The Official TTC Thread!

[lizzyann]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Mayerling, I don't blame you for POAS! Sometimes you just have to get it out of your system. When will you be 10dpo? I think that would be a safe place to take your next test.

Choro, good luck in the tww! Are you using OPK's at all? I really like knowing when O is about to happen. Gives me advance warning on the BD'ing marathon!

Bright, sorry to hear about your DH's SA results. Have you thought about Clomid with IUI? That may help get his swimmers to the right place at the right time. Has your DH heard back from his Dr. about the side effects of enbrel? I haven't started using OPK's because I didn't want to stress myself out all week if I don't see any surges. My RE thought it was possible that I was just starting to O when I had the blood work done on Monday and that is why the progesterone was so low, so it is possible that I wouldn't even see a surge this week. So I decided against doing the OPK's. I haven't started back up on acupuncture yet. When I had a loss last month after using acupuncture for awhile, I got kind of bitter over the fact that I was spending $65 once a week on something that didn't help me. I know that sounds crazy and I know if anything it does help me relax, but I haven't decided on whether or not I want to start going again.

Amc, enjoy your relaxing spa trip! What a great deal!

MP, thanks lady. I am doing better but still feeling sorry for myself. Glad to hear you got your positive OPK and your BD'ing timing sounds great! I always felt the same way as you do regarding the BD'ing being the only thing we can control. At least you can say you did your part right??!! So all of your previous bloodwork came back good right? Now it is just the day 21 testing that needs to be done now? Hoping you get some answers!

Steph, I always preferred testing on the weekend. If I were you though I'd wait till 10dpo to give yourself a better chance at a potential BFP!

LC, thanks for popping in. I am feeling better but I am still down in the dumps. My RE office has a psychologist that they offer for their patients so I think I may make an appt. This has been so hard. Just too much to bear and I think it would be worth it to see her. I haven't decided whether or not I am going to start acupuncture again. It is really relaxing but I felt bitter after my loss last month. I just felt like "great I just spend $65 a week for the last 6 weeks and I still had a loss." You know? So, we'll see. Hope you are doing well.

AFM, doing better but still in a slump. I am planning on making an appt with the psychologist that my RE's office offers. This has been going on for so long now. 9 months, 4 pregnancies, 4 losses. Just too much... I am trying not too think too much about all of the baby news around me but it is hard. I just want to be pregnant already. It's just not fair. That's how I feel. My RE thinks it is possible that I was just starting to O and that is why my progesterone was so low, so I am hoping that I get better results on Friday. If I don't, I think I will have another meltdown to be honest. I need to just get started on IVF. It will give me hope. And right now I just feel like I am in limbo.

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

I am on day four of positive OPKs. They aren't borderline positive, either. I've been sleeping like crap so my temps are a bit wonky, though I did have a temp rise this AM. In past cycles I had one positive OPK on the day of ovulation. What gives? It seems my body is desperately trying to O but is falling short.

Choro: What do you teach? I hope you're having a great first year. I am enjoying myself but feel so.darn.tired. all of the time.

Lizzy: HUGS to you.

Steph: Welcome to the 2ww, where every symptom makes ya go, "Hmmm...." There's somewhat of a chance you could get a BFP on 10dpo, but generally results are more reliable come 12dpo. Testing and running off to work doesn't sound appealing, though. Could you test in the evening on Monday or Tuesday?

 

[JGator]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Hi, everyone. If you haven't read my posts on JBP lately, I am going to be joining you lovely ladies back on TTC. I had some spotting on Monday night and found out on Tuesday from an ultrasound that my baby passed away in the last week so I thought I was 9 weeks and 1 day but the baby was only 8 weeks in size with no heartbeat or movement. I had a d&c today at the hospital to remove the baby. Everyone at the hospital was very understanding and sympathetic, and I was completely sedated during the procedure so it was as pleasant as it could possibly have been. We are going to have some genetic testing done on the baby to see if we can find out the cause of the miscarriage. My DH and I are both sad. We had not shared our news with anyone yet as we were cautiously optimistic due to some progesterone issues. I told my mom and sister yesterday so that they would know before I went in for surgery today - the bittersweet part is that my sister gave birth to her 5th child around the time that I lost mine. My DH is eager to visit a RE soon as we were about to do that when we got our BFP in late August. So, hopefully we will figure out what happened with the first pregnancy and be able to try again soon with help from an RE. I will be back posting more regularly on TTC and rooting for you all as I have been all along.

