I wish I would have known about this earlier on!
First off, plan to use a lot of these over the next few cycles. Make Dave Ramsey proud and find a great deal online. I bought 50 for $10 by googling "opk strips."
You're now ready to track your ovulation.
*Start on CD 12 (CD 1 is the first day of your period).
*Use your SECOND urine of the day. First urine is too concentrated.
*If you bought the cheap dip sticks, collect some of your urine in a small clean cup. Dip the end of the stick into your urine and hold it there for at least 10 seconds. If you bought the sticks you pee on instead, hold the end of the stick in your urine stream for 10 seconds (or as long as you can if you can't make it to 10 seconds). Lay the strip down flat.
*Follow the instructions that came with your kit on how long to wait (usually 3 minutes).
*If the test line is as dark as or darker than the control line, you have a positive test and will be ovulating within the next 24-36 hours. BD like crazy through the next 2-3 days.
*Continue testing everyday until you get a positive test result. You'll only get one. Promise.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Infertility: a Four-Letter Word
In the beginning, I was a google-addict. I followed blogs on conception and watched birthing videos. I must have visited the youtube video of the giggling twins a couple hundred times at least. Just about any early pregnancy symptom google can produce, I have experienced: late period, sore breasts, insatiable hunger, nausea, diarrhea, consipation, burping...you name it.
Every once in a while someone asks why Tony and I don't have kids yet.
"We're trying," I tell them, "and believe me. Trying is fun." They laugh. I laugh. And we try again. Twenty-one months, 4 IUI's, 1 ultrasound, and a couple handfuls of heart shards later, we're still trying.
Here's the thing. Most of the time I am indifferent. After such a rocky journey of getting our hopes up, being let down, getting our hopes up, being let down, I've disconnected myself. I don't google would-be symptoms anymore. I don't blog on this site. I don't seek out readers. I don't share my story. The trade-off is I get to move on month after month with little more than a, "well, that sucks," response to af's timely arrival.
But...
Occasionally I can't help but feel my m&m shell crack a little bit letting melty mommy feelings out. My heartbeat drums a steady rhythm into my mind, "what-if, what-if, what-if." I can't fight it. I start to wonder what if. Starting my period after that comforting mantra has saturated me is a pain as real and as physical as my chest being hollowed out by a parasite. You'd think I would have learned by now.
When we tried an IUI the first time, when we added an ultrasound and a trigger to our treatment, when we really took full advantage of bding every opportunity we could during my fertile days...bfn, bfn, bfn.
This month I've taken Clomid, 50mg days 3-7. How do I keep from hoping? My heart hurts already in anticipation of a let down. Either the Clomid is really messing with my emotions or I am just subconsiously setting myself up for another emotional battering.
Thank God my husband is wonderful. I couldn't do this alone.
Every once in a while someone asks why Tony and I don't have kids yet.
"We're trying," I tell them, "and believe me. Trying is fun." They laugh. I laugh. And we try again. Twenty-one months, 4 IUI's, 1 ultrasound, and a couple handfuls of heart shards later, we're still trying.
Here's the thing. Most of the time I am indifferent. After such a rocky journey of getting our hopes up, being let down, getting our hopes up, being let down, I've disconnected myself. I don't google would-be symptoms anymore. I don't blog on this site. I don't seek out readers. I don't share my story. The trade-off is I get to move on month after month with little more than a, "well, that sucks," response to af's timely arrival.
But...
Occasionally I can't help but feel my m&m shell crack a little bit letting melty mommy feelings out. My heartbeat drums a steady rhythm into my mind, "what-if, what-if, what-if." I can't fight it. I start to wonder what if. Starting my period after that comforting mantra has saturated me is a pain as real and as physical as my chest being hollowed out by a parasite. You'd think I would have learned by now.
When we tried an IUI the first time, when we added an ultrasound and a trigger to our treatment, when we really took full advantage of bding every opportunity we could during my fertile days...bfn, bfn, bfn.
This month I've taken Clomid, 50mg days 3-7. How do I keep from hoping? My heart hurts already in anticipation of a let down. Either the Clomid is really messing with my emotions or I am just subconsiously setting myself up for another emotional battering.
Thank God my husband is wonderful. I couldn't do this alone.
Monday, October 31, 2011
14 months and counting
We crossed the year mark.
Last month, we finally decided to see a specialist. Our first appointment was a sit down with an advice nurse. So far, we're doing everything they suggest. The one thing she had me change was NOT to take my temperature every morning. She explained that is what our grandmothers and great-grandmothers did to get pregnant. It's a way to tell you when you've already ovulated, but doesn't give you a head's up about when you are going to ovulate. Instead, I've started using the opk (ovulation predictor kits). Online sites have them available for an extremely cheap price. Just buy the dip strips, not the plastic pee sticks, to keep costs down.
