** The Benched Check In 1/19 **

[LavishPeach]

I offered to put up the check in this week since rainbowbridge14 is visiting with her husband's grandma, who was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Rainbow, I know we are all sending thoughts and prayers to you, your husband and his family in this time.


Check in here if you are not cycling for any reason such as being benched for medical reasons, taking a treatment break, pursuing other family building options, etc... Let us know how you are doing and if there are any changes coming up for you.

If you are new to the bench let us know:

1. What brings you to the bench?
2. How long will you be here with us?
3. How are you feeling about being on the bench?

QOTW: I'm getting over a cold, so I was just curious - what is your favorite comfort food when you are sick?

[LavishPeach]

I'm 12 dpo (FF was right, O'd ~2 weeks ago, a good 3 weeks before it was expected) and I'm starting to get some spotting (pretty usual for me). On to our next natural cycle.


QOTW: When I was little, my mom would make tomato soup for me whenever I was sick. Until high school, it was the only soup I would eat. It was paired with different things: pastina (tiny star shaped pasta) or grilled cheese, usually. Tomato soup and grilled cheese has become such a comfort to me that DH and I added a line to our wedding vows that he would always make it for me if I was feeling sick. He held up his end and I had tomato soup and grilled cheese both Thursday and Saturday night 

[lindy04aggie]

I'm still chillin' on the bench waiting to AF to arrive to I can go see if my cyst is gone. If she arrives on schedule... it should be today... but I haven't really felt any of the normal pre-AF symptoms. I'm not optimistic that the cyst will be gone, so I'm planning on keeping my spot on the bench next month. Last time I had a cyst, it was 3 times smaller than the one I have now, and it took two months and a month of BCPs to go away. I guess we'll see.

QOTW - When I was little and had a sore throat (which was a lot... I got strep about once a month before my tonsils were taken out), my mom would make me rice with butter and sugar. Now, it's Kraft macaroni and cheese.

[Kushie77]

****loss mentioned***

We're on the bench due to recent MMC and D&C
I have no clue how long we'll be here
I'm mixed about it. I mean we finally got a BFP (a surprise one at that) so I'm hopeful that it could happen again, but obviously crushed that it turned out as it did.

QOTW: We're a grilled cheese and tomato soup house also. But homemade mac and cheese is a close second.

[sammae]

T&P for rainbowbridge14 and her H

LavishPeach I love your tomato soup story! Sorry for impending AF

lindy04aggie I have everything crossed that your cyst is squashed!!

Kushie77 I'm so sorry again for your loss. Big hugs. And I hope you're recovered quickly.

Guys. The day is here. I'm burning the bench!! We're all set to go for Feb IVF. I'm gonna miss my benchies, but I'll see you all on the other side!!
**sets fire to the bench. Whoosh!!**

QOTW- i like a plate of rotisserie chicken from the grocery store with bread and cheese. It's what my tummy craves when I'm sick.

[sportschick79]

I'm self benched after IVF #3 was a BFN. I'm hanging until my emotions are ready to try FET #1. Well that and I'm going on a cruise the first week of march and well, cocktails.

QOTW: Mrs. Grass noodle soup. Has to be Mrs. Grass. Lord help me if they ever stop making the stuff.

[LavishPeach]

lindy04aggie FX that cyst is squashed! But we'll keep a spot warm for you just in case. Kraft Mac n Cheese holds a soft spot in my heart.

Kushie77 So sorry again for your loss. I hope your time here is short but that you can use it to heal. 

sammae Yay for bench burning! **breaks out some marshmallows and graham crackers** FX for your IVF in Feb!

sportschick79 Sorry for your BFN. If you have to be on the bench for a little while, at least part of the reason is for a cruise! I hope this break will get you all geared up for your FET. I've never heard of Mrs. Grass noodle soup. I must be missing out!

[sportschick79]

LavishPeach it's just noodles in broth but it has a flavor egg that's yummy and brings me right back to childhood and being fussed over by my mom and grandma.

sammae Good luck with your cycle!

lindy04aggie Hope your cyst has played nice and done a disappearing act.

Kushie77 I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope that you are back up and running quickly!