 

[Clairitek]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

I just wanted to poke my head in and say that I'm so sorry for your loss JGator. I wish you the best of luck in your recovery and trying again when you're ready.

Lizzy, I hope your blood tests tomorrow yield a more pleasing result. I'm so sorry you're feeling so down-trodden. You've been through so much and I continue to be amazed by your strength and grace. Fingers crossed that you can get started with IVF soon.

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Oh JGator! I am so sorry for your loss Please take care of yourself, big hugs to you and your DH.

 

[monkeyprincess]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

JGator, as much as we like having you here, I’m so sorry that you are back in this thread. I’m glad the process went as smoothly as possible yesterday and that you were able to tell your mom and sister to have their support. Who knows why these things happen, but I hope that you are able to get pregnant again quickly when you are ready to start trying again, that seems to happen a lot after miscarriages. Take care of yourself.

Clairitek, hope all is well with you. Are you still holding strong and waiting until next spring to try?

PPM, hope your temp is up again this morning. You may just have more LH in your system this time around. I’ve had cycles where I only get one positive the day before ovulation, and then I’ve had others where I have 2.5 days of positives. Anyway, hoping this is it for you!

Bright, did you find anything about the medications? Your post inspired me to run through my DH’s medications and supplements last night (much to his delight) to see if any of them have any impact, but I don’t think they do. Let us know what you find out today from your RE!

Choro and Mayerling, it must be very frustrating to wait when you don’t know if/when you’ve ovulated. I used OPKs my first cycle for that very reason. If I were you, I would keep BD’ing regularly because you never know if your ovulation was delayed a bit. Good luck to both of you!

Lizzy, yes, my earlier bloodwork came back normal. I also go in next week for the progesterone test. I need to call to push it back a couple days, so it really is 7DPO. I just hope they aren’t resistant to that since it won't be CD21. I think it is a great idea for you to see the psychologist and get a chance to talk about some of your feelings with someone who understands and can hopefully help. You’ve been through a lot and you need to make sure you’re taking care of yourself emotionally and physically. I really hope your progesterone is higher on Friday, and if not, you are so close to starting IVF, so don’t give up hope. Thinking of you.

AFM, just trucking along. We didn’t get home until 9 last night, and I was just going to veg for the night and go to sleep early, but DH insisted we BD one more time just in case. It was pretty sweet. He’s such an eternal optimist and always says “I think this is our month.” I hope he is right, but it's getting harder to imagine this thing happening naturally. DH also decided that he thinks we need to redo the whole kitchen (finding decent appliances to fit the current setup is a nightmare), so he is having someone come out today to give us an estimate. I'm a little overwhelmed at the prospect right now, but it would be nice to have a more modern kitchen as long as we will be able to get back most of the money in resale value.

 

[stephbolt]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

MP, woohoo for a clear OPK! Did you get your test rescheduled?

amc, nice score on the groupon!

brightspot, I'm so sorry about your husbands SA results. Have you figured out anything else about how his meds might affect TTC? I can't believe clomid is also used to treat low sperm, fascinating.

choro, I would imagine it is hard to not know when you're counting down from, especially since you've had some irregular cycles in the past. I'm still holding out hope for you this cycle, but if not, glad you've got a plan to temp next cycle so you aren't going through this wondering where exactly in the cycle you are time again. Have you gotten a copy of taking charge of your fertility yet? Highly recommended!

Mayerling, of course you need a practice test. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

lizzy, I'm so sorry that things have been hard for you lately. I am hoping for good test results for you tomorrow so you have a clear starting date for your IVF cycle. Therapy sounds like a great idea too, I've had my fair share of it over the years and I know it has helped me get through some tough times.

PPM, whoa on the 4 + OPKs! No idea what that could mean, but hoping this is your cycle regardless! The idea of testing in the evening had not occured to me yet, I was stuck on the idea of using FMU! Haha, duh!

JGator, I am so sorry again for your loss. I hope your stay here the second time around is short.

