TTTC Checkin 02/14/2018

GoldenKeys · February 2018

Hello everybody,

Happy Valentine's day everybody! Today's checkin should have all of the updates from the last two weeks.

Belated congratulations to our newest graduate @halfanewt! Also congrats to @Kim41313 for your BFP, let me know when you consider yourself graduated!

Welcome to the checkin, @allisona66 and @manhattanmama2.

How is everybody doing?

2018 BFP Hall Fame
lablover78 dx: PCOS, Compound Heterozygous MTHFR Rx: IVF
Tops-2: dx: anovulatory PCOS Rx: Metformin, Letrozole & TI
halfanewt: possible PCOS, MTHFR gene, slight MFI Rx: IVF

PAGING:
@BWhitta: dx: possible PCOS Rx: letrozole
@Bababatty: dx:Low Motility Rx: IVF
@ChristinaV2015: dx: blocked tubes, PCOS, endo + MFI Rx: lap, OPKs + TI
@emgem819 dx: PCOS, Rx: provera, femara + Bravelle
@hoffmanr7: dx: unexplained Rx: IVF
@jmr1515: dx: Mild MFI/morph, fibroid Rx: Surgery + TI
@mackenzie07 dx: PCOS and Endo Rx: metformin, letrozole, ovidrel
@mandasand: dx: low AMH Rx:IVF (Lupron, Menopur + Follistim)
@Mlight28: dx Unexplained Rx: Clomid
@MrsM00re87: dx: DOR PCOS, low morph Rx: Femara + TI
@Mythril: dx: PCOS (anovulatory) Rx:levothyroxine, metformin and femara + TI
@rachlee2010: dx: DOR Rx: IUI
@Samanthaarielxo dx: anovulation Rx: still in testing
@sarah0985: dx: PCOS, possible blocked tubes Rx: Lap
@seethosestars: Dx: DOR + MFI and Rx: letrozole + IUI
@SM746830: dx: PCOS, blocked tubes Rx: Surgery, Clomid
@starlitfae dx: MFI & balanced translocation, thyroid Rx: ivf with pgd testing
@funkykey dx: unexplained Rx: IVF
@Worldtravler0522 dx: PCOS/Unexplained Rx: IVF
@notamyrtle: dx: unexplained Rx: IUI + injects
@MountainLady: dx: Unexplained Rx: Letrozole + IUI / possible IVF
@Kate437: dx:anovulatory Rx:Letrozole + trigger
@SP128: in testing/unexplained
@honeybeebub: dx:septate uterus, MTHFR Rx: septum resection surgery, baby aspirin & progesterone
@eranvo27: dx: anovulatory PCOS Rx: metformin
@brittlefebvre: in testing
@Charligirl28: dx: unexplained Rx: Clomid
* Kim41313: dx: unexplained Rx: IVF
@kristimh80: dx: unexplained Rx: Injectables + trigger + IUI
@SoonToBeMommaHowe: dx: Unexplained Rx: naturally until IVF
@Brooke4131: dx: Secondary unexplained Rx: in testing
@fluffybookworm: dx: Anovulation + insulin resistance Rx: Metformin + prometrium + testing
@Asampson87: dx: unexplained + MFI Rx: metformin + testing
@soehlerk: dx: Unexplained Rx: Femara + IUI
@hannahlce: dx: anovulatory PCOS Rx: metformin + letrozole
@emmasemm: dx: DOR & autoimmune Rx: IVF
@floridanursegirl: dx: unexplained anovulation Rx:Metformin, IUI+Femara+trigger
@aeb1116: dx: unexplained Rx: IUI
@Happyin14: dx: unexplained, RPL Rx: IVF
@amac2313: dx: unknown Rx: Clomid
@nurseerin2012: dx: unexplained Rx: letrozole + IUI
@Knottie1467155066: dx: unknown Rx: letrozole + trigger + TI
@thothscribe81: dx: unexplained Rx: IVF
@BenJay: Dx: PCOS/unexplained Rx. Metformin + supplements
@MicahDahn: Dx: irregular cycles Rx: preparing for testing
@kiwielopingbride: Dx: Unexplained Rx: IUI
@moloninge Dx:PCOS, hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, fibroids. Rx:Metformin,Synthroid,IUI w/letrozole, ovidrel, and progesterone.
@beec2421: dx: PCOS, hypothyroidism Rx: metformin, synthroid, clomid
@wishing-and-hoping: dx: unexplained rx: IUI
@echocharlietango: dx: Unexplained Rx: trying naturally
@kgabhart: dx: Unexplained/PCOS Rx: letrozole + IUI
@linz36: dx: Low AFC, MFI Rx: testing/IUI
@jrm_14: dx: Adrenal/overian insufficiency, Borderline-low AMH, Low progesterone Rx: IUI w/ injectables.
@ChristenMA83: dx: MFI Rx: IVF w/ISCI
@Bgreenfield10: dx: anovulatory PCOS, LPD Rx: Clomid + trigger
@serownarain: dx: in testing
@allisona66: dx: waiting for testing
@manhattanmama2: dx: unexplained Rx: IVF

