So my girlfriend called today to say she had her baby last Thursday. Of course we had to go through the whole birthing story. As she was winding down she started talking about how she thought it would have taken them longer to get pregnant. They got married in November because she wanted kids like yesterday (her second marriage, ironically divorced the first time because she didn't want kids) and "tried for two whole weeks straight!" right after the wedding. But then she took a HPT that was negative followed by a positive a week later. Not even married a month and she got pregnant right away. And she ended the whole thing with "So are you guys trying?"
ARGH!!!!! How is it someone who apparently doesn't even understand the whole ovulation cycle get pregnant on the first try so easily? It just frustrates the HECK out of me. Don't get me wrong, I really do like my friend and I am very happy for her. Just after the whole ordeal with the s/a yesterday and then I started spotting last night/this morning....*sigh* it's taking a lot of effort to be happy for her.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
S/A take one?
Cycle 9, CD 34, 11 DPO
Adding to the list of signs you may have been TTC too long:
8. Typically a very cautious and considerate driver, you suddenly develop an insane case of road rage as you race your husband's semen sample to the clinic after snatching it from his hands and, ignoring the look of horror on his face, stuff it down your shirt as you fly out the door.
DH had his s/a scheduled this morning. I was concerned about his "stage fright" playing a factor but he actually came through like a champ - no pun intended. I made it to the clinic in fantastic time despite every single road I normally take to get there being closed or slowed due to construction. Ah the joys of a Michigan summer. I must have jinxed myself by thinking how smoothly this was all going because I had no soon had that thought as I was pulling his sample out to hand to the clerk when I noticed that it was bright red. I didn't want to waste time puzzling over it so I handed it over, finished the paper work, and headed home. I called DH to let him know everything had gone well when after hemming and hawing for a few minutes he blurted out that there was a bunch of blood in his sample and he was more than a little freaked out. After talking for a few minutes, he mentioned that he'd had some mild pain last night similar to what he's had in the past when he think he's been passing kidney stones.
So when I got home I called the clinic. When I finally got through to a tech, he told me that the coloring was obviously not normal, so much so that he had already called my doctor's office to let them know. I asked if it would interfere with running the test and he wasn't very sure but once again asserted that it was something DH was going to need to have checked out. Yes, I know, thank you Captain Obvious. But since we're paying out of pocket for this, I needed to know if we should let them go ahead with the testing. He suggested calling my GYN's office which I did and of course had to leave a message. Thankfully the nurse called back fairly quickly. She agreed that it was entirely possible that passing a kidney stone could be the source of the blood since semen and urine pass through the same opening. She was also unsure of how it would affect the results but agreed to call the tech at the clinic to come to some sort of consensus on whether or not to run the sample. I gave my full blessing to cancel if we aren't going to give any info out of it. The last of these conversations happened while I was on the road to pick up DH's youngest sister to come spend the next few days with us so I didn't hear any more today.
After Googling this, it seems that for the most part hematospermia (blood in the semen) can be fairly benign or signal a problem further up the tract. Great, just what we need, something to be wrong with DH too. I mean, this is the first time we've noticed it but thinking back, there have been times even before TTC that after BDing, DH would go to clean up and come back to ask if he had hurt me because he'd noticed a bit of blood. Once or twice I've noticed my cervix had been irritated from getting carried away but now I wonder if more often than not the pink was from him and we just assumed it was from me because well...you don't assume that it's from him. It just starts a whole series of "what ifs" the biggest of course jumping straight to....."what if we're just not meant to have kids?" Fortunately, DH has an appointment to meet his new primary doctor next Thursday so this is going right up at the top of the list of things to talk about. I'm half tempted to call and schedule a urologist appointment as well but I don't want to step on toes. But just to get a head start, maybe I'll start asking the docs at work for a couple of names for who to go too.
AND as if this wasn't enough to deal with today....I think I started spotting too. :o( Cycle 10, here we come...joy.
Adding to the list of signs you may have been TTC too long:
8. Typically a very cautious and considerate driver, you suddenly develop an insane case of road rage as you race your husband's semen sample to the clinic after snatching it from his hands and, ignoring the look of horror on his face, stuff it down your shirt as you fly out the door.
