Any other DISers trying to concieve? Reread OP for the QOTD!

[7beasley]

Welcome Mrs. Nick - this is a great group of fabulous ladies -- we are hear to answer your questions, give you support and listen to your vents.

FLYINGBELLE -- congrats!!! I am so happy for you!

Kristy - good luck - keeping my fingers crossed for you.

LisaB -- those cravings may be a good sign. I am sending you good luck thoughts.

Carla -- enjoy the ravs -- keep smiling!

Jen in NH -- INSIST on a CD3 FSH test...I did not even know what this test was and certainly did not think it was a big deal and as you know - when I had the test my FSH was high and wham bam next thing I know I am shopping for egg donors....INSIST on the test - it is a really important test!

All the other wonderful ladies I missed (this sure is a busy thread!!) - keep plugging away towards our common goal of being moms - it will eventually happen for ALL of us -- the trick I think is making ourselves believe that until we get our own BFP!

My news of the day is not much to report other than I had a complete breakdown last night with lots of hysterical crying...this crying fit was brought on because when I got home from work last night - there were 3 medical bills waiting for me totalling over $600 -- this is my share of the co-pays. I called my insurance company and found out that the lab work and ultrasounds are only paid at 80% until I have paid out of pocket $1250 -- with that $600 bill I total about $930 now so I am almost at the $1250 --- but it was just too much when I saw the bills. I just freaked out and started crying about how hard this whole thing is and how expensive everything is -- my husband attempted to calm me down but he seemed pissed that I was making such a big deal about the money and he kept saying you knew this was going to be expensive.

Whatever...we have separate checking accounts and we pay our own bills ( I give him money for the house bills every month) so I just felt like these bills were all my responsiblity and that bothered me alot for some reason. Plus, I am leaving for Las Vegas with my Dad for a week exactly 2 weeks for today (7/26) so I am feeling guilty about taking that trip knowing we have all these egg donor expenses...I am justifiying everything by telling myself that the equity line on the house is paying for all this stuff. Plus, we are going to WDW in 2 months and again, I am feeling guilty about spending the money - but I tell myself that I really need these trips to stay sane through this whole process.

Anyway - enough whining on my end...thanks for listening. We are waiting to get more info on one possible egg donor we liked and tommorrow (Thurs) the other egg donor agency posts all the new donors for review...so we hope we like one of the new girls.

I just want to pick an egg already and get it in me and get this show on the road!

Hope you all have a good day!

~Nicole

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Nicole So sorry about the bills. Is you husband helping you at all with them? Take it one day at a time!

I broke down last night and took a HPT. Got a BFN, but I'm only 6 dpo. Woke up with a really BAD set of cramps in my ovaries on the left side this morning at about 1:45 p.m. Went to the bathroom and went back to bed. Feeling slightly tender in my pelvis today, but I might be imagning it. We'll see...I know I need to wait to test again.

DH said las night that he doesn't want us to be pregnant so I can go ahead and take the antibiotics/steroids for the sinus infection. Can't believe he said that, but he thinks waiting another couple of months won't matter. Well, it won't, but that's not how it was supposed to go in "Mandyland," which we all know is a nice place to visit but you don't want to spend a whole lot of time there.

 

[Syrreal]

Carla, I'm sure your DH wouldn't mind either My DHs uncle took in one time when we were over at his house (DH's not the uncle's) and ended up making strawberries, sugar, and coin "desert". It really was a scary sight..I think more than the naked thing because he could have gotten burned or worse.

I'm feeling better. I have gone 5 straight days without actually getting sick! I still get nauseous and gaggy but will take that over actually getting sick any day! I did find that popsicles help too and I took the sour patch kids suggestion but haven't really needed them yet.

 

[mickeyboat]

My friend delivered at the hospital where my OB is and she told me they have all private rooms, except 2 semi-privates they only use if they are over-full. I'd probably just leave if I had to share a room. Imagine trying to breast feed while someone else's family is walking in and out of the room!? Then there is the germ factor - who knows what everyone coming in and out of the room has. I know, I'm paranoid.

