IF Testing & Treatment w/o June 12

britters314

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 would you sing at karaoke night?

britters314

Diagnosis (if you've been): Unexplained

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

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Acupuncture (both H and me)

How are things going?: Good. I did notice a difference in my chart after my acupuncture session. My temps dropped and were lower than usual (I’m WTO still). Today it did go back up, so idk if the effects are wearing off or it was actually just a coincidence, but I do have another session on Wednesday so we'll see what happens after that. Chart in spoiler since I mentioned it.

Any questions?: Nope

GTKY: What would you sing at karaoke night? I hate it when I put the GTKY question and then realize I don't have an answer for it lol. I'd probably choose something overdone like Don't Stop Believing. Though I will come in and edit my answer if I think of something better.

tangiblycool

Diagnosis (if you've been): N/A

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

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Crossing fingers that we are starting our first IVF cycle this month. Just waiting on my period to start and then have to go for a baseline ultrasound. 

How are things going?: I'm anticipating starting this week or early next week.

Any questions?: I'll probably have more questions soon

GTKY: What would you sing at karaoke night? Nope, nope, nope. I don't even think I could even if I was drunk enough.

maggiemadeit

Diagnosis (if you've been): RPL, DOR

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

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Still on the bench after surgery

How are things going?: I'm frustrated. My cycle was looking so so good before all this IF testing, and now my last 3 cycles (excluding the 20ish days of HBC to prep for surgery) have this weird pattern I don't understand. I get my positive OPK, fertile fluid and fertile cervix position at the same time, but then there is this huge delay in the temp shift (between 5 and 7 days!) and a short (9 day) LP. I don't think my body is gearing up and failing to ovulate and then trying again later, becuase I never get another positive OPK or more fertile fluid. It's like my body can't figure out how to transition between the phases correctly. I'm starting to worry that I'm slipping in to some peri-menopause pattern or something. I have my follow up with my RE in 2 weeks and I am going to ask for her thoughts and then ask her for letrozole and progesterone. 

Any questions?: NATM

GTKY: What would you sing at karaoke night? I agree with you @tangiblycool there is no amount of alcohol that would compel me to sing in public. 

stormageddon-darklordofall

@britters314 Did your RE recommend the acupuncturist?  Or how did that get started up?  Are you 'enjoying' it thus far?

tangiblycool  Fingers crossed for you!

maggiemadeit  Have your cycles every done this in the past?  Or is it maybe strange from the surgery? Ugh... tell your ute to get it together!    (I try with mine, but it doesn't work, so hopefully yours listens better!)

Diagnosis (if you've been): Unexplained RPL.

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): testing ahead of attempting IVF.

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

How are things going?: SLOWLY.....  So I tried to start this whole shebang with the start of my new insurance coverage in January.  Had to wait until February for a tele-health appointment.  Went to get my IUD out in March....  couldn't grasp the strings.  Had to wait until the end of April so I could take awful meds and they could go spleunking for my IUD.  Turns out the strings were up IN my Uterus.  Then I had to wait until I had an entire cycle, and then finally when I got the NEXT cycle, I could go for testing.
That leads up to this past week when I went and got the CD 3 testing and bloodwork, and then the Saline Sonogram with some bloodwork.... ouch
And now apparently I can't get an appointment to discuss the test results until July 20th.  And I'm all like "Let's GOOOOO!!!! I'm running out of months and I'm Old As F*"  So I sent them a message like "yo peeps, my insurance runs out at the end of this calendar year and IVF will no longer be covered in 2024.  So yinz need to get the show on the road..."  Squeaky wheel gets the grease?

Any questions?: So I've been THIS far before... what I haven't done before is IVF in any part.  So, assuming I would get some amazing July 20th "We are greenlit!  Things look GREAT, let's IVF!"  What's next / how long do I have to wait for each of the next steps (we'll have to genetically test embryos BEFORE implantation due to RPL).

GTKY: What would you sing at karaoke night? Um, I HAVE sung "When I think about you, I touch myself" at karaoke.  Also some duets as I match pitch way better than just going at it on my own... 

babylonghorn16

Diagnosis (if you've been): PCOS

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

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): FET! start my meds tomorrow!!

How are things going?: on track to transfer July 3! Excited to get going. This would be my 3rd live birth and rainbow baby. I did IVF 7 years ago and had my son. Daughter was a complete surprise 8 months later. 3rd baby was conceived naturally but ended in a MMC at 16 weeks - that was 2 years ago. FET will be done using embryos from 7 years ago! Science is  amazing.

Any questions?: anything I’ve missed out on in the IF world in the last 7 years?

GTKY: What would you sing at karaoke night? Gangstas Paradise - it’s fun and everyone loves it. Karaoke is my jam!! 😆

inthewoods23

@britters314 when I used to create the threads I sometimes posted a question just because I was interested in what everyone else would say even though I wouldn't have a clue what to say as my answer . I'm curious if acupuncture can affect temps! That's really interesting.

@tangiblycool would you do karaoke with a friend or a group? hide behind someone else's terrible voice haha

@maggiemadeit I've heard from others that there is some research showing that the temp shift from BBT can be delayed from when you get the LH surge. Not sure how strong that research is, but it's interesting. I don't think the difference was more than 3 days though. 5 to 7 days later seems way too late!

