TWW Post for 03/01

Teenie16 · March 2015

So sorry for the late post!

Welcome to this week's edition for the TWW!!! This is for anyone who is entering the TWW this week or is in their TWW.

Where are you in the TWW? When will you test? Any phantom symptoms?

QOTW: What is your biggest guilty pleasure?

dolphin012 · March 2015

I am in week 2 of the tww. No symptoms.... AF due Tues-Thurs +/- so probably wouldn't test until the weekend.

guilty pleasure - maybe coconut milk 'ice-cream'.

Teenie16 · March 2015

I am CD16. I probably Od 2days ago. I haven't tested at all this cycle since we're taking the month off from TTC.

My guilty pleasure is bad CW shows. ie Vampire diaries and the Originals. I don't admit to most people that I watch that crap but I'm hooked.

2pupsnokids · March 2015

I am a week out from a blood test. I don't feel any differently, no symptoms, other than what I think today are cramps. I'm a little doubtful this round, but we'll see, I don't want to be Debbie Downer before 9am! Guilty pleasures? I'm a Curb Your Enthusiasm addict.

TTC #1 for 21 Months
Husband: 41
Me: 36
3 failed IUIs
changed REs
1 failed IVF (chemical pregnancy)
13 5-day frozen embryos

Betty965 · March 2015

I'm only 3 dpo so that test is a millennium away. I've decided not to test this month. I did last month because I was five days late. FIVE! I was so sure. The day I took hpt, af showed. I'm pretty sure it was the b6 I've been taking. This month (fingers crossed), I will be very zen about it lol. I don't really do zen but I figure it's worth a shot. Good luck ladies!

emsmama15 · March 2015

I'm on CD20, 9 dpiui. I had some cramping on Sunday and Monday. I'm emotional, but I've been thinking a lot about where we should go from here if this one doesn't work and it makes me sad and anxious. I've been having hot flashes - like drenched in sweat at random times - but I'm also sick. I really truly feel like I put my all into this one and if it doesn't work I'm going to be heartbroken. The only caveat to that is that my response to the injects was not really any different than my response to oral meds. So, if this one doesn't work, I'm requesting a sit-down heart to heart to discuss this. I'm so sick of wasting time.

Here is what I'd like to discuss with my RE:

Background: I have up to 6 IUIs per pregnancy covered by my insurance, I just did #3. I don't currently qualify for IVF because of my BMI, but it is not covered by my insurance at all.

1) Are we on the right track? Should I continue and try my 6 IUIs and hope those work or should I take 6 months off to try to lose the weight (about 40 pounds) to qualify for IVF? Basically, would IVF be the better option for me?

2) If we continue with the IUIs, I want to cancel any IUI cycle where I only have 1 mature follicle. From the research I've done, even if I wasn't old, IUI with one follicle is less than optimal and so far, that has been EVERY IUI we've done.

3) Ultrasounds are covered by my insurance, so in regards to #2, I want an ultrasound before trigger every month so we know exactly what we're working with. My RE office tends to do this "do one more night of the med, trigger tomorrow, and IUI two days later." They do this because they think that will give those 13-14 mm follicles time to mature. The ONE time I had an ultrasound after this approach (per my request), none of those matured even though the NPs in my office all say "they should."

4) Last, should we do two IUIs (back to back) instead of one? Put it all out there and see if it works. My hubby has some performance issues with prescribed timed intercourse, so it's hard for him when I come home and say - trigger and sex tonight honey! In that vein, I want to know how much IUI costs in case we continue down the IUI route, since I'm guessing they charge us for two IUIs if we do back to back - unless they bill it as one. Hmm, I don't know... @kindershlitz, do you know this?

So, there's my big dear diary post. Any other questions you guys think I should ask?

Thanks for "listening."

ETA: Beta on Friday, not sure if I'll test prior to avoid the blind side...

Austrogermokee · March 2015

I'm 6dpiui and will go in for a blood test if my period doesn't show up by March 12. I'm not really having any symptoms, of course, except for sore boobs and that's the progesterone.