DHMC has all private rooms, but sometimes has to double up when they are full. When I was admitted because my water broke early, they put me in the biggest room they had because they knew I would be there for a long time, and had lots of visitors. When they got full, I got a roommate in a similar situation for two days. I was dreading it, but it actually turned out to be a lot of fun. She liked the same tv shows I did, and was a lot of fun to talk to. She was actually very crafty, too, and when I delivered before she did, she made a sign with Hannah's name on it, which I used to decorate her little space in the ICN. She had her baby a few days after I had Hannah.

The hospital said they try not to double up, and especially won't if someone is in labor. They also don't like to do it with mothers once they have delivered unless they absolutely have to.

Denae

 

[AllyandJack]

Denae, I'm trying to figure out where to go in the event of an emergency. Thankfully, I haven't had a horrible enough emergency since I've lived in NH - during my m/c, I drove to Melrose, MA so my RE could meet me there. But, when pregnant, I want to get to the closest place possible, even if that means not having my OB with me. He's in Cambridge and I presume I'd have plenty of time under normal circumstances, but if I have an emergency, I'm seeking out my options closer to home. Where is DHMC? I know Portsmouth Regional is near me, but I prefer to go places other people recommend.

Syrreal, I'm glad you're feeling better. Hopefully, the worst of it is over for you and you can enjoy the rest of your time.

Mandy, DH's really don't understand. Mine is always telling me to "take some time off". Men can't understand the physical pull of wanting a baby and how powerful it can be. Maybe there isn't a rush, but try telling that to your body - men just don't have that physical aspect of it.

Nicole, does your clinic have a payment plan? Don't forget to keep track of it all because if it's enough you can deduct it on your taxes. It's not just the money, it's the fact that you have to pay for something other people get for free. I sunk $900. in my car and that's fine. But, I get a $60. bill from my RE and I freak out because it's just not fair. Just keep telling yourself...it's all worth it....it's all worth it.... You should take the trips. Heck, people take out equity loans to take trips, so at least yours is for a great reason!

Welcome to the group, MrsNick. We've been a pretty lucky group, so you came to the right place.

 

[mickeyboat]

Denae, I'm trying to figure out where to go in the event of an emergency. Thankfully, I haven't had a horrible enough emergency since I've lived in NH - during my m/c, I drove to Melrose, MA so my RE could meet me there. But, when pregnant, I want to get to the closest place possible, even if that means not having my OB with me. He's in Cambridge and I presume I'd have plenty of time under normal circumstances, but if I have an emergency, I'm seeking out my options closer to home. Where is DHMC? I know Portsmouth Regional is near me, but I prefer to go places other people recommend.

DHMC is in Lebanon, NH. It is affiliated with Dartmouth College, and is located on the western border of the state, about half way up. They are a teaching hospital, which turns some people off (ie old-timers), but I love it there. It is a beautiful facility - newly built in 1991, staffed with top notch providers, and it has a very nice birthing center. It also has an ICN with renown Neonatologists - and draws patients from VT, NH and NY. When you deliver, or if you have a pregnancy emergency, you don't stop in the ER, you go directly there where you would be admitted and treated. The birthing center has two OR's and is direclty connected to the ICN. They also started (after I delivered) the electonic monitoring (bracelets) for mothers and babies.

Denae

 

[AllyandJack]

DHMC is in Lebanon, NH. It is affiliated with Dartmouth College, and is located on the western border of the state, about half way up. They are a teaching hospital, which turns some people off (ie old-timers), but I love it there. It is a beautiful facility - newly built in 1991, staffed with top notch providers, and it has a very nice birthing center. It also has an ICN with renown Neonatologists - and draws patients from VT, NH and NY. When you deliver, or if you have a pregnancy emergency, you don't stop in the ER, you go directly there where you would be admitted and treated. The birthing center has two OR's and is direclty connected to the ICN. They also started (after I delivered) the electonic monitoring (bracelets) for mothers and babies.

