TTC Check In

ball.and.chain · July 2013

Good morning! This is the weekly check in for those of us who are trying to conceive or in the planning stages.

How are things going?

QOTD: If you could live anywhere other than your current location, where would you live?

healz413 · July 2013

M and I have been talking a lot about our options, our finances, our timing, etc.

I do not yet have permanent residency in Canada and am an international student. I'm covered by the University Health Insurance Plan, which covers almost everything that the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (government health care) does. We just found out, however, that UHIP probably does not cover the $2300 of IVF costs that OHIP will cover for people who have complete blockage of both fallopian tubes (which is what I had before they were removed). IVF will be expensive enough for us without having to also cover the $2300 that OHIP would cover once I become OHIP insured. In addition, in January (the start of the new fiscal year for my union), I will once again be eligible to apply to our "extended health fund" for a percentage of our fertility treatment costs. Last year they gave us the annual maximum of approximately $2300. While there is no guarantee they would give that much again, they would probably give some money. January is approximately when we expect my permanent residency to come through, as well, and for me to become eligible for OHIP.

I have suggested to M that we do 3 or 4 more IUIs with her this fall since we have 4 vials of sperm already purchased (from before we knew I'd have to do IVF) and those are the majority of the cost in Ontario for IUIs (there is a $150 insemination fee, but the ultrasounds, blood work, and physicians fees are covered by provincial insurance and M has work insurance for the drugs now that she's been there a year). I think that M is on board for at least 2 more IUI cycles.

If we were able to get M pregnant via an IUI, then it would be awesome because 1) we'd be able to get her pregnant with her eggs, which given her diminished ovarian reserve is not really on the table for IVF unless Ontario insurance starts covering it some day and 2) we'd be able to use at least some of the IVF savings to extend a parental leave for her beyond the 4 months she gets through work.

This sure is a wild ride!

In the meant time, we're planning to move from the small, reasonably priced three bedroom house we rent into a two bedroom apartment because even though our house is very well-priced, we can save $600/month by moving into a large 2 bedroom apartment into our neighborhood. This will help us balance our budget since my income is way down this year with my scholarship having finished.

QOTD: While I would love to live on the West Coast (or at least give it a try), I would hate being that far from our families. So, I would probably say Chicago (where my family is and still a reasonable drive from M's family).

KH826 · July 2013

Today is CD6 for me. I took my 3rd dose of Femara this morning. Two more days to go with that... my first acupunture appointment is scheduled for this Thursday. I am really nervous about it... Eeeek Needles!

Also, my wife and I both started diets today and we will be going to the gym tonight. I have been in denial about some weight I have packed on over the last 4 months while TTC, and I am feeling gross. Time to slim down a little and feel better. I will have be moderate with both diet and exercise and not do anything crazy, since we are still actively TTC, but I am hoping to find the balance.

Another thing that I am thinking about is taking a low dose of baby aspirin daily this cycle. I have heard/read good things about it. https://www.sharedjourney.com/articles/aspirin.html What do you ladies think? Have any of you tried that?

QOTD: Boston. That is where my family is and where I grew up. I have grown found of Philadelphia (where we live now and where my wife's family is), and it really does feel like home here at this point (I have been here for 11 years now, since college), but if I had to pick anywhere else to live, it would be Boston. Or somewhere in New England, for sure.

keepsawaythenargles · July 2013

Just waiting for AF so I can begin this crazy journey!

QOTD: Somewhere where we can be legally married and second parent adoption is an option

lbugher · July 2013

I read about baby aspirin too, KH826, and was thinking of taking it. I heard it also cuts down on the risk of preeclamsia. There really couldn't be any harm in it, I don't think. Just take it with your prenatal and you'll be good to go I take a prenatal and fish oil supplement so I'll just add one to the mix.

As for my own TTC journey, I have my first RE appointment on the 18th. Ten days! I skipped my period last month and don't know why. Stress?

Started Weight Watchers. I figured it's worth a shot. I know I'm too heavy and should probably drop some weight before getting pregant. Good thing is, if I want tos tay on WW I can do so while pregnant as long as I up my points by 12. And once I have the baby, I can increase them by 17 since I plan to breast feed.

