[Deej]

Ona: sorry that the procedure was unpleasant. hopefully you were able to get the rest of your stuff done before hitting the road! lets hope that it is all smooth sailing from here... each time i read that one of us has to endure something unpleasant, it makes me think how i cannot wait for the day we all see you post BFP!!
Mindi: frightening, isnt it? i have seen my donor's availability say "call" and according to the bank, that meant there were <20 vials left... but, to be honest, when i go for an iui, if they were to tell me that my vial was no good but they have another donor (as if that would happen) i would probably take it! i know the effort put into picking a donor. bottom line, i wanna be a mother! i try to not fall in "love" with the donor or donor pic/profile. i have never followed the banks advice, to have a back up or number 2 pick... i might do better under pressure with less time to pick! i will be cheering that your donor samples are ready and that your cycle corresponds accordingly!
Ladies: i called my current fert doc today to make sure my medical records had been sent. the lady insisted she mailed them, but they never arrived. i had to leave work early, drive across town and pick them up... i finally saw what my blood results were... not that the numbers mean anything to me! anyhow, i am a tad upset that my medical history and psych eval have probably been sent to the wrong patient! when i asked the lady today what address she sent them to, she looked in her system and rattled off the wrong address. not a good sign. my mother is p__ed to say the least... just goes to show you, i have had a negative vibe about that place since before my last iui! please keep me in your prayers, ladies. i want to be in the best place emotionally when i go in for my second opinion tomorrow!

[nursegirl0506]

I have started looking at donor profiles. And I dont know how to choose. There is so many to choose from! So ladies..What made you choose the donor that you chose?

[lilac]

Mindi, I'm sorry you had such an alarming experience... this is why I don't get to attached to a donor! I usually have several choices when I'm ready to order and I always have a couple that I feel good about. I guess that's why I've made my way through 3 donors so far. Honestly, although choosing seems really important now, I don't think it'll matter much to me after I'm pregnant. At least that's the case for me!

Deej, what a mess, I'm so glad you are switching! Good luck tomorrow, I will be thinking of you!

Nursegirl, I can't tell you exactly how I choose... I look for someone who seems intelligent and has the features I tend to be attracted to (I like dark hair and light eyes) but beyond that a lot of it comes down to the personality with me. One of my donors I chose based largely on a gut reaction to what I could glean from his personality from the profile. I still have 2 units left so I'm hoping for a bfp from one of those!

[silverbrumby]

hello from glorious Minnesota!

I'm still cramping like nobody's business but I was able to get a room with a nice soaking tub so I just soaked for about 30 minutes. Helped a little bit but GEEZ that test sure packs a wallop!

Thanks ladies for all your warm thoughts. I'll be ok, it was just a bit of a shock how painful that proceedure was. Lilac, I'm glad you're getting the thing done while you're knocked out. If I had to have a do-over I would insist they knock me the heck out. I decided to ask a friend to come with me for the HSG next Friday just in case it is as bad.

Deej, that is nuts about your records. I'm so glad you are going for the second opinion... I mean if they can't get your address right, what other important details are the staff at that clinic mixing up.

Mindi, man I totally know the stress of losing (or potentially thinking you might have lost) a donor. I have two donors picked out from two different banks. I haven't decided who my numero uno is yet. I agree with the other ladies though...if I did have to pick another donor because there weren't any spermcicles available for my O then I probably would.

Nursegirl, I had a known donor but he ended up backing out on me so I went with a bank...or actually, two banks. The first is in California and the donors are all open donors and you are allowed to contact them when the baby is 3 months old!!! It's the only sperm bank of this kind. The other is a donor from Fairfax Cryo. My number one criteria was an ID Consent donor...then I looked at intelligence and health history and then narrowed that down further based on the physical stuff...hair colour, eye colour but those weren't my first choices. It's funny but my fairfax donor choice was the FIRST donor I saw. He's a redhead and a doctor. Super cute childhood photo. I will be deciding which is my numero uno based on availability of the spermcicles... Fairfax is more expensive, but it is close-by and I can go to the place and pick up the vials myself...so that makes it really straight forward and no shipping cost or time for shipping to work out. The California bank has that open donor policy but the donor I picked only has 10 vials left and the bank only ships on dry ice, so I have to talk to my doc and make sure that is ok.

Anyway, my advice is to just pick a few that look like good options for you and then take that list and narrow it down to the top 2-3.

Ok, off to bed in my hotel bed since I have to get up at 6:30 and don't know how I am ever going to fall asleep when weasels are chewing on my uterus.

Cheers!

Ona

[silverbrumby]

Hello again,

I'm sitting here in the headquarters office waiting for my boss and project manager to finish a conf call so I decided to pop on here and say hi!

Still cramping but nowhere near as bad.