Next, we went through an array of tests including urine tests, multiple blood tests on specific days, and a sperm test for Tony. Monday was our recap appointment with our doctor (who is fabulous, by the way. Super sweet). Come to find out, Tony's sperm count and mobility are on the low side. If it were just one or the other, we'd probably be fine. With both being low, it's been keeping us from conceiving.
The next step is IUI (intrauterine insemination). Basically, we moniter my ovulation. As soon as we have a positive test, both of us go to the clinic across town where they take Tony's sperm, wash it, and inject it into me using a catheter style tube. It gives the sperm a head's start, so to speak. We checked out the cost of the procedure with our insurance and are really lucky. It'll be $190 per try. The cost is lower because I don't have to take any medication or ultrasounds or anything to detect or encourage ovulation. Yet.
We'll try this for two cycles. If we aren't pregnant then, they'll check to make sure my tubes aren't blocked and then start monitering my ovulation along with the IUI procedure. We'll keep you posted!
Last month, we finally decided to see a specialist. Our first appointment was a sit down with an advice nurse. So far, we're doing everything they suggest. The one thing she had me change was NOT to take my temperature every morning. She explained that is what our grandmothers and great-grandmothers did to get pregnant. It's a way to tell you when you've already ovulated, but doesn't give you a head's up about when you are going to ovulate. Instead, I've started using the opk (ovulation predictor kits). Online sites have them available for an extremely cheap price. Just buy the dip strips, not the plastic pee sticks, to keep costs down.
Next, we went through an array of tests including urine tests, multiple blood tests on specific days, and a sperm test for Tony. Monday was our recap appointment with our doctor (who is fabulous, by the way. Super sweet). Come to find out, Tony's sperm count and mobility are on the low side. If it were just one or the other, we'd probably be fine. With both being low, it's been keeping us from conceiving.
The next step is IUI (intrauterine insemination). Basically, we moniter my ovulation. As soon as we have a positive test, both of us go to the clinic across town where they take Tony's sperm, wash it, and inject it into me using a catheter style tube. It gives the sperm a head's start, so to speak. We checked out the cost of the procedure with our insurance and are really lucky. It'll be $190 per try. The cost is lower because I don't have to take any medication or ultrasounds or anything to detect or encourage ovulation. Yet.
We'll try this for two cycles. If we aren't pregnant then, they'll check to make sure my tubes aren't blocked and then start monitering my ovulation along with the IUI procedure. We'll keep you posted!
Monday, August 1, 2011
BFN
Not this cycle. AF showed up yesterday, and my temp dropped 1.3 degrees this morning. *sigh* Oh well. We'll try again next month (the trying is really fun :).
Actually, it's been a year since we started trying. We'll make an appointment in August to see a doctor and make sure everything is okay.
¸.·:*¨¨*:·. Baby Dust! .·:*¨¨*:·.
Actually, it's been a year since we started trying. We'll make an appointment in August to see a doctor and make sure everything is okay.
¸.·:*¨¨*:·. Baby Dust! .·:*¨¨*:·.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Breaking it down
Okay. Getting serious. (ha!) About 10 months ago, I had a few weeks I really felt pregnant, and I was gitty over it. My symptoms that month were far beyond anything I'd felt before. Hell, my breasts felt like hard water balloon grenades, translucent and ready to bust if you TOUCHED them. It hurt even to walk. AF was late, but when she finally came...well, you all know what that's like. It was horrible.
Since then, I've been skeptical of symptoms I feel. It doesn't stop me from googling the crap out of them, but I have tried very hard not to put too much stock into what signs my body may or may not be giving.
Except...
This month. So different. A quick list of why. I didn't keep track of dpo because, like I said, I've been trying not to get too excited about what I feel month to month. I didn't expect to be this convinced.
Since then, I've been skeptical of symptoms I feel. It doesn't stop me from googling the crap out of them, but I have tried very hard not to put too much stock into what signs my body may or may not be giving.
Except...
This month. So different. A quick list of why. I didn't keep track of dpo because, like I said, I've been trying not to get too excited about what I feel month to month. I didn't expect to be this convinced.
- Late af
- Sore nipples
- Nausea one day
- Insomnia - never, ever, EVER had trouble sleeping before (I know. I'm blessed for that.)
- Creamy cm
- EXCESSIVE burping for 4 or 5 days
- Constipation
- Irritability/moodiness
- Weight gain/water retention - as in, my work slacks looked like leggings...until the butt split out. Not kidding.
- Achy, tingly legs at night - think Restless Leg Syndrome. Kept me awake.
Thursday. I've told myself Thursday, and I'll retest.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Tmi. Tmi. Too much information!
