Cycling In 2012 Board (formerly Fall/Winter 2011-2012)

[LauraN]

Is the thyroid testing a normal part of this? I would have pm'd you but I couldn't figure out how lol

Julia- it is a normal part of your initial bloodwork, but right when I miscarried last cycle, it was discovered that my thyroid was totally out of wack, so I've been on thyroid meds since that was discovered. So it was actually discovered right before the MC, but the MC happened shortly thereafter. Anyways, I have been on the meds and my IVF nurse and I were a little worried about starting this next cycle with having no idea where my thyroid level was at, since it was at 5.163 and they wouldn't move forward until my # was 2 or under, so she gave me a lab order to go do a quick check. I am just glad that it came back normal for now, one thing to not have to worry about right this second. Now, once we start the stims and especially after I start the estrogen, I will have them check it a little more frequently, because estrogen can totally jack with your thyroid #'s and I have naturally low estrogen/high testosteron, so that means with the crazy amounts of estrogen they have me use (We use the patches and I swear they have me wearing so many I have to wear a few on my forehead- not really, but it feels like I run out of room and have to figure out where else to put them) that may have contributed to my thyroid going nuts. They will let you know if there is an issue, but I doubt there is, I knew there was a potential for an issue for me, I had already been seeing an endocrinologist for the possibility, but he told me all was well (don't even get me started on that one- ticked me off!!!! ) so I trusted him and we proceeded with the IVF.

Blueeyedreamer- woo hoo on the faint line! And I know what you mean about being a POAS junkie! With my last cycle, I felt like I was my male dog marking my territory, I was peeing all over the place...I would check every couple of hours......geez! I felt crazy, but it didn't stop me. I think my DH thought I had finally stepped over into the land of crazy! I think I started testing just 2 days before my beta and probably used 6 tests! I would love to say that I won't do that with this cycle, but I would be totally lying and setting myself up for failure! I know that I will be peeing again all over the place. Thank goodness I work from home, if not, I would look mighty silly at the office with an econo box of HPT's! My DH said I should buy stock in HPT's after he saw that I was not the only one that was addicted to these things! Maybe if I did that, I could use that money to finance my IVF- HA!

[blueeyedreamer]

Ha! Your DH has a good idea, Lauren! I would hate to look back and see how much I have spend POAS over these past several years!

[Sunshine1576]

Maria- My thoughts have been with you all morning. I appreciate you updating the board, but if you need a break please let us know and we will be happy to help out any way we can. DH asked if I was going stir crazy but no I just don't feel up to getting out today. It's pouring down raining here making it THE perfect day to catch up on some sleep. I hope you have been able to rest and find some comfort foods. I would make you my grandmother's potato salad if you lived closer, but maybe I could mail you some homemade tollhouse cookies? I loved your quote " A bend in the road is not the end of the road unless we fail to make a turn." It reminds me that it's not about what happens in life, it's all about how react back and attitude is everything. You have given so much encouragement and inspiration and I want to thank you for being there for us too.

Gina- I have some family in Georgia too, Peachtree City (Mom) and Wynder (BIL) but my first home with dh was in Adairsville and we often visited Barnsley Gardens Resort. I loved Georgia with all the glorious mountains and changing leaves, this time of the year was ALWAYS my favorite with homemade apple pie!

Lauren319- Your've got the PMA batton! I'm staying positive with you too...SIX is very good, grow follicles grow!

Julia- Welcome and boy does this board move fast! Baseline check is something my doctor does before any treatment and my last clinic wasn't at all worried about my thyroid levels since it within the national average but this new clinic is a little different in looking at their preferance. Glad you had a good ultrasound today but no more abdomen exercises with fright scares of bugs ok? Lizzards scare me as I had one try to sneak in last night hollowing for dh to get him out!!! Follistim to me was manageable compared to the Lupron shots, those drove me into a loco lady!

