Queer TTC October 2008

[indigoscot]

Waiting to O
knit_grrly
Astraphell
serepatera
twylightdove
giggleblue's DP
kclyka

Waiting to Know... Braving the 2WW
Tireegal
FJKelley
FtMPapa
astropeep
iheartsheep

Waiting to Transfer

Taking a Break
DM630
Hulahoop
mhiccup
osker
Sprout's futuremom
Sugersen
want2bmoms
wannabemoms
Amigone
maorimama
snoopy13
Sugerson
SGrey
teafor2
baby_baby_mommy
Zyla
Coco99
wishin'&hopin'

Waiting to be Ready
erthe_mama
katharinerose
willowbean
indigoscot's dp
carmen

:GRADUATES:

: October BFPs :
kjm
megincl & ktcl
JennM1021
lexbeach's DP
abeecharmer
QTRANDI

: September BFPs :
Ellie74

: August BFPs :
heart-n-bones
lemurmommies (and DP ruvalokiteshvara)
Love My Family

: July BFPs :
giggleblue
pranava
MamaCaveBear
quasar (and DP smartycat)


June BFPs
starling&diesel
PiGirl
Erica12009


April BFPs
tigermiep
MujerMamaMismo
tiggerkong22
simcon
2happymamas

March BFP
JenInMpls
mahrens77

January BFP
cookie70

December BFP
Scalpel

November BFP
mamimapster
AngelaM
solejean
lmh222

g

[JennM1021]

Thanks for starting the new thread!!!

[lexbeach]

Oh no! I had such a good feeling about all you 2-week-waiters!

for Andy and Jenn.

I really wish the boards had been up yesterday because I had so many questions! We had another u/s of dw's uterus and ovaries and the great news was that her lining still looked "perfect" and one of the follicles had become a lead follicle, measuring 18mm. She also had a lot of EWCM yesterday a.m. (and you could see it on the u/s!). So we decided to plan the IUI for Thursday morning, and then debated about whether or not to use an HCG trigger shot (dw would likely ovulate perfectly fine on her own without it, but the shot could help us with the timing of the IUI). We decided to do the shot just because of the whole "very last vial of sperm" thing. The nurse at the RE office told us to do it 24 hours before the insem. But then when I was googling about it, everything said to do it more like 36 hours before the IUI. Ack! This is where I needed you guys! Eventually we decided to go with dr. google over the nurse at the RE's office (figuring that she told us to come in and do it 24 hours before just because they only do walk-in appointments in the morning, but since we decided that I should give dw the shot at home anyway (RE's office is 30 minutes away), we could use the more optimal timing). I hope we made the right decision. Last night I gave dw the shot (quite excellently, I might add), so now she's got HCG running through her system. This morning she got a positive on the OPK and we called the lab to let them know we'll be needing our spermies tomorrow.

It's pretty nerve-wracking. I really hope it works. I know that statistically the chances aren't that great with only one follicle and only one IUI. But I really hope we can squeeze into that 10-15% who do get pregnant.

I am excited to just get to the 2ww and not be wondering about how the actual IUI is going to go and how to time everything. Dw is worried that she's going to become an obsessed freak. So far she's been pretty calm about the whole thing.

Still feeling bummed about those of you who are bleeding. :

Lex

[JennM1021]

Good luck tomorrow Lex!!!! And yeah...my RE has me do my trigger at 36 hours before the IUI. I think that's pretty standard when you're doing just one. Sometimes they will have to do it at 24 hours if they are doing two IUI's. But, sounds like your timing was just right!!!

So, I might have mentioned this before...but I'm really conflicted right now and could use some advice. We only have 1 vial of our #1 donor choice right now and he's currently sold out. Now, previously...our RE recommended 2 vials for 1 IUI. This last cycle they talked us into just 1 vial for the 1 IUI. Obviously...that didn't work. The vial we have remaining is 1/2 ML...11 million post thaw. So...do we give it another shot with just that one vial with just so-so numbers? Or do we go with our other donor choice and do 2 vials? Do you all think 2 vials for 1 IUI is just overkill? I'm so conflicted...I could really use your opinions.

