TWW

lfippinlfippin Posts: 31
in LGBTQ+ Couples
Hello all, I figured I would start a new thread for any ladies who are just entering their two week wait. My wife and I have had a very lengthy journey as most here have. But this round will most likely be our final attempt and the TWW in the past has been nearly unbearable, so I thought it would be nice to speak with ladies who are going through the same thing around the same time frame for support. I had my Hcg trigger shot on Monday 7/10 and first insemination this morning 7/12 at approximately 0745 hours. We will be doing another IUI tomorrow 7/13 as well and so begins the dreaded two very long week wait. Anyone else in the same boat timeline wise?

Also, since we used Gonal and hcg we are also using the progesterone which makes it even more difficult since the last time I was prescribed the progesterone after the side effects completely mimicked the symptoms of early pregnancy.

To all in this process....best of luck and lots of baby dust!!!
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Comments

  • Firefly419Firefly419 Posts: 35
    Good Luck Ifippin.
    I too am in the TWW. I had my IUI 7/7. Its slow going so far for me, nothing interesting to report yet. :)
    good luck tomorrow as well. fingers crossed for you guys
  • WestFamBamWestFamBam Posts: 90
    Good morning ladies!

    I also had my 5th IUI on 07JUL17. This time we did not use the trigger shot as I was ovulating on my own when I went to the doctors office Thursday 06JUL17. We were initially going to try to do a natural cycle, but when I went in for my first ultrasound during this cycle to check on follie size, it showed nothing. So my doctor then prescribed me Gonal F, 87.5, for 8 days. When I went in that's when the ultrasound showed both one follicle and beginning stages of ovulation. My doctor than sent me to lab to have bloodwork done to confirm ovulation. I got a call Thursday night that said IUI would be Friday and no trigger shot needed.

    I am also on progesterone right now. I am 5dpiui and only thing to really report on is sore breasts.

    Good luck to you ladies! Sending a ton of baby dust and good vibes yalls way!
  • WestFamBamWestFamBam Posts: 90
    lfippin and Firefly419 - What did yalls numbers look like when your IUI was completed? How many IUIs have yall had?

    The TWW is a killer for sure! We can make it though!! Stay strong! When do yall plan on testing?
  • Firefly419Firefly419 Posts: 35
    Hi West -
    This was my first attempt, first IUI. I wish I knew what the numbers were but I forgot to ask and it was over so quick that by the time I realized that they didn't tell me, I was already half way home. I kinda remember that during my ultrasound two days earlier I had two follicles and they were both around the same size, I think around 20ish.
    I am not sure when I am going to test. what about you? I guess I will do one the day before I go in for my bloodwork, maybe???
    Good luck in getting through this and next week. :)
  • lfippinlfippin Posts: 31
    West- that's so great that progesterone doesn't give you more side effects! Last tww I had nausea, sore breasts, vivid dreams, and sensitive to smells I'm not normally sensative to (like feeding the dogs their food made me want to throw up!)

    Best of luck, you ladies are on the same day! That's exciting!!!

    At my final ultrasound we did right before the trigger shot, I had three follicles on my right side ... one fire site at 20, and the two other possibles at 17, and 16mm in diameter... my dr, pegged my estradiol levels perfectly and said he would "guess" educatedly that I had two follicles actually ovulate and produce eggs based off my bloodwork, tomorrow at some point I will get more bloodwork to confirm the levels again and show I for sure ovulated!
    This will be our first time having more than one follicle- so it's exciting ... our donor numbers were 44million and 59% motility... they were ok... had better/ but we just need ONE out of all of those to actually make it to the finish line right?!?!

    Firefly, I was the same way- never paid attention the first cycle but now - this is old hat (wish that weren't true!)

