TTC - Week of September 6

[lisas3575]

Is it ok that I start a new thread? Part 1 was up to 5 pages and it's only been a week... Maybe we should do a weekly thread like the HLSG?

Ironic that I should start this week's thread, I have nothing to report. Still waiting. Should know something by Sunday. All good vibes accepted graciously.

Who else is waiting with me-- Kerri, Meg... Best wishes to you, too.

I hate having my screen name out there as the thread starter!

[gertdog]

I know what you mean about having your name listed as the thread-starter! Thanks for taking the baton from me this week. ;)

Nothing much to report here, either. CD 16, temps consistently low (97.0-97.2), no O pains of note.

[Jessica]

Lisa--I am sending heaps of baby wishes to Oregon, and it is a nice clear day here so they should arrive promptly :). Thanks for starting this thread--we sure had a lot to report in the first week!

[BethH]

I do have a question. I just went off BCP in anticipation of TTC and am wondering what I should expect. I couldn't get in to see my doctor until next week. Is my body going to have some reaction to the sudden lack of hormones or will I feel the same until its time for the monthly visit?

Please advise -- I'm somewhat nervous about all of this. Thank you all in advance!

I'm looking forward to joining this thread once I get all the BCP out of my system -- does that take about 3 months? I'm a novice. :o

[gertdog]

Hi Beth! I think you'll find that our answers to your question are all over the place. For instance, my body stayed on a nice 28 day schedule for the first three months after going off BCPs. Then my cycles gradually became longer and more irregular. Others on this thread are struggling with the fact that their periods have not arrived at all following the cessation of BCPs. And some seem to have made a pretty seamless transition. So it seems to be a highly individualized response!

In terms of other changes- my skin broke out more for several months, but that was the only thing I've noticed. It seems to have gone back to "normal" at this point, a little over 1 year after going off the pill.

In any case, welcome! Even when we don't have clear answers, you'll find a lot of support here. :)

[Jessica]

Welcome, BethH!!

The women on this thread have had very different experiences after going off BCP. Some have had their cycles go back to normal immediately; others have had trouble restarting their cycles. It really varies.

For me, I went back to normal, which means irregular cycles of anything from 25 days to more than 40 :rolleyes: .

[lisas3575]

Beth, everyone is different. Be aware, though, that you can get pg the first cycle off BCP, so if you're not ready, be sure to use a backup method. I think others have posted that your chances of conceiving are greater in the few months coming off BCP, so you might even want to take this opportunity to get busy. ;) Welcome to the thread!

Rebecca, I'm going to reply to you over here if that's ok. I'm glad that you found someone in your family to confide in, and your water sports all sounded so fun! You had a great sendoff to summer. Good luck on Friday, keep us posted. I know what you mean about not being ready to tell your mom yet-- my mom is completely clueless. I tried talking to her a year or so ago about it, and she plain didn't listen/hear me. I also think that she really wishes she had other choices besides starting a family when she was young, and projects those feelings on to me. All around, it's annoying to deal with her about it, so I just don't.

[TerriS]

New thread sounds good to me! Timing good too, new thread, new cycle, at least for me! Sigh. Sending all my leftover vibes to you, Lisa!

Beth, the answer to what to expect when going off the pill is ANYTHING. Some people feel exactly the same. I had a couple of days spread throughout the first month of just generally feeling funky - light headed, etc - but that was it. Most doctors will tell you that BCP doesn't stay "in your system" but the fact is you've been chemically controlling your hormones while on the pill and now they need to take back over and do their own thing, and that adjustsment can take a few days or a few months. Are you tracking your temperature or anything like that? If you're nervous about what's going on with your body, I recommend temping and charting, because you'll at least know if you have ovulated on your own and then will have some idea of when to expect the ol' "monthly visit" - because it almost certainly won't be in 28 days like on the pill. If you need more information check out the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility or read through the information on www.fertilityfriend.com. Try not to freak out when your temperatures are completely erratic...just watch for the larger pattern. My first cycle off the pill was a little wacky, but they have been relatively normal since then. I do have to be extra vigilant with my skin and watch for breakouts, and the PMS symptoms are more varied than before. But there is no way to know how your body will respond! You just have to hang in there.

[RebeccaT]

I am reposting my message over here since I didn't know there was a new thread:

Hi everyone! I tried to post while I was out of town, but my dad's computer crapped out on me, and lost my post. Anyway...

I am so very sorry for all the negatives this month. That just stinks! We are definitely overdue for good news! I was checking the BB from DH's blackberry in the airport to see if there was news, but that little thing is too dang hard to use for posting, so I couldn't post condolences. But I am truly sorry. Here's to a clean slate!

As far as me, I had a great weekend with *lots* of family. I decided not to tell either of my parents (saw Dad and Aunt/Uncle/Cousins Friday-Saturday AM and Mom and Aunt/Uncle/Grandmother Saturday PM-Monday) b/c I just am not ready for them to know that we are trying. Got the normal Insensitive Uncle bit from both sides[insert loud brash voices here] - "So, it's about time for some grandchildren around this place!" Thank goodness, my dad totally ignored it when it happened at his house, and when my other uncle started in he got a "look" from my aunt. I did end up telling my mother's sister what was going on Sunday. She's just one of those people who I can really talk to, and it felt good to tell someone in my family what is happening (or not happening, as it were). I feel guilty for not telling my Mom, though. But I just don't feel ready yet, and I know she would worry, and ask me about it every time I talk to her... there may come a time where I really need her support, but I just don't think I'm there yet.

On a lighter note, there was much boat-riding and waterskiing this weekend. Very very fun. And not something I would have been able to do if I were PG, so that's my silver lining. I got up on a wake board for the first time, and I just know that if I'd had another day I would have had it down pat!

Sorry this is all about me. Oh, one more thing I was going to tell you guys... I ahve already made appts with both of the RE's that my Dr. referred me to. Better to have too many appts than none at all. Anyway, I figure that, after my ultrasound on Friday, my Dr. may prefer one over the other based on the results, and I can just cancel the extra one. If she doesn't have a preference, then I am not sure which one to go with... my girlfriend (who happens to have a gorgeous 1-yr-old) saw one of them, so I will probably go with the one she saw. That Dr. also has you give all your history to a Nurse Practitioner over the phone before you go in for your appt, so she has seen all of it before you go in and meet with her face to face. I kind of like that idea, since it seems like it would make your first appointment more productive.

Anyway. Goodness. I just don't shut up, do I? I missed ya'll over the weekend!

Oh, and welcome Beth! :)

[mst]

Beth- Welcome aboard! If you have any questions along the way, feel free to stop us and ask.

As for my experience off BCP. My first cycle was 42 days. I have been very broken out (which I expected- I have bad acne), and horrible cramps and nausea with my period (Which we call AF for Aunt Flo). After that, I have been about 32 days. MD's tell you to wait three months, not to get the BCP out of your system, but to have a better idea of your cycles so they can better predict how far along the baby is, and when you are due.

There are different feelings on the thread about temping. Some people feel more in control when they temp, and others feel like they spend too much time obsessing about their charts. Personally, I chart, and I enjoy it. I use fertility friend. I have found this stuff fascinating. But, I could definately see how others might find themselves too obsessed with their charts. It can become addicting!

Lisa, thanks for starting the new thread. You get all *extra* good vibes this week! Maybe we should all give extra vibes to the thread starter since we all hate doing it!Glad you did because we really needed to leave that old thread behind.

Kerri and Meg- fingers crossed for youtoo!

