We are TTC-ing!

[tricky]

I got so impatient I went to POAS and sure enough was neg..I didn't really think because I tested on 2nd urine and my AF is not due until next Wednesday. I got so fed up of waiting ! I think that the only way to get pregnant is to not plan to get pregnant, just like the animals hehehe

 

[TVH]

My hubby went with me for all the checks and even TCM. The route to having a baby is a two persons effort so it is only fair that hubbies are participating in whatever needs to be done. Sometimes I do feel that my hubby is a little stressed with all the checks and visits but we have discussed and came to a conclusion that if we don't find out hat is wrong, we could be trying for years without success and nv knowing what is wrong.

U could test on the day your menses is due. If u test before that, HCG level might b too low to b picked up. There are some brands of HPT kits that is able to detect low levels of HCG. I know clearblue measures 20 (I forgot the measurement unit). I bought this brand called Fortels at Guardian that claims to detect 10. I've read on other forums abt this brand called first response that is able to detect low HCG levels as well.

 

[littlej]

According to the trusted FF - On average - Ovulation is 20 days and LP is 10 days. But when I do my own calculation - Ovulation is 17 days and LP is 13 days. I guess I need to chart a bit more to have a more accurate analysis (*feels like work*). See the chart above - BTW, I paid for the VIP version of FF so I can have such in-depth analysis

Oh dragontail - I have been charting more consistently this cycle. Force myself to wake up at 730am (no lie-ins) just to take temp. My dear thinks I'm crazy. He will turn around to see this woman having a thermometer in her mouth and turn over again. I did ask him if he can read my temp and write it down on my behalf (and don't show me!) and he commented that "i have zou huo ru muo with this whole ttc exercise"

@ Faithmummy - Goody luck to the both of us. I don't wanna do this but hahah - sinseh needs the readings.. Hence my suggestion to my dear above but received a "duh - are you insane" look.

@littlehamster - Aiyo why like that! Hmph. Ok ok update us when you visit the GP.

@TVH - I've visited my gynae EVERY month since Oct and even more extreme in Dec cuz I went to see TWO gynaes. For the past 3 months, I've already spent $1600 on TTC (Gynae + IUI + HSG + TCM). Can buy a Mulberry or Goyard bag already. At the rate I'm going with no success, I think this TTC exercise would have gotten me a couple of Chanels or perhaps a Birkin *gasp*. But well, I'm still hoping... Now planning for a holiday in March with dear and of course holiday will coincide with the fertile period (more $$ spent)

Hhahaah and yes I can't stop giggling at the one shot one kill animal analogy! And yes poohy - I am attending shotgun weddings and I'm like - sigh - why so easy ah.

@Adrenalin - In the past 3 months where I visited the gynae 4 times + 1 IUI + 1 HSG - My man only came with me for 2 x gynae visits + HSG. As for TCM where I've gone for about 6 times, I did all on my own as well. Personally for me, I wanted to make sure I conserve my "brownie points" for the bigger more important stuff like "c'mon let's BD now now now" (when all he feels like doing is sleeping) and I wanted to also make sure he doesn't get too bogged down.

TGIFF!!!

 

[TVH]

Haha I agree with you, littlej!
The amt of money spent on the checks and supps and whatver nots, I could have gone for a very nice holiday! I've already put all holiday plans on hold becos o scared I kena jackpot then cannot refund the tickets...but one year on....sigh...I shd have gone for the holidays...

I also switched gynae halfway becos I was told there is a new regulation regarding IUI procedure, only fertility specialists can perform the procedure, normal gynae and obs cannot do it now. The last visit to a fertility specialist costs me close to $500, just for consultation and supps. My heart like breaking up into tiny pieces aft I saw the bill.

 

[Dragontail]

Oh then I hope I'm like a little rat (i am rat;p)... do one time jackpot one time.

Adrenalin, BBT can give some indicatives. Though of course it can only be supported by a hcg test. Say if you see your temp goes up and stay up higher from 7-10dpo thereabout, it's a good pregnancy sign (triphasic : happens after implantation). But some preggie women dont experience that at all. For me, I did have one.

Usually most HPTs in a way guarantee a certain percentage of accuracy if you test from the day of your missed AF. Anything before, it's really at your own discretion. I've tried a few brands of HPT before. Cheap to more expensive ones (never tried digital tho. Not prepared to spend that money for an unknown result test). They all work the same. Cheapies ones dont mean they cant detect HCG as good as more costly ones. I personally like the ones from Mustafa best. $2.90 each. The last trip my hubby picked up 15 of them. Ha!

