TTC Check In

ball.and.chain · August 2013

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

How are things going this week?

QOTW: If you could choose to have any super power, what would it be? Other than the ability to get pregnant in a single cycle.

KH826 · August 2013

Good Morning!

I am feeling like crap this morning, but trying to be positive about it in an effort to not be the crazy lady on fertility meds. It is too early in this process for that, so I need to keep it together!

This morning I had my second Lupron injection. It stung more than the first one, but it was no big deal. I am not sure if my overall crappy feeling is the Lupron, BCPs or a combo of the two... but I have a pounding headache, was dizzy a bit when getting ready this AM, I think I am having my first ever hot flash, and I am just feeling a tad emotional (maybe more than a tad, but trying hard to keep it in check). I take my last BCP on Saturday the 24th, so I am on the home stretch with that. Really hoping once I get off those that I will feel better. I am not complaining - I will do all of this with a smile on my face, but I have to admit I am a little bummed to be feeling gross so soon. I was hoping to really be wonder woman through all of this. HAHA

So that's pretty much my update. I don't start stims until 8/31, so I will just keep trucking along with the Lupron until then...

Also, we have two different people locally who have offered us their meds, which is very generous and much appreciated. We are getting 2 900 unit cartridges of follistim from a friend of a friend that is now 8 wks pregnant with twins following her first fresh cycle. Also, one of my wifes co-workers just offered us her left over (un-opened) Gonal-f. She claims it is the same as follistim, but I don't know about that. I am going to ask the IVF nurse. It makes me nervous, so I think we will likely just order the rest of our follistim (only 1 cartridge) from the pharmacy and pay for it. The nurse said she had a $300 off coupon for us, so really, the cost won't be too high if it is just one cartridge and we have the coupon.

QOTW: My super power would be healing -- The ability to heal any wound or sickness with the snap of a finger. And if I could have two, my second one would be to transport myself anywhere I wanted to go anytime in the blink of an eye. I don't know why, but I feel like that would be an awesome one to have!

doodah1013 · August 2013

So.... Thinking my surge would come today, and then finding that it different sent us into a bit of emotional turmoil this morning. I guess after so many tries, you just start to doubt the whole
process and feel like everything that doesn't happen on your schedule is a real failure. But we talked through it and I am feeling much better now.
So we are still waiting for a good sign of o, and then will be doing our IUI sometime in the next few days.

QOTD: At this point in my life I would want to have Super Patience... It would come in quite handy. Since I am not sure that counts as a super power, I think I would go with shape-shifting so I could shift back and forth across genders easily... Depending on my mood...

trisholio · August 2013

Good morning ladies.

We had a busy, great weekend. I went to my RE on Friday and they saw 2 large follicles and 1 small one. So that is a great sign after my first month on Clomid. I was just over the moon and left proud of my body for doing what it is supposed to do. We did at home insemination on Saturday and Sunday. Both went great. My DW and I had great bonding time after both insemination's. Now the 2WW starts. I spent the weekend around babies, which I felt like helped me. Saturday we babysat a 5 month old and then Sunday our KD, his wife and baby came over and then ended up staying and hanging out most of the day. It was a really fun day. I spent most of the day with their baby trying to get the mothering feelings going :-)

QOTD-It sounds superficial but I would have a super power that allowed me to have unlimited money (but I wouldn't want other people to know I had the power). It seems to the biggest stress in most people's lives including ours and having unlimited money would make life easier at times.

lbugher · August 2013

I'll answer the QOTD since I just posted a long TTC vent...

I already have one super power - I can untie any knot I know that sounds silly, but people come to me all the time with necklaces and shoe laces that are in massive tangles and I can safely get them back to their original state. I can also open anything and remove stickers along with the white gooey stuff. I attribute it to my patience and mechanical prowess.

But if I could trade that super power in for another... I'd make people fall in love. Namely, my brothers with nice ladies so they can make babies so DP and I can be aunts and our kids can have cousins. But alas, they are the most picky men on the planet (without any real justification in my humble opinion). I'd just go out and choose a girl I'd want as a sister-in-law and bam, they'd get married and have kids.

Pinkspark · August 2013

Finally have some news to share!

