So I started my 3rd medicated cycle. I was doing well being positive and was pretty excited. Well, this week it has all gone downhill and I can't help but worry that this next cycle won't go as planned either and that I will never be able to have a child myself. I have always had a tendency to think negatively and plan for the worst so I am pleasantly surprised. But this negativity is pulling me down. I was wondering if any of you have ways that help you stay more positive - maybe I can steal an idea or two to help me get through this!
Thanks!
TTC #1 Since 7/2011
Me: 30, PCOS with anovulation
DH: 38, Low Morph & DE
Rx: Metformin 500mg
Cycle #1: Clomid 100mg + Ovidrel = No Response, Canceled
Cycle #2: Clomid 150mg + Ovidrel = No Response, Canceled
Cycle #3: Clomid 150mg + Follistim + Ovidrel = No response, Canceled
Cycle #4: Femara 7.5mg + Gonal-f + Ovidrel + IUI = BFP!!!!
~ EDD 03.26.14 ~
Re: How do you stay positive?
I just keep trying to remind myself that we are doing everything we can to add to our family and that even if we never end up with a take home baby, DH and I are leaps and bounds stronger together now than we would have ever been without this struggle.
June- Femara 7.5mg + Trigger + IUI = BFN August- Lap & Hysteroscopy = Blocked & Partially Blocked Tubes
September- Femara 5mg = CX - No Response on Left = BFN October- 100mg Clomid + Trigger + TI = BFN
IVF # 1: Stims 11/30 ER 12/12/12! (10R, 10M, 8F, 2T, 6 F) :: Beta #1- 176 c/p @ 4w4d
FET #1 February 26th :: Lost 4 to Thaw, Transferred 2 = BFFN
IVF # 2 Stims 5/10 ER 5/21 (15R, 13M, 13F, 2T, 7F- 6d3 & 1d5) :: Beta # 1- 15 c/p @ 4w
FET #2.2 Scheduled for September 20th
2 Thawed, 2 Transferred! Beta #1- 96, Beta #2 906! :: EDD June 10th
2015- 2 failed FET. We are done
SURPRISE! BFP 8/8/16 EDD 4/1/17
When I focus on planning visits with friends i haven't seen in a while, plan time reading the magazines in the magazine rack and focusing on my hobbies (sewing, knitting, travel), I feel like time passes but in a positve manner. I have had bad days, and agree that a good cry, a mini-pity-party, and a hug from my husband really made a difference. I created a new plan and began again. Look to what you CAN control, vs. what is not always within our control on this IF journey.
I'm actually planning out a menu for Mother's Day for a picnic with my husband. We're seeing our Moms the day before and are focusing our time on each other and celebrating in that way. Still debating our destination, but am really excited!
************** Siggy Warning************
Married August 2012 -- Me (40 yrs old) My husband (45 yrs. old)
RE referral from ObGYN in late Jan. 2013 -- Testing Confirms Unexplained IF
IUI #"s1 - 3 (Femara + IUI) April - June 2013 - all BFN
Decided to do IVF... Began stimming on September 10th! Egg Retrieval 9/20/13. 19 eggs: 6 to mature to freeze after 6 fertilized with ICSI
3 morula stage embryos transferred on 9/25/13.....Beta #1 on 10/4/13/ = 7.5 Beta #2 on 10/6/13 = negative
IVF#2 - Lupron plan (set to begin on 10/28/13) (Planning on thawing and fertilizing our 6 eggs with ICSI as well as all of the mature eggs they retrieve with this fresh cycle.)
Late October 2013 - ectopic pregnancy - methotrexate injection....benched 3 months
CD1 - 12/5/13...Lupron set to start on 12/26/13; CD1 - 1/2/14....Baseline 1/3/14....begin follistim tonight and continue with lupron. (Got my calendar today! IVF#2 is a go!)
ER = 1/14/14 (11 eggs....9 were mature. 9 fertilized. Of the 6 mature eggs we thawed, only 4 fertilized. At this time, we have 13 eggs fertilized and growing. Waiting for news about a 3-day or 5-day transfer.)
ET = 1/19/14 (5dt).....3 blastocysts transferred! (All nine embryos didn't make it to freeze. =( )
Beta #1 = 1/28/14 (2 weeks after ER) BFP! 209 (9dp5dt) EDD 10/7/14
Beta #2 - 1/30/14 (11 dp5dt) 302
Beta #3 - 2/3/14 (15 dp5dt) 1222
Ultrasound set for 2/17/14......TWINS! Twin A - HR 124 bpm; Twin B - HR 126 bpm
Final Ultrasound with RE 3/10/14 - Twin A - HR 176 bpm; Twin B - HR 177 bpm.
PAIF/SAIF Welcome!
I'm going to give an honest answer. I don't.
Not that I'm a constant blubbering mess or debbie downer, but I find it better for my mental health to not allow myself to feel massive hope or optimism anymore, because the let down on CD1 hurts even worse then. If you ask a shrink, they would probably tell you that is not healthy, but for me, it's what works. And I'm ok with that. One day, if I get a positive result, then I will be shocked and elated. But I do what my doc tells me to do, eat what I should, don't drink what I shouldn't, and make sure I do everything as perfectly as I can... and then in the 2WW like now, I remain neutral and just count the days until I can test.
In the mean time though, I've focused on organizing and redecorating my house (on an extreme low budget), trying to visit friends, and trying to work more hours to pay for more treatments. Like a PP said, it's all about doing things that you can control when you've lost control of your quest for motherhood.
I recently went and bought a small, colorful notebook at Target. I then went through my calendar and insurance claims and began writing our entire process down. I started at the beginning of the process back in June with my crappy doctor. I wrote what the appointment was for, and if I remember what was said at the appointments. I list my CD, the u/s with follicle sizes, what was said or talked about at the appointment, who I met with, prescriptions, ANYTHING. We did our second IUI yesterday and now I'm going to write down accomplishments for each day of our 2WW.
This has helped me a lot so far. It helps me feel more apart of each appointment because I also have the information recorded and readily available. But it mostly helps when I am having a bad day. I can go and reread everything that we've been through and think WOW, look how far we've come since then!
And, I BAKE!!! Find a new recipe on the internet and try it. We did a butterfinger cake last week, and now I'm going to make a chocolate chip cookie dough cake for my brothers birthday tomorrow. Baking is time consuming and fun
HUGS
TTC #1 Since 7/2011
Me: 30, PCOS with anovulation
DH: 38, Low Morph & DE
Rx: Metformin 500mg
Cycle #1: Clomid 100mg + Ovidrel = No Response, Canceled
Cycle #2: Clomid 150mg + Ovidrel = No Response, Canceled
Cycle #3: Clomid 150mg + Follistim + Ovidrel = No response, Canceled
Cycle #4: Femara 7.5mg + Gonal-f + Ovidrel + IUI = BFP!!!!
~ EDD 03.26.14 ~
This is one of my biggest struggles right now. I am generally a very positive person and always tend to think 'glass half full'. However, that has become really hard for me in regards to infertility. I usually start a cycle off thinking/feeling very positive, but then part way through, I start telling myself that I need to be realistic so that I can avoid the disappointment as much as possible. Finding balance between being positive and being realistic is so hard for me right now. You are not alone!
I do try to support and pamper myself as much as possible. I also try to pursue other things hat bring me happiness to give my mind a break from all things IF related. I just started beekeeping this spring!
hugs to you:)