IF testing/treatment week of 7/19

gingermama29

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: Who/what group was your first concert? 

kiki047

Diagnosis (if you've been):  PCOS, RPL/RIF, MFI 

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):  WTO I think 

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): IVF limbo between clinics. 

How are things going?:  Only ONE more week until the first of our two consults with new REs, which means the second is 5 weeks from now. I am simultaneously anxious for that date to come, but also not wanting to wish the summer away. Finally feeling more at peace with limbo and trying to just live in the moment and soak in all this pre-baby time... or at least having more good days than bad. Also trying not to be annoyed that MH is lazy and forgets to take his vitamins so it feels like he doesn't care, even though I know that's far from the truth. He'll take whatever I give him, but I'm annoyed that I have to be the one to physically put it in his hand. 

Any questions?: Is it unorthodox to ask the first RE to run the tests I want, knowing full well that I'm still planning on keeping my consult with the other REI a month later and will possibly end up using his clinic over the first one? How transparent should I be about that? I plan on telling them that I was initially referred to another Dr but don't know how much more I need to tell them. 

GTKY: Who/what group was your first concert? Other than anything I went to with my parents as a small child (Sharon, Lois and Bram... I think this was just a Canadian thing...), I'm pretty sure my first real concert was the Backstreet Boys' Backstreet's Back tour, followed closely by 'N Sync and I think maybe a Britney concert. 


@optimistgardener Did you get a final update on your 4th (!!!!) embryo yet?? SO happy for you, friend!! I hope your drive home in the morning was just as much a celebratory lap than it was disappointment. 
@kiwi2628 I hope your little sweetie is snuggled in for the long haul. Do you plan on testing early or waiting for betas? Same goes for @avrilmai
@acleverusername I was snort laughing at your Sergio GIF on the weekend. LOL. Yay for a fresh start to stims!

*Edited to fix typo

kiwi2628

Diagnosis (if you've been):  unexplained 

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):  TWW! 

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?):  FET was at 1:35 on Saturday and I am chomping at the bit to start testing

How are things going?:  ughhhhhh I am so impatient. Sometimes I feel like IF was a lesson sent to me to learn patience and perseverance but SHIT MAN waiting is so hard. Trying to decide if I should test tomorrow 3dp5dt (insanely early, I know) or wait until Wednesday 

Any questions?:  

GTKY: Who/what group was your first concert?  Justin Timberlake sexy back tour at MSG- the one that was filmed for HBO. Such a good show

bows22

@kiki047 Sharon Lois and Bram was my first concert too!! I was thinking, I wonder if that counts, and laughed when I saw your answer. If they’re Canadian they must have done a US tour too haha 

bows22

@kiki047 also I got distracted but I would ask them to run whatever you want. I don’t think you need to tell them you may jump ship. They’ll still get paid for whatever they do for you. 

optimistgardener

I'm gonna wait on a proper check-in until I get some word back from my clinic, but just wanted to respond to @kiki047's question about tests with the RE when you think you might move to another clinic. I say, do all the tests, no need to explain you might be moving along. As @bows22 says, they still get paid. Also, they get paid like, a lot. So it's not as if you're scamming them out of hard-fought poverty wages or anything. Even though doctors may have weird ego issues about second opinions, getting a second opinion is not only your medical right but also to be encouraged, especially if your circumstances are at all unusual.

daisy0322

@kiwi2628 gah I can only imagine how impatient you must be feeling! Good luck- I will definitely be thinking of you ❤️

@kiki047 ask for whatever text you want! It won’t hurt. Most the doctors I’ve worked with wouldn’t care and most of them don’t actually want a lot of details lol for better or worse most aren’t real personable even if they learn to have a good bedside manner 😂there’s exceptions of course though! 

kiki047

@bows22 well now I feel slightly cooler because Sharon, Lois and Bram must've been legit if they also did US tours. I googled them and had no idea they were still active up to, and even after, Lois' death in 2015. Legendary! 
@optimistgardener thank you to you and @bows22, that makes me feel better and slightly less guilty that I feel like I'm using them to bridge the gap. I do feel they both bring something different to the table, so barring any horrific experiences that make me not want to stay with either one of them, I'm hoping I made the right choices here. 

inthewoods23

@kiki047 oh I can't wait for you to be out of limbo! You may as well go ahead and have both clinics run tests and not feel bad about it. You got an appointment with this first clinic because of the treatment options you have right? Or is that the 2nd place? I'm so forgetful after being on vacation. I never see DH take his vitamins. He claims he takes them when he's sitting at the table while I'm working on plating our dinners. I didn't see him take any while we were on our vacation either. Considering he couldn't remember where in his backpack he put the bottles, I think he didn't take them at all last week. He did say he didn't take them every day. *eye roll* This is what happens when I don't ask.

