IF Weekly Testing & Treatment w/o 2/14

fantasyflyte

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 was your favorite subject in school?

fantasyflyte

@optimistgardener re your post in the other thread this morning, I'm so sorry. Hugs for you. I'm also sorry the hospital didn't have their act together enough to just get the results quickly for you.

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

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): IUI with letrozole and trigger shot

How are things going?: pretty good despite getting my period end of last week. The RE was on board with doing a trigger shot this month, so I've got a CD10 appointment for ultrasound and bloodwork on Sunday, and will do monitoring during the week next week until the RE tells me to trigger. I always feel excited when I have a concrete plan in place. Hopefully third time's the charm on actually being able to do the IUI this time. At least my husband's covid is timed better for our treatment than mine was.

Any questions?: I don't think so

GTKY: What was your favorite subject in school? I always loved reading and writing, hence becoming a journalist for a while. Funnily enough, I hated math, and now 17 years out of high school, I'm taking a bunch of math and math-based science courses, even minoring in math! 😂

gingermama29

@fantasyflyte sorry for AF but glad your RE is on board with a trigger shot this month. Hopefully that will be the missing piece to a BFP! Math was a close second for favorite subject in school - probably because music and math are so closely related.

Diagnosis (if you've been):  PCOS

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):  WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?):  Letrozole, metformin, myo-inositol, baby aspirin, PNV, and TI

How are things going? Things are good. I had my CD 10 US done last week and legit had over 30 follicles! Most of them were tiny but bit I had 2 decent ones at 14mm on each ovary and don’t typically O until around CD 20. I talked to one of the nurses at my clinic and she said that if this cycle isn’t successful, they want to try adding a trigger shot next cycle. DH is also going to get his SA done during my TWW this cycle. I’m glad that they’re looking to change things up for next cycle if we aren’t successful again. 

Any questions?:  Nope

GTKY: What was your favorite subject in school? I’m sure this will come as a surprise to no one: music! I was in band, chorus, AP music theory, and IB music in high school and went on to become a music teacher!

kiki047

@fantasyflyte I saw your update over the weekend about all the things that went wrong and ugh, so sorry! How is your dog today? And hope YH isn't feeling too terrible. FX everything works out much better timing wise for this cycle and you can finally get your IUI done! 

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

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WFFET # 6 

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): I'll find out Wednesday if my protocol is going to change again but as of right now I'm looking at: 

- PNV + extra 1mg methylfolate
- 1200mg Omega3 (EPA 500mg/DHA 250mg)
- 400iu VitE
- 3,000iu VitD
- 1,000mg calcium (altho I just read the bottle and realized I am supposed to take 2/day and I've only been taking 1)
- 200mg CoQ10
- 600mg N-acetyl-cysteine
- Vit B12
- Ovasitol
- 1,500mg metformin
- baby aspirin
- 15mg prednisone
- 4mg estradiol 3x/day 
- 2x 100mcg estradiol patches changed EOD
- PRP infusion @ 1 week prior to tsf & again 2 days prior 
- intralipids @ 1 week prior to tsf, & again after BFP
- 16mgs Medrol for 4 days leading up to tsf
- 24 units Nivestym (brand name neupogen) starting 1wk prior to tsf & continuing until beta
- 2,500 units Fragmin (dalteparin is a low molecular weight heparin similar to Lovenox), increasing to 2x/day starting day of transfer
- doxycycline 100mg 2x/day for 3 days leading up to tsf
- 10,000iu HCG wash day of tsf 
- 2ml PIO starting 5 days prior to tsf

I guess a better question would be what am I not doing? This is technically the only FET cycle we're doing without an endo scratch as well, which we've done for all 5 transfers prior to this and it has not seemed to help so I'm really not that concerned. 

How are things going?: Other than starting to feel rather moody and hormonal, things are ok I guess. The real test will be to see how things are progressing at my one and only lining check on Wednesday morning. The pressure is building and I'm very easily triggered right now so I'm going to need to tread carefully in the next few weeks. I feel my stress levels rising to borderline hysterical levels because of all the big commitments we have coming up and while MH's coping mechanism is to keep busy and pile things on (that he inevitably can't keep up with and therefore spills over onto my plate), my default is to retract and do as little as humanly possible. 

Any questions?: NATM. 