Actually my last BFP I also couldnt wait till missed AF. I tested on 7 DPO and I think it was a +ve. On an expensive Clearblue. Though I wasnt quite sure if the line was right. Tested on 11DPO again and obviously BFP on a cheapie. My cycle can be 32-35days. So I'm not very sure 11DPO for that cycle was considered my missed AF day or not.

So far my hubby doesnt see my sinseh. But he will be in early Feb.

 

[TVH]

Oh ya, hv u experienced weird cycles aft HSG? My ovulation seems to have changed and getting later and later aft I did the procedure. V hard to know when I ovulate now...right aft the HSG, I bled alot...my blood pressure also gone way down right aft the procedure becos it was so painful, the doc didn't allow me to get down from the bed as my blood pressure was way too low. She was worried I would faint. I don't know of it is affecting my cycles now...

 

[tricky]

do you test on 1st urine ? I tested on 2nd and I don't think it was a good idea...

 

[tricky]

after drinking that is

 

[Dragontail]

I usually will be prudent with what i eat if I think there's still a chance during my DPO that I may conceive in that cycle. But i know not this one already so I just ate a cup noodle crab flavour. Haa!

littlej, I was tempted to buy the VIP in FF too. But my hubby keeps saying so expensive. So I didnt buy. Do my own analysis ;p Actually a longer LP is good. A too short one is considered a "defect". So I read somewhere. Such a heavy word.

Hehe... my hubby is immuned to my habit already. When I was preggie in the last, I sometimes also popped the thermometer in my mouth before I sleep. I just wanted to be sure I didnt see any big dip so that I could sleep in peace. Oh did you know you dont have to read it right on the spot? There's a memory function in the thermometer. But seriously I dont use it. I always remember what I read and record it only when I'm truly awake.

 

[Dragontail]

tricky, test the hpt in the morning, before any fluid intake.

 

[superwomancqy]

TVH I went for the HSG last August button cycles seemed normal after the procedure. Agree it's a traumatic experience and I won't want anyone to go through it (can't imagine giving birth). But I remembered slight cramping n spotting for myself so did the medical staff advise you then when you had bleeding and low pressure? I read that one will be more fertile 2-3 months after HSG as the dye will flush through the tubes and unblock it.. Hope it's of some consolation to you for going through the procedure.

Life is ironic in a way.. I always thought its easy for us to have a baby as and when we want.. But it seems the more we want something, life poses obstacles to it. Hopefully these experiences will only strengthen our relationship with hubby. Like my TCM doc said, at the end of the day it's still the 2 of us growing old together with or without kids.

 

[Dragontail]

That's so true, superwoman.

Just last night me and hubby had pillow talk. Told him I will only try for horsey and not beyond anymore because of my age. I dont think my body can be geared up any further by then. And we decide we will only try the natural way, no IVF nor IUI, because we mutually agree that we want our baby to be a "gift naturally". Not against technology medic help... but it's just something which we choose.

There are other interests we fancy too. If a kid comes along, we'll embrace it fully. If not, I'm sure we both will complete our marriage one way or another.

 

[TVH]

Superwomancgy, I agree. My tcm doc kept telling me getting pregnant is just the beginning, not the end of a process. Ultimately when we grow old and kids grow up, they hv their own lives and we r back to square one when it would be just the both of us again.

I had horrible cramps due to the pre medication I had to take before going for the Hsg test as that med was supposed to open up my cervix since I have not been pregnant before and it would b difficult to get the catheter in (which I later learnt that med is what is prescribed for abortion as I later googled -_-)The cramp was so horrible that I vomited right before the procedure. But at least now I know both my tubes are open. It has been 3 mths since and we r still struggling to get preggy. And the various checks have proven that I have no probs conceiving so it could b male factor infertility. My husband has Ben taking supps diligently now and I hope the situation could b improved, if not even IUI is out of the question according to my gynae.

 

[TVH]

Dragontail, we have the same thought as you too. We wanted the baby through natural means so I am reluctant to even go for IUI. Just hope this mth works

 

[littlej]

Hi TVH - I only did HSG in this cycle so I don't know about the impact on my cycle. So far - Ovulation has been quite correct. I don't know about the arrival of AF cuz AF is due next week. For me - HSG was erm to be honest, not as painful as I thought it would be. I popped ponstan (painkillers) then in I went. I felt fine after - A bit of spotting but it cleared like 4 hours after. I expected cramps etc but surprisingly I didn't get those. Either I have a super thick skin or I really imagined so much worse pain (like worse than period cramps / I am so going to kill myself kinda pain) so my body was expecting for the very worse. But yes definitely agree I wouldn't recommend for anyone going for that!


