July IUI - Page 5

[KellyTTC#1]

ladylaura: I agree with Hilary that it looks like they're planning to use provera to induce AF and then do clomid after that.

I assume your egg wasn't mature last time if you were already surging at 15 mm. My understanding is that clomid is supposed to help with egg quality. So maybe it would help it grow faster so it will be 20 mm before the surge starts? My doctor sorta said it was up to me if I wanted to do a trigger. I surged on my own so I didn't need to but they also use it for circumstances when there is a mature egg but no LH surge is detected.

[aprilmom]

ladylaura : I agree with the other ladies - sounds like they are using provera to induce AF. I have not actually been on that though so I don't know much about it. We do femara with a trigger shot - the trigger shot helps them time the IUI (or that is the explination they gave me)

AFM - NO SYMPTOMS at all... so that makes me a little sad. I am to test on Monday but am already getting down feeling like this is not the cycle.

[Furrow]

Ladylaura: I'm totally confused, too. But it does sound like maybe you dropped an immature egg last time. I think I did this time. I hope your vacation is before your IUI. That will be much more relaxing.

Aprilmom: Maybe no symptoms is a GOOD thing, since pg symptoms are the same as AF symptoms. I had symptoms galore, and ....[see below]

AFM: It looks like AF is busting her way through my prometrium shield. I had just POASed this morning (BFN, of course. It's only 10 DPO, or so I thought) when she decided to come. Very funny, Universe. ha. ha. So I had a 23 day cycle this month. WTF? Isn't prometrium supposed to hold off AF until I stop it? I am taking 400 mg/day. Except for those two days when I only 200 mg, but that was days ago. I'm starting to think I had a rotten egg.

[Furrow]

I guess I'm not officially in the July IUI group any more, though I'll be checking in to see how you ladies fare.

I went in for bloodwork this morning since I had such a wonky cycle. I haven't had CD3 bloodwork since before DD was conceived, so something might have changed. I also asked for and received femara for this month, since the clomid killed my lining and the unmedicated cycle obviously didn't work. I'm annoyed that I had to ask for femara (or something). I don't think my nurse was going to do anything except have me come in for a follicle check on CD12. If this month doesn't work, I'm seriously considering going to a real RE. My nurse is very smart and capable, but she deals with all sorts of GYN issues, and I don't think she is able to really focus on my problems. Her office was slammed this morning. I had to wait over 2 hours to see her for 2 minutes. Granted, I didn't have an appointment with her.

Good luck to those of you in the 2ww! I hope you have a very busy, distracting weekend.

[claireb]

Hi ladies,
I joined you a few weeks ago, but have been slammed at work and have had a hard time keeping up.

I've been living on the TTC after Loss board for many months now, and am slowly integrating this board into my life, given our developing need for IF treatments.

Here's my current situation.

Last month was our LAST month of trying before beginning IF treatments. I was soooooo hopeful : that we would miraculously become preggo, and IUI wouldn't be necessary. Well, showed. :

So, since I wasn't preggo last month, we called our RE and said we were ready to start. Since my husband has been dx with MFI, specifically low sperm morphology (9%), we opted to try IUI with injectable meds before jumping into the more costly IVF, and I started injecting myself with Bravelle. Started at 2 vials daily, after yesterday's monitoring appt, I moved up to 3 vials.

Anyway, I'm on CD 8 today, and as of yesterday, ultrasound showed that I've got 3-4 follicles maturing well, as well as 3-4 other follicles that are also growing. According to my RE, this is "great" and I'm going back for monitoring tomorrow. Do you guys know if this is, indeed, "good news" or if it sounds like my RE is blowing smoke up our butts? It's so hard not to be in any control over the protocol...do you ladies have the same difficulty? I have such a hard time 100% trusting doctors...after all, it's not the end of the world for them...it's US whose dreams get either made or dashed.

