How's everyone doing today? IF updates?
How does IF effect your holiday season?
-
@Leialou: Hello dear! How are you doing?
I'm still trying to get over this cold...and waiting...and waiting...
-
It's official! I'm transferring my adopted embryos at the end of January. Here's to a fall 2015 baby!
I've been working with a mediator to work out an open agreement with the donors. Everything is going so smoothly. We had the exact same ideas for frequency and method of communication.
I'll be started BCP in preparation for my FET as soon as AF shows. Who knows when that will be though.
I do get a little sad around the holidays. Every year I think "next year I'll be pregnant" and then next year rolls around and nothing has changed. It's hard seeing my friends so excited about Christmas with LOs. It's also hard to have well meaning family ask us how everything is going. I don't want to talk about it all the time, you know?
-
@Leialou: Hi!
I just got back from the RE and today and I feel hopeful. I haven't felt this hopeful in a long time and I'm just going to enjoy this feeling and not worry about next steps.
DH's cousin announced her pregnancy over Thanksgiving and people were asking when we'd have our 2nd kid already. Hoping the attention goes back on others. Hugs to you all at the holidays!!
-
@Leialou: Yay!!! I'm so glad that everything has progressed so smoothly!
-
I haven't checked in for a long time, but I thought I would dip my feet back in this week.
IF & the Holidays: Holidays have become an increasingly difficult time of year for me. This will be my 4th Christmas since finding out that I have PCOS and since we started the TTC process. I have had an easier time since finally telling my extended family that we are going through IF and treatments. Half of my anxiety about family functions used to surround the worry that I will get asked why we don't have kids yet, when we are planning to have them, etc. I will say that over the last year I have come to much more of an acceptance stage in my IF journey and I am not as sensitive about IF, and therefore don't worry about crying when it's mentioned anymore.
This year is a little different after our recent m/c following our 2nd round of IVF. I was really worried about Thanksgiving. I told two of my cousins that I am close to what we were going through and they knew I had a D&C 2 weeks to the day before Thanksgiving. They told their parents, etc. and everyone was very supportive. I had a couple of moments where people told me how sorry they were and my eyes filled up, but other than that, I made it through successfully. I am now not as nervous about Christmas. Thanksgiving day also fell on what would have officially started my 12th week of pregnancy so I was also feeling very sad about that. I am just glad Thanksgiving is over, basically.
Christmas is always tough because it makes me want a baby all the more. I am sure this year will be a little tougher than the others have been, but I'll get through it.
Today is fine. I don't have too many IF updates. I have a follow-up appointment with my RE's partner on Monday (first one since my final ultrasound). I really just want to move forward with FET, but I know I am going to have to wait. I didn't stop bleeding from the D&C until this past Sunday, and my HCG level was still 24 last Friday, so I suspect AF won't be making an appearance for a little while yet.
Tomorrow I am going to get my first tattoo ever (at almost 33)! I am getting branches of cherry blossoms on my right shoulder blade/back. I am nervous, but SO excited. I decided I needed some sort of physical sign to manifest the IF and loss I am experiencing/have experienced, but I didn't want it to be obvious to others what the meaning was. I found this description of cherry blossom tattoos:
"The Buddhist belief that life is based around transition and suffering. Its delicate beauty can only be enjoyed for a fleeting moment of time (making me think of m/c since finding out I was pregnant was probably the most beautiful moment of my life). The cherry blossom tattoo reminds the wearer that all things, good and bad, will pass. The tattoo gives comfort in times of hardship or grief, or reminds the wearer to appreciate the good things around him. A common symbol is of a falling cherry blossom petal or a blossom in the snow. This symbol is repeated throughout Japanese literature and poetry."
-
@FliegepilzHut: I hope you feel better soon! I have everything crossed for you!
@Leialou: That's awesome! I am so excited for you!!!
@sheskrafty: I am glad that your appointment with your RE helped you feel so hopeful! I love that feeling after a good appointment when I feel like we have a really solid plan going forward!
