IF Testing & Treatment w/o 1.24

keikilove

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: Would you rather stay your same age from the neck up for the rest of your life, or from the neck down for the rest of your life? Why? 

kiki047

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

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW (6dp5dt)

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): FET # 5

How are things going?: Ugh. I always told myself I wouldn't test until at least 7dpt but I caved this morning and it was a stark white BFN on a FRER. I know it's still early but I honestly don't have high hopes at this point. My beta still isn't until Sunday, so I'll wait another couple days before I test again. 

*TW* Prior FET cycles with BFP

Of the 4 transfers I've had prior to this we had 2 BFPs even though they both ultimately ended in MC, and I feel like I had stronger symptoms by now. I also had pretty dark lines on both Wondfo cheapies and FRERs by 7dpt. When I look at those charts, I was crampy and tired and my "tell" both times was the hiccups at 6dpt. Other than sore boobs (from the PIO, no doubt) I have no notable symptoms of anything and that BFN feels like a real slap in the face. 

Any questions?: We tried everything, why won't this work?! I'm now having this internal battle of "Do I keep transferring or do we stop and try banking some more embryos"?? I have 4 normal and 2 mosaic left. It doesn't feel like enough, considering we've gone through 5 now with nothing to show for it. 

GTKY: Would you rather stay your same age from the neck up for the rest of your life, or from the neck down for the rest of your life? Why? Neck down. I'm pretty blessed with good genes and my parents didn't start getting grey hair until their 50s, and I have a very young face so if I could keep my figure from my 20s from my neck down, sign me up. 

fantasyflyte

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

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO, waiting on insurance for IUI

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): hopefully IUI if insurance goes through, otherwise just a natural letrozole'd cycle

How are things going?: they're going. Starting using the CBAD last night, just waiting to see if insurance comes through in time for the IUI part of things.

Any questions?: nope, just trucking along. keeping my fingers crossed for an IUI this weekend since that would be ideal timing with my work schedule.

GTKY: Would you rather stay your same age from the neck up for the rest of your life, or from the neck down for the rest of your life? Why? Hmmmm, depends. Does neck up include my mental faculties? If so, I'd go with that, I think. Although neck down might be good because it could help defend against age-related illnesses. Looking at it that way, I'd go with neck down. Actually yeah, definitely neck down because that theoretically would benefit the TTC process lol.

kiki047

@keikilove thank you for your thoughtful response re: the HCG wash and lovenox last week. I had my first non-bruising shot last night, but the one huge bruise I have on my left side from a few days ago is scary. I showed @bows22 a picture of it, it's truly terrifying. // Hope things are feeling a little (lot) less intense on your end these days. How is YH doing? Is he done his treatments for now? 
@optimistgardener my goodness, that story about the lab and your results was   wtf, why are simple things made so much more difficult when we just need something to go right? I'm glad you were able to get your results the next morning after all. FX for smooth sailing from here on out. 
@walkawaynee that 2nd opinion sounds like such a different experience and I am such an advocate for going with your gut in wanting to feel like you're working with a provider who is going to treat you with respect and make you feel like you're valued and not just another faceless number. This whole experience is so invasive in so many ways, it makes a difference when you actually feel supported while you're going through it. 
@bows22 everything went ok with your trigger? Does that mean your IUI is/was today or tomorrow? 

kiki047

Missed @fantasyflyte while I was typing out tags from last week. Still no news on your pre-auth from your insurance? Your answer to the GTKY was much more thoughtful than mine, lol, when I re-read it I sound very vain. Of course not aging from the neck-down would also be beneficial for my biological clock, not to mention all my aches and pains. If my neck and back hurt this much just from sleeping funny at age 35, what's going to happen in 5, 10, 25 years?! Yikes! 

walkawaynee

@kiki047 I have no actual experience in this department but I understand that all cycles/people/pregnancies are different so don't get discouraged yet? I wish I had words of wisdom for you. Thank you for the encouraging words about the RE switch! 

@fantasyflyte I am sorry you are still waiting on Insurance! It seems to be taking an absurdly long time. 


Diagnosis (if you've been):  AMA, DOR, low morph, procrastination, bad life decisions

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):  WFAF

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): WFAF so I can start the prep cycle with the new RE. He wants new Day 2/3 bloodwork and I will switch to using progesterone only BCP this time to hopefully shrink Sir Charles the (not) Endometrioma. RE is also adding something to my prep cycle but I can't read his handwriting and waiting on the IVF coordinator to call me so I can ask what it is and if its a prescription or a supplement I need to buy. It definitely starts with a "B" any guesses?

How are things going?: While I am sad that we are delaying our retrevial by a little over a month I am feeling really good about the switch to this new place. 

