TTGP w/o Feb 24

britters314 · February 24

**The questions posted here will be pretty generic, so feel free to add other questions/info that are pertinent or delete what isn't. Please err on the side of caution and use trigger warnings/spoilers for topics that may be sensitive for other users.**

WAYDTGKU (BD/TI/IVF/FET/Benched/etc.):

WTO/TWW:

Timing/Testing/CS:

How are things going? Any questions?:

R/R:

virginiaham · February 24

WAYDTGKU (BD/TI/IVF/FET/Benched/etc.): Femara/cocktail/TI cycle

WTO/TWW: WTO-today 🙌

Timing/Testing/CS: -1, -3, -5

How are things going? Any questions?: Guys I came home from the airport drop off yesterday to an OPK+ 😅 They’ll confirm O with labs on Thursday then hcg blood draw a week from Friday. I still kinda think my body is holding onto follicles too long so if we end up still in the TTC boat after this cycle I’ll ask to trigger when we pick this back up in the summer. I hope we aren’t still trying by then, but just not feeling super hopeful for this cycle.

emeraldcity603 · February 24

@virginiaham FX you O today!

WAYDTGKU (BD/TI/IVF/FET/Benched/etc.): BD

WTO/TWW: WTO

Timing/Testing/CS: hoping for a chart that actually looks like we are trying.

How are things going? Any questions?: I’m just waiting for my period to stop. I bleed so heavy the first few days that the rest is very light and then it drags on for nearly 7 days.

R/R: We got hit with a stomach bug this past week. Luckily it didn’t spread to everyone. Of all the viruses, stomach bugs are the ones I hate the most.

Side note, I have been caught up on laundry for a month now. I have always been told to just do 1 small load a day. Apparently I have ignored that advice my entire life. It really works though. My anxiety has dropped a ton with just not having so much laundry all the time.

fifilala516 · February 24

@virginiaham hopefully you O! @emeraldcity603 my cycle sounds like yours. I'm on Day 6 and still bleeding a little. Also hope you're feeling better - nothing freaks me out like a stomach bug.

WAYDTGKU (BD/TI/IVF/FET/Benched/etc.): BD

WTO/TWW: WTO

Timing/Testing/CS: Finally started the Inito on the recommended day, so will be interesting to see how these numbers differ from last cycle.

How are things going? Any questions?: I've seen some people mention anti-histamines - what's the science behind that as it pertains to fertility?

R/R: It's not bitterly cold this week. It's actually supposed to be 51 and sunny on Wednesday. But lest anyone get excited for spring, it'll be back down to the 30s next week.

aisleofviewtwo · February 24

@virginiaham Yessss for that OPK+! But why did it have to wait for the eleventh hour...

@fifilala516 The thinking with antihistamines (as I understand it) is that there may be an underlying autoimmune issue causing inflammation that prevents implantation, and the antihistamine protocol is designed to suppress the immune system. But as with everything TTC, the immune system also plays a critical role in conception, implantation, and early pregnancy, so suppression can cause its own problems. All that to say I wouldn't use antihistamines without talking to a doctor. It seems to be a hail mary reserved for when they don't know what else to do.

WAYDTGKU (BD/TI/IVF/FET/Benched/etc.): FET

WTO/TWW: WTO

Timing/Testing/CS: N/A

How are things going? Any questions?: Last dose of birth control was yesterday, initial cycle visit is scheduled for Thursday 2/27. Kind of can't believe we're already back at it, but I trust the anticipation and excitement will build as the cycle gets underway.

R/R: I understand that physicians should be able to just focus on the medicine without having to worry about treatment access or costs, but with the US insurance and health care systems being what they are it is SO frustrating to have to take my doctor's recommendations, try to pry information out of the clinic for how much the self-pay rate is and/or what the insurance procedure codes are, sit on hold with the insurance company to find out if that representative thinks it's a covered procedure (they've been wrong before), decide what I'm willing and able to pay for, communicate that back to my care team, and repeat ad nauseum. I wish we could just have our doctor tell us what was medically in our best interest and not have to fret about the rest. Sigh.

britters314 · February 24

@virginiaham FX for you!

