wirt2cute, I will be stalking... Also, found the capsules on Amazon. I'm actually going to swing by the Vitamin Shoppe and see if they have them. Would like to read bottles first. The list of pills I have is now getting crazy. LOL
ladystrat, I have one too... or actually 2, one for morning and one for evening because I was losing track of what I had taken. I am now considering getting one of those that have morning, midday, and afternoon all in one box.
Post by summergirl1211 on Oct 19, 2015 10:53:34 GMT -5
Ladies, have any of you had super long cycles where you needed AF to be jump-started? I'm on CD46 right now with no AF in sight. Luckily I have my annual exam in a week and will mention it to my OB at the time (along with asking for a referral to a RE). But does anyone know what's all involved and how long they wait? Just curious. Thx!
summergirl1211, Yes. and for me it didn't work but normally it does. They say 60 days. After I finally got AF back 8 months later (my case had to do with my IUD, I'm sure so it's not like normal and then suddenly she was gone), my RE said as long as I'm having one every 60 days we're ok. And they've been varying lengths since then. Hoping they eventually normalize.
Today I got both Raspberry leaf and Pom capsules! Probably the easy way out, but still nice to know I don't have to remember to drink them because it's all I can do to drink enough water in a day.
summergirl1211, I haven't recently but during my mid 20's to early 30's I had long and varying cycles frequently. I went to 60 days and then took Provera, typically I would bleed within a week or so after ending the prescription. edit spelling
Post by summergirl1211 on Oct 20, 2015 9:12:17 GMT -5
vh2014 and @kellbell, thanks for the information. I've been monitoring my cycles for the past 7 months since we've been TTC for the past 6ish. All of my other cycles were 28-32 days, so I'm really thrown off that this one is so long. Even when I wasn't ovulating when were TTC #1, my cycles never went past 45 days. I guess we will just see what the OB says next week.
I have a question, does anybody drink alkaline water. My boot-camp instructor is all about the benefits of drinking alkaline water and I am wondering if it has any negative effects on TTC. I have done some google searches but only have been finding baby-center messages.
Interesting question wirt2cute! I've never heard of it before but quickly ran to Google when I read your post! This is what I found...
"This causes the blood pH to drop and become acidic, which causes morning sickness. According to doctors in Japan, this is why drinking alkaline water immediately relieves morning sickness. A mother to be should start drinking alkaline water before she becomes pregnant."
Curious to see what other ladies say! I know I'd ask my dr, JIC
Interesting question wirt2cute! I've never heard of it before but quickly ran to Google when I read your post! This is what I found...
"This causes the blood pH to drop and become acidic, which causes morning sickness. According to doctors in Japan, this is why drinking alkaline water immediately relieves morning sickness. A mother to be should start drinking alkaline water before she becomes pregnant."
Curious to see what other ladies say! I know I'd ask my dr, JIC
Interesting agpjt413, now I have to put a call to my nurse to hold a random water conversation. I am not going to buy any but now I am wondering if it has some more healthy effects since I started this eating healthy thing.
If you do call your nurse, wirt2cute, please keep us posted! I might call a girlfriend of mind and ask about it too. She's a nutritionist for the Army so she might know about the benefits or whether it's harmful while TTC.
wirt2cute, in "Making Babies" they talk about changing your body PH as a way yo help conception for both men and women. Women who's bodies are to acidic will have hostile CM that sperm can survive in and men who's bodies are too acidic will have a lower sperm count and hostile semen. Though the science on alkaline water or other supplements helping the body become more 'basic' is still out, cutting out acidic foods and drinks will be a big help.
Also, I am kind of in love with the book and 100% recommend it, it talks about TCOYF and has a lot of good, useful, information!
wirt2cute, in "Making Babies" they talk about changing your body PH as a way yo help conception for both men and women. Women who's bodies are to acidic will have hostile CM that sperm can survive in and men who's bodies are too acidic will have a lower sperm count and hostile semen. Though the science on alkaline water or other supplements helping the body become more 'basic' is still out, cutting out acidic foods and drinks will be a big help.
Also, I am kind of in love with the book and 100% recommend it, it talks about TCOYF and has a lot of good, useful, information!
Running to learn more about this book!! Anything mentioning TCOYF is definitely worth the read! Thanks LKDC!!
So I've got the bromelaine in. I recall seeing people say to take it for five days post O, and also for the whole LP. Thoughts?
