@antoto - eeek. Surely with that many follicles you are bound to have a couple good quality eggs in there, even if some are empty. Fingers and toes crossed!
@madspunk self-inflicted breaks are absolutely the hardest. We've had a few medically-induced breaks and a few self-inflicted breaks. The ones we decided on were always so hard.With medically induced ones, it's like you can breath a little because you can't do anything to change it and it's sort of like you cam "blame" someone else for your "wasted cycle." but when it's one you decide on, it's so damn hard because you can just feel the clock ticking and you feel guilty. Anyway, all that to say, I know what you are dealing with and I am sorry. As horrible as the breaks are, they're better than full-steam ahead 100% of the time, and even that nervous, guilty break, is better than the sheer exhaustion. Hugs.
Oh, and also, IUI... It was uncomfortable for me, and lots of pressure, but not painful, really.
@LadyMillil - ALLLLLL the fingers and toes crossed for this one!
Diagnosis (If you've been): RPL & MFI
Cycle/CD: cycle 35, CD23
Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW
What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): NTNP? Ish?
How are things going? Really not looking forward to this whole year of waiting to see if this surgery works. It's so hard to be stagnant.
ETA CD
TTC #1 since September 2014 Diagnoses: RPL, Endometriosis, MFI
(count, morph, DNI, DNAS, multiple bilateral subclinical varicoceles), low
progesterone Check out my Infertility blog Check out my Infertility Instagram
Loss History (TW):
BFP: 3 May 2015, loss confirmed 4 June 2015 BFP: 15 August 2015, loss confirmed 23 August 2015 BFP: 16 November 2015, loss confirmed 22 November 2015 BFP: 18 July 2016, loss confirmed same day BFP: 04 March 2018, loss confirmed 23 March 2018 BFP: 12 June 2018, TWINS; D&C 06 July 2018
TTC History (TW):
3 losses in 2015 Met with OBGYN in January 2016 Me: all clear, H: OAT November 2016: HSG = All
Clear!
January 2017: H tested again, High DNA fragmentation and stainability
February 2017: Clomid + TI + Progesterone = BFN
March 2017: Clomid + HCG + IUI + Progesterone = SA/wash: zero count on attempt
#1, <1,000 on attempt #2= BFN
Varicocele Embolization- 5 May 17 December 2017 SA: Zero improvement after embolization January IVF- 25 retrieved, 11 mature, 8 fertilized, 3 frozen day fives (3AA, 3AA, 3AA), 1 frozen day 6 (5BB), 1 frozen day 7 (3CC) Three PGS normal (3AA, 3AA, 5BB), one inconclusive (3AA) FET #1: 27 February 2018, 3AA & 5BB, one stuck! BFP 04 March 2018.... Loss confirmed 23 March 2018 May 2018: SHG/SIS = all clear "beautiful uterus" FET #2: 04 June 2018, 3AA PGS normal embryo, 3AA PGS hatching inconclusive embryo. BFP: 12 June 2018, EDD 20 February 2019 Ultrasound, 25 June 2018: There are two! Lost Baby A 02 July 2018 Baby B not growing, D&C 06 July 2018 Laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, chromotubation: 23 July 2018: blocked right tube, heavily inflamed, covered in endo. Removed right tube. Removed more endo from uterus, tubes, ovaries. Endo remains on bladder and bowel.
Next Up:
TTC Naturally, possibly IUIs for remainder of 2018. ER#2 ~Jan 2019
What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?) IVF
How are things going? Great! FET is tomorrow! I'm excited to take the next step! The PIO shots turned out to be not that terrible (minus one big bruise on my right cheek and some bleeding last night that alarmed H but I assured him was fine).
Any questions?
GTKY: In honor of the first unofficial weekend of summer... What is a great summer memory you have? It can be childhood or adulthood, just the first happy memory that you associate with the summer season.
Going to the beach with my family and having donuts for breakfast every day. My mom was a health nut so we never got junk, so to have donuts every single day was heaven. And they were so good!
@WillRunForWine21 At your initial monitoring appointment on CD3 they're checking how many follicles you have that are lying dormant. Your count was pretty typical. After taking Clomid they're only looking for the big follicles that have the potential to grow into a dominant follicle. They only want to see one or two for an IUI/TI cycle with Clomid. More than that and they'll either cancel it or convert to IVF, if you're prepped for that. Or did I get that wrong, was last week's monitoring appointment also a CD3 count?
@adirat All the things crossed you get your period!
@shortstack930 My RE had H go give his sample 1.5 hours before my IUI time. If they don't do that, then you can go get a cup of coffee and wait it out.
Me: late 30s | H: early 30s TTC #1 since April 2015 RE Dx: Fibroids, surgery Jan 2016 IUI #1 and #2, Nov/Dec 2016, BFN IVF March 2017: ER - 5R/3M/3F, 1 PGS normal Polyp removed May 2017 FET May 2017 - BFP! Baby boy born 2/2/18
Hi gang. We had our follow up appt with the doctor today and he will support us regardless of what we decide but he suggested that the next logical step would be donor eggs. He is happy to keep doing IVF with my eggs if that's what we want and maybe we will eventually get a good quality egg but the odds are definitely against us. I was thankfully mentally and emotionally prepared for this conversation so I was okay.
Tomorrow we are meeting with another doctor for a 2nd opinion appt. Unless he disagrees with our doctor and is more confident in my chances we will likely not to another IVF cycle with my eggs. I am pretty sure that is what will happen.
The good news...we will have 2 or 3 months to take a breather and not be medicated. We will still try on our own in that time while we continue to do our research. We are attending a donor egg seminar at the clinic in a couple of weeks where we are sure to learn so much. I'm looking forward to that.
