Welp, here I go...

[thestarsfall]

Just made my first doctors appointment for infertility. Hopefully something can be done to get me pregnant.

I have been trying on and off for over 2 years now, and the last year and a half has been consecutive TTCing. I have relatievly normal cycles I think...but they do occasionally get thrown off and end up being longer. Longest cycle this year was 37 days and shortest was 29. Last year longest was 42 and shortest was 29. Usually I am around 32/33 days though, with suspected or confirmed ovulation being around CD 20 and a 12 day LP. As far as I know, none of this is abnormal and so I don't know what could be causing the infertility. I mean, CD 20 is kinda late, but not enough to be a problem I think, and other people O later and are successful. 12 day LP is a bit shorter than normal but still normal, and 32 day cycles are totally normal also....so I don't know and that's making me worried that nothing will work in terms of meds or treatments.

What should I expect for the first appointment? It's just with my family doctor...I assume it will probably be some questions about history of periods, intercourse timing, family history of infertility, and then maybe a blood work form and hopefully a prescription for Clomid or something.

The only thing I can think of being an issue is I am overweight, but I would think if it were affecting fertility it would have affected my cycles?

 

[waitingongod1]

Great step towards answers. We have very similar stories. We've been trying for over 2 years and I just had my first appointment with my specialist. I'm guessing family doctor will ask questions and may get some simple blood work done to see if any red flags. Doctors love temp charts or doing ovulation testing, brings those if you have them. I had the same cycles as you do, with ovulating later (if at all). They put me on clomid and it actually has upped my ovulation day to be earlier! Do you have an OB doctor? That's who I have been working with until now with the specialist.

 

[jjbubbles28]

Hi ladies
I am 35 and hubby 44. Ninth cycle ttc #1. Waiting too long to start and thought this would be much quicker now that we're settled. I have normal 31/32 day cycles. I use opks and get 2 (this month 3 positives a month). My husband has gotten other women pregnant. Soooo, I believe the problem is me A job change has caused us to hold off until the end of this month for testing. In the mean time I have been on omega, b complex, vitamin d, maca root, epo before o, l carnitine, chromium picolinate, chia seeds, prenatals, preseed, conceive plus, and softcups. Started soy iso this month despite my regualr cycles. Cant temp due to inconsistent sleep and take benadryl to sleep, which causes hostile cm. I exercise, am dairy free, caffeine free (besides the occasional chocolate ) and mostly carb free. My hubby and I have done close to every other day for my 2 week fertile period for 9 months now and nothing. Very frustrating .....

 

[waitingongod1]

Did you have your doctors appointment yet?

Jjbubbles you have tried a lot of different stuff! Hope you are able to get your test soon and answers!

My doctors appointment went well and he seemed to think I have a good chance! Let's hope! First Iui next month. It's nice to have a plan.

 

[Want1Too]

Hi!
My husband and I have been trying for 2 years. Past 4-5 months we have been seeing a fertility specialist. My OBGYN was not helping at all so I asked to be referred. I also had painful periods that I thought was normal.
I got my appointment with fertility specialist and they sent me a thick package to fill out for me and hubby. It ask the normal health questions and family history.
My first appointment was just talking to the doctor and she explained the next steps.
2nd appointment - vaginal ultrasound and blood work.
3rd - HSG (shoot dye into you). Painful. Make sure you ask if you can take something stronger than OTC drug. This test they want to make sure your tubes are open. Mine were!
4- SONO test (saline shot inside of you), checks your uterus for any abnormalities (polyps, fibroids etc). My test showed a polyp. Ugh.
Doctor told me and my husband our options. We decided surgery was best. I had a laparoscopy with hysteroscopy. Currently recovering from that surgery.
I would encourage you to ask a lot of questions and if your not getting the answers get referred since your going to regular doctor. Good luck!

 

[waitingongod1]

Want1too- sounds like we are about in the same boat. Been on clomid yet? I had the surgery too. I had a rough recovery and it took 5 months to ovulate again. I hear that is very unusual though. I'm on my 3rd cycle of clomid. If not pregnant this month specialist wants to do an iui next month. What is your next step?

 

[MrsL4]

In the same boat too
TTC for close to one year now

Only testing so far is progesterone (good) and SA (good)
Current plans for HSG in a few months if no luck

Just starting to wonder what is next if that is clear?

