IF Testing and treatment w/o 11/15

optimistgardener · November 2021

[Sorry guys. I am extremely old and bad at internet memes and gifs, so these sprouty little guys will have to serve as good vibes for us all.]

This is a place for those of us who have already started TTC, but have started infertility testing and/or treatments. You can express your thoughts, feelings, and frustrations on infertility. TTC can be a long journey naturally, then add in the difficulties associated with infertility, and it becomes a whole new ball game. The road to infertility can be lonely, frustrating, and complicated, so let's make this a place where we can vent, ask questions, and support one another. Feel free to resurrect this thread at any point in the week if you have something to say. Treat this as an ongoing conversation.

Diagnosis (if you've been):

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?):

How are things going?:

Any questions?:

GTKY: You're 15 and it's high school. You: a) sign up for drama club, b) spend all your free hours training for [insert sport here], c) library denizen, d) out behind the auditorium smoking with your buds, e) school council. Feel free to mix and match.

[edited the GTKY because I got nervous about whether my initial question was board appropriate]

kiki047 · November 2021

From last week:
@optimistgardener ugh, sorry you're also on the "WTF AF" train. I have no insights either, other than to say that it could just be some breakthrough bleeding as your body adjusts... which I realize is not helpful considering you're doing this to regulate, not to throw things even more out of whack. Sorry friend, that's frustrating. Are you still expected to get another withdrawal bleed when you remove it/go for your baseline?
@bumblebee0210 thinking about you!!

Diagnosis (if you've been): PCOS, RPL/RIF, MFI

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): Technically still just WFAF

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): IVF Limbo. I'm now thinking the weird spotting I had last week was actually AF just based on my CP and other signs... so let's hope this is a very short cycle, otherwise I won't be able to fit in another ER until after Christmas

How are things going?: I'm starting to unravel a little, being so unbelievably mad/frustrated with my body never doing what it's supposed to. I really, really need good news from the PGT because if it's not, I'm going to have a really hard time going into the new year still dragging out this same stupid cycle. This is the part that really triggers me because I feel like we're in this situation in the first place because my body is broken and unreliable.

Any questions?: At what point do I ask for BCP so I can at least regulate my cycle for some predictability through the holidays since AF continues to elude us? I have ZERO trust in my body, zilch, nada, none.

Image: https://media.giphy.com/media/8756ivWrhKmmMkThAZ/giphy.gif

GTKY: You're 15 and it's high school. You: a) sign up for drama club, b) spend all your free hours training for [insert sport here], c) library denizen, d) out behind the auditorium smoking with your buds, e) school council. Feel free to mix and match.

Ooh, at age 15 for me it would be c) library, but I went there to sleep lol, I certainly wasn't reading books. I didn't really come into my own until I was 16/17, at which point I actually made some friends and joined a few clubs, etc.

shortstack930 · November 2021

@kiki047 ugh I'm sorry you're still in limbo. How soon will you get your PGT results? As for the birth control, I'm not too sure but can you message your nurse to ask them their thoughts?

Diagnosis (if you've been): Endometriosis

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO I guess

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): waiting for FET

How are things going?: Ugh still in beta limbo and waiting for my body to get itself together. I'm trying to focus on getting myself in better physical shape since that's something I can at least control. I have another blood draw on Wednesday to see how things are but I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up having to go on meds to move things along.

Any questions?: NATM

GTKY: You're 15 and it's high school. You: a) sign up for drama club, b) spend all your free hours training for [insert sport here], c) library denizen, d) out behind the auditorium smoking with your buds, e) school council. Feel free to mix and match.
Definitely a) sign up for drama club and c) library denizen. I was big into choir and doing all the school musicals but I've always been a library frequenter.

keikilove · November 2021

@kiki047 Ugh, I’m sorry about the frustrating body antics! It seems reasonable to ask for BCP at this point. Especially if you’re needing predictability to plan for another ER before the end of the year. I’m also wondering if there’s any way they can follow your hormones to verify that it was really AF that showed up, check your hormones after ovulation, and then maybe let you do a luteal start stim protocol? I’m just throwing out ideas so you could squeeze in another retrieval sooner… Also hoping with you for excellent PGT results, and soon!

@shortstack930 Geez, I’m also sorry for you that the beta limbo continues. That’s so tough. Your idea to work on your physical health since it’s something you can control sounds like a solid plan. If nothing else, you will relieve some stress and maybe even get to enjoy the endorphin high that comes with exercise. Good luck with the blood draw on Wednesday! I hope you won’t need the meds to get things moving back to normal.

Diagnosis (if you've been): RPL/RIF, elevated NK cells and activity, blood-clotting mutations, AMA, DOR, DQ Alpha match

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Just did an IUI on Saturday. The dr said the timing was perfect but I, of course, am questioning things in my brain. See my ramblings in spoiler below.

How are things going?: OK. I’m feeling a lot less stressed now that the crazy part of that cycle is over. My friend said I was very lucky to be able to save that crazy cycle by doing an IUI. So I’m trying to remind myself of that fact and be grateful. As weird as it sounds, I’m sooo relieved to be in the TWW. I hope I can just chill and not overthink anything at this time. Ha! Based on my thoughts below, I’m already off to a poor start on that front.

