[Atiz]

Hello All,
I had my follicles checked today and I had 7 follicles of good size (13 mm) and the mucous membrane is also fairly good (10 mm). I do do do do hope that they will be able to retrieve eggs from each follicle - that would be better than either of the previous ER's. By the way, ER will be 6 Nov (this Friday).
Thank you all for your best wishes, they have seemed to work so far...

[lostandconfused]

Follie check this morning went well RE said ER would most likely be at end of week....my sister got 11 eggs on friday, 9 mature, 7 fert, and today she is having two of her remaining 5 embies transfered back in I am waiting to hear from my RE on my E2 levels and my dose of Follistim for the night and when i go back for another check!

[Kris79]

Lost - Great news for both you and your sister!! Can't wait to hear how your ER goes this week!

Atiz - that's great that you have more follies than other cycles!! I'm praying that all seven will mature!!

ArmyWife - I'm sorry your DH won't budge on this...I can tell this is so hard for you. I'm praying maybe somehow he will see the light and how it would be so much easier for the child(ren) to not have to deal with the additional emotional baggage that comes from being conceived using donor sperm.

Sarah - Sorry you are late...I hate it when our bodies play such mean tricks on us. Our last cycle TTC before we found out about the azoo, I was five or six days late while we were on vacation in Yellowstone...I was so excited...and even more devastated when AF showed up.

Hi to schatzi, SFBayGirl, Singingirl, and the rest of you!! Let's hope this week goes faster than last week!!

[3rdtimesthecharm]

Originally Posted by lostandconfused

Follie check this morning went well RE said ER would most likely be at end of week....my sister got 11 eggs on friday, 9 mature, 7 fert, and today she is having two of her remaining 5 embies transfered back in I am waiting to hear from my RE on my E2 levels and my dose of Follistim for the night and when i go back for another check!

That's excellent news for your sister! I'm sure you are starting to feel ready for ER with all those follies growing in there! I'm excited to hear how you do for your ER this week! Will you do a 3dt or a 5dt? Are you taking some time to relax after your transfer? How many are you planning on transferring?

[3rdtimesthecharm]

Originally Posted by ArmyWifeStrong

3rdtimesthecharm:

I forgot to type...
I also have gotten DH invloved in the sperm choices...reading profiles and so on...he hates it too...but REALLY doens't want to get anymore procedures...so it isn't helping to change his mind. I was hoping seeing so much of my hair fall out...and the hours I spend agonizing over donar choices and me telling him how I just want it to be his would help, but no. I am also NOT doing a matching to have the donar look like DH...instead going dark hir like me nd so on. That didn't turn him around either.

I am just falling apart over here. I go through deployments, I run the FRG for his unit, I put up with his ex-wife...who is horrible, help take care of and pay for his 2 children...why can't I just have this? And saying anything like that to him just puts him on the defensive...

I feel your pain with a lot of that! It sucks that DH won't budge, but it's not like you can knock him out and drag him to the docs and force him to get it done...besides, that is causing you excess stress and with everything going on, you don't need extra stress! It's hard enough to get DH to sit down at a computer and look at donors (yes, that is like pulling teeth). I would love it if my DH would agree to another check, but I know that is a lost cause based off of the results of the first biopsy.

I too feel like at some point it needs to be my time. I do what I can to help everyone else, but somehow I tend to feel like I get the short end of it. I enjoy helping others...but I want to have mine too. I know that sounds bad...and I don't mean for it to sound bad or selfish...I just don't understand how one can do everything right and never see a positive endstate. None of this is easy...emotionally, physically and financially. The positive note is that your DH is ready to accept DS...I'm sure that some of the ladies here could tell you about those difficulties. You know that you will be able to have the pregnancy experience and expand your family. It may not be ideal, but I hope that is a positive experience for you!

[3rdtimesthecharm]

Originally Posted by Atiz

Hello All,
I had my follicles checked today and I had 7 follicles of good size (13 mm) and the mucous membrane is also fairly good (10 mm). I do do do do hope that they will be able to retrieve eggs from each follicle - that would be better than either of the previous ER's. By the way, ER will be 6 Nov (this Friday).
Thank you all for your best wishes, they have seemed to work so far...

Everything sounds like it is going very well for you! It looks like we will have two ERs to root for at the end of the week between yours and lostandconfused's. Are you doing a 3dt or 5dt? How many are you planning on transferring? Friday will be here before you know it!!

[SFBaygirl]

Hi everyone, hope you ladies had a good weekend.

Armywife: That is a tough situation. I guess I understand not wanting any more poking and prodding but I wonder if that isn't the whole issue. He seems from your post angry that you would ask. I completely understand why you want a child with your husband. He may have 2 children already but you don't!

This is kind of an unusual situation here because it is often the case the DHs don't want to use donor sperm but only have their own bio-kids.

It sounds like he doesn't want to go through donor profiles either. I think this would be hard for any DH so no surprise there. I was wondering if you can guage how he feels about having another child right now. If he is really gung-ho about another child something has to be done. Either the poking/prodding or the donor profiles.

There is infertility counseling available in most areas. That may be something to consider. Sometimes it is really hard for DHs to talk to us so an impartial person may be able to get to the root of the problem. My gut feeling is that someone who is in the military has been through their share of physical discomfort and wouldn't be as bothered by a minor medical procedure as most even. But hey, that is a sensitive region we are talking about here so I could very well be wrong.

Best of luck to you both as you work through this most difficult time.

Atiz and Lost: Huge wishes and vibes to you doing ER!

Thanks to Schatzi, Kris, Atiz and everyone else for the job well-wishes. I will need them!

AFM: I am playing the waiting game for DH's genetic test results and for him to complete the 3 weeks of Clomid then retest T levels. I really wish those genetic tests didn't take so long.

Have a great day everyone.

[Kris79]

SFBayGirl - I know that wait is a killer! You asked earlier...yes our karyotype and micro Y tests took 3-4 weeks. We didn't get results until our appointment 4 weeks after the blood was drawn.

[SFBaygirl]

Thanks Kris, Dr. Turek recommended the genetic tests but we got them done through our UR at Kaiser so they would be covered by insurance. I bet we will just them in an email and have Dr. Turek or his genetic counselor go over the results. I guess 3-4 weeks isn't so bad. At least maybe we will get some answers. My DH's FSH and T levels are similar to yours so I am wondering if he might have Kleinfelters too.

[erinvt]

Hi all!

Just wanted to stop in and say hi!

SarahLouise: You said "So he is scheduled for a MRI on Monday to check for a tumor in the pituitary gland. I am very nervous; did your DH ever have to have that done? " My husband had to have this done. Well he didn't "have" to...but our urologist referred him for one. Do you know your DH's prolactin level? If it is REALLY high, that is an indicator of a possible pituitary tumor. It can create excess prolactin and hinder the production of testosterone. In our case, the prolactin was barely elevated, and his testosterone is normal--so the small pituitary tumor they did end up finding had nothing to do with the infertility issue. Good luck and keep us posted!

ArmyWifeStrong: I'm sorry your DH is having a hard time seeing your point of view. I guess we'll never truly understand how they feel, and they'll never truly understand how we feel! I suppose since he has kids already, it doesn't affect him as much as it affects you. But I completely understand where you are coming from and would want the same thing you want! I hope everything works out for you.

Atiz: Good luck! Friday is coming up soon!! Hope the week flies by for you!

Lostandconfused: What an exciting time for you and your sister!! Wishing you nothing but the best!

SFBayGirl: Try not to stress out about the genetic tests (easier said than done...I know!!). As much as I crossed my fingers and hoped the tests were clear for my DH, the y-chromosome test showed the microdeletion. We were absolutely crushed, but then found the silver lining when Dr. Schlegel said 70% of men with that deletion have successful TESE. So as terrible as it was to hear the specific diagnosis, I guess we're in a better boat than if it was unexplained azoospermia. Know what I mean? A specific diagnosis is scary, but at the same time it gives a little peace of mind. I believe our results took about 3 weeks.

As for me--DH goes on a hunting trip in Ohio on Wednesday for 10 days. I think he feels bad that he's leaving me because he came home with a huge bouquet of flowers tonight! Awwww!

I've been crafting and keeping myself occupied! I actually recently opened my own Etsy shop! I was going to post the link to my shop on here, but didn't want people to think I was spamming the board--and wasnt sure if this was an appropriate place to promote it! So I guess if you want to know the link--send me a private message!

I've found that crafting is an excellent form of stress relief and it really keeps my mind occupied. Otherwise I'd be obsessively researching our diagnosis and driving myself crazy!

Have a good night everyone!!
erin

[Atiz]

Lostandconfused, how good for your sister! But I was shocked to see that 5 embryos can be transferred back in the US??? Is that right? Is there no maximum? I mean regulated by law. In my country max. 3 can be transferred back.... Anyway, we seem to have our ER's parallel! Wow, good to hear there is someone else besides me.