Buffygirl- so glad that you are feeling better inside your heart. I think that if you go the adoption route, you will be so glad. I think the trick is to be ok within your heart. I still have fingers crossed for you to conceive, but I know that you will be okay either way. And I envy you for being in that place.

PC- Glad to hear you are safe. It was getting scary there...Although, as soon as winter hits, I will wonder why on earth I don't live in Florida!

Rebecca- I can feel for you being away this weekend. This thread is also addicting. I am always wondering how so-and-so is feeling, or if so-and-so tested.

As for me, DH did his third SA Friday (sans shower!) and we got the results today. Exactly the same. I am disappointed because I thought that by following the "rules" of SA, we might do better. We are in no worse place than last week, but I was hoping we'd be in a better place. His surgery is Friday. I am not worried about the surgery, but I feel so badly that he has to go through this. The surgery is pretty straightforward, except for his hernia so I will be eagerly awaiting his results in December. I still have a small glimmer of hope that he might be one of the few that this was solve his/our problems. And, frankly, I am a big ol' baby, and am hoping to skip the HSG since I seem to be functioning normally.

Still no hopes of a job anywhere...

[lisas3575]

MST, sorry that the test results weren't improved. :( So the success rate of that surgery (sorry, I forget the name of it, starts with a v) is low? That bites! Isn't it about the only treatment option for low motility?

[mst]

Varicocele. Not an easy word to remember!

It is the only treatment for what is wrong. All of what he has is consistent with varicocele. Low sperm count, low motility, low viability, increased immature forms with coiled tails. It is scary to see the results, but good to know that they know what is wrong. If this does not help (or only helps a little) we will move on to IVF.

There is some disorder where the sperm swims the wrong way (DH does not have this.) But, it cracks me up. All the sperm has to do in life is swim, and those jerks are swimming in the wrong direction!

I am starting to feel like I will never get a job. I don't even get calls back. Grrrrrrrrrrr.

[Clara]

We plan and God laughs.....

I had SURGERY 3 weeks ago, puking, pain meds, you name it, stressful, right? Stressful enough to delay ovulation, right?

Reminder: We're on a TTC break until November because of school...

Well after a week long newlywed like phase with DH (this should have been my first clue), my boob detectors (thank you Terri for the boob-poking technique)went off yesterday! The good news is that DH and I had a long discussion on Saturday while doing yard work, and we had decided that during this TTC hiatus until November we would let whatever happens happen and throw out the thermometer and charts and just do it when we felt like it :D ...well we've felt like it a lot lately, and since on a good month, I'll ovulate between cd 20-25, we thought no problem, I won't ovulate until at least cd 35 or so!....it's cd 24...boobs are killing me, and based on the cramps...I should make like a hen and lay an egg by the end of the day.

On to other news....
(((Terri))) That sucks! I really thought it was your month.
Kerri- Hang in there, not long to go!!
mst- Good luck with everything going on with you. And go on that cookie tour....mmmm....cookies!!!!
PC- Glad you're okay!!! And since you spent all that money on the monitor, you're guaranteed to get pregnant the first time you use it!;)
Kim- You sound like you're doing awesome!
Meg- You and Kim are such inspirations to us. We're so lucky to have you here!!!
Rebecca- I was pleasantly surprised when I told my mom we were TTC. She's been great about it, and has shared a lot about her experiences as well.
Jessica, Lisa, Stephanie, Jen, everyone else, hope you're doing great!

BethH- Off the pill....we could all write a book on that. Everything changed with me...the way I felt, my skin, my sex drive, but I am so in tune with my body. I can't even try to forget about my cycles because I know exactly when I ovulate (I'm lucky in that regard), but I do have long cycles (35-45 days long).

Marcy- I used OPKs and like them, but found that my achy boobs and cramps are the most reliable signs for me, so now I just save my money. :D

As for temping, I've decided to just temp when my boob detectors go off until I see a clear temp rise, then I will stop the temping!! I just want to know that I definitely ovulated so if AF doesn't come when expected I don't get excited for nothing....

[KValley]

Well, here I am. Lurking here since I rejoined the board in July. Lisa pointed me to this thread last year, knowing of my on-going struggles TTC. I didn't feel like talking about it then, but after reading everyone else's trials and tribulations, I feel better, in a weird way. Know you understand.

Anyway, a brief recap. I'm Julie, newly 35, DH is 38, we've been married 12 years.

Went off BCP in February 2003. Did not have a period until December 27, 2003. Was diagnosed with hypothyroid in August 2003. I now visit the DR every 6 weeks since then to review blood test and check thyroid level, adjust RX. I'm holding steady at 1 1/2 grains.

After December of last year, I had 3 more relatively normal periods. THen nothing from APril until the beginning of August. I'm "due" any day now, if I'm back to normal.

Started charting a la TCOYF as soon as I menstruated last December. Was faithful to my chart, even though amenorrheic, until mid-June. Had a very hard time determining ovulation and the three times I was certain I was ovulating I was out of town on business. :(

I quit charting in mid-June. DH and I went on holiday out of the country, then returned to general havoc (a new job for me, buying a house and moving) until this past week. Last visit with DR had her laughing- she said "You know you aren't going to get pregnant this summer, not with all of the stress in your life". I agreed and decided to just put it all out of my mind until things calmed down. The thought is now back.

DH and I decided long ago that we would not pursue fertility anything- no Clomid, nothing. We have looked into international adoption and we will make a decision in the coming year to pursue this or to be childfree. The exception is a naturopathic route as prescribed by my dr. She wants my thyroid to hold steady for 3 months before she is ready to consider us truly trying to conceive.

DH has been tested and all is fine on his end.

I love my DR. SHe is incredibly positive and patient and believes strongly in the mind-body connection. We had a heart-to-heart (one of many)in June, looked at the lifestyle I was leading- a job that took me away from home every couple of weeks, the uncertainty of our immediate future, (we sold our house, thought of picking up and moving without jobs/home, our marriage had been through a very trying year) and talked about my own hesitations- wanting a baby, but recognizing the lifestyle barriers we kept throwing in the way. That same week I accepted a job offer that has been a return to a normal schedule, no more travel, a low stress job I can envision returning to post-maternity, with on-site daycare. And we just moved into a home we love, with room for baby.

So, I'm ready to refocus but worry about returning to the waiting/hoping/expectation route that charting led me into. It gave me a sense of control, on one hand; on the other it made me think about it every morning and basically every time I went to the loo- checking that fluid. I think I will not resume charting, at least for a while. Give my brain a chance to catch up with heart and body.

Sorry for the ramble- it's been 18 months and counting by MY TCC calendar!

Wishing you all great fertility!!

Julie

[mst]

Clara - I hope, I hope! Sounds good!

Julie- Lots happening with you. Glad that you are able to navigate through this craziness and try to focus in on what works best for you and your DH. Feel free to post, or lurk. We welcome you either way.

Okay- I am trying to get off my tush, and buy some fabric to make pretty things with. At least I should be sewing...

[lisas3575]

Welcome, Julie!!!!!!!! :) :) You just made my day.

If you check out the 'Part 1' thread, you'll find introductions for many of us here. Post when you're up to it, this is a very supportive group.

[Jessica]

Clara--sounds like this could be the cycle for you. Nothing is every quite how we plan it, is it? Good luck!

Welcome, Julie!

