Infertility ONE Thread GRADUATES!!! - Winter/Spring 2012 - Page 5

[monkeyscience]

Oh, man... burping. I seriously burp 100 times a day. It is the weirdest pregnancy symptom I have, I think. And it drives me a little nuts. Why does it happen? It doesn't seem to matter what I eat or drink, or how fast or slow, I end up burping! It was awful when I was more nauseous, because, umm... well, sometimes things besides air would try to come up! But yes, I do feel better if I can get a burp up. dh jokes that I need to be burped just like my baby nephews!

[wissa19]

Well, with DS I had another kind of gas. (Yeah, I know TMI)

"You have more wind because the doses of progesterone that your body produces early in pregnancy can cause digestive problems (CKS 2008). Progesterone relaxes the smooth muscle tissue throughout your body. This includes the muscle tissue that helps digestion. The result is more wind, bloating, and discomfort in your stomach, especially after a big meal."

[deborahbgkelly]

Wissa- Could be! Although, Tuesday we were talking about it and realized that we were helping even things out on  his side of the family. There have been 5 girls born from people in our generation and only one boy, so two more boys would be good. Ian's cousin said, yay boys for Max to play with!

[renavoo]

Hi ladies! All this talk about pregnancy photos had me going back through my phone, where all my belly shots are. I started taking photos around week 5. It made me a bit nostalgic because I was slim before and now, well, I'm not. haha not that i would change it at all because i love having my babies grow inside me but I miss my old body too. ;o) 

Oh boy, gas. Apparently, I get it a lot at night while sleeping, which amuses my DH to no end. I'm a little more reserved than he is about gas so he finds it hilarious that I'm having so much gas now. I'm finding myself relaxing more about it too now so I'm happy about that but boy, is it embarrassing. haha. You know what annoys me though? I have trouble burping. I always have and i've always been jealous of people who find it so easy to let out a large loud belch and soothe their stomach. I can't ever do it and sometimes, I do have to "burp" myself by patting myself in the chest. it's rather annoying. And heartburn is my constant companion. i don't even want to think about what i'm doing to my esophagus, with all the reflux I'm experiencing. I think it maybe time to start eating much smaller meals. 

Pregnancy...such an elegant state. hehe

Hope all you ladies are doing well! tgif!!

[wissa19]

renavoo - I'm feeling for you not being able to burp.  Sometimes it's quite satisfying to be able to let out a nice loud unladylike belch.  Don't worry you can be slim again.  :) 

And the reflux was the worse thing for me because it would wake me up night...  I hope smaller meals helps for you.  I ended up just eating Tums by the handful.  ;)  

Deborah - It does sound like that little needs some boys to play with.  ;)  For some reason I'm hoping your next ultrasound will show boys!  However, I know you & your DH will be very happy with either.

AFM -  I ended up moving my next ultrasound all the way to the 2nd, which will be 7w6d!  Turns out DH's job schedule is crazy and I just couldn't see going without him.  The nurse I talked to probably thinks I'm neurotic.  ;)  I'm still going in for progesterone next week, but I declined to do another HCG.  I figure it would just give me something to obsess about.  Besides I've read that numbers over 6,000 and at/after 6 weeks may not really tell you much anyway.  

So now I just have to make it 2 weeks.  I really might just be neurotic..or I might just go completely nuts...  

[deborahbgkelly]

Wissa- I am sure it will show boys. I have felt boy since 7 weeks. If it doesn't, I'll still be happy, but I just don't see it changing since the educated guess was after 16 weeks.

[renavoo]

Wissa, we'll be here to help you through the 2 weeks :o) It'll fly by! I think it's great that you declined the HCG. I only got my levels checked 2 times, only to verify the doubling. After that, the ultrasounds became the test of choice. :o) I'm looking forward to hearing about yours! Until then, I hope that you continue to feel well and that you're able to just enjoy being pregnant!

[wissa19]

Thank you Renavoo for the support and encouragement!!!  

[renavoo]

Hi ladies, just checking in to see how everyone is doing? 

I'm fairly relaxed after the long weekend but sad because this is the last holiday we'll have before May. Sigh. Well, I still have 2 carryover vacation days i have to use before April so I can look forward to those, although I think they will be used for things like doctor visits, especially because some of the visits sure do take a long time. Oh well :o) i keep thinking that in less than 4 months, DH and I will hopefully welcome our healthy little ones to the family and I just can't wait. 

Otherwise, things are good. One of these days, I'm going to start eating healthier! That's my resolution. So perhaps, I'll try to do that starting today because this last weekend was a wash, what with as many days we've had to go out with friends and family! 