NEWCOMERS:To be added to the Weekly Checkin, please answer the following:
1. How long have you been TTC?
2. What is your diagnosis?
3. What is your current Rx plan?

QOTW: What makes you happy to be alive?

kristimh80 · February 2018

Happy Valentines Day!!

mirabelle33 · February 2018

Hi everyone,

I did a separate intro post with background info, so just jumping right in here!

1. How long have you been TTC? 1 year (Feb 2017)
2. What is your diagnosis? Weak ovulation with possible LPD, AMA
3. What is your current Rx plan? Injectables + Ovidrel + TI

Started injections last night and will do for a total of seven days. First blood work and u/s next Tuesday. My OB actually decreased the dosage for the second round, so I'm curious to ask her why.

QOTW: What makes you happy to be alive?
My family and friends, being able to travel, and most of all my valentine (DH).

kristimh80 · February 2018

@mirabelle33 Welcome!! Best of luck to you!! Feel free to join the Feb 12th week group as well. There's a group of us on there that chat quite often

mirabelle33 · February 2018

@kristimh80 thank you! I will look for that group too

Bababatty · February 2018

Welcome @mirabelle33!

@BWhitta Responding from the last week—wow you’re certainly knocking out a lot of testing!! I’m glad you’re getting good results thus far.

AFM Day 4 of stims. There were some mishaps with the syringes—namely, none came but I had all the needles—but that’s been sorted out. It’s good I’ve done this before because I had extra syringes from my last FET and thus avoided a crisis. In for bloodwork & u/s this morning and I guess it looks good. It’s really too early to tell.

One rant: *TW* There are ALWAYS babies and toddlers in my RE’s waiting room and it’s driving me up a bit of a wall. Especially because the reception staff loudly coo over them. This never happened in my old clinic; I saw a toddler once. Frankly, it’s a bit rude to be bringing your offspring into a room full of infertile women, even if you had to do IUI or IVF to acquire it in the first place. I know some clinics really discourage people from bringing their children, and I wonder why mine doesn’t. In lieu of saying anything of course, I’ve decided to just kvetch about it on TB.

kristimh80 · February 2018

@Bababatty Ugh, that's one of my biggest pet peeves too! I try to remember that it maybe me in the future if didn't have a sitter. But it still doesn't make it any better!! Going thru infertility, I'd think it would make you even hyper aware of that stuff.

BWhitta · February 2018

@Bababatty omg saaaaaame, there are ALWAYS babies in my RE office, too!!!!!!!!!

Had my 3 hour glucose test this morning, went by quickly and am very happy now after grabbing some breakfast

the tech was like “you’re all done, I hope you pass!!!” I was like “I’m actually hoping I don’t....” haha, so freaking tired of getting normal test results back!!!! I am PRAYING this is my answer!!!!! Can’t remember if I posted after my HSG in the other thread yesterday, I was pretty drugged up haha, but it went smoothly, everything looks clear, my ovaries are asymmetrical (one was quite a bit higher than the other but she wasn’t concerned) but otherwise everything looks normal! I have a CD13 ultrasound on Friday just to check my follicles and then a CD21 blood draw and THEN I’ll be done testing haha. It feels like a lot but I am loving it after being told for two years that miscarriages “just happen”. Very excited that this RE is going to have such a clear picture of what my body is doing!

