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

[AllyandJack]

Welcome, Michelle. We have had a lot of luck around here.

Nicole....yeah, I'll be hoping you don't come back from Vegas pregnant. Maybe Disney....that would be better. Although, then you'll have to listen to the "I told you so...." but, it'll be worth it.

Kristy, try and hang in there. I keep telling DH that the rest of the world needs to back off. Going through this is hard enough. There should be some rule where we have a note on us saying, "IVF Patient. If you have any problems, take them elsewhere!"

Minnesota....I try not to badmouth BCBS too much because I'm lucky they've been funding me up to this point and I really have no right to complain. But, it just seems so darn unfair that I have to get permission to have babies when other people can just go at it and get a baby 9 months later.

Pollito, you can't walk around on eggshells around people. You're pregnant and you have every right to be happy and tell people about it. If you KNOW someone is having troubles, that's different, but what are you supposed to do? Pretend you're just gaining weight? Then, when they come for a visit say, "Oh yeah....that's a baby.....didn't I mention that 8 months ago?"


I have to have girls. Every boy name reminds me of some dude I hate. I thought about naming after my Nana and DH's mother. Hannah Josephine or Josie Grace. Then I'm thinking Katherine Shaila - after my RE who has been calling me to see how I am, but I don't return her calls because I'm not in the mood to talk to anyone.

 

[beckmrk04]

Hi everyone.

The meds have stopped me from vomiting around the clock, but I still feel like @#$% (insert any word you can imagine that = horrible). Not much I can do, though. It feels very isolating- most of my family doesn't understand that I don't just have regular morning sickness. My MIL keeps saying, "Well, maybe if you got up and got out of the house you'd feel better." DOH! I didn't think of that. Gosh, it really MUST be all in my head. In fact, I LIKE feeling like I have the worst flu ever for a whole MONTH. And I got pregnant just so I could drop 15 lbs in 2 weeks and end up in the hospital.

AAARRRRRGH.

Sorry guys. Thanks for letting me vent a minute.

I want to let you all know that I am praying for you and sending baby dust your way (I apparently got too much).



ETA- our names are Spencer Thomas for a boy, and Vayla Marie for a girl (we'll call her Vaylie, sounds like Hailey).

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Hi everybody!

Michelle - Welcome to the group. We have been pretty lucky as a group so far. Hopefully you'll be soon

Minnesota - You never know, this could be the month! Noelle is a really pretty name, BTW.

Pollito -

Nicole - I know how you feel about baby pictures. One of my friends has an adorable 8 month old, and they're talking about TTC starting this fall. She knows all about my stuff, and is walking on eggshells around me. It hurts sitting around playing with her baby when I want one of my own

Carla - the clown thing is traumatic. All I can picture is laying around watching PeeWee Herman EWW.....


So I think AF is about to show up. I'm 14 dpo (and usually it's only 12), and really crampy. I hope it's not today - bad timing to get a doctor's appointment for cd3.

Anyways, I'm having a crappy day. I'm working at the fire station, and we had a call for a 3 month old baby in cardiac arrest this morning. When we got there, the baby was clearly dead. It was one of the saddest things I've ever seen in my life. All of us on the scene were crying, the cops were crying, the family was crying. Now I'm sitting here trying not to cry again. I feel so sorry for the mother - she's a single mom with no family around here, the boyfriend left her a few months ago, and this was her first child. This whole thing is my worst nightmare - after going through all this infertility stuff, to have something like this happen.

Sorry to be so depressing - just needed to get it off my chest...

Jen

 

[beckmrk04]

Oh, Jen. That is so sad. I hope you are doing ok.

 

[Minnesota!]

Oh Jen - I am so sorry you had to witness that. How heartbreaking for everyone. Are they thinking SIDS?

Becky - love the name Spencer! I knew a girl name Vaylie...well, she worked for my dad!

Carla - love the names you have chosen, too. I had to LOL at the boy names reminding you of people. My fave name is Joseph (nn Joe). But I go back and forth on it b/c I don't like Joey as a nn. My ex was Joey and it has soured me on it. But I LOVE LOVE LOVE Joe!

