Moving on over from TTGP.. Hello!

penelopec518 · August 2014

Hi everyone! I used to post a little bit on the TTGP board in the past, but I am thinking that this board is going to be better suited for me now. I have lurked in the past over here a bit, but am very familiar with the ways of the bump.

Here is my background: I am 25, DH is 32 and we have been officially TTC since July 2013. We have been together since 2010, and we got married in May of 2012. I say officially because I got my Paraguard IUD removed in May 2013, an we had sex in my suspected FW from the get go. We live in Iowa, and we work together in real estate (self-employed). We have a fluffy shelter cat that is a friendly/brat and a silly golden retriever that I love dearly (he is in my avatar).

Regarding TTC: I temp, check my CM (which isn't very helpful for me, but I do it regardless), use OPK's and we use PreSeed now. We typically have sex ED -5 until +2, some cycles only EOD.

My RE rant/where I need help from you lovely ladies: I had my first visit with my RE last month. It was determined that my ovaries are fine, I ovulate regularly, and that I have plenty of follicles. My bloodworm is all good, nothing of concern there. DH has plenty of healthy sperm. Initially, my ultrasound of my uterus was abnormal and showed some sort of blockage towards my cervix. I had an appointment on Monday, where they did an ultrasound again and the blockage was gone (I also passed A LOT of clots with this past cycle). This was never really addressed why this happened, if it was normal, but it had never happened in the past so doc wrote it off as a fluke. Today I go in for a HSG, which I am nervous for.

I don't know that I really like my current RE, she has no sense of humor and doesn't really make me feel comfortable/very informed. I am very annoyed because Monday when I went in for the ultrasound, I was supposed to get the FemVue as well, but my RE forgot to schedule it/order supplies for it. This sounds off to me, but now I have to make a second trip today for the HSG instead.

Assuming the results of my HSG are normal, my doctor wants to move on to Clomid and IUI. Another reason I am leery of my RE is she wrote me a script for Clomid at my Monday appointment and didn't mention any talk of monitoring. I really don't want to take any medications, unless it is absolutely necessary. Is it possible to do IUI's without medication? Or is that pointless?

I know this has been kind of long, but I wanted to give a pretty informative intro! I look forward to getting to know everyone here and adding my insight to the topics. I am an open book, so feel free to ask any questions!

LindseyM2012 · August 2014

I'm sorry you had to make the switch to 3T, but welcome. Good for you for getting suspicious about the RE not mentioning monitoring with the Clomid. Definitely ask the doc to get specific on the treatment plan, especially if she can't pinpoint a reason you're having trouble. Also, like PP said, a second opinion when you're unsure of the first opinion never hurts. It can only confirm what this RE said or give you a new/better picture of the issue.

Good luck with the HSG! I hope you get some answers soon!

penelopec518 · August 2014

@rainbowbridge14Thanks for the advice on the painkillers/pad. I wasn't really told much to prepare for the appointment, which is why I decided to post here today before my 2:30 appointment!

I do not believe cervical blockage is an issue going forward, I think that it was just one cycle. My period was abnormally light, so it makes sense that there were clots in there!

Hollowvic · August 2014

Welcome. I'm getting a second opinion this afternoon, it can't hurt. Good luck with the HSG!! Mine wasn't bad at all.

penelopec518 · August 2014

@LindseyM2012 The lack of monitoring is one of the many things that I learned from The Bump. Had I not been a member, I would have not thought it was odd.

I am mostly nervous about taking the Clomid, because there was a very slight mention of potentially thin uterine lining. This was never elaborated on, and I plan to ask more today.

I didn't have a chance on Monday, because I got the ultrasound and didn't get to talk to me doctor, because of the "miscommunication" about the FemVue. They kind of just rushed me away and threw free parking and a $5 coffee card at me!

penelopec518 · August 2014

@Hollowvic Well hopefully we both feel better about our second opinion today. I forgot to mention that I think due to scheduling today, I am actually seeing a different doctor. Where I go, there are 8 doctors and you can see any one of them for your appointments.

Also, thanks for the reassurement about the HSG. It seems like I only hear about them being really bad for people!

penelopec518 · August 2014

@Buttmonkey34 I do plan on asking many questions today.

Also, question for anyone, do you get the results of the HSG right away?

BunnyBerry · August 2014

Welcome! I'm sorry you've had to move over here but I hope your stay is short.

The RE made sure I knew to schedule a CD10 or so monitoring appt when on a medicated cycle. I can't imagine an RE who wouldn't monitor for lining and number of follicles on a medicated cycle. Thinned lining is not really a "slight" risk, it often happens though not always in the first few cycles (although it can happen the first cycle). It can take time (multiple cycles) to build the lining back up, especially if it wasn't caught and got worse after a couple cycles continuing with Clomid. Cysts are another risk, but as long as your RE has you do the CD3 ultrasound, he'll catch any cysts.

For all diagnoses, IUI+meds have a much higher success rate than IUI alone, so unless there was a specific concern about using meds, I would certainly choose it. I also O regularly every cycle but it feels good to do something else to up our chances.

I hope you can get some good answers, and it's more just communication problems (which to me would be frustrating but not a dealbreaker) and not suspect medical practices. Good luck!

Chasity08 · August 2014

Welcome! Good luck with the HSG.

I am also in Iowa! I live near Omaha, so I go to the Women's center in Omaha, and my RE is awesome. I love her. So if your RE doesn't work out, and you are anywhere near the area, check out Dr. Oakes at the women's center. They are on their stuff in that place, it's amazing. And I've met girls in there who come in from Kearney (about 3.5 hours from Omaha) to see her, and just do bw and such remotely in town. So they can definitely work with you if you live far away.