AFM, 7DPO. I go back and forth between "I totally think I could be pregnant this cycle" and "I'm sure it didn't work." FWIW my boobs have hurt yesterday and today. But that also could be b/c after the first time I felt them hurt, I keep grabbing them to see if they hurt. Haha if one of my coworkers walked past my office at the wrong time they probably would wonder what was wrong with me! I think I might test on Sunday AM at 10DPO even though I know it's early. From there, we'll see.

Thinking of all of you!

 

[amc80]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

As it turns out, I may not have to make a decision about whether or not to test "early" on the cruise.

I am on CD32, 13DPO. AF is due Saturday. Well, I was sitting here at work and was having some lower back pain. No biggie, most of my body has been hurting this week due to the 1/2 marathon. Then I realized that I was having cramps. I went to the bathroom and sure enough AF is here. Which means, for the second month in a row, I've had a 12 day LP. I find this a bit odd since I thought the LP lenght was pretty constant. I looked at my charts and I really just don't see that I could have maybe O'd earlier than I thought. I have extremely obvious temp shifts.

Well, this means I am officially on my final "practice" cycle. It also means that assuming I have a 30 day cycle (which is average), I'll be able to test towards the end of the cruise without it being too early.

I can't believe it, I can finally say we are going to TTC next cycle!

 

[sugarpie honeybun]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

JGator – so sorry for your loss.

Monkey & Steph – keeping my fingers crossed for you!

AMC – Good luck!! It's very exciting to "officially" start TTC, but also so nerve wracking!

Hello to everyone else


CD12 over here. We're taking the "BD'ing every other day" approach this month (assuming our work schedules permit)
BD'ing on CD12 - CD20 is our goal, since I tend to O on CD17 or CD18.... time to get to work!

 

[amc80]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Jgator, missed your your post before but wow, don't even know what to say. So so sorry

 

[choro72]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Wrote a long post for each of you but I closed the browser.
Steph, I bought the book today! Thanks!

JGator, again, I'm so, so sorry for your loss.

Lizzy, I hope you can get with the procedure ASAP. Crossing fingers!

Those of you who POAS prematurely, I completely understand.

AFM, I've been cramping and spotting randomly this cycle up to last week. This is unusual for me, and quite annoying. Even more annoyingly, they are happening again today. I think AF is deciding to show up early, though my wonky cycle is not due until next week. Time to clean my basal, and prepare for lack of sleep. I'll be happy if I even see O.
Good luck to all who are in TWW!

 

[MuffDog]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Hi everybody

I'd like to join your thread here. I was in WBW for a while but hubs and I started officially 'trying' on Tuesday. Yep. We picked a certain day and just went with it!

I used to post on PS as another username when I was engaged/married, but a few of my friends know about it so I asked if I could use a new name and they said okay. I'm not trying to be sneaky - just don't want my friends knowing who I am during this particular process.

I've been trying to track my temps every mornign but they haven't really been telling me anything yet. I've been off BCP since March in preparation. I'd like to get the OPKs but so far hubs doesn't want to 'try' that hard. Of course he is the kind of guy who thinks he has super sperm and will knock me up the first try. haha

All men are like that, right?

Anyways - just wanted to say hi!!

 

[amc80]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Of course he is the kind of guy who thinks he has super sperm and will knock me up the first try. haha

All men are like that, right?

Welcome!
And, yes! My DF is like that. He is convinced it will work the first month we try. I'm hopeful, but realistic.

BTW, I got a book for him and it finally arrived - The Expectant Father. It was recommended by a friend. It's basically What to Expect When You're Expecting for dads to be. I flipped through it last night and read some to him and we both really liked it. It's laid out month by month, and has topics for each month about what mom's feeling physically and emotionally, what dad's feeling emotionally, and what he can do to help with her stuff. Pretty cool. It also has tips on ways the dad can bond with baby while the baby is still cookin'. I asked him if he was actually going to read it and he said definitely, and he wants to read What to Expect as well.

 

[lizzyann]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Blood work results came back and still no signs of ovulation. Today is CD25! I usually have 28 day cycles. I have no idea what is going on. My progesterone did slightly go up so they are thinking I will O over the weekend. If so, my IVF retrieval would move out from last week of October till 2nd week of November. If I don't O, the nurse told me that there are drugs they can use to bring on my period so we can get going. So so so frustrating....