Any questions?: NATM

GTKY: Would you rather stay your same age from the neck up for the rest of your life, or from the neck down for the rest of your life? Why? Neck up, I would like my brain to stay as sharp as possible for as long as possible. 

fantasyflyte

@kiki047 oops, we cross posted lol, I didn't see yours either! I'm sorry this cycle isn't feeling optimistic. I don't have any IVF advice, but I can offer hugs.

@walkawaynee glad the new clinic is giving you good vibes!

I've been checking the insurance website obsessively, the prior auth still shows as processing, but the three individual items say "approved/covered" so hopefully that means full approval shortly? As long as it's by this weekend it should be good since I highly doubt I'd ovulate before then. It says it can take up to 15 days, and it was submitted on the 11th or 12 so it's really toeing the line on if it'll be fully approved in time or not.

optimistgardener

racing around this morning but just wanted to send a hug @kiki047's way.

tessiesmom26

@keikilove Thank you for your insight from last week's thread. I had my BW this morning, which based on FF was both CD21 and & 7DPO. I have a meeting with the Dr next Monday to go over the results and based on past cycles, if this one does work out for us, then Monday will be CD28 or CD1 which will both allow for an appt to be made for CD 2/3 testing. I am hoping at least that is how that will all work out. This group has mentioned CD 2/3 testing a bit now, so I am going to be sure to advocate for that. 

@kiki047 I am so sorry you are feeling discouraged. At the very least I am glad you like your new REs office.

@fantasyflyte I wonder if it's worth it to call and "see how the auth process is going." They likely won't be able to get it done right away but maybe it could help speed up the process? Kind of like squeaky wheel mentality?  

Diagnosis (if you've been): Working on that now

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Had CD21 testing this cycle. Results were just posted to mychart as I was typing this. Meet with the dr next Monday to go over results but in the meantime I am turning to Dr Google to see what I can find and which questions I want to ask.

How are things going?: Okay. Like I stated above I JUST got my BW results so I have been and continue to aggressively search Google to see what if anything I can find. Just a glimpse of what was posted:
Testosterone - normal 9-78, my range is 28
TSH - normal .34-4.82, my range .21 - flagged as abnormally low
FSH - normal 2.5-33.4, my range 1.28 - flagged as abnormally low
Progesterone - normal 4.4-28, my range 19.6
Prolactin - normal 2.8-29.2, my range 9.2

Any questions?: If you have experienced any of the above numbers or ranges I would love to hear about it. 

GTKY: Would you rather stay your same age from the neck up for the rest of your life, or from the neck down for the rest of your life? Why? I think neck down for sure, as I would want my body to function the same way. I also have a baby face, so it wouldn't be too bad for a while lol. 

keikilove

Also on the run right now, but just wanted to say @kiki047 I’m sorry you’re not feeling especially hopeful right now. I’m praying that this one is just a late implanter and that you will get a totally different result for your beta.💕

acleverusername

@kiki047 what others have said... I'm hoping you will get a BFP in a couple of days. Also, not sure if this is re-assuring, but ... remember that none of the other transfers _worked_ so comparing symptoms you had to those transfers, to this one... maybe not the best thing? That definitely sounds better inside my head. 

@tessiesmom26 not a doctor here, but I would expect that your doctor will order a full thyroid screen for you (including T3, T4, and anti-bodies). That's the extend to which I feel comfortable interpreting those results. 

optimistgardener

Edited for spacing, WTF TB

@kiki047 sorry to hear about your bruised butt. solidarity. the other night i managed to hit a vein before i'd even injected the needle very far for one of my e. valerate shots. it felt almost instantaneously like NOPE WRONG SPOT, so i pulled the needle out to try again. it immediately turned into a big gushing bleeder and i wound up with a big ol bruise. i remain unconvinced that i'm going to manage to do this successfully with PIO for however long that winds up lasting.

@fantasyflyte fx for your insurance to come through. i know that feeling of "just trucking" though.

@walkawaynee i have no guesses as to your dr's scrawl, but count me fascinated that this doc still writes things out by hand! I feel like it's rare these days not to do everything via computer.

@tessiesmom26 i have no insights on thyroid stuff but hopefully this is good news in that it means there is a problem that can be identified and solved (we here in IF are super weird about being excited to receive what might in other circles qualify as bad news... yay! an actual diagnosis!). Looking forward to learning more from your CD2-3 results also.
eta that is, if you don't get ku before then. sorry, i live in a world where i just assume cd1 is coming around the corner again. but you shouldn't live in that world with me!

Diagnosis (if you've been): 1 ovary in its dotage + the usual

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WFMET

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): waiting for my mosaic transfer. still hoping for a feb 4 date, but who knows

How are things going?: this is not actually new news for me but i didn't mention it right away because i've been feeling a little strange about it. i got some paperwork from the clinic a few weeks ago that turned out to be from cooper genomics, which when i opened it included all the info about both of my embryos from the 2nd batch. So anyhow, i know the chromosomal sex of my mosaic, and the minute i had absorbed this information my brain landed without my even intending to on a name, one that I had never even considered before in all my years of thinking about this. so anyway i have no idea what to do with that and it won't leave me alone.

