So I have a question. Some background: I'm supposed to be benched for three cycles. Cycle No. 2 should start in a couple weeks. But last night, when I went to use an OPK (for fun I guess?), I accidentally grabbed an hcg strip. And damnit all to hell, it was still positive. Given the fact that we're using BC and I bled for a week after my saline sono, it's clearly leftover from my loss.
My question: Should I tell my RE that I still have hcg in my system and is it going to bench me for another month? She wanted to wait to check for mature follicles at the start of cycle three because I guess they're lower if you've recently had a loss. Does anyone have any idea if this is going to delay everything further? I'm so frustrated.
@ruby696 is it faint? I would absolutely call and discuss this with them. I know everyone is different but I cannot see how you would still have it in your system. As far as delaying things, it really depends. There is another loss lady I talk to regularly (shes not active in the forums) and she had a molar pregnancy and cannot be TTC yet because of it. @holly321 can probably offer you info as she also has experience with that.
ETA I'm also quite surprised that they didnt do blood hcg on you. Mine did and verify with his nurse that it did come back at 0 at each of our meetings.
@prpl11butterfly It's not dark, but it's not a squinter either. Neither my OB or the RE did a blood hcg test after my loss. Ugh, I guess I'll let her know. Maybe I can get in for betas today and Monday to make sure they're not at a standstill. If @holly321 has any advice, I'd love to hear it. I was actually a little concerned about a possible molar because of how crazy dark my lines were and then nothing really seemed to develop. But I forgot about it because my US didn't look like what I was seeing on Google (I'm a little ashamed to admit that).
ETA: After yet another Google search, I realize I had zero symptoms of a molor pregnancy, so I don't think I need to be worried about it.
This time went WAY smoother because they did it by US guidance. Last time they used some tool to pull my cervix straight but with the US they could see how it curved so when they inserted the catheter I had ZERO discomfort! FX this is the one!
*TW* History
TTC #1 since 7.2017 Dx: low morph (1%), ANA positive, low decidualization score, high TSH and testosterone, histone antibodies
IUI #1-3| all BFN IVF #1 | 6.11.19 | 24R, 17M, 15F, 6B, PGT-A tested - 5 normal, 3 girls & 2 boys FET #1 | 9.10.19 | BFN "I know you, but we've never met. I'm with you, but I don't know your name" RPL, Receptiva, & ERA testing | all normal/negative, recommended going on gluten and dairy free diet for next FET FET #2 | 3.31.20 | Opted to cancelled due to pandemic, continued diet and tried naturally over the summer 2nd Opinion with another RE | 8.20.20 | Not immune to measles (received 1 dose); SA results similar to 2 years ago; decided to move forward with FET #2 redo at start of next cycle Surprise natural BFP! | 9.22.20 | MC 10.23.20 at 8 weeks TTCAL naturally | starting 11.22.20 Initial consultation with Reproductive Immunologist | 9.14.21 Decidualization score biopsy | 10.1.21 | abnormal - low score of 1; endometrial scratch recommended and progesterone supplementation Saline sono | 10.15.21 | normal Bloodwork | 10.21.21 | high TSH, high testosterone, positive for anti-nuclear antibodies and histone antibodies, high protein S, multiple genetic mutations BFP! | 11.3.21 | EDD 7.14.22 | biopsy provided same effect as endometrial scratch; added supplemental progesterone and estrogen, prednisone, levothyroxine, and MTX Support to maintain pregnancy DS born 7.19.22 after induction
TTC #2 begins 6.2023 Consultation with RI | 6.6.23 Saline sono, endometritis biopsy, skin & eye check | all normal Labs | high TSH, Factor XIII mutation, high %CD56 Follow up | 8.8.23 | prescribed metformin, prednisone, plaquenil, and levothyroxine Repeat labs after 3 weeks on meds Follow up | 11.9.23 | Green light!, increase in prednisone, added lovenox Repeat labs in 8 weeks Follow up | 1.16.24 | Green light continues TTC ended due to filing divorce **New relationship starting May 2024** Surprise BFP!! | 9.7.25 | EDD 5.11.26
Hi again everyone. Sorry to disappear on you all, but I really needed to step away after everything that happened, I just wasn't in a good place to be supportive / available. @inthewoods23 Glad to see things are progressing! FX for you! I have been thinking about you!
Diagnosis (if you've been): We're working on that. I was diagnosed with Lupus, but recent testing unveiled a clotting disorder / heart condition which can mimic it. It would also explain my losses, and issues I had previously. Trying to figure out what all that means for my overall health and fertility.
Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): Benched, waiting on the cardiologist.
What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Tracking my cycles, trying to learn about next steps.
