TTC Check-In (April 20th)

[RM80]

Morning All-
Tell us where you are, milestones, big deals, small wins, gripes, whatever you want to share.

**If you have a BFP to share- start a new thread so we can all celebrate with you, please don't post it here!!**

RM80
kh826
mahler5
cetcar
wittyandwaiting
esquette
kona
Stringy
shemarie82
bmorecharming
03mrstn
luckypanda
dannigirl
jazibel

QOTW: What currently alive celebrity/public figure/etc. would you like to meet at Starbucks for a cup of coffee and why??

[shemarie82]

We are getting the house ready for our home visit on Thursday, I am excited with how the Foster room is coming together.



QOTW: Michelle Obama! I think she is the coolest and would love to chat with her.

[RM80]

shemarie82, how exciting! Glad its starting to fall together!

Still on my break, no idea my CD for once, doesn't mean I haven't been thinking/obsessing though. Yesterday the wife and I celebrated 10 years, we went to a lovely dinner and talked about where we were and were we wanted to be going with all this. No decisions made, but was good to chat.

Meet with the RE on Wednesday afternoon to see what/if anything else we can try for this last one, I'm hopeful we can try injectables, but from what Ive read, many RE's wont use on people with PCOS due to too many follicles so I guess we'll see...

QOTW: I was going to say Michelle Obama too, but I think I'll modify and go with Hillary Clinton. She's an interesting lady and I'm sure has so many stories!

[kh826]

Good Morning All!

So, after my u/s and blood work last Thursday, I heard from my RE that all looked good and it was OK to start my Estrace Thursday night. So, today is day 5 on Estrace, and I increased my dose to twice a day this morning. On Friday, will increase my dose to 3 times a day, and then my lining check is next Wednesday (the 29th). Assuming that my lining looks good at that point, I will start Progesterone injections that night and transfer will be 5 days later (tentatively Monday, May 4th - two weeks from today!)... I am still on Lupron injections (YAY) and will continue those until 4 days prior to transfer.

My repeat iron blood work was still REALLY low, so they doubled my dosage of iron supplements, and they are going to retest my iron when I go in for my lining check. This won't do anything to impact my cycle, but they will continue to tweak my iron until they see improvements (while TTC and into pregnancy *hopefully*)...

I have been getting Lupron headaches, but not as bad as with my last IVF cycle, so that is a plus. The Estrace seems to give me hot flashes though, so that is fun HAHA

Otherwise, we are just chugging along. Can't believe I might be PUPO in two weeks!

QOTW: Hillary Clinton, hands down.

[wittyandwaiting]

shemarie82 wow! Looks great, everything is really coming together. Hope everything goes well at your home visit.

RM80 happy 10th anniversary! That's a total big deal, our 10 year is next month. I hope that all goes well at your WTF meeting and that you get some....something that will help move you towards a positive beta and a happy and healthy pregnancy. Keep us posted!

I'm right in the middle of the two week wait. So far so good, but I find that the first week is usually a lot easier than the second week, it's week two that I tend to get a little bit crazy. Officially, I'm supposed to be going in for a beta Sunday but I'm going to see if I can make it work for Saturday instead because I hate having to wait, especially over the weekend and also I have plans with friends on Saturday night and it would be nice to not have to wake up at 6:45 AM on Sunday.

I'm a total symptom watcher and I've got absolutely nothing, no sore boobs, no tiredness, no cramps, no spotting, no anything.

If we get a negative this time around we are considering switching donors, has anybody heard anything to support this?

QOTW: until about a year ago my answer would've been Gloria Steinem, but I actually got to meet her and went all crazy fan girl. To be honest I'd love to hang out with Laverne Cox from OITNB, I recently heard her speak about her pathway to becoming a woman and I thought she was truly amazing and dynamic. I would love to sit with her one-on-one and pick her brain.

[mahler5]

RM80 -- congrats on 10 years. That's awesome!