    You ladies are almost halfway done with the wait!
  • WestFamBamWestFamBam Posts: 90
    Firefly419 - First IUI! Wow, I remember my first IUI like it was yesterday. How exciting! Sending you lots of baby dust and positive vibes! My first IUI was the only one that took. I ended up having a chemical pregnancy, but was so thankful to know that I could actually get pregnant!

    lfippin - Three follicles?! That is great!! I've never seen three follicles! Last cycle, my 4th IUI, was the first time I had two HUGE follicles on my right side and was so excited and amazed! Lol. What great news from your doctor! Sending you tons of baby dust and positive vibes as well!

    As for me, since I was already ovulating, it was hard to get an actual size on the one follicle that showed on ultrasound. It was pretty big though. When we went in for our IUI, we were told that there was 17mil swimmers that were strong and swimming in the right direction! The breakdown was 64mil concentrated with 52% motile. Out of that 52%, 47% were quick and 5% were sluggish. Making overall 17mil swimmers! The most we have ever had, between two donors we have used, was 18mil swimmers, which was our 4th IUI.

    Almost half way through this TWW!! I go for acupuncture this weekend. I hope you ladies continue to sanely make it through the TWW. Keep updating! Love to hear how things are going!
  • lfippinlfippin Posts: 31
    West- nice!!! Lots of baby dusk and positivity your way as well... I love acupuncture, I should definitely make an appointment during these two weeks! ??
  • Firefly419Firefly419 Posts: 35
    Hi Ladies -

    Not much to report other then I have no symptoms AT ALL. I feel completely normal like its any other week. Which kinda makes me nervous, but I know that sometimes thats just how it is and am trying to not think too much into it.

    I am kinda looking at my first attempt as getting it out of the way so my "real" attempt is one month closer. But obviously it would still be nice if this turned out to be the "real" one. :)

    Anyways I'm off for a swim... Hope you ladies are doing well.
  • lfippinlfippin Posts: 31
    firefly- well that's one way to look at it - it would be AWESOME if you got a BFP your first try! never lose hope because there is ALWAYS that chance- that's what always so crazy making during the TWW! It's always so frustrating to me - that we have all of these medical advances and ways to monitor the body and so much knowledge and research and yet - we all still have to wait two full weeks, and there is always little to no way of telling or reading symptoms before that! but I guess that's what makes each human unique and special and reproduction such an amazing journey (no matter how frustrating it can be!)

    West- how are you feeling?
    One full week done for you ladies as of today! :)
  • schuylerschuyler Posts: 26
    I had my first IUI yesterday! We did unmedicated, unmonitored, so all I did was go in 24 hours after my first positive OPK. I've been tracking for months now so I'm pretty confident we got the timing right, and the midwife concurred! My wife and I are optimistic but are totally prepared for the journey to take a few months :)
  • lfippinlfippin Posts: 31
    schuyler - congrats on the first IUI! Welcome to the dreaded two week wait! :)
  • WestFamBamWestFamBam Posts: 90
    Aloha ladies!

    I am feeling pretty good today. Still sore breasts, also feeling very tired throughout the day, sneezing a lot, and some minor cramps in my lower abdomen. Oh yeah, very emotional as well. I wanna cry about EVERYTHING! hahaha. I'm excited about my acupuncture appt tomorrow!

    Firefly419 - Don't lose hope. I have heard from a lot of women that they had absolutely no symptoms when they got their BFP. Then I have heard that some women have every symptom possible. As we always say, it's not over until it's over. Meaning when AF comes. We are officially half way through or TWW!!! That's exciting! I will actually be testing on 10dpiui, which is Monday. Still sending you lots of baby dust!! Keep your head up!

    lfippin - How are you feeling?! I know it's still early for you, but I also know how progesterone is. Lol. How did your second IUI go yesterday? Is this the first time you did two IUIs? Sending you a lot of baby dust!!

