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Here are my stats:
@GreenThumb
Age: 34, DH: 37
Location: WI
TTC: 13 months (hate those #s!!)
Appointments:
Too many to list, but first saw RE in March 2012Results:
HSG - blocked right tube
SA - very low morphology!!Plan: IVF with ICSI
IVF #1 - July 1, 2012 - BFN - high E2 (estrogen), mild/moderate ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS)
Egg retrieval - 39 eggs, 29 fertilized, 1 embryo transfered, 10 embryos frozen.IVF #2 (FET, a.k.a. Jordan Catalano) - October 4, 2012
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@kentuckygirl
Age: 37 in October, Husband: 38
Location: Kentucky
TTC: 9 months, 11 cycles
Appointments:
Feb 2012- bloodwork
May 2012- DH SA count good, motility & morphology borderline normal
August 2012- first RE visit, HSG (clear tubes)
Results/Diagnosis: Hypothroidism, immature eggs/annovulatory cycles
Plan: 100 mg Clomid, monitoring with OPK & ultrasound, timed intercourse, progesterone supplements after OI am also doing acupuncture! DH is taking Mucinex as recommendedby my RE during my CD 3-14.
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@kentuckygirl: Do you takes meds for the hypothyrodism too?
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Good idea! Here are mine:
Age: 32, Husband: 32
Location: CO
TTC: 12 months
Appointments:
We had bloodwork, SA, and HSG at the end of AugustResults: Bloodwork was normal, HSG showed cleared tubes, and DH's SA showed borderline low motility but my doctor felt that we could still get pregnant on our own
Plan: Keep trying on our own for a couple of months. We incorporated pre-seed this cycle and we've been taking supplements to improve sperm and my CM. I have regular cycles. My doctor has already given me a couple of contacts for REs in the metro area. One does a free 15 min consult via phone which is nice. Cost is a huge factor for us. But, as DH says,"Until somebody tells us NO then there is always a chance." I like this quote
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@Grace: yes I do!
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@Sweetooth I can totally relate to just feeling so sad about starting the process of working with an RE. The day I made my first appointment (like, just scheduled it, not went in) I just cried and cried and could not stop...It's taken me almost two months to come to terms with all of this and I'm still processing/working on it, hence the therapy
Also, our bdays are only 1 days apart, I'm 11/10!@Greenthumb ROFL on the Jordan Catalano reference!!!
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@kentuckygirl: Has it made any difference so far? Just curious, because I find it fasinating how all those hormones all work together.
Oh - also here's my info:
Age: 32, Husband: 32
Location: Manitoba, Canada
TTC: 10 months (9 cycles)
Appointments: SA for hubs in Aug and bloodwork for me 2 weeks ago
Results: Hubs is all clear (which I was surprised about. He had to change meds in Sept of last year, cause the old ones are no sperm friendly, and I was just assuming they were having a hard time rebounding). I'm getting my results on Monday. I had that work done in 2010, because my period dissapeared and the only odd thing they saw was low iron. I've been taking supplements ever since, but I guess it's possible that they aren't working. Or that something new has gone astray.
Plan: Have appointment on Oct 1 to get results and doc is going to transfer us to the fertility clinic....which probably has a really really really long wait. Sigh. And until then, just hope we get lucky!
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@Leialou, @alie: Thanks guys!
It was very....interesting today. Some of it was good, some was a little frustrating.
Basically to start, I need to get a giant amount of blood work done. So much that I have to go at least twice. Once to rule out pregnancy right now and see if I ovulated, and if not then I can start Provera (I'm on CD27 today with no signs of O). Then again to for CD3 blood work, for FSH, AMH, etc. And at one of those draws I'll also get more drawn for hormonal stuff related to PCOS, since the doctor said that's the leading cause of irregular cycles/annovulation. In addition to the blood work, I'll also get a vaginal ultrasound (for PCOS diagnosis). And BTW, that'll get done during AF :-S.
DH will also be getting an SA on Tuesday and blood work too, though ATM I forget what his BW is for.
Then after all that I can meet with the doctor again and we can discuss the treatment plan - most likely will start off with 3 cycles of Clomid, unless BW shows a problem like diminished ovarian reserve. But before I can actually start anything, I'll probably have to induce a cycle again with more Provera (ugh) and I'm assuming more effing bloodwork to yet again rule out pregnancy and ovulation (UGHH).
If the Clomid doesn't work after 3 cycles we'll do a HSG and discuss whether to move to more aggressive treatment like injectibles and/or IUI, or IVF.
