Hellobee Boards

I missed the new thread, so copying from the old one.

@Mrs. Pinata: Thanks! Funny you mention the lottery because for the last few months my husband buys the big mega jackpot lottery tickets and we of course get absolutely no numbers (well, one free ticket once) so perhaps we will get lucky with that. haha I promise if I win big, I will pay for a round of IVF for everyone here that needs it!! Nobody should have to pay over $15,000 for one round of IVF.

@Sunshine1810: So glad to see others sharing their stories about those who had success on the next round of IVF. As I said earlier, I think round #2 WILL be your lucky cycle!!! We're all here for you!

Funny story for all of you that I forgot to share after my baseline ultrasound Monday. The ultrasound tech couldn't figure out the fluid in my uterus (I've had this free fluid for years on and off) and it throws some techs for a loop because they don't understand how to read it well. Anyway, she said suddenly to my husband standing next to me, "Here, can you hold the wand while I go get someone else?" Next thing you know, she leaves the exam room and my husband is holding the ultrasound wand and both of us are laughing. She comes back with another "senior tech" and he is relieved of his duties. I could tell he was uneasy about the whole thing, but he joked about it which helped relieve my anxiety during the process, too. Just had to share. It was a very funny moment! I have had dozens of ultrasounds, but never one quite like that.

Favorite summer meal is grilled burgers, corn on the cob with LOTS of butter and deviled eggs. Love any fruity dessert with strawberries or bananas.

@macintosh: Sounds like you should be able to start IVF very soon! You may be cycling the same time as me! Again, I'm so glad they were able to find sperm. You must be so thrilled!!

@Jenn23: lol! My husband refuses to even go in the room with me! He doesn't want to see what's going on at all even when I say he doesnt have to look and can just stay by me head! I'm like ,don't you want to at least be in the room if I get knocked up with the IUI, but naw, in the same building is good enough for him.

@macintosh: Wow, lots of exciting stuff going on!! Congrats on the house and good luck with the appt!

@Jenn23: To answer your question on the other thread, he probably would have stayed but he would have at least thought about bolting! LOL I will be using GonalF and something to stop me from ovulating too early (can't remember) and then a trigger (TBD).

@FliegepilzHut: Yum! Your summer meals sound delish! My favorite summer dessert is strawberry rhubarb pie! Mmm

I'm feeling down today. Just heard back about my CD 21 blood draw. Progesterone level was 3.58 based on that number my OB wants me to start clomid next month. She said the number indicates the ovulation didn't happen. But my bbt and opks indicated that I did. I asked her about this but she said "well, it isn't an exact science." I should also mention that when I brought up the fact that CD21 was not a true 7 dpo for me (since I think I o'd on the 17th or 18th) she said it didn't matter.

Does anyone have any thoughts on my progesterone number? It does seem super low

@FliegepilzHut: When I spoke to her on the phone today she said they will do a cd11 follicle scan to see how things look. That was the only thing that was discussed. Are there other things that should be monitored?

I'm not sure about clomid yet. I'm still doing acupuncture and tempted to see if we can get pregnant naturally? Or, at least after doing acupuncture for 3 months maybe re-do the blood work to see if anything has changed? I'm on the fence...

@winter_wonder: I would do like you suggest and try the natural route for 3 months first. Also, your OB is crazy. Your "CD21" bloodwork HAS to be 7 days after ovulation! If you ovulated on CD 17 or 18, then that number you got isn't accurate at all.

@mrswin: So, I really want to hear this homemade coconut ice cream recipe! We're really in the process of cleaning up our diets over here, so that sounds great! Or I would just LOVE an ice cream made with stevia instead of sugar. If that exists, that would be my favorite summer dessert! You can't go wrong with ice cream, but we're trying to cut way back on sugar. tear.

@Jenn23: That story is very funny! You definitely have to have a sense of humor with IF!

We're just hanging out here. AF started yesterday, but I'm feeling good about the essential oil blend I just started. I usually have "knock me out and stay in bed" cramps, but yesterday I wasn't in any pain, so that makes me hopeful that this oils will really help get my hormones right. Only time will tell! I go back to the chiro tomorrow and he will let me know if I should change my vitamin dosing or anything. We'll see.

I have good days and bad. Both of my closest friends are pregnant with the second kiddos right now, which is kind of hard. I'm happy for them, but it's awkward for me. I wish I could sleep with my DH and have a baby come from it!

@FliegepilzHut: best wishes for you! The ice cream is awesome and fills the gap that giving up traditional ice cream leaves

@Mrs. Pinata: Here is the recipe. http://mamasweeds.com/2013/08/13/homemade-coconut-milk-ice-cream
I don't use sugar or sugar substitutes so I use a little bit of honey but I find that the coconut milk is pretty sweet on its own. I usually make a mixed berry flavour. I buy frozen mixed berries, cook them down, puree them and add them to the mixture before I put it into the ice cream maker.