Bababatty · February 2018

I'm glad it's not just my RE's office! Although super frustrating across the board for all of us. I'm sorry, ladies!!

@BWhitta Here's to a failed glucose test

At least then you may have a semblance of a plan for dealing with it. At the very least, do you think you'll start changing diet to a PCOS-friendly one even if you're not sure? It's really nice to have an RE that's so thorough. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks you'll have some answers!

funkykey · February 2018

OMG, you guys are so sweet. I love my H for sure, but when I thought about the things that make me happy to be alive, he was not the first thing that came to mind. LOL.

Maybe I was thinking in a totally different vein? We were watching an astronomy lecture last night, so I was thinking about, you know, how little we know about the universe and how small our lives are. It was obviously lingering with me, because my first thought was about living in an age when we know so much about the universe and how stars are created and burn.

Definitely was not thinking about DH at all, and it didn't even occur to me to think of him until @mirabelle33 mentioned hers. Hahaha. Whoops!

@Bababatty - honestly, I think it's so rude. It happens sometimes at my clinic, too, and I'm always like "COME ON". At my appointment yesterday, first thing in the morning, there was a woman and her husband with their baby, they were picking up her IVF meds. I was like: "You really needed your husband to be here with you for this? You couldn't have had him wait at the Starbucks with your baby?"

Some people!

AFM: my transfer is next week, and my beta will be the week after, on the Friday. Getting nervous!

kristimh80 · February 2018

@funkykey Yay!!! Excited for you and your transfer! How many are you transferring? I had a quick phone consult with my RE this morning after getting pgs results back. Luckily, we have a month to decide...it's all so nerve wracking!

BWhitta · February 2018

@Bababatty I am actually starting the diet tomorrow! I wanted to wait until I got all of these tests out of the way just to get an accurate picture...he’s pretty confident that my insulin is going to be the issue so he went ahead and gave me all of the info on the diet, he’s developed his own diet over the last 10 years, basically a paleo/keto type plan with some differences here and there.

@funkykey that made me laugh bitterly, haha, forget Starbucks, he could have waited in the bleeping car. I’m so excited for your transfer!!!!!! FX FX FX!!

edited to add: I feel like CRAP!!!! Anyone else take the 3 hour glucose test and feel like this? I look awful too, haha...

funkykey · February 2018

@kristimh80 - we're just transferring one.

Personally, I'm not as wary of a multiple pregnancy as I probably should be. I found our last failed transfer really difficult - not at the time, but in the months after, while waiting for this one, so part of me is really afraid it will happen again. I don't want to have to go through that again (obviously - failed FETs are brutal). I keep thinking: "If we transfer two, it will lessen that chance!" and: "I could handle twins if that were to happen!" (even though I'd prefer not to be in that situation) and: "We didn't even do PGS testing."

But our RE and DH both think: "Let's just try one". So that's the plan for this transfer. And hopefully, we don't have to have another conversation about what we'd do if this transfer fails...

How were your PGS results? How are you feeling?

@BWhitta - thank you! Keeping FX for you that you see some progress! Some people swear by these keto diets - they really seem to change some lives!

meganttc3 · February 2018

Hi! I have posted an introduction but would like to join your weekly check in.
We have been ttc for 6 years.
My dx is PCOS & unexplained infertility.
I have no current rx plan as I am switching to an RE and will not meet him till the 21st so I'm just in the waiting period.

One thing that makes me happy to be alive is my job. I am a pediatric nurse and I love being there for the kids in their time of need and helping to make them feel better. It makes me feel like I am making a difference in the world.

mirabelle33 · February 2018

@Bababatty thanks for the welcome! I'm glad you avoided a crisis with the syringes. I had a similar scare this week about not having enough needles for a week of injections, but ended up having more than I thought. Phew! Ugh so sorry about insensitive patients bringing their children to the RE. One would think they would be even more aware of how painful that can be to other women and at least try to avoid it unless absolutely necessary.