Got the all clear to begin TTC, my thyroid looks good and my medication is keeping it stable. Just waiting on CD1 to come around so we can really get the ball rolling! Very excited!

QOTD:
I think I'd like to fly around like superman- no spandex and cape though!

kristi&p · August 2013

How are things going this week? I have been doing blood work daily and I am starting to surge so I will have my IUI tomorrow after an ultrasound. Hoping only 3 follies are there so the cycle isn’t cancelled. We decided to have to pregnancy tests in the house until I am late we will test on 17 DPIUI if no AF shows up, currently have it predicted to show up on 16 DPIUI so we will wait and see. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

QOTW: If you could choose to have any super power, what would it be? Other than the ability to get pregnant in a single cycle. Teleporting lol I hate waiting to get places I wish I can just snap my fingers and arrive

GoaliesWife123 · August 2013

@doodah, I totally understand the frustration when things don't stay on schedule. Hang in there.

@Trisholio, fingers are crossed for you!!

As for me,

Well, I'm currently on CD 34. I'm 19 dpo and still getting bfns. My chart is confusing, as were all of my symptoms. We got a positive opk on cd 16, inseminated on cd 17 and were hoping the 2ww would give us some good news. During the 2ww I had excess CM (more than I have ever had), I'm exhausted, nauseous and I can't even drink our filtered water because it smells like worms (to me and only to me!). Last Wednesday I had serious cramping that felt like af pain, but alas, still no af.

It is possible that I O'd late, but my temps were so weird throughout this cycle, that I just can't tell. DW is still holding out hope, but I'm ready for AF to start and try again next cycle. I'm concerned because at this point, my cycle is irregular and I don't know how we're going to time our inseminations if we are getting false positives on the opks. It is disheartening.

I did purchase a used fertility monitor and plan to start using that on cd1. I don't know how much it will help since I believe it has to get used to your cycles, but why not, it was $100 and came with 2 months of test sticks and several opks.

Sorry to be a downer for my check-in. I really thought it was going to be a bfp based on my symptoms...I'm thinking that I may need to see my primary doc to get some blood work done to see why I'm so incredibly tired.

GTKY: I agree with @trisholio, infinite money for sure.

doodah1013 · August 2013

@GoaliesWife123 After our first IUI, A experienced the exact same thing. She took an OPK 5 days later and it was very positive. Then AF didn't show up until 5 days late, obviously we were getting BFN's the whole time. The best we can tell, it was from the stress of TTC that caused her period to be so late. We ended up getting a blood test before her period came, because we were positive that every HPT we took was wrong. Hang in there and let your body do what it gonna (easier said than done, I feel ya!). Thinking of you all.
And, we are also using a used fertility monitor. There is a way to clear out the info and start from scratch by using an unused pee stick. Our friends used it, and then A did, and now I am. You can reset the user pretty easily (at least we did with ours, Clear Blue Easy). You should be able to find better instructions online!

2MamazInSeattle · August 2013

Hugs to everyone who is in the midst of some of the lesser-fun parts of this TTC journey .

AFM, I started my Lupron shots last night! I am officially in my cycle now - 4 more BCPs after today, then my suppression check on 8/27 - after that, I'll decrease Lupron and start the estrogen patches, along with estrogen blood work and ultrasounds at weekly intervals. If all is good there, then progesterone suppositories start 6 days before the FET on 9/16! I've felt very tired of this whole process, but now that it's time to start up again, I'm feeling ready to go! I can't say I'm terribly hopeful, but I do feel a cautious/guarded optimism. So I'll take it. I'm eating pretty well, exercising enough, and planning to get acupuncture started up again this week. It's been a nice break from it all since our c/p in late July, but I'm excited for another shot at it.

In bummer news, we learned the adoption agency we wanted to work through won't work with you until you've finished any TTC efforts AND been cleared as (my words) sane/healthy by a medical professional once completed...which can take "an undetermined amount of time" - we were sad because we wanted to get going so we could jump right in if our last two FETs didn't work. However, instead of freaking out, I asked the lady to meet with us to understand the go-forward criteria we'd have to meet once we completed our TTC journey. So, that is next steps there.

QOTW: Time travel! I want to be able to go back in time and fix the stupid things I'd done, witness things I missed and save people from being hit by a bus. Or stuff like that.