NurseGirl...like the other ladies I am curious where you are from. What sort of nurse are you? Which sperm bank are you looking into? Hey, if you want a super cutie redhead donor who's a doctor, let me know and I can share the baby photo and donor number. hehe.

I work as a medic and I am also a geeky software analyst type so I do that job from home (plus 1-2 business trips a year). I used to work at the Children's Hospital. That was an awesome place, but my boss was, well, can't really say anything nice... I live in Virginia near the Shenandoah Valley and about an hour from Wash DC.

It's wierd but with everything going on with us it seems we're all getting pushed out to June/July IUIs... does anyone else find this a bit funny (funny...strange not funny...haha). It's strange in a good way though. I mean, I am just excited to be on the journey with you ladies and I think it will be so cool if a lot of us are on the same point in the journey. Don't let me down now because I am expecting an onslaught of s here in a month or so.

Ok, gotta run and do some work. Hope all you ladies are doing well!

Cheers,

Ona

[kblythe]

Morning all ...

I've just spent 1/2 an hour reading through posts, so this will be sadly quick!

First, Mindi, I'm so sorry about the BFN, but it sounds like you're taking it reasonably well. It would have been great for you to get preggo on the first go-round! I'm still waiting for you (and the rest of you) to join me!

Nursegirl, to our little thread of single-mothers-to-be. I thought I read that you were in Dallas ... am I making that up? I went to SMU and lived in Dallas for several years. Now, however, I am in Atlanta. I'm currently pregnant with a donor embryo, so I didn't go through the sperm-selection process. For the iui and ivf cycles I tried, I used a known donor. I picked him because he is really smart, funny, attractive, and not really interested in parenting! (But was willing to help me out!)

Ona, I'm sorry the scope was painful. I'm guessing the coochee-dye test (my name for it!) will be unpleasant as well. But on a positive note, I've heard that those tests clear out the pipes, so to speak, such that you have a better chance of getting pregnant with the following cycle. Definitely ask the doctor about getting something for the pain before the test.

Deej, how have you been? Erica, where have you been?

I had a lovely and relaxing weekend in the Florida Keys. My friend Amy's husband was afraid that we were partying like rock stars when, in fact, we were relatively slothful. Amy, who has 3 kids, took the opportunity to sleep for 10 hours a night! I read 4 books. It was great!

Well, I need to try to get some work done. I'll check in later.

Kathryn.

[Deej]

Hello Ladies! I LOVE my new clinic and doctor! It was busy and full of life! What a way to start of a new cycle... I will have some tests done that were not done initially... They took some blood today, and I will do the regular day 3 tests as well. It has been since July that my last day 3 tests were done. On a not so positive note, I have a cyst! Going back, this doc talked to me about my past cycles and answered my questions, and I really felt that he was hearing what I had to say. He explained what FSH and estradiol (sp) tests were, what they were counting, and what the different numbers could mean... Ok, so when he was doing my ultrasound, he was SO descriptive about what he was looking at (lining, uterus) my ovaries, my follicles and yikes A CYST! He explained what it could be (leftover from last cycle) or not. If it is leftover, it will shrink on its own (what I am praying for) if not shrunken by my next day 3, then I will go on BCP for a month. If not shrunk by then, it may be a certain type of cyst that may be associated w/ endo. He is not too concerned as it is a new cyst (i look while the other doc is doing the u/s and i know this one was not there...) Regardless, I feel all my questions were answered and that I will be very happy at the new clinic! Thank you ladies for the
Regarding donors: i have purchased so many pics/profiles from two different banks, i hate to see us duplicating effort... if any of you are looking for donors from either cryo of cali or fairfax, let me know, i will share with you a list of the donors i have info on... just a way to help out a fella smc

[kblythe]

Oh, yay, Deej!

I'm glad that you had a positive experience with the new doctor.

Kathryn.

[silverbrumby]

Hello ladies,

YAY DEEJ!!!!! I am so pleased that your new clinic experience was a good one! The doc sounds really cool. The only gripe I have about my current RE is that he tends to keep quiet and assumes I just know stuff... like the snipping bits out of me with casual comment "I just saved you a surgery" thing... I mean, I was too freaked by the pain to think to ask him what he meant...but really, as a good doc, he should have just explained that to me. The good side is that my visits are usually really quick, which is great for keeping me from missing too much work but not so great in that I just feel like I'm not getting that "we care" feeling. I'm basically just waiting until all the tests are done and then I am going to sit down with him and ask all my questions before the cycles start. Good news is this doc got a lot of really great reviews from patients and is very thorough and all about giving patients the best possible odds...

Ok, I'm rambling again. I hate that I do that.

Kathryn, your trip sounds divine!!! I'm glad you had a chance to relax. How's the tadpole doin?

