The March 2008 Infertility ONE Thread - Page 11

[ItyBty]

Originally Posted by Seedlings

Wow that is really crazy. What cd are you on?

Do you think the injectables are effecting your cycle? With Follistim I start spotting a few days before I have full flow. Maybe if you just put on cute white pants and walked around a public place she would show (she's a bad one like that to me)

: Thanks - I needed that. : AF showed up last night, and she is piiiiisssed! Cramps from hell - ugh. Which made todays appt with the ultrasound wanding rather uncomfy, but at least I'm cleared to start injections again.

[songbird45]

Originally Posted by Julia'sMom

I do have PCOS, but also use a trigger. I am instructed to use the OPK's, so I do like a good patient. However I would be shocked if I ever saw one that was positive, even with clomid. Thus, I go for an ultrasound on CD16 and then they decide if I'm ready for the trigger or if I should wait longer.

This is only my second cycle, so nobody has mentioned any kind of monitoring other than OPK's, and I am not ready to jump to using triggers yet. I really thought the second one would be easier, because I'd know what to expect. In some ways it has been - I'm not as scared of the drugs or side effects. But in other ways it's just as bad or worse. Last cycle I did see a positive OPK on CD 21, I did ovulate, and I had a super long LP (16 days!) but there's no guarantee that I will do the same this cycle.

How do you all hold it together on your most stressful days? Hopefully this time next week I'll be in the tww and won't be this stressed, but right now I'm having the worst time concentrating and keeping it together at work. And most of you are going through way more than I am, and I'm sure you are smiling in fond memories of the days when you were just on your second cycle of Clomid and how much easier that was than daily injections and whatever else you're all doing.

It's so isolating, isn't it?

[WeasleyMum]

Itybty-- at least she's here now, right? Stupid AF. Now you can just focus on the new cycle.

Songbird-- I'm new at this too, so I don't have any insight about keeping it together. Got my test results for the thrombophilia panel and a few antibody thingies-- all negative. Me: "so that's good, right?!" Genetic councelor: "Well, it's good, but it also means that we still don't know what's going on with you. If they had come up positive, we could start addressing those issues immediately; instead you'll have to have more diagnostic testing done."

There are no good answers anymore!

[crazyrunningmama]

Originally Posted by songbird45

How do you all hold it together on your most stressful days? Hopefully this time next week I'll be in the tww and won't be this stressed, but right now I'm having the worst time concentrating and keeping it together at work.
It's so isolating, isn't it?

Umm, not to be a downer, but the tww is pretty stressful too. I suggest you get some relaxation tools in your toolbox (you can tell I've been reading overcoming fertility books). ie. yoga, meditation, progressive relaxation, etc. etc.
take care of yourself

[kristinc]

Originally Posted by crazyrunningmama

Umm, not to be a downer, but the tww is pretty stressful too. I suggest you get some relaxation tools in your toolbox (you can tell I've been reading overcoming fertility books). ie. yoga, meditation, progressive relaxation, etc. etc.
take care of yourself

my acupuncturist was talking to me about managing my stress for the next 4 weeks (2 weeks of stims, trans and then 2WW) and i was like yea i use the highly effective, yelling at DH, crying, screaming, sleeping, and punching pillows....forget about constructive stress management. Who has time for that??

[crazyrunningmama]

Originally Posted by kristinc

my acupuncturist was talking to me about managing my stress for the next 4 weeks (2 weeks of stims, trans and then 2WW) and i was like yea i use the highly effective, yelling at DH, crying, screaming, sleeping, and punching pillows....forget about constructive stress management. Who has time for that??

:
Good luck with that.

When I did IVF I did all of the above plus a lot of Ben and Jerry's. Next time I plan to meditate and get outside more (not least because I was too darn fat when I did get pg, and then gained 40 pounds, not good!!!)

[WeasleyMum]

Originally Posted by crazyrunningmama

:
Good luck with that.

When I did IVF I did all of the above plus a lot of Ben and Jerry's. Next time I plan to meditate and get outside more (not least because I was too darn fat when I did get pg, and then gained 40 pounds, not good!!!)

Ben & Jerrys= damn fine stress relief. Too bad it comes at such a cost, though! I've gained weight this past year, too, and I'm sure that part of it is the comfort eating from all the miscarriage stress. It's only now starting to come off again.

[EastbayK]

Good news for us- this is the first week in seven weeks that we don't have a single dr. appointment, test, biopsy, surgery or anything else. Next week DH starts his radiation treatments so appointments will start back up again. But for now, it's bliss to not be waiting to hear the results of one thing or another. I am seriously juggling 7 different dr. offices b/t us.

Bad news- I have to have some spiffy laser surgery on my cervix, so our IUI is on hold until May. But, we MAY be able to do a fresh cycle instead of a frozen on that month, which gives us better odds. So I guess it evens out...

Mischievium- can you add that we are TTC while treating cancer on the front page? I think it's an important part of why we are doing what we are. Thanks!

Kim

[Aly22681]

Well, I go to the Dr tomorrow for follicle monitoring. It will be CD 12 and in the past on clomid I have had 2 mature eggies. We bumped up my clomid this month from 50mg to 100mg so I am really hoping for 3-4 mature follicles.

However this month I dont feel anything. In the past I can feel when I hav mature eggs bc my ovaries start hurting, this month....NOTHING so either they are not mature or not very many of them. Maybe my body will surprise me though. Either way, I'll be happy, I dont mind waiting a few more days to trigger if it helps plump up my little future babies :

EastbayK Yay for no Dr's appt. I feel overwhelmed with just one Dr. I cant imagine 7. Hang in there, I'm sure that May cycle will be WELL WORTH IT!!

