New TTC Thread

[Mrs. Charming]

thanks!! Send me some of your baby dust, I know you've got some over there.



Thank you! I hope so too! My mom's bday is Feb 9th and it would be AWESOME to give her the best bday gift ever! She doesn't know we are TTC, in fact the only people that know are my BFF and my husband's BFF. I can't believe I've kept it a secret THIS LONG!

I haven't given myself a shot yet, and I'm a tad nervous. DH is ready to "give me a shot in the a$$" as he puts it. Although I think it will be in my tummy right??
For my first IUI, I had the trigger in the office. Then the next morning we did the IUI. But, I chart, and I wasn't happy with the timing because my temp didn't go up the next day like I expected. It went DOWN on the day I was "supposed to O" and up the next day. So I asked them if we could do the shot at home like I've heard some women are doing, and they said they'd have to order it for me. So I got it in the mail yesterday, so that we'll be ready if they allow me to trigger at home. This way I can do the shot Tuesday night, and have the IUI Thursday morning, about 36 hours later. For you ladies that have done IUI, how was the timing on it?

Also has anyone ever taken tamoxifen as a fertility drug? My RE has me on 40 mg this cycle (20 mg for my last IUI) because it's good for the uterine lining unlike clomid which can thin the lining. Last time my lining looked "great" on the 20 mg of tamoxifen.

Sorry I'm coming with questions right away, I know I just joined the thread but you ladies seem quite helpful!

Hehe here's some baby dust I have no idea about trigger shots though, our RE wanted an arm and a leg to do IUI!

 

[WDWorBUST]

Welcome Cherbear! Sorry you are here, but it's a great group of ladies with lots of support.

I just have to vent....I am so angry and sad right now. AF hasn't shown yet, but I just know it's only a matter of time at this point. I am so tired.....and bloaty feeling. I am pretty much worthless because I just want answers....is this ever going to happen for us? I don't think so anymore. We have been married 15 years this August. We waited 7 years before we even started trying to have a baby. DD was born just shy of two years from when we started TTC. We started TTC in September of 2008 this time around - we waited almost 5 years after DD was born to start TTC again. It took that long for DH to decide that he definitely wanted another child. I was ready LONG before that. So now here we are in January of 2010 my NEW YEAR and I'm just not feeling positive about how our family will end up. I am so grateful to have DD - she absolutely amazing in every way. But our family doesn't feel complete. I just KNOW that this month is out and don't have much hope anymore. Even if next month were THE month our children would end up being 7 years apart. I will turn 36 next month. I wanted to be done having children by the time I turned 36. I had hoped to be pregnant again by the time I turned 35 - and was, but we lost the baby. I just am so tired of the total feeling of suffocation and sadness every month when I realize yet again that this isn't the month. It takes me at least a week it seems like just to get past it to start again only for it to repeat itself over and over and over. Is this ever going to end?

 

[KiKi Mouse]

WDWorBUST,

I wish I had the answers for you or could do or say something that would make everything better.

I can offer a big virtual hug.

 

[cherbear]

Hehe here's some baby dust I have no idea about trigger shots though, our RE wanted an arm and a leg to do IUI!

thanks!

haha yeah it's a little pricey but we have absolutely no choice in our case. It's either this or IVF and I am PRAYING the 2nd IUI does the trick!

Welcome Cherbear! Sorry you are here, but it's a great group of ladies with lots of support.