Guilty pleasures: shameful foods like Slim Jims, bad TV (basically anything that's on the CW), and changing into pajamas as soon as I get home.

suziq1978 · March 2015

@emsmama15 - every part of my body is crossed for you!

kindershlitz · March 2015

@emsmama15 We are in the same- or similar- boat. We actually have an appointment with the RE tomorrow after my post-ovulatory u/s. This is iui two. I'm not sure if we will go on with number three or consider ivf. Will we take time off or is it an advantage to go back to back months. As far as the consecutive iuis. Yes, they do cost more. We have no IF insurance so we are entirely oop. They 'think' double inseminations help but there is not a study to prove it. Mostly because the post wash semen loses potency after 24 hours so if you ovulate on the later side of the trigger it helps?

I'll definitely update after my meeting tomorrow! Thankfully, DH will be there and he can remove emotion from information!

You get a bunny hug!

2pupsnokids · March 2015

@emsmama15 I had back-to-back IUIs, meaning, one on a Wednesday am and the next on the following morning. My doctors had different opinions on whether this was a valid practice or not, but we tried it anyway. I guess the thought being is that they knew when I ovulated, so the first IUI should suffice and DH count was down the 2nd attempt bc it was within 24 hours of the first. We did it anyway bc we knew we were switching REs and knew the next step most likely would be IVF. When we went to the new RE they retested my husband several times and found that an IUI wouldn't have worked in our situation anyway...which was annoying bc we realized we had wasted a lot of time and money.
I think in your meeting you should have a lot of your questions answered. Good luck!

gfgrump · March 2015

I'm in the TWW as well. 6 dpo. Had spotting around O. Not sure if that's a symptom. Then a good amount of low grade cramping for the first few days post O. I also have an appt with RE today (finally, been waiting for this for months. Super annoyed bc I had to take a 1/2 day off even though I'm only going to be gone for an hour. But I need to let that go and just enjoy my day rather than go back to work. None of this is covered for us either, so I hope that we can get all that we can out of this appt including U/S and whatever else. I like your questions @emmasmama15, I think I will steal a few.

Other than that, not too many symptoms.

Guilty pleasure: project runway. And any time I see a gluten free dessert, I need to buy it.

emsmama15 · March 2015

Thanks @suziq1978. After I wrote this, I realized it sounds like I've given up on this cycle, but I haven't. I think I've just become cynical about this whole process. Ugh. I don't like to be cynical.

Good luck at your RE (if you haven't already gone) @dwmmwd!

@kindershlitz, @2pupsnokids - thanks for the insight. Good point on the post-wash semen losing it's effectiveness. I'm reasonably sure I ovulate on the the second day after trigger (the day we do the IUI). When I use a trigger, I actually get ovulation cramping. Actually, this month, I had awful cramping, heaviness, fullness from around CD5-CD11 (IUI day) and had blessed relief when I woke up on CD12, leading me to believe I'd ovulated the day before. Very scientific. So, perhaps back-to-back IUIs wouldn't be the best for me because the sperm from the first one (day after trigger) probably wouldn't even be around by the time I ovulated over 24 hours later. Hmm.

Thanks ladies.

I forgot my guilty pleasure: McDonalds fries. I admit it. Their meat (burgers, chicken, etc) freaks me out for some reason, but those fries. Pair it with a medium Diet Coke .. yum! :-bd

gfgrump · March 2015

So just got back from RE visit. I'm not quite sure how to characterize it. On the one hand, both of our tests look great, I had 8 follicles on the right and 6 on the left, plus he could see where I ovulated this month. So he said those are great numbers. Basically, I feel like he said our best bet would be to do the HSG next cycle. Dependent upon what that shows, we would likely try clomid or another oral med in a few months if not pregnant. and then probably try IVF in the summer if necessary. He seemed to be saying that IUIs for their cost benefit (as nothing is covered) is probably not the way to go for us.

He also was such a numbers guy. What I mean by that is he was like, it doesn't matter if you catch the O day, just try to get in a few days before ovulation. Your chance of getting pregnant is basically the same if you catch the O day as if you don't. He seemed to be saying charting doesn't matter, acupuncture may or may not do anything. This sounds dumb, but he was very medical. Does that make sense? I guess I'm used to dealing with my acupuncturist and other stuff I read that mixes western and eastern philosophy. I guess that's what it is. He's very western medicine focused.

