The Official TTC Thread!

[Burk]

Date: 11/10/2009 3:05:16 PM
Author: mia1181

Date: 11/10/2009 2:39:20 PM

Author: Burk

Late ovulator here (I believe I O''d on CD27 when I got preggo this time) who is in her second pregnancy!!! All you late ovulators will be joining the preggos soon I''m sure! Good luck!

OMG!!!! I CAN''T EVEN PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU WROTE. Look at that BEAUTIFUL little girl in your avi! What is she 8y.o. now?

Seriously, she looks like a little girl now.

Aww thanks Mia! The pic was from Halloween and she was so over her butterfly costume! Makes me sad she''s getting so big (will be 2 in January) but it''s also a ton of fun!

 

[Puppmom]

As a chronic spotter, I was sad to read in your link Lucy that spotting can equal bad egg

Can you find me some good news too?

 

[icekid]

Just wanted to thank you ladies for the commiseration on my horrendous work schedule a few pages back

Only a couple weeks of ICU left and then I can return to my regularly scheduled 70 hour work weeks

In other news, though hubby and I plan to start officially trying in March-ish, we''ve also (TMI) been misbehaving. I''ve been off OCP for 4 years already, so it''s difficult to be good when baby fever is peaking. So we''ll consider it an early blessing if it happens sooner and make it work.

mia- we might end up preggo at the same time after all!

There isn''t much time for me to post regularly right now, but I read and am pulling for everyone else... seeing BPFs makes me happy

 

[Lanie]

Mia -- yes, they can be a little pricey, but it''s worth it to me to have a test that is more accurate and to take the guesswork out of the OPK''s. Maybe I just had cheap ones, but they were hard to read. I thought the monitor was unnecessary at first, but I changed my mind. And yes, you have to buy the strips along with it. You can buy both online for a reasonable amount...search Ebay. I bought 30 strips plus a brand new monitor for 120.

 

[Loves Vintage]

Lindsey - Thank you for the detailed description! You are right, nothing is sacred around here! My instead and pre-seed arrived yesterday. Yay for fast shipping. Gearing up for a big month here!

Mia - Congrats on ovulating and a good dr''s appointment. I second Lanie on ebay being the best source for the CBEFM. I went to ebay after Lanie mentioned she purchased hers there. The other thing, is that you can recoup some of your initial expense by later selling the used CBEFM there. People were buying them used for around $70!!! And, they all sell!

(Oh, and I have to comment in your Japan thread too. Just haven''t had a chance to gather all my thoughts yet, but I do have a bunch to share with you.)

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

Today is my long-awaited RE appointment. I will be back with a full report later today. I guess it is because I can''t really discuss this stuff with anyone else (other than DH), but I really love coming here to tell you guys my news, even though most of it is more non-news than news! lol.

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

 

[swimmer]

Puppmom, spotting can also be issues with progesterone, which is rather easily resolved by doing progesterone inserts to help. Lulu and DrK are the experts on that, but spotting might not be a serious thing.

Just a shout out to those taking Robitussin or Mucinex, grapefruit juice works well too for creating a ton of ewcm while being super good for you!

Good luck ladies!

 

[Laila619]

Good luck at your appointment Vintage!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Vintage,

Hope your appt. is stellar!

 

[lovelylulu]

Chiming in on spotting.

. I spotted for about 5-7 days before my period.

Then I went on progesterone supplements and it stopped. There is some disagreement about just how important specific progesterone levels are in order to sustain a pregnancy, but I would be sure to talk to my dr. about it if you had concerns...

dust!!

 

[Bliss]

Good luck on your RE visit, Vintage!!!

Very excited for you!

 

[cakeny]

It's been a while, but just wanted to check in and say congrats to all the new mommies!! And I'm very inspired by all the regulars who have been tirelessly updating their progress and sharing you personal experiences with the rest of us, so THANK YOU for that! I have no updates on my end. We've been winging it till now hoping that we would be one of those lucky couples that conceive without any other effort than the good old fashioned way. We are now approaching month 7. Time to start paying closer attention to things.

 

[Loves Vintage]

So, my appointment went very well today. The RE's office is GREAT!!! (Are they all wonderful??) The office is very efficient, organized and nice, and they were very welcoming and NICE, which makes things a lot easier.

