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@bluestriped bee: That's great news!
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Happy memorial day weekend! Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday. I started AF yesterday (boo) but this means that I get to start on BCPs today and will have my FET in less than two months, so I am very excited and hopeful about that!!
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@GreenThumb: That is exciting!
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@owlteach: Oh my gosh! That sounds EXACTLY like a disagreement Mr. P and I would have! I would 100% want the house to be clean when I got home!
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Today is 9dpo, but I'm already getting some cramping.
I know that I should think positively that it could be implantation, but last time I was on Clomid (3 years ago) my LP was only 9 or 10 days long, so I wouldn't be surprised if I got AF early in the next couple of days. This time is a bit different because I'm taking progesterone, BUT I didn't start it until 7dpo because the RE wanted a baseline of my 7dpo progesterone level since I hadn't gotten that blood test done in 2 years. (And because Clomid made my LP so short the last time I was on it. It's usually at least 11/12 days long). My main concern is if AF starts on Tuesday. If I start on Tuesday, we will need to take the month of June off of trying IUIs because I will ovulate on the weekend (and my clinic is small it's even closed on Saturdays). I think by using Clomid we can kind of manipulate the starting day of Clomid to be more likely to O on a Friday or Monday if I start either tomorrow or Wed, but if AF starts Tuesday, BOTH of my likely O days (12 & 13) will be on the weekend.
So, I'm hoping and praying that if I DO start, that it will be by tomorrow, or after Wednesday. The good news is that this focus on next month's cycle is taking my focus on whether or not this one might have worked out.
Can I just say that I forgot how incredibly stressful treatment and all the waiting and questions is!? Ack!In good news, Little P's birthday party was lots of fun. I hope to blog about it this week.
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@Mrs. Pinata: Hoping for the best for you
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@MrsTal: I'll let you know on Tuesday
@TheSwissWifeStyle: The sketch looks really cool!
@Mrs. Pinata: FX that it is implantation only but if not then I hope AF comes at the right time so you are able to do your next IUI while your clinic is open
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@GreenThumb: Very excited for your FET!
@Mrs. Pinata: It must be tough to have your clinic not do IUI on the weekends.... FX that this is the one! Looking forward to reading about your LO's b-day!
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@FaithFertility: @mrswin: @FliegepilzHut: thanks everyone! This past cycle we really cut it close with my IUI on a Friday afternoon, so fx we get lucky again like that! :)Thanks for all your kind words of encouragement!
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@Shutterbug: your new RE kind of sounds like the woman at my practice. No warm fuzzies, but I trust she can get the job done! So interesting about vitamin D--I had no idea! Have you given more thought about continuing to take a break?
@Mrs. Pinata: I hope the timing all works out!
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@TheSwissWifeStyle: wow--that tattoo is going to be so impressive! Do you have other ones now? I'm actually trying not to think to much about June 4--I think I'll be sweaty and nervous.
@bluestriped bee: that's great! I need to comb through posts though to figure things out--I thought you were on the IVF path....are you giving one more IUI a shot?
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@mrs bunchy: @Shutterbug: that is really interesting about the vitamin D. I've never been tested for it by an RE, but my PCP ran it as part of routine testing she wanted in my file and I happened to have that done right after my last chemical. I was under the normal range (thank you, MA weather) so she recommended supplements which I've been on since. who knows if it's related (maybe at least a factor?) but very interesting that my next BFP has stuck so far!
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@bluestripedbee: yay for getting to start the IUI process now!
@Mrs. Pinata: FX that the timing works out for you!
@bhbee: how is your new home? Are you adjusting to all the rapid changes this month?
@TheSwissWifeStyle: that tattoo sketch looks awesome! Will you have a second Koi fish?
@Mrs. Bunchy: I'm glad your DH is good. As for cars, we looked at the Forrester and RDX. DH felt that the RDX was too "girly." When we get pregnant, he said we can get that car for me to drive. We really enjoy our Forrester and find it to be very reliable and actually gets much better gas mileage than the RDX.
As for me, I felt the full force of clomid this weekend. The past two cycles I just noted being irritable. I think the chemical from IUI #1 just hit me this past weekend where I did feel like I was in a pity party of one and so weepy and mopey with very little to no positive thoughts. This was definitely not very good considering I was at a wedding.
