TTC#1 Natural or With Meds

[sarah2211]

Be careful with vitex if you have a fairy regular cycle. It can mess things up. I thought about and read that it could make things worse for me.

Yes we do sound quite similar. I'm not exactly sure how high/low my tests are. My GP just rung to me let me know, to suggest I start Metformin and to refer me to a specialist. Hopefully next month we will get some answers.

I usually look around CD 17-19. Usually just tracking cervical mucus. It does involve sticking your fingers inside and working out what's going on. Bellenuit checks cervical position but I can never work that out. I tried OPKs but they never went positive for me.

I'm taking fish oil, women's multivitamin, folic acid, vitamin C and Metformin. My DH isn't taking anything but has cut down on alcohol. We use pressed every time from CD 17 until I get a temp rise. This cycle I'm also eating pineapple core from 1DPO-5DPO. If we are still trying next cycle in going to try evening primrose oil and grapefruit juice before O because that's meant to increase EWCM. Also I've heard Maca Root might be helpful, or Black Cohosh. Vitamin B can help with progesterone too. But we might just wait and see what the specialist says.

I really hope your specialist can help. What happened to the previous ones?

 

[ILoveme29]

@Sarah yes ive read that as well, unfortunately my cycles are irregular now for some reason. so I have to take Provera just to get AF and Metformin to keep it going. im on CD8 and this is my fist cycle since Jan22nd

Ive been on a rollercoaster with specialists. My first one left the practice I was going too, then I switched to another who didn't help at all, she wanted me to tell her what to do for me and on top of that she also left. then I saw my third who was very good but felt I needed a more aggressive RE that could offer me more help (which I felt she wasted my time), she kept ,making me come back for nothing just to tell me to take vitamins lol. so now im going to another specialist and hopefully my last. She specializes in iui, ovulation induction and IVF I wont have to be run around which I like. im really hoping shes the one I will find out on Monday and see how that goes.

 

[BelleNuit]

Ilove, it sounds like you've finally been set up with the right specialist.

I find that encouraging that one of your REs was recommending vitamins though. I've been doing a lot of research on the benefits vitamins can have.

I was also reading that low dose aspirin (81mg) can be helpful to produce a strong lining. I'm thinking about trying it, but I haven't looked into whether aspirin interacts with anything I'm taking so far. I want to make sure there aren't some serious risks with it first.

I'm going to cut out caffeine altogether and cut back on drinking so that it's just on the weekends. Also going to start exercising daily. Already did 2 days in a row! I'm trying to improve my circulation as i have Raynaud's which I was reading can make ttc more difficult due to circulation problems.

 

[sarah2211]

It sounds like Vitex might be good for you. I haven heard of women with irregular cycles getting much more regular thanks to vitex. Wow that much be so hard. We've had the 'chance' to try because I've been ovulating but not even ovulating much be frustrating. Sometimes though, I wonder if it'd be easier to get a doctor to do something about your subfertility if there was an obvious issue. You might not have to wait so long. Not that any position is a good one to be in there and I can't really complain about the length of time I've been waiting to get help.

That sounds promising. Do you have any idea what they'll suggest next?

 

[ILoveme29]

@Belle vitamins are hard to keep up with. I rather a good multivitamin I do forget at times to take certain vitamins when its so many to take. I defiantly cut the caffeine, soda and juice. I just drink tea and water. trust me when you cut it out you wont want to go back to it. I was visiting my mom and she only had Soda Lord I couldn't drink it I had to add water just to try to bare with it lol. exercise is great keep it up. what types of exercise are you doing?

@sarah yes very frustrating all the months go by and all I can think about is how I could have tried but cant smh. not everyone who is TTC had infertility issues. and I'm sure an RE can help be more aggressive as far as guided or helping you conceive faster, I say if you have insurance why not.

me and DH decided since we have been aggressively been taking our vitamins and changed our diet it may increase our chances trying another iui. I'm really out of options its either that or IVF which I would have to finance.

 

[sarah2211]

Haha cutting out coffee?? I don't think I could. I get to about 11am have a headache. I can have one but usually 2.

Apart from coffee I'll have lots of water and maybe 1 glass on wine a week.

Can they just keep up the provera and clomid/femara and one little swimmer might make its way through?

I live in a country with a public health system so we are seeing the specialist in the public hospital. You can choose to pay but it's the same Doctor anyway. We might have been seen slightly sooner, but the doctor made the referral last month and then I got a letter to say I'll be seen next month. So not really that bad.

I think if we get nothing from the specialist then we will be going down the strict diet/exercise/vitamin route too. Is your IUI funded? How much will IVF cost?

 

[BelleNuit]

I agree vitamins can be super hard to keep track of when you are taking so many! For myself and where I am now in my TTC journey I think it's worth a shot and I'm willing to try it out for a couple months. After that I might take a break from the vitamins for a few weeks because I don't want to completely overdose on them!

I've also been cutting back on coffee! I'm going to try this week switching to tea. When I first cutback to one cup a day my headaches were intense. I found half a cup a day easy to tolerate once I got used to 1 cup. I think I may get headaches again switching to tea. But I want to see if I can do it! I also never drink pop... it is SO SWEET! I can't tolerate it!

My vice is that I really enjoy a glass of wine or a beer in the evening. I'm going to try to limit that to only a couple evenings a week this month as I know that has an impact on things!