@BWhitta Yay for finally getting some answers! Good luck with the rest of your testing and fx you get the results you are hoping for from the glucose test. I can only imagine how frustrating an unexplained diagnosis can be.

@funkykey haha I can't say that I would always include DH on that list

But he has been particularly sweet with me after AF arrived on Sunday and I guess I was feeling inspired by Valentine's Day. On another note, it's exciting that your transfer is next week! I hope the rest of this week and weekend fly by and that everything goes smoothly with it!

kristimh80 · February 2018

@funkykey Awe I totally get it!! Out of 6 sent to PGS, we had 2 normal girls come back. Have a feeling even if things work out, I'll be back next year for another ER, etc in hope to give DH a boy. He was happy but his only sad part was thinking he'd never get a boy. Have you had an ERA test done? I keep wondering if I should ask about doing one...just for my own sanity to ease my brain.

ChristenMA83 · February 2018

@mirabelle33 welcome to the group. Good luck with your cycle.

@Bwhitta so many tests! Hoping you get some answers.

@funkykey fingers crossed for your transfer!

@meganttc3 welcome to the group. Good luck with the new RE. What a rewarding job working with kids.

AFM: we did egg retrieval yesterday (such a romantic valentine's day

) We retrieved 9, 8 were mature and 5 fertilized with ICSI. I'm a little bummed because my mid-stim numbers were showing so much higher (18) - but I'll get over it quickly if we get some snowbabies in the bank. Will get my next update from the Doctor Saturday.

QOTW: What makes you happy to be alive?

My family, my dogs, and my close circle of friends. In general, I'm just pretty darn happy with life.

wishing-and-hoping · February 2018

@ChristenMA83fx for all 5 !!!
@meganttc3 welcome and GL with your appointment, hope it is a good fit!
@funkykey I am in the same boat about not being wary of multiples. I had borderline 3 mature follicles (really 2 just one dominant) when we triggered and had the talk with the RE about multiples and I was like "honestly, I haven't been able to get ONE to stick so it really feels totally impossible that all of a sudden BAM we have 3... and if we had 2, I would be good with that". I know there are many additional risks but I have a handful of friends who have twins and it's also a beautiful thing!
@BWhitta let us know when you get all your results back

AFM, day 9PO and just trying to wait it out... honestly I'd rather not test this month but I may break down sometime next week. My RE told me to test 17DPO (so late!) but if its BFN I would prob have my period by then. Anyone else still get their period while on progesterone??? They told me I'd have to stop taking it to bring on AF but apparently my AF is a real strong birch.

QOTW: right now... watching the Olympics!!! man, watching the Olympics with lots of hormones surging around, so. many. tears.

Image: https://media.giphy.com/media/4bBLOhnMb0vHG/giphy.gif

mirabelle33 · February 2018

@ChristenMA83 thanks and congratulations on your 5 embryos!!

@wishing-and-hoping thinking of you during the waiting period - it's so hard! I only took progesterone once and while I did not get AF until I stopped taking it, my temp still dropped right on schedule at 10 DPO and gave me a pretty good clue that it would be a BFN that cycle. I think some women do still get their periods on progesterone though, so hard to tell at this point.

Bababatty · February 2018

@wishing-and-hoping I have had cycles where I did get AF while on progesterone and cycles where I didn’t. It’s all terribly confusing. Not much help, I know. Also, OMG I was tearing up so much when Shaun White won. Anytime someone starts crying at the Olympics, I start crying. These hormones are something else!

Welcome @meganttc3!

@ChristenMA83 5 is great! FX for all to keep growing!

@funkykey Hooray you’re getting so close to your transfer! DH is on board with transferring 2 and I was, too, after 2 failures, but our RE dissuaded us. It’s so hard to go through the failure or the loss, and such a hard decision to make once you’ve done it once. I think you’ve made the right decision for you and hopefully won’t need to rethink it!

@BWhitta what’s involved in the glucose test? Sorry it’s messing you up!

funkykey · February 2018

@meganttc3 - welcome!

