IF/Testing check-in Week Dec 12

madspunk · December 2016

@kaitlink33 Oh sorry, I read that wrong. I thought you meant you responded to the highest letrozole dose. That's great you are growing follies now though.

@mrsdaddario thanks for the explanation about estrogen and estrogen pills. Hurray for science! I was worried for a second.

@TravelingCouple I also got my endometrin through an online pharmacy because it was less expensive. Kings pharmacy based in Brooklyn.

Bababatty · December 2016

@TravelingCouple I can confirm that Kings Pharmacy (that @madspunk uses) is legit. They have brick-and-mortar stores in NYC, where I got my IUI-related meds. I know a lot of people use Freedom Fertility Pharmacy, too.

KristoKekerooni · December 2016

@kyersten - I have to say I mostly believe REs are really into it for good reasons, but at the same time, most REs are very IVF-centered. That being said, I would advocate for yourself if IVF is really something you don't want to go to. Get a second opinion or push for an SHG or something. But also... what is the rest of the history here? Is there any other reason IUIs won't be beneficial? MFI, Endo, PCOS... etc? Or has it just been "unexplained" up till this point? Have you had other testing done? It might be that he is IVF-minded, but it also might be just that that's one more thing that could prevent an IUI, so he wants to give you the best chance possible. I will say this, your insurance covering IVF is incredible. Make sure you look into it though. Are they covering IVF as a separate entity from all the rest of your IF treatment, or do you have a cap and you just haven't hit it yet, so it's covered? I ask because you don't want to "waste" your allotted money on IUIs, find out IVF is necessary, and then find you have no more coverage. Just make sure you do plenty of research on the insurance side, so there are no surprises later. Especially with the insurance game, you have to be your own best advocate.
Good luck!

TravelingCouple · December 2016

@KristoKekerooni I just briefly browsed your IF blog and it brought tears to my eyes. Your deleted letters to your children are beautiful and so heartbreaking. I so wish that I understood why some women experience infertility, loss and such inexplicable heartache. Actually, understanding wouldn't be enough, I wish there was an answer and a fix. I'm so sorry for your losses and I also wanted to say that I think it's beautiful that you are going through foster care classes. My sister is a foster mom and what I've seen her do with children that need a loving home in emergency situations just stirs my heart. It is no easy feat, but it is so, so needed. I love that you are opening your heart like that. My DH and I have discussed this as an option as well if more biological children are not in our future. It would be a hard pill to swallow, but I just feel like there are more children out there that we are meant to love and have join our family. Whether or not they are all biological, I have no idea. Just wanted to share my love and support to and with you

KristoKekerooni · December 2016

Oh, @TravelingCouple . I appreciate you saying something! It's a pretty new blog. I have a bunch more that I have written but haven't posted. I need to do that... ha. but really, thank you. Especially with the foster care side of things, we never even really thought about it. We just jumped right in because at the end of the day, we want kids. Not to say we won't grieve if we can't have biological kids, I'm just saying kids are kids. And I want all of them. I really hope and pray your journey takes you to more kids, biological and foster/adopt, if that's what's in your cards. I appreciate your support and you reaching out. Much love!

kyersten · December 2016

@wabash15 @juliebeannn @TravelingCouple Thank you for the kind words! I love this community - for me, after updates with the RE I always think I need to 1) call my mom and 2) go to the bump! I appreciate you all

I did ask if there was other testing that could be done to confirm, but he said the risks outweigh the benefits. I do like him a lot and have had no problems with him so far - I think it was just unexpected to hear "IVF is your best option" after having thought all our tests were clear. I think I do probably trust him and DH trusts him (and is not one to easily trust people we don't know).