 

[MuffDog]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Of course he is the kind of guy who thinks he has super sperm and will knock me up the first try. haha

All men are like that, right?

Welcome!
And, yes! My DF is like that. He is convinced it will work the first month we try. I'm hopeful, but realistic.

BTW, I got a book for him and it finally arrived - The Expectant Father. It was recommended by a friend. It's basically What to Expect When You're Expecting for dads to be. I flipped through it last night and read some to him and we both really liked it. It's laid out month by month, and has topics for each month about what mom's feeling physically and emotionally, what dad's feeling emotionally, and what he can do to help with her stuff. Pretty cool. It also has tips on ways the dad can bond with baby while the baby is still cookin'. I asked him if he was actually going to read it and he said definitely, and he wants to read What to Expect as well.

Thanks for the idea. DH is probably not going to want to read anything like than until I'm actually preggo, but I will keep it in mind for when/if the time comes.

So funny after not wanting to get preggo for so long, as soon as we flipped the switch, I want it to happen NOW. haha Probably normal, I'm sure. I'm also extremely impatient and pragmatic.

 

[tammy77]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Hi Ladies,

This might be more appropriate to ask on the WBW thread, but here goes...who knows, I'll probably double post it!

Back story: DH and I are re-evaluating our start time for TTC. We originally talked about March (at the earliest) because we wanted to buy a house first. Well, we've decided that a baby > a house and we're okay with renting for a while. We both have stable jobs, we're married, we're emotionally stable. On pretty much every count, except for perhaps being more comfortable financially, we're set. I think that's pretty common though. Anyhow, I digress!

So without the requirement of buying a house, we've pretty much decided that we'll rent a bigger place once I'm KU, ideally moving during my 2nd trimester. Since the reason we were waiting was primarily for the house, we're both in the "okay we don't have to wait now, but we're scared $h!tless about starting NOW" state of mind.

The question, you ask? Well I simply want to know two things. WWYD in this position and more importantly, is this a normal feeling or does it mean we really AREN'T ready? I *think* it's normal to get cold feet with such a huge decision, but I'm not quite sure how to navigate through it. Irresponsible nearly 35 year old me wants to throw my last active bcp (yep, I'm at the end of my pack...) in the trash and go for it now! Rational, cautious me says "WAAAAAIT, I'm not ready yet!!!!". My DH feels pretty much the same way, with a bit less zeal for the now side of things since he 1. thinks it'll happen first shot (I, on the other hand think it's going to take a while) and 2. he's more cautious re: finances.

I guess that's about it, sorry for rambling! If you made it this far, you're a saint!

ETA: Lizzy you were posting while I was typing mine. I'm sorry! I hope you get your answers soon so you can start IVF!

 

[amc80]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

WWYD in this position and more importantly, is this a normal feeling or does it mean we really AREN'T ready?

We are in a similar situation. I own a 2br condo. It was perfect for me and my two cats. Then DF and his two bulldogs moved in. And all of his stuff. We are bursting at the seams. Our plan is to rent a house and rent out my condo. We'll probably/hopefully be doing that in January/February.

As far as feeling not ready, I don't think that's the case. I think that no matter how excited you are about a baby there will always be some apprehension. Think about it- theoretically you can have sex ONE time, and that action will impact you for the rest of your life. That's a pretty permanent decision, you know? Right now there's a bunch of stuff I'm trying to cram into this month (um, while dealing with my wedding) because I know it may be the last time I can do it for a while. I am drinking more wine because I can. Taking hot baths because I can. Eating whatever sushi I want because I can. Next month that may not be the case. So yeah, I think it's normal to be a little freaked. Especially when your timeline goes from "sometime in the spring" to "asap." That's a big adjustment.

Now, if I were you? I'd take the last pill and start next cycle. But that's because I'm an enabler

 

[stephbolt]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Lizzy, I'm so sorry you are still in limbo. Hugs to you!

Welcome MuffDog!