@kiwi2628 pretty sure the earliest BFP I've ever heard from after a FET is 4dp5dt. Maybe testing tomorrow will help get that bad BFN energy out of the way!

Diagnosis (if you've been): unexplained, low morph

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): covid vaccine, gf/df diet, might toss in the antihistamines because I have them

How are things going?: lol just dandy minus my SIL's meltdown during vacation. I wasn't really bummed out that much from my BFN on vacation. I was more annoyed that I had to leave the wrapper and test in my toiletry bag because I didn't feel comfortable tossing it in the trash even though I could have wrapped it up in a paper towel and tossed it. I think I'm just happy this means I can finally get the vaccine on my calendar and soon no longer need a mask at work.

Any questions?: I'll probably ask this in the covid or questions thread, but did anyone find their ovulation was delayed if they got the vaccine in the WTO period? I plan on getting the vaccine scheduled for sometime early next week with O expected to be later that week.

GTKY: Who/what group was your first concert? I didn't go to a concert until I was 16/17. Angels and Airwaves. Might have been the worst concert experience I ever had haha. It was hot AF in the middle of the crowd and at one point I was squished up against someone with long curly hair and the feeling of that against my sweaty hands/face just felt awful. Sweat + hair is not a good combo. Ugh. Oh and I think I threw up a little bit from overheating. I remember telling my friend I needed to get out of the crowd because it was so hot. Proceeded to puke shortly after getting out and had to ask the bartender for some napkins to wipe some vomit off my shirt. Don't think I ever wore that band t-shirt again since it was white and the stain stayed.

keikilove

Also waiting to do a proper check-in until after I hear back from my doctor (hopefully today!). 

@kiki047 I echo everyone else’s sentiments about getting the tests sooner. Best to have as much info as possible before seeing the next doctor. 

@inthewoods23 Love that you’re getting the vaccine, FX it encourages your immune system to allow healthy implantation. I’ve been hearing a few stories online recently of other women feeing like the vaccine helped them be more fertile. Just a word of caution with the antihistamine protocol: consider holding off on it in the few days after your shots. You don’t want to dampen your body’s desired immune response to the vaccine. Re: your question about vaccine & ovulation: I don’t have an answer for you lol. But maybe this is related? So after my retrieval my RE said I’d get my period in 2 weeks. It took that long after my first retrieval too. Instead AF just showed up on Day 10 after retrieval. I’m not sure if it arriving early has anything to do with getting the vaccine after retrieval, or the fact that I got off all the immunosuppressant meds. Maybe getting off my meds also shortened my cycle. 🤷‍♀️ 

kiki047

@keikilove I agree about just wanting to have more answers sooner. In theory all the results should be in the same ranges, no matter who runs them, and they all get paid no matter what so... I think I'm overthinking this lol. 
As for your shortened cycle, maybe it was all of the above? We know stress on its own can affect your cycles so it's out out of the realm of possibility that the desired immune response following the vaccine, as well as you coming off your meds, and you having just had another ER could all contribute to your cycles being affected. 
@inthewoods23 yes, I went with this clinic because they market themselves as a full-service fertility centre which includes treatment for immune issues, should I need them. Which also makes me think that if they treat you for those kinds of issues, that they should also be more open to testing for the things I want to be tested for, like NKCs, which other clinics seem to brush off. We'll find out soon enough I guess. 
@daisy0322 I agree that most doctors wouldn't care so I think I'm just spoiled that my RE has been wonderful (he sent me an email this morning to check in and let me know again that they sent my records over as requested). Maybe I'm setting my expectations too high that I'd "click" like that with any other provider because I know this is not the norm. Tbh I'm expecting to like the first one in terms of his personality and bedside manner, but hate the second one because he's cocky but is supposedly "the best". 

