TTTC Checkin 04/03/2018

GoldenKeys · April 2018

Hello everyone,

It's checkin time... congrats to any BFP's and hugs to anybody who needs one. Thank you to @Bababatty & @emmasemm for being my backups for the weekly checkin...

Congratulations to @soehlerk for graduating to the BFP hall of fame!

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
seethosestars: dx: DOR Rx: IVF + FET #1
Kim41313: dx: unexplained Rx: IVF
soehlerk: dx: Unexplained Rx: Femara + IUI

PAGING:

@BWhitta: dx: PCOS, low AMH and endo 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
@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
@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
@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
@mirabelle33L dx: weak ovulation, possible LPD, AMA Rx: Injectables + Ovidrel + TI
@meganttc3: dx: PCOS, unexplained Rx: waiting to test
@mrsjcrane: dx: unexplained Rx: femara + trigger + TI + 2nd HCG booster
@mighty-mouse: dx:pcos & HA Rx: provera/letrozole + trigger
@ladystout08: dx: unknown Rx: waiting for testing

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: Bravest thing you ever did.

emmasemm · April 2018

Hope everyone had some time off over Easter.
We had my brother and his family staying (they go home tomorrow) so it has been totally crazy with 5 extra people in the house and excursions every day. It’s nice to see them, but it will be nice to have our home to ourselves again after.
The big thing this week is the consult with the new RE to go through the results of all the extra testing we have done. Pretty nervous what might show up unless it’s an easy fix, or if nothing shows up we’ll still be shooting in the dark. Also really really hoping we get the green light to start stimming with our next cycle.

QOTW: Depends how you define brave. I’m afraid of having my face under water and had never even been snorkeling when I did a one week scuba diving course which ended up with my being a certified open water diver and diving in typhoon conditions. I really had to fight my fears (and be pinned at the bottom of a swimming pool on day one by the instructor!). But I was so proud when I did it and the feeling of grace and freedom deep down in the ocean was more than worth it. I’ve also climbed mountains including 40m scrambles up very steep rock faces - yet I have a huge fear of heights. And having never left Western Europe I flew out and moved to China. I try to do something to challenge myself each year. Push myself out of my comfort zone. Though sometimes as I’m doing it I think why the hell am I doing this!!!

Bababatty · April 2018

@emmasemm Good luck with your test results this week. Let us know what news you get! Also I’m in awe of your brave things and I love that you do something to challenge yourself each year. I might try to emulate that.

AFM I am also waiting on test results. I emailed our RE today and all of our RPL bloodwork came back normal, but we’re still waiting on DH’s DNA fragmentation SA. It feels really weird to say I want them to find something, but at leas then we might have some semblance of an answer.

In good news, I landed a new job that comes with IVF coverage and insurance kicks in 1st of the month. Needless to say, I promptly accepted. Probably this pushes our FET to late May or June but now we can stop hemorrhaging money.

QOTW I did a maritime studies program for one semester in college, and definitely pretty much anything involving the sailing of tall ships was terrifying.

kiwieloping · April 2018

Hi ladies. Big congrats to the 2018 graduates so far. I'm hoping beyond hoping that 2018 will be our year too.

@emmasemm good luck with your consult. Hope you get some good news and/or more clarity.

@Bababatty good luck with the test results. Can you tell me more about the dna frag test? I recently read that many unexplained infertility problems are suspected to be due to poor sperm dna but I didn't know there was a way to test...is that what this is? (I could also just google but thanks for sharing this info).

A bit of an update on our situation. After our round of cycle monitoring ended our RE said he does not recommend IUI and has given us IVF as our only course of action. He said he thinks my low ovarian reserve combined with the fact that it appears that my follicles were developing fast (ovulating on day 10) means that we should just wait for IVF. He said DH's SA is so good that the scrub would not do it any good so we are to continue to try the old fashioned way until we can get IVF. Because we do not want to pay out of pocket we are waiting for our provincial healthcare which covers one extraction and as many transfers as you need/can have. I'm praying we get a high number during retrieval. Max wait time is 1 yr (which would be Nov because we got put on the list last Nov) but he said it could be as early as June. (So @GoldenKeys I guess you can update my Rx to IVF). So now its just the waiting game (sigh).