Tammy, last night DH confessed the idea of me actually being pregnant was terrifying him. I confessed it was the same for me. The funny thing is we are scared about different things - me about actually being pregnant and caring for a newborn, and him about being responsible for another human being for the next 18+ years. We can't even keep houseplants alive now! But like amc said, I think a certain amount of being scared is normal and ok! Bringing another human into this world is a serious decision and will change your life whether it's your first child or third, but if you and your DH feel like you have most of the pieces in place, then I think you will figure out the rest as you go. I'd probably lean toward just jumping in if I were you. Maybe I'm an enabler too

 

[tammy77]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Thank you both for your responses. I think DH's cold feet are mostly what you're talking about, Steph. It's going to be his first but I know he's 100% on board with having one...just not quite yet. I have a feeling that his switch will flip soon too though!

 

[lliang_chi]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Lizzy, I'm sorry you're still not ovulating yet. How frustrating! Hope you O soon, but sounds like the your RE and nurses are listening to you and ready to help. Hang in there friend.

 

[monkeyprincess]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Lizzy, darnit! I was hoping you were going to find out you had already ovulated, but at least it looks like it will happen this weekend. I know the waiting sucks though. Hope you have some fun things planned with your son to make the time pass quickly. Hang in there. I know it doesn’t seem like it, but you will be in another 2ww before you know it.

Welcome Muffdog, and congrats on officially TTC! Since you’ve been off birth control for awhile and probably have a good idea of what to expect from your cycles, OPKs are probably not necessary at first. As someone who’s been trying awhile, I would definitely suggest having fun with it for as long as you can, and hopefully your DH is right about his super sperm. BTW, I do think all men assume they are fertility gods. Mine still jokes around about it even though we’ve been trying awhile without success! Good luck to you!

Tammy, sorry you’re feeling a bit torn about when to start. If you’re looking for an unbiased opinion, you’re in the wrong spot. Of course we’re all going to tell you to start now! I guess what it would come down to for me, is how much of a financial difference will it realistically make if you start trying now or in March? Plus, given the fact that you are 35, you never know if it will take you longer to get pregnant this time anyway. But before you start, I would definitely want to make sure that your DH is fully on board and not feeling wishy-washy. Good luck with your decision. You know it is just a matter of time before you accidently forget to take a few more pills anyway

Hi Sugarpie, I think every other day is a great goal. Happy BD’ing!

Steph, a little late to back out now! Have you tested yet? Be honest! Dust to you!

amc, happy last non-TTC cycle!

Choro, sorry to hear you think AF is on the way. You never know until she shows though, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!

AFM, I was able to move my progesterone blood test back to Wednesday without resistance. I think it helped that I just spoke with the lab’s calendaring clerk who didn’t ask any questions. Even though I’m pretty sure I ovulated on Wed., DH wanted to BD one more time last night just in case. The man is persistent. I was half asleep because I had already gone to bed, and it was the least sexy sexy time ever. I almost forgot it even happened until I woke up this morning. I would say we covered our bases. Maybe a little too well. Hope you all have fabulous weekends. I just found out I’ll be working on an emergency brief all weekend. Boo.

 

[ChinaCat]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

JGator- Again, so sorry that you've having to go through this. Hang in there.

MuffDog- Welcome!

Lizzy- Aw honey, I can imagine that you are about at the end of your rope. But the thing to remember is you WILL ovulate. Whether this weekend or whether they give you a drug to get it started, it WILL happen. So as frustrating as it is, it's not a setback. I know you are so so anxious to get this going, but it will happen. Hugs. Did you decide to go see someone? I absolutely would if I were you- sometimes it's a great relief to unburden yourself to someone that has nothing invested in your life. We're all rooting for you.

Tammy- Everyone's different but I will say that I never felt 100% ready. Heck, I just got preggo with #2 and thought I would feel ready- nope, just as shell shocked and nervous as the first go round. Sometimes you just have to dive in! I say throw the pack away.

Bright- Didn't you have your appointment with the RE? Did I miss your update? How did it go?

MP- Glad you moved your test! Are you a lawyer? The words "emergency brief" are not ones you want to hear on a Friday.

 

[monkeyprincess]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

China, yup, unfortunately I was looking forward to a no work weekend. But luckily, this one is in state court and I think it can be pretty short and straight forward, so it shouldn't be too bad. I'm used to working in federal court where nothing is short or straight forward!

Bright, yes, please report back. I hope you liked your doctor and came up with a plan to get that BFP!

