The OCTOBER Infertility ONE Thread! - Page 7

[gumby74]

Crystal: I think he wants me to lose about 15lbs. I know it might not seem like a lot, but I am already ten times more active than I was when I conceived DS and have never been able to lose weight very well. I must be taking it somewhat seriously though because, after the appt. I stopped and picked up a bunch of salad stuff and ate that for dinner and then skipped dessert that was right in front of me. He wants me to try BCP for a month because he said it will produce better quality eggs. IDK.I understand where he is coming from, but I also think that I am who I am and as long as I stay active..it's not the end of the world to have extra weight. IMHO.

I was reading up on the metforim last night and one the websites I was on said that it can help a person lose weight. Has anyone had any experience with this???

I did a O test last night and it was neg. I did one this morning @5:30 and it was positive.........so I woke up dh. We are going to do something tonight as well and then I am supposed to start the progesterone two days after O, which I believe would be Sunday. I am worried that all of this is a waste of time because of everything he said yesterday. If what he said is true.......is there even a chance of me conceiving with PCOS that's untreated????I am still so confused.


BTW.............I have no idea how the guy with the hat got on my reply.

[songbird45]

LibbyLou - celebrate the fact that you ovulated!!! Yay!!!!

gumby - the theory is that if you have metabolic problems due to insulin resistance, and those metabolic problems are causing you to gain weight or keeping you from losing weight, metformin can help. I'd be a bit suspicious of a PCOS diagnosis, since you have regular cycles - what is the basis of the diagnosis? Did they do an u/s and find cysts on the ovaries? Bloodwork that shows a weird LH:FSH ratio? Hirsutism, skin tags, insulin resistance, and acne are other signs that there's something going on with your blood sugar levels that are messing with your reproductive system. For PCOS and other insulin-related problems a lower carb diet is often recommended.

[future_mom2b]

Originally Posted by songbird45

LibbyLou - celebrate the fact that you ovulated!!! Yay!!!!

gumby - the theory is that if you have metabolic problems due to insulin resistance, and those metabolic problems are causing you to gain weight or keeping you from losing weight, metformin can help. I'd be a bit suspicious of a PCOS diagnosis, since you have regular cycles - what is the basis of the diagnosis? Did they do an u/s and find cysts on the ovaries? Bloodwork that shows a weird LH:FSH ratio? Hirsutism, skin tags, insulin resistance, and acne are other signs that there's something going on with your blood sugar levels that are messing with your reproductive system. For PCOS and other insulin-related problems a lower carb diet is often recommended.

Hi ladies....

I too have PCOS...and i have all the symptoms above...not to mention the worst one is the u/s cysts....i just wana reassure you ladies that met/glucophage works like a miracle......

i have lost about 15lb in around 2 months and still going strong...the side effects are bad but worth it long term...its only my second month and i hope to be preggies soon.....

So dont give up hope....it will happen just say focused on the goal!!!!!


look at the brighter side atleast you still ovulate...many of us with Pcos dont know how that feels!!!!!

[MeadowMom]

Gumby, yes many people can conceive on PCOS with no medical intervention.
If you are insulin resistance metformin will help you lose some weight. I went on metformin and started the south beach diet, I dropped 40 pounds in a few months. My blood sugar levels are much better, and my acne has cleared up.
The bcp helps with that too.
Do you have other symptoms of PCOS?

[gumby74]

Songbird: you are incredible! You knowledge always amazes me I never in a million years would have thought I had PCOS until he started asking me questions and I was able to answer yes for.........hair on my chin, acne, skin tags and evidence of insulin rejection. I also have a biological father who has type II diabetes. If I get AF, I am going to have my blood levels checked to see if the LH is higher than the FSH. If it comes back higher than it should be.......I will get the diagnosis. As the hours tick by, I am getting more hopeful about losing weight. I think avoiding carbs is a great idea for me and can help me lose a significant amount of weight. I just hope I don't have to go on the BCP and can keep TTC next month.

[songbird45]

I got most of my info from MDC! Check out the PCOS tribe:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=641423

Also, soulcysters.net is a good resource even if you don't post there.

[crystal-mommy]

gumby It seems like the less amt of weight you have to lose, the harder it is to lose it!! The first 40lbs I lost kind of melted off w/ little effort. Now I am to the point I am not going to lose anymore until I exercise regularly and eat a pretty strict healthy diet! Which I am not very good at!!!


I am @ work- (I am a labor and delivery nurse). We have about 6 babies @ the desk w/ us right now and they are ALL screaming demons!!! Good grief!! All I can think about is the the sextuplet momma... I can NOT imagine if all these babies were mine and I had to do something about all the crying, pooping and feeding!! I wouldn't mind having twins w/ a next pregnancy... but not any more than 2 @ a time!! lol!!


have a good weekend ladies... i gotta work all weekend! ucky!

[LibbyLou]

CM was tinged brown this morning, so AF should arrive tomorrow. On to month 14....sigh. I've been Oing kind of late, so I'm going to start taking a B-Complex next cycle to try to move my O date up. I'm also going to take EPO through O because I haven't been getting any EWCM on Clomid. Hope others are having better luck this cycle.