I just have to vent....I am so angry and sad right now. AF hasn't shown yet, but I just know it's only a matter of time at this point. I am so tired.....and bloaty feeling. I am pretty much worthless because I just want answers....is this ever going to happen for us? I don't think so anymore. We have been married 15 years this August. We waited 7 years before we even started trying to have a baby. DD was born just shy of two years from when we started TTC. We started TTC in September of 2008 this time around - we waited almost 5 years after DD was born to start TTC again. It took that long for DH to decide that he definitely wanted another child. I was ready LONG before that. So now here we are in January of 2010 my NEW YEAR and I'm just not feeling positive about how our family will end up. I am so grateful to have DD - she absolutely amazing in every way. But our family doesn't feel complete. I just KNOW that this month is out and don't have much hope anymore. Even if next month were THE month our children would end up being 7 years apart. I will turn 36 next month. I wanted to be done having children by the time I turned 36. I had hoped to be pregnant again by the time I turned 35 - and was, but we lost the baby. I just am so tired of the total feeling of suffocation and sadness every month when I realize yet again that this isn't the month. It takes me at least a week it seems like just to get past it to start again only for it to repeat itself over and over and over. Is this ever going to end?

thank you for the welcome!

Man, I just never know what to say. The road is long, but I believe it will end---ending in a baby for you....I can tell you want it badly (I guess we all do). I will never understand why it's SO hard for so many of us and SO easy for the ones who "aren't even trying" (especially teenagers....)

 

[D&DDisney]

Welcome Cherbear! Sorry you are here, but it's a great group of ladies with lots of support.

I just have to vent....I am so angry and sad right now. AF hasn't shown yet, but I just know it's only a matter of time at this point. I am so tired.....and bloaty feeling. I am pretty much worthless because I just want answers....is this ever going to happen for us? I don't think so anymore. We have been married 15 years this August. We waited 7 years before we even started trying to have a baby. DD was born just shy of two years from when we started TTC. We started TTC in September of 2008 this time around - we waited almost 5 years after DD was born to start TTC again. It took that long for DH to decide that he definitely wanted another child. I was ready LONG before that. So now here we are in January of 2010 my NEW YEAR and I'm just not feeling positive about how our family will end up. I am so grateful to have DD - she absolutely amazing in every way. But our family doesn't feel complete. I just KNOW that this month is out and don't have much hope anymore. Even if next month were THE month our children would end up being 7 years apart. I will turn 36 next month. I wanted to be done having children by the time I turned 36. I had hoped to be pregnant again by the time I turned 35 - and was, but we lost the baby. I just am so tired of the total feeling of suffocation and sadness every month when I realize yet again that this isn't the month. It takes me at least a week it seems like just to get past it to start again only for it to repeat itself over and over and over. Is this ever going to end?

My thoughts exactly. So tired of this!!!!!!!

 

[WDWorBUST]

Well I did go ahead and make an appointment with my doctor. I wasn't able to get in until February 5th - which actually is fine since I do have clomid for this next month and it will only be my 3rd cycle on it and I do seem to be ovulating. Now just to wait for the dreaded witch so we can move on.

 

[Kronk's girl]

WDWorbust , I am sorry. I hope the doctor's appointment can give you some sort of an answer.

The one big thing I have learned from all of this is that if we even have one child we are going to consider ourselves extremely lucky. I am sure it doesn't make it any easier when you are struggling for #2 though, I get the whole "not complete" thing, because we are wishing/hoping/praying for two children someday as well. TTC is such a roller coaster

Last month my husband and I started to talk about what we want to do with our lives if having children is no longer an option. Adoption? Fostering? Just having dogs?... or coming up with a whole new life path. It is actually a little bit scary to wipe the slate clean of all the things you imagined for your life and start over... but we are not ready to give up yet, we just want to be prepared emotionally. I am still holding out hope that this will be my lucky month.

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

WDW I am there with you!

 

[WDWorBUST]

WDWorbust , I am sorry. I hope the doctor's appointment can give you some sort of an answer.

The one big thing I have learned from all of this is that if we even have one child we are going to consider ourselves extremely lucky. I am sure it doesn't make it any easier when you are struggling for #2 though, I get the whole "not complete" thing, because we are wishing/hoping/praying for two children someday as well. TTC is such a roller coaster

Last month my husband and I started to talk about what we want to do with our lives if having children is no longer an option. Adoption? Fostering? Just having dogs?... or coming up with a whole new life path. It is actually a little bit scary to wipe the slate clean of all the things you imagined for your life and start over... but we are not ready to give up yet, we just want to be prepared emotionally. I am still holding out hope that this will be my lucky month.