[BKyarnlover]

I posted an update in the regular check in, but here is a shortened version. My RE looked over the MRI results and she's not exactly sure what the pocket of fluid is. Its thick walled and a decent size, so she sent me to an even more specialized doctor. I am waiting to hear from that doctor today hopefully, after she's looked at my MRI disk. My RE said the plan would probably to be a laparoscopy and then antibiotics, but until the specialist has looks at my MRI there is no official plan.

[LavishPeach]

BKyarnlover I hope the pocket of fluid turns out to be nothing too serious. FX for good news from the specialist later today. Keep us posted.

[daydreamsam]

Permanent bench warmer here! We are still saving and raising money for IVF which we will hopefully be able to do this summer. In the meantime we are trying naturally. I had a positive opk yesterday and this morning so ya never know!

QOTW: I love sourdough bread with butter and cheddar cheese and also always crave lipton noodle soup when I am sick, even if it's 100 degrees out!

[LavishPeach]

daydreamsam FX for O and some well timed BD - stranger things have happened, right?

[rainbowbridge14]

I'm back!!!!!!!!! I missed you all so much!!!!!!

LavishPeach Thank you so much for putting this up for me and for your kind thoughts. It means so much to me to have the support of the ladies here. I am sorry for the spotting

lindy04aggie I hope this cyst is a quick mover and is good and gone for you. I love seeing you around but I hope you can cycle soon.

Kushie77 Huge (((hugs))) lady. I am sure there are so many conflicting feelings after an experience like that.

sammae Thanks for the support! So glad you are of the bench and hoping so hard this IVF is it for you!!!

sportschick79 I am so sorry for the BFN on IVF 3 (((hugs))).

BKyarnlover I am sorry you are still waiting for more info on your MRI results. I hope you hear back soon, and keep us updated.

daydreamsam I hope you can do IVF this summer (or earlier) so much! I can't wait until you have a date!



AFM after a very long week of spending time in the hospital and driving almost 30 hours I have finally made it home to my 3T community. My DH's grandma is doing okay. They are trying to stabilize her to send her home but they have had some issues with medications. We are all waiting and seeing still as she is in her late 80's and has other health issues.

I got the official start date for my IVF cycle, I will start stims Feb 28. I had the realization today that it is just 5 weeks away which feels so much closer than it did.

[oceanhutt]

1. Benched till I hit the BMI for IVF#1... About 43 lbs right now

2. Hopefully only another 4 months till I can call my RE

3. I've been on some level of the bench for awhile so I guess a little more time won't kill me

QOTW: good tea... Loose leaf... And Mac and cheese lol

[daydreamsam]

rainbowbridge14 glad you're back lady! Yay for a start date!

[LavishPeach]

rainbowbridge14 Welcome back! So excited for your official start date! That's right around the corner basically. You'll be burning this bench before you know it.

oceanhutt Welcome to the bench, though sorry you have to be here. Good luck with your weight loss!

[wormy42]

I'm benched for monetary issues, really. We had a few unexpected financial drains last year and I'm still paying off my (now useless) hsg that my insurance company, which claimed they would cover, didn't cover. Urgh.

If our calculations are accurate we may be benched until we can afford the help of an RE, possibly next year... Or at least late this year.

Honestly, I just feel defeated. We've been actively TTC, with nothing but ol' fashioned sexings and an exhausted BBT thermometer. That's gotten us nowhere for the 3 years now that we've been actively TTC. Top that off with my BFN this morning and cramps and spotting tonight, I'm spent.

Hope y'all ladies have a great end of the week.

[LavishPeach]

wormy42 I'm so sorry for your BFN and all the financial drains that have kept you from being able to seek treatment.

I have only been actively trying for a little over 2 years, but I am feeling defeated right there with you. We are currently living in Europe with minimal healthcare, so we are unable to seek treatments. I wouldn't really trust the healthcare over here anyway, I had some uncomfortable experiences while getting my temporary residency permit. So we're also just plugging along the old fashioned way until we are able to move back to the States.

FX you get a happy surprise on your next cycle.

[lindy04aggie]

rainbowbridge14 - glad you're back!!