TTTC Checkin 08/04/2016 (Quick & Belated, sorry)

GoldenKeys · August 2016

Hello everyone!

Sorry for the post and run checkin, I'm out camping with the hubster and thought that I would be able to get my laptop onto WIFI for the normal checkin but it's not working. I'll be sure to get everything caught up next week.

In the meantime, how is everybody doing?

jmr1515 · August 2016

I'm currently in my TWW, just a natural cycle this time around. I finally have my follow-up with my gyne next Monday so fingers crossed he will refer me to the fertility clinic. Since I've had all the testing I hope to be fast-tracked to see the fertility specialist!

I'm pretty sure my gyne is going to prescribe me clomid for next cycle and I don't think it will be monitored. What is everyone's thoughts on starting clomid when you ovulate on your own (very regularly) and your only (known) diagnosis is low morphology? DH has a good count and good motility so the doctor has kind of put us in the "unexplained" infertility category. I'm just nervous about starting clomid since i've heard so many horror stories!!!

At the same time I always have 2-4 days of pre-AF spotting (14 day LP) so i'm kind of hopeful that it will help with that.

Any insight you ladies have is more than welcome!!

hoffmanr7 · August 2016

I'm near the end of my TWW of my last natural cycle (for a while at least). If we get a BFN this time, then next cycle will be our first round with clomid.

I haven't had much time to think this week about our possible BFN or BFP coming up as I have not been feeling the best. I had babysat for one of my coworkers last week and ended up catching Hand Foot and Mouth which seems to be going around like wild fire by me right now. I had a horribly sore throat over the weekend and just a slight rash on my hands and feet that kept me up almost all Monday night due to how itchy it was. Luckily, though, that ended up being the end of it. My feet were still a little sore and itchy on Tuesday and I had no appetite from Saturday until Tuesday afternoon. Now I swear my body is playing catch up and I am eating everything in sight.

@jmr1515 I have not had any personal experience with clomid as of yet, but as mentioned, we will be starting our first cycle with it this month. So far all of our tests have come back good, so the doctor plans to use the clomid to help boost our chances. I haven't heard any horror stories about being on it...although I do know that there is a chance it can increase PMS symptoms which makes me a bit nervous. However, at this point I am excited to try anything that may help.

Bababatty · August 2016

We completed testing and saw our RE yesterday to go over results. Everything looked good for me, but DH's SA showed low motility. DH feels bad about this, but I'm trying to cheer him up by joking that this is not surprising--he never goes anywhere quickly. ;-) Anyway, he's going to go see the urologist our clinic works with (hopefully, if he takes DH's insurance!).

In the meantime, proceeding with IUI + Clomid. Our RE said it was quite possible we'd get enough motile sperm (is that the correct term?) for the IUI, but if not, we'd need to think about IVF going forward. We're fortunate my insurance covers a lot of the IUI, but we're not financially ready for IVF so FX we have success with the sample.

We just got approval from our insurance to start during the next cycle, which I anticipate will begin next week. Excited and nervous!

@GoldenKeys can you change my DX to low motility? Thanks and enjoy camping!

@jmr1515 I haven't had any experience with Clomid, but I know some people express concern with using it unmonitored since I guess there's a lifetime limit on its use. Maybe others have thoughts on this? Can you ask at your follow-up the reasoning behind using it unmonitored?

@Hoffmanr7 I'm sorry you were sick! Glad you're feeling better now!

ReesaAnne16 · August 2016

@jmr1515 I actually tried to get my OB to give me just clomid alone, after my RE suggested Femara+IUI as our next step. She said she would if I insisted, but highly recommended against it because of the risk of multiples when unmonitored. I have normal, very regular cycles (we are "unexplained" but likely MFI) so she was concerned I would superovulate on clomid and there would be no way to tell if I had multiple follicles.

I decided not take clomid unmonitored for that reason, although many women do (and have success) and I think it is a personal decision.

@hoffmanr7I hope you start feeling better soon!

@Bababatty That's great you will have some coverage for IUI, I hope it works for you!

CD15 here, so it's likely I'm in the TWW now, but I didn't even use OPK's this month; I didn't want to buy a large stash of wondfos the cycle before we start treatment, so I took the month off.