[lexbeach]

Originally Posted by JennM1021

So, I might have mentioned this before...but I'm really conflicted right now and could use some advice. We only have 1 vial of our #1 donor choice right now and he's currently sold out. Now, previously...our RE recommended 2 vials for 1 IUI. This last cycle they talked us into just 1 vial for the 1 IUI. Obviously...that didn't work. The vial we have remaining is 1/2 ML...11 million post thaw. So...do we give it another shot with just that one vial with just so-so numbers? Or do we go with our other donor choice and do 2 vials? Do you all think 2 vials for 1 IUI is just overkill? I'm so conflicted...I could really use your opinions.

I've never heard of using 2 vials for one IUI before, it does sound like overkill to me unless the numbers are particularly low. I always did two IUIs per cycle (which some doctors/REs will still say is overkill), and that makes some sense to me (just because the timing has to be so precise), but I don't see how it makes much sense to put 2 vials into the uterus at the same time (putting two into the cervix at the same time could make sense since the amount in a vial is so small, but I was always under the impression that the amount of sperm in one vial is all that's meant to make it to the uterus).

I think you should use the last vial, just do one IUI, and then if it doesn't work maybe go on to using a new donor and doing 2 IUIs per cycle? I don't think using two vials per cycle would increase your chances enough to justify wasting a vial of sperm.

HTH!

Lex

[JennM1021]

Thanks Lex...yeah...that helps. I guess I just needed someone else to tell me it was ok. Not that I should just trust my highly skilled and educated RE or anything. My RE will only do 1 per cycle. He insists that only 1 IUI per cycle is necessary if it is well timed. Since I'm doing monitoring and trigger...I guess I believe that. Anyway...yeah...I think we'll go with the 1 vial that we have on ice...and just switch next cycle. If there is a next cycle. Thanks again.

[carmen358]

So, my 2WW is turning out to be longer than expected. I usually have a 12 day LP....I've had one 13 day....and the other times I was pregnant (chem. preg. once). AF is 2 days late, my temp went up again this morning, cramps have disappeared. I know AF could just be late but it's driving me crazy! I've tested every morning and can't even squint out a faint line.

[lexbeach]

Originally Posted by carmen358

So, my 2WW is turning out to be longer than expected. I usually have a 12 day LP....I've had one 13 day....and the other times I was pregnant (chem. preg. once). AF is 2 days late, my temp went up again this morning, cramps have disappeared. I know AF could just be late but it's driving me crazy! I've tested every morning and can't even squint out a faint line.

nak

it looks to me like fertility friend has your crosshairs too early. I think maybe you o'd a few days later than that, like cd 19 or so. In which case it would make sense why you're not getting a positive yet. chart looks very promising, :

lex

[carmen358]

Originally Posted by lexbeach

nak

it looks to me like fertility friend has your crosshairs too early. I think maybe you o'd a few days later than that, like cd 19 or so. In which case it would make sense why you're not getting a positive yet. chart looks very promising, :

lex

Hmm. Didn't even think of that. But now that you mention it, it does sort of look like it could have been cd20...which would also make sense why I didn't get a really dark opk when ewcm started....however, if it was cd20, that would mean I insem'd a bit too early on cd18. But if KD has super swimmers, you never know lol.

Thanks for checking my chart and for the feedback!

Update: I did a manual override and changed O date to cd20....even if it does only give me hope for a day or two And it does help me see how it could have been cd20 for future reference...

[FtMPapa]

Originally Posted by lexbeach

I think you should use the last vial, just do one IUI, and then if it doesn't work maybe go on to using a new donor and doing 2 IUIs per cycle? I don't think using two vials per cycle would increase your chances enough to justify wasting a vial of sperm.

Yup, I'm with Lex, 100%.

BTW, Lex, I think your timing was good - I did HCG 24 hours pre-insem # 1 and 48 hrs pre-insem # 2 (aiming for that magic 48 hour coverage zone, so I think with one vial, 36 hours is good!

However....I wonder about the positive OPK - I think the HCG would make it positive anyway, but I don't think it actually matters because the hcg shot is supposed to fix the timing issue.

So no worrying, just relaxing and 2wwing!

Everyone - thanks for the hugs and well wishes and all that. I'm having ridiculous crazy intense insane cramps, and VERY heavy bleeding, even for me.