@kristimh80 - holy, how are you feeling? I'm excited for your 2 PGS normals, obviously, but just thinking what a crazy ride you must have had. I thought you had 50 at retrieval? I'm glad you have the 2, but I can also see how that would be nerve-wracking.

I did not have an ERA test done. If this transfer doesn't work out, I might though. Really hoping it doesn't come to that.

@ChristenMA83 - CONGRATULATIONS!!! I can see why you'd be a little bummed, especially with so many follies, but really hoping these next few days don't see the same drop - hoping your 5 all make it.

@wishing-and-hoping - yeah, I mean, when we were doing the IUIs, we were convinced we'd have a multiple pregnancy. And secretly, I wasn't even that upset about it. I just kept thinking: "Wow, if I never have to go through TTC again?" Like, there is a lot I would do to not have to do this again, you know? I would take a lot of risks.

And then when it didn't happen, and no pregnancy at all happened, I was a little like: "FML. The nightmare continues."

OMG 9DPO? Hoping you get good news soon!!!

@Bababatty - exactly - going through the loss sucks. Sometimes I even think: "Well, if both embies are going to fail, if they fail at the same time, that's only 1 terrible TWW, not 2 terrible TWWs". You know?

kristimh80 · February 2018

@funkykey Yes, it's been a ride for sure! But I feel blessed knowing something came out of the PGS stuff! Of course, I imagined and saw every worst case before getting my results back lol FX for you for this FET!!! I asked my Dr if there was anything I could do to make things better for my FET and she said there wasn't. So of course I've been a googling maniac and stumbled upon ERA and everything else

Bababatty · February 2018

@kristimh80 RE: prepping for FET—I launched into the foods during my FET cycle—like 8oz of pomegranate juice each day, handfuls of walnuts and pumpkin seeds, and then of course the 5 days of pineapple core (which I made into a smoothie with the pomegranate juice). Part of me knows this probably had little to no impact on my outcome but I will definitely do it again because at least we made some progress (*TW* if you can count a CP as progress *end TW*). In fact, I’m drinking pomegranate juice already in anticipation of a fresh transfer.

@funkykey Seriously! After this last transfer I literally had no idea how I could ever go through the heartbreak of an unsuccessful transfer again. I know there are many women on here who have done it more than me, and I always feel like they’re so much stronger than me.

When we met our new RE and told him we wanted to do 2 next, I said, “I’m just so tired.” Of course, then we pick ourselves back up and try again, but it never gets any easier, right?! Dare I say, it just gets harder? I would so much rather transfer 2 and avoid 2 TWWs, like you say.

This is our first cycle with this RE, so I deferred to him when he pushed for 1. He’s very risk adverse and I am, too, but I’ll be 35 in April and if this next one fails, we’re putting our feet down on 2. Also, frankly it costs the same to transfer 2 as 1, so why would we spend $8K to keep getting the same result, when I could spend $4K?

Is YH open to 2 going forward if, God forbid, this one doesn’t work? Or will you need to work on your strong arming?

kristimh80 · February 2018

@Bababatty I don't blame you...when we get this far, we'll try anything! I just read some articles about starting Iodine before FET. Said RE's usually only do a certain blood test for thyriod and after egg retrieval the meds can mess with it too. So there's other one's that they don't check that can cause the thyriod to be off and Iodine can help correct it. Along with IVF, he helped a lot of other areas as well. So, on that note...I'll be at the drug store tonight lol

funkykey · February 2018

@Bababatty - I am allergic to pomegranates and their juice! Hahaha! I have been eating more pumpkin seeds though.

When I'm on my own, some days, I forget at how terrible this has been. But then someone calls and tells me they're pregnant, and I realize I've been at this for more than 2 years now, and it hurts anew. Like: "Oh right, there you are, heartbreak. How could I have forgotten?" Or when I'm leading into a transfer, like now. I remember the IUIs and the hope and then the disappointment, and the telling myself: "This is is, this time I can feel it." and then being crushed. Or the pain of being benched. The third time I was benched, I actually cried when the RE told me, and I basically begged for him to do something else, even though I knew he was doing the right thing.

