The Official TTC Thread!

[drk]

Lindsey - glad you have such a clear plan in place. Just curious though: Why do you have to do IVIG etc if you''re Boy/Rh- ? I thought you were only sensitized to the Rh factor? I''m confused!

 

[HOUMedGal]

Date: 10/6/2009 9:09:33 PM
Author: LAJennifer

Date: 10/6/2009 8:46:14 PM
Author: HOUMedGal
OMG, Lindsey!!

Soooo happy for you!!! BEST of luck as this little one continues to grow, and I will continue to pray for an easy pregnancy for you. Girl/Rh- sure would be easiest, wouldn''t it? But if it doesn''t end up that way, it seems like you''re in good spirits about dealing with the IVIG, transfusions, etc. I will pray for a strong, healthly baby!!


Fisher, LOVE the furball. AAAAAAdorable.

And good luck with your HSG.


RE: flu shots...I''ve already had my regular flu shot, and I will be getting my H1N1 vaccine as soon as it is available to me (probably pretty soon, since I''m in healthcare). It is especially important that pregnant (or soon-to-be-pregnant) women get all the protection they can against the flu, especially H1N1...we aren''t entirely sure why, but what we''re seeing is that pregnant women are getting really sick with H1N1, and the mortality is markedly higher in pregnant women who get it than in the general population. Scary.

HouMedgal - I read (or heard) that if you get the H1N1 vaccine, that you shouldn''t conceive in the following 3 months. What is the reason for that? Or is that even accurate?

LAJennifer - Not accurate if you get the SHOT. There will be 2 different kinds of H1N1 vaccines available, just as there are 2 different kinds of regular seasonal flu vaccines available. One is a shot and one is an intranasal mist.

The shot, or intramuscular injection, is an INACTIVATED virus vaccine (meaning that there are no live viruses within the vaccine, just parts of dead viruses so that your body can identify these parts and create antibodies against them...but they CANNOT cause an actual infection with the virus). On the other hand, the intranasal mist vaccine is a LIVE ATTENUATED virus vaccine (meaning that there are indeed live viruses within the vaccine that have been altered/attenuated so as to greatly reduce the chance of them actually causing a full-blown infection in the person immunized). From Dr. Spock.com: "Live attenuated vaccines usually are created from the naturally occurring germ itself. The germs used in these vaccines still can infect people, but they rarely cause serious disease. Viruses are weakened (or attenuated) by growing them over and over again in a laboratory under nourishing conditions called cell culture. The process of growing a virus repeatedly-also known as passing--serves to lessen the disease-causing ability of the virus. Vaccines are made from viruses whose disease-causing ability has deteriorated from multiple passages."

It is fine for pregnant women (or those trying to conceive) to receive inactivated virus vaccines (i.e. the flu SHOT). However, pregnant (or TTC, since could be pregnant at any time) women should not receive live attenuated vaccines (such as the flu MIST).

Also, another inportant thing to know is that there is nothing new and different about the H1N1 vaccine except for the strain of influenza that is used to make the vaccine. The exact same production mechanisms are being used for H1N1 that are used every year to make the regular seasonal flu vaccine. Which also means that the H1N1 vaccine is JUST AS SAFE TO GET as the regular flu vaccine. Even as a physician, I would be very nervous to get it if it were made using some brand new kind of vaccine-making process that hadn''t been tested for safety and efficacy...but, lucky for us, that''s not the case. Look at it this way: every year, the flu shot is a "new" vaccine, in the sense that every year epidemiologists predict which strains of influenza will be most prevalent that year based on historical patterns and other info, and incorporate those particular strains into the seasonal flu vaccine. This is the same thing that''s happening with H1N1...exact same vaccine, just a different strain of virus being used to create it.

So, to more directly answer your question, if you get the shot and not the intranasal mist, you should be fine to TTC whenever. And I do absolutely recommend getting the seasonal flu vaccine. I also recommend getting the H1N1 particularly if you do become pregnant soon. It''s going to be a wild fall/winter because we just don''t know what''s going to happen once seasonal flu starts rearing its ugly head in addition to H1N1, which is showing NO signs of slowing down. I got an email yesterday from my hospital''s virology department showing the viral isolates we have gotten over the past few months, and H1N1 has shot up dramatically and continues to do so.

