IF Testing and Treatment w/o 6/27

mambo5-2

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 (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): 

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

How are things going?: 

Any questions?: 

GTKY: Its Fourth of July week for our American members.  What are you favorite 4th traditions?

mambo5-2

Diagnosis (if you've been): RPL, MFI, Possible Funky Blood

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): IVF - Beta on Thursday

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): We've done retrieval and transfer and now we are waiting on a beta.

How are things going?: I'M SO ANXIOUS. I'm nauseous, my butt hurts from PIO, my boobs hurt also from all of the meds, I'm tired. 

Any questions?: How will I calm my brain until Thursday?

GTKY: Its Fourth of July week for our American members.  What are you favorite 4th traditions?  Old Navy Shirts, I found a picture of me wearing one in my youth and I have a desire to purchase them. 

acleverusername

I'm baaaaaaaack. 

@mambo5-2 I would just lean into your anxiety and accept it. The wait will be tough, no doubt about it. That's what I usually do... accept the inevitable. It actually works to calm me down. 

Diagnosis (if you've been): I'm going with "unexplained fertility" now. 

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): TI

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): I'm going all in on my new functional medicine protocol, focusing on liver detoxing, inflammation reduction, hormone balancing, and egg/sperm quality improvement. Some new things I'm trying: red light therapy over my abdomen to improve egg quality; castor oil packs overnight to improve circulation to my ute. Exercise (walking) every day. Also revamped my vitamin list. I did get a post-D&C SHG on Saturday which showed my ute is scar-tissue free so it's time for baby makin'! But also, my ute look like a jalapeño (spotted my MH). 

How are things going?: Things are going well. I'm both excited to be trying again, and also feeling so over it. We're going to try for 3 months without meds; if that doesn't work, we'll try 3 months with meds; and if that doesn't work, we'll move to transfer in January. I think it's a very solid plan. 

Any questions?: Nah. 

GTKY: Its Fourth of July week for our American members. What are you favorite 4th traditions? I'm not American and haven't been in the US log enough to form any traditions. I'm looking forward to celebrating Canada Day on Friday though. MH promised to make Nanaimo bars. I'm trying to see if I could source some cheese curds and make poutine. 

mambo5-2

@acleverusername what are Nanaimo bars?  Also share the poutine please!

acleverusername

@mambo5-2https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020098-nanaimo-bars 

optimistgardener

@mambo5-2 oh dude, i hate the PIO so much. I hope you get great news on Thursday! I've got no idea how to deal with the anxiety but my instinct is that @acleverusername is right that you may as well just lean into the anxiety and be one with it, whatever that means for you.

@acleverusername welcome back!! how goes the detoxing? and nice jalapeno sighting there

Diagnosis (if you've been): my ovary walks with a cane, has a giant hearing aid, and plays bingo at the retirement community center every tuesday night

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched):  IVF retrieval #4!

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Baseline u/s on the 2nd! fx things look good. I'm honestly very curious whether the omnitrope (if that's indeed what caused it) is going to carry on making my AFC better than expected, or whether I'll be back to "normal."

How are things going?: Pretty ok apart from like everything else going on in the world, and especially in our country *gestures aggressively in all directions.*

Any questions?: i did the math a week or so ago and realized i didn't have quite enough omnitrope to get me through till the retrieval. but i figure if i go like .005ml short (my dose is .14ml) every day, i'll still more or less be getting my hgh microdose and all those .005mls will add up and deliver me to retrieval day without having to buy an extra vial of the expensive stuff. This is not really a question but uh, can i retroactively seek your permission to do this, internet friends?

GTKY: Its Fourth of July week for our American members.  What are you favorite 4th traditions?
I've been an American my whole life but our family have never really had much tradition around the 4th. I suppose as a kid we used to drive up to the hill at the back of our property and watch the city fireworks while sitting on the hood of the car. it's been years now that the fireworks have been cancelled because of fire danger or covid or whathaveyou, but maybe they'll do them this year and I'll go watch them.

rockstarmomma152

Can I tell y’all how I’ve checked this board several times today and left when I didn’t see any flags for new posts in threads I had posted in, wondering why it was a ghost town today. Just now, at 10pm I realized it’s because there are all new threads. 😂🤦‍♀️ I’m smart, I swear. 

Diagnosis (if you've been): old.

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): IUI, TWW

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Clomid, Menopur, Ovidrel, IUI. I try not to test until 14dpo.

How are things going?: my body hurts because of my recent car accident (whiplash) and then I think I aggravated it by going kayaking this weekend. Half annoyed that I have errands to do to get my car fixed, and half grateful for the distraction in this TWW. My parents’ dog’s birthday is next weekend, so I found a dog cake recipe and cannot believe myself. 