QOTD: I'd move to Madison, Wisconsin. I absolutely adore Wisconsin. The only thing stopping me from moving to WI is the fact that my family is here in Indiana. and I love my job. But I could get just as good of a job in Wisconsin... DP and I have discussed it but I think we're going to stay here. Plus the winters would be awful. But the food is amazing, and the people are so nice, and the countryside is beautiful! And the beer! Oh, the beer! And the Dells! And Sundara! It's paradise. Maybe when we get older.

firstcomeslove2013 · July 2013

Well...we are back to another cycle. Got our BFN this morning when AF arrived. That is 5 IUIs with no luck. I am so sad and disappointed but trying to remain positive. We may be meeting with our doctor again to see where we need to go. We discussed taking a break but can't seem to make ourselves.

QOTD: I really like where we live so I don't think I would live anywhere else...sort of lame I guess...

kristi&p · July 2013

Today is CD28 and 13 DPiui

I am still taking progesterone for the next three days so it is going to delay AF a little so probably looking at AF Friday.

Spoke with my nurse today and she told me that the person I spoke to while she was out of the office. Should never had said that my ovaries look polysistic the doctor has never indicated that was a problem. I have gone through multiple scans in the past 10 months and nothing indicates PCOS. I felt better but annoyed that this other person made me worry for nothing!

I still havent decided on the Letrozal vs injects. I think the biggest factor would be the cost I know that injects are expensive and I do not feel that insurnce will cover at all seems like they really want my 12 completed failed IUI to open any more benefits with us. Which is fine I cant think about it to much becuase I cant change anything. I am waiting for the doctors financial/insurance person to call to go over details on med costs. We have one vial left in stoarge at docotor office and if the next IUI doesnt take we will get a free vial from our clinic. At which if we still arent pregnant considering a new donor just due to the increased cost of our current donor.

***Any one on Follistim Inject pens paying out of pocket only? How much do you pay for the injects?***

If I can live any where it would be two houses one in Florida and one here in CT. I love winter in little amounts just dont think I could ever live without it. And would love to be able to get away to FL when I want sunshine,

ball.and.chain · July 2013

Still nothing going on here. I was going to start temping today, just so I would have some sense of what my body was doing and when I might expect a period, but I forgot. I was also planning to call my clinic today to discuss testing and set up an appointment to go over a plan for the next cycle, but we have a contract employee temporarily working in my office and it kind of makes it difficult to make private phone calls.

QOTD: Ten years ago I would have said the SF Bay Area, but we tried living there for a couple of years and weren't into it. It's a beautiful part of the country, a fun place to live, one of my favorite areas to visit, but it just never felt like home to us. I like the Philadelphia area, where I went to college, but ultimately would not be willing to live there at this time as Massachusetts has spoiled me with gay marriage. We love where we live, but if we had to move, I think we'd stay in New England, maybe Maine or Rhode Island. We wouldn't want to be too far from the ocean.

healz413 · July 2013

kristi&p:
***Any one on Follistim Inject pens paying out of pocket only? How much do you pay for the injects?***

M used the follistim inject vials for our injectables cycle because the pens weren't covered by her insurance but the vials were covered (at 60%). The total cycle of injectables cost more than $4000; we were $1800 OOP and the rest was insurance. M was given a high dose of the injectables (IVF levels) but because of her low ovarian reserve still only produced on mature follicle with one trailing follicle that didn't quite mature before ovulation.

The good thing about doing injectables was that it confirmed that M is probably not a good candidate for IVF because she only produced one mature follicle on high-dose injectables. The bad thing about it was that we were out $1800 and she produced the same number of mature follicles (one) as she does on a natural cycle.

Given your lack of response to clomid, I would assume the RE will not be using super small doses of injectables on you and that the costs could add up very quickly. Perhaps your RE can tell you what their plan would be for the dosage they'd start you on for the follistim so that you could do some cost planning.

Another thing to note--the follistim slowed down M's cycle by a few days, which meant we had a few more days of follistim than we would have expected. When it is costing you a couple hundred dollars a day, this really adds up.

I know that your RE knows a ton more than I do about this stuff, but given what you wrote on last week's check-in and your update about the suspected empty follicle, I'd be really hesitant to spend several thousand dollars on an injectable medicine that may or may not produce more follicles and if it does, may more may not produce follicles with eggs. I would like to know that I'd had cycles where they used ultrasound and blood work to confirm ovulation before I put that kind of money toward injectables or IVF.