I'm sorry.....I sound so ungrateful for what I do have, don't I? I'm so sorry that you are struggling with this too. And although it is hard now - it was
10X harder when we were TTC our DD because of everything you just said. I just feel AF coming on because I just have a feeling this isn't the month either and was venting....I'm sorry if I made you feel worse.

 

[skuttle]

Hi Ladies! Sorry I've been MIA. I've been having some rough times with this TTC crap lately so had to take a step back to catch my breath a bit.

Mrs. C and Irisbud...Congrats on the BFP!! I hope everything continues to go well and you are soon able to ENJOY it! Easier said than done, right?

WDWorBust...Big hugs! My DS will be 7 in July and we've been TTC #2 for over 3 years. My family doesn't feel complete either. Secondary infertility is a monster of its own! I'm also reaching the point where the age gap will just be too much. Originally I said 3 years, then 5 years, and now I'm just not sure how much more I'll let it go. I know people say the age gap doesn't matter, but it does to me. I don't want to have a kid in K and a kid graduating high school! I'm trying to prepare myself for just accepting that we'll only have DS. I think I'm okay with it, then I'll hear someone else is pregnant and I lose it.

Hi Cheri...Welcome to the TTC thread! Hope your stay is a short one! I'm staring to feel like the dumb kid in the back of the class that's in their 20s and still in high school. I've never taken tamoxifen. I did clomid with my three IUIs and our next step is injectables (Menopur). My first two IUIs, I triggered and then did IUI the next day. Since those didn't work, my last IUI, we tried doing the IUI about 36-40 hours after trigger. That one didn't work either.

Leger..Sounds like you know what you want to do so that is great! Hopefully your doctor works with you!!


Nothing much going on here. Still "on break". We have started planning more for our 10th anniversary trip, which is great to keep my mind off of TTC. I'm getting more excited about the trip, so that keeps my spirits up! We finally booked the WDW portion of our trip. We're doing 6 nights at WDW and then the 4 night cruise on DCL. DH and DS think we are staying at CBR, but I actually booked the GF!! We honeymooned at the GF so I thought it would be great to celebrate our 10th there.

Sometimes I still think maybe I should have cancelled the trip and jumped right into the injectables after the 3 failed IUIs to just get this over with. But I know that probably would have made things worse, especially if the injectables failed! I think I made the right choice in going ahead with big 10th anniversary trip we've been planning for the past year or two. Plus, I couldn't think of a good way to explain to DS why we canceled everything. And deep down, I know I REALLY NEED this break to maintain my sanity!

I also think I need to look into my odds. The three clomid IUI cycles failed even though I had good follicles and DH had a decent count. I'm just wondering what, if any, increased odds I would have with the injectables or if I'd just be wasting time.

Also...do y'all think I need to call the RE back. After our first appointment, we were told to call back after AF arrived and we'd start the injectables. That was in November. Since we decided to take a break, I never called the RE's office. Should I call and let them know I needed a break before jumping into the new meds?

 

[WDWorBUST]

Skuttle - I would call the RE and just let them know you are taking a break.

Well - AF showed up first thing this morning as expected....but it was still a bummer. I think I'm going to put the thermometer down this month even though I'm taking the clomid. I will use OPK's twice a day (still haven't caught the surge) and plan on an EOD approach during the week or so that should be when I ovulate....and since I have been charting it should be close enough. I just need the little bit of a break it will provide. So here it goes again. Cycle #8 since the miscarriage and Cycle #14 since we've been TTC again. I guess I will just keep my fingers crossed.

 

[cherbear]

WDWorBust, sorry about the old witch!!! I guess just take the clomid and try to relax this cycle (yeah right huh?). So sorry that you are still dealing with this crap!