DH had his s/a scheduled this morning. I was concerned about his "stage fright" playing a factor but he actually came through like a champ - no pun intended. I made it to the clinic in fantastic time despite every single road I normally take to get there being closed or slowed due to construction. Ah the joys of a Michigan summer. I must have jinxed myself by thinking how smoothly this was all going because I had no soon had that thought as I was pulling his sample out to hand to the clerk when I noticed that it was bright red. I didn't want to waste time puzzling over it so I handed it over, finished the paper work, and headed home. I called DH to let him know everything had gone well when after hemming and hawing for a few minutes he blurted out that there was a bunch of blood in his sample and he was more than a little freaked out. After talking for a few minutes, he mentioned that he'd had some mild pain last night similar to what he's had in the past when he think he's been passing kidney stones.
So when I got home I called the clinic. When I finally got through to a tech, he told me that the coloring was obviously not normal, so much so that he had already called my doctor's office to let them know. I asked if it would interfere with running the test and he wasn't very sure but once again asserted that it was something DH was going to need to have checked out. Yes, I know, thank you Captain Obvious. But since we're paying out of pocket for this, I needed to know if we should let them go ahead with the testing. He suggested calling my GYN's office which I did and of course had to leave a message. Thankfully the nurse called back fairly quickly. She agreed that it was entirely possible that passing a kidney stone could be the source of the blood since semen and urine pass through the same opening. She was also unsure of how it would affect the results but agreed to call the tech at the clinic to come to some sort of consensus on whether or not to run the sample. I gave my full blessing to cancel if we aren't going to give any info out of it. The last of these conversations happened while I was on the road to pick up DH's youngest sister to come spend the next few days with us so I didn't hear any more today.
After Googling this, it seems that for the most part hematospermia (blood in the semen) can be fairly benign or signal a problem further up the tract. Great, just what we need, something to be wrong with DH too. I mean, this is the first time we've noticed it but thinking back, there have been times even before TTC that after BDing, DH would go to clean up and come back to ask if he had hurt me because he'd noticed a bit of blood. Once or twice I've noticed my cervix had been irritated from getting carried away but now I wonder if more often than not the pink was from him and we just assumed it was from me because well...you don't assume that it's from him. It just starts a whole series of "what ifs" the biggest of course jumping straight to....."what if we're just not meant to have kids?" Fortunately, DH has an appointment to meet his new primary doctor next Thursday so this is going right up at the top of the list of things to talk about. I'm half tempted to call and schedule a urologist appointment as well but I don't want to step on toes. But just to get a head start, maybe I'll start asking the docs at work for a couple of names for who to go too.
AND as if this wasn't enough to deal with today....I think I started spotting too. :o( Cycle 10, here we come...joy.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Finally!
Cycle 9, CD 24
Yay! I had my second peak reading this morning along with a decent temp spike. Now I know my mouth was open when I woke up this morning so I'm not exactly sure how accurate my temp is but it's definitely more in my typical post-O range. We managed to a BD in last night but **TMI warning** not in a necessarily ideal position. So we'll try again tonight and see what happens. I'm really happy it didn't happen on the weekend because it'll be much easier to get my 7DPO labs drawn and pick up DH's S/A kit this way. Yay!
Yay! I had my second peak reading this morning along with a decent temp spike. Now I know my mouth was open when I woke up this morning so I'm not exactly sure how accurate my temp is but it's definitely more in my typical post-O range. We managed to a BD in last night but **TMI warning** not in a necessarily ideal position. So we'll try again tonight and see what happens. I'm really happy it didn't happen on the weekend because it'll be much easier to get my 7DPO labs drawn and pick up DH's S/A kit this way. Yay!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Frustrated!
Cycle 9, CD 23
It still hasn't happened yet. I go to bed every night thinking "Maybe it'll be tomorrow" but so far, nada. I had a positive OPK on CD 17 which seemed to be the norm for me. But then nothing! No temp shift and I still kept having fertile CM. So I kept testing. I went through the whole OPK pack without another positive. Finally I lied to my new CBEFM about my cycle day so I could start using that. It gave me a peak reading today and I had a huge temp dip. I suspect I might have been sleeping with my mouth open a bit.