@shemarie893 -- I love the curtains!

kh826 - glad things are chugging along smoothly.

wittyandwaiting -- FX for you!

I am also in the two week wait. I am getting sick of taking progesterone vaginally and also a shot every other night!!

I'm contemplating POAS tomorrow. Today is 6dp5dt. I think the earliest it could be positive is tomorrow. I may not though because a false negative or a real negative would suck right now. This week has been crappy. I found out I didn't get into this doctorate program last Friday. And way worse than that, yesterday one of my dogs bit my other dog. She has food aggression. We generally feed them separate but L had given them bones separate and I think though the other one had finished his but hadn't. They went at it and scared me have to death. And the one is definitely the aggressor. I just can't afford to have it happen again around C so we are trying to rehome. I feel bad like I've failed her. She's generally a really good dog but I just can't risk it again and we are not perfect enough to do things right with them all the time. Eventually a bone could be left out again on accident.

Anyway, sorry for ramble. So I may just wait for my beta on Thursday. I have a test Thursday morning too that I'm having a hard enough time studying for so maybe I should just wait.

If anyone has had to rehome a dog and had any advice please share.

[jazibel]

RM80 - Happy anniversary!!
kh826 - I can't believe you'll be PUPO in about 2 weeks!! So exciting!! :-)

Hope the TWW passes quickly and ends with a showering of BFPs.

We are in the very beginning stages of TTC. Our appointment with our RE went well and EV (my wife) needs to go in for blood tests. I actually just called to schedule them because she started CD1 over the weekend.

I do have some worry over this TTC process, mostly because of PCOS my wife was told growing up that she couldn't have kids. I'm just worried that we'll start down this path to find ourselves not successful and it will break her heart all over again. Just trying to remain optimistic and focus on the next steps. The earliest we'd likely try is July. But I'm leaning toward October so I can lose weight before "hopefully" getting pregnant again.

[shemarie82]

Apr 20, 2015 12:36:59 GMT -5 jazibel said:

I do have some worry over this TTC process, mostly because of PCOS my wife was told growing up that she couldn't have kids. I'm just worried that we'll start down this path to find ourselves not successful and it will break her heart all over again. Just trying to remain optimistic and focus on the next steps. The earliest we'd likely try is July. But I'm leaning toward October so I can lose weight before "hopefully" getting pregnant again.

I have PCOS as well, and my doctor told me that I had until I was 30 to decide if I even wanted to try, because it isn't likely that I would be able to conceive. That being said, I have heard so many stories of people that had been told similar that end up GKU.  Don't let go of the hope!

[cetcar]

shemarie82, The peak of the room looks great!
RM80, Happy 10 years! That's totally a big deal. In February, we celebrate 11.
kh826, Seems like you're moving along! Hope everything continues to go smoothly.
wittyandwaiting, Oh the TWW, I totally get being a symptom watcher. Hope you're able to stay as relaxed as possible during your second week.
mahler5, I don't have any experience with rehoming a pet but imagine it would be tough. You probably want to find a new home environment that they would feel comfortable in. Hope your week ends on a higher note.
jazibel, I don't have any experience with PCOS, but hope you're able to stay optimistic.


I survived giving myself the Gonal injections. I was super nervous about it since CET is out of town. I always thought I had a needle phobia, but I'm learning through all this, that maybe I don't. It probably sounds silly, but needles are super sharp. I was expecting to have to push a whole lot more to get it in (and that's the part I wasn't looking forward to) but it just kind of slid in. Had my CD8 ultrasound and blood work this morning. My lining looks great and I have a bunch of follicles, mostly on the right. A 16, 15, some 14s, and some smaller ones. Waiting to get the results from the blood work back before I know when I'll go in for another ultrasound and more blood work. We'll know more later today.