GTKY: What was your favorite subject in school? Well, my affinity for school subjects was highly correlated with whether or not I liked the teacher. English was either my best or worst subject depending on my teacher, so I had a love/hate relationship with it overall. So if I had to pick, I'd go with any of the social studies. I loved IAPS (Intro to Antho/Psych/Soc) and I took all 3 as standalone subjects again and went on to major in Sociology at university. In fact, I credit that teacher as having saved my life in some of my darkest days as a troubled teen battling extreme depression and anxiety.

Not to get all deep over what was probably meant as a pretty innocuous GTKY, if I had to go back in time and pinpoint the one person that had the most impact on the trajectory of my life as I know it, it would be that teacher. We are still friends to this day, and I later found out that she was only maybe 12 years older than I was at the time as that was one of her first teaching gigs fresh out of teachers college. 


*edited to add a few supplements I forgot

shortstack930

@fantasyflyte I really hope you guys are able to do the IUI this month!! I think a trigger is a good idea also.

@gingermama29 those are great numbers! Hopefully YH's SA comes back with no issues.

@kiki047 wow I was complaining to DH about keeping track of all the meds I'm on but looking at that list I should definitely not be complaining at all! I hope this protocol works better for you. Also, that is such a great story about your teacher!

Diagnosis (if you've been): Endometriosis

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW

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

How are things going?: Ugh, I hate the TWW after a FET so much. I have been drop dead exhausted this entire weekend and I know it's because of the meds but I literally slept from 8pm Saturday night until 6am Sunday morning after already taking a two hour nap that afternoon. I'm trying not to SS too much but the progesterone has so many side effects. 

Any questions?: Nope.

GTKY: What was your favorite subject in school? I always loved English because I love to read and write but I also loved Choir, Calculus, and Biology.

keikilove

@fantasyflyte Thanks for starting the thread this week. I couldn’t think of a GTKY so skipped starting it— I like this one you chose. Interesting answers so far. // So glad to hear that you have a solid plan in place for this IUI. FX that this 3rd time really is a charm. And sorry to hear YH has Covid. Hopefully he’s feeling ok and will be tip-top by the time the IUI comes around. 

@gingermama29 Yay for your solid plan coming up too for your next cycle! Glad to hear that the ball is rolling with YH’s SA. Congrats on all those follicles. FX the big ones lead to a successful conception and implantation. 

@kiki047 Sending you big calming hugs.💗💗💗It’s so understandable that the pressure is mounting for you. FX that the lining check on Wednesday is reassuring. I was glad to hear when you said that you do have the chance to do two rounds of PRP before transfer. I am curious to see whether anything in your protocol gets changed up, like the dosage of the hcg wash. It’s strange to see your protocol and realize it’s almost identical to mine. The things we do along this journey…

@shortstack930 Ugh, right there with you on the exhaustion! It’s so bad during the medicated TWW. I hope you’re feeling positive and that it will all be worth it. ♥️ // Looking at all the subjects you liked, you were quite the well-rounded student. It’s usually either/or but you liked the humanities and the sciences. Good for you! 

Diagnosis (if you've been): So many things 

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW 

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): FET—first time transferring a Day 5 embryo. It’s a slow grower—morula—so still untested. 

How are things going?: Just ok. Like Shortstack above, I’m exhausted but have a mountain of work and meetings so I’m sneaking in naps where I can. The progesterone is making me ill even though I’m not taking it orally this time. Not feeling hopeful whatsoever for this cycle—reallly just feeling very worn out and tired of the very long list of meds. My backside is super sore from the PIO. 

Any questions?: Was anyone into the SuperBowl yesterday? I didn’t even turn on the tv, which is unusual. 

GTKY: What was your favorite subject in school? I loved Art and foreign languages (studied 3 years each of Spanish and Japanese). History was pretty interesting in high school. I excelled in school but hated it. I did sports, singing, and leadership just tomake it bearable and get through it.  College was way better, where history, three more foreign languages, and cultural anthropology were extremely engaging. 

mambo5-2

Diagnosis (if you've been): RPL and post vasectomy

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): Testing cycle 

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): CD3 testing was yesterday at 6 am 😴. Everything came back normal which is great but also weird for me. My liver function usually sucks due to an illness from my teens. 

How are things going?: it's good going really fast feels like because its like blood work, and then ultrasound and then more bloodwork and then MORE bloodwork. 