Anyway, just thinking of you all and hoping you had a wonderful weekend!

[deborahbgkelly]

Renavoo- All is well now, but my weekend was eventful in a scary way. My beautiful dog. I love her, but she has no idea what her size is and all 60 lbs. of her landed on my belly. My babies took a while to move afterward, but they did (so that was good). They have actually been moving more since that happened. However, it caused a huge spike in my BP that gave me a dizzy spell. Rested Saturday night and went in to urgent care Sunday. All was fine, BP was back down and doc even joked there was a 3rd one in there (don't worry, no signs of that-eek!). I had my BP checked today too since I was there getting a flu shot anyway and it is still in good shape. Described my flutters to the nurse just to verify what I was feeling was movement (silly, I know, since there is no way it was anything else) and she said definitely, Essentially, I strained my abdominal muscle which hurts like crazy, but I'm glad we have a lot of protection there. On a very positive note, quad screen results came back normal!

[monkeyscience]

deborah - Eek! Glad the babies seem to be well, but sorry for the scare and the pain! Yay for the good screening results!

wissa - Now we both have our next appointments on the same day! Not expecting much from mine besides hearing the hb and maybe being referred for the 20 week ultrasound. You are more patient than I am, pushing the US back that far! But you should definitely have a good idea of what's going on by then. Hoping and praying for good news!

renavoo - Jealous of all the Girl Scout cookies over on the IVF thread. I had some Samoas at my parents' house the other day, but no one has offered us any, and I probably shouldn't eat them anyway, as sweets seem to sometimes trigger stomach pain lately. But I did want to say... Thin Mints straight out of the freezer are DELICIOUS. If you haven't had them that way, definitely try them. When is your babies' echo? This week? Keep us updated!

krunchy - Still out there? How are you doing?

AFM, not a lot of time, as I just posted a massive (yet still incomplete) reply on the IF thread. After feeling better for most of last week, I felt rotten pretty much all weekend. I felt better Monday. I spent the entire day - literally left my house at 10:45 AM and got home after 11 PM - going with my mom and grandma for testing at the cancer hospital. Looooots of waiting around, but at least I got to spend time talking to my grandma and playing Rummikub. Her appointment with the doctor was this morning, and I really, really wanted to be there, but my mom and dad were both already going, and I really felt like taking 3 people besides the patient was a bit much. Especially since I don't do well standing for long periods, if there's no chair. So I'm anxiously waiting to hear about that, but also know that I just won't get as much info as if I'd actually been there to listen and ask questions. My parents are both smart people, but I definitely know a lot more about medicine/biology than my dad, and most likely more than my mom, too. I want the gritty details! Anyway, will let you all know what I find out. Yesterday I felt so-so, but pretty awful by evening, today I'm doing okay but not great. Just praying I don't get dh's cold. Other than that, I assume the baby is doing well, because assuming otherwise is just not helpful. Plus I have no reason to think he/she isn't okay. Just a week and a half till our next appointment and hearing the heartbeat again! Hopefully I will also get the referral for my 20 week ultrasound, so they can have the results for my next appointment. I'm getting excited to really get to see our baby, probably for the only time until he/she makes an appearance in August. Oh, and on a random note - dh and I were making a calendar, and I was writing pregnancy weeks along the side of it, and I realized I'll be 24 weeks at the end of April. Which is a huge milestone to me, because that's considered the viability threshold. Not that I want the baby to come then, AT ALL, as I reminded the baby repeatedly after having that realization, but it is CRAZY to think that my August baby could come at the end of April and potentially make it. That's right around the corner! But anyway, NO BABY UNTIL JULY AT THE VERY EARLIEST. YOU HEAR THAT BABY?!?

[wissa19]

Deborah-  Yikes. I'm glad everything turned out o.k.   My puppy love is about 50 lbs, very muscular and very excitable!  My biggest fear is him jumping on me, which he pretty much does daily.  /after my c-section with DS I couldn't be around him at all because his jumping lands at the c-section incision!!  He turned into a complete wild dog.  He got very little interaction other than getting fed because my DH is allergic to him.  I've actually been thinking about paying one of the kids in the neighbor to come play with him a couple of days a weeks once I get bigger. 

I guess I'm behind what quad screening?

Renavoo - Eating healthy is much harder to do when you're pregnant.  I remember when I was pregnant with DS this nurse was like well at least try to eat a salad.  Ha!  I eat salads everyday, but once that HPT turns BFP I can't even look at a salad without getting nauseous.   Actually, right now I pretty much just want to eat cereal and PB & J sandwiches.  Oh, yeah! Real healthy!

