MAY we all be blessed with baby! May 2013 and beyond (BFFs Seeking BFPs)

[nikkilucky77]

Hi everyone! I have been MIA for awhile but I do have a question for you...

Does this look positive??

 

[Lazydaisys]

Looks positive to me. How long did it take to come up? Does it look pink in real life? I've also had evaps like that too on those cheapies so be careful -my evaps had no colour though. I hope it's positive nikkilucky x

 

[nikkilucky77]

Thanks! I hope so too but that is why I am asking...I've never gotten a second line period though.

It was right after I dipped it...within 3 minutes or so. It looked pink but so faint....that was only 2 hours of held in urine.

I'm trying again after holding urine for over 4 hours with a dollar general brand...my mom bought it and it has blue dye ...so I guess I will see.

 

[ProfWife]

I've had one "false" positive (I still say it was a chemical) that looked similar to that.

Try later or in the am. It may get darker. I pray it does!!

AFM - Just called the scheduler to confirm Day 1. Unless something goes wrong...I'll be going through my laparoscopy on Thursday morning.

 

[nikkilucky77]

Thanks and good luck Prowife ...we are in need for some bfp's. I have been away because I was trying to take a break but I was definitely thinking of you ladies!

 

[pathos]

it is positive, have you tried with the other test?
yay so exciting.

 

[nikkilucky77]

So I held my urine for 4 long hours lol and it was negative. It's a rexall blue dye brand so I don't know. I told mom first response and this is what I got lol. I'm thinking try again in the am. I have 2 internet cheapies and one more rexall brand. Not sure which is better haha.

 

[pathos]

oh what a nasty evap! hrr so thick?

i dont get this pink vs blue dye, but ics usually have lower sensitivity, so 4 hour hold with a higher sensitivity test might not work yet.
how many dpo you are?

 

[nikkilucky77]

I'm not sure is the thing. I'm due for AF this week though so I'm guessing 8-10 dpo. I'm not sure how sensitive each test is either. I'm liking the result with the IC but I'll guess I better wait.

 

[kksy9b]

I would wait for morning and use FMU as the concentration of HCG would be higher. It's still so early that it may be another day or two before you would get a nice clear line. Fingers crosses the second test was just not a good one (I've always hears bad things about the blue dye) and that the IC isnt an evap!

 

[RaeChay]

.

 

[newbie2013]

Nikki! Great to hear from you!!! Looking forward to another test tomorrow. Fxed for you!

 

[nikkilucky77]

Took another ic (rather that than the blue dye) with fmu...negative . I think prowife is right about the false positive.

 

[ClandestineTX]

Clandestine, I'm planning to defend in December. Well, I kind of need to as I have a visiting professorship lined up for Jan-May 2015, but right now I still need to do my last study! My study subjects are in prep now and will be on study for about 6 weeks and then the lab work begins. It's going to be very busy. My second paper was just accepted pending revision, so I have those changes to make as well. How are you on your progression?

My school requires for a Dec graduation that I defend before the end of Nov. I have less than a full day's lab work remaining - then a week or two of analysis - then another week or two (or three) of threading together 5+ years worth of reports, preliminary data write-ups for grant submissions, and conference presentations (includes all required materials and methods, as well as some pretty awesome charts and figures). Basically I have everything I need for the formal dissertation - it's just all over the place!

I haven't bothered to resubmit my first rejection yet - the reviewer (or perhaps his graduate student) was an idiot, confirmed by my entire committee - it should go through when I counter some obvious errors on the part of the reviewer, but it pains me to have to do that politely, so I've been procrastinating. My second paper is mid-review now - I am super optimistic about it and just waiting...

Is your visiting professorship near where you live now? My chairman wants to keep me as a postdoc (pending funding) with plans to move me up to junior faculty after that. My research area is needed in his larger facility and I've built a pretty decent reputation thus far. I am not sure I will look too much in advance of finding out if he can keep me.

We had our follow-up today.

