Bitter Sushi Ladies, July 2011

[Smilesarefree]

Welcome to the July Thread

This is a thread for those who have been TTC for a long time, whether 6 months, 12 months, or more. At this point many of us are at or past 1 or 2 years, many have had losses, many are dealing with various forms of infertility, and some are just in a waiting period until they can TTC again.

The name? Well, all things considered we tend to be a little bitter sometimes. So read with care. And due to everything, our emotions run a little raw like sushi. Too many cycles of BFN and CD1 sushi & sake to console ourselves. This TTC business is something that seems to "just happen" for so many...but we just can't seem to get it right. So this is where we can be together, share and express anything.

Current Bitter Sushi Ladies

abstract

33, and DH (36), TTC (his #2, my #1) off-and-on since November 2006

AGreenMum10

Trying since Nov 2009 , 1 ectopic - down a tube (May 2010), 2 losses (Aug 2010 & Jan 2011)

amo4piano

TTC #1 since Jan 2010, one m/c at 10.5 weeks

Attached2Elijah

Hoping for #3 for 4 years and 3 months with 6 months hard TTC (charting, etc) after previous unexplained secondary infertility.

blueyezz4

TTC #1 (technically #4-long story) since 2006; Moving on to our first FET after 5 failed IUI's and 1 IVF

Calycanth

TTC #1 since March 2010, one miscarriage May 2010

collieflower

TTC #2 for 2 years, with 4 m/c (and another before DC#1)

enigo

Has one beautiful son, trying to conceive after three losses

InWaiting

TTC #1 since 04/2009 with one ectopic (11/09), one missed miscarriage (11/10),

Hypothyroidism and compound heterozygous MTHFR mutation. Current regimen is 5 mg of Femara on CD 3-7.

indianagrl

36, TTC for a little over two years onto IUI and clomid

IsisandOsiris

TTC #1 since August 2009

jenger

Mama to DD (4/07) TTC #2 since August 2009.

jennabella

TTC #2 since July 2009, with a loss in February 2010 and a loss in July 2010

kinza

TTC #1 since November 2008, with PCOS and Male Factor

kparker

TTC #1 since 9/08 with male factor, IUI #4 ???

lilmom

35, TTC #2 for 2 years with PCOS and rarely ovulating

littlest birds

TTC for 16+ months after VR

luminesce

TTC #2 since 4/2010 after 3 years of unexplained infertility with #1

Milk8shake

 monkeyscience

me (27) and dh (25) TTC #1 with PCOS since 6/10. One failed Femara cycle... going natural until there's more cash

Objet_Trouve

TTC #1 since Jan 2010 with PCOS

Praha

Waiting since 2004; TTC since 10/10; losses 1/11, 4/11, and 7/11

rcr

TTC #2 since 12/2007, one loss in September 2010, one failed IVF in February 2011

SimplyRochelle

TTC #1 on and off since 5/2007, m/c at 12 weeks 9/08.

Smilesarefree

36 year old mom of one wonderful dd trying for another since April 2010

Sourire

TTC #1 since August 2010

sweetest77

TTC 2+ years after VR, 1 loss (6/11)

TandN

TandN (28), DH (28), TTC #2 since December 2010 after losing #1 DD, s/b @ 38 weeks

Vivica2

TTC #3 with regular ovulation and no success for 14 months

Wissa19

Wissa19 (33), DH (38) sweet buddy (12/07), TTC #2 since 06/09

yoyonana

34 , DH 31, TTC for 3 years, done all kinds of tests, unexplained infertilitty

ZanneMom

TTC #2 for more than 12 months

In our thoughts, on hold, and/or waiting

silverbird

ttc #1 since June 2010, after a two year delay for illness. Husband passed away 5/25/11

mi_dawn

lost baby William (born still 4/09) and two m/c in 09.

BSL BFPs!!! Stick little babies, stick, stick, stick... 

Kyamo - due 3/2012

laggie - due early 2/2012

MommyMatsumoto - due 1/2012

Emaya - due 1/2012

Sweet.Bee - due 1/15/2012

lavatea - due 12/2011

miriam bat avraham - due 11/28/2011

Rachel88 - due 11/20/2011

MahnaMahna - due 11/2011

Jane - due 10/3/2011

grahnola mum - due 10/3/2011

borobaby - due 9/12/2011

justthinkn - due 9/2/2011

Tear78 - due 8/4/2011

Maurine - due 8/2/2011

CLH_X3 - due 7/13/11

Waiting on an update...

babygrey - due 4/2011 with twins!

grapesbunch - due 1/13/11

rachwms - Due 11/10

BSL BABIES

slylives - Cameron 6/15/11

kalamos23 - baby boy 4/28/11

xtara2003x - Emerson Rae 4/27/11

jenniferadurham - Ryan born 3/28/11!