Any questions?: not really

GTKY: What was your favorite subject in school?

I was such a nerd in school. Social sciences were my favorite, which probably explains how I ended up a social worker. I love being a helper and I get to do that every day. 

Now I am going to read and try to respond to my new friends

mambo5-2

@optimistgardener I saw your post love. So many hugs. 

@fantasyflyte FX DH is well soon and that the timing works out for you both! 

@gingermama29 I loved my music teacher. I won a governor's scholar award and listed him as my favorite. He always listened to me and cared. 

@kiki047 more power to you for listing everything out! Sending you big hugs and hopefully some self care time. 

@shortstack930 I hope you are able to rest! 

@keikilove I watched the super bowl but I showered during the second quarter so I wouldn't miss the half time show! 

anniemarie887

@fantasyflyte fingers crossed for better timing, and i totally get the comfort of a plan. hope YH is on the mend.
@gingermama29 i love that you turned your passion into your career! i am of the millenial who has a random degree and works in a totally different field variety, lol!
@kiki047 love that you still keep in touch with your former teacher, what an amazing impact
@shortstack930 i'm sorry you're exhausted, but i'm also kind of jealous of the amount of sleep you got. fingers crossed for you!!!
@keikilove fingers also crossed for you!! we had the game on for the first half, i was excited for the halftime show... and then we promptly turned it off and went on to other things. as my bff said "i could've had 4 quarters of concert, and one half time show of football" 
@mambo5-2 i'm glad your results came back normal, that's great!

Diagnosis (if you've been): TBD  (TTC 14 mos, 2 losses)

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): benched

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): waiting on my RPL testing - i actually called Quest because it's been five days, turns out the beta 2 glycoprotein tests take 10 days and because it's all lumped together they are holding my other results hostage. so much for being able to talk about the results when i see my OB tomorrow. 

How are things going?: they are going. TW social media announcements re pg

so when i was pregnant in dec/jan it was outed in a really awkward and intrusive way from someone who i don't consider a close friend. more like a social cirlces person. and it turns out she is also preg, and her due date was like 10 days before mine... anywho, they did valentine's themed social media announcement and i promptly muted her. i'm supposed to go on a bachelorette weekend this weekend... and she'll be there... and tbh i kind of want to bail. i don't even care about losing out on like $400 at this point. 

Any questions?: natm

GTKY: What was your favorite subject in school? we had this amazing class in high shool called issues - which focused more on current events and a legal focus, i believe this spurred me to get a criminology and criminal justice degree in college. which i loved getting my degree, even though i don't use it... oops. 

acleverusername

@fantasyflyte Hopefully YH is fully recovered and ready for the task at hand when you ovulate! Re: hating math in HS, I think there's so much negative social pressure to dislike maths in HS. And some of that is pushed by the teachers "math is hard" "you shouldn't like math because you don't want to be a math league nerd." If only teachers taught it with a passion, and parents didn't tell their kids that math was hard and well pop culture didn't do that either, I think we'd all be much smarter. 

@gingermama29 what's your favorite instrument to play? GL to those 2 follies. The multiple other follies are no surprise given your PCOS.

@kiki047 I hope the changes to your protocol will have yield good results. Re: liking subjects taught by teachers you likes... I'm 100% with you there. 

@keikilove I'm hoping that the Day 5 embryo is the key to your THB. I know that you don't have much hope given how the transfer went, but I'll be here hoping for you. 

@mambo5-2 Excellent re: normal results. How does your poor liver function normally manifest itself on the blood tests? AST & ALT #s or something else? 

@anniemarie887 Argh. I'm so sorry about that 'not a friend.' I would totally be of the same mindset re: skipping the bachelorette. Is the bride someone you're close with? What are your expectations re: visit w/ the OB? 

Diagnosis (if you've been): Hashimoto's, Overprotective Immune System, AMA and sperm that don't like to ask for directions. 

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Meeting with TEW tomorrow (hopefully) to review my Pregmune results. 

How are things going?: I have to say that I went to some dark places this weekend as I contemplated my Pregmune results. The challenge of course is that waiting to consult with the doctor to understand what that all means for my treatment. I've been scouring the interwebs trying to make sense of what kind of treatment I would be looking at and there's not too much stuff out there re: Pregmune because it's a relatively new testing platform. Anyways, I found a couple of folks on r/infertility but of course everyone's situations is very different. So, I'm just going to have to wait until my appointment tomorrow... hopefully it won't change as it already did (was supposed to be today.) 