[RebeccaT]

Hi Julie! I am so glad to see you here! I have missed you - sounds like the last year has been one of many changes and much upheaval. I am so glad to hear that the new job and new house have brought some long-needed and much-deserved stability. :)

[gertdog]

Hi Julie- It does sound like you've been through a lot, and have done a lot of soul-searching with DH. I do hope you'll find support here. Extra hugs on the hypothyroidism- I am hypothyroid also. It took almost 2 years to get a diagnosis (original dr. just couldn't believe a woman in her early 20s needed to be checked for it- she was so sure I was just depressed), another year to get the dosage of meds right. But what a difference it made! Now I only go in once a year for a checkup.

Meredith, sorry to hear about DH's test results but glad you have some definitive information now.

Clara, maybe this will be the month!

Rebecca, glad you had a fun weekend- good to take your mind off things for a few days.

[ChiefExec]

Welcome, Beth! As for getting off the pill, my skin went a little crazy (and has stayed that way :rolleyes: ) but no other real effects.

I spent my Labor Day weekend, since my beach trip was cancelled due to Hurricane Frances, at my abysmal RE's office getting ultrasounds. :o It looks like I've made some follicles this cycle, thanks to the clomid, but they probably won't mature or erupt into an egg. I'll go back in for another (!) ultrasound tomorrow to be sure, but it didn't happen last cycle and it's hard to have high hopes for this cycle.

Also, DH and I made a big decision over the weekend. Because my RE here is so unbelievably craptastic (remember he's the guy who answered his cell phone and proceeded to carry on a conversation during our first consultation :rolleyes: ) we are going to switch to a specialist in Atlanta, which is quite a ways away from me; because of that, I am going to quit my job in December. There is just no way to keep up this schedule with my current job. I just hope I am not bored to tears, but I hope to really immerse myself in charity work and the like. Anyway, so that's what's up with me! Rindi, I can't wait to hear about how your appointment goes. :)

[Beth H]

Welcome BethH from Beth (space) H :) and also to Julie. This board is a great source of support - it's a really good and diverse group of women.

I know some of us on the board have been married for a while (in my case - 8 1/2 years). I sometimes worry that we're so set in our own ways that it will be difficult to adjust to a baby/child. Does anyone else ever have these fears? I was just around my nephew this weekend, who is an adorable but fussy 4 month old. I guess sometimes I still get cold feet about the whole TTC thing.

[Jessica]

Beth (space) H--I have the same concerns. My DH and I have been married for five years and together for 12 years. We travel a lot and we realize that a baby will change that lifestyle. I've observed that now that we are TTC we tend to notice more places and activities that are kid-friendly. We're surprised to see how many kids (even well-behaved ones ;) ) are at some of our favorite restaurants (even non-chains!), and we realize we can finally take advantage of the playground across from our house. I think part of it is a matter of changing our mindset and for us, that is taking a while.

[ChiefExec]

Jessica and Beth H: I've been thinking a lot about those issues as well. In addition to spending half my life at the doctor's over the weekend ;), I also visited with my friend Alicia and her brand new baby. He was born the last week of July and is TOO cute, but she was lamenting that she spent the entire time out for dinner Saturday night in the bathroom trying to calm him down, and also that she had had to walk and burp him all Sunday morning and afternoon due to a tummy ache he was having and basically did not see the light of day on this beautiful Labor Day holiday. Of course, I'm thinking she is just so lucky to have him (they conceived her very first month off the pill :rolleyes: ) but I do see her point--life will be very different if/when we finally do conceive.

[jphilg]

CE- Sorry you had such a no-good, very-bad weekend. It sounds like you and your DH made a big decision, though. Are there no other REs in your area that you might trust? I understand that the whole IVF thing can be really consuming, both timewise, and emotionally. If you have the flexibility to take a break from work, I am sure that you can find lots of lower-stress ways to fill the day. I am a little jealous. But then, I am not going through everything you are. So again, I see that no one gets the perfect hand dealt. ((CE))

Welcome Julie and Beth! One of the plus sides to going off the pill is, for many of us, a welcome jolt to the libido. I feel like a teenager again!

Regarding the whole "am I ready to give up the freedom and fabulousness for burp-stained shoulders?" discussion: Yes. Yes indeedy. I love our life right now...we travel all the time, and have plenty of disposable income. But we've been doing that for a while, and it has started to feel a little empty. So many of our friends have kids, and it has generally softened them a bit, made their lives richer. I've definitely entered a slower, sweeter time in my life, and I am sure that a kid will enrich it further. My "ways" are changing already.

[ChiefExec]

Regarding the whole "am I ready to give up the freedom and fabulousness for burp-stained shoulders?" discussion: Yes. Yes indeedy. I love our life right now...we travel all the time, and have plenty of disposable income. But we've been doing that for a while, and it has started to feel a little empty. So many of our friends have kids, and it has generally softened them a bit, made their lives richer. I've definitely entered a slower, sweeter time in my life, and I am sure that a kid will enrich it further. My "ways" are changing already

Wow. What a lovely way of putting this. That is very much the way we feel. That is why I was a little taken aback when my friend was actually complaining about it. ;) I just feel sort of shallow and self-absorbed right now (not because I mean to, but just because of circumstances), and I know DH's family (whom we live near and interact with quite frequently) probably thinks the same thing--like they think I am intentionally putting off having children because it will interfere with my lifestyle and body image. That could not be further from the truth, and I would gladly give up any aspect of my lifestyle (or my bod! :D) to have a child right now; looks like it might be time to let the cat out of the bag as far as our fertility problems go.

Jphilg, there actually is only one fertility clinic in our area. And we have decided that we are not ready to go the IVF route *quite* yet (I'm still in my twenties, and it just seems sort of premature and overwhelming), so I'm not quitting solely because of that. I just, well, frankly, am sick of work. :D And I wonder if the stress of it all isn't doing crazy things to my body. I guess we shall see ... who knows, though. I may drive myself crazy with thoughts of TTC if I don't keep pretty darn busy, but hopefully I will just be more chilled out and have more time to devote to the whole getting pregnant thing. I am looking forward to it.

[rinsav]

Wow, we've got a lot to catch up on after the long weekend! Hope everyone had a great, relaxing time whatever you did.

Rebecca - I'm so glad you have two appointments. That was really smart of you to make both and to decide which to keep after the ultrasound. I hope all goes well on Friday. I'll be eager to hear the results (I'm sure you will be too!). I hope you'll finally have some answers. I know what you mean about not telling your mom. I feel really guilty too for not telling mine. We're actually very close but I just don't feel ready to tell her all this yet. I'm not exactly sure why. I feel like I want to have a better handle on what's wrong with me before I say something to her. Her Mom (my Granny) just died a few weeks ago, she and my Dad just moved, my brother and SIL are having a baby next month....In general, they have a lot going on in their lives and I don't want her worrying about me too on top of all of that. I really haven't told many people period - just two friends for now. I'm glad you were able to tell your Aunt. It must have felt good to talk to a family member. I'm so glad you had such a fun weekend. You needed it and deserved it!:)

Lisa, Jessica, Stephanie, all else who are waiting - good luck this cycle!!! I want some happy news around here!!

Clara - Sounds like you and DH are having a lot of fun!!:D I think this just might be the perfect time for something to happen...Sometimes, the best things happen when you're not even trying.

mst - I'm so sorry about your DH's results. I'm glad he's having the surgery right away so you can see what happens and move on from there. Waiting is the worst! I'll be thinking about you guys on Friday and sending him good wishes. How's he feeling about the whole thing?

Julie - I'm sorry for all that you've been through. That's great that you have such a wonderful doctor and she sounds like she'll help you through everything in such a caring and healthy way. I love that she spent the time having a heart to heart with you. Not all doctors have the time for that. Yours must be really special. I think your decision not to chart for a while makes a lot of sense. Your life seems to have calmed down a lot from the craziness of the past year and you sound happy. I wish you lots of peace and relaxation in the months ahead.