Nanette56 - Tristan and Cael born 3/18/11!

finnegansmom - Henry born 2/11!

jessica_s - Asher Kingston 1/20/11

QBear'sMama - Jack Everett 12/17/10!

BarefootGirl - DS 11/20/10!

kellyttc#1 - Hilary & Charlotte 11/11/10!

YummyYumYumMama - Kieran 10/27/10!

lyndzies - Cadence James 10/15/10!

Carlyle - Maggie 10/9/10!

aidanraynesmom - Sloan Phoenix 9/10!

MaerynPearl - Maeryn Jean 9/27/10!

colorbywords - Emery Oaklynn 8/03/10!

LZP - Anna Veronica 7/18/10!

Pinoikoi - Ursula Marisol 6/23/10!

Lisko15 - Caleb Benjamin 6/24/10!

LINK to our graduates thread - Spring 2011 Edition!

Please let the threadkeeper (smilesarefree) know if your info needs to be updated.

New ladies are always welcome, but please join with care.

Please put all notes for changes or additions to this post in bold! Thank you!! 

Edited by Smilesarefree - 8/1/11 at 4:29pm

[monkeyscience]

THANK YOU!! If you have more questions, I'll be more available Monday evening... headed out of town. Jealous you got to move Kyamo, not me, but I was too busy!

And milkshake... I SEE IT!!

Best of luck to you ladies, "see" you next week! Can't wait for beta reports!

[LessTraveledBy]

Subscribing. :)

[ISISandOSIRIS]

I see a fresh, new July thread, so seems a good time to join   My signature says it all:  TTC #1 since August 2009

[Kinza]

Thanks for the new thread, Smiles!

milk8shake, I SEE IT!

Welcome, IsisandOsiris!

CD 1 for me.

[Tear78]

milk8shake omg YAYYYYY!!!!!! I know you must be a nervous wreck amid the excitement. Grab on tight, little one!!!! I'll be thinking about you!

[vivica2]

hi ladies! gearing up to o here...or im suposed to be but no sign of it! uuugh. going on vacation and wanting to move up o so we can actualy have a chance this cycle. anyideas on how to naturaly induce o?

thinking fertile thoughts for us all!

[Smilesarefree]

Originally Posted by ISISandOSIRIS 

I see a fresh, new July thread, so seems a good time to join   My signature says it all:  TTC #1 since August 2009

Hi and Welcome!  I added you to the front page let me know if I should change anything. 

[Smilesarefree]

Originally Posted by monkeyscience 

THANK YOU!! If you have more questions, I'll be more available Monday evening... headed out of town. Jealous you got to move Kyamo, not me, but I was too busy!

And milkshake... I SEE IT!!

Best of luck to you ladies, "see" you next week! Can't wait for beta reports!

Moving Kyamo to the BFP's felt good to do, hopefully I will have more to move!

[Milk8shake]

Originally Posted by Tear78 

milk8shake omg YAYYYYY!!!!!! I know you must be a nervous wreck amid the excitement. Grab on tight, little one!!!! I'll be thinking about you!

A nervous wreck is right.  Another two pregnancy test, and another two bfps. 

[lilmom]

MILKSHAKE!!!!!!  WOOOHOOOO!!!!!  Fantastic news!!!! I wanted to post some jumping veggies but I was afraid you might still be too on edge just yet.

Let me know if you are ready for it! This is SO EXCITING! 2 BSL's getting bfp's in 2 days. They say good things come in three's..I wonder who it's gonna be!

IsisandOsiris- Sorry you have to be here, but welcome! I love your screen name : ) When you feel up to it, give us the lowdown on your situation..have you done testing, what are you trying,etc..hopefully we can be your online family to vent to.

Smiles- Ok, I am really, REALLY hoping this will change in a few days, and I will need to be moved too, but could you please change my blurb to say ttc #2 for 2 yrs w/pcos instead of 1 and a half yrs. A sad day for me to have to say that, but this month, it has been 2 yrs.

AFM, I had a really rough day today. Really rough. So rough,  I can't even really open up about it, and it doesn't relate to ttc so I don't want to burden anybody but I would love if those of you who are pray-ers would pray for me this weekend. Or even if you are a good vibes person or whatever. I need positive energy! Esp. if AF comes Monday, I think I will be a wreck. Thanks so much.

[LessTraveledBy]

lilmom.... I will pray!