I know many of you are reading this and your devastated for me but I don't want sympathy. We are still on a path to start a family - its just a different path than we originally thought. I am of course disappointed but I want to start looking at this new plan as something positive. I'm sure you all will support me. xo
History and blog link in spoiler
2016 - dx with super low ovarian reserve; failed cycle with clomid, failed IUI, 2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks May 2020 FET; BFN July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate Oct 2020 BFP!
@laurad75 Girl you have my support no matter what. You will have a beautiful, loving family some way, and whatever way will be just right for you. I know that once you have that baby in your arms it'll be the only thing thag matters. Big hugs to you as you take the next step to a baby!
@laurad75 I'm glad that you will be moving forward one way or another, even if it's not the path you thought you would find. The important thing is that this path will lead you to your goal of having a beautiful and healthy baby. You know that every single person on this thread and on this board will support you on this next step in your journey and will be here in whatever way you need us to!
"It's time to try defying gravity."
Me: 38 DH: 38 Married 6/11/16 TTC Since 6/2016 12/2016 RE appt; 1/2017 SA & HSG results - all normal 3/2017 Dx Hyperprolactinemia; 5/2017 Prolactin levels normal; 8/2017 Low Ovarian Reserve 8/2017 TTA for personal reasons; 10/2017 NTNP; 12/2017 Re-start TTC 7/2018 Clomid+IUI 11/2018 Letrozole+TI 12/2018 Letrozole+IUI 2/2019 NTNP 5/2019 Stopping all TTC efforts; living Childfree
@laurad75 you know I'm always rooting for you from the sideline! I'm glad that you are able to look at all the options on the table and make a decision with your H. You WILL get that baby!
Me: 31 DH: 32 Dating since: 11/17/2001 Married: 9/26/2009 TTC: June 2016
@laurad75 I am so impressed by your ability to walk through this journey with such grace. I am happy to hear that you are comfortable with whatever the nexts steps may be. We are here for you!!
@eggplantface I will be thinking of you tomorrow! So glad your FET day is coming! Thank you for clarification about the CD3 for medicated cycles. Yes, last week's appointment was a CD3 to get the medicated cycle started. Today I had an appointment at CD11 which showed 2 left side and 1 right as dominant so that seems much more in the norm @shortstack930 I realized I never answered you about the clomid... I took it at night and my main complaint was SWEAT, I woke up a few times just kicking off blankets and drenched but other than that I was all good @laurad75 we are of course here for you always. The way you talk about the future with optimism and love is so telling of what a wonderful mother you will be.
AFM... Thank you to @adirat and @eggplantface for talking me through some of my questions yesterday. Today's appointment offered some valuable insight. This was all on CD11, post clomid First, the follicles: 2 on the left (10.5/12) and one on the right (I can't remember!!! it was the biggest but not by much, I want to say 13ish). E2 was 234, LH 6.3. Doctor is happy with how I responded to the clomid. I asked her about the low AMH and she said again she was surprised by the number as things looked ok on my initial CD3 appointment in April (she called my 8 and 12 antral follicles the low end of normal), she didnt expect it THAT low. She also said that the AMH has no indication of quality and just that I should continue to make healthy lifestyle choices for quality and we should tend toward the aggressive side of treatment and cap the IUIs at 3. I have to go back on Friday to get checked again and she estimates IUI between Monday and Wednesday of next week but I should call with a positive OPK. So here is my question... A Monday-Wednesday IUI will mean CD17-19. I have never O'd later than CD17 (usually CD14/15, one or two random 17 in the last year). Is it possible the medicated cycle pushes O back? I am not worried about missing it, I will call if the OPK is positive, but is that something I should ask about or just go with it because at this point she knows what's going on inside of me, literally.
Thank you all for letting me go on and on
Me: 32, DH: 31 Together: 11/2008, married: 3/2014 DH: Type 1 Diabetes, (dx 4/15) Celiac Disease (dx 11/14), Treatment induced Neuropathy of Diabetes (dx 7/15) DH SA: 11/16: low count and low motility DH SA: 12/16: borderline low, count and motility 1/20/17: BFP, 1/24/17: CP 5/17:low AMH (0.89) 6/17: first IUI cycle, 50 mg clomid + ovidrel + IUI: 2 follies, BFN (count 58 million, 97% motility) 7/17: second IUI, 2.5 letrozole, OPK, IUI: 1 follie, BFN (count 9.5 million swimming- dont know percentage) 8/17: third IUI, 5.0 letrozole,
@laurad75 I'm glad it was a good appointment and you are getting another opinion just in case. Girl if I had some eggs I'd give them to you lol. Down the road I may end up with some questions for you about the donor egg process unless my ovaries decide to work.
@laurad75 you have so much strength and no matter what path you take to get your baby, it will be worth it. I am glad that you have a positive outlook on your new path and I 100% support you! I can't wait for you to get your baby!!
AFM:
RE office called--I have three ovulatory follicles so there is a definite 8% risk of multiples this cycle if we proceed with IUI. They gave us the option to cancel this cycle but they said if we want to proceed then they are fine with that. DH and I discussed it and decided to go ahead with the IUI because this is probably just the way my body responds and I don't want to keep taking Clomid the next two cycles just to cancel and have to switch to something else. We are prepared if we have multiples but right now it's been a year and a half of nothing happening so we're willing to take our chances. So the instructions are to give myself the trigger shot tonight at 11pm, HIO tonight, then IUI Thursday at 11am!!
TTC History
Me: 35 DH: 34 Married 07/2012 DD born 07/2014 DD2 born 10/2018 DS born 10/2022
IF history: TTC #2 since January 2016 June-Aug 2017: 3 IUIs w/Clomid = BFN Sept 2017: Dx w/Endometriosis Oct 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN Nov 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN Dec 2017: pre-IVF testing Jan-Feb 2018: IVF--17 eggs retrieved, 13 fertilized, 9 frozen and 1 transferred on 2/10 = BFP on 2/19!!! EDD 10/29/2018 FET Oct 2021: BFP on 10/31! MC at 5 weeks FET Feb 2022: BFP on 2/15! EDD 10/29/22
Afm -- I might finally be catching a break? The doctor just called. He said it's fine to wait one week for surgery since I may have ovulated. I need to take antibiotics and I can't delay longer than next wednesday, but I don't need surgery tomorrow and I can give my body a chance to do it myself. An extra week, ute! You can do it!