I met with the nurse first. We went through my history and talked about the blood work that had already been performed. She told me that they run all diagnostics over the course of one cycle, so we would start my diagnostics NEXT cycle. My heart sank a little because I interpreted this to mean that I would not have an ultrasound today. I was about 51% convinced that I had cysts or something else and that all I needed was an U/S to confirm. So, I asked if I would have an U/S today, and she said YES. Gah, I was so relieved. It is routine in their office to do an U/S on the first visit. We talked some more, and I mentioned I will be away at the start of my cycle next month (IF I am not pregnant by then.)

The nurse performed the U/S, and no cysts, but she did note that I did not have any dominant follicles present, which they would expect to see by this point in my cycle - CD8. She then went to speak with the doctor to brief him on my case.

I then met with the doctor. He said that we would start testing right away, even though I did not have baseline blood work for this cycle. I will have a Sono-HSG tomorrow morning. A saline solution will be injected into the uterus (to expand the tissue, I think?), which allows for a more detailed (?) view of the uterus by U/S to see if there are any fibroids, polyps, etc. present.

If an appointment is available on Friday, then I will also have an HSG to check the condition of my fallopian tubes. Next week, I will have mid-cycle blood work and an U/S to determine if ovulation is occurring. The following week, I will have "7DPO" blood work.

The doctor said that the fact that I do not have a dominant follicle at this point reveals some evidence of ovulatory dysfunction. He also suggested that I consider some complementary medicine, like acupuncture. I am somewhat anxious (it is my nature), but mostly about having this testing done, so that we know what we are dealing with, if it is possible to know. I fully understand that there may not be an explanation. If there is one, though, I'd like to know about it, sooner rather than later.

After the testing is completed, I will speak with the doctor again. And, a few days after that, I will be going on vacation.

 

[Puppmom]

Icekid, misbehaving sounds fun! My DH is such a planner. He would never allow such a thing!

Swimmer and and Lovely, my GYN knows about my spotting and isn''t worried (wish I could say the same!). She thinks it''s my cervix (as opposed to uterine) because it looks rather "vascular" to her. My temps stay high all the way to AF as well. DrK did respond to me in another thread...rather informative and encouraging. My GYN doesn''t think it''s time to run any tests because this is only our 5th month of trying (3rd month at the time of my appt). I WILL push for tests in a few months but, in the grand scheme of things, a few months won''t hurt us. We''ll just have fun trying in the meantime! Now, if I could only stop googling spotting+infertility, I would be much better off!

LV, I''m so glad you had a positive experience at the RE!

I''m on CD 10 and usually O on 12 or 13 so time to get busy!

 

[lucy.lucy.80]

LV- happy you had a good experience at the RE!! Have a great vacation!

 

[Lanie]

LovesVintage -- yay!!! Glad you had a happy visit. They seem so proactive and THOROUGH. That''s so good to hear. Thanks for updating us!

Puppmomm -- I''m not sure if I asked you this already, but is your spotting liquidy or clumpy? (sorry if TMI). I have spotting issues as well...starts out pasty, then turns clumpy like "matter", then finally turns red. UGH. Anyone else have this? My gyno didn''t bat an eyelash at it when I told her about it. I''m staying away from googling spotting+infertility too! I''d be willing to bet it''s a case by case situation.

Icekid -- you are going to be pregnant before March! I like how you say you and your DH are misbehaving!

What''s keeping you guys from going full on TTC?

Are progesterone supplements OTC or prescription?

 

[Puppmom]

Lanie, my spotting starts out "dry" (sort of flaky) and brown then sort of wet like brownish-pink cervical mucous then my actual flow starts. There''s no such thing as TMI in the TTC thread! My GYN is like yours...didn''t even bat an eye. Like I said, while it''s hard for me to ignore, DH and I will happily have fun trying for a few more months before I ask for a work up. If my issue is the result of low progesterone, I''m not thrilled about a script because I am already MOODY the week before my period. I can only imagine what would happen if my hormones were ramped up!

 

[Loves Vintage]

Thank you ladies, for your support! Everything looked great during the Sono-HSG. I asked her if she could take a look at my follicles again, to see if there was a dominant one yet, and there isn''t. She said that it doesn''t mean that I won''t ovulate, could just mean that I ovulate later. Hmmm, so that would explain a lot. We will wait and see what the rest of the month brings.

I was in-and-out of their office today in 15 minutes. Easy-peasy. Love it there. There was some slight pinching when the thin catheter was put through the cervix, but nothing too remarkable. I talked throughout the procedure.

I will have an HSG tomorrow morning.

