It's Beginning to Look A Lot like Bajingo Juice - TTC #1 in our 30's - December 2011 - Page 3

[indie1976]

boots and andaluza - HORRAY!!!! i am so in love with your bfps! many sticky vibes being sent you way!

ericaf - i totally feel you with the frustration over other preggos. it seems like i am learning about someone else who is pregnant... DAILY. today it is a coworker. it's friggin painful. i agree with what boots said about if i only knew it was going to happen FOR SURE at some point, i could totally relax. but the fear really is the worst...

erinbriana - i'm on my second cycle of clomid. first one was a bust. had a miscarriage just over a year ago and had some wonky cycles for a lot longer than i anticipated. i'm doing 50mg days 3-7. are you considering meds?

AFM - cd8 here. took my last pill last night. drinking water and green tea like crazy in hopes that it will help with EWCM production. i'm feeling pretty crappy these days, all of my positivity has been sapped. i'm starting to regret not taking this month off. christmas is going to make all this 100xs harder. i'm feeling verrrry defeated right now.

[ErinBriana]

Indie- looks like we're on the same days for clomid, except they started me on 100mg right away, not 50 and I'm about to start my third round.  Also, as I'm a type 1 diabetic with insulin resistance, they put me on metformin about a 1/2 year ago, which I guess also works as a fertility med.  

I've started what I believe to be my period today, so I called the docs to get my refill of clomid just a few minutes ago and they told me my doc died! So sad! He's been with the clinic since the late 70s; he's around 60 years old; has kids and grandkids.  It was totally unexpected.  I just met him two appointments ago and knew he was the perfect doc for my and my hubby's pursuit to make babies.  He was SO enthusiastic and happy and knew how to get around insurance companies lack of 'infertility' coverage.  He gave us so much hope and didn't waste any time discussing options with us.  He even walked me through the genetics report from my miscarriage from the previous year (that the other doc hadn't explained to me).  He was awesome on soooooo many levels as a OB/Gyn. Sorry to vent... just super sad especially after getting my period this morning.  What are the odds.  RIP doc. :(

On a happier note, I agree with everyone that this thread must be a good luck charm with all the BFPs- craaaazy! Hope to see more good news soon... 

[bootsvalentine]

Wow, Erin! How shocking and sad to know that your doc died. I hope you have good luck finding another one. What a great life this guy had helping people start families.

Just wanted to mention, this was cycle 18 for us. I am amazed this is happening. I never thought it would only take 50 mgs of Clomid one time.

Went and got my first beta, hoping to talk to the doc tomorrow to find out if I need progesterone or anything.

[ericaf]

ErinBriana: That is crazy! I'm so sorry! Ugh... 

boots: Question. I'm still not so on the up and up about clomid. What makes your doctor actually prescribe it for you? Does it raise your estrogen levels? Do they prescribe it even if you ovulate on your own regularly? I bet you're smiling from ear to ear right now. Hehe. Oh yeah.. and what the heck is a beta? I know nada!

indie: No, no, no, no, NO! Postivity is KEY! For everythinggg in life. Try to think of that. 

[bootsvalentine]

erica, I would be SO happy to answer this question because my OBGYN was SO WRONG about clomid not helping me. She made us try for 15 months!!! She told me because of my regular periods she thought I was ovulating, and clomid would do nothing for me, but I could have it if I wanted it. I was so beaten down by her lack of hope, I didn't take the rx, but then I called back later and asked for it. She had also told me that I should go see the fertility doc, which I was sort of scared/insulted by because I don't really feel like she tried to help us.

So last month I went to see my RE, after I had already taken my first dose of clomid, and she told me tons of people get pregnant on Clomid even if there are other sings of ovulation. From what she said and what I've gathered here, Clomid can make ovulation "stronger" even for women who ovulate. And I think you're correct that it does something with estrogen levels but I'm not sure what.

Betas are the blood tests they do to detect the pregnancy hormones in your blood and they have to keep increasing to sustain your pregnancy.

I can recommend the book that I found at Goodwill earlier this month, Getting Pregnant by Niels H. Lauersen and Colette Bouchez. It has absolutely everything in it about different types of fertility drugs and treatments, along with a lot of other info.

Oh yeah, and so I got my beta results! Not the numbers yet, but I got a confirmation from a medical professional, I'm preggo! Gonna go back for the second test on Thurs. What about you, andaluza?