    schuyler - Welcome to the TWW! Congrats to you and your wife on y'alls first ever IUI! How exciting! It's nice that you did a cycle unmedicated, so you will not be having side effects that medication gives you. Side effects that make you believe you are pregnant, but it's really just the medication. Fun stuff... Sending a ton of baby dust and positive vibes y'alls way! Keep us updated on how things are during the next two wonderful weeks! Best thing you can do is keep yourself busy!
  • lfippinlfippin Posts: 31
    West... sounds like a lot of side effects! (Sounds super hopeful!)
    I did well on Thursday but all day after I was in so much pain, I almost left work... today is really the first day I m not so bloated and cramping... I am super tired and sneezing a lot as well... I feel like the start of a cold is coming runny nose kinda stuff... other than that I'm good... (maybe t.m.i) but my nipples were super sensative yesterday which I'm taking as a good sign since I just started the progesterone last night!
    So I'm prepping myself for the progesterone side effects now.. trying to stay busy and keep my head busy ... oh yeah- and I had a very vivid dream last night that my wife and I told my mother I was pregnant.... and it did not go well! Haha

    Keeping my fingers crossed already for your test Monday!!!!
  • Firefly419Firefly419 Posts: 35
    Hi everyone -
    Hope everyone had a good weekend.

    Sch- congrats on your first IUI. I just had my first recently as well. I'm currently just over halfway through the TWW :)

    West- I'm so excited to hear how your test goes tomorrow!!!!!

    Ifi- I hope the pain went down more over the weekend. How is the progesterone going?

    Hope this week is a positive one for everyone :)
  • schuylerschuyler Posts: 26
    Thanks, everyone! I know the TWW is brutal, but this feels especially tough because I have summers off (teacher) and my wife and most of my friends all work. I'm completing a bunch of online coursework, so I have Dr. Google at my fingertips all day which is never a good thing.

    I know it's waaaay too early for any symptoms, but I've been super bloaty/gassy (sorry tmi!) in the evenings. I think this maaaay be due to the pineapple I've been consuming each day like the good little girl I am (trying all the tricks with this one). It's the only thing I'm doing differently. My body has never been a big fruit fan, so I'm going to try eating my slice throughout today rather than ll at once at lunchtime.

    How are you ladies doing??

    Also, Firefly, my sister in law has had two children and she felt next to nothing with both until the last month, so don't panic about not feeling anything! Also sounds like you're super early, too, to be feeling anything anyway :)
  • lfippinlfippin Posts: 31
    Schuyler- if you're feeling bloated days after and it's been a non-medicated cycle that's got to be a good sign!!! google can be a nightmare so trust that your body is doing everything it needs to do. And I did the whole pineapple thing last cycle and literally drove myself crazy with symptoms so this time is actually a little less stressful because I know now that they could just all my side effects from the progesterone rather than early pregnancy signs. For some reason, I am much more calm for this TWW (doesn't mean it's easier ... just at least more calm! Very difficult to explain) Don't torture yourself with google (even though I do it too!) Although I must say - that before I google anything I take a look at this message board and you've all already been so much of a help and support it's nice to have; so thank you all!


    West-Best of luck today on your test wishing you sooooooooo much baby dust!!!! And hoping for that positive to be so strong there's not doubt even at 10dpiui!

    Firefly- How are you feeling? Even if you have absolutely no symptoms or anything that may be a good thing. Sometimes implantation happens at night too - so you'd be sleeping and not even know it happened! Maybe that's a sign you'll have a super smooth pregnancy!

    As for me...I have had some pretty vivid dreams the past couple of nights. I am experiencing extreme temperature changes; one minute I am super hot then I am extremely cold. I had a strange ache in my right mid-foot all day yesterday. My chest is still extremely swollen and sensitive to touch.I am still sluggish and tired which is abnormal for me. My gums seam swollen as well, and bleed more than usual when I floss. I woke up this morning extremely nauseous. All of which are side effects of the progesterone which of coarse is a little crazy-making. Tomorrow I may try to motivate and take the dog for a walk at a state park down here...here's hoping!

