TTC: IUI update

I had my 2 of 2 IUI this morning. As my loyal and regular readers may recall, I've been through two IUI cycles in the past at a different clinic. They do things differently here.

The net net is that everything looks good. The samples from Husband were "good enough" and my cervix/mucus was excellent. My temperature went up this morning, so I probably ovulated some time between yesterday morning and this morning. Which is good since the spermies can make it to the egg in 15 minutes.

I just hope they can survive in my hostile environment for that long.

TTC: Another test, another negative

Sooooo. I meant to have the previous post posted on Friday and then talk about the post coital test we had today. But it took a lot of time to do those pictures of my chart. The version of paint I have at work doesn't work right. Not that I would ever work on my blog at work. That's just not ethical.

Update: That post actually did post on Friday, even though I finished it and posted today. Go look at Friday for that post. Weird.

Hence, two TTC posts in one day. Lucky you!

Soooooo. Post. Coital. That means after sex. We had to do it in the doctor's office so they could see what was going on right after we did it.

Not really. That's what I *thought* it was. Much to our relief, we just had to do it one or two (or both!) days before the test. I had an ultrasound to check out the ovaries. I have a well-developed follicle on my right side, I'll have you know. Then a sample was taken of my cervical mucus. We looked at it under the microscope right then (well, after I put my clothes back on). There were no spermies. None. Zee. Row.

Soooooo. That's not good. But it's also not the end of the world. Chances are still good that we can conceive through IUI. Which we will do. Twice this week. Wednesday and Thursday. IUI days.

Also, previous to this appointment, we found out that Husband has epididymitis. It's an infection in the epididymis. That's a man part. He's on a round of antibiotics to clear that up. Then he needs to do a sperm test. Then we will get him on the HCG shots to increase his testosterone.

Sooooooo. There's still hope. Husband's sperm may get better. IUI may work. We may get pregnant.

Habit forming

I like to form habits. Well, good ones. I like replacing bad ones with good ones. I'm also a fan of lists.

I think you see where this is going.

Here is a list of habits I've formed and ones that I want to form. I'll note my progress occasionally or never. I should probably put "update blog" on my list.

• Read bible every morning for 15 mintues - Complete!
  This habit has been well-established. I'm currently in Acts and will have read the entire bible in about a year. When I'm done, I'm starting over again, only this time I'll take notes.
  
  
• Ten minutes of prayer
  I'm trying to decide on morning or evening for this one. Praying in bed before I go to sleep is not working. I need to be awake. I'm not sure how God takes it that every time I talk to him, I fall asleep in the middle. I'm pretty sure I'd be offended if someone did that to me.
  
  
• Eat breakfast every morning - In progress
  I've eaten breakfast the past two mornings. Oatmeal. I like it. In the 5 mintues it takes me to heat it up, I can unload and/or load the dishwasher. That's a bonus habit.
  
  
• Take vitamins in the morning
  This includes a multi-vitamin, cod liver oil, coconut oil and a teaspoon of vinegar. I need to get used to breakfast first.
  
  
• Exercise every weekday for at least 15 minutes - In progress
  I'm very lucky that a dear friend of mine is attempting this with me.
  
  
• Take a lunch to work four days of the week
  This is a financial necessity.

Wish me luck!

TTC: Prolactin maybe not so high anymore?

As you may recall, I tested high on prolactin. This will cause stair stepping temperature rises and probably prevents actual ovulation. Here is an example of my temps right after I started taking the bromocryptine to counter the high prolactin.


Notice how there is no clear temperature increase and no ovulation.

Here is my chart after I'd been taking the bromocryptine for a month or so.
Notice the red, stair-stepping temperature rise, but this time with a egg.



And finally, here is my latest complete chart. Notice the temperature jump. Yeah!


Alas, I still did not get pregnant. But progress is progress!

Report on Hair Removal

Okay. So. Laser hair removal.

The first thing you should know is that everything needs to be shaved prior to the visit. The laser can't get to the root of the hair if there is hair in the way. I had to shave *everything* in the bathroom at the spa with a bic razor. Yes, that crappy kind that you used when you first started to shave in middle school. I had to use that in my area. My Brazilian area.

The second thing you should know is that the pain is not that bad. Granted, it didn't feel good, but it didn't hurt nearly as much as waxing. It goes pretty quickly. The worst part was the Brazilian area. It felt a little bit like someone jabbing me with a steak knife. Not stabbing, just jabbing about skin deep.

The third thing you should know is that the hair removal is not instant. It takes time for the hair to fall out.

So, all in all, I'm excited about my next visit. I understand the results will be gradual. I can see some improvement now. I can't wait to see what it will be like after round 2.

And there you have it.

A decision has been made, and a countdown begun

As many of you know, I have extra body hair. It's problem that's been exaggerated by my excessive male hormone. I had been visiting a spa and have hair waxed away. I've decided on a more permanent solution. I'm going to have most of my body hair removed via laser.



Is it expensive? Oh heck yes. But I did a cost analysis on how much I was spending to get the hair waxed. I also analyzed how much clothes I don't wear because I would have to shave my legs to wear them, how often I don't go swimming because I would have to shave my legs and more, how unattractive I feel with Husband, etc. This all added up to justify the expense.

It's probably important to explain why shaving is such a problem for me. First of all, shaving *hurts*. To the point that I'd rather have the hair yanked from my skin with hot wax, because that is less painful. Also, shaving only lasts for a day, if that. After that day, the pain will continue with painful regrowth, razor burn and ingrown hairs. I've tried buffing myself with exfoliating gloves, wash clothes, lofa pads, etc. I've tried aftershaves and lotions. None of it worked. Even with the waxing, I would still get ingrown hairs.

So, onward to the laser. I picked out three salons that had high ratings and reviews online. One salon wouldn't do appointments via email. That was an immediate elimination. The other salon was too far away and I'd already decided that I liked the third salon. I went there for a facial to get a feel for how things go there. I liked it a lot and it was the most affordable to boot.

The way laser hair removal works is it travels down the hair and kills the hair follicle. Since the hair has to be present, you have to go for several (5 - 7) sessions before you get everything because your hair grows in cycles.

I'm getting my face, arm pits, areola (