Anyway, depending on how these follie's grow, I'll probably have the IUI sometime next week...:

I'm excited, but also nervous to get too excited. I'm so sick of having my hopes dashed, especially now that we are spending thousands each cycle on fertility medication.

I'll keep you all updated...until then, I'm feeling a bit like a human pincushion, but it's all in the name of a LIVING healthy baby, so it's worth it!!

This is all so new to us. Did you ladies have similar feelings when beginning IF treatments?? I feel so anxious and alone. But my husband is very optimistic!!

Good luck to all those ladies waiting for their follies to mature (like me) and even BETTER luck : to those ladies waiting to know...can't wait to see some 's !!! ::

Claire

[Hilarigh]

Furrow - I'm sorry this cycle didn't work out for you. s It sounds like you should find a new doctor. Maybe take the Femara this cycle and while you're doing that find a good RE. Good luck next cycle, hopefully you won't even need the RE but at least you'd have a back up plan.

Claire - you're a couple days ahead of me in my first IUI with injectables too. I think 3 - 4 maturing follies and another few growing is great news. Did he tell you what size they are? You only need one or two mature follicles for it to work. The smaller follies will die off as the bigger ones take all the FSH for themselves as they continue to mature.

I'm trying to be pretty zen about this whole experience. Our RE came highly recommended by a good friend who is pg with her 2nd (both kids thanks to Dr. Weinstein) and he's been practicing for about 32 years. I was insanely obsessive/controlling when we were temping and TTC the old fashioned way but with this I am aware that it is so outside of my control that worrying about it isn't gong to affect anything...except make me stressed and nervous and that could adversely affect my cycle. So I'm just making myself comfy while I become a human pin cushion. I let DH mix my meds so I don’t have to worry about whether or not I’m doing it right, I’m going to my yoga classes a few times a week, I got a mani/pedi and I’m listening to meditation/relaxation CDs to help me sleep. Right before I fall asleep is the worst time for me as far as obsessing goes. I will lay there and think a million “what ifs” and I then I can’t sleep. The CDs help me relax enough to drift off to sleep w/o the stress.

AFM – I’m on CD6 and we had blood work and u/s today. I’ve got about 4 eggs on my right ovary and 4 on my left. Lefty has an 8ml and a 10 ml and righty has an 8ml. The rest of the eggletts are much smaller. Since I’m responding pretty well to the meds, the doc told us to lower the dosage from 2 Bravelles and 2 Menopurs to one of each. My lining is at 5ml right now which is pretty good I think. I will probably start Ganarelix tomorrow.

Right now we’re guesstimating insemination happening on Wed/Thurs or Thurs/Fri. Oh we got some GREAT NEWS today too. Our RE said I don’t have to have my trigger shot IM, DH can give it to me subcutaneously. Our doctor said there has been some research that shows that the long needle doesn’t always get all the way down to the muscle anyway and the medication can easily be metabolized in the fatty tissue under the skin. So I am STOKED. I was really nervous about that one.

Sorry for the novel.
Have a nice weekend.

Hilary

[ladylaura]

GAH. Went in again today for more b/w and another u/s - CD 18 - and still absolutely nothing to be seen on the u/s! I guess I'm anovulatory now?

Still waiting for the follow-up phone call, but this is weird. I really want to know what is going on with my lack of ovulating abilities.

[sarahcecile]

Can I join in? I've been lurking on the IF board for a while, but I'm ready to jump in. We've been TTC #2 for 20 months with 3 m/cs. It turns out DH has a chromosome inversion, which was causing the miscarriages, and we have moved on to a vasectomy and DIUI. We have our first unit waiting at the cryobank for pickup whenever we are ready, which should be in the next couple weeks. I am entirely freaked out!!!

We are doing an at-home ICI, but can I play along?

I am on CD3 and we'll be doing this cycle without testing or meds., just charting and OPKs. I have LPD and take Prometrium (although I was really excited that this past cycle I had a 11 or 12 day LP with no Prometrium! - up from 9 days) as well as being homozygous for MTHFR so I take Folgard and baby aspirin.