We are timing it for 3 consecutive days after first + OPK per doctors orders (and trying to not have intercourse a few days before so his boys are ready).

Thinking of y'all! Wishing this was as easy as we all thought it would be....

 

[Want1Too]

Want1too- sounds like we are about in the same boat. Been on clomid yet? I had the surgery too. I had a rough recovery and it took 5 months to ovulate again. I hear that is very unusual though. I'm on my 3rd cycle of clomid. If not pregnant this month specialist wants to do an iui next month. What is your next step?

Hi waitingongod1 - well right at this moment I am still healing from surgery. Pain has decrease but still hurts here and there. At my post op the doctor gave us options (6 months of clomid, shots or IUI then IVF), we decided to go with shots. Thankfully we have decent insurance and we are almost at the max for out of pocket cost so then the insurance will pick up rest of medical 100% thru end of year. We are hoping and praying we get pregnant before end of year.

I have another appointment on 15th with the nurse, who will show my husband and I how to administer the shots. The nurse will also go over additional information regarding shots and answer any of our additional questions. I am sooooooo terrified of shots. Again I hope we get pregnant if we don't we'll cross that bridge when we get there. Only positive thoughts.

I have talked to a couple people who said when they stopped clomid to do IUI or IVF they ended up pregnant before the procedure. I wish you luck and much baby dust to you!!!

We will get through this together!

Baby dust to all of you ladies!

 

[MrsL4]

want1too ---- you mentioned the out of pocket coverage with shots, and whatnot

I know how DIFFERENT insurances can be, but I am currently looking to make sure we have the right coverage during open season (got two weeks to decide) in case we need to keep on going down the infertility road this year

What has been your experience, can you give any tips or insights? Our state doesn't have infertility coverage.....most of the insurance plans say cover infertility except artificial reproductive technologies (i.e. won't cover IUI and IVF....but will cover shots and pills and testing I think)

 

[Want1Too]

want1too ---- you mentioned the out of pocket coverage with shots, and whatnot

I know how DIFFERENT insurances can be, but I am currently looking to make sure we have the right coverage during open season (got two weeks to decide) in case we need to keep on going down the infertility road this year

What has been your experience, can you give any tips or insights? Our state doesn't have infertility coverage.....most of the insurance plans say cover infertility except artificial reproductive technologies (i.e. won't cover IUI and IVF....but will cover shots and pills and testing I think)

Hi MrsL4 - Yes, its open season for selecting the right coverage especially when your face with infertility treatment and cost. I can tell you I currently have a high deductible upfront (per paycheck) so my out of pocket cost is lower (still several thousands of dollars). My insurance does cover infertility. The way mine works is I have to pay in network deductible and coinsurance cost = out of pocket. However the insurance will pay 80% and I pay 20% in order to get to that max out of pocket amount. Now keep in my co-payments (office visits) are not apart of that figure. Once we met our max out of pocket then insurance covers us 100% until end of year, then of course next year we start all over with paying out of pocket. My insurance does cover IUI/IVF but you have to do 6 months of clomid or shots first.

The insurance we have does cover infertility treatment which includes blood work, test, medications, surgery etc at 80% and I pay 20% until I meet my out of pocket max. I hope that makes sense to you.

I would encourage you to ask your insurance company what they pay vs what you pay percentage wise. what is your max out of pocket for the year? if you can afford to have more money taking per paycheck I would encourage cause you don't miss it. I also have a FSA card which I can put money (per pay check) on as part of my benefit so I do use that which I can pay for out of pocket cost that are eligible. Not everything is eligible so check that out before you commit. Office visit co-payments are eligible, blood work, test etc for me. OTC not eligible only prescription meds.

Also make sure you use an "in network" doctor that will SAVE you thousands of dollars especially with all the different test and procedure.

Good Luck and I hope this helped! if you have any additional questions let me know.

 

[waitingongod1]

Want1too I'm so nervous about the shots too! Ugh...

 

[jjbubbles28]

well, started spotting today. So cycle 10 and a doctors appt on 10/25. argh!

 

[waitingongod1]

Bummer! At least you have a doctors appointment scheduled to find out what's next!