[doularebekah]

Welcome Hadley! I'm new here also and am so happy to have joined a group of such amazing, supportive and knowledgeable women :) Hopefully you're stay here is quick!

erica - I'm so happy to hear that your mammogram went well! That must be a great feeling. Also great that you're getting some testing done, even if your midwife is being grumpy about it, ha! How're you feeling about the pelvic ultrasound? Have you had anymore info about it? Part of me thinks that so long as it isn't too invasive, I'm open to most testing just so I have a good idea of how my body is working. So maybe even just that knowledge will be empowering for you?

AFM - Looks like AF is here :( It's still quite light which is unusual for me, but I have had some cramping (and it weirdly feels like my abdominal muscles have had a work out??) Oh well, in some ways it's good to have a 'fresh start' at last after the miscarriage. I think I'm going to take Andaluza's advice about setting an alarm for temping, too so I can try to have some consistency in this next cycle. I've only got 2 days

Hope you're all well ladies!

[andaluza]

I am so sorry about how you are feeling, indie1976.  I ate a lot of red grapefruit last month, which really helped my ewcm--just something else good for you to add into the mix!

Erin, so sorry about your doc. I hope you find someone just as wonderful soon!

Erica, from what I understand, clomid makes your body think that it is not producing enough estrogen, so it tricks it into making more. Taken on different days early in the cycle, it can help your body make more eggs, or help them mature better. 

Boots, great news that you already have confirmation!! I saw my doc this am, and she did not do much,but she did schedule me for the pelvic ultrasound on Jan 5. She has a small practice near a lab, so she sends me there and I think that the blood is not analyzed on site, but sent out. Also, my doc is not in the office on Wednesdays, so I don't even think I'll find out my results until Thursday. Talk about agony! I took another dollar tree test this afternoon and it was positive, but I want to avoid obsessing and testing, comparing darkness, etc. I am trying to focus on the moment, think affirmatively (because negative thinking does not have any bearing on this outcome). I need to focus on work, too!  Also, she only ordered me to get blood drawn once, but I am thinking about asking if she can send me for another on Thurs to see if my levels are doubling in the appropriate time frame. Or at least tell me why she thinks it's unnecessary. 

Take care, ladies.

[bootsvalentine]

Andaluza, I think it's totally appropriate to ask for another blood test. I was SO lucky to have them call me, it was kind of a miscommunication, and it's a fertility place so they have someone on call, but boy was I happy to get that call so soon.

Caly told me that tests are really not meant to be read comparing darkness, so you really can't tell anything from that. So I'm going to try to stop, too!

Indie, I know ttc can suck the joy out of everything. I remember wishing last Christmas that it would be our last as a family of two, and I'm going to consider that my wish came true. I believe it will happen for you too if you have patience. 17 months here! Where are you in the process of fertility testing etc? I seriously wish I had gone to the fertility doc ASAP. I might have even bent the truth to say we'd been trying for a bit longer, because it would've been worth it to have a doc who really knew what they were doing.

There's really no way to convince yourself it will EVER be you. I think I speak for a lot of women who have gotten BFPs after trying for awhile, it seems so unreal. You just have to hold on hope that as it has happened for us, it will happen for you. And I know personally I felt so much better after the testing etc instead of when I was just in the dark about what the issue might be.

[hadleymonroe]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the welcomes! I'm so glad to know this thread exists. Congrats to those who are having success and hang in there for those who aren't yet!

So... I just took an Internet strip pregnancy test - I think that I am 7 dpo but my BBT was really off this month because I was sick (fever etc) so the charting wasn't as straightforward as usual... it's early to test I know but my breasts have been super swollen and tender and I'm not due for my period for another full week.

Anyhow, I don't have a faint pink line, but I do have a "clear" line. It happened right away and isn't a smudge or anything, it just is  clear line where a pink line should be - the rest is that pink streaky stuff you get and then you can see a place where the line should be.

Does that mean anything? Is it just a bad test?

Oh and also - my instructions say hold the strip in urine for only 3 seconds. Is that right? Should I be keeping it in longer?

[Thebyr]

 Hadley! Post a pic. I think someone had a clear line last week. You should get an FRER to be sure. We weren't really sure what to make of that test. Dollar tree tests are also pretty popular and accurate. PS - I love your profile pic was it an e-pic?

