IF Testing & Treatment w/o 7.11

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 (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): 

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

How are things going?: 

Any questions?: 

GTKY: What is the best movie/TV show you have seen recently?

gingermama29

Diagnosis (if you've been): PCOS

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

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

How are things going?: things are good. I O’d on Friday so now we’re playing the waiting game. Not much to update other than it was kind of nice taking a break from all of the monitoring. My RE asked if I want to discuss options going forward if this cycle isn’t successful. I said I wanted to give it one more cycle with the trigger before we look at other options since *TW* I’ve gotten KU using it, it just hasn’t stuck. She agreed with that thought.

I’m also restarting a workout program today. Getting Covid on top of my loss destroyed all of my motivation in May and I want to get back into my routine and exercising regularly.

Any questions?: nah

GTKY: What is the best movie/TV show you have seen recently? DH and I are on a Marvel kick at the moment so that’s 90% of what we’ve been watching. I enjoyed the Loki series. Also catching up on Better Call Saul and enjoying it thoroughly. 

kiki047

Diagnosis (if you've been): PCOS, RPL/RIF, some MFI, and the fibroid doesn't deserve an honourable mention but she's kind of the elephant in the room right now. 

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): WFAF to start FET # 8

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): I started spotting last night so AF is imminent. Still don't know what the plan will be for this FET but I'm determined to make it work. 

How are things going?:  I had a good couple of days over the weekend with DH doing things we love (golf, hosting friends/family), no major triggers, didn't even have to see my asshole BIL because they were away, it was all just good for my soul. That said, I walked into work this morning and my stress level immediately shot up but that's kind of unavoidable. 

Any questions?: NATM

GTKY: What is the best movie/TV show you have seen recently? Like @gingermama29 we've also been working our way through the Marvel universe so we just finished the Falcon & the Winter Soldier and have started Wandavision, but we enjoyed Loki the most out of the 3 of them. We also got caught up on Season 3 of The Umbrella Academy, which was weird and too twisty for my liking but I'm not going to waste any more brain cells trying to make sense of it. Honestly the best thing we've seen lately was The Queen's Gambit, which we finally decided to watch like 2 years after it came out. 

kiki047

@gingermama29 good for you for getting back into your workout routine. I also fell out of the habit, but back in February, and have just been too depressed and unmotivated to give a damn. I'm determined to do something though, even if it's just yoga and not getting back on my Peloton. 

From last week:
@rockstarmomma152 to answer your question about monitoring, @optimistgardener is right, it really depends on the clinic. My first clinic had me come in daily and I was usually there for about an hour every morning for BW and US, and I only saw my RE 2-3 times during stims. They would call me in the afternoon with my instructions for dosages, etc. With my current clinic, I only had to go in every 3 days but I'm there for anywhere from 3-5 hours each time. It's obnoxious but I see my RE every single time and he personally reviews my scans, BW, etc. It's hard to say what is better. I have to drive over an hour downtown to get to this clinic (as opposed to 20 mins that was on my way to the office) so I definitely wouldn't want to have to go daily because the commute alone would take more time than I spent cumulatively at the last clinic including the appt itself, but the 3-5 hour wait to see my RE is really disruptive to my schedule and is just a huge waste of time sitting in a packed waiting room with about 30-50 other disgruntled women hopped up on hormones. I'd say closer to the end they usually monitor more closely so you'd probably want to stay nearby during that time, and also have somewhere to stay overnight following your retrieval because you won't be allowed to drive yourself after being sedated for the procedure. 

@abjm0325 no, not all progesterone is created equal. Optimist is right, PIO > suppositories > oral pills, but within the suppository hierarchy there's a difference between the crinone gel, tablets, and compounded "bullets" as I call them which is usually a coconut oil suspension. From what I know, of all the suppositories the compounded ones are the best absorbed because the delivery method is the most direct, then the gel, then the tablets which take longer to break down and have more filler. My last clinic had me do both PIO and compounded suppositories to hedge our bets. That said, it may take some trial and error to see what is most effective for you to get your levels to where your Dr wants to see them. There's not a lot of data out there as to what the optimal level is because it's not directly correlated to pregnancy/birth rates. A deficiency is bad but otherwise supplement to treat LPD and to help sustain the lining through the TWW (and hopefully beyond). 

bearmomma1

@gingermama29 Monday's are a good day to start a new program! What are you going to get started with?