 

[BrightSpot]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Happy Friday, everyone!

choro, good luck in your TWW! Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

mayerling, I think we've all felt lots of possible pregnancy symptoms during the 2WW. It's hard not to obsess over every little twinge. Here's hoping it's the real deal & we can all add "hot flashes" to our lists of telling signs of early pregnancy.

Lizzy, thanks for the suggestion. It seems my RE might be on the same page as you with the IUI. (He didn't mention clomid, but that's pretty standard practice, right?) I hear ya on the acupuncture. Sometimes it seems like a great idea, but most of the docs I've talked to give it mixed reviews & it can definitely get expensive.
I'm sorry you've been feeling so down lately. You've had to endure so much heartache in such a short time. It really isn't fair. It must be so hard to stay as positive & graceful as you are under the circumstances. That's great that your RE offers some counseling & you can have someone to talk to about this.
I'm so sorry to hear you haven't O'd yet. How frustrating! I hope it happens over the weekend. Do you get another progesterone test next week? When will you make the determination to induce your period if needed? Sending you a big hug & hoping the process can move forward asap.

PPM, that's so weird that you've had so many positive OPKs. How did your temp look this morning?

JGator, I'm so, so sorry to hear your news. Big hugs to you. How are you feeling?
My SIL had a similar experience. She m/c around 8 weeks (around Christmas). She discovered the baby had passed away at her 8 week sono. They had genetic testing after & she is now 6 months PG, due in January. I hope you're able to find out what happened at your RE appointment & that you get PG again with a sticky bean soon. (if you're ready to jump back into TTC, that is). I'm glad you were able to get support from your mom & sis during this tough time & hope you're doing ok.

MP, glad your DH's meds check out ok! That's so sweet that he wanted to BD again just to be safe. Good luck with your kitchen redo! How did the estimate process go today? I'm glad you were able to move your progesterone test without much hassle. Let us know how it goes! Sorry you have to work this weekend. I hope the brief is indeed short & straightforward & you can have some fun, relaxing time over the weekend.

steph, that's so funny! I've totally gone through days when I grab my boobs all the time to check for tenderness. Keeping my figners crossed for you!

amc, my LP's have sometimes varied by a day or so too. I'm glad you'll be able to test towards the end of your cruise. Yay for TTC-ing soon! That sounds like a cool book for your DH. Let me know if you guys like it.

sugar, good luck with the EOD approach. Have fun!

choro, I hope your cycle straightens itself out soon!

MuffDog, welcome! It's nice if you can keep it low key, at least at first. This process can get pretty all consuming if you let it. Good luck this month! Hope your stay here is short & sweet.

China, thanks for checking in. I had my appointment yesterday, but was in a bad place & not up to posting yet. I'm feeling a little better today.
How are you doing?

tammy, having a baby is a pretty big undertaking & it's totally normal to feel apprehensive about the change even if you feel ready. It's hard to say how long it will take you to get KU. You never know till you try. We started trying when we hit the scary 35 number. Now that it's taking me a while, I'm a little regretful for not having started trying sooner.

C-tek & hot, hope you guys are well. Hi to anyone I missed.

AFM, I had my first appointment with the RE yesterday. I was really looking forward to getting to the bottom of things, but left feeling a bit disappointed. I brought in all of my charts & medical history with a bunch of questions. While he did take a pretty thorough history, he didn't really look at my charts & I felt he was a bit dismissive. He didn't seem concerned with my PCOS questions, but did agree to run a testosterone test. He also said my progesterone wasn't really all that low. He also said that the progesterone test, taken only once, doesn't really mean much.
They took a lot of blood to check hormones, STD's & some genetic stuff (and I have the big bruise to prove it!) They also wanted me to come in for some of the CD3 tests again (even though I had them done last month & they were fine) & I have to come in next month for a SIS (saline hysterosonogram) to check to see if I have any polyps, cysts, etc. When the nurse told me about it she said, "so I see you've had an HSG, so you're familiar with the cramping..." Awesome.
He did an ultrasound to look at my ovaries & he said I have a few follicles on my left ovary. I asked if they looked ok/there were enough there & he said there was an "age appropriate amount...it clearly wasn't my sweet 16..." but when I asked if it should be enough to get the job done, he said he thought so. So I guess that's good. I asked him about DH's enbrel medication & he said it's possible it might affect count or motility, but wouldn't change the DNA (cause birth defects). He wasn't super optimistic about the clomid increasing his count, though, but said there's lots they can do with low counts (IUI, etc.) He also recommended DH cut out alcohol. I asked him about acupuncture & he wasn't very positive about it, but said it wouldn't hurt & gives some people a sense of control/relaxation. He did advise against the Chinese herbs, though.
I'm a little bummed because I loved my OB, but am not sure how I feel about the RE. I did meet the IVF nurse, who was very nice & said I could call her with questions, which made me feel better.
It just feels like we're starting a long road of tests & poking & prodding which may or may not end with a baby. I also found out my insurance doesn't cover IVF (I thought it did.)
I was really hoping to get a dose of clomid (for me) & that we'd be off & running, but it seems like I'm just scheduled for more tests.

