IF/Testing Check In Week of 3/13

madspunk · March 2017

Hi Ladies, I'm dropping in from the benched board - hope that's okay!

@travelingcouple I had a Letrozole + injectable cycle for my second cycle because I didn't respond at all to my first Letrozole cycle (in which I was gradually bumped up to 10mg Letrozole with still no response). The injectables aren't bad, and I did have quick follicle growth with them. For my stubborn ovaries, they are a miracle drug. Hopefully you have good growth with the Letrozole alone though! If your insurance doesn't cover injectables, they're expensive. Also - good for you for finding a therapist! Starting IF treatment is hard.

@tamalahoops I think therapy is helping me more than acupuncture, but I only did acupuncture for one cycle. The acupuncture was definitely relaxing, but it only lasted so long. With the therapy, I feel like I'm learning some coping skills. And it's less expensive.

@vintageandrea90 Congrats on your first real TWW! Now that you are ovulating, you are one step closer. But sorry you feel out!

zwink1 · March 2017

@KristoKekerooni I'm sorry for the bfn and that you're having such a bad reaction to the Clomid. Hugs to you!

@laurad75 I'm glad you're feeling so optimistic, FX for a great cycle!

@tamalahoops I think that it's only natural to be anxious, I am cheering for your little guy!

@mrsdaddario I'm sorry you have to deal with a delay, but I hope everything is okay with your family.

@marley629 Yay for the 2 embryos!! FX that the PGS results are good!

Diagnosis (If you've been): MFI

Cycle/CD: 15, I think... I'm really drawing a blank right now. CD35

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?) More testing.

How are things going?
Fine. We have a follow-up consult with our RE tomorrow to go over the test results we've compiled so far and to discuss options. H has to go in for another SA on Thurs (second in a month - he's thrilled). Apparently the urologist doesn't think his decreased caffeine intake and the vitamins he's been on is enough to account for the bump in his count, so he wants a "tie-breaker" and then H has to go in for an ultrasound and bw to figure out what he can try to bump his numbers.

Any questions?
Yes! I'll get more info tomorrow, but my RE has previously brought up doing a lap to check for endo. My OB has suspected for years that I may have it due to various issues I've had, and our RE is simlarly inclined. My question is, aside from addressing other symptoms I have that may be caused by endo, whether it's worth it if we're still looking at IVF for our MFI issues. From my research, IVF appears to be equally effective for women with endo as those without. Also, my HSG was clear, so if I do have it, it's not blocking my tubes. I'm leaning towards not doing the lap at this time, but I worry that I'm not thinking of something.

GTKY: March Madness inspired - do you participate in March Madness brackets? If not, do you have a favorite sport to watch?
I don't typically do a bracket, but I do like college basketball - more than the NBA.

leekat14 · March 2017

Diagnosis (If you've been): endometriosis

Cycle/CD: I think cycle 16... CD 4

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?) Clomid for the first time! Pnv, RRL tea, coq10, opk, temp

How are things going? Optimistic. So far other than a few stomach pains I don't think I'm having any side effects.

Any questions? Not today

GTKY: March Madness inspired - do you participate in March Madness brackets? If not, do you have a favorite sport to watch?
Yes! More because it's fun to look through and update my bracket, don't really care who wins until there is money involved.

leekat14 · March 2017

@KristoKekerooni when do you take the clomid? I take it before bed, I'm still tired all day but not too terrible.

@wabash15 Your BD efforts exhaust me! How do you do it?!?!

magnolia131 · March 2017

@Marley629 yay for your embryos! FX for great PGS results.

@zwink1 I don't have an answer to your endo question, but am curious myself to see if others have answers for you. Best of luck tomorrow discussing your next steps!

LadyMillil · March 2017

Dysfunctional bleeding and MFI low morph

Cycle 28/CD20

TWW

acupuncture/natural cycle

Phone consult with RE on Friday. Hopefully we will FINALLY get on the IVF list. We've only been waiting a year for this.

GTKY not American, so no

leekat14 · March 2017

@zwink1 I have had my second laproscopy in 4 years. Not sure if it was really doing anything to prevent pregnancy but my doc wanted us to try for a few months longer after the surgery before we did any medications.