How are things going?: The good news is that with the new medication (blood thinners) to treat the clotting disorder, for the first time is 2 1/2 years I have normal cycles. It also in theory, once I have been on it awhile will help to prevent pre-term labor and loss - both of which I have dealt with. We had TTC last year from Jan through July before everything went sideways health wise, but my cycles were so wonky it was shooting blind. I needed to step away last month after *TW* a chemical *End TW* - It came and went right as I got the news from my rhematologist that the tests he ran to "be absolutely sure we're not missing something" turned up something, and really drove home that this will be a much longer journey than I want it to be. Add in the fact I am knocking on the door of AMA and it really took some soul searching as to what we want to do as a family. It is looking like I might need heart surgery in the next few months - but blood thinners can limp me along for years - decades even - if I wanted to avoid it. Just struggling right now to figure out how to balance my own health against the family we want.
Any questions?:
GTKY: What is your favorite activity to do when it snows? Read by the fire. Basically hide from the snow - I am a terrible new englander.
Re: IF Testing and Treatment week of 1/21
My question: Should I tell my RE that I still have hcg in my system and is it going to bench me for another month? She wanted to wait to check for mature follicles at the start of cycle three because I guess they're lower if you've recently had a loss. Does anyone have any idea if this is going to delay everything further? I'm so frustrated.
ETA I'm also quite surprised that they didnt do blood hcg on you. Mine did and verify with his nurse that it did come back at 0 at each of our meetings.
ETA: After yet another Google search, I realize I had zero symptoms of a molor pregnancy, so I don't think I need to be worried about it.
This time went WAY smoother because they did it by US guidance. Last time they used some tool to pull my cervix straight but with the US they could see how it curved so when they inserted the catheter I had ZERO discomfort! FX this is the one!
Dx: low morph (1%), ANA positive, low decidualization score, high TSH and testosterone, histone antibodies
IUI #1-3 | all BFN
IVF #1 | 6.11.19 | 24R, 17M, 15F, 6B, PGT-A tested - 5 normal, 3 girls & 2 boys
FET #1 | 9.10.19 | BFN "I know you, but we've never met. I'm with you, but I don't know your name"
RPL, Receptiva, & ERA testing | all normal/negative, recommended going on gluten and dairy free diet for next FET
FET #2 | 3.31.20 | Opted to cancelled due to pandemic, continued diet and tried naturally over the summer
2nd Opinion with another RE | 8.20.20 | Not immune to measles (received 1 dose); SA results similar to 2 years ago; decided to move forward with FET #2 redo at start of next cycle
Surprise natural BFP! | 9.22.20 | MC 10.23.20 at 8 weeks
TTCAL naturally | starting 11.22.20
Initial consultation with Reproductive Immunologist | 9.14.21
Decidualization score biopsy | 10.1.21 | abnormal - low score of 1; endometrial scratch recommended and progesterone supplementation
Saline sono | 10.15.21 | normal
Bloodwork | 10.21.21 | high TSH, high testosterone, positive for anti-nuclear antibodies and histone antibodies, high protein S, multiple genetic mutations
BFP! | 11.3.21 | EDD 7.14.22
DS born 7.19.22 after induction
TTC #2 begins 6.2023
Consultation with RI | 6.6.23
Saline sono, endometritis biopsy, skin & eye check | all normal
Labs | high TSH, Factor XIII mutation, high %CD56
Follow up | 8.8.23 | prescribed metformin, prednisone, plaquenil, and levothyroxine
Repeat labs after 3 weeks on meds
Follow up | 11.9.23 | Green light!, increase in prednisone, added lovenox
Repeat labs in 8 weeks
Follow up | 1.16.24 | Green light continues
TTC ended due to filing divorce
**New relationship starting May 2024**
Surprise BFP!! | 9.7.25 | EDD 5.11.26
@inthewoods23 Glad to see things are progressing! FX for you! I have been thinking about you!
Diagnosis (if you've been): We're working on that. I was diagnosed with Lupus, but recent testing unveiled a clotting disorder / heart condition which can mimic it. It would also explain my losses, and issues I had previously. Trying to figure out what all that means for my overall health and fertility.
Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): Benched, waiting on the cardiologist.
What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Tracking my cycles, trying to learn about next steps.
How are things going?: The good news is that with the new medication (blood thinners) to treat the clotting disorder, for the first time is 2 1/2 years I have normal cycles. It also in theory, once I have been on it awhile will help to prevent pre-term labor and loss - both of which I have dealt with. We had TTC last year from Jan through July before everything went sideways health wise, but my cycles were so wonky it was shooting blind.
I needed to step away last month after *TW* a chemical *End TW* - It came and went right as I got the news from my rhematologist that the tests he ran to "be absolutely sure we're not missing something" turned up something, and really drove home that this will be a much longer journey than I want it to be.
Add in the fact I am knocking on the door of AMA and it really took some soul searching as to what we want to do as a family. It is looking like I might need heart surgery in the next few months - but blood thinners can limp me along for years - decades even - if I wanted to avoid it.
Just struggling right now to figure out how to balance my own health against the family we want.
Any questions?:
GTKY: What is your favorite activity to do when it snows? Read by the fire. Basically hide from the snow - I am a terrible new englander.