Boots and Andaluza - I totally tested repeatedly for the first two weeks - I used 8 different tests (I kept the first dollar tree and the first FRER - I envision putting them in a scrapbook at some point). Congrats again!

Indie - I hope your faith is restored really soon with a BFP!

DoulaR - These helped me learn how to temp. I temped the whole month before we tried - just to figure out if and when I might be ovulating. It helped a lot - I tend to ovulate around day 16/17 - not day 15. That was good to know the next month when we began TTC'ing while were traveling and I didn't want to take a thermometer with me.

Erin - so sorry about your doc. My ultra fav doc retired 6 months after I started going to her again - I was really sad. It's not quite the same - but I know how it can be to lose a doc you really like. I hope you find one you love just as much really soon.

[mexilady]

Good mornin ladies,

I am loosing my mind here! Af is officially 2 days late, zero spotting, two days past my longest lp, and.... all bfn. I really feel like I should be testing positive by now if I am preg. Not sure what is going on. Have a great day!

[lilacvioletiris]

Welcome to lakeruby and hadleymonroe!  I added your information to the list at the beginning of the thread.

It is an exciting time this month!  Can't wait to see what else might happen.

AFM: My temp dropped to just a smidge above my coverline, I figure it will drop rightfully below it tomorrow so I will just wait for AF to show up.

[danadavis108]

Yeah Boots!!!!!!!!I'm so excited for you!

Welcome hadley! I hope your time here is short. With all the BFPs this month, maybe we'll all catch some of those vibes.

[ericaf]

mexilady and lilac: I don't knowwww... I still see some positives maybe coming your way! Keep the faith... mexilady, your temps are staying up! And lilac, maybeee implantation dip? Who knows!!

boots and andaluza: Okay, I get it. Well, a bit more at least! I'm going to have to look into that because with my breast cancer history, I'm pretty positive I'm not allowed to mess with anything with my estrogen levels (that's what my Oncologist told me, at least) but that if I had low progesterone... they could do something about that. I'm gonna start researching!

doularebekah: My friend just had a pelvic ultrasound and said it was horrific. She said they shove a camera up there. Eeeek!!! I'm def holding off until I at least get my CD22 bloodwork done.

AFM: My boob they did the mammo on is so stinkin sore today!!! Ugh!!! I've had like 6 mammos this lifetime, and this was by far the most painful. I had reconstruction surgery, so I have implants on both sides (evennnnnnnnnnnnnn though I only had the mastectomy on one side, I was a size AA to begin with. And get this... they don't MAKE implants that small, so they had to stuff one in my "good" side so they would match. Ridic!!!! You know a man came up with implant and their sizing! ) but now that I have implants, they have to pull the implant out and thennnn smash them down. Sick sick sick joke, I thought! Yick, awful, barftastic! But I'm reallyyyyyyyyyyy hoping I get preggo soon because I won't be due for another one for a year and they don't do them when you're prego orrrrr breastfeeding (think they would do an ultrasound or MRI, depending) but that's potentially 2 years of no smashing. Gah. Look what I'm looking forward to. No mammos. Haha. What else. Oh! I threw myself a little fit last night because my hubby has a work party on Thursday night in NYC (and is staying over!) and work Friday night/Saturday day, so no BD the two whole days around when I should be ovulating around. GRRRRRRRRRR!!!  So we're def BD'ing everyday till them!! Hmph!

[lakeruby]

Erica- Ouch! My chest hurts just thinking about that :)

Rebekah--I also set my alarm for temping reccomend it.  I set it pretty early and then either go back to sleep or get up and exercise.  Mostly been choosing sleep lately!

[Shell77]

YAAAAAAAAAY Andaluza!!!! That is sooo Great !! I am sure your precious little baby will stick!! what a wonderful Christmas present for your family!!

AFM : I havent been using the OPK's this month , and I have been terrible at temping. But we have been BD'ing everyother day.. well except last weekend which was everyday

But I am not supposed to start AF till Dec.18 th and I am already having sensitive breast and I started breaking out yesterday (I hate how they just pop up) My breast are usually never tender and I usually never break out.. but the last 2 months I have had both symptoms... but this time its very early! I have had a little cramping and a lot of CM and some twinges in my uterus.... Any thoughts on why all this is happening so early in my cycle? I feel like I am rattling on and on... and I swore to myself I wouldnt anylyze every little thing this month, but I cant help it! i am getting OLD and want my little baby :-)

BIG BFP thoughts and prayers to everyone this month!!!  I am so blessed that I have this site to vent too!!! thsnk you ALL!!

