Welcome to 'Trying To Conceive Over 35'

[alicatt]

AFM.. no smoking today.. I just keep reminding myself that the eggs need to be smoke free, and so do I! Just taking it one day at a time. Cramps and pain from the injections were pretty bad so I took a Percocet and that worked! FS prescribed them for me so I assume it's OK.
So my follicles look good at 9, 9, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8 plus a few smaller ones. My lining was already 8mm and she said it looked really good. They upped my dose of bravelle but kept the menopur the same. I have an OBGYN appt tomorrow for a repeat pap. I had it done back in May but somehow he didn't get any cells? How does that happen? Odd. Well FS said he needs an up to date pap ASAP so I'm having one tomorrow. Then back Thursday morning for US #2 and more bloodwork. I just hope I can handle the irritability from the meds and quitting smoking as well as the stress from work! Felt a little overwhelmed Tuesday.. hopefully Wednesday is better!

 

[Grey Eyes]

AFM.. no smoking today.. I just keep reminding myself that the eggs need to be smoke free, and so do I! Just taking it one day at a time. Cramps and pain from the injections were pretty bad so I took a Percocet and that worked! FS prescribed them for me so I assume it's OK.
So my follicles look good at 9, 9, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8 plus a few smaller ones. My lining was already 8mm and she said it looked really good. They upped my dose of bravelle but kept the menopur the same. I have an OBGYN appt tomorrow for a repeat pap. I had it done back in May but somehow he didn't get any cells? How does that happen? Odd. Well FS said he needs an up to date pap ASAP so I'm having one tomorrow. Then back Thursday morning for US #2 and more bloodwork. I just hope I can handle the irritability from the meds and quitting smoking as well as the stress from work! Felt a little overwhelmed Tuesday.. hopefully Wednesday is better!

I keep telling you-chocolate! Chocolate milk, chocolate bar, hot chcolate...it all works lol! At least it helps Seriously though Ali I am proud of you- this is a lot to remember, I'd have trouble remembering without putting it all down somewhere. And I thought dh and I had a busy couple weeks coming up! Focus on rest after-- once ET is complete you're edgy cravings for cigs will have diminished and you'll feel better. Then I'd say you are due another vacation! Even a couple of days to just relax.

 

[Grey Eyes]

My stupid neighbors just set off another 'stink bomb' LOL! They have a jug of skunk essence and every night they squirt it toward our bedroom window fan- thinking it'll stink up our room I just put the fan on exhaust problem solved. Dh has caught them several times doing it. She always squeeks and runs in the house leaving her hubby standing out there like a dumb-o with this spray bottle LOL! I almost peed my pants just remembering that Crazy folks.....

 

[alicatt]

Hya Ali! Fancy meeting you on here this late at night You are SUPPOSED to be sleeping Did you at least take a nap at 5 pm??

Wow, one more week to your ER! Bet you are getting excited Have you picked out somebody to drive yout o and from the hospital? Will it be outpatient or do you have to stay a night?

Oh, btw, I have recently re-discovered my Michael Jackson greatest hits cd You all should have seen my dd's dancing it up today! They were winded and exhausted by the time I turned the music off! Some things in this world never change. "Beat It", "Thriller" and "Billy Jean" were - naturally- their favorites. I had to laugh at them. They must get their moves form their papa (he won dancing competitions, a regular John Travolta ) Whereas I can't dance a single step My parents told me "fun is dumb" lol! so I never learned. Funy how little kids are naturals!

Yep! I did sleep from about 7-11, then the doggies woke me up, they needed to go potty. I will be heading back to sleep here in a minute. Figured while I was up I would catch up on FB and BnB, etc.

