Bitter Sushi Ladies, December Edition - Page 3

[abstract]

Sweet.Bee, I concur with Kinza. Doctors can be very different. My OBGYN practically threw Clomid at me within the first couple of months of seeing him. Granted, we had technically been "trying" for a year (albeit loosely, with no charts, OPKs, etc.)

Hang in there. It may be just the thing for you, to get your cycle in order. But I will say that having a doctor who is cautious about prescribing C may be a blessing in disguise. It's not an easy drug for some (i.e., me). That said, if you feel like he's not being responsive to your concerns, it may be time to seek a 2nd opinion? How long until you hit the 1 year mark?

[lavatea]

Finally!!! FF moved my O date (all by itself without intervention from me) to where I think it happened. I feel much better now.

I know it's silly to get so worked up about where FF says my O happened - we either conceived or didn't. But I feel better when that interpretation matches mine.

[Sweet.Bee]

Kinza, abstract, thank you both for your input. I feel really lost in all this. My OBGYN is the one I had for the 2nd half of my last pregnancy (we were in a different country for the 1st half) and birth. I thought he seemed fine, very practical (well, maybe a bit too practical). I'm not sure how much he's dealt with couples who are having trouble conceiving. No matter how I tried to convince him, he wouldn't so much as even do testing until we hit the 1 year mark (we're at 8 months; April will be 1 year). I'm not really excited to be pumped full of drugs, but I would like to be taken seriously when I say something is off with my body right now. And I would like to ovulate at a more reasonable time. What I do not like so much is to be lectured on how I just need to relax. 

I e-mailed a doctor who is known as the fertility expert in my area, explaining my situation and asking if he would advise anything. We'll see what he says.

And I am happy to say I got a + OPK this afternoon! CD28. Hopefully, my body can follow through this time. It's already stalled twice this cycle.

Oh, and abstract, do you have a chart I could see? My temps also seem kind of low, I think. I've been wondering why. Might be interesting to compare.

[Kyamo]

Sorry about CD1 jenger :(  :hug

Originally Posted by Sweet.Bee 

Oh, and abstract, do you have a chart I could see? My temps also seem kind of low, I think. I've been wondering why. Might be interesting to compare.

SweetBee, I hope you do ovulate this time.  If you want to see some low temp charts, take a look at my link on the first page.  Scroll way down, because my temps have been higher on clomid, but my old charts have similar temps to yours.  You can tell the clomid charts apart by the CCCCC on days 5-9.  And they are in C like yours.  :)

AFM - just waiting.  I guess I am 4DPO now.

[miriam_bat_avraham]

LTB-- I hope a baby in need of a home comes to you in some form without the financial issues-- maybe you will find someone who needs a home for their child and it gets worked out outside of an expensive agency. You never know. Either way, whatever happens, my fingers are crossed for you!
 

Sweet Bee-- I've had the "gearing up to O" with no O until later in my cycle happen twice. Once it was on something like CD 45! It's linked to my "insufficient hormonal environment" associated with poor ovulation, but hopefully it's a normal thing that sometimes happens to women with good ovulation, too. I'm glad you got a +OPK today; hopefully that's it!

Lavatea-- Hooray! I like when things line up properly on FF :) It really does make me feel better! I don't think it's silly... there's so little we can control in this process, so anything that we CAN rely on is so comforting.

AFM-- I'm in a much, much better mood. Trying to focus on things that will keep me positive, like meditation, pretty-smelling baths, fancy skin care products, belly dance and affirmations that my body is not broken and will learn how to do what it needs to do. I also realized that if I O around CD 17-19 like I expect to, I'll be testing either Dec 24th or 25th (or, at least, I'll be able to test at home if it's too soon for my blood test at the doctor's office). If I get a BFP, we'll be able to tell my family on either of those days because my parents always do a Christmas Eve party, too :) I know some people wait to share that info, but my family will know right away anyways, and I don't mind sharing so soon with people I'm really close with. So I'm trying not to COUNT on that, but allowing myself to hope for it.