Most sites I saw said five days. I did find one that said until a positive pregnancy test. Maybe they are thinking 5 days to get you to the implantation window and to be on the safe side stopping so you don't have too much in your system. I think it has a similar affect like baby aspirin does for those doing IVF/IUI cycles. Maybe some of those ladies can weigh in on any protocols they have and when they start and stop taking it.
agpjt413, I will definitely keep you posted. And lennonkdc, thanks for that information. I'm with agpjt413, I now and looking at that book as well. I do believe that I eat a lot of acidic foods so that is very interesting.
Re: alkaline water I used to drink it because my in-laws are big into it. I tore myself up so badly on it. Worst heartburn I've ever had, and it got to be 1-3 times daily. I thought I was dying at times and had to have tests run to make sure it wasn't my heart. I would give birth ANY day of the week over that experience. Labor is a dream by comparison.
Anyway, as my PCP and I were trying to figure out what was wrong with me, she said it was too much stomach acid. I told her that couldn't possibly be; I was drinking alkaline water by the gallon. She was all like, "bingo." I was putting it in which was reducing the effectiveness of my stomach acid, so my stomach was overcompensating. It took well over a year to get things back in order, and I still take Zantac twice a day, something I never had to do before this happened.
Needless to say, my medical professional thinks it's a joke and that any perceived benefits can't get out of the stomach to be of any use. Since I've never read anything peer reviewed on it, I go with my doc.
But I own that my experience is likely atypical.
OMG!!! That is so interesting. I glad that you figured out what was going on with your stomach. That has to suck that something that is thought to be a benefit turned out to be such a con. This is going to be a great question to poise to the nurse.
I've switched to tea during the week, and one cup of coffee a day on the weekends (they are all about moderation to help you stick with the diet / nutritional plan) and we just order new BPA free water bottles to make sure we drink enough water. I felt that they had a ton of information for improving sperm quantity / quality too. Seriously I could rave about this book for hours lol
wirt2cute - in my pineapple searches, they did mention not to eat it prior to O because it could make your CM more acidic and hostile for sperm.
mom2boxers, this is good information. I might try the pineapple core next cycle if this one is a bust. I feel like there are so many what if's that it makes everything so much more difficult.
What is low morphology? I'm pretty sure low motility means slow swimmers, but I could be wrong about that as well.
Morphology is the size and shape of the sperm.
ETA: So if it is low or abnormal, this means that there are ones that don't meet the ideal shape of an oval head and long tail. Not sure what #'s trigger the diagnosis though.
Okay, so this is an old question, but I actually have info on it.
The WHO (World Health Organization) puts out recommendations which are pretty widely accepted for semen analysis. I work in a hospital lab, so when DH had to have his SA done, he did it here (I didn't run it because that would have been too much for me). At the time, we were using WHO 4th Edition, which set the reference for % Normal Morphology at >=15%. Our counter didn't allow us to report any numbers <15%, so if the SA had 1% or 14% normal morphology, it was reported as "<15%" (flagged abnormally low).
WHO 5th Edition came out several years ago (and our analyzer finally has an update available for it). The new reference range for % Normal Morphology is >=4%. (4% of 2 Million is 80,000 good swimmers = decent odds)
Questions for ladies who have seen an RE: How did you get the referral- did you have a preliminary appointment with your OBGYN/ Midwife? Did they do any testing there? How did you figure out what your insurance would cover?
Questions for ladies who have seen an RE: How did you get the referral- did you have a preliminary appointment with your OBGYN/ Midwife? Did they do any testing there? How did you figure out what your insurance would cover?
Keeping an eye on the responses as well - should we have to end up seeing an RE...
Questions for ladies who have seen an RE: How did you get the referral- did you have a preliminary appointment with your OBGYN/ Midwife? Did they do any testing there? How did you figure out what your insurance would cover?
My OB knew we were trying and said if we went 6 mo without a +, call her and she's put in the referral. She said if it was going to take a long time to get in to let her know and she'd get the initial testing done, but we didn't need that in the end. My office is actually super great about proactively telling me what my insurance covers. I read my policy carefully before I started so had an idea, but they've been great at making sure as much as possible is covered. I always ask them too as things come up just to avoid any whammies and they've been really receptive to getting me answers, etc.
TTC since July 2014. CP March 2015. IVF #1 March 2016, 5R, 3M, 2F with ICSI. Transferred 2 on day 3. CP. Surprise BFP and then CP August 2016 (prep cycle for IVF). IVF #2: zero eggs retrieved IVF #3: 6R, 5M, 5F, 3 (2 8A and 1 11A) transferred, one "B" graded embryo frozen on day 5. BFP (at home 7dp3dt, confirmed 14dp3dt with 1552 beta) and U/S at 5w5d, 2 sacs and 2 yolks!
Questions for ladies who have seen an RE: How did you get the referral- did you have a preliminary appointment with your OBGYN/ Midwife? Did they do any testing there? How did you figure out what your insurance would cover?