QOTW: I have a pretty low risk aversion and have done a bunch of extreme sports, traveled to crazy places, spoke front of hundreds of people etc. For me the bravest thing might have been forgiving my father (to my father) for being a crap parent / absentee dad. Those kind of things (feelings involved) are so much harder for me then anything else.

mighty-mouse · April 2018

After several blood tests and scans I'm finally ready for a trigger shot tomorrow. Fingers crossed that means I will ovulate for the first time on Friday. What advise are u guys being given regarding timing of sex with ovulation? They said to start on the day of ovulation which I thought was a bit late?
Fingers crossed for some real progress with your tests @Bababatty and a short wait time for if @kiwielopingbride

funkykey · April 2018

Wow, I'm so impressed with all this bravery! I mean, I thought we were brave for confiding about our infertility to strangers over the internet already, and dealing with treatments, hahahaha. All of this other stuff is crazy brave!

@emmasemm - I'm so looking forward to hearing about your session with your new RE. Hope it goes well!

@Bababatty - CONGRATULATIONS ON THE NEW JOB! Hooray!!!! Also - holy, a tall ship?! So cool!

@kiwielopingbride - ugh, I'm sorry about the IVF recommendation, but glad you are looking to move forward. The IVF success rates are so high, compared to IUIs, so it's really a game changer. (Also - I totally agree, the family stuff is brave!)

@mighty-mouse - FX for you! Have as much sex as you can!

QOTW: We've done some leveraged investing (my suggestion). It's terrifying. That, and getting married. I'm not one of those people who just "knew" with my H, like that we would last forever and ever. I was scared - my parents are divorced and I know a lot of divorced people. I wasn't arrogant going into it. For me, getting married felt like a giant leap of faith. The only thing I "knew" for sure was that I didn't want to make the leap with anyone else; he was the only one I'd marry.

AFM: Waiting on ERA results and we've started preparing for FET #3. It should be around 4/21.

emmasemm · April 2018

@bababatty it’s weird to say, but I hope they at least find something with the testing, and something they can treat simply enough too. I fully understand that need to find “the” answer.

@kiwielopingbride I hope your wait for IVF is short. If you only have one funded retrieval then make sure you have a good conversation with your RE about how to go at it. Normally first cycles are not so far from standard protocols which for us low reserve girls can mean we either get cancelled or only get very few eggs. Maybe your RE will already assume poor response and go in a bit harder for you.

@mighty-mouse I would also agree on the day of O is normally considered a bit late. I’ve not done medicated TI or IUI cycles, but the others I see are typically told the day between trigger and O as O should be 34-36 hours after trigger. I guess if you take your trigger shot 10pm Wednesday night, then you should O round about 8-10am Friday morning. So HIO Thursday evening or Friday morning would be what I would expect your RE to say.
With my DHs SA we have seen better results with a shorter abstinence - ie when he waited almost 5 days some of the sperm were no longer good for the job. But with 1-2 days we had best results as they were fresh enough but also had long enough to mature. So when we’re trying naturally between IVF cycles we try for -3 and -1 timing. But it would depend if you have any male factor involved too.
Also it’s funny what different people think of as brave. I’m quite happy standing in front of a huge audience of thousands, but I get most tense presenting to about 6-10 people who don’t know me but who I will have to work with again (especially if they can directly influence my future).

@funkykey I soooooo hope your ERA result come back conclusive! Fx everything works for the FET this month.
The relationship stuff was also terrifying for me for a long time. I spent years running (literally to the other side of the world at times) to escape guys as soon as they started saying ILY or asking if we should move in together. For years I seem to have picked guys who would be least likely to do either, but in most cases turned bad boys into the steady guys. My friends despaired and they made a few mini interventions for me! Then when I met DH we went on a 3 week vacation together only 5 weeks after first meeting, and that time something was different. I also never felt any pressure to take any step with him, it’s just been natural each time.

kiwieloping · April 2018

Thanks for the support everyone.

@emmasemm great advice. Thank you!

Bababatty · April 2018

@kiwielopingbride I honestly don't know much about the DNA frag test (TUNEL assay)--and in fact, our urologist never mentioned it, but our new RE did and encouraged DH to have it done because of his MFI. I believe it was pioneered at Weill Cornell (https://maleinfertility.org/understanding-male-infertility/fertility-evaluation/sperm-dna-integrity-tests). If I understand correctly, the idea is that if there is a high amount of DNA fragmentation, even IVF is much less likely to be successful unless sperm is retrieved directly from the testicles. If you're interested in it, it wasn't covered by DH's insurance and cost about $1,000--which, since we've already dropped so much money, we considered a bargain, lol. In the meantime, I'm sorry you're playing the waiting game. I hope that they get to you well before November! Is there any way you can convince your RE to let you do IUIs just to kill time (if they're not OOP)?