@fifilala516 Where I am, going between 50s and 30s is spring lol. Or at least early spring. That’s how the forecast is by me for the next few weeks - mostly mid-40s with occasional days down to the 30s or up to the 50s. Certainly better than the -20 windchill from a week ago!

WAYDTGKU (BD/TI/IVF/FET/Benched/etc.):
Waiting for my clinic to approve our embryo match

WTO/TWW: TWW (3dpo with dotted CH)

Timing/Testing/CS: We got no timing this month, which is fine since we got matched with embryos

How are things going? Any questions?: Just waiting for clinic approval. Last time they approved our match in about a week, so I’m sure it won’t take long this time either

R/R: I threw my back out on Saturday, so this weekend was pretty terrible. I’m typing this while on my way to the chiropractor. Unfortunately my regular chiropractor is out this week, so I have to see someone else in the practice, but I’m sure they’re all good.

ETA: I realized this sounded like I’m typing this while driving. Don’t worry, I’m taking public transit!

emeraldcity603 · February 24

@fifilala516 it’s been warm here too. There is barely any snow on the ground and even the ice is melting. I hate to think of what this upcoming summer is going to do to the glaciers. The sun gets so hot here in the summer. No advice on the histamine. I don’t really understand all of that.

@aisleofviewtwo I’m sorry you are going back and forth with the insurance company and clinic. That would be extremely frustrating.

@britters314 i hope the chiropractor is able to get your back feeling better.

britters314 · February 25

@aisleofviewtwo There really should be someone at your clinic who calls your insurance to find out what they’ll cover. You shouldn’t have to act as the middleman for that. Are you at a really small practice or something. I just can’t see why the billing department wouldn’t do that for you.

fifilala516 · February 25

@aisleofviewtwo I'm sorry you're going through that - that is so frustrating and time consuming on top of everything else. Healthcare in this country is a disgrace.

aisleofviewtwo · February 25

@britters314 The clinic does make one perfunctory call to my insurance company at the start of the year, but (1) they don’t seem to ask any follow-up questions about insurance requirements or protocols; (2) they regularly get different answers on the providers line than what I get on the members line; (3) they only check the big-ticket items; and (4) they include a disclaimer that this is just a complimentary service provided and patients are expected to follow up with their insurance to confirm benefits.

I’ve learned the hard way that it’s better to put in the legwork in up front, rather than wait until they try to drop a massive bill on me with no warning months after the procedure 🫠

aisleofviewtwo · February 28

Update: Cancelled 🫠

Found a 30mm cyst and sky-high estrogen (>700pg/mL) at the initial cycle visit this morning. They plan is to "trigger it off" by forcing ovulation this weekend, then a couple weeks of microdose lupron to hopefully keep my ovaries nice and quiet for a mid-month restart.

britters314 · February 28

@aisleofviewtwo Boooo! That really sucks to have to postpone things. Hopefully their plan to make things better for next cycle works though

virginiaham · February 28

@aisleofviewtwo STINK, I’m so sorry for the extra wait. 😔 Hoping the plan works and all ovaries give their full cooperation for a restart.

aisleofviewtwo · February 28

@virginiaham The ovaries are being put in time out so they can think about what they've done

emeraldcity603 · February 28

@aisleofviewtwo I’m sorry you’re having to restart. Glad they are have plan to get it done reasonably fast.

emeraldcity603 · March 2

My fertile window is opening at its usual time pre loss. DH is working mids and evening so I’m hoping we can get a few times in. I’m sick of charts that look like we are TTA instead of TTC.

aisleofviewtwo · March 2

@emeraldcity603 This all sounds promising! FX you get that good timing!

emeraldcity603 · March 2

@aisleofviewtwo I decided to try OPKs this cycle to have a better idea of when my peak is coming. I may incorporate those later on when I’m TTA (I use the same methods to avoid that I use to conceive). I’m not sure why I haven’t ever used them before.

ferret22 · March 3

@emeraldcity603 They're really helpful since it gives you a heads up right before ovulation. It took me a while to get the hang of testing every day during my fertile window though. 🤞 for you!

