Long-Term Infertility Support

[felinity]

Many of us have been struggling with infertility for a year or more, and we face challenges that women who have (relatively) quick success in their journeys to conceive might not have faced. This thread is for support and advice from others who've been in the same situation.

 

[felinity]

Here's my story, for those who aren't already familiar with it.

My husband and I have been trying to conceive for almost a year and a half now. I have PCOS and don't ovulate. The lack of ovulation and resulting lack of period have caused my uterine lining thicken, which won't allow me to get pregnant and could also lead to uterine cancer.

To even out the hormonal issues related to the PCOS, I'm currently on a short round of birth control and am taking Metformin. (Rather, I'm trying to take Metformin - it's hard on my stomach.) I'm concurrently trying to lose some weight to try to jumpstart my body into ovulating.

In a month or two, when my uterine lining has thinned and my hormones are under control, I'll see my doctor, who will start me on Clomid, and we'll see if we find success with that mode of treatment.

 

[tigercub]

I was hoping for a whole forum for long-term infertility support and discussion....but this thread is a nice idea. Thanks Felinity

 

[felinity]

It's a place to start, anyway! Thanks for posting, Tigercub.

 

[lovesdolphins]

Hi ladies

I have a blog - lovesdolphins.bravenet.com

We have been TTC for almost 3 years now. I'm going to the RE on Thursday - pray that my Dr will finally give me Clomid.

 

[felinity]

I pray he (or she?) will! My doctors are generally happy to prescribe me Clomid. (I have yet to actually use it, though.) If you keep having problems getting it, you can plan a road trip to Austin and I'll tell you who to see.

 

[lovesdolphins]

He

He was initially stating that there is a higher chance of miscarriage if insulin was above 10 - 3 months ago mine was 11 (hopefully it's better now). Monday I was looking online to see if I could find anything to dis-prove what he stated; unfortunately, I found what he said to be true, untreated Insulin Resistance leads to an increased chance in miscarriage.

 

[felinity]

Are you taking Metformin to improve your insulin resistance? My doctors have recommended maintaining my course of Metformin if I do manage to conceive, to help prevent miscarriage. I imagine the reasoning is much the same as you mention above.

 

[lovesdolphins]

Yes, I'm taking 2000 a day; plus Avandia. At the beginning of the year my insulin was a 15; then in March it was 14; in July it was 11 - so it should definitely be down to 10 now. I'm just worried b/c I wasn't as good about taking my medicine b/c of Ike.

 

[inHISperfecttime]

Hi all,
Here's my story, started the "lets just see what happens" around Jan '06. After about 2 years, i started testing to find out if all is 'normal'. With me - all was normal, but we found that DH has low count/motility/morphology. I had a breakdown 1 nite in January where i just begged Jesus over and over to bless us if that was His will for our lives.
In June 08 we were offered IUI without any drugs (ie clomid) since I ovulate on my own just fine and we cannot chance having mulitiples (i am a kidney transplant recepient). Well, this past Aug 08, was going to be OUR CYCLE (Lord willing) and we were going for the IUI, but when we did the pre-SA, it turned out that DH's count was too low to even do the IUI (ouch!). I had to make a decision right then and there - that I was either going to let this break me (and my relationship with the Lord) or I was going to dig deep into my faith and let Him carry my burden. I happily chose to hold on to my faith with both hands and enjoy 'the ride'!
So, I've put it (back) in the Lord's hands...DH is going to accupuncture to help with stress and low sperm and I'm working out at the gym and keeping my mind occupied with other things besides TCC.
I know that He will open the door at some point cuz His timing is ALWAYS perfect. We will go for another follow up SA maybe in Nov or we might just wait for the new year and start fresh!
That's all for now...I'm glad someone started this thread...I look forward to helping each other along on our journeys.
God bless!

 

[tigercub]

I have a blog with 'my journey' on it. If anyone is interested (or just really bored...or in need of a sedative) PM me and I'll link ya. I'm not really comfortable posting the link on here.

 

[tigercub]

Hi ladies

I have a blog - lovesdolphins.bravenet.com

We have been TTC for almost 3 years now. I'm going to the RE on Thursday - pray that my Dr will finally give me Clomid.

I pray he does too.

Yup I'm almost at the 3 year mark too...November will be 3 years.

Erk...please don't let me be the longest TTCer in here! Nooooo









PS, yes I really am that lazy...instead of editing a post to include something, I'll just post again.

 

[lovesdolphins]

oh heavens... it posted 3 times...

 

[lovesdolphins]

stupid double post

 

[lovesdolphins]

Well, I'm only like 2 months behind you (will be 3 yrs in Jan).

As for the clomid; it was a no go, but hopefully next month. Gotta get that insulin down.

 

[lovesdolphins]

How do you handle being happy for someone one moment, and then the very next moment crying b/c it isn't you

 

[tigercub]

You do your best not to hurt the other person's feelings, then go away and cry on your own somewhere. Then you eat chocolate.

 

[latebloomer]

Hello, ladies. I'm a little old for this forum, but I've been there too. It was so hard to be patient when it seemed there were pregnant women and babies everywhere. I had wonderful support from my childless aunt. We both had no option but to give it over to the Lord. The experience my husband and I had with the infertility specialist was short. It turned out that I had gone into premature menopause, and we couldn't afford a high tech pregnancy with donated eggs. Adoption cost thousands of dollars that we didn't have. We basically just gave up. If anyone asked when we were going to have kids, we just said "we can't" and changed the subject. But the Lord had different plans for us. He led us to special needs adoption. I legally became a mom 3 days before my 49th birthday. I hope my story helps encourage someone. I don't mean to be discouraging, but the specialists can't help everyone.

My suggestion would be to find someone you can talk to who is childless not by choice or someone who was childless for a long time before having kids. It helps to have an understanding shoulder to cry on once in a while. Then, as Tigercub said, eat chocolate. Give it over to the Lord and let Him bear the burden for you. I'm praying for you ladies and waiting to see you post happy news. God bless.

BTW, why "latebloomer"? Invitations to join AARP before my kid starts kindergarten....

 

[Catholic Wife]

How do you handle being happy for someone one moment, and then the very next moment crying b/c it isn't you

Honestly, I don't. I haven't gotten to the point emotionally where I can be truly happy for others knowing that I may never have a child of my own to hold. I plaster a fake smile on my face and find a graceful way to retreat. Maybe God has decided that I won't have a child of my own until I can learn this. Who knows???

 

[virtualgirl]

I want to hug all of you.

It took my husband and I 8 years for our first child and another 7 years for our second. I understand the pain you feel when your friends announce their pregnancies or you are invited to a baby shower. God was near to us even though there were times when it felt like we were walking that road alone.

As trite as it sounds, God does have a plan. I am now the mother of 4 children: 2 bio and 2 adopted. We weren't looking to adopt children, God just dropped them into our laps. (You never know who is on the other end of a phone call. )

I understand what you are going through.