IF Testing & Treatment w/o 4/18

abjm0325

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 ballgame. 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 will you do today (or this week/month) to pamper yourself?

optimistgardener

Diagnosis (if you've been): elderly ovary

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): benched, waiting to bleed so I can start BCP

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): I started taking omnitrope last week, I'm trying to be good about keeping my drinking to a minimum, getting all my ducks in a row for the upcoming stimulation cycle

How are things going?: not terrible? i've been kind of avoiding thinking about the reality of another stims cycle, but i'm going to have to at some point since it's coming right up.

Any questions?: nah

GTKY: What will you do today (or this week/month) to pamper yourself? Hmmm. I feel like I just did a nice thing for myself this past weekend, heading out to the coast with friends for 2 nights. This coming week I guess I'll just have to do something else to pamper myself? Maybe I'll bake myself a fruit crumble with some of the frozen blackberries I still have around from last summer.

gingermama29

Diagnosis (if you've been):  PCOS

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):  TWW, I think

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

How are things going? Things are good. I triggered Friday afternoon and am thinking I O’d yesterday. My temp went way up this morning so that seems pretty likely. So now we play the waiting game.

DH and I made great progress on our attic! All the carpet is ripped out, we sealed and primed the wood and have laid most of the vinyl tile. All we really have left to do is the edges of the room and corners, which is more time consuming since we have to cut the tiles to size. We also need to put the baseboards back on. But it looks awesome and I am so happy with it! 

Pic below if you’re curious:

Any questions?: nada 

GTKY: What will you do today (or this week/month) to pamper yourself? I just had the last week off which was definitely much needed! For pampering today, I want to do my nails and put fresh sheets on the bed.  

gingermama29

@optimistgardener oops looks like we posted around the same time. That fruit crumble sounds amazing! What does onnitrope do?

optimistgardener

@gingermama29 Fresh sheets sounds like a good idea! I think I'll do that too. Omnitrope is human growth hormone, which is not FDA approved, but which studies seem increasingly to be showing does positively correlate with increased egg retrieval #s and very possibly with a higher percentage of "good quality" eggs (both in terms of grading and euploidy). It's an injectable so it's back to me and the syringe, again.

Also an addendum to my post above to say that IVFPharmacy is such a pleasant and impressively professional company to do business with. I just got off the phone with them. They are always super on the ball about communications, and, best of all, their prices are amazing. Highly recommend them to anyone who can get their clinic to work with them and needs to pay for prescriptions out-of-pocket. In spite of now having fertility prescription coverage, I'm still buying my menopur through them as the markup on the covered prescription is so high that I would go over my $10k limit just in buying enough drugs for 1 round (by contrast, past rounds buying my drugs through IVFPharm and 1 or 2 small things through Freedom Pharmacy have resulted in a per-round cost of ~$3k). Buying my menopur through IVFPharm means I buy the same amount of drug for less than half of the copay asked of me by the pharmacy my insurance works through.

thankfullyamama

Diagnosis (if you've been):  ANovulatory PCOS 

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): I guess technically benched until my follow up appointment on the 26th 

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?):  the clomid did not result in ovulation unfortunately this cycle  

How are things going?: bummed they clomid didn’t work. I honestly wouldn’t have been bummed if I ovulated and didn’t “catch” the egg but the fact that I didn’t ovulate at all sucks because now it’s like ok onto the next thing 

I was going to do a monitored cycle with a trigger shot and progesterone next but unfortunately my clinic is a 4 hour drive away and I would need to take 1-4 days off within a two week period for the monitoring and I obviously can’t do that my first two weeks at a new job lol so we will revisit that in a few months I guess. I am going to ask for provera to induce a withdrawal this time as I don’t want to be taking 21 days of BCP between every cycle because it’ll just take 2-3 times longer than normal and I’m assuming they will increase the clomid dose to 100 and I’ll start on the metformin and just try another TI unmonitored cycle at home! 

Any questions?: I think I’ll start temping again this cycle as I can now wake up at a consistent time with my new job (yay) I just have a BBT thermometer BUT I know there are lots of fancy thermometer gadgets out there and especially for PCOS so does anyone have one!? If so thoughts/reviews? 