Ninde- You sound so busy with your workshops but it's helps in so many ways. Most of all we have to find what makes us happy in life, that passion that drives us. Anything that promotes happiness will help us to reflect on the good in life and give us peace of mind.

Leorira- I know it must be hard for your mom too to know when is the right time to seek assist-living care for your grandmother. It was 7 years after my Papa passed, when my grandmother who also has osteroporosis (msp) fell and with her weak bones we knew she needed someone to help care for her. My dad passed away 11 years ago and so her daughter looks out for her pretty much by herself. We had someone come and stay with her throughout the night and bring her groceries and prepared her meals. I think it will be easier for her now that she is in the nursing home and I know she will make some friends along the way. My oldest brother said he will text me some stuff as they go through her house to see if I would want any of the things we gave her. All I care about is that she is ok, that's all I could ask my brother when we last spoke.

LauraN- Awesome news about the thyroid!!!!! I'm so excited the "L" med worked for you too! Mine did the same in dropping significantly and he wants me to say on it! I'm in the place as you, just wanting for AF to come due today but no sign yet, yay looks like we maybe cycling together!

I feel kind of guilty about complaining that I live so far apart from family, because it's nothing in comparison to those who live so far from family internationally. Of course sometimes dh and I are glad we don't have family living right down the street from us either, it would feel like my "Big Fat Greek Wedding" on a daily basis. I personally think you ladies are brave, commending you for being so strong and I'm glad I found this forum, because in so many ways you all have become my family. Even after a year dh has finally understood that this forum has really helped me cope emotionally and made me feel not so isolated. Yes he wants me to talk to him but at the same time he knows there are some things that only you ladies can really understand and relate to what I'm going through.

AF: Just waiting for AF to show her face. In the meantime, relaxing on my day off and making some tollhouse cookies.

[LauraN]

Sunshine- mmmm, cookies, So believe it or not, I'm not much into eating sweets, BUT, ever since the last cycle failed, I have been a mad crazy person baking and stuff. I had been making everything from scratch, which usually that was my hubby's job (he's such a great cook). In the past month, I have probably baked about 12 dozen or so cookies, from scratch and taken them mostly to the high school for my son's band. My favorite part is watching the kids grab my cookies and eat them like they've never had a cookie that tasted so good. I know they are teenagers and will pretty much shove anything sweet in their mouth, but it makes me feel good! Last night I tried my hand, for the first time, at bananna nut bread...I don't even like banannas. It turned out good, but I tried a different recipe this morning and I like this morning's bread better. I am going over to my friend's house tomorrow to "babysit" her, she just had foot surgery yesterday and her husband needs to go into the office for a few hours and I don't want her alone. So, while I'm there, I'm going to make them dinner and then bake cookies with her daughter when she gets home from school. I already went over Sunday and dropped off 4 days of meals for them, so hopefully she will really stay off her foot or I'm going to have to tie her up so she stays off of it! So, hopefully I will stop baking for a bit after I bake cookies with my friend's daughter tomorrow.... we will see.

[sky7371]

Hi ladies, I have a ? ..
I went in for us/bw today day 5 of stims and i have 11 eggs and my e2 #'are 750 which is high. The nurse lowered my follistem for the second time to 50 and they want me to only take lupron in the morning and come back in for bl/us.
The nurse told me they were going to try and get my #s under controll so my cycle wouldnt be cancelled... Does anyone know anything about the e2 #s .. im totally freakin any advice or insight would be great .
thanks , sky

[Sunshine1576]

Fabulous news Blue... Keep poasing everyday, as the magic starts here. I'm praying for you too!

sky, It's still too early to tell, but keep following the meds and don't loose hope. They will keep twicking the meds and draw bloodwork to monitor your levels helping make the best possible outcome. I think what drives most of us crazy is we have no control and it's especially hard when we are going through IVF the very first time. We have to hold on to the faith and try to remain calm and stress-free even though it's mere impossible not to stress over these things and I personally think IVF has taught me all about patience and perserverance more then anything. Sorry I got on a rant but what I really wanted to tell you is sometimes only time can tell and I will be praying that your doctor will do everything he can to help you succeed through this treatment.