[Kyamo]

Originally Posted by miriam_bat_avraham 

AFM-- I'm in a much, much better mood. Trying to focus on things that will keep me positive, like meditation, pretty-smelling baths, fancy skin care products, belly dance and affirmations that my body is not broken and will learn how to do what it needs to do. I also realized that if I O around CD 17-19 like I expect to, I'll be testing either Dec 24th or 25th (or, at least, I'll be able to test at home if it's too soon for my blood test at the doctor's office). If I get a BFP, we'll be able to tell my family on either of those days because my parents always do a Christmas Eve party, too :) I know some people wait to share that info, but my family will know right away anyways, and I don't mind sharing so soon with people I'm really close with. So I'm trying not to COUNT on that, but allowing myself to hope for it.

I thought of the same thing, my blood test is the 17th and we will be celebrating with my side of the family on the 19th.  (DH's parents live far from my parents so we alternate years which place we are in for the actual holiday.)  If by some small chance I did get a positive, I would tell my parents, we are pretty close and they know about the IUI.  I totally would not make it public knowledge, especially since with the PCOS I am at high risk for miscarriage.  But I couldn't keep a secret like that from my parents and sister.  

[abstract]

Sweet.Bee - I hope you O, too. Here's my chart: http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/19a394

I think I mentioned that this cycle I only started temping right before Oing. Not having those early temps makes the data a little sketchy, but it's when I normally O, so it should be right. If you have any observations, please feel free to share. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[rcr]

Just lurking lately, trying to have a good weekend and not get too sad about ttc

MBA - glad you are feeling better.

Somebody who works at my moms assisted living asked me if I had a name for a girl yet
I wanted to say "yea but I just had a miscarriage after ttc for two years, and had a name for that baby so I am not sure if I want to name the next baby the same name, if there will be a next baby"

I just want a baby before my mom dies. I just want her to meet the baby and be well enough to hold her/him.

Sorry for no personals. I am feeling sad and self-absorbed.

[miriam_bat_avraham]

My appointment went well today! I was starting to feel terrible last night and thought I was coming down with the highly contagious stomach virus that's going around my classroom, but I woke up fine today (but almost late for my appointment! Thank you DH for waking me!) aaaaand, at CD 12, I already have a dominant follicle measuring 24mm! I've never ovulated this early, ever-- it's always been around CD 19 or later (sometimes as late as, like, CD 45) so this is pretty awesome. It makes me feel more like my body is doing what it's supposed to do, and like I'm responding better to the Clomid than before :) So I'm pumped about that. I'm expecting they'll tell me to trigger tonight, so we're preparing for an IUI on Tuesday morning. Looks like I'll have to cancel my personal training at the gym... oh nooooo... ;)

If we get a BFP this cycle, we'll be due the day before our 3rd wedding anniversary :) AND we'll find out four or five days before Christmas. It'll be hard to wait that long to tell family, but it'll be nice to have a couple days leg room to make sure it's not a chemical and get a second or even third beta in, and it'll be great to announce on a major family holiday. Trying not to get my hopes up, but failing...

I forgot how much easier O time is than the first part of the cycle. Even the torture of the TWW is better than the beginning of a new cycle... I think just shifting from "waiting to see what happens next" to "okay, it's go time!" had a dramatic effect on my mood.

Originally Posted by Kyamo 

Originally Posted by miriam_bat_avraham 

AFM-- I'm in a much, much better mood. Trying to focus on things that will keep me positive, like meditation, pretty-smelling baths, fancy skin care products, belly dance and affirmations that my body is not broken and will learn how to do what it needs to do. I also realized that if I O around CD 17-19 like I expect to, I'll be testing either Dec 24th or 25th (or, at least, I'll be able to test at home if it's too soon for my blood test at the doctor's office). If I get a BFP, we'll be able to tell my family on either of those days because my parents always do a Christmas Eve party, too :) I know some people wait to share that info, but my family will know right away anyways, and I don't mind sharing so soon with people I'm really close with. So I'm trying not to COUNT on that, but allowing myself to hope for it.

