Stirrup Queens and Sperm Jesters has an awesome blog roll that can be found here:
http://stirrup-queens.blogspot.com/2006/06/whole-lot-of-blogging-brought-to-you.html
Definitely a + opk on both the internet one and the answer, but negative on the digital. I am not sure why I have such bad luck with those digital ones. I did have serious O pain, so I figure ovulation is set for today- CD 16. Finally, something normal. Now, to see what goofy things my chart does.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Genetic Counseling
So, when I walked in the place was full of preggos. I had asked when making the appt (it is a perinatologist group) if all their patients are pg and had been told about half. So, I thought I was ready. Um, no.
Plus, I was not a big fan of all of the signs in the waiting room that said that "recliners are for pregnant mothers only." It was a bit of overkill to have six signs, one on every recliner and several on the walls. Way to make the infertile feel comfortable. When the receptionuist called me up to check in, she asked me how I was doing and I told her I would have been better without all of those signs. She explained that often people who were not pg (esp men) would take the recliners and a lot of their patients were on bed rest and needed them. I explained that it was still insensitive to the infertile. After she got me checked in, the office manager came out and wanted to talk with me about the signs. She was actually pretty cool and admitted that it was a bit much. I understand that too many people are stupid and don't yield seats to preggos, esp these ones b/c they are high risk and often on bed rest, but come on. The office manager said they had never thought of it from that perspective and actually appreciated me saying something. Anyhow, that was my little stand up for infertility moment of the day.
On the other hand, I really liked the genetic counselor. She didn't talk "down" to me and gave me lots of options and a few things to consider. I have the most common genetic mutation for cf. My siblings have a 25% chance of being carriers as well. And the cousins have a 1/8 chance. I feel like I should say something to them, but I don't know which side it is. I don't speak to my maternal cousins and have very little to say to the other side either.
On a side note, those who are cf carriers have a genetic advantage in not contracting cholera. This is why they think the carrier gene became so prevalent in the Northern European population as an evolutionary advantage. This kind of thng fascinates me.
Anyhow, odds are with DH not being a carrier for 97 of the most common mutations that cause cf, that we have only a 1% chance (double the general population) of having a baby with cf. He could do a further sequencing screening to test for most of the others if we want to narrow the odds some more. She also told me that it was good to know that I was a carrier b/c our state conducts a mandatory newborn screening and if the baby was a carrier, it would come back + in the initial screen, so I would not have to worry as much until the second test. She also wanted me to consider chromosonal testing for me b/c of my mother's recurrent losses.
She told me that we could do neither of these tests, do one or both now, or wait until I got pg before doing either of them. I really appreciated her perspective to carefully consider whatever we chose to do because every choice has a consequence. I think we will wait on the further cf testing because the risk is low enough that it would not prevent us from going forward with IUI. I am conflicted on the chromosonal testing. Part of me wants to know but what if there is something wrong, does that leave us with only ivf and pgd as an option? I just want to at least get in an IUI cycle before I have to consider all of this.
Who knew trying to have a baby would involve all of this craziness and so many choices?
Plus, I was not a big fan of all of the signs in the waiting room that said that "recliners are for pregnant mothers only." It was a bit of overkill to have six signs, one on every recliner and several on the walls. Way to make the infertile feel comfortable. When the receptionuist called me up to check in, she asked me how I was doing and I told her I would have been better without all of those signs. She explained that often people who were not pg (esp men) would take the recliners and a lot of their patients were on bed rest and needed them. I explained that it was still insensitive to the infertile. After she got me checked in, the office manager came out and wanted to talk with me about the signs. She was actually pretty cool and admitted that it was a bit much. I understand that too many people are stupid and don't yield seats to preggos, esp these ones b/c they are high risk and often on bed rest, but come on. The office manager said they had never thought of it from that perspective and actually appreciated me saying something. Anyhow, that was my little stand up for infertility moment of the day.
On the other hand, I really liked the genetic counselor. She didn't talk "down" to me and gave me lots of options and a few things to consider. I have the most common genetic mutation for cf. My siblings have a 25% chance of being carriers as well. And the cousins have a 1/8 chance. I feel like I should say something to them, but I don't know which side it is. I don't speak to my maternal cousins and have very little to say to the other side either.
On a side note, those who are cf carriers have a genetic advantage in not contracting cholera. This is why they think the carrier gene became so prevalent in the Northern European population as an evolutionary advantage. This kind of thng fascinates me.
Anyhow, odds are with DH not being a carrier for 97 of the most common mutations that cause cf, that we have only a 1% chance (double the general population) of having a baby with cf. He could do a further sequencing screening to test for most of the others if we want to narrow the odds some more. She also told me that it was good to know that I was a carrier b/c our state conducts a mandatory newborn screening and if the baby was a carrier, it would come back + in the initial screen, so I would not have to worry as much until the second test. She also wanted me to consider chromosonal testing for me b/c of my mother's recurrent losses.
She told me that we could do neither of these tests, do one or both now, or wait until I got pg before doing either of them. I really appreciated her perspective to carefully consider whatever we chose to do because every choice has a consequence. I think we will wait on the further cf testing because the risk is low enough that it would not prevent us from going forward with IUI. I am conflicted on the chromosonal testing. Part of me wants to know but what if there is something wrong, does that leave us with only ivf and pgd as an option? I just want to at least get in an IUI cycle before I have to consider all of this.
Who knew trying to have a baby would involve all of this craziness and so many choices?