Any questions?:  nah.

GTKY: Would you rather stay your same age from the neck up for the rest of your life, or from the neck down for the rest of your life? Why? great question! my initial gut reaction response was to say i'd rather stay the same from the neck down because i do like feeling physically capable and strong, and i'm willing to live with a face that gets wrinkly. but then Fantasyflyte and Walkawaynee made the excellent arguments re: maintaining a sharp mind and now i'm completely stymied.

bows22

@kiki047 I have everything crossed that your embryo is just taking its time getting nice and cozy❤️

@fantasyflyte I can’t believe this insurance drama is still going on, I hope the pre-auth goes through soon. 

@w@walkawaynee I’m so glad you are feeling good about this new clinic, I hope time flies by for you while you wait 

@t@tessiesmom26 I’m not familiar enough to know exactly what your results mean, but it does seem like you are on your way to getting answers which is def good. Keep us posted on what your doctor says

@o@optimistgardener  I have to say I got some chills while reading your check in. That’s so cool ❤️ 

Diagnosis (if you've been): unexplained,AMA,endometrial polyps/thickening

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?) Clomid + trigger + IUI

How are things going? So I had my IUI today, I’ve been waiting to check in because I didn’t get follicle measurements at my CD12 ultrasound, I only knew that I had one massive one and 2 smaller, so I didn’t know if that meant I had 1 or 3 in contention. I thought results would have been posted to my portal or I would have asked more questions. I had *feelings* about only having one so I wanted to spare everyone the drama. Anyway, after the IUI she went to check and the big one was 22 mm, and then I had 2 14 mm and 2 12 mm. She said the 2 14 mm ones may have caught up (I triggered the nignt of the ultrasound), but that I definitely can’t increase the dose of clomid (what I wanted to do if I really only had 1. I can do that on my own, right? produce one egg that is)

Any questions? Nope

GTKY: Would you rather stay your same age from the neck up for the rest of your life, or from the neck down for the rest of your life? Why? The point about the brain/mind is very tempting, but I’m going to go with neck down as I feel like having a 38 year olds body will avoid a lot of other health issues down the road. 

Edit for clarity because it sounded like I was asking if I could increase my clomid dose on my own lol 

shortstack930

@kiki047 I'm so sorry about the BFN. It's still really early though so I truly hope you get good news later in the week.

@fantasyflyte ugh that insurance needs to get it together already!!

@walkawayneeyour new RE sounds great!!!

@tessiesmom26 it seems like it may be a thyroid issue which hopefully could just be fixed with meds but I don't know enough about it to say so for sure.

@optimistgardener ooh that is exciting! I truly hope this transfer works out for you!!!

@bows22 that is frustrating about the follicles. Have you reacted better to Clomid in the past?

Diagnosis (if you've been): Endometriosis

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

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

How are things going?: Meh. I had my lining check this morning and lining looks great at 8.10 mm but they saw some fluid in my uterus. They don't want to transfer with the fluid there because it can negatively affect the transfer so they're having me come back for another u/s next Tuesday to see if another week of the estrogen has dried up the fluid. Transfer will be 2/10 if everything looks good next week which sucks because now I have to try and change around my whole work schedule and/or waste PTO taking off so that I'm not working 3 nights in a row after my transfer. It's not the end of the world but I'd hate to have to switch everything around and then we end up not doing the transfer anyway. 

Any questions?: Anyone ever heard of fluid in the ute before? Google told me it could just be from the hormones for IVF.

GTKY: Would you rather stay your same age from the neck up for the rest of your life, or from the neck down for the rest of your life? Why? Neck down. I look younger than my age anyway so I'd rather be able to still move around well.

keikilove

Y'all are so great for entertaining the GTKY with such thoughtfulness! I actually wrote the GTKY as a funny way to lighten the heaviness some of us have been experiencing. This version was edited from the "Would you rather" we did a very long time ago, but that version said "Stay the same from the neck up from when you were 11, or the same from the neck down from when you were 11". A slightly different conundrum.

@kiki047 Thinking of you and still keeping things crossed. Hope you're feeling ok today. That shot on your side sounds nasty. Glad you had one non-bruising shot to encourage you to keep going! And also, thank you for asking about MH! He is good, I will update in my check-in in a few... // I didn't think your answer was vain at all. It was exactly what I imagined people would grapple with when I posted the GTKY. Had no idea people would think about the aging body or the aging brain when debating it for themselves!

@fantasyflyte The updates in the portal seem like all positive signs that you will get that prior auth in time to move forward. Were you able to call and find out what's holding up the final decision?

@walkawaynee I love how thorough your new RE is being with your treatment. So glad to hear that you are feeling really good about it. My guess is that the B scribbling is for a B vitamin supplement. I can't think of anything else it could be that starts with that letter. 