-
@Leialou: That's such awesome news!!!
-
I'm going to jump in here. We do have a DD, but have trying for our second since August 2013. I started my second cycle of letrozole and oh man, did it throw my cycle this time. I ovulated probably 2-3 days earlier than normal and earlier than I expected, unfortunately. I'm not sure how much of a chance we will have this go round due to timing. But, I'll try to stay positive and wish for the best. I also had my second acupuncture session this morning, which was wonderful
None of our family knows that we have been having difficulties, so Thanksgiving was hard. I had a family friend 'suggest' that it's time for a second and then texted me a few days later asking if the (2) after my daughter's name on our holiday card meant another baby (it means that she is 2 years old). ugh. I basically told her that no, it does not and I don't want to discuss it. I couldn't think of anything witty at the time, unfortunately. Christmas will be hard too, as my sister in law just had their second child, which is exactly 2 years apart from their daughter - just what we wanted.
I'm sending good luck vibes to everyone out there and hope that we have luck this month.
-
@Sunshine1810: Thank you! That sounds like a lovely tattoo.
I'm so hopeful that your FET will be soon and successful! @NorthStar: Ugh...when will people ever learn???
FX for you! -
@NorthStar: People are so inconsiderate! I know they don't intend for that, but geez...when will they learn not to ask questions/hint, etc. about having children? Sorry you had to go through that!
@FliegepilzHut: Thank you!
-
@Leialou: Yay! That's great news! Jan is right around the corner now.
@Sunshine1810: I hear you with Xmas being especially tough. It kills me a little inside everytime I open up all the Xmas cards coming in with the cute family and kid pictures. I almost want to just send them straight in the trash this year.
CD28 here and no sign of O again. Last cycle wasn't until CD31, so maybe soon, who knows. Oh well, we weren't holding out much hope to get preg on our own anyways. So this lines up perfectly to take the BCPs at the end of this cycle and start another cycle of IVF in the new year.
-
@PurplePumps: I know the cards are really a killer. I got a super cute one from friends yesterday and I started to tear up! *Hugs*
-
@FliegepilzHut: @Sunshine1810: Thanks for the support! yeah, it wasn't fun and I know she intended well, but seriously?! I just wish people would mind their own business. I really need to make a list of witty responses and see how they like it.
@PurplePumps: I sure hope that you O soon! It's definitely frustrating when you don't know when to expect it..
ETA: Have you ladies seen this? I almost had tears at work. I'm not going through IVF like some of you, but still know the feeling of struggling..
http://www.today.com/parents/bobbie-thomas-reveals-latest-results-ivf-journey-1D80316361?cid=sm_fbn
-
@PurplePumps: Hooray for good timing! Not sure why...but we've not received any cute little kid pics yet.
-
@NorthStar: Yes! I have been following Bobbie Thomas with her journey and could not be happier for her! So brave of her to go public!
-
So… Here's my update… my CP went as well as could be expected. I am on CD 10 now. We should start our IUI and injectables cycle next cycle but I will be away for Christmas so we will likely have to push it until January. I had my hysteroscopy this morning. No polyp after all. Everything with my uterus looks perfect. I have one 13 mm follicle so she thinks I will ovulate in about three days. I have a flashing
OPK so that makes sense. She also said I have five small follicles on one side and four small on the other side, and that is fine given my age and my AMH. She seemed very hopeful that we could still get pregnant on our own before the IUI. A girl can hope. I feel like it is just a roll of the dice. It all depends on if this egg happens to be a genetically normal one or not.
-
@NorthStar: In my experience, Clomid and Letrozole both made me O earlier than without it. It's definitely frustrating when you rely on a set cycle though!
-
@travellingbee: FX for you!
-
AF showed (YAY!) and I have my final HSG next Thursday, we are going to start trying again from CD9/10 with the exception of HSG day. FX we get lucky quickly.
I had my last checkup with the surgeon on Monday that just passed - she said my septum was actually 1.5" long when she removed it, not the 1.1 cm that my clinic said it was!