[RM80]

Apr 20, 2015 13:17:00 GMT -5 shemarie82 said:

Apr 20, 2015 12:36:59 GMT -5 jazibel said:

I do have some worry over this TTC process, mostly because of PCOS my wife was told growing up that she couldn't have kids. I'm just worried that we'll start down this path to find ourselves not successful and it will break her heart all over again. Just trying to remain optimistic and focus on the next steps. The earliest we'd likely try is July. But I'm leaning toward October so I can lose weight before "hopefully" getting pregnant again.

I have PCOS as well, and my doctor told me that I had until I was 30 to decide if I even wanted to try, because it isn't likely that I would be able to conceive. That being said, I have heard so many stories of people that had been told similar that end up GKU.  Don't let go of the hope!

I too have PCOS- I've been told that IVF can actually be really good for PCOS folks.  Most have no problem making lots of eggs on injections and they can really control the quality with the protocol.  It's the trying to make one good one and ovulating that seems to be the issue for most people.  FX it all goes well!   Is your wife on anything to manage her PCOS yet? Metformin is a commonly prescribed medication, helps regulate hormones (less of the not so great kind).  My RE got me on it and said for best results he recommended 3 months of it before we started.  For some it's a magic weight loss pill too- not so much for me (of course!)

[wittyandwaiting]

kh826 - not sure how I missed your post on my first time around! PUPO in two weeks!?!?! Hooray!

cetcar - Way to stick it! I got over my needle fear pretty quickly with the Gonal too!

[esquette]

More of the same around here. Talking and getting ready. It is starting to feel real to me. I know this because yesterday I was showering while Sweetie was out running errands and it struck me that this would not be possible post-kid. It's not travel and partying and sex that I can see myself missing after kids, just the little easy things about being a twosome. Loading and unloading the dishwasher together, you know? I generally hate change, but I'm the one who is so eager for kids. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I don't want to do this now? Cold feet, anyone?

On a side note, the app Clue is my new favorite period tracker app. It's NOT PINK. And it has a good user interface on my iPhone.

QOTW: I would love to have a cup of coffee with Jennifer Lawrence. She seems like a genuinely cool person that it would be fun to hang out with.

[jazibel]

Apr 20, 2015 14:46:53 GMT -5 RM80 said:

Apr 20, 2015 13:17:00 GMT -5 shemarie82 said:

I have PCOS as well, and my doctor told me that I had until I was 30 to decide if I even wanted to try, because it isn't likely that I would be able to conceive. That being said, I have heard so many stories of people that had been told similar that end up GKU.  Don't let go of the hope!

I too have PCOS- I've been told that IVF can actually be really good for PCOS folks.  Most have no problem making lots of eggs on injections and they can really control the quality with the protocol.  It's the trying to make one good one and ovulating that seems to be the issue for most people.  FX it all goes well!   Is your wife on anything to manage her PCOS yet? Metformin is a commonly prescribed medication, helps regulate hormones (less of the not so great kind).  My RE got me on it and said for best results he recommended 3 months of it before we started.  For some it's a magic weight loss pill too- not so much for me (of course!)


EV actually started metformin 3 months ago (not TTC related) and it brought on her first cycle in months.  I know that even though she hates AF she was excited to be able to get the testing done. I'm glad to hear that other folks with PCOS have had good results with IVF. It gives me hope. We have a week to wait for the blood work results and hopefully we'll know more.  

[RM80]

jazibel- the fact she gotta period on her own after starting met is a really good sign! Sounds like you're on the right path!! Fingers crossed all the testing goes well too!

[crazyaunt84]

Just popping in to say hi, and let you know I still stalk you all even though I haven't jumped in lately Not sure when we'll pick up our journey again, but I'll be back more frequently when we do.


Sending out all the good thoughts!

[Stringy]

Just waiting around in the TWW. wittyandwaiting, I think I'll test Saturday too cuz we have a wedding shower to go to and...mimosa's yo.

[wittyandwaiting]

Apr 21, 2015 8:58:52 GMT -5 Stringy said:

Just waiting around in the TWW. wittyandwaiting, I think I'll test Saturday too cuz we have a wedding shower to go to and...mimosa's yo.