GTKY: What will you do today (or this week/month) to pamper yourself?
I’m going to get a facial laser treatment done Thursday to have nice glowy skin this summer! I’ll also have to go shopping for some business casual wear and makeup too for the new job so that will be fun! (I currently only own scrubs and leggings and don’t wear makeup because I wear a mask 24/7 lol) 

gingermama29

@tryingktogku could you possibly do monitoring locally? My RE is an hour away and they let me do my USs and blood work at my local hospital which is only a mile from my house. May be something worth asking, though I don’t know how different it is where you are (Canada, correct?). Sorry the Clomid didn’t work for you. Have you done Letrozole before? 

thankfullyamama

@optimistgardener good luck with reducing your alcohol intake! It can be hard this time of year when the sun starts shining and everyone seems to be having a cold bevy lol I’ve also decided to just completely cut alcohol out for now (however I can NOT cut out my daily cup or two of coffee lol) and a fruit crumble sounds delicious!

@gingermama29  ya for O day! It seems like the new protocol is working good in making you ovulate! And omg your attic looks fantastic I love the flooring choice it looks similar to what we just put in our basement actually! And omg yes nothing like clean fresh sheets! 

And I asked to do it locally and they said no or I could have totally gone ahead with it 😢 and unfortunately I can’t take letrozole right now but the clomid did result in ovulation in the last so I may just need a bigger dose 🤷🏻‍♀️
 

mambo5-2

Diagnosis (if you've been): RPL, MFI, and possibly funky blood

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): Holding......

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?):  Is crying an applicable option?  I don't even know at this point.  Waiting

How are things going?: Things suck, they really really suck.  I had a mild answer and they took it away from me.  And the week that all happened my RE was out of town.  So I am just going to sit over here and pout.  I do have injection training this week.

Any questions?: Nope

GTKY: What will you do today (or this week/month) to pamper yourself? ... um... nap.  I like to nap.  I think I am going to try to get a pedicure this week. 

mambo5-2

@optimistgardener
I will be writing that pharmacy down. Sounds like we will be out of pocket for meds. 

@tryingktogku
I also am in a mask all day.  I wore makeup one day and my friends were like, you know how to do your makeup.  I am lazy and don't want to wear it under a mask. 

@gingermama29
your attic looks fantastic. 

bearmomma1

@optimistgardener the whole minimize drinking thing is very tough. I usually do so good for the week, and then the weekend just ruins it all. Also, not thinking about what's coming up can be beneficial I think. Better to focus on the present and then deal with what's to come when it comes?

@gingermama29 those floors look great! are you laying them yourselves?

@tryingktogku did you ever go back for another blood test to confirm ovulation? or just sticking with the one you did at cd21?  I was told by one of the nurses at my IF clinic (in so many words) that clomid will start to build in your system when you do back to back cycles. Like Last time, my first cycle with clomid didn't get me to ovulate until CD 21 or so, and then the next round I O'd at cd 15.  Hopefully the higher dose and/or the next cycle will do the trick!

Diagnosis (if you've been): DOR, luteal phase defect

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): clomid, us monitoring, trigger, TI, progesterone

How are things going?: going well. My period from hell is finally subsiding. 2 days of clomid down, 3 to go. I ordered my trigger shot today, and I'll start OPK's on Sat, then first US next Monday.

Any questions?: 

GTKY: What will you do today (or this week/month) to pamper yourself? I really need to get a pedicure. Maybe I'll schedule that today. My feet need some care after the long cold winter.

optimistgardener

@mambo5-2 some clinics are weird about using the pharmacy because it is out-of-country (based in Israel, and they often ship their medications from Turkey). The quality of their drugs, however, are A+ as they abide by US and EU standards, and I guess part of why they are so on the ball and also cheap is that Israel has a v. pro-natal policy. So if you can convince your doctor to work with them (they do have a US office) you'll save a bunch of money.

thankfullyamama

@bearmomma1 I was going to go today (CD 26/ possibly 7dpo) BUT I couldn’t get out of work so I may try and go tomorrow in the name of science haha and that is good to know! I am hoping the combination of the metformin abs clomid work. The one time clomid did make me ovulate I was gluten free dairy free caffeine free low carb and alcohol free and doing yoga daily for like 9 whole months prior to using it. And this time I am eating and exercising like a normal perosn but my hormones don’t like that lmao. 

How do you find the clomid affects you!? 

anniemarie887

@optimistgardener oh i hope you had a great weekend on the coast, that sounds lovely! your baking talk always makes me hungry, in a good way. i haven't baked anything in since february. oops. 
@gingermama29 the attic looks AMAZING!! remind me what you are going to use the space for? also fresh sheets, esp when you've just showered are the best! 
@tryingktogku oh, i haven't done any lasers but that is high up on my i would like to do list. have you done it before? what kind are you doing? i have a friend who has done fraxel a few times. 
@mambo5-2 crying is absolutely a status, and i feel you on it.
@bearmomma1 yay for ordering your trigger!
@kiki047 you doing ok lady?