I don't mean to sound like a downer here. I just know that this stuff is super expensive. The $1800 M and I spent on our injectables cycle was a ton of money, but it was only 40% of what we would have had to spend if we didn't have insurance coverage. And we had no idea it was going to add up that quickly.

GoaliesWife123 · July 2013

KH826:
Today is CD6 for me. I took my 3rd dose of Femara this morning. Two more days to go with that... my first acupunture appointment is scheduled for this Thursday. I am really nervous about it... Eeeek Needles!

I have had three acupuncture appointments so far and there is nothing that I would recommend more! The needles do not hurt! My acupuncturist helped to heal my herniated disc and now will be focusing on my fertility and cycles. She is determined to help me have a successful ttc journey!

GoaliesWife123 · July 2013

Today is CD 22 for me. I received a positive Wonfo as well as a positive digital this month (first time!), and my temps are actually going the right direction to predict ovulation. I am pretty excited. I'm still taking metformin, but because we are going to ttc in September, I have started to set an alarm to remember my afternoon dose. With always being on the go, I often forget, so when the alarm goes off, I remember to take it. I think it will be very beneficial.

DW and I have not eaten out, which is awesome. I'm loving cooking at home and knowing what we are eating. I know that although we might not see immediate results (weight loss), over the next few months, we will see the results we are looking for.

Overall, this month has gone well. I can only hope that the rest of the cycle is what it should be. My acupuncture appointment is tomorrow so I'm pumped!

QOTD: Anywhere but where I live now. I want to be somewhere that will recognize my marriage so we can have all of the benefits of any other married couple. I would also love the place where I live to allow second parent adoption. Personally, I would love to live on the east coast, or even a place like Washington State. DW would rather live in Alaska

kristi&p · July 2013

healz413:
kristi&p:

***Any one on Follistim Inject pens paying out of pocket only? How much do you pay for the injects?***

M used the follistim inject vials for our injectables cycle because the pens weren't covered by her insurance but the vials were covered (at 60%). The total cycle of injectables cost more than $4000; we were $1800 OOP and the rest was insurance. M was given a high dose of the injectables (IVF levels) but because of her low ovarian reserve still only produced on mature follicle with one trailing follicle that didn't quite mature before ovulation.

The good thing about doing injectables was that it confirmed that M is probably not a good candidate for IVF because she only produced one mature follicle on high-dose injectables. The bad thing about it was that we were out $1800 and she produced the same number of mature follicles (one) as she does on a natural cycle.

Given your lack of response to clomid, I would assume the RE will not be using super small doses of injectables on you and that the costs could add up very quickly. Perhaps your RE can tell you what their plan would be for the dosage they'd start you on for the follistim so that you could do some cost planning.

Another thing to note--the follistim slowed down M's cycle by a few days, which meant we had a few more days of follistim than we would have expected. When it is costing you a couple hundred dollars a day, this really adds up.

I know that your RE knows a ton more than I do about this stuff, but given what you wrote on last week's check-in and your update about the suspected empty follicle, I'd be really hesitant to spend several thousand dollars on an injectable medicine that may or may not produce more follicles and if it does, may more may not produce follicles with eggs. I would like to know that I'd had cycles where they used ultrasound and blood work to confirm ovulation before I put that kind of money toward injectables or IVF.

I don't mean to sound like a downer here. I just know that this stuff is super expensive. The $1800 M and I spent on our injectables cycle was a ton of money, but it was only 40% of what we would have had to spend if we didn't have insurance coverage. And we had no idea it was going to add up that quickly.

Thank you so much for all of that information I appreciate it all! I am calling dr now to check dosage amounts so I can better dertermine what out of pocket expense I would be looking at.

This is making me consider more and more if I should try the generic Fermara(I think that is the spelling) can I possible just be resistant to the Clomid? This is all so much and the cost is getting harder and harder to manage. We have a friend that said he would be a donor and we can do the paper work to have him as a donor which would be saving us about $500 per cycle in terms of sperm. Tried to talk about a price but he doesnt want anything. Only wants to see us have our family.

2MamazInSeattle · July 2013

Sorry I missed last week?s check-in L - I?ve been uber busy with work, and also just trying to have some fun before our FET date. First though, sending out lots of hugs ? I know there are many struggles here at the moment, and I?m right there with ya ? but hang in there everyone! We got this!!!