Sorry you'll end up taking vacation days to go the doctor, but at least they should be fun doctor visits.  Only 4 months!!.  ;)

Monkey  - Yeah for an appointment buddy!  You can help me count down the days.  It's really driving me crazy, but I just didn't want to go without DH.  Hope you get some reassuring news about you grandma.  I totally understand about wanting details. 

I also agree you might as well think positive!  I really do believe there is a mind body connection! 

AFM - Waiting for the results of my progesterone test on Tuesday.  It looks like I'm going to have to re-do my daily routine.  By the afternoon I start feel nauseous and sleepy, which means I haven't been exercising.  So how I'm going to have to start working out in the morning before I lose all my energy.  Here lately it seems like if I eat and then get warm I'm going to sleep. ;)  Pregnancy acne has struck me once again.  I had it really bad with DS...I'm talking huge like rocks under skin and quiet painful.  Everyone said of by a certain point in  the pregnancy it would go away, but it never did.  Not until after delivery,  I had red places on my face for a year after I had DS where those lovely pimples were (plus scarring).  These things are like mega zits and nothing over the counter really does anything to them... Oh well, I'd rather have a baby than beautiful skin.

Oh, and I some point I'll need to find an OB.  Definitely not going back to the one that delivered DS.  I would love to be able to have a VBAC, but not all doctors or hospitals are VBAC friendly around here.

[wissa19]

I got my progesterone #.  It's 39.1.  So it's gone from 55 at 21 dpo down to 39.  The nurse said the number was good, but I'm wondering.  I don' thinking dropping progesterone levels in early pregnancy is a good thing.  I did read somewhere that afterwhile your body might stop absorbing progesterone as well???

Or maybe it's the vanishing twin...vanishing.

[deborahbgkelly]

Wissa- I didn't even know we were doing the quad screen at my 16week 5 day ultrasound. He mentioned we'd be doing testing around 16 weeks. It's just a blood test to check for indicators of mental retardation. I believe that's what it is anyway.

[monkeyscience]

Quick flyby from the phone to say the news on my grandma was very good. Still going t have another surgery in about a month, but overall prognosis is good. More tmorrow if I have the time!

[krunchyk]

Ladies, today I am either pregnant or terminally ill. 7w1d and feeling tired, light-headed, short of breath AND burpy! I'm sorry for the conspicuous absence.  I'm trying to stay away from forums and google, it isn't helping my anxiety or my positive thinking.  My last ultrasound was this past Monday.  They thought everything looked good, and we also saw a nice strong heartbeat.  Next ultrasound in two weeks.  

Lastly, I have moved from progesterone suppositories to injections.  In my ass.   Now that I've successfully injected myself, I feel as if I am a Champion.  

I hope everyone is doing well!

[renavoo]

Deborah, I'm glad you're ok!

Monkey, i'm so sorry for the ups and downs the last few days :o( That sounds exhausting. However, I'm really happy that the news on your grandma turned out so well. Yah for a wonderful prognosis. you tell her to keep it up. ;o) Her great grandchild wants to play with her! As for week 24, that is my next milestone and like you, I'm just so excited to reach it. I keep thinking, just a few more weeks, just a few more weeks. But like you, I don't want them to come until they are all baked and ready (mmmm cookies- haha) but it'll make me feel that much better when they reach the viability milestone.

Krunchy, you made me giggle with the pregnant or terminally ill comparison. ;o) Since you've now injected yourself with an IM shot in the bum, you are a champion in my book!

Wissa, I don't know much about this but couldn't there just be a natural variation in the progesterone level from day to day? i'm just glad it's within range. Remind me though...are you taking supplements? 

Nothing happening on my side. Just waiting for next wednesday, which is when my fetal echo is but i'm not really nervous since the ob said that he doesn't think he'll find anything bad because the anatomy scan showed that both hearts are fine. I'm going to NYU hospital and I found it funny that investigators at NYU published a paper saying that a fetal echo usually doesn't catch anything wrong if the anatomy scan was normal. However, I think that my OB is just ultra conservative and will do it for all IVF babies. Hey, at least I get to see my babies again! :oD

Hope all is well with everyone!