My other frustration is DH himself. He was fantastically supportive and tried SO hard last week when I got my +OPK. He's gotten an odd case of stage fright around O since we've started trying. But he can't seem to grasp that I didn't O when I thought I would. His attitude TOTALLY did a 180 and the other night, well, he might as well have flipped the bird right in my face with the way he was acting. So needless to say, we haven't kept up with the BDing. I'm so torn because I'm seriously upset with him but is it worth throwing another cycle for? Urgh!
To compound matters I'm working a lot of hours lately. Like a lot. Today is the half way point in an 8 day stretch. I have some vacation time next week and I cannot WAIT!
It still hasn't happened yet. I go to bed every night thinking "Maybe it'll be tomorrow" but so far, nada. I had a positive OPK on CD 17 which seemed to be the norm for me. But then nothing! No temp shift and I still kept having fertile CM. So I kept testing. I went through the whole OPK pack without another positive. Finally I lied to my new CBEFM about my cycle day so I could start using that. It gave me a peak reading today and I had a huge temp dip. I suspect I might have been sleeping with my mouth open a bit.
My other frustration is DH himself. He was fantastically supportive and tried SO hard last week when I got my +OPK. He's gotten an odd case of stage fright around O since we've started trying. But he can't seem to grasp that I didn't O when I thought I would. His attitude TOTALLY did a 180 and the other night, well, he might as well have flipped the bird right in my face with the way he was acting. So needless to say, we haven't kept up with the BDing. I'm so torn because I'm seriously upset with him but is it worth throwing another cycle for? Urgh!
To compound matters I'm working a lot of hours lately. Like a lot. Today is the half way point in an 8 day stretch. I have some vacation time next week and I cannot WAIT!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
It's here! It's here!
Cycle 9, CD 8
It's HERE! I'm so excited! My CBEFM arrived today from eBay and I can't WAIT to use it! But my test sticks aren't here yet and I'm past the window to start testing. So it'll sit for now probably and I'll use the OPKs I picked up yesterday instead. But I'm still super excited!
I was a good girl today and remembered to take my temperature. It was later and my sleep was disrupted but at least it's a number to plug in. I'm excited to at least be getting my lab draws this month to confirm O and see about an LP defect. We're moving forward again!
It's HERE! I'm so excited! My CBEFM arrived today from eBay and I can't WAIT to use it! But my test sticks aren't here yet and I'm past the window to start testing. So it'll sit for now probably and I'll use the OPKs I picked up yesterday instead. But I'm still super excited!
I was a good girl today and remembered to take my temperature. It was later and my sleep was disrupted but at least it's a number to plug in. I'm excited to at least be getting my lab draws this month to confirm O and see about an LP defect. We're moving forward again!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Moving forward
Cycle 9, CD 7
So I went to the OB/GYN today to take my nurse practioner up on her offer for some fertility assistance. I had told her at my yearly appointment back in October that we were officially starting to try and she told me to let her know if we needed help since I'd already been diagnosed with PCOS. Well, 8 cycles and 9 months later I'm ready for some help. It looks like it's going to take a little bit of time though because the OB that my provider practices under is out on maternity leave.
For now, I have a standing lab order to have my progesterone drawn 7DPO for the next few cycles to make sure that I am really ovulating and that there isn't any LP defect (my LPs are getting more on the shorter end at 11 days lately). She also sent in a request for DH to have a s/a done which apparently requires an appointment at the lab here. Unfortunately she said the lab is pretty backed up so we likely won't get an appointment until August. But since I won't be able to see the other doc until September when she comes back, it's not really a huge deal.
If we're not pregnant by the time doc is back, we'll have an appointment to see her and likely schedule an HSG which I'm not particularly looking forward to. It's not the test itself but that I'm an x-ray tech and worked as a student in the department that I'd have to have it done in so I know most anyone there, including the radiologists. Plus I'm sort of nervous that there is some blockage because of something from several years ago. Before DH, I was in a long term relationship for several years. At the end when I'd decided to quit my job and move home to my family, I went in for an annual exam before I lost my insurance. I told the doctor that I couldn't be certain what all was going on with my ex so she tested me for STDs. Turns out the jerk had given me chlyamidia who knows when and I know that can cause some tubal scaring. Just something else to worry about I suppose.
