The Official TTC Thread!

[lovelylulu]

thanks for all the thoughts ladies! I certainly have my moments where I get mired down in all of this for a while, but I am determined to try to keep this all in perspective, to remain optimistic.

Lindsay, my RE (fertility dr) prescribes progesterone to supplement any course of treatment. Apparently, there are no negative side effects, so I suppose the thinking is "what''s the harm." In my particular case, I have been having mid-cycle spotting for a while now which can indicate a low progesterone level. I''ve taken the progesterone for two cycles (one on clomid and one without) and both times not a bit of spotting. Now that it seems the only obvious issue has been resolved we''re hoping that maybe this is all we need. Thanks for asking.

 

[melz]

yay to fisher and cara for ovulating!

blushing, i did clomid for two months and i say go for it. i didn''t notice side effects until month two (weight gain and irritability), and from my doctor''s comments i gathered the effects are cumulative. so i stopped after two months, but i''d do it again.

swimmer good luck on sunday!

lindsey i can''t imagine what you''ve been through. i hope your stay here is brief.

festy i''m crossing my fingers for you this cycle! lol on the circumstances surrounding this month''s bd''ing and the next. sometimes there really is very little romance left in this process.

lulu sorry about your negative.

drk lurk away bring us your luck!

as for me, i am still on the synerol, looks like i''ll start the gonal f shots on the 7th. think i forgot to take it this morning, anyone know if i should do it when i get home, or just wait until my regular evening dose?

anyway i''ll do an ultrasound on the 11th and go from there. the goal being ivf sometime this month. be a bummer if it doesn''t work, but if not hopefully we''ll have frozen embryos for the next cycle which will make the process a bit easier.

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Wait, Swimmer got her hair cut, too? I missed that. Hope you''re enjoying it.

I miss my long hair already (always happens that way). Regarding your mom''s reaction to TTC, Swimmer, I''m sure it would have been much more exciting and supportive for her to be all happy and excited (and I bet she will be when there''s a baby baking in there!), but I guess a mom''s role never changes from that of protector, you know? It''s hard to balance that out sometimes, I''m sure. You have good medical advice and I''m sure you''ll follow it closely and things will be fine, but mom''s worry about their kiddos. Be sure to tell us how she reacts with the big news. My bet is it will be like this:

***
I don''t know if any of you remember this, but one of my dearest friends lost a baby at Christmas in 2008 when she was 20-22 weeks along. It was very hard for her because she was showing and she has two little children and they just didn''t understand where their little brother/sister had gone (they went in for the gender scan, and that is when they found out the baby had died). It was a major shock to their whole family, and to their marriage. She said that she and her husband had never prepared for anything like that, and didn''t know how to handle it, ended up getting on one another''s nerves trying to console the other, but not knowing how. She said it was the most trying time in their marriage of 8 years. After two months, things got a little more back to normal, and they went back to the Dr, who gave them the okay to try again. They didn''t feel ready at that time, as they wanted to focus on getting back to where they were as a family, and let some of the numbness fade away. Well, they''re back to being who they''ve always been now (a great couple and awesome family) and she just announced that she''s 5 weeks pregnant. I''m so excited for her! Her baby will be due the last week of March 2010. I think it''s really awesome that she chose to announce it as soon as she did because that means she''s being positive and that must be so much harder to do after a loss....

****
Lindsey,

So happy to see you here, lady! Can''t tell you how many times we''ve sent up prayers for you and your husband. It sounds like you''ve spoken to the very best as far as medical Drs. and like you''re ready to go down the TTC road again. When I take Clomid, it''s on the same days as what you''ve been prescribed. Did they say why they prescribed that for you? Was it difficult to get pregnant with Natalie? Or is your Dr. just trying to speed up the TTC process?

For me (and I don''t know if I responded to Blushing''s questions about Clomid or not, so if not, I will here), Clomid has has had very few side effects. I''ve taken it three cycles, the first cycle being the ''roughest,'' and that was very mild. I had a headache on days 5-9 (took on days 3-7), woke up in a cold sweat on day 6 I believe, and was a little moody. Paul says I was just like I was on the Pill (had serious mood issues on that!), but I don''t think it was nearly as bad as when I was on the Pill. Other than that, nothing. And cycles 2 and 3, nothing at all. Some people end up with no CM, which can make the possibility of pregnancy more difficult, but I didn''t have that problem (you can take Robitussin DM on the days following the last day of Clomid up until you confirm ovulation, which will help with the CM issues). Some people will have a thinning of the uterine wall on successive cycles on Clomid (some people seem to get checked with ultrasound regularly, but my Dr. said that''s only necessary if there''s a problem with that, and I have only been checked once since starting it, without it being an issue. I don''t go back until October, so I''m not monitored as close as some others on it seem to be), which can also effect the chances of implantation. Then there''s the chance of twins, but on the lowest dose (50mg), it''s not that common (but it worked for Peony that way!!

) and the chance of triplets is tiny. For us, the chance of two babies is no longer as scary as it was when we first started trying. There''s been past studies with concerns that Clomid can increase the chances of getting cervical cancer, but recent research has shown there is not any direct evidence of a link. Apparently blurry vision is also a common side effect, but I don''t know of anyone who''s had that issue (it only lasts the time you''re on Clomid during the cycle, though). Other side effects that are somewhat common are breast tenderness (and I think I had this, but again, I think I feel a lot of things when it comes to TTC and I think I just wanted the Clomid to work so badly that I could have totally been imagining feelings

), but again, nothing second cycle. It can also increase your LP, and for me, it did. I was usually a 14-15 dayer, and on one of my cycles (I think it was the second), I had a 17 day LP and was *so* sure it was finally our baby time. So, be prepared for that, because it was a bigger let down than it normally is because my temp stayed up for so long. For us, it was more stressful being on Clomid, because you''re on it for a limited number of cycles, so it was very difficult at the end of each cycle on it with no result of pregnancy, while that''s not really a "side effect," it''s worth mentioning. All in all, the side effects are typically not bad, especially on the lower doses. One thing we''ve done to decrease the chances of the long term side effects of the uterine lining thinning and also to just alleviate the stress for a while is to take a break after three cycles, which has helped a lot, stress-wise. Our Dr. said that by doing that, it also allows for us to be able to take it 6-7 cycles rather than 5-6, because taking a break is almost like starting over (gives the body time to rebuild any depleted lining, and lets your body''s natural hormones kick in again).