Monday, August 27, 2007
Wishful thinking and curious pondering
Even though I am only CD 12, my opk had a second line on it. Far from positive, but with my usual fade-in pattern I was surprised to see something this early. Is it too much to hope that I might ovulate by CD 16 and have a "normal" cycle for a change? And how pathetic that I want this cycle to go well and timely so we can actually start an IUI cycle. Next cycle. Hurry up and wait.
Also, I am really wondering what it is that the genetic counselor is going to have to tell us. I am really hoping that me being a cystic fibrosis carrier does not require my telling extended family members. I have had more than enough of my family's lack of support.
Also, I am really wondering what it is that the genetic counselor is going to have to tell us. I am really hoping that me being a cystic fibrosis carrier does not require my telling extended family members. I have had more than enough of my family's lack of support.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Just like his dad
We told DH's parents last Wednesday night about the IF and they were very supportive, but I get the feeling they don't want to talk about it much. MIL did ask a few questions which led DH to explain that the problem was predominantly low sperm count, to which MIL replied, "Just like your dad." Particularly ironic since DH is adopted.
Anyhow, they don't seem to understand how much more difficult adoption is now compared to when they adopted in the '70's. They offered to help us out financially, which was particularly nice, but they have given us so much that I would hate to have to ask them for money.
I know they will love our child, whether it is biological or not. I only wish my parents felt the same way.
Anyhow, they don't seem to understand how much more difficult adoption is now compared to when they adopted in the '70's. They offered to help us out financially, which was particularly nice, but they have given us so much that I would hate to have to ask them for money.
I know they will love our child, whether it is biological or not. I only wish my parents felt the same way.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
More waiting
So, I should be getting my period any minute now. I already have spotting and according to my temp this morning, I am dead.
Because we have to go to genetic counseling on the 29th and because we will be traveling, no IUI again this month. Hopefully, next month's baseline will show that the cyst has resolved itself and we can try IUI. Oh goodie, shots.
Apparently, we are telling DH's parents about the infertility tonight. Well, I don't know if he is intending on calling it "infertility" but rather that "we are having difficulty conceiving a child." I kind of feel like I am beyond the "difficulty" stage. I don't know. Mostly, I just want to sit in a ball by myself and eat chocolate.
Because we have to go to genetic counseling on the 29th and because we will be traveling, no IUI again this month. Hopefully, next month's baseline will show that the cyst has resolved itself and we can try IUI. Oh goodie, shots.
Apparently, we are telling DH's parents about the infertility tonight. Well, I don't know if he is intending on calling it "infertility" but rather that "we are having difficulty conceiving a child." I kind of feel like I am beyond the "difficulty" stage. I don't know. Mostly, I just want to sit in a ball by myself and eat chocolate.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
From Oprah's messages boards
MESSAGE FOR THE FERTILE WORLD.
Posted by: jwsjuls1
Posted on: 08/09/2007 at 12:35am (637 of 650)
Infertility is like this. YOUR CHILD IS KIDNAPPED. THE RANSOM IS A MILLION DOLLARS. YOU HAVE TEN YEARS TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY AND THERE IS NO GARENTEE YOUR CHILD WILL BE ALIVE.
YOU TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW IN A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO GET THE MONEY.
INSTEAD OF UNDERSTANDING AND HELP FINANCIALLY, PEOPLE SAY 'JUST ADOPT,THERE ARE ALOT OF CHILDREN WHO NEED HOMES', OR 'RELAX' OR 'GO ON VACATION' OR 'MAYBE IT IS GODS PLAN' OR 'GET OVER IT'.
ARE YOU ANGRY?, HURT?,DEVISTATED?. DO YOU THINK 'HOW CAN THEY BE SO CRUEL? DON'T THEY UNDERSTAND? THIS IS MY CHILD.'?
YOU CAN IMAGIN THE REST OF THE STRUGGLES FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS.
QUESTION FOR THE FERTILE WORLD. WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING TO SAVE YOUR CHILD? OR WOULD YOU JUST GO AND ADOPT? JULIE
Posted by: jwsjuls1
Posted on: 08/09/2007 at 12:35am (637 of 650)
Infertility is like this. YOUR CHILD IS KIDNAPPED. THE RANSOM IS A MILLION DOLLARS. YOU HAVE TEN YEARS TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY AND THERE IS NO GARENTEE YOUR CHILD WILL BE ALIVE.
YOU TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW IN A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO GET THE MONEY.
INSTEAD OF UNDERSTANDING AND HELP FINANCIALLY, PEOPLE SAY 'JUST ADOPT,THERE ARE ALOT OF CHILDREN WHO NEED HOMES', OR 'RELAX' OR 'GO ON VACATION' OR 'MAYBE IT IS GODS PLAN' OR 'GET OVER IT'.
ARE YOU ANGRY?, HURT?,DEVISTATED?. DO YOU THINK 'HOW CAN THEY BE SO CRUEL? DON'T THEY UNDERSTAND? THIS IS MY CHILD.'?
YOU CAN IMAGIN THE REST OF THE STRUGGLES FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS.
QUESTION FOR THE FERTILE WORLD. WOULD YOU DO ANYTHING TO SAVE YOUR CHILD? OR WOULD YOU JUST GO AND ADOPT? JULIE
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Maybe I should play the lottery today?
MORE good news! It must be my day!
DH went back to the urologist to discuss his pre and post Clomid hormone levels. Both his FSH and testosterone increased significantly. After only two weeks of using it!
He will go in for another s/a in early September to see if the count has increased as well.
DH went back to the urologist to discuss his pre and post Clomid hormone levels. Both his FSH and testosterone increased significantly. After only two weeks of using it!
He will go in for another s/a in early September to see if the count has increased as well.
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