TravelingCouple · March 2017

@LadyMillil Fx for you!!! I hope you get on the list!

Anna_1021 · March 2017

@TravelingCouple I'm so sorry you have such a hard time dealing with all this nonsense. Wish I could tell you the magic words to make you feel better, but I have no magc words..

I can only give you creepy internet hug and tell you there we are here for you. Seeing a therapist is a good idea, I've been thinking about it myself. It is tough to deal with this rollercoaster, and our Hs may be as sweet as they are supporting us, they can't be the only outlet. So you go girl, find the help you need, and also: GL on the medicated cycle

@JuneRoseRuby @hartmich @vintageandrea90 I am soooo there with you on having hard time handling all the pregnant/baby people around me. And of yourse when I had to wait at the RE's waiting room for 40 minutes I was surrounded by pregnant ladies, cute tiny little babies, even cuter bigger babies and insanely cute babies on HUGE posters on the wall. I was like "are you f....ing kidding me..??" It sounds rediculous afterwards but I was seriously struck by it at the moment. I hate to say it, but I have a hard time dealing with my brothers's 1,5 yo kid, because she is just too cute, my heart breaks sometimes. I've never been a bitter person before, but fighting hard to find myself again.

@wabash15 sorry for your signs being all over this cycle. But hey, respect for the HIO pattern! You, girl, rock

@antoto Good, that you were able to set your IVF for a time that works for you. I'm rooting for you

Diagnosis (If you've been): unexplained

Cycle/CD: like..19? I don't even know anymore. CD13

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?) We've seen an RE finally last week. We've done most of the tests already (everything seems absolutely normal, except the fact thet we haven't been able to concieve in like 19 months..And my TSH won't go down.), only thing left was a HSG. Well our new RE did not waste a sec, scheduled my HSG for this monday, so I'm already done with it. Thank God, the results are good

but oh boy it hurt soo much so sudden. Gosh.
I still have to have an insulin resistance test done, and also check with my endo to try to temper more with my TSH levels. But after that we go back for a consult with my RE at the end of March, and girls, it seems we are having IUI next cycle

(or at least I hope it's gonna be next cycle with no waiting).

How are things going? I'm scared, and anxious but after such a long time of darkness, I finally have some hope and it is giving me life, joy and strenght - while in the same time it is scaring me half dead, couse what if that won't work..? What if that hope will be stripped away..? I know I have to shut down these thoughts, and I am managing to do that most of the time.
One more good thing: I really like our RE! It's like he is saying and doing thing exacly like it's good for me, for us. (He has a sense of humour that works for us well, he is approaching the problem in a manner professionally that I like)

Any questions? Not at the moment

GTKY: March Madness inspired - do you participate in March Madness brackets? If not, do you have a favorite sport to watch? No to the brackets. And I love watching football and of yourse the Crossfit Games

Bababatty · March 2017

@JuneRoseRuby I forgot to answer your question about Hs and clomid. Mine hasn't felt any difference emotionally. He has gained some weight, which we're pretty sure is related to the clomid since it's a known side effect and his diet/exercise haven't changed.

KristoKekerooni · March 2017

@zwink1 - I don't have endo, so I don't know much, but it's my understanding that it could affect implantation. In addition, I have read that those with endo have a lower response to the stims, so knowing that off the bat might help, because they'd know to put you on a higher dose immediately, instead of after a bit of no growth.

That's the extend of my knowledge... sorry it's not more,

TravelingCouple · March 2017

@Anna_1021 thanks girl

I'm excited for you on your IUI and so glad you like your RE!

adirat · March 2017

Sorry to barge in but @zwink1 I wanted to share what my RE said about lap. He told me that there are statistically significant improvements on pregnancy rates for ladies with endo who get surgery if they are trying to conceive naturally. There is no evidence of better outcones for those doing IVF anyway unless there are problems inside the uterus (ex: uterine fibroids). The other piece of this though is that sometimes women who are believed to have endo either don't or it's so minor it isn't affecting them really, so they're continuing to put off ttc and/or ivf from the surgery to little benefit. Unfortunately it is very much a case by case benefit.