Did your gynae advise you to visit him during the first few days of your AF? That's what my second opinion gynae asked me to do - To test for endometrisis (which is not detected through HSG). So unless AF is being a good gal this month and comes either on Monday morning or Thursday morning / afternoon - I think I can only visit my gynae after AF cuz I'm away the rest of the week.

Sian hor?

 

[littlehamster]

littlej: ur nov bbt is everywhere. i would say ur dec bbt is better, there is temp surge, most prob got O so is ovulation 15-16 days. so far hows ur jan chart? my thermometer got the auto save last reading one, norm alarm ring then i take thermometer (bedside) then put in mouth (previous night wash clean liao) then click n wait 1 min for alarm ring, then click to off then take thermometer out n put back bedside and continue to snooze~ later when i awake then i go click n see back the reading. sometimes forget aso then go check back

i read got tep surge means got O liao, just that after O see alot funny factors to success or hinder it.. hard to say one. but must keep trying

hehe if we were rabbits then we will be like the old woman in the shoe with many kids hard to raise so many~

GP says i'll get a call fastest tmr for the report. see how it goes hmmmmmm

 

[littlej]

@little hamster - Oh oh.. how exciting! let us know!!

if I'm the old woman in the shoe - i'd be celibate after three kids hahahhaha!

Jan chart is in the pix sent lor. The purple line - Today is Day 25 and I got a temp dip.

 

[Adrenalin]

I think I have phobia of going to drs alone after marriage. It is just so coincidental I get bad news from drs when my hb not ard.. First was cancer 2 times, then poor ovarian reserve. Everytime I get the bad news I sit in shock by myself at the clinic. :X But I can see my hb struggling to cope with all these recent TTC visits. I guess I shld try to schedule it so that he can turn up for more impt visits, but the thing is.. Usually shit hits the ceiling only when he is not ard.

Didnt realise normal gynae cannot do iui anymore. I did 2 iui before HSG, as my gynae said hsg causes more discomfort than iui. At first time iui I felt like a cow. It was excruciatingly painful and gynae kept saying my cervix is tight. I was thinking of course since I never give birth before. After iui have to rest with pelvic tilted to the ceiling. Cramps were horrible. But after first iui, subsequent HSG and IUI didn't hurt as much. But still having to expose privates to sooo many different drs and nurses can be mortifying no matter how many times it is done. My cycles shortened after iui. HSG no effect. Thinking back.. Should have taken painkillers before procedure I suppose, but the staff always says... Won't hurt, just like period cramps. :S I feel cheated. Lucky it is over.

Ok will attempt to understand my bbt chart. Haven't looked at graphs since school days. Maybe looking at bbt will help me decide if I shld test tomorrow or Tuesday. Or maybe shld try the mustafa strips test daily until Tuesday.

 

[Adrenalin]

littlej: ur nov bbt is everywhere. i would say ur dec bbt is better, there is temp surge, most prob got O so is ovulation 15-16 days. so far hows ur jan chart? my thermometer got the auto save last reading one, norm alarm ring then i take thermometer (bedside) then put in mouth (previous night wash clean liao) then click n wait 1 min for alarm ring, then click to off then take thermometer out n put back bedside and continue to snooze~ later when i awake then i go click n see back the reading. sometimes forget aso then go check back

i read got tep surge means got O liao, just that after O see alot funny factors to success or hinder it.. hard to say one. but must keep trying

hehe if we were rabbits then we will be like the old woman in the shoe with many kids hard to raise so many~

GP says i'll get a call fastest tmr for the report. see how it goes hmmmmmm

I hope u get a nice gift then! A little bunny. not too many!

 

[Adrenalin]

Dragontail, we have the same thought as you too. We wanted the baby through natural means so I am reluctant to even go for IUI. Just hope this mth works

I think it is good you ladies talk with ur hb. I have them too.. But in all honesty, while i preferred no iui and ivf, my hubby is more like.. If u want baby need to be prepared to put up with the pain and suffering. To him technology is also a gift. :S then I said something like.. TTC is like woman doing all the work while the men get the pleasure. Only after Nuh Ivf talk, my hb toned down and softened his stance a bit, ESP when he saw how long the follicle collecting needle was. I hope TCM works then no need iui and Ivf for u all too.