****
Blushing, have fun in Savannah! It''s my favorite place in the state, for sure! I wish I''d been able to log on to post this sooner, but you really should try to get onto one of the dolphin cruises that goes out from the riverfront to Tybee island. They''re supposed to be amazing!! We''re going on a trip in October and have booked to do that and I can''t hardly wait. It''s a wonderful city with so much to do, but I''m most excited about the dolphins.

Be sure to tell us how it goes; I''m sure you''ll have a wonderful time!

****
Cara,

I love the symbols for intercourse with the hearts or the shield (meaning with contraception), too. They''re so funny to me. I think that''s a program from ovusoft. FF doesn''t have that (just x''s or yes for us). I think Blenheim used ovusoft.com (which I looked at but found more confusing than FF). They also have a little nest for ovulation and all kinds of cute symbols, but again, FF just made more sense to me and I really struggled in the beginning with this BBT business, so I stuck to what was easy. I guess that with FF you just don''t put down the days you BDed if you used a condom.

****
Speaking of FF, I got the funniest interpretation yet from them: cannot pinpoint ovulation (didn''t chart regularly), but that I appear to have ovulated sometime between CD 24 and CD 42. That''s a wide timeframe, but I think it''s somewhere closer to between CD 34-39. Eh, that''s LATE!

Talked to my mom a lot during vacation about all this TTC business. I''ve known she had long cycles, too, but she told me sometimes they were shorter (like the average length, about 30 days), and sometimes longer. She said that the cycle she got pregnant with me, she didn''t know she was pregnant right away because it was such a LONG cycle, and she kept taking tests because her period hadn''t come yet, and they''d be negative and negative, and then when it had been almost two months since her last period, she tested again and it was positive. So, I am the product of an "old egg." That gives me hope that even with old eggs, pretty normal babies can result.

Hoping Applequeen starts a new trend of pregnancies around here! Vacate, vacate, all of us!

 

[Sha]

Date: 8/1/2009 11:41:35 AM
Author: fisherofmengirly
Wait, Swimmer got her hair cut, too? I missed that. Hope you''re enjoying it.

I miss my long hair already (always happens that way). Regarding your mom''s reaction to TTC, Swimmer, I''m sure it would have been much more exciting and supportive for her to be all happy and excited (and I bet she will be when there''s a baby baking in there!), but I guess a mom''s role never changes from that of protector, you know? It''s hard to balance that out sometimes, I''m sure. You have good medical advice and I''m sure you''ll follow it closely and things will be fine, but mom''s worry about their kiddos. Be sure to tell us how she reacts with the big news. My bet is it will be like this:

***
I don''t know if any of you remember this, but one of my dearest friends lost a baby at Christmas in 2008 when she was 20-22 weeks along. It was very hard for her because she was showing and she has two little children and they just didn''t understand where their little brother/sister had gone (they went in for the gender scan, and that is when they found out the baby had died). It was a major shock to their whole family, and to their marriage. She said that she and her husband had never prepared for anything like that, and didn''t know how to handle it, ended up getting on one another''s nerves trying to console the other, but not knowing how. She said it was the most trying time in their marriage of 8 years. After two months, things got a little more back to normal, and they went back to the Dr, who gave them the okay to try again. They didn''t feel ready at that time, as they wanted to focus on getting back to where they were as a family, and let some of the numbness fade away. Well, they''re back to being who they''ve always been now (a great couple and awesome family) and she just announced that she''s 5 weeks pregnant. I''m so excited for her! Her baby will be due the last week of March 2010. I think it''s really awesome that she chose to announce it as soon as she did because that means she''s being positive and that must be so much harder to do after a loss....

****
Lindsey,

So happy to see you here, lady! Can''t tell you how many times we''ve sent up prayers for you and your husband. It sounds like you''ve spoken to the very best as far as medical Drs. and like you''re ready to go down the TTC road again. When I take Clomid, it''s on the same days as what you''ve been prescribed. Did they say why they prescribed that for you? Was it difficult to get pregnant with Natalie? Or is your Dr. just trying to speed up the TTC process?

For me (and I don''t know if I responded to Blushing''s questions about Clomid or not, so if not, I will here), Clomid has has had very few side effects. I''ve taken it three cycles, the first cycle being the ''roughest,'' and that was very mild. I had a headache on days 5-9 (took on days 3-7), woke up in a cold sweat on day 6 I believe, and was a little moody. Paul says I was just like I was on the Pill (had serious mood issues on that!), but I don''t think it was nearly as bad as when I was on the Pill. Other than that, nothing. And cycles 2 and 3, nothing at all. Some people end up with no CM, which can make the possibility of pregnancy more difficult, but I didn''t have that problem (you can take Robitussin DM on the days following the last day of Clomid up until you confirm ovulation, which will help with the CM issues). Some people will have a thinning of the uterine wall on successive cycles on Clomid (some people seem to get checked with ultrasound regularly, but my Dr. said that''s only necessary if there''s a problem with that, and I have only been checked once since starting it, without it being an issue. I don''t go back until October, so I''m not monitored as close as some others on it seem to be), which can also effect the chances of implantation. Then there''s the chance of twins, but on the lowest dose (50mg), it''s not that common (but it worked for Peony that way!!