LaureN, maybe we can have a recipe swap this Christmas with the ladies on here. I'm not much of a chief but LOVE baking!

[bodie1011]

Blue - Great news - thats exciting!! Sending you lots of baby dust!

AFM - 2nd beta came in at 725, that's doubling at 31.66 hours, which is definitely better than the last time around, but not getting too excited yet. Next milestone on 10/25 when I have my first U/S

Back for more personals later!

[WeHaveHope]

Hello friends,

I just wanted to check in quickly with everyone. I logged in this morning and saw all of your well wishes and prayers and thought I should check in and let you all know how I am doing.

Believe it or not, I actualy went to work today. Staying home was no an option. I did not want to stay home alone with all of my feeling and emotions. I think it would have been to much for me to handle. Anyways, as luck may have it, I had my supervisor and my supervisor's supervisor coming in from out of state today to present our clinic with an award. Out of over 100 clinics we were one of only 30 to receive this award. My staff was very happy and surprised. It was a good distraction for me today. I had to force myself to smile and seem happy and I guess that was ok, the other option was not a good one. I guess I could have stayed home and cried all day and in the end I would have been in the same place. So im glad I went to work afterall.

Last night I spoke to my RE for quite some time. I think I mentioned before, he spoke and I cried. These converstaions must be the worst part of his profession, im sure. We had discussed having wanted to do genetic testing, however since the u/s showed that the gestational sac was no longer in the uterus, there was realy nothing to send in for genetic testing. As I was getting ready for bed last night, I went to the bathroom to urinate and wiped and saw some very dark brown tissue on the toilet paper. I remembered what my RE had said and immediately sent a text message to my IVF Nurse. Her and I have become quite close so she is often available for me after hours. She responded immediately and instructed me to place the tissue in a zip lock bag, put in the freezer, and take it to the clinic in the morning. I can tell all of you that this was very difficult for me to do, but I felt like I had to because it is probably our only chance to maybe figure out why we have had two miscarriages back to back. This is was difficult that I did not even tell DH until this morning after I visited the clinic. So this morning I did as instructed and they drew blood in order to send to the genetics lab along with the tissue sample. They are hopeful that this was in fact the gestational sac and that it will hopefuly shed some light on our situation. I pray that we have some answers in the next week or so. Who knows, maybe what I took to the clinic today was nothing but I felt like I had to at least give it a try.

This has all been very difficult on both DH and myself. Poor DH even had chest pain in the middle of the night and had to use his Nitroglycerin Spray for Angina Pain. I feel terrible but more so for him. He is so stressed. We have discussed taking a break at this point and I think that without saying "we are going to take a break" we both understand that this is what we need. Like I said before, IVF has consumed our lives for the better part of a year. IVF has been number one and everything and everyone else has come second.

I had been wanting to further my nursing career and that had been placed on hold as well. DH had been wanting to do the same and that too had been placed on hold. I picked myself up today out of my misery and called the local university. To my surprise they actualy have the bridge program I have been wanting to take and its all online, which is perfect. So I think that next week I am going to take a trip and meet with an advisor. Classes would not start until January but the theory classes are all online so it would not interfere with anything anyways. There are some clinicals but I believe that they are on Saturdays.

I have mixed feelings about taking a break. Im 37 years old and DH is 48. God, knows, we are not getting any younger. Im so afraid that we may never get back in the game. Still confused about the whole break thing. I think that physically a break would be beneficial and mentally as well but still not convinsed. Im a go go kind of person and dont like breaks. I like to finish something once I start it. Maybe just obsesed with the whole IVF, I want to have another child thing.

