[lilac]

DeeDee I love the pic of your donor as a kid! And your story makes me really glad we don't have primaries and whatnot here!

Mindi, I am wishing I was where you are... a mere 46 degrees here but the skies are blue and the ocean is blue too, which is a pleasant change from the more usual winter gray.

Must dig out photo of donor...

[Teri01042008]

ona, i did hear that story & i thought it was really neat!

mindi, i wish i had your weather. its windy & kinda cold here.

lilac, it sounds beautiful where you are.

tomorrow i go back to get my follies measured again ! from the ovary pain i've had ( which has changed from twinges to very sharp ), i'd say they grew pretty darn well!

[silverbrumby]

Hi ladies!

Today was my official first day of work at new job! Didn't get much done because the coworker who was flying in to set me up got stuck in airport due to weather. He'll be by soon so we're going to have an evening of work instead of a day of work.

Teri, good luck tomorrow! It sounds like you've got some rather active follies there! I can't wait for you to get sperminated and get through the TWW!!!! I'm terrible! I get so excited for you ladies who can actually roll the dice.

Lilac, can't wait to see your donor too!

Mindi, I am jealous! The one feature I totally want for my child is dimples. I think they are the cutest!

Becca, one bonus to the surgery is that while you are convalescing you can pop on here and chat with us! ;-)

Ok, where are the rest of the gals hiding... I'm worried about how MissV is doing...

Cheers,

O.

[Becca10]

Silverb, you are right, bec I have a laptop! But it might become a 'pillow top" on top, bec I know I'm going to be real sore for a while. I love getting on here and reading about everyone's progress, ups, downs, and how everyone comes together. Happy Hump Day to all!

[Deej]

Hello Ladies! This was on the forum, so I tried to cut and paste it into this post... We were just talking about this last week! I hope everybody is doing well. Nothing new here. I leave Friday to see my manfriend in Nashville then we are meeting in San Diego for Easter weekend... April could be the month for me to start trying again, as this is month #3 w/out ttc!


Luteal phase defect, or LPD, is a subtle but influential ovulation disorder that can result in
conception difficulties.
To understand how LPD stands in the way of conception, you must first understand your body's ovulation cycle:
Two phases of the ovulation cycle:

• Follicular phase: Part of cycle prior to ovulation, so named due to the fact that this is when the growth and development of the ovarian follicles (which contain oocytes, or eggs) is of primary importance.
• Luteal phase: Part of the cycle between ovulation and start of new follicular phase, so named because of the importance during this time of luteinizing hormone (LH) and progesterone in preparing the body for pregnancy.

Average length of time

• Follicular phase - 14 days
• Luteal phase - 11 to 16 days

When the luteal phase is shorter than normal, implantation of a fertilized egg can be negatively affected, which in turn results in apparent infertility. We say "apparent" infertility because in many of these cases, the egg is indeed being fertilized by sperm, thus, conception is taking place. However, due to LPD, the conceptus is unable to implant and is lost during menstruation. Many women with this disorder are quite often never aware that conception has occurred.
LPD results in mistiming of the menstrual and ovulatory cycles, which must work together for conception/pregnancy success. In cases of LPD, the uterine lining fails to become sufficient for a sustained pregnancy.
Also related: luteinized unruptured follicle (LUF) in which a relatively mature follicle receives just enough luteinizing hormone to cause progesterone production, but not enough to cause egg release by the follicle. Common in oligomenorrhea and possibly endometriosis, the LUF in essence behaves like a corpus luteum, producing progesterone and "faking ovulation."
*** this continues onto a second page, look at the main forum page if you want to read more!

[ELOVE]

Ladies this will have to be a quick post 'cause I have to spend a minute to catch up but...