@FliegepilzHut: You can probably get a cheap one on craigslist, I have the attachment for my KitchenAid and I it

@FliegepilzHut: Thank you so much yes, here is hoping for a soon. Wishing you as well!

@mrs. pinata: Yes, I'm getting increasingly frustrated that when I bring up the 7 dpo thing they won't listen to me
I'm going to keep up with the acupuncture. It can't hurt at least. Also, I'm really intrigued by the oils you mentioned. I may have to look into that a bit. I'm wishing you the best of luck as well. I know it's so hard when preggo people are everywhere

@mrswin: I've done a bit of researching RE's in the area, but the closest is 1.5 hours from home. But, it looks like it is covered by my insurance. Maybe it's time to bite the bullet. I may give them a call tomorrow just to get more info.

It's really interesting that they focused on progesterone just by looking at your charts. If you don't mind me asking was it because you had low temps or something else that they noticed?

@mrswin: Thanks. I think you're giving me the push I need!

I love love chicken salad on pumpernickel or egg salad in a spinach wrap!

No big updates yet.. Just awaiting cd3 for blood tests and u/s should be around July 8th. DH has his surgery for his thumb- the UCL ligament is completely torn... July 3rd.

@winter_wonder: sorry you're feeling down!

@Mrs. Pinata: pregnant friends are the worst! (I mean they aren't personally bad people, it just sucks for us!) It's so hard!

So for us, in the summer we like to cook out. We'll grill veggie burgers, or whatever vegan grilling stuff we may have picked up at a store. We also LOVE grilling avocados! And other veggies as well.

In other news, I decided just to go ahead and meet with the new doc at the fertility clinic I used to go to. (And not wait to see if I get pregnant this cycle, which is what I was originally planning to do.) One of my friends said it was worth it, while the other went off and basically said it's a waste of time. I kind of agree with the 2nd friend, because I've had like, 5 friends going to the this clinic and none of us has been successful there!! So basically I'm going to just be honest with the doctor and tell her about my frustrations, and just see if she has any insight. I'm only really going because I don't have time in my schedule at all to go to another country and pursue treatment, as has been suggested by more than a few friends. (One friend did IVF in Greece, and is pregnant with twins. The one that went off on the clinic here went to London, and got WAY more information/options than she did here.)

It's just so frustrating living here. I'd like to just go to the US, but DH says our insurance here wouldn't cover that, but it would cover if we just went to another European country. Who knows?!

And it's not just fertility related where I feel frustrated with doctors. I feel like they just try quick fixes, instead of trying to get down to the root of the problem. (Like with my chronically low iron.) And when I had uterine polyps, the doctor removed them, which is great and all. But there was no, "here's what can cause them, here's what not to do/eat, here's what to try."

Does that make sense?

@TheSwissWifeStyle: I hope that the new doctor will really listen to you and your concerns. Even expressing that you feel that there are too many "band-aid" solutions would be good, you know? They need feedback too. If clinics never hear it, they will think they're doing their best and just keep on plugging along. So go in there, be honest, and then trust your gut. And carve out time to keep researching options in another country. Anything to feel like you're doing what you can and it's in your hands. Because so much of this process isn't. Hugs!

@Jenn23: OMG. That is hilarious. I can just imagine the look on my DH's face if it were him.

@macintosh: 7 vials! Woohoo!

@winter_wonder: No advice on the progesterone and ovulation since I have no knowlege on that. But, so sorry about it being so frustrating. Hugs!

@Mrs. Pinata: Yeah, I wish we got pregnant easier.

@mrswin: Mmm, coconut ice cream sounds yummy!

@PurplePumps: Uhh, DH has never been in the room for any of my ultrasounds. He doesn't even go to my appointments. Then again, he's the guy who will want that curtain up when I do give birth. I can see him passing out if he saw something gross.

@TheSwissWifeStyle: Aww, sorry about all of your trouble. I heard about people going to another country for treatment and never understood it. Guess it's different when you're in Europe and the countries are smaller. Then again here in the US we just go to another state if we have to. Though, I hardly have time for my appts now. I don't know how I would fit a 2 hour drive or even a flight to see my RE. Fx for you!

As for me I'm on CD5 and started taking femera yesterday. I was suppose to take it CD3 but I forgot. Oops. My CD 9 u/s is on July 2nd and maybe my IUI will be July 3rd and 4th. Which reminds me I have to ask if they are open on the 4th.

My favorite summer foods is fruit (cherries, peaches) and corn on the cob.