Denae

That's a bit far away from me. I like the monitoring idea....I watch too many Lifetime movies and have decided my baby isn't going to any nursery alone. Although, it's usually some crazy infertile woman stealing the baby, so I'm more likely to be stealer than the stealee, apparently.

My nurse at my last retrieval was telling me she delivered her baby in her bathroom at home. Her DH is a doctor and freaked out and told her to "hold it in".

 

[FlyingBelle]

My nurse at my last retrieval was telling me she delivered her baby in her bathroom at home. Her DH is a doctor and freaked out and told her to "hold it in".

Does she live in Illinois? My aunt delivered #5 of 6 children in the bathroom at home. She never told anyone she was pregnant (she's got enough cushion to hide). Of course, her 1st was delivered on the steps of a very busy street in Chicago too (waiting for a ride to the hospital) - called 911 and ended up riding to the hospital in a paddy-wagon

 

[LisaB]

Nicole my u/s and lab work is also at 80% but my co pay isn't that high. Check with your doctor's office.

Carla--What insurance do you have that is based in RI?? I also pm my friend for the name of her hospital where she gave birth. She is in Derry which is why I thought you were also

 

[FlyingBelle]

Good afternoon Ladies...

It's HOT and muggy here in Chicago today - good reason to leave work early and get home for a nap in the a/c!

I had my 2nd beta today - all's good! They wanted to see my hCG increase from 93 (Monday) to at least 190 today (should double every 2.2 days). It came back at over 210! I have one more on Friday - then we'll schedule the 6 week u/s to check where the baby is, how many , and look for heartbeats

I still kinda feel like "I'm pregnant because somebody called me and told me I am!" I feel fine, trying to do everything I'm supposed to (ack! cut back on coffee! ), and DH won't even let me push a grocery cart - I'm loving this!

Anybody need a follistim pen? I ended up with 2 of them - so I've got one in the box that's never been opened. Otherwise I'm going to bring it back to the Fertility Clinic...

 

[2bemarried]

update: my E2 levels came back normal (don't have the actual number right now)...so I'm staying on the 225 IU's of Follistim till Friday's appointment.

 

[LisaB]

I also have a script for Clomid. Brooks gave me two scripts. I finally told my father and my aunt off about having a baby at my age and can we afford it blah blah blah. Well I said to them that Kevin and I have discussed it thoughly and we have thought it out We have discussed all options from reduction to abortion if something is horrible wrong with the baby and how we will afford this child and there will be no more lecturing about it

 

[FlyingBelle]

I also have a script for Clomid. Brooks gave me two scripts. I finally told my father and my aunt off about having a baby at my age and can we afford it blah blah blah. Well I said to them that Kevin and I have discussed it thoughly and we have thought it out We have discussed all options from reduction to abortion if something is horrible wrong with the baby and how we will afford this child and there will be no more lecturing about it

Good for you!

 

[Syrreal]

I finally told my father and my aunt off about having a baby at my age and can we afford it blah blah blah. Well I said to them that Kevin and I have discussed it thoughly and we have thought it out We have discussed all options from reduction to abortion if something is horrible wrong with the baby and how we will afford this child and there will be no more lecturing about it

Both my mom and MIL told me that if you wait until you can afford kids, you'll never have them.

 

[AllyandJack]

Lisa, good for you telling them all off. You're not asking them for money, so it's none of their business. My best friend....her mother has to buy all of the diapers and formula because they can't afford it. At the time she got pregnant (on purpose) she was on MassHealth and food stamps. My other friend who is due next month with her 3rd....same thing. So, maybe you won't be living in the Spelling Mansion and summering on the Vineyard, but you can provide what they need - shelter, food, and love. They don't know or care that their crib came from K-Mart and not Pottery Barn and that their outfit came from Wal-Mart (who, by the way, has the cutest Disney line of baby clothes!). I refuse to talk to my mother about IVF anymore - if she's not with me, she's only working against me. We talk, but when the subject comes up, I just stop talking. Seems to be working. My insurance is BCBS, but it's the National PPO. DH's company has offices all over the country. Up here, their contact is BCBS of MA, but we all get the same coverage, we just have different customer service lines to call based on where the home office is. My IVF contract is based on RI laws because NEMC is part of W&I. I'm near Derry, so if your friend has a good hospital recommendation, that would be great.