GoaliesWife123 · August 2013

doodah1013 said:

@GoaliesWife123 After our first IUI, A experienced the exact same thing. She took an OPK 5 days later and it was very positive. Then AF didn't show up until 5 days late, obviously we were getting BFN's the whole time. The best we can tell, it was from the stress of TTC that caused her period to be so late. We ended up getting a blood test before her period came, because we were positive that every HPT we took was wrong. Hang in there and let your body do what it gonna (easier said than done, I feel ya!). Thinking of you all. And, we are also using a used fertility monitor. There is a way to clear out the info and start from scratch by using an unused pee stick. Our friends used it, and then A did, and now I am. You can reset the user pretty easily (at least we did with ours, Clear Blue Easy). You should be able to find better instructions online!

Thank you! We did clear it out so it is ready to go on cd 1 (if we need it). I just got off the phone from my gyno and she says to wait until af is 14 days late. If I am still without af or a bfp, then they will want to see me. Until then, she says some women just don't get positive hpt. If I ovulated late, af should be here in the same time frame, so one or the other will happen.

It's comforting to know I'm not alone! Thank you!

GoaliesWife123 · August 2013

2MamazInSeattle said:

Hugs to everyone who is in the midst of some of the lesser-fun parts of this TTC journey .
AFM, I started my Lupron shots last night! I am officially in my cycle now - 4 more BCPs after today, then my suppression check on 8/27 - after that, I'll decrease Lupron and start the estrogen patches, along with estrogen blood work and ultrasounds at weekly intervals. If all is good there, then progesterone suppositories start 6 days before the FET on 9/16! I've felt very tired of this whole process, but now that it's time to start up again, I'm feeling ready to go! I can't say I'm terribly hopeful, but I do feel a cautious/guarded optimism. So I'll take it. I'm eating pretty well, exercising enough, and planning to get acupuncture started up again this week. It's been a nice break from it all since our c/p in late July, but I'm excited for another shot at it.
In bummer news, we learned the adoption agency we wanted to work through won't work with you until you've finished any TTC efforts AND been cleared as (my words) sane/healthy by a medical professional once completed...which can take "an undetermined amount of time" - we were sad because we wanted to get going so we could jump right in if our last two FETs didn't work. However, instead of freaking out, I asked the lady to meet with us to understand the go-forward criteria we'd have to meet once we completed our TTC journey. So, that is next steps there.
QOTW: Time travel! I want to be able to go back in time and fix the stupid things I'd done, witness things I missed and save people from being hit by a bus. Or stuff like that.

First, I am keeping my fingers crossed that this is your cycle.

Second, why can't you be ttc AND adopting? Like there aren't enough kids out there who need a place to call home and a family of their own? This angers me.

Which ever route you end up going, I wish you all the best in the journey to get there!

ball.and.chain · August 2013

Nothing much has changed for me this week. I have my hysteroscopy tomorrow (my wife referred to it as a "hysterectomy"...um, no, dear, that would defeat the purpose). No idea if it will delay us another cycle or not.

QOTW: I love that I picked this question because you are alll coming up with awesome answers (and reasons), but I honestly am not sure what I would pick. I think I have to agree with @kristi&p --teleportation would be great! I wouldn't mind time travel like @2MamazinSeattle either.

@KH826 -- I'm sure they told you that Lupron can cause headaches and it seems like a lot of women have that side effect. I only got one headache on Lupron but it was intense. The second time I took it, I didn't have any headaches. Hopefully you'll feel better soon, but if not, it'll all feel worth it when you're pregnant.

@GoaliesWife123 -- I'm sorry this has been such a frustrating cycle for you! It does sound like you ovulated late -- the CM is consistent with the later positive OPKs, and I've honestly never heard of someone getting BFNs that late and still being pregnant. Not to be a downer, but I also wouldn't want to give you false hope! I had some trouble with timing on my first couple of cycles and it was really demoralizing. AND I had a false positive OPK, which was super annoying...but it's all information that you can learn from so that you can be more successful going forward. It was such a relief to switch from midwives to the RE and know that someone else was in charge of my timing -- and had more experience and information than I did! At least your sperm is free.