@tessiesmom26 Glad you got the CD21 bloodwork done. How perfect that it was also 7DPO. it sounds like you are going to have really good timing with the follow-up and then the next round of testing. You are lucky that this is all moving so quickly! // Not an expert on your bloodwork either, but my guesses are:
Progesterone= perfect, a great level for after ovulation. You want it above 10 and ideally around 20 minimum for conception
FSH= it's on the lowest end of normal, as it drops drastically after ovulation 
TSH= Dr is going to follow up on this. It is a bit low: it should be around 1.0 for TTC and no higher than 2.0 for conception cycles.

@optimistgardener You killed me with your ovary being "in its dotage" You are so creative! February 4th is getting so close now. That is pretty amazing about the name just appearing out of nowhere... it seems very meant to be. I hope it's a good omen for you!

@bows22 FX for this IUI being successful! I really hope those smaller ones caught up so that you had more in the running at go time. And yes, of course you are right that you could just "make the one" on your own. I'm curious which day of your cycle did you start the Clomid? I have found two things from using Letrozole for awhile now: 1) the earlier I start (CD2 is what my local RE prescribed) the more evenly my follicles grow and, 2) the more months I use it the more follicles I get. So, hoping that this info is moot for you next month. But if not, maybe you can switch it up slightly with when you start the Clomid, and also expecting that you will see more follicles as the effects of Clomid compound.

keikilove

Diagnosis (if you've been): RPL/RIF, DQ alpha match, Elevated NK cells & activity, blood-clotting mutations, AMA

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Not sure, the timing is very tricky. I am hoping to do a natural transfer in the first week of February but also have a huge project due at the same time, so not sure that I can travel for a transfer at that time. It all depends on when ovulation occurs.

How are things going?: Things have continued to be wacky, but are finally settling down the past couple of days. I knew this month would be extremely intense with my work schedule and the big project deadline looming, so it has been hard to decide if I should do a transfer or even aim to do another DuoStim. But timing has determined that a transfer is the only option-- if that even works out. 
Traveling last week for my endometrial biopsy and then again for a revisit with my RI in Chicago was a lot, but it was somewhat helpful to see that everything is still "normal" overall. My local RE had mentioned at my biopsy that my lining was "almost non-existent" this cycle, and then this was confirmed at the blood flow ultrasound at my RI. The only thing I can think of is that I got off all of my immune meds for the past month because I wanted to see how my body would respond, since I was taking the month off from TTC anyway. The bummer is that with an extremely thin lining, I don't think the endometrial biopsy is going to give any information that I was aiming to glean. The whole point was to see if my decidualization score had improved, meaning I wanted to see if my lining was more receptive after taking the new med for a couple of months that is supposed to help with receptivity. So that is disappointing. If I can't make the transfer timing work this month I may wind up repeating the biopsy...

Another thing that had been bothering me at the back of my mind since last month was the fact that when I did my last modified natural transfer in mid-December, I was very surprised to learn at my last local monitoring appointment that I suddenly had at least 6 large follicles growing. It was a total surprise: it was likely due to the previous months' use of stimulating meds, plus priming with a low dose of Letrozole for a smooth transfer. I didn't process this new info about the crop of follicles until it was too late: I should have flown immediately to my RE in MX and tried to retrieve those 6 big follicles. It was all such a whirlwind that I missed that opportunity. At the bloodflow ultrasound this past week, the tech did confirm that all those follicles my local RE had seen at my biopsy last week were indeed cysts left over from the previous cycle. Just a reminder of the wasted opportunity to retrieve them. So now I'm thinking about this month and wondering if the same thing is going to happen....

Finally, the best news of all: MH got the amazing report that he is completely cancer-free! I forgot to share this update in the midst of all the chaos that has been going on for awhile, but really this is the best news and the thing I should be focusing on most. He is still quite weak and is having a hard time getting his health back up, but I'm trying to encourage him to take it slow and be patient with his body. 

Any questions?: NATM

GTKY: Would you rather stay your same age from the neck up for the rest of your life, or from the neck down for the rest of your life? Why? This is vanity all the way, but "we are as young as we will ever be at this very moment". I'd rather stay the same age from the neck up for both "beauty and brains" reasons. I figure I can always exercise to try to maintain the lower half. Since I have a face with a pronounced chin and nose that will inevitably end up making me look like a witch when I'm old, I'd be better off to preserve it now.  

bows22

@shortstack930 this is my first monitored cycle, since I’m old they didn’t think I had a big chance of having too many follicles. I know unmonitored cycles are a sensitive issue but I had everyone on this thread’s blessing so I went along with it haha. As far as your question, I had fluid in my lining on my CD3 ultrasound and they thought it was because I still had my period. And the results from my CD12 ultrasound just posted and I had some fluid in my cul-de-sac, whatever that means. That’s the extent of my knowledge. That’s annoying that you have to reschedule things now, but I hope it negatively impacts the sled-riding call-off coworker. 

