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Pollyanna, I wish you all the very best with your decision. I hope you are at peace with it.
I'll see you around the other threads I'm sure.
Thank you for being such a great lap buddy ;)
Debbie - have missed you around lately. Hope all is going well.
Hello! Hope everyone had a Happy New Year!
I haven't posted in awhile, so I'm not sure what's going on with everybody. Trying to catch up on all the past posts...
As for me, I've been taking a short break from the TTC process. I've been off clomid for the past month, hoping that I'd ovulate on my own, but no luck so far. :frown: Next step, another round of clomid, and IUI. Mako -- looks like I'll be trying IUI around the same time you will be. Have you done it before?
BW, congrats on your weight loss!
Hope everyone else is doing well. Sorry for no more personals. Feels like I've been out of the loop for so long now, I'm not sure what's been going on...
EmmyDee - welcome back
Pollyanna - hun, you sound like you've gone through a massive thought process in the decision you've made. Good luck with everything - i'm sure we'll all meet you in the other threads (and hopefully for those of us still TTC it won't be too long a wait til we graduate!)
Bw - sounds like you and DH are pretty much on the same page - i know it may feel early to be discussing things like what to do with frozen embies - but i'll be honest and admit DH and i have, albeit briefly, discussed the same - we were talking about the side effects of the injections and wondering whether FS would swap to IVF EPU if I/we end up with too many follies this cycle for IUI (guess i'm trying to stay positive - would hate to have to cancel for too many after not having any for so long!) - i mentioned to DH about freezing embies and things, and we talked then about what we'd do if there were any remaining after we have our "ideal" family - it's still very up in the air though!
to everyone else - hope you're all having a great weekend. Mine so far has been nice and relaxing - DH and i slept in til almost 11 (except for the brief wake up to use nasal spray - on the up side, laying back down after taking it, it ran down the back of my throat so barely any taste - yay!) - have been kicking back the rest of the day - bought a PS2 last night - and DH (my very own techno-phobe) who swore last night he'd not be interested, has spent half the day trying to work out how to play - it's very cute - he's more passionate about it than any kid i've ever seen (i'm almost thinking it was a bad buy - i'll never get to use the plasma in the lounge again!)
BG, I don't think it's something we can ever really decide on for sure until we actually have embryos on ice and we are finished our family. I certainly couldn't just throw them away, or donate them to research - I would want them to have a chance at life! Whether that means we keep transferring until there are none left, and potentially end up with a much bigger family than planned, or donate them to some other infertile couple, I just don't know. I'd like to think that I could possibly share our gift with others, but I worry that with my health issues they wouldn't be wanted anyway... and then there would always be the question of just how many of our biological children are out there, and how likely is it that one of our children would meet up with one! Yes, good to talk about the options, but I don't think a decision could be completely made unless you are actually in that situation.
emydee, welcome back!
BW
Welcome back emmydee. I haven't done IUI before so I have mixed feelings about the whole process. It sure would be great if we could be IUI buddies though. When are you thinking of starting?
Hi to all you lovely ladies.No time for personals atm but will pop in again tomorrow sorry.
i completely agree BW - we spoke about it in general terms, but til we're in that situation, we can't know what we'd decide (i'm kinda hoping the IUI takes in the first couple of cycles so that we're not faced with that decision anyway - but gotta be open to the possibility!)
Hi mako - when are you starting your IUI? i'm day 4 of the synarel spray now on first IUI cycle...
to everyone else - hope you had a great weekend - will catch up for more personals later in the week
Hi Brigsy's Girl, I'm thinking of taking the request forms in when and if af arrives next and paying the registration fee then. I'm so hoping that we won't need to go ahead with the IUI and we will end up with a bfp this cycle. I'm trying to think those possitive thoughts iykwim.I'm on cd 19 today so have to wait another 16 days or so before af due( I normally have a 35 day cycle) so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.
