IF testing & treatment w/o Apr 24

maggiemadeit

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 your favorite comfort food/meal? 

halfanewt

Diagnosis (if you've been): unexplained

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

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): right now stalling and waiting on another round of insurance authorization 

How are things going?: meh. As bummed as I am that it didn’t work, I’m glad that it only took an extra two days to find out. Feeling hopeful for the next one. 

Any questions?: nope

GTKY: What is your favorite comfort food/meal? Warm Ovaltine and peanut butter in graham crackers. I’m an adult, honest

britters314

Diagnosis (if you've been): Unexplained

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched: Still trying naturally this cycle 

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Trying naturally and researching REs near me

How are things going?: H and I are closer to being on the same page now, so now we are ready to look into REs again

Any questions?: Not right now

GTKY: What is your favorite comfort food/meal?
Not normally a comfort food, but Chicken Tikka Masala

maggiemadeit

@halfanewt I’m sorry. Hoping for the best for the next try. 

@britters314 Glad you and your husband are on the same page and good luck finding a new doc. 

Diagnosis (if you've been): RPL

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

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): No more testing this cycle. Will start birth control with my next period while I wait on a small surgery to removed RPOC scheduled for May.

How are things going?: I’m not sure if it’s a side effect of clomid (which really messed with my cycle!) or if it’s just the combination of life stress and IF testing stress, but I am an emotional wreck this last week and I am definitely not dealing with it in a productive way. Just trying to make better choices and stay focused on the goal, even though we won’t be trying again for a couple of months.  

Any questions?: NATM

GTKY: What is your favorite comfort food/meal? Ice cream. Ultimate comfort food. The amount I eat is directly proportional to how bad I feel 😂

I also agree with @britters314 that a good Indian take away is such comfort food.

optimistgardener

@maggiemadeit i've heard that clomid can play havoc with the emotions.

@britters314 agreed re: indian food!

@halfanewt i'm so sorry that your transfer didn't work. i feel ya.

Diagnosis (if you've been): geriatric ovary, uncooperative uterus. also, hi guys. i used to be really active on this board but i've been pretty much awol for the past few months since my last failed transfer. anyway, my basic story is in my signature, and i'm keeping like one toe in the water here at present but mostly lurking since it's unlikely i will do my next transfer till the summer months.

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

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): testing - my RE has decided that for my last embryo, we're going to do a natural cycle. in prep for that he's having me do an ERA test, which he says he doesn't really believe in but that we may as well, since insurance will cover it. i got a positive LH surge today and will do a lining check/ultrasound tomorrow and then the biopsy on sunday. it's bananas doing opk testing again. it's been a long time since i last was in that realm, and kind of amazing to me that my body even still performs that trick.

How are things going?: i'm extremely meh about it all. having a very hard time feeling any degree of faith that this transfer will work after all the other things that did not. but in a way, it's ok. it's been nearly 5 years now since i started trying, and i'm ready to make some shifts.

Any questions?: nah.

GTKY: What is your favorite comfort food/meal? i feel like all food is potential comfort food for me. i'm flexible so long as it is hot and flavorful and a little bit rich. i really love pretty much all forms of pasta. or veggie pho. or a big ol veggie burrito. or homemade dal and rice with a big spoonful of wholefat yogurt on top.

halfanewt

@maggiemadeit how did I forget ice cream?! What’s your favorite flavor? I’d have to go with mint chip or chocolate peanut butter. Yum. 

@britters314 big decisions are always so hard. Yay for being closer to the same page. 

@optimistgardener thanks. And fx that the natural cycle works for you! That said, it cracks me up how much monitoring, tests, and drugs still go into a “natural” cycle - at least for me 🙃

maggiemadeit

@optimistgardener Nice to see you. And way to go body for still doing the thing. 

@halfanewt Yes! A completely inappropriate amount of peanut butter cup ice cream was consumed this week! 

charmedlifex3

Diagnosis (if you've been): RPL, ama, blocked left tube

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): medicated cycle! Cleared to TTC!!! 🎉🎊

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): waiting on the results of some blood work, and medicated cycle. 

How are things going?:  glad to be able to actively TTC!  

Any questions?: 

GTKY: What is your favorite comfort food/meal? Enchiladas! 

maggiemadeit

Just because all this IF testing didn’t have me feeling old or stressed enough, I just had my first mammogram and of course there was something on it that needs further investigation. I know it’s rare that something they follow up on is serious, and I am grateful that they are being thorough, but man, I need another series of appointments like I need a hole in the head right now. Also getting a mammogram feels like unlocking a new level of adulting. The new level is called middle aged 😭

charmedlifex3

@maggiemadeit hopefully it’s just dense tissue or something equally banal! Good luck! 

@optimistgardener I’m always so hopeful on natural cycles 😂🤦‍♀️ hopefully it works for you! 

@maggiemadeit good luck with surgery! I’m sorry it puts ttc on pause, hopefully it goes smoothly. 

@britters314 we went through that recently too. My husband was adamant he’d rather start looking into adoption, than a RE. We finally compromised on trying with the resources we have from my OB, but since then (and finding out his insurance covers it in full) he’s on board with the RE now. 

charmedlifex3

Also- random question- if you are on a medicated cycle do you bother charting / opks etc or do you just aim for when it “should” be? Last medicated cycle in January we didn’t bother with all that, but before that we did ALL the things and it actually took longer - we were on our last cycle before IVF.  

britters314

@charmedlifex3 You may have made the right choice not going the adoption route, at least if you were going to try domestic adoption. When we looked into it recently, a lot of agencies weren’t even taking applications for prospective adoptive parents since not many people are placing their babies for adoption nowadays. That’s actually one of the reasons we are looking into fertility treatments now.

charmedlifex3

@britters314 yes it’s super frustrating when people are like “oh just adopt! Lots of babies need homes” 
No, that’s not really a thing. 