I thought of the same thing, my blood test is the 17th and we will be celebrating with my side of the family on the 19th.  (DH's parents live far from my parents so we alternate years which place we are in for the actual holiday.)  If by some small chance I did get a positive, I would tell my parents, we are pretty close and they know about the IUI.  I totally would not make it public knowledge, especially since with the PCOS I am at high risk for miscarriage.  But I couldn't keep a secret like that from my parents and sister.  

We would tell family (which is a lot of people, because my family is loud and big and Italian and there are many of us), and probably close friends. I've had friends do the "not telling anyone until after 12 weeks in case of a m/c" thing, and I think that's a totally legitimate way to ensure privacy if something happens and you don't want everyone to know... and ultimately, with all of my friends, I've been told "Hey, I *was* pregnant but we lost the baby." I want people who we'd say that to anyways to celebrate alongside us for as long as we're celebrating. So I wouldn't make a FB announcement or tell people at work outside my immediate team until 12 weeks.

My mom has been having "Julie's pregnant and announcing it to us" dreams lately. Pressure? Noooooo. :) heh.

Originally Posted by rcr 

Just lurking lately, trying to have a good weekend and not get too sad about ttc

MBA - glad you are feeling better.

Somebody who works at my moms assisted living asked me if I had a name for a girl yet
I wanted to say "yea but I just had a miscarriage after ttc for two years, and had a name for that baby so I am not sure if I want to name the next baby the same name, if there will be a next baby"

I just want a baby before my mom dies. I just want her to meet the baby and be well enough to hold her/him.

Sorry for no personals. I am feeling sad and self-absorbed.

That's something I worry about, sometimes... we have two very special names picked out for Boy #1 and Girl #2, and I would be devastated if we couldn't use those names because the baby passed away. I'd never want to re-use the names for another child, so we'd be stuck. Hopefully that never happens and we don't have to worry about it.

I wish we could have had a child before FIL passed this summer, and before MIL got sick... but MIL has been so sick for so many years, she doesn't really know anyone anymore and will never be able to hold a grandchild, it wouldn't be safe. Maybe if we held the child while she held it like you do with a three-year-old... I don't know. Ugh, so awful. :( I'm really sorry that you're having to go through this with your own mother.

[Sweet.Bee]

abstract, it's hard to tell from so few pre-O days, but it looks like we have similar low temps. And Kyamo, too. It's interesting how much higher yours are on Clomid. Did your doctor have any ideas as to why your temps were so low? A lot of us in the long cycles thread have mentioned low temps, so I'm wondering if it means something.

miriam_bat_avraham, wow CD45. That must have been frustrating. Did the Clomid help, or did your body correct itself on its own? I used to O nice and early, so these long cycles are new for me. And this is the longest one yet. Also, the first where I'm sure my body has tried to O twice already and failed. Congratulations on your follicle! Hope you O soon!

rcr, hope you feel better soon. I think everyone here deserves to be pregnant in time for the holidays.

Speaking of which, if I ovulate this time (had another + OPK today and a nice, strong one, so maybe it will happen at last?), then we will find out before xmas. My husband's parents are coming on the 25th, and we joked that if I'm pregnant, we don't have to get them another gift. 

Lucky vibes to all of us for a pregnancy before 2010 is over.

[Jane]

Got my reminder phone call for Tuesday's hsg. Moving forward.

[Kyamo]

Originally Posted by Sweet.Bee 

abstract, it's hard to tell from so few pre-O days, but it looks like we have similar low temps. And Kyamo, too. It's interesting how much higher yours are on Clomid. Did your doctor have any ideas as to why your temps were so low? A lot of us in the long cycles thread have mentioned low temps, so I'm wondering if it means something.

