IF Testing & Treatment w/o Nov 13

aisleofviewtwo · November 2023

**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 ballgame. 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 (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched):

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

How are things going?:

Any questions?:

GTKY: What’s your favorite kind of weather?

inthewoods23 · November 2023

Diagnosis (if you've been): blood clotting issues, immune issues

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): TI!!!!!

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): We have the green light to TTC!!

How are things going?: we got the all clear to TTC for 2 cycles on Thursday! Some of my immune numbers are high so my prednisone got upped. I get retested in 8 weeks. I'm expecting AF any day now so the timing couldn't be any better. Although I don't really want an August baby. It's just so hot in the summer! I would much rather have a due date into October or later. I really shouldn't complain though!

Any questions?: has anyone had to take lovenox before? I've been through IVF so I'm not a stranger to injections but I hear it can cause a ton of bruising! it got added to my protocol.

GTKY: What’s your favorite kind of weather? my favorite weather involves a nice temperature with the warmth of the sun. Sometimes that can even mean below freezing temperatures! If the suns out and warms the face I really like it.

ejoseph16 · November 2023

Diagnosis (if you've been): nothing yet… next step!

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): benched after CP

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): getting the testing going. My doctor is on vacation, so it may not happen until next cycle.

How are things going?: ugh. Frustrated with this whole process right now.

Any questions?: my doctor mentioned medicated cycles when I went to see her in October… just not sure what all that entails. Not quite a question, but feel free to ease my anxiety mind. Lol

GTKY: What’s your favorite kind of weather? Summer. Give me all the sun, warmth, and pool time!

@inthewoods23 hooray for the all clear!!! What amazing timing!

winterecho · November 2023

Diagnosis (if you've been): PCOS

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): IUI and TI

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): wrapping up TWW and going for blood work this week

How are things going?: fine, I'm just shocked how quickly the holidays are creeping up on us! Not looking forward to the "when are you having a baby?" questions from nosey relatives

Any questions?: nope

GTKY: What’s your favorite kind of weather? Fall weather! I love layers, boots, and that it's a little cooler but with some sun still shining through

@inthewoods23 oh no I hope you don't bruise a lot! When I bruise from injections I stay purple and black for well over a week

@ejoseph16 medicated may be trial and error to find the right dosage which sucks if you're prone to the yucky symptoms like diarrhea (me ugh) or nausea

inthewoods23 · November 2023

@ejoseph16 I assume by medicated cycle the doc just means to put you on letrozole or clomid for ovulation. You might have some monitoring too. did they say why they wanted to go that route?

@winterecho a couple weeks ago my brain was so occupied with ideas for gifts for people and now I'm like crap I need to get stuff actually ordered ASAP so I'm not rushing at the end! Because of course DH doesn't think about gifts one bit every holiday season. It all falls on me

ejoseph16 · November 2023

@inthewoods23 she wants to do blood work to determine if that’s the route we are going, but she said after 2 years almost she wants to give that a shot first. Unfortunately, she’s on vacation this week, so I won’t do blood work or anything until my next cycle. We need to wait a cycle anyways before trying again, but still. I just want to get this show on the road.

ATolentino89 · November 2023

Diagnosis (if you've been): currently testing

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): what is TI/ICI? Waiting for af so I can schedule more testing

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): went to our first fertility clinic appointment and got blood drawn, ultrasound, and SA for hubs.

How are things going?: good. I am excited to finally get answers after 4 years. I am kicking myself for not setting it up earlier but it is what it is.

Any questions?: The ultrasound confirmed ovulation from my left side (unknown dpo as I didn't track this past cycle) and the tech said I had a "nice thick lining" but the progesterone from my blood draw results show .665. That seems wayyyyy off. I am still waiting for more results and a phone call later this week but that can't be good...right?

GTKY: What’s your favorite kind of weather?
I am a fall first, winter second, spring third. I hate summer. I recently moved from a urban area to a rural place and the winter is so quiet and peaceful.

inthewoods23 · November 2023

@ejoseph16 seriously, why does this sh*t have to take forever 😩. At least the delay isn't ONLY because she's on vacation. That would irritate me.