Also, my acupuncturist can see me tomorrow and she thinks she can kickstart a period if I have already ovulated so I hope that works! @kiki75 I think that was your suggestion so thank you much!
@laurad75 I'm so excited that you have a plan. I know I've mentioned before that I was an egg donor in my twenties...just to give you some perspective about it, it is one of the best things I have ever done. I can't tell you how happy it made (and makes) me to know that I did something that made a huge positive impact on a family. The reason I wanted to mention that is that I think egg donation is an act of love, just as using donor eggs is...and I think it's amazing and wonderful that you are considering it. One way or another, you're building something beautiful and I have happy tears in my eyes for you. Huge hugs.
@adirat I'm so glad that you can wait a week!!! I'm cheering on you and your ute...FX for no surgery!!!
@antoto Also cheering you (and your ovaries) on. Here's hoping that your estrogen comes up for a weekend ER!!
@eggplantface I'm also so excited for you and your FET!!! Be spongy and welcoming, ute!!
AFM:
Diagnosis: DOR/AMA
Cycle/CD: 20 (14AL)/CD23
Status: TWW (9 DPO and totally BSC)
What are you doing: Last natural cycle before IUI using OH's frozen swimmers...and we went down to pound town one whole time in FW due to trying to finish up the freezing process.
How are things going: OK. We are (hopefully) nearing the finish line with getting our sperm army built up. We for sure have 16 vials on ice, and today we added another sample. No word on how many vials came from it, but if it had 3 or more, our appointment to submit a sample Thursday will likely be the last one. Our goal was 24, but I'd settle for 22. Thankfully we have made the whole process of milking my husband for his seed fun, but I'm so ready to be done. Also, as soon as we are, he can start his Low T treatment and hopefully get back to himself.
**TW** I booked my trip to meet my new nephew today for the end of June. I also saw my SIL this weekend...for those playing along at home, she's the one who go KU on the first try. Anyway, we took them lots of DSS' baby things since they're having a boy. I actually enjoyed the time with them and talking all things nephew. My new attitude of soaking up pregnancy vibes (and doing meditative breathing with my "I believe in my body" mantra when I struggle) has really helped. I hope I can keep it up since this is not just a marathon, but an ultramarathon. **End TW**
Any questions: Nope
GTKY: I grew up 15 minutes from the ocean, so I still think of summer as beach time (even though I've been land-locked for almost 24 years). I loved putting together a cooler full of goodies, grabbing the beach towels and boogie boards, and spending the day playing in the waves.
Me: 45 OH: 42 Beloved SS: born 12/2011 TTC my bio #1/our #2 since January 2016 **TW** June 2016 had CP **end TW** August 2016 - dx with DOR Somewhere in here received recommendation to do IVF with donor eggs, elected not to; OH dx with Low T May 2017 - began freezing sperm June 2017 - OH began treatment for Low T July 2017 - began doing 1 IUI via a midwife and 1 at home insemination each cycle http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/6259ba July 2018 - exhausted frozen sperm, officially NTNP since OH is probably shooting blanks
Um guys, I missed a golden meme opportunity...I just Googled "sperm army" and had to share:
And this is just cool:
Me: 45 OH: 42 Beloved SS: born 12/2011 TTC my bio #1/our #2 since January 2016 **TW** June 2016 had CP **end TW** August 2016 - dx with DOR Somewhere in here received recommendation to do IVF with donor eggs, elected not to; OH dx with Low T May 2017 - began freezing sperm June 2017 - OH began treatment for Low T July 2017 - began doing 1 IUI via a midwife and 1 at home insemination each cycle http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/6259ba July 2018 - exhausted frozen sperm, officially NTNP since OH is probably shooting blanks
@adirat I'm so glad they're letting you wait another week!
AFM: I'm currently wearing 3 estrogen patches in preparation for my FET. On Friday I'll up it to 4! Mostly I just feel emotional and bloated. My lining check is Monday so I'm getting excited. Plus we're in Hawaii (which is why I've mostly been lurking) so life is feeling good and hopeful!
@heatherdubrow Are your boobs killing you? My boobs are killing me.
ETA Any drive-bys come to TTGP saying they must be pregnant because their boobs hurt will get a whole lot of shit from me.
Me: late 30s | H: early 30s TTC #1 since April 2015 RE Dx: Fibroids, surgery Jan 2016 IUI #1 and #2, Nov/Dec 2016, BFN IVF March 2017: ER - 5R/3M/3F, 1 PGS normal Polyp removed May 2017 FET May 2017 - BFP! Baby boy born 2/2/18
@ramzlau@laurad75@kristokekerooni Thanks for the encouragement with the IUI. I talked with the nurse today too, and she helped me feel better.
@TravelingCouple Hearing about your break makes me feel better about my possibly upcoming one. I am so glad to hear it went so well. Hopefully mine will too!
@kristokekerooni Yes, exactly - even that nervous, guilty break is better than sheer exhaustion! That's where I'm at right now. Thanks for the hugs. Many hugs to you as well. Sometimes the hardest thing is having patience while feeling like everything is on hold.
@eggplantface FET tomorrow!! Woo-hoo!! Sending good vibes your way. Good luck!
@laurad75 Beautifully written. I hope this new path for you is quick. In the meantime, perhaps we will be on a break at the same time, having a great summer.
@shortstack930 Three follies is good! Best of luck to you this cycle.