WeasleyMum I have gained about 20 lbs since my m/c last year. I'm still at a healthy weight, only now I'm on the TOP end of that weight range for my height. I don't understand if its bc I am so stressed with the m/c/TTC again or if its bc of all the fertility meds I have been taking over the last 6 months, either way it SUCKS!!

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

Just an update from me.

here we go with cycle #3. I start BCPs tomorrow, stims start mid-April. Roll on the rollercoaster..!h

[soulshine]

ok i'll update too...
stims start wednesday, er 4/7, et 4/11

so scared of even sharing this as i don't want to have to come back to say 'it didn't work'. hopefully i won't have to, hopefully i can share some great news, but it feels like a tail-between-the-legs thing, and i've made that walk too many times!
but anyway, we are in the thick of it.

i go from being totally anxious and not trusting the process swinging right over to feeling positive and assured that what will be will be... sometimes 5 times in a day! can't wait till i add meds to the equation!

best wished to you all...

[poetgirl]

: to the Spring IVF gals! You'll be in my thoughts. I hope your cycles progress *as you wish* !

Welcome EastBayK! I am very sorry you and your DH are going through both fert. issues and cancer treatment. This sounds really like a lot. I hope you have some great spring cycles (yeah for an appt-free week) and lots and lots of healing and strength to you both.

As for me, I am recovering nicely from a successful! polyp surgery last Wed. This was try #3 to get rid of them, so it's almost euphoric to be on the other side of that hump. I got DH to get on board with adding an IUI to our next Clomid cycle which required him to let go a little and I really appreciate his willingness to maximize the cycle in this way.

Let's see...therapeutic methods for the road...I second yoga and meditation, lots of good music, a massage when you can afford it, reading reading reading, BIG nature (ocean, mountain, forest, lake, whatever you can get your hands on that is A LOT larger than you), crying/venting/ranting/etc. when you need to, lots of good smells around you--flowers by your bedside-lavender under your pillow-keep the aromatherapy wafting your way, movies, gardening, anything that makes you laugh and of course, food. : Those are some of my faves.
Be well, all~

[hope4light]

Good luck to Perdita and Soulshine ~ many and : your way! I know what you mean by not wanting to say it and then have to say it was canceled... here's how I look at it though - if I am going to tell anyone just for the commiseration and to get it off my chest, this wonderful group of women is definately who I would tell! Either way, the support is phenomenal!

I'm hoping AF will come for me in about 2 weeks, and then I can call and get all started for me again with IVF round 1, cycle 2....

[songbird45]

EastbayK, wow, that sounds so hard. I really hope everything works out the way you want.

Good luck to the IVF ladies. It's so hard when so much is out of our control, but treatment means hope where there wasn't any before, so I suppose that's good.

My insurance through work includes a hotline where you can call to talk to a counselor on an ad-hoc basis. For ongoing issues they refer you to a face-to-face counselor. I'm doing a lot better now that I'm in the tww. I know it can be stressful, and it'll be harder towards the end, but right now I'm so relieved that I O'd, and that our timing was acceptable. But if this cycle doesn't result in conception, it will be good to have that number around - maybe they'll have coping strategies that I haven't heard of, or at least help me not dwell on things so much.

[kristinc]

Well bad news here. I went in for my baseline BW & US yesterday to amkes sure taht the BCP did their job and they found a small cyst on my right ovary. Estrogen should ahve been below 60 and it was 350 so they canceled our IVF cycle this month. Apparently my body ovulated despite the BCP's. They said this almost never happens which has been the story of our ivf journey. We are falling through the cracks percentagewise with every turn. We are really bummed.: Now we wiat for mean old aunt flo and then start all over with the BCPs. Now i will be starting stims mid april and transfers in may. Good luck to all of you who are cycling march/april

[Aly22681]

Well I just got back from the Dr and I have 6 eggs this cycle!! Wooo hooo.... One is possibly too big and one is too small so more realistically we are looking at 4 eggs but still I am super pumped. They will also be doing 2 IUI's this month instead of just one like we did last month. I seriously FEEL like this could actually be our month!!! :

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

Kristin - oh I'm sorry. Right there with you on the "this hardly ever happens thing" - argh! The slighly bright light is that if it DID need to be cancelled hopefully you're not out too much investment yet.

Aly - great news - good luck!

[songbird45]

I think I'm going to cry.

I just heard from the dr's office about the ripply shadow issue I told you guys about before. I just wanted to call and ask about it.

They said I can't take Clomid anymore, and referred me to an infertility specialist. Just like that, one option gone.

[EastbayK]

Songbird Think of it this way- you are being referred to a specialist who is better able to meet your needs. And even though it's a setback for you, it's probably in your best interest healthwise. That's the kind of thing I have to tell myself a lot lately.

Ally I really, really hope it works out for you this cycle!

Kristinc- I know how it feels to have what you were expecting and looking forward to delayed by a cycle. But it will happen eventually!

Poetgirl- Hooray for your finally being polyp-free! I admire the patience and zen you have shown about having to sit out cycles for treatment and I'm hoping I can emulate it.

Good luck everyone else!

As for us, we are counting down the days until DH goes radioactive and I have to stay away from him for a few days. I have faith that we are going to get through everything and 6 months from now we'll be both cancer free and pregnant.

Kim

[Aly22681]

Originally Posted by songbird45

I think I'm going to cry.

I just heard from the dr's office about the ripply shadow issue I told you guys about before. I just wanted to call and ask about it.

They said I can't take Clomid anymore, and referred me to an infertility specialist. Just like that, one option gone.

Don't get down about it, there are so many other options similar to clomid but wont have the same effects on you. RE's are the way to go, I have heard from sooooo many people that you shouldnt even bother with your OB after a year of TTC. You probably wont even have to sit out a cycle, Femara might easily be a option for you! Don't worry, the RE will have a bunch of different (BETTER) options for you!