So that's the plan for now. I know this was long winded but I think it helps me to lay it all out. :o)
So I went to the OB/GYN today to take my nurse practioner up on her offer for some fertility assistance. I had told her at my yearly appointment back in October that we were officially starting to try and she told me to let her know if we needed help since I'd already been diagnosed with PCOS. Well, 8 cycles and 9 months later I'm ready for some help. It looks like it's going to take a little bit of time though because the OB that my provider practices under is out on maternity leave.
For now, I have a standing lab order to have my progesterone drawn 7DPO for the next few cycles to make sure that I am really ovulating and that there isn't any LP defect (my LPs are getting more on the shorter end at 11 days lately). She also sent in a request for DH to have a s/a done which apparently requires an appointment at the lab here. Unfortunately she said the lab is pretty backed up so we likely won't get an appointment until August. But since I won't be able to see the other doc until September when she comes back, it's not really a huge deal.
If we're not pregnant by the time doc is back, we'll have an appointment to see her and likely schedule an HSG which I'm not particularly looking forward to. It's not the test itself but that I'm an x-ray tech and worked as a student in the department that I'd have to have it done in so I know most anyone there, including the radiologists. Plus I'm sort of nervous that there is some blockage because of something from several years ago. Before DH, I was in a long term relationship for several years. At the end when I'd decided to quit my job and move home to my family, I went in for an annual exam before I lost my insurance. I told the doctor that I couldn't be certain what all was going on with my ex so she tested me for STDs. Turns out the jerk had given me chlyamidia who knows when and I know that can cause some tubal scaring. Just something else to worry about I suppose.
So that's the plan for now. I know this was long winded but I think it helps me to lay it all out. :o)
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The end of another decade....and cycle
Cycle 9, CD 4
Today is the last day of another decade for me. I can't believe I'll be 30 tomorrow. It seems like I just got use to the idea that I wasn't really in my mid 20s any more. I don't want to be some kind of typical hysterical basket case about this but holy crap this is kicking my butt! AF reared her ugly head again a few days ago and unfortunately it's hitting me as hard as I thought it would. This time really is the worst; I've been so emotional/tearful the last few days I don't know quite what to do with myself.
I know it's irrational but when I was diagnosed with PCOS back in 1998 I kind of just got it in my mind that if I wasn't pregnant by the time I was 30 that it just wasn't going to happen for me. Now I know that women with PCOS have more options to conceive now than ever. And I know that women a decade older than me can fairly successfully conceive too. It's just that I'm afraid that the rough road I'd envisioned is coming true. Some part of me figured when I started ovulating regularly last fall that it would be a piece of cake from there. And yes, I know people without fertility problems can take as long and longer than we are. But now it's time to start moving things into a higher gear. I have an appointment with my OB/GYN on Tuesday to talk about Clomid, possibly a short LP, and an s/a for DH. And as I type I'm also eyeing Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitors on eBay. I just hope that we get lucky here soon because I don't know if I can stand feeling like such a failure every month for much longer....
Today is the last day of another decade for me. I can't believe I'll be 30 tomorrow. It seems like I just got use to the idea that I wasn't really in my mid 20s any more. I don't want to be some kind of typical hysterical basket case about this but holy crap this is kicking my butt! AF reared her ugly head again a few days ago and unfortunately it's hitting me as hard as I thought it would. This time really is the worst; I've been so emotional/tearful the last few days I don't know quite what to do with myself.
I know it's irrational but when I was diagnosed with PCOS back in 1998 I kind of just got it in my mind that if I wasn't pregnant by the time I was 30 that it just wasn't going to happen for me. Now I know that women with PCOS have more options to conceive now than ever. And I know that women a decade older than me can fairly successfully conceive too. It's just that I'm afraid that the rough road I'd envisioned is coming true. Some part of me figured when I started ovulating regularly last fall that it would be a piece of cake from there. And yes, I know people without fertility problems can take as long and longer than we are. But now it's time to start moving things into a higher gear. I have an appointment with my OB/GYN on Tuesday to talk about Clomid, possibly a short LP, and an s/a for DH. And as I type I'm also eyeing Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitors on eBay. I just hope that we get lucky here soon because I don't know if I can stand feeling like such a failure every month for much longer....
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