But basically, we just need to keep trying. And hope it happens before we shell out thousands for IVF.

emsmama15 · March 2015

Did you like him? Did you get a good vibe? @Dwmmwd

Teenie16 · March 2015

@emsmama15 it sounds like you have done a lot of thinking about your questions. I think you have every right to ask any and every question you can think of. It is your family, body, time and money. My first IUI we only inseminated once, w/o trigger. And the second we did it twice w/36 hrs after trigger and the following morning. I never knew that about post wash sperm viability. Also I'm just curious, what did they tell you that your BMI has to be to be eligible for IVF? If you don't mind me asking.

@kinderschlitz Good luck tomorrow. Let us know how it goes. Hopefully this IUI works and you won't need to worry about the next step. It seems like you're in the same boat as me too. We are all oop and we weren't given great odds with IUI mostly because of my age. I aslo learned in our meeting that the shell of the egg gets harder for the sperm to penetrate as you get older. Which makes IUI less effective, which helped us more comfortable with moving on.

@Dwmmwd Your RE sounds a little like mine. I too have an acupuncturist and their approaches are so different. He's all stats and she's more touchy feely. I think they're both right in ways. They're just different schools of thought. In general it seems to me that most western meds doctors don't see much benefit in anything other than medicine and science. Take what you can out of both sides. I think that if you believe acupuncture will help then it will. Don't believe in it then it's just a waste of time & money.

@2pupsnokids & @austrogermokee Everything crossed for you both!

dolphin012 · March 2015

@emsmama15 - Hope everything works out for you this month! But if not seems like you have a good plan and set of questions for moving forward.

I am out this cycle - not surprised at this point. On to ivf.

emsmama15 · March 2015

@Teenie16 - The BMI cut-off is 35. I'm over that (obviously). I believe the reason has to do with the fact they do the egg retrieval in the office and there is greater risk with the anesthesia process at higher BMIs. I wish I could just tell them how often I've had anesthesia and didn't die... Oh well.

Thank you! That reminds me of another question I wanted to ask - if there were any clinics in our metro area who don't have a BMI cutoff. From reading on here, it doesn't seem this is necessarily the rule across the US.

emsmama15 · March 2015

10 dpiui and I'm spotting. What the heck is going on with me? I never spot. AND, I'm on progesterone so it's really weird. UGH! UGH! UGH!!

Sorry I'm being SUCH a drama queen this month.

2pupsnokids · March 2015

@emsmama15 you are not being a drama queen. All of these shots, plus the emotional investment take a toll. We've all seen men when they have the sniffles, and how they become such wimps. I mean c'mon, there's a reason why women have to deal with cramps, periods, childbirth and everything in between-otherwise the human race would be extinct. Take it easy and hang in there.

gfgrump · March 2015

I mean, I guess I liked him. I just wish I had someone who had a more holistic approach. Like he stated that nothing I was doing was impacting this. So, I guess in a way, that's reassuring. But I also feel like there's a lot of research about the mind/body connection and stuff and so to believe that nothing matters- relaxing, acupuncture, meditation, whatever, idk. I mean, it does seem like from the numbers, you just have to get really lucky.

emsmama15 · March 2015

@dmwwmd - I think a lot of specialists tend to take a very scientific approach. As long as he doesn't say you CAN'T do the other stuff and you like him, I wouldn't worry too much. It's annoying that he says nothing else is impacting this though.

When I met my RE, I really got this feeling that he would be able to get me pregnant (and he did quickly the first time, not so quickly now that I'm older). I'm rambling, but my point is that I really think you should LIKE your RE because you're putting a lot of faith into him, you know? Good luck!

emsmama15 · March 2015

I'm getting annoyed with this spotting business. It peaked yesterday and has now really slowed down. I called my RE's office and the nurse practitioner didn't really know what to make of it either. She mentioned implantation bleeding, which just gives me false hope - damn her. I really don't think it's that. I hope it's not my body just saying it's had enough.... :-S

Austrogermokee · March 2015

I don't think it's all that important to like your RE - I find mine to be a bit of a cold fish, but he's intelligent and highly competent. What keeps me coming back is the wonderful support staff. The financial counselor is so patient with our questions, and the nurse is extremely supportive. I loved the way she told me, "The most important thing is that you are calm and relaxed," then fixed DH with a stare and said, "So don't stress her out!" Snort.

gfgrump · March 2015

Thanks for your thoughts ladies. I wouldn't really characterize my feelings as liking or not liking. It's more like he has a specific bent (namely that he was an IVF doc for 25 years) and he isn't very holistic. For example, he didn't even believe the thing about stress. He gave the example of nothing is as stressful as being raped and we know that the rates of pregnancy for rape victims is the same as everyone else. He also said that if you could keep yourself from getting pregnant by jumping around, people would have started doing that a long time ago.