My car is gonna cost $525. I average about $500 a year in some kind of maintenance. I decided to go ahead with the repairs 'cause I am hoping to buy one as soon I start seeing my pay increase . I know Hondas and Toyotas are really good cars, but some days I want an SUV, some days a nice roomy car, and other days I wouldn't mind a pick up. I want to take my time researching my car and feel rushed and make a haste decision. I've only bought two cars in my lifetime and the first was Nissan Sentra my grandma liked and since she was co-signing the loan I couldn't really argue too much. My second car, the one I have now is a '93 Chevy Cavalier and a result of my divorce. I co-signed for him and he left me stuck with it since I didn't want my credit ruined. Anyways, now I've gotta check my funds to see if going to Vegas is still a go.

Yes, I'm still in the 2ww so if I ovulated early like I thought I did then AF should be here Fri or Sat. Well see, but if this one isn't a go then I'm "officially" on a break.

I did make an appointment with my Primary Care Manager to get this referral for a specialist. Unfortunately, the earliest appointment is 1 April. This fact further leads me to believe it's time for a break and.

I just glanced at the other posts and saw Susan with a BFN. Honey I'm so sorry, but I'm glad your ready for #2. Good luck to you. DeeDee once wrote that IF is not for the weak and everyday I tell myself I deserve to be a mother. Well you do to.

I saw the forum of Luteal Phase and I have not had my cd21 progesterone drawn either. I think something could be wrong 'cause y'all know how I was feeling for my iui I had on New Year's eve. I really felt it was the one and maybe progesterone supplements or more HCG would have made the difference. This is definitely one of the tests I will demand when I see the RE.

I'm a reality TV addict and it's time once again for American Idol and America's Next Top Model so I'm letting y'all know y'all are in my thoughts even if I miss a day of posting. I promise to read the earlier posts, but until then...

Lots of Love Ladies!!!

[silverbrumby]

Ouch Erica! Car repairs are such a bummer. I hope you can still go to Vegas. Sorry you have to wait til APril 1st for your appointment... man, I didn't even think of factoring in the waiting for available appointment time into my calculations for when I can start TTC (yes, I calculated...)... I thank you because I think now I will call an RE even though I don't have insurance yet, just so I can set the appointment. That way I can kill two birds with one stone and combine my wait for appt with my wait for insurance to start.

Very wise not to buy a car in haste... but with gas prices due to go up and stay up until at least 2012 I'd advise against gas guzzlers... ;-)

Becca, I hope the recovery isn't too painful. I'm sorry if I am asking a question you already answered, but is it a laproscopic surgery?

Deej, thanks for the cut/paste...too funny that they were talking about the same exact thing in the forum.

Ok, so work today was good... information overload, but the person I am going to be primarily working with is nice.

More later as I have to be up super early tomorrow... this whole 8-5 job thing hasn't been part of my routine for a while...I'm used to whacky 24 and 12 hour hospital and ambulance shifts.

Cheers!

O.

[lilac]

Good evening ladies!

Teri, good luck tomorrow!

Erica, that's a bummer on the car, but I think you made a good choice. Best not to rush, and when you get your promotion you'll be able to afford something nice.

DeeDee have fun in Nashville!

Ona I'm glad your new job is good...

Well I can't type much more. Literally. Let's just say that my left hand is throbbing and gauze and bandages are involved. I am typing entirely with my right hand and it is becoming extremely tiresome!

[Deej]

Jen: what happened to your hand? did i miss a post?
erica: the repair bill sounds bad but could have been worse... i will be thinking about you these next few days, hoping to find a computer to check in! i think you are pregnant!
silverbrumby: how did you get the name brumby? i know a guy named brumby... anyhow, congrats on the new job, i am glad to hear the boss is nice!
becca: that is great you are knocking several things out at once!
Teri: how are you feeling? do you know when your iui will be?
mindi: do you live near san diego? i will be there for easter!
Has anybody heard from peggysue, squeezan or Missv??

[peggysue]

Deej

I don't get much time to post, can only look at work, don't have computer at home.

I posted earlier that I had my first BFN at the beginning of the week.

Yesterday I phoned the clinic and I go for a scan on 15th March to see which side I'm ovulating from, fingers crossed for the right side, but if its not then theres no great loss. If I'm honest I could do with a month off. The 2ww is so stressful.

Teri Good luck, my fingers are crossed, even when typing.