Disclaimer: I obviously have some strong feelings about this topic, having seen some super sick children with H1N1 these past few months. And I have expressed my feelings and recommendations above, but this is a personal decision between people and their physicians. Please discuss these issues with your doctor and have them help you make decisions. Yes, I''m a physician, but I''m also just another woman on the forum, and while I''m A doctor I''m not YOUR doctor, which is a very important distinction.

Whew, that was a mouthful.

But hope it helps anyone with unresolved questions about the flu.

 

[ljmorgan]

Fisher - what a lovely thought from your husband, such a great guy that you have!

drk - would not need IViG if Boy/Rh-, sorry thought I had clarified. Very complicated!

 

[lili]

Date: 10/7/2009 10:09:32 PM
Author: *Lindsey*
drk - would not need IViG if Boy/Rh-, sorry thought I had clarified. Very complicated!

Lindsey, I think DrK may be referring to Girl/Rh-.
I was wondering the same too...until I went back and reread your post about that being the same DNA as you...

 

[LAJennifer]

Date: 10/7/2009 6:12:39 PM
Author: fisherofmengirly
LAJen,


Girl, every one of us thinks, hopes, prays that our first month of trying will be magical and will be *the* cycle. I'm so thankful that it works out that way for some of us (gives a girl hope!!), although it's not reality for most women. Not a stupid confession at all, more like a truthful one most of us here have also lived. I've gone beyond that to the 'Oh, in the first 6 cycles, the first cycle on Clomid, surely before a year,' and on and on. Truthfully, I'm trying to stop doing that but I still have a little ticker in my mind that I can't swipe away completely that ticks off the months, as 2009 fades away. The thing is, I don't want my life to be that because there is so much more than creating a baby to be done in this world. It comes and goes, the pangs. Just keep on keeping on and I hope you're able to see a Dr. soon. It really does bring some peace (mostly).


And hoping good results from your husband's test last night!

Ummm, yeah - about that sperm test . . . it didn't work. I guess that will teach me to buy a deeply discounted SA kit off of Ebay. We did the whole thing - where you push buttons and lights come on and all that jazz. It seemed to be operating fine - except when it came time to read the results. There was no control line - which means it was defective. Oh well, so I cracked the kit open, swabbed the "sample" with a q-tip, smeared it on a slide and put it under a microscope. I saw thousands of little swimmers, so that put my mind at ease.

I think we've just been victims of the dumb luck 25% thing - either that or my eggs are crap.

I've had him on some supplements for the past 2 months. If anyone is interested, here is what he takes:

200 mg CoQ10
100 mg Pycnogenol
and 3 of these pills a day -
Michael's Male Reproductive Factors

I get the CoQ10 and Pycnogenol from http://www.swansonvitamins.com/
Swansons had the best prices.

 

[LAJennifer]

Thank you so much, HOUMedGal!!! I''m sure I''m not alone in my appreciation. Your response definitely cleared it all up for me.

 

[robbie3982]

Date: 10/7/2009 7:42:46 PM
Author: HOUMedGal

Date: 10/6/2009 9:09:33 PM

Author: LAJennifer

Date: 10/6/2009 8:46:14 PM

Author: HOUMedGal

OMG, Lindsey!!

Soooo happy for you!!! BEST of luck as this little one continues to grow, and I will continue to pray for an easy pregnancy for you. Girl/Rh- sure would be easiest, wouldn''t it? But if it doesn''t end up that way, it seems like you''re in good spirits about dealing with the IVIG, transfusions, etc. I will pray for a strong, healthly baby!!



Fisher, LOVE the furball. AAAAAAdorable.

And good luck with your HSG.



RE: flu shots...I''ve already had my regular flu shot, and I will be getting my H1N1 vaccine as soon as it is available to me (probably pretty soon, since I''m in healthcare). It is especially important that pregnant (or soon-to-be-pregnant) women get all the protection they can against the flu, especially H1N1...we aren''t entirely sure why, but what we''re seeing is that pregnant women are getting really sick with H1N1, and the mortality is markedly higher in pregnant women who get it than in the general population. Scary.

HouMedgal - I read (or heard) that if you get the H1N1 vaccine, that you shouldn''t conceive in the following 3 months. What is the reason for that? Or is that even accurate?

LAJennifer - Not accurate if you get the SHOT. There will be 2 different kinds of H1N1 vaccines available, just as there are 2 different kinds of regular seasonal flu vaccines available. One is a shot and one is an intranasal mist.