I am hoping my EX BF will take me to my appt next week. He is a merchant marine and is often not here (off at sea) but he said he was back tomorrow for 2 weeks. During that time he doesn't work, so he is a good person to ask. I've already asked him and he said that would be fine. I just need to find out when! Its tentatively on Tuesday, but if my eggs aren't ready it could be later. It is an OP procedure in their office, and I think it will take less than an hour. I need to take the day off though as I have heard that some are in pretty bad shape after. Course I could be just like I was last Friday and be just fine (maybe a little foggy brained).

I love dancing to 80s music and singing my heart out. It is a lot of fun and a bit of a workout. I was researching working out during the IVF cycle the other day, and it is a definite NO-NO. Walking is about all I can do I finally figured out why... and it has to do with your ovaries being so swollen, there is an increased risk for ovarian torsion (where your ovary twists and cuts off its blood supply). This is an emergent situation as you need to get the blood supply back to the ovary ASAP or you could lose it. So I will try to be good and not jump around to music too much. Just take doggies on walks and not lift too much either. Apparently this is the case for the month or 2 after an IVF cycle too, as the ovaries stay swollen for a while. ARGH. Can I just say that I'm feeling like a water balloon? So very bloated from all the meds, and I hear that it only gets worse after the trigger shot. Best way to get rid of it is to drink plenty of fluids including pedialite or gatorade, but apparently pedialite is better.

Can I just say that I can't wait for this cycle to be over?

I'm off to bed now.. I hope to get some more sleep before I have to be up early. My cleaning lady shows tomorrow and I need to get a few things put away before she arrives! I always laugh at how I have to 'clean' before the cleaning lady comes. She is a godsend though. Plus she doesn't charge too much, $75 every 2 weeks. It is totally worth it for my sanity!!!

 

[alicatt]

AFM.. no smoking today.. I just keep reminding myself that the eggs need to be smoke free, and so do I! Just taking it one day at a time. Cramps and pain from the injections were pretty bad so I took a Percocet and that worked! FS prescribed them for me so I assume it's OK.
So my follicles look good at 9, 9, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8 plus a few smaller ones. My lining was already 8mm and she said it looked really good. They upped my dose of bravelle but kept the menopur the same. I have an OBGYN appt tomorrow for a repeat pap. I had it done back in May but somehow he didn't get any cells? How does that happen? Odd. Well FS said he needs an up to date pap ASAP so I'm having one tomorrow. Then back Thursday morning for US #2 and more bloodwork. I just hope I can handle the irritability from the meds and quitting smoking as well as the stress from work! Felt a little overwhelmed Tuesday.. hopefully Wednesday is better!

I keep telling you-chocolate! Chocolate milk, chocolate bar, hot chcolate...it all works lol! At least it helps Seriously though Ali I am proud of you- this is a lot to remember, I'd have trouble remembering without putting it all down somewhere. And I thought dh and I had a busy couple weeks coming up! Focus on rest after-- once ET is complete you're edgy cravings for cigs will have diminished and you'll feel better. Then I'd say you are due another vacation! Even a couple of days to just relax.

I had 2 bowls of moos tracks ice cream! That helped a lot I was good most of the day..

I had tea with agave nectar, apple slices, grapes and a 4 cubes of cheese for breakfast. Then hummus and pretzel crackers for lunch. Finally some leftover paella for dinner. So I figured some ice cream would be a nice reward for not smoking. Many it was so yummy! They must of had a fudge meltdown because my ice cream was more fudge than anything else, and I was in

 

[alicatt]

My stupid neighbors just set off another 'stink bomb' LOL! They have a jug of skunk essence and every night they squirt it toward our bedroom window fan- thinking it'll stink up our room I just put the fan on exhaust problem solved. Dh has caught them several times doing it. She always squeeks and runs in the house leaving her hubby standing out there like a dumb-o with this spray bottle LOL! I almost peed my pants just remembering that Crazy folks.....

Can you get a video tape of them doing so? I bet you could call the cops on them. BTW.. did you get in touch with them about your friend? Your neighbors sound like total freaks! Why oh why would you try to set off stink bombs? I mean the last time I pulled a prank like that I was a teenager! Sounds like they need to grow up.. silly people.