[monkeyscience]

krunchy - I totally feel you on that comparison! Though I'm generally doing better, I felt like I might be dying from about week 5-week 9. And your odds are so much better now that you have seen a heartbeat! But yeah, it is hard. I didn't have any sort of medical confirmation (though I had the barfing confirmation) until I was 8 weeks, and it was agony. And then I was reassured for a little while, but started worrying all over again till I heard the heartbeat at 12 weeks. I have been pretty okay since then. Even though the sickness is actually a good sign,  I think feeling awful tends to depress your whole outlook on everything. So I hope you get feeling better soon! And you are a champion for injecting yourself. I think if I were an insulin-dependent diabetic, I would just die. I HATE needles! The one shot we did with IF treatments dh had to give me. So go you!

renavoo - Glad nothing exciting is happening for you - that's probably best at this phase! And yeah, my grandma has already said she's got some great-grandbabies she's got to hang around to see. It looks like my cousin is probably going to be due right around the same time as me, in fact. (She just had a baby last March, so I think this one was a bit of a surprise and they're not sure on dates yet.) Plus, y'know, the 11 great-grandbabies she's already got to play with! I've told her she needs to stick around to see at least one great-great grandbaby. That's not entirely crazy, as she's only 75 and her oldest great-grandchild is about 17. So we'll see. Keep baking those babies until they're golden brown!

wissa - Sorry your progesterone number is worrying you! I wish I had something super reassuring to say, but I don't know much about it. Going down doesn't sound like the right direction, but if your doctor's not worried, I think you should try not to worry, too. And I think your theory that it could be due to the vanishing twin makes a lot of sense. One more week to make it through... we can do it!! Oh, and I forgot to mention earlier - no, it's not just burping. The bubbles are definitely coming out the other way, too. Pregnancy is such a lady-like condition!

AFMG, so I did get a pretty thorough report from my mom and grandma. When I told my mom how much I'd wanted to be there, she said that she figured I would and was surprised when I said I wouldn't be coming. But she also confirmed that it was quite squishy, even in the "big" exam room, with the three of them plus the doctor and his PA. The doctor feels like the cancer was caught early, which is good news. He hasn't gotten the pathology slides to look at, but the CT scan didn't reveal any metastases, which is great. He does want to resect about a half-inch rim of her liver where her gallbladder touched it, along with the associated lymph nodes, just to be sure they get out any residual cancer cells. Since she's still sort of healing from getting her gallbladder out (and because he's going to be out of town, apparently), that's scheduled for the end of March. They also want her to see an internist because they're a little worried about her kidney function and some of the medication she's on, and they want her to be in the best possible shape for surgery. So she will be staying here until that visit, probably sometime in the next week, and then go home until the surgery. She'll probably be hospitalized for about a week after the surgery, and then spend somewhere between a week and a month recovering at my parents' before going home. So the good news is, I'll have lots of time to see her. Well, that and the doctor thinks her chances of beating this are very good. The bad news is, she's not excited about surgery, and I'm sure the recovery is going to be pretty sucky. But while she's not excited about the surgery, she feels good about going forward with it, and we all feel good that the prognosis was not given in terms of months left to live!

So now I'm going to go spend the day with her, and help take my nephews back to the doctor and hope that their wheezing is all better and they can stop doing breathing treatments! Like my mom says, we could really use a break from medical problems in this family!

[deborahbgkelly]

Wissa- I forget how far along you are. Would you please remind me? Mine started going down in weeks 10 and 11 and was told it was completely normal for it to wax and wane as the placenta begins to take over hormone production.

[wissa19]

Krunchy - I'm afraid you're just pregnant.  Oh, the things you don't know about being pregnant until you experience it.  I think some women who struggle to get pregnant have a romanticized view of pregnancy.  Yes. it is wonderful, but it also changes your body!!  It's a crazy ride.  Ouch on the shots, but I hope they work!!!

And on a nice heartbeat!!!

Renavoo -  I hope the fetal echo goes as expected!   It's nice that your doctor is crossing the t's and dotting the i's.  I know you're probably a little bit anxious even though they don't think they will find anything, But getting to see the babies should be a definite plus!!

Monkey - I'm glad the outlook is positive for your grandmother.  I lost my grandmother when I was pregnant with DS and that was really hard to take.  I ate an entire cheesecake.  Don't to do that!  You will gain weight!  ;)

Pregnancy is not ladylike...And I had never heard of the "bubbles" being a sign of pregnancy until I got pregnant.  Oh, the things they don't tell you!

Re progesterone:  I'm 6 weeks 5 days today.  I talked to a nurse from my RE's office today and she said the number is very good and they really do expect the number to fluctuate at this point.  So, I think Deborah is right!  If they aren't worried, I should try not to be too!  I feel better.  I guess I just needed a little reassurance.