@kiki047 Glad you had a good weekend! I hope AF arrives ASAP so you get get going onto your next FET.

Diagnosis (if you've been): DOR, LPD, unexplained

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

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

How are things going?: going well actually! After my last 2 weird/early O cycles, It seems we're back on track with a normal period and still low LH readings as of CD 6 today. US on Friday to check on follicles and I'm hoping my body will respond better to the letrozole  than clomid. I'm enjoying Letrozole better already as it's easier to swallow (clomid always got stuck in my throat for some reason) and not having any nighttime hot flashes.

Any questions?: nope

GTKY: What is the best movie/TV show you have seen recently? Stranger Things! I'm so sad it's over for now. We absolutely loved this season. I don't think the next one comes out until 2024 and that seems like such a long ways away. ETA: We also saw Lightyear on Saturday. It was SO good! I teared up many times though. darnit Pixar!

mambo5-2

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

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

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Estrodiol and PIO for transfer

How are things going?: I have way more feelings on these meds than I did on stims and its sucky. 

Any questions?: Nope

GTKY: What is the best movie/TV show you have seen recently? I have watched and rewatched The Summer I Turned Pretty and I love it

optimistgardener

@gingermama29 good luck with getting back into the exercise habit! it is always such a hurdle to get back into habit of things.

@kiki047 thanks for your wealth of knowledge about progesterone! and glad you had a good break with YH this weekend. i hope some of it can carry through to the work week.

@bearmomma1 so glad to hear that this cycle seems like it may be shaping up to be more on the "normal" side of things.

@mambo5-2 fingers crossed hard for your FET this cycle.

Diagnosis (if you've been): old

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

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): ER #4 (and #2 of a 3-round sequential retrieval)

How are things going?: eh. I had my stims day 8 monitoring today. the TL;DR is that results from my monitoring did not look great, but I'll trigger tomorrow sometime for a Thursday retrieval. Details in spoiler:

My stims day 5 monitoring on Friday showed a fairly even cohort of 8, maybe 9 with the largest at 13. So I've been kinda wondering the last couple of days why I haven't been feeling more pressure around my ovary if they were all growing the way they should. Anyway, the nurse who did my ultrasound today found 3 eggs all around the 18-20mm range, with another 2 littles around 10-12mm, and then like 5 tinies well under 10. This is not, of course, ideal. She was obviously disappointed and said she was going to run it all by the RE to get his opinion, but he was in a retrieval procedure so they weren't sure how long it would take. They put me in a separate room to wait. Anyway, just a couple of minutes later their most junior of nurses came in and said I'd be triggering tonight. I was like, just 3 eggs though? And she was like, I don't have your chart in front of me but if that's what they saw then yep. So I sort of blindly went through with signing the paperwork and getting walked through all the details of the retrieval, etc., and then I left and walked out to the parking lot. But as I was pulling out of my parking space it sort of hit me that 3 follicles is worse than my "bad" cycle in November, and they almost pulled the plug on that one, soooo.... I reparked the car and walked back into the clinic and was like, "do you think I could talk to {} the senior nurse? I'm not sure if I should go forward with the retrieval." The front counter person said she would see what she could do.
The next thing I knew, the RE himself came out and sat down next to me in the middle of the (empty) waiting room. We talked over the monitoring results and he expressed optimism that my two 10-12mm follicles might yield mature eggs. I am not so sure of that, so I asked whether it would be possible to hold off on triggering until tomorrow to hopefully get those two a little closer to a "safe" measure while hopefully not pushing the larger follicles too far. To which he responded with an "absolutely." But he wants me to come in tomorrow for a final check, and to make sure my e2 keeps going up and doesn't crater. He asked the scheduler to carve out 15 minutes from his calendar for me tomorrow to do the u/s and make sure everything still looks ok before I trigger. Anyway, I feel somewhat better about this plan than I did about the prospect of triggering tonight. And I am very grateful to have an RE who listens to me and is willing to be flexible.