Also, DH's doc has yet to call him back re: the meds. I wanted to get a better sense of how low his count was (i.e. if there's even a shot of us getting PG w/o intervention or not) as he didn't get any numbers , but no dice. I really need to try to chill, but it's frustrating knowing it's not the best situation, but not knowing just how bad it is/what we're dealing with.

Thanks for listening & sorry for being a bit of a debbie downer today. I hope everyone is well & headed off to enjoy a great weekend!

 

[ChinaCat]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Brightspot- ARGH. I'm annoyed for you. Gotta say that RE doesn't sound very nice or very helpful. This is terrible to admit, but I'm sort of biased that he's a man. He just doesn't get it. Why would he say something as snarky as it's "clearly not your sweet sixteen"? That being said, he is an expert and maybe this is just how all the initial appointments go. Did he seem concerned that you haven't pregnant yet? Did he seem to have any ideas? As for the low count of DH, that's promising that he said there's lots they can do! So ok, he didn't have the best bedside manner, but if he gets you pregnant, who the eff cares?

As for acupuncture- I don't at all think it's a cure all. I think it can HELP, like reducing stress or cutting out alcohol, or whatever, but I don't think it magically fixes anything.

MP- I'm a lawyer too but not the emergency brief kind. My husband is though, so I know the drill. I loved being a lawyer until about year 3 or 4. Now, well, not so much.

ETA: Bright, I didn't meant to be so negative. Just frustrated for you. But you know, we all want some easy answer and just b/c you didn't get one (like go take Clomid!), doesn't mean it won't work, right? Just keep taking baby steps. Deep breath, keep on keeping on. Thinking of you.

Also- I was at the park this weekend and overheard some other moms talking about how hard it was to get preggo with #2. They really didn't seem to know much and I was soooo tempted to jump in and offer my extensive PS advice! I didn't, obviously, but this board is really a wealth of information.

 

[monkeyprincess]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

China, I thought you had mentioned being a lawyer before. I'm looking for a way to not be the emergency brief kind sometime in the near future hopefully. I can't imagine this lifestyle once we finally have a bambino. Of course, I'm not helping matters this afternoon by checking my email, seeing PS updates and being unable to resist posting!

Bright, darn, I was hoping your appointment would make you feel more hopeful, not less. I have a feeling that most first appointments with REs are a letdown, at least for women like you who know your stuff and come prepared. I would trust your gut about him. If you think he is just not very touchy-feely but will produce, it might be okay, but if you don't think he is taking you seriously, that's another matter. It's so frustrating that there are no quick fixes to fertility problems. More and more, I keep hearing stories about people who try for a really long time and get tests and treatments, but nothing works, and then all of a sudden, they get a surprise miracle baby. But I don't want to have to go through all that. I just want my miracle baby NOW! I know you can relate. Hugs my friend. The wait will all be worth it someday soon!

Oh, and I wasn't able to be at home when the guy came to look at our kitchen. He was going to come up with a few configurations and estimates, but he did mention to DH that all we really need to do is get the new appliances and put in a new countertop. I'm glad because I just can't see spending tens of thousands dollars on our house right now. I want to wait for a new house to have my dream kitchen.

