[ohnicole]

I've been obsessing a lot about what to do for my upcoming cycle, and I'm starting to get myself all worked up (anxious) about it, so I thought I'd ask for your opinions. Hopefully you can calm me down. I'm not even really sure where the anxiety is coming from

I've been seeing my RE since August and here is what happened each cycle:

Test Cycle (no meds): 7 dpo progesterone was 24
Clomid Cycle 1: no u/s, 7 dpo progesterone was 30
Clomid Cycle 2: 2 follies, 7 dpo progesterone was 19
Clomid Cycle 3: 2 follies, 7 dpo progesterone was 22
Femara Cycle 1: 3 follies, 7 dpo progesterone was 13

Now my RE likes to see the progesterone above 12 for medicated cycles, so he is saying that this latest cycle was fine and keeping me on the same dose of Femara. But it just doesn't seem right that a medicated cycle with 3 follies should have a MUCH lower progesterone than an unmedicated cycle. So that put a little seed of doubt in my mind for our plan of 2-3 cycles of Femara plus IUI.

Meanwhile I decided to try acupuncture. I went for my first session yesterday and my acupuncturist gave me some Chinese herbs (pill form) to take. At first I was totally fine with this, but then I started wondering if it would interfere with the Femara and ruin my cycle. So I've been debating all day about taking doing acupuncture, Femara, and herbs or just acupuncture and Femara.

This is what I think I'm settling on: Take the herbs until I see my acupuncturist on Monday, ask her if she's had patients who took them WHILE doing a Femara cycle and seeing if she can reassure me. If not, skip the herbs. But if she is convincing, do the herbs?? I don't know. But I feel like either way, if my progesterone doesn't come back higher, I don't want to pay for more Femara cycles. Maybe I could take a couple months off from MA and just do the acupuncture and herbs while I get myself emotionally ready for injectables??? I don't know. Aaaaaah.

If you've made it this far, you're amazing because I've gone totally crazy Any input is appreciated

[missy123]

Honestly, I would take a month or 2 off from the RE's office and relax. Going through MA is enough to drive anyone crazy!

It looks to me like you were doing great on Clomid, why did you stop? If the Femera isn't working so well, why not try a cycle of Clomid, trigger and IUI?

[ohnicole]

We stopped the Clomid for 2 reasons. My lining was starting to thin (it was just over 6 mm at my CD13 appt on my last Clomid cycle), and my RE does not let people do more than 3-4 Clomid cycles. Plus the last few cycles I have not had any EWCM (most likely from the Clomid).

I might be able to convince myself to take a break from MA, but I don't know about my DH. He has always been super laid back and positive about TTC, but this last month or so he has gotten really down. There have been a couple times when he came home from work almost in tears because of people at work announcing pregnancies. And he told me before we made our plans for the next few cycles that he was not happy with continuing the same treatment, and that he wanted to move on to what will give us the best chance. So he really wanted to move on to injectables and IUI. And there I was, wanting to do Femara and timed intercourse. So we compromised on Femara with IUI. He has NEVER expressed a TTC opinion before, so I would feel really bad taking a break right when he wanted to get really aggressive. I don't know. This whole thing is just getting old

[missy123]

ok, I understand more now. Poor You. Your DH does not understand what we go through with all of these doctor visits and blood draws and meds that pump our bodies full of extra hormones that make us that much more crazy. Uggggggg.... So now you are torn between wanting to take a break for sanity and keeping DH happy as well. That is tough.

What was your follie size with the Femera? The progesterone they can fix by taking the pills.

[ohnicole]

I had a 24 mm follie and 2 15 mm follies. So the 15 mm follies might not have been mature... but it was comparable to my Clomid cycles (I usually had a 23-24 mm and a 14-15 mm follie on Clomid). And maybe I will ask about the progesterone.

I think DH is pushing to be aggressive because he is so sure that something will work. And the RE is the same way... he was ready to move onto injects because 'there's no reason it won't work.' But there was no reason all the rest of it shouldn't work either, and it didn't. And I just don't have that faith that something will definitely work. So it is so **** SCARY for me. But DH doesn't feel it the same way. Blah.

[missy123]

I was nervous when my RE started talking about injectibles... I am afraid of needles. I know Michelle is doing an injectible cycle this month - she is so brave!

With the new knowledge you gave me I would do this:

Go with a Femera, Trigger, IUI cycle and ask for progesterone to take starting 2 days after the IUI.

[ohnicole]

Thanks, Missy! Love ya!

[missy123]

Love ya too! I know how hard it is, hang in there.