Any questions?: naah.

GTKY: What is the best movie/TV show you have seen recently? Like Bearmomma I'm all in on Stranger Things. I just finished season 4 and, I am not ashamed to admit, turned right around and started watching the first season again. I'm actually impressed by how much of it holds together, and how much of the plotlines the writers must have had organized even from the very beginning. Sometimes when you go back to the beginning of a show you can see where they kinda didn't have it all mapped out yet; this doesn't seem to be the case here.

elle-0409

@gingermama29 Best of luck with the workout program! I'm trying to get back into the habit again. What kind of workouts do you like to do?

@kiki047 The Queen's Gambit is sooooooooo good! I'm sorry that your job is so stressful.

@bearmomma1 Pixar always makes me cry. They definitely know how to get you in the feels. I'm glad that you're doing better with the Letrozole!

@mambo5-2 I've never heard of The Summer I Turned Pretty. I'll have to check it out.

@optimistgardener Good for you on listening to your gut! It sounds like you have a wonderful RE.

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

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

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

How are things going?: Good! My RE went over the results of my husband's and my labs, and it mostly looks good. I did find out that I am positive for one copy of the C677T variant of the MTHFR gene mutation, which means that I need to take methylfolate instead of folic acid, but I was doing that anyway thanks to It Starts with the Egg, and my homocysteine level looks good. I also got a positive ANA test, which screens for autoimmune disorders. My RE is sending me to a rheumatologist, and once I get released from them we will move forward with a medicated/monitored cycle.

Any questions?: Does anyone here have the MTHFR gene mutation? Because I only have one copy of the C677T version, my doctor said I didn't need to change my diet or anything. I'm still doing some research on it just in case I want to help my body work optimally.

GTKY: What is the best movie/TV show you have seen recently? We are finally watching Ted Lasso and I love it! The first season was a masterpiece, and the second season is very interesting.

acleverusername

There's nothing to see here, but I can't remove the spoiler. 

@gingermama29 I hope two cycles is at most what you need to get a good sperm to meet a good egg. 

@kiki047 sounds like an excellent weekend! I have to agree that Queen's Gambit is EXCELLENT!

@bearmomma1 hooray for not O-ing on CD6! Hopefully you're see a nice follicle or two this weekend!

@mambo5-2 when is your transfer planned for? 

@ella-0409 I have 1 copy of A1298c. I take extra methyl folate in the form of Methyl-Guard (from Thorne). This was something that was recommended both by my 1st RE (she recommended taking 4mg in total; many  prenatals have just a fraction of that) as well as by my current functional medicine doctor. 

Diagnosis (if you've been): Unexplained Infertility (official); unofficially, it's Unexplained Fertility, some MFI, Hashimoto's, Bad Eggs, and a dose of risk for thrombosis. 

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

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Following my functional medicine doctor's protocol for improving egg quality, balancing hormones, and detoxing my liver. This week I'm doing the DUTCH test. 

How are things going?: They're going fine, but I'm honestly not really feeling it this cycle. I think it's because it's been so long since I've tracked my cycle that I forgot how frustrating it can get when O gets delayed (O is today, and it's CD21). I've gone through a full box of OPKs. And because it's been so delayed, we don't have good timing. Plus work has been crazy these past couple of weeks so I'm feeling drained. So, meh. I'm just calling this a practice cycle and hopefully all the good things I've been doing for my health will start to accrue and I will feel better / be more prepared next month. 

Any questions?: Not really. 