TTC#1, my OB had an RE in the office at the time and booked me an appointment with her (2/3 months later). They said because I was AMA, we didn't have to wait to book it.
They didn't do any testing before my appointment with the RE. It's pretty much all CD-dependent, and may vary depending on what the presentation is - I didn't get AFs so that gave them somewhere to start, but if it's BFNs without other known symptoms, then...
This time around, because I was already a patient, and because my cycles didn't return after my son was born, I got to skip the waiting period (which actually we had already been through anyhow) and they referred me to the RE right away. I got an appointment within a month. Had to repeat all of the testing again (haven't done a repeat HSG/SA yet).
My insurance doesn't cover anything if there's any connection to "fertility" or "infertility". Which is strange because the coverage policy just says it won't cover "fertility treatments" - it should cover testing/diagnosis, but it didn't. It also doesn't cover the appointment itself with the RE. I'd try to talk to your RE to see if they can code it with something that doesn't reference fertility in it, just to be sure. Your coverage information should be available from your employer/wherever you have your insurance through. You could call the insurance company as well.
Questions for ladies who have seen an RE: How did you get the referral- did you have a preliminary appointment with your OBGYN/ Midwife? Did they do any testing there? How did you figure out what your insurance would cover?
I had a what next appointment with my Obgyn after we hit the 6 month mark and that is where we got the referral. Due to all my ectopics I needed to have an HSG done to check my tubes. They wanted me to go somewhere that was not so expensive for the HSG because it is oop. My initial contact with the RE was 2 weeks after the HSG. Because my tubes where crap and I was having so much pain during sex and my cycle the RE was able to get everything covered under my insurance (removal of left tube and adhesion's removed). I have had to pay a co-pay for all my visits but all ultrasounds have been covered for every follicle check. The letrozole was actually covered so it only ended up costing between 10-15 dollars. The only med that was not covered was the the ovidrel.
I did call the insurance company to see what would be covered and they told me that anything infertility related would not be covered. I don't know how my RE office coded the ultrasounds but so far all has been covered. I know that IUI's or IVF is not covered.
lennonkdc, I have not had an apt. with RE. After a very long cycle (4yrs ago at this point) no +hpt my ob/gyn had me come in and prescribed provera; we discussed my and dh desire for conception. They told me I could go directly to an ob as we had been trying for 6months and +35 (I was 38 then). My insurance covers NO infertility testing, diagnosis, etc. I called insurance and the re's office did. I wish you well.
From reading our current plan, it sounds like with some clever coding we can get a lot of the diagnostics covered, and they list several RE's as in network providers. Now I just need to call my midwife for the next steps. Which I am totally dragging my feet on.
From reading our current plan, it sounds like with some clever coding we can get a lot of the diagnostics covered, and they list several RE's as in network providers. Now I just need to call my midwife for the next steps. Which I am totally dragging my feet on.
I can understand that. Next cycle will be 6 months for us and while the ARNP at my OB's office said to wait until 8 months, I plan on calling in January because maybe my OB will agree to see me. Of course I say that now but I'm sure I will drag my feet when the time comes. It's almost like I would rather not know if there is something "wrong" with me because I don't handle bad news well. But I know it would be better to know than to just keep trying and getting my hopes up every month if there is little chance I can get KU naturally. I think I also am dragging my feet on having the conversation with MH if it comes to needing medical intervention. I'm not sure we're on the same page as to how far either of us is willing to go.
Post by wannabmama on Oct 30, 2015 21:19:52 GMT -5
sleepymonkey I know the dragging feet feeling so well. There are so many levels of emotions and other conversations and considerations with every decision surrounding fertility and conception, it's a tricky road no matter what.
TTC since July 2014. CP March 2015. IVF #1 March 2016, 5R, 3M, 2F with ICSI. Transferred 2 on day 3. CP. Surprise BFP and then CP August 2016 (prep cycle for IVF). IVF #2: zero eggs retrieved IVF #3: 6R, 5M, 5F, 3 (2 8A and 1 11A) transferred, one "B" graded embryo frozen on day 5. BFP (at home 7dp3dt, confirmed 14dp3dt with 1552 beta) and U/S at 5w5d, 2 sacs and 2 yolks!
From reading our current plan, it sounds like with some clever coding we can get a lot of the diagnostics covered, and they list several RE's as in network providers. Now I just need to call my midwife for the next steps. Which I am totally dragging my feet on.
I second the thank yous! And lennonkdc - my OB's office is pretty strategic at their coding as well I'm reallyhoping this one took, but if not, I'm sitting on a wealth of info here. Thanks for getting the questions started LKDC!
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