ChiefExec - It sounds like you made a big decision over the weekend and it seems like a very good one for you and DH. Your RE certainly was not treating you as he should so seeing a specialist in Atlanta is a great plan. I'm sorry you have to quit your job, but it sounds like it's a decision you're comfortable with. Don't worry, you won't be bored. I got laid off several years ago and worried about the same thing. It wasn't the case at all...I got into cooking and found this BB (which I love!), I did some soul searching and found my true calling job-wise (I started a pet sitting service), and I did many other things in my spare time that I never had the time or energy to do before. I bet it will turn out to be a very good thing for you!

Wow, I wrote a lot! Sorry about that! I didn't have a change to read this new thread until now and you guys have been busy today!:)

[KValley]

Thanks everyone for your good thoughts and wise comments. I have so many friends with just-delivered babies or who are newly pregnant - it feels that I am surrounded by fertility except for the dark cloud that hangs over me! It's a relief to hear from you all.

About the change in lifestyle- I also add that Jen's comments are so beautiful and articulate. We feel the same. We've had years together as a couple, as individuals, we've travelled the country and the world, had a couple of careers, homes; we are now ready to open up and share ourselves with a child. Although we will certainly slow down in the early years, we see a child enhancing the lifestyle we've chosen and bringing new excitement to our love of travel and physical activity.

I think I worry more that I am too set in my ways, that I like my things just so, that I won't be able to deal with a messy house and microwave dinners and someone messing around with my CDs. I also worry about getting out of shape, about not being able to do all of the things I can do now- going to the gym at 5:30 a.m., training for a competition, deciding at the last minute that I want to go for a bike ride for an hour or to a matinee or just read for an afternoon. But then I start to feel like CE- shallow and selfish. I just see us raising this super kid- smart, independent, adventurous, a little weird and quirky like us. My gut tells me that not only should I not feel like I have to give up those things or change who I am, I should just incorporate Baby J into the mix and guard my own independence fiercely- as well as the "togetherness" of DH and me -precisely for the benefit of Baby J. Does that make any sense?

[boisewinesnob]

Originally posted by ChiefExec

That is why I was a little taken aback when my friend was actually complaining about it.

nonTTC lurker wanting to respond to this ;)

Chief Exec, it could be that your friend is just trying to make conversation and, especially if she knows you are having trouble TTC, feels it is better to "complain" than to gush about how wonderful having a child is so as not to seem like she's rubbing it in.....

just a guess :)

[DanaSD]

more of a lurker than a poster...

update:
I'm on day 19 of my cycle which have been 32-37 days long so I guess I'm in the wait phase. We put in good effort with the BD over the last week but hubby left last night and won't be home until Friday. Then I leave on Sunday for 5 days. Maybe a few more tries over the weekend before I leave. I'm thinking about testing when I get home - that will be 31 days into my cycle. Last time I got pregnant I didn't notice it for a week or so - things were crazy and I spotted a little so I just assumed AF was coming but then a week later my boobs were KILLING me and no AF. This time I'm ready and waiting... My stomach was bothering me this weekend so I started poking my boobs which is ridiculus since there's no way I would have symptoms this soon - I think I've been following this board too much.

I wish I knew now because I'm spending the week in Napa! oh well, I'm going up there to take pastry and baking classes so that will keep me busy but in my free time I plan on touring some of the vineyards - maybe a few sips but I'll pass on the glass. This is a dream of mine to take classes at the CIA (I'm going to the Greystone campus in Napa) and its a career discovery program. At this point I'm not sure if I want to go to pastry school or stay with my current career or become a SAHM - if I get pregnant my decision will be made since I don't think I could start school while I'm pregnant.

[rinsav]

Dana - It's very exciting that you could be pregnant! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you! By the way, your week in Napa sounds so great! Have a wonderful time!

[BethH]

Hi everyone! Thank you all for your warm welcomes and insightful stories. I feel much better about what to be expecting being off the pill. What a wonderful group! I'm so thrilled to have stumbled onto this thread a few weeks ago (and lurked for awhile).

Just for the sake of full disclosure, I'm 28, DH is 35 and we've been married 3.5 years.

I also feel nervous about TTC -- but feel like I'm ready for a new focus in my life. We have seen people react to children both ways. One couple laments the loss of their freedom and constantly asks how we spend our free time, comments that they wish they could do the same, etc. Another couple couldn't be happier and really seem like having a child has enhanced their lives in a wonderful way. I feel like DH and I will react like the latter rather than the former -- but I guess you never really know for sure until it happens to you.

I also have some fears about my body not working like it should (for some reason -- no real basis for this fear). I think that because I've been on BCP for 12 years, I'm afraid that my body won't know what to do without its daily dosage of hormones. I guess that I'll just have to be patient -- wait the full 3 mos. before trying and see what happens.

Thanks for listening. Best wishes to all!!! :p

[ChiefExec]

Chief Exec, it could be that your friend is just trying to make conversation and, especially if she knows you are having trouble TTC, feels it is better to "complain" than to gush about how wonderful having a child is so as not to seem like she's rubbing it in.....

I realize this ... that's why I didn't make a big deal out of it. :D

[ChiefExec]

Anyone tried Femara? Any experience with it vs. Clomid? Thanks. :)

[rinsav]

Hello all,

Just thought I'd tell you all about my RE appointment that I went to today. I'm just sitting here feeling very overwhelmed and trying to process everything she said. I already have a list of questions that I'm going to call and ask her tomorrow. It's just too much to understand on the first go round. Okay, basically, here's the deal....she thinks my pituitary gland is completely non-functioning right now. She looked at my blood test results and at my sonogram. She agreed with my OBGYN that Clomid wouldn't work for me right now at all since my hormone levels are so low. Plus, even if she somehow got me to ovulate, my uterine lining is way to thin for the egg to implant itself. So, we have to work on my uterine lining first. She did another sonogram while I was there to see if my uterine lining had grown much since the last sonogram (which was about a month ago) and it hadn't. So, she's going to prescribe Estrace (estrogen) for me at the highest dose available. She told me that I should take it for 3 weeks and then go back to her to have another sonogram to see if the uterine lining is growing sufficiently. If it is, then she'll give me Provera (actually, I'm going to ask for Prometrium this time - the natural progesterone) which should make me bleed this time since I'll have had the estrogen working for me, which my body isn't making on its own. She said she'll want to do this cycle at least twice and then we'll maybe talk about hormone injections, etc. She's checking to see what my insurance covers and then we'll talk about what we want to do and when. I'm a little upset because I feel like, if I have a problem with my pituitary gland, don't I need to worry about it and what's causing it rather than just pumping me full of hormones to compensate for it? I want to ask her if I should see a straight endocrinologist or what she thinks. Don't I need a properly functioning pituitary gland just for life in general? I mean, what if I didn't want to get pregnant, what would she recommend then? Of course, I do want to get pregnant, but I just wonder if it's a health problem aside from causing infertility issues. Anyway, I feel kind of confused. She also drew a bunch of blood from me to do some more tests. I have something called Raynaud's Phenomenon (my fingers get completely white and numb from the cold - or even when it's not so cold) and she wants to test to see if that's affecting anything. I also might get an MRI to make sure that I don't have an endocrin inactive tumor in my head. Yikes! It's all so scary and I'm really not looking forward to taking these hormone drugs. I think they're going to make me crazy or depressed or something not-so-good. I just feel like there's so much to go through right now and I'm not looking forward to it. Sorry to go on and on. It's just a lot of information to process and I'm not even sure that I truly understand all of it. If any of you can think of any other questions that might be helpful to ask when I call her tomorrow, please let me know. I value all of your opinions a lot!