@ATolentino89 TI is timed intercourse and ICI is like... Idk a step below IUIs in which sperm is just injected into the vagina vs actually into the uterus like an IUI. I think 🤔. How long ago was that ultrasound? You could be getting AF any day now. I wouldn't be surprised if you were looked at on the tail end of your cycle.

ATolentino89 · November 2023

@inthewoods23 it was on Thursday. According to my app af isn't due until this Thursday.

aisleofviewtwo · November 2023

Diagnosis (if you've been): Unexplained

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): Benched

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): PGT-M test development

How are things going?: Meh. I had my first really difficult day re: IF over the weekend, so that was (not) fun. Nothing major, just a number of little things that piled up.

TW: someone else’s loss, live children

(1) A friend I hadn’t spoken to in a while reached out and mentioned she was having a d&c the next day for a missed miscarriage that was incomplete. We chatted a bit about it and I offered condolences, and then she basically said “it’s not so bad, I’d much prefer this to infertility.” 😑 She doesn’t know anything about my situation (or I’m sure she wouldn’t have said anything), but it didn’t feel like the moment to make things about me, either, so I’m just trying my best to ignore it and be supportive.

(2) Now that I’m benched my fertility clinic has basically forgotten about me. I had to follow up to ask if we should re-test TSH after 2 months on synthroid. On top of that, I asked about CoQ10 supplements or anything else we could to do prep for retrieval, and even though they’d never said ANYTHING to us about supplements suddenly there’s a list of like 10 things hubs and I are recommended to take. And of course it’s best if you’re on them for 90+ days before starting a cycle. Feels like we continue to move away from our goals rather than toward them.

(3) I’m the only childless one at family Thanksgivings, and while my mom has always leaned on me to help her with hosting logistics it’s gotten worse as my siblings’ lives get busy with kids. Add in that my niblings are now toddlers and constantly in motion and picky eaters, and basically the whole conversation revolves around everyone else and their needs.

Like I said, nothing major. And I’m probably overreacting. Just feeling a little dejected and lonely in all this (at least IRL).

Any questions?:

GTKY: What’s your favorite kind of weather? Ok this is very specific but my absolute favorite is summer mornings where you know it’s going to be a hot day but it’s cool out for the time being. Pure bliss ☀️

aisleofviewtwo · November 2023

@inthewoods23 Woo hoo! It’s so nice when timing works out like that!

@ejoseph16 Sorry you may have to wait another cycle, that’s a bummer. FX for testing answers very soon!

@winterecho Ugh I keep forgetting that Thanksgiving is literally next week. 2023 has felt like a textbook case of “the days are long but the years are short.” So you do big holiday gatherings with extended family? Ours at least tend to be just my parents + siblings gathering, and that’s enough to exhausts me!

@ATolentino89 I’ve never tested progesterone levels so I can’t speak to the exact numbers, but I’m always surprised by how wide the range of “normal” levels can be on bloodwork. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I feel like I’ve read that progesterone levels can vary widely and that it’s more about what they are relative to your personal baseline, rather than any discrete value?

winterecho · November 2023

@aisleofviewtwo ❤️ hugs. In terms of your friend, my sister is aware of what I'm going through and she still sent me some reel on IG where at first it was amusing but then the person was poking fun on someone else's IF struggles. I don't think she even realized how it would come across to me. I felt awkward and didn't point anything out to my sister about it even though after watching the video I was really upset. So no, you're not overreacting. You're feeling your very valid feelings.