The prank was pretty wild, I was in college and we let crickets loose in the boys dorm. They didn't sleep for weeks.. from all the incessant chirping. LOL! Oh and the water fights we used to have and wheelie chair races down the halls. We were crazy!

 

[AngelSerenity]

Hi ladies, sorry I've been MIA, trying to take a relaxed approach at the moment.

I had a scare yesterday but hopefully it is nothing, just one of those early pregnancy things. I go to hospital tomorrow to see a RMC specialist where I will tie him to a chair and take a until he gives me progesterone as my gut is telling me it will help.

Ali.... WOW, I have missed so much with you this past week lady! Good luck with the IVF process, it certainly sounds enduring but so worth it . I'm rooting for you!

Coy... I really dont know how you stick your neighbours, you must have the patience of a saint.

Alin, Terri, Jess, Babywhisperer, Twotogo, .


Good luck for testing Babywhisperer, when are you going to test?

 

[alicatt]

Hi ladies, sorry I've been MIA, trying to take a relaxed approach at the moment.

I had a scare yesterday but hopefully it is nothing, just one of those early pregnancy things. I go to hospital tomorrow to see a RMC specialist where I will tie him to a chair and take a until he gives me progesterone as my gut is telling me it will help.

Ali.... WOW, I have missed so much with you this past week lady! Good luck with the IVF process, it certainly sounds enduring but so worth it . I'm rooting for you!

Coy... I really dont know how you stick your neighbours, you must have the patience of a saint.

Alin, Terri, Jess, Babywhisperer, Twotogo, .


Good luck for testing Babywhisperer, when are you going to test?

OHH.. can't wait to hear what the specialist says tomorrow. GL and here is hoping that they give you a clean bill of health and give you your progesterone to keep you that way!

 

[Babywhisperer]

I only ever got the prominant veins with pregnancy...never with Af That's oine thing that made me wonder in your case. Not a guarentee but sure makes this symptom spotting interesting! I wish you had a chart to watch LOL!

BaByWhisperer.. I agree with Coy.. sounds like pregnany signs to me! Veins popping out on boobs and them growing like that.. well that is a top early sign. Have the aereolas darkened at all? What about the absence of symptoms you normally have leading up to AF?

9dpo is probably a little early for testing, but 13dpo is very reasonable!

Can't wait to hear if you are!!!

The veins are more prominent at night for some reason. No other symptoms to speak of. Bbs are fuller, no cramping really, hoping to get more symptoms that are telltale signs. I will try to chart next month if I don't get blessed w/ a bfp. Nips are not darker, but last night the veins looked like a city map with the nips as the epicenter with veins going around and out like a spider web. But no other symptoms to speak of either way.

How is everyone else today??

 

[happyending]

Alicatt... did you just quit smoking cold turkey??? I have tried to quit... made it 3 days once and then picked them back up. I really WANT to quit but it is the HARDEST thing I've ever tried to do! I will take some pointers if you have any I have tried lifesavers when I want to smoke... a glass of water when I want to smoke... and try to find something to keep myself busy... but any time a little stress hits... I smoke! I suck! No willpower! Have gotten down to about 5 a day though.

 

[alicatt]

Alicatt... did you just quit smoking cold turkey??? I have tried to quit... made it 3 days once and then picked them back up. I really WANT to quit but it is the HARDEST thing I've ever tried to do! I will take some pointers if you have any I have tried lifesavers when I want to smoke... a glass of water when I want to smoke... and try to find something to keep myself busy... but any time a little stress hits... I smoke! I suck! No willpower! Have gotten down to about 5 a day though.

I know the feeling! I have been trying to quit for years and stress keeps pulling me back. I have done laser therapy and had the best luck with that in the past. I'm not sure if they have anything like it where you live, but this is the site that I used: https://www.laser-therapies.com/ I have tried the patch and gum too. This time I just quit cold turkey as I didn't want to spend the $125 for a repeat laser session.