Hope everyone else is doing well today!

[Jessica]

((((((Rindi))))) You are absolutely right; that is a lot of information to absorb. I think you ask some good questions and my suggestion would be to write them down before your next conversation with the RE. I do that now because I always forget my questions when I get in that doctor's office.

I am so sorry that you are dealing with these problems but it sounds as if some of them may have solutions. I will keep you in my thoughts as you begin to sort through the information.

Take care,

Jessica

[lisas3575]

((((((Rindi))))))) That is a ton to absorb. I don't have any good questions to add, but did want to let you know that a friend of a friend was having fertility problems that were traced back to a non-functioning pituitary gland. She received treatment (not sure what it was) and today has a beautiful 13 month old son. :)

Hang in there.

Sorry, CE, I don't have any info about that drug.

[TerriS]

Oh Rindi, that sounds so overwhelming, but I hope you're on the path to getting some solutions! Actually, my best friend had issues with her pituitary...a small tumor that was over-producing prolactin, another hormone that actually once caused her to spontaneously lactate - produce breast milk! She had to get an MRI and was able to shrink the tumor with drugs, and actually just successfully got pregnant on her own. :)

Is your OBGYN your primary care doc? One thing you can do before starting all these hormones is see about seeing either a general practicioner or a general endocrinologist to see if there is something specific about this issue that needs to be addressed. If I remember correctly from my friend, most tumor-type things on the pituitary (hers was the size of a pinhead) are benign and in fact very common.

Check this out for more info:
http://www.pituitary.com/faq/

It's all gonna be okay, so hang in there!!! :) We're here for you. :)

[gertdog]

(((Rindi))) Wow, I'm sorry the appointment and the information you received were so overwhelming. I second Terri's idea to talk to your primary care physician about any general health issues related to pituitary function that might be cause for concern.

I am so mad at myself today! I've been temping every day. As I've mentioned, my temps have been surprisingly stable. I've had 3 days of EWCM and last evening had what might have been O-pain. So what do I do? I fall asleep reading in bed and forget to turn on my alarm clock. I overslept by an hour and missed my usual temp time! I did take my temp when I woke up. If I had gotten that temp at my normal wake time, it would qualify for a shift and I'd be drawing a coverline. But since it was an hour late I don't know for sure. Grrrrrr. I know it's a small thing but go figure that the day I expect to spike would be the day I miss. We'll see what tomorrow morning brings (I've already set the alarm!).

[Jessica]

Stephanie, how frustrating! I often have temp problems, although mine are more related to bad sleep patterns from insomnia. It is just so aggravating to have to wait a day.

[rinsav]

Thanks so much for your responses! I left a message at my primary physician's office so hopefully, she'll call me back shortly so I can get her opinion on the situation.

Terri - That's interesting about your friend. The strange thing with me is that my prolactin was really low too so it can't be that type of a tumor. However, I read about non-secreting tumors so I want to get an MRI to rule out those. It's tough not knowing what's causing my pituitary gland to shut down. That's wonderful that your friend is finally pregnant!

Stephanie - I really don't think that an hour makes a huge difference so my guess is that you probably did spike. That is frustrating though not to know for sure.

[TerriS]

Stephanie, I don't think an hour makes a huge difference. It takes three days of high temps in a row to confirm O so see what happens tomorrow and the next day! Still, it's frustrating isn't it?

Rindi, according to my friend some pituitary tumors can stimulate extra hormone production while others force it to stop, so you never know. Bottom line is, you're on the right track to getting this problem solved! I hope you hear back from your doc ASAP!!!

[RebeccaT]

((((Rindi))))

That's an awful lot to process. I totally understand. I think you are doing the right thing by calling your primary doctor (good for you for even having one! I don't! :o ) and by making a list of questions. How did you feel about the RE in general? Were you comfortable with her? I can relate to your concern about just taking a bunch of hormones to treat the symptoms, not the problem. I had the same question after talking to my ob/gyn.

I'd be willing to bet that I'll be going through the same estrogen course as you once I see the RE, since my issue appears to be my uterine lining as well. I guess I'll find out for sure next week, after they get the ultrasound results back. Apparently they don't tell you anything while you're in there getting the US, I have to wait for the doctor to examine the results. So I won't know much before next week. :(

Stephanie, sorry about the temp frustration!

[lisas3575]

Jen, sending you good thoughts today for your Dr. appt. Let us know what you find out.

Rebecca, your having tests tomorrow, right? I'll be sending you good vibes-- we'll all be there with you in spirit. :)

I'm 11 dpo and holding steady.... with zero symptoms.

[gertdog]

Originally posted by lisas3575

Rebecca, your having tests tomorrow, right? I'll be sending you good vibes-- we'll all be there with you in spirit. :)


This made me smile- picturing poor Rebecca on the exam table with all of us crowded into the room to "support" her. :p

Lisa, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Jen, hope you have an informative dr. appointment.

I know I'm being slightly silly about the temp thing- I just feel like I jinxed myself somehow!

[RebeccaT]

Yes, thanks for remembering, Lisa! I am not really sure what to expect, but it's a vaginal US, so I'm sure it will be loads o' fun. :rolleyes: Like I said, I am not expecting to know anything more until next week, since I've been told that the techs are trained not to talk about what they are seeing, and it will take a couple of days for the results to get back to my dr. (in the building next door - don't ask me why it takes so long.)

[RebeccaT]

Originally posted by gertdog


This made me smile- picturing poor Rebecca on the exam table with all of us crowded into the room to "support" her. :p


HA!!

:D

[lisas3575]

Originally posted by gertdog


This made me smile- picturing poor Rebecca on the exam table with all of us crowded into the room to "support" her. :p

I promise not to look. ;) :p

[jphilg]

(((Rindi))) I am so sorry that, well, I'm just sorry that things are confusing and stupid and that your body isn't doing what you always assumed it was doing. I hope that you get some clarity from these tests.

Rebecca, a week? That is forever. Don't doctors realize how traumatizing it is to have to hang on, not knowing what is going on? I think that sucks. We'll be thinking of you!

Lisa, whoo whoo! Are you testing this weekend? These are my crossed fingers---> XX

My annual exam was...fine. This is a new doctor for me, a friend of a friend. She was very cool, and I think we could be friends. But she seemed a little dismissive. She liked the fact that I was temping, but wasn't interested in the charts, just whether I was ovulating. She said that luteal phase defect is "controversial" and that it doesn't prevent implantation, but causes early miscarriage. I don't know. She just seemed very medical to me (duh, she's a doctor) and I wonder if I should develop a realtionship with a more progressive practice.

On the other side, she was very encouraging. She said that as long as I was ovulating and menstruating, we were in good shape, and that she wouldn't consider a fertility specialist until we've been trying for a year. She did say that if my periods continue to fluxuate a lot (like my 40 day cycle last month) we might consider going in after the new year, after, like, 7 months of trying. But she said it was WAAAY too early for concern at 3 months. So that is good.

She also told me that dropping 10 pounds might help, so that is something concrete I can do. As if I weren't already trying to lose more like 25 pounds. Oh well.

So that's it. Peter and I are excited about the upcoming month. We are trying the "every other night" plan, and I think I might use an OPK, too. And I am going to try, yet again, not to lose my mind over this. We shall see.

[Jessica]

Lisa--I soooo hope this is it for you. Sending good luck your way...