When do you start your b/t's?
hi mako
started nasal spray on thursday last week, have a blood test on the 31st, and should be startinginjections - all going to plan - on the 1st of next month. i'm looking at it as "new month, new chance" and hoping like crazy it all goes ok.
hopefully we both get BFP's in the next month - if not, we may end up being IUI buddies!
Hi ladies.
Just wanted to pop in to say hi and to see how everyone is going. I have been MIA for quite a while and will remain that way for the time being. I am trying to take a break from all things TTC and I am sure you lovlies will understand that.
Mako- Thanks for asking after me beautiful girl. I can't wait to see you post your BFP and I pray that this will happen so soon for you. You are an amazing woman and I hope you can keep up the strength to continue with this journey. Thinking about you...
BW- Good luck with your up and coming FS appointment. I hope all works out for you and you see those magic 2 lines very soon. Hang in there I know you will come out the other end even stronger than what you are already.
I don't really know that many people in here these days but to all I have missed I wish you all the best of luck getting the BFP that we are all dreaming of.
Brigsy's Girl I hope all goes well for you this cycle and you and I end up with our much wanted BFP's, if not I'll sure be happy to be IUI buddies with you too. I'm going to have my progesterone b/t this Thursday.
Ktgirl, you are such a beatiful woman. I wish you all the good things in life hun. I can certainly understand you wanting to take a break from everthing.That's only natural sweety and know that I'm thinking of you.
BW How are you doin hun? I hope you are ok.
Twomums How are you going after your IUI last week? I hope you are well.
Willow How's everything going with you hun? Are you still having injections?
Hi to Emmydee, Angel Babies3 and anyone else I've missed. I do hope everyone is well.
Is anyone up for testing soon?
I'm doing ok, Mako, thanks for asking.
I'm starting to feel a little out of place in the TTC threads, but that's just because I've been put into this holding pattern at the moment.
I'm still doing ok with the diet, weight is headed down, I'm feeling great, and really positive about the IVF to come... and best of all - my DH's official job offer arrived today, so everything is falling into place this year! :D
For all I'm a bit quieter than normal at times, I am keeping up to date with how everyone's going.
BW
BW - that's great news about DH's official job offer! No matter how much you get excited about a verbal offer, that piece of paper just makes it seem so much more real. i understand how you feel about the holding pattern - but you do fit in with teh TTC threads - i'm sure there's no one here that hasn't had to put things on hold temporarily at least once (i know i certainly have) - it's frustrating, but at least you know there's a reason for it
Mako - good luck with the tests on Thursday
To everyone else - hope you're having a good day. Mine has been a little interesting - managed to somehow get a wasp in my shoe as i was walking yesterday, so got it's stinger stuck right in my heel - thankfully, i'm not allergic, but it was a realy big ouch! Decided a few weeks back that, after 12 and 18 months respectively of losing our little angels, i wanted to do something as a permanent reminder of them - took a lot of thinking, but decided to get a tattoo symbolic of them - got a moon and heart today (really hard to describe as it's not a typically "sweet" tattoo - that just wouldn't be me - but it has meaning for me) - and when it was done, DH looked and said he liked it and is now talking about getting the same one himself. it's taken ages for me to get to the point where i could do this without crying every time i see it - but it feels awesome to have finally paid tribute to our angels properly -and as an aside - the tattoo hurts less than the wasp sting!!
BG - what a strange coincidence. I've been planning a tattoo for my angel for months now and feel like I'm finally ready to get it done. I am just waiting for the outcome of this first IVF cycle and if we have no good news, I will be getting it while we are on a break between cycles.
The main thing that has held me back from getting it for this long is because I want it on the inside of my left wrist - so it's something I really need to be sure about before I do it. Where abouts did you get yours? It sounds awesome, I'd love to see a pic of it.
OUCH on the wasp sting though! That is wrong! LOL!