I'm hoping the IUI will work for you! I can't remember, have you tried it before? I've read for some people (those without structural barriers to fertility) that lifestyle changes a few months in advance combined with IUI can be as effective as IVF! So I'd say its definitely worth a shot!

 

[ILoveme29]

Sorry ladies for the late reply, had a busy weekend.

@Sarah I was thinking that as well. but I seen my new RE today and shes monitoring and doing tons of tests to rule out exactly why my last 4 iui's were unsuccessful. she explained so many things to me today ive never heard from any of my previous RE's She said my last labs show I may have phospholipid syndrome which makes it difficult to get pregnant. I'm just praying my labs and everything come back okay so I can see what she plans to do for me. but she guaranteed I will be okay my other factors are fine, I just have to find what works for me.

I wish you all the best with that. and nope next month is right around the corner. when TTC the longest wait is the TWW everything else goes by pretty fast.
my insurance pays for unlimited iui's thank God. and covers about 3,500 for IVF and IVF plus my insurance will cost me about 9,000$ with a two for 1 through ARC.

@Belle your right hopefully the break I took from January with dieting and taking vitamins with exercise, will make a difference when I decide what next steps I will take. and yes I got a BFP! with my second iui with femara 5mg back in june of last year.

 

[sarah2211]

No worries. That's good that your RE is on to it. Hopefully this is the start of more investigations to find out what's going on. Fingers crossed they can find something that's easily fixed.

Anti phospholipid syndrome is fairly common in lupus. I was tested for it and it was negative. Hopefully you have no problems there.

Let us know how you get on with your tests.

 

[ILoveme29]

@Sarah thank you. she explained that to me. luckily I tested negative for Lupus but there was so many other tests I have to take. I get the constant "why me" as I'm sure we all have it just takes a lot of patience and prayer. I'm not sure if you ladies are believers or not but I do pray for you ladies as well as myself daily.

what is the status of your CD how is everyone doing so far?

 

[BelleNuit]

Thank you Ilove, I will accept prayers any day

Only CD 2 here, so not much exciting happening. My temp is staying remarkably stable though... for all of 2 days! lol. We'll see if that holds up!

I think the maca I'm taking is giving me tons of energy, so I'm going to take more of it in the morning and none at night!

 

[sarah2211]

@iloveme, that is good! I have my fingers crossed that it's not anti-phospholipid syndrome. Hopefully if they do find something, it's an easy fix. Let us know how you get on.

Yes I think the 'why me' is pretty common, some days I feel it more than others!

I'm currently 7DPO. Feeling lots of twinges, tweaks, pulls, stabby, crampy pains. Sensitive nipples and slightly sore boobs. Yesterday my temp dipped and today come back up. But I'm really trying not to get ahead of myself. It could all be nothing like every other month!

 

[ILoveme29]

@Belle sounds good so far

@sarah I totally understand, its hard to symptom spot ive learned to just try not to think too much into it. especially us ladies with PCOS its always something but nothing if you know what I mean

 

[BelleNuit]

Sarah, I so hope this is your month!! Twinges and tweaks sound exciting! I never get those during the TWW! I'm hoping your temp dip means something! I find it so hard to keep expectations realistic during the TWW without also being a little depressed and pessimistic. Its a tough balance and I definitely haven't found it yet!

Ilove I definitely have a lot of those "why me" thoughts too. I know I haven't been trying as long as you and that I haven't been formally diagnosed with anything, but I am finding the 6 month - 12 month wait so hard! It's like no mans land. You are taking longer than everyone else, but not long enough to be able to get serious testing. My 9th month will start officially in July, and its tough to think that if I had gotten pregnant immediately, my due date would be coming up soon!

Otherwise, CD 3 here, AF is slowing down Woo hoo! And temps are still staying REALLY stable, which has me hopeful for this cycle! Oh and my first appointment for acupuncture is tomorrow! I'm really looking forward to it as I've never had acupuncture before!

 

[sarah2211]

Thanks!

Before O I was remaining quite level headed, trying to not let it all consume me too much. But then when we got a good amount of BDing in before and around O plus my chart now and the symptoms, it's really difficult to keep the excitement in check. My DH is getting his hopes up too, much more than me. When I tell him just to chill a little he says I'm being pessimistic. You can't win!

But I'm well aware that it could be something or it could be nothing. Symptoms or no symptoms, beautiful chart or not, it could still just as likely be a BFN.

Bellenuit, your charts looking great so far. Did you get my PM?

 

[BelleNuit]

Well your chart is looking Fantastic!! I hope this is it for you!!
I replied to all the PM's you've sent me, so one maybe got lost in translation somewhere. I sent another email quoting the last message I received from you. I had already replied to it yesterday, did you get my reply?

 

[sarah2211]

DH is very keen to look at my chart every morning (big change, he wasn't a believer bbt was a thing).

I'll have a look. Maybe my reply didn't send.

 

[BelleNuit]

That is SO cute that DH wants to look at your chart every morning! It absolutely melts my heart when my DH asks to see my chart!!!

 

[sarah2211]

Haha I always get so excited when he asks. He always overlays my charts and compares my temps haha.

I got my fertility clinic appointment! 22nd July!

 

[BelleNuit]

The countdown is on!!! Maybe you'll get your bfp by then!

My chart is still looking great! Temps are starting to slop down. I'm excited to see how this cycle turns out!