Ramblings in my mind about IUI timing:

Regarding the timing of the IUI, I wish I’d been able to do bloodwork the day before. I’m used to catching the LH surge with BW the day before or day of IUI, but there was no time to do BW this time with traveling to RE. Three days before the procedure my numbers were perfect. However, I didn’t do OPKs in between due to the trigger shot likely throwing things off, and didn’t do more BW to catch the surge.
At the IUI both doctors said it didn’t look like I’d ovulated yet. But I was having intense painful cramping that whole morning which continued into the night. The morning of the IUI I did an OPK and it was strong & positive, but not quite peak. When I met with the dr after the IUI and we reviewed my numbers from my blood draw on the morning of the IUI, she said those numbers did indicate that I’d already ovulated. My heart rate was its highest the day of IUI, and my temperature was its lowest the night after IUI. Waking up the morning after IUI I had the strongest peak OPK (but maybe it was the effects of the trigger shot?). So, I think it was decent timing overall but I wonder when I actually ovulated. 🤷‍♀️

Any questions?: Anyone want to take a stab at when I ovulated based on this bloodwork?

Wednesday: 4 follicles btwn 18-23 mm
Progesterone: 0.3
Estradiol: 901
FSH: 22.9
LH: 2.2
Heartrate: 60
Temp: 1.3 degrees above baseline

Saturday: Follies on U/S not measured
Progesterone: 2.87
Estradiol: 249
LH: 1.36
FSH: They forgot to run this.

Heartrate: 63
Temp: 2.5 degrees below baseline
OPK: Equivalent Positive

Sunday, day after IUI:
Heartrate: 62
Temp: 1.9 degrees above baseline
OPK: Peak

GTKY: You're 15 and it's high school. I did a, b, and e. I hated high school but I kept myself very busy just to get though it. From the outside I looked like the model student. On the inside I was like “Get me the F outta here! This is so boring and lame!”

Edited for spacing.

kiki047 · November 2021

@keikilove that's a good idea about following my hormones, but to answer your question no, they indicated that they don't really do that. I could probably get them to let me go once to check but not for monitoring just for peace of mind. But I'm wondering if something like the Proov tests would have any value whatsoever for me. I don't typically do OPKs because my PCOS throws my levels off so they are always positive no matter when I test, but I think the new Proov tests measure E1G, LH and PdG which might be more useful? I'm keeping everything crossed for you that your timing really was just perfect. The universe would be cruel to have everything align so perfectly for you this cycle and not have it work out. I'm shaking my fist at the universe as a warning.
@shortstack930 beta limbo is the worst, I'm so sorry. At any rate, I hope that if you don't get good news on Wednesday that they'll be able to get things moving along for you ASAP if you do end up needing to take something like misoprostol (Cytotec). I know exactly what you mean about wanting to focus on things you can control. Glad you have that to take your mind off things.
ETA: they said 2-4 weeks for PGT results, it's been just over 2 weeks so... any time now!!

optimistgardener · November 2021

@kiki047 so much solidarity on the WTF AF front. I'm so over it. And I'm really sorry that this means your calendar might be messed up. I like @keikilove's proposal of advocating for a luteal phase start, if you can convince them to do that. ETA just read your reply that they won't do that. harrumph. waiting with baited breath for your PGT-A results.

@shortstack930 dangit i want to jailbreak you out of beta limbo. argh.

@keikilove so glad you're feeling a bit less stressed out now! It's rare that the TWW can feel like a relief, but i know what you mean. I can only make vague guesses about the timing of your IUI, but it seems at least potentially quite promising!

Diagnosis (if you've been):  AMA, DOR, possible scarring and endo

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):  IVF prep/BC limbo

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): baseline ultrasound on Sunday! I can't believe it's already time!

How are things going?:  Ok? Except that, as I complained about already, I'm on CD11 now and still spotting. This is going to be the ruination of aaaall my remaining decent underwear. I called the clinic about this this morning and the reply is basically: yeah that happens sometimes. We'll see how things look on Sunday. Also, I am not sure if it's because I'm a glutton for punishment or what, but I decided to contact Cooper Genomics directly to get a consultation with a geneticist about my 4 abnormal embryos from last cycle. I'll be doing that next week. I already spoke with my RE about the results, obviously, but I suppose my motto is always "the more you know, the better." I still need to think about whether I have any questions for them specifically, but I guess I just want someone who really specializes in the genetics aspect of it to talk me through what the results mean, and whether they have any implications for future/current cycles.

Any questions?: not really.

GTKY: You're 15 and it's high school. You: a) sign up for drama club, b) spend all your free hours training for [insert sport here], c) library denizen, d) out behind the auditorium smoking with your buds, e) school council. Feel free to mix and match.
When I was writing this Q, it occurred to me that I'm really a little bit of most of these. I never did drama club, but I did do JV softball as a freshman. I lurked in the library constantly and read everything I could find. I also was a bad girl who picked up a smoking habit at 14 (and dropped it in my early 20s), was once suspended for smoking marijuana at lunch, and was thrown out of a neighboring high school's prom when a friend and i turned up wearing sado/masochist outfits with me on a dog leash. I also managed to be student body secretary and president, and led the yearbook committee several years running. I was... ambitious?

bows22 · November 2021

@kiki047 I think you call and ask for bcp today. That’s my vote, if we’re voting. Also I can’t believe it’s only been 2 weeks, I think about your PGT results every day basically so it feels like it’s been forever haha. Hoping for wonderful news soon❤️

@shortstack930 I’m so sorry about the beta limbo! I hope you don’t have to be in limbo for long and that you don’t need meds to get out of it.

@keikilove this may be a silly question, but does the bloodwork change when the egg is released or not until ovulation is over? So like when they said you already ovulated the morning of the IUI does that just mean the egg was already released but that the IUI was timed perfectly because the sperm didn’t have to hang out too long to wait for it?

@optimistgardener I’m glad you are doing the genetics consult! If nothing else it will be interesting information. I’m excited for you to get the ball rolling this weekend! I hope your spotting stops soon!

Diagnosis (if you've been): unexplained,AMA,endometrial polyps/thickening

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?) Clomid + IUI

How are things going? BFN today at 12 DPO. I’m sad, although I wasn’t really expecting it to be positive. I am doing period math to see how the next 2 cycles are going to shake out. I need to do another SHG at some point and I wanted to do one more IUI first, but I don’t know if the timing will work because we are going out of town at the time I think the SHG would happen. But I think if I stop progesterone now and do the SHG during this upcoming cycle, that the timing for everything will work out nicely so that’s what I’m leading towards.

Any questions? It was a FRER, is that definitive enough do you think that I can stop progesterone? I know I’m going to get scolded by the nurses if I call with my CD1 before my 15 days are up but I don’t really see the point in continuing to test.

GTKY: I played a sport every season (soccer, swimming, track) so I guess b, although the only one I really cared about was swimming. I was also in band and played in the orchestra for our school musicals so I spent a decent amount of time with the drama people too because of that.

optimistgardener · November 2021

@bows22 oh dang argh. i'm so sorry about that BFN. As for the FRER question, I guess I can say that if it were me, I'd probably feel pretty confident about that 12DPO reading and be ok coming off the progesterone. that stuff is awful and, like, insult to injury if you're taking it when you know it's pointless. but yeah, you might get a dressing down from the nurses.

ETA awesome about the swimming! i've always been a really undisciplined swimmer but i had a friend in college who had been on the Austrian national team for a while. she had the most amazing back muscles.

shortstack930 · November 2021

@keikilove I don't know much about the hormones but from what you described it sounds like your timing was pretty spot on! I am hoping so hard that the IUI works for you.

@optimistgardener I am team get all the information possible so I think it's a great idea for you to have the genetics consult! I'm sorry for the wacky AF though. I hope it ends soon!

@bows22 ugh I am so sorry for the BFN, I was really hoping this IUI was it for you. I agree that the FRER is super accurate so you're probably okay with stopping progesterone but would you feel better if you waited another day or two? Or would it throw off the next cycle timing?

keikilove · November 2021

@kiki047 I literally laughed out loud imagining you shaking your fist at the universe. Thank you for the support, I hope you’re right! As far as the Proov strips, that sounds like a good idea. Of course, @Cleverusername might be the best one to chime in on this whenever she’s able to get on here this week. Also, I’m wondering if your clinic could just submit the blood test orders on your behalf and you could go to a blood draw place whenever you wanted to do your own monitoring, getting the results in your patient portal? I’m not sure how your system works in Canada and whether that’s a possibility? I have standing orders from a couple of my doctors and can often go get the bloodwork done whenever I want. I hope that would be an option for you too.

@optimistgardener I read your post from the weekend about your Nuvaring and geez, I am sorry about the nonstop spotting. Your comment about it ruining your last decent underwear took me out!🤣 I hope that it will keep everything at baseline so when you do go for monitoring they’re like “Yep, everything looks perfect. Let’s get started with this next round of stims.” // Your plan to talk to the geneticist sounds smart. I’d want all the extra info too—from the expert’s mouth. I hope it’s helpful for you!

@bows22 Shoot about the bfn! I’m sorry.😞 I was really hopeful for you! Like others said, you may want to wait just 1-2 more days to stop the progesterone, just in case it’s a late implanter. I wouldn’t worry too much about your clinic giving you a hard time if you decide to stop early: people get AF while on progesterone all the time. So they wouldn’t know whether you stopped it early or AF was just determined to show up on time. And sometimes AF can take a few days to show up after stopping progesterone, so there’s no telling what your body may do. I hope it shows up sooner rather than later so you can get the timing you’re hoping for.// You asked me a good question about the ovulation timing. I don’t know that answer!😅 But I think the doctors meant exactly what you said: that ovulation may have just happened, meaning the egg would be right there waiting for the sperm. I hope so!

bumblebee0210 · November 2021

*semi-lurking?* edit: fixed tag

@bows22 -- *tw lc in spoiler*

You're right that it's very likely you are not pregnant, but I would wait the full 14 days for the blood test. With my daughter I had a negative test on 11DPO and spotting, and then got a positive I think 14 or 15 DPO. This is not meant to be like "keep your hopes up! you are totes preggo!" because very likely you are not, but late implanters do exist. I think @zwink1 has a crazy story of a first beta of like 10 or something that went on to be a healthy THB. Again, this is likely not you, but since it's not impossible, I would keep up with the (admittedly awful) progesterone.

kiki047 · November 2021

@optimistgardener oh god do I ever feel you on "the ruination of aaaall my remaining decent underwear".