@KristoKekerooni The reason he suspects scar tissue is that I had a ruptured appendix a few years ago. It actually did rupture (due to misdiagnosis) and I was in the hospital for a few days for severe internal infection. So he says because of how fragile tubes and etc. are, he doesn't think there is any way I could have come out from that unscathed. He was amazed and pleased that the HSG didn't show any fluid or blockage in my tubes, but said other signs on the images do point to scar tissue. Other than this, neither DH or I have another diagnosis.

As far as the IVF goes, I am incredibly grateful my insurance has been so great with the TTC journey so far. My insurance covers three IVF attempts per live birth. My RE office is working on getting it all officially cleared with the insurance for whenever we decided to do it. I do need to find out if the FSH medication/injections are covered.

Thank you for all your advice and insight @KristoKekerooni ! I will look into the SHG and check out your blog!

KristoKekerooni · December 2016

@kyersten - Oh. So logically, what he is saying makes sense, but just my opinion, I'd rather *know* scar tissue was the issue than to assume it. Either way, I hope everything goes smoothly for you. Keep us updated!
Oh, and thanks.

lund · December 2016

I guess I go here now

Diagnosis (If you've been): Just got DH's first SA results yesterday: low count (26 mil), 5% morphology. But, the 5% of good sperm had good motility. My ob/gyn is recommending IUI.

Cycle/CD: 6/11

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?) Mostly just researching and gathering information. Yesterday sucked. We ended up talking, and he says he’s quitting smoking after this weekend. We were already planning to clean up our diet starting in the new year (cliché, I know), so we’ll do that, and I’m going to put him on a multivitamin/fertility supplement. Then he’ll do another SA in 3 months to see if there’s any improvement. At that point we’ll make a decision on IUI.

How are things going? Um, still trying to crawl out of the gut-punch fog from yesterday. DH isn't sure if he wants to continue TTC before the 3 month post-smoking mark... But now that I'm thinking about our conversation from last night, I'm just realizing that he thinks that his swimmers would cause a birth defect in a baby because of the label on cigarette packs. So, I need to re-educate him on a few things.

Any questions? Has anyone had any experience with FertileAid for men? Or FH Pro for Men? Or is it all just a bunch of crap? I know that CoQ10 is recommended, and he needs to be on a good multivitamin anyway. I'm just trying to limit the number of pills he has to take each day because he's a baby about it. So, that's why I'm liking the FH Pro for Men - because it's kind of an all-in-one.

GTKY: What is your favorite Christmas/holiday cookie? Spritz or sugar cookies. But I don't usually turn down any kind of cookie!

wabash15 · December 2016

@lund I'm so sorry you have to deal with this and it is so much to process. I'm glad they are planning a repeat SA. Has your OB given you a referral to an RE and or a urologist for DH?

lund · December 2016

@wabash15 thank you again for your kind words and support

The nurse we talked to yesterday didn't really give us any recommendations/referrals aside from recommending IUI. I'm considering making an appointment with my ob/gyn just so DH and I can speak with him about our options, and possibly seeing an RE or urologist. My guess is that since he's a smoker, they aren't pushing us to spend more money on more appointments/tests, and would just encourage lifestyle changes first. Maybe that's naive? I can message my ob/gyn and ask about it.

wabash15 · December 2016

@lund I would make an appointment to talk to your OB. Its so much to process and to have only talked with an nurse. I think that this might help you and DH get some of your questions answered. Also hearing it from a medical professional can help cement things for DH. I would ask your OB about a referral at the least for DH just to rule out any physical things on his end.

Image: https://media2.giphy.com/media/apcKda9LY1XZS/200w.gif#80

TravelingCouple · December 2016

@lund I'm so sorry to hear that, that must've been a stressful day and rough to hear. I'm also glad they are giving you a repeat SA too see if there can be improvements based on lifestyle changes. Maybe this will be the thing that makes your DH kick the habit for good, which would be great for everyone. I know you've been wanting him to quit for a while. Sending hugs, no one ever wants to move over to this thread, but the ladies here are the bees knees

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IF/Testing check-in Week Dec 12

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