ETA: We are finally ordering our appliances tomorrow because we found a great deal. Lowe's has a 15% off sale going on right now, and DH was his charming self and talked the guy into giving us another 15% off if we buy a fridge, dishwasher, and oven at the same time. Plus, the fancy four door fridge my DH wants is on sale for a great price at a different place, and Lowe's will match the price. Can't beat that. Although, DH says I better think twice about going on any shopping trips this month

 

[BrightSpot]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

China, I have to admit, I felt a little biased b/c he's a man as well. My OB, who I love (and is a woman) recommended him specifically. Turns out he sort of trained her, so that recommendation makes sense. He spoke very highly of her & we had a whole conversation about her, then he asked me before I left who recommended me. Really? Also, I asked him if it was ok to take a bath after BD-ing. He said it was ok, but if I'm worried, why not just do it before? Well, that doesn't exactly address the post BD stickiness issues, now does it? (sorry...TMI...) Men just don't get it.
Re: the sweet 16 comment, I was a little irritated by that too. He also kidded me a bit about my long list of questions & said maybe I needed to get out more. So maybe he was just joking & I'm not accustomed to his bedside manor. (And there's also probably some truth to that...I'm think I'm obsessing too much about this to my detriment.) That said, I am truly concerned & this is such an emotional process that it just made me feel sad.
As for being concerned as to why I'm not KU yet, he seemed to think everything looked ok on my end so far & didn't seem to be as concerned as I was about my inconsistent looking cycles & charts. He seemed more concerned about DH's low count. Hopefully the clomid & a little lifestyle change will help. I guess DH will have to stop biking in our hot tub wearing his super tight spandex briefs.

So I'm going back & forth between being annoyed & not sure if he's the one for me & thinking maybe this is how all first appointments go, trusting my OB's rec, being happy that he takes my insurance & thinking maybe this doesn't matter so much as long as he gets me KU. It's not like I'm inviting him over for dinner...

You're right that there's probably not an easy answer, as much as I may want one! Thanks so much for helping me talk it out.

Also, I've heard from lots of people that conceiving the 2nd is easier than the 1st, but maybe that varies for everyone.

MP, yeah, it's probably just first appointment letdown. Come to think of it, I was a little disappointed when I went to see my OB after we'd been trying for 6 months hoping for some answers, but only walking away with a schedule of upcoming tests.

More and more, I keep hearing stories about people who try for a really long time and get tests and treatments, but nothing works, and then all of a sudden, they get a surprise miracle baby. But I don't want to have to go through all that. I just want my miracle baby NOW! I know you can relate.

Yes, I totally do relate to that! I just don't want to have to go through the fire, but it's looking like that's the path we're on. Big hugs to you too--hoping we're both on the bfp train soon!

That's great news that you got such a good deal on appliances! Kudos to your DH & his negotiating prowess. I'll bet new countertops & new appliances will give your kitchen a totally different look. How exciting!

 

[stephbolt]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

I guess DH will have to stop biking in our hot tub wearing his super tight spandex briefs.

Bright, this line made me bust out laughing! I'm sorry that things at the doctor did not go as well as you had hoped. His bedside manner definitely sounds like it is lacking! Hopefully he makes up for it with knowledge and you will be KU in no time. Funny you mention people who have no trouble with number 2 after trying for a long time for number 1 -that's how things were for my parents. They tried for 4+ years to get KU with me, and then my sister and I are only 16 months apart.

MP, I swear I have not tested yet! I did have a moment of weakness last night and if DH had been home I might have caved, but since he wasn't I held out and the urge passed. Wow, great deal on the appliances! I'm jealous, I've been lusting after a new fridge since we moved into our house a year ago. And boooo to the emergency brief, I hope it doesn't take up too much of your weekend!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! Any of you have a holiday Monday? I wish I did!

 

[megumic]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Hey all -- I'm rolling over from JBP, as I recently learned I'm having a mc with this pregnancy. Just wanted to say hey and that I look forward to TTC just as soon as I'm able! Fingers crossed we are all here for a short time and don't come back!

 

[mayerling]

Re: The Official TTC Thread!

Brightspot, you've got me thinking now. I can't stand the stickiness either and clean myself up straight away - no shower, just wipes - but now I'm afraid that I'm messing with my chances of conceiving!

JGator and Megumic, I'm very sorry for your losses. I have my fingers crossed for both of you.