TTC Update:

Good news first: Our FET is a total ?go? on July 18^th, which is next Thursday, which has definitely illicited some serious ?code brown? moments for me! It felt so far away, now it?s in 10 days! Yikes. I still have 1 really nice bottle of champagne to get through before?down to split shot Americanos and plan to go full decaf next Monday. Estrogen check last Friday was great (I?m on patches now, plus Lupron) ? next check is this Friday + lining check u/s. All that going well, I?ll start my oh-so-fun progesterone on the 13^th.

This has been a rough couple months. My hip and associated pelvis has been really painful, and I?ve been terrified to not be able to take Ibuprofen. I saw my PCP who said ?you realize how big this is to try again after what happened? How brave you are?? and I started to cry and realized this IS big, and it?s ok for it to be big. I think I wanted to shrug it off, figure all will go well this time ?but deep down I still have loads of fear which I think are very PAGL standard. J has been great, and I think we?ve just doing our best to trust the process, and believe it will work!

In bummer news, I got a positive on my bloodwork testing for clotting disorders. WTF. So now, it looks like I?ll be in for belly shots of medication that burns inside (wheee!) every day of my pregnancy. While this could bring me down, I feel like I?m already to the point of saying ?alright. Fine then. What do I have to do?? which I guess made it easier to digest. So, I?ve got 2 MFM appointments ? I want 2 opinions ? and, I?m also shopping to see which outfit I like best to actually manage and deliver.

Sigh ? all that said, I?m actually feeling pretty good about things! Feels like I?ve earned my stripes and hopefully this baby will stick and be born, fullterm and healthy for both she and I! (Yes, I?m guessing it?s a girl).

QOTW: Easy easy easy one: NYC. J and I both utterly regret that we never lived in New York. While I could pretty much do my job from anywhere, J owns (as of August) 3 brick and mortar independent coffeeshops in Seattle. I meant to live here 2-3 years, go to SanFran for 2-3 years, and then live out my days in NYC. Alas, September 1^st is my 20-year Seattle-versary. Whoops! It?s a great place to live, so not complaining! Just kinda wished I?d had the experience of some other places.

ball.and.chain · July 2013

lbugher:
Started Weight Watchers. I figured it's worth a shot. I know I'm too heavy and should probably drop some weight before getting pregant. Good thing is, if I want tos tay on WW I can do so while pregnant as long as I up my points by 12. And once I have the baby, I can increase them by 17 since I plan to breast feed.

Curious about whether this information came from WW themselves? I was actively on WW for 2+ years and still pay to have online access; I just went back to weight loss mode but I've been on maintenance mode for about 2 years now. I feel like I was always told you by WW leaders that you cannot be on WW while pregnant. I did actually track while pregnant (on maintenance mode) but didn't limit my food intake that much -- I used it to keep track, but if I was hungry, I ate something, just tried to keep it reasonable.

I'm also curious about the 12 points...is that 12 points over maintenance mode or 12 points over weight loss mode? Because I can assure you that 12 points over maintenance would be way too much...you technically don't need any extra calories in the 1st trimester, you only need 300 extra in 2nd tri, and you only need 450 in 3rd tri. That's probably more like 5-6 points tops, I think.

ball.and.chain · July 2013

kristi&p:
healz413:
kristi&p:

***Any one on Follistim Inject pens paying out of pocket only? How much do you pay for the injects?***

M used the follistim inject vials for our injectables cycle because the pens weren't covered by her insurance but the vials were covered (at 60%). The total cycle of injectables cost more than $4000; we were $1800 OOP and the rest was insurance. M was given a high dose of the injectables (IVF levels) but because of her low ovarian reserve still only produced on mature follicle with one trailing follicle that didn't quite mature before ovulation.

The good thing about doing injectables was that it confirmed that M is probably not a good candidate for IVF because she only produced one mature follicle on high-dose injectables. The bad thing about it was that we were out $1800 and she produced the same number of mature follicles (one) as she does on a natural cycle.

Given your lack of response to clomid, I would assume the RE will not be using super small doses of injectables on you and that the costs could add up very quickly. Perhaps your RE can tell you what their plan would be for the dosage they'd start you on for the follistim so that you could do some cost planning.