@adirat Continuing to send period thoughts your way! Hopefully the acupuncturist is able to help move things along.
@Aurora1973 Your post has me cracking up. I bet it feels good to have your army all ready finally!
AFM: I had a follie scan this morning but had nothing notable yet. I started injections today. Next week I have a big meeting on Tuesday I can't really miss and then on Wednesday night-Thursday, I will be out of town, so I'm hoping things progress quickly and I can somehow do IUI on Monday but I think somehow I will have to fit it in with all the other stuff I have going on mid-week.
@saralee797-2. I would definitely check with your financial coordinator at you clinic abd/or call the insurance yourself. Cryo/storage isnt always covered unfortunately:/
@laurad75. Love you so so much, woman ❤❤❤ you have such a great attitude, and you are on your way!
@eggplantface. Yayyyyyy!!!! Today's the day!!!!!! You get in there and you go be awesome, you! [Ahem... UTE]
Thank you so much everyone for the support. We have our 2nd opinion appointment this morning (which our current doctor was really happy to hear we are doing) and then we will come to a final decision about next steps. All good stuff. xo
History and blog link in spoiler
2016 - dx with super low ovarian reserve; failed cycle with clomid, failed IUI, 2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks May 2020 FET; BFN July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate Oct 2020 BFP!
FX and all of the good vibes for all of the ladies with ERs, tansfers, and IUIs this week!!
@adirat, I'm so happy that you get an extra week, let's go ute!
@laurad75 I'm happy that you're getting a second opinion and have a class scheduled. Having a path forward is always worth celebrating and embracing, and of course all of us will support you.
Cycle/CD: who knows, I'll go back and count at some point.
Month 26/CD5
Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO
What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?) Au natural and H IS finishing his testing...if I have to drag him into the clinic myself. My patience has run out.
How are things going? Eh, this weekend was a real bitch. I'm not sure why, it's not like I had any reason to think anything good was happening this cycle. I didn't track at all due to my screwed up sleep schedule from our foster dog, and nothing has changed. AF just really hit me hard when she showed on Sat. I think it's because I had too much time to sit around and mope alone. Conquering IF wasn't kidding about the depression setting in hard around year two.
Any questions? Nope
GTKY: In honor of the first unofficial weekend of summer... What is a great summer memory you have? It can be childhood or adulthood, just the first happy memory that you associate with the summer season.
When I was little my grandparents lived in an old farmhouse on a decent amount of land. I used to spend weeks at a time there. I absolutely loved it.
@eggplantface good luck today!! I'll be thinking of you!
TTC History
Me: 35 DH: 34 Married 07/2012 DD born 07/2014 DD2 born 10/2018 DS born 10/2022
IF history: TTC #2 since January 2016 June-Aug 2017: 3 IUIs w/Clomid = BFN Sept 2017: Dx w/Endometriosis Oct 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN Nov 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN Dec 2017: pre-IVF testing Jan-Feb 2018: IVF--17 eggs retrieved, 13 fertilized, 9 frozen and 1 transferred on 2/10 = BFP on 2/19!!! EDD 10/29/2018 FET Oct 2021: BFP on 10/31! MC at 5 weeks FET Feb 2022: BFP on 2/15! EDD 10/29/22
@eggplantface so excited for you girl!! Good luck today! @laurad75 My heart is so full for you. I think this whole process of IVF shows the persistence of the human heart and all it can withstand. I can't wait for you to have your take home baby. I know that will be one lucky child! @shortstack930 rooting for you!
I love how many positive vibes are happening in this thread! I'M SO EXCITED for everyone!
AFM, waiting to hear back from the RE if a higher dose of Letrozole would be worth a shot before adding in injectibles. Everything's OOP for us and the injectible is $600-$800 Plus the $1500 for the IUI and each visit's cost. But I also don't want to waste an IUI cycle if we aren't it our full chance. I'll see what the doc says.
We just returned from our appt with the other doctor (2nd opinion appt). First, I need to share a photo of the mug he had on his desk:
So, he was hilarious and lovely but agreed with our current doctor that the odds of us conceiving with my eggs are very low and he would recommend donor eggs. To be honest, I was relieved. I really needed to hear that we did all we could to conceive with my own eggs and its time to move on. We will not change doctors but I think this was a really important exercise in taking the next step. Now I get to learn everything there is to know about DE IVF...down the rabbit hole I go!
History and blog link in spoiler
2016 - dx with super low ovarian reserve; failed cycle with clomid, failed IUI, 2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks May 2020 FET; BFN July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate Oct 2020 BFP!
@laurad75 I'm so glad it went well and that you are feeling relieved. You can feel confident in knowing you are on the best path for you. Yay for peace of mind
AFM:
What @laurad75 said about doing anything and everything reminds me that I didn't tell you all the latest crazy thing I'm doing: giving up dairy. Last summer when I started seeing my acupuncturist, she told me she was convinced I'm lactose intolerant. So she put me on an enzyme that's supposed to help with digesting it. That seemed to help for a while, but I was still having all too frequent tummy trouble. It was our midwife that is going to do our IUIs that convinced me that it was a good idea to just eliminate dairy, even if it's just for the time being while we're TTC. It's mostly going well. I really do feel better, and hopefully getting my body to operate better will help our chances. But holy crap, I'm giving up so many things I love, and it's bullshit. Dairy is in everything! Ugh.
Apparently any cheese at all. *sob*
No more of this:
Or this:
Now I'm like this guy (only my dance moves aren't quite as sweet):
Me: 45 OH: 42 Beloved SS: born 12/2011 TTC my bio #1/our #2 since January 2016 **TW** June 2016 had CP **end TW** August 2016 - dx with DOR Somewhere in here received recommendation to do IVF with donor eggs, elected not to; OH dx with Low T May 2017 - began freezing sperm June 2017 - OH began treatment for Low T July 2017 - began doing 1 IUI via a midwife and 1 at home insemination each cycle http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/6259ba July 2018 - exhausted frozen sperm, officially NTNP since OH is probably shooting blanks
Well AF came today and tomorrow morning I have an appointment. Last time I went in on cd3 and started stims that night I wonder if I'll start tomorrow night...also it would seem my insurance thought last cycle was IUI and that's why meds were covered....now they are twice as much. Sigh.....