The shot, or intramuscular injection, is an INACTIVATED virus vaccine (meaning that there are no live viruses within the vaccine, just parts of dead viruses so that your body can identify these parts and create antibodies against them...but they CANNOT cause an actual infection with the virus). On the other hand, the intranasal mist vaccine is a LIVE ATTENUATED virus vaccine (meaning that there are indeed live viruses within the vaccine that have been altered/attenuated so as to greatly reduce the chance of them actually causing a full-blown infection in the person immunized). From Dr. Spock.com: ''Live attenuated vaccines usually are created from the naturally occurring germ itself. The germs used in these vaccines still can infect people, but they rarely cause serious disease. Viruses are weakened (or attenuated) by growing them over and over again in a laboratory under nourishing conditions called cell culture. The process of growing a virus repeatedly-also known as passing--serves to lessen the disease-causing ability of the virus. Vaccines are made from viruses whose disease-causing ability has deteriorated from multiple passages.''


It is fine for pregnant women (or those trying to conceive) to receive inactivated virus vaccines (i.e. the flu SHOT). However, pregnant (or TTC, since could be pregnant at any time) women should not receive live attenuated vaccines (such as the flu MIST).


Also, another inportant thing to know is that there is nothing new and different about the H1N1 vaccine except for the strain of influenza that is used to make the vaccine. The exact same production mechanisms are being used for H1N1 that are used every year to make the regular seasonal flu vaccine. Which also means that the H1N1 vaccine is JUST AS SAFE TO GET as the regular flu vaccine. Even as a physician, I would be very nervous to get it if it were made using some brand new kind of vaccine-making process that hadn''t been tested for safety and efficacy...but, lucky for us, that''s not the case. Look at it this way: every year, the flu shot is a ''new'' vaccine, in the sense that every year epidemiologists predict which strains of influenza will be most prevalent that year based on historical patterns and other info, and incorporate those particular strains into the seasonal flu vaccine. This is the same thing that''s happening with H1N1...exact same vaccine, just a different strain of virus being used to create it.


So, to more directly answer your question, if you get the shot and not the intranasal mist, you should be fine to TTC whenever. And I do absolutely recommend getting the seasonal flu vaccine. I also recommend getting the H1N1 particularly if you do become pregnant soon. It''s going to be a wild fall/winter because we just don''t know what''s going to happen once seasonal flu starts rearing its ugly head in addition to H1N1, which is showing NO signs of slowing down. I got an email yesterday from my hospital''s virology department showing the viral isolates we have gotten over the past few months, and H1N1 has shot up dramatically and continues to do so.


Disclaimer: I obviously have some strong feelings about this topic, having seen some super sick children with H1N1 these past few months. And I have expressed my feelings and recommendations above, but this is a personal decision between people and their physicians. Please discuss these issues with your doctor and have them help you make decisions. Yes, I''m a physician, but I''m also just another woman on the forum, and while I''m A doctor I''m not YOUR doctor, which is a very important distinction.


Whew, that was a mouthful.

But hope it helps anyone with unresolved questions about the flu.

Houmedgal, if it''s the same vaccine with a different virus, why are they doing trials? I keep seeing all of these news stories about families being test subjects for the vaccine. Do they do trials each year with the regular flu vaccine?

 

[mia1181]

Fisher- Well good luck on the HSG! I''ll probably officially join this thread withing the next few months. Life is starting to settle now. DH seems to be doing a little pre-TTC nesting. We moved into a new apartment that isn''t too far from some power lines so DH had someone come and test the "electromagnetic field." Luckily he''s happy with the results so we don''t have to move

but apparently I''m not allowed to use the microwave at all when I get pregnant.

It''s weird, but sweet that he is thinking of my health and the health of our future baby.

Loves Vintage- That''s interesting that your doctor was taken aback by your asking for a SA. I think it only makes sense to test him too. I mean they could put you through the whole list of test and procedures but it''s not going to help if his swimmers aren''t great. I wonder if doctors just aren''t used to people being proactive about getting KTFU.

Puppmom- Yes preparation! To be honest I orginally thought we would just toss the birth control when the time came but after reading this thread and TCOYF I became interested in the "science" of getting preggo. So when I started having some weird birth control issues it seemed like the perfect opportunity to start charting and use that to avoid getting pregnant. Hopefully this extra knowledge will help soon! Nice Chart, btw!

************************************************

Okay guys a few more OPK questions for you....