[ISISandOSIRIS]

 Thank you for the welcomes! ...and lilmom, I figured it couldn't hurt to evoke the names of a fertility god and goddess 

My story: Hubby and I first started with the notion that ttc would be easy (like all of us, I'm sure).  I was practically told I could get pregnant with my clothes on back in high school .  After it didn't happen quite as easily as we thought, I began charting.  So, I charted for awhile and learned that my cycles were very normal.  I found this to be an enlightening experience, as I got to know my body very well... *but* it also led me to become a bit obsessive about ttc, so I since put charting aside (at least for the time being).  

When nothing happened for a year (and I mean, NOTHING) we went to an RE.  Tests were run and all was fine with me.  Other than a tipped uterus, my reproductive system is pretty normal.  Hubby's sperm count was also fine, but motility was on the lower end of average (nothing major, though). The fertility clinic we went to is more on the aggressive side, so they immediately set forth with Clomid, sperm wash, and IUI.  This initially caught us off guard, because we really just wanted to know if everything was okay.... but after some thought, we went along with it, although we had a level of discomfort. Clomid is no joke, and the doctor laid out the risks plainly.  It upset me because I do ovulate just fine on my own, but the RE wanted us to get more bang for our buck with the IUI.  Okay then, we gave it a try.  I was an emotional wreck on the Clomid and my face broke out terribly (very painful cysts).  I ovulated 4 eggs and IUI was performed at the right time.  Only one potential red flag, my estrogen was slightly elevated... but again, nothing major.  

Several weeks after the IUI, for the first time EVER, AF was over a week late.  I never test, because I don't feel like wasting the money or emotional energy on HPTs unless I'm a full week late (which never happens, btw).  I tested with utter delight, fully expecting BFP... but surprise, BFN.  I went back to the RE, who found that several of my eggs had turned into painful cysts, which in turn, delayed AF. I was crushed.  That was about a year ago.

I tried to put ttc out of my head and just dtd regularly (since everyone says "relax and it will happen" - nope).  I completely stopped charting (and this from a person who had been tracking AF since the age of 13).  It's been several months of this, with no luck.  After a recent bout of the blues, we started to become really focused again.  We plan to go back to the fertility clinic in September, to give the IUI another try. This will give me time to gear-up mentally and physically.  Artificial hormones and I just don't get along.  I think I may start charting again, too.

In the meantime, hubby and I have been really refocusing on a healthful lifestyle.  We  also began eating maca a couple of weeks ago to help strengthen his sperm, increase my libido (since we've been stepping up the BDing), and help maintain overall balance.  RE only wants to do two more rounds of Clomid, to reduce the risk of long-term side effects.  I think that's part of the reason I've been putting it off.  If the IUIs fail, I doubt I'll try IVF.  Hubby is starting to seriously think about adoption.  I'm not quite there yet, but not completely against it either.

If you read this far, thank you!  I'm here for the support since I don't really talk to my family and friends about this (other than the basics) and poor hubby does all he can to keep me going when I know he's hurting just as much.  My last round of despair took a lot out of both of us, so I'm really trying to stay strong and positive.

milk8shake - I can only imagine the roller coaster of joy and fear you must be feeling right now.  I'm sending the universe a prayer for sticky baby dust 

[Smilesarefree]

Originally Posted by lilmom 

MILKSHAKE!!!!!!  WOOOHOOOO!!!!!  Fantastic news!!!! I wanted to post some jumping veggies but I was afraid you might still be too on edge just yet.

Let me know if you are ready for it! This is SO EXCITING! 2 BSL's getting bfp's in 2 days. They say good things come in three's..I wonder who it's gonna be!

IsisandOsiris- Sorry you have to be here, but welcome! I love your screen name : ) When you feel up to it, give us the lowdown on your situation..have you done testing, what are you trying,etc..hopefully we can be your online family to vent to.

Smiles- Ok, I am really, REALLY hoping this will change in a few days, and I will need to be moved too, but could you please change my blurb to say ttc #2 for 2 yrs w/pcos instead of 1 and a half yrs. A sad day for me to have to say that, but this month, it has been 2 yrs.

AFM, I had a really rough day today. Really rough. So rough,  I can't even really open up about it, and it doesn't relate to ttc so I don't want to burden anybody but I would love if those of you who are pray-ers would pray for me this weekend. Or even if you are a good vibes person or whatever. I need positive energy! Esp. if AF comes Monday, I think I will be a wreck. Thanks so much.

Done!!!

Milk8shake - Let me know when you are ready for me to move you too!!!

[Milk8shake]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smilesarefree 

Milk8shake - Let me know when you are ready for me to move you too!!!