I tried to take a mental health day today, but I have too much to do out in the world, so I settled for watching CSI and baking all morning.

I wonder if not Oing until CD 25 made my lining nice and strong, but it was too thick for ziggy to implant properly. Anyone know anything about that?

[fozziebear]

FTMPapa, so sorry about the cramps and bleeding!

[lexbeach]

My wife has sperm inside her! How crazy and wonderful!

The whole insemination went pretty well, aside from my near panic attack while we were waiting our turn. Because of the logistics of buying sperm from another family (as opposed to a sperm bank), we decided to go and do the insemination at the reproductive biology lab where the sperm was being stored (as opposed to the RE clinic or an OB office or at home). When we first checked in, they said they would start thawing our sample, and that we should wait for our name to be called. Then they called our name, about 20 minutes later, and we had to sign our sample out of storage (oddly similarly to how we sign Zeben out of nursery school). They handed us the vial--I thought just as a keepsake--and told us to go back to waiting. After about five minutes, I said to dw, "so the sperm is just in there, waiting in a catheter? When are they going to call us?" And dw was like, "no, the sperm is still in the vial." The vial which I had nonchalantly tossed into our bag? Yep, that one. So, I quickly fished it out and stuck it in my bra to keep it at body temp. And that's when I started to hyperventilate, imagining the sperm dying off with each passing minute. I don't know how long we had to wait, but I think it was another 20 minutes or so. When we did go in for the procedure, the nurse was trying to be all calm and gentle and explain each little thing and we were just like, "get it IN there! Quick!" So, that part was unfortunate, but the IUI was painless for dw and her cervix was open, and the timing seemed right. Now we just stock up on pineapple (and hide it from the kids, who are actually fruit bats disguised as human children) and pray and wait.

Please move me/us to "waiting to know."



Lex

[smartycat]

Yahoo for a sperm filled wife!! ::

That was gross, but I couldn't help myself. :

Lots of for your TWW

[JennM1021]

Yeah...Smartycat...just a tad gross. But...I share in your excitement for Lex!!! whoohooo!!!!

Oh...so I'm on CD3 now...had my bloodwork and first scan today. Bloodwork was fine. Lots of little follies sitting around just waiting. So, we're in good shape. My RE wants to up my meds this time around though. I'm doubling up on Bravelle and Menopur. He didn't like the fact that I only produced one follie on my dosage last month. Didn't make me too happy either...so more shots it is!! Yippe...

[FtMPapa]

Lex - : - and whoah, weird that they just handed you the vial without telling you anything...so odd.

[carmen358]

Originally Posted by lexbeach

My wife has sperm inside her! How crazy and wonderful!

Please move me/us to "waiting to know."



Lex

Good luck to you both!! :

And Papa, I was sorry to read that it didn't work out for you! I was getting all excited reading your updates... : for next time.

[Scalpel]

Good Luck

[indigoscot]

lex you have been updated! and good luck in your dw's tww!

g

[Tireegal]

was missing, not anymore...

Hi everyone,
Sorry I have been MIA and bad about personals and posting. Crazy hectic work schedule and life.
I am BFN as of last week. On a small break while I find a new clinic (my current wonderful crunchy feminist one has reached its limits with me after four insems and the last three with clomid) and work on getting two more IUI cycles as cheap as possible before I qualify for insurance.
It's all an adventure and I was feeling very down about it - but now I am moving again and making connections I feel a bit better.
It's a shame that eating doesn't cause pregnancy because I have been doing a lot of it recently!
Babydust to all

[carmen358]

Originally Posted by Tireegal

Hi everyone,
Sorry I have been MIA and bad about personals and posting. Crazy hectic work schedule and life.
I am BFN as of last week. On a small break while I find a new clinic (my current wonderful crunchy feminist one has reached its limits with me after four insems and the last three with clomid) and work on getting two more IUI cycles as cheap as possible before I qualify for insurance.
It's all an adventure and I was feeling very down about it - but now I am moving again and making connections I feel a bit better.
It's a shame that eating doesn't cause pregnancy because I have been doing a lot of it recently!
Babydust to all

Sorry to hear about the BFN. Glad you're feeling better and moving forward though