Also the level of trauma involved in adopting for everyone involved is real, and there are some ethical issues around international adoption I was NOT comfortable with. We also talked about surrogacy but I am against it for myself. I can’t fathom paying someone to take the risk for me, just for money, when I am capable of conceiving and carrying just because it’s hard and life threatening. If I couldn’t, or there was a preexisting relationship with the surrogate id feel better about it- But I’m absolutely not willing to pay ssomeone to just transfer the risk. 

So yeah. Back to TTC 

tryingmybest1

Hi everyone! Still new here, but I’ve enjoyed reading all your responses! (Trigger warning: someone else’s BFP) (not sure if I needed that but trying to follow all the rules!)

Diagnosis (if you've been): none at this point

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): trying naturally still

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): going in for an ultrasound today - I think to look for any blockages? I learned at my last OB appt that I need to bring a notebook because I do NOT remember what she said everything was for! I’m just doing all the things she ordered for me 😅

How are things going?: Not great, honestly. My last friend who wasn’t already pregnant/a mom just told me she’s pregnant (her first try). That’s a big reason why I’m on here - trying to remember I’m not the only one still on this road.

Any questions?: How do you survive each period?! I feel like hiding under the covers for a week.

GTKY: What is your favorite comfort food/meal? Pizza! I recently tried pizza with just bacon on it and it’s amazing

charmedlifex3

We got the genetic blood work back and it’s all normal! 🎉

charmedlifex3

Knottie- it may be a hysteroscopy- it’s an ultrasound but they also flush the tubes. Both my tubes were blocked, they were able to open my right one. We use fertility drugs to force the “good” side to ovulate 

inthewoods23

Diagnosis (if you've been): improper immune response in the ute, some autoimmune related stuff, and extra progesterone required

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): NTNP but maybe benched once I get started with the RI (like I'm gonna follow that  )

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): working on getting a consultation appointment set up. They did call me back yesterday and I sent off my previous records from this RI to them (he has his own practice now so he doesn't have these previous records).

How are things going?: oh fine. Just wondering how long this whole process is going to take before we can officially TTC

Any questions?: nope!

GTKY: What is your favorite comfort food/meal? hmmmm it depends on the season! My chicken soup and chicken pot pie is always a comfort. As a kid I always found pot roast and mashed potatoes to be comforting.

maggiemadeit

@charmedlifex3 That’s great news!

@knottie I am just at the beginning of the process with testing too. It’s so overwhelming. I have been taking copious notes. 

@inthewoods23 I hope you don’t have to wait too long! I also have autoimmune stuff related to fertility and I had a terrible flare this cycle during my clomid challenge. Definitely going to be discussing with my RE next visit.  

optimistgardener

hey there @inthewoods23!

also hello and welcome @knottie9a407c7c75169e7c - there are instructions somewhere on this site re: changing your user handle so we can more easily tag you, but honestly i think the actual method of changing your username is no longer as advertised in the instructions, so just mucking around in the user preferences until you find the right thing is probably just as likely to be successful.

just checking back in to be like, yup, blood tests confirm that i still ovulate. and who'dathunkit but i actually grow a better lining on my own natural hormones than when i'm injecting myself with a crapton of estradiol valerate or gonadotropins. on estradiol, my best lining measurement was 7.2mm. during retrieval cycles when i was taking menopur and gonal-f, it was maybe 8 (for reference, most REs consider a 7mm lining pretty marginal). all by my little lonesome on nothing but pizza, beer, and the occasional salad, i apparently grew a whopping 10.4mm lining! i head to my RE on sunday morning to get another biopsy and make sure it looks appropriate at 5DPO for a transfer, and then will likely disappear back into my little hideyhole for the next few months until the actual transfer happens. end-stage infertility stuff is really boring, arcane, and anticlimactic, guys. i don't recommend.

tryingmybest1

@charmedlifex3 I know it wasn’t a hysteroscopy bc they quoted me $1700 (no fertility testing/treatment is covered by my insurance). We just haven’t gotten to the point of being willing to spend that much, but I know we will if we continue waiting long enough for the BFP. 

 

@maggiemadeit It really is overwhelming. And I can’t believe how many different potential problems there are that I never knew existed 🙃

Also sorry everyone for my username - I’ve updated it but for some reason it’s not showing up on the forums. I’m hoping it’ll correct itself. 

inthewoods23

@knottie9a407c7c75169e7c try logging out of TB then back in. Hopefully that gets it to show up properly!

maggiemadeit

Nailed it @tryingmybest1 👍🏼

britters314

Hey, has anyone tried (or looked into trying) traditional Chinese medicine? I’ve tried acupuncture before but never any of the herbs. I’m thinking we might try that out next or in conjunction with IUI. I’m curious if anyone else has tried it.

maggiemadeit

@britters314 I have been doing the TCM thing for the past 7 months. I started with acupuncture then added the herbs maybe 5 months ago. I really like it, and my cycle was the best it has ever been in terms of regularity and the length of my LP. I have heard that TCM can have positive effects on male factor, so it might be worthwhile to have your husband look into it too.

Some downsides. The herbs taste awful. It also adds up in terms of cost with weekly appointments and formulas for FP and LP every month. 

Just a heads up, if you work with an RE they will probably recommend you not do the herbs. My RE was really positive about acupuncture treatment, but she asked me to stop taking the herbs because she is not qualified to know how the herbs might interact with Western medicine drugs and procedures. My acupuncture doc said this is standard practice with all her IF patients, but that in other countries it’s common to do both at the same time. 

britters314

@maggiemadeit Thanks for the info, that’s really helpful!