    Once again, thank you ladies for joining this and sharing your experiences with me and all of us... it's a bigger help than I anticipated!
  • NCMomsNCMoms Posts: 45
    My partner and I are currently in our TWW. We just had our second IUI this past Saturday, the 15th. She took Femara this time (Chlomid first IUI). This time she had two follicles; one at 26mm (left side) and one at 22mm (right side). Her follicles were a tad smaller last time. Last IUI we had 15 million swimmers with 70% motility. This time 35 million swimmers with 70% motility. Same donor both times.... 14535. Prior to the first IUI, we tried at home twice. She was ovulating on her own, but the Dr gave her the trigger shot immediately following the IUI this time, to initiate any secondary release of follicles. The first time we took the trigger shot and IUI the day following. Things look better this time, so fingers crossed. The 29th can't get here soon enough. Good luck to everyone.
  • schuylerschuyler Posts: 26
    lflippin - Thanks for the encouragement! Trying not to symptom spot but still keeping a log of everything. Mostly it's for next time to remember to remind myself not to count every little twinge as some sort of sign. I've convinced myself that gas and bloat, especially in the evening, are the result of eating the pineapple. My body just can't process high sugared fruits super well! Thank goodness today is my last day with the pineapple. Your symptoms all sound good! Any plans to test soon?

    NCMoms - Fingers crossed for you and your wife! Sounds like everything lined up perfectly. Can't wait to hear your updates!

    5dpiui today. Time is craaaaawling!
  • Firefly419Firefly419 Posts: 35
    HI ladies -
    Hope you all had a good start to the week.

    No real news from me.... Still no symptoms to report.
    I am on day.... I don't even know.... ummm 11 I think. I get my bloodwork on Friday.

    Good Luck everyone :)

    NCMoms- welcome to the lovely TWW. Hopefully second time is the charm for you two.
  • lfippinlfippin Posts: 31
    NCMoms! Welcome! You're just after my wife and I in timing!

    Schuyler- yeah I wish I could count all of these symptoms as for sure BFP coming - but unfortunately they're also all side-effects of the progesterone :( So it's so difficult to tell...I hope it's not all in vain again! Starting to kind of lose faith because I had more side-effects last time with the progesterone - so I don't know exactly what is happening inside of my own body - and I think that's the most frustrating part of this whole process because I tend to almost kinda pride myself on being someone who is very in tune with my own body ... and I am alllllll thrown off and spun around... so it's hard. (as you all know)

    Yeah - I agree - time is crawling so very slowly - but I'm 5-6 dpiui....so who knows...

    I'm not sure if we will be doing any HPT this cycle...I'm not sure if i'm really ready for that emotional roller coaster of "is it positive? no??? ok, I'm heart broken and then convince myself it's too soon to test....or if it's positive I convince myself it's reading the Hcg trigger shot and is a chemical pregnancy!"

    However, has anyone used and found a HPT (home pregnancy test) that they've liked and found accurate results from? because now that we/I am typing all of this I want to just try soon!
    haha

    Firefly...Friday is just around the corner for you!!!
  • lfippinlfippin Posts: 31
    How are you holding up West?
  • NCMomsNCMoms Posts: 45
    Thank you schuyler and Firefly419. Only 3dpiui!!! It's going to be a long TWW. Trying not to talk too much about it with the Mrs. I really don't want her stressing so I'm doing it for her. Lol.
  • schuylerschuyler Posts: 26
    lfippin - Unsure about doing an HPT, too. My luteal phase is on the shorter side, so my period is due (Monday or Tuesday) before it might even be possible for me to get a positive. I tried to push the shorter LP fears with my midwife, and she seemed entirely unconcerned, didn't even want to do blood tests until we tried at least two or three cycles. I keep telling myself that straight couples who do this the "natural" way wouldn't be having blood tests or scans or anything either during the first few go arounds, but it's hard to compare when we have to spend soooooo much money a month for a try, especially when it could all be for nothing if something is really wrong! Anyway, that's my current thinking today. That and my donor hasn't had any pregnancies yet, so of course I'm panicking about that.