I am really nervous about timing and the expense and getting this all right. Oh, and the whole donor thing

- Sarah

[ladylaura]

So... I need an emotional boost.

We've been trying for a bit over 2 years now. The first 8 months we just tried like normal people do... we knew about the low sperm count and needing IVF at the one year mark (summer 2008), learned of his chromosomal defect in December 2008 and that we'd need to use IVF with ICSI and PGD, and then after a cancelled IVF in April 2009, we decided to move on to donor sperm.

And for no apparent reason at all, I appear to be having wonky/anovulatory cycles.

I'm really scared that I'm going to be dealing with these ovulatory issues for awhile and that Clomid isn't going to work and that somehow I'll end up doing IVF with DONOR SPERM... which just seems ridiculous to me after all we've been through...

HOW do I stay positive?? I mean, really! Please tell me how you get through each day. How do you have good times and feel happy? I do still have good experiences, but then again, I often feel like I'm walking around with a mask on over how I really feel.

I'm looking into acupuncture because I've heard that not only does it help with fertility, it also helps with stress and might help me relax more. I'm not opposed to trying meditation but it wouldn't be something I'd naturally do, I think.

What gets you through the day?

[by-the-lake]

Ladylaura- just wanted to say that I stornly recommend accupunture not only for fertility, but your whole well- being. Find one who specilazes in fertility. I cannot say enough about the benefits. I started AP on my 5th IUI (with donor sperm due to MF issues like you) and I did get a bfp, but also felt much more at peace with the entire infertility process and myself. Sorry you are going through this. Please hang in there.

[aprilmom]

*sigh* another BFN

[Hilarigh]

We're now seeing the RE daily. I had b/w and u/s yesterday. My Estradiol levels were around 1600ish and my follies are growing. I have two on my right ovary one 15ml and one 14ml, one large follie on my left ovary, 12ml and a handful of smaller ones on both. We've backed off our stims per doctor's orders. I'm down to one Menopur and one Ganirelix injection.

Blood work this morning hurt more than the others have and we'll see the doc this afternoon for follie check. Our doctor's been really positive throughout this cycle. He said I'm having a great cycle, and then he corrected himself and said I was having an enviable cycle. I don't care if it's enviable or not, I just want a BFP and an uneventful 9 mos.

[Furrow]

Aprilmom: I'm so sorry about the BFN Maybe third time will be lucky for both of us.

LadyLaura: to you, too. I know how much it hurts. Right before we conceived our DD, I had nearly given up hope. DH and I were starting to envision what life might be like without children: travel, career options, etc. I started going to therapy with the hope that she could help me learn to be content with a life without children, just in case it never worked out. It wasn't that I wanted to move on, really, I just needed to be able to see a life beyond infertility. I don't want to say that the key is to give up hope. That's like saying "just relax." It's not a magical potion to get you pregnant. But I do think it's important to plan other potential futures. That way, if a cycle goes bad, your whole entire life doesn't fall apart, because you still have that other option.

Of course, this is easy for me to say now because we were so fortunate to get our daughter. If that hadn't happened, would I be content with my other future? I don't know.

Right now I'm imagining what it would be like to have an only child. I can see some benefits, even though I really want a second.

It sounds like you haven't nearly run out of options. Try the medicated cycle with IUI, first. And acupuncture sounds beneficial, either way.

Hilarigh -- congrats on the enviable cycle! I hope this is your month.

Sarah -- Welcome!

AFM: Nothing much. On CD5 with 5mg Femara. So far, no side effects. Waiting for CD2 bloodwork to come back today, so I hope it's normal.

[Hilarigh]

Aprilmom, I'm so sorry about the BFN

[sarahcecile]

Hang in there - I know what it's like to be try, find a problem, find a solution, only to find a new problem, all while the clock is ticking ticking ticking away.

