI issues? IUI doesn’t really increase your chances significantly unless you have a slight MFI so TI might work just fine. I’m envious of your 12mm lining!


Small update already from me..

I got the call from RE and and we’ve decided to cancel this cycle since chances of pregnancy with 4.66mm lining is basically nil. We’ll just HIO for fun this cycle as we wait for next one to start. The good thing is that I won’t take progesterone this time so my new cycle should start sooner than normal... probably around Jan 13. It’s funny... I’m not even that that disappointed. Somehow this cycle didn’t feel right. So, next time we’ll do straight up Gonal-F and double IUI. That’ll be our last IUI cycle so I’m just throwing the kitchen sink at it. 

krash_

Sorry I haven't checked in since I've been off for the holidays but I've been lurking!

@acleverusername I'm sorry your cycle got cancelled but I'm glad you're feeling ok about it. Are they recommending anything for the next cycle to increase your lining? Also how are you getting a 21mm follie on CD9? Can they adjust your clomid more so you aren't ovulating early? Did you ovulate this early on non-medicated cycles?
@chindimples04 do you have the actual consultation scheduled yet? At our office I got the consultation scheduled and it was booked out a month or so. I had to get the paper work in like a week before the consultation and then had a call with a nurse to go over all of it before the appointment with the dr. All that's to say, I wouldn't worry about the paper work.
@laura-kay ugh that is frustrating but I agree with @acleverusername IUI doesn't really increase your chances from TI if you don't have MFI. If you do have MFI, all it takes is one so with your amazing lining this could still be your cycle! FX for you!

Diagnosis (if you've been): unexplained, possible blocked tube

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW

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

How are things going?: good! We had successful TI Friday morning, Christmas Day, and after we finished MH whispered "merry Christmas" and I started crying which was just the beginning of an emotional day. Currently on progesterone which I loathe and estrogen. 

*tw pregnancy* Christmas drama

I found out at Christmas that my SIL is pregnant with #3. I thought they were done with two but I guess not. She didn't like announce it or make it a big deal, she usually doesn't, but it was still hard. My brother asked her if he could make her a Shirley Temple as we were all sitting down for dinner so I asked if she wasn't drinking and she said no she wasn't and then the whole table got involved congratulating her and asking how far along she was. I was on the verge of tears so I just got up and went to the bathroom and full on ugly cried. Good thing I didn't end up wearing make up but I'm sure everyone could tell after I came back. 

Second thing, found out both my cousins are pregnant, they are sisters and due 3 weeks apart one with #2 and one with #4. The one pregnant with #2, according to my stepmom, was "struggling with infertility" well her first just turned 2 so she couldn't have struggled for too long so I pressed a little and she said "well she had a few consultations with a specialist." Then proceeded to tell me that she was underweight because she was doing a raw food vegan diet or something and after she gained weight she got pregnant. So to clarify she doesn't actually have IF. No RE would treat her if she was underweight they would just tell her to gain weight. It was just so frustrating because I don't even consider us to have IF but we are going through this whole process. My stepmom knows some of what we are doing and that it has been over a year so I would think she would have more consideration then that. 

Any questions?: has anyone heard from misshelen? I don't want to tag her if she is looking for space but I have been sending all of my good vibes!

GTKY: What are you most looking forward to in 2021? What are you hoping will be different? Getting pregnant. My goal last December was to have a baby in 2020 and then it was just to get pregnant in 2020 so now we are shifting it to getting pregnant in 2021, a whole 12 months to achieve the goal. I hope a lot of things will be different, especially with a new president, but I also hope some things from 2020 remain the same. Like wearing a mask at the store, especially if you're sick, working from home, at least part time, and all of the curbside pick-up or delivery that has adapted to this year. 

optimisticoctopus

@acleverusername ugh I’m sorry for the cancelled cycle. I’m glad you’re in a good headspace and looking towards the next one. 

@chindimples04 hopefully you hear back from the RE soon!

@laura-kay FX that the TI works this cycle! I’m sorry that this cycle has been so frustrating for you. 

@krash_  you really did have an emotional Christmas. I’m sorry that you had to find out all that news at once, that’s so tough. FX for you that this is your cycle!!

Diagnosis (if you've been): unexplained 

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): IUI #3 was 12/19

How are things going?: good! Just waiting to test now. Christmas was a very nice distraction, and I’ve been able to keep SS to a minimum which is great for my mental health haha.

Any questions?: Nope

GTKY: What are you most looking forward to in 2021? What are you hoping will be different? 

Like others have said, I’m looking forward to COVID being less prominent, and I’m really hoping 2021 is the year we have a successful pregnancy. 

acleverusername

@krash_ I am so sorry that you had such an emotional Christmas; everything about your story just sucks sucks sucks. I have a strong feeling that 2021 is the year when you'll get to announce you're KU'ed! (Haven't heard from misshelen but have been anxiously awaiting news.)

@runningoncookies Sounds like Christmas was a nice time and good mental health is so great! When will you be testing? 