Polly - I bet your co-worker was a little stung, but happy for you none the less. You obviously weren't throwing it in her face, so no worries. How are you feeling?

 

[Minnesota!]

Ooooh - and WELCOME Michelle! Sorry it hasn't been an easy road, but you are at the right place! We are here to cry and laugh with you!!!

 

[exwdwcm]

Jen- sorry to hear about your crappy day!

Becky- hope the morning sickness gets better. my sister had it terrible too- she kept paper bags in the car and would have stop and use them multiple times on her drive into work.

and thanks for the warm welcome everyone! I spent most of the afternoon reading through as much of the thread as I can to learn more about everyone's history and experiences.

I am currently on cycle day 24. but since my cycles vary anywhere from 21 days to 37 days, i never know when AF will come. We kinda took it easy this month and didn't go after it like usual. we call it the "week of sex"....just a joke between us. I actually got that from my boss who was trying way back when and is currently finishing up her maternity leave. all of my family knows our struggle and knows we are TTC. So does my boss, who is really more of a friend than a boss. a very good old friend of mine referred me to the specialist we are seeing now and just had success with her IUI there.

so I feel crappy all the time---stomach issues at least 2 weeks out of the month- horrible O pains and cramping and same with PMS. well see if AF comes this month, I am sure she will. like i said, we didn't 'try' much this month.

Can anyone that has done IUI share their experience? The specialist we are seeing didn't go into a lot of nitty gritty detail, other than to call on the first day of AF and they would instruct me from there. He did say they would put me back on clomid (although I am clearly ovulating on my own now, major o pains each month)- but a higher dose. I only did 4 mos at 50mg before. He also said he would do progesterone suppositories. I am on the oral now. Then I wasn't clear about how we know when I o, other than coming in for sonograms? I take the O tests at home and they are pretty accurate for me. Poor DH will have to give another sample. luckily they let him do it at home. He is too embarrassed to even bring it in, i had to deliver the samples before. lol.....So what are the shots everyone mentions having before IUI? Is that just in some cases? insurance doesn't cover our IUI- but it should cover the associated sonograms/lab work. I will have to pay OOP for the clomid and drugs and the IUI ($380). not to bad I guess. it could be a lot worse.

 

[LisaB]

I have a script left over for clomid if you want it just let me know-- someone else has a follistim pen but can't remember who. We have done clomid with natural insemination and clomid with artifical insemination IUI. We me we did 4 rounds of iui with 2 of them being with the hcg shot before ovulation. We did the perdictor kits and then with the hcg shot ultrasounds. Last month was the first month with injections and iui. I ended up getting a cyst on the right ovary with no iui this month. My insurance pays 80 % on everything but it ends up being like 90%. On the first day on iui is when it is the most difficult for me. They usually have trouble finding my cervix being that it is very far up. I don't get any real cramps from it. We have iui for two days in a row. We the injections there is a greater chance of multiples which is why they do so many umtrasounds. Carla is a real wealth of information

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Hi Everyone, and welcome, Michelle! I've learned a ton from the people here, and I'm sure you will, too.

I had a moment today where I thought "am I sure I want to do this? Do I really want to be a mom?" I take care of my friends' 10 month old baby girl, Grace, while they are at work. It's an 8 am to 5 pm, 5 days a week job with a few random days off each month. I usually love it, and Grace is a good baby. Usually it just feeds my desire to have one of my own that I don't have to hand back to someone else at the end of the day. Today, however, Grace was being a pill. She's learned to blow spit bubbles and how to blow raspberries, and she was doing both while I was trying to feed her today. Baby food everywhere but in the baby, and it was so frustrating! Then she was fighting her diaper change, and then she had a screaming fit at nap time. By the time she fell asleep I was feeling very frayed and really wondering if I wanted to go through this and NOT be paid to do it OR be able to give the child back to someone else at the end of the day...

After I settled down a bit, I realized that the answer is still yes. I still want my own baby, even though my entire life will change and I will have days when the child drives me up the wall. The good still outweighs the bad. DH isn't convinced, but he's willing to move ahead with it anyway.