I completely agree with By-the-lake, acupuncture (as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine) can do great things for your cycle, and I was really surprised to find how relaxing it was for me. You'd think needles would be stressful! Find someone good that you trust, and yes, that specializes in fertility.

I am having a hard time not getting preemptively freaked out about all of it. What if it doesn't work? What if I have another miscarriage anyway? What if if if? And it's just all really hard. So big big hugs. You can do this, you can get through it. You will get through it. I haven't found what works for me yet, mainly distraction, good friends (there are a few that might not understand but are willing to lend an ear to my problems).

I personally want some sort of mantra, anyone have a good one?

Originally Posted by ladylaura

So... I need an emotional boost.

We've been trying for a bit over 2 years now. The first 8 months we just tried like normal people do... we knew about the low sperm count and needing IVF at the one year mark (summer 2008), learned of his chromosomal defect in December 2008 and that we'd need to use IVF with ICSI and PGD, and then after a cancelled IVF in April 2009, we decided to move on to donor sperm.

And for no apparent reason at all, I appear to be having wonky/anovulatory cycles.

I'm really scared that I'm going to be dealing with these ovulatory issues for awhile and that Clomid isn't going to work and that somehow I'll end up doing IVF with DONOR SPERM... which just seems ridiculous to me after all we've been through...

HOW do I stay positive?? I mean, really! Please tell me how you get through each day. How do you have good times and feel happy? I do still have good experiences, but then again, I often feel like I'm walking around with a mask on over how I really feel.

I'm looking into acupuncture because I've heard that not only does it help with fertility, it also helps with stress and might help me relax more. I'm not opposed to trying meditation but it wouldn't be something I'd naturally do, I think.

What gets you through the day?

[KellyTTC#1]

Wow, so much of what all of you are saying really resonates with me. I've either had or are having much of the same thoughts and feelings.

aprilmom: I'm so sorry. I hope you are doing OK?

ladylaura: Hang in there! I agree with Furrow that planning for other options/ways life may take you helps me. I believe that everything that happens in life makes us a stronger person, so I know when I get through this I'll really appreciate the outcome. I try to continue to live life & keep myself busy but I find it also helps that other people know what is going on. While, I don't really discuss it with in detail with many people, I've gotten to the point when people ask us if we're having children--I tell them that we've been trying. I've come to realize that a lot more people go through this than I realized.

Claire: your thoughts are exactly how I felt, you're not alone. Your cycle sounds like it is going really well! It's funny, I never imagined I know this much about TTC and infertility treatments!

Furrow: I'm sorry that this cycle didn't work out. Did you get the results of your bloodwork?

Hilarigh: your cycle is sounding really good. :

sarahcecile: Hi there and Welcome! It sounds like the donor sperm should do the trick.

As for me, I just realized I'm 10 days past IUI. I've been relaxed up to this point but now I'm sure I'll start overanalyzing everthing
Shouldn't I feel something by now? Oh no, these next few days are going be be difficult.

[claireb]

Ladies

There are too many to hug individually, but I am reading this thread daily and have my : for all those waiting for follies to mature and for those ladies waiting to test for their big 's!!!

AFM, I am still doing Bravelle injections daily, as well as going in each morning for ultrasounds and bloodwork to monitor. For the past 3 days, my doctor has believed that I'd trigger "any day now" based on my follicle number and sizes. And each day, I'm told "Let's give it one more day to let them mature more." Which would be fine except that I'm so bloated that I'm in MATERNITY pants for work, because my normal pants don't fit. I am SOOOO uncomfortable. I am a very petite person to begin with, and have been a size 2 my whole life, so I have no clothes in a larger size except my maternity pants from my previous loss. : I told my doctor, because I was worried about hyperstim, but he said it's just because I was thin before hand, and my body is doing just fine. In the meantime, I'm feeling a bit like a beached whale. Ah well, anything in the name of a healthy little one!!