Skuttle, I would definitely call the RE and let them know. I let my RE know that we were skipping last cycle, and then they even gave me a heads up for this cycle when I had called (told me they were upping my meds).
By the way, I am sorry that your IUI's didn't work. UGH! Can I ask a question? Were you bbt charting....and do you know how long after the trigger that you ovulated? Was it around the same each time or did your ovulation ever change? I think I didn't ovulate until around 40-48 hrs after the trigger but I can't be totally sure. I am 99% sure that I ovulated AFTER 36 hours though and definitely NOT before then.

I started taking OPK's today. I love peeing on things. LOL I have taken 3 and they are still very light (which is good). It's only CD 10 and Tuesday's the ultrasound. I'm starting to get nervous and excited!

 

[Kronk's girl]

I'm sorry.....I sound so ungrateful for what I do have, don't I? I'm so sorry that you are struggling with this too. And although it is hard now - it was
10X harder when we were TTC our DD because of everything you just said. I just feel AF coming on because I just have a feeling this isn't the month either and was venting....I'm sorry if I made you feel worse.

No, no, not ungrateful at all. And please vent away, that is what we are here for . Those were just realizations that I was coming to on my own anyway. I am sure I would feel the same way in your situation too. I don't think infertility becomes easier at any stage!

We were at a party this weekend and a woman asked my husband and I if we had kids and when we said no, she said "How lucky!" My husband and I did a sideways smile at each other and I actually wasn't sad, I almost wanted to start laughing because I thought "oh lady...if you only knew!"

That was just one of the 5 "do, you guys have kids yet/ when are the babies coming" questions that we got... well meaning people really are the worst

 

[skuttle]

Skuttle, I would definitely call the RE and let them know. I let my RE know that we were skipping last cycle, and then they even gave me a heads up for this cycle when I had called (told me they were upping my meds).
By the way, I am sorry that your IUI's didn't work. UGH! Can I ask a question? Were you bbt charting....and do you know how long after the trigger that you ovulated? Was it around the same each time or did your ovulation ever change? I think I didn't ovulate until around 40-48 hrs after the trigger but I can't be totally sure. I am 99% sure that I ovulated AFTER 36 hours though and definitely NOT before then.

I started taking OPK's today. I love peeing on things. LOL I have taken 3 and they are still very light (which is good). It's only CD 10 and Tuesday's the ultrasound. I'm starting to get nervous and excited!

I quit doing the BBT after the first year of this crap! LOL! I was always pretty regular with when I would O, so I stopped the temping as it was driving me nuts. So I'm not 100% sure when I O'd after trigger. I did have O pain while on the Clomid, though and it usually seemed about right from what I remember. I had IUIs in July, August, and September. I did do OPK's up until trigger to see if the follicle size corresponded with my OPK's. Some like to do the IUI BEFORE O and some AFTER O. That's why some people do two IUIs in one cycle.

Kronk's girl...I hear ya about those well meaning people! LOL!

 

[esbrick]

Hi Ladies! Well, I'm back and hitten the ground runnin!

Been busy trying to catch up at work. At some point today I need to call Dr.K and tell them that the IUI didn't work. I know that I am to late to do anything for the month of January "drug wise" so I am guessing that we will start again in February. January will be an "au natural" month for us.

Glad to be home. Missed DH alot. Need to get all my pee stix out tonight and get the machine rolling again.

Talk to yas soon!
E

 

[cherbear]

Welcome back Esbrick!

Hey, does anyone know if they can tell how close you are to O with the LH bloodwork and/or the ultrasound the RE does? I got an almost-positive OPK yesterday and then the next one four hours later was way light. So I'm thinking I might have missed my surge. (It's typically very short but I'm still getting used to it) I also usually O two days after my positive OPK.
I know they will do the ultrasound and then LH bloodwork tomorrow morning...I guess I just want to make sure they will be able to tell if I'm too close to O to have the HcG shot, and that I might be Oing on my own tomorrow (which I suppose would mean we'd need to do the IUI tomorrow while we are there). Maybe I am just worrying too much??