GoaliesWife123 · August 2013

ball.and.chain said:

Nothing much has changed for me this week. I have my hysteroscopy tomorrow (my wife referred to it as a "hysterectomy"...um, no, dear, that would defeat the purpose). No idea if it will delay us another cycle or not. QOTW: I love that I picked this question because you are alll coming up with awesome answers (and reasons), but I honestly am not sure what I would pick. I think I have to agree with @kristi&p --teleportation would be great! I wouldn't mind time travel like @2MamazinSeattle either. @KH826 -- I'm sure they told you that Lupron can cause headaches and it seems like a lot of women have that side effect. I only got one headache on Lupron but it was intense. The second time I took it, I didn't have any headaches. Hopefully you'll feel better soon, but if not, it'll all feel worth it when you're pregnant. @GoaliesWife123 -- I'm sorry this has been such a frustrating cycle for you! It does sound like you ovulated late -- the CM is consistent with the later positive OPKs, and I've honestly never heard of someone getting BFNs that late and still being pregnant. Not to be a downer, but I also wouldn't want to give you false hope! I had some trouble with timing on my first couple of cycles and it was really demoralizing. AND I had a false positive OPK, which was super annoying...but it's all information that you can learn from so that you can be more successful going forward. It was such a relief to switch from midwives to the RE and know that someone else was in charge of my timing -- and had more experience and information than I did! At least your sperm is free.

Thanks Ball.and.Chain. No free sperm here though.

This was our first cycle and we did not plan on starting until next cycle. It's hard not to get your hopes up, but I'm also realistic. If this cycle didn't work out, at least I have now learned that the digital opk is not as reliable as I thought it was. We're going to have to figure out how to get my cycle regulated (thankfully I have an amazing acupuncturist) and go from there.

I definitely think that charting is the best decision I could have made, along with opks and temping! Oh, and this lgbt board!

ball.and.chain · August 2013

@GoaliesWife - I thought you were using a KD...gah, so hard to keep track of everyone! Sounds like you have a good attitude about this cycle, which is more than I can say about myself 2 years ago...

GoaliesWife123 · August 2013

ball.and.chain said:

@GoaliesWife - I thought you were using a KD...gah, so hard to keep track of everyone! Sounds like you have a good attitude about this cycle, which is more than I can say about myself 2 years ago...

No worries! We considered it, but decided on a different route. Thank you for the encouragement!!

jspencer8216 · August 2013

We are waiting for AF and on to IUI number two. This one around they are going to do an ultrasound when I get the positive on the ovulation tests.

DW and I were thinking today that what if it did the IUI did work even though the blood test didn't show the ovulation. You are supposed to have like four fertle days before you ovulate so could it be possible?

ball.and.chain · August 2013

jspencer8216 said:

DW and I were thinking today that what if it did the IUI did work even though the blood test didn't show the ovulation. You are supposed to have like four fertle days before you ovulate so could it be possible?

Fresh or frozen sperm? I'm pretty sure frozen doesn't live that long, but I don't remember exactly how long fresh can live.

jspencer8216 · August 2013

They were frozen. We are not getting our hopes up about it. Just waiting for AF and our next try. But I told DW if AF doesn't get here by tomorrow I am sneaking to get one on my lunch break

irandaann03 · August 2013

we are in the tww. I was trying really hard not to symptom check this time but that didnt work out well today... I have atleast until sunday before I would get an accurate result on an hpt.
qotd: I would like the money thing, I admit. it would also be really cool to be able to talk to animals.

Jazibel · August 2013

BFN - this cycle which was a big disappointment,I managed only to shed a few tears and bounced back with pretty positive spirits quickly. We're still waiting to hear if our friends who are using our same known donor were successful this cycle. I feel like she might be (she's had a few symptoms you just can't fake). I'm keeping my fingers crossed for them, though of course I'll be a little jealous (which I've admitted to them) I will be 99% more excited for K to have a sibling on the way.

Gearing up for ICI round #2 next week. (AF came as a surprise after a 24 day cycle). I'm going on a sudo fast, eating lots of veggies, fruits, smoothies and some protein but no sugar, grains, etc. Hoping to inspire fertility. Also started taking Vitex and got progesterone for after ovulation.