Anyway, as of this morning, I have 12 or so follicles currently growing. There's one follie at 22/23mm, 2-3 at 18/19, a few at 14-17, and a bunch at 10-15. My doc said he'd like to give it at least one more day () so that the 18/19 follies can get a bit bigger, but he'd have to check my bloodwork to make sure that I'm not about to ovulate on my own. So I guess, at this point, if my bloodwork comes back showing that my hormones are about to trigger ovulation naturally, I'll trigger tonight and have IUI on Thursday. If not (which my doc is hoping for) we'll do more Bravelle tomorrow, and possibly the day after, and then IUI on Friday or Saturday.

While I'm uncomfortable 24-7 from the bloat, I would like to wait to trigger until more eggs are larger, so I guess I have my : that I stay in pain for another day or so!!

That's my update. I am keeping my eye on everyone and can't wait to hear about all the 's we are on the verge of having...

Claire

Me (32) married to the love of my life Nick (28). TTC #1. (07/08 at 6.5 weeks), (01/09 at 11.5 weeks). Compound heterozygous MTHFR, on daily injections of Lovenox, plus folic acid & BA. Hubby dx with MFI (low sperm morphology). Currently on IUI #1...:

[unoriginal]

I hope it's ok for me to join the thread...I have been lurking the board for awhile...

My partner and I are doing our first IUI probably at the end of this week. I am going in for an HSG today, just to make sure everything is ok. We are using donor sperm (obviously) and are excited to start the journey.

We are going across country late next week so hopefully that will make the 2ww easier to get through! (flying isn't a problem, right?)

I wish everyone luck this month! I hope everyone gets the BFP they've been waiting for!!

[aprilmom]

Originally Posted by sarahcecile

Can I join in? I've been lurking on the IF board for a while, but I'm ready to jump in. We've been TTC #2 for 20 months with 3 m/cs. It turns out DH has a chromosome inversion, which was causing the miscarriages, and we have moved on to a vasectomy and DIUI. We have our first unit waiting at the cryobank for pickup whenever we are ready, which should be in the next couple weeks. I am entirely freaked out!!!

We are doing an at-home ICI, but can I play along?



- Sarah

Of course you are welcome to play along - I hope your stay is short!

Originally Posted by ladylaura

So... I need an emotional boost.

We've been trying for a bit over 2 years now. The first 8 months we just tried like normal people do... we knew about the low sperm count and needing IVF at the one year mark (summer 2008), learned of his chromosomal defect in December 2008 and that we'd need to use IVF with ICSI and PGD, and then after a cancelled IVF in April 2009, we decided to move on to donor sperm.

And for no apparent reason at all, I appear to be having wonky/anovulatory cycles.

I'm really scared that I'm going to be dealing with these ovulatory issues for awhile and that Clomid isn't going to work and that somehow I'll end up doing IVF with DONOR SPERM... which just seems ridiculous to me after all we've been through...

HOW do I stay positive?? I mean, really! Please tell me how you get through each day. How do you have good times and feel happy? I do still have good experiences, but then again, I often feel like I'm walking around with a mask on over how I really feel.

I'm looking into acupuncture because I've heard that not only does it help with fertility, it also helps with stress and might help me relax more. I'm not opposed to trying meditation but it wouldn't be something I'd naturally do, I think.

What gets you through the day?

I can't imagine what that feels like to get through all that and feel like your body is now failing you!! There are days that are hard to get through and there are others that fly... I wish I could tell you what helps but I really don't know!

Originally Posted by Hilarigh

We're now seeing the RE daily. I had b/w and u/s yesterday. My Estradiol levels were around 1600ish and my follies are growing. I have two on my right ovary one 15ml and one 14ml, one large follie on my left ovary, 12ml and a handful of smaller ones on both. We've backed off our stims per doctor's orders. I'm down to one Menopur and one Ganirelix injection.