) and the chance of triplets is tiny. For us, the chance of two babies is no longer as scary as it was when we first started trying. There''s been past studies with concerns that Clomid can increase the chances of getting cervical cancer, but recent research has shown there is not any direct evidence of a link. Apparently blurry vision is also a common side effect, but I don''t know of anyone who''s had that issue (it only lasts the time you''re on Clomid during the cycle, though). Other side effects that are somewhat common are breast tenderness (and I think I had this, but again, I think I feel a lot of things when it comes to TTC and I think I just wanted the Clomid to work so badly that I could have totally been imagining feelings

), but again, nothing second cycle. It can also increase your LP, and for me, it did. I was usually a 14-15 dayer, and on one of my cycles (I think it was the second), I had a 17 day LP and was *so* sure it was finally our baby time. So, be prepared for that, because it was a bigger let down than it normally is because my temp stayed up for so long. For us, it was more stressful being on Clomid, because you''re on it for a limited number of cycles, so it was very difficult at the end of each cycle on it with no result of pregnancy, while that''s not really a ''side effect,'' it''s worth mentioning. All in all, the side effects are typically not bad, especially on the lower doses. One thing we''ve done to decrease the chances of the long term side effects of the uterine lining thinning and also to just alleviate the stress for a while is to take a break after three cycles, which has helped a lot, stress-wise. Our Dr. said that by doing that, it also allows for us to be able to take it 6-7 cycles rather than 5-6, because taking a break is almost like starting over (gives the body time to rebuild any depleted lining, and lets your body''s natural hormones kick in again).

****
Blushing, have fun in Savannah! It''s my favorite place in the state, for sure! I wish I''d been able to log on to post this sooner, but you really should try to get onto one of the dolphin cruises that goes out from the riverfront to Tybee island. They''re supposed to be amazing!! We''re going on a trip in October and have booked to do that and I can''t hardly wait. It''s a wonderful city with so much to do, but I''m most excited about the dolphins.

Be sure to tell us how it goes; I''m sure you''ll have a wonderful time!

****
Cara,

I love the symbols for intercourse with the hearts or the shield (meaning with contraception), too. They''re so funny to me. I think that''s a program from ovusoft. FF doesn''t have that (just x''s or yes for us). I think Blenheim used ovusoft.com (which I looked at but found more confusing than FF). They also have a little nest for ovulation and all kinds of cute symbols, but again, FF just made more sense to me and I really struggled in the beginning with this BBT business, so I stuck to what was easy. I guess that with FF you just don''t put down the days you BDed if you used a condom.

****
Speaking of FF, I got the funniest interpretation yet from them: cannot pinpoint ovulation (didn''t chart regularly), but that I appear to have ovulated sometime between CD 24 and CD 42. That''s a wide timeframe, but I think it''s somewhere closer to between CD 34-39. Eh, that''s LATE!

Talked to my mom a lot during vacation about all this TTC business. I''ve known she had long cycles, too, but she told me sometimes they were shorter (like the average length, about 30 days), and sometimes longer. She said that the cycle she got pregnant with me, she didn''t know she was pregnant right away because it was such a LONG cycle, and she kept taking tests because her period hadn''t come yet, and they''d be negative and negative, and then when it had been almost two months since her last period, she tested again and it was positive. So, I am the product of an ''old egg.'' That gives me hope that even with old eggs, pretty normal babies can result.

Hoping Applequeen starts a new trend of pregnancies around here! Vacate, vacate, all of us!

Hi fisher,
Just wanted to chime in to mention that I think Robitussin DM is the one type they recommend not to take to help with cervical mucus - as it dries out the cm instead of thinning it out, and also may not be safe for TTC because of the possibility of birth defects. Any other Robitussin/Mucinex containing guanesfesin (sp?) is fine, as far as I''ve read, except for the DM one.

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Hey Sha,

You''re right. My post should have read "robitussin, not DM." I actually get the generic (it goes fast when you''re taking it a couple times a day for several days) and what it reads is "Tussin," and then under it "chest congestion." You only want the kind that has the expectorant, nothing else, because the additional active ingredients act to dry up mucus, which is the opposite of what you want it for in TTC terms....

 

[swimmer]

Just a quick swoop by to say, I''m not pregnant.

The RE''s office was kind enough to call and let me know while I was driving to a baby shower. Awesomeness. Where two more friends announced that they are preggo (on the first month trying, howawesomeisthat?). If someone else tells me there is "something in the water" or some other vacuous platitude, I am going to explain in graphic detail how babies are actually made.

Fishie, how do you stay so sweet through it all? And why not try grapefruit juice? It works GREAT for cm.

 

[Laila619]

Date: 8/2/2009 7:02:07 PM
Author: swimmer
Just a quick swoop by to say, I''m not pregnant.

The RE''s office was kind enough to call and let me know while I was driving to a baby shower. Awesomeness. Where two more friends announced that they are preggo (on the first month trying, howawesomeisthat?). If someone else tells me there is ''something in the water'' or some other vacuous platitude, I am going to explain in graphic detail how babies are actually made.

Fishie, how do you stay so sweet through it all? And why not try grapefruit juice? It works GREAT for cm.

Ugh, I am so sorry swimmer.

WHY does it seem to happen so effortlessly for some people? It''s so not fair.

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Date: 8/2/2009 7:02:07 PM
Author: swimmer
Just a quick swoop by to say, I''m not pregnant.