So after getting the first positive OPK my temp went above the coverline the next two mornings (but barely). Maybe I did/will ovulate? So here have been the results of my OPKs:

Tuesday AM- Positive
Tuesday PM- Negative
Wednesday AM- Positive
Wednesday PM- Negative
Thursday AM- Positive

So my questions are
1. Is it normal to have different readings in the morning and night? Does it have to do with urine concentration?
2. How many days of +OPKs do women usually have? Today is my third day in a row. Also todays was just as dark as Tuesdays.
3. My software is telling me that I will ovulate on Friday you always ovulate AFTER the last +OPK, right?

TIA for any help!

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 10/8/2009 10:54:37 AM
Author: robbie3982

Houmedgal, if it''s the same vaccine with a different virus, why are they doing trials? I keep seeing all of these news stories about families being test subjects for the vaccine. Do they do trials each year with the regular flu vaccine?

Yes-they do them every year.

 

[Loves Vintage]

Mia - Here is the question and answer section of the site where I purchased my OPKs: http://www.early-pregnancy-tests.com/fertile.html You may find some of these answers helpful. There are also other articles and instructions on using the tests on that site. Generally, I have not taken OPKs in the am. I have only done so around 7 pm or so. Once I get a positive, I do not take another one. I tend to ovulate around CD14, so if I get a positive on CD11 or CD12, I am satisfied and do not continue to test.

Regarding my doctor, when I met with her a few weeks ago, she did think that a SA would be in order, just not yet. She felt we should do less invasive testing first. So, technically, I asked her to order a SA one month before she would have planned for. I have gathered that different phsycians have different views on the pace of testing. Even though this physician is excellent and highly recommended, I do not think I will continue with her practice. I do have an appointment with a RE (for whom my insurance plan does not require a referral, thankfully) in early November. If he feels that I am asking for too much in terms of diagnostics, at one month shy of age 36 and at 7 mos of trying, then I will have to reassess whether I am being too aggressive.

November - Thank you so much for posting. I will have to go back and read your posts!! It is certainly very comforting to know that pregnancy is achievable, even without supplementation. Thank you again.

 

[lovelylulu]

me interesting results. i really don''t know what to make of them. only hope that you *are* ovulating!

lajennifer: to echo what just about everyone else has confirmed, we''ve all been there - thinking that this is the most natural thing in the world, why shouldn''t it happen immediately. unfotunately, natural things can be complicated and sometimes it just takes its sweet time. I''m really hoping that your time is up!

fisher: glad that you are mostly through your tests! good results await i''m sure.

***********************

as for me I''m just waiting. waiting. waiting. Fun DPO9.

I try to stay distracted. To focus on anything and everything else. But it is unavoidable.


Maybe I am. I''m sure I''m not. What are we going to do next? Maybe there won''t be a next. When should we start thinking about adoption? Domestic? International? Maybe I am. I''m sure I''m not.


over and over. around and around. It''s enough to drive someone crazy. It might be driving me crazy.


I don''t know why some cycles are so much harder than others, but this one was brutal.

However, this morning, I feel much less preoccupied. more centered. thank goodness.

Too bad I can''t always pull the brakes on that runaway train of thoughts.​

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Whoop whoop!!!

Okay ladies, the HSG is nothing, absolutely nothing when compared to the biopsy. Seriously, I had no pains at all and I''m a big, big baby about pain. The process is nothing near as bad as I had it conjured up in my mind to be. Pretty simple, really. I went in at 10:35, out at 10:52. Not bad.

So, for anyone who may be going down the HSG road soon, the process went like this for me: My Dr. office doesn''t perform them, so I was referred to an outpatient section of the hospital (where they also do mammograms... the whole office waiting area was full of women talking about getting their breasts smooshed soon...). I was really nervous about having a Dr. I''ve never known or even seen before prodding about in my baby making area, but hey, what can you do? At least it''s preperation for all the Drs. that poke and prod when pregnancy comes around. The tech. was super sweet, very calming, answered every question I had and showed me all the tools involved (which was really cool and helped to relax me, knowing what was coming and all that). She said that the screen would be visible to me and I''d know before I left if there were any problems at all with my tubes. That was really good because I''d spent more than enough time worrying and thinking about pain, possible outcomes, etc.