Blood work this morning hurt more than the others have and we'll see the doc this afternoon for follie check. Our doctor's been really positive throughout this cycle. He said I'm having a great cycle, and then he corrected himself and said I was having an enviable cycle. I don't care if it's enviable or not, I just want a BFP and an uneventful 9 mos.

yeah to the enviable cycle - I hope you get your BFP!!

Originally Posted by KellyTTC#1

As for me, I just realized I'm 10 days past IUI. I've been relaxed up to this point but now I'm sure I'll start overanalyzing everthing
Shouldn't I feel something by now? Oh no, these next few days are going be be difficult.

I know exactly how you feel.. the first 1.5 weeks of the 2ww go by fast and then all the sudden time stops!! GL in the next few days and I hope you get that BFP!!

Originally Posted by claireb

AFM, I am still doing Bravelle injections daily, as well as going in each morning for ultrasounds and bloodwork to monitor. For the past 3 days, my doctor has believed that I'd trigger "any day now" based on my follicle number and sizes. And each day, I'm told "Let's give it one more day to let them mature more." Which would be fine except that I'm so bloated that I'm in MATERNITY pants for work, because my normal pants don't fit. I am SOOOO uncomfortable. I am a very petite person to begin with, and have been a size 2 my whole life, so I have no clothes in a larger size except my maternity pants from my previous loss. : I told my doctor, because I was worried about hyperstim, but he said it's just because I was thin before hand, and my body is doing just fine. In the meantime, I'm feeling a bit like a beached whale. Ah well, anything in the name of a healthy little one!!

Anyway, as of this morning, I have 12 or so follicles currently growing. There's one follie at 22/23mm, 2-3 at 18/19, a few at 14-17, and a bunch at 10-15. My doc said he'd like to give it at least one more day () so that the 18/19 follies can get a bit bigger, but he'd have to check my bloodwork to make sure that I'm not about to ovulate on my own. So I guess, at this point, if my bloodwork comes back showing that my hormones are about to trigger ovulation naturally, I'll trigger tonight and have IUI on Thursday. If not (which my doc is hoping for) we'll do more Bravelle tomorrow, and possibly the day after, and then IUI on Friday or Saturday.

While I'm uncomfortable 24-7 from the bloat, I would like to wait to trigger until more eggs are larger, so I guess I have my : that I stay in pain for another day or so!!

That's my update. I am keeping my eye on everyone and can't wait to hear about all the 's we are on the verge of having...

Claire

GL - it is all worth it for that little baby!!

Originally Posted by unoriginal

I hope it's ok for me to join the thread...I have been lurking the board for awhile...

My partner and I are doing our first IUI probably at the end of this week. I am going in for an HSG today, just to make sure everything is ok. We are using donor sperm (obviously) and are excited to start the journey.

We are going across country late next week so hopefully that will make the 2ww easier to get through! (flying isn't a problem, right?)

I wish everyone luck this month! I hope everyone gets the BFP they've been waiting for!!

I hope your HSG goes well. I had one done in March? or sometime this year (it all runs together). It showed that everything was clear and for me was not painful!

I traveled weekly on a plane until I was 7 months pregnant with my DD so you should be just fine! May your stay be short!

[Furrow]

Kelly -- I can't believe you made it to 10 dpiui without anxiety! I never make it that long.

claire -- your follies sound ready to go! I hope you get to trigger tomorrow. All the waiting is maddening, isn't it?

unoriginal - great username! I always have the hardest time with pseudonyms, and feel totally unoriginal, so I should've thought of yours! I hope you get that BFP this month.

AFM-- I had a message from my nurse today about my bloodwork. Everything is fine except my FSH, which is slightly elevated at 9.1. I hope to talk to her later about what this means for my protocol. From what I've read, borderline high FSH means that I'm starting to run out of eggs (or good eggs, anyway), but that it's not happening terribly fast yet. Maybe we can still catch a good one. I guess I'll see what she says. I'm hoping the 5mg of Femara will give me two lead follicles this month. I'm on CD6 and have my follie check next monday.

Does anybody else here have high FSH?