TTC check-in 2/15

[JustJudy]

Hi ladies! What's up with your TTC journey this week?

QOTW: How did you decide which protocol to use for TTC? It seems like here are so many choices now - IUIs, IVF, ICI, medicated, unmedicated, known donor, anonymous donor, etc.

[JustJudy]

I should start my period next Monday so I'm really hoping there are no cysts at my CD3 ultrasound. Otherwise, I picked up my meds but this week is an off week for our TTC journey.

Going for an injectable cycle next time!


QOTW: We first tried unmedicated IUIs for 4 rounds bc all my bloodwork came back clear. Then I got sick of the Doctor route and we tried some ICIs at home, but that still didn't get us a BFP so back to the doctor we went. 12 BPFs later we're going for the big guns this round.

[lv2016]

V will be ovulating this week, so once that happens, we'll try our second IUI.

We decided to go the route of unmedicated IUI with an anonymous donor, but that could certainly change, depending on its success. We've only done one round, and we decided to try in this manner because V has no presenting fertility issues. It is the least invasive and expensive route for us, so far. I guess we'll see what happens, because if this doesn't work, we'll have to think about our next step.

[dannigirl]

Nothing happening here. Jo is overseas till possibly May now, so we will be waiting to see what happens there.
For now I'm taking care of myself. On WW trying to lose about 10-20 lbs. I'm worried though because I'm going to Key West for about a month with my unit starting next Wednesday. My unit trains fighter pilots and we go down south twice a year as the winter weather is not suitable for flying in Northern Alberta. It's super awesome, but not when you're trying to lose weight and we pretty much eating out every day because we have no access to home cooking.

Ah well, I have a plan, so I just need to stick with it!

QOTW: we started with trigger shots, IUI and anonymous donor. Since the baby we have tried 4 more IUI all medicated and added some Femara and Progesterone too. Since we live 4 hours (8 round trip) from our RE, we wanted to better our chances so we went straight to triggers. Some days I'm wondering if we are adding too many meds. But then I think we are not doing enough.
If the next IUI isn't successful, we will be moving on to IVF. We are already on the list at the RE.

[keba]

Starting next phase this week! We went to the RE's office yesterday to sign a million consents and run through the medication regimen with our IVF coordinator. K goes back for a scan tomorrow and if all is in order, we'll be starting stim injections on Thursday. As long as we don't drive one another over a hormonal crisis cliff before then, looks like retrieval might fall on Leap Day

QOTW: basically we researched the best RE's in our area, called two, and went with the one we got the best vibe from. She recommended starting with Femara and trigger shot IUIs, so we did three rounds of that and she's now recommended flipping to IVF. I've been really pleased with her pushing us forward, as I know K is worried about joining the 35+ club as of last week.

As for the donor, we made a list of all the potential males we knew...which was about 3 dudes. One was generous enough to offer, but he's very young and we both agreed on our discomfort with any outside parental influences so we opted for anonymous. We also wanted some racial/ethnic diversity in our family, so that influenced our choice a bit too.

[kekaellypula]

Just dandy and thanks for asking.
I had my IUI today. Yay for a high sperm county and motility. Hopefully one of those little buggers decides to dig into one of my eggs or I could go for twins! whatev.

QOTW: My insurance covers a lot and I'm getting old so we decided to give it a whirl. After many tests I found out my fertility issues and we have done 3 IUI so far (including today). If this doesn't work my RE wants to go to IVF, maybe. NY state requires that the sperm be tested to a different standard and only a handful of clinics are certified so we went with one that had decent pricing. We don't really like any of the people we know so we didn't have to ask for a KD. I think it was always going to be an AD for us. Personally I wouldn't mind a blood connection with any babies that Kass has but I'm not close with any of my male cousins and my brother is a moron and a little gross so that leaves us with AD for both. I've been medicated since day 1. Once we get settled Kass will begin the battery of testing and then it will be her turn to be tortured.

[JustJudy]

Feb 16, 2016 15:51:09 GMT -5 kekaellypula said:

Just dandy and thanks for asking.
I had my IUI today. Yay for a high sperm county and motility. Hopefully one of those little buggers decides to dig into one of my eggs or I could go for twins! whatev.