[gumby74]

Songbird: Thanks for the link!

Crystal: I have often wondered what it is like for labor and delievery nurses who are trying to conceive and there are parents who are on to their 5th, 6th, or 7th child coming in all the time and it doesn't seem to matter much to them. I used to work in the central city of Milwaukee as a 0-3 special ed. teacher, while I was TTC ds#1. Often, I would become so frustrated at the number of parents who would have another child and then treat it as if the child was nothing special.

Libbylou: I'm sorry. Somehow those words never seem to cut it. Try to have a relaxing weekend and do something fun!

QUESTION: If I took a OPK yesterday and it was positive and today it was neg. Can I assume I O'd yesterday some time?


DOES ANYONE.........want a free pack of "expired" clear blue easy test strips? They have never been opened, but are expired. I haven't been using my monitor this time around because I am too alzy to test more than two times a month. FWIW, I had some packaged O tests that are expired and worked just fine for me. I would rather someone take them so I don't have to throw away a whole unopened package.

[by-the-lake]

Hey- I am a labor and delivery nurse too. And yup, sometimes it just doesn't make sense.

[crystal-mommy]

Originally Posted by gumby74

Songbird: Thanks for the link!

Crystal: I have often wondered what it is like for labor and delievery nurses who are trying to conceive and there are parents who are on to their 5th, 6th, or 7th child coming in all the time and it doesn't seem to matter much to them. I used to work in the central city of Milwaukee as a 0-3 special ed. teacher, while I was TTC ds#1. Often, I would become so frustrated at the number of parents who would have another child and then treat it as if the child was nothing special.

It is hard sometimes, but I can't get upset over it everytime. I love my job and dont' want to become bitter everytime someone who "shouldn't" have a baby does. I had a pt having her 12th baby a couple of months ago- and her daughter in law was in the process of having her 3rd miscarriage that very same day. Life just isn't fair sometimes. I DO get irritated every now and then especially when ppl who don't have custody of their other children have another baby that you KNOW they aren't going to be able to take care of.

But every now and then I get a patient that has had several miscarriages or tried for years and is finally getting their very much wanted baby that they CAN take care of and provide for (its pretty rare to get 2 parents that love each other and a baby is a planned "good" thing!!). My patient I had last night has had 7 miscarriages and is currently 35 wks preg. She is going to have to deliver early b/c of PIH but she is finally getting her baby. Stories like hers give me hope and I know that when it is meant to be we will also get our babies.



I am just starting to use the fertility monitor, if no one else wants your tests I will take them. I still love to poas... obsessed w/ "peeing on technology" lol!!

[wtg4miracle]

Can I join in. We just found out that we have MFI. We are both older, I am 38 and he is 43. We just failed our 6month of ttc. We are onto 7 months now.

Dh had a SA done and was found out to have only 4% normal morphs. Everything else is fine, counts and motility. Just that the sperm are abnormal. Now I have my dh taking pyncogenol, gnc mega mens multivitamin and extra zinc. I might need to add more stuff to help increase his good morphs.

To make a long story short, we finally have an RE visit on Halloween day. I am excited and nervous to go to the appointment. I am afraid they will tell us that our only option is IVF. I would prefer to do IUI for a few cycles. Doing the math I believe he has some good swimmers do the job. I am afraid that the ER will push IVF on us and I am not yet emotionally ready for that.

I really need support in all of this. After a week or two we were so numbed and crying endlessly about this. Now we come to the point that there is nothing that we can do and that we have to deal what is ahead for us. I am trying to keep my head on straight through all of this.

Can anyone tell me what to expect at my first visit with the ER.

[gumby74]

WTG: Welcome. My first appt. with the RE was filled with answering lots of question and having the RE order many blood tests. The first visit is crucial for you to get your questions answered. Go with a list in hand. That first visit for me was very emotional and I could hardly think about anything I was supposed to. Having a list in hand will help you not get that horrible feeling that comes with leaving the office and wondering why you didn't ask more questions. IMHO, I don't feel like they should jump to IVF without having gathered all the information that they can about you and your DH. It should definitely not be decided on upon that first meeting. However, that being said, they may give you the same thing they gave me............why spend 1000's of dollars on something that only has a 10% chance of working when you can spend 6-10,000 on something that has a 60% chance of working. In any case, do your research before you step into that office. Knowledge truly is power. You will feel as if you are a part of the team and not just another client if you are able to communicate with them "at their level." Again, this is just my opinion, but I thought you would want another perspective. Best of luck!

[nummies]

Originally Posted by wtg4miracle

Can I join in. We just found out that we have MFI. We are both older, I am 38 and he is 43. We just failed our 6month of ttc. We are onto 7 months now.

Dh had a SA done and was found out to have only 4% normal morphs. Everything else is fine, counts and motility. Just that the sperm are abnormal. Now I have my dh taking pyncogenol, gnc mega mens multivitamin and extra zinc. I might need to add more stuff to help increase his good morphs.