@Aurora1973 oh that's rough. I gave up dairy (and just about everything else) when we did Whole 30 earlier this year. It's not easy but if you take it a little bit at a time it will be manageable. Just giving it up for 30 days or so will give you an idea if dairy is the culprit, and if it is you may decide that its worth it and not crave it anymore. You'll find alternatives.
History and blog link in spoiler
2016 - dx with super low ovarian reserve; failed cycle with clomid, failed IUI, 2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks May 2020 FET; BFN July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate Oct 2020 BFP!
Hey friends. RE let me know that even though I'm responding slowly I'm still doing really well. I think a weekend retrieval is not gonna happen. RE said it's more likely to be Monday or Tuesday. I actually fly out for a wedding in Wednesday across the country so that should be interesting...
Re: IF/Testing Weekly Check-in Thread 5/29
@madspunk self-inflicted breaks are absolutely the hardest. We've had a few medically-induced breaks and a few self-inflicted breaks. The ones we decided on were always so hard.With medically induced ones, it's like you can breath a little because you can't do anything to change it and it's sort of like you cam "blame" someone else for your "wasted cycle." but when it's one you decide on, it's so damn hard because you can just feel the clock ticking and you feel guilty. Anyway, all that to say, I know what you are dealing with and I am sorry. As horrible as the breaks are, they're better than full-steam ahead 100% of the time, and even that nervous, guilty break, is better than the sheer exhaustion. Hugs.
Oh, and also, IUI... It was uncomfortable for me, and lots of pressure, but not painful, really.
@LadyMillil - ALLLLLL the fingers and toes crossed for this one!
Cycle/CD: cycle 35, CD23
ETA CD
Diagnoses: RPL, Endometriosis, MFI (count, morph, DNI, DNAS, multiple bilateral subclinical varicoceles), low progesterone
Check out my Infertility blog
Check out my Infertility Instagram
BFP: 15 August 2015, loss confirmed 23 August 2015
BFP: 16 November 2015, loss confirmed 22 November 2015
BFP: 18 July 2016, loss confirmed same day
BFP: 04 March 2018, loss confirmed 23 March 2018
BFP: 12 June 2018, TWINS; D&C 06 July 2018
Met with OBGYN in January 2016
Me: all clear, H: OAT
November 2016: HSG = All Clear!
January 2017: H tested again, High DNA fragmentation and stainability
February 2017: Clomid + TI + Progesterone = BFN
March 2017: Clomid + HCG + IUI + Progesterone = SA/wash: zero count on attempt #1, <1,000 on attempt #2= BFN
Varicocele Embolization- 5 May 17
December 2017 SA: Zero improvement after embolization
January IVF- 25 retrieved, 11 mature, 8 fertilized, 3 frozen day fives (3AA, 3AA, 3AA), 1 frozen day 6 (5BB), 1 frozen day 7 (3CC)
Three PGS normal (3AA, 3AA, 5BB), one inconclusive (3AA)
FET #1: 27 February 2018, 3AA & 5BB, one stuck! BFP 04 March 2018.... Loss confirmed 23 March 2018
May 2018: SHG/SIS = all clear "beautiful uterus"
FET #2: 04 June 2018, 3AA PGS normal embryo, 3AA PGS hatching inconclusive embryo.
BFP: 12 June 2018, EDD 20 February 2019
Ultrasound, 25 June 2018: There are two!
Lost Baby A 02 July 2018
Baby B not growing, D&C 06 July 2018
Laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, chromotubation: 23 July 2018: blocked right tube, heavily inflamed, covered in endo. Removed right tube. Removed more endo from uterus, tubes, ovaries. Endo remains on bladder and bowel.
ER#2 ~Jan 2019
Cycle/CD: n/a
Any questions?
GTKY: In honor of the first unofficial weekend of summer... What is a great summer memory you have? It can be childhood or adulthood, just the first happy memory that you associate with the summer season.
@WillRunForWine21 At your initial monitoring appointment on CD3 they're checking how many follicles you have that are lying dormant. Your count was pretty typical. After taking Clomid they're only looking for the big follicles that have the potential to grow into a dominant follicle. They only want to see one or two for an IUI/TI cycle with Clomid. More than that and they'll either cancel it or convert to IVF, if you're prepped for that. Or did I get that wrong, was last week's monitoring appointment also a CD3 count?
@antoto Your counts sound great!
@adirat All the things crossed you get your period!
@shortstack930 My RE had H go give his sample 1.5 hours before my IUI time. If they don't do that, then you can go get a cup of coffee and wait it out.
TTC #1 since April 2015
RE Dx: Fibroids, surgery Jan 2016
IUI #1 and #2, Nov/Dec 2016, BFN
IVF March 2017: ER - 5R/3M/3F, 1 PGS normal
Polyp removed May 2017
FET May 2017 - BFP!
Baby boy born 2/2/18
Tomorrow we are meeting with another doctor for a 2nd opinion appt. Unless he disagrees with our doctor and is more confident in my chances we will likely not to another IVF cycle with my eggs. I am pretty sure that is what will happen.
The good news...we will have 2 or 3 months to take a breather and not be medicated. We will still try on our own in that time while we continue to do our research. We are attending a donor egg seminar at the clinic in a couple of weeks where we are sure to learn so much. I'm looking forward to that.