First it''s just like a pap... speculum, forceps, all that fun stuff. They clean the cervix (cold!!) and then they weave the catheder in with the dye in (by the way, the dye is clear and sticky, but shows up brownish/blue/red on the screen). I honestly didn''t feel the catheder going in, but I did feel the dye going in. Slight pressure, kind of odd, made me think I needed to pee. Then at the end of the catheder is a balloon that fills up to close off the cervix so the dye can''t leak back out. Once everything was in place where they wanted it to be, the xray scanner was pulled over me, like a box over my mid-section and they moved the box in various spots, taking pictures along the way. I could see my uterus shaped like an odd triangle (more short and wide than I thought it would, I thought it''d have more height, for whatever reason). The Dr. said all uteruses (is that a word, or is it uteri??) are different and mine looked just normal as could be. She did say an ultrasound would better determine that than this would, but it was still interesting to see the shape of it because of the dye. Then I saw the dye start moving up this tiny little path, almost like a curly, wavy hair. Then it did the same on the other side. The Dr. said both were perfectly clear and there were no concerns with either of them, all appeared well. So excited! I cried... Tube problems seriously has been my biggest fear because tube blockages (if it''s both tubes, anyway) almost always end up meaning IVF if a family wants to grow, and we''ve decided not to go that route.

All in all, I''d rate it as a 3 on pain/uncomfort (I don''t think anything can be under a 3 when you''re delving around down there).

Tonight we''re having a special date night in celebration of clear tubes! I''ve been so overwhelmed with relief and peace and thankfulness since finding out. I feel more and more sure that this is happening for us, it''s just a matter of time. And that''s a good feeling to have on this road!

****
Lulu,

Thinking about you girl, and hoping for a wonderfully expected *but not expected because we''re so used to let down* pregnancy this cycle!!

 

[robbie3982]

Date: 10/8/2009 3:07:06 PM
Author: neatfreak

Date: 10/8/2009 10:54:37 AM

Author: robbie3982


Houmedgal, if it''s the same vaccine with a different virus, why are they doing trials? I keep seeing all of these news stories about families being test subjects for the vaccine. Do they do trials each year with the regular flu vaccine?

Yes-they do them every year.

Why are the h1n1 trials being made out to be such a big deal then?

 

[mia1181]

Congratulations on the HSG test Fisher!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow girly, you are just knocking down tests left and right! That''s awesome! Hopefully that means its only a matter of time!

Lulu- I didn''t realize you were in the 2ww! I''ll be thinking of you!

LovesVintage- Thanks for the link. I also researched the OPK section of the Ovusoft forum and there just doesn''t seem to be a whole lot of information on multiple positive OPKs and what that means. Although there was a mention of PCOS so I''ll be looking into that.

*******************
Well today is day 4 of a positive OPK. According to my temps though it is also 3DPO, so I am just going to assume that I have already ovulated. I also seemed to have a CM dry-up but my CM has been super wacky so I''m not really taking that into account. I guess my plan is to wait and see if my temps stay above the coverline. I won''t do any more OPK''s as long as they stay up. And hopefully AF will arrive as scheduled on 11DPO. Thanks for your help guys.

 

[ljmorgan]

mia for your positive OPKs, is the control line AS dark as the test line, or darker THAN the test line? I don''t have any good answers for you, but I can tell you that I have had the same experience as you. And yes when I am getting more than 2 days of +OPKs, they will often be positive in the morning, but negative in the afternoons. I have no clue. Last cycle I did have 4 days of +OPKs where the control line was much darker than the test line, so there was no mistaking them. I will say that even on cycles with several days of +OPKs, I ovulate on the day of my second +OPK. You should get your first positive OPK 12-36 hours before ovulation -- I read somewhere that subsequent days of OPKs can just be that your body takes longer to process out the LH. Then other places I''ve read that it can mean that your egg is just taking a little extra oomph to release. I''m not sure what''s true. So many people say to just stop testing after the first positive OPK, since continuing positives can just stress you out. After you chart for a few cycles, you''ll figure out on which day of your positive OPKs you ovulate

 

[mia1181]

Yes *Lindsey* 3/4 of the test lines were darker than the control with one test that was probably equally dark. Thank you so much for telling me your experiences I feel so much better now. Going to put down the pee sticks and step away! Honestly I am just happy I actually ovulated since I haven''t since the end of May!

BTW, Hoping RH won''t be an issue for you this time around and it''s a girl with the same RH as you! (I think that was one of the options) Wishing you and DH the best!

 

[Laila619]

Yay for clear tubes Fisher!

Another BFN for me.

On to month 8. Bring on the fertility doc!