Another thing to note--the follistim slowed down M's cycle by a few days, which meant we had a few more days of follistim than we would have expected. When it is costing you a couple hundred dollars a day, this really adds up.

I know that your RE knows a ton more than I do about this stuff, but given what you wrote on last week's check-in and your update about the suspected empty follicle, I'd be really hesitant to spend several thousand dollars on an injectable medicine that may or may not produce more follicles and if it does, may more may not produce follicles with eggs. I would like to know that I'd had cycles where they used ultrasound and blood work to confirm ovulation before I put that kind of money toward injectables or IVF.

I don't mean to sound like a downer here. I just know that this stuff is super expensive. The $1800 M and I spent on our injectables cycle was a ton of money, but it was only 40% of what we would have had to spend if we didn't have insurance coverage. And we had no idea it was going to add up that quickly.

Thank you so much for all of that information I appreciate it all! I am calling dr now to check dosage amounts so I can better dertermine what out of pocket expense I would be looking at.

This is making me consider more and more if I should try the generic Fermara(I think that is the spelling) can I possible just be resistant to the Clomid? This is all so much and the cost is getting harder and harder to manage. We have a friend that said he would be a donor and we can do the paper work to have him as a donor which would be saving us about $500 per cycle in terms of sperm. Tried to talk about a price but he doesnt want anything. Only wants to see us have our family.

I have never taken Femara, and I only did one cycle of Clomid, but based on all of the posts I've read over the past two years on 3T and IF, I feel like a lot of women who do not respond well to Clomid respond great to Femara. So just because Clomid was not your drug does not mean you should necessarily rule Femara out. If cost is an issue, I don't think it's a bad idea to try Femara for at least one cycle to see how it goes before moving onto injects. You might respond beautifully and be able to try a few cycles (and maybe have success) before bringing in the big guns.

Also, I don't necessarily think that your poor response to Clomid necessarily means you will need a high dose of injects. If you have DOR, that may be the case, but your body may just not like Clomid -- mine didn't, and I produced 22 eggs on IVF-dosage of Follistim (ideally you would not produce that many on an IUI-dosage -- if so your RE should cancel the cycle or convert to IVF).

The other thing to remember is that the risk of multiples is considerably higher with injects IUIs compared to oral fertility meds, because you tend to produce more mature follies and you have no control over how many might be fertilized.

shelly2314 · July 2013

AF decided to visit again, this time it seems to be lasting for longer than 6 hours. Love all of this. We won't be doing another iui until next month when my fertility dr comes back from vacation. Glad we got to have this month off, trying to get my body back on track.

QOTD...Probably Key West. Not sure of any other place that we'd like to live full-time

Jazibel · July 2013

Skyped with our donor today and we're on for me flying back to CA in early August. EEEK a month a way....

CD14 and waiting for a positive OPK and ovulation. I'm hoping to have a good sense of timing before buying tickets.

This will be an "odd" TTC for us because I am flying home with K, and will be inseminating without my wife present... I wish we could afford for us both to go, maybe we'll Skype her in - lol. We'll see maybe it will make a crazy story one day.

Also need to totally remake my diet. I have been eating what I call a cheater diet since moving to Roatan. Drinking Cokes, eating fast food, potato chips, ice cream and other processed foods. I'm still not a healthy weight and certainly not eating pregnancy friendly foods... Anyway I am determined to change my diet (after tonight's ice cream binge... can't let it go to waste can I Stick out tongue ). I think knowing we're set to try in a month is making this all much more real...

QOTD: I'd love to live in Europe again, Paris in particular.

StacyLH24 · July 2013

Our first RE appointment was today and it went so well! We both felt very comfortable with him and he was great at explaining everything. Had an u/s and he said everything looked wonderful. Blood was taken and tomorrow I will be getting a call to schedule my HSG and sonogram to check for follicle size. Also should be setting up for the office to order from the bank. I also started Femara tonight. If all goes well, we will be moving forward with our first cycle in about two weeks. Hard to believe, but we are both ready and see no reason not to. If I am not pregnant after three cycles, then he will do further testing to see what the issue might be. We really appreciate that he recognizes how expensive this can be and is willing to be so aggressive.

QOTD: We recently visited several places in Northern CA and I absolutely loved it. We would never move there, but it is nice to think about. We have talked about living out in the middle of nowhere in Wyoming or Montana. We are definitely the small town, country/outdoor types.

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