laura-kay

Diagnosis (if you've been):  unexplained

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):  WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?):  still debating on next steps (@acleverusername - this is the answer to your question from the other week)

How are things going?:  Going on vacation!!!  Excited about that.  Otherwise, I’m in between

Any questions?:  NATM

GTKY: Who/what group was your first concert? Lol, does my band concert count?  I honestly didn’t go to many concerts for band groups.

inthewoods23

@keikilove oh super good point about the antihistamines! I should definitely not use those this cycle now that you say that. If I want this cycle to be as similar to last time for success I better not add that variable. I've checked around a few medical clinics and should be able to get an appointment early next week so that my body is still working on an immune response come time for implantation. As I recall last time I think I got the MMR 4 days before O, but I'll have to check.

@kiki047 GL!

@laura-kay what kind of vacation are you going on? Enjoy!

acleverusername

Also waiting for a checkin until after my baseline tomorrow, but in the meanwhile: 

@kiki047 YOU DO NOT OWE ANYTHING TO YOUR MEDICAL PROVIDERS. I have to fight the urge of "I don't want to impose" so hard all the time. They are doing their job and getting paid for it; they're not dolling out free favors (and yeah, gov't doesn't pay private healthcare rates, but doctors still make a sh*t tonne of money in Canada.) So, by all means, get tested twice (I think it really comes down to how many times you want to get poked, but I'm sure you're used to that by now.) 

@inthewoods23 sorry about your BFN; I'd been hoping it does the trick for you. Also know that feeling when... you really don't want anyone to discover your fertility artifacts. Hopefully the Covid vaccine does the trick! Also, I got my vaccine in FP, and it didn't delay my ovulation. But I think everyone reacts differently. 

@laura-kay glad to hear you're thinking about next steps; it's best to do that thinking thoroughly before launching into anything. I hope the vacation helps clear you mind, and a path forward reveals itself to you. 

@kiwi2628 I've not done a transfer, so I don't think I'm the best person to opine, but test away to your hearts content. I do think that 3dpt5dt is WAY too early; and even 4dpt is too early. But to each his own. Some folks who are trying naturally start testing at 7DPO and this is no different. 🤷‍♀️

optimistgardener

Diagnosis (if you've been):  AMA, DOR, 1 ovary

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):  Waiting to bleed/waiting for PGT-A results

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): getting back into my exercise routine post-retrieval, and as above, waiting for biopsy results

How are things going?: i don't have any fingernails left, if that's what you mean. but also for anyone following my retrieval results drama last week, i did manage to get 4 embryos out of the deal in the end. my come-from-behind late bloomer made it to blast stage. i am so psyched for my hard-working little old ovary; she did great. now just panic-attacking my way through the next couple of weeks till the test results come back.

Any questions?:  folks who have done retrievals without a fresh transfer: how long did it take you to bleed afterwards, and how much shorter (or longer) was this than your usual luteal phase? i did do 3 days of PIO shots before it became clear i wasn't doing a fresh transfer, so that'll likely extend things a bit.

GTKY: Who/what group was your first concert?: the first band on a stage with all the lights and big speakers i ever saw was with my mom, and that was the Crash Test Dummies 😬 but my first concert I attended of my own volition was probably some scrappy little punk show in a basement or something in my home town. i have a half a memory of going to see a band called Moon Patrol play in a middle school auditorium with a few dozen scruffy teens, so maybe that's the one.

optimistgardener

@acleverusername so excited to hear your update about your baseline! fx everything looks great.

same @keikilove! hoping for good news.

@inthewoods23 i've been lurking on your SIL drama on the boards today and it sounds ridic. I have a particular allergy towards folks that deal with things by bundling up all their grump and then freaking out without warning. we have words for a reason, please use them! also re: your covid vaccine Q, i don't think it affected my cycle for my first shot (i ovulated on day 11, which is a couple days early for me but not outside of my widest range of "normal") and for my second shot I was on BCPs. I have heard general chatter on social media that it "messed up" people's cycles but i've not heard any actual clear account of precisely how it messed up their cycles, so take that with a huge serving of salt.