Smoking is a huge deterrent on getting pregnant in so many ways, see this article: https://www.asrm.org/uploadedFiles/...ces/Fact_Sheets_and_Info_Booklets/smoking.pdf

I'm just going cold turkey, I haven't had a smoke since Saturday, and I don't miss it that much. I wasn't a heavy smoker though, only 2-4 in the evenings to relax. Most people thought I was a non-smoker as I rarely smoked in public. I just get busy doing something else when I want to smoke, and eventually the craving passes. Last night I had ice cream (not a good substitute, but it worked). I think what is mostly motivating me is the need for my IVF to succeed. If I'm going to spend $15,000 on IVF I need to do everything in my power for it to work, and that includes quitting smoking.

It is probably the hardest thing you will ever do, and I'm in the middle of doing it right now. Believe me not an hour goes by right now that I don't notice the subtle effects. Mostly right now its my nerves, I'm so irritable and uncomfortable. Sort of feeling like a fish out of water. Although some of this might be caused by the injections too. I am determined to beat this, and to get pregnant! You can do it too!

Carry a list of all the reasons why you are quitting, and read them each time you feel like a smoke. Remind yourself why this is important, and maybe it will help? Things like:

1) I want to have a baby, and I don't want to harm the baby with my smoking
2) I want to be able to run a mile again
3) I want to be there when my baby graduates from college, gets married, etc
4) I don't want wrinkles around my mouth
5) I don't want to sound like an old hag with the raspy voice (think the aunts on the Simpsons)
6) I want to be able to get back to the gym and maximize my workout in a month or 2, and not smoking will make it so much easier
7) I don't want to smell like an ash tray
8) I want to get my teeth whitened so they don't look brown from smoking

Well there are 8 reasons I could come up with quickly for why I want to quit. I'm sure that some of my reasons would be similar to yours!

Good luck, I feel for you, it is literally the hardest thing I have ever done!!

Doing it while taking hormones, trying to re-finance my house, working full time and going to the Dr's every other day for IVF treatments.. if I can do it, you can too

 

[Babywhisperer]

AFM.. no smoking today.. I just keep reminding myself that the eggs need to be smoke free, and so do I! Just taking it one day at a time. Cramps and pain from the injections were pretty bad so I took a Percocet and that worked! FS prescribed them for me so I assume it's OK.
So my follicles look good at 9, 9, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8 plus a few smaller ones. My lining was already 8mm and she said it looked really good. They upped my dose of bravelle but kept the menopur the same. I have an OBGYN appt tomorrow for a repeat pap. I had it done back in May but somehow he didn't get any cells? How does that happen? Odd. Well FS said he needs an up to date pap ASAP so I'm having one tomorrow. Then back Thursday morning for US #2 and more bloodwork. I just hope I can handle the irritability from the meds and quitting smoking as well as the stress from work! Felt a little overwhelmed Tuesday.. hopefully Wednesday is better!

You are one tough chicky! Be careful w/ the percocet, drink some prune juice...pain killers stop me up like rush hour traffic on the Long Island Expressway. Good for you with the smoking!! I was a casual smoker and hubbs has 1-2 a night. I really feel for you...quitting smoking, being on all those meds, having all these tests done...you are handling it amazingly well. I'd be one crank bitch...esp with needles! Keep some of your fav music around...I'm always amazed how music can help soothe me.

Keeping you in my thoughts as you continue on this journey!

Afm, cd22, I'm 9 or 10dpo, af due the 12th, so 1 week from today. I'm hoping she stays far away from all of us! I didn't get to sleep as early as I wanted, so i'm dragging butt today. I'm hungry but not much of an appetite if that makes sense. I still have prominent veins, but seems more so at nights, and slight acidity in my upper stomach right below my sternum. Otherwise, nada.

