Showing posts with label TTC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TTC. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Infertility

Please take the time to read the article below; written by Alicia from
Check out her blog and her amazing story. 
Alicia has been trying to conceive for over 1.5 years; diagnosed with PCOS...
She is currently saving money towards her dream of becoming a mommy through IVF





Stop ignoring me!

It's a topic that you've all read on my blog.  You've discussed in my comments section on how insensitive some people can be with the words they say, but in reality it's not the words that hurt the most; it's the silence that cuts me to the core.

Too often, people offer well meaning advice that can lead even the hardest heart to ache.  Their words are like fingernails scraping fresh scabs on the wounds of my heart.  Unfortunately words are just that, words.  Yes they hurt, but as the old cliche quote goes, "actions speak louder than words."

With that said, STOP IGNORING ME!  Stop ignoring my feelings.  Stop silencing the reality of my infertility.

I understand that it's hard for people who have never faced infertility to understand how much our hearts ache.  Really, I get it.  It's just that sometimes your ignorance on infertility isn't really ignorance at all, it's stupidity.  The problem isn't that you don't understand what we're going through, it's that you choose not to even try.  Many choose to simply ignore the fact that I (and many others--1 in 8, in fact) are going through a heart-breaking, life-changing, marriage-testing disease and choose to go about their life as if other people aren't hurting.

Our lives are just as much affected by yours as yours are affected by ours.

In all honesty, it's hard enough for us to go to Walmart without wanting to throw the nearest garden rake at a "mother" who yells explicit words at her kid across the store.  What most people don't understand is that infertility affects even the simplest of tasks.  What was once a quick, easy trip to the grocery store now has turned into an emotional battle, and quite simply I avoid it (and I'm sure I'm not the only one)!  Sometimes, Most of the time, we struggle with special occasions like holidays (especially Mother's Day!!!), birthday parties, and basically anything that has to do with kids.  So PLEASE, STOP  thinking we're horrible people for wanting to take care of ourselves and guard our hearts from another ache.  We're not hateful people for not wanting to show up to your second or third baby shower, we just know what will be best for ourselves (and probably for your party).  Who wants a crying, hormonal (probably from all the infertility meds she's on) woman at their party anyway?

Don't get me wrong, we're not always going to want to lock ourselves in our house wearing our comfiest sweat pants and baggiest hoodie, eating the sweetest candy we can find, (although it's quite tempting) but the reality is that it's going to happen on occasion.  We're going to have days that need to be focused on healing our hearts from a failed IUI or IVF cylce, from another miscarriage, from the physical and emotional strain of wanting to strangle the explicit-yelling, trashy pregnant women with 5 kids in Walmart.  It's just going to happen.

So, do ourselves all a favor, will you?

Stop ignoring me and my feelings of inadequacy because I can't "just relax" and magically get pregnant like everyone says. Don't judge me because I don't want to give up my dream of having a biological child to call my own and am not ready to "just adopt" (because I'll magically get pregnant--YEAH RIGHT!).

The reality is that my feelings are real.  They're legit, and I'm not the only one that feels this way.  Infertility affects 1 in 8 people.  My thoughts and feelings are just as important as yours, so stop ignoring them.

Just stop it.

*Disclaimer* This post was not directed towards any specific person or party.  It simply was written to express the thoughts and feelings, which many people go through, that need to talked about and not ignored..  Remember, it's time people stop ignoring infertility!




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Thursday, December 29, 2011

CD 21 / 7 DPO

Progesterone test done this morning; won't know the result until Tuesday!
To say, I am emotional today, is an understatement...
I truly do have the best husband ever. When I tried crying this morning, because I felt these cramps indicate AF is coming, he just hugged me and said, "It is okay; even if it doesn't work out this cycle; there is always next cycle".

I am still holding onto the little hope I have left within me!
I am still praying this is it for us :)


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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

6DPO

I have a doctor's appoinment tomorrow and I am freaking out.

Also, oh my... I have been cramping on and off. It started two days ago, but they were tiny-mild-almost-not-there cramps (you get the picture)...they were so mild that I thought I was for sure making it up.

But that was not the case last night. I was cramping throughout the night; it was so bad, that I woke up a few times. It is way too early for AF cramps, so...