@stormageddon-darklordofall hey friend! What an absolute sh*tshow with the IUD and now the wait to discuss your test results! I mean WTF why is the wait that long??? Did you ask to be put on a wait list if there's a cancellation to discuss sooner? None of that stuff should take more than a few days for the results to come back!! Let me dig up my IVF calendar and see how things went. I know for me I was on BCP for a bit because they like to have everybody all on their schedule. There was CD3 testing again and from there was the start of the injections. That goes on for like 10 days then it's egg retrieval time. Any embryos that make it day 5 they'll biopsy and freeze and do the same for any that catch up on day 6. It can take up to 2 weeks to get the genetic testing on the embryos back. My clinic did a mock transfer just to ensure good placement of the embryo for the real thing. CD3 testing again when I finished BCP and began the injections again for transfer. Now, my clinic is pretty darn slow with things by making people's cycles work for their schedule. My first cycle and set of BCP that started us on the path of IVF was in April. I had the ER about 2 months later in mid June. Late June I started BCP again and took that until about mid August. The next cycle was the FET cycle which took me into early/mid September for the actual transfer. Now hopefully for you there isn't any months long waiting like I had.

@babylonghorn16 I recommend introducing yourself in this week's Newbie thread so we can get to know you. Also please refrain from discussing any children in this thread unless it is EXTREMELY relevant to the conversation. Many of us are still working to conceive our first child. That's not to say you can't discuss previous IVF/FET attempts. Any specific mention of kids is best left for the TFAS thread.

Diagnosis (if you've been): autoimmune stuff, need lots of progesterone

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

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): need to probably get pre-authorization/determination for a genetic test that was missed the last time I did this testing BOOOO. Lame. Otherwise there's other basic labs that need to happen. For now I need to confirm that my OB can perform an SIS and a biopsy for endometritis. I was unfortunately right at the end or just outside of the window for the SIS (must be done between CD6-12 when you're not bleeding) when I had my consultation so that won't get done until next month. Oh, and a skin and eye exam. I guess that's required to get put on tacrolimus and plaquenil if needed.

How are things going?: Things are fine. So many things to do that I need to keep on top of in addition to work and everything. Ugh! Definitely don't think I'll be getting the green light in 2 months which is fine with me. 

Any questions?: Nope

GTKY: What would you sing at karaoke night? All the Small Things by Blink 182. I always go with pop-punk for my karaoke songs haha.

britters314

@stormageddon-darklordofall I’m not working with an RE anymore and when I was she never suggested acupuncture. I had H try out acupuncture for some sleep issues and figured since he’s there he could mention our fertility issues too. I wasn’t going to do it but H had such a drastic improvement with his sleep issues so I decided to give it a shot for a few cycles. I do enjoy it. Other than the part where the needles are actually being put in, it’s actually a pretty relaxing experience.

maggiemadeit

@stormageddon-darklordofall That’s so exciting that you have insurance coverage and you can try IVF. I’m sorry the process is moving so slowly.

We just went through the testing but decided not to pursue IVF with PGTA (that was the recommendation) so I haven’t done it myself but I can share the timeline my RE laid out for me. She expected that once all the testing was done it would take up to 4 weeks to get insurance pre-authorization (mandatory for my plan). Then we could start the retrieval. The genetic testing of the embryos takes 4-6 weeks and then hopefully a transfer cycle. In my case we would have likely needed to repeat the retrieval part 3 or more times to get enough embryos for testing (low AMH and I’m 40). The genetic testing is not covered by insurance and was several thousand dollars to test up to 6 embryos. 

tangiblycool

@inthewoods23 I would actually probably do that, and only after a few cocktails hah.

tangiblycool

@britters314 I’m hoping to do acupuncture pre and post transfer. My H changed jobs so I no longer have benefits at the moment, but I’m starting a new position where hopefully I will have 80% coverage for acupuncture soon!

britters314

@tangiblycool Wow that’s great coverage! I think ours is 70% coverage but only after we meet our deductible. Although even out of pocket the cost isn’t that bad, which is nice.

maggiemadeit

@tangiblycool @britters314 I am jealous! My insurance with cover acupuncture but not for fertility. I have been paying for weekly treatment out of pocket. It adds up! 

britters314

@maggiemadeit Would the acupuncturist have to actually tell insurance what you were there for? Like would they be able to say you are there for migraines or something and then just also do some points to help fertility?

tangiblycool

@maggiemadeit I’m surprised they are asking what the acupuncture is for. I know where I am they just direct bill to the insurance company and don’t ask what it’s for. Sometimes they need a doctors note, but its usually for massage only.

tangiblycool

YAY!! My period finally came tonight. It’s like 1:30am here but I will be calling the clinic to book my baseline ultrasound.

babylonghorn16

Sorry! I used to be active on here in 2016… it’s VERY different now. Trying to figure out wtf all these acronyms mean LOL. I feel old… 

best of luck to all of you. ❤️

stormageddon-darklordofall

@babylonghorn16 Has it really changed that much?  I've been on here since 2015 and it still seems the same to me....  

babylonghorn16

@stormageddon-darklordofall I didn’t remember all of these weekly posts, but it’s coming back to me now. The TTCAL threw me and then I kept reading “w/o” as without 😆🤦🏼‍♀️… I figured them both out. Also, I don’t get notifications on here like I used to! So it’s hard for me to stay updated. Might just be my phone. Or maybe it’s just my memory failing me. 

Anyway, glad to be back! (Kind of)