@kiki2628 ugh i dunno how i'm going to deal with the question when to test, when the time comes. hoping for the best result for you though!

gingermama29

Diagnosis (if you've been):  PCOS

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):  WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?):  Clomid and TI

How are things going?: things are good. I finished Clomid this week and am pleased that I didn’t have any noticeable side effects. I took another step for my health yesterday and signed up for Beachbody on Demand. I’d been using my cousin’s account trying out some of the workouts and enjoying them so I decided to just take the plunge and get my own account. I’ve been really consistent with getting a workout in every day since I started at the beginning of May and figure continuing to build healthy habits can’t hurt my TTC chances. 

Any questions?: nope

GTKY: Who/what group was your first concert? 

I saw a bunch of different artists in one concert: Brandy, Boyz II Men, SR71, Shaggy, and Christina Aguilera. 

Coming back for tags

gingermama29

@kiki047 first, I’m suuuuuuuper jealous about your concerts. My inner 12 year old would give pretty much anything to have gotten to see NSYNC. I agree with what others have said, definitely get the tests from the first RE. You don’t owe them an explanation or justification. 

@kiwi2628 ahhh it’s so hard to be patient! FX for you though!! Good luck waiting!

@inthewoods23 i just looked and actually I O’d 2 days after my second shot but *TW* that was right after my MC (my first shot was less than a week after my loss) and my cycles are always messed up so take that with a grain of salt. Ooof to that concert experience. 

@laura-kay have fun on vacation! Going anywhere fun?

@optimistgardener yay for 4 embryos!! Hopefully the next couple weeks will fly by and you’ll get results quickly!

inthewoods23

@acleverusername fertility artifacts lmao

@optimistgardener 4 embryos that's great!!!! With my retrieval I bled 10 days later, so like a 9 day LP if you count retrieval day as O day. My normal LP is almost always 13 days but the last couple cycles it's been 12. Yes please enjoy my life drama that is my SIL 😆

acleverusername

@optimistgardener Woohoo good lil ovary!!! You've got just enough time to grow you finger nails back and then you get to do a transfer! Woo. Lol. Or just keep them short since I'm sure you'll be on pins and needles waiting for the test results. Aren't I the model cheerleader?!

@gingermama29 that's a great concert lineup! I think I'd have loved to see Boyz II Men, Christina Aguilera, and Brandy. Glad to hear no effects on Clomid! Are you getting a lining check at all? That's the only side-effect I'd be worried about, and if you can, insist on an ultrasound. 

daisy0322

Diagnosis (if you've been):  POI

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):  WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?):  between HRT, letrozole, vitamins and supplements I Take so many pills 

How are things going?:  so I’m a unicorn and had every bad reaction possible it feels like to the Letrozole but I’m done with my 8 days now and I’m starting to feel better. I’m beyond curious if it worked.

Any questions?:  not really right now 

GTKY: Who/what group was your first concert? 

I had just got my drivers license and I drive three states away to go see Miranda Lambert on her first head lining tour at 17. I had the best time. I had just broke up with my fiancée after being with him for 4.5 years and it was an awful abusive relationship and I just remember thinking the entire time that I felt free for the first time and it was exactly what I needed. 

daisy0322

@inthewoods23 oh man that is not a good first concert experience!

@laura-kay have fun on vacation!

@optimistgardener I’m so happy for all your little blasties that’s great! Do you have a transfer plan or doing PSG testing? I can’t remember if you said yet forgive me.

@gingermama29 the fact you saw Christina In concert has me so so jealous! How is she as a entertainer? 

gingermama29

@daisy0322 oh man, it’s been a long time. I was either 9 or 10 years old. My dad took my sister and me to the concert. I remember loving it but I can’t remember much about her performance. 

optimistgardener

@daisy0322 the plan is/was that if i got 1 or 2, i'd have done a fresh transfer. since i have 4, i'm biopsying and freezing them all, hoping for at least 1 normie in the bunch (I am 38, so I know the stats are not in my favor). The timing of transfer is really a conundrum. I very much want to get this show on the road, but I also just accepted a year-long teaching position that I hope might turn into a permanent thing. Spring term next year doesn't end until June, so for purposes of not totally blowing up the rest of my life, it would be nice not to start attempting transfers until October. If I were to get 1 normal embryo and if it didn't take in October, I think I'd be able to schedule another retrieval in December during winter break. But who the heck knows. And after all this time trying something every month, the idea of not trying anything at all between now and October seems kinda bananas, especially since I'm freaking old and every month feels like it might be my last chance.