Cheers,

Ona

[Deej]

Kathryn: glad to hear you enjoyed your break. do you supposes that will be your last vacation before you are a mom? how exciting to think of it like that! this time next year, you may be taking a baby to the keys! it sounds like you were able to relax and enjoy yourself.. awesome! SMU? Did you go to law school there or undergrad? I have two friends (well, friends sister and ex husbands best friend) who went to SMU law. Great school, either way!
Ona: how are you feeling? 100% yet? or getting there?
Ladies: i was joking w/ my cousin who went with me today to the appt (she has an appt w/ same doc tomorrow!! - we are hoping to become pregnant at the same time! she is a decade younger and married, but is super cool!) anyhow, after i had my u/s i was changing and laughing telling her how great is was getting to visit w/ the doc and how great he was about explaining everything, and that i had better have enjoyed it as it may not happen again!!! I do not expect him to spend as much time with me again, if he does, thats great. My overall feeling that I was not having stuff explained was what meant so much to me. Not being a detail person I was surprised that I was interested. ok, now I AM RAMBLING

[lilac]

Kathryn, I'm so glad you had a great break away. It sounds wonderful!

Yay Deej! I'm SO glad you felt good about the new place.

[nursegirl0506]

Sorry guys I havent really posted all day! I actually had to go work today..lol( Ill have to explain that one)
I live in Abilene texas, the most desolate place in tx. There is no RE so i have to either go to DFW, San Antonio or Austin. I picked Dallas.( great shopping) lol. My RE is Dr Goldstein, he is associated with Presbrytarians ART program which is supposed to be one of the best. However the cost for an IUI from what I have been told is 1000 dollars isnt that a little high? I know that IVF is expensive but as of right now I dont think i will need to go that route.

I should probably tell you all more of my story so you can then tell me how nuts I am. Almost 4 years ago I met this wonderful man who I am still in love with. Too make a long story short. He lives near abilene. I moved here thinking we would be together(yeah stupid me) there are reasons that we are not together right now, hard to explain, he is scared to death of his ex, or more like she has threatned to harm his kids if he were to move to be with me. The same qualities that I love about him, drive me insane! I basically told him that I am not going to stop living my life and putting my life on hold anymore because he cant make a decision. Yes his kids are important, and I would never try to take him away from his kids, but he asks me what to do and then doesnt take my advice. Needless to say very frustrated. He knows and understands my desire to be a mom. I am 36 years old and who knows when he will get his priorites in order and I am no longer holding my breathe waiting for something that more than likely will never happen. Too me its very simple. You love me, you want to be with me. You should be willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. So now that you guys are all shaking your heads thinking what a sucker I am..lol

To those who asked what kind of nurse am I. Right now I work for Hospice and absolutely love my job!! I have worked as a mother/baby labor and delivery nurse as well as pediatrics. There really is no aspect of nursing that i havent found enjoyable!

Sorry this is so long. But I really guess I needed to vent about the what I am now calling the sometimes boyfriend..lol

[silverbrumby]

Hello lasses,

Geez I am sure posting a lot... probably because there is NOTHING in Minnesota but strip malls and housing developments. Weehaw!

Today was a long day at work...we started at 8:15a and I JUST got back to my room about an hour ago...so almost 12 hours. Tomorrow will probably be another marathon.

Deej, I am feeling a little better today. Still spotting and crampy and I think the Clomid is affecting me because I had a mild migraine and felt nauseous all day. That's cool that you and your cousin get to go through the journey together!

Nursegirl, your story isn't all that odd in my view. I know lots of people who've gone through similar things. I think it is great that you are going on with your life and know what you deserve in life...to be happy. I am with you on the simple approach. I can understand him wanting to protect his kids, but it sounds like his ex is just trying to control him and prevent him from being happy with anyone else and he really does need to just man-up.

Oh, I got news today about my coochie dye test. They are going to reschedule it for later in the day and I have to go to the hospital instead of the radiology center so they can use a different sort of dye and make sure that I am in the hospital just in case the dye like causes me to go into anaphylactic shock and stuff.

Ok...gonna go zone out to some cable television and maybe order a dessert from room service...because I can! :-)

Hugs to all!!!

Ona

[lilac]

Ona, my RE told me to expect to be crampy and spotting for several days after the hysteroscopy, so it sounds like you're normal! Sorry to hear that the clomid seems to be giving you some side effects though. I was hoping you would be one of the lucky ones who don't notice any problem!

Originally Posted by silverbrumby

Oh, I got news today about my coochie dye test. They are going to reschedule it for later in the day and I have to go to the hospital instead of the radiology center so they can use a different sort of dye and make sure that I am in the hospital just in case the dye like causes me to go into anaphylactic shock and stuff.

You know, that makes me feel a bit better... absolutely you should be in the hospital! Good stuff.

[nursegirl0506]

Yeah!!!!! Its the last day of taking the Prometrium, then I get to wait for AF.. I am happy to be done with that pill! I really dont like how it effects me and I dont think the people in my life like it either..lol