QOTD: Hmmmm, right now I would love to know the future. Realistically not a great trait, but I feel a little unsettled in my life, part of me wishes I could know what the next weeks, months, years will bring.

Manada · August 2013

CD 9 for us today. Just took the last of the clomid pills for this cycle last night.

Have been (I daresay) a bit emotionally "sensitive" for the past couple of days, and wondering if this is the fabled "clomid crazies" that the TTTC board talks about...

Tomorrow we are off to the clinic again for a check and to figure out when the iui will be -- I am expecting maybe the weekend... We will see...

StacyLH24 · August 2013

I meant to post yesterday but just never took the time.

We went for our first IUI yesterday afternoon. I tested Sunday morning and the digital test read negative. When I looked at the actual lines on the stick I semi doubted the read. So, against the protocol of my RE's office, I tested again in the afternoon. Low and behold, there was that beautiful smiley face. Took one again yesterday morning and that was a definite negative. So, we went up at noon yesterday and had the IUI. The follicles were already gone, so I'm glad I went with my instinct and tested in the afternoon, otherwise we would have missed it this month.

Now I am in my first official 2ww. C and I usually keep ourselves very busy so I'm hoping it will fly by.

After the IUI we went travelled another hour to see a friend of mine from HS, her wife and their two kids. It was great to hang out with them and also be able to talk about TTC.

QOTD: I would want the super power to be able to create peace and calm around me and throughout the world.

firstcomeslove2013 · August 2013

Good Morning Folks...here I am checking in...late as usual :-)

C has already updated you on where we are. Called the doctor this morning to schedule our next IUI so hopefully we will be going tomorrow morning. Heading right into another TWW...we had a rough day yesterday. While I think that the TTC process has brought us to a new level in our relationship, I feel as though when we have bad days they are REALLY bad days. It doesn't help that we are also trying to buy a home on top of TTC...somedays I think we are nuts.

Look luck to all you two week waiters out there...fingers crossed!

Question of Yesterday: My super power would be the power to teleport. I HATE traffic...it makes me feel trapped so teleporting would be sweet!

healz413 · August 2013

Am also late, but it works because I can update.
We went to the clinic today on M's day 10. She did six days of Clomid (hot flashes and emotions are no fun for her), but we were disappointed by the results at the clinic today. She had a 12 and a 9 on the right and two 8s on the left. Last time we did Clomid, by day 10 she had a 21 and an 18. The RE thinks we should get at least one good follicle (so it will be no worse than a natural cycle) but we are really hoping for two! We go back to the RE on Saturday.

QOTW:
I would absolutely have a magic wand. I would not abuse its power, but I would wave it to erase significant emotional pain based in past events that will never go away. I have said I wished I had a magic wand for years and I still do.

shelly2314 · August 2013

Update...went in for my midcycle US and the doctor informed me that I had several eggs over 19mm. Thought this was great...then he said that my lining was really thin and that concerned him, on top of that he said there was over an 80% chance of having triplets.

After my wife got up from the floor, she all but pleaded with me to skip this month as she did not feel that would be the best situation for us. The doctor also informed me that that particular pregnancy was high risk and concerned him, especially with the thin lining.

SOOOOOO, now we are waiting for next month...changing my fertility meds and lowering the dosage to see how that goes next month

QOTD: I think I would take the ability to read minds or even the ability to make things appear! (but I really liked the ability to get prego on the first try)

shelly2314 · August 2013

I got serious mood swings, headaches, and hot flashes. The mood swings were severe!! My doctor is taking me off clomid and moving me to another drug.

I wish you the best of luck with yours!

healz413 said:

Am also late, but it works because I can update. We went to the clinic today on M's day 10. She did six days of Clomid (hot flashes and emotions are no fun for her), but we were disappointed by the results at the clinic today. She had a 12 and a 9 on the right and two 8s on the left. Last time we did Clomid, by day 10 she had a 21 and an 18. The RE thinks we should get at least one good follicle (so it will be no worse than a natural cycle) but we are really hoping for two! We go back to the RE on Saturday. QOTW: I would absolutely have a magic wand. I would not abuse its power, but I would wave it to erase significant emotional pain based in past events that will never go away. I have said I wished I had a magic wand for years and I still do.

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