I'm with you. There's Champagne on Saturday night and I'm all over that if I'm cleared for drinking. I'm hoping that neither one of us will be drinking though!!!!

[Stringy]

Apr 21, 2015 9:12:08 GMT -5 wittyandwaiting said:

Apr 21, 2015 8:58:52 GMT -5 Stringy said:

Just waiting around in the TWW. wittyandwaiting, I think I'll test Saturday too cuz we have a wedding shower to go to and...mimosa's yo.

I'm with you. There's Champagne on Saturday night and I'm all over that if I'm cleared for drinking. I'm hoping that neither one of us will be drinking though!!!!

That would be great. But I would oh-somuch be called out on it. Gonna have to make a plan.

[wittyandwaiting]

Apr 21, 2015 9:48:58 GMT -5 Stringy said:

Apr 21, 2015 9:12:08 GMT -5 wittyandwaiting said:

I'm with you. There's Champagne on Saturday night and I'm all over that if I'm cleared for drinking. I'm hoping that neither one of us will be drinking though!!!!

That would be great. But I would oh-somuch be called out on it. Gonna have to make a plan.

I've been in this position....I just whispered to our server that I wasn't drinking and they brought me virgin drinks without making it a thing.

[shemarie82]

Apr 20, 2015 23:06:58 GMT -5 esquette said:

More of the same around here. Talking and getting ready. It is starting to feel real to me. I know this because yesterday I was showering while Sweetie was out running errands and it struck me that this would not be possible post-kid. It's not travel and partying and sex that I can see myself missing after kids, just the little easy things about being a twosome. Loading and unloading the dishwasher together, you know? I generally hate change, but I'm the one who is so eager for kids. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I don't want to do this now? Cold feet, anyone?

This is exactly why we decided to wait until September. We were getting to the point that we were talking about the things that we couldn't do with a kid, rather than all the good things about having a kid.  So, we wait...

[shemarie82]

Apr 21, 2015 0:21:58 GMT -5 jazibel said:

Apr 20, 2015 14:46:53 GMT -5 RM80 said:

I too have PCOS- I've been told that IVF can actually be really good for PCOS folks.  Most have no problem making lots of eggs on injections and they can really control the quality with the protocol.  It's the trying to make one good one and ovulating that seems to be the issue for most people.  FX it all goes well!   Is your wife on anything to manage her PCOS yet? Metformin is a commonly prescribed medication, helps regulate hormones (less of the not so great kind).  My RE got me on it and said for best results he recommended 3 months of it before we started.  For some it's a magic weight loss pill too- not so much for me (of course!)


EV actually started metformin 3 months ago (not TTC related) and it brought on her first cycle in months.  I know that even though she hates AF she was excited to be able to get the testing done. I'm glad to hear that other folks with PCOS have had good results with IVF. It gives me hope. We have a week to wait for the blood work results and hopefully we'll know more.  

I spent a couple years of life on Metformin, I had no luck with weight loss.  Mostly, it kept my emotions under control and sent me running for the bathroom.  I would do it again if it would increase the chances of fertility, but that is the only way.

[RM80]

Glad you stopped in crazyaunt84- we miss you! I do hope you can restart the journey soon!

[cetcar]

Okay, well...here's an update to our check in. Anyone with experience/advice, feel free to pass it on. We're a little shocked/surprised.

CAR went in for her second monitoring appointment for this cycle for our gonal-f IUI try. Her day 8 E2 number was high- 900, and she had several good follicles on the way.

As of today, she has 11 (!!!) follicles over 20mm, and many more on the way (they stopped counting). Apparently she's a very, very good responder to the Gonal-f. This was with 4 days of a 150 dose, and then 2 more of a greatly reduced dose.

So, in short there's no way an IUI would be safe this cycle. We were given the option of cancelling and then having to take at least a month off because she'll likely have residual cysts, or going to IVF.