The RE''s office was kind enough to call and let me know while I was driving to a baby shower. Awesomeness. Where two more friends announced that they are preggo (on the first month trying, howawesomeisthat?). If someone else tells me there is ''something in the water'' or some other vacuous platitude, I am going to explain in graphic detail how babies are actually made.

Fishie, how do you stay so sweet through it all? And why not try grapefruit juice? It works GREAT for cm.

Swimmer,

Hi, lady. I''m sorry that your news came at the very worst moment possible. I''ve been there, too. My cousin had a baby shower that I skipped out on because my dear friend Ms. Period came to see me that same day and I just couldn''t muster the happiness that I think a baby shower (all attending, but especially the mother-to-be) deserves. Paul thought I''d regret that, but I''m glad that I just sent her gift. I''ve seen her and the baby since, and the baby girl is adorable and my cousin didn''t think a thing of my not making it to the shower.

In addition, I''ll add that I''m not pregnant, either.

Turns out I was totally off on when we ovulated (again because of the not taking the temps thing) and I''m now on CD 2. We had pretty much no chance of pregnancy this cycle, since I ovulated (on or really close to) the day after Paul''s SA and we refrained for 4 days prior and the day after I was working on a project so that didn''t happen, either. Oh well. In a way, I feel better knowing we missed the boat entirely over thinking we made all attempts, and still nothing happened.

As for staying "sweet" through it all... I genuinely get excited for my friends who''re expecting. I can''t not. I know they''re all great (or will be great) parents and it makes me happy every time a pregnancy occurs, because it reconfirms for me that this does happen all the time, and I hold on to that and just keep waiting for our time to come. I''m not saying I don''t have a hard time with friends'' comments about how incredibly upset they are that they''re not pregnant on their first try (but admittedly, I was, too), but I''m more upset by friends who don''t want to tell me their news for fear of "hurting" me. That makes me think they must think of me as a selfish, bitter, jealous person. And I''m determined not to let this TTC business turn me into anyone of the sort. Plus, I don''t think I''ve let go of hope at all yet. Not at all. When/if that day comes, I will be a HOT mess, but until then, I keep expecting the joys of parenthood and get happy when I have more friends/family joining the ranks, too. Some days are better than others, though. That''s for sure.

Yesterday was not a good day, and I was in tears a good part of the morning.... it comes in spurts. I won''t let my joy be defeated based on the current circumstances of my life, and particularly just because of one part of my life. I have a husband who loves me and even at his worst, he''s a good man. I''m a lucky girl. I''ve got two amazing dogs who love me through all my emotions, and that''s not bad, either. And *all* of us have our turn at parenthood coming, and I''m praying it''s just around the corner....

 

[Laila619]

fisher, you have such a great attitude!

 

[Festy]

Hi Ladies,

Melanie - I''m keeping my fingers crossed for you that IVF is a go this cycle! Thanks for keeping us posted on your progress.

Swimmer - Good grief, what craptastic timing to get that news. I''m sorry to hear it. Grapefruit juice, you say? Hmm.

Fishie - I''m sorry AF showed. It just sucks no matter what, no? Will you go back on Clomid next round?

As for me, I realize I haven''t given y''all the report on our latest visit with the RE. DH''s second SA was better. His morphology was within the normal range. For both samples the volume was low, but he''s convinced that that''s not always the case. Yay, right? Yeah well, so the RE recommended Clomid and IUI as the next step. I asked whether it was worth trying Clomid alone first as a baby step. He said sure, why not. So I''ll take the lowest dose next cycle and see what happens. On CD 2 or 3 they do a base-line ultrasound to make sure there are no other visible problems. I''m around 6 or 7 DPO today.

Quick question for you Boston ladies. Did any of you try acupuncture? I figure it couldn''t hurt. Any recommendations would be great. There was a lovely person on here a few months back whose name I''ve forgotten who is from the area and I think knew of some fertility-related acupuncturists.

 

[melz]

Festy, good luck with the clomid. If you do get to the iui route, btw, it''s really not very invasive/painful or anyting. As for the acpuncture, I went to two places. Only went once to each place, so I don''t have much of an opinion on whether it really works. One was the Domar Center. It''s attached to a Boston ivf facility in Waltham, but I don''t think you have to be a Boston ivf patient to go. I went to Lilly, who was lovely. But it cost $75, so I also tried the New England School of Acupuncture, which was $35. They basically have their students practice on you. My experience there was just okay, but I''ve heard of others having a better experience so it''s probably the luck of the draw. They are located in Newton.

When I do it again, if I do, it will be to coincide with my ivf. They (the Domar Center) have a program where they do it right before, then you get the ivf done, then you go back to the acunpuncture right after.

 

[swimmer]

Thanks Festy, grapefruit juice, yeah read about it somewhere on the internets and it really works for fueling good quality cm. I hate taking meds, (ha, funny, other than clomid, ovidrel shot, preggo vitamins, vit B, and an extra folic acid), so somehow cutting out all otc drugs makes it easier to do all these prescriptions. Yes, you are right to wait till the time is right for more interventions. When you and your fella are ready for iui, you will be READY for iui. (we are there, the view is nice, the lovemaking is not scheduled or task oriented, sweet!) But yes, wait till you are ready.

Thanks Fisher, I think I meant "positive" (or non homicidal

) rather than "sweet." Yesterday was not a great day in the history of me. But the shower was fun (and the chocolate mousse cupcakes were fabu.) I had just gotten my hopes up this cycle and that has never really happened before... OK, now on to the next step, meeting with another RE this friday, pretty excited about her.

Cara, OK, now some photos please? And Blushing, how was your SC trip?