Whenever I start thinking too hard about my life calendar I fall into a total anxiety spiral, eep.

Edit to note that whatever the results of my PGT-A tests, I won't be able to do another retrieval til Dec because the clinic has no space for me in their September calendar and I teach 4 days a week thereafter and the clinic is too far away to just "sneak away" for monitoring.

optimistgardener

@keikilove looking forward to your post-doctor convo update.

@acleverusername fx for your baseline today that they find things all good to go.

gingermama29

@acleverusername I don’t think I’m getting a lining check. My doctor didn’t say anything about one,

kiki047

@acleverusername thank you for that, you're right. Maybe it is naive of me to want to view my providers as anything more than that when, at the end of the day, I don't owe them anything and they would more than likely not extend the same courtesy to me. I will say, I'm very impressed with the response times and interactions I've had with Tripod, they always get back to me within the hour and they're so pleasant. 
@optimistgardener YAY for 4 embies!! Sending out a million good vibes for your PGT results. AF (now I want to switch to Clever's use of Sergio instead ) came a week early for me for my first retrieval. I did a fresh tsf the second time but I will say that once I got my BFN and stopped the PIO, Sergio arrived the next day which was only 12dp ER, so still 1-2 days early for me. It was also extremely heavy and painful. 
@gingermama29 that's awesome about signing up for Beachbody! I agree that it can't hurt, and moving your body increases blood flow, which is never a bad thing. Yay for endorphins! I credit my concert-going ways to my friends who dragged me out. I didn't like the crowds but in retrospect, I'm glad I went because we had so much fun. I think I was 12 or 13 for BSB, I just remember my Dad dropping us off like 20 feet from the door then we had to fight to find him in the swarms of teenagers also looking for their rides  

Avrilmai

@optimistgardener that is so exciting!!! yay for 4! FX for great PGT results. as for your questions, after my ERs my cycle started 11 days later, each time which was in line with my avg for my LP.

@kiki047 I would do the testing at the first clinic. why not get the information in hand and no reason for guilt with that. I don't think you're obligated to tell them anything. You're the patient and have the right to choose your provider. I know people who have done ER with one clinic and then switched to a different for a transfer. In the end you need to do what is best for you. That is what matters. 

@kiwi2628 I can sooooo relate. 3dp5dt would be a bit early for me, but I was never an early tester even before IF. Are you doing any post-transfer meds?

@daisy0322 I hope the side effects subside soon. 

@gingermama29 impressive that you've been so dedicated to working out. it is so good for physical and mental health

@inthewoods23 yay for getting your vaccine scheduled. 



Diagnosis (if you've been):  unexplained, but AMA and loooooow AMH

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):   TWW

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?):  FET was last friday, will likely test on Saturday (8dp5dt) and I want to do it on a weekend...

How are things going?:  just trying to work my way through the week and not get too caught up in my own anxiety. I keep forgetting to do things. 

Any questions?:  

GTKY: Who/what group was your first concert?  this makes me feel really old, but it was Paul McCartney. 

acleverusername

@daisy0322 gurl, join the clubs of pill poppers! Lol. I think @kiki047 @keikilove and myself are all taking so many pills... maybe we should compare and contrast. Hehe. Glad that you're feeling better now that you're off Letrazole. Maybe ask the doctor if you can try Clomid instead. It's rare that I hear ppl reacting to Letrazole and not to Clomid, but it happens! Your first concert experience sounds so zen. I totally know the feeling too... that's happened to me post break-ups. 

@Avrilmai good luck waiting it out until Saturday!!! 🤞🏻

kiki047

@avrilmai oohh but getting caught up in my own anxiety IS my full time job lol hope work is enough to keep your mind off things without getting too worked up. 
@acleverusername hah, I was thinking the same thing about all my pills. I have so many that are supposed to be taken away from other meds too, some with food, some without, I now have too many to fit in one pill case so I have several on the go. It's intense. 

acleverusername

@kiki047 SAME! Now I have to remember to take digestive enzymes with my iron, but 15 minutes before my meals. Also, unrelatedly and randomly, yesterday I realized that TTC is also the Toronto Transit Commission. 🤷‍♀️

Avrilmai

@acleverusername how did the baseline appt go?

mokay19

Ugh my work blocked TB again so I’m on my phone just checking in!

