Shannon Gets a Surprise and Plans Her Next Step

Yesterday was CD64.

Before I continue, did I tell you I did the parsley tea?? No? Ok... So I tried the tea. Got down one glass (with some sugar while holding my nose). Then didn't drink anymore. That was 2 weeks ago..

For the past week I had been complaining to Steph about my boobs being sore. Annoyingly sore. Since I don't get period warnings I was HOPING it would be a sign of pregnancy, regardless of the bloodwork results from CD 26. She insisted that maybe my period was about to start.

Who won??

Well... yesterday AF arrived.

As disappointed as I was, I was wanting it to come so I could move on.

Because my doctor hasn't called me back and I'm too busy/offended to call HER, I decided that this cycle I am going to try the GNC Fertility Blend for Women. I thought about buying the men's too, even though his numbers are AWESOME, but that is yet ANOTHER $40 for something I can't guarantee he would even take.

So, $40 for 1 month (90 pills = 3 pills per day) I will take these pills and plan on adding my vitamins back into my diet too... I've been so discouraged lately (for the past month) that I haven't even bothered with taking them either.

If I'm not pregnant with this cycle, I will call the doctor again and up my dosage of Clomid.

I also plan on tackling DH so we can sit down and discuss or fertility plan. This road looks like it is just getting harder and I want to have a plan set.

Shannon's Update on CD30

(I'm doing a 7pm-7am shift at a client's house... so while they sleep I just have to stay awake!)

Today is CD30. Last Wednesday, CD24, I called my Dr to find out the result from the progesterone draw (CD19). She said I was in the follicular stage. :/

Kinda disappointing because my OPK test strips have been really dark most of this cycle (pictures to come later).

I asked if she wanted me to go do the draw on CD 26 for the pregnancy hormones or wait a week. They still had me go in.

I don't want to call them about the results yet. I know they have them but I don't want to hear it. This Friday I take the HPT that came in the OPK. Figured I'll see the negative then and then call the doctor to confirm.

Here we go on another round of clomid!

Back to Day 18

So today is day 18 which means that tomorrow I go and get blood drawn to check my progesterone levels.

This cycle I have been doing the at home OPK (ovulation predictor kit) like last time. Here is a comparison from last cycle and this cycle (so far):

50mg Clomid Cycle

100mg Clomid Cycle

I did a second test on 8/8 in the afternoon just to see how results varied. Really wish I hadn't forgotten on 8/2 and 8/3 but I only like to use the first urine sample of the day. My temps are still all over the place.

Don't know what to expect about the blood draw for tomorrow and I hate that it will take me almost a week to find out the results!

And Another One Bites the Dust!

Today I was Facebook messaging a friend of mine from high school.

A few months ago she had mentioned that after 2 years of trying they still weren't pregnant. The earliest her doctor could get her in to start infertility diagnosis was July.

I remembered that today so I asked how everything went.

She informed me that they did bloodwork and then checked for cysts but she was clear. That before they start to take clomid they wanted to try GNC's Fertility blend for men and women. And after the first month... She is pregnant! Found out yesterday.

Now 2 things:
1) I'm very happy she is pregnant after trying and waiting so long.
2) I'm sad for myself and my DH. I wish it was easier for me to get pregnant.

I mentioned the fertility blend to the DH and said he could take it too which we gladly pointed out that all his swimmers are more than great and he doesn't need to take anything to help. Lovely. Let's point out even more that this is all my "fault" because MY body is the one not working properly.
So. 

http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2134276

As much as I want to sit on the couch, veg out, play Sims or something... I think I'm going to get on the treadmill. Because, even though it is tough, being fat seems like something easier to fix than my infertility.

Have any of yal tried this or know somebody that did and was successful?

Now to Wait!

AF finally arrived late Monday. Now I wish it was gone, LOL! It is so annoying to always be thinking about it to make sure you don't overload or remember to have a tampon in the bathroom, etc.

BUT this means I can start Clomid 100mg on Friday! My day 19 bloodwork (ovulation test) will be the Friday before my birthday, and the day 26 bloodwork (pregnancy test) will be the Friday after my birthday.

I hope I get good news this month. That would be an awesome birthday gift! And I know that I am relatively young to be concerned with my biological clock (but frankly, who isn't when they have fertility issues???), but every birthday just is SUCH a huge reminder. I will be 26 in August. I know most of my friends aren't even married, let alone have kids... But I'm ready!

Hope everyone has a good day!!!

AF Only Arrives With an Invitation

Yesterday was officially the end of Cycle 1 of Clomid as I started Provera again.

Doctor had called and confirmed on July 5th that the pregnancy blood draw came back negative so she went ahead and sent the increase dose of Clomid (100) and the provera to my pharmacy.

When I start taking Clomid I will begin to track my LH with the ovulation strips again.

I hope you guys are having some good luck out there!!!

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 :)

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 :)

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???