@keikilove wellllllll now that you mention it, they called in my prescription on CD3 in the afternoon and I was supposed to take it that day. I had something to do after work and totally spaced on picking it up, so I did first thing the next morning and continued taking it in the morning. I didn’t think it would make a big difference since obviously there is a window, but if there is a next time I’m going to run and pick it up as soon as it’s called in haha. Anyway that is AMAZING news about YH and I’m smiling so big typing this! What a relief! I’m sorry about the biopsy and that you might not get the answers you wanted, did any of these appts shed any light on the possible adenomyosis? I think I remember you saying you wanted to pursue that further. 

kiki047

Feeling a little overwhelmed today but attempting to come back for some tags because I really, truly appreciate all your kind words and support.

@walkawaynee Thank you for the reassurance. You're right, it is still early, there's a reason they wait until 12dpt for the beta so I'll hang tight. // I'm sorry you're being delayed again, but glad you're feeling good about your switch overall. My only guess about the "B" medication might be Bravelle? I think it's in the gonadotropin category, similar to Gonal-F/Follistim. 
@fantasyflyte hugs back at you, friend! That's a good sign that some of the things have been approved by insurance. FX! 
@tessiesmom26 I would be inclined to agree with @acleverusername about thyroid testing to look at your TSH. That was pretty standard protocol for me when we did our initial testing.
@optimistgardener thank you for the drive-by hug. I needed that yesterday. If it makes you feel any better about the PIO, my butt has not bruised at all and I haven't had many bleeders, only a sore lump around the injection site where the muscle gets a little angry from being prodded. All of my blood thinner bruises are on my belly, which are thankfully hidden under clothing. // I got chills when I read your story about the name just coming to you like that. I'm not a huge believer in signs or anything like that but I also don't ignore them when it feels so blatant. I hope this is the best kind of omen for your little embie! 
@bows22 I mean, it is half my child after all, being late is in their genes   // I agree with keiki in that I think the timing of the clomid might matter more than the dosage in your case. I really hope you don't need to find that out though, FX everything went perfectly today and you'll have your own little babe snuggling in there soon! 
@shortstack930 I'm sorry I don't have any insights on the fluid in your ute. I hope it clears/dries up by your next lining check. Giving an impressed whistle on thickness at this point though, that's great! I hope all your re-arranging of your schedule isn't for naught and you're able to proceed as planned.  
@keikilove I had some flutter-y cramps today that were oddly reassuring, so I'm just trying to hang on a little longer before I test again. // I am SO SO happy to hear YH has been declared cancer-free!! I did a happy dance in my chair when I read that earlier and I'm still buzzing with relief for you. I hope you can all put that awful ordeal behind you as you focus on his recovery now. I'm so sorry you feel like you wasted an opportunity to retrieve that surprise bumper crop of eggs last cycle, but it really did sound like you had far too much on your plate as it was so I hope it doesn't feel like a complete waste of a cycle. I winced at your comment about the thin lining and the biopsy because oooof, been there, it is NOT fun. Do you know how long before you get results? 



AFM, spoilering a pic of my bruises as of a few days ago, if anyone is inclined to see what I mean by *scary looking*. I have a few more here and there but I'm happy to report that by injecting the needle on a ~45 degree angle instead of 90 degrees, it still bleeds but so far those ones have not bruised. That big purple one is now turning green and it's extra ugly, lol. MH makes a sad face when he sees me get out of the shower. But I told him that even though it looks awful, in a weird way it's also pretty validating to have external scars that represent the internal pain I've been carrying for so long. So much of what we do is invisible to everyone else, so as terrifying as this looks, I also feel a little bit vindicated when I see the looks on people's faces (those that I choose to share it with) because maybe, just maybe, they'll understand how f***ing hard all of this is on me mentally and physically.

I took a ruler to that sucker and it's about 4" across and 1.75" tall. 

shortstack930

@keikilove omg such amazing news about YH!!!!! I hope your transfer timing works out!

@bows22 LMAO now that you mention it, switching my schedule around will impact that coworker!!

@kiki047 OMG those bruises!!!!

optimistgardener

wonderful news @keikilove!

and @kiki047 your bruises are so intense, omg.

acleverusername

Yay @keikilove! What wonderful news about YH! I hope his energy comes back within the next few months and you’re doing the right thing by encouraging him to honour his body. I’m really sorry about the missed bumper crop; I guess the only advice is to see that as your body working well and maybe, just maybe, same will happen this cycle and maybe you can take advance of it!

@optimistgardener that story… definitely got some major chills; and while I’m mostly pragmatic, I have a superstitious streak and if that’s not a sign, I don’t know what is. 