Any questions?: nope

GTKY: Its Fourth of July week for our American members.  What are you favorite 4th traditions? I don’t love fireworks, but I love the tradition of going to a big show. I much prefer that to my male relatives setting them off in the yard and me having extreme anxiety that someone is going to get hurt or killed. Sparklers are more my speed, but even they make me a little nervous. They’re always more explosive than I remember. I like regular summer things though - watermelon, tomato sandwiches, peach ice cream, swimming pools. I’ve had to order a bigger swimsuit, but it’s cute and red, white, and blue so maybe it will get here this week!

optimistgardener

@rockstarmomma152 i lol'ed at the idea of your baking a dog cake for your parents' dog.

rockstarmomma152

@optimistgardener - me too, girl. Me too! 😂😂 I bought it a “happy birthday” cake topper today too. I’m allergic to dogs, so I can never really pet her, so I have to show my love in other ways. It is pretty ridiculous though!! She loves when I stay the night there because I’ll make her scrambled eggs and bacon and peanut butter toast for breakfast. 🤡🤡🤡

rockstarmomma152

Also, @acleverusername and @mambo5-2 - can I just share this perhaps unpopular opinion that cheese curds seem so weird?? I don’t get it? Squeaky cheese?

optimistgardener

@rockstarmomma152 my dog is learning about this fancy breakfast stuff and wants to know why i've been withholding from her all this time. also you didn't ask me but yeah, your anti-cheese curd UO is indeed unpopular. which reminds me that we should bring back our weekly UO thread around here.

rockstarmomma152

@optimistgardener I’m willing to be unpopular. On the plus side - y’all can have all my cheese curds. I’ll likely eat one just to hear the squeak and remember how weird y’all are for liking them. ☺️

Edited because typo!

mambo5-2

@optimistgardener FX for your retrieval! I for real LOL'd at your ovary description. 

@rockstarmomma152 I need to not pee on things, it's just making me sad. 

acleverusername

@optimistgardener you have my "permission" to mess around with Omnitrope dosage. The other option would be to post in a local IVF group asking if anyone has some leftover, but that's probably not available to you. As for detox, it's going OK. For now I'm just focusing on not drinking anything during the week. I haven't started taking supplements for detox yet. Just really easing myself into eating well / exercising / detoxing so as not to shock my body. 

@rockstarmomma152 I can only do squeaky cheese in a poutine, where the hot gravy has melted the squeakiness out of it. Plus, you need to have the freshest of curds, which really makes a difference to the texture. Please share photos of this dog cake once it's done. It's so sweet that you make your parents' dog scrambled eggs and bacon. I bet she just LOVES you. 

elle-0409

@mambo5-2 Fingers crossed big time for you!! Thursday is almost here.

@acleverusername Poutine is so good. Enjoy! How do you like the red light therapy? I've only just recently learned about it.

@optimistgardener Good luck with your ultrasound! And I love retroactively getting permission from the Internet as well.

@rockstarmomma152 I'm so sorry about your car accident! And you're so sweet for baking a dog birthday cake.

Diagnosis (if you've been): RPL, LPD, geriatric

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): Benched

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): I'm going in for my HSG/HSC tomorrow morning. It was rescheduled twice (once because I had the sniffles and the second time because the birth control they put me on made me bleed a lot). I'm also following a lot of the advice from the book It Starts with the Egg, so I'm on a hundred supplements and monitoring my environmental factors to help cut back on endocrine disruptors. You know, fun stuff.

How are things going?: This is my first time working with an RE, so it's a little overwhelming. I'm nervous that she'll find something, but then I'm also nervous that she won't if that makes sense.

Any questions?: Ugh, so many. But here's one: I went in for an ultrasound the other day (not a day 3 baseline), and I had 14 follicles in my right ovary and six in my left (because I had a big follicle measuring at 27mm taking up space). At first I thought these numbers were good, but then I went on Google (terrible idea) and now I'm wondering if the high number could be a sign of PCOS. I really shouldn't Google things, but I don't have my follow-up with the RE until next month.

GTKY: Its Fourth of July week for our American members.  What are you favorite 4th traditions? Nothing too exciting. Grilling, having an adult beverage, overthrowing the patriarchy...