But he tried really hard to make everything understandable and to lay out our options. Hopefully we won't have too much need to have contact with him going forward. We're going to do the HSG next month and then we'll see.

gfgrump · March 2015

Hang in there @emmsamama15. sorry it's so sucky. Hopefully it is something good.

emsmama15 · March 2015

Thanks. I'm so frustrated now. I hope your new doc gets you pregnant soon @Dwmmwd!

And keep doing the holistic part if you like it. I find acupuncture to be so relaxing. It may not get me pregnant, but it sure makes me feel good!

kindershlitz · March 2015

@emsmama15 what is up with the spotting?! Beta tomorrow, right? FX!

emsmama15 · March 2015

Yep. Tomorrow. I'm not very hopeful. I'm guessing the spotting is my period trying to start.

Guennie · March 2015

First off, @emsmama15 I just want to say spotting is not always bad! I have had implantation bleeding twice and it happened late the first time. So don't let it crush your hope yet. There could also be other explanations which wouldn't interfere with a bfp. I'm keeping fx for you!!

So I am pretty sure I'm in the TWW although I didn't OPK so I can't be positive. I'm on day 17 of my cycle and I think I probably ovulated 2 days ago. I'd had a lot of cramping early in the morning for a few days prior. Day 14 was the most intense. Then day 15 I thought I felt a brief twinge on the left side and the next morning my temp went up after having dropped day 15. I also checked my cervix day 15 and it felt soft and open. So this is my best guess.

I naturally don't feel anything since it's so early. I'm going to try very hard not to imagine phantom symptoms over the next two weeks.

My guilty pleasure is probably ice cream. Or maybe coffee, which I've given up until there's no chance I might get pregnant. Sniff sniff.

URMySunshine77 · March 2015

All of my fingers crossed for you @emsmama15, @austrogermokee, and @kindershlitz!!!

emsmama15 · March 2015

Thanks everyone for the well wishes. I'm out. Beta was negative today and my period is here in all her glory. We're moving to IUI #4 with increased Gonal F. We need more follies!!!! And I'm still not sure what's up with the spotting and now getting AF on progesterone. The NP at my REs office wasn't too concerned.

So, I don't know if you guys believe in signs, but I do. I was driving home a little bit ago and was talking to my mom (since her death, I do that periodically - most often in the car when I'm by myself). I said "Geez Mom, couldn't you just send me a sign and let me know if this is even going to work?" I did also say - if it's not, I don't want to know! Once I got home, I plugged in my next cycle in my app to determine my possible due date (crazy cakes, I don't even know when I'll trigger and do IUI, but I always do it on CD1 with how I think it could happen and then I do it again when things change). I hit the button and up pops my potential due date for this cycle - her birthday, December 7th. Kind of freaky. But, it makes me feel good.

suziq1978 · March 2015

@emsmama15 - I'm sorry. Hugs to you and good luck on the next one. It would be awesome for your due date to be your mom's birthday.

Guennie · March 2015

@emsmama15 I was really pulling for you, I'm sorry. Hugs.

kindershlitz · March 2015

@emsmama15 I'm sorry. Pulling for you for a 12-7 due date!

gfgrump · March 2015

FX that this is a good sign.

Betty965 · March 2015

@emsmama15 I 10000 percent believe in signs and your mama was loud and clear. That's so sweet, it gave me happy tears. Sending you lots of hugs ♡♡

Teenie16 · March 2015

@emsmama15 So Sorry! I hope that's a great sign and the next one works! Big hugs!

gfgrump · March 2015

Anyone ever experienced dizziness in 2ww?

hooligans4 · March 2015

Dwmmwd said:
Anyone ever experienced dizziness in 2ww?

I never have

Guennie · March 2015

Dwmmwd said:
Anyone ever experienced dizziness in 2ww?

I've had a few lightheaded episodes but not actual dizziness. Are you eating well and drinking enough water?

Austrogermokee · March 2015

I had dizzy spells, but it turned out to be due to a B12 deficiency.

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