Could this be a good sign?
Maybe implantation?
No brown spotting or anything, but you know what they say, implantation can occur any time from 5-12 days past ovulation, and since I am hopefull this cycle,

I am concluding it WAS implantation cramping :-)


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Friday, December 23, 2011

Update!

You guys have no idea how much I appreciate your e-mails, comments, tweets, etc. Thank you for all the prayers! Before I leave my mother-in-law house, I figured I will give you a quick update on what's going on. I had an ultrasound done on CD13 and had a few follicles measuring at 21mm. I was so worried on CD11 that my follicles were not big enough, but I guess my body is responding well to the Clomid on 50mg. On CD13, the doctor gave me the trigger shot (HCG)... My arm hurt so bad afterwards, my dear husband thought I was being a baby. But it really does hurt.
I got a positive OPK that night, and a negative one the following morning. So, my doctor was right when he told me I would be ovulating in 36 hours; that would have been 3:00am today. As mentioned earlier, I had some mild cramping. They bothered me a little bit, but once I was able to fall asleep, I felt just fine. We followed the doctor's instructions as far as timed intercourse and now are in the two week waiting period. I go back to the doctor's on Dec 28th to check my progesterone levels and determinate if I ovulated or not.
I am guessing the mild cramping was my follicle(s) rupturing and the egg(s) being released; who knows! I do not know what it feels to ovulate since I haven't ovulated before. So, here I am, taking it easy, and crossing my fingers and praying that this is it for us :)

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Friday, December 9, 2011

CD1

So here we go again! I am officially on CD1... to say I am scared is an understatement. 4 more days until I start my first round of Clomid. I pray and hope this works.

Here is our plan:

  • Clomid CD5-9
  • Preseed 
  • OPKs; starting CD8
  • SMEP; BD'ing starting CD8 
  • and our doctor's recommendation to BD 36 hours after the "smiley" face appears
Praying for a smiley face! Wish us luck :-)


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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Waiting :(

I had my doctor's appointment on CD 21 to test if I am ovulating on my own or not. The results were supposed to be back within 2 days. My appointment was on Tuesday. I called them Thursday afternoon to see if my results were available, and the receptionist told me the nurse would call me Friday or Monday. I waited for the call all day Friday, and nothing. I waited for the call yesterday and called them around 2:30pm to get my results when I didn't hear back from them. They put me on hold for about 15 minutes, finally the receptionist comes back on the phone and said, 

"What is your phone number? 
The nurse is with a patient and she would call you back today with your results". 

I gave her my number and once again WAITED (by the phone this time) for the call...
 and they never called. 

I am on CD28 today and as of last night, 
I have been dreaming and hoping that I ovulated and that my AF does not come today, and that we will finally get our BFP this cycle. 

I wanted to have my blood test result BEFORE today! Because I did not want to dream, to hope.. 
not this cycle. 

I am tired of crying! I am tired of waiting up in the middle of night telling my husband over and over how sorry I am that we are not pregnant yet! I am tired of having my heart crushed over and over again every month. 

I wanted things to be different this cycle. I wanted to know the results before CD28 so I am mentally and emotionally prepare if AF shows up today. I do not want to take another pregnancy test if the result is going to be NEGATIVE. 

I do not want the disappointment! I really just want one answer...

DO I OVULATE OR NOT? 

ps. to make things worse, I woke up today feeling dizzy, and my tummy hurts!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

I'm scared!

I have been looking forward to my doctor's appointment since my last visit almost three weeks ago. It is only three days away and I just feel like I need to cancel. 

I want to cancel;
simply because I am afraid of the outcome. 

When it comes to infertility, there is no escape. You either get an answer you are most likely not going to like, or you don't get an answer at all and continue wondering and thinking "what if..."
So, what is worse? To know there is a problem, or to know there is nothing wrong. 

If there is a problem, do we have solutions to the problem? 
If there is not a problem, why can't we get pregnant?
... what's next?

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

My Sticky Note "INFERTILITY"

My husband makes everything better.
He really does. So as we were driving home tonight, I read him this post. He listened.
He told me that I should take this whole experience as a "blessing"
A blessing that there are treatments available
A blessing that we were not in this situation twenty plus years ago
A blessing that we live in a country that offers health care benefits
A blessing that we have options!

I guess there is a big sticky note on my forehead that screams "INFERTILITY"
Am I angry? Yes, I am...