Any questions?: Has anyone tried to delay their period with progesterone pills? If I let my period come this week, we're guaranteed to be totally out this month because my FW window will fall smack when I'm in FL with my sister. So I'm kind of keen on taking it longer to try and push my FW window to after my return. But that's of course if TEW tells me that we need to wait until Mar cycle to do a mock. 

GTKY: What was your favorite subject in school? As with @kiki047, it greatly correlated with who taught it. In Gr 10, I LOOOOOOVED, my history prof and thus the subject. In grade 11, I loved my "religious and moral studies" teacher & class. But mostly, I hated school because I was a very shy / hermit of a kid with no friends because of how many times we were forced to change schools and because of ESL too. 

mambo5-2

@acleverusername my liver function on blood tests is always funky, at least one is high, usually not super high but high enough they bring it up. I was truly shocked that it was normal. 

anniemarie887

@acleverusername i wish i knew more about the pregmune report, it's a wealth of info and i can totally see how it would be a bit overwhelming. hope you get a good breakdown w/TEW.

 i guess you would say i'm close with the bride, it's MH's best friend's fiance. i love her... but oh gosh, i hope i don't offend anyone... it's a bach party of 17 people. i know like 5 of them. the vast majority of them are like just turned 30 aka babies. they're all knee deep in the newly engaged/married aspects of life and as i said in randoms i've been married for going on 10 years. i don't feel old my any means, just different places in life. and my time is limited and i'm just like i would rather see my bffs who i don't get to see enough. (ugh did you know you were going to get an epic response? lol) as for OB tomorrow it is the f/u after my d&c, and i just thought we'd kill two birds with one stone by hopefully having my bloodwork back. but alas, guess we'll handle that convo over the phone next week.

gingermama29

@kiki047 sending hugs and crossing everything for good results at your lining check tomorrow! Also that’s awesome that you still keep in touch with your teacher. Speaking as a teacher, it means the world to know how much we’ve impacted a student. I imagine it’s as meaningful to them as it is to you that you’re still in touch.

@shortstack930 I’m jealous of all that sleep! When do you get betas done?

@keikilove that’s so cool that you studied Spanish and Japanese. Languages are so fascinating to me and I wish I knew more. Sorry you’re also feeling exhausted and not hopeful about this cycle. I’m keeping everything crossed for you still.

@mambo5-2 it feels like the blood work never ends with IF treatment! Hopefully you’ll get some answers with yours. And I love your story about your music teacher! 😊

@anniemarie887 ugh to that “friend.” I don’t blame you for wanting to bail on the bachelorette party. Sorry friend. Hugs to you.

@acleverusername my primary instrument is voice so singing is my favorite. But ukulele and piano are my close seconds. Good luck tomorrow with the pregume results appointment. I hope everything goes well and sets your mind at ease. Also that religious and moral studies class sounds fascinating! 

acleverusername

@anniemarie887 totally hear you on wanting to spend time with your bffs rather than a bunch of girls you can't relate to, even if you love the bride. 

@gingermama29 technically the class was "moral and roman catholic studies"... and it was mandatory unless your parents were atheists and signed you out of it. Lol. My parents didn't bother. 

gingermama29

Well I just learned that I’m going to be triggering this cycle apparently. I got a call from a fertility pharmacy about the prescription ordered for me to set up delivery and was confused. So I logged into my patient portal and saw that my RE did order me ovidrel and that phone call was legit. Currently on hold waiting to talk to someone at the pharmacy and then I need to call my RE because I’ve never done a trigger shot and want to have them run through what to do/when to do it.

acleverusername

@gingermama29http://freedommedteach.com/eng/videos.html?play=ovidrel < my very first clinic (in Canada) didn't give me any in person instruction on how to do injections and instead sent me to this site. 

mambo5-2

@acleverusername ooo very professional education

optimistgardener

@gingermama29 welcome to the injectables club, friend! you'll do great. I only got the very barest of instruction in person (the online videos were more help to me). But you'll do fine! Just know when you're supposed to inject, make sure everything is clean (alcohol wipes, etc.), mix and then draw the required amount, get rid of any air bubbles, grab a chunk-o-belly fat, and plunge the needle in! Trigger shots always really burned for me and gave me a minor case of localized hives. Just fyi.