Oh man, there is no denying that I am pregnant (a total of 5 hpts later), so I guess it is time to move me.  As far as being ready... well that's another story.

It's tough to think that I am now pregnant for the FOURTH time.  I'm happy, don't get me wrong - but I'm also pretty terrified.

Originally Posted by lilmom 

AFM, I had a really rough day today. Really rough. So rough,  I can't even really open up about it, and it doesn't relate to ttc so I don't want to burden anybody but I would love if those of you who are pray-ers would pray for me this weekend. Or even if you are a good vibes person or whatever. I need positive energy! Esp. if AF comes Monday, I think I will be a wreck. Thanks so much.

I'll send you good thoughts.  And I'm sorry for the two year mark.  That just bites.
 

Originally Posted by ISISandOSIRIS 

 Thank you for the welcomes! ...and lilmom, I figured it couldn't hurt to evoke the names of a fertility god and goddess 

Welcome
 

[tantylynn]

OMG I miss lurking for 1 month and I miss 2 BFPs!? Shame on me.

CONGRATULATIONS Kyamo & MilkShake!!!

[Sourire]

Hey ladies, I'd love to join this group. My blurb could be "TTC #1 since August 2010". I haven't been TTC for 1 year yet but I'm already on cycle 13 because my cycles are fairly short. Also there's a link to my chart in my siggy.

I have a very short luteal phase (about 9 days) but I usually start spotting on 6 or 7 DPO. My RE has put me on Clomid which is supposed to help with my LP issues, but it doesn't seem to be doing much... the first cycle of Clomid I started spotting on 5 DPO and my LP remained at 9 days. The 2nd cycle I started spotting on 8 DPO (only 1 day later than usual) and my LP might have been 10 days, though its not clear when the spotting ended and AF began because it was a very gradual transition.

Now I am giving Clomid one final try before I go back to the RE to see what the next step is. DH and I have had all the tests already and we don't seem to have any problems other than this LP stuff.... well I also have very long and painful periods (often 10 days or more until the Clomid shortened them a bit), so that could be related to my LP issues, but the fertility clinic ran all the hormone tests on me and everything came back normal so I have no idea what the next step would be for us... I don't see how IUI or IVF could possibly be helpful in my situation.

Isis, I'm curious, what are the long term side effects of Clomid that you mentioned?

Congrats to milk8shake and Kyamo for your BFPs (you guys might be surprised how long I have been stalking this thread... I may be a stranger to you but I am truly excited for you guys)! I'm sending sticky vibes to both of you.

[Kyamo]

Originally Posted by Sourire 

Hey ladies, I'd love to join this group. My blurb could be "TTC #1 since August 2010". I haven't been TTC for 1 year yet but I'm already on cycle 13 because my cycles are fairly short. Also there's a link to my chart in my siggy.

I have a very short luteal phase (about 9 days) but I usually start spotting on 6 or 7 DPO. My RE has put me on Clomid which is supposed to help with my LP issues, but it doesn't seem to be doing much... the first cycle of Clomid I started spotting on 5 DPO and my LP remained at 9 days. The 2nd cycle I started spotting on 8 DPO (only 1 day later than usual) and my LP might have been 10 days, though its not clear when the spotting ended and AF began because it was a very gradual transition.

Now I am giving Clomid one final try before I go back to the RE to see what the next step is. DH and I have had all the tests already and we don't seem to have any problems other than this LP stuff.... well I also have very long and painful periods (often 10 days or more until the Clomid shortened them a bit), so that could be related to my LP issues, but the fertility clinic ran all the hormone tests on me and everything came back normal so I have no idea what the next step would be for us... I don't see how IUI or IVF could possibly be helpful in my situation.

Isis, I'm curious, what are the long term side effects of Clomid that you mentioned?

Congrats to milk8shake and Kyamo for your BFPs (you guys might be surprised how long I have been stalking this thread... I may be a stranger to you but I am truly excited for you guys)! I'm sending sticky vibes to both of you.

Thanks and WELCOME!  I remember you, probably because I was reading both threads for awhile after I came over here.  You asked what the next step in your case is.   I would have thought the first thing to try would be progesterone suppositories.  They can definitely lengthen your luteal phase.  Mine was a normal 13-14 days without progesterone, but for IUIs my clinic puts everyone on progesterone, and it went up to 18 days!  I am surprised your doctor didn't have you try that even before clomid.  

As for the side effects of clomid, the ones affecting fertility are possible thickening of CM and thinning of lining.  But, I had the lining problem starting from the 2nd cycle in retrospect, though I didn't find out about it until later. (Because my doctor told me it was nothing to worry about that my period was half as much blood.    I was on it for 8 cycles.  I switched to letrozole and BFP 3 cycles later.)  