Mako - I'm doing OK at the moment, taking it one day at a time. big day tomorrow, another bt and my first follie scan. Soooooo nervous about that. Yep, still doing the injections, I think they'll decide tomorrow how much longer I do them.
Please keep your fingers crossed for LOTS of bit fat follies growing in there! :pray:
got mine on my left shoulder - i thought about having it on my arms - but when i thought about it a bit, i decided that, if something else happens to go wrong, and i can see the tat every day, it will really get me down. i also got a tattoo of two roses on my right shoulder after we got married as we gave each other a rose during the ceremony - and today we added a butterfly to those as a sign of hope. i got a japenese "strength" on my ankle - its the only one i can see, and it's the one that motivates me to keep going. if you PM me your email addy, i'll get DH to take a pic later and email i'll it to you.
good luck for BT and follie scan tomorrow - your results have been getting better, so lets hope theres a big fat follie or three, ripe and ready to become a little bubba for you
BG - that's what I'm getting, a butterfly! Already have quite a large celtic style butterfly in the small of my back which I want to add to but that can come later.
That's been my dilemna - am I going to want to look at it everyday. But I think I've come around to the thought that hello, I think about it every day anyway, so it's not going to make much difference. I also want it as a symbol of hope and finding the strength to continue on. Even if all my dreams for another baby come true, I will NEVER forget this time in my life, and I don't think I'm supposed to somehow...
I'll PM you my email addres, would love to see it.
Brigsy's Girl
Have to say a big OUCH on the wasp sting, now thats gotta hurt.
What a great idea on getting the tattoo for your angels, thats sooooo sweet.
Willow I have everything crossed for you hun that there will be a follie or more thats nice and ready for you. Please make sure you come back in after you've had the scan to let us know how it went ok.
BW Glad to see you're going ok. Please don't feel out of place around here as we all need somewhere to go for support and thats what we're here for. Take care hun:)
Wow it's been pretty quiet in here. Maybe everyone's still on holidays.
Mako - I think it's quiet in here because a few of us have had to jump ship to the other AC thread. Me and BW have both moved on to IVF, Ktgirl is on a break, Deb (flowerchild) is still on holidays I think. I'm sure you'll have lots more people in here to talk to soon enough - or better still, you're outta here and in the belly buddy threads!
Also girls, just wanted to say that IVF is very different from clomid or IUI - we would expect to see a lot more than 1, 2, 3 follies - more like 10, 15, even 20 (not all of these would contain a mature egg though)! So please keep your fingers crossed for me girls. I will let you know how I go.
Willow, I'll be praying for lots and lots of nice fat egg-containing follies for you tomorrow... but not too huge a number, we don't want you over stimulating!
Just a quick story to inspire you and bring you hope - A friend of mine and fellow BBer went in for EPU and only got 5 eggs. Of those, only three fertilised properly (even using ICSI). One is now a happy, healthy 4-month old, and the other two are still on ice. Remember that even if you don't get the umbers you want, there's still hope!
I'm starting to get more frightened and more scared of the IVF as we approach the return to work date... I'm really worried about how I'm going to cope with it while dealing with 20-30 uncooperative teenagers! I guess this is just my normal anxieties surfacing - but there is good news on the anxiety front - I'm at minimum dose of my medication and still doing pretty ok! I know I can increase if necessary, but I feel good that I got down that low again! :)
I hope Deb returns from her holidays soon... I miss her! :frown:
BW
Thanks BW. I know it can happen, they say it's not quantity it's quality, but I'd rather have numbers on my side! And considering that we got off to a slow start, I'm a bit nervous about it.
BW, I think you just need to do what I'm doing - take one day at a time. Don't get too far ahead of yourself or it does become overwhelming. And keep going to your acupuncture sesssions LOL - I'm a huge fan of its relaxation benefits these days :biggrin:
About those acupuncture sessions... I'm going fortnightly now, so we can get DH in for a few sessions before the ICSI - we want to make sure the sperm they have to choose from is as good as possible. Once we get closer to things happening, I'll be booking in as often as possible. I do think the one day at a time thing is good - I am getting ahead of myself! Time to stop panicking about needles and continue to focus on trying to get my weight down and insulin under control. One foot in front of the other, one day at a time.
