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Newbie

I've only just made an appointment with a specialist and I'm very excited about taking the first steps on this journey! I'm healthy and do not have any reason to believe I'll have problems becoming pregnant. I've been reading lots of posts here and there aren't many that discuss those first appointments etc. I'm hoping for some insite from anyone who can tell me what I should expect during that first appointment. An exam, bloodwork and consultation is what I imagine will take place. Some posts mention tests. What kind of tests do they run? How long will I have to wait before I get these test results? Will I be able to try my first IUI on my very next cycle? I'm excited and nervous at the same time! Any answers would be greatly appreciated!!! :)
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    MGALBN, welcome! I'm fairly new too this also and I'm addicted!its soo nice to have insight from people that understand what your going through! ok soo I started all my doctors appointments this month and its all went pretty fast! all my blood work just got faxed over to my fertility clinic from my regular doctor...I had a consultation appointment it went well just what to expect, what I wanted and pricing..then a week later I had my second appointment for my water sanogram alil crampy feeling of pain but just for a monute or 2 and it was over we schedualed to do my insemination for this same month (december) around the 18th but my donor wasnt exactly for sure yet i needed more time too choose...soo we will be doing it this month and I'm excited . the only down side is feeling kinda crappy and nauseafrom the antibiotics the doc gave me for after the sonogram but other than that its been good...
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    Thanks! I totally agree TanyaB. Having others share their experiences feels extremely helpful! It's good that it sounds like it won't take too long to get test results back. I'm only 35 but, if everything goes smooth with this process, I'd like to have a second child before 40. I'm really hoping to be able to have my first (and hopefully sucessful) attempt with my February cycle. My appointment isn't till Jan 28th, so it may be wishful thinking...

    May I ask why you had a water sonagram? Is that a standard procedure thing? Or were you circumstances special some how?

    Thanks for your responses!!! :)
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    Yes its standard procedure....they just need to make sure your tubes are cleaned out..:) anytime and good luck! I'm starting my process tomorrow:) I just started my period saturday so I go see my doctor tomorrow Im super excited
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    Hello Tanya and MGALBN,

    seems like we are all in the same boat. I already had my HSG I haven't had my water sonogram. I am hoping I can skip it ( I doubt it).

    Was the SIS (water sonogram ) painful, I thought the HSG was painful but bearable ?

    Nice meeting you ladies.
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    UuuUummm it Was uncomfortable....just when they started the whole water part.. it feels like cramps just for a minute ( I dont do well with cramps)..but it was over in a snap! so youll be fine and its worth it..today Is my second day on clomid and I'm feeling ok...its not too bad ... I just dont want too speak too soon you know
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    Nice meeting y'all too! :)

    Teially, you might be able to skip it. I've seen some posts that mention their drs didn't require certain tests to save their patients money if it may be unnecessary. I'd rather skip the HSG, the one that is the dye and xray, if I can. I've read horror stories and although some say it's bearable, I know everyone is different and I have a low tolerance for pain. I'm in for a treat with labor, aren't I? LOL Also, I can't seem to shake the thought of the xray on your nether regions. Haven't women always been told that they should never be xrayed there? Makes me nervous...We'll see what my RE says.

    I can't wait till my appointment! I'm so excited about the whole process. I'm really hoping there won't be any issues and I can move along as fast as TanyaB!

    @TanyaB...I am a little concerned about something you mentioned, the nausea from the antibiotics. I'm currently taking OTC prenatal vitamins and if I don't eat a FULL meal with them, they make me sick. Do you get nausea easily? I figure if I'm not even pregnant and the VITAMINS made me sick, I'll have lots of morning sickness for sure!!! :(
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    Hello MGALBN & TANYA

    The HSG was ok but I have very slight upper stomach pain still. All Ive been wanting to do is sleep but I have a minor cold :(

    The water procedure sounds harder but I may not be able to get out of it.

