GKU IF Check-In 5/2

[Deleted]

I have a few minutes this morning so I thought I would post this.

This check-in is meant for anyone on GKU who has hit the 1 year mark of TTC (6 months if you’re over 35), has an infertility diagnosis, or is going through IF testing/treatment. It is meant to be a place for people to share and ask any questions who might not participate on 3T/IF and who would like the company of others going through the same experiences.

If you have any questions about participating, please send amberr a PRIVATE MESSAGE, otherwise please share you info and jump on in! This will be posted every Monday. If you have any suggestions or would like something added, please feel free to post.


QOTW: I've been hemming and hawing about getting my hair done for quite a while. How often do you get your haircut?

[Deleted]

I have somewhat of an update.

I had my initial consult with the RE. He's great.

We did an ultrasound to check my AFC and that was not so great. My total count on Day 5 was 2.
He also noticed my thyroid was swollen which is a new thing.

RE has concerns about a possible DOR or POF diagnosis. I had blood drawn that day and was already informed that my Estrogen level was elevated at 102. I should have my AMH results back by Thursday, but they still want me to repeat the CD 3 bloodwork to ensure that they have an accurate Estrogen level reading.

I also had a repeat HSG yesterday to ensure that no blockage had developed since my lap 2 years ago.

So now I'm just waiting for Thursday so we know what's going on.


ETA: almost forgot my own question. How often do I get my haircut? Probably once every 18-24 months. I'm a lazy cheapskate. I have hit my threshold though because I keep catching my hair in everything. My hair is currently more than half way down my back and I'm just done with it.

[Deleted]

@wallflwr926, I'm glad you like your RE. I hope you get some answers soon!

We have an appointment with the IVF nurse tomorrow to get started on the process. We had to wait to get started until we got my DHEA dose under control, but we finally got that figured out with last week's blood work. I'm now on half the typical dose of DHEA, but it seems to be working!

[Deleted]

May 2, 2017 17:17:24 GMT -5 ****** said:

May 2, 2017 9:21:15 GMT -5 @bonzo2012 said:

@wallflwr926 , I'm glad you like your RE. I hope you get some answers soon!

We have an appointment with the IVF nurse tomorrow to get started on the process. We had to wait to get started until we got my DHEA dose under control, but we finally got that figured out with last week's blood work. I'm now on half the typical dose of DHEA, but it seems to be working!

it's about time you got that DHEA regulated!! good luck getting started!

I know, right? This DHEA saga has been a pain. 

[Deleted]

May 2, 2017 17:16:43 GMT -5 ****** said:

@wallflwr926 wooo hooo for getting started with testing. Do you know what your FSH was? Did the RE say anything about seeing cyst on us? That could lead to higher than normal E2. If you end up DOR, there's some really knowledgeable ladies on our DOR checkin. Seriously lemonliz was a god send to me. She's amaze.

I'm still waiting on the rest of the bloodwork. It was pretty much a ghost town on the u/s. He referred to my ovaries as quiet.
Upside was that there wasn't cyst for once.

I consult with Ms. Lemon on the reg. She really is awesome.

[daisy818]

@wallflwr926, glad you liked your RE! Hope they can figure out what's going on and get a plan in place that works for you

@bonzo2012, glad the DHEA is sorted out and you're moving along in the IVF process!

I'm just sitting around at 13dpo. Yesterday's optimism has subsided a bit, but I still have 3 or 4 days till I expect AF (thanks for the pain in the ass long LPs, Femara!)

I talked more to DH yesterday, and I think we are definitely on track for an IVF cycle in August if we don't have some crazy ass miracle in the next few months.

QOTW: I get my hair cut about twice a year. I'm trying to do better with that - last time I made an appointment for another appointment in 4 months.

[gabride2010]

I'm glad that your RE consult went well @wallflwr926! I hope you get some solid answers soon and can come up with a game plan.

@bonzo2012 I'm glad that you got your DHEA level straightened out!

I have everything crossed for you daisy818!

I'm CD 47 in our second attempted TI cycle. I think I O'd while I was out of town, which would mean that we completely missed our timing. Oh well. I've got meds ready to go for next cycle. Femara is being increased to 7.5mg daily x 5 days, and I will take Dexamethasone 0.5mg daily from CD3 until the ultrasound (apparently Dex helps the Femara work better). Hopefully that will help my follicles grow.

QOTW: I typically get my hair cut 2-3 times per year. I don't like things that require a lot of maintenance, and my hair is in a ponytail most of the time.