I'm starting to feel a little bit better though so I'm hoping that I will be able to get back on and try to update the list tomorrow.
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@lazypanda: I'm so sorry about the clomid. I definitely went through a depression every cycle I did it and it may have gotten worse each time. Hope things continue to look up.
We actually don't feel like the move is real ... We decided to each visit our parents while waiting for our truck to arrive (up to nearly 2 weeks) so our poor little house is still empty until DH goes later this week. It has been awesome to take a vacation and let my mom spoil me for a while!
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@lazypanda: getting hit with the hormones is tough.
I'm so sorry it hit you on a weekend! How are you progressing on it?
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@bhbee: I googled depression as a side effect of clomid yesterday because I just couldn't understand why I was feeling so sad. Thankfully, it was listed as a lesser known side effect so at least I know I can get back to my "normal" self. Being pampered for 2 weeks sounds amazing! Will you be a SAHM in Texas?
@Happygal: It was tough, but now that I'm getting better, the positive of it hitting me this weekend was actually a good thing since I'm not sure I would have been able to hold it together during the week. I have my u/s this Saturday so I'll know if any follicles are growing. If it's working like it did for the last 2 cycles, I'm hoping that IUI #2 will fall on Monday 6/2 so I'll get to have another 3 day weekend!
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@lazypanda: Glad that you are feeling better today, the emotional avalanche is the worst!
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@lazypanda: I work part-time from home right now and I'm able to keep that which is nice. (I used to work part of the year full-time since my job is somewhat seasonal, but that part doesn't make sense from Texas.) It may make sense to phase out of my job at the end of the year but I'm not sure what will happen.
I had never heard of the depression with Clomid either but it was really clear to me after a couple cycles that it was the cause. It does always get better at least!!
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I'm so bummed. Very bad news over here.
My progesterone level 7dpo (without progesterone supplementation) was at 4.4 I mean, that indicates that there wasn't even ovulation. I feel like I got suck a kick in the stomach. I had a temperature shift and everything, so how could I not have even ovulated?! Our RE thinks that the problem is that I need more FSH in the first part of my cycle to help with the luteal phase, but I just don't know if this is true. I know my progesterone has always been on the lower side (like maybe 9), and the ONLY time I have had a luteal phase shorter than 10 days was when I was on Clomid before. On my own I've had decent luteal phases.
So, we're out for IUIs until we can figure out a way to fix MY cycle. And here we just thought it was MF and now we've got a whole new can of worms to deal with. I just don't know if we're up for what this might mean and may just be done with treatment. Blah.
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@lazypanda: Is there a tradition of getting 2? I vaguely recall the tattoo guy saying something about that. But no, I'll just be getting the one, for now...lol.
@Happygal: Yeah, I have 3 tattoos right now. One I think you can see in the pic, on my arm? Not sure. That one is a heart locket (husband has a key.) I have a small hibiscus, (my first one) which is a matching one w/ my mom. And I have an anchor w/ a crown in it for my dad, and because my last name used to be King!
Oh, and ETA: AF showed up today.
UGH. So...yeah. Guess I'll make a dr. appt? I don't even know.
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@Mrs. Pinata: Sorry you're bummed, but I'm not so sure that you really didn't ovulate. My RE wanted me to do a progesterone pool (ie. 3 tests during one cycle) because it is more accurate as to what is going on. I think I took them on 6, 7, and 8DPO and got 11.2, 9.8, then 6.7! And it was the cycle I got pregnant. From what I read, if you eat right before the test, your number can be off drastically, and I had had breakfast just before that last test. Not sure if that is the case for you, but I thought I'd give you a little hope.
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@Mrs.Someone: That's very interesting! I think I ovulated too, but just had low progesterone. Because I had a positive OPK AND I had a strong temperature shift. I think this next month we'll be doing natural to see what my progesterone is on its own without any ovulation stimulation drugs. And hopefully it will be higher. Although, I doubt it will be in the 12-13 range.
Sigh. This whole IF path is just not easy at all. Do you mind if I ask if you were supplementing with progesterone at all?