GTKY: What is the best movie/TV show you have seen recently? Before we cancelled Netflix (we did at at the end of June) we were watching a bunch of comedy shows and discovered a comedian we really like: Sam Morril. We discovered him on My Time with David Letterman which is also a really great show. Now I have dreams of doing a stand-up routine on infertility. Thoughts? 

bearmomma1

@optimistgardener what a wonderful RE you have! I love that he listened to your wishes and is perfectly Ok going along with them. And yasss. Good idea about starting back at season 1! I wanted to watch 4 again just to make sure I didn’t miss all the connections but starting back at 1 seems even better.
@mambo5-2 I tried watching summer I turned pretty and got a few episodes in. Need to keep watching.
@elle-0409 horray for finally getting your test results. I hope the next round of testing brings more positive results and that you can move with your cycle.
@acleverusername *gasps* how could you cancel Netflix?? Late O is annoying for sure, especially if you’re starting to BD early on. I hope there isn’t a next cycle for you, but if there all your functional medicine practices seem very promising! Whats a DUTCH test?

gingermama29

@kiki047 glad you had a good weekend with YH free of triggers! Also I really enjoyed WandaVision! It’s definitely important to watch that before you watch the new Dr. Strange movie.

@bearmomma1 I have a subscription to Beachbody on Demand so I’m doing the 645 program. I did it once before and really liked it. It’s a lot of strength training with a big emphasis on proper form which I need. I hope Letrozole is successful for you! I’m glad it’s easier on you so far.

@mambo5-2 FX for your transfer. Is it scheduled yet?

@optimistgardener I’m glad you’re RE was receptive to your concerns and willing to adjust the timing. Awesome for you that you advocated for yourself too!

@elle-0409 I’ve stuck with workouts on BOD. I generally like low impact ones though. Strength training, yoga, Pilates, barre, etc. I’m plus sized and really hate cardio cause everything bounces 😂. Glad results looked good for the most part. I don’t have any experience with that gene but it sounds like you’ve got a good plan going forward.

@acleverusername what is the DUTCH test? And I feel you so much on the frustration of a late O! Still have FX for you! 

anniemarie887

@gingermama29 girl i feel you on working out, my peloton account keeps emailing me like "we miss you! look at these fun new workouts!" it's so hard to get started again.
@kiki047 i'm so glad you had a nice weekend. i am also team Queen's Gambit being amazing, pretty sure i binged it during a rainy weekend which was the perfect vibe watching it as well.
@bearmomma1 so glad it seems like your body is cooperating better, and that the letrozole is easier to take! we still haven't tackled the most recent season of Stranger Things, but i'm very excited about it.
@mambo5-2 i'm sorry the meds are messing with you
@optimistgardener love love love your RE for listening to you and taking some extra time, i really think it makes a world of a difference when drs can be a bit more human vs clinical.
@elle-0409 i hope you get released from the rheumatologist asap, i had a slightly elevated ANA back in 2016 when i had a Lyme's diagnosis. it wasn't enough for the rheumatologist to think it was anything actually warranting a dx. 
@acleverusername the emotions of getting back "at it" are.... a lot. crossing all the fingers and toes for all the good things you are doing to take care of yourself!

Diagnosis (if you've been): uncooperative uterus/RPL, TDB?!

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

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): testing - just got my day 21 progesterone back (10.1 ng/ml) and insulin (5.0 uIU/ml). i have a pre-op physical today for the hysteroscopy on 7/26, and i meet with the RE to review everything on 7/21. i have bought so many protein loaded bars/drinks trying to gain these 5lbs she wants me to gain, so we shall see. i mean let's be crass here... but like one good poo can easily be like a lb. 

How are things going?: they are going. coming back from vacation crash is real. i spent a good chunk of yesterday looking at fractional ownership flats in london... just fantasizing about life ya know. started mentally planning two weeks in italy for fall 2024. distraction man, that's healthy right?! i said i was going to dive head first into some work goals but have been putting those off. oops.