[I promise to do an update at some point, guys, I'm just like, not in a good place for thinking past today yet.]

caseys02

For all the PIO users, my friend posted a video how she injected herself. She did it like asteroid users do and thinned it while it was in the syringe by running it under hot water. Hurt less apparently, I have yet to try. 

acleverusername

@caseys02 did you mean how "steroid users" do it? 

@keikilove need your help. There were other parts of my report that were listed as "low risk" but in haunting the IF subreddit, I got into a convo and someone said that some are actually "high" by some RI standards. Specifically my NK and cytokine levels. I've added those in the spoiler. Would really appreciate your insight. 🙏🏻 @inthewoods23, if you're haunting, wouldn't mind your take based on what Dr. J told you. 

kiki047

@caseys02 for the PIO suspensions that use thicker, more viscous oils like sesame or olive oil, that's one of the recommended methods to warm it a little before injecting it. I used to roll mine in my heating pad for a few mins, it helped immensely. For PIO that uses ethyl oleate, it is already much thinner so I find I don't have to heat it. You have to be careful you don't overheat it though. 
@shortstack930 oh yes, the SS is real. Such a mindf***. I overanalyze every twinge, flutter and associated symptom - it's hard not to! FX they're legit...!!! 
@keikilove oh friend, solidarity on the protocol front. That's the first time I've actually sat down to type it all out and... it's a lot. You continue to impress us with all of your hidden talents and interests. I'm jealous of all the languages you've studied. My brain just doesn't work that way. I tried, and failed, to learn French and Japanese, but I did have fun doing it. MH and I tried learning some basic Portuguese before we were supposed to go to Portugal in April 2020, I think we should pick another language just for funsies now. // I did not watch the Super Bowl but I did watch the half time show on youtube after lol. 
@mambo5-2 it takes a really special soul to be a social worker - bless you for the work you do. 
@anniemarie887 that sucks you won't have your results back in time for your F/U tomorrow. Hopefully you will still have a good discussion with your OB. And I completely agree that I'd want to bail on that bach trip after that. don't blame you one bit. 
@acleverusername very interested to hear what TEW has to say about your results. Try not to let yourself spiral until you've had a chance to talk it through with her. As for trying to manipulate your cycle with progesterone, yes I've tried it and AF still bulldozed her way right through the supplementation but that's just my messed up body for you. YMMV, obviously. Like, how many days are we talking? Tbh I don't see the harm, lord knows I've done it with BCP often enough back in the day, it's not like we're talking weeks or months. Trying to nudge AF back by a few days to a week seems harmless enough? And your body doesn't seem like the type to totally freak out and go all bonkers like mine does, so it shouldn't mess with your mock cycle either. 
@gingermama29 can I hug you, on behalf of students everywhere? She has said a few times since then that she is so grateful to have met me in her first few years of teaching because that was so rewarding for her as an educator too, so it's just a really special bond overall. That reminds me, I should reach out to her and check in, it's been a while.   That's exciting about triggering - it's really not as intimidating as it sounds. 
@optimistgardener take all the time you need, we'll be here when you're ready  

inthewoods23

*lurking*
@acleverusername your results aren't written out how mine were. For the NK cells, my 50:1 was just over 20. Dr. J I believe liked below 18. That's where the Prednisone or IVIG come into play. I think your TH1/TH2 ratio is similar to what I had and that didn't appear to be a problem.

caseys02

@acleverusername that is what she said. I honestly have no knowledge. She put it under hot sink water for about 10 seconds so it would flow easier perior to injecting 

optimistgardener

@caseys02 leaping in for a sec on the PIO thing, I find with the ethyl oleate that it's adequate to carry the syringe around tucked in my armpit (or tucked into my bra) for a few minutes. YMMV with the sesame oil stuff. But at least that way, you know you're not going to overheat the oil but (ideally) bring it to a perfect body temperature.

optimistgardener

Diagnosis (if you've been): AMA, endo, etc.