And now Thanksgiving. His family is huge with tons of aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides. I have a large family too but very few of my relatives live in the US, and most of them live a plane ride away from me. These major holidays tend to be 25-50 people of all ages at my in laws 😫 my social battery drains within an hour

gingermama29 · November 2023

*lurking*
TW pregnancy and LC @inthewoods23

I took lovenox for my entire pregnancy. It absolutely will give bruises. I legit had some bruises the size of baseballs on my belly. Moving shots closer to my love handles area reduced bruising SIGNIFICANTLY and I would ice the area afterward for like 5-10 minutes. It’s really not too bad though, just kind of annoying to do every day. But it was worth it to have a healthy pregnancy and THB.

inthewoods23 · November 2023

@aisleofviewtwo oof that's terrible of your friend to say! As a person who falls into both camps, how about NEITHER is better?? Your feelings are valid friend 🫂

@gingermama29 that's what I've heard from others - that it's better on the love handles. I'll do whatever I have to do!

virginiaham · November 2023

*lurking* @aisleviewoftwo it’s all valid, all. of. it. It’s easy to feel unseen in the multiple situations that you describe, plus feeling suddenly “behind” ugh — just wanted to say that we see you.

capnjackharkness · November 2023

Diagnosis (if you've been): Unexplained RPL

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): Who knows....

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): So last check-in we had our 12 blastocysts PGT-A tested, and only 2 were 'normal.' Waiting?

How are things going?: Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. I just want to SCREAM!!!!!! This entire YEAR has been spent just WAITING on this thing or that thing with like 4-8 weeks between doctor's appointments because everyone's backed up... no fear, I'm only AMA and been waiting on this shiznit for over 8 years and turn 40 in a few months.... plus my Fed Employee insurance may not cover any IVF next year... so by all means, can we F around longer?

Any questions?: Just had our meeting with the RE today and I was expecting it to be like "Call CD 1 and we'll get started!" And instead it was like "We're not sure if you have Endometriosis, so you should consider a Laproscopy" Guess this is because we have to decide if we're going to have an Ultra-immune protocol cycle where we do Lupron for 3 months before, which could help if I have Endometriosis... or a regular protocol cycle. Guess this is because we only have the 2 normal euploid embryos.... and apparently the 2nd one had extra cells taken from it, because they had to test it twice. So, if we want to try and get a baby from these two, she thinks we should exercise caution and have more tests again.

So I'm just.... *sigh* Everything is like wait wait wait.... I'm old as F and like.... this is ridonculous. Also, got called fat again today. Joy of joys.

GTKY: What’s your favorite kind of weather? Hot summer beach weather. Or snowing it's *ss off, while I"m inside reading with nowhere to go.

@inthewoods23 Yay for the green light!!!!

@ejoseph16 Sorry for the frustration.

Definitely feels like so much of it when you don't fit the cookie cutter "DTD GKU" club

@winterecho Feel free to hit those nosey relatives back with some sharp, harsh words of reality!

@ATolentino89 Good luck with the testing! For me it was a double-edged sword. Everything that came back great was like "OK, this is awesome to help you have a baby!" and also like "so.... if nothing is the problem, then what IS the problem?"

@aisleofviewtwo Ugh! Sorry about the friend. It definitely sucks to lose a baby, but I've always said I don't know which would be worse. I'm not sure if it's better to have had all the losses I've had, with no answers... or to go years and years and never have seen the 2 lines in the first place and not know why it's not 'happening.' Both are horrid struggles, and I don't think they're comparable or interchangeable! Your friend was probably just expressing her frustration with her situation, but definitely a slap in the face to you. Hopefully she just wasn't thinking clearly

winterecho · November 2023

@capnjackharkness I wanna scream right with you 😫 the waiting around is so frustrating and it's worse not knowing if you'll have coverage

charmedlifex3 · November 2023

Diagnosis (if you've been): DOR, RPL, APS

Status (TI/ICI/IUI/IVF/FET/benched): we’ve been cleared to TTC- one natural cycle, one medicated cycle then we are diving into ivf full stop in January.

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): I met with my doctor this week and diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve.(TW loss) Since I did manage to get pregnant and we’ve nailed down some contributing factors to the losses (the APS) the plan is to hopefully aggressively support a pregnancy with progesterone and lovenox from the first positive test.