Just excited that it's less than 2 weeks away before I can call my RE and get started on Femara. I hope it doesn't make me too emotional, as work has been stressful already.

jmr1515 · August 2016

Thanks for the feedback ladies. I'm going to ask if my gyne will monitor me while I'm on it. If not, I don't think I'm going to take it, especially after reading some horror stories on TTGP (hyper ovulation, risk of multiples, cysts, thinned lining).

wifeinraleigh28 · August 2016

I have great news to report! I have been a complete hot mess the last week. I had my egg retrieval last Friday and since then, NOTHING has prepared me for embryo week. Waiting for updates on our embryos has been by far the most stressful part of the entire IVF process. Going into IVF, I just assumed we'd end up with several embryos in the freezer and could just keep transferring them until our family was complete. It wasn't until embryo week started that I learned that first of all, you lost usually more than half of your embryos during embryo week, and then sometimes they don't even test normal from PGS. I learned that some couples go through this process and end up with 0 embryos.

After my egg retrieval on Friday (when 20 total eggs were retrieved), we learned the next day that 12 were mature, and 10 were fertilized via ICSI. Knowing that we could lose at least half, I couldn't sleep or eat until our day 3 update on Monday. That update was amazing, as we were told that all 10 embryos were still going strong (unusual)! Then yesterday I got our day 5 update (still couldn't eat or sleep waiting for it), and we were told that 4 of them had reached full blastocyst stage and were being biopsied and frozen. Additionally, they were giving 5 more embryos another day to grow. 1 had stopped growing after day 3.

Just about an hour ago we got our day 6 update! 4 more little embryos made it to blastocyst so we have 8 total being sent out for PGS testing! I am beyond ecstatic. I'm feeling hopeful now that at least one (hopefully more) are going to test normal!!

DH and I leave for 12 days of vacay tomorrow, and we will get our PGS results while we're on vacation. I was worried that my nerves about PGS testing would get in the way of me being able to fully enjoy myself, but I am going to MAKE myself relax now. After one disappointment after another throughout our TTC journey, I am beyond thankful for our 8 little bundles of hope.

ReesaAnne16 · August 2016

@wifeinraleigh28 hurray! That is so great!! You deserve to relax on your vacation, making all those eggs was hard work! I'm so glad that things are going well so far

Samanthaarielxo · August 2016

Decided to stop using opk and temping this cycle and stopped trying in general until after we see the RE and hopefully figure out what is going on and why the clomid didn't work.

After we we see the RE we are going to make a more informed decision on whether or not now is the right time for us to try. We are getting married in a year and while I wanted to have a baby or at least be pregnant by 25 (I come from a family of young mothers so I am basically an old maid to them right now) I also am getting married next year in September and I don't know what trying until January and then stopping until after the wedding would do. So basically everything is on hold until we see the next Doctor.

Bababatty · August 2016

Congratulations, @wifeinraleigh28! FX that the tests go well! Enjoy your vacation!

starlitfae · August 2016

@wifeinraleigh28 I feel you! It was so stressful waiting to hear about the embryos, especially since I had much fewer eggs than you, and then I was on pins and needles waiting to hear the results of the PGD testing - I was sure that they would all come back unbalanced! Enjoy yourself!

We are just waiting to get started with the testing for the transfer. I get my meds delivered to me next week. Money is super tight thanks to all the loans we have had to take out for the IVF. I am stressing (which is making DH unhappy) and trying to get a second job driving for orderup (which makes DH and mom both unhappy) at least until we can get some of this debt under control.

wifeinraleigh28 · August 2016

@starlitfae Congrats on getting ready for your transfer! We are stressed about money too and that was another factor that is making me crazy during embryo week. We are 100% out of pocket for IVF and this is our ONLY shot. We can't pay for another cycle if this one fails. We paid my clinic $16k up front (which didn't even include meds or the $2k for PGS testing) and I'll be damned if that doesn't get us a viable embryo or two (or our take home baby)! Remind me when your transfer will be? We are looking at September. Right now I'm just waiting for AF to start so I can get back on BCPs and our FET class is scheduled for Aug 17th!

@ReesaAnne16 Thank you! It's hard to believe you're just a couple weeks away from getting the ball rolling with your RE! Best wishes to you with your treatment! I look forward to hearing how it all goes!

jmr1515 · August 2016

Great news @wifeinraleigh28! Get some
much deserved rest while on vacation!!

NikkiPSU · August 2016

I've been a little MIA lately. We finally told our families what we've been dealing with and it took a large weight off our shoulders. Not that they've been pestering, but after being married for 5 years I'm sure they were wondering.