[hoosiermama76]

Hi, everyone! I've been hanging out at other boards for IVF. Anyway, we just finished IVF and had two embryos transferred today. The Egg retrieval was a brutal recovery, but I got 14 eggs, 12 fertilized, we transferred two, and have 9 still being monitored to hopefully freeze a couple more. I do not want to go through an egg retrieval again if this doesn't take, but I'm not in control of this. I'm getting used to progesterone and am honestly relieved that that is the only needle for a little while:-)

[hoosiermama76]

gabride2010, I hope you didn't miss your window!

@wallflwr926, I'm glad your RE went well. Even if it's not the ideal results, you can at least have a plan.

@bonzo2012, glad your DHeA is figured out.

daisy818, good luck!!

[hoosiermama76]

Ooh, I get my hair cut every six weeks when I cover my gray and get hilights.

[gabride2010]

Thanks hoosiermama76. FX for you!

[Deleted]

May 2, 2017 23:51:08 GMT -5 hoosiermama76 said:

Ooh, I get my hair cut every six weeks when I cover my gray and get hilights.

I've just been letting the gray come in. I swear I have the slowest gray hair progression ever. I started getting random ones in high school, then they stopped for a while. They've become more noticeable since I hit my 30's but still not nearly as much as you would think by now. From far away it just looks like blonde streaks in my mouse brown hair.

[obscurereference]

Hi ladies. I thought I might join in here, if that's ok.

A little about me: I am 40 and it is CD1 of our 11th cycle TTC. We are secondary IF I guess? I am doing some initial blood work with my OB and she said she'd do an HSG and then refer me to an RE, but I was wondering if I should just go to the RE for the HSG? I really don't want to do it twice if I don't have to! Thoughts?

Also, I am mobile 99.9% of the time so usually I will have to come back and tag at night or do a million separate posts because I can't remember more than one tag at a time lol!

[bex15]

obscurereference, I'm sorry you find yourself joining us and hope your stay is short! I think it may depend on the RE if they will accept HSG results from another doctor or require their own but I could be wrong.

[bex15]

I had my IUI on Saturday, not so patiently waiting it out now.

QOTW: I'm pretty bad about keeping up generally, on average I go in about every 3 months. And on this topic, my person recently moved and I'm lost at the thought of finding someone new, it's the worst!

[esgrunner]

May 3, 2017 12:05:59 GMT -5 obscurereference said:

I am doing some initial blood work with my OB and she said she'd do an HSG and then refer me to an RE, but I was wondering if I should just go to the RE for the HSG? I really don't want to do it twice if I don't have to! Thoughts?

No personal experience but a friend recommended getting the HSG at the RE office if I need one, even if I have an option to do it locally (RE office for that procedure is about 2 hours from home, so not an insignificant drive). She said from her prior experience, the RE office is much better at it, since they do them much more frequently. But she said it is worth it!

[thechickencoop]

May 3, 2017 12:05:59 GMT -5 obscurereference said:

Hi ladies. I thought I might join in here, if that's ok.

A little about me: I am 40 and it is CD1 of our 11th cycle TTC. We are secondary IF I guess? I am doing some initial blood work with my OB and she said she'd do an HSG and then refer me to an RE, but I was wondering if I should just go to the RE for the HSG? I really don't want to do it twice if I don't have to! Thoughts?

Also, I am mobile 99.9% of the time so usually I will have to come back and tag at night or do a million separate posts because I can't remember more than one tag at a time lol!

Do you have IF coverage? If so, I would do it with the RE juuuust in case they prefer a specific radiologist or something. Mine was done through my RE but it was done at the radiology department of a hospital they partner with so you may want to check into the RE too as far as distance, etc.

So many pieces to the puzzle.

[gabride2010]

May 3, 2017 12:05:59 GMT -5 obscurereference said:

Hi ladies. I thought I might join in here, if that's ok.

A little about me: I am 40 and it is CD1 of our 11th cycle TTC. We are secondary IF I guess? I am doing some initial blood work with my OB and she said she'd do an HSG and then refer me to an RE, but I was wondering if I should just go to the RE for the HSG? I really don't want to do it twice if I don't have to! Thoughts?

Also, I am mobile 99.9% of the time so usually I will have to come back and tag at night or do a million separate posts because I can't remember more than one tag at a time lol!

Sorry you find yourself here, but welcome.

I have had 2 HSGs...the first was at a local hospital done by a Radiologist. My RE is almost 2 hours away, and I didn't want to travel the distance for the HSG.