    When are you guys going to start IUI.
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    I find out tomorrow just finished my clomid (it wasnt bad at all) i had a few hot flashes mostly at night..nothing too bothersome..
    I was a lil moody yesterday (my 1st day off of it)
    and today I'm a bit BLAH but nothing major..
    and @ MGALBN I dont usually get nausea easily
    I have a pretty strong stomach..but prenatals give me nausea if I take them with amsnack or too eearly in the morning..I take them around lunch after I eat..
    I think its just alot of vitamins
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    Hi guys! I've never heard of the water sonogram. Is this different from the vaginal ultrasound...also, do you know why they might recommend this procedure?

    We started this journey back in September - just had a brief consult with our RE (no exam, no b/w), and he told me to call when I got my period the month we wanted to start. He also prescribed me some prenatal vitamins...definitely a necessary evil! They took me a month to get used to :-) I think this is normal...and I take them with chocolate milk - yum!

    We chose December to get the party started, so I came in to see the RE 10 days into my cycle, then 12, then 15. Each time they did a vaginal u/s to check my follicle and a Urine test. My partner gave me the trigger shot on day 16 (Hcg), then I went back in on day 18 for the IUI.

    After the IUI I felt a little crampy/sleepy. All in all, it wasn't so bad - a great opportunity for my partner to bring my lunch/dinner/snacks on a tray and watch TV from bed all day!

    7 dpiui, I had to go back in for a test to check my Progesterone levels and they were low. That's where things got ugly. Progesterone sucks!!! I know everyone reacts to drugs differently, but this stuff hit me like a ton of bricks. My bbs hurt, I had a constant headache, heartburn, nausea, you name it I had it. Basically all the yucky pg symptoms.

    Unfortunately, my first IUI wasn't successful....I called my RE's office this morning to let them know my hpt was neg. :-(

    Maybe next month, but it is definitely hard. We're friends with a couple who went to the same RE we did, and they got pregnant on their first try. It's hard not to stress out about it, but that definitely doesn't help the situation!

    The one piece of advice i can give you ladies: do NOT tell more than a small handful of people in your life that you are actively ttc. They WILL remember and they will ask you constantly how things are going. This is fun at the beginning of the journey when you want to talk about nothing else but the possible pregnancy. But...if your results are not what you hoped for, keep in mind people will continue to ask you. That's why forums like this are so good for the support.

    Wishing everyone the best of luck. We will be trying again late January/early February...keep your fingers x'd!!!

    :-) Carri
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    I hear ya Carrig on the be careful who you tell thing. We haven't told a soul yet, but I'll be shouting from the roof tops when I get that BFP!!! :) Were the u/s that look for follicles expensive? I just wondered since you had several visits...

    I hope you feel better Teially :(

    Good luck TanyaB... hopefully I'll be right behind you schedule-wise and we'll both have good news by the end of February or early March!!!
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    MGALBN - you are much smarter than I am - I am horrible at keeping secrets :-) This time around, I'm keeping my big mouth shut. I'm telling everyone we're waiting a few months before we try again, but in reality we're starting again as soon as we can!!!

    I hope you have something to shout about very soon :-)

    In terms of expenses, I was very lucky because my insurance covers everything but the IUI itself and the sperm/shipping. If I do the math, it will cost approx $1200-$1300 total each month we try ($875 for prepared sperm + shipping + storage...$55 for meds - trigger shot and Progesterone...$300-350 for IUI...and $35 for HPTs). If I didn't have the insurance I have right now, I think each visit would be about $200-250 for u/s and bw.

    Another suggestion? If you are really obsessive like I am, buy some HPTs in bulk online. I did this for next time (it was only like $35 for 25 HPTs) Yes, I know this sounds like a lot of tests, but now I don't have to feel guilty about testing twice daily. I know this is silly, but I couldn't help it. When you are in the 2WW you will go bonkers, and this makes you feel like you're at least doing SOMETHING!! :-)