Jen--You should check out other doctors if this one made you uncomfortable. Pregnancy is to important to not have a rapport with the doctor, IMO.

Rebecca--I'll be thinking about you...but not too much. LOL!

[KValley]

<<<<<<Rindi>>>> Sending you wishes for some answers and relief from your frustration and worry.

Rebecca, Jen- good thoughts for your doctors' visits and subsequent waiting periods.

Just waiting for my period to begin- should have last week if things were back to "normal" but I don't even know what normal is anymore. I'm at about day 40, I think...

Do you have a sense, after so much time attending to your physical ebbs and flows, fluids, temps, making note of every twinge and tenderness that you will just KNOW when you are pregnant? The idea that women go for weeks, sometimes months before they realize or are told they are pregnant completely baffles me. Obviously if you are temping, that is your first major indicator, but beyond that...

If I haven't menstruated for a long time and I have my 6-week thyroid check-up, my DR always makes me take a PG test- and I always know it's going to come up negative. I don't mean I will know the next day or even the next week that I'm PG, but even without consistent temping I just feel like I will KNOW, I will be so attuned to the changes in my body, that it wouldn't come as a surprise after taking a PG test.

I'm rambling. Just wondered!

[Beth H]

Do you have a sense, after so much time attending to your physical ebbs and flows, fluids, temps, making note of every twinge and tenderness that you will just KNOW when you are pregnant?

Yes, I think this is mostly true. The first time I was pregnant, however, I had no idea (and of course since it was a chemical pregnancy my symptoms may not have been so strong). It hadn't even occured to me that I was "late."

The second time I definitely knew (although that month I had not felt that we had "timed" things correctly) - I just felt totally different than PMS.

[MrsReber]

Just popping in here -

Rindi, I hate that you are going through all of this. I really agree with you about the pituitary gland, though. My sister's pituitary gland was shutting down when she was about 21. She was having some major problems and had been to a few different doctors. Her problem was a build up of brain fluid. I don't think you have the problem that she had- she had told a few doctors and my parents that she felt like there was water sloshing around in her head. Indeed there was. But my point is that the pressure on her pituitary gland was causing it to shut down. It was making weird things happen inside her body. One of those things was that she had not had a period in months. Her body was kind of shutting down. I certainly don't want to scare you, but I would question the doctor about it. Whether or not she seems concerned, you should have it checked out, even if it's just for your own peace of mind.

[gertdog]

I can see me being someone who doesn't recognize symptoms as pregnancy symptoms. My cycles are so irregular and symptoms of PMS etc. so erratic that I would probably initially view pregnancy symptoms as part of my overall non-pattern pattern. Of course, if I hadn't had a period in 6 weeks and knew I'd been having sex w/o BC of some kind, I'd take a p-test even if I didn't think I had any symptoms! That's the part that baffles me- who goes for several months without even wondering if it's a possibility?

Now, of course, I'll know because I'm temping and testing. If/when I get pregnant it will be interesting to see if I have that "I just knew" experience before I get a positive test result.

Jen, well, I'm glad that your doctor didn't find anything obviously wrong. It sounds as though the feedback I received was very similar to yours, actually, except I was at 6 months TTC and she referred me for fertility testing. But I'm a few years older than you too, if I recall correctly. I'm glad you and Peter are excited for this cycle!

[Clara]

((((Rindi)))) We're here for you to vent to!!

Rebecca- Good luck at the dr. appt.

Jen- Glad to hear your visit went well...if you think you might want another dr....then go ahead...they like it when you go in for a preconception visit, so it doesn't have to be for your annual.

KValley- I seem to think I'm pg EVERY month, so I'm sure the month I think I'm not, will be it :p

Lisa- GOOD LUCK!!

Kerri- Any testing urges yet???

Stephanie- 1 hr should make a 0.1 temp difference...and I've tested this myself...both by accident and on purpose :D

And it looks like I did in fact lay an egg...a couple of days ago I guess...Monday or Tuesday...but I AM NOT getting any hopes up because the timing was horrible, we were in all the "wrong" positions since we weren't actually trying, and stupid here took Benadryl all weekend because of the yard work and dried up all her fertile CM!

[TerriS]

Jen, glad the exam went relatively well. My doc wasn't interested in my charts either, but like yours, was more focused on the fact that I was ovulating and having relatively normal cycles. If you want to switch, though, I really liked her style, she's on the facilities at Arlington Hospital.

I have sort of figured I'll "know" if I get crazy sore boobs. Right now I'm not getting them for PMS, but have been susceptible to them in the past, especially when I was on the pill, plus my mom told me once that the boob soreness (and going up in size - and we're already D cups) was an issue for her. But many people feel no symptoms, nothing, for many weeks, so who knows? After my mind has played constant tricks on me the last two cycles I am skeptical.

[ChiefExec]

I had no idea Benadryl dries up your CM! Is that in TCOYF? I have GOT to read that book at some time other than right before I nod off. :D

Is anyone else here abstaining from alcohol after the time they should have O'd justincase ???? I'm finding that it is harder than I thought it would be, especially when I have fairly boring social commitments to attend--those are always made a little easier with a glass of wine! (Can ya tell I've got one I'm *not* looking forward to tonight? :D)

[jphilg]

CE: I have been abstaining from as soon as we start "trying" each month until I get AF. It is much harder than I thought it would be! I don't consider myself a heavy drinker, but I do enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, and a cocktail or 3 with friends on the weekends. I have defintely "cheated" a couple of times, having a glass of wine with a special dinner, or a cocktail with a friend who wants to meet for drinks.

I really hope that actually being pregnant will make this easier, though, because I seem to crave wine the moment I make a mental note to abstain.

[Clara]

Contemplating a glass of wine myself.....I'm only 2-3 dpo with an iceberg's change in he**....we're moving offices and labs so it's just a little STRESSFUL! Back to packing!

Oh, Benadryl, being an antihistamine, dries up all your mucus (whether it's in your nose or elsewhere)! Just think of it as having the opposite effect of the Robitussin trick!

[TerriS]

I am trying to lay off on the booze as much as I can. This week while AF has been here, the wine comes out, but before I O I've been trying to cut back to around 1 glass a week, and then as little as possible after I O. Cut the caffeine out as much as possible too. I miss the booze more than my diet coke!!! :eek:

[ChiefExec]

Oh, yikes. Let's not even talk about caffeine. Unfortunately, my RE's office is located next to a Starbucks. :eek: My treat to myself after every appointment is a grande nonfat sugar-free vanilla latte. Yikes. :rolleyes:

[gertdog]

As far as alcohol goes- I've been having a glass here and there, not too worried about it. But that's one reason I'm peeved about my temperature today- we're hosting supper club on Saturday and the theme is California wine country. I have all this great wine sitting here that I'm dying to taste! If my temp stays high tomorrow I will limit myself to one glass or a couple of tastes on Saturday.

[Jessica]

Originally posted by Jessica
Pregnancy is to important to not have a rapport with the doctor, IMO.


Duh. The writer meant "too" important. Duh.

[rinsav]

Rebecca - Good luck with your ultrasound tomorrow. What I had was a vaginal sonogram. I wonder if these are similar tests. If so, it wasn't painful at all. They just put you on an examining table with your feet up (like a regular pap smear) and they insert a long, wand-like thing into your ******. It doesn't hurt at all and, in fact, is less irritating than that clamp they put on you for a pap smear. Hopefully, yours will be like this and you won't have much discomfort. Let us know how it goes. I'll be sending good thoughts your way.

Clara - you cracked me up with your comment about being in "wrong" positions all weekend. Don't give up though....you never know!