I know many of you are reading this and your devastated for me but I don't want sympathy. We are still on a path to start a family - its just a different path than we originally thought. I am of course disappointed but I want to start looking at this new plan as something positive. I'm sure you all will support me. xo
2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos
moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos
Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC
Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks
May 2020 FET; BFN
July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate
Oct 2020 BFP!
Take a look at my blog
@laurad75 Girl you have my support no matter what. You will have a beautiful, loving family some way, and whatever way will be just right for you. I know that once you have that baby in your arms it'll be the only thing thag matters. Big hugs to you as you take the next step to a baby!
"It's time to try defying gravity."
Married 6/11/16
TTC Since 6/2016
12/2016 RE appt; 1/2017 SA & HSG results - all normal
3/2017 Dx Hyperprolactinemia; 5/2017 Prolactin levels normal; 8/2017 Low Ovarian Reserve
8/2017 TTA for personal reasons; 10/2017 NTNP; 12/2017 Re-start TTC
7/2018 Clomid+IUI
11/2018 Letrozole+TI
12/2018 Letrozole+IUI
2/2019 NTNP
5/2019 Stopping all TTC efforts; living Childfree
@laurad75 you know I'm always rooting for you from the sideline! I'm glad that you are able to look at all the options on the table and make a decision with your H. You WILL get that baby!
Dating since: 11/17/2001
Married: 9/26/2009
TTC: June 2016
EDD: 5/14/2018
@shortstack930 I realized I never answered you about the clomid... I took it at night and my main complaint was SWEAT, I woke up a few times just kicking off blankets and drenched but other than that I was all good
@laurad75 we are of course here for you always. The way you talk about the future with optimism and love is so telling of what a wonderful mother you will be.
AFM... Thank you to @adirat and @eggplantface for talking me through some of my questions yesterday. Today's appointment offered some valuable insight. This was all on CD11, post clomid First, the follicles: 2 on the left (10.5/12) and one on the right (I can't remember!!! it was the biggest but not by much, I want to say 13ish). E2 was 234, LH 6.3. Doctor is happy with how I responded to the clomid. I asked her about the low AMH and she said again she was surprised by the number as things looked ok on my initial CD3 appointment in April (she called my 8 and 12 antral follicles the low end of normal), she didnt expect it THAT low. She also said that the AMH has no indication of quality and just that I should continue to make healthy lifestyle choices for quality and we should tend toward the aggressive side of treatment and cap the IUIs at 3. I have to go back on Friday to get checked again and she estimates IUI between Monday and Wednesday of next week but I should call with a positive OPK. So here is my question... A Monday-Wednesday IUI will mean CD17-19. I have never O'd later than CD17 (usually CD14/15, one or two random 17 in the last year). Is it possible the medicated cycle pushes O back? I am not worried about missing it, I will call if the OPK is positive, but is that something I should ask about or just go with it because at this point she knows what's going on inside of me, literally.
Thank you all for letting me go on and on
Together: 11/2008, married: 3/2014
DH: Type 1 Diabetes, (dx 4/15) Celiac Disease (dx 11/14), Treatment induced Neuropathy of Diabetes (dx 7/15)
DH SA: 11/16: low count and low motility
DH SA: 12/16: borderline low, count and motility
1/20/17: BFP, 1/24/17: CP
5/17:low AMH (0.89)
6/17: first IUI cycle, 50 mg clomid + ovidrel + IUI: 2 follies, BFN (count 58 million, 97% motility)
7/17: second IUI, 2.5 letrozole, OPK, IUI: 1 follie, BFN (count 9.5 million swimming- dont know percentage)
8/17: third IUI, 5.0 letrozole,
@laurad75 you have so much strength and no matter what path you take to get your baby, it will be worth it. I am glad that you have a positive outlook on your new path and I 100% support you! I can't wait for you to get your baby!!
AFM:
RE office called--I have three ovulatory follicles so there is a definite 8% risk of multiples this cycle if we proceed with IUI. They gave us the option to cancel this cycle but they said if we want to proceed then they are fine with that. DH and I discussed it and decided to go ahead with the IUI because this is probably just the way my body responds and I don't want to keep taking Clomid the next two cycles just to cancel and have to switch to something else. We are prepared if we have multiples but right now it's been a year and a half of nothing happening so we're willing to take our chances. So the instructions are to give myself the trigger shot tonight at 11pm, HIO tonight, then IUI Thursday at 11am!!
Married 07/2012
DD born 07/2014
DD2 born 10/2018
DS born 10/2022
IF history:
TTC #2 since January 2016
June-Aug 2017: 3 IUIs w/Clomid = BFN
Sept 2017: Dx w/Endometriosis
Oct 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN
Nov 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN
Dec 2017: pre-IVF testing
Jan-Feb 2018: IVF--17 eggs retrieved, 13 fertilized, 9 frozen and 1 transferred on 2/10 = BFP on 2/19!!! EDD 10/29/2018
FET Oct 2021: BFP on 10/31! MC at 5 weeks
FET Feb 2022: BFP on 2/15! EDD 10/29/22
@shortstack930 GL with trigger and hio! Get it girl!
Afm -- I might finally be catching a break? The doctor just called. He said it's fine to wait one week for surgery since I may have ovulated. I need to take antibiotics and I can't delay longer than next wednesday, but I don't need surgery tomorrow and I can give my body a chance to do it myself. An extra week, ute! You can do it!
Also, my acupuncturist can see me tomorrow and she thinks she can kickstart a period if I have already ovulated so I hope that works! @kiki75 I think that was your suggestion so thank you much!
@adirat I'm so glad that you can wait a week!!! I'm cheering on you and your ute...FX for no surgery!!!
@antoto Also cheering you (and your ovaries) on. Here's hoping that your estrogen comes up for a weekend ER!!
@eggplantface I'm also so excited for you and your FET!!! Be spongy and welcoming, ute!!