We really weren't planning on doing IVF at this point, mostly because of the money. If we convert, it will be a few thousand 'discount,' but it's still significant (though about the cost of 2 more IUI cycles...so who knows).

If we convert, they'll give her meds to try and prevent ovulation for a few days so even more follicles will catch up. 11 seems like a pretty good number at this point, but would more be better? Since they weren't aiming for IVF she wasn't on the highest dose, though we can't imagine how many she'd have then.

If we cancel now, we're out about 2k for what we've spent already. The IVF coordinator is also concerned that since she responded this much, she may have a hard time getting the right amount of follicles with gonal, and the clomid didn't produce a lot.

We probably have to decide in the next few hours what to do. I guess we're happy that at least she produced too many, not too few, but still it's so stressful!

[jazibel]

@cetar - wow 11, that's great on so many levels but still a hard choice. I think being 2k in I'd probably do the ivf option. It's more $ but a better chance for a BFP, and since the response to the meds was so effective it seems you'd have a good chance at a nice "haul" from the ER. Such a tough decision!! Keep us posted :-)

[wittyandwaiting]

cetcar - I'm with jazibel! At work so I don't have time to type but basically...maybe it's meant to be. If you can, I'd say go team IVF!

Edited to fix voice to text errors.

[cetcar]

Update- We talked to our coordinator and we may at least go forward one more day and have the ultrasound tomorrow with the Dr. So she'll do one more day of Gonal, and an extra med to prevent ovulation. They're aiming to have a retrieval of up to 20! Talk about over response to IUI protocol...

[kh826]

Apr 22, 2015 14:57:29 GMT -5 cetcar said:

Update- We talked to our coordinator and we may at least go forward one more day and have the ultrasound tomorrow with the Dr. So she'll do one more day of Gonal, and an extra med to prevent ovulation. They're aiming to have a retrieval of up to 20! Talk about over response to IUI protocol...

This is great! Please keep us posted! So excited for you both and hopeful for a great outcome!!!

[RM80]

Wow cetcar_ I have heard of others having this response and needing to make the decision. Its tough when you have so little time to think/prepare. If it were me, I would probably ask the doctor what his really honest opinion was.

If you were to cancel this cycle and go straight to IVF next round would they use the same protocol, would they aim for more eggs, etc. Not that 11 is bad, its certainly not at all, for many that's a great count!!! But I would want to know that even 2K in this month that if I was going for IVF specifically- would they outcome they are trying for be any better/different. Basically, is there an advantage to stopping and then doing a specific IVF cycle or is this pretty much the same thing?

Good luck & PLEASE keep us posted!!

[cetcar]

Apr 22, 2015 15:34:45 GMT -5 RM80 said:

Wow cetcar_ I have heard of others having this response and needing to make the decision. Its tough when you have so little time to think/prepare. If it were me, I would probably ask the doctor what his really honest opinion was.

If you were to cancel this cycle and go straight to IVF next round would they use the same protocol, would they aim for more eggs, etc. Not that 11 is bad, its certainly not at all, for many that's a great count!!! But I would want to know that even 2K in this month that if I was going for IVF specifically- would they outcome they are trying for be any better/different. Basically, is there an advantage to stopping and then doing a specific IVF cycle or is this pretty much the same thing?

Good luck & PLEASE keep us posted!!

Thanks!

We asked this question a few times, and she said we're right where they'd want her to be and they recommended going forward and 'not wasting all those eggs.' 20 possible is a lot, I can't imagine what she'd feel like/respond like on a full dose!

[cetcar]

This is CAR, waiting at the bank to pick up our vial, but wanted to say thanks for all your comments. Guess we're not surprised since my E2 was so high on cd8, but still seems to be moving fast.

Wanted to say thanks for all the comments, encouragement, and advice. As CET said earlier, we do keep asking if this is a desired amount of follicles for IVF and they keep saying yes. Preventing ovulation for a couple days and taking Gonal (75iu) hoping they continue to grow, I guess. But anyways, I'm repeating things now, so I'll just say thanks again!