Diagnosis (if you've been): uncooperative uterus... RLP aka TBD

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): purgatory

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): another monday, another hcg draw...

How are things going?: they are going, i mean truthfully i'm pretty effing busy and don't have loads of time to dwell on the mess i'm living in re ttgp. we had a lovely, warm, day saturday and spent it outside at a friend's house on the water. but we're back to cold rain today.

Any questions?: natm

GTKY: What will you do today (or this week/month) to pamper yourself? well, i went ham last week with a hair appt and botox. we have a wedding this weekend, i am tbd about if i am going to paint my own nails or just keep treatin' myself and get them done. 

thankfullyamama

@anniemarie887  I’ve had 3 Fractora and 3 IPL treatments in the past because I had some deep pitted acne scarring and now I’m doing PICOSURE for three treatments which is supposed to just get rid of fine lines, tighten pores, even complexion etc like make you glowy! I’m absolutely obsessed with medical aesthetics lol when I’m done attempting to have (or hopefully have)!children i am planning on a breast reduction, potentially some cool sculpting (abdomen and thighs) and preventative Botox to age gracefully 😜 

kiki047

@anniemarie887 thanks for the tag, sweet friend. I've been popping in and out all day trying to find a spare moment to update but ER + long weekend + tax season + upcoming event = extremely stressed Kiki. 

Diagnosis (if you've been): PCOS, RPL/RIF, mild MFI but this is mitigated by IVF

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WFFET I suppose!

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Hopefully our 7th FET, this time with a different protocol (TBD at my baseline on Wednesday) and with an elective double embryo transfer (dun dun dun....)



How are things going?: Retrieval went well, although really kicked my ass this time. Full recount in spoiler but TLDR: They didn't give me enough fentanyl and I woke up in the middle again so they gave me more which was bruuutal.

I'll preface this by saying that I have a history of waking up in the middle of surgery, it's happened to me twice as a kid and now twice as an adult, but I also don't tolerate anaesthesia well so it's a nasty combination.

Anyway, my ER went well I think, other than having vague memories of waking up and looking around and then not remembering anything until an hour later when I needed to puke my brains out in post-op then proceed to pass back out. The nurse kept coming in going "oh, you're still sleeping?" They eventually let MH in to help me get dressed and drag me down to the car. I basically slept all the way home (save for waking up to eat some of MH's french fries) and slept from about 5pm-9am the next day. 

Clinic called before 7am with our Day 1 update, which we missed because we were dead to the world and our phones were still on Do Not Disturb until 7am. And I didn't think to add the clinic's # to MH's Important Caller list because they called him and not me. They got 28 eggs, 23 of which were mature, and 16 fertilized. As of Day 3 all 16 were still developing. I'm expecting a big drop-off at this point, this is where we usually lose them, but still hoping for a decent # to send for testing. Next update is Wednesday.

Other than that, my post-ER withdrawal period has already arrived in full force (woof) and my RE said I could come in for my baseline this week to talk FET prep. 

Any questions?: I asked my nurse this question and she said to keep taking it but I was given letrozole and cabergoline to ward off OHSS after my retrieval, and I still have 4 days left. I assume this is going to skew my baseline labs but obviously my RE will know this (and I will remind him) when I see him on Wed so that shouldn't matter, right? 

GTKY: What will you do today (or this week/month) to pamper yourself? I need to book a massage, I'm walking a very, very fine line of hormone-induced rage that threatens to blow up on some poor, unsuspecting victim at any moment so I shall follow @anniemarie887's lead of cycling away the rage and also hopefully some relaxing massages and retail therapy because I need shoes for the wedding I'm in next month. 

kiki047

I just spent 35 mins at the end of my day composing that so I'll be back later for tags but thank you everyone for your messages and encouragement last week. I will say, this was the first ER where I felt like I was going in with a clear(er) headspace and a peaceful heart. I felt much more prepared both physically and emotionally and I think that made all the difference. 

gingermama29

@mambo5-2 thanks! I’m sorry you don’t have answers and are stuck waiting. Sending hugs. 

@bearmomma1 thank you! Yes, we are laying the tiles ourselves. Glad your awful period is finally over. 