I ended up needing the second HSG because the first one showed several problems. Turns out that the "problems" were caused by the size and placement of the catheter they put into my uterus. My second HSG was done at the hospital where my RE's office is. It was basically completely normal (except for an arcuate uterus).

I'm not saying your OB wouldn't do a good job, but it is better to do these types of procedures with people who regularly do them. It can make a huge difference!

[gabride2010]

FX so hard for you bex15!

[daisy818]

obscurereference - my obgyn told me she could do my HSG but recommended that I have it with an RE just because that's more their area of expertise. Unless for some reason your insurance would only cover it through an obgyn, I'd probably do it with an RE.

[daisy818]

Well, I'm 15dpo and my temp is still high and hasn't started dropping. I've honestly felt different this cycle, so I took a HPT test last night (and again this morning) - all negative. Sigh - total fakeout. Now just waiting for AF.

[lilsneezy]

May 4, 2017 7:19:07 GMT -5 daisy818 said:

Well, I'm 15dpo and my temp is still high and hasn't started dropping. I've honestly felt different this cycle, so I took a HPT test last night (and again this morning) - all negative. Sigh - total fakeout. Now just waiting for AF.

Ugh, I'm sorry. IF is one cruel bitch. Sending hugs!

[gabride2010]

So sorry daisy818. Big hugs!

[Deleted]

Well, results have come in.

As it stands right now results from CD 5 indicated AFC 2, AMH 0.07, Estrogen 102, TSH 1.22

So atleast my thyroid is cooperating.

[nuggetrn]

May 4, 2017 15:02:16 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

Well, results have come in.

As it stands right now results from CD 5 indicated AFC 2, AMH 0.07, Estrogen 102, TSH 1.22

So at least my thyroid is cooperating.

Hugs Wallace. I am glad you are getting some answers with all of this blood work. Even if it creates more questions. Love you lady


Yay for a cooperative thyroid! I wonder why it seemed swollen?

[nuggetrn]

@bonzo2012 I missed your DHEA saga but I'm glad that it seems to have ended!! Good luck as you start IVF!

gabride2010, ugh I am sorry you think you O'd while you were out of town! That stinks! Why are they increasing the femara? (sorry if I missed this somewhere)

So many things crossed for you hoosiermama76!!

obscurereference, Hello!! I agree with everyone else, I would go to the RE for the HSG. They have more experience doing them and it would stink to go to an RE who would want to repeat it because it wasn't done by who they wanted to do it.

daisy818 I am sorry for the negatives

[nuggetrn]

Hello group!! An update on me...

We started our first TI cycle with femara last Thursday. I did 5 days of a 5 mg dose. I went for an US this morning to see how things looked. I had one pretty nice 14mm and then a few much smaller ones. He thinks that by Monday I should be ready to trigger with Ovidrel. I am excited and nervous. Had a slight freak out this morning after the US because I started bleeding. Like profusely, clots and all. I'm PCOS and haven't had a period since the end of March, started femara because my body wasn't doing anything, progesterone was low, etc... So of course here I am just pouring blood thinking that my body is rebelling and I am shedding my lining just for fun. The PA at the RE's office has assured me that femara can just make your cervix a little sensitive and it is likely from the exam. Ok fine. I will buy that. I don't like it. But I guess it seems reasonable. Going back for another US on Monday and hopefully they will tell me I am ready to go!!

[thechickencoop]

May 4, 2017 7:19:07 GMT -5 daisy818 said:

Well, I'm 15dpo and my temp is still high and hasn't started dropping. I've honestly felt different this cycle, so I took a HPT test last night (and again this morning) - all negative. Sigh - total fakeout. Now just waiting for AF.

{{hugs}} I'm still crossing everything for you.

[gabride2010]

Thanks nuggetrn! They are increasing the Femara to 7.5mg for next cycle, so hopefully that will help.

Yay for a 14mm follicle. Sorry for all the bleeding! I hope it stops soon! I hope that the follicle is big enough to trigger on Monday.

[Deleted]

May 4, 2017 17:15:14 GMT -5 nuggetrn said:

May 4, 2017 15:02:16 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

Well, results have come in.

As it stands right now results from CD 5 indicated AFC 2, AMH 0.07, Estrogen 102, TSH 1.22

So at least my thyroid is cooperating.

Hugs Wallace. I am glad you are getting some answers with all of this blood work. Even if it creates more questions. Love you lady


Yay for a cooperative thyroid! I wonder why it seemed swollen?

So my next question is to inquire if one of my medication might be giving it an inaccurate reading.