Kristy, for good E2 levels!!

FlyingBelle, oh, I'd so be taking advantage of that. I can't lift that heavy pot to drain the pasta (sniffle, sniffle).


I was up sick again all night and I couldn't go to work. I need my colitis medication. I have my GYN appointment today. Can't wait to see Uncle Philip - yes, I call my GYN Uncle Philip. He's the best. Aside from the problem I'm having that requires me to see him, I just love our visits. He's a huge Disney fan, too. What's better than being in stirrups talking Disney?!

 

[LisaB]

I went to Lawrence General and yes both the labor and delivery rooms and maternity rooms are private. I actually chose that hospital because they are a level 2 facility. In the event of an emergency they are a step down from the place in boston (the name i cant remember). They have neonatalogists who work in both boston and lawrence and check out the babies. The nursing staff was wonderful too. They were extremely nice and helpful. I actually really enjoyed my labor and stay at the hospital.

This is what my friend in Derry had to say


Morning all; still alittle crampy 4 dpo

 

[AllyandJack]

She went to Lawrence, MA? Doesn't NH have any hospitals?! I'll have to check it out online....you know, when the time comes.

My best friend is driving me crazy. I swear she has Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy - well, short of actually poisoning her own kid. I guess it's more of a hypochondria, then. She is determined to find something wrong with her son and has him in the ER at least once a week. Now, she's mad that they say nothing is wrong with him. I'm getting these annoying text messages. He's throwing up. No fever. No diarreah. I'm thinking it has something to do with his every half hour feeding schedule since birth and the fact that, when her Dr. told her to start him on rice cereal, she skipped right to feeding him things like applesauce and bananas. Every time he makes a peep, she shoves a bottle in his mouth. She thinks he's so darn advanced....I'm surprised he's not eating cheeseburgers. Plus, they don't have room in their place for a high chair, so he eats laying down in his bouncy chair. I'd hurl, too, if I constantly ate food I wasn't supposed to be eating while laying down. I think the doctors in the ER remember her from her pregnant days and she's become THAT PATIENT nobody wants to deal with anymore. Her family is over it, too. That leaves me. I get to be the recipient of it all. How many text messages do you have ignore before someone stops sending them to you!??

 

[Syrreal]

How many text messages do you have ignore before someone stops sending them to you!??

If she's like this one guy I used to date... A million!!!!!

 

[2bemarried]

VENT ALERT

I'm sorry ladies to vent here...but I know you all will understand.

A little background first. My mother has mental health issues. She's dealt with depression and anxiety for about 5 years now. I'm sure it's been longer but I never knew about it. Her first real breakdown was 3 1/2 years ago (4 months before my wedding). She came very close to trying to commit suicide. Thankfully she didn't and got help. My father expected me to be the one to fix everything then. I did. I stressed out over it and didn't enjoy my wedding planning the way I should have. I do resent her for that.

This morning I received a call from her boss stating that she's had another breakdown. She didn't want her boss to call me, but she did anyway. Of course I got very upset and started crying here at work. One of my good friends calmed me down and reminded me that I need to be stress free. So...I'm happy yet again and trying my damnest to have a baby and here she's having a breakdown again. I should also state that I'm an only child so I don't have siblings to rely on for help with this.

I'm trying not to stress out...it's not good for my follicles but I'm having a hard time not being angry that this is happening again!

If you've gotten this far...thank you for listening.

 

[MrsNick]

Good morning all! (whoops, it's afternoon, isn't it?) Got busy at work, so haven't posted since early yesterday.

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome. To update, went home and tested last night: BFN. But, still no sign at all of AF, so I guess I'll just wait and see (I was just really hoping to find out one way or another before we go on vacation )

No nausea at all today, so who knows, maybe it was just a passing stomach virus, yesterday.

Kristy, so sorry to hear about your mom. Keep your chin up - no stress for you