I love watching American Idol on a Satuday afternoon in my PJs

Promise to post and catch up soon

[Deej]

Keeping my for the right side!

[silverbrumby]

Hello All,

Ouch Jen, sorry to hear about the injury. What happened?!? I am a chronic klutz, so I am usually bandaged up in some way or another at least once a month.

Deej, I think you might have asked me about Brumby before and I was just lame and didn't answer. It's not my real name...it's just a nickname I use from one of my favourite books called THe Silver Brumby. A brumby is an australian wild horse...it's their equivalent to the U.S.'s mustangs.

Peggysue, good luck with your scan... Come on right side! ;-) I hear ya on TWW stress. I'm not even in one and I'm sitting here stressing for you gals that are so I imagine if I multiplied my stress by 100 that might approximate what you are feeling.

Work is a bit slow today because some unexpected client issues came up that are distracting my co-worker who is training me... on the sucky side, it means I have to sit here and wait and not be home with my pets. On the good side, it means I can surf and write you lot.

In the down time, I also did some googling on REs in my area and decided on a doc in Reston who got lots of good reviews. I rang up to make an appointment, thinking there'd be a long wait, but they had an appointment on the 25th! That works out really well since AF is due the 26th, so he could potentially schedule me for my 3 day tests right then and there. The only thing of concern is that I don't know if that is enough time for my insurance to be active. If it isn't active then I'll just have to postpone. If it is, then I am golden! So that my insurance paperwork will get processed super dooper fast!!!!

I sat down and calculated best case scenario so that I can visualize it happening.... Here's how I visualize things happening....
25 March - 1st appt
28 March - 3 day tests (FSH,LH,Estradiol,U/S,CCCT)
7 April - LH surge (ask if I can try this cycle if all tests come back excellent, or get an U/S to check on follicle development)
9 April - Ovulation
15 April - 21 day tests (Progesterone, TSH, Prolactin)
22 April - AF (unless I did TTC, in which case I plan on having beginner's luck and getting a BFP!!!)
4 May - Next LH surge (approximately)

So, here's my request... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send me good vibes for my insurance to kick in before the appointment... good vibes that all my tests come back awesome... good vibes that I can start TTC in April... and good vibes that I will have a January baby!!!!!!!!!!!!

....Yes, I am only slightly obsessed...

[Teri01042008]

i don't even know how to start this post. this morning i went to my RE & had blood & u/s. he said that my follies looked great, grew just as he expected & that he wanted to see me again on sunday. i left there feeling great & then i got a phone call with the results of my bloodwork. my estrogen dropped from 104 on monday to 34 today. i was in shock, i asked the nurse why that happened & she said it may have something do with the pcos. she said also that she has seen the estrogen rise after dropping. wtf? how can i have follies that are growing & low estrogen ? if it hasn't come up on monday then no iui for me this month. i have been crying all day. and i hate my mom. she is no help.

[Becca10]

Deej and Silver, howdy. Yes, it is lap surgery. In and out within a few hrs. I'm supposed to have a meet and greet with the 'gas passer' next Thursday...a little medical humor...for checking in w/the anethesiologist.....

Teri, hang in there girl! I have alot going on too (well, who doesn't?) and I'll be thinking of you....stay strong!

[silverbrumby]

Hello Ladies,

Teri, hang in there hon!! Those levels could have just gone down as a "dip" in reaction to so many follies and there is a good chance your hormones will rally. Heck, it could even be something as simple as a lab error. There is still a chance you could have the IUI on Monday! I am sending you all my warm fuzzy thoughts. It will happen for you. Just keep believing. Oh, and eat lots of olive oil, whole milk and soy products. They boost your estrogen au naturale. Yes, a perfect excuse to eat a whole tub of Ben and Jerry's!!! ;-)

Becca, lap shouldn't be to bad. My friend had almost no incision pain and was up and about in a few days. She said the worst part was waiting for the gas that they pump you up with to dissipate. I've never experienced it but she said it hurt like the dickens.

Nothing new to report here. My training week has been a serious victim of Murphy's law, but my coworker is very nice.

Cheers,

O.