    This TWW really messes with your head, huh??

    Obviously I've had no experience with HPTs but I've heard pink dye tests and non-digitals are best for early detection. Cheapies like Wondfo or Easy@Home are good and so is the FRER.

    NCMoms - Totally understand! That's what boards like this and the internet in general are for!!
  • schuylerschuyler Posts: 26
    PS - Yesterday was the last day of the pineapple, so my belly should finally go back to normal today!
  • Firefly419Firefly419 Posts: 35
    Hope everyone is surviving their TWW!! Its almost here for some of you...

    So AF arrived yesterday for me which means July was not my month. But I am super exited to try again and hopefully August will be my month :) I was supposed to go in for my blood work tomorrow so I will call and see what my next steps are to get going again.

    Schuyler - yay no more pineapple!! Hopefully your tummy can settle some.

    NC- in a few days you will be halfway.... whoohoo!

    Ifippin - You must be half way done by now right?

    Good luck ladies :)
  • schuylerschuyler Posts: 26
    Firefly - Sorry to hear that! But August is coming up very soon. Was your first IUI unmedicated?

    I'm 7dpo and feeling great today. A little crampy this morning, but super mild. All day/night heartburn yesterday, but I think that was leftover reaction from the stupid effing pineapple. Other than that, no symptoms at all!
  • WestFamBamWestFamBam Posts: 90
    Hello ladies!!

    Sorry I've been a little MIA. This week I have taken charge of a different clinic and it's been a little hectic moving offices, getting to know the staff, and ultimately laying out how things are gonna be. But anyways, I did test on Monday and got a BFN. I will be testing again tomorrow morning. No AF yet, but I'm not sure if that's because of the progesterone that I am on. Has anyone had a late period due to progesterone? My boobs are still very very sore and enlarged. Other than that, mild cramping here and there.

    How are you ladies doing?

    Firefly419 - I'm so sorry to hear about AF showing. They say it takes 3-4 IUIs to have a successful one. I am on IUI 5, so who knows. Timing is just really crucial. That's the hard part.
  • NCMomsNCMoms Posts: 45
    Firefly419- Counting down...almost 6dpiui. Neither of us have really been stressed too much during this one. Trying to keep everything normal so she doesn't get stressed out. Sorry for your AF. We know the feeling of that all to well. Hang in there.

    WestFamBam - My partner's AF was late after the first IUI. We believe because of the progesterone. The Dr seems to think everything worked last time except for the implementation sticking. If no AF tomorrow, I would test again.

    schuyler- Glad to hear you're feeling better after the pineapple.

    This time has been different. My partner hasn't really had any major cramping or sore breaats or anything so far. Only 9 more days!! Ugh!
  • schuylerschuyler Posts: 26
    WestFamBam - Yes, I've heard of progesterone delaying AF, from friends' experiences and on other boards I am apart of. Progesterone lengthens your luteal phase, so this is normal. Fingers crossed for that BFP today!

    NCMoms - Hopefully no symptoms are a good sign! Glad neither of you are stressing. At least it's summer :)


    According to my charting, my temp dipped today. This is really typical for me 8dpo. Pretty sure it's a sign that AF is on her way in a couple of days. Will have to be more aggressive with my midwife in pursuing progesterone testing next cycle. My LP is just too darn short.
  • Firefly419Firefly419 Posts: 35
    Hope everyone is having a good Friday and has something fun or relaxing planned for the weekend.

    I went to my apt today and they did an ultrasound and found 2 cysts (probably from the clomid) so I am going to wait until August to attempt my second try.

    How is everyone doing??? Sending happy thoughts to those of you closing in on your end of TWW!
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