 

[thestarsfall]

had my appointment, it was the whole a handful of questions and bloodwork form and she sent a request for the hospital to call me to book an US but I haven't gotten a call yet (its been less than a week though). if everything comes back clear then I get referred to an OBGYN for more testings...

blood draws were annoying because they took 9 vials and I almost passed out and then on the way home from the lab I had THE ABSOLUTE WORST cramping sensation I have ever had. Like I was 13 DPO when I did the tests (maybe 12, but I am pretty certain it was 13) and I usually have a 12 day LP so I was expecting AF to show up that day and went in the morning to do a urine/blood testing at the lab and after almost passing out went to go give the urine sample and was crampy and thinking "okay, here it is" but nope, nothing...and then got into the car and halfway home had terrible terrible pain, worse than anything I have ever felt (and I have chronic pain and a high pain tolerance), couldn't sit still at all, had to press on my lower abdomen and wiggle all through the car ride and still in pain...then at the end approx 3 mins from our apartment I totally thought I was going to throw up, got he whole mouth watering nauseous feeling...got home and didnt throw up.

AF showed up the next day (14 dpo) which either means a) I severely misjudged my O date but I had ewcm and a pos ov test and then the next day creamy cm and a negative, b) I suddenly have a 14 day LP? or c) possibly chemical pregnancy because I have been having worse cramps than I have had in over 6 years this cycle...but I didn't have any tests in the house so I have nothing to base this on...or I suppose it could be something completely different I have no idea really.

This pain was so intense though, like thinking during it happening I was like "if this is at all what labour pains (when I eventually get pregnant) I don't know if I will be able to go the natural route 100%"

and like, I do fillings in my teeth without freezing...I have a huge pain tolerance.

 

[thestarsfall]

the hospital called and left a message but I didn't get a ringing on my phone when they called and didn't get a notification that there was a message until I checked after work had called. Meh, I'll call them tomorrow and book my ultrasound...ahhh I am nervous.

 

[Want1Too]

the hospital called and left a message but I didn't get a ringing on my phone when they called and didn't get a notification that there was a message until I checked after work had called. Meh, I'll call them tomorrow and book my ultrasound...ahhh I am nervous.

Starsfall - What happen? Did you get your appointment?

 

[Want1Too]

Want1too I'm so nervous about the shots too! Ugh...

want1too ---- you mentioned the out of pocket coverage with shots, and whatnot

I know how DIFFERENT insurances can be, but I am currently looking to make sure we have the right coverage during open season (got two weeks to decide) in case we need to keep on going down the infertility road this year

What has been your experience, can you give any tips or insights? Our state doesn't have infertility coverage.....most of the insurance plans say cover infertility except artificial reproductive technologies (i.e. won't cover IUI and IVF....but will cover shots and pills and testing I think)

Hi Ladies! I hope things are going well for everyone.

waitingongod1 - I wanted to update you and let you know that I am giving myself 2 injections a day. No fun. I am being monitored every other day at RE , which includes blood work and U/S. We have also opted to do IUI.

MrsL4 - Did you get your insurance benefits taken care of during open enrollment? I hope so.

I hope everyone on here, realizes their strength b/c this journey is not easy. Stay positive and keep the your faith!

Good Luck to you all!

 

[thestarsfall]

Starsfall - What happen? Did you get your appointment?

Yes! I had an ultrasound last tuesday, I was expecting it to be internal since I am not pregnant and I just assumed it would be internal to get a better look but it wasn't so I was glad for that. It was uncomfy anyway though because of the having to have a full bladder. The radiologist is going to look over what the tech noted and then they'll send it all to my doctor and I hope she'll call me and tell me results are in rather than just seeing if I make a follow up appointment.

So things should be moving along this week.

 

[Want1Too]

Ok. sounds good! well keep us posted and good luck!

 

[thestarsfall]

I am a bit worried ish because she spent like 3/4 of the time on the left side and then just was briefly on the right so my thoughts are something is wrong on the left? (Which I want something actually to be a problem as long as it is a fixable problem lol. I don't wanna have a clean bill of health in this case because then I have no immediate options really...) The whole left side thing throws me off because I get a lot of twingey achey cramp stuff in the right side. Nothing painful, just crampy.