How's everyone else doing today?

 

[jm1355]

everyone!

I need some direction. My temp is down, but I am not sure if AF ever really arrived. I had spotting for the last few days but no real flow. I have been working out a bit more, but not enough that my cycle would be affected. ...or at least I didn't think so.

Take a look at my chart and tell me what you think. Do you think perhaps the last few days of spotting was my cycle? Sometimes this is SOOOOOO annoying!!

~~Jess

 

[Babywhisperer]

everyone!

I need some direction. My temp is down, but I am not sure if AF ever really arrived. I had spotting for the last few days but no real flow. I have been working out a bit more, but not enough that my cycle would be affected. ...or at least I didn't think so.

Take a look at my chart and tell me what you think. Do you think perhaps the last few days of spotting was my cycle? Sometimes this is SOOOOOO annoying!!

~~Jess

Have you increased you workouts and restricted your diet too? When I was at my fittest af was all kinds of weird, including skipping a month. What's your body fat down to?

 

[jm1355]

everyone!

I need some direction. My temp is down, but I am not sure if AF ever really arrived. I had spotting for the last few days but no real flow. I have been working out a bit more, but not enough that my cycle would be affected. ...or at least I didn't think so.

Take a look at my chart and tell me what you think. Do you think perhaps the last few days of spotting was my cycle? Sometimes this is SOOOOOO annoying!! I think I am just going to start my cycle at the temperature drop. It is usually 28 days. (Although last month it was only 26...)

~~Jess

Have you increased you workouts and restricted your diet too? When I was at my fittest af was all kinds of weird, including skipping a month. What's your body fat down to?

I am not sure what my body fat is right now. I am getting ready to compete in less than 6 weeks. But my diet resictions are not real bad yet. They don't get crazy til next week. Hmmmm...maybe it is a diet/workout issue. Argh! This might very well be my last competition.

 

[alicatt]

everyone!

I need some direction. My temp is down, but I am not sure if AF ever really arrived. I had spotting for the last few days but no real flow. I have been working out a bit more, but not enough that my cycle would be affected. ...or at least I didn't think so.

Take a look at my chart and tell me what you think. Do you think perhaps the last few days of spotting was my cycle? Sometimes this is SOOOOOO annoying!! I think I am just going to start my cycle at the temperature drop. It is usually 28 days. (Although last month it was only 26...)

~~Jess

Have you increased you workouts and restricted your diet too? When I was at my fittest af was all kinds of weird, including skipping a month. What's your body fat down to?

I am not sure what my body fat is right now. I am getting ready to compete in less than 6 weeks. But my diet resictions are not real bad yet. They don't get crazy til next week. Hmmmm...maybe it is a diet/workout issue. Argh! This might very well be my last competition.

It is really hard to tell? Have you tested I think its possible you are pregnant, or it is possible that you didn't ovulate and are skipping a month. I think you should test just to be sure before you do some severe calorie restrictions next week! You wouldn't want to do that if you were PG

 

[Grey Eyes]

Hi ladies! Forgive me, I am so excited I am AFM'ing first!!

OMG! I'm going to start off with great news today! Here was a predicament dh and I had- we have several vehicles, right? but only one of them was operational, my little 4-seater car, but the brakes are quickly going bad in it and we were concerned what we were going to do once babes is born. We will need a 5 seat vehicle at least. Well, we have a Suburban but a mechanic told us we needed throw out bearings, clutch plate, new clutch and that it had some other issues. Well, we didn't really trust the guy and had no additional finances to take it to another mechanic OR get it fixed. So this morning our adopted "Grandpa" came for a visit and just happened to bring a gentleman we had never met before that is a mechanic. (Grandpa had no knowledge of our predicament btw). Anyway the man asked about our Suburban and dh told him...the guy popped the hood and snorted. Come to find out he is an expert mechanic for these types of rigs and told dh all it needed was oil in the clutch pan- it is apparently a hydraulic clutch and simply sprung a minor leak that- over time- rendered our clutching useless. As it happened dh had the right kind of oil and we filled it up. Didn't cost us a penny and we have our perfect 5 member family vehicle. Phew! Wow! What an amazing blessing!