I put on a brave face yesterday saying that I didn't mind that our cycle got cancelled, but last night, something snapped and I had a meltdown. It was something MH said that "each month we find out something different", which, while not untrue, just doesn't seem worth it when chances of success of medicated cycles plus IUI is still only 12-15%. So, after a long conversation, we've decided to stop IUIs and start IVF next cycle. The disappointment / heartache just isn't worth it to me. Plus, this is our 12th cycle of trying, so I can't say that we didn't give it the good ol' college try with both the "old fashioned way" and with minor interventions. 

@krash_ to answer you questions, Clomid works by suppressing estrogen production, so that the brain can stimulate more FSH which leads to follicle (or multiple follicle) maturation. However, it's estrogen that causes uterine lining to grow, so using Clomid kind of just fucks with lining growth. And it gets worse over time too (one of Clomid's most nefarious side-effects is thinning out of the lining. My very first cycle on Clomid I had "textbook perfect" lining of 8.13mm). As for why my follicle matures so quickly, the RE said that early ovulation is a sign of poor egg quality (and this is something that I've heard The Egg Whisperer say too). I can't really say what my natural cycle is like anymore, since I haven't had one since August, and back then it was variable because of newly diagnosed / not yet controlled Hashimoto's Thyroditis (which also causes cycle variability). So, if we wanted to do another IUI cycle, I would have to JUST use the injectables (which doesn't suppress estrogen), and possibly also add estrogen supplementation. However, this would be 2-3x more expensive and the success rate is still only 12-15% so it's just not worth it. My doctor thinks that it's time to move on to IVF. 

keikilove

@acleverusername Sorry about the thin lining. Glad that you’re feeling ok about the cancelled cycle. Fresh start in the new year! Re: luteal phase follicles, I don’t know much. But this is the theory behind doing a DuoStim egg retrieval in the same month: the body actually has multiple “waves” of follicle recruitment in one cycle. I’m not sure how you might capitalize on that when doing a natural or single egg retrieval cycle because the hormones must also line up.  
@chindimples04 Hope the RE will get back to you soon. Welcome to the never-ending waiting game that is IF. 

@laura-kay I’m sorry you’re disappointed about the IUI —> TI. All your numbers sound great so FX you have luck this cycle. 

@krash_ Wow, sorry for all those announcements. That’s so hard.💗
@runningoncookies Glad that your TWW has been smooth so far. FX that you get to kick off 2021 in the best way! 🎇 

Diagnosis (if you've been): RPL, DQ Alpha match, elevated NK cells & activity, blood-clotting disorders, AMA, DOR

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO 

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): We are trying one last natural cycle before FET in January. I’m having an infusion done today to support my immune system. More details in spoiler due to length. 

I feel SO blessed to be able to get this IVIG treatment! Back in September I paid it out of pocket to coincide with our transfer. The cost for the infusion was $5,000!! Later I posted in my Reproductive Immunology group asking the women where they get IVIG and what it costs them because I’d rather travel out of state and pay $2000 for it then try to figure out how to afford $5,000 in my home state every month—just not possible. Anyway, a woman replied with her lower price that she paid in my state. I couldn’t believe it! Then she PM-ed me later when she found a doctor who helped her get it approved through insurance. She’s been denied many times previously through her insurance, as have I. Anyway, she walked me through how to contact the doctor, how to work with the infusion center, etc. I had a telehealth appointment with that doctor in November, and more bloodwork, and Lo and behold, my insurance finally approved me for the treatment as well! It is good for one year and will save us SO much money and stress— I am praying so hard that this really is the miracle treatment that will allow us to have success soon, along with the LIT therapy. I am so grateful for the internet and these groups that provide so much information and support that I never would’ve been able to find on my own.💗

How are things going?: Ok. Ovulation is delayed this month, probably because of the BCP I was on earlier this month. I hope I don’t have an an-ovulating cycle. 

Any questions?: Has anyone ever heard of needing a hysteroscopy every 6 months before transfers? This just got posted to a FB group; I’ve never heard this before. 

GTKY: What are you most looking forward to in 2021? What are you hoping will be different? I’m expecting at least the first 6 months of 2021 to be very similar to right now. I’m looking forward to the continued slowness of life and being around the house. It’s good for me to slow down my hectic work life. I’m hoping we can travel safely again in 2021, but that’s not likely. 

Edited to fix annoying autocorrects. 

acleverusername

@keikilove Oh wow! That's so great that you connected with someone who helped you get all of the IVIG stuff figured out. These Facebook/TB/Reddit groups are all so useful! Isn't technology great! Hopefully you O soon! Have fun with HIO this month. 

misshelen86

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. Unfortunately my news is not good

*TW loss mentioned

I’ve been getting BFN’s since I started testing at 7dp5dt. The clinic’s instructions were to stop my meds if still negative at 11dpt. I called my GP and asked if she would be willing to run a beta just to be sure.. I just got the result back and it was 0. I’m just devastated that it didn’t work out.. I was so so hopeful we would have our Christmas miracle. I don’t know what to call this, because I hate the term “IVF failure.”  I was technically never pregnant since my embryo didn’t implant. But I’m feeling the pain of my lost embryo. I have my embaby’s picture on my fridge.. this was my baby, even though he/she was only in my uterus for a short time.