Melanie, hmm, sorry to hear that about the clomid, but just to reassure others considering it, I don't gain any weight on clomid (and I gain weight just walking by bakeries), but get (sorry) wicked bloated/etc. with the progesterone, at least it is just water weight that will go away when it is out of the system. All the symptoms of pregnancy with none of the joy it is. But if it helps... Your center's combo sounds fantastic.

Soooo, regarding acupuncture in Boston, wow we could really get together for coffee sometime ladies... I am going to start seeing a friend for it. He is just graduating from the school in Watertown and has treated me for another unrelated thing, but now he is going into practice in Cambridge with his wife who is a massage therapist (note for cycling fans, she used to work for team Saturn and has worked the Tour many times rubbing down Tyler, and various skinny european fellows). They have had some pregnancy successes with tag teaming massage/acupuncture treatments (paired with bd'ing of course, they are not magical). But most interestingly to me, acupuncture can be used to bring on AF, which for those of us with eternal cycles, is just priceless. I only recently told them that we are "working on" this, so am going to start treatments soon and will report back by random anecdotes.

Gah, must do some work, good luck to all of you, I wish this thread moved faster...Lulu, Laila, Sha, DrK, Blushing, Maggie, and everyone and mostly Lindsey, so good to see you here. Words just can't express my hopes and wishes for you and your family.

 

[ljmorgan]

Fisher, thanks for the Robitussin tip... I actually have a brand new stash that I bought just last week for that very reason!

It was not difficult to get pregnant with Natalie, we really lucked out on the timing, especially since I conceived her on CD 24. I conceived her in August 08, and had stopped birth control in November 07... in that time I had maybe 5 cycles! It is likely that I have PCOS. So yes, the doctor is being kind by helping to try and speed things up for us. The desire for a baby is... excruciating. So of course I am using all of the tips that you lovely ladies have compiled here -- the robitussin, baby aspirin, pineapple...

Of course now I have this overwhelming fear of bad things happening. For instance, I''m convinced that I will miscarry the next pregnancy. Then once upon a time I thought once you hit 12 weeks, you were safe! I obviously don''t believe that anymore. I am exhausted just thinking about being pregnant again, it is so scary. Now it feels as thought getting pregnant is only half of the battle. The scared side of me also thinks that I was so lucky in getting pregnant with Natalie, what if I have some underlying fertility problem and can''t get pregnant again? I know that there are so many women who would die to get pregnant even once, and want that so badly. I suppose I got that, but I didn''t get to come home with a baby in my arms. I think that women with fertility challenges and women who experience pregnancy loss at any stage have a lot in common... a lot of heartache. I got to hold her for two days, but she did not get to come home. Anyway, that is just me being mental about everything... I am hanging on.

Swimmer, thank you for your kind thoughts.

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Grapefruit juice... what kind? Does it have to be the yellow kind, or can it be ruby red? I ask because I can''t stand the bitter yellow, but love the ruby red. How much? Every day, or just when it''s time for O to be coming around? I looked around online, but it all seems to be so varied in what they suggest, so I thought I''d ask what you do, Swimmer. I''m all for no more robitussin. I''m very much not a medicine girl. I''d rather wait out a headache than take a pill, but will on occassion take one if it gets too bad. For kicks, I got a bottle of yellow grapefruit juice today (perhaps the taste had changed for me?) and ended up giving all but my first three sips to Paul. He loves it!

***
Festy, we''ve not decided about the clomid this go-round yet. Honestly, the cycle off was so relaxed, and we really enjoyed that. But, then I think about the LONG cycle and the likelihood of another one similar, and well... like I said, we''ve not decided yet.

Yay for your husband''s better results this time!! Did you celebrate??

***
*Finally* got word from Paul''s testing. It was done over two weeks ago. First the fax machine at the lab was screwed up, then my Dr. was out of town all of last week, so it''s been two weeks of eager waiting on our parts. Still, the Dr. isn''t in today, but an associate from a sister agency or some such something came by the office to review records for tests and things of that nature, and they weren''t able to get to ours. They can only release the results to us once the Dr. has signed off on them, but the nurse practicioner was nice enough to call me and say the Dr. wasn''t able to review them and he''d be calling with official numbers later, but she could tell me what the coverletter read. Some of the happiest words I''ve heard: "All within normal limits." Yay!

Still, I''m looking forward to the actual numbers. Why do I have to be that way, so analytical of it all? Eh.

I also wanted to ask someone who may know... if they say you should only take Clomid about 6 cycles, what happens if you take it those six cycles and aren''t pregnant, then you decide to do IUI? Can you get Clomid again, or is your chance at it over? I ask because I''d hate to use up all our chances at clomid then find out later that IUI''s not an option for us because of that (we wouldn''t do any of the trigger/shots/other medications with that procedure, because we really, really don''t want to create too many babies in there). I''ve been curious about that, but haven''t found any answers about it online...

Speaking of the whole staying positive thing, I always find it so interesting how people come up in our lives who are going through the same things we''re going through, for support, and also so we can learn from one another how to get through whatever we''re dealing with. Have any of you found that there are people around you walking right where you are on this TTC road? It''s crazy how many people I''ve come to know are also here with me, and it helps not to feel so alone. I also find it funny how a totally random email can land in your inbox at just the right moment. I thought I''d share a piece of this one with my TTCers here, received at my work email from someone I don''t know who happens to work for the same state agency:

"We convince ourselves that life will be better once we have married, have a house, have a baby, then another.

Then we get frustrated because our children are not old enough, and that all will be well when they are older.

Then we are frustrated because they reach adolescence and we must deal with them. Surely we''ll be happy when they grow out of the teen years.

We tell ourselves our life will be better when our spouse gets his/her act together, when we have a nicer car, when we finally take our vacation, when we finally retire.

The truth is that there is no better time to be happy than right now. If not, then when? Our lives will always be full of challenges. It''s better to admit as much and to decide to be happy in spite of it all."