Sending all you ladies HUGE hugs for what you are going through. I'm sorry to hear things have been so rough for many of you

but I'm crossing all my fingers your next steps are just what you need. Thinking of you friends.

safire3 · March 2017

Can I sit with you guys? Not sure where I belong right now. Plan to join the IF board but I'm still lurking for now. It's a bit intimidating.

Diagnosis (If you've been): MFI

Cycle/CD: 14/15

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW I think. Not temping this cycle

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?) More tests for DH - BW and another SA on Thursday. Meeting with the urologist for the first time next week.

How are things going? I don't even know. I feel hopeful one minute and completely devastated the next. We just got the news last week after a couple months of testing. DH has complete azoospermia. There was also fructose in the sample so apparently that means there is no blockage. I feel like this means there is no chance for us besides maybe IVF but we will just spend more money along the way before getting there. I also wish we had done this long ago because I feel like all those months were wasted when we really had no chance. We also decided to tell DH's parents because we wanted to know if there was any family history or anything that happened to him as a baby that may explain it. He had a hernia repair as a baby but only on one side and they don't know of any family history. Needless to say they are very sad. They didn't even know we were trying but they were hoping.

Any questions? The RE also kind of rushed over the fact that I also have 'slightly reduced ovarian reserve'. I think he feels like we have much bigger issues so it's not important but I have a fear that by the time we figure out what's going on with DH then I will stop ovulating or something. My AMH was 0.39 and I am 34. Is this significant and is it something I should be worried about?

GTKY: March Madness inspired - do you participate in March Madness brackets? If not, do you have a favorite sport to watch? I don't but DH does. I watch football and basketball mainly because of DH but I do enjoy it.

@KristoKekerooni sorry for the awful day yesterday. I hope today is better and that everything goes as planned with your IUI.

@TravelingCouple all the brownie points for DH and hope you are feeling a bit better today. Hugs to you and good luck with this cycle!

Wish I had some advice for you guys but I'm feeling like a newbie again. Still learning what all these new abbreviations mean!

wabash15 · March 2017

@bpietronicco welcome! I hope this cycle goes better for your
@madspunk your welcome here any time!
@zwink1 GL with DH's repeat SA . sorry I'm no help for the lap question but I think the other ladies gave you some good info
@leekat14 GL with this cycle! (lot and lots of persistence!)
@LadyMillil fx you'll have good news on friday!
@Anna_1021 I think what your feeling is totally normal. GL with your medicated cycle!
@safire3 you are welcome in this thread any time. The IF ladies are very nice too, there is not so much board organization there but your more than welcome to just jump in! I'm so sorry for DH's diagnosis. as for your AMH that number is fairly low and will likely affect things too. (sorry for that.) hugs

laurad75 · March 2017

@safire3 Welcome. The IVF board can be a little overwhelming and it moves so fast. I lurked there for months before participating.

Unfortunately, .39 is quite low for AMH level but this is where we focus on quality over quantity. This will probably add to the argument that IVF will be your answer.

AFM: I went in for baseline blood work and u/s this morning and my estrogen level is a bit high for CD 2 (144). We are having a snowstorm so most of the nurses and physicians are working from home and I just got a call from someone I have never spoken to who told me that bc of the high e level they weren't sure if they could give me the go-ahead to start stims today. The PA suggested they call my RE so they left him a message but aren't sure he will call back today. They will either call me later and tell me to start the stims tonight or they will call tomorrow with further instructions. I asked her if she had any ideas about why my estrogen levels would be high and she said 'eh, it's really not that high'. Not helpful. I'm feeling pretty out of sorts about the whole thing.

hartmich · March 2017

@anna_1021 I'm so glad you're feeling better about moving forward! GL.

@safire3 I know what you mean about the IF board, I feel like I don't quite belong there until we actually start doing some treatments. I've found this thread very helpful as we go through testing and wade through all the options, and I hope you find the same! I'm sorry you have gotten bad news lately and I hope you can find peace and determine your next steps!