Edited to keep it to one question. 

acleverusername

@elle-0409 I'm sorry you find yourself in need to be posting in the IF thread. Your follicle count doesn't seem to be indicative of PCOS. Of course, that's not the only PCOS symptom so take that with a grain of salt. But generally, if you had >20 follicles, that would be a cause for concern. 

elle-0409

@acleverusername Thank you. ❤️ I’m pretty sure that I did some bloodwork to test for PCOS, but my results aren’t all in yet. A huge “thank you” for welcoming me onto this board.

mambo5-2

I'm emotionally preparing for what I am sure will be a negative beta tomorrow. I've had all the negatives. BOO

optimistgardener

ugh, i'm sorry @mambo5-2. huuugs

rockstarmomma152

I’m so sorry @mambo5-2 ❤️❤️ Sending thoughts of comfort and peace

gingermama29

Checking in briefly. Family vacation took a crappy turn as my SIL tested positive for Covid yesterday and is staying in the same house as all of us. She’s isolating in a bedroom and so far we’ve all tested negative but the wedding is tomorrow so things are a bit stressful. All of us are vaxxed and boosted thankfully so as long as we continue to test negative, we’re all going to be masked for the wedding. 

@mambo5-2 sending hugs and crossing fingers for a positive beta.

@elle-0409 that definitely sounds like a PCOS amount of follicles. My US tech always describes my ovaries as looking like chocolate chip cookies with how many follicles I have. 

@acleverusername glad you’re back in treatment!

@optimistgardener cracking up at your ovary description. 

@rockstarmomma152 I’m sorry you’re still dealing with after effects of your car accident.

elle-0409

@mambo5-2 I'm so sorry. Sending you hugs.

@gingermama29 Oh, no! Fingers crossed that the rest of you continue to test negative. How stressful!

I had my HSG/HSC/endometrial biopsy done today. I'm a little tender and sleepy from the anesthesia, but it's not too bad. After the procedure, my doctor came in and said, "So bad news, everything was textbook perfect." I know that she really wanted to find something, but it's also kind of a relief that there wasn't anything alarming in there. I'm still waiting on bloodwork results and it will take about a week for the biopsy results to come back.

acleverusername

@mambo5-2 I am so sorry for all the bfns. Hugs.

@gingermama29 oh no! Covid is the devil! I hope you get to enjoy your brother’s wedding even in masks. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

@elle-0409 I forgot to answer your question re: red light therapy. I’m quite enjoying it! If nothing else, it gives me a chance to be still for 30 min, something that I have a hard time time otherwise. I’ve downloaded all of the Bridgerton audio books and am making my way through them while my eggs rejuvenate. At least that’s what I’m telling myself. The device is also good for wrinkle treatment so I’m eager to try it on my face soon! And I’ve used it for my hand issues and I think it helps. Too soon to tell though. 

optimistgardener

@acleverusername wait whaaaaat is this magical device that reverses age and why haven't i been told about it

elle-0409

@acleverusername That sounds amazing! I'm going to have to look into it more. I'm glad that you're enjoying it.

mambo5-2

Beta was officially negative, waiting for the RE to call to make a game plan. 

mambo5-2

Game plan, straight to FET next month. 

optimistgardener

ah damn @mambo5-2. i'm so sorry.

how do you feel about the game plan though?

mambo5-2

@optimistgardener They gave me several options, from another retrieval, waiting, or going straight to FET. For me straight to FET makes sense and if it doesn't work then we are done. I am ok with that as much as it sucks. 

emeraldduchess

@mambo5-2 I am so sorry. It really, really sucks to go through meds, retrieval, transfer and get a damn BFN. All the hugs. 

@elle-0409 is the "Starts With An Egg" book overwhelming? I have thought about getting a copy and following it, but I feel like I might get overwhelmed or feel like I messed my body up already and there's no reversing it. 

@acleverusername can we call your uterus spicy from now on? The jalapeño thing made me LOL.

@rockstarmomma152 the dog birthday cake is the sweetest thing ever! We are going to need pics of the pup enjoying it.

@gingermama29 noooooo! Damn Covid. I hope you guys manage to escape it and your SIL feels better soon. 

@optimistgardener your ovaries can come hang out with mine in their rocking chairs on the front porch. They can knit and yell at the neighborhood kids to get off their lawn. 😆

emeraldduchess

Diagnosis (if you've been): AMA, officially "unexplained IF" but possible progesterone/LP issues and my AMH is inconsistent at best. 

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): WFAF

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): N/A right now but we'll try prenatal vitamins, TI, OPKs, all that. 

How are things going?: A-OK!

Any questions?: Nah. 

GTKY: Its Fourth of July week for our American members.  What are you favorite 4th traditions? We don't really do anything now except watch the Pops and fireworks on TV (if we even remember). When I was growing up I loved going to the local parade with my family and then going to a cookout at my aunt's house after. There aren't a lot of local fireworks shows where I've except ones of the "untrained morons setting them off on the beach" variety. 🤦‍♀️ 

anniemarie887

Hi all 👋 will try and do a proper check in on Eurostar tomorrow. Zero downtime on this trip! Air Canada screwed us over and we lost a day being trapped in Montreal (ugh! @kiki047 I am never flying them again!!)

but I just wanted to chime in and say I’m sorry @mambo5-2

acleverusername

@mambo5-2 dang; I'm sorry dude. Has your doctor proposed transferring 2 embryos? 