Diagnosis (if you've been):  PCOS

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):  waiting for post-op

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?):  waiting for post op to get started with pills and progesterone 

How are things going?:  I’m so annoyed about having to wait for this post op. It’s virtual so it’s not like they’re actually checking anything. I already have the biopsy results back saying nothing abnormal. And we already have the plan laid out and discussed for what we’re doing next cycle... why can’t I just do it?!?

Any questions?:  not currently 

GTKY: Who/what group was your first concert? Brad Paisley with Taylor Swift as the opener! She was sooooo bad at this concert lol

acleverusername

@gingermama29 can you ask for a lining check? It will be awfully hard to get KU'ed if your lining is thin. Then again, given it's your first Clomid cycle, maybe it's nothing to worry about, but for subsequent cycles, I would ask. 

@optimistgardener I'm going to hope that many of your embryos are normal so that you can get on with the transfer game. Can you do some at-home inseminations with your "friend with sperm benefits" in the meanwhile, if you're too anxious about not doing anything TTC related for the next few months? 

@mokay19 bummer about your work banning TB! I would be annoyed about having to wait for post-op if I knew my results were all clear. Boo! I'm surprised to hear about Taylor Swift's awful performance. Was this earlier in her career? 

Diagnosis (if you've been):  Hashimoto's, AMA, MFI

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): Technically TWW, but also WTO, where O = ER

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): 2nd attempt at IVF ER #1!

How are things going?: Well I had my baseline today, and just got the call with the green light to start stims tonight! Woot! I'm LH+3 at the moment (i.e. 3 days post LH surge; 2 days DPO), and my E2 today was 54.2 and P4 was 5.14, which confirms I've ovulated. Stats in spoiler: 

My AFC was 12 again today, with left and right ovaries trading places in terms of # of follies: R = 7, L = 5. It was the opposite last time. 

One curious thing that my RE did point out is that some of my follicles are larger than others. So, either they reacted to FSH release in follicular phase, or they're naturally larger than the rest (my RE said the latter). We discussed that this is the reason he didn't want to start me off on any higher dose that we had negotiated / agreed to at our WTF meeting post cancelled cycle in June. He said there's no way to make these larger follicles smaller, and there is no way to make the smaller follicles larger. So, at this point, I'm kind of prepared for having a similar thing happen as last cycle. I will, however, go through with this cycle to see what we get in terms of fert rate, blast formation rate, and PGT testing. But just in case, I emailed TEW to check with her. Lol. 

Any questions?:  Has anyone else ever heard of these naturally occurring "larger" follicles? 

GTKY: Who/what group was your first concert? Hmmmm... do shows at festivals count? If yes, it was Bryan Adams at SalmonFest 2004 in Newfoundland. Lol. If that doesn't count, the it's The Trews (a Canadian band) in 2004 or 2005. 

optimistgardener

@acleverusername i know your AFC is the same as last time but just wanna give it the big cheer anyway. it's a solid start. as for the differently sized antral follicles, really your guess is as good as mine but i did learn from doing my check-in u/s during my birth control month when i wanted to confirm no cyst, that even when antral folls don't have the hormones they want for recruitment and development, they are still a range of sizes. the #s went past me super fast and so i don't remember them clearly, but I believe i had a couple that were pretty close to the 8mm range, which is homing in on the cut-off for a day 3 baseline! i believe those biggies must have faded away and new ones cropped up by the time i did my baseline monitoring (there were a couple of larger follicles at baseline, but the earlier ones would not have hung on that long at the exact same size).

do you know what the sizes were for the larger end of your afc crop? also, did you decide to stick with your earlier decision of a higher dosage for the stims, or are you reverting to the RE's recommendation of sticking with the dosage from the first round?

kiwi2628

@kiki047 you don't owe doctors any explanation if you dont want. It isnt a bad idea to let them know you are having consults with a few doctors because frankly it may make their ears perk up a bit and hustle, so to speak


@optimistgardener  ahhh I am still so excited for your 4. Most people I know had their bleeds a few days early


@Avrilmai I am on progesterone suppositories and oral estrace. And I am in awe of your will power to wait a whole week! GL to you!