@laurad75 I'm not sure what that means regarding your estrogen but UGH for any sort of delay. Haven't you waited enough!? Stupid bodies.

zwink1 · March 2017

@safire3 I'm sorry you received bad news and that you find yourself here, but welcome.

Thank you ladies for the info! @KristoKekerooni, I had not heard that about the stims, interesting - see, this is the stuff I was worried about missing. @adirat (good to see you!) you pretty much verified my thoughts based on the info I had, which is definitely helpful. Unless/until we can get H's numbers bumped, our odds of conceiving naturally are low, so I wasn't seeing the value of doing the lap from that perspective. No uterine issues popped up on the HSG, so the cost to benefit ratio seems low on the IVF front.

I guess we'll see where we're at in a couple hours here. Thanks again for the support ladies!

adirat · March 2017

@zwink1 Here's a study (note the small sample size) showing no impact for IVF: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2654927/

Here's another that finds the success rates of IVF outweigh any possible impact from surgery: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3455841/

I suspect these are the studies @KristoKekerooni was referring to showing the need for greater stimulation/risk of fewer eggs. That link is real. Note though that there were no differences in pregnancy outcomes (yay): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3759500/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4150142/

From my read of the literature, the impact of stages of endometriosis is not well understood (in other words, Stage 1 is not always more fertile than Stage 4; the relationship between stage and fertility is really complicated). So this may also be something to discuss with your RE from your clinic's experience with endo and IVF given the types of protocols they do.

Good luck my friend

seethosestars · March 2017

lurking... @safire3 - sorry to hear about the azoospermia and the diminished ovarian reserve. Those are some tough diagnoses to process. I hope the urologist has some good explanations and plans for you! I know there are some crazy fancy things they can do now (like TESA and MESA) where they actually biopsy sperm right out of the testicle. Please do not give up hope yet! As for the AMH, that is definitely low, for your age of 34.

Here's a chart I like on AMH, it breaks it down by age categories:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/ol/1pkb7aoipi6z.jpg

Think of it like a bell curve, so less than 5th percentile is on the low end for sure. Again, many women with DOR do get pregnant with IVF so please stay hopeful

JuneRoseRuby · March 2017

@Bababatty Thanks for the input, H has gained some weight and he's frustrated because he works really hard at managing his weight.

@safire3 Sorry you find yourself here. My H also pretty much has azoospermia as well. He only had 3 non-motile sperm. He is currently on clomid and Theralogix supplements. Our current plan is to try the clomid and supplements for three months (currently only on month one) and then do a repeat SA to see if it has increased his numbers. Our only option is IVF with ICSI and PGS. The PGS is because he has a Robertsonian Translocation chromosomal abnormality we had no idea about until we started testing. So if his numbers come up, we can do the IVF ICSI PGS, but if they do not, then we will have to add in a TESE or TESA (basically sperm extraction with a needle directly into his teste-he would be knocked out for it.) We are all in for one round, but if it doesn't work then we will probably move on to adoption. I try not to think that far and know that we are doing everything we can to support our chances in being successful. As far as your AMH number, it is quite low and would most likely affect your fertility chances. Have you read "It Starts With The Egg"? That can be helpful for improving egg quality and prepping your body for IVF. While I do not have a low AMH, I am still reading it and following all of the lifestyle changes in the book to prep for IVF. I haven't checked out the other boards because I feel like I am just chugging along waiting for the three months to be up for now. The ladies on this board are very helpful and fiercely loyal. Internet hugs.

safire3 · March 2017

Thank you guys so much @JuneRoseRuby, @seethosestars, @zwink1, @hartmich, @laurad75 and @wabash15.

I really appreciate the info and honesty. My RE made is seem like my AMH was no big deal since I was ovulating and having regular cycles. He said it just needs to be 'monitored' for now. I'm so glad I have you ladies to give me another perspective. @JuneRoseRuby thank you so much for sharing your journey. It will likely be the same for us. I will pick up a copy of 'It Starts With The Egg'.

Bababatty · March 2017

@JuneRoseRuby Yeah, the weight gain has really been annoying him--although not enough to fully propel him to the gym, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. I'm sorry your H is getting it, too. I think it's very common, but I hear it'll come off once he's off the clomid. FX!

zwink1 · March 2017

Thank you for pulling and posting all of those studies @adirat, you're the best!!!