To make a long story short, we finally have an RE visit on Halloween day. I am excited and nervous to go to the appointment. I am afraid they will tell us that our only option is IVF. I would prefer to do IUI for a few cycles. Doing the math I believe he has some good swimmers do the job. I am afraid that the ER will push IVF on us and I am not yet emotionally ready for that.

I really need support in all of this. After a week or two we were so numbed and crying endlessly about this. Now we come to the point that there is nothing that we can do and that we have to deal what is ahead for us. I am trying to keep my head on straight through all of this.

Can anyone tell me what to expect at my first visit with the ER.

Welcome! Although I'm sorry that you have to be here. . My husband has the same issue. Our normal sperm morphology goes between 0-1%. We did IVF to have our first child (now 17 months).

Our first visit was basically a consultation. We sat down and discussed our options. We talked about what he should do about the issue. IUI vs. IVF. Talked about cost, time, success rates, etc. He also did a pelvic exam to rule out any issues with me. He ordered some blood work, another semen analysis, and a HSG for me. It was a lot of information to process. I recommend getting a binder to keep everything straight. It helps to have someplace to write down your questions and the answers. It also helps to have someplace to put all the papers. I function better with organization. Also, be sure to take your husband along, two sets of ears are better than one. Best of luck on your journey.

Also, no one can push you into making the choice. You and your husband are in control here. Your RE will just provide you with the information you need to make that choice. If you aren't ready for IVF, then you aren't ready. If you find that the RE is pushing you, then find a new one!

For what it is worth, our RE told us that IUI MAY work, but the odds were slim. IVF was really our best bet. Although we have decided to try some IUIs for our next child. Go figure...

[Lola88]

Hi All! Well, I am currently in the midst of my 2ww and have a couple questions. Last Monday I had my first trigger shot, and then we bd for two nights after that. Ever since about three days ago, I have been getting headaches and feeling nauseous every afternoon. Are these normal side effects from the trigger, or do I just have a bug?? Anyone else have these symptoms after a trigger?

[gumby74]

Lola: I don't remember having those symptoms. Did you google the side effects fo the drug?



QUESTION: I supposedly o'd on Friday. Can anyone tell me why I am still having EWCM today? Also, I took the O test on Sat. and it was neg after being pos on Friday so I just assumed I O'd. Any thoughts????????

[wtg4miracle]

Thanks gumby74 and nummies for your suggestions. I am so numbed right now that its very hard for me to even think of questions. I think in a few days I will start making a list once I get my bearings in place. I know I will have a major breakdown at the office. I just hope they don't push IVF when we really might not need it. I am not ready for that emotionally. Thanks for the idea of a binder also. I am already starting to build up paperwork already.

Nummies did you do IUI first for your 1st child or went straight to IVF.

Is our chances better with IVF if its mainly the male factor? Do we have a better percentage than if there were other issues such as ovarian failure. I think I am working fine.

[Lola88]

I did google the side effects, and nausea can be one of them, but it's weird that I'm only feeling it in the afternoon, and I had my shot a week ago. Does it hang out in your system that long? As of today, I am getting O like cramps on my left side, and feel like AF could come any minute, even tho I'm only CD18. Sometimes I swear these drugs are messing me up more than I was......

[by-the-lake]

Lola- I think your side effects are normal for the trigger. And yes, it does mess with your head! I have learned from these fine ladies on MDC that the trigger can make you have O like pains (has to do with the corpus luteum hanging around) and can make you crampy like AF also. I also have experienced with my 2nd child, I had AF like cramps the whole while. I was waiting for her, but she never came. It has to do with the uterus adjusting to the implantation. The trigger can hang out in your system for 6-10 days.

Wtg- Good luck with your RE visit. Please look at it as a learning and empowered informed decision making session. Your RE can tell you what he/she thinks of your suceess rate IUI vs. IVF based on your and your husbands personal information, not just general statistics. You may be suprised. We have MF and are on our 4th IUI, first one with injectibles. My doc says, for me, that the chances of this working on injectibles with our MF issues are really good. So really, there are alot of pieces to the puzzle. Do not be discouraged.

Gumby- Do you temp? Did you have a progesterone drawn? That can tell you if you O'd.

[lovebug]

Hello everyone :

I am Kelly and I am very excited I found this thread!

I have been TTC for a little over 3 years. My DH is in Iraq and we will be doing infertility treatment in Feb/Mar when he returns home. It is really not fair to say I have been trying for over 3 years (2 year if you take out the 15mths DH has been in Iraq) . It is hard to try without sperm around I have had a TON of tests. I know that my hormone levels are good and my plumbing is working well.

It is very hard because I am 24 and I keep hearing “your so young” or “you have time”. the issue is, I understand I have time. But truly I have been working at this for a long time too, with no luck. How much time can one have?

I am looking forward to the review of this thread. I cant wait to hear what other mama’s in this thread have to say.