 

[snlee]

Lindsey, congratulations! I am thrilled for you! Sending lots of sticky vibes to you!

 

[Sha]

Date: 10/9/2009 1:07:43 PM
Author: fisherofmengirly
Whoop whoop!!!

Okay ladies, the HSG is nothing, absolutely nothing when compared to the biopsy. Seriously, I had no pains at all and I''m a big, big baby about pain. The process is nothing near as bad as I had it conjured up in my mind to be. Pretty simple, really. I went in at 10:35, out at 10:52. Not bad.

So, for anyone who may be going down the HSG road soon, the process went like this for me: My Dr. office doesn''t perform them, so I was referred to an outpatient section of the hospital (where they also do mammograms... the whole office waiting area was full of women talking about getting their breasts smooshed soon...). I was really nervous about having a Dr. I''ve never known or even seen before prodding about in my baby making area, but hey, what can you do? At least it''s preperation for all the Drs. that poke and prod when pregnancy comes around. The tech. was super sweet, very calming, answered every question I had and showed me all the tools involved (which was really cool and helped to relax me, knowing what was coming and all that). She said that the screen would be visible to me and I''d know before I left if there were any problems at all with my tubes. That was really good because I''d spent more than enough time worrying and thinking about pain, possible outcomes, etc.

First it''s just like a pap... speculum, forceps, all that fun stuff. They clean the cervix (cold!!) and then they weave the catheder in with the dye in (by the way, the dye is clear and sticky, but shows up brownish/blue/red on the screen). I honestly didn''t feel the catheder going in, but I did feel the dye going in. Slight pressure, kind of odd, made me think I needed to pee. Then at the end of the catheder is a balloon that fills up to close off the cervix so the dye can''t leak back out. Once everything was in place where they wanted it to be, the xray scanner was pulled over me, like a box over my mid-section and they moved the box in various spots, taking pictures along the way. I could see my uterus shaped like an odd triangle (more short and wide than I thought it would, I thought it''d have more height, for whatever reason). The Dr. said all uteruses (is that a word, or is it uteri??) are different and mine looked just normal as could be. She did say an ultrasound would better determine that than this would, but it was still interesting to see the shape of it because of the dye. Then I saw the dye start moving up this tiny little path, almost like a curly, wavy hair. Then it did the same on the other side. The Dr. said both were perfectly clear and there were no concerns with either of them, all appeared well. So excited! I cried... Tube problems seriously has been my biggest fear because tube blockages (if it''s both tubes, anyway) almost always end up meaning IVF if a family wants to grow, and we''ve decided not to go that route.

All in all, I''d rate it as a 3 on pain/uncomfort (I don''t think anything can be under a 3 when you''re delving around down there).

Tonight we''re having a special date night in celebration of clear tubes! I''ve been so overwhelmed with relief and peace and thankfulness since finding out. I feel more and more sure that this is happening for us, it''s just a matter of time. And that''s a good feeling to have on this road!

****
Lulu,

Thinking about you girl, and hoping for a wonderfully expected *but not expected because we''re so used to let down* pregnancy this cycle!!

Yayyyy!! That''s fabulous news, Fisher!

 

[Mandarine]

Read this in one of the blogs I follow and thought you girls may be interested! Free OPKs or pregnancy tests!

http://www.freeopks.com/

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 10/9/2009 3:16:52 PM
Author: robbie3982

Date: 10/8/2009 3:07:06 PM

Author: neatfreak

Date: 10/8/2009 10:54:37 AM


Author: robbie3982



Houmedgal, if it's the same vaccine with a different virus, why are they doing trials? I keep seeing all of these news stories about families being test subjects for the vaccine. Do they do trials each year with the regular flu vaccine?

Yes-they do them every year.

Why are the h1n1 trials being made out to be such a big deal then?

Because the media (and everyone else) is obsessed with H1N1. So it's being covered. Everyone is freaking out about it when really it's just another strain of flu that's going around this year. People don't seem to get that the "regular" flu can be just as deadly for those with compromised immune systems (i.e., preggos and babies) too.

It's because of the media frenzy-don't freak! Just take regular precautions and be vigilant about hand washing.

 

[drk]

Yay Fisher! I think the HSG can be way worse if you have a blocked tube, because they use more force to put the dye in to try to flush the tube out. They only had a wide speculum to use on me when I had mine done, and that darn thing pinched and hurt like a b!tch. The test itself was nothing in comparison to the discomfort of the speculum. And I NEVER have pain during a Pap or speculum exam! Congrats on clear tubes!!