I'm more unsure than ever about what we want to do after this consult. We'll see what H's urologist has to say after his next SA and follow up, and whether those numbers provide any additional insight!

*off to read now*

Anna_1021 · March 2017

@safire3 Sorry to hear about the azoospermia and that you've found yourself here, but glad to see you already receiving useful information here. I'm quite new on this thread too, so just wanted to assure you, I also feel like a newbie again.

But still here, lurking, reading up on things so hopefully soon I'll feel like a useful participant here

So I'm there with you on that feeling, and the amazing ladies here surely can help you with useful info. Hang in there.

GiddyUp82 · March 2017

Diagnosis (If you've been): Unexplained IF

Cycle/CD: 1st IUI CD 7

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?) Just finished Femur last night. I have been taking at night because I am very sensitive to medications so I wanted to be able to sleep through the nausea. Start Ultrasounds and blood work monitoring 3/22. At some point a Ovidrel trigger shot.

How are things going? Femara and stress have made me an emotional train wreck. Crying at nothing at all. (ex. watching a CUTE video on kids explaining how to use their own epi-pens. I am training at a new nurse job) Also feels like EVERYONE on FB is expecting or delivering these days worse than ever. WTH! As a fun bonus, I also have a painful ovarian cyst hanging out on my right ovary. Its small and I was asymptomatic until 3 days ago, so wondering if the Femara is just making it worse. Fertility Clinic said to call back if the pain gets so bad I can't move or if I start throwing up.

Any questions? How does your clinic do monitoring? Mine does blood work, sperm collection, and ultrasounds only very early in the morning. 6:30am-7:30am. DH keeps complaining that that is stupid and frustrating. From what little I could find, that seems pretty standard for our area. Rural area but 30-60mins from medium/large cities.

CLARIFICATION - I did want to take a second to answer some questions people had a few weeks ago, sorry, I ghosted

The fertility MD thinks IUI won't work in our case because DH's sperm is so awesome that we would have gotten pregnant by now and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with my cervix. She said my eggs and his sperm "don't talk well" so nothing but manually fertilizing the eggs (IVF) will work for us. She hopes she is wrong, but she didn't want to tell us we have a good chance at IUI and have us get disappointed. My insurance does cover IUIs (with a hefty hefty co-pay) and also covers IVF (also with a LARGE co-pay, but only AFTER 3 failed IUI attempts). So IUIs are just a frustrating hoop to jump through. I hope I explained that a little better last time, and I will try harder to participate more in the bump community now that orientation is finished

GTKY: March Madness inspired - do you participate in March Madness brackets? If not, do you have a favorite sport to watch? I love to play sports, but not watch sports.

GiddyUp82 · March 2017

@TravelingCouple - Good luck to you! Im only a day ahead of you on the same treatment regimen! Just finished my Letrazole yesterday. I am also feeling VERY emotional lately. I was thinking of seeing a therapist as well. DH is great 99%, but that 1% of the time when I'm falling apart, he doesn't have the skills to help me the way a therapist would. I'd like to try to find one we could go to together for some of the time.

Bababatty · March 2017

@GiddyUp82 My clinic does monitoring at about 7:30ish. I don't know how long they're willing to do it in the mornings because I always show up right on time. I love it. I'd be pissed if I had to use sick time at work for my monitoring. Now I make it to work on time and my colleagues are none the wiser. Why does your H hate it so much?

wabash15 · March 2017

@giddyup82 The two RE clinics (west coast and midwest) that I have gone to will do US, blood work and collection pretty much any time... As frustrating as having a limited window is at least its before work. GL with this cycle. As someone who has unexplained IF and all our stuff looks great, TW** we have never gotten KTFU with out IUI end TW** So I don't know that IUI is a waste of your time. Could your chances be less than with IVF sure it always is but sometimes if your subfertile a little help is all you need. It is also not uncommon to need 2-3 cycles of IUI to get KTFU. GL this cycle.