Like you, I'm picking myself up and trying again, but for real - I don't know how much longer I can keep doing that. I've been thinking more and more often about when we stop.

That's the conversation that DH and I are having more - the when do we stop convo, and how much do we keep trying. We're not even really considering the 2 to transfer yet. I don't want to jinx it - really hoping that this one will take - but if this round doesn't, we'll likely do another round of IVF (though we might have to wait a few months to do it), and depending on those results, we'll see. If we get some good embies, I'd be open to transferring just one, but if (God forbid) I got to a 4th transfer, if I had the embies, I'd transfer 2. 100%.

Really hoping this is it for you too - that you get some nice embies and some to freeze and this next transfer is the one. I really hope you don't have to do 4 transfers in a row for baby #1. Especially not after 6 IUIs and all your waiting.

Our FETs cost only about $2000/each, but if they cost more, that would definitely be a factor.

mrsjcrane · February 2018

Hey ladies! I’m new here!

1. How long have you been TTC? 2+ years
*TW* I’ve had two miscarriages over the years with the most recent being in July 2017

2. What is your diagnosis? Who knows - unexplained I guess

3. What is your current Rx plan?
I did femara day 3-7, just triggered today, will have TI for the next 3 days then additional hcg shot on 2/22 - they told me that I can’t take a pregnancy test until 3/7. Does that sound right? They said that the shot could potentially make it a false positive but that makes it a three week wait instead of a two!!

meganttc3 · February 2018

Thanks everyone for your warm welcome! Im happy to be a part of your group.

@mrsjcrane welcome to the group as well. I'm glad not to be the only newbie. I wished I had the answer to your question but I don't. I hope you find the answers soon.

I have noticed some post talk about pumpkin seeds and pomegranate. Do these help? What are they supposed to help with?
I'm looking for a good diet to begin. I just want to get as healthy as possible.

mirabelle33 · February 2018

@meganttc3 Welcome and I'm also glad not to be the only newbie in the group

@mrsjcrane Welcome! Yes, that does sound right if you're getting a booster shot of HCG on the 22nd. It can take up to two weeks to leave your system and could potentially give you a false positive if you tested too soon. Fx that it works for you!

wishing-and-hoping · February 2018

@funkykey I have those moments too. At this point I feel like overall I'm handling things well but then just like you said, something brings the pain crashing back in without warning. Happened to me last night

I have my fingers and toes crossed for your transfer next week.

@mrsjcrane Welcome. Interesting that you will have an additional HCG shot, I haven't heard of that before. Excuse my ignorance... what is the thought behind that? To try and ovulate twice? Always interested to hear different people's protocols.

soehlerk · February 2018

Hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day! I'm just not up to celebrating much these days with everything else we have going on, and it's always seemed like an obligatory kind of holiday for me personally. We went to the mall (I had to pick up a ship-to-store order, super romantic) and ate in the food court and then went thrift store shopping, and it actually turned out to be a nice evening.

I'm on CD7 today; next week we'll do the ultrasound to prepare for our final IUI. I'm starting to check out of the infertility treatment world mentally and emotionally. March 6 is when we'll find out if this final round failed, and that's when we'll officially transition into the adoption world. It's a weird, surreal experience overall. I am heart-broken, and I will be devastated when March 6 rolls around, but I'm doing my best to prepare. That weekend I've taken an extra day off, and I'll go out drinking w/ friends. We're nearly done w/ our adoption application, our house inspection was yesterday (still waiting on results), and we've picked out the townhouse we're going to rent after we close. It's hard, but it feels good to be moving forward.

QOTW: Time with friends. I've been blessed with several really solid friends--the kind who will sit with you through the hard stuff and talk honestly about their lives. When you get those occasional carefree evenings together, that's what makes the rest of the crap worth it.

kristimh80 · February 2018

@soehlerk My heart goes out for you and everything you're going thru!!