Jen - I'm glad your appointment went well and I wish you and Peter lots of luck this coming month!! I'm with the others that you should find a different doctor if you got a bad vibe from this one. I think it's important to feel comfortable with your doctor.

MrsReber - Thanks so much for sharing your sister's story. You're right that you never know so I certainly will bring it up with my doctor the next time I speak to her. I'd much rather be safe than sorry!

So, here I go writing a novel again, but a couple things happened with me today.....I spoke to a nurse practitioner from my regular physicians office, who I've seen before and like very much. I wanted to get her take on everything as a sort of second opinion. She thought that an RE was a good type of doctor to deal with and that she should be able to cover anything a regular endocrinologist would (that made me feel good - at least I'm seeing the right kind of doctor!). She thought my RE's plan of action (doing the estrogen and then progesterone to get a period) was the right way to go in the beginning. She said that they have to start somewhere and it would make sense to start with me getting a period. She did think a couple more tests might be good....She said that my TSH is on the lower end of normal so I could use a few more thyroid tests. Also, she was in favor of an MRI. She said, in her opinion, that if the pituitary gland wasn't functioning then they should take a picture of it. She thought it would help rule things out and would give me peace of mind. So, she said that I certainly could push for that if I wanted to. She said that I'm a puzzle (that didn't make me feel too good), but that she thought the RE sounded like she was doing what she could to figure it all out and help me. She did say that the pituitary gland affects a lot of things so I really want to get it all straightened out. She was very nice and spent a good amount of time on the phone with me. It made me feel good to get a second opinion and she told me to keep her posted.

Second, (and I won't go on and on about this...) my stupid insurance company is now telling me and my new RE's office conflicting things. They are telling them that only diagnosis is covered and not treatment. Meanwhile, they just told me last week, that I was covered for treatment up to $2,000/calendar year. I fought with them for a while on the phone (nicely, of course, but I had to fight back tears every time) and it turns out that there is a discrepancy in their wording in two different sections of my policy. The woman I spoke to last week told me that the $2,000 part was the right one and that she would take care of clearing it up so there was no more confusion. Of course, it hasn't been cleared up at all. It is now being sent to a higher up place in the company and they are supposed to call me back tomorrow. It's just so upsetting because I was feeling very good about having that $2k covered and now it might not be. I got the woman's name who told me it was covered and you can bet I'm going to fight hard if they now tell me it's not. I guess I'll have to just wait and see, but it's so frustrating and stressful (on top of everything else!:(). Sorry, looks like I did go on and on a bit anyway... :o Thanks for listening!

[Jessica]

Oh, and I am not much of a drinker because I get headaches from alcohol. I will have a glass of wine once in a while but I have tried to stay away from it during the 2WW. My relationship with caffeine is similar.

[ChiefExec]

Oh, Rindi, that stinks about your insurance! That is so frustrating, and I'll tell you it seems very common for insurance companies to tell you one thing and then tell the doctor something totally different. So sorry you have that added stress ...

Let me add that I think it is pretty standard for diagnostic stuff but not treatment to be covered. That has been teh deal for us, which basically means as soon as I started the Clomid, nothing (not ultrasounds, not medicine, not bloodwork) was covered. Yuck.

[RebeccaT]

Rindi, I think I am having the same kind of ultrasound as you. I am glad to know that it's not uncomfortable! I am so sorry about the issues with your insurance. I am not yet sure what mine will cover... according to my dr., at this point for me they will be treating amennoreah, not any kind of infertility. SInce that's a medical condition, it should be covered under general medical. Maybe since your issue is related to your pituitary gland, also a general medical condition (like you said, you'd want to get this treated and fixed even if you weren't trying to get pg!) it will be covered? Something to look into, anyway.

As far as alcohol is concerned, I have not been worried about it. I am not a big drinker, anyway, and I just don't think that a beer or a glass of wine a couple of times on the weekend is going to be that big of a deal. Of course, it's a non-issue for me anyway, so what do I know. If my Dr. tells me to lay off, I will (maybe), and once I am pg I will definitely abstain. But until then, I just don't understand the fuss.

[gertdog]

Originally posted by RebeccaT
Rindi, I think I am having the same kind of ultrasound as you. I am glad to know that it's not uncomfortable! I

It is definitely more pleasant than having an exam that involves a speculum (which I am convinced is a leftover from medeival torture chambers). They will just move the wand around some, and possibly press on your abdomen a bit.

Rindi, I'm so sorry about the insurance issues- like you need another thing to worry about right now. How frustrating.

[Beth H]

Rindi - I meant to post earlier that I'm sorry you're going through all of this. I'll definitely be thinking about you.

Rebecca - Good luck with your ultrasound tomorrow. What I had was a vaginal sonogram. I wonder if these are similar tests. If so, it wasn't painful at all. They just put you on an examining table with your feet up (like a regular pap smear) and they insert a long, wand-like thing into your ******. It doesn't hurt at all and, in fact, is less irritating than that clamp they put on you for a pap smear.

I concur that these ultrasounds are not painful at all - just a little weird, I guess, but what isn't about a visit to the OB/GYN? :)
Good luck Rebecca.

I really hope that actually being pregnant will make this easier, though, because I seem to crave wine the moment I make a mental note to abstain.

It wasn't for my sister - not that she's a huge drinker, but she definitely enjoyed a glass of wine a couple of times a week and going out for happy hour with her friends. It was hard for her during pregnancy not to drink. She did have one glass of champagne at Christmas and one on New Year's day, and then a glass of wine in her final trimester when we were on vacation together. I think it helped her get through it. :) Some women though feel so sick that they easily can give up social drinking.

[Jessica]

((((Rindi)))) You shouldn't have to deal with insurance hassles on top of everything else. I hope you can work it out; you were smart to take names!

[buffygirl]

(((Rindi)))

Rebecca, I agree with everyone else. The vaginal U/S is no biggie. I have had dozens of them.:p OK, not really dozens, but more than I can count. The only really uncomfortable thing is if the tech finds something interesting, he/she may poke the wand in that direction. Just a litte uncomfortable.

I can't believe that you have to wait days for results. Fortunately my doc does his own U/S so I know immediately what is going on. Sorry you have to wait.

Not much happening in my little corner of the world. I can't remember if I told you all that I inherited a new department at work via a promotion. Well 2 of the 5 women in the group are pregnant! Unfortunately one lost her baby yesterday:( I'm really sad for her.

As long as I'm talking about stats, out of 25 women in my company, 4 are pregnant right now. :rolleyes: I guess I need to drink the same water they are drinking:p

Kim

[Jessica]

Ladies, I have a new definition of pessimism: buying a jumbo box of tampons in the middle of your two-week wait!

DH's travel meant we timed this cycle poorly and only hit O minus 3. Apparently, close enough was close enough, and God willing, we will welcome a son or daughter on or around May 18.

I suspected as early as Monday morning when we were visiting my in-laws for the Labor Day weekend. I expected a low temp that morning because I was at 12 dpo and I usually have a luteal phase around 11 or 12 days, sometimes shorter. Instead, I got my highest temp yet. I said nothing to DH because he was leaving Tuesday morning and would not be back till Thursday night, and I hadn't been feeling well and thought I might just have a fever. Temps stayed up Tuesday and Wednesday and then I had a pretty good idea I was PG, but I waited till Thursday to test because I wasn't sure how long I could keep the news from DH and I did not want to tell him over the phone.

The first test had such a faint line that I decided to test again. I was so nervous I dropped the second test and it smeared and was ruined :rolleyes: . I went out to the store for another box and they were out of the regular tests, so I paid $18 for the digital version and it clearly said, "Pregnant."