AFM...I just keep repeating *I should not test I should not test* (have already failed. I'm a sucker for pain)

mokay19

@acleverusername yes, she was literally the opener to the opener to the opener of Brad Paisley. It was probably 2006!
congrats on the green light to move forward! 

acleverusername

@optimistgardener yeah, I guess that makes sense about the range of sizes for follies. He didn’t measure them, but I’ve been to enough ultrasounds to guess that the bigger ones were probably in the 5-6mm range; and the smaller ones in the 2-3mm range. As for dosing, I’m not going “off script” (even though I debated about it until the last moment!) and decided to stick to the dose we’ve agreed to post-cycle consult, which is 75IU higher than last cycle. I’m happy with that okay the fact that my first u/s will be on Fri so if we need to reduce the dosage because I’ve got a cohort of eager-beaver-follies, we can do that sooner rather than later. 

One thing I didn’t mention but I’ve feeling A LOT better about this cycle than the last one. I think the elimination diet plus all the new supplements I’ve been taking really helped get me there. I have way more energy than I did at the outset of last cycle and I think I’m mentally more prepared for having 50-ish percent of follicles responding instead of 80% like I was set on last time. 

optimistgardener

@acleverusername that's wonderful that you're feeling better about this cycle! I am optimistic that your diet changes will make a difference, and it is also great that you're mentally in a better place for the cycle. Our cancelled cycles had really different circumstances but I wound up realizing it was probably one of those blessing in disguise things that i had to step away from the racetrack in May, since it gave me a couple of months to get my supplements act in gear and to focus on feeling better in my body. I really hope the extra 75iu is what your ovaries need to kick-start the "lazier" follicles into joining the party. remind me again what your stims plan is for this cycle? luteal-phase start, i know you're doing follistim and...? Do you add menopur later on?

@kiwi2628 eep. thanks! i'm excited too. now i just spend all my time (when i should reeealllyyy be prepping for classes) instead skimming scientific articles on euploidy rates for ancient ladies like me. Since there is a fair amount of variance in study results, I either wind up depressed or optimistic. I keep having to remind myself that stats are just stats, and my test results could fall well to either side of average.

acleverusername

@optimistgardener I’m doing 300 Gonal-F, 150 Menopur, and 25 HGH right from the get go. Will add Cetrotide at some point on the weekend me thinks. 

I totally agree about blessing in disguise in terms of cycle “cancellation.” I’ll be the first to admit that I rushed into it last time. I was supposed to do mid-luteal start last time too, but because we were waiting for the genetic tests and needed to “buy” more time, I converted it to an Aygestin priming cycle so that I don’t have to wait for the next cycle to start. Even though my doc did offer postponing. Once again, rushing into something gets you nowhere. Brings to mind the old tale of the Hare and the Tortoise!

Try not too go overboard researching the articles on euploidy rates for “ancient” ladies like your self! There is SO much variability from person to persons. As someone mentioned last week, there was a 39yo recently on this thread that ended up with 4/5 euploid embryos. But then I personally also know of a 39 yo whose 4 embryos were all aneuploid.

kiki047

@acleverusername haha yes, things are super confusing around here when TTC can mean any number of things. Not to mention my phone loves to autocorrect stuff and TTC, IUI and HIO are some of my most-used acronyms apparently. Awkward! So glad you're feeling better going into this cycle, and hopefully it goes smoothly from here on out. I'll be interested to see what TEW says about your mismatched follicle sizes.
@mokay19 that's so annoying they're making you wait for the post-op, especially if it's virtual. You'd think if there was something serious that would impact your cycle they'd want to tell you sooner. I went to one of TSwift's earlier concerts and she was still awful then so I can only imagine how bad that one was haha. She got MUCH better in her later years, I think I've been to 3 of her concerts now? She puts on a good show. I love that she always has surprise guests at her shows - the one she did in Toronto for her 1989 tour included Keith Urban (!!!!). 
@kiwi2628 oh that's a good point about maybe lighting a fire under their ass to prove their worth. I like that. They ought to be putting their best foot forward to show me they're worth my while.