@kiki047 holy cow at that bruise! 😱 I have a lot of experience with bruises as I bruise SUPER easy, but that… that’s something else! Glad that you’ve felt comfortable about sharing the photo of it with others to “make them see.” And… I am going to be cautiously optimistic for those 🦋s! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 🙏🙏🙏

@bows22 I’ll third what others have said about timing of Clomid being super important for us “older” folks. I found that even a difference in staring on CD2 vs CD3 was meaningful… 1 follicle vs 2 if starting on CD2. 

fantasyflyte

@tessiesmom26 I don't have any insights on the results, but I hope you can narrow down a plan with your doctor on Monday.

@optimistgardener fingers crossed for you, and hugs for the report and the mental stuff that came with it.

@bows22 fingers crossed for you! Go follicle go!

@shortstack930 I'm sorry about the fluid. I hope it's nothing of interest and is gone in time to do the transfer, but sorry it messes with your schedule.

@keikilove that is a lot, but WOOOO DH! That's awesome news! I hope things are lest hurried/chaotic for this cycle for you.

@kiki047 ooof, those bruises look tough.

AFM, the prior auth is approved, weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I feel like a weight's been lifted. Now all we have to do is watch my ovulation tests and hope IUI day isn't the day a blizzard is threatening!

bows22

@keikilove @kiki047 @acleverusernameThanks friends for the feedback on starting clomid earlier. I’m feeling pretty crappy about forgetting to pick up my prescription, but nothing I can do about it now. Amazing info to have for next cycle! 

caseys02

Diagnosis (if you've been): AMA for me, low sperm count, motility, and bad morphology

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW

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

How are things going?:  I turned 38 yesterday and realizing this is probably the last year I want to try to have a child. 

Any questions?: not really

GTKY: Would you rather stay your same age from the neck up for the rest of your life, or from the neck down for the rest of your life? Why? - The neck down because with all my knee and shoulder injuries arthritis is going to creep up and kick me in the A**. I know I'm going to get Alzheimer and go blind and accepted that but I want to be able to still move around even if I go crazy.  

optimistgardener

@casey02 hey there fellow 38-year-old. you're in good company here. it looks like i just tried to answer your question over in the old thread, whoops.

@bows22 i was gonna weigh in on the clomid thing also and say that it is definitely my experience that starting drugs as early in the cycle as possible will go far in confounding your body's efforts to prematurely select its leading follicle. this is one of those things that the clinic may say "day 3 is fine" because day 3 may be fine if you're 31, but as you get older your ovary starts selecting its leader earlier and earlier in the cycle and you gotta work faster to get behind that process.

deaf_girl

Diagnosis (if you've been): 
PCOS, abnormal sperm analysis (getting a second one done on the 31st)

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):
AF started a few days ago

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?):
seeing a RE on the 31st, and kind of scared to be honest 

How are things going?: 
I'm worried about what the new sperm analysis will say and what all the RE will want to do

Any questions?: 
What can I expect from a RE?? This is the first time seeing one.

GTKY: Would you rather stay your same age from the neck up for the rest of your life, or from the neck down for the rest of your life? Why?
Neck up definitely lol, because most of my joints are screwed already and I have accepted that, so I'd rather keep my pretty face lol.

fantasyflyte

@deaf_girl We're in a very similar boat, PCOS and MFI (low morphology and motility). Every RE is different, but in my case we did a baseline ultrasound and bloodwork, and are doing medicated cycles with letrozole and an IUI once I get a positive OPK (just plain IUI first. No trigger). The RE and the nurse are both very nice, as is everyone at the clinic, and they told us that we're excellent candidates for IUI given our situation. I know some REs like to do an HSG before any treatment, but that's going to depend on the clinic I think. @acleverusername has a couple fantastic links that I can't dind myself since I'm on mobile at the moment, but she posted them in a recent IF thread, maybe 2 or 3 weeks ago?

acleverusername

@deaf_girl here's what I had posted in last week's IF thread when @tessiesmom26 asked the same question: 

@tessiesmom26 Hey there! I'm truly sorry that you find yourself here. As you mentioned, we are a tight-knit group but we welcome others with open arms and with information spewing from our heads because... as I like to say... what else are we going to do with all the information we've learned from reading all those PubMed articles? (amiright @optimistgardener??? *wink, wink*). While I'm not currently participating here (taking a 3-month break before starting my transfer prep), I've got excellent resources to share with you:

1) this TB thread was recommended to me when I first started frequenting here.
2) this blog article from Modern Fertility (I contributed to it as I am a moderator on their fertility forum)

^^ Based on above, my biggest recommendation is to start a list of questions you want to be asking. Put it somewhere visible so that both you and YH can contribute. As soon as you think of something, put it on there otherwise you'll forget. 

acleverusername

@caseys02 : "good" to see you back here this week. I would echo what @bows22 said in response to your follow-up question in last week's thread: you should either commit to IVF (the sooner the better) or keep trying naturally. With the sperm parameters you'd provided, it does seem like you may have trouble conceiving on your own, so I think IVF is best option... especially if you have insurance coverage. Of course, if you don't, then it's a different question. Btw, if you do go IVF, be sure to go with a clinic that offers additional sperm sorting techniques like PICSI or Zymot to help select only the best sperm. Not all clinics have that technology. 