@anniemarie887 thank you! It’ll be a multi-purpose space but the main use will be my sewing and crafting room. We are planning to put a TV and futon up there too for a gaming space and maybe add another desk for an office space. I hope your HCG draw is finally back to 0 today. 

mambo5-2

I'm going to sit over here in my pout pout corner that is CD 8 which is too late to start BCP because my RE was out of town last week when the hematologist changed his mind. So I am going to waste this whole month sitting on my booty, for birth control next month. I don't want to, I may call again tomorrow to ask about a non birth control cycle again. 

anniemarie887

@kiki047 ugh tax season, I just googled when Canada’s tax day is, yuck. You’re not done today like we are in the US. I’m so sorry for that evil anesthesia, woof, but all the fingers and toes crossed for those embryos!! Not sure what kind of music you like, but the new rock series is fun. I did Weezer today and then a very calming Foo Fighters 10 min cool down ride. 

@mambo5-2 that’s really frustrating. 

gingermama29

@kiki047 oooh I somehow missed your update!! Yay for all those fertilized eggs!!! FX that they keep developing and you don’t get a big drop off! 

mambo5-2

@kiki047 I have also woken up during a surgery and had one done while I was fully awake at 13. It's a pretty strange experience. FX that there isn't a big drop off! Keep growing little embryos!

thankfullyamama

@kiki047 oh wow what an eventful retrieval! That must have been disorientating waking up like that I’m sos prey it happened AGAIN! And fingers crossed those embryos keep developing well! 

anniemarie887

Woe is me wagon coming in hot. HCG got processed super fast today, but last week was 39 and today is 37. My OBGYN is on vacation this week said she has a colleague watching for my labs. I’ll be curious to see what the feedback is and if this constitutes a “nadir”. 

optimistgardener

@anniemarie887 ugh dang it that sucks. i'm so sorry

laurenjh22

Diagnosis (if you've been): No diagnosis yet. Had blood work and an ultrasound done last week. Partner has a semen analysis booked in this week then we’ll have a follow up consultation to go through our results.

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW, think I’m 8DPO although could be out by a day or 2.

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): BBT, CM, CP, OPKs.

How are things going?: Not great. This cycle has been *very* wonky for me. Had multiple LH surges between CD10-20 but no BBT rise. By CD30 I’d pretty much given up all hope of ovulating this cycle, stopped OPKs and barely BD as we had pretty much written this cycle off and were also unsure when the semen analysis was going to be. Then completely unexpectedly I got a BBT rise on CD37 so looks like I ovulated somewhere around there, I get a slow rise so can’t be 100% sure which day. At best we BD once 3 days before so I’m not feeling very hopeful.

Any questions?: No thanks

GTKY: What will you do today (or this week/month) to pamper yourself? I’m getting my hair done tomorrow. Thinking of going a little lighter again for the summer 😊

optimistgardener

hi @laurenjh22 sounds like you've had a very funky cycle! We've had some folks on this thread and elsewhere on the board (including recent grads) who have had great luck with metformin in helping to regulate their cycles. hopefully your docs will recommend something that will help your cycle to settle down. let us know what you learn about the results!

edited to correct drug spelling

laurenjh22

Thanks @optimistgardener! Good luck with your upcoming stim cycle. And the fruit crumble sounds delicious!

thankfullyamama

Sitting in the waiting room to get my progesterone drawn again to double confirm no ovulation this cycle surrounded by pregnant women doing their routine tests. Just Feels super shitty. 

mambo5-2

@tryingktogku
BOO! That really is shitty. 

bearmomma1

@tryingktogku I don't mind clomid at all, except I get some night sweats while taking it. Let us know what your progesterone results are. I hate being in a room with any pregnant person, let alone being in a room full of them.

@kiki047 daaang, waking up mid surgery? did you feel any pain? I hope your embabies keep on growing!

@mambo5-2 I'm sorry for your wasted cycle. I know how frustrating that is. I hope your RE and hematologist can get their act together and come up with a plan!

@anniemarie887 ugh no way. that totally sucks. Is the plan to still wait and test next week? how long has it been now?

@laurenjh22 I hope all your testing comes up with something to help regulate your cycles a bit. That does seem like a very wonky cycle. Have they all been like that or just this one?

anniemarie887

@bearmomma1 not sure, waiting to hear from someone... this was the 6th draw, 5 weeks of declining

eta:
@tryingktogku that sucks, you can always let your provider know that was hard and they may have another spot for you. mine does. 

abjm0325

@optimistgardener Your latest ovary description makes me imagine a sweet little ovary in a velour jogging suit sitting on a park bench feeding the birds and passing out butterscotch candies to people that pass by. Cute little elderly ovary.