So I'm happy that I have a plan and that she was didn't say it was my weight, or that ovulation would just come back eventually and I hadn't given it enough time. And I like the level of aggressiveness for the treatment. I thought the timelines of 3 cycles of Clomid and then moving on to other things was perfect.
The only thing I'm really not thrilled with is that we can't get started on Clomid until the cycle after next. I find the wait really frustrating and most likely will be a waste of time, because unless DH SA isn't good or my ovarian reserve is awful, that's going to be the first thing we try.
But the doctor was really nice, and so was the nurse. For anyone in the Boston area who's interested, we're going through Reproductive Sciences New England. I went to the N. Chelmsford office today, but most procedures will be done out of Lexington.
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@SpanielLove
Age: 31, DH: 33
Location: NJ
TTC: 6 months (7 cycles)
Appointments:
July, Sept 2012: DH Urologist
Results:
SA - very low motility (as in, they're almost all sitting there dead)
Plan: IVF with ICSI
We have an appointment coming up with the new RE Oct 4 to discuss starting the IVF process, and I imagine it'll take some time to do the b/w, HSG, u/s, and whatnot first.@GreenThumb: 39 eggs!?!
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@spaniellove: Apparently I'm what they call a high responder... um yeah, I guess so. Who knew?!
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@sweetooth: I'm glad it went well and I'm sorry about the tears! I somehow managed to keep mine in during the appointment but definitely was a little teary on my drive home (even though I felt like the appointment went well).
I brought up lots of questions at my appointment and she addressed them all, but wasn't in any rush to put me on drugs or order every possible test. Which (for now) I'm fine with - I'd rather take one thing at a time and figure out what's wrong (if anything) by process of elimination rather than trying everything at once.
I was surprised she didn't want to investigate the possibility of PCOS further - she basically shrugged her shoulders at it and said she can do a "million dollar work-up" to see if I have it, but her advice would be the same whether I do or not. Since I don't have very many of the "classic" symptoms of it, I'm just not going to worry about it for now. The last doctor who told me I *maybe* had it, said she thought so because I carry all my weight in my stomach. Well... so does my dad, and he doesn't have ovaries. So I'm not really buying that as a key indicator.
Anyway here are my details!
@alie
Age: 30, DH: 29
Location: Ohio
TTC: 9 months
Appointments:
9/29: Initial Visit with new ob/gyn
10/5: To the lab for CD21 bloodwork
???: Husband's SA (trying to decide on a good day)
Results: None yet!
Plan: Continue diet and exercise, resume OPKs (boo. i hate peeing on things), and reconvene after bloodwork and SA results are in. -
@greenthumb: I can see that you are familiar with the waiting...I wish you so much luck in October! I wish I had started this process earlier like you did, but I think I kept hoping every month during the first year, that THIS would be my month.
@mk0180: I like that quote too
@trailmix: Oooh, a fellow Scorpio
I'm glad I'm not alone in the tears. I had a meltdown last night too. Just getting so frustrated by all of the testing, and scheduling. And it's only the beginning. Having the u/s this AM go over so well gave me some confidence that I can do this. @grace: is this any way you can find out which clinic your doctor would transfer you to? So that you can call ahead and try and get on the calendar?
@mrscb: I had the vaginal ultrasound this AM. (wow, this is so personal, but I'm sharing it anyway!) It's CD4 for me, and my flow isn't too bad by CD4. Just saw your note about it being done during AF, and wanted you to know it's not that bad.
- - - - Is there a reason that the doctor is waiting until a few rounds of Clomid before doing the HSG?Glad to hear that overall your appointment was good, and you're happy with the plan. The waiting sucks though, doesn't it?
@alie: I'm glad you felt like your appointment went well too! I think if I hadn't been on public transportation after my appointment, I would have been teary on the drive home too
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Here's what I've been able to compile from the last couple pages:
Upcoming appointments:
10/1: @Grace Get results
10/4: @Greenthumb FET
10/4: @Spaniellove RE consult
11/15: @sweetooth RE consultClomid/other meds:
@Kentuckygirl
@MrsCBIUI:
@Leialou
@TrailmixIVF/ICSI/FET:
@Greenthumb
@SpanielloveOther/TBD:
@MK0190
@Grace
@AlieIf I've missed anyone/anything please just say so!
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@sweetooth: Glad your appointment went well and you liked your dr. and nurse! And don't worry about the cupcakes, it happens!
@MrsCB: My husband is having his SA on Tuesday too. For some reason I'm so worried about him! I just know it's going to be an awkward thing for him. I'm glad your appointment went well and you have an actual plan!