Also, @optimistgardener gave a wonderful overview of why versus why not you might want to do a fresh versus frozen embryo transfer, so I won't expound on that point any further. I will, however, provide some insight into what's we'd decided to do. Btw, also 38 over here. 

I did 2 retrievals last year, and now have 5 PGT-A (chromosomaly) normal embryos sitting in the freezer (i.e. all that means is that they have both of the 23 chromosomes for a total of 46; there is no guarantee from this testing that it will result in a pregnancy or a live birth). I am now mentally and physically preparing for a transfer in April/May by taking time off to lose weight and get my body into the best shape it can be for transfer, and also to do additional immunological testing. Both taking time off, and additional testing is completely optional and that was MY choice. I could have gone straight into a transfer if I had wanted to do that. 

I hope all this info helps. 

caseys02

@optimistgardener that's fine I saw it and your reply was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks! and Woo hoo for being 38! 

caseys02

@acleverusername Thanks.  So I'd be going to CNY, they're recommended by my OB and BFF and they're in my backyard. I do have coverage this year and my partner does too thank goodness.  I do want the genetic testing portion so I'm glad for @optimistgardener s reply.  It helped clear a bunch of things up. 

acleverusername

@caseys02 good luck. You're either in NY or CO if CNY is in your backyard. Just know that CO office has really long wait times to get in. My friend booked an appointment in Dec, and the earlier they could offer her is March. I don't know about the wait times in NY though, but I do know they have multiple clinics in the state, so hopefully it's better. They are a good clinic, and cheap, but they're also a massive operation so you may not get bespoke care like you might elsewhere. 

caseys02

@acleverusername because I've already gone for my baseline last year they said just call at CD1 and we'll get started. I'm at the Rochester location which reminds me of a day spa. I'm OK if its not fully bespoke but I did enjoy the way they treated me and handled my past history.

The only other place in our area would be the local hospital and I'd rather not go there for fertility treatment bc of ptsd for other things. 

acleverusername

@caseys02 totally right call to go with CNY over local hospital. Sounds like you're in good hands clinic wise. We'll be here for you if you have any other process-wise questions. 

deaf_girl

@fantasyflyte thanks and it does sound like we are in similar boats.
@acleverusername thanks for the links...I will definitely check them out.

keikilove

Thank you, ALL of you, for the sweet words re: MH’s clean bill of health!💕💕💕I shared your sentiments with him and it made him feel really good.🥰 Y’all are the best. 

@shortstack930 we must’ve been posting at the same time the other day. Sorry I missed you. Yay for such a great lining! Hoping that everything stays on track for you to have the timing and transfer that you want. And if not, hooray that it will impact that co-worker who enjoyed their day off way too much!😆 Re: the fluid in cul-de-sac—I’ve had this several times. Both REs made me nervous because they’d mention it, say they didn’t know why it was there, and then say they hoped it wouldn’t interfere with anything.😬 Not very reassuring! It eventually went away on its own, which was a relief. And then I recently stumbled upon a study that said it’s common and normal around ovulation (or around period?). Either way, it shouldn’t impact anything and I’m keeping fingers crossed that you’re able to enjoy a smooth transfer going forward.🤞🏽

@bows22 Don’t be too hard on yourself about the Clomid timing. It’s just another piece of info to have in your pocket and test out with earlier dosing *if* there’s a next time. Hopefully not! // Geez, I can’t believe I forgot the update about the adeno! Thanks for asking.☺️ The U/S tech (who is a skilled doctor) said she saw a few small white spots in my ute that definitely indicate adeno, but it is extremely mild and absolutely nothing that should impede healthy implantation. She didn’t even put anything in my notes follow-up about it, that’s how insignificant she felt it was. She was a different doctor than the first U/S doctor who first suggested adeno at my very first RI appointment 2+ years ago, but she could see that first doctor’s original notes. She said either the adeno has improved since then or it was never too worrisome to begin with. Still, it felt good to officially check that off my list of worries as well. 

@kiki047 Holy cow, that bruise is just…wow! I’m sorry, but it’s also good to hear that it is somehow therapeutic to have visual evidence of the hell you’ve been through. You have every right to sport that bruise like a badge of honor. // So happy to hear that you’re excited about the red rock adventure! It sounds like you’re going to make quite the fun trip out of it after all. I hope YH does great in the tournament and enjoys all the fun you’re planning outside of Vegas. // Thank you for the kind words about going easy on myself over the unharvested bumper crop😉. You are sooo right-there was way too much going in at that point to have done anything differently. Good reminder.💓 My current biopsy results could take anywhere between 1-3 weeks: they run them in batches so it just depends which weekly batch mine gets put into. 