How are things going?: I’ve been sick all week - I got an ear infection (again) then my ear drum ruptured (again) and the infection dropped down into my lungs. On antibiotics and on the mend now. This happens every November.

Any questions?:

GTKY: What’s your favorite kind of weather? Those random warm days in like January. Bright, sunny, 60 degrees with snow on the ground.

@ginge@gingermama29 I had the same experience. The more fat the better for doing injections. Especially since it increases bruising anyway…

@aisleof@aisleofviewtwo I’m sorry you had to hear that. I’m sure it was her grief / fear talking. And holidays are so hard. My brother is child free by choice and I know holidays have brought up some tension around that- and their situation is a very deliberate decision. The decision is driven mostly by his wife, and she was clear about it before they got married.

And I know for us it’s hard sometimes to think about who should be here, or what we hoped this would look like now.

@winterecho we have like … 10 people and I get overstimulated and annoyed after like 45 minutes. 🥴 I have zero desire to ever attend an event with 50+ people. My WEDDING was smaller than that.

@inthewo@inthewoods23 yay for the green light! We are in the same boat balancing my health against ttc. Also green lighted! And yes I’ve taken lovenox. I actually found it helped a lot with headaches as well- you will need a medical alert bracelet and put it in your phone under ICE in the “notes” - that’s information a paramedic will need if anything happens to you (car accident or such.)
@atolent@ATolentino89 it’s so overwhelming at first, but then it feels like a lot of hurry up and wait! Absolutely ask if you have questions.

@ejoseph @ejoseph16 I think typically they are using femara (Letrozole) now. I had two REs use that as a first line this last year. We are switching back to clomid for my medicated cycle next month because I haven’t had great luck with Letrozole and it made me b!tchy. 😂
@captnjackharkness it’s SO frustrating. Im glad to have coverage - We are in Massachusetts, but the point of ivf for us was being able to genetically test - which insurance won’t cover until we have multiple losses with CONFIRMED genetic abnormalities. We only have one that was tested. So in order to get that covered I need to have another loss. I was like… because that’s not traumatic at all. And every time that happens we lose 4-6 months and I’m 39… so could we skip that part? Nope. So we have to either pay OOP for that or try again without it and either meet the criteria or hopefully get a take home baby 😒 I don’t know who makes the rules around this type of coverage. Probably a man.

Was it the doctor who called you fat? Either way not okay but ugh! I got to a point where I figured out if I exercise to an amount I enjoy it, eat food I enjoy until I am satisfied I stay right around the same (“too high”) weight pretty steadily. In order to get below that I need to drastically monitor / cut calories, increase exercise to a point it eats into my time with family and I’m exhausted from it. And as soon as I stop I go right back to my “neutral” state pretty quickly.

I’ve decided to pick bread and naps. 🤷‍♀️ every time a doctor brings it up I ignore them.

capnjackharkness · November 2023

#TW LOSSES*
@charmedlifex3 UGH! I hate that. "Just have another loss." Like it's no big deal to just lose babies.... When I mention that we're down to our last couple chances and then I think I'm done either way, sometimes people say things like "just keep trying and realize you just may have a lot more losses." SO I look them in the face and say "Well, considering I almost slit my own wrists after the 4th one, I'm thinking a few more with IVF is about all I can handle without killing myself." They usually STFU pretty quick after that... and like you said, being older and feeling like you're 'wasting' almost half a year for more depression to have insurance be all like "OK, now you qualify!" is just atrocious! darned penis people and their stupid rules!!!!

The coverage (or lack thereof) is definitely frustrating. We paid for the genetic testing out of pocket, but with the 5 MCs it was something we KNEW we wanted to do if we went for IVF, and considering the results, well worth it.

Want a personalized experience?

IF Testing & Treatment w/o Nov 13

Re: IF Testing & Treatment w/o Nov 13

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Want a personalized experience?

IF Testing & Treatment w/o Nov 13

Re: IF Testing &amp; Treatment w/o Nov 13

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Re: IF Testing & Treatment w/o Nov 13