Oh, here's our little run down:
Age: We'll both be 28 in October
Location: IL
TTC: Since Feb. of 2011
Appointments: Still waiting to find out when I can meet with my dr. next to discuss my second round of blood work. I've had low progesterone results during one round of blood work and the most recent, I had high prolactin levels. HSG was clear though (yay). My husband has his SA on Tuesday. After that, I hope we'll be able to work towards a plan on how to proceed.Does anyone else deal with mental health issues in addition to infertility? This time of year is very very hard on me and it's the second year that I've been completely off my meds (anti-depressant, mood stabilizer, Xanax as needed) for TTC. I have been having a really rough time, but we're getting through. I might start going back to my therapist, but I haven't decided yet. In the meantime, I'm hoping for a low-key, low-stress mental-health-boosting weekend!
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@twodoghouse: Do you have SAD? I figured out this past spring after moving from a downtown area (where everything was always gray and shadowy) to the suburbs that I'm very sensitive to the change in light, and this fall I was able to narrow it down to a day when I thought it changed. I'm trying to keep the blinds open and lights on as much as I can, and plan to decorate for the holidays as soon as possible. Also, since TTC was really getting to be so draining I decided to see a therapist specifically for infertility. It must be hard being 100% off your meds for TTC; if you ever feel it's so hard that you can't take it anymore, know that it's better to be taking something and feeling at ease than it is to be off meds but feeling unsafe. Hope you have a great weekend!
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@sweetooth: I think there's only one clinic here, but regardless, I need the referral from my GP, so I just have to wait. Once I have the appointment, I'm going to get myself put on the cancellation list, though.
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Age: 23, Husband 31
Location: Texas
TTC: 17 months
Appointments: Nothing set in stone, I'll make my insemination appointment when I get a on my OPK.
Results: Everything normal for me. My husband was diagnosed with bilateral varicoceles which caused his sperm count, motility, and morphology to be very low. He has surgery on 3/1 and that helped his numbers improve enough for us to do IUI.
Plan: Natural IUI. I'm predicting a positive OPK on Sunday or Monday!@trailmix, @sweetooth: I'm a November baby too, 11/19!
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@spaniellove: @raintreebee is doing an IUI cycle as well.
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Okay, tried to update again!
Upcoming appointments:
Early next week: @Leialou IUI
10/1: @Grace Get results
10/2: @MrsCB DH SA
10/2: @Twodoghouse DH SA
10/4: @Greenthumb FET
10/4: @Spaniellove RE consult
11/15: @Sweetooth RE consultClomid/other meds:
@Kentuckygirl
@MrsCBIUI:
@Leialou
@Trailmix
@RaintreebeeIVF/ICSI/FET:
@Greenthumb
@SpanielloveOther/TBD:
@MK0190
@Grace
@Alie
@Twodoghouse
@Mrsbird -
I want to get in on the fun. I'm just about to start this whole process.
@Ambular1025
Age: 27 (in a few weeks), DH: 51
Location: OR
TTC: Almost 6 months (On cycle 7)
Appointments:
DH has a Urologist Appointment Next Week
My OB/GYN Appointment to Discuss Issues is 10/25 (it's a new provider, so it took awhile for me to get in)
Results:
SA - I will update as we get them
Me - I will update as we get them
Plan: We'll do whatever it takes. Right now just doing everything we can to make a baby naturally -
I got a positive OPK this morning! We're going in for the IUI tomorrow at 9am.
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@Leialou: yay!! good luck, i'll be thinking lots of positive thoughts for you =)
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@Leialou: ahhh! So excited for you!! Good luck!!
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@Leialou: Yeah! Fingers crossed!!!
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@Leialou: Great news! Wishing you all the best with the IUI!!
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@Leialou: yay!!! Good luck!
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@Leialou: woohoo! good luck tomorrow!
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I love this thread, and although I've not been diagnosed with any IF issues yet, my LP is regularly 9(ish) days long, so I know something's wrong.
@Rachel
Age: 29, DH: 30
Location: MA
TTC: 6 months (cycle 7)
Appointments:
10/16: Follow up and blood work with ob/gyn
Results: Nothing yet
Plan: Hopefully working on extending my LP and not needing anything too invasive, but we're ready to go all the way through IVF if needed. -
@Leialou: Good luck!!
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@Leialou So exciting, hopefully this does the trick!