3rdtimesthecharm, if God is gracious and we have embryos at all, I would have all the permitted 3 transferred back. And that would be 3dt.

SFBayGirl and erinvt, thank you both for the good wishes - I need all of them and I will put all of them in my pocket indeed for Friday! And yes, I agree that nothing is worse than waiting... Finding something to keep your mind off the topic helps a lot.

Kris79, thank you too, you are sweet.

[Sarahlouise1980]

Hey guys, how was everyones weekend?

Erin- I am not sure where his prolactin levels were, they haven't given us the results of the latest blood test yet. His first blood test revealed a testosterone level of 60, which I'm sure you know is very low. He went in for the MRI yesterday and I am going to call the doctor today to try and get the results. So your DH ended up having a tumor in his pituitary gland but they didn't concider it a problem? Did they want to do surgery at all? Is it a common thing to have a tumor there? Hopefully your DH is doing fine and in perfect health.

SFbay- What genetic tests are they doing on your DH. I think I read that they test for "Keflers" syndrome, or something like that anyway. I hope everything turns out well and that the wait isn't too unbarable. Jeez all this waiting we have to do, we're not built with an infinite amount of patients, lol. Also it is hard to say where my DH's levels are right now as they are altered still because of the T-suppliments. He testosterone level was at 756 3 weeks ago and his LH and FSH where slightly low (or was it high) I think, I'm sure they are no where near that now, since it has been 3 weeks since his last injection. GL with your appointment coming up. I am KMFX for you that the clomid is working for him. I hope that you don't need to try this hcg it is sooo expencive.

Kris- AF came yesterday as I knew she would. I was really not thinking that there was any chance of an immaculate conception, lol. I just thought it was amusing that after all this wishing and praying to be late it finally happens when I know it doesn't mean anything. Figures right, lol.

Anyway, hi to anyone I missed. ttyl

[erinvt]

Sarahlouise--Yes, DH's MRI did show a small pituitary tumor but the neurologist did not feel it was a problem. He said to go back in 2 years and have another MRI done. I believe they are common--and the neurologist told us it was nothing to worry about. Not cancerous or anything like that. I got a phone call from our local urologist (while I was at work) telling me they found a "mass" on his brain so of course I panicked. However, once we met with the neurologist, he explained that it was nowhere near a "mass" it was just a small adenoma. I was NOT impressed that our urologist jumped to conclusions and made it seem like a terrible thing. That's precisely the reason why we are continuing our journey with a male infertility specialist rather than a plain old urologist who doesn't have a clue! I feel like we wasted so much time with doctors who just weren't educated in the infertility area. Good luck and let us know what the MRI results are!

[lostandconfused]

Originally Posted by Atiz

Lostandconfused, how good for your sister! But I was shocked to see that 5 embryos can be transferred back in the US??? Is that right? Is there no maximum? I mean regulated by law. In my country max. 3 can be transferred back.... Anyway, we seem to have our ER's parallel! Wow, good to hear there is someone else besides me.

Atiz~She had 2 of her 5 embies transfered...the other ones are being watched to freeze...and she had a plesant surprise when she went yesterday...the 2 embies that they told her did not make it had started growing and they froze them! So her numbers were back up to 7 fertilized embies A pleasant surprise!

[mille.foglie]

Hello everybody!

Atiz and lost - good luck to both of you for your ERs! You are both so close to the finish line for stimming - very exciting!!

3rdtimes - have you started your cycle? how's it going?

ArmyWifeStrong - I really feel for you, this is a very difficult thing to deal with and unfortunately most men tend to shut down which makes it even worse for their wives. I do agree with the others that in your case your DH would likely need minimally invasive procedures to extract sperm - my guess is it might be less painful than the vasectomy was. I hope you can make him understand how important this is to you - would he consider going with you to a counselor? if not, would you consider going by yourself, just to have someone to vent to and get this off your chest? A counselor might also be able to suggest ways to broach the subject with him so he doesn't get defensive.

erin - congrats on your etsy shop! send me the link, I love looking at stuff on etsy. Throwing yourself into hobbies is a great way to deal with this - really helps you to keep everything in perspective and not think about IF all day every day.

SFBG - for your genetic testing results. Hopefully the wait will go by quickly!

Hello everybody else.

AFM - we had a very fun weekend - DH ran the NYC marathon and was very pleased with his time and felt great afterward. It was so much fun to cheer on all the runners - I'm in awe of anyone who can run 26.2 miles!