Found that interesting, since we were just talking about that sort of thing here.... and funny that the first line talks about conceiving. Hits home that this is an area where many, many people struggle/think life will be better once that moment comes.

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Date: 8/3/2009 8:08:04 PM
Author: *Lindsey*
Fisher, thanks for the Robitussin tip... I actually have a brand new stash that I bought just last week for that very reason!

It was not difficult to get pregnant with Natalie, we really lucked out on the timing, especially since I conceived her on CD 24. I conceived her in August 08, and had stopped birth control in November 07... in that time I had maybe 5 cycles! It is likely that I have PCOS. So yes, the doctor is being kind by helping to try and speed things up for us. The desire for a baby is... excruciating. So of course I am using all of the tips that you lovely ladies have compiled here -- the robitussin, baby aspirin, pineapple...

Of course now I have this overwhelming fear of bad things happening. For instance, I''m convinced that I will miscarry the next pregnancy. Then once upon a time I thought once you hit 12 weeks, you were safe! I obviously don''t believe that anymore. I am exhausted just thinking about being pregnant again, it is so scary. Now it feels as thought getting pregnant is only half of the battle. The scared side of me also thinks that I was so lucky in getting pregnant with Natalie, what if I have some underlying fertility problem and can''t get pregnant again? I know that there are so many women who would die to get pregnant even once, and want that so badly. I suppose I got that, but I didn''t get to come home with a baby in my arms. I think that women with fertility challenges and women who experience pregnancy loss at any stage have a lot in common... a lot of heartache. I got to hold her for two days, but she did not get to come home. Anyway, that is just me being mental about everything... I am hanging on.

Swimmer, thank you for your kind thoughts.

Keep hanging on, Lindsey. I think that every experience we have gives us the opportunity to hold even closer to each new one, you know? So yes, those of us who struggle with TTC could be more likely to treasure the experiences of pregnancy (perhaps even see the *bad* as not so bad, for the struggle in getting there). No one wants to experience pregnancy without the outcome of a baby in their arms, to watch grow. I''m still impressed with your ability to not only grow in your relationship with your husband, but also to learn so much about how to have another pregnancy with as little chance of complications as possible. It''s amazing and a blessing to watch. We''re all looking forward to your journey along with you.

 

[Laila619]

Date: 8/3/2009 9:17:35 PM
Author: fisherofmengirly
Have any of you found that there are people around you walking right where you are on this TTC road? It''s crazy how many people I''ve come to know are also here with me, and it helps not to feel so alone.

Hi Fisher,

No, I feel alone in this because it''s the opposite all around me: people get pregnant on the 1st or 2nd cycle. So depressing. Even on the PS Preggo thread, all of them tried for a relatively short time. I''m happy for these people of course, but it feels like no one else has had to face this.

Great that your DH''s test results are normal!

 

[blushingbride]

Hi Ladies!

I''m back from Savannah/Hilton Head - we had a fabulous time! Savannah is quaint and charming - would definitely go back if I ever had the chance. The shops and restaurants are wonderful - lots of antique stores and the shrimp were delicious! Speaking of shrimp - we did a horse-drawn carriage ride around the town and even got to see where Forest Gump was filmed.

Our friend''s place was right in between Savannah and Hilton Head (actually, the house was in SC, not GA). So, we flip-flopped between the two towns. We''d go to Savannah for the day, then Hilton Head for dinner or visa versa. BTW - coming from NYC, I couldn''t get over the cost of houses down there! Our friend''s home was gorgeous and only around $530K - a house like that in NY would cost $1.5 mil! Craziness!

The only bad thing was that we were stuck in Savannah on Sunday night because all flights to the Northeast were cancelled due to bad weather. So, we had to wake up super early yesterday catch a 6am flight and then put in a full day''s work (I had a huge proposal due and actually had to run to FedEx last night to make it there before it closed). Needless to say, I''m exhausted, but all in all it was wonderful!

Now we are excited for our next trip in Sept....SWEDEN!

Lindsey - thanks for explaining what happened to Natalie. I''m sorry you had to endure everything you did, but you sound so strong and definitely seem like you are in a good place to try again. This go around will still be worrisome for you, but at least you are fully aware of what you should and shouldn''t do in order to ensure the safest possible pregnancy you can.

Lovely - sorry about the negative test. My doctor told me she wanted to start treating me for the things that we know could be a problem (ex. short luteal phase) and then move onto other things. Hopefully, treating your spotting issue will be the key to getting that BFP! It''s hard to wonder what the problem is when all our tests come back normal. Glad to hear you had such a great time in NC! I can''t believe we''ve been on this board for a year now (well, really almost two since we came here to learn about TTC first). Seems like a lot of us have anniversaries coming up on this thread...I just hope to not be here for another one!

Cara - any sign of AF? I''m still patiently waiting...it will be exactly one month tomorrow since my miscarriage and let me tell you...it''s been the SLOWEST month ever! At least when I''m actively TTC, I have milestones to look forward to each time - like AF, then when to BD, the TWW and then testing time. I have a feeling, this waiting will start to get painful!

Fisher - sorry about your BFN too. I''m also sorry to hear you''ve been feeling down, but your DH''s sample coming back normal is a good thing!

Step by step, you are getting some answers and hopefully they will put your mind at ease for the time being. Be positive!

BTW - I took Robitussin and preseed the month I got my BFP and will be doing it again as soon as my darn AF comes! I''m going under the assumption that both helped me in getting the BFP.

Festy - maybe we''ll be clomid next cycle! I think it''s a worth a try before doing IUI, but I am interested in hearing the other ladies chime in regarding fisher''s questions with clomid and IUI and how many times you can use clomid.