I get what you mean about Valentine's Day, it's always more-less a hallmark holiday. My DH was out of town, so I was super happy to be home in my pjs all night! Best of luck to you on your final IUI! I felt that way last year on my final, but took a few months off of everything and did a world of difference! That's great that you guys are prepping for adoption as well. There's so many sweet babies out there that need good loving homes, I admire you for it! Try to stay positive and focus on the good. Enjoy your weekend with your friends!!! This process is hard enough, we all need those times to forget our worries.

Bababatty · February 2018

@mrsjcrane Welcome! I’ve also never heard of a 2nd HCG shot. What does it do?

@meganttc3 In theory, pomegranate juice might help thicken your lining because it’s an anti-inflammatory and boosts blood flow to the uterus. Pumpkin seeds have zinc and apparently that does...something? I’ve also heard good things about avocado. Who knows how much of this is true, but it’s not going to hurt so I’m on board. Honestly the only thing I’ve seen that may have a real impact is pineapple core for 5 days after O—or transfer—but who knows on that, too. Whatever may help, though, right?!

@soehlerk I’m rooting so hard for you and this cycle. It sounds like you have a good plan if it fails, and you’re being very proactive. I think that you’re not only trying to protect your heart, but you’re also doing a good job of coming to terms with what the future might bring. We’ll all be here for you regardless of what happens. Lots and lots of luck!

BWhitta · February 2018

Thanks y’all, I had an ultrasound this morning (CD13) and the doctor said she’s 100% I’m PCOS. Which I kind of already knew, that’s what sent me to the first RE we saw in the first place...but they said they didn’t think I was PCOS but NEVER DID ANY OF THE TESTS FOR IT WHICH IS JUST BURNING ME UP RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!! All they did was give me letrazole, which yes made me ovulate but PCOS messes up so much more than just ovulation, they did nothing to test or regulate my hormones. (TW) And just knowing that PCOS gives you a higher risk of miscarriage and I have had three freaking miscarriages and UGH I am angry today.

Seriously though, for as angry as I am, I am just as grateful to have found this RE now. If you’re not happy with your RE, LOOK FOR A NEW ONE. Find one that will test for everything before deciding on your treatment. I know that it’s expensive and I am so blessed that we have awesome coverage but whew, if you can, find someone who will do this period of testing. I have one more bloodwork on CD21, I have a separate consultation for my glucose test on Monday and then we have a big sit down with the doctor on March 7th to go over everything and put a plan in place.

@Bababatty for the glucose test they take blood when you’re fasting, and then give you a glucose drink (tasted like a very sweet, flat Sprite haha) and then you wait an hour and draw again, then another hour and draw again...then another hour and draw again. So they’re looking to see how my insulin handles the sugar. Insulin resistance causes PCOS so I almost certainly failed the glucose test. I think it probably was a combination of having so much blood drawn plus my blood sugar being really thrown off but I just felt awful for the rest of the day . Now I’m on day 2 of this low carb diet and I feel awful again, haha...it’s been a rough week but I’m so happy to be doing SOMETHING to actually make a difference in my body!

Bababatty · February 2018

@BWhitta I am SO HAPPY to hear you have a potential diagnosis and it confirms what you’ve long suspected. I totally agree with you—if you are unhappy with or suspicious of your RE’s decisions in anyway it’s worth it at the very least to get a second opinion. This is clearly a lesson in that!

That test sounds not fun at all, especially if you have insulin problems. At least with the diet I think you’ll get used to it eventually? Keep up the good work!

kristimh80 · February 2018

@BWhitta Glad you are finally getting some answers!! I had the same issue, I never was diagnosed or knew I really had PCOS until I went to an RE. Had no other signs, other than high AMH and thinking maybe I didn't always ovulate but everything else was always normal. I don't think I really 100% believed it until doing IVF and had a million follicles. Hope you get all your answers soon! This journey can be frustrating enough, but having real answers makes it easier going forward for both and your doctor knowing how to plan

mrsjcrane · February 2018

Thanks for all the welcoming! I’m not thrilled to be in this boat but it seems like there is a great group of ladies here so far. It’s nice to have the support from others that know what I’m going through.