 

[jm1355]

Hi ladies! Forgive me, I am so excited I am AFM'ing first!!

OMG! I'm going to start off with great news today! Here was a predicament dh and I had- we have several vehicles, right? but only one of them was operational, my little 4-seater car, but the brakes are quickly going bad in it and we were concerned what we were going to do once babes is born. We will need a 5 seat vehicle at least. Well, we have a Suburban but a mechanic told us we needed throw out bearings, clutch plate, new clutch and that it had some other issues. Well, we didn't really trust the guy and had no additional finances to take it to another mechanic OR get it fixed. So this morning our adopted "Grandpa" came for a visit and just happened to bring a gentleman we had never met before that is a mechanic. (Grandpa had no knowledge of our predicament btw). Anyway the man asked about our Suburban and dh told him...the guy popped the hood and snorted. Come to find out he is an expert mechanic for these types of rigs and told dh all it needed was oil in the clutch pan- it is apparently a hydraulic clutch and simply sprung a minor leak that- over time- rendered our clutching useless. As it happened dh had the right kind of oil and we filled it up. Didn't cost us a penny and we have our perfect 5 member family vehicle. Phew! Wow! What an amazing blessing!

That is AWESOME!! God has a great way of giving us what we need when we least expect it...

 

[Babywhisperer]

Hi ladies! Forgive me, I am so excited I am AFM'ing first!!

OMG! I'm going to start off with great news today! Here was a predicament dh and I had- we have several vehicles, right? but only one of them was operational, my little 4-seater car, but the brakes are quickly going bad in it and we were concerned what we were going to do once babes is born. We will need a 5 seat vehicle at least. Well, we have a Suburban but a mechanic told us we needed throw out bearings, clutch plate, new clutch and that it had some other issues. Well, we didn't really trust the guy and had no additional finances to take it to another mechanic OR get it fixed. So this morning our adopted "Grandpa" came for a visit and just happened to bring a gentleman we had never met before that is a mechanic. (Grandpa had no knowledge of our predicament btw). Anyway the man asked about our Suburban and dh told him...the guy popped the hood and snorted. Come to find out he is an expert mechanic for these types of rigs and told dh all it needed was oil in the clutch pan- it is apparently a hydraulic clutch and simply sprung a minor leak that- over time- rendered our clutching useless. As it happened dh had the right kind of oil and we filled it up. Didn't cost us a penny and we have our perfect 5 member family vehicle. Phew! Wow! What an amazing blessing!

That is amazing!! And shame on the mechanic that was trying to rip you off. I'd warn people I knew about that guy! What a blessing...kiss "Grandpa's" friend!!

 

[Grey Eyes]

Ahhh...I feel better after that

Ali- kudos on the smoking, having a baby will do it every time! That's how my dh wuit and no troubles...the focus was "the health of my baby depends upon my willpower". When you look at it that way- cinch. And you are doing so well! As for the exercise- just walking for a couple months, you can do it. Look at it like a self-imposed physical vacation. For starters, you need it. You have been running crazy the last few months, this is a much needed break.

Jess- yes, it is possible that the spotting was AF. I am just speaking from perosnal experience. When I used to worl out hard and cut my diet seriously my AF all but disappeared. Still very possible to get prego though. In fact when dh and I got married my cycles were so minimal I often "missed" when it would happen. And I got pregnant right away. So I know THAT aspect of it is possible. I think the heavy workouts and such affect your cycle for sure. But I agree with Ali and think you should test before your major dietary restrictions next week. I see that your temp has dropped some more but that is not always a defining factor in a bfp!