I listen to the radio and within minutes,
an advertise from 'Shady Grove Fertility' clinic starts playing

I get online and within seconds,
advertisements about 'Infertility' are in every page

...
I get on my facebook and you guessed it,
more infertility advertisements

:SIGH:

I walk into my office and half of my co-workers are suddenly PREGNANT
or have a story to share about how it took them 2 months to get pregnant...

I decide to watch some televison last night from Hulu+ and there it was...
19 & Counting
or should I say? 20 & Counting

Celebrity gossip websites...
Jessica Simpson is pregnant

and a few minutes ago I check my personal e-mail and I got an e-mail titled
"fertility- what every man (and women) needs to know"


I want my husband to give me a big hug and tell me everything is going to be okay!
Too bad I won't see him for another two hours :(


Sunday, October 30, 2011

Hormones

I spent a couple hours this morning learning about Clomid. One of my husband's co-worker told him that I really shouldn't take any hormones because of birth defects. I never really thought about this until my husband mentioned it to me last night. 

Okay, so Provera is a hormone, progesterone. This medicine is used for various menstrual problems. This medicine is not recommended if pregnant or breastfeeding. I am not pregnant nor breastfeeding. In my case, there was no other solution to my menstruation problem. I needed my menstruation. I was on CD65 and no AF and plenty BFNs. When you are trying to conceive having to wait around is not really an option. I was not going to wait to have my AF naturally. 

I trust my doctor. He is one of the best in the area. I decided to go to him because he was highly recommended by two of my friends, he has great reviews online, and a high success rate. I spent a lot of time and tears searching for a good doctor. I felt relief when I found one; even though I have to drive about an hour away from home to see him. My husband seems comfortable with him as well, and that was very important for me. 

I look up to my husband for almost everything. I learn a lot from him, he pushes me to be a better person every day, so having his approval meant a lot to me. 

Clomid is used to induce ovulation and its also a hormone, estrogen. If I am not ovulating on my own, is there another option besides Clomid? Perhaps there is... 
But my doctor seems to think Clomid would help us get pregnant if I am not ovulating. The only problem I have with this medicine is the fact that it can increase ovarian cancer. However, this side effect is only if you are taking this medicine for a long period. 

25% of infertility patients have problems with ovulation, and Clomid seems to be a fertility drug that its easy to take with no many side effects. Not to mention 80% of patients who were prescribed Clomid ovulated after completing the treatment. Clomid can decrease the quality of your cervical mucus, and the lining of your uterus. Clomid also gives you 10% chance of having twins. 

But most importantly, in my case, if I am not ovulating on my own, Clomid will give my eggs the chance to be fertilized. This fertility drug could give me the chance to conceive... the chance to be a mom!

There is a chance that Clomid can cause birth defects but this is ONLY if you take it after you become pregnant. Clomid is prescribed at the beginning of your cycle for a few days. So becoming pregnant while taking this medicine is nearly impossible; especially if you follow every step the doctor recommended.

I see no harm on taking this medicine... 

I have until November 15 to learn more about this drug and see if I really need it. If so, my husband and I will make a decision then. 

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Ovulation

I am not sure whether or not I should use OPKs this cycle. I am officially on CD2 today after taking Provera for 10 days. I am scheduled to go to the doctors on CD 21 to test for ovulation. 

I am struggling to decide if I should wait until my blood test to confirm or deny ovulation or if I should test at home as well so I am not surprise of the results. 

My husband thinks I should not test this cycle. Even if I get a positive OPK at home, the blood test can still come back negative, right? So, should I spend money and purchase a kit? or just wait for my blood test?

When I asked the doctor if I should continue trying, he replied "yes". I can do the SMEP again and start baby dancing from CD 8 every other day. 

My friends think my "problem" is that I am stressing too much about this whole trying to conceive journey. So, perhaps taking a break from BBT and OPKs would help me relax a little bit this cycle. At this point, I am not sure what I am going to end up doing. But I sure know that I am afraid about my upcoming doctor's appointment. 

Let's say I go to the doctors, take the blood test, and it comes back positive. Do I celebrate I am ovulating on my own? or do I start crying because that means something else is wrong? Which one is worse? I feel like I am stuck again. I feel hopeless. 

... and if its negative! What is the next step? Clomid? 