    If anybody has any tips they've heard/tried that may improve your chances of conceiving, please share. I've been considering acupuncture but I'm still in the considering stages...
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    Hi Ladies,
    two years ago I was in the exact same position as you. I didn't know anything about the cost of this whole process or the procedure. We went for a consult with the fertility specialist and had a thousand questions. The clinic wanted to run all kinds of test and ultra sounds. We said NO! I have two sisters that have 4 kids each. No fertility problems. I was 29 at the time and healthy. I said No to everything but the blood test. They were fine with that. I said if I don't get pregnant after the third time trying then we will consider further testing. So I ordered the sperm used the ovulation kit at home. When I had a positive surge(ovulating) I went in the next morning and had the iui. The first month it didn't take. Then I tryed the second month with NO testing NO fertility drugs and I was pregnant. So I think if you are in good health why not try and do a natural iui without any test or drugs. I am trying for a second baby this month. I have been using the ovulation test at home and it should be any day now I go in for an iui. THis will be my first time trying for the second baby. We shall see how it goes. Lots of baby dusts to all of you. Mary
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    Hello Ladies, Happy Tuesday !! If your in the Northeast we are prepping for snow.

    OK back to the babies, hehe.

    @BAIA10 - I am so glad you spoke on this because I feel the same way but my paps showed endo cells so I wanted to be checked to make sure I was well. But this last test I am thinking about passing on it, because the HSG left me crampy and restless. Thep part about you not doing any drugs, the doctor told me that he wants to not use any fertility drugs on me, he hopes I will get pregnant in 3 month and SO DO I.

    @TANYA and @CARRIG - I was told to just take folic acid, my doctor said that in some cases the prenatal pills do more harm than help. So I just take my daily vitamins and folic acid ( when I remember)


    Carrig - I wish you best of luck on your next IUI.

    MGALBN - I have only told my mom, my in laws and a couple of other family members that we have started the progress. But when we start I'm thinking about keeping it HUSH... and just come on here and drive you all crazy with my impatience. hehehe.


    This is great space to vent and share and I thank you girls for your kind words and knowledge.
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    Hi baia10! R u all using the same donor for the second pregnancy? I plan on buying the clearblue easy fertility digital monitor. R u guys using that?
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    Hi Mzkac, yes I am using the same donor. I am using the clear blue monitor. It worked great for my first pregnancy so sticking with it again. Baby dust to you.
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    Thx baia10! Baby dust to you as well:o)
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    Our 2WW starts today!AHHHHHH! I'm so excited but aanxious at the same time...I'm trying to relax but......not working!

    and We havent told anyone but you guys here:) i dont wanna jinx it!
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    GOOD LUCK TANYA!!!! Baby dust to you too!:o)
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    Good luck & a salt truck chuck full of baby dust to you TanyaB!!!
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    Tanya, how are you feeling?!?! Half way there! Loads of baby dust!
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    Im anxious!!! I cant wait anymore! I've been trying too stay off of here too calm the edge but nope I've been crazy still... I've been feeling cramps since the day I got my IUI done till about like...3 days ago and I dont know if its all in my head but I might be feeling little cramos here & there...so I'm afraid I might be starting my period:( i dont know WAITING is driving me insane!! thanx for the baby dust friend:)
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    thanks every one for the baby dust!

    MGALBN I like that LOL made me smile 4 more days ladies..but I feel my period coming on:(
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    It isn't over until you start your period or get that positive! Don't get discouraged. Thinking of you!
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    Hello Ladies

    I had my first IUI yesterday and I hoping it all works.

    @Baia - I had a natural cycle but my doctor did give me a trigger shot.

    When I had my IUI yesterday I hadnt ovulated but I should have ovulated last night and I think that should be ok. I read that the sperm can wait for the egg or vice versus. I am hoping they have met and are having some tea.. getting to know one another.

    Good luck to you all.
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    My first RE appt is tomorrow! I've got everything I need and a list of questions to boot! Super excited!!!
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    BFN ladies:(
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    I'm really sorry TanyaB :-( Just tell yourself what I tell myself - that will make the BFP next month that much better!!
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    Had my first RE appt Friday. It went really fast with a lot to absorb in a short time. Great news is everything looked great on the sonogram! I've got my scripts now... just waiting for my next day 1!!! Soooo excited!!!
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    Sorry TanyaB... :(
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    Good luck MGALBN!!! :-) Keep us updated...
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