Lulu - I know the feeling. Hope this is the one for you.

 

[Steel]

I am so happy to hear your good news Lindsey. Best of luck.

 

[violet02]

Hey all I''m back again! I''ve been stressed out waiting to see what was going to happen with the 3 weeks letter sperm test.

Turns out my DH is perfectly fine and that the multi-vitamin, the suppliment, the advil (to increase motility) and probably the laptop off the laptop MIGHT have all contributed to the excellent test. So phew... That first bad test could have also been just that, a bad one, not sure.... major relief regardless.

I''m on 100mg of Clomid a day right now, this will be my fourth day taking it, one more day then I go in thursday for another ultrasound then once we get past that hump I''ll be getting the IUI later this week. I''m still overwhelmed by how much harder this seemed to be then I thought it would be.

Also my friend had a miscarriage this last Monday. She had just found out she was pregnant too so that was super sad to hear. She''s 35 and is going to try to get pregnant again in the coming weeks, they are really ready for a baby!

Anyways glad to be back and very interesting to read the info about the flu vaccine I was just mulling that over this week as well!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

DrK,

Hi! I saw you're going to be a mommy of a little girl!! How very exciting! Have you chosen her name yet? I'm glad your pregnancy's going so well, too. You absolutely are owed that by now, lady!!

Yes, I asked why it didn't hurt like I'd heard it would and she said for one I was incredibly relaxed and that helps (and I was only relaxed because of the staff there and because I'd been praying throughout the wait to get in there. I'd literally been a hot mess over the fear of the procedure for two days straight) and also because I was clear and the dye went in easily, and she said that one tube filled before the other, but both filled without any issues. She said it can be more painful if the dye encounters anything that deters it from flowing to the tubes.

She said the tubes were clear, but I'd get a call from the Dr. to confirm everything this upcoming week. I thought that was kind of weird, but I guess it's just protocol.

*******
Tiffany,

You came to mind today and I just wanted to say hi and I'm thinking about you, lady. Hope you're doing well and that you ended up with good news from the Dr. about your tube.

********
Violet,

How are you doing on the Clomid? Is this your first round? Have you had any of the side effects? Seems all I ever got was the hot flashes on day three of the first cycle and a couple of times I've been snappy at Paul when I've been on it, but that could have been pure coincidence.

Hope you're doing well on it.

And congrats for the good results on the SA for your hubby!

By the way, Advil hopes with motility? Interesting indeed! I've never heard that... how does it help? I'm curious. So funny how so many things can aid in ways not commonly known....

*********
Swimmer,

How are you doing? Wondering about you today, too. Have you had an ultra sound? How many are there? Have you already told us? I've gotten pretty lost in the stories of many people these past couple of weeks... But I'm thinking of you often!

Also wanted to ask you some questions about Metformin, if you come around and find this here. How much were you put on? I've taken in three days now and I keep looking for side effects because I hear it can be horrible, but so far, so good. I'm on the lowest dose, so that may be why. I've read that it takes 3-6 months to have any effect. Is that what you've also been told? I didn't know if that meant it took 3-6 months for it to work under the means it was marketed for (diabetes) or for TTC issues, or both. I also wondered if the medication caused you to lose weight at all... They say it's a pretty common effect of the drug.

Oooh, and the *big* question. My Dr. said I'd stay on the medication until I was about 8-9 weeks pregnant. But I've read it's extremely dangerous to be on it during pregnancy. But then I also read that if you're on it while TTC and stop taking it right away, it can lead to miscarriage. So, now I'm concerned about which of those two scenarios is more correct (I mean come on, some of this stuff came from yahoo answers!!). What were you advised to do?

 

[lovelylulu]

For so long this has been such an impossibility.

I don't want to say it out loud. So I'll write it down very quietly.



I am pregnant.




I am excited and afraid. but most of all thankful. so very, very thankful.

 

[ljmorgan]

Oh lulu, how wonderful! I am so very, very happy for you. I know that it has been a very long road! I am sending so many good wishes your way, wishing you a very happy and healthy nine months.

On another note... give us more details!

 

[Burk]

Congrats lulu!!!

 

[E B]

Lindsey and Lulu, I''m so, so, SO happy for you both! Congratulations, and have a healthy and happy nine months.

 

[snlee]

Congrats lulu!

I am so thrilled for you!!!! Sending you tons of sticky dust!