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Finished the Clomid. It went pretty well until the day after my last dose (yesterday). I was, to say the least, hormonal, and decided to stay in instead of joining my friends for pizza. I was soooo hot, and the thought of being in a hot pizza place or around people who don't know what I am going through was too much. I feel better today. Compiling information is a great idea:
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@raintreebee
Age: 34, Husband: 36
Location: NYC
TTC: 10 months
Appointments:
March, first RE consultation
April HSG
Results: Slight male morphology factor (10% strict) but RE thinks the real culprit is my endometriosis that he also diagnosed. Although I have not had a lap, one of my ovaries is stuck to my uterus, which almost certainly indicates endo. Also other endo symptoms support his diagnosis.
Plan: Three IUIs, then IVF. We in our first IUI cycle, with an upcoming ultrasound on Wed. Possible IUI on Thursday, the same day as @Greenthumb's Jordan Catalano.
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Are there any other details that would be helpful to track?
I am grateful for this group. The whole process is very lonely. Even my wonderful DH can't completely relate (although he tries). I am thinking positive thoughts for my IUI buddies, @Trailmix and @Leialou, (good luck today, Leialou!) and everyone else on here. -
@Leialou: How did it go?? Hope it went well!
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Thanks for the well wishes everyone! Y'all are so sweet!
I was really nervous this morning. When we got to the doctor's office, no one else was there yet. We had to page the doctor to make sure he hadn't forgotten. The lab tech arrived first and let us in and my husband went back and gave his sample. Once it was washed we got to see the print out of all the numbers. It was actually his best sample yet! We are really pleased about that. When we got into the room for the insemination and I saw the table, stirrups, and needle (not sure what it's technically called), I started to shake with nerves! I couldn't control it. The procedure took about five minutes and it didn't hurt at all. It was just uncomfortable. I didn't even have any cramping afterwards.
So now we wait. I've been praying a lot. I just want this to work so bad!
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hi, friends, just wanted to let you know that today on the blog, i'm sharing a post i wrote reflecting on our infertility after lil' cb had been home for a month. it's one of those hindsight is 20/20 type reflections, but i hope if you read it you'll be even just a little encouraged...
as i mentioned before, our IF experience was horrible and heart and gut wrenching and it took a long time to come to terms with it...but as crazy as it sounds, it's really shaped a lot of my adult life (in a good way) over the last 5.5 years.
thinking of you guys lots and lots and sending you hugs and prayers!
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@Leialou: I'm soooo keeping my fingers crossed for you! Glad it went well and the "sample" was the best you've had yet. I'm hoping you are doing great today and pulling for you during the TWW.
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@raintreebee: I hope all goes well on Wed with your U/S and you are scheduled for Thursday. I can't believe I have a TWW buddy! Do they do beta blood work with IUI or do you just do HPTs? Wishing you all the best - it's coming up so soon. Just have to get through three more days...
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@leialou: yay fellow November birthday
I've been thinking lots of positive thoughts for you! I think it's hard to see all of the components of what will happen to you when you get into the procedure room. I'd be nervous too. Glad to hear it didn't hurt.@raintreebee: thinking of you this week! I too am grateful for this group. It is a hard process to go through and talking with others who can relate helps me feel less alone too.
@twodoghouse: I don't have any mental health issues that rely on medication so I don't have much to offer. I hope that your doctor can advise you on what can help you cope and also allow you to make your way towards a healthy baby. Hope you had the type of weekend that you needed.
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A little update from me...
I had my HSG this morning. It went ok. I didn't feel it all that much until the tube fell out and they had to reinsert it. THEN I felt it and it was really painful. I wanted to make it through without tears, but I couldn't. I just had to breath slowly to get through it. They told me my tubes were open, so maybe I can try to have a little hope that I'm one of those lucky ones that just needs an HSG to get my BFP. I'm reluctant to have too much hope, since I've been on the hope roller coaster for so long. Wouldn't that be so great though?
All we need now is the SA - which isn't until 10/11 - to have all of the pieces of the puzzle until we can assess the next steps. So now, I continue to wait...
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@Mrs. Cowgirl: that is a sweet post - thank you for sharing your perspective from the other side...
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@Leialou: Sending you mucho positive energy
Glad to hear that it wasn't so bad@raintreebee: Hope you're u/s goes well and that you can forward with IUI. I agree about the loneliness. In my reality, the only people I know that have struggled with pregnancy are a distant friend whom I haven't talked to since my wedding and my awful sister in law - I do not feel comfortable in talking to either of them. I also find this group to be comforting and I find that I can validate my own feelings of frustration, unfairness and jealousy in that I'm not alone and I'm not crazy
Good luck to you
Also, our bdays are only 1 days apart, I'm 11/10!
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