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@Mrs. Pinata: I think you ovulated too! But maybe it wasn't strong enough to stimulate more progesterone? Who knows. Ask your RE for the pool next month so you can be more sure to not just get an off day. I never supplemented before pregnancy, though I was on a tincture (that included vitex) to help raise progesterone. When I got my
a few days after that 6.7 I freaked out and got a hold of my ND on her off day, but then tested at over 20 (though I had taken 1 suppository beforehand).
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@Mrs.Someone: Thanks! I think I would freak out too! What makes me think that Clomid affected progesterone for me is that when it happened (the 9 day luteal phase) 3 years ago I was also going to accupuncture and she said that it was really common for women who ovulate on their own, but with a tendency to have low progesterone, to have horribly short luteal phases due to Clomid. But, of course, my old-school (like literally 70 years old) RE will think that's hog-wash. Sigh.
I'm not holding out much hope for this cycle. But, I hope that when we test my progesterone next month that it's more normal. I'll ask if I can get the pool testing, but he's kind of stuck in his ways, which I guess I can understand.
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@Mrs. Pinata: I wonder if the shorter LP has anything to do with the fact that Clomid thins your lining? I've never taken it though, so I don't know. It does sound like your RE isn't great though, have you considered switching?
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Another crappy result from monitoring this morning. My follicle only grew 1mm since Friday. Waiting to hear back from the doctor on what to do. They said that sometimes if things are going slow you can take another round of Letrozole or Clomid mid cycle?? Has anyone done that before?
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@Mrs.Someone: I know. It's a tricky situation. This is the only RE in the area we can afford. The prices are a fraction at the "Fertility Clinic" and the REs there are even less attentive (although maybe more up-to-date with current research) than our current RE. We were even more disappointed with them 3 years ago when we started out. I feel like it's so easy for REs to just phone it in when it's not like we have much choice about where to go. It would be great if there were more options here!
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@PurplePumps: OH gosh. I'm so sorry.
What a yucky situation. I don't have any experience with that. I hope the RE can give you good advice when you talk to him. Hugs. -
@FaithFertility: @FliegepilzHut: Thank you!
I'm going to have to do some homework on how everyone on here is doing! It is nice to have so many more ladies to support and follow then when I was starting out on here more than two years ago.
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I am SO confused now! I just got a call back from the doctor who says I may be ovulating now and just scheduled me for an IUI tomorrow. And said to do the trigger shot today anyways.
Last Monday: No follicles to write home about, Estradiol 50, LH 10
Fridays : 1 follicle @ 8mm, Estradiol: 99, LH, 9.5
Today: 1 follicle @9mm, Estradiol: 75, LH, 20, but she also noted fluid around or near the ovary, which she says happens when you're about to ovulate. And progesterone 1.5.
I don't understand how I could go from 8mm follicle on Friday to ovulating so quickly. And Estradiol seems low?? Previous cycles I'd peaked at 300 something and 500 something. She said maybe if I was checked over the weekend I would have seen a peak around 150 or something, but that still sounds low.
I'm trying to decide if I should do the trigger as suggested, or skip it if I'm already surging, what's the point. And I'm skeptical, so if I do a trigger shot now, and I'm not ovulating, is that bad?? -
@PurplePumps: well, I've always been told that your dominant follicle will grow 1-2mm/day, so if it was 8mm on Friday, it could be up to 16mm today, which would be big enough to ovulate. I'd also be skeptical about the trigger though, since I thought it takes 36 hours to actually trigger ovulation. That being said, I would listen to your doctor over me
I've also heard 150-200 (units?) of estradiol for each mature egg, so maybe they're going off of the assumption that you will be over that mark by tomorrow? I do think the trigger shot helps increase your estradiol, but I might be wrong there.
It seems a bit strange, and like you maybe already did ovulate? Are you paying OOP? You're in MA, right? If you aren't paying for it, I'd say go ahead, but it seems like you may have ovulated over the weekend... I forget what peak LH is supposed to be.
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@PurplePumps: ok, I went back in my FF charts because the one time I took Letrazole I peaked on my own and didn't take my trigger shot (they told me not to). My estradiol was 177, Progesterone was 0.88, and LH was 38.76. I had a 21mm follicle though. Not sure how helpful this is, but thought I'd share.
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@Shutterbug: I was told the 2mm/day growth rate too, which is why I'm so confused. I was pretty text book 2mm/day the last 3 cycles. But at that rate, like you said I'd be 16 today, but they only saw the 9mm one, and the fluid. She also said that my LH @ 20 was in the middle of a surge so we could just BD tonight, and/or do the IUI tomorrow and hopefully catch it.... and that my estradiol was already on its way back down and we may have just missed the peak over the weekend. Average peak LH looks like about 40 according to wiki. Your estradiol level info does help, I was under the impression it should be at least 300 before ovulation, so that is related to number of maturing follicles? My insurance pays ~$75 which comes out of my lifetime max for infertility services and I pay $40 copay, so I'm just going to do the IUI anyways, just in case. But Im just really iffy on still taking the trigger shot.
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@PurplePumps: I'm not to sure, from my experience those #'s are low, but everyone is diff and every RE is different! If it's not a HUGE exspence I say go for it, can't hurt! Best of luck, and what ever you choose to do, is best for you!
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@PurplePumps: OH man. That sounds so tricky! Did you talk directly to the RE? I would ask, "why do you want me to trigger when the only follicle they saw was 9mm?" Maybe the RE wants you to ovulate no matter what to help you get to the next cycle? I have no idea. I feel like REs are such complicated creatures!
With those prices I would go for it too and ask for a different drug next time, but I'm sure you'll already be doing that.
Good luck and keep us posted!
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@Mrs. Pinata: She thinks the 9mm one today is one of the smaller ones that didn't ovulate, and that the 8mm one that they saw on Friday is the one currently being released in the little fluid sac she saw today. When I asked why I should still do the trigger she just said something like to have the extra hormones wont hurt.... The RE I spoke with today is not the one I normally see, she said she was making the phone call b/c my usual one was in a surgery. I think I'm going to pass on the trigger shot, if I'm in the middle of the surge already I can't see how it could help, and if she's wrong and there wasn't a mature egg, I dont want to use it. Seems like less harm for either scenario if I dont use it.
@FaithFertility: haha, I know, I feel like it's such trial and error now! I was telling DH about this and hes like, whatever, it's all just a crap shoot anyways.. Greeeat... =\ I think TTC is starting to get to him too. =(
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@PurplePumps: OH.... I totally get it! Sorry about the confusion! Good luck! You never know. This could be YOUR cycle!
And I totally see what you're saying about the trigger shot. Keep us posted! -
@PurplePumps: It can, what I always tried to do was take it one piece of information and one day at a time, easier said then done.....I know!
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@PurplePumps: Sorry about all the confusion from the RE today. I agree that not taking the trigger probably makes the most sense at this point. Will the RE do a 7dpo progesterone draw?
@Mrs. Pinata: Sorry
Were you being monitored with ultrasounds this month? Maybe you ovulated but just "weak". I hope you are able to figure out the best next steps
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We had our meeting with the RE today to discuss our IVF cycle protocol and timing. It looks like I will be starting BCP at the end of June for 2-3 weeks, after I finish the BCP and get AF I will start stims (antagonist protocol with Gonal F) with retrieval and transfer at the end of July. I am excited to get started but terrified at the same time.
I know that I should think positively that it could be implantation, but last time I was on Clomid (3 years ago) my LP was only 9 or 10 days long, so I wouldn't be surprised if I got AF early in the next couple of days. This time is a bit different because I'm taking progesterone, BUT I didn't start it until 7dpo because the RE wanted a baseline of my 7dpo progesterone level since I hadn't gotten that blood test done in 2 years. (And because Clomid made my LP so short the last time I was on it. It's usually at least 11/12 days long). 
Can I just say that I forgot how incredibly stressful treatment and all the waiting and questions is!? Ack!
I'm so sorry it hit you on a weekend! How are you progressing on it?
My progesterone level 7dpo (without progesterone supplementation) was at 4.4 I mean, that indicates that there wasn't even ovulation. I feel like I got suck a kick in the stomach. I had a temperature shift and everything, so how could I not have even ovulated?! 
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