AFM:
Diagnosis: DOR/AMA
Cycle/CD: 20 (14AL)/CD23
Status: TWW (9 DPO and totally BSC)
What are you doing: Last natural cycle before IUI using OH's frozen swimmers...and we went down to pound town one whole time in FW due to trying to finish up the freezing process.
How are things going: OK. We are (hopefully) nearing the finish line with getting our sperm army built up. We for sure have 16 vials on ice, and today we added another sample. No word on how many vials came from it, but if it had 3 or more, our appointment to submit a sample Thursday will likely be the last one. Our goal was 24, but I'd settle for 22. Thankfully we have made the whole process of milking my husband for his seed fun, but I'm so ready to be done. Also, as soon as we are, he can start his Low T treatment and hopefully get back to himself.
**TW** I booked my trip to meet my new nephew today for the end of June. I also saw my SIL this weekend...for those playing along at home, she's the one who go KU on the first try. Anyway, we took them lots of DSS' baby things since they're having a boy. I actually enjoyed the time with them and talking all things nephew. My new attitude of soaking up pregnancy vibes (and doing meditative breathing with my "I believe in my body" mantra when I struggle) has really helped. I hope I can keep it up since this is not just a marathon, but an ultra marathon. **End TW**
Any questions: Nope
GTKY: I grew up 15 minutes from the ocean, so I still think of summer as beach time (even though I've been land-locked for almost 24 years). I loved putting together a cooler full of goodies, grabbing the beach towels and boogie boards, and spending the day playing in the waves.
Beloved SS: born 12/2011
TTC my bio #1/our #2 since January 2016
**TW** June 2016 had CP **end TW**
August 2016 - dx with DOR
Somewhere in here received recommendation to do IVF with donor eggs, elected not to; OH dx with Low T
May 2017 - began freezing sperm
June 2017 - OH began treatment for Low T
July 2017 - began doing 1 IUI via a midwife and 1 at home insemination each cycle
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/6259ba
July 2018 - exhausted frozen sperm, officially NTNP since OH is probably shooting blanks
@adirat yesssss girl you needed some good news!!
And this is just cool:
Beloved SS: born 12/2011
TTC my bio #1/our #2 since January 2016
**TW** June 2016 had CP **end TW**
August 2016 - dx with DOR
Somewhere in here received recommendation to do IVF with donor eggs, elected not to; OH dx with Low T
May 2017 - began freezing sperm
June 2017 - OH began treatment for Low T
July 2017 - began doing 1 IUI via a midwife and 1 at home insemination each cycle
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/6259ba
July 2018 - exhausted frozen sperm, officially NTNP since OH is probably shooting blanks
@eggplantface ahh so excited for you!!
@adirat I'm so glad they're letting you wait another week!
AFM: I'm currently wearing 3 estrogen patches in preparation for my FET. On Friday I'll up it to 4! Mostly I just feel emotional and bloated. My lining check is Monday so I'm getting excited. Plus we're in Hawaii (which is why I've mostly been lurking) so life is feeling good and hopeful!
ETA Any drive-bys come to TTGP saying they must be pregnant because their boobs hurt will get a whole lot of shit from me.
TTC #1 since April 2015
RE Dx: Fibroids, surgery Jan 2016
IUI #1 and #2, Nov/Dec 2016, BFN
IVF March 2017: ER - 5R/3M/3F, 1 PGS normal
Polyp removed May 2017
FET May 2017 - BFP!
Baby boy born 2/2/18
@ramzlau @laurad75 @kristokekerooni Thanks for the encouragement with the IUI. I talked with the nurse today too, and she helped me feel better.
@TravelingCouple Hearing about your break makes me feel better about my possibly upcoming one. I am so glad to hear it went so well. Hopefully mine will too!
@LadyMillil I'll be thinking of you this Friday!
@antoto FX for a weekend ER!
@kristokekerooni Yes, exactly - even that nervous, guilty break is better than sheer exhaustion! That's where I'm at right now. Thanks for the hugs. Many hugs to you as well. Sometimes the hardest thing is having patience while feeling like everything is on hold.
@eggplantface FET tomorrow!! Woo-hoo!! Sending good vibes your way. Good luck!
@laurad75 Beautifully written. I hope this new path for you is quick. In the meantime, perhaps we will be on a break at the same time, having a great summer.
@shortstack930 Three follies is good! Best of luck to you this cycle.
@adirat Continuing to send period thoughts your way! Hopefully the acupuncturist is able to help move things along.
@Aurora1973 Your post has me cracking up. I bet it feels good to have your army all ready finally!
AFM: I had a follie scan this morning but had nothing notable yet. I started injections today. Next week I have a big meeting on Tuesday I can't really miss and then on Wednesday night-Thursday, I will be out of town, so I'm hoping things progress quickly and I can somehow do IUI on Monday but I think somehow I will have to fit it in with all the other stuff I have going on mid-week.
@laurad75. Love you so so much, woman ❤❤❤ you have such a great attitude, and you are on your way!
@eggplantface. Yayyyyyy!!!! Today's the day!!!!!! You get in there and you go be awesome, you! [Ahem... UTE]
"It's time to try defying gravity."
Married 6/11/16
TTC Since 6/2016
12/2016 RE appt; 1/2017 SA & HSG results - all normal
3/2017 Dx Hyperprolactinemia; 5/2017 Prolactin levels normal; 8/2017 Low Ovarian Reserve
8/2017 TTA for personal reasons; 10/2017 NTNP; 12/2017 Re-start TTC
7/2018 Clomid+IUI
11/2018 Letrozole+TI
12/2018 Letrozole+IUI
2/2019 NTNP
5/2019 Stopping all TTC efforts; living Childfree
@adirat My acupuncturist can kick start my period. It’s magic.
@eggplantface Good Luck!!