It''s pretty easy for me to leave the office for these appointments (meaning that I do not have a lot of confernce calls or meetings to schedule aroung), but I work in a very close-knit (which I usually love) office, so my recent appointments are causing some suspicion. It is bad enough that one of my co-workers asks me regularly, maybe like once a week or so, when we are going to have kids. He thinks he is being funny, but come on, I constantly joke/deflect/change the subject, you would think he would back off. So, I''ve recently told him, as directly as I can, that maybe he should stop asking me that, maybe there''s a reason why I don''t want to talk about it, etc. And, he said, ok, he will limit himself to asking me once per month or so. Nutty, but that''s how we are here.

So, he asked me about my appointments today. He said it is very suspicious. I told him that I am considering cosmetic dentistry.

 

[Laila619]

Date: 11/12/2009 12:40:02 PM
Author: Loves Vintage
So, he asked me about my appointments today. He said it is very suspicious. I told him that I am considering cosmetic dentistry.

Hee hee, good one!

Some people sure are nosy.

Good luck with the HSG Vintage. I'm having mine done this month too. Hope it doesn't hurt. Fisher said hers was a piece of cake!

 

[Loves Vintage]

Date: 11/12/2009 12:43:39 PM
Author: Laila619

Date: 11/12/2009 12:40:02 PM
Author: Loves Vintage
So, he asked me about my appointments today. He said it is very suspicious. I told him that I am considering cosmetic dentistry.

Hee hee, good one!

Some people sure are nosy.

Good luck with the HSG Vintage. I'm having mine done this month too. Hope it doesn't hurt. Fisher said hers was a piece of cake!

Ha, ha, I'm glad you appreciated that! He then told me that I'm crazy, and that there's nothing wrong with my teeth!! I told him that I've been dealing with this all my life, and I'm finally coming to terms with it! Then I accused him of looking at my teeth, and now whenever I see him I put my hand over my mouth!! It is hysterical! My husband often tells me that my work life is like a sitcom, and it so is!

And, yay for HSGs this month! I mentioned to the doctor yesterday, that I had heard pregnancy may be more likely after the procedure (heard that here, actually), and he said, yes, this is a phenomenon, but there is no explanation for it. He then reminded me that it is, of course, not the primary reason for the procedure. I know this, but I will take it.

 

[Bliss]

Date: 11/12/2009 1:00:19 PM
Author: Loves Vintage

Date: 11/12/2009 12:43:39 PM

Author: Laila619

Date: 11/12/2009 12:40:02 PM

Author: Loves Vintage

So, he asked me about my appointments today. He said it is very suspicious. I told him that I am considering cosmetic dentistry.

Hee hee, good one!

Some people sure are nosy.

Good luck with the HSG Vintage. I''m having mine done this month too. Hope it doesn''t hurt. Fisher said hers was a piece of cake!

Ha, ha, I''m glad you appreciated that! He then told me that I''m crazy, and that there''s nothing wrong with my teeth!! I told him that I''ve been dealing with this all my life, and I''m finally coming to terms with it! Then I accused him of looking at my teeth, and now whenever I see him I put my hand over my mouth!! It is hysterical! My husband often tells me that my work life is like a sitcom, and it so is!


And, yay for HSGs this month! I mentioned to the doctor yesterday, that I had heard pregnancy may be more likely after the procedure (heard that here, actually), and he said, yes, this is a phenomenon, but there is no explanation for it. He then reminded me that it is, of course, not the primary reason for the procedure. I know this, but I will take it.

THAT IS SO FUNNY, VINTAGE!

So glad you are having fun with it and sending you dust, too!

 

[cakeny]

I got my period 10 days early this cycle (???). Since being off the ring, I had been regular (31 day cycles) for 6 months and then the last month threw me for a loop at 21 days. For what it''s worth, I used to have a 21 day cycle before I ever got on any BCP more 15 years ago. I hope this just means my body is adjusting back to "normal" and that it''s not indicative of anything serious. I tried temping the first few months off the ring but never had the spike so I stopped after a couple of months. Perhaps I should have stuck with it longer? I guess I''m still trying to "read" my body for any signs that I am even ovulating normally as my CM is not that prevalent either. (I haven''t tried the mucinex/robitussen tricks yet, but will be busting it out this cycle!) Also, I bought the first response opks last week and started testing at CD5 (thinking I *may* have gone back to a shorter cycle) but haven''t gotten a positive for this cycle yet. So I think it''s time to get the clear blue monitor which seems to be more accurate and also a popular choice around here which is good enough for me!