I'm on CD 15 today and waiting for the smiley result from my OPK. We have an appointment with the RE on Aug 26 to take a more aggressive approach. Hubby is optimistic that we'll be canceling that appointment. Hope he's right!

hoffmanr7 · August 2016

@wifeinraleigh28 Hurray! Glad things are so far so good. Enjoy your vacation and get some much needed R&R

@NikkiPSU Glad to hear you shared with your family and that it helped you feel a bit better. Fx that you can cancel that appointment!

lablover78 · August 2016

Hi ladies, sorry about the long post but want to share in case it helps anyone else. I started w/ my new RE less than a month ago and after 3+ yrs I feel like I finally have some answers and actually feel optimistic for the first time in more than a year. Forgive me for my clunky explanation the best I can remember. Through genetic testing and lab work Dr has found MTHFR (I am compound heterozygus), a low Tumer Necrosis Factor (TNF) and high DHEA which he thinks is leading to inability to ovulate some cycles and implant all the time. Apparently MTHFR mutation prevents you from metabolizing folic acid which causes all sorts of other issues. Treatment includes supporting my genetic defects with tons of supplements, avoiding folic acid (wheat is sprayed with this! Enriched flour contains it etc), and trying to kickstart my own body into completing the methylation process on its own (lots of new things to research here!) I found a whole world of reproductive immunology type treatment that exists and my dr seems to fit into that category. He has rx low doses of Prozac, allopurinol, acyclovir, & lovastatin for reasons I cannot remember to make my system start doing what it should be doing which includes increasing my TNF. I'm not to TTC this cycle due to some of the meds. New labs due in 3 weeks and if everything looks good we will try with times intercourse - he says it is not necessary to do anything more aggressive like IUI/IVF until we give my healthy system a chance. @NikkiPSU I'm glad you were able to share- it has helped my relationships for sure. @wifeinraleigh28 you are so close- ahhhh!!! So exciting

clt2pwm11 · August 2016

I FINALLY MADE A FOLLICLE!!!!!!!!!!! After a year and a half of being a guinea pig, they have figured out my dosage and I have follicles. So we are doing our first IUI Monday and FINALLY moving forward. I'm taking my trigger shot tomorrow night. This means we have to postpone our beach trip for a couple days, but it is totally worth it.

@Reesanne16 I did three rounds of Clomid and was a raging hormonal nightmare. I've been on femara two cycles and have felt AMAZING on comparison. I had mild irritation one day and that was it (as opposed to wanting to knife people haha j/k). I hope you will have the same experience.

ReesaAnne16 · August 2016

Thanks @clt2pwm11 that does make me feel more relieved. Congrats on the follicle growth!! How exciting to finally have a chance at conception

mrswifeytoad · August 2016

Hey yall
Things are alright over here. Today I had a breakdown at work again. This time no one saw me thankfully. A customer came in and was looking for a gift for her daughter who's trying to get ku. She brought over a little picture frame that's made to hold an ultrasound picture. She mentioned her daughter just got married and was trying, but having a little trouble. Thankfully a coworker was right there and she started talking to her too. I quietly excused myself as if I was going to help another customer a little ways away and hurried to the back storage room. And cried. Until I was paged to the front again.
Man, I had no clue how painful this was before it happened to me. I can't imagine how many people I accidentally, unknowingly hurt by things I innocently said. So sad.

I go in on cd 20 (21 is a sunday amd they are closed) for bloodwork to see if I am ovulating. Has anyone had to do that? I didn't know bloodwork would pick it up that cd.

Anyways, I was so thankful for all the support I received this past week. You ladies are jewels.
Lots of love and hugs to you all. We will make it.

clt2pwm11 · August 2016

@mrswifetoad yes I had to have blood work done that way before for the same reason. They have a small window to work within. You should be just fine.

BWhitta · August 2016

@jmr1515 I did 2 rounds of Clomid unmonitored without issue...I had some hot flashes, was definitely moody...but all in all, I was fine

I did ovulate, but not until CD17 or CD18 so when I started with RE he switched me up to Femara which I took without any side effects!

So, I just had my CD12 ultrasound and had 2 good follies, a 13 on the right and a 20 on the left (I think this is good?????) RE told me to OPK tonight and tomorrow morning and if I don't get a positive he gave me an Rx for a trigger shot (Ovidrel) which I'm pretty nervous about!!!! Does anyone have any insight? What if somehow I already ovulated and OPK didnt show and there's already sperm in there and I take the trigger shot...haha. Can this do any harm??????

mrswifeytoad · August 2016

@clt2pwm11 ok, thanks for letting me know. I just hadn't read anywhere that it was the norm.

ReesaAnne16 · August 2016

@mrswifeytoad I had the same blood work drawn, it will be a progesterone level.