 

[TandT]

Welcome back Esbrick!

Hey, does anyone know if they can tell how close you are to O with the LH bloodwork and/or the ultrasound the RE does? I got an almost-positive OPK yesterday and then the next one four hours later was way light. So I'm thinking I might have missed my surge. (It's typically very short but I'm still getting used to it) I also usually O two days after my positive OPK.
I know they will do the ultrasound and then LH bloodwork tomorrow morning...I guess I just want to make sure they will be able to tell if I'm too close to O to have the HcG shot, and that I might be Oing on my own tomorrow (which I suppose would mean we'd need to do the IUI tomorrow while we are there). Maybe I am just worrying too much??

Hi Cherbear!!

Doesn't the HCG shot trigger ovulation- or release of the egg? I had my ultrasound last Mon 1/4 and since my follicles were mature, they gave me my HCG shot and I ovulated 36 hours later. I dont to OPK's....just too worried about the accuracy and I dont want to drive myself crazy..lol... I would listen to your RE and do what he says to do. I am in the dreaded two week wait now..UGH.... I ovulated 1/6...I get my progesterone drawn this wed and take a pregnancy test on 1/21....we shall see!! This is our second round of Clomid with HCG shot. This time when I got my ultrasound, RE did a POST COITEL test...to test the quality of my cervical mucus with my husband sperm...and his sperm were TIRED and SLUGGISH....my cervical mucus was thick and hostile which was the cause....lol....

So they prescribed Musinex for 3 days....gosh I hope it helps.......

Are you on Clomid? How long have you been trying? GOOD LUCK!!

 

[Pollito916]

Mrs. Charming - I'm so glad to hear everything is still going well with your pregnancy! Sorry about the SIL. When I first started thinking seriously about ttc again last year, we found out the very next month that our SIL was pg again. She had just been telling me the month before that she was seriously thinking about leaving her husband, so adding another baby into a house like that is just not a good idea.

MommaSnow - It's always a good decision to get healthier!

cherbear - welcome! These ladies are really an amazing supportive group!

WDWorBust - I'm so sorry you're feeling so down right now. I think we've all felt that way at one time or another.

Kronk - Crossing my fingers and toes for you. It's tough to have a discussion like that.

Skuttle - Woohoo on the GF! That will be a wonderful way to spend your 10th anniversary!

esbrick - wecome back!

his sperm were TIRED and SLUGGISH....my cervical mucus was thick and hostile which was the cause....lol....

Always a pleasure to hear news like that! I hope the mucinex helps you out. I've also heard that there are some herbal remedies that can help as well.


*********

As for me, still in the 2ww, and every day just drags by until I can poas. Some times I think I am feeling pregnancy symptoms, and other times I think I am crazy and am just imagining it.

DS2 has been obsessed with babies lately too. It's almost like he is reading my mind. Everytime we see a baby he says, "Aww, look at the cute baby." When we were at Macy's this weekend, after he saw a baby, he told me he wants a baby. I asked him why he wants a baby and he said, "Because I want to push the baby in a stroller and show him to everybody. And I will let him sleep in my bed and play with my toys." I could just cry thinking about how sweet he's being. Then he returns to a monster, and I could cry because I swear he is Jekyl and Hyde!

 

[cherbear]

Hi Cherbear!!

Doesn't the HCG shot trigger ovulation- or release of the egg? I had my ultrasound last Mon 1/4 and since my follicles were mature, they gave me my HCG shot and I ovulated 36 hours later. I dont to OPK's....just too worried about the accuracy and I dont want to drive myself crazy..lol... I would listen to your RE and do what he says to do. I am in the dreaded two week wait now..UGH.... I ovulated 1/6...I get my progesterone drawn this wed and take a pregnancy test on 1/21....we shall see!! This is our second round of Clomid with HCG shot. This time when I got my ultrasound, RE did a POST COITEL test...to test the quality of my cervical mucus with my husband sperm...and his sperm were TIRED and SLUGGISH....my cervical mucus was thick and hostile which was the cause....lol....