QOTD: Before we were even engaged, I told DH that our first daughter would be named Miriam Rosemary and I would call her "Miri" or "Miri Rose" and he had no say in the matter. He agreed, but said the second girl would be named Elizabeth and he would call her "Bess" and I had no say in the matter! We've since agreed that I get to name the first girl, and he gets to name the first boy; and I get to name the second boy, and he gets to name the second girl. That way we'll each end up naming one child if we have two kids.
DH likes Welsh names for boys (his family is 1/3 Welsh), and I'm starting to get used to them. He especially likes Rhys (pronounced "Reese") and Owen. I like Ian and Colin, but DH isn't so fond of those. DH insists we will only have girls, and they will be sweet, quiet, demure children. I tell him I don't know whose gene pool he thinks we're drawing from, but there's no quiet, demure children coming from either of our families!

 

[7beasley]

Popping in to say a quick hello.

Jen in NH -- sorry about your crappy day yesterday. That expereince would be hard under any circumstance but given what you are going through trying to have your own baby I am sure it made it that much worse. Thinking of you.

Becky --- your morning sickness sounds awful. I am so sorry for you. I really hope it passes soon and the meds help and the docs get everything under control.

Kristy -- hope things are going well for you.

Welcome Michelle!

Carla -- how are you today? Did you talk to BCBS - hope you can straighten those jerks out.

Hi LisaB, Connorsmom, Gypsy, Flying Belle and all the other wonderful ladies!!

********

I am leaving soon for the airport -- today is the start of my Vegas trip. I cannot wait -- I really need to relax and get away from all this stuff for a little while. We are waiting to get confirmation on whether our 1st choice egg donor is available. My husband is in charge of dealing with the NY agency we are working with to make this egg donor happen and if it falls through he has to call our Boston agency and secure our 2nd choice donor on Friday.

It is a lot of responsiblity - I hope he will be okay!! I think he will be but I am a control freak so this is a BIG step for me putting something this important in someone else's hand.

Hopefully by Friday we will have our egg donor secured and then when I come back from Vegas we can sign the contracts and have her go through her screening and get this little embroyo implanted in me and then hope for the best!

*********
Anyway - wanted to let everyone know I was thinking of them and wishing you all good thoughts this week.

Given how fast this thread is moving - when I get back next week you will all probably be on page 130 and I will have ALOT of catch up reading to do!!

Keep smiling girls! Talk to you next Wednesday.

~Nicole

 

[mickeyboat]

Hi ladies. I have been super busy lately. This is my last week at work - I start my new job on Tuesday, and have been doing part time work for the new job on top of my current job.

Everyone - keep your chins up! I am rooting for you.

Denae

 

[RachaelRol]

Hi Ladies,

Beck, that morning sickness sucks. I had it for 5 months with Andrew to the point where I needed to get up at 4:30 insert a suppository in my behind then lie down until 6, then get ready for work. I never wound up in the hospital because of it though. Hopefully it will get better soon.

I too hate the, you'll get pregnant when you stop trying comments. It's been said to us too.

Let's see over the last couple of weeks we went on vacation to Orlando. Never again offsite, or with 10 other family members or in July.. I got a new job. Its a transfer within the corp. I work for but for a part of the company I worked for for 8 years and love. I'm very excited.

On the TTC front, AF hasn't made a visit in now 43 days. Where is she??? We stopped trying because we wanted to wait until my next hemotologist appointment on the 31st. Need to iron out the possible health issues first. Well I have an appointment today with th OBGYn at 4:00. I poas and piac right before vacation and 3 times in the last 5 days. All be BFNs, which I really want right now. I'll fill you in tomorrow....

So much has gone on with you all over the last few weeks...

Carla, no advice, just follow your heart...

Krsity, Lisa B, Nicole, sending you a big

To all the new ladies whov'e joined out group, welcome. This is a very supportive place.

Rachael

 

[AllyandJack]

Rachael, maybe your doctor will give you something to get AF started. Sometimes she just doesn't come and, actually, that's something that stress CAN cause.