[jenmegc]

Hi all,

Congratulations on the BFP ladies! What wonderful news!!!

As for me, finally went to see an OB/GYN, as opposed to my GP. He was wonderful, answered my questions, acknowledged that something might be "off" and came up with a plan. Very calm, but straight forward, yet completely positive that we would get pregnant. Had a pelvic ultrasound last friday (are they looking at your tonsils?!), all fine. HSG next cycle, along with starting Clomid, 3 cycles of Clomid, then discuss IUI. I am excited and terrified, so if anyone has any Clomid experiences they want to share, I would really appreciate it. I am actually hoping for a really crappy cycle, late ovulation, short LP, this month to fully justify the Clomid, because I am oddly hanging on to the one normal cycle in the last six months as a possible new normal, if that makes sense.

[indie1976]

erinbriana: that is SO sad about your doc!! i'm so sorry :(

ericaf: i know, i know... positivity really is key. i'm trying so hard to find my way back to feeling positive... you are a good example for me! :) also... have you talked to your doc about femara? i know that drug is actually used for breast cancer so it's safe as far as the estrogen levels go (if that makes sense?)

boots: i'm so so so excited for you!! as far as fertility testing for me... since i did get pregnant just over a year ago my ob gyn wanted to first put me on clomid for three months and then if no bfp he would do an hsg to check tubes and at that point decide if i need to move on to an RE. then when i went in for my u/s to check follicles i had a different doc who gave me a prescription for estradiol and also a prescription for femara since he likes femara better than clomid because it doesn't have the same issues with thinning the lining or drying up CF. my dh and i talked about it and decided to take clomid for another month before switching to femara.

theybr: thanks for the encouragement!

AFM: i am on cd9. i usually start to feel more "fertile" around this time (my O date is typically between cd11 and cd13) but this month i'm not feeling it yet. i'm wondering how much that has to do with the estradiol. i wasn't taking it during the first part of my cycle last time (the doc gave me the prescription right around O time) so i'm wondering if that is going to delay O for me this cycle? anyone have any experience with this? i'm actually thinking about stopping it since i didn't have an issue with my lining last time... not sure what to do. this is where i know it would be so much better to be with an RE because i would probably have a lot more monitoring... other than that... i'm feeling a little bit better. clomid side effects have been much more pronounced this time around. hot flashes, headaches, and crazy dreams are the big offenders.

looking forward to seeing some more BFPs!!

[pitchounette]

Boots, again I'm soooo thrilled for you!!   I keep checking in to see how things are going with you so keep us updated!  :)

Andaluza, I'm so happy for you too!  Sending lots of positive vibes your way!! 

Erica, yes! I hate it when O time does not correspond to BD time.  I O'd on Monday and sure enough, that's the one day we *didn't* BD due to a stressful work day and messy schedules.  Ugh. 

Indie, I'm kind of in the same situation... we did get pregnant but it's now been 12 cycles and I have 1 early miscarriage to show from it.  We're thinking about talking to my doc, but he was very "oh you'll get pregnant, don't worry" when I last saw him right after my m/c.  I don't know how long to wait before we make that move... it's been 3 cycles since the m/c but I don't want to waste any time.  I mean, I have VERY regular cycles and ovulate every month... why did it take us 9 cycles to get pregnant the first time??  Just having a lot of questions and thoughts...

Here's the one thing I heard that makes me feel a bit better:  We humans are just not a very fertile species.  It's not that we're all supposed to be churning out babies every year... it really does take time!  And most people don't reproduce the way animals do!  My doctor said millions of things have to go right in order for conception/implantation to occur successfully.  Just something to think about... 

Meanwhile it snowed here today, and my students were absolutely psycho in my classes all day.  Seriously it was like trying to teach a room full of squirrels!  Bring on the Christmas Break... :)

[lilacvioletiris]

Well, as expected my temp plummetted today - 96.23 degrees.  AF should be here in a day or two.  Waiting for thyroid meds to show up.  I wonder how that will change things. 

On humans not being as fertile as other mammals, it definitely seems true.  I figured by the time 8 months came along, I would be several months pregnant.  Since I am obviously going to have to wait another month, it just seems odd.  But then I remember others here on this thread who have waited a long time (like boots for example) and I have faith that eventually I will get pregnant.