Oh! I Almost Forgot!

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Progesterone & Ovulation

For those of you who have been following the blog (THANK YOU!!!), you know that I am on a cycle of Clomid at 50mg. (Is it mg?? IDK, but you know what I mean!)

Day 19 was a blood draw for the progesterone level, which determines if you have ovulated. I've also been tracking temperature and using those home ovulation predictor kits.

As of today, Day 26, I have had no significant spikes in temperature and my ovulation strips don't even come CLOSE to the control. (Day 24 was the closest, but only about 3/4 there.)

Yesterday I called to schedule my blood draw for the pregnancy check. Having been tracking all that I also asked what my numbers were. She told me but I didn't have any clue as to how that compared to with what amount was desired.

PROGESTERONE::: From here

• Follicular phase (eggs growing in ovary):  0.2-1.4 ng/mL
• Luteal phase (post ovulation):  3.3-25.0 ng/mL
• Mid-luteal (plateau after ovulation):  4.4-28.0 ng/mL
• Postmenopausal:  Less than 0.7 ng/mL

• Pregnant 1st trimester: 11.2-90.0 ng/mL
• Pregnant 2nd trimester: 25.6-89.4 ng/mL
• Pregnant 3rd trimester: 48.4-422.5 ng/mL 

 And my numbers were..... 0.3 ng/mL

So nothing. I mean, I was pretty sure nothing happened, but I was still hopeful. And then if it there was no ovulation, I was hoping the levels wouldn't be at the BOTTOM of the "nothing" bracket.

I don't know what to think at this time. I had prepped mentally that it may not work this round but it still sucks. I think I teared up for a minute but then felt stupid for doing so since I had been sure that it didn't work.

Oh well. Here goes another month at a higher dosage. And yes, I will still check LH until I run out of strips for this cycle.

And starting to add ALL my vitamins back in... But will save that for another post :)

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Ashley's Update

Well, things are going well with our pregnancy!  We are 14 weeks now and we had our first perinatology appointment yesterday, and the perinatologist said we are having twin BOYS!  I never tell patients before 16 weeks just to make sure the genitals are completely done forming but he was confident both penis's were too large to be clitoris....so we'll make sure in a couple more weeks ...but we are THRILLED!!!!

Other than that, I've started a belly since 10 weeks but now its much more prominant, I feel I'm doing and looking really well for twins.  We are excited to share our boy news with our families this weekend and we are going to do some scouting for cribs, carseats, highchairs, etc. tomorrow!!

I think of you all, all the time, I'm sorry I haven't been on here as much as I'd like, summer is just always so hectic and I don't always get on the computer very much.

CD19: One of THOSE Days

Today is CD19. I had to go in to get bloodwork done to check my progesterone levels (to see if I ovulated).

After seeing my home LH tests... I have no hope that I ovulated. Here is the pic from CD9 (last day of clomid) to today:

(I was kinda dehydrated for the one that is yellower than the rest)

Kind of a downer on my day.

And I did this during lunch time so afterward I stopped at BK on the way back... And the lady in the drive-thru was pregnant. Lovely.

Day hasn't gotten much better. I know what the results are going to say.

This is honestly the hardest part of infertility: trying to remain hopeful even though, time and time again, it just doesn't happen. And I don't just have my battle with PCOS, I don't ovulate PERIOD.

On my mind has been this song (below). A friend put it on facebook and I think of husband throughout the song. But there are certain verses and parts of the chorus that make me think of this infertility journey. Enjoy :)

Quick Sidenote

For those of you who don't know, I love to read.

If you haven't heard of Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.... It is awesome. A must read.

The second book in the trilogy comes out in July and there is actually a contest where you can get a signed copy of the book (!), a temporary tattoo, and 6 buttons.

Here is the site: BOOK GIVEAWAY

CD17: LH and Basal Temps

As you have seen from my last post, my LH went down.

And then up a little.

Then down again.

And now going back up.

GEEZ.

I haven't been able to record my basal temp because my basal thermometer ran out of batteries and it wasn't one that you can change the batteries >:(

SO.

I haven't been recording them for the last week because I keep TRYING to remember to buy one when at the store and then completely forget.

But I bought one today :)

I am supposed to go on Thursday to do bloodwork for my Progesterone levels. I am going to keep LH testing until a) I run out of strips or b) AF comes. I know some of you ovulated late in the cycle so still trying to remain positive.

My only question is... If I DON'T ovulate on this cycle of 50mg of Clomid, do I do another month of 50 or just go up to 100??

Any suggestions???

Um, LH??? You are going the wrong way!

Today is CD12 for me.

On CD10 I started tracking my LH with an Ovulation predictor kit. CD10 was the day AFTER my last Clomid pill.

As of this morning, here are the results: 

As you can see, my LH hormone marker is getting LIGHTER instead of darker.

Not. Cool.

I will still do this kit until a) AF visits or b) I run out of strips (there are 20 in there so that gets me to CD29).

I know several people mentioned ovulating later than expected while one Clomid. I just hope this dosage helps me ovulate!

Ovulation Help

In the last 24 hours I have heard of TWO new myths that are supposed to help ovulation. I want to try them.

The first one I heard about was LICORICE (or licorice root). Yes. Supposedly taken for five days in your cycle and it is supposed to help. But they say it doesn't matter WHEN in the cycle.... I haven't found it yet but going to Walmart tomorrow and will look there. I know they sell it online (I don't like the flavor of licorice, so would rather take a vitamin). Supposed to help with depression too... Maybe something some of us could use after years in this cycle.


Second was a swig of Robitussin a total of 6 days (five before ovulation and the day of). Even says you can take it with Clomid but to take it after you take the last pill. It is supposed to help the cervical mucus become more fertility-friendly, especially since Clomid tends to do the opposite. Read about it here!!


Since I take my last Clomid tomorrow, I might buy some Robitussin and give it a shot. I can't STAND liquid medicine but I'm sure I can make a sacrifice for this goal :o)

Need To Save Money?

Going through infertility you KNOW that:
-Pregnancy tests are expensive
-Ovulation predictor tests are expensive

BUT what if I told you there was a site where you can get these SOOO much cheaper???!!!

As in 55 CENTS each???

Here is the link: http://www.early-pregnancy-tests.com/