GiddyUp82 · March 2017

@bababatty - I work at 10am, so the mornings are great for me for testing. DH works overnights till 7am and he is about 30mins from the clinic. So its always a stressful rush to make it there on time, since they stop at 7:30. All IUIs are done in another clinic location (50 mins away) and at noon. The MD said people come over on their lunch break but I don't get a 2.5hr lunch break... so.... yeah. I work as a nurse, so I can't really disappear for 2.5-3 hrs. Luckily this cycle a co-worker was able to trade days to earlier in the week so I can have a pretty open window.

GiddyUp82 · March 2017

@wabash15 - Thank you for the encouragement. I think mentally for me, its easier to expect them not to work. Obviously, there is a part of me that hopes it does! I've also told what close friends and family know, that it is expected for them to not work. That way I am not disappointing everyone else too.

Can I also take a second to vent. I barely can remember the schedule, meds, testing times on what days, etc... but trying to explain to family/friends that you are a slave to your ovaries and fertility clinic is so frustrating! They don't get the time sensitivity of it, at all! end of rant...

Bababatty · March 2017

@GiddyUp82 Ah yes I see how that would be very stressful for him. Is 6:30-7:30 when they do the sperm collections for the IUIs? Or does he come with you for all your monitoring? Can your clinic work with him to extend their time? Ours let us come in a little earlier for an IUI because DH had a work conflict. For the IUIs (which my clinic does in the mornings) I do take sick time because they do take so long. You're right that taking 2.5 hours a lunch would be seen as ridiculous.

GiddyUp82 · March 2017

@Bababatty - they does said "Mornings" for IUI sperm collection, and its at the further clinic from DH and my jobs. But its a bigger clinic location so I am hoping that its a little more accommodating.

GiddyUp82 · March 2017

Decided to be an adult and just call to clarify. I hate bothering people! They have DH come an hour before the IUI, so for his schedule that will work great!

wabash15 · March 2017

@GiddyUp82 people who have not had to go through IF and treatments have no idea what its like. Trying to plan your life around when you need your ultrasounds, meds etc. It is frustrating. creepy internet hugs

bpietronicco · March 2017

Sorry I have been gone for a few days! I had my monitoring today and the tech said they saw a follicle growing on the Left side!! There were also 2 on the right but based on my shg my right tube is still blocked. I am waiting to hear from the nurse this afternoon for blood work results! Fingers crossed that the left will continue to grow and we will be able to have our second IUI next week! @GiddyUp82 the center near me has monitoring from 6:30-9am - it's perfect so I can go before my DH has to go to work. For our IUI they actually let my husband provide his sample at home and I just brought it with me!

GiddyUp82 · March 2017

@bpietronicco - no idea on the actual statistics, but I have one blocked tube and my doctor said as long as you have one good tube, your odds of convincing are just as high as someone with two. She said the good tube can get the egg from the other side. I have done no additional research into that. Just what she told me.

TravelingCouple · March 2017

So I had a follow up blood work appt this morning (mine are also 6:30-7:30) and another woman was in the waiting room so we started chatting. I so badly wanted to ask ARE YOU ON THE BUMP?

Now I wait to hear how I'm reacting to the Letrozole and we move on from there.

Good luck @GiddyUp82!

wabash15 · March 2017

GiddyUp82 said:

@bpietronicco - no idea on the actual statistics, but I have one blocked tube and my doctor said as long as you have one good tube, your odds of convincing are just as high as someone with two. She said the good tube can get the egg from the other side. I have done no additional research into that. Just what she told me.

@giddyup82 that is not how that works.... the egg from the right ovary can not magically get to the left tube... If you ovulate on your good side your chances are the same as anyone else but if you ovulate on the bad side your chances are pretty much 0. Thats the whole point of getting your tubes tied...

safire3 · March 2017

@GiddyUp82 I have never heard of the good tube getting the egg from the other side and I'm surprised that a doctor would say that. The open end of each tube is on opposite sides in the pelvis so it would be hard for the good tube to get that egg. I mean I will have to research that myself but that does not sound right.

Also all the best with your IUI. FX that this actually works and you don't have to go through IVF!

IF/Testing Check In Week of 3/13

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