@aisleofviewtwo Sorry to hear you're postponed!

emeraldcity603 · March 3

@ferret22 How often do you test? I was thinking I should test multiple times throughout the day. I got a decently dark one yesterday with SMU and then I tested 2 more times and got much lighter tests. I drink a lot but didn’t drink a ton. I guess hydration can affect them easily? I’m interested to see what it says this morning.

ferret22 · March 5

I do once a day and that's been decent enough. For me I'm using a quantitative app that gives me numbers and lets me see a clear trend even when my peak isn't very high. Usually mid afternoon is good for me, but I get results at night too. That tracks with what they monitored when I did fertility testing, I have a short LH peak to ovulation window but it's usually at afternoon / night.

emeraldcity603 · March 6

@ferret22 Do you use premom? I have been using that app to store my tests to see the trend. I like seeing the number. It says to upload the photos when they dry. Do you wait until they dry? I get better results when they are closer to being dry vs at the 5-10 minute mark. I figured that was fine since the app says to upload once they dry.

ferret22 · March 6

emeraldcity603 said:

@ferret22 Do you use premom? I have been using that app to store my tests to see the trend. I like seeing the number. It says to upload the photos when they dry. Do you wait until they dry? I get better results when they are closer to being dry vs at the 5-10 minute mark. I figured that was fine since the app says to upload once they dry.

Yes, the tests with premom are so much cheaper than wand type opks. I think they're called easy @ home. I take the test result pic at the 5 minute mark, I use my phone timer to track. My instruction booklet in the test box says to take the pic at five minutes. 🤷 I've never waited for the tests to dry.

I just looked at the app FAQ and it says: "All results must be read in 5-10 minutes when the dye clears and you see a clear white background."

You might be skewing your results if you're waiting longer.

emeraldcity603 · March 6

@ferret22 good to know. I have been taking multiple pics of the same tests to see how the app registers it. Last night I got a positive and I uploaded it around 7-8 minutes. So my earlier pics may not be as accurate but at least I got the one that counts!

ferret22 · March 7

@emeraldcity603 Glad you got the one that counts in the right time window! And with the premom strips you can look for the peak in the numbers to tell you more precisely when ovulation is about to happen. I'm pretty used to how my charts look so when I have a surge, I can tell I'll ovulate the next day.

It's always good to carefully follow the instructions on these test strips. Generally too much evaporation can cause test lines to darken and give you false positives or higher numbers. That can really throw off your BD timing.

emeraldcity603 · March 7

@ferret22 Yesterday’s OPK was a due stealer. I haven’t taken one this morning but I'm hoping when I do it shows a much lighter line. My chart is literally making the same pattern as the last 2 cycles. I got a spike that wasn’t above my coverline today and I expect I will have my first post ovulation spike tomorrow. I have really enjoyed the premom app. I also found a line eyes page in the community with a bunch of clicky polls and man I love clicky polls. 😂 I think I’m definitely going to add OPKs to my routine. It was driving me crazy wondering when my surge was happening because I was getting so many fertile days. This was a very educational cycle too. I think I can catch my peak just fine testing once a day.

ferret22 · March 7

@emeraldcity603 So the LH spike happens about a day before ovulation. Do you mean you're looking for your temp spike post ovulation? I think you'll be fine with testing once a day too. They recommend afternoon for best chance of catching the LH surge for most people. I have a short LH spike to ovulation window that we saw with frequent blood work during fertility testing and I still consistently catch my LH spikes with once a day testing.

emeraldcity603 · March 7

@ferret22 Yes, I was referring to my BBT for confirmation of ovulation. Sorry I made that confusing. I did catch my positive in the evening and then it was even more positive in the morning. So I could probably test a second time around once it gets really close. I just reread my previous post. 🤦🏻‍♀️ My phone autocorrects things all the time. It’s because we are learning French and Spanish and I type in phrases in those languages in my phone or laptop. My phone took me to a French google page once and I was so confused. My AI on my phone must be really confused. 😂

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TTGP w/o Feb 24

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