I'm sorry you had a hard day *hugs* I too have come to realize the there are things I've said to people in the past the were definitely hurtful, even though I didn't mean it, I just didn't understand.

@bwhitta the trigger shot won't hurt anything, it's just hcg

edited tagged the wrong person

PoeMasque · August 2016

@mrswifeytoad sorry you are having such a hard time, although I wish I could just have a good cry about it at work sometimes myself, it must feel good to get it out. At any given time there are at least 5 pregnant women at my job and it seems like every week another one announces they are pregnant. One lady would go on and on and on about it and about every tiny little symptom (one co-worker, who was also annoyed said "it's like she thinks no human has ever been pregnant before and she's the first one"). I finally worked up the nerve to tell her we'd been trying for almost a year, she went very quiet and now doesn't flaunt it all around. I think it was good to remind people that there are those of us silently struggling.

Ive actually found that telling people at work relieved a lot of stress. Everyone has been supportive and lots of people have stories about what they went through to have their children. I'm glad your co-worker is able to be so supportive, it makes a big difference!

iloverocksalot · August 2016

@jmr1515 I did three cycles with Clomid, first was at 100, but I had hot flashes and was super moody. Like crying in the grocery store at my poor husband kind of moody. Overall, it was survivable, since it only lasts as long as you're taking it. I had 4 follicles for that IUI and they almost cancelled, but it didn't catch anyway since my eggs are crap. For the next two cycles, I dropped down to 50mg and had fewer side effects and only 2 follicles each time. Neither of those IUIs worked for me either though. Good luck- as my RE always said, you only need one!

Update: I'm back from a several months long hiatus while we got a second opinion from another clinic back in the States... We currently live in Muscat, Oman and really like the doctors and clinic there but they recognized that our case was too complex for them. After two IVF+ICSI with only 3 eggs on the first (one fertilized and fizzled), and 6 eggs on the second (3 mature and zero fertilization) we decided to pull out all the stops, so to speak.

My RE in Oman had me on 50mg generic DHEA for the second IVf and we doubled the follicle count, which was great, but my FSH remained quite high. My highest ever was 16.9 and I'm only 32, so we knew this was going to be difficult for us. The most recent IVF had us down to 12, and higher follicle counts which was great, but still not good enough. The cycle after the IVf, I was down to FSH= 8.6 and I couldn't believe it.

Three months ago we contacted CHR in NY and the doctor put me on a regimen of high quality DHEA at 75mg per day, plus 1000mg high quality CoQ10. After just 2 months of this, and not doing much else (except reducing my alcohol to less than 2/week down from 4-5/week), I am in total shock that my latest FSH is 4.1......only 4.1!!! That isn't just normal, it's exceptional! Even the nurse was over the moon for us, since it's such an enormous change from the 16.9 we had with the first IVF 16 months ago.

So, with the FSH and other hormone levels where they should be, we are going ahead with this cycle in NY, with a new protocol including estrogen priming (patches), and microdose Lupron during the stims, which I started this morning CD3 at 300 Gonal F and 150 Menopur.

So we have hope again! Maybe my eggs will cooperate this time and we'll finally get a bfp. I'm telling you, after this cycle it will take a while to financially recover enough to do it again. That and I've used all the last of my vacation days to come here and do it. But so far it is all good news, and we'll know more on the CD8 scan on Wednesday.

Good luck this cycle to all of you!

@wifeinraleigh28 how amazing to see such great results, I bet you are just on top of the world. Enjoy your break and take the time to relax and be good to your body after it worked so hard to make those amazing little blasts. Fingers crossed for you!!

starlitfae · August 2016

@wifeinraleigh28 - I am scheduled right now to transfer sometime the week of 9/11. If it doesn't take, we will have to wait until we save up some more money before we can go back - we can't afford to go back right away. It's makes me sad that this is so dang expensive...

ReesaAnne16 · August 2016

@iloverocksalot welcome back and congrats on the encouraging bloodwork results. I hope this next cycle is very successful for you

PS I love your user name

iloverocksalot · August 2016

@ReesaAnne16 Thanks! We're pretty hopeful, but know there are still many steps to go before I'm actually pregnant! As for the name, I'm a geologist, so it works.

halfanewt · August 2016

Body decided not to cooperate with an IUI before our trip, but has apparently decided (for the first time ever!!) to give a positive OPK, days after all docs "think" I'm ovulating. Lol. Waiting impatiently to confirm with temping.

Worldtravler0522 · August 2016

This is is pretty much where I'm at right now. Just waiting on CD1 so we can start everything over again.

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