 

[blushingbride]

Swimmer - I forgot to say I''m sorry for you negative too. Ugh...so frustrating, I know! Have you thought about your next steps?

 

[NovemberBride]

Date: 8/3/2009 11:18:41 PM
Author: Laila619

Date: 8/3/2009 9:17:35 PM
Author: fisherofmengirly
Have any of you found that there are people around you walking right where you are on this TTC road? It''s crazy how many people I''ve come to know are also here with me, and it helps not to feel so alone.

Hi Fisher,

No, I feel alone in this because it''s the opposite all around me: people get pregnant on the 1st or 2nd cycle. So depressing. Even on the PS Preggo thread, all of them tried for a relatively short time. I''m happy for these people of course, but it feels like no one else has had to face this.

Great that your DH''s test results are normal!

Just popping on from the preggo thread to lend some support and dust for all you ladies. I think of you often and hope to see several of you graduate to the preggo thread before my little one is born.

Laila, I know that it''s often easy to feel all alone and that everyone gets pregnant on the first try. However, it''s simply not true. I know many of us on the preggo thread tried for many months or even years to get pregnant, and a number of us did not get pregnant until we used Clomid or other methods of fertility treatments. Also, you may not know how long it took people you know in real life. I am sure that most of mine and DH''s friends and family assume we got pregnant right away because we did not tell anyone we were trying, when in reality we went through many months of tears, frustration and medical appointments to conceive our little girl. I know that it is so hard when you desperately want to be pregnant and it seems like it is so easy for everyone else (I was where you are 6 months ago), but sometimes things aren''t what they seem. There are many others who have gone through and are going through what you are feeling, so try not to feel so alone.

 

[swimmer]

So I have no medical training other than being a lifeguard

but have done a great deal of research on clomid in the 7 cycles since I first got the script. There is no real limit on how many months you can take it Fisher, its not like you are out after 6, more like if you try it 6 cycles and nada...well, then how much longer do you want to beat your head against the wall? You can totally take C till you get pregnant or run out of eggs, there is no limit, but you might want to start trying other combos of things too.

For example: I took C for 3 cycles before taking a break, since DH had to be out of the country there was no point, then have just done 2 cycles. For this last one I also did a trigger shot of Ovidrel, which ensures ovulation and they do ultrasounds to make sure your follicles are at the right stage so time your trigger very exactly. I have a follow up appt F, also known as a "wtf" appt in the fertility blogs, which are a great place to check out Laila when you are feeling isolated or just want to read more about others' experiences. I will perhaps continue with clomid and it isn't like its the magical 6th cycle. Six is a good rule of thumb, then try something new if the old way isn't working. Right, like the definition of insanity? So just speculating here, I'll do clomid with timed iui and progesterone next cycle. But possibly try femara? link There are lots of steps available out there beyond clomid but before frozen embryos.

Note: before triggering you should probably have an HSG to check the tubes to make sure there are no blockages and to perhaps flush the system. Lots of women get preggo after the HSG, it is sometimes seen as "priming the pump." Also, if your treatment is covered by insurance, the HSG is probably needed in order to cover the trigger shot.

So, is this a circuitous enough explanation yet? I just want to be really clear that there are no "6 tries and you are out" rule for Clomid. But I would wonder why a couple would want to try the same thing over and over while expecting different results. Yet using Clomid in combo with other procedures and drugs is very common. Personally, I know that my 32yr old scarred and chemo'd ovaries have a limited shelf life and limited potential, so I don't have the luxury of deliberation. Medication shrunk my tumors and medication will help something new grow there in the future.

ETA: For grapefruit juice, I splurged and got the ruby red organic stuff. Oh yeah. Bringing out the big guns. It is indeed delicious and I find that it helps with ahem lubrication even late in the luteal phase (for those of us with 40+ day cycles that can be a real issue.)

 

[gongjoo143]

Hi all,

I''ve only posted a few times on the TTC thread but I wanted to announce that after 16 months of trying, we are finally pregnant. We saw one little bean at our 5 week ultrasound this past weekend and are thrilled. Nausea is starting to kick in and I''m grateful for it.

I wanted to post after reading about how some women are considering ART. My husband and I are young - I just turned 29 and he is 31, so we tried naturally for a year before going for testing. I thought that it was going to be male factor and I was right. His morphology was very low at just 1-2% and count and motility were barely in the normal range. Since I am an acupuncturist, I treated both of us with acupuncture and herbs for a few months before going in for an IUI. I used Gonal-F with 2 back-to-back IUIs and that did the trick. We feel incredibly lucky because the Dr gave us a low success rate because of the sperm quality. We were scheduled to start IVF if the IUI failed.

If anyone has questions about how acupuncture can improve fertility or about IUIs, I may be able to answer some questions. Best of luck to all of you in your TTC journey! I hope it will be a short one.

 

[Laila619]

NovemberBride, thank you so much for the words of encouragement!

gongjoo, congratulations!!

 

[Festy]

Melanie, thanks so much for the acupuncture recommendation. I''m hoping against hope that my ins. policy covers it. What are the chances?

Swimmer - wonderful insight into Clomid, thanks. I''m holding you to it all, Ms. Lifeguard! Hey, it''s more medical training than I have.

Laila, hang in there. Like November said, it''s easy to assume that everyone gets KTFU super-easy, and it may even be true of the people you know, but there are a lot of people out there who struggle and don''t talk about it. You are not alone. And in the grand scheme of things, this is one of those "good" problems, as painful as it may be.

Fisher - Great post, girlie, and I could not agree more. Having waited around for Mr. Right until I was 34/35, it was easy to think, "oh, once I''m married my problems will dissolve." Wrong! I was single and happy with one set of "problems" (I use quotations marks because they were the good kind of problems) and now I''m married and happy with different problems. The problems never go away but absent major catastrophe, we can decide to be happy. Have you ever seen the movie Happy Go Lucky? I think you''d like it.