Good luck.      

AFM - First beta was today.  18DPO 1069.    Repeat in a week.  

[Smilesarefree]

Milk8shake - Done, and I am hoping and praying for a sticky baby for you!!!  I guessed March 2012 for due date, let me know if I should change that.

 

Originally Posted by Sourire 

Hey ladies, I'd love to join this group. My blurb could be "TTC #1 since August 2010". I haven't been TTC for 1 year yet but I'm already on cycle 13 because my cycles are fairly short. Also there's a link to my chart in my siggy.

I have a very short luteal phase (about 9 days) but I usually start spotting on 6 or 7 DPO. My RE has put me on Clomid which is supposed to help with my LP issues, but it doesn't seem to be doing much... the first cycle of Clomid I started spotting on 5 DPO and my LP remained at 9 days. The 2nd cycle I started spotting on 8 DPO (only 1 day later than usual) and my LP might have been 10 days, though its not clear when the spotting ended and AF began because it was a very gradual transition.

Now I am giving Clomid one final try before I go back to the RE to see what the next step is. DH and I have had all the tests already and we don't seem to have any problems other than this LP stuff.... well I also have very long and painful periods (often 10 days or more until the Clomid shortened them a bit), so that could be related to my LP issues, but the fertility clinic ran all the hormone tests on me and everything came back normal so I have no idea what the next step would be for us... I don't see how IUI or IVF could possibly be helpful in my situation.

Isis, I'm curious, what are the long term side effects of Clomid that you mentioned?

Congrats to milk8shake and Kyamo for your BFPs (you guys might be surprised how long I have been stalking this thread... I may be a stranger to you but I am truly excited for you guys)! I'm sending sticky vibes to both of you.

Hi Sourire, I added you and welcome, sorry you had to join us but welcome!!!!

Well, 2 moves to BFP and I have only been threadkeeper for 3 days!!!!  Maybe I will bring luck, not for myself as AF showed today, 2 days early, I knew we had bad timing this cycle but still a part of me thought maybe, just maybe....

Kyamo - yahoo!

[lilmom]

Kinza- Somehow I missed your post before. Sorry for CD1. Gotta keep on keeping on I guess.

Vivica- I don't know of any way to induce O naturally, but acupuncture did help me immensely in that dept. In fact, if you were stalking before (I don't know if you were or not) you might remember that a few months ago I had a stint of no O for a couple of months and after just one acu session I O'ed about a week later. I thought that might interest you since you mentioned acupuncture before.

IsisandOsiris- Thanks for sharing all that with us!! What a long journey so far. I am so sorry. It does sound like there is nothing insurmountable going on though so you have lots of hope! I don't get along well with artificial hormones, well, bc at least. I haven't tried clomid yet although that is probably the next step for me, after we move. Also, I don't know about you but maca gave me so much energy! It never did anything for my libido though and DH said he didn't feel any different in any way when we tried it, so we took it for a few months and then quit. I hope it helps you though! I'll be interested to see how you like it. Also, I think we all can relate to those bouts of despair. Personally,  I'm very up and down about ttc. Sometimes I feel very hopeful and other times hopeless and depressed. It's a hard road.

Sourire- Welcome, hope your stay is short! I agree with Kyamo, I am shocked your doc hasn't put you on progesterone. Maybe you have a Clomid-happy doctor?? Long and painful periods...did they check you for endo? I assume they did..but I know that can be a symptom of endometriosis. I'm kind of a health nut type so if you want you can also take this with a grain of salt but you might want to think about doing some cleanses..colon cleanse, etc..that may help with your long and painful periods. Just a thought. Anyway, I am so sorry you are having such a hard time!!! Hang in there!

AFM, thanks everyone for all the prayers and happy thoughts. I feel MUCH better about everything now. Temp has been falling though so I am pretty sure AF will be here tomorrow. I hope not, but I think she probably will be. I have been having alot of random cramping though, which is not typical for me..so maybe that is a good thing. My temp hasn't fallen so much as to be hopeless yet..but it's not going up anymore..so..we'll see what happens over the next day or two. Thanks for putting up with my play by play of all this stuff. Oddly, my DH still seems to be very hopeful and expecting it to happen anytime even after 2 years. I'm not sure how he does it. He rarely acts discouraged, and sometimes I wonder if he is just very good at pretending for my sake. There was a time several months ago when it seemed like everyone we knew got pregnant all at once and he really got down. But other than that, he has maintained that it will happen the whole time. I sure hope he is right.