Right now I feel kind of in limbo. I want to move forward but I feel I little confused about the direction I want to go. I just wanted to let all of you know that I am very greatful for everything you guys have done. For the time being I am ok with continuing to update the board and post the weekly quotes. I will definately let you ladies know if doing this starts to affect me in anyway, I promise. But for now its ok.

Sunshine-I could definantely use some comfort food so I may take you up on the cookies. I dont have many friends and non that know about my IVF troubles. I only have one friend which I told last cycle and chose not say anything this cycle. i realy wish we lived closer. It would be nice to have someone to talk to in person about what we are all going through. But, thats just the way things are. Im blessed and truly greatful to at least have all of you if only via the internet.

Love,

Maria

[Sunshine1576]

Maria,
I'm glad you didn't stay home today, you would of missed so much! The award was certainly a very nice surprise and you may call it a distraction but it sounds like you really enjoy being around people. I think it's great that you are looking into advancing your career, we have to take the best steps in moving foward. Sometimes we may need a little break to regroup and take care of the things we have on hold. It's not that we are giving up, we know within our hearts we will try again when the time is right. Anyway, I'm baking a batch of homemade cookies tonight just for you!
With Love,
Christy

[bodie1011]

Laura - if you are feeling adventurous, try pumpkin bread for the holiday season. I made a batch last weekend and it was so yummy. Add lots of cinnamon!

WE - thanks for giving an update on how you are doing. I always find work to be a great distraction through all of these trials.

Sunshine - if we do a recipe swap, I'm totally in.

[Lauren319]

I made apple muffins, applesauce, and chocolate dipped florentine cookies today. Yesterday was kale chips w nutritional yeast, red pepper and cashews. I can't stop.

I'm making salmon caesar tonight w raw egg because i can still eat it and hopefully won't be able to in a week or so

I'll write personals later. Mwah

[Sunshine1576]

Sounds like someone I know has been busy in the kitchen tonight. Dh just walked in and I told him we're doing a recipe swap around the holidays. He said he thought it was all about IVF stuff that we ever talked about and I laughed and said it goes to show what he knows! Baking goodies warms my heart and so do you all. Oh my timer just went off, my next batch of homemade mini chocolate chip cookies is ready!

[blueeyedreamer]

Yeah! I want to do the recipe swap! I love to cook/bake although sometimes my DH wishes I didn't like to experiment so much. I recall him asking me once "can't you just make normal chili?". Ha!

Lauren-What on earth are choco dipped florentine cookies? Spinach? I tried kale chips once and won't do that again. What is nutritional yeast? For someone who likes to cook, I sure don't know much.

Maria-Glad to hear you went to work and that you all got that award! How exciting. I love that you took a chance on advancing your schooling and are going to meet with an advisor. You just have to trust that no matter what path you take, break or no break, that is will be the right path for you.

[blessed143]

Maria- Still so sorry that you had to go through this. I have some little debbie chocolate cupcakes. You are more then welcome to them. I have a love for chocolate. Probably why I decided I was going to have to bake a chocolate cake. I am glad that you went to work and that you are looking into furthering your nursing career. I think that you and DH should do what makes you happy. I think that we get so consumed in IVF that it becomes us. I am so sorry again that you all are going through such a hard tie. It is not fair but do not lose your faith! God has a plan for us all. Sometimes it is hard for us to see right away. I hope that you know that you are full of people who love and support you! I hope that you are doing ok and that I am pryaing for you!
xoxo

[Lauren319]

Florentine cookies are my favorite. Also called lace cookies

http://bigboldbeautifulfood.blogspot.co ... okies.html

Nutritional yeast is a vegan way to make things cheesy tasting. I'm not vegan but too much dairy makes me sick.

http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2010/ ... cipes.html

I also pickled a bunch of beets in jars and dehydrated sliced apples. I had so many apples!! I get a farm box every oter Thursday, so I get to make different, interesting things all the time with local fresh produce.