Blushing - welcome back, what an awesome vacation! So sad when we Northeasterners have to go down south in JULY for some summertime weather, isn''t it? Here''s hoping AF comes (you''re still waiting, right?) and we can be Clomid buddies. I have to say, I am the queen of second-guessing myself on this. I think the only reason I''m trying Clomid alone for one cycle is because I totally chickened out of IUI. I sort of panicked. The doctor seemed to think there was no harm in doing Clomid first for one cycle. He said if nothing happens not to bother doing just Clomid alone again. He thought we were very good candidates for IUI b/c DH''s volume was a little low and when that happens there''s less semen to protect the swimmers on their journey through the vagina. (I kinda thought that''s what EWCM was for, but maybe it''s not enough). Hence I''ll be using a ton of pre-seed this go around. Yes, and Robitussen.

Gongjoo - Hi!

It was you! Thank you for coming back, you were so helpful last time and CONGRATULATIONS!!! What thrilling news. I hope you have an uneventful pregnancy and continue to lurk here! I think last time you recommended seeing an acupuncturist who specializes in fertility. Is that correct? Anything else I should be aware of?

 

[gongjoo143]

Thanks! We are really excited to say the least. I''m amazed the IUI worked.

Festy, finding a good acupuncturist who specializes in infertility is a great start. I also like to have my ladies take fish oil, antioxidants and wheatgrass in addition. It''s great not only for reproductive health but also for immune health. Men do very well with GNC Megaman multi. Oddly enough, it''s not advertised as being good for sperm, but there are a lot of extra ingredients that boost healthy sperm production. Also, don''t be scared of IUI - it is a very fast and painless procedure.

I really do think that made a big difference for us because my husband''s post-wash count wasn''t high but since IUI placed the sample where it needed to be, they didn''t have far to travel. I hope Clomid does the trick for you!

 

[vespergirl]

Question for all of you - how soon would you feel early pregnancy symptoms, like nausea, after ovulation/fertilization? The first time I was pregnant, we weren''t TTC, so I didn''t even notice/pay attention to any symptoms until I found out that I was pregnant when I was already 6 weeks along.

This time, we have been trying for 9 months so far, and I''m on my second cycle of charting with Clomid. I ovulated 8 days ago, but started feeling nausea and fatigue on Friday (day 22 of my cycle). It was so bad that when we went out to dinner and I ordered seafood, I had the waiter take it back, because I couldn''t stomach it. I also haven''t had a glass of wine or cup of coffee since Saturday - 2 nights in a row, wine was smelling sour to me (but there was nothing wrong with it). Last time I was pregnant, the smells of wine, coffee and eggs were all really repulsive to me.

DH told me that it''s impossible that I would be feeling symptoms this soon, if I were actually pregnant. However, a friend of mine who was pregnant last year said that she started feeling nausea/fatigue/scent aversions only a week after she conceived. I just wanted to get your feedback on whether it''s actually too early to be feeling those early pregnancy symptoms ... thanks!

Also, congrats to Gongjoo!

 

[phoenixgirl]

I started burping nonstop less than a week after ovulation.

I read a magazine article (Real Simple, maybe) where the author said that she was at a party where she tried to drink white wine but thought it had "gone bad," so she had her husband bring her red wine. Same thing, and then she thought, wait a minute . . . that was her first clue she was pregnant.

 

[swimmer]

Congrats gongjoo!

Vesper, you might get better responses on the preggo thread from people who are actually pregnant, rather than those here, who are not. But I had no symptoms at all before I lost a baby at 8 weeks.

 

[blushingbride]

Congratulations gongjoo!

I''m like Swimmer where I really had no symptoms - the only thing I remember was my gums bleeding on like day 4 or 5 which would be too early for that I think. I also felt dizzy on day 5 or 6 which also was too early for symptoms. So, I like to think I had no symptoms.

 

[gongjoo143]

Hmm my early pregnancy signs were tender breasts, swollen lower abdomen, sensitivity to smells, and no PMS (no spotting, no moodiness, no breakouts). Since I got my positive test, pregnancy "nose" has become really bad.

Thanks to everyone for all their well wishes!

 

[cara]

Congrats gongjoo! What wonderful news. Hoping for an easy/speedy pregnancy for you.

festy and fisher, glad that you both got good results on your husband's tests. That should at least reduce the areas for concern.

vesper, i totally had symptoms prior to getting a BFP. I had one day were I was pretty nauseous and green about 5 days prior to my first positive test (not sure on DPO cause I wasn't charting). And coffee started smelling bad also. At that point I was suspicious that I was KTFU, but was also getting negative pregnancy tests and I didn't want my husband telling me later that it was all in my head so I waited for a positive test before mentioning the symptoms. Also the boobs got sore, but that's a toughie cause mine are normally a bit sore in the PMS stage anyway.

Blushing, I am waiting no more! Actually CD6 today, only oddity is that fertility friend puts my LP at 8 days for the last cycle. Hopefully it was either weird miscarriage cycle or bad temperature data from my traveling. But I am starting to trust the temperatures, and that I am not messing them up too badly by whatever I do in the morning that is not textbook instructions from FF. Bad news is that I am going to a conference next week for CD11-16, so this could put quite a damper on the TTC part of this month. Good luck for you not waiting much more - you have gotten a near 0 HCG level in bloodwork?

OK, swimmer, pics for you. And hopefully the others will humor us. The subject matter of this thread isn't exactly great for pictures, so... to finish up the Tour de France 2009 threadjack, for your viewing pleasure: