Only since TTC - cramps/bloating every month

Re: Only since TTC - cramps/bloating every month

• optimistgardener member

  August 2023

  This is my third month trying to conceive.
  
  First month, around 7dpo I started getting these bloaty swelly cramps, and they lasted about a week. I got a positive pregnancy test at 12dpo and for the next few days, but it was faint and eventually went away and I got my AF (so, chemical pregnancy).
  
  No worries I thought, let's try again.
  
  Second month, I got the same weird swelling cramps starting at 6/7dpo. This time no positive pregnancy test and I got my AF.
  
  This is my third month. I am 7dpo and I am *again* getting these swelling/bloating cramps.
  
  This never happened to me before I was trying to convince. I wasn't on birth control, and my partner and I used fertility tracking and condoms or the pull out method. So it's not like my cycle has changed. I can only assume this has something to do with me actively trying to get pregnant now...
  
  So what's happening? Am I getting chemical pregnancies each month??
  
  Anyone else experienced this??

  
  QFP

  What you are experiencing, @lilredrose, is the power of the mind. you weren't paying attention to every little twinge and cramp and gassy bubble before because you weren't looking for pregnancy symptoms. now you are, and now you notice them. progesterone is a b**ch, and does all kinds of weird stuff to the body, and it does it every single luteal cycle. for what it's worth, the only trustworthy symptom of pregnancy is a positive HPT, so do yourself a favor and try not to fixate on the other stuff.
  

  Also, we don't tend to do one-off posts like this here. if you want to stick around, please introduce yourself in the newbies thread and then jump into the other weekly/monthly threads.
  

  History

  I am doing this on my own. Left ovary and fallopian tube removed due to cyst/necrosis just after birth. Right ovary and tube still purport to function.

  Began TTC in Aug '18 @ age 35

  5 or 6 (or 7?!) cycles using frozen donor sperm, ICI. All BFN

  Mar-Jun '19 IUIs, all BFN
  

  Began process of referral for RE in spring of '19, blood tests confirm low AMH (.54) but all else is good.

  May '19 HSG shows open tube, but ultrasound suggests fibroids
  

  MRI in June '19 confirms two large fibroids, one growing through wall of uterus

  In June '19 I move from California to Oregon, disrupting my insurance, referrals, etc. 5 months spent piecing it all back together.
  

  Nov. '19 attempted myomectomy (vaginal approach) failed. 2nd surgery using laparoscopic method in Jan '20 is successful.
  

  April '20 --> June '20, natural IUIs, all BFN.

  July? saline ultrasound and bubble test demonstrate open tube
  

  July '20 clomid cycle cancelled for thin lining

  Aug-Oct, 3 femara cycles, all BFN

  RE referral. While waiting to set up an appointment Nov-Jan,I continue with natural cycles and ICI, using a known donor, BFN...
  

  Jan '21 more bloodwork, AMH is worse (.30), FSH high albeit not catastrophic at 13.2. hysteroscopy all good. "looks cozy!" says the RE.
  

  Feb '21, injectables (menopur, novarel), iui, BFN (doc said the frozen donor sperm sample had the "best numbers she'd ever seen!")
  

  Mar '21, injectables, iui cancelled due to lack of follicles, converted to at home-insem. BFN
  

  May '21, first IVF round cancelled due to cyst.

  July '21 IVF: standard antagonist. 225menupur/225gonal-f/cetrotide/5000u trigger, AFC 7; 6 days of stims. 8 eggs retrieved, 7 mature, 5 fertilize, 4 made it to blast. 3 are 4AB, 1 is 4BB. PGT-A results all abnormal.
  Oct '21 somewhat improved AMH (.51) and significantly improved FSH (8.9). Maybe it's all the pills I swallow.
  Dec -21, standard antagonist. 225menupur/225gonal-f/cetrotide/5000u trigger, AFC 5; 11 days of stims. retrieval yields 5, 4M, 2 reach day-6 blast (4AB & 4BB). 1 low-level mosaic (chr. 3 deletion), 1 complex abnormal.
  Feb '22 FET (low-level mosaic): CP.
  May '22 egg retrieval, lupron flare protocol. HGH priming for 1 month before stims; md lupron 20/20u daily; menopur 225, follistim 225, 10k trigger after 8 days of stims; AFC 10; 13 retrieved; 10 mature; 8 fertilized. All frozen at 2PN for later thaw, grow, and biopsy.
  July '22 egg retrieval same protocol: 9 days of stims; AFC 8; 10 retrieved, 8 mature, 4 fertilized and frozen.
  Sept '22 ER same protocol: AFC 10; 12 retrieved, 11 mature, 11 fertilized.
  From the 3 retrievals, 7 survived to day 5-6 blastocyst, from which I have 2 normal embryos!
  Jan 20, Fully medicated FET, baby aspirin, dexamethasone, acupuncture, and as much woo as I can stand (which isn't very much). BFN.
  July 23, Natural FET + baby aspirin. BFN.
  

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