This quote from missconceptioncoach really spoke to me and helped validate my feelings of loss: “You have permission to grieve the loss you are feeling from loving & losing your Emby Baby. I know sometimes you feel like you can’t because it isn’t technically called a pregnancy loss and others don’t truly understand this pain. But that doesn’t mean it’s not real or valid. Technicalities don’t matter. If we must measure loss, then let it be measured by how much we loved.”

I am going to take some time away to just grieve and process my feelings before we decide on our next steps. 

kiki047

@misshelen86 oh friend, I am so deeply sorry for your loss. I know that pain all too well and the magnitude of that loss is absolutely valid and real. Sending you love and hugs to get through these next few weeks and months ahead.  

bows22

@misshelen86 I’m so sorry, friend. I’m just heartbroken for you. It’s absolutely a loss no matter what the technical term is. That quote is perfect - please keep reading it and know that your feelings are valid. Take all the time you need, but know that we’re thinking about you ❤️❤️

bows22

@misshelen86 also, YGPM

b_1029

*lurk* @misshelen86 I am so sorry. I was hoping for the best news for you. Sending you lots of love 💕

gingermama29

*lurking*
@misshelen86 I am so sorry friend. My heart is breaking for you. Sending you so much love and hugs 💕

acleverusername

@misshelen86 I am so so sorry for your loss, dear (internet) friend. Like what others have said, it is very much a loss. Please take all the time you need to heal; we are here for you if you need it and we’ll be here for you when you’re ready to rejoin and try again. My heart is really breaking... 💔

keikilove

@misshelen86 I am so so sorry for your loss.💔 Your feelings are completely valid and very relatable. I wish we could all hug you and comfort you as you grieve all that you’d hoped for. Take the time & space you need. We’ve all been thinking of you & will continue to send you good loving energy as you go through this.💗

laura-kay

@misshelen86 I’m so sorry to hear this!!  I was really hoping that you had good news! 💗 Take all the time you need and we will be here.  

chindimples04

@misshelen86 the minute you said your beta was 0, my heart immediately went to imagining the pain you must feel about the loss of your embaby. That quote is a perfect sum up of what I would never be able to eloquently. ❤️ Take some time to take care of yourself. 

@keikilove what amazing news about the insurance coverage! I can imagine that being a huge stress relief.

I called the clinic on Monday to make sure they received my paperwork and heard back from them on Tuesday. They scheduled my consultation....for JUNE, their first opening due to COVID. I full on ugly cried. The scheduler said “almost everyone gets to cancel this appointment anyway.” That’s lovely, but what if I don’t get to? Idk, I know she was trying to help but for some reason that statement really pissed me off. Since I am now in the literal never ending waiting game, I’ll just lurk here, since I won’t have any updates. 

laura-kay

@chindimples04 so sorry to hear that!  I was so frustrated when that happened to me as well.  Have you considered asking if they will do a video visit instead?  Mine was bumped up over a month by doing that.  I also would request to be on the cancellation list.

chindimples04

@laura-kay it already is a video visit so my husband can also attend. If we did in person, we wouldn’t be able to join. Crazy how far out they are scheduling.

krash_

@chindimples04 do they have a cancellation list so you can get a call if someone else has a cancellation? Also are there other RE offices you reach out to? I would just check your insurance for who is in network and start calling around. 

bows22

@chindimples04 you aren’t AMA right? When did you start TTC? I know it seems like you are just playing a waiting game but most people under 35 don’t even start the process until they are trying for a year so it seems like now you will just have your appointment already lined up when that hits? Or did something come out of your results to make you think you might have an issue? I’m sorry, I have been following the IF threads but I can’t remember. 

AFM I finally did call the second opinion RE so I will probably just update here after I have my appointment on 1/11. Taking a break from the dailies while I’ve been off the last 2 weeks has honestly been great for my mental health. I’m sure I’ll still post there sometimes but maybe not as frequently. Who knows, we will see what feels right!

acleverusername

@chindimples04 I am so sorry that your wait is so long; that’s just unbelievable. Is there another RE (perhaps in a different state?) that you can consult with virtually? I keep hearing that Covid actually opened up many opportunities for cross-state tele-medicine. If that’s an option, I’d look into that. 

acleverusername

@bows22 good luck with your appointment; happy to hear that a small break from dailies has been good for you. While I enjoy keeping up with everything happening in everyone’s life, it can get overwhelming. Like you said... doing what feel rights is the best way to approach it. 

laura-kay

This is minor compared to what others are experiencing now, but it’s been bothering me...

TW (my sister’s children)

Keeping in mind the following...

My sister has 3 kids, including a sweet six year old little girl.  She recently had a baby.

My sister is really thin and lost her baby fat

The Gonal F really makes me bloated and I had a thick winter coat with gloves stuck in the front pockets

With that in mind, my niece came up to me and started rubbing my belly and said You have a baby in there!  And “You are bigger than Mommy”.  She meant no harm at all - totally innocent in intent - but it triggered some really sad feelings.  I’m not mad at her - she is 6 and had no malicious intent - but it still hurt.