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): waiting for my period

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Failing at getting KU

How are things going?:

my update is kind of a general lightweight CP t/w

terribly. 2nd beta arrived yesterday in my mychart, as expected down from the first to a 3. I haven't yet got a call back from my clinic 🙄 but i unilaterally took myself off my PIO shots and am now waiting, i guess, to meet with the RE to talk about it. i am, at every level, very stuck as to what to do next. I am now 39 and my egg quality was already terrible last year and i full expecty it will be even more terrible if i do another retrieval this year. I feel very anxious about whether I have fallen off the end of my biological potential (I don't want others on this board whom I know to be around my same age to feel like i am saying anything about their options. But for me, it feels like my 1 old ovary is behaving a little bit more like a 42-year-old ovary than a 39-year-old one. If that makes sense. My RE essentially told me as much last year.
OTOH, I feel like the RE and everyone else is going to tell me that this FET failed because it was a mosaic embryo, and perhaps that is true. Maybe if it had been euploid it would have stuck. But what if the embryo itself was actually fine and it was something about my body? the person i spoke to at cooper genomics about my embryo had told me that based on the particular abnormality type of the affected cells (a very pronounced segmental deletion on a small number of them), she felt that it would likely not implant at all if the embryo turned out not to be normal. I'm not sure if what I just experienced counts as an implantation or not. At very least it was a "partial implant." so anyway, if there's something funky going on with my uterus, that is a whole separate battle obviously and I'm not sure i have the mental resources or time to fight it.

Any questions?: should i expect my period to be any different than normal? I imagine that many PIO shots alone will probably make for a real bleeder.

GTKY: What was your favorite subject in school? considering i'm a history professor i guess this should be an obvious one for me, but actually i loved art in high school and once upon a time imagined myself going to art school. I also (without wanting to admit it) enjoyed the mental quiet that algebra brought as it forced my thought patterns into clean, linear order. And I was a sociology major in college so I don't mind me a bit of the modern social sciences as well. But honestly, if i could do it all again, I would probably think pretty hard about becoming a wildlife biologist. i love mucking around outdoors and in streams.

fantasyflyte

finally able to come back for tags now that my super long days are done lol

@gingermama29 we can handhold each other on first-time trigger shots lol. Hopefully they do the job for us both! I'm cheating and getting my nurse sister to do it for me if she's not working, though.

@kiki047 fingers crossed for your lining check today! And wow, that's a hefty protocol you're on right now.

@shortstack930 keeping my fingers crossed for you! On the GTKY, it sounds like you were like me, one of those students that just liked school lol.

@keikilove I was inspired by avoiding my current homework lol! Sorry you haven't been feeling great this cycle. Do you still speak the other languages?

@mambo5-2 ooof 6am is early. It really does feel like a whirlwind with all the testing.

@anniemarie887 sorry for the inconsiderate social circles person. And sorry that Quest is holding up your results, that's so dumb of them.

@acleverusername yeah, there definitely was the social pressure to not like math. For me, it also turned out that algebra is a weak point of mine, but calculus is great. I went from Bs and Cs throughout algebra and geometry to an A in calculus. Had I realized that earlier, I might have pursued the meteorology as the math involved is pretty much all calculus. But, if I hadn't done journalism, I wouldn't have met my husband, so I'm fine with how things worked out. I'm going for my true passion in the end anyway. Sorry your results are causing stress for you.

anniemarie887

@optimistgardener big hug lady, **TW re bleeding/CP in spoiler

mine was like a very, very heavy period. and i used pads only. my cycle came back on it's own 25 days later, a smidge shorter than normal. 

abjm0325

Diagnosis (if you've been): ?? (TTC over 35 6+ months, 2 losses)

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): I got CD3 bloodwork done last week and just had blood drawn this morning for a full thyroid panel. My midwife prescribed letrozole, but I’m too late to start it this cycle. She also wants me to add some additional folic acid type thing that I can’t remember the name of this moment.

How are things going?: Okay, I guess. A little overwhelmed, but I am committing to the fact that I belong here now and we are moving on with next steps. It was clear from my appointment with the midwife today that I have reached the end of what they can do and answer for me. I suspected that already (hence the appointment with the other OB I made for April), but today I went ahead and accepted that I need more help than can be offered here and set up an appointment at the RE for early May.

Any questions?: My midwife wants me to try letrozole next cycle, but I’m a little confused as to why and she couldn’t give me a great explanation other than “it might help.” I ovulate pretty regularly (and not late in my cycle), which is what I thought letrozole was designed to help with? Anyway, I’m fine to try it but it did not boost my confidence that she couldn’t articulate well why she was prescribing it.