[ashj_1218]

I will chime in too, since I read all of that. But I mostly agree with Missy I think you should ditch the herbs. But I am not a holistic person and would have been freaking out about the possibility of interference. I would do acupuncture, the Femera, the IUI, and ask about progesterone. Most RE's will give it just as a precaution, since it can't hurt anything. If it doesn't work this cycle, ask the RE AND the acupuncturist about the herbs. If neither has distinct opinions against it, try the herbs too. But if one or the other is not for it, meaning it might interfere, I would skip them. I always worry about what all these things mean for our bodies.

I understand you wanting a break...you have to be exhausted! But for DH's sake, I would go on for a couple more cycles. THEN, if you are still here (I really, really hope you are NOT!), take a break for a month or two and jump into the big guns I know that all of this is so confusing. Who would have thought we would know so much about female medical things a few years ago??? Good luck hon!

[ohnicole]

Thanks, Ashlee That's what I had been thinking of doing- trying a couple Femara/IUI cycles and then convincing DH that I need a break before injectables. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have the girls on this board! I'd probably have run off into the woods and become a hermit

[StaceygirlPa]

Go with a Femera, Trigger, IUI cycle and ask for progesterone to take starting 2 days after the IUI.

Missy said. As far as injectables we did the when we went for our IUI in June. They weren't they bad.

[Micksbabe]

I don't know since I haven't had to be on any meeds but I just wanted to say good luck with whatever you decide!!!

[Erin84]

Originally Posted by missy123

Go with a Femera, Trigger, IUI cycle and ask for progesterone to take starting 2 days after the IUI.

I don't know anything about TTCMA, but Missy's suggestion sounds like it would be pretty spot-on.

I also want to say that sometimes when we feel like we don't have the strength to go on, that's when our partner helps us find it and continue. Figure out whether you really want to take a break, or if you're thinking about taking a break because you're scared to keep progressing and not get results. If it's the latter, then I'd say lean on your husband and let him be strong enough for both of you for a while. It's impossible to always stand on your own through something like this. The fact that he's talking to you all of a sudden probably means that, even if subconsciously, he knows you need to see this now. Let him help

[ohnicole]

Thanks, everyone I'm actually not worried about the actual injections- I better not be since I'll need to go on Lovenox injections once I do get a BFP

Erin, what you wrote is so unbelievably sweet. Maybe I do need to let go of my fears for a little while and let DH take the lead. And I do think the only thing holding me back is fear- honestly the meds haven't been to hard on me physically- I didn't even have any side effects on Clomid. It's just seeing all those BFN's and wondering if that's all I'm ever going to see. That's what gets me crazy.

I love all of you!

[Halfbaked]

I don't have any advice. Just wanted to give you some
I hope this cycle is it and you won't have to worry about anymore solutions. Injections aren't so bad (I know, I've been diabetic since 2). You get used to them and it's so worth it to havge a rainbow baby. Hang in there.

[MeganMomof5]

I have no advice Nicole, but I hope you choose what you feel is best for you! I know that your going to get pregnant soon, Ican feel it in my gut!!

[tobi4]

Originally Posted by Erin84

I don't know anything about TTCMA, but Missy's suggestion sounds like it would be pretty spot-on.

I also want to say that sometimes when we feel like we don't have the strength to go on, that's when our partner helps us find it and continue. Figure out whether you really want to take a break, or if you're thinking about taking a break because you're scared to keep progressing and not get results. If it's the latter, then I'd say lean on your husband and let him be strong enough for both of you for a while. It's impossible to always stand on your own through something like this. The fact that he's talking to you all of a sudden probably means that, even if subconsciously, he knows you need to see this now. Let him help

I couldnt agree more. I think this is really insightful. And I think that its really wonderful how important ttc is for your dh. Hang on hun, it will come.

[Servilia]

I don't have any insight as to whether you should take a break next cycle or not, but once ýou're back on the bandwagon, I would take femara and add progesterone supplements (since your prog was lower on the femara).

I would NOT mix the herbs with femara/clomid. You could be doing more harm than good by mixing them and wasting all that money. Maybe do the herbs only on non-medicated cycles.

[ohnicole]

Thanks for all the support, girls

I really don't know what I would do without everyone here. And you are all extra special for reading through my novel

I couldn't be more grateful for all of you

[BeccaM]

I dont have any advice with the MA but I just wanted to give you huge hugs and tell you Im thinking about you and I hope this is it for you. I know it can be so stressful but I know you will have your rainbow bab(ies)