Husband's SA came back GREAT. (2.2mls, 111 million per ml, 244 million total count, 71% motility, 65% rapid/slow forward progression, 37% normal morphology)

AFM, my AmH lab came back at 2.69 ng/mL (which my doc says puts me more like a mid-20's woman's ovaries rather than a 32-year-old). Vitamin D is at 43. DHEA-S (adrenal hormone) was over 220, which is higher than I should be. So, I'll be going on meds to bring that down. However, he wants to do a laparoscopy on me this coming cycle to look for, confirm and remove endometriosis. I've finally contacted my principal for a meeting as my first shot at that surgery will be the day after school starts for the school year. I'm not sure if I'll be permitted to be out that day and the next for recovery.

So, please pray for one of two things to happen. Either 1) we're pregnant and I won't need surgery at all or 2) for my principal to be understanding and supportive as this is something I don't WANT but apparently need.

Your DHEA-S level didn't seem high to me, see reference ranges here: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003717.htm

Doctors do things that don't make sense to me all the time though - and I'm not a clinician. Everything else sounds really promising. Even if it is endometriosis - it's completely treatable. FX that you don't need surgery, but even bigger FX for a positive outcome!

@ClandestineTX I really think you have a great chance. I'm so hopeful for you. I know you deserve it. Are you thinking of quitting completely in October or just the meds? I'm sending loads of luck, wishes, and hugs your way.

AFM My computer has been driving me crazy lately. I'm going to have to invest in another laptop soon. I've been looking at laptops and chromebooks. Does anyone have any opinions on chromebooks? They are cheaper and supposed to run faster, but I don't like the storage space and some of the features. I'm starting the baby aspirin and extra vitamins Friday. I'm excited to start this journey. I really hope everything I'm doing will make a difference.

I don't know what I'm doing anymore. I posted yesterday in my journal with the saliva test results (11 samples full cycle last time) - my estrogen level is overall "deficient" - however, the serum levels have always been great and the pattern of rises and falls is good - just too low. I see doc on the 21st to discuss the results, so I have no idea what she's going to do with me. I am pretty sure this explains my light periods and collection of CPs, however. It also means that even though this cycle appears awesome - I am more likely to get another CP if anything, which is pretty depressing.

Hi, I start my ivf cycle today with the the first injection tonight. I go for a first scan to see what's going on next Thursday. I'm feeling a lot less nervous and ready to do this. Xxx

That's so exciting! I will keep my FX for you! I think "ready" is the best you can possibly be at a time like this!

Hi everyone! I have been MIA for awhile but I do have a question for you...

Does this look positive??

Yep.

So I held my urine for 4 long hours lol and it was negative. It's a rexall blue dye brand so I don't know. I told mom first response and this is what I got lol. I'm thinking try again in the am. I have 2 internet cheapies and one more rexall brand. Not sure which is better haha.

First response tests really suck, actually. Even my friend with a solid 6-week BFP had positives on Clear Blue, EPT, Target brand, etc. before the FRER was "really" convincing. I will never buy them again, for sure.

Took another ic (rather that than the blue dye) with fmu...negative . I think prowife is right about the false positive.

There really are no "false" positives. If it was an evap - it would be gray (no pink color) and not really there, but there. A faint positive that becomes negative is a chemical pregnancy and has color to it. If you saw a pink-colored line that was the right size, shape, and position of the test line - it's not an evap. I had three before I took a picture to my doctor and had the "false positive" conversation with her. The only thing I've gotten an evap on were FRERs (before I switched to ICs) and they were definitely faint gray color lines. If it was a CP - don't stress it - 50-80% of pregnancies don't make it through implantation - it's unfortunate, but normal. If you test early every cycle and notice you get them frequently (like me) - definitely talk to your doctor about it.

 

[ProfWife]

Clandestine - My doc (at that time, I'm with someone new) wouldn't accept it as a positive as there was nothing proven later. Since it was so early, they wouldn't even call it a miscarriage or a chemical. That always really bothered me. In my heart, I believe it was a "chemical" (very early miscarriage).