Denae, good luck with the new job!

Nicole, have yourself a GREAT time in Vegas. It's hard to let the DH's take control. My DH has never proven himself able to navigate everything. Both of my parents are medical billers, so I have a "way" with that stuff and he just doesn't and it ticks me off to no end because it's not like he's trying to split the freakin atom.

IMarriedGrumpy, my DH has all of these "ideas" about how well behaved our kids are going to be. Mainly because he plans to threaten them with military school. He raised his younger brothers and the threat worked on them.....but, his family doesn't exactly come from the top of the gene pool, so I'm hoping MY kids just roll their eyes at him. If they're anything like me the response will be, "Ya, dad.....keep yapping." It'll be interesting to see how our respective spouses deal with the reality as opposed to their imagination.

Michelle, I was on the low dose of Clomid, too. I did it for 3 months and it built up in my system and I ended up having an IUI canceled because of too many follicles. Clomid isn't good to be on for more than 6 months. It can thin the lining. It was clear that we couldn't up the dose and we certainly couldn't move to injectables with IUI because my chance of having 4 or more was just too high. I thought that was ironic....I'm too fertile for IUI. Anyway, my doctor is obsessed with multiples, so I finished the Clomid and went in 3 days later for an ultrasound. I went in every other day until the follicles were ready. Then, I got shot of HCG so I'll ovulate 36 hours later. Then, I went in for the IUI the next day. My first one hurt. A lot. No problems getting the catheter in, but when it was over (and it's over fast), the cramping was unbearable. I couldn't lay down because it hurt to have my back touch the table. I could barely get dressed. I drove myself, so I had to drive myself home and I hit every pot hole. The second one was simple. No pain at all. I think the first was just a fluke - my HSG didn't hurt and SHG didn't hurt....it was just that one IUI that hurt. Usually, the HCG shot is for timing purposes. If the IUI isn't timed right, it's useless and predicting ovulation is tricky. Some people use injectables instead of Clomid (sometimes because they don't respond well to Clomid or because Clomid is thinning the lining - the injectables won't do that), but I only use them for IVF. I also use the progesterone suppositories. Those are big fun.

Jen....that's a terrible story. My best friend (also named Jen) was an EMT and went to calls like that. I don't know how she did it. Did the baby have a heart problem?


I'm still hanging in limbo. I could put a stop to it, but the more it goes on, the angrier I get. I don't understand how DH can just go along with his day like nothing is happening. He comes home like everything is normal. Sometimes, he doesn't even bring it up....he doesn't offer to call anyone.....he doesn't ask if I want him to call anyone...it's like it's only happening to me and not him.

My parents are coming up to visit Sunday, so now I have to clean the house like nobody lives here or my mother will mop the floors and wash the windows.

 

[exwdwcm]

Michelle, I was on the low dose of Clomid, too. I did it for 3 months and it built up in my system and I ended up having an IUI canceled because of too many follicles. Clomid isn't good to be on for more than 6 months. It can thin the lining. It was clear that we couldn't up the dose and we certainly couldn't move to injectables with IUI because my chance of having 4 or more was just too high. I thought that was ironic....I'm too fertile for IUI. Anyway, my doctor is obsessed with multiples, so I finished the Clomid and went in 3 days later for an ultrasound. I went in every other day until the follicles were ready. Then, I got shot of HCG so I'll ovulate 36 hours later. Then, I went in for the IUI the next day. My first one hurt. A lot. No problems getting the catheter in, but when it was over (and it's over fast), the cramping was unbearable. I couldn't lay down because it hurt to have my back touch the table. I could barely get dressed. I drove myself, so I had to drive myself home and I hit every pot hole. The second one was simple. No pain at all. I think the first was just a fluke - my HSG didn't hurt and SHG didn't hurt....it was just that one IUI that hurt. Usually, the HCG shot is for timing purposes. If the IUI isn't timed right, it's useless and predicting ovulation is tricky. Some people use injectables instead of Clomid (sometimes because they don't respond well to Clomid or because Clomid is thinning the lining - the injectables won't do that), but I only use them for IVF. I also use the progesterone suppositories. Those are big fun.