GTKY: What was your favorite subject in school? Like some of you, this largely depended on the teacher. I loved my algebra and geometry teacher, and credit him with why I did well and stuck with higher level math through high school. For the content matter though, I tended to enjoy music and literature.

abjm0325

@fantasyflyte I hope the trigger shot is the key for you. I agree that having a plan makes everything seem more manageable.

@gingermama29 I’m glad your clinic is open to changing protocol if needed next cycle. I loved music too! Had fun playing violin and piano through high school.

@kiki047 I hope you got good news at your lining check this morning!

@shortstack930 Sorry for the exhaustion (and inevitable SS)! Hopefully it is for a great reason.

@keikilove We watched the Superbowl because a lot of people we know are Bengals fans, but MH and I are pretty indifferent. I actually enjoy watching sports more when I don’t have a vested interest in a team. I’m sorry you’re so exhausted! I’ll feel a little hope for you, if that’s okay.

@mambo5-2 Glad things are moving quickly for you!

@anniemarie887 Ugh, that stinks that you won’t have any of the results before you meet with your OB. Also, that “friend” sounds kind of terrible and I think skipping the party would be good if it will help your mental health.

@acleverusername I hope your meeting with TEW goes well today! Those were some very thorough results and I will be curious to hear what you find out.

@optimistgardener Still sending you massive hugs. *TW CP* My period after my CP was delayed by a few days (as would be expected) and a little heavier than typical.  

optimistgardener

thanks @abjm0325. sometimes people who take letrozole will ovulate more than one follicle, thus giving you a better shot at pregnancy in a given cycle (hence they will usually warn you that this can result in a higher likelihood of twins, although if you're over 35 probably this is not something worth worrying about). i believe (but don't know) that there is also some data re: letrozole helping to produce better quality follicles.

Re: leaving behind the midwife, I found myself in similar circumstances being encouraged to move along to the RE after the women's clinic I had been going to for IUIs got sick of me. I was offended at first but wound up wishing I'd gone sooner. It's reassuring to speak with people who actually know what they are talking about.

Edited to close my parenthetical.

acleverusername

@optimistgardener hugs friends; I'm really really really sorry. Do you plan to discuss any additional testing with your RE? 

@abjm0325 I'm sorry that you find yourself on this side of TTC. I'm with @optimistgardener in that Letrazole can help ovulated more that 1 follicle (but doesn't always; depends on dosage). It will give you something new to try at least as you wait for your RE appointment. 

Okay, summoning @inthewoods23 and @keikilove again. I actually got hands on my ReproSource labs, and there's a bunch of abnormal stuff on it, including NK activity stuff. Posting the results of those in the spoiler. Your commentary is most welcome! 

fantasyflyte

@optimistgardener hugs for you

acleverusername

Okay update from the desk of TEW: 

First of all, leading up to the call, I spent about half an hour going back and forth with her via e-mail, and also calling Pregmune because they were giving me shitty responses. For example, I called and asked my on my report, it says my NK activity is normal, when on Reprosource, it says "too high" by RI standards. Well, their answer was that they use lab reference ranges, and by those, my NK activity is within range. But as @inthewoods23 alluded to earlier, RIs like to see that number lower. In fact, the report does say that patients with immune diseases usually have a higher level of NK activity. 

Then we get on the call and she's like "they should be giving you a consult; there is no reason for you to pay $900 for a piece of paper. You can just get those labs run, if that were the case, without paying the $ for an expensive piece of paper." Anyways, she e-mailed Dr. Vidali with her concerns.

Also, between yesterday and today, I actually found a "recommendations" page in my report and it's lackluster. Attaching image of it in the spoiler: 

So she points out that recommendation # 2 has "the patient may benefit from using IVIG as a second line of therapy." BUT... there's no first line of therapy listed. So, WTF? 

I've also since joined a Pregmune Facebook group and seen others' results. First of all, in those results, the "patient" is called by name (i.e. so, instead of saying "the patient could benefit.." it says "Clever could benefit..."). In others' reports, they also prescribe medication doses. Finally, they also made a mistake in MH's birth year. 

TEW couldn't tell me what the Anti-HY immunity thing means because... once again... she's not an RI. 

Otherwise, Doc Aimee said that the PAI-1 we can handle with BA and Lovenox. She said she always does BA anyways, and she's totally comfortable with doing that for me. 