I'm also glad you're getting a genetics consult - the consult I had with the geneticist that was looking into my birth defect was fascinating, and while she wasn't from Cooper and didn't specifically specialize in PGT so couldn't give me any kind of official counselling, I felt I got a lot out of it in the end. I love the way you described your teenage self. Especially the part about you getting thrown out of the neighboring prom, oh my! So good!
@bows22 ugh friend, I'm so sorry about the BFN. I do greatly admire your will to wait that long to test. And don't blame you one bit for wanting to just call this cycle and move on. I also always stopped the progesterone once I had a BFN.

Ok ladies, here it is. My RE called me out of the blue in the middle of my zoom meeting at 9:30pm last night with our PGT results.

Of the 9 we sent for testing, he said he expected 50% to be normal, which is 4.5. Obviously you can't get half a normal so we were very lucky to fall on the higher side with 5 euploid and 1 mosaic. I'll hopefully get the full report on grading, etc, when I go in to meet with him but this is where we currently stand:

Current clinic:
5 euploid
1 mosaic

Old clinic
1 mosaic
1 untested

The 1 that was untested is statistically likely to be normal because of the 6 we got, 3 were abnormal, 1 was mosaic, we transferred 1 fresh, and we left 1 untested (this is stupid, I know, our RE convinced us testing 4 was enough to get a good picture and we went along with it, and now I wish I paid the extra $250 or whatever it would have been just to test that damn embryo because now we'll always wonder).

With this in mind, he then asked what we want to do? And I completely froze. We went into this process knowing we wanted to bank around 8-12 euploid before we started transferring, under the assumption that we're going to lose a bunch based on my history. But my very cocky RE thinks he can solve our RIF/RPL problems and he thinks we have enough. So I'm torn. I don't know what to do. He is bringing me in this week for an endometrial biopsy to check for endometritis so at least this cycle isn't a complete waste, and he said if we want to we can roll right into a FET with my next period, or we can do another ER. My brain wants me to bank some more, but my heart wants so badly to move on to FET. Because what if it does work on the first try? MH is really following my lead, he will support me in whatever I want to do, but deep down we know we both just want our THB more than anything. And if we do 2 or 3 FETs and they don't work, let's say that takes 4-6 months, we can pause and do another ER at that point if we really think we need to go back to banking.

As you can see, my brain is going in many different directions. I've been in very good company here with all the other ladies who are also in banking mode, but at what point do we prioritize the part where we actually get to try getting pregnant? I'm a financial advisor by trade, this is like someone asking if they have enough money to retire yet. Like, it depends how much you're planning on spending, how long you plan to live, etc etc... My pessimistic side thinks the modelling shows I need more embryos. My selfish, wounded, hurting side wants the chance to move on.

bows22 · November 2021

thanks everyone for the input regarding progesterone. I’m still not sure what I’m going to do. They are only having me take it at night so even if I do skip tonight, I usually test at 5 AM when DH’s alarm goes off. If I do see a hint of something I could always do the progesterone then and probably not throw things off too much. I have a message into the RE about doing an SHG next cycle so I think I’ll wait to see what she says before I decide for sure. I just feel like since I have seen such faint lines before and not been pregnant and now there is literally nothing there that it’s probably a huge long shot at this point but @bumblebee0210 makes a compelling argument.

@kiki047 I vote (again, we’re voting, right? Haha) transfer for the reasons you mentioned. If (when!) you are successful, you can deal with how many embryos you need for the future when you are trying for #2. You have waited too long and if your RE is confident he can overcome the issues you have had, I say let him go for it.

walkawaynee · November 2021

@kiki047 sorry about your confusing AF, or lack of... hoping your body gets it together in time for you to do another ER this year and great pgt results. I love that you went to the library to sleep in HS.

@shortstack930 Yay for focusing on the things you can control right now!

@keikilove I love that you are trying to embrace the TWW as a relaxing time. I am not familiar with the BW enough to comment thoughts but it sounds like the timing was good. From last week: yes "procrastination" was on purpose lol I was just feeling a lot of "I should have..." energy at the time.

@optimistgardener the setting has got to be so annoying but I do believe it's common-ish with the nuvaring. Yay for baseline on Sunday, mine is Monday! Also... I think we could have been BFFs in high school!

@bows22 I feel like this time of year it's so difficult to try and get things done planning around holidays and our bodies! I agree that while bfn on cd12 isn't promising you should keep up PIO until it's official.

Diagnosis (if you've been): AMA, DOR, Hashimotos, low morphology.

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): ivf prep, bcp

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): lots of waiting

How are things going?: had my SHG today and it was good/bad. Good news he didn't see any polyps or fibroids. He was also able to find my ovaries much easier than the nurse last week and also saw 7 follicles.
Bad-ish news: He saw a "very large" cyst on my left ovary. He said there is a good chance my cycle will be cancelled because of it. We will check again at my baseline on Monday and if it appears to be going down on its own we will move forward but he said its likely it will need to be removed before we can start stims.

Any questions?: I guess.... Any thoughts on the cyst thing?

GTKY: You're 15 and it's high school. You: a) sign up for drama club, b) spend all your free hours training for [insert sport here], c) library denizen, d) out behind the auditorium smoking with your buds, e) school council. Feel free to mix and match.

None of these really applied to me. I mostly kept to my quiet circle of friends (although some of them were the smoking crowd lol) I was on yearbook staff all through HS so I went to lots of events but only to take pictures!

*edited for clarity

acleverusername · November 2021

Hi everyone! Wow - another week, another busy busy board.

@kiki047 OMG how about those PGT results! Bravo ovaries!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/qk/fwekgym6i4rl.gif

I totally get you on wanting to be pregnant already. Like _really_ get you, and we've been at this for not even half as long. Honestly, it's such a personal decision. If your cocky RE thinks that you have enough, and YOU TRUST him (and heck... with the results he's delivered so far... I would trust him), then go for it. You do have the benefit of being a smidge younger than me, so I know that my decision would be different from yours (i.e. I _really_ don't want to do another retrieval, but I know I have to because this won't be an option after baby # 1.) Anyways, not sure if you still need advice on Proov strips or if the fact that you're going in for the endo biopsy next week kind of takes care of the issue. The other thing to consider is: are you in the right head space for the transfer now? (more on that later, when I do my update.)

@shortstack930 I hope beta tomorrow gives you the clarity that you are seeking. I hear you 100% on focusing on getting your body feeling better as you wait wait wait. That's a _good_ plan and will also help with with mental state.

@keikilove embrace that TWW like a fluffy heated blanked! I too envy your relaxed state of mind in this latter phase of your cycle. Okay, re: your blood tests, I'm inclined to think that Saturday was your O day. I.e. The egg had been released, and was making its way to meet the sperm (the progesterone is what gives it away, as well as the low Estrogen levels... relatively speaking of course). I wouldn't put any faith into the OPKs given the trigger. So, I think your timing is P.E.R.F.E.C.T. I believe that it was @optimistgardener that read a bunch of studies/summarized that in case of IUI/prepared sperm, it's better for the egg to be waiting for the sperm, and not vice versa. I also have a potentially dumb question: given your NK cell / DQ Alpha match... do those make it hard for an embryo that is genetically yours to implant? Or any embryo? I.e. if you did a donor embryo, do you think your body would still reject it? The reason I'm asking is... if it's genetic incompatibility, is there perhaps a ... like... another woman who is in the same boat that would agree to like a womb exchange? Like you carry her baby, she carries yours? Honestly, I'm talking out of my a$$ here so I really hope I didn't offend you.

@optimistgardener IVF ruins underwear... it's just how it happens. You should treat yourself to new underwear once you're 12 weeks. I remember @krash_ said she did that because the progesterone suppositories ruined her underwear. Also, sounds like you were a fun gal in high school and I would have liked to be your friend but my high school self was too shy (more on that later). I really do hope you get a green light at your baseline appointment. 🚦

@bows22 I like your idea of taking progesterone tonight, and then testing in the morning. When I was taking progesterone, I would always stop around 13DPO. But @bumblebee0210 also makes a really good point. But honestly, I'm really sorry for the BFN. This cycle sounded really good on paper, so I was really hoping you can join the exodus.

@walkawaynee I don't quite understand about the cyst... it either goes away on its own OR he needs to remove it? Did you get any bloodwork done? It _is_ possible it's a breakthrough follicle? Anyways, let's hope for the best on Monday. Cysts _do_ go away on their own. Gah... more waiting and fretting. So unfair.

walkawaynee · November 2021

@kiki047 glad you got your results and yay for good news! I go back and forth on the banking vs transfer thing (assuming I have the choice at some point)

@acleverusername I edited my post for clarity. Hoping it goes down but my RE sounded pretty sure it wasn't going to and that we will need to cancel and address it first.

optimistgardener · November 2021

@walkawaynee just leaping in here quickly although i should be writing my lecture right now to say that on my first attempt at IVF i walked in to my first baseline and they found a big honkin' cyst, like substantially >30mm if I recall. I kind of wasn't surprised because i'd been feeling weird painful stuff going on for days. They'd had me on BCP for the previous cycle, and in response to finding the big cyst they switched me over to the nuvaring, which my RE feels (but didn't have real data on) can be better for women who tend to get cysts. Apparently it is more of a localized delivery of hormones and the body deals with that better? or something? we'll see how my baseline goes, though. I hope that thing resolves and you're able to do your cycle. but maybe ask them what they think about a nuvaring?

kiki047 · November 2021

@keikilove cross-posted. To answer your question, I don't know if it's a Canadian thing or just that all the clinics I've been to don't have patient portals, but this RE does everything in-house in his own labs so it doesn't seem like he's even willing to send anything out. In fact, I had almost all of the same AMH, RPL and some immune testing done by an outside lab prior to seeing him and he still ran it all again because he wanted it done in his lab. *shrug* If I go in this week for my biopsy though, I think they'll let me do BW too so hopefully we get some answers. To make matters worse, I also have to POAS before I go. I had a BFN already last week when AF was MIA, I will do it again before the biopsy for good measure.
@bows22 I'm honestly on the fence so yes, appreciate your vote!! I also agree with your thinking about testing again tomorrow and deciding about the progesterone then. I'm sorry friend, I hate this for you.
@walkawaynee oh no about the potential cyst! That sucks so much. With PCOS, I'm no stranger to cysts and all of mine have gone away on their own without needing to be removed, but unfortunately that means more waiting. We all know the torture of waiting.
@acleverusername My TTCAL brain is really struggling with reconciling my feelings of hope and trust in the new RE and my disdain for my own body. He did say that my lining was fabulous during my stim cycle so I believe he'll do whatever it takes to get me there, if we're in agreement that it's a lining issue given that my bloodwork didn't seem to indicate anything else was at play. I was all in for banking because I don't want to have to do this again 2+ years down the road when we're TFAS, but at the same time, let's say this does work, does this just not feel like enough because I'm a cynic or can we realistically live with this number for now? Lots to think about. First things first, the Alice test and a good long chat with my RE.

acleverusername · November 2021

@kiki047 how about: you do the Alice test / chat with your RE and then try a transfer. And if it doesn't work on first go, do another ER?

Diagnosis (if you've been): the "best" diagnosis out there... Unexplained Infertility. But also, Hashimoto's, AMA, sperm that doesn't like to ask for directions.

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): IVF retrieval # 3; mid-luteal phase start

How are things going?: Things are going... okay. Happily AF showed up on schedule (sorry @kiki047
/ @optimistgardener), 7 days after retrieval, which means that I've started prep for my next retrieval. I've asked to take Letrazole to speed up ovulation so that I can avoid lab closures and our Christmas travel. We will see if Letrazole has any effect. I did that back in May, and it barely affected my O, since I'm only taking 1 pill (2.5mg).

Otherwise... I'm just really effing tired... I really don't want to be putting my body through another retrieval but I know it's the right thing. To wit, after making all that noise about existing early in the new year and a Libra TBH, MH and I talked this weekend and we're actually gonna hit pause on treatment after the retrieval. I want to give my body and mind time to heal before doing a transfer. So, we're gonna just take a break for 2-3 months. Do some traveling, recover, because I honestly feel like shit. I've put on so much weight that hardly any of my clothes fit. My weight is at the most it's been in 10+ years, by about 10lbs. All of this gained in the last few months. Argh. I just hate it, hate it, hate it. And because I was so sad about my frozen eggs last week, I decided to treat myself to a delicious salted caramel cake on Saturday when a friend was over for dinner (a cake that was gluten-full) and boy-oh-boy did I pay the price for that on Sunday/yesterday. I feel like I'm just abusing my body after doing so much good work with my functional medicine to try and right it. So, yeah, after retrieval, I'm going to do a full cleanse.

I've also decided to dip my toes into reproductive immunology. I was talking to my new fertility support group last week, and someone mentioned they found someone in FL who did telehealth RI consults. This person was trained by Dr. KK. Given everything that @inthewoods recently learned during her testing, I think it's worthwhile to do it.

Any questions?: Nah

GTKY: You're 15 and it's high school. You: a) sign up for drama club, b) spend all your free hours training for [insert sport here], c) library denizen, d) out behind the auditorium smoking with your buds, e) school council. Feel free to mix and match.
@optimistgardener now I really want to know what the original GTKY was. Lol. I feel like nothing is off limits on this board.
But to answer this specific one, a bit of drama and library, but mostly library, reading adult books (i.e. Danielle Steele) cause I went to a French high school, in French part of Canada (Quebec), and was learning French in high school so it was a very lonely existence. Also ppl in Quebec aren't friendly to outsiders who don't speak their language perfectly. And I couldn't request any age-appropriate English books through the library system, but I could request adult books. So, there you go. I was super shy in HS due to switching schools almost every year up until last 2 years of HS, so I didn't make friends, although ppl in the library were usually friendly and I kind of sort of called them my friends.

inthewoods23 · November 2021

*lucky loo*

@acleverusername Dr. Jubiz is AMAZING!!! He's who I've been seeing! You would love him. He explains things in detail and just ugh! Gave me the major warm and fuzzies after the initial consult. Cannot recommend him enough.

Communication was iffy with his assistant for a while since they were clearly going through growing pains from so many new patients (thanks RI FB group haha) but he has a new one and she's been great so far so I think they've got things worked out.

acleverusername · November 2021

@inthewoods23 oh that's awesome! Haha. I was actually gonna reach out to you to ask who your RI was if my recommendation fell through. Alas, apparently that's not required. I managed to get an appointment on Dec 9, which I don't think is that far away. The assistant seemed to be good! I hope it's the new one you're talking about.

Also, sorry for the pity party I threw myself in my update. I had a rough few days.

zwink1 · November 2021

@kik047 - so happy to hear your good PGT news!!! But I can definitely see how that would be confusing.

@bows22 - I'm sorry the FRER was a BFN and you're stuck making a tough call on the progesterone.
Follow up on @bumblebee0210's spoilered comment spoilered below (TW for LC):

Bumblebee's remembering right, my betas with my FET that resulted in DS were crazy low (5 at 8dpt; 9 at 10 dpt; 61 at 13dpt) and the general consensus around the REs office was that it wasn't going to make it past the first ultrasound. Still no real explanation for what was going on, but he must've been a crazy late implanter or something because he turned out to be a healthy THB. Like bumblebee said, by no means I'm I suggesting that the odds are favorable, and taking the progesterone just on a super off chance sucks, but the possibility isn't 0.

Unrelated -
Bumblebee, I hope that semi lurking qualifier on your post is due to positive signs on your beta !?!?

bows22 · November 2021

@walkawaynee noooo I’m sorry about the cyst. I hope it does go down on its own. How fing annoying.

@acleverusername that was most definitely not a pity party (and if it was, it’s well deserved). And I think it’s great that you are going to prioritize taking care of yourself if that’s what you feel like you need right now. I’m glad that AF is at least cooperating. And +1 for being curious about what @optimistgardener ’s original GTKY was!

@zwink1 those are some crazy betas! That put me over the edge of convincing me to take the progesterone tonight, so you are the winner haha. I highly doubt that will happen for me but I’m willing to give it another day to be sure.

optimistgardener · November 2021

@kiki047 congratulations on the great results!! I can imagine that you now find yourself in a strange position, trying to decide to keep banking or move on. Of course, we don't know why things haven't been working "the natural way" all this time, so that lends an air of mystery and a sense of anxiety about wanting to have lots of backups in case it's a journey trying to figure that part out. but you've got a got start there. I think i'm with those who would say to go ahead with a FET and see what happens. if nothing else, it will give your doctor something to mull over if the results are less than stellar. ...And if they're less than stellar, than he needs to have his cocky attitude brought back to earth in order to be useful to you anyway, so may as well get that done earlier than later. You're also, and I know you know this, but you're young enough that you can afford a pause on the retrieval train to see how a couple of FETs go. You're making large #s of good quality normal embryos. That won't change in 6 months. (I'm in camp FET.)

@keikilove @acleverusername yo 'twas me indeed who wasted hours of her life tracking down IUI timing studies and yep, the jury is out on whether it's statistically better for the sperm to hit the uterus right before ovulation or right after. but those who think it's better after ovulation feel strongly about it!

Clever- I feel you on the being tired and worn out front, and it makes total sense to me why you'd want to hit pause and work on feeling a little bit more like yourself before you shift to transfer mode. i am strongly of the opinion that an important piece of the puzzle through all of this is making sure you're feeling healthy and your brain's in the right place. especially because if/when you get pregnant you're gonna have a whole series of other new challenges for your body to deal with. best to start that out on the best foot possible! No need to apologize for the "pity party." it's a totally reasonable way to feel.

@inthewoods23 and @zwink1 you guys are both giving me anxiety with your names turning up as new posts on this board! I'm so glad you're lurking because I miss you both but yeesh. stay lurky.

Also I love everyone's answers to the GTKY question! I feel like I can imagine you all in the libraries, hanging out in drama club, etc.

@bows22 and @acleverusername

my first GTKY was just a bit thoughtless. it was essentially the same genre of question but, like, "you're 9 years old and it's recess time. do you: a) hit the swings with your best buddy, b)...," etc. I liked the question because i enjoy thinking about how people carry some essence of themselves around through life, but then I posted and I was like... Wait. I know other people's children are worthy of TWs, but what about when we are talking about our own childhoods? It felt too ambiguous and I got nervous and bailed on it. Somehow talking about teenagers felt less iffy.

walkawaynee · November 2021

@acleverusername I agree with the other that I wouldn't call it a pity party but you are entitled to give yourself space to feel whatever you want , even a pity party! A break after retrievals leading to fresh, rested start souns like a fabulous idea! Glad you and YH are following your soul(s) on that.

shortstack930 · November 2021

@kiki047 I totally understand wanting to move on and I am definitely Team FET. I agree with others that you're young enough that if the first FET or two didn't work you could go back to ER if needed. Hopefully you won't have to cross that bridge though!

@walkawaynee ugh what a bummer about the cyst! Will they give you meds to get it to go down or do you need to have it removed surgically?

@acleverusername girl I totally understand needing a break from all this. That is the one silver lining for me right now is that I don't have to think about meds or anything for like another month or so. A break to travel and spend time with YH sounds perfect and not at all like a pity party.

AFM:

Beta today came back at 12.2 which is way down from last week, thankfully! My RE wants me to get one more redraw next Friday but she's hoping it will be at 0 by then. I have a consultation with her next Wednesday to discuss next steps but thankfully it looks like I won't need to go on any meds right now.

acleverusername · November 2021

Thanks guys. I definitely felt like I was wining unnecessarily. It was good for the soul, and I thank you for telling me that it's alright.

Okay, so got our PGT results back today. Way sooner than we were expecting, but I guess the lab is slow these days. Results in spoiler but TL;DR we kept up with the law of averages.

2 euploids

- both 3AA ended up euploid

3 aneuploid:

- one has chrom 13 monosomy

- one has Del/Dup of chrom 6

- one is complexly aneuploid with a monosomy on Chrom 18, and trisomy on Chrom 22

optimistgardener · November 2021

@acleverusername yay for euploids!

acleverusername · November 2021

Here's some data for you (tagging @bumblebee0210 for interest):

So far, all of our 3AAs ended up euploid.

Also, so far, all of our Day 5s were boys; all Day 6s are girls.

kiki047 · November 2021

@acleverusername good for you for being able to acknowledge and honour what your body and soul need as you move forward in this process. It really is all-consuming, and where a forced break might feel like torture, a self-declared, intentional break could be everything you need to reset and breathe before you take the biggest next step towards FETs! Not a pity party at all, friend. There is a lot riding on these cycles and this is the safest place I can think to unload some of those big feelings without judgement.

Happy to hear you got 2 more euploids from that batch, and those are some really interesting stats about the correlation between your Day 5/6 embies and gender. Hmm. I have some more thoughts on that but my brain is kinda jumbled right now so I will come back to it.

Thanks everyone for your encouragement. I talked it over with MH some more and we're in agreement that we want to at least try a FET or two before we try to bank some more. I feel confident enough that with my age, and the fact that I'm not up against DOR just yet, we still have time down the road if we need to do more retrievals. Now the challenge is trying to schedule that biopsy so we can get this show on the road. My RE said I could do it "this cycle" so we can proceed with our FET with my next period but the nurse wanted me to call on my CD1 to schedule.

I've had several endometrial biopsies in the past, and they were all performed in the luteal phase. They also always served a dual purposes of both doing the biopsy to check for infection, and also acted as an endometrial scratch in the cycles prior to my FETs. Does anyone know why this time the nurse is pushing me to do it in my FP instead of my LP? I don't actually know where I am in my cycle because of the weird spotting, my best guess is 2dpo based on my drastic change in CM but she never even asked, just dismissed me and said to come back on my CD1. I'm pushing back, but we'll see what she says.

*ETA to fix a typo. I don't know why I couldn't think of the CM acronym. It's been a while.

bows22 · November 2021

@kiki047 mine were both in my FP “before the lining gets too thick” but my first was to check for polyps and the second was for the hyperplasia so the thick lining thing probably doesnt apply here? Is it possible she is confused as to what you need it for?

bumblebee0210 · November 2021

*lurking*

@acleverusername. Interesting stats-- I also had the strong correlation between grading and euploidy, but we did not have the some gender correlation. Either way-- congrats on the results! And totally agree with the board that a break seems very called for. This process is a lot.

kiki047 · November 2021

@bows22 ugh, they want to do it between CD8-10 so I'm stuck. My RE got my hopes up that we could move right on to a FET with my next period but womp womp, still more waiting. Let's hope the biopsy comes back clear and we will be able to transfer next next cycle. There goes my dreams of being PUPO for Christmas

acleverusername · November 2021

@kiki047 you never know... you might end up with the same results as ITW following an FP biopsy! But also, think about those glasses of wine you can have at Christmas instead! (At least that's how I'm looking at it.) But yeah, dude, the delay sucks. *hugs*

bows22 · November 2021

@kiki047 ugh whyyyy. I’m sorry. Im glad you are doing the FET though. And I hope time goes by quickly for you ❤️

kiki047 · November 2021

@acleverusername I'm not holding out much hope for anything extraordinary happening as a result of the biopsy, given that this will be the 5th time I'm doing it (or something similar), but I do find peace in knowing that we're taking all the right steps to do this right, and will hopefully only need this one transfer to work. But also, the wine. I just ordered some, which I will be indulging in this weekend.
@bows22 when we look back on this it'll feel like it went by quick. Until then, I'll be insufferably whiny about it

do you still have to go in today for a beta even with the BFNs? My clinic always asked me to go no matter what. Hope you can get that SHG scheduled!

bows22 · November 2021

@kiki047 whine away! And no I only have to get a beta with a positive HPT. I did go rogue and stop the progesterone a night early (and then dipped a wondfo this morning for funsies) so just waiting for AF now

acleverusername · November 2021

@kiki047 don’t forget to enjoy some cheese with that whine!!! 🤣

bows22 · November 2021

So my RE finally got back to me this evening via the nurse and the message was “she can do the SHG this cycle if she wants” so you know, really helpful. The SHG is because my last biopsy reported a polyp, but I had a hysteroscopy/polypectomy less than 2 months before so they didn’t think there actually was a polyp, and maybe just the tiniest piece of the one they removed was left behind. So because of that she said I could do a couple of IUIs first and then we’d do the SHG if I wasn’t successful. I think at this point the period math will work either way, so maybe it’s better to do one more IUI first. I don’t know. I just wish I had answers.

As a side note, does anyone know of anything I can do to make my lining healthier, but that won’t thicken it? Most of the things when I Google are about thickening it which scares me haha, but because it’s so jacked up I’d like to make sure what is there is in the best shape possible. I had asked this to my RE before and she said there was nothing but I feel like there has to be something I can try.

optimistgardener · November 2021

@bows22 so sorry you're feeling without answers. I really really feel ya. I have this kind of retroactive frustration with throwing lots of IUIs at folks because I look back at my history of so many IUIs and wish now that I'd leapt sooner into the belly of the beast with more aggressive intervention. it sort of feels like IUIs were a way for doctors to fob me off without actually looking at my situation very carefully, although obviously IUIs work well for a lot of women. i think the thing that kind of bugs me in your case is that it seems clear that you have this diagnosed lining issue that you also feel is an issue getting in the way of that BFP, and so I wish i heard your RE proactively engaging with you about it and trying to find solutions on that front. I dunno. None of this solves your SHG calendar issue. I'm just annoyed on your behalf.

acleverusername · November 2021

@optimistgardener good luck at your appointment today!

@bows22 I’m sorry that your RE is so laissez-faire about your case. I’ve been there and as you can imagine, it’s that kind of attitude that made me switch clinics/providers so many times. And ultimately, I still kind of run the show. If you’re asking for opinions, I would get the SHG especially if it’s covered. One more data point is extremely valuable.

AFM, I played with fire earlier this week when I advertised that AF was “as planned”. Yesterday, CD8, after a couple of days of “tail-end spotting” I had like “medium flow” day which has never happened to me. And today I started doing OPKs. So freaking bizarre. I wonder if Letrazole is effing with my body. Grrrr. And of course I’m out of pads and also traveling this weekend. Anywho… Just here to whine/complain a bit.

Want a personalized experience?

IF Testing and treatment w/o 11/15

Re: IF Testing and treatment w/o 11/15

Choose Another Board

Search Boards