@emeraldduchess spicy uterus it is! Lol. Should I change my username? I know you didn't ask me, but re: It Starts with an Egg... for the brief time I was in my Dec 2022 BMB (on Discord) the other ladies there CRUCIFIED the book (most ppl on the BMB had either loss or infertility experience). To be honest, I have it, I've skimmed it, and ultimately... I think that you're better off getting advice on vitamins / supplements from a naturopath or a functional medicine doctor. I definitely went all out with my vitamins at the outset of my TTC journey and something that my current functional medicine doctor said really resonated with me: "that's a lot of stuff for your body to process" and she paired down what I was taking quite a bit. 

@optimistgardenerhttps://www.blueova.com/lighttherapyfemalefertility#:~:text=LED near-infrared light therapy,uterine lining, and reduce inflammation. Check it out! 

acleverusername

Okay, I've got high B12 levels... thoughts? Google is unkind. 

mambo5-2

@acleverusername I only got one on ice. My fertilization rate sucked

acleverusername

@mambo5-2 oh I'm so sorry. I must have misremembered your final blast report. *hugs*. This next one _WILL_ take. 

emeraldduchess

@acleverusername thank you! Yeah, I have heard of a lot of people reading the book but not swearing by it. My RE also said aside from CoQ10 (which she didn't have 100% faith in), there wasn't a whole lot I could do to improve egg quality (unless I could turn back the clock). 

@mambo5-2 I am so sorry about the low fertilization rate. I have been in that same boat and it royally sucks. 💜 

mambo5-2

@acleverusername they thought I would have 2 make it on day 6 but one didn't make it. It is what it is. 

elle-0409

@mambo5-2 I am so, so sorry. We're all cheering you on for the next cycle! Hugs.

@emeraldduchess I LOVE It Starts with the Egg. There's a lot of information in there, but it wasn't all applicable to me so I either skimmed or skipped those parts. In her second edition, the author prefaces the book by saying that it is impossible to cut out every single endocrine disruptor/environmental factor that exists. We'd have to live in bubbles, so just do your best. The book was not daunting to me, but TW: I was fresh off of my second missed miscarriage and was hungry for information. I wanted to feel like I could control at least something.

Since reading the book I've switched prenatals, started taking CoQ10 Ubiquinol (600mg/day), and added in several more supplements/antioxidants. I also try to use only "clean" products and cut out the highest offenders (nail polish, perfume, and hairspray). We've also stopped using our plastic coffee maker and do pour-over coffee with water heated in a stainless steel kettle. (For the most part, I only drink decaf, and it's not decaffeinated by using chemicals, but by using the Swiss Water Process.) Some of the things in the book line up with what my RE recommends, and some don't. For example, my RE suggests supplementing with L-arginine, however the book says that if you have no blood flow issues L-arginine can possibly be detrimental to egg quality. It's important to run by any questions about your personal situation with your doctor.

Aaaaaaaaannnndddddd that was a really long answer. So sorry!

@acleverusername I'm not sure about the high B12 numbers. When are you able to speak with your doctor? Sorry that Google is the worst.

rockstarmomma152

Ugh. Took at test this morning (12dpo) and bfn. Now i wish I wouldn’t have done that.

optimistgardener

@emeraldduchess i only have one ovary, which places her in the extra spinstery category. she'd love to spend the afternoon shouting at local kids while hanging out knitting with your ovaries, though. she gets lonely.

@acleverusername i have no direction for you re: the high b12, except to say that we normally don't run our bodies through all these tests; there are probably a lot of us out there with somewhat wonky numbers in various categories but since we don't know about them, we are unworried. if your doctor wants to try to track down the cause of this high #, then go for it. but try to take some comfort in the fact that you're generally healthy and feel good. i think your first culprit here should be the supplements you're taking now or have taken in the past year. maybe it's taking your body a long time to push all that extra stuff on through. spoilering just because

so i have a tendency to fall down the dr. google rabbithole with fears about my various aches, pains, and unusual findings, so i ran a quick google search to see what kinds of things dr google has thrown at you. let me just say: if you had liver or kidney or hematological disease, i think you would probably know for other reasons that something was wrong. you'd be losing weight, feeling really sick and run down, your body wouldn't be processing nutrients well, your bloodwork would look funky (kidney and liver disease both have "signatures" that stamp themselves all over your bloodwork well before elevated b12 tends to kick in); if leukemia were at issue, that would likewise be showing up with some unpleasant accompanying symptoms. etc. 

AFM: i take out the nuvaring tonight and get my baseline u/s tomorrow morning!