QOTW: My insurance covers a lot and I'm getting old so we decided to give it a whirl. After many tests I found out my fertility issues and we have done 3 IUI so far (including today). If this doesn't work my RE wants to go to IVF, maybe. NY state requires that the sperm be tested to a different standard and only a handful of clinics are certified so we went with one that had decent pricing. We don't really like any of the people we know so we didn't have to ask for a KD. I think it was always going to be an AD for us. Personally I wouldn't mind a blood connection with any babies that Kass has but I'm not close with any of my male cousins and my brother is a moron and a little gross so that leaves us with AD for both. I've been medicated since day 1. Once we get settled Kass will begin the battery of testing and then it will be her turn to be tortured.

Sending you so many good thoughts!

[rikkiandjulie]

I just finished up the Femera, and I am now just waiting to ovulate. Probably on Monday which is my 27th birthday, so hopefully it'll be good luck.

QOTW- We really just moved forward with the REs recommendations for DW. We would probably be doing IVF Right now, if we weren't pursuing me. But we also found out something about our sperm count a few weeks ago, so I'm not convinced IUI won't work for DW. We are using a KD from the KDR, and it has been a bit different but I really want to try at home and save up for IVF meds in the mean time. I have met with a lawyer, and talked over all expectations with our donor numerous times. It's all good to go. We will see if shipping donor sperm works for us, I know many people that it has, hopefully it will for us too.

If this doesn't work at home, I will try 6 - 12 more IUIs at the RE, as I have no known fertiltiy issues and had a CP the first cycle with shifty sperm, so I am able to get pregnant, and I know IUI works for me.

DW won't try again until TTC #2 and we will probably do reciprocal IVF for that. She will carry my egg, as she has a DOR.

[rikkiandjulie]

Also, our instance covers everything 100%. We just have to pay OOP for the meds, and then they mail is a check.

[bmorecharming]

Sending good thoughts your way lv2016 and rikkiandjulie!

We're about to start our last "practice cycle" before our first attempt in March. Just ordered a jumbo Costco-sized pack of opks and hcgs so we're feeling ready. One more month... eeee!

QOTW: If possible, it was our hope to have an open relationship with our donor and for our child(ren) to know who their biological father was. We were lucky that we had a few options in our life, but our first choice was to ask one of my best friend's brothers and he accepted. Downside is that we have to travel to VT from MD. Upside is that his place in VT is one of my favorite places to visit

[rikkiandjulie]

Side note, I am really struggling today. I feel like we will never gave children, and that it just isnt meant to be. I'm not sure I'll ever know when to throw in the towel, but I feel defeated.

[JustJudy]

Feb 17, 2016 16:55:17 GMT -5 rikkiandjulie said:

Side note, I am really struggling today. I feel like we will never gave children, and that it just isnt meant to be. I'm not sure I'll ever know when to throw in the towel, but I feel defeated.

I'm sorry to hear you're struggling. This process messes with your mind. Have you been to a therapist before? I just started going again and it's really helping.

[rikkiandjulie]

Yea. My wife and I go to couples counseling once a week, and we go individually once a week to talk about TTC stuff, well I do. I don't know what she talks about lol. It helps, but I am full of doubt right now, and it's gut wrenching. This is also because my SIL is 35 weeks, as of yesterday. And it is becoming very really that we started TTC at the same time and only one of us is taking home a baby. Granted she can have sex as much as she wants and We only get one shot a month. It sucks. It sucks a lot. I just thought our kids would be closer in age and at this rate they will be a year to two years apart if not longer.

[JustJudy]

I so hear you! My BFF has a 4 month old and we started TTC at the same time. Damn the couples with fresh sperm!

[lv2016]

Feb 17, 2016 16:55:17 GMT -5 rikkiandjulie said:

Side note, I am really struggling today. I feel like we will never gave children, and that it just isnt meant to be. I'm not sure I'll ever know when to throw in the towel, but I feel defeated.

I'm so sorry to hear that you're struggling. I really hope Monday is your lucky day, and it will be a birthday to remember forever!

[bmorecharming]

rikkiandjulie the best things in our lives are generally the hardest to come by. Keep your head up!