@aurora1973 those are amazing
Thank you so much everyone for the support. We have our 2nd opinion appointment this morning (which our current doctor was really happy to hear we are doing) and then we will come to a final decision about next steps. All good stuff. xo
2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos
moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos
Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC
Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks
May 2020 FET; BFN
July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate
Oct 2020 BFP!
Take a look at my blog
@eggplantface so excited for you today!! Sending all my sticky thoughts your way!
Dating since: 11/17/2001
Married: 9/26/2009
TTC: June 2016
EDD: 5/14/2018
@adirat, I'm so happy that you get an extra week, let's go ute!
@laurad75 I'm happy that you're getting a second opinion and have a class scheduled. Having a path forward is always worth celebrating and embracing, and of course all of us will support you.
@eggplantface GL today!!!! So excited for you!
Cycle/CD: who knows, I'll go back and count at some point.
Month 26/CD5
Au natural and H IS finishing his testing...if I have to drag him into the clinic myself. My patience has run out.
Eh, this weekend was a real bitch. I'm not sure why, it's not like I had any reason to think anything good was happening this cycle. I didn't track at all due to my screwed up sleep schedule from our foster dog, and nothing has changed. AF just really hit me hard when she showed on Sat. I think it's because I had too much time to sit around and mope alone. Conquering IF wasn't kidding about the depression setting in hard around year two.
Any questions?
Nope
GTKY: In honor of the first unofficial weekend of summer... What is a great summer memory you have? It can be childhood or adulthood, just the first happy memory that you associate with the summer season.
When I was little my grandparents lived in an old farmhouse on a decent amount of land. I used to spend weeks at a time there. I absolutely loved it.
Edit: AD to AF.
Married: 2/1/2012
TTC #1 since August 2016
DH SA Dec 2016: Low count (11.7 mil total motile), 5% morphology, 73% motility
Blood work June 2017: AMH 1.1 (ugh), FSH 8.4, LH: 5.2, estradiol 28 pg/ML, progesterone 7.4
HSG July 2017: tubes clear
BFP 7/24/17 - EDD 4/5/2018
Married 07/2012
DD born 07/2014
DD2 born 10/2018
DS born 10/2022
IF history:
TTC #2 since January 2016
June-Aug 2017: 3 IUIs w/Clomid = BFN
Sept 2017: Dx w/Endometriosis
Oct 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN
Nov 2017: IUI w/Letrozole = BFN
Dec 2017: pre-IVF testing
Jan-Feb 2018: IVF--17 eggs retrieved, 13 fertilized, 9 frozen and 1 transferred on 2/10 = BFP on 2/19!!! EDD 10/29/2018
FET Oct 2021: BFP on 10/31! MC at 5 weeks
FET Feb 2022: BFP on 2/15! EDD 10/29/22
So excited for you!!
@laurad75 My heart is so full for you. I think this whole process of IVF shows the persistence of the human heart and all it can withstand. I can't wait for you to have your take home baby. I know that will be one lucky child!
@shortstack930 rooting for you!
I love how many positive vibes are happening in this thread! I'M SO EXCITED for everyone!
AFM, waiting to hear back from the RE if a higher dose of Letrozole would be worth a shot before adding in injectibles. Everything's OOP for us and the injectible is $600-$800
So, he was hilarious and lovely but agreed with our current doctor that the odds of us conceiving with my eggs are very low and he would recommend donor eggs. To be honest, I was relieved. I really needed to hear that we did all we could to conceive with my own eggs and its time to move on. We will not change doctors but I think this was a really important exercise in taking the next step. Now I get to learn everything there is to know about DE IVF...down the rabbit hole I go!
2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos
moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos
Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC
Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks
May 2020 FET; BFN
July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate
Oct 2020 BFP!
Take a look at my blog
Dating since: 11/17/2001
Married: 9/26/2009
TTC: June 2016
EDD: 5/14/2018
@eggplantface woohoo!!! Good luck today!!
AFM:
What @laurad75 said about doing anything and everything reminds me that I didn't tell you all the latest crazy thing I'm doing: giving up dairy. Last summer when I started seeing my acupuncturist, she told me she was convinced I'm lactose intolerant. So she put me on an enzyme that's supposed to help with digesting it. That seemed to help for a while, but I was still having all too frequent tummy trouble. It was our midwife that is going to do our IUIs that convinced me that it was a good idea to just eliminate dairy, even if it's just for the time being while we're TTC. It's mostly going well. I really do feel better, and hopefully getting my body to operate better will help our chances. But holy crap, I'm giving up so many things I love, and it's bullshit. Dairy is in everything! Ugh.
Apparently any cheese at all. *sob*
No more of this:
Or this:
Now I'm like this guy (only my dance moves aren't quite as sweet):
Beloved SS: born 12/2011
TTC my bio #1/our #2 since January 2016
**TW** June 2016 had CP **end TW**
August 2016 - dx with DOR
Somewhere in here received recommendation to do IVF with donor eggs, elected not to; OH dx with Low T
May 2017 - began freezing sperm
June 2017 - OH began treatment for Low T
July 2017 - began doing 1 IUI via a midwife and 1 at home insemination each cycle
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/6259ba
July 2018 - exhausted frozen sperm, officially NTNP since OH is probably shooting blanks
2017 - egg retrieval #1 - 3 eggs, 0 embryos appropriate for transfer; ER #2 2 eggs, 0 embryos on day 3; ER #3 1 egg 0 embryos
moved to donor egg in summer 2017; 35 eggs retrieved; 19 fertilized; 9 total embryos
Fresh transfer Dec 2017= BFP! baby boy born 8/22/18
May 2019 - surprise natural pregnancy ended in MC
Nov 2019 FET; MC at 9 weeks
May 2020 FET; BFN
July 2020 FET; CP treated with methotrexate
Oct 2020 BFP!
Take a look at my blog
Thinking of you @eggplantface