But good luck on your HSG. I had no pain at all with mine, but some women experience pain, so the ibuprofen could be a good idea.

shirleymaeby · August 2014

Hi there, welcome to the board. Sorry you have yo be here, but you have come to a great place for advice and support (as PPs have already demonstrated).

My HSG wasn't bad at all. The x-ray tech even showed me the screen so that I could see the dye in my ute and tubes...so at least for me I got the results while I was laying there. Not sure what other's experiences with that has been.

I do know that some REs will let you do un-medicated IUI. You just use OPKs until you get a positive and then call them. However, I think most REs prefer to medicated cycles with monitoring because it increases both the chances you'll drop more than one egg and the chances that you will get the timing exactly right. I have been using Clomid for my IUI cycles and we do a mid-cycle u/s to see how big my follicles are, followed my a trigger shot, and IUI two days later. Besides, if it doesn't work after a few un-medicated cycles they will put you on meds anyway.

My experience with Clomid has been okay. I also have unexplained infertility and haven't had any trouble responding to the meds. I do get hot flashes like crazy and a few days of the month I feel like a total psycho with the mood swings...but if the payoff is getting a baby I will endure any amount of discomfort.

Good luck at your HSG! Just relax, it will probably be fine.

Pets4Life · August 2014

Welcome! Sorry you have to be here but what an amazing group of ladies

Good luck with your HSG. The worst part of mine was that the radiologist (my obgyn was on maternity leave) couldn't find my cervix and then couldn't get the catheter to pass. Other then trying to stay "in position" without stirrups it wasn't bad at all.

I have just finished my second IUI with Clomid and our RE did absolutely no monitoring. I wish we would have done consults with multiple RE's and then made our decision. We are in the process of changing RE's now. Not monitoring during a medicated cycle is just irresponsible, and it will leave you questioning everything. I was always saying..... I wonder if I have any cysts, I wonder how many follies I have, I wonder if we even did the IUI at the right time (or should I just hand over the money and leave), I wonder if my lining is thick enough for implantation.

Sorry for the book, but it's just not worth it if you are not getting the care you deserve!! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions for me

Hope your stay is short and sweet!

saritacw · August 2014

I just had an HSG last Friday. It was not a big deal. I took the 400mg of ibuprofen and didn't have much pain at all. The doc had a hard time getting the catheter into my cervix so it was a little uncomfortable and also nerve-wracking as I wondered what was wrong with my cervix and whether or not the test was even possible...

...but, it was possible, ideally the catheter and balloon go all the way in but the test can still happen without and it doesn't mean that anything is wrong with the cervix. So if the same happens to you, just relax and wait it out.

When you're done you'll likely think "That was easy!"

lisa89760 · August 2014

My HSG was done in a hospital and there was a doctor there and he showed me everything and gave me a run down of his report. Then my OBGYN looked at it and then my RE,. So I got an idea of what my doctors were going to say to me before I left the room.

Welcome to the board! and yay for the midwest...I'm in Michigan!

curve31 · August 2014

I watched on the screen as the dye went in and (thankfully) though my tubes. Dr even asked me to rotate my hips so he could get a better view. And I could see how far I needed to move to see one of the tubes that was hiding. It was pretty neat actually and keeps your mind off of whats going on "down there". Afterwards, he went through each snapshot he took and told me what everything was.

Tiko99 · August 2014

Welcome, welcome and sorry you have to be here. My RE is a little lame, but for the most part I deal with the physician assistants and nurses and they are WONDERFUL. I have seen my actual RE once during every cycle. I think he just tries to make an appearance once a month, which is fine with me. I would go through a cycle with her and see how you feel and if you are not comfortable with her check out another RE.

In regards to the IUI I was surprised my RE wanted me on clomid since I ovulate on my own and have an insanely regular cycle. After doing some research and checking out this message board I decided to go big or go home and did two cycles of clomid+trigger+IUI and just did a cycle with clomid+trigger+TI since my DH has crazy good sperm. I respond really well to clomid with 3-4 mature follicles per cycle and haven't had any crazy side effects, though this last round I had bloody/super sensitive gums. If you really don't want to start off with a medicated cycle you can def just do an IUI.

Good luck and keep us posted.

penelopec518 · August 2014

Thanks to everyone for all of your support! The HSG was a little rough for me! The hospital I go to is a teaching hospital, and I was lucky enough to have a 4th year med student perform it. They numbed by cervix with lidocaine, and the three needle pricks they did for that was not fun! I also had A LOT of cramping.

I did get to see the pictures, and the dye as it went in and all is good! My RE made the comment that the dye went through very fast!

Surprisingly I am bummed about it, because I feel a bit helpless with the Unexplained Infertility diagnosis.

Again, thanks for the support and I look forward to jumping in on the discussions!

penelopec518 · August 2014

@indiachicRN I am taking it easy, unfortunately my husband went golfing at 5:00

I gave him the okay to go, because I am in a poor mood and not very friendly! No need for both of us to be miserable!

shirleymaeby · August 2014

@penelopec518 - Happy your tubes are clear! I also have an unexplained infertility diagnosis. I know how frustrating it is to not have any medical reason for TTTC. It's a bummer, but at least your treatment options will be fairly straight forward and you know you can try some of the less costly and invasive procedures first. Good luck to you!

jenmcD11 · August 2014

Sorry to hear that your HSG was unpleasant, but that's great that your oviducts are clear!

theholmanherd · August 2014

Welcome! Sorry you find yourself here.

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