BTW - Scheduled for surgery this Thursday. We'll be doing it. I'm nervous, but okay.

Praying the last bit of your doctoral thesis and defense both go smoothly.

 

[ClandestineTX]

Clandestine - My doc (at that time, I'm with someone new) wouldn't accept it as a positive as there was nothing proven later. Since it was so early, they wouldn't even call it a miscarriage or a chemical. That always really bothered me. In my heart, I believe it was a "chemical" (very early miscarriage).

BTW - Scheduled for surgery this Thursday. We'll be doing it. I'm nervous, but okay.

Praying the last bit of your doctoral thesis and defense both go smoothly.

I brought my doctor pictures of tests from two separate cycles, mostly because I wasn't sure if they were evaps or "real" positives. And that was largely the result of people on BnB who talk about evaps all the time and a few who suggested my tests were "just evaps"! I have a had at least 4 CPs in the last year and would have talked to my doctor sooner (like after the second one) if I had realized they were "real" positives. I also would have kept better track of them. Unless you have a tumor secreting hCG or have done a trigger with hCG, a positive test - regardless of the intensity - is a positive test. On any brand, all the time, period. They are also normal and can happen and in general, aren't anything to worry about. But for ladies like me, where there's a definite implantation problem... it's a different story and a sign that further investigation/ treatment is merited.

I will keep my FX that your surgery is as quick and painless as possible. It's unfortunate that there isn't a better way to check for endometriosis.

Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts. I have to keep reminding myself at this stage of the game it is my CHOICE. I have to choose to prioritize wrapping this up, if I want to be done by Dec and not drag this out until next May. And I really do want to move on with my life! Being a student (at any level) at 33 isn't for sissies!

 

[ProfWife]

I totally understand. I've been thinking about whether or not to do a doctoral degree (Ed.D. is most likely). I had a fun time in my master's program, but I just don't know if I'd have the stamina to do a doctoral program.

One of the local universities is rolling out an Ed. D. program (first cohort started already) which is online. I'm highly interested in that. We'll see though.

Right now the finances are directed at paying off our house (which we'll do either September or October!) and financing our fertility treatments.


In other news, one of my sweet friends who has been on this journey for a number of years told me today at church that she's expecting - and made it past the first trimester! I'm over the moon for her and her hubby!

 

[nikkilucky77]

Prowife: How exciting to pay off your house! Jealous! Great to hear about your friend.

Clandestine: I believe you are right. It must have been a chemical... I know it was pink so not an evap. Thanks for your knowledge

 

[RaeChay]

@ nikki - but I thought you said it was a blue dye test?

 

[Hopeful2014]

@Lazydaisys Good luck!!!! I hope the retrieval goes well. Do something nice for yourself afterwards.

@ProfWife I wish af wouldn't come, but I understand needing it to come quickly. I'm glad you were able to schedule it. I'll definitely be thinking about you on Thursday. I hope all goes well. (Yay for paying off your house soon! I know we love having that worry off our back.)

@momwithbabies I'm so glad to hear that he is doing better already.

@nikkilucky77 I could see something. Have you tested again after the last negative? I'm sorry. A chemical is still a loss and definitely unfair to ladies who have been trying for so long to see a second line. I tried to think of it as a good sign that it could happen for me when I had a CP. I hope you get a solid, dark line very soon.

@ClandestineTX Wow! You definitely seem busy. I know you'll do great and it must feel good to be at this point in your studies. I'm surprised about your estrogen level. Perhaps it's off for some reason. I hope she has a good explanation or plan for it when you see her. I'm glad your progesterone level is up. I hate that you have to feel this way.


AFM I'm considering getting some IC and some cheap ovulation tests as well. Any recommendations on where to buy from online or brands? I'm thinking of Amazon. I might use ovulation tests just because it's so much later than what it was before. I'm not completely sure yet. My temp was finally up on Sunday so I think I finally ovulated this month. I hope it levels out in the next few months.