So they prescribed Musinex for 3 days....gosh I hope it helps.......

Are you on Clomid? How long have you been trying? GOOD LUCK!!

yes, it does. I was just concerned that I had ovulated BEFORE my appointment today. But all seems well. I am so hopeful for you!! Hopefully this thread will help get by the 2ww just a little easier.

I'm actually on tamoxifen. It is a breast cancer drug that has been proven to be a good fertility drug as well, but milder. I took 40 mg this cycle. Strangely, even though we doubled the dose, my follicles are slower this time. Also my lining was not as thick as the last cycle. So, the plan is to go back Thursday morning for another Ultrasound and bloodwork. (thank God I'm already off of work Thursday and Friday) He thinks my lining will get a little thicker.
My follicles were: 13 mm, 10 mm, 9 mm, 8 mm, and a few small ones that definitely don't have a chance of developing. Unbeknownst to me, he said that anything above 8 mm at this point has potential of developing. So possibly 4 follicles, with more of a likelihood of just two. And still, there's a possibility just one will mature.

I asked about what would help my uterine lining and he said maybe try fish oil. Then a girl on babycenter suggested Red Raspberry leaf tea (or the RR pill). What do you girls think?

Oh by the way, I'm only 5 feet tall so the idea of twins scares me a little! Though my RE said that since I would be monitored so well with them for the first couple months, everything should be fine. I'd rather a single baby but I really want to better our chances this cycle so I am glad we are being more aggressive. Can't wait til Thursday!!

cherbear - welcome! These ladies are really an amazing supportive group!


*********

As for me, still in the 2ww, and every day just drags by until I can poas. Some times I think I am feeling pregnancy symptoms, and other times I think I am crazy and am just imagining it.

DS2 has been obsessed with babies lately too. It's almost like he is reading my mind. Everytime we see a baby he says, "Aww, look at the cute baby." When we were at Macy's this weekend, after he saw a baby, he told me he wants a baby. I asked him why he wants a baby and he said, "Because I want to push the baby in a stroller and show him to everybody. And I will let him sleep in my bed and play with my toys." I could just cry thinking about how sweet he's being. Then he returns to a monster, and I could cry because I swear he is Jekyl and Hyde!

thank you for the welcome!

Your DS sounds so cute. How old is he?

Oh and I think we can all sympathize with the going back and forth between thinking you have symptoms in the TWW and then writing them off. It's an endless battle!

 

[Pollito916]

I asked about what would help my uterine lining and he said maybe try fish oil. Then a girl on babycenter suggested Red Raspberry leaf tea (or the RR pill). What do you girls think?

Oh by the way, I'm only 5 feet tall so the idea of twins scares me a little! Though my RE said that since I would be monitored so well with them for the first couple months, everything should be fine. I'd rather a single baby but I really want to better our chances this cycle so I am glad we are being more aggressive. Can't wait til Thursday!!

I've heard of the red raspberry tea recommendation before, but have never tried it myself. As for the twins, I have always wanted twins. Now that I have one, I'm not so sure, but I would still love it, especially b/g twins. As for your size, I knew a 5'2" woman who had triplets! I think she was on bed rest most of the pregnancy, but she had 3 healthy little boys. Seriously, they were over 5 lbs each, which is pretty big for triplets!

thank you for the welcome!

Your DS sounds so cute. How old is he?

Oh and I think we can all sympathize with the going back and forth between thinking you have symptoms in the TWW and then writing them off. It's an endless battle!

DS will be 3 next month, and he's a handful. A cute handful, but still a handful!