@gingermama29 I love the floor in your attic! Fresh sheets is definitely going on my list for this week.

@tryingktogku I’m sorry the clomid was a bust this cycle and that you can’t do monitoring at another clinic. I have abandoned all pretense of temping, so I’m no help there. But yay for starting a new job! Also adding: the pregnant women in the doctor’s office thing sucks. I asked mine to always take me straight back and stick me in a room so I don’t have to sit in the waiting room.

@mambo5-2 So frustrating that you feel back at square one after thinking you had an answer. I hope the injection training goes well and that you can move forward without the BCP.

@bearmomma1 Glad AF is exiting the building! A pedicure sounds like a great idea.

@anniemarie887 I’m so rage-y for you about your HCG. Have they talked at all about next options yet?

@kiki047 That is a stressful retrieval! So glad you came out the other side okay and that they were able to get a good crop of eggs. Keep us posted on the developments. Sorry for my ignorance, but what would be considered a good number to get for testing from 16 developing eggs?

@laurenjh22 That does sound like a pretty wild cycle. How frustrating. I hope getting your hair done provides some needed stress relief.

abjm0325

Diagnosis (if you've been): TBD (some combo of RPL and age)

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): I think today is O

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): One more complete cycle of letrozole/progesterone before seeing the RE in May.

How are things going?: In TTC world, just trucking along. Always glad when O comes around because timing sex might be my least favorite part of the process (I mean, besides the whole not staying pregnant thing). In the rest of my life, work has blown up in a bad way. I was offered another position and on the verge of accepting when my boss announced he is leaving and the $h!t hit the fan. I am the #2, so the natural assumption was that I would be stepping in to lead this stressful transition. I’ve shared about my job offer with a few people, but what was already a difficult decision is now overwhelming in terms of complexity. I ultimately know I have to make whatever decision is best for me, but it’s impossible not to consider all of the people that my decision may (negatively) affect.

Any questions?: Not today. Unless you want to make a career decision for me, and then I welcome your input.

GTKY: What will you do today (or this week/month) to pamper yourself? I had no idea how much I would need this after I posted it! I’m loving the idea of clean sheets. Maybe I’ll do a face mask and pedicure at home one evening too.  

anniemarie887

@abjm0325 thanks, i'm currently waiting on a call back. oh man, that works stuff is no fun - but do not stay at your current job if that's not what is best for you. i do believe that, they'll figure it out if you leave.

Eta: Just got off the phone with my OB/GYN‘s colleague who’s covering for her, she said while painfully slow it is still going down and that she had a woman in a very similar situation and it took a long time. she gets it’s exhausting but keep checking it every week still, and recommends riding it out as long as it’s going down

thankfullyamama

I got my CD 26 progesterone back and it’s at like nothing also so I definitely did not ovulate lol I was holding onto a shred of hope if I am honest that I just did late but alas I suppose I am just going to have to wait until my follow up next week and go from there now. 

anniemarie887

@optimistgardener as Lizzo says, “I just took a DNA test, turns out I'm 100% that b*tch”

whoops. Meant to post in randoms. 

optimistgardener

@anniemarie887 i'll take that twice though. also i'm so, so so so, soooo sorry about your #

bumblebee0210

*lurking* 

@anniemarie887. I also had suuuuper slow-dropping betas after my first miscarriage. At first they thought I might be pregnant again, but it was just like the slowest-dropping betas in the history of time. It took about 3 months for me to get a period. I was fine, there was nothing wrong, it was just annoying. There is a sort of intense impatience (at least for me) that kicks in after a loss that made it especially hard. But I did go back to a normal cycle and *tw* got pregnant naturally *end tw* not too long after. But I feel you. It's the worst. 

anniemarie887

@bumblebee0210 i very much appreciate the lurk. it is sadly comforting to hear i'm not abnormal in this situation, i'm sorry for anyone who has had it be like this. there isn't a lot out there on the internets about it lingering for so long. and yes, intense impatience is so spot on. 

mambo5-2

I'm sitting here in my pout pout mood. But my meds got ordered, we bought a med fridge, my injection training is today. I won't start BCP until mid May and stims won't start until June. It was all just crappy timing, I'm super upset about it and had a good cry yesterday. 

I'm just super irritated.