Any questions?: natm

GTKY: What is the best movie/TV show you have seen recently? oooh, um... i watched the most recent Bond movie on the plane, i mean helllllllo Daniel Craig. always easy on the eyes. i also watched House of Gucci.... which was... horrendous. lol we have a huge list of tv to watch and it just takes us forever... if any of you liked the Wire, i recommend first reading We Own This City and then watching he HBO mini series.

edits for spelling 

bearmomma1

@anniemarie887 hahaha “one good poop can be a lb.” So true, that’s why I won’t weigh myself until after my morning constitutional 🤣

abjm0325

Back later for tags!

Diagnosis (if you've been): Old eggs, RPL, unknown

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

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): First cycle on clomid (in addition to all the other things)

How are things going?: Just trucking along. Probably will start testing Friday so I can stop progesterone if it's negative. In non-TTC, this is my last week off before starting my new job. I'm already all nervous about it, even though I know it will be fine. It will be hard to tell what of all the things (nerves, meds, implantation) will be causing the inevitable cramping these next few days. Gah. I wish I could just turn my brain off and enjoy this time at home. 

Any questions?: Got some answers to my progesterone question from last week (thanks!), but if anyone else wants to weigh that's still my current concern.

GTKY: What is the best movie/TV show you have seen recently? I'm behind on watching Ted Lasso, but loved it!

acleverusername

@bearmomma1 & @gingermama29 DUTCH test is a dried urine test that looks at a whole bunch of sex hormones and their metabolites. That's the best way I can describe it. I found these two resources in case you want to read into it further. I've heard the name DUTCH test floated around for the better part of the last 2 years (although only 1 or 2 ppl have mentioned it), so I've always been curious about it. Since my functional medicine doctor has me working on hormone balancing (and indeed, I generally tend to have low estrogen and low progesterone) this is going to be insightful. 

https://www.thehollandclinic.com/blog/dutch-hormone-testing

https://youtu.be/5IUEBawirgE

Crikey, I forgot @optimistgardener in my tags. I just wanted to say that I think you found the male equivalent to TEW! I'm so excited that he truly listens to you. Awaiting your update from today's monitoring. 

optimistgardener

@acleverusername thanks! i'm not sure if he's like TEW, since he is pretty down on highly tailoring people's protocols. but he does listen and he also is respectful of my ability to educate myself and understand the science (insofar as a humanities person can make that claim).
@abjm0325 i always struggle/d with trying to distinguish actual changes in my cycle from just general environmental/life stuff. good luck!
@anniemarie887 you speak the truth re: the weight of poop.

afm: a little good news. i now have 3 follicles between 20-23mm, and 5(!!) hovering around 12-16. I feel so relieved, and also can't believe a day made such a difference.

abjm0325

@gingermama29 Good luck restarting your workouts! If you fine extra motivation, send some my way. 😉

@kiki047 Sounds like a great weekend! Thank you for that great explanation about progesterone. I wonder if I should have mine actually checked sometime? Just so I know what level of help I might need. Sounds weird to say, but no one has ever actually tested my levels. Both the midwife and RE just prescribed it as a precaution because of the RPL.

@bearmomma1 Glad your cycle seems back to normal and that the letrozole has been kind to you so far. 

@mambo5-2 I'm sorry these meds have been more difficult for you. Hugs. 

@optimistgardener So glad your RE listened to your concerns. Grow little follicles, grow!

@elle-0409 I hope all of the testing provides some answers (and solutions) for you moving forward!

@acleverusername It is so frustrating when O is delayed. Ill be curious to hear what all you find out from the DUTCH testing!