 

[Loves Vintage]

cakeny - So, I'm not sure if I understood from your post -- what cycle day are you on now? Was your period the same length as usual? Have you had a positive opk yet?

 

[cakeny]

oops sorry for the confusion. I should have said, I got my period 10 days early *last* cycle

My last complete cycle was 21 days, 10 days shorter than normal. So then I bought the opks this cycle at day 5 and started testing then. I'm on CD15 now, and have not gotten the positive but have also run out of tests so it could be possible that I could O later this month (esp if I am still indeed a 31 day cycle gal, and the 21 day thing was a fluke).

 

[Loves Vintage]

CakeNY - Sorry, I didn't read very carefully. I now see that you hadn't had any positive OPKs, and I asked you that very question. Oops.

So, you might consider temping again, just to see if that provides any other clues as to whether and when you are ovulating. I hate temping, personally, so fully understand why you stopped. You also might consider getting some new OPKs for this cycle, as it would be helpful for you to see a positive right about now.

May I ask how old you are? I know, it is a personal question, but I've asked the question a few times before on here, so why stop now, right?

The variation in your cycle length could be nothing, maybe caused by stress? I'm not sure what to make of the steady temps though . . . that's why I'd want to confirm ovulation with the OPKs.

 

[cakeny]

Nothing is too personal here!

The hubs and I both turned 33 earlier this year.

I plan on getting the clear blue monitor in time for the next cycle so I can just start fresh then. In the meantime, I guess I should temp again, at least till I confirm that I''m ovulating on a regular basis!

I wish I had some of that good attitude of yours LV! Thanks for listening.

 

[mia1181]

Icekid- TWINNNNNNIE!!!!!! How cool would that be? We can be preggo twins! If your not KTFU already.... you sneaky little girl

I know I always ask you this but will you be in the WNY area for the holidays? We will be planning our trip home for christmas soon and a WNY gtg would be awesome!

Lanie- Okay wow Ebay has some really cheap CBEFMs! I think I will buy when we are officially TTC. Plus I don''t think I actually have a hard time reading OPK''s. My problem is that I had a ton of (very dark) positives in a row, but I think my body was just really trying to ovulate. Who knows!

LovesVintage- Wow! I think I love your RE office they seem very thorough! It seems like you are really able to laugh at your oh-so-annoying coworker. That''s awesome that you have such a good attitude. PLEASE COMMENT ON MY JAPAN THREAD! I could use all the tips/pointers I can get!

cakeny- I also had 6 normal-ish cycles before my cycles got wacky after the ring. I''m hoping that for both of us it is just taking a while to get back to normal! My doctor sure seems to think so.

 

[NewShiny]

LV and Laila (and Fisher who had one recently), yeah for the HSGs. I hope they do produce pregnancies sooner rather than later!

Cakney, I second and third trying to really keep up with the charting for at least three months. I know your cycles are wonky and frustrating right now, but charting can really tell you a lot about your cycles and give you "ammunition" for the doctor. You really do have to take your temp at the same time every day though. I set my phone alarm on the weekends and my thermometer recorded 5 temps (no need to write anything down right then), so it was never a big deal and I didn''t have to get out of bed for any reason unless I wanted/needed to for something else.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Cakeny I am also a 28-31 day cycler, but my LP is only 10 days, so I typically ovulate around CD 20. So on CD 15 without a positive OPK it is highly possible that you have not ovulated yet! Just wanted to let you know so you don't assume that you did. PS I also had a 23 day cycle coming off the pill, but with only a 7 day LP. Things are worky coming off hormonal bc. Don't worry! ETA Ooops, just read closer. So if you typically have a 21 day cycle then you most probably have a shorter LP, which means you most likely ovulate around CD 11-12, if 21 days is your norm. FWIW, Mandarine was also a short cycler and got pg with twins pretty quickly.

 

[cakeny]

Mia - Thanks for sharing your similar experience. It makes me feel a lot better. I really thought, 6 months of regular periods right out of the gate! Not bad at all! ha.

New Shiny - I will def try to temp again. I did try for 3 months in the beginning but got frustrated cuz I never got any spikes. And while I didn''t set an alarm, I took my temp around the same time-ish (I always wake up to go the bathroom around 6am - 6:30 and I would take my temp right before I got up). Hopefully my body has regulated" some more since then and I''ll be able to see some good spikes this time around.

 

[Laila619]

cake, I think your 21 day cycle was probably just a fluke. Hopefully this month will be back to 31!

I'm a 31 day gal also, and always O on CD 17.