Thanks for the detailed info. everytime i've been in for a sono, i have at least 2 large follicles. He did mention the shot, I just wasn't sure how it all worked exactly as far as the timing. now i understand more. I am hoping it won't hurt too badly. My HSG wasn't too terrible and they had trouble getting the cateder in etc. I had to tip my pelvis more....she said my cervix was shaped a little different. i guess you get used to all the poked and prodded stuff. i believe AF will be here anyday now, i am getting my usual headaches, stomach issues etc. that usuall accompany her....so perhaps we can get this whole IUI thing started soon! good luck with cleaning and family visit Ally!

i hope everyone has a great day!

hope you are having fun in Vegas Nicole! DH and i got married there at Mandalay Bay and we go out there at least once a year. It is DH's Disney!

 

[AllyandJack]

Michelle, you shouldn't have any more pain with the IUI than the HSG. Any pain you have will be similar to the pain from having the cervix issue. If it's the same doctor, they should be able to plan for it and twist the catheter or use a more flexible type. It's fast though, so just say a few F-words under your breath and it'll be over. The HCG shot for IUI is usually Ovidrel and it's a tiny needle in the stomach. I ice the area with frozen peas before injecting.

How is everyone today?

I'm still annoyed. I put my mother and her billing co-workers on my insurance case. First, they called the lab....the woman who knows how much the auto-immune testing is out. Then, they called BCBS. BCBS said it wasn't covered. The woman who works with my mother said, "She's a liar. I know it's covered." Then, they call my RE's DH (he handles her billing in the office). Service answers. Apparently, my RE is at the hospital covering for some other doctors doing retrievals/transfers/IUIs, etc and she left the office after her 7am-9am blood and ultrasound rush. Fine. But, her DH left, too. It's not an emergency, so we didn't page her, but I am beyond annoyed. Why do I have to deal with this? I just want an answer. It had better be good.

I just took a pill for my stomach..... Thankfully, it also has a lovely "calming" effect. I'm just waiting for it to kick in.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Hi there folks

AF finally showed up on Monday night. I had the appointment with the OB/GYN today. I did get a cd3 FSH drawn, and should know tomorrow. He talked about doing IUI with injectables, but DH and I decided to wait 2 months or so before trying anything else. Our schedules in the next 2 months are not good for being able to get time off (both of our bosses are leaving, and we both have a ton of OT. YAY!!!!) It will be interesting to see if I O without the Clomid now that I'm on the glucophage.

So, to make a long story short, still TTC, but not with all of the extra stuff for a few months til everything calms down.

Michelle - I didn't end up doing IUI last month, but everyone had told me it was less painful than the HSG. Personally, I thought the HSG was horrible, so I'm not sure what kind of comparison that truly is. The only good part of AF is that you can then plan on what is coming up next.

Carla - My DH is pretty good about setting stuff up, and going to all the appointments, but he keeps telling me that there's nothing to worry about, this will happen when I least expect it, etc. He's trying to be a "glass half full" kind of person, which is sweet, but may drive me crazy. Does he think I'm doing all of these tests and taking all of these meds because I want to? If it was just a matter of timing or something, why on God's earth would I let a doctor do a procedure that involves a cervix and a clamp?

Rachael - congratulations on the new job! THat's great!

Have fun today!
Jen

 

[LisaB]

HI everyone This is day 8 past AF. I figured if we do it every night until the 13th day we should of covered everything. Kevin is one happy camper.

The IUI is much easier than the HSG imho. The shots aren't that bad but I did have to pysch myself up alittle at first

 

[LisaB]

HI everyone How are you all doing. It is really hot and muggy here in SE Mass. We have Maria again who is my daughters friend. Her dad is stuck in Canada and can't get back. He is a Chinese citizen with a visa. I guess he has the wrong papers. Her mom is also Chinese and works long hours at a Chinese resturant Maria was born here though. If anyone can lead me in the right direction with this it would be great.