@anniemarie887 Thinking about living in London is way more interesting than work anyway.

optimistgardener

ugh, it's a 2am trigger for me tonight. does anyone know if it's kosher to mix and draw up the injection at a more civilized hour (like, say, 9pm) and then wake up just long enough to inject it 5 hours later? I'd call my clinic about this but I feel I have caused them enough trouble today already.

acleverusername

@optimistgardener I'd get at least 1 more data point, but I would imagine that it's perfectly fine to premix the meds. I think about what compounding pharmacies do for micro-dose type of situation where the mixture if valid for 30 days from mixing as long as it's refrigerated. 

optimistgardener

thanks Clever!

kiki047

@optimistgardener late comment and no personal experience with pre mixing trigger, but I would think it’s fine as long as you refrigerate it. Different medication but my old clinic had me mix a full 75iu bottle of menopur, draw up half for a 37.5iu dose and refrigerate the rest for the next day. 

optimistgardener

thank you @kiki047! so far it seems like the paperwork in the box, various online instructions from fertility clinics, and you all agree that mixing in advance is fine if refrigerated. in dissent are a handful of folks on reddit. i think i'll trust y'all.

anniemarie887

@abjm0325 good luck re relaxing before your new job! I do wish these brains came with light switches 
@optimistgardener I hope you triggered and were able to get back to sleep!

afm - for the first time ever, blood did not want to come out of my right arm yesterday at my pre-op physical. It got halfway down the tube… and just stopped. So she had to do my left arm. I walked out of there looking like an idiot with both arms taped up. 

So far the bruises are minimal. 🤞🏼

mambo5-2

I need to respond to everyone but this week has been busy. I will get to it. I swears. 

My lining check was meh, 6.0, so I get to do more estrogen. Freaking joy. 

optimistgardener

@anniemarie887 nice blouse. i had to rock the two-arm taping the other day because my veins weren't delivering during monitoring bloodwork, so i feel yah. the poor phlebotomist struggled and struggled, and then the next time i came in she didn't really remember me, but when i referenced what a hard time she'd had pulling blood from me could hardly believe it because my veins looked (and behaved) great. she was like, "i can't believe i couldn't get blood out of you the other day, are you sure it was me that did your bloodwork?" what can i say my veins are dr. jekyll/mr. hyde.

trigger shot is in. trying not to worry about dumb things like whether i'm going to prematurely ovulate. retrieval is scheduled for 1pm on thursday. my big joy about this weirdly late appointment is that it's so late i can still sneak in a big cup of coffee and a crapton of water in the morning if i just set my alarm for early enough. downside though is that my RE is a compulsive talker and all his appointments run late, so i'm a bit worried by just how late things will be running by that time in the day. (point of humor, when i first started visiting this clinic my appointments with him would run wildly over time to the point where i'd be like, trying on behalf of whatever poor sod was scheduled to meet him after me to get him to finish what he was saying and leave, even though i enjoy our conversations. i think his nurses/office people got sick of him running over all the appointment times and so they've given him a little egg timer that he carries with him to every monitoring appointment. starts the clock, 15 minutes pass as he wields the wand and talks and then "dingdingdingdingdingding" and he abruptly stops talking and hurries to finish up the appointment. of course it only kind of works because half the time he starts in on some other "last minute" topic as he's headed out the door, and then the egg timer's not there to stop him and he just keeps talking till one of his people comes to collect him from the room. i don't really know that it's his minders that decided he had to carry this little device but if i were in charge of trying to corral this man's use of time i'd probably resort to the same.)

optimistgardener

@mambo5-2 oh sorry i think we posted at the same time. so sorry the lining isn't cooperating! and ugh to the continued estrogen. what's the delivery method? shots or patches or?

mambo5-2

@optimistgardener oral, and now we will do suppositories as well

anniemarie887

@optimistgardener thanks! and ugh, sorry you had what sounds like a similar experience. the phlebotomist was surprised bc she said my veins are good, and not scarred up from all the prodding the last few mos. i am crossing all the fingers and toes over here for a great retrieval tomorrow!!

got yesterdays lab work back, RE hasn't looked at it yet (she did sign off that progesterone and insulin were good!) i have 2 things that are just right out of the "green" range and like .1 over in yellow - globulin at 3.8 g/dl and red blood count at 5.2 million/uL. per dr google they're both in the normal, but high end range... the rbc could be from being dehydrated which truthfully yesterday i was on my 2nd coffee with no water. oops.

bearmomma1

@anniemarie887 that happened to me once when they drew like 11 vials of blood. My vein crapped out, but I definitely hadn't had any water that morning. They reminded me to definitely drink lots of water before a blood draw.