Nope, he wouldn't even look at my charts.  He thinks they are pretty useless and blood tests are a better way to tell if someone is ovulating.  I totally disagree, I get tons of info from my charts.  My long cycles are definitely due to PCOS though.  I don't really hang out on the long cycles thread because on the clomid, my cycles are pretty normal length, and I usually O CD16-18 on clomid. 

[Kyamo]

Originally Posted by miriam_bat_avraham 

 I'm expecting they'll tell me to trigger tonight, so we're preparing for an IUI on Tuesday morning. 

Good luck!  You'll be exactly a week behind me then, as my IUI was last Tues.  

[littlest birds]

Low temps can definitely suggest hypothyroid.  AFAIK that is the only thing they are strongly associated with. 

I can't say test the thyroid b/c I didn't and don't plan.  I just learned as much as a could about correcting what could be out of balance based on symptoms.  I am afraid I approach health care in a rather backward way and don't recommend it to others.  Anyway you might want to test but you probably should learn more about the different tests because it can be hard to get more than the basic minimum tests and with only those they can miss hypothyroid completely.

Hypothyroid can significantly affect TTC and often appears after you've already had one or more PGs and therefore is a cause of secondary IF.

Mine temps are pretty low, but better the last three cycles than previously.  They are now a bit higher before O and a chunk higher in TWW.  They also rise faster when I O.   In past two cycles I have had "highest temp ever" days in TWW that make me really think I'm PG.  First time over 98.0 ever was October cycle.  They were often in the 96.6-96.9 range pre-O but less so now.  Overall they are about .2 higher with fewer dips in TWW.

I made a number of changes that may have contributed to my wee improvement:

soy-free

wheat-free (low grains)

coffee-free

iodine supplements

zinc and B-complex supplements (EOD)

magnesium supplements (occasional)

I think it was dropping the soy and taking iodine that helped most.  The iodine I started about 6 mos ago.  I quit soy about 3 mos ago.  I had better temps starting 3 mos. ago.

[miriam_bat_avraham]

Posted this on my blog, but since it's likely most of you didn't see that :) I did my trigger shot tonight (at a friend's house!) and we're going in for the IUI TOMORROW. Apparently my LH levels were going high already so we didn't have the 36 hours to wait like we did last time. So our afternoon will be thrown off a bit, and it's likely that I'll be going from legs-in-the-air to work right after, but oh well... gonna roll with it :) CD 13 ovulation-- unheard of! I'm really grateful not to have to wait so long this time to get through the cycle.
 

Originally Posted by Sweet.Bee 

abstract, it's hard to tell from so few pre-O days, but it looks like we have similar low temps. And Kyamo, too. It's interesting how much higher yours are on Clomid. Did your doctor have any ideas as to why your temps were so low? A lot of us in the long cycles thread have mentioned low temps, so I'm wondering if it means something.

miriam_bat_avraham, wow CD45. That must have been frustrating. Did the Clomid help, or did your body correct itself on its own? I used to O nice and early, so these long cycles are new for me. And this is the longest one yet. Also, the first where I'm sure my body has tried to O twice already and failed. Congratulations on your follicle! Hope you O soon!

rcr, hope you feel better soon. I think everyone here deserves to be pregnant in time for the holidays.

Speaking of which, if I ovulate this time (had another + OPK today and a nice, strong one, so maybe it will happen at last?), then we will find out before xmas. My husband's parents are coming on the 25th, and we joked that if I'm pregnant, we don't have to get them another gift. 

Lucky vibes to all of us for a pregnancy before 2010 is over.

I believe it's the Clomid that did it, primarily, but I did have some similar cycles (with an O day between about CD 18 and 21) before starting the Clomid.

Originally Posted by Jane 

Got my reminder phone call for Tuesday's hsg. Moving forward.

Good luck!!! My HSG was no big deal, I got all worked up and terrified for literally half a second of pinching feeling. And then I got to see my parts up on the screen, which was really cool :D I'd do it again if I had to, no problem. I hope everything comes up Milhouse and you've got two awesome tubes and everything :)

Originally Posted by Kyamo 

Originally Posted by miriam_bat_avraham 

 I'm expecting they'll tell me to trigger tonight, so we're preparing for an IUI on Tuesday morning. 

Good luck!  You'll be exactly a week behind me then, as my IUI was last Tues.  

So you're 5 DPO today, then? Well, probably 6 by the time you read this. When are you testing?

[Kyamo]

Originally Posted by miriam_bat_avraham 

So you're 5 DPO today, then? Well, probably 6 by the time you read this. When are you testing?

The blood test will be on the 17th.  I could test earlier than that, but I am terrified of getting a false positive due to the HCG shot.  I know I could test regularly starting now to see it go negative, but I would really rather avoid seeing the fake positive at all, I think that would be harder than the BFNs I have seen many times.  I dunno, I may break down and test, but I think I'm going to try to wait for AF or the blood test.  AF would normally be due on the 15th, will it still come even though I'm on progesterone suppositories?

[LessTraveledBy]

Originally Posted by littlest birds 

Low temps can definitely suggest hypothyroid.  AFAIK that is the only thing they are strongly associated with. 

Yes... There are some experts out there who seem to think that low temps automatically mean hypothyroid, even if the labs come back normal. (And one always needs to get the results on paper, not believe the "they were ok.") It is also dangerous not to treat hypo, as it can cause miscarriages (and infertility) as well as a lowered IQ in the baby. Serious stuff...

[Maurine]

Originally Posted by jenger 

CD1

Oh, hon. 

Originally Posted by miriam_bat_avraham 

Posted this on my blog, but since it's likely most of you didn't see that :) I did my trigger shot tonight (at a friend's house!) and we're going in for the IUI TOMORROW. Apparently my LH levels were going high already so we didn't have the 36 hours to wait like we did last time. So our afternoon will be thrown off a bit, and it's likely that I'll be going from legs-in-the-air to work right after, but oh well... gonna roll with it :) CD 13 ovulation-- unheard of! I'm really grateful not to have to wait so long this time to get through the cycle.
 

Oh wow!  Fingers crossed for you, J!!

[miriam_bat_avraham]

IUI tooooddaaaaaayyy! DH is there right now, probably still sitting in the waiting room. He's been texting me all the sexual references in the music playing in the waiting room because given why he's there, it's quite amusing :) My favorite was "Here Comes Santa Claus." ha!

Ending "lewdness" sequence, commencing "classy lady" sequence...
 

Originally Posted by Kyamo 

Originally Posted by miriam_bat_avraham 

So you're 5 DPO today, then? Well, probably 6 by the time you read this. When are you testing?

The blood test will be on the 17th.  I could test earlier than that, but I am terrified of getting a false positive due to the HCG shot.  I know I could test regularly starting now to see it go negative, but I would really rather avoid seeing the fake positive at all, I think that would be harder than the BFNs I have seen many times.  I dunno, I may break down and test, but I think I'm going to try to wait for AF or the blood test.  AF would normally be due on the 15th, will it still come even though I'm on progesterone suppositories?

I think as long as you wait 10 days, you're probably fine for false positives. I'm not sure about that, but a quick Google search might yield some info. If you're more comfortable waiting, though, I'd do that, definitely. You don't want to get a BFP and not trust it-- that's got to be terrible.

Originally Posted by LessTraveledBy 

Originally Posted by littlest birds 

Low temps can definitely suggest hypothyroid.  AFAIK that is the only thing they are strongly associated with. 

Yes... There are some experts out there who seem to think that low temps automatically mean hypothyroid, even if the labs come back normal. (And one always needs to get the results on paper, not believe the "they were ok.") It is also dangerous not to treat hypo, as it can cause miscarriages (and infertility) as well as a lowered IQ in the baby. Serious stuff...

What constitutes "low" temperatures, exactly? Mine have varied each cycle but seem lower now than they once were, like high 96's/low 97s rather than mid 97's/low 98s.

Originally Posted by Maurine 

Originally Posted by jenger 

CD1

Oh, hon. 

Originally Posted by miriam_bat_avraham 

Posted this on my blog, but since it's likely most of you didn't see that :) I did my trigger shot tonight (at a friend's house!) and we're going in for the IUI TOMORROW. Apparently my LH levels were going high already so we didn't have the 36 hours to wait like we did last time. So our afternoon will be thrown off a bit, and it's likely that I'll be going from legs-in-the-air to work right after, but oh well... gonna roll with it :) CD 13 ovulation-- unheard of! I'm really grateful not to have to wait so long this time to get through the cycle.
 

Oh wow!  Fingers crossed for you, J!!

[rcr]

Originally Posted by miriam_bat_avraham 

We would tell family (which is a lot of people, because my family is loud and big and Italian and there are many of us), and probably close friends. I've had friends do the "not telling anyone until after 12 weeks in case of a m/c" thing, and I think that's a totally legitimate way to ensure privacy if something happens and you don't want everyone to know... and ultimately, with all of my friends, I've been told "Hey, I *was* pregnant but we lost the baby." I want people who we'd say that to anyways to celebrate alongside us for as long as we're celebrating. So I wouldn't make a FB announcement or tell people at work outside my immediate team until 12 weeks.

My mom has been having "Julie's pregnant and announcing it to us" dreams lately. Pressure? Noooooo. :) heh.

If I get pregnant again, I am considering not even telling DH. I had to un-tell people last time and it was horrible.

Well, I guess I would have to tell DH that I was m/cing, so I guess he would know if I was pregnant and had another m/c.

Originally Posted by miriam_bat_avraham 

Posted this on my blog, but since it's likely most of you didn't see that :) I did my trigger shot tonight (at a friend's house!) and we're going in for the IUI TOMORROW. Apparently my LH levels were going high already so we didn't have the 36 hours to wait like we did last time. So our afternoon will be thrown off a bit, and it's likely that I'll be going from legs-in-the-air to work right after, but oh well... gonna roll with it :) CD 13 ovulation-- unheard of! I'm really grateful not to have to wait so long this time to get through the cycle.
 

Originally Posted by Sweet.Bee 

Originally Posted by Jane 

Got my reminder phone call for Tuesday's hsg. Moving forward.

Good luck!!! My HSG was no big deal, I got all worked up and terrified for literally half a second of pinching feeling. And then I got to see my parts up on the screen, which was really cool :D I'd do it again if I had to, no problem. I hope everything comes up Milhouse and you've got two awesome tubes and everything :)

 

Yea, mine was the same. Some pinching, ouch ouch, and then it was over and I got to see the dye in me. Kinda cool.
 

Originally Posted by miriam_bat_avraham 

IUI tooooddaaaaaayyy! DH is there right now, probably still sitting in the waiting room. He's been texting me all the sexual references in the music playing in the waiting room because given why he's there, it's quite amusing :) My favorite was "Here Comes Santa Claus." ha!

Ending "lewdness" sequence, commencing "classy lady" sequence...

 how was it?

Still feeling kinda crappy. The maintenance guy at my mom's assisted living broke her most prized thing (not that she remembers it), an old lamp that was my grandma's.  I was sad about the lamp at first, then about the fact that my mom does not remember that it is her most favroite thing in the world, then about the fact that she may not know my baby, if I have another one at all. I had DS post-alzheimers, so she does not remember DS, but he still gets to brighten her day every day when we visit. So, I guess I just have roaming sadness about my mom, and ttc, and life. I guess I can add sadness at having to grade a huge stack of tests and papers today too.

10 dpo today. FF gives me 15 points. blah.