BW
Hi Willow - here's hoping that your scan tomorrow shows a nice healthy little batch of follies - and that they're all of primo quality for you. and i certainly hope that one of them is ready to become a nice sticky little bubba for you
Mako - i agree with you that it's quiet here - i guess a number of us have been given the green light in the new year to move on to AC, so we're all starting to filter over there - some of us are still taking metfomin though - and i'm sure the others are just like me and happy to keep you company over here!
BW - i know i'm probably the last person to be saying this after the issues i've been having at work lately - but you'll get there! i'm sure of it - you've shown that you're strong, you can acknowledge when you're struggling - and you're prepared to deal with it.
Thanks, BG! Keep reminding me of that if/when things get tough!
I often forget about the metformin aspect of this thread - I guess it can get very focused on the clomid at times... And that reminds me, I missed my sodding lunch time dose - again! Bad BW! Kinda silly when I've been on metformin for 9 months and only ever had one go at clomid - and I don't ever want to get near it again!
BW
i have days where i forget - and it drives me nuts - it's usually only on my days of though cos i have a strict routine at work - i take fruit to work for breakfast (can't eat at home), and when i finish that, i have tab - and if i happen to forget, i have a friend that asks me every day at lunch if i've taken it - annoying, but sweet! i have a little toilet bag beside the couch in the lounge - and i have al my tabs stashed in there - because it's visible all the time, i rarely forget night dose.
have set an alarm on my phone for nasal spray - otherwise i'd forget!
and i agree, it's easy to forget metformin when you'r thinking about TTC cos it's not directly targetted at getting you to O or anything!
I've already conscripted a friend to remind me of the diet, and potentially forcibly remove food from my hands (and hopefully drag me to the gym with her) when we are back at work - I may have to get her on the metformin detail as well. For now, I'll just take a double dose at night, but I feel bad because I actually had carbs for lunch! The morning and night doses are habit now - I have my whole pharmacy laid out on top of the freezer in the kitchen!
BW
i work in a call centre, and sit with three other ladies - one of hem has been on my case for ages about breakfast - so now if i arrive at work and don't eat, she goes nuts. another is someone i've been friends with forever, and she knows what i've been going through, so from the day i started on metformi,s he's been there at lunch time. my best mate at work went through the IUI journey with his wife, so he's good at making sure i behave myself - he's also a very good source of info with how things work - and will put up with me venting any time i need to!!
i'm having a shocker today - yesterday i thought the whole stinger was out of my foot - this morning i'm not so sure - it's as sore as anything - and i can't get into a doctor til the very end of the day to get checked - arrgh! have to spend the day with my foot elevated - not fun at all - i would so prefer to be at work right now (even with all the issues going on!!! guess that shows how bad it is!)
Hi everyone!
Willow, how did it go? I'm hoping you had lots and lots of follies.
Ktgirl, I totally understand about needing to take a break. I've been trying to not think about TTC myself too. I am beginning to think that I won't be getting preggo for a year, if not more, if at all... And if that's the case, I need to go on living my life.
That said, I'm still going to give it another go this year...
Mako -- when is your first IUI scheduled? We should definitely be buddies!!! But you might start before me, and hopefully you'll only need one go. My doctor told me to take a break to see if I ovulate on my own. Well, I didn't. So I'm just getting in touch with him now, to get me started on clomid maybe in the next few weeks or so...
He also wants me to get my tubes checked. He said it was kind of painful. Has anybody done this procedure before???
Hi BW and Briggsy's girl! Hello to everyone else that I missed...
Hi EmmyDee - sorry your body decided not to behave itself during your break! Looks like you have a plan of attack though in terms of investigation and stuff. i personaly haven't had my tubes checked, ut i know i've read a couple of threads on here from people who have...
Willow - how did you go today? i've been thinking about you this morning and hoping for good results for you. i guess we're all kinda stalking you in the bestest way today!
Hi
Willow How did everything go today sweet? I hope there were loads of follies there for you. Please come in and let us know.
Brigsy's Girl Hi hun, It's so good that you've got such a great support network at your work.
Big bugger about your foot though. Have you been to drs yet?
Emmydee Hi there sweety I think I'll look at starting IUI either Feb or March. I'm just waiting to see what happens at the end of this cycle. I'm trying to stay possitive and think that maybe we'll end up with a bfp and I won't have to start IUI( wishful thinking though I'm sure) But it can't hurt thinking this way, can it;)
Good luck with your tests. I hope everthing is all clear for you so you can get everthing underway. Be sure to let us know what is happening. I had my tubes checked when I had my 1st laproscopy and hysteroscopy last year. The dr just put some dye in to see if there were any blockages and thankfully they were clear. How is your specialist going to do the test?
Hey girls, thanks for asking after me. I wanted to talk to the nurses and get their interpretation of my results before posting, because again, I was a bit stressed about them.
My b/t was good, levels have come up again. So much so that they've cut my dose back again so that's good i guess. I am however, disappointed with the number of follies we saw today. I have 8, all are a good size so that's a bonus. I guess I'm never going to get the numbers that girls with two healthy ovaries get, because I only have one (I only have a very small part of my left ovary remaining after my surgeries and it pretty much does not function, so we probably did well to get the one follie on that side we have).
Trying to stay positive, but am disappointed :frown:
:hug: Willow. Those numbers aren't painfully low, and those follies do sound like they are good quality. I know it may seem disappointing, but consider the positive side of things - you're not in any danger of OHSS (which the mere thought of terrifies me), you left ovary has gone to the humongous effort of producing one good follie, and the right is carrying 7. Remember the story I told you before about only 5 eggs? It's not all doom and gloom!
Ok, I'm probably sounding over positive and you want to strangle me right now! :lol: Many more :hug: coming your way!
BW
Thanks BW. Sushee has just replied to my post in the other thread and made me feel 100 times better about it.
I saw those replies, Willow. Sushee's WONDERFUL! It's great to have access to someone with her experience and knowledge - I can see me picking her brain lots when I get to that point. Glad to see you are feeling better.
I just caught sight of the number in my ticker! :eek: Not long now!
BW
Sushee is wonderful, I just wish for her sake she wasn't SO experienced ;)
Wilow - 8 is, from what i've read, really not a bad number! i know some people get huge numbers, but if i had the choice between 8 good looking follies 15 or 20 average ones, i'd got the 8 every time - and you're obviously doing ok for them to drop the meds back again!
Mako - finally got to the doctor this evening and, after a lot of poking and prodding he managed to get the stinger out of my heel - i hadn't realised how much relief i was going to get, but as soon as he took it out - woo hoo! i could walk (albeit it a little limpy) - still sore, but nothing like it was before. i've been put on antibiotics for 5 days - and if it's still inflamed after that, have to go back to see him again. thanks so much for asking!
BW - your FS appointment is approaching so quickly! i was looking at that today and recalling when i first came on board and you were counting down to your first appointment - brin on number three! i have next appointment next thursday - keep thinking i should do a ticker, but seem to alwasy find something else to do! maybe that's a job for this weekend
Willow I'm sorry that you were a bit disappointed but like BW and BG have said 8 great follies are much better than more "just average ones". It's also great news that you are on a reduced dose again. Things are looking good for you hunny. Keep your chin up and know that you will have a bfp in the near future:)
BG So glad your dr got that awful stinger out of your foot. I hope the inflamation goes away soon. All the best for your appointment next Thursday. I hope all goes well for you chicky ;)
BW Try not to stress too much about your next appointment. I'm sure everything will be just fine for you sweet :)
Hi there ladies,
I usually post in the LTTTC thread but as I am about to start IUI I thought that I would pop in & say hello.