@acleverusername Thank you as well for the positive words on the missed opportunity. You are right that I need to view it as a good sign that things are still working well. I took your advice and had my local RE check in on the current crop.😁 So thank you. Very much for that encouragement! More in my update below. 

@fantasyflyte WooHoooo about the prior authorization finally coming through!!! 👏🏽 Now, after everything you’ve endured on the buildup to this IUI, that blizzard better stay the heck away. Please do keep us updated. FX the OPKs give you super clear signals of when it is finally time to do the thing!

@casey02 Happy belated birthday! You’re among good company here, age-wise and otherwise. I also considers CNY but ended up going with a clinic much closer to me on the West Coast. You’re lucky that CNY is so close to you! 

@deaf_girl Welcome back! You’ve got lots of great advice and support here for that first RE appointment coming up. 

shortstack930

@caseys02 @deaf_girl sorry that you find yourselves here but welcome!

@keikilove ahhh that totally makes sense because I’ve had some EWCM this week and they did see some follicles on the u/s so hopefully it’s just due to ovulation. Thanks!!

keikilove

@shortstack930 Oh good, that would make sense! I looked it up and it does say it’s normal around both period and ovulation, and is common in people with endo. So hopefully this is totally normal for you and nothing to lose sleep over. 

AFM, it was a long day starting with the follow-up telehealth with my RI’s nurse from last week’s tests, then an infusion, and then a visit to my RE for a lining check. RI nurse gave me the good news that some of my CD3 bloodwork was back and my FSH is lower than it’s been in a long time (way below 10, hooray!) so that was thrilling. I asked whether the endometrial biopsy would be any good with such a thin lining last week, and she said it all depends on the sample. So now I’m hoping it might actually yield some info. Have to wait a week or two to know for sure.
 

At my RE’s I got the disappointing news that my lining today (CD6) is at a pitiful 2.2mm. WTAF. She asked what I was doing differently and I explained that I’d taken a break from all my meds and supplements for a little while, and that I’d started running again. She said, “Stop it. No running. It’s very bad. Read the studies. You’re diverting all the blood away from your uterus and into your large leg muscles. And you’re hating on your fat, you’re psychically rejecting that fat. You need to love that fat.” True dat, doc. True dat!😬🤣 She recommended Vit E, vaginal viagra as a possibility to thicken lining, and prescribed pentoxifylline. Has anyone ever heard of this or used this to thicken uterine lining? I’d never heard of it. So I asked what it was and told her I’d never heard of it. She told her nurse, “Stop! Write that down! I just taught Keiki something she doesn’t already know!”😄 We were all cracking up. That was a pretty funny moment.  

She also saw 6 follicles again. She said that this could have been turned into a perfect stim cycle with my low FSH if I’d come in sooner for monitoring. I had a momentary panic about trying to start stimming right now since I’m basically at baseline anyway with the thin lining and small follies. But she said one is already bigger than the rest at 15mm even though the others are closer together in size, and that it wouldn’t be worth the stress to only get a few the same size in the end. So, I took her advice and calmed down and decided to let these 6 go again. Maybe my lining will thicken up enough for a potential transfer, maybe it won’t. At least my body has been producing these eggs again with very little support: I can have a plan to get monitored very early next cycle and do a final final final DuoStim. Thanks for reading this lengthy update! 

optimistgardener

@keikilove thanks so much for your update! what a rollercoaster of stuff with your excellent FSH number and your still-hanging-around 6 follicles but crappy lining. I hope you manage to get that thing fluffy and cozy with the new drugs! Also I know I shouldn't be but I'm like, taking the no running thing slightly personally. How else are we supposed to maintain our sanity anyway. Anyway I'm no doc but if I had to guess I'd put money on the break you're taking from supps before I put it on the running.

@deaf_girl i don't think i directly responded yet to your Q about preparing for an RE appointment. I imagine that @acleverusername's links will be a great start in thinking about it all. But my main recommendation is that you find ways to test the water and make sure you feel 100% comfortable with them. Not only is this person going to be all up in your junk, but you'll be making decisions in concert with them that may feel big and weighty and you want to trust that they respect you and your decision-making process.

optimistgardener

updating from the road: all clear for a transfer next friday. my lining is trilaminar, 8.1mm. now i just have the PIO to look forward to.

keikilove

@optmistgardener YAAAAAAAAYYYY for the all-clear for transfer! What a beautiful lining you’re sporting😄 I totally thought of you when she scolded me about the running. But just look—your lining is fluffy and perfect so the running clearly did not hurt anything for you! I agree with you: it’s a total sanity saver. I hope things continue to go super smoothly for you up to and through transfer. So exciting!!!