So I finish typing out my first blog entry, hit submit and lean back with pride. There. I am officially part of the online writing community. Bloggers unite! Phase one of Operation TTC Blog complete. Phase two meant I still needed to put the word out that my reproductive life was on public display.
I sent the link to a few close ladies in my life, namely my sisters, mom, and a couple girlfriends, forgetting none of them are belly deep in "am I or am I not pregnant" forums. I'm desensitized to all the nitty gritties of the symptoms, so they must be, too. Right? Hello, Earth to Jill?
A couple positive responses came back (woo hoo!). Then yesterday I saw one of the gals I sent the link to in person. A little chit chat, and I ask her what she thought of it. "It was good Jill, but a couple of times I was like, 'ohmigod, did she really say that?'" Oops.
A ttc forum reply put it well when the gal posting her question kept adding "tmi" after the symptoms she listed. The reply came back, "there is no such thing as tmi on this website." Women want to know what other women are going through. It reassures them they're normal.
And unfortunately, this particular blog topic covers every little detail of our swimsuit parts. That being said, there's probably going to be a little more info given here than some might like. Apologizing in advance!
Oh, and I didn't wait 4 days. I took a hpt today, bfn. I'm still optimistic, though!
I sent the link to a few close ladies in my life, namely my sisters, mom, and a couple girlfriends, forgetting none of them are belly deep in "am I or am I not pregnant" forums. I'm desensitized to all the nitty gritties of the symptoms, so they must be, too. Right? Hello, Earth to Jill?
A couple positive responses came back (woo hoo!). Then yesterday I saw one of the gals I sent the link to in person. A little chit chat, and I ask her what she thought of it. "It was good Jill, but a couple of times I was like, 'ohmigod, did she really say that?'" Oops.
A ttc forum reply put it well when the gal posting her question kept adding "tmi" after the symptoms she listed. The reply came back, "there is no such thing as tmi on this website." Women want to know what other women are going through. It reassures them they're normal.
And unfortunately, this particular blog topic covers every little detail of our swimsuit parts. That being said, there's probably going to be a little more info given here than some might like. Apologizing in advance!
Oh, and I didn't wait 4 days. I took a hpt today, bfn. I'm still optimistic, though!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Deciphering the Lingo
Through my obsession of the Yet-To-Conceive-But-Still-Trying-Like-Hell Community, I've picked up the lingo and use it in my blogs. Here is a decoder. Hopefully, this will help you understand my blog or similar online posts. I'll continue to update, too. Please let me know if I've missed any.
AF - Aunt Flow (your period)
BBT - basal body temperature (taken every morning before getting out of bed)
BB or BBS - boobies
BD - baby dance (sex)
BFN - big fat negative
BFP - big fat positive (woot! woot!)
CD - cycle day
CM- cervical mucus
CP - cervical position
DD - dear daughter
DH - dear hubby
DPO - days past ovulation
DS - dear son
DTD - did or doing the deed (sex)
EDD - estimated due date
EPS - early pregnancy symptoms
ETA - edited to add
EWCM - egg white cervical mucus
FF - fertility friend (online ovulation calendar)
FPS - false pregnancy symptoms (I get these a lot)
FX - fingers crossed
HPT - home pregnancy test
IVF - in vitro fertilization
LP - luteal phase (time between ovulation and period)
Nips - nipples
O - ovulation
OPK - ovulation predictor kit (hard as hell to decipher!)
OV - ovulation
PG - pregnant
PNV - prenatal vitamin
POAS - pee on a stick (pregnancy test - usually used to reference poas addicts!)
RE - Reproductive Endocrinologist
TTC - trying to conceive
TWW or 2WW - two week wait (between ovulation and 1st day you can test)
AF - Aunt Flow (your period)
BBT - basal body temperature (taken every morning before getting out of bed)
BB or BBS - boobies
BD - baby dance (sex)
BFN - big fat negative
BFP - big fat positive (woot! woot!)
CD - cycle day
CM- cervical mucus
CP - cervical position
DD - dear daughter
DH - dear hubby
DPO - days past ovulation
DS - dear son
DTD - did or doing the deed (sex)
EDD - estimated due date
EPS - early pregnancy symptoms
ETA - edited to add
EWCM - egg white cervical mucus
FF - fertility friend (online ovulation calendar)
FPS - false pregnancy symptoms (I get these a lot)
FX - fingers crossed
HPT - home pregnancy test
IVF - in vitro fertilization
LP - luteal phase (time between ovulation and period)
Nips - nipples
O - ovulation
OPK - ovulation predictor kit (hard as hell to decipher!)
OV - ovulation
PG - pregnant
PNV - prenatal vitamin
POAS - pee on a stick (pregnancy test - usually used to reference poas addicts!)
RE - Reproductive Endocrinologist
TTC - trying to conceive
TWW or 2WW - two week wait (between ovulation and 1st day you can test)
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