@wishing-and-hoping @Bababatty I’m not 100% what the logic behind the second hcg shot is. This is my first cycle working with a RE. Previously we just did femara without a trigger or monitoring. My doctor did say it was for luteal support. I’ll have to ask him next time I go. I actually work in the medical field but am clueless about this stuff except for the stuff I’ve learned along the way.

mirabelle33 · February 2018

@mrsjcrane @wishing-and-hoping @Bababatty re: HCG booster shots. I was supposed to have 3 HCG booster shots during my third round of Clomid (unfortunately I wasn't able to have them because the product my OB prescribed was unavailable at the time and she didn't want to substitute anything). You can only get them after ovulation is confirmed and the idea is that the hormone will trick your body into producing more progesterone on its own and hopefully lengthen your LP (mine is stubbornly locked in at 10 days). I don't think it's super common, but I wish I could have tried it because I took progesterone instead and it ended up completely messing up my next cycle.

@BWhitta yay for finding a competent RE and finally getting some answers! I can totally understand your anger and frustration, but hopefully once you get a complete diagnosis, you will find some comfort in having a good plan to move forward. My sympathies for the glucose test. I had to do that test a long time ago (not related to TTC) and I remember feeling pretty gross for the rest of the day. Good luck with the low carb diet and fx that you feel better on it soon. I've heard a lot of good outcomes from others with PCOS that changed their diet!

BWhitta · February 2018

@mirabelle33 thank you so much!!!! That’s really interesting about the Hcg boosters but also super annoying that they weren’t available????

hoffmanr7 · February 2018

@funkykey Hugs to you. I don't know how some of you ladies do it. Almost 3 years, 3 failed IUI's and 1 big fat IVF failure and I'm tapped out. I can't imagine how you ladies who are on multiple IVFs stay sane.
@soehlerk Keeping my fingers crossed that this is it for you!
@BWhitta So happy that you finally got your diagnosis and like your new RE!

AFM- We had our final follow up with our RE yesterday to go over our cycle. She said that, as fertilization rates and the percentage of embryos that made it to day 5 were on point. We had a 75% fert rate, 50% day 3, and 25% day 5. She feels that it came down to a numbers game and we just had bad luck. The only thing she said she would do differently if we opted for another round was to change up the meds to try and get more mature eggs and close the gap between sizes as they spread out a bit near the end of my stims.

I don't know if I'm glad to hear that nothing jumped out to her that showed a problem, or aggravated because it means there still is no reason why. Nothing she said really swayed us to try another round and we told her that financially it just didn't make sense for us, not if we wanted to buy a house before we are old and grey.

On the positive side of things, because all of our treatments have been out of pocket, and because of the change in the tax code this year (who knew, Trump actually did something that worked out ok for me....for now), we got a HUGE return back. We decided to take some of it and look into buying this nice pop up camper we have been keeping on eye on listed on Facebook Marketplace. Images of sunny summer days camping have been swimming through my brain ever since. I have also been really concentrating on exercising. If I work really hard, I think I can get back into the shape I was in before I moved in with DH. lol.

Anyways, I may still lurk from time to time just to see how everyone is doing, but I don't think I will be on much or posting. I am sending all my positive energy to all you ladies and am keeping my fingers crossed for BFPs for each and everyone of you

kristimh80 · February 2018

@hoffmanr7 Your camping adventures sound wonderful!!! So sorry you didn't get any real answers, sadly this whole thing is a big #'s game. I tell DH I always feel like I'm in Vegas rolling the dice! My RE also said we could try another ER if we wanted to bank eggs, but after going thru the whole process...I can't even fathom that right now. Esp, since we are OOP like you. Take care of yourself and enjoy your new camper!! New camper maybe just what you need to get your mind right and ready for things later on

Bababatty · February 2018

@hoffmanr7 I’ll miss you!! I’m sorry your talk wasn’t terribly revealing, but hopefully it helped a bit. Going through a second round of IVF, I realize how much my RE learned from my records from the first cycle. Of course time will tell if this one is more successful, but it seems like for a lot of people cycle 1 is a very expensive baseline. It would be super if insurance could cover that, lol. Anyway, all that wonderful camping time sounds amazing. Have SO MUCH FUN! Thank you for being such a wonderful supporter on here.

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