I didn't want to tell all of you until I could tell DH. He knew how badly we timed this cycle and he was pleasantly surprised. We're both in a bit of shock, too, but that is wearing off quickly.

Thanks so much to all of you for your support as we made the decision to try and then weathered DH's frustrating travel schedule. I will continue to pray that all of you join me on the PG thread as soon as possible. You are an amazing bunch of women.

I'll be lurking around here every day :).

Love,

Jessica

[jphilg]

((((Jessica))))! I am so happy for you! I just started crying when I read your news. Congratulations, congratulations!

[gertdog]

Jessica!!!!!! Congratulations!!!! Tears of happiness for you here, too. Yaaaaaaaaaaay! You just made my day. :) :) :)

Send the jumbo tampons my way now for luck? ;)

[valchemist]

I got the chills reading your post, Jessica. I still have them. Congratulations!!!!!!!!

Val (with tears welling up for you)

[MinEaston]

YAHOOOOOOOOOO Jessica!!!!!

I am so excited for you!

[JenZen]

Whoo-hoo! Congrats Jessica!

I hope to see you over on the PG board soon. :)

Jen

[MrsReber]

Yay!!!!! Jessica I'm so happy for you! That is so awesome! Gotta love the faint line. Isn't it horrible when you get a positive result and you can't shout it out to everyone? I remember that feeling so well- being excited, scared, happy- wow. How awesome for you! Yep, gotta take about 5 tests before you really believe it- like somehow the result will change :rolleyes: . I think I took four tests.

Rindi, I'm glad your getting the pituitary gland checked out. It regulates so many things in your body that it shouldn't just be dismissed.

About drinking- I wouldn't worry about not drinking during the 2ww. From what the doctor told me, during the first 2 weeks of pregnancy, it won't matter anyway. I was drinking the first time- we weren't exactly trying and we weren't not trying, we just let things happen. I drank lots over Labor Day weekend. The doctor said it was fine as it takes a few days for implantation and all that stuff so you really can't do any harm in that time. My sister was completely trashed before she knew she was pregnant with her son. I pretty much had to carry her to the car on the evening of her 30th birthday party. No harm done there- at least not to the baby! I think my tequila-mama sister probably wasn't feeling so good the next day!

One more thing- on the day I found out I was pregnant with DS, I went to the store for a pregnancy test and box of condoms (in case I wasn't pregnant)! We were kind of scared of having another child so soon. I had to laugh at the checkout. Like the tampons, I think the box of condoms sealed our fate.

[Jessica]

Originally posted by gertdog


Send the jumbo tampons my way now for luck? ;)

I still have your address from our swap, Stephanie. Watch your mailbox! :D BTW--I turned on the CD you sent me with our swap after I got my final +++ yesterday and danced around the kitchen to "California Stars."

Thanks, everyone, for all your good wishes and support and hugs and generosity. I know I would have felt much more alone in this process without the friendship on this thread.:D

[Molli526]

YAY Jessica!!!! :D :D :D

Congrats :)

[LaraW]

Jessica, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! I'm so excited for you - I got goosebumps reading your post!

Congratulations!!! :)

[Beth H]

Jessica - congratulations!

[TerriS]

Oh my gosh Jessica, congratulations!!!!! It is so nice to see a graduate of this thread finally!!!!! I am just thrilled for you! Best wishes for a happy and healthy nine months!!!!

[rinsav]

Yay, Jessica!!!!! Wow, I'm so happy for you!!! I got goosebumps too when I read your post. What wonderful news!!!!:)

[RebeccaT]

Oh JESSICA!! I am so thrilled for you, I have the biggest smile here at my desk! I am so, so, SOOOO excited! Thank you so much for telling us!

[gertdog]

Originally posted by Jessica


I still have your address from our swap, Stephanie. Watch your mailbox! :D BTW--I turned on the CD you sent me with our swap after I got my final +++ yesterday and danced around the kitchen to "California Stars."


Uh oh. Send the luck, not the tampons! :D

Glad the CD is still fun for you. That's a great song to be happy to. :)

[lisas3575]

Congratulations, Jessica!!!! I am so happy for you! :) :) :)

[KValley]

OHMIGOSH JESSICA My stomach is doing googly things- I'm so excited for you! Thank you so much for sharing- my own soul is lifted by your success!!

Julie

[Jessica]

Originally posted by KValley
My stomach is doing googly things-

Mine too, LOL!

I am overwhelmed by all the good wishes and support, and I send it all back in the form of baby wishes for all of you.

[Robyncz]

Hooray Jessica!! Another former swap partner chiming in with good wishes and congratulations! You'll probably want to lay off the Spam for a while, though. Too many preservatives are not good for you!

[Natasha]

Delurking to say,

Jessica,

Big congratulations!!! I am so happy for you!

Natasha

[Wendy w]

Another lurker delurking to say Congratulations!! :D

[slknight]

Jessica,

CONGRATULATIONS!!

-Susan

[SueK]

Jessica - just wanted to add my Congrat ulations! :)

[tbb113]

Jessica:
Mazel Tov!

[KLynn]

So happy for you Jessica!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mst]

Jessica- I am so happy for you. And I love how excited you sound. Yay you! And, glad to hear that you will still check in on us.




Now for my yuckys:

DH's surgery was today. We made it through. Earlier this week, we got a bad report on the mole that DH had removed last week (because of where it was, it was a whole big deal that they did surgery on his finger and toe). The doctor is actually seeking other opinions, and it going to meet with our dermatologist to show him the slides of DH's finger. This doctor thinks he is going to leave it as is (he hopes he got all of it), but wants opinions on whether other doctors think he should remove the whole nail, or even the top half of his finger. When it rains, it pours! I am just glad that we have this week behind us. It was pretty bad.

Now, I am just trying to decide if I am going to go to high holiday services or not. I am not sure I have it in me to see everyone pregnat, and have nothing to say for myself. "What's going on with me? Well, I quit my business that I loved, can't get another job. We are going through infertility, DH has an extremely abnormal mole in a really odd place, and just found out that the promotions his boss keeps dangling in front of him is never going to happen." I feel badly because my parents bought us tickets (which are like $250 each), but they understand that I might not be able to go. I feel badly because I know how much DH wants to go, and I know he won't go without me.

Well, I am off to work on my chicken soup. I love how homemade soup tastes, but I hate that I feel oily from chicken fat for weeks!

[buffygirl]

Jessica, No tears here just majorly doing the HAPPY DANCE!!!! Congratulations!

BTW, I had no idea we had so many lurkers!:o

Kim

[Kerri]

Jessica -

I got to read your post yesterday, but I was too busy to reply. Congratulations!

Kerri

[Beth H]

MST - I'm sorry you're going through such a rough time. Hopefully something good will happen for you this week - even something small. You definitely deserve it!

[Julia1Pin]

Jessica - Mazel Tov!!! I am so happy for you and your family.

Now the major worries start - like whose grandparent the baby is going to be named after, and if you should have the shower before or after the baby is born ;)

[gertdog]

Kerri started a new thread for us- see you all there!

TTC thread week of 9/12 (http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=63216)

[ChiefExec]

Jessica!!! Congratulations! That is such wonderful news. :) Sorry I am not replying til now; DH and I were at the beach over the weekend. :cool:

I have some questions (and you are now offically qualified to answer them :)) about the 2ww if you are indeed pregnant, but I will post them on the new thread. :)

[Jessica]

Thanks again for all of your congratulations, mazel tovs and good wishes :). I had no idea we had so many lurkers, either.