-
@babycanuck: Yay! FX that your
is just around the corner! -
@babycanuck: great news! Best of luck to you!
-
@FliegepilzHut: I've got all my FX for you! When is your beta?
@travellingbee: I'm hoping you won't need that IUI!
-
I received a letter from my donors this morning. They told us about their journey and why they chose is. My heart is so full right now. This all just kind of feels meant to be.
-
@Leialou: So happy for you!
My beta is Monday...but I will probably test tomorrow! Eeeek! 
-
@Leialou:
-
@FliegepilzHut:
-
@Leialou: Thank you!
I'll be cheering you on soon! -
@Leialou: I'm so excited for you and praying for a smooth FET and that all goes well and you get your BFP in January! That's really, really neat to have a connection with the donors.
@NorthStar: That's so hard. I'm sorry.
@travellingbee: That all sounds like good news! @Sunshine1810: Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry about all you've been through. HUGE hugs to you. That holidays are just HARD when going through IF. I will be thinking about and praying for you with your FET! And that tattoo sounds really beautiful and meaningful.
@PurplePumps: Sorry for your long cycle. That's frustrating. Here's hoping the new year brings a successful IVF!
@FliegepilzHut: Oh my gosh! So soon!
@babycanuck: Sounds like things are headed in the right direction. FX for you!In the IF department, we plan to have IUI on Monday, possibly Tuesday- I'm not having good mucus on CD10, which ususally starts CD 7 or 8, so I'm thinking I might ovulate late?
I'm going to try to focus on gratefulness for what we DO have this Christmas, but I know it's still going to be hard for me. When we were back on the wait list for adoption back in February, I really thought we would have brought home a baby by the end of the year, so between the adoption disappointments and our fertility disappointments I'm feeling pretty sad.
-
@Mrs. Pinata: I'm sorry you're feeling sad.
FX that things fall into place for you soon! -
Wow- it's been some time since I've been on here. Work is kicking my butt- and I think each time I get on the Internet is to xmas shop!!
I should be getting AF in 8 days or so- then start BC to hear up for a hysteroscopy...
In terms of the holidays and IF- it's tough. I think what even more difficult right now though is seeing a coworker pregnant. I would have been due 2 days before her- so literally all the changes would have been me; but it's not.
On a happy note-
I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving and are getting ready for the holidays! I am so into the smells of christmas (pine and cinnamon) yum! It's 35 degrees here in the Midwest- but I'm sure snow is lurking around the corner!
-
@Mrs. Pinata: I hope you find happiness soon !! Sometimes all it takes for me is a trip to Culvers for a chocolate custard concrete mixer with cookie dough.
-
@Sunshine1810: any tattoo pictures !?? I have wanted one so bad relating to IF!! I have something in mind- but I want it on my ribs and can't fight up the courage for that one yet!
-
@babycanuck: how did they have any ideas on the septum? Mine is based on a questionable HSG and ultrasounds showing a separated uterine wall... were you totally knocked out for the procedure ?
-
@mrs bunchy: just finished! I'm posting from my phone. I like this because if I don't want to explain to people why I got it I can say I just like cherry blossoms.
-
@Sunshine1810: that's gorgous !!!!! Didn't hurt too bad right??
I got one when I was 18- and I just remember it going numb.
-
@mrs bunchy: thank you!!! I didn't do too badly but started getting a little sore going into the 3rd hour!
-
@Sunshine1810: Oh my gosh! I would be crying the whole time! You're so brave! It's very pretty!
-
@mrs bunchy: That sounds like it would help! Any kind of ice cream usually does it for me.
I'm learning that it's ok to be sad when sad things happen. I spent so much time trying to fake my way through all this IF mess for years, so now I'm trying to admit my feelings, deal with them and (hopefully) move on. And enjoy the happiness when it comes too. Like when I have ice cream. (And wine... hehe) -
@Leialou: That is so wonderful. Congratulations!
FX for you! 
is just around the corner! 
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
70 comments