If I start Clomid, how many cycles until I am pregnant? One, two, three? I know Clomid treatments start as low as 25mg and they go up... 50mg, 100mg... which dosage is the correct dosage for me? 
...what happens if my body does not respond to Clomid? Okay, okay... I will not get ahead of the game!

Maybe I am feeling this way because I want a quick solution... I want to be pregnant now. I should probably have a different perspective about this, but somehow I can't (at least not now). 

I know that my husband and I will be parents one day! I guess I am just anxious to find out when the next chapter of our life begins...(or is this the beginning?)

Monday, October 17, 2011

999 Reasons To Laugh at Infertility

When you are feeling sorry for your self... just visit this website and you will feel better... it doesn't change the fact that AF show up or you keep getting 100+ BFNsss but you can grasp a little hope and continue fighting against infertility...

Birds & Bees: The Real Story

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Hopeful

I made a doctor's appointment this past Tuesday, and luckily my husband was able to come with me. This cycle has been difficult for us. The last time AF visited me was August 19th and as of right now (10/06/2011) AF is not here and there are no signs that she is coming to visit anytime soon. I am on cycle day 49. I continue to get negative OPKs since my last positive one on 09/15/2011. So let's say I ovulated on 09/16/2011 that would make me 20 DPO.

At 20 DPO, I tested negative for pregnancy.

I had an ultrasound done this past Tuesday and there is a "menstruation cyst" on my right ovary. The doctor is not concern about it, but as soon as he told my husband I started crying, assuming that I have PCOS. The doctor assured us that it was not PCOS; however, he would like to do another ultrasound in the upcoming months. The doctor was calm and so was my husband, I was not!!! I was and still am freaking out.

The doctor did not rule out pregnancy yet.

So,  here I am waiting for the doctor's office to call me and let me know my blood test results. He decided to test for pregnancy and progesterone. I sure hope my progesterone levels are as high as the sky!

I am hopeful, anxious, excited, sad, happy, and concern. Regardless of the results, I am relief to know that the doctor already gave me a solution to make my AF visit if I am not pregnant. Which means, I am step closer to becoming a mom.

As a mention in previous posts, once AF comes, I will have to make a doctor's appointment at cycle day 21 to test if I am ovulating on my own or not. If I am not, the doctor will start treatment (whatever that means!).

I am not alone in this. My husband and I will be parents one day! There is not doubt that there are going to be good and bad days... If I feel like crying, I will cry. If I feel like laughing, I will laugh. *Thanks for the advice Kristen!~*

I am not giving up this fight and I know every day I am step closer to having the family my husband and I want.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

The Girlfriends Guide To Pregnancy


     I absolutely love this book. It is funny, yet it has so much information about pregnancy; information that doctors don't tell you. But most importantly, it dedicates a whole chapter to fathers-to-be. I am not pregnant yet (wishing I was, believe me!) but I truly hope that I don't neglect my husband's feeling throughout the pregnancy. Sure he is not going to be the one carrying the baby inside him; however, he is going to have a lot of chances coming his way too during pregnancy. I will not look the same, and thanks to hormones, I will not act the same either. If you are planning on getting pregnant, or are pregnant, you should really buy this book. You will not regret it!
      

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Waiting...

I'm sitting here waiting for the doctor to see me. I have teary eyes as I wait and write this.

The office is small and there are alot of patients waiting. Some are pregnant, some are here with their brand new babies. And some are here just like me with no baby and not pregnant. To say I'm scared is an understatement. I can't quite define my feelings yet.

I can't believe this day is finally here. I'm trying to be positive about this. I really am.

I came to the conclusion that I'm here because I'm being proactive about pregnancy, not because I have a problem.


Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Fertility Doctor

I sat here for several minutes staring at the computer monitor because I have so many emotions going through my mind as I write this post.

I am sad. I am scared. I feel hopeless. You may think I am dramatic, and that's fine! but this is truly how I am feeling right now.

If you read my blog, you know that my husband and I are trying to conceive our first baby. I finally had the courage to make a doctor's appointment today and tomorrow my TTC roller coaster will take a different turn. I feel like I am labeled as infertile now because we are no longer trying on our own, we are seeking help. Don't get me wrong, I want help; however, with help comes the cruel reality and or confirmation that "something" may be wrong. or maybe no, right?