We discussed my protocol and decided on estrogen patches to prep my lining, and PIO for progesterone. She also said that we can start as soon as next period (which is imminent), while we figure out the other things with Pregmune.

So, I think I'll be starting prep with this next cycle. 🤞🏻

I guess one more thing: I did ask her "what would we do different if this transfer doesn't work?" and she said that it's hard to answer that now, before we have the results of ReceptivaDx/ERA/EMMA/ALICE back. But, she could recommend an intrauterine PRP wash. But she doesn't feel like it's necessary now. 

Edited to add: She did actually say that most ppl who get this report have a "Below Average" Live Birth Success Rate; whereas ours is "Above Average." However, it says "as long as recommendations are implemented." So we just need to figure out what those recommendations are. 

acleverusername

Oh on a light note, TEW told us that we're a great genetic match, and congratulated us on marrying well. Lol. 

inthewoods23

*lurking*

@acleverusername haha marrying well. Love it. As for your point on the "second line of therapy" - it likely states it that was as there are other meds you can/should try first to reduce your NK cells (I think it's tacrolimus and plaquenil) before doing IVIG since IVIG is SUPER expensive and insurance likely doesn't cover it because it's not currently FDA approved for use related to pregnancy/RPL. It seems much easier to get approved if you have some kind of immunology/autoimmune diagnosis. On my paperwork it stated undetermined white blood cell disorder or something like that. Without insurance each infusion can be $2k-5k and depending on your issue/diagnosis, that could mean an IVIG infusion every 2-3 weeks up until your 3rd trimester or something. So cost adds up fast!

acleverusername

Ha! Just called Pregmune again (3rd time today) and they're like "Dr. Vidali has been alerted and will reach out to you directly." Lol. Thank you TEW!!!

anniemarie887

@acleverusername it sounds like you’ll be getting a revised report!!

OB f/u went well today. And magically she had all of my labs! So I’m focusing on the good news, which is everything is normal/negative. No concern re diabetes, thyroid, any blood clotting issues. While it means we don’t have an answer, I am choosing to focus on that I’m not dealing with a life altering and lifelong medical diagnosis. Just an uncooperative uterus. She was like you’ll be a nervous wreck when you do get a positive again bc brains are cruel to us, and call me asap for labs etc. I’ll TW out of abundance of caution with MMC/d&c talk/pg ppl in OB offices. 

The waiting room was packed, this is why I hate afternoon appts. But again my OB saves the day with compassion, it’s what I think is considered a large practice (10 Drs), and she came and got me from the waiting area and took my to a private spot again to keep me away from the multiple pregnant women waiting. Physically I am healed, she said it can take 3 mos for my cycle to come back after a D&C and we are benched until I have a period. That is def one thing they are old school about, same rules with the CP. The thought of losing three months was a bit of a blow. My friend said hers came back at 5 weeks, I’m 3 weeks post. So here I sit hoping for AF ASAP. Never thought that day would come. Have to mourn the reality that it means there’s certainly hope I get pregnant this year, but I won’t be holding a newborn in my arms in 2022. 

We’ve still got an appt with Shady Grove March 14, and at this point I figure it can’t hurt. 

optimistgardener

@anniemarie887 that's very thoughtful of your OB, and yeah, kind of a weird toss-up re: it being good news that there's nothing obviously wrong but also kinda like, ok so then what is the deal. i feel ya.

AFM: ugh. so my follow-up appointment with the RE (I'm forgetting what people call this but I want to call it the what-the-f**k appointment) isn't until almost the end of March. Apparently my RE's office is just overwhelmed with clients, which is a real pity because I don't exactly have time to waste and I also am not in easy traveling distance to any other offices. I guess(?) I'll call the office back and ask if i can be penciled in for another retrieval whenever that might be so that I can at least put my name on the calendar, regardless of what happens at the RE sit-down.

anniemarie887

@optimistgardener can they do something faster virtually? At least so you have a starting point? That wait is so unfair, I’m really sorry. (Maybe try messaging your dr on the portal? I know sometimes front desk staff don’t get the urgency)

optimistgardener

@anniemarie887 it's a good thought but sadly everyone at the clinic knows me all too well. the woman at the front office got on the phone with me and before she even said anything else she was telling me how sorry she was to hear about the outcome of my transfer. she's promised to sneak me in earlier if something opens up.

anniemarie887

@optimistgardener damnit, not the answer I was hoping for.