@optimistgardener horray for those extra follicles catching up! FX for a good retrieval tomorrow! It's so hard to not worry about things like timing, but these Dr's (hopefully) know what they're doing. Can't wait to hear about your update tomorrow.

@mambo5-2 sorry to hear about your lining. Hopefully the extra estrogen helps plump it up asap. when is your next check?

acleverusername

Good luck today @optimistgardener! Eagerly waiting for your update!

anniemarie887

@optimistgardener thinking of you today! 

elle-0409

@optimisticgardener Good luck!

@anniemarie887 Oh, no! I'm sorry about the Lyme's diagnosis. That can be brutal. And I'm also sorry about your veins! 

@abjm0325 I hope that you can get some relaxation in before the new job starts.

@mambo5-2 Sorry about the lining check. When do you go back in?

AFM, I have contacted a ridiculous amount of rheumatologists in my efforts to get an appointment before 2023. The earliest that I can get (so far) is early September, but I have appointments at three places and am on a cancellation/wait list for all of them. Fingers crossed that something opens up before September!

anniemarie887

@elle-0409 I hope you can get seen sooner but Sept isn’t bad in the land of needing to see a specialist. I know it feels like torture. Thankfully my Lymes was solved with a hefty 90 day dose of doxycycline! 

elle-0409

@anniemarie887 You are one hundred percent correct that September isn't bad, but my brain is impatient and irrational. Once I get cleared by the rheumatologist we can TTC again, so I'm viewing them as the gatekeeper to my future happiness.

I'm glad that your Lymes was able to be treated!

optimistgardener

checking in from the far side of my retrieval to say that they got 10 eggs. we'll see what fertilization looks like tomorrow. had a bit of a rough drive home; my mom had to pull over for me to vomit. now on the couch though considering my next move

anniemarie887

@elle-0409 I totally get that! Trust me, when I called my RE in march for an appointment and the soonest was May I was gutted. 

@optimistgardener I’m sorry for the puke, but hope you’re happily resting and got some good sleep. 

acleverusername

@elle-0409 @emeraldduchess: given that we were discussing ITSTE a couple of weeks back, I figured I'd share this thread: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/infertility/comments/vzj3ra/treatment_community_thread_fri_jul_15_am/ig8ngq9/?context=3

elle-0409

@acleverusername LOL! Different courses for different horses. I think that it's a common misconception that the author meant for everything to be taken as law. She just supplies the statistics and it's up to the individual to do their best... whatever that means to them. Me restricting EVERYTHING and being miserable will only lead me to be a stressed out lunatic, so I just do my best and decide what is the most important to me. I'm going to get a pedicure tomorrow, but I'm bringing my own phtalate-free, paraben-free, etc. nail polish. I don't wear perfume everyday, but I choose when it will make me happy to wear it. Thanks for sharing!

acleverusername

@elle-0409 you're totally right. The problem is that desperate and naive folks do take the book at its word thinking that it's the recipe for getting KU'ed. Especially in absence of medical folks who are able to provide advice to the contrary (most RE decry the benefits of supplements). I'm glad that you're balancing the advice of the book against your own needs. 

bearmomma1

@optimistgardener 10 eggs! Wowza! How amazing that the extra day you got probably helped grow that number.

Afm, I had my US today and I had 4 follicles! Three of them around 10mm and one at 7. My lining was at 6. I’m only CD 10 so all of this is very good news for me. Letrozole seems to be my friend. Next US is Monday and hoping everything keeps growing! 

acleverusername

@bearmomma1 Yayayay! That's fabulous. Would your doctor let you proceed with 3 follicles? 

@optimistgardener I'm on the edge of my seat, waiting for your update.