I have been unable to control my feelings today. And I keep reminding myself that "babies can't have babies" as my husband would say. I need to stop being a baby about this, and be strong. I just need to figure out how :sigh:

I spent hours getting prepare for tomorrow's appointment. I requested my complete medical record to take with me, printed my BBT chart, and have several questions that I need to ask. I do not know what to expect, but I sure hope I don't start crying in front of the doctor.

I am going to be as positive as I can be with this experience. I am willing to do anything and everything so one day I can hold my own baby!

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Believe in Something Bigger than Yourself

"For with God nothing will be impossible" (Luke 1:37)

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all."- Dale Carnegie

"It's easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top"-Henry Ward Beecher

Happy are those who dream dreams and 
are ready to pay the price to make them come true. -Leon J. Suenes

Cancun, Mexico
May, 2011



Sunday, September 4, 2011

The Great Sperm Race

If you are trying to conceive, I recommend you take the time to view these videos. It shows the journey a male's sperm goes through from ejaculation until it fertilizes the egg. This made me feel better about the chances of conceiving right when you first start trying because these sperms go through a lot and have a lot of obstacles before they can finally reach the egg. It is an amazing documentary. 
A must watch if you are TTC!

The Great Sperm Race, Part 1


The Great Sperm Race, Part 2


The Great Sperm Race , Part3



The Great Sperm Race, Part 4




The Great Sperm Race, Part 5



The Great Sperm Race, Part 6

ps. don't forget to mute the music on my blog so you can truly enjoy this documentary.

ENJOY!

Friday, September 2, 2011

Actively Trying!

This past week, I have been feeling really sad. I love everything about my life; in fact, life is good! But this TTC journey has hit me harder than any obstacles I ever encountered so far. 

I am in love, I have hopes, and I am happy... yet, there is something missing. 

I desperately want to be pregnant! and that's all I can think about....

I am lucky to have a supportive husband who is willing to do any crazy "recommendation" I read online to increase our chances of conceiving. 

I know my husband will do anything to make me happy, but what if I can't give him the joy of parenthood. I know I am being dramatic, but I can't help but think what if... :sigh:

I am not giving up, I know that... and I know that I feel this way today but may feel different tomorrow. The truth is that I have been feeling this way because I have not gotten a positive ovulation reading this cycle. I am still waiting... and the wait kills me! 

Not only do I have to wait for my ovulation date, but then I have to wait two weeks to confirm pregnancy or to say "hi" to my AF! and then it starts all over again... 

I agree with one thing my husband said a few days ago, if we do not get pregnant by Christmas, we are definitely going on a vacation to Cabos or Cancun... We loved Cancun when we went this past May! 

So here are a few things we are currently doing while TTC:
  • We continue to use 'Cycle Beads'- according to this, I am still in the fertile window and have about 5 days left... I started counting the beads when I was spotting, some people tells me that's when you start and some say you start counting the beads when you actually start bleeding... so according to the cycle beads I am on CD15

  • We are currently using 'Pre-seed'- I can't say if it works or not yet because I haven't been able to track my O day this cycle yet.

  • We are doing the SMEP- started on CD 8 (according the cycle beads) or CD 7 according to fertilyfriend.com ...either way, we are 'baby dancing' every other day

  • I am taking my temp every morning at 6:20am even though I still do not understand this charting thing!
  • After 'baby dancing'; laid on bed with my legs up for 30-45 minutes with a pillow underneath me
*** I am using a regular pillow, not the one shown in this picture, 
but I am thinking about purchasing one if needed***
  • I am continuing the use of OPKs and taking prenatal vitamins




Here is to all of you TTC:


Wednesday, August 24, 2011

SMEP Plan

'Sperm Meets Egg Plan'


so here is how it works...
  • Start baby making intercourse on CD 8 and continue every second day until you get a + OPK
  • Start your OPK testing on CD10 and continue until you have a positive, still having intercourse every second day.
  • Once your OPK turns positive, have baby making intercourse for 3 consecutive nights/days, skil the 4th day and have intercourse on the 5th day just for good measure.
  • If your OPK doesn't turn positive, continue with intercourse every second day until CD35 then test for pregnancy.
Some websites suggested elevating hips for 10-30 minutes after baby making intercourse. They recommend baby making intercourse for three days in a row once positive OPK is confirm, skip one night, and then do the baby making intercourse for a couple more days. 

I will tell my husband about this plan tonight; can't wait to see his reaction!