 

[AllyandJack]

I think this story is sort of funny...but, not really. My mother and 3 of her co-workers have been banding together to take on BCBS for me. So, they call RE's DH. When RE hears he's on the phone about me, she wants to get on phone. Co-worker calls mom in and now mom and RE are talking. RE is SCREAMING at her DH about my insurance approval because, at the time, he couldn't find anything that indicated he submitted the paperwork. :roll: Meanwhile, RE and mom are chatting. RE asks how I am. Mom tells her I am "so depressed she can't leave the house." HUH?!?! OK, I might be ANNOYED. I might ANGRY. And, yes, I don't WANT to leave the house. But, sitting here wallowing in some sort of uncontrolled depression. Uh, that would be a negative. Now my RE is horribly concerned and tells my mother I should see a therapist. Mom goes on to tell RE I can't....I'm too depressed to even leave the house for THAT. ***?!? :angry: I stopped seeing the woman because she's in an odd part of the state and the commute is a PITA.

Fast Forward.....RE just calls me. So concerned. She's writing up the slips for auto-immune/clotting stuff. She's pretty convinced she can get it covered, but my friend in the billing office will give me a 50% self-pay discount if it doesn't. I'm going Monday at 7am for that. We discussed my issues:

1. Dostinex. She says she agrees with my GYN, BUT the problem galactorrhea causes with implantation is that it lowers progesterone and we're dealing with that with the suppositories. She would prefer not to put me on Dostinex with my normal prolactin because she thinks it would work against me. In fact, if someone comes to her with elevated prolactin and they do IVF, they STOP the Dostinex. Okie dokie. I believe it. And, hey, breastfeeding women, DO get pregnant, so it's not a deal breaker.

2. Toradol. She says that the injected Toradol is helpful after surgery, but oral Toradol probably wouldn't do much for my pain and cramping. She said if I REALLY wanted it, she'd give it to me, but it's not as safe as the Tylenol 3 she gives me after ER and she's reluctant to give it to someone who could be pregnant. She stronly urges against taking anything but the Tylenol, but it's up to me what I want for pain management. Not sure about this one yet.

3. Estrogen. She hesitates to give me estrogen since my E2 levels get so high. She says I make more than enough estrogen and she doesn't think it'll help the cramping - in fact, she thinks it'll cause my ovaries to get BIGGER and cause even MORE cramping. I think I'm going to push for 7DP ER testing of that and, maybe, progesterone.

4. Could my slightly elevated LH and glucose (my fasting glucose is fine, but my non-fasting is high even for a non-fasting test) cause m/c and/or failure? I asked about Metformin. She hesitates to put me on it because of my stomach issues, but WHO CARES? I get raging diarrhea on a daily basis.....what's the difference if metformin causes it or if it just randomly happens?? I have medication to control it, so whatever.

At the end of it, she said, "Do you want to sit down and talk?" I said, "I think so." So, I'm going in Wednesday at 9:15am. We talked for about half an hour, but I still want to sit down and chat. I want to ask about 5 day transfers and other crap like that.

Still no insurance information. I could be doing all of this for nothing if I'm denied. :roll:


I need some metformin help!!! First, when should I take it? With food? Without? Does it matter? If I leave work at 3:30 and I take it then, will the stomach issues hit me in the evening? I don't eat out of the house anyway because I can lose it all at any time. I don't think much is going to change for me, but I'd love to hear your experiences. I think people talked about it awhile back, but maybe a recap for me and any new people who have or might join?? Do you take anything for it? I'm on Bentyl for my colitis. Do you guys take Immoduim or anything? I just don't want to mess things up if I take the Bentyl to control the colitis....even if it's caused by the met.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Hi Carla

I take the metformin XR 1500mg at night. I've heard people say they take it with food to avoid stomach issues, but I don't and haven't had any problems. The diarrhea is bad, but it seems to get better the longer you take it. Don't forget a day of it, or you start back at day 1 again. Certain foods seem to be worse - skip things that are fatty or greasy. It seems to be worse about 6-12 hours after taking it.

Some people say that taking the regular metformin has less side effects, but I didn't find that to be true.

Good luck

Jen