Well apart from my now treated endo we don't have anything actually wrong but it has still been a year and a half of ttc so we are going to start IUI.
I will have my last chlomid tablet tomorrow then b/t next Monday & then as soon as I am about to O I will be going in for the IUI.
I do O on my own so I am only on half a tablet but I am having hot flushes & major insomnia, I didn't actually connect it until I read the symptoms on the packet.
I would hate to be on a higher dose.
So I guess I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on what doing IUI is like?
Dh is a little concerned about his swimmers sample that he is going to have to do & the fact that he'll have to get out of work at a days notice.
We have to travel an hour to get this done so it's a little tricky with work.
I see a couple of you are about to start IUI as well so I look forward to going through this with people who know what it's like.
Jo:)
Hi everyone!
Willow -- I'm sorry that you were disappointed. But it doesn't sound bad at all to me. You have 8 good follies! Like the other girls have said, that's lot better than lots of smaller follies. I have faith things are going to go well for you...
Mako -- I hope things work out for you too, and you don't have to do IUI. That would be just wonderful!!! I have my fingers crossed. Keep us updated.
BG -- congrats on getting that stinger out! that sounded so uncomfortable!
Jo -- Good luck on your IUI. What date is it scheduled for? Clomid has the weirdest side effects. I get some blurry vision (scary, but I got my eyes checked by an opthamologist, and he says I'm fine. Aside from that the Clomid actually makes me feel good, like I took a valium or something! So funny it can have such different effects on different people...
As for me, I'm seeing my doctor this coming Monday. I guess I'll start the clomid soon after...
Also I'd like you guys's input on something -- I saw my specialist before leaving on vacation in December, and he said that stress pays a big part preventing conception, and not just the ovulation process, and he recommended that I do everything I can to lower my stress (acupuncture, yoga, counseling, etc.) What do you guys think about that?
Emmydee, my FS also went on at great lengths about stress and cortisol levels at the first appointment. I have an article he gave me, which actually shows that cognitive behaviour therapy has been found to restore ovulation in some cases! I do wish he would give them to me in electronic form, as then they are easier to keep track of, and find later when you want to refer back to them. I've been doing acupuncture for a while, and it is brilliant at calming me down and reducing stress, wouldn't be without it now. I have also found that getting out and exercising does help a lot - I'm not much of one for councelling, but I do talk this through with my friends a lot, and on here, and I know it makes a huge difference to my ability to cope.
BW
Hi girls,
Just scanning through the threads (I'm not taking clomid yet but it may be an option) and was interested to see the chat about STRESS!!
I've got a pretty full on stressful life - currently at the end of 3rd year of my Phd, funding about to run out (!), recently moved into brand new house, work about 50-55 hours a week (uni and other work) etc. I'm interested to learn about stress and ovulation. BW - did your FS say that they could test for cortisol levels etc? What exactly do you get done with your acupuncture? How often, how much $ (if you don't mind me asking!) and do you get any rebate from medical ins?? Cheers
I don't know that they can test cortisol levels - the article just talked about how stress raises the levels and the increased levels can make it more difficult to become pregnant. At the first appointment he had me pegged as a stressed out control freak, but at the second appointment, I appeared much more relaxed and we discovered that my problems ran deeper than an increased stress level!
The acupuncture treatment I've been having is aimed at supporting the fertility treatments I have, the place I have found does a lot of work with infertility, IVF support, etc. If I'm in a state, I'll have certain spots needled to help me calm down - it does work wonders. I go weekly normally, it costs $60 for an hour session. I drive over an hour to get there and our PHI only has basic ancillary cover so we get no rebates, but I simply wouldn't be without it now!
I'll start searching for the article... I don't hold out much hope, though!
BW