@mighty-mouse FX for you! That timing sounds right, just based on my experience with IUIs, which are timed for the day of ovulation. Depending on if you have any MFI issues, I might say BD tonight when you do the trigger and then again on Friday at least twice and maybe Saturday?

@funkykey Thanks! What is leveraged investing? And when do you get your ERA results?? I am so invested in you having a successful FET this month. EVERYTHING is crossed for you!

ChristenMA83 · April 2018

@kiwielopingbride the DNA Frag test was recommended for my DH as well. The way our RE explained it to us, the sperm are fragmented after they are produced, while waiting to ejaculate - thus reducing the number of viable sperm even if the count is OK. DH's fragmentation was high - so he was prescribed a 7-day ejaculation regimen prior to giving his sample for fertilization. 7 days on, one day off, then sample collection. That way they didn't have time to fragment. This was directly opposite of the advice we were given in 2012, prior to the DNA Frag test, Which was 5-7 days off for sample collection.

Got the results of beta 2 this afternoon: 631, so progressed well from last Friday's 97. @funkykey go ahead and graduate me. Thank you all for the support and information over the last several months.

funkykey · April 2018

@ChristenMA83 - CONGRATULATIONS!

@emmasemm - You have a bad boy history? Haha!

I dunno, I mean, I never had a fear of commitment, and I also never dated the wrong guys. It just took me a really long time to me the right guy, I think. And even that, easy as it was, was tough. I think I've always just been a really careful, thorough person, and kind of in my own head. I remember being really conscious that my overall life satisfaction would really depend on who I ended up with. I think that's particularly true for women. All the studies show that marriage is not as beneficial to women as it is to men. A woman's well being, independence, career - if you marry someone who is not supportive, you're trapped, and it's so hard to get out of that. I wanted the benefits of being married, but only if it was a good marriage. I was really careful about who I chose, and even then, I felt like: "Holy, this is a HUGE commitment if my instincts are wrong." It felt scary to have to put that much trust in my instincts. Especially because instincts can be wrong!

@Bababatty - thank you!
Basically, it's borrowing money to invest/investing with borrowed money. If you do well, it's awesome, but if not, it's the worst, and can drive you deep into debt! I've only done it a couple of times, with investments that I really, really believed in and researched thoroughly. Even still, when there's a bad day or a temporary set back, it's terrifying.
Sometimes, I think of IVF as a leveraged investment, since we went into debt to do it.

mirabelle33 · April 2018

@ChristenMA83 congratulations!!!! Wishing you a very happy, healthy, and uneventful 9 months

Sorry to post and run, but this will just be a quick update from me. It's been a busy week and we are leaving for the airport in 30 min. Saw my doctor on Tuesday for the cyst and even though it's very tiny, it's still there (she said you can barely call it a cyst). However, she did go ahead and order an MRI to check for endo on my ovaries. So I have that scheduled for May 14th in the morning and we'll have our first RE appointment later that afternoon. I'm not sure if I'll do another round of injections at the end of April/early May as I will need to ask my doctor once we get back from the US. Anyway, we're on our own this month! She did say I already had some follies growing and that my reserve seems good.

I hope you all have a great weekend and rooting really hard for you @funkykey !! @Bababatty and @emmasemm good luck with your testing results and I hope they bring you some answers!

be08ryan · April 2018

1. 16 months
2. PCOS & AO
3. Progesterone and I start my first round of 50mg Clomid this month.

@emmasemm - good luck with your test results!

@Bababatty - Congrats on the new job! That benefit must be a huuuuuge stress relief.

@kiwielopingbride - FX for June!

@ChristenMA83 - Congratulations! I will continue to follow your journey (and puppies) on insta

QOTW: When I was 16 and worked at a grocery store, I kicked a grown ass man out one day for yelling and cursing at another cashier. He only left after I threatened to call the police and the store manager came to back me up. The man's wife stayed behind to pay for their groceries and she had a huge black eye. She was extremely apologetic and wouldn't accept any offers of help from us or the police. I still think about her.

emmasemm · April 2018

@christenma83 congrats!

@funkykey I think the point where we really say down and discussed was before buying the house (which was before we were married). Neither of us would have the house on our own or could even afford to buy the other out, plus with the taxes and fees you have to pay, plus the work we had done, if we had to sell it we would have wasted a hell of a lot of money (nearly six digits!). Taking that plunge definitely involved the most thought.

@mirabelle33 sorry the cyst is still there, but have fun trying on your own this month and Fx the MRI appointment is perfectly timed to take with you to the RE. Have a great time!

@be08ryan welcome but sorry you’re here. Hopefully the clomid does the trick for you this month!

AFM - update after our appointment yesterday - we have the green light to start IVF next cycle (subject to baseline of course). All the genetic and extra screening came back with no new findings (only confirming what we already know) so we are both super relieved - especially DH who first pumped the air when the RE confirmed he is 46XY. He had obviously been super nervous about that. Now it’s just scheduling the consult with the nurse to walk through the protocol, calendar etc and to check we can get all the meds we need (as Clinic is in a different country to us!). Fx we will be stimming before end of April again. I’m more than ready to get this show back on the road!

Bababatty · April 2018

@ChristenMA83 Congratulations!

@mirabelle33 Ugh sorry about the cyst that won’t go away, but glad your doctor is being responsive! Good luck this month as always! We always hope for a miracle.

@be08ryan Welcome!!

@emmasemm Good news on the test results! Really just a few days and you’ll be back at it this month. Good luck!

@funkykey Yeah that sounds super scary and I definitely don’t know enough about investing to attempt that. I’m so—too? Maybe—risk adverse—although I went with a very aggressive setup for my 401K and that was risky. Hmm. Really I just need to learn more about investing.

AFM All of our RPL bloodwork came back normal so just waiting on DH’s DNA frag test results next week. Both a relief and annoying because I’d love to have a reason for why this keeps happening—but maybe that reason this time around is “You got the bad one of the batch” and it will work next time around. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ In the meantime, I had a glorious month of not tracking my cycle at all, and drinking all the wine.

wishing-and-hoping · April 2018

Hey everybody! I have been a little absent after being out of town last week...

@emmasemm glad you got all your test results back and no bad findings! hope things start to move quickly for you as you're figuring out scheduling and protocol
@Bababatty how awesome that you will have IVF coverage! that's huge!
@ChristenMA83 so so so happy for you.
@be08ryan good luck with your first round of Clomid! hope this is your month!

AFM, IUI on Wednesday! Hoping that the third time's a charm!

QOTW: I swam with a whale shark in Mozambique. We were supposed to be swimming with dolphins - never saw any of those but we saw a 20 ft whale shark and the instructor told me I had to jump in first. Totally started to hyperventilate. Had never snorkeled either so that added to the situation. They aren't dangerous, but when you see a 20 ft long fish coming at you with its mouth open wide enough that you could swim into it, that'll freak a girl out.

Image: https://fthmb.tqn.com/GSUTIeSVLqggGtTDyKTfjJIA1wc=/768x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/whalesharkmouthopen-500x375-KAZ2.0flickr-56a5f6615f9b58b7d0df4be8.jpg

mrsjcrane · April 2018

Well I’m on to cycle 3 of my current plan. It appears that I’m ovulating, multiple mature follicles, progesterone was great last cycle...but still nothing. I have another follicle scan on Wednesday to find out when I can trigger....however, I’m still spotting after AF, which never happens for me. My period only last like 5 days max. Anyone else still have brown spotting on CD 9? I’m still having cramping as well like I’m on AF. It’s so odd.

QOTW: I’m not very adventurous honestly so I don’t really have much along the lines of brave. I did give CPR to my cousin’s 3 year old pool side one time. I had been a nurse for all of 1 month at the time. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced!

mirabelle33 · April 2018

@be08ryan sorry that you find yourself here, but welcome to the group!

@emmasemm yay for no (bad) surprises with the test results and for getting the green light to start treatment again! I hope this new clinic is the key to your success and that everything goes super smoothly with scheduling appointments, etc. Fx for you!

@Bababatty sorry your test results didn't reveal anything new, but sounds like you have a good attitude and will be more relaxed (re: drinking all the wine) going into this next round

Fx crossed for you too!

@wishing-and-hoping sending good vibes that this third IUI is indeed the charm for you!

@mrsjcrane sorry your second round didn't work

I know it can be hard to gear yourself up for another one, so hang in there! As for the spotting, I usually spot through CD 7 on my natural cycle (although sometimes it will stop on CD 5 or 6), but on medicated cycles I have had a couple with very light brown spotting through CD 8 or 9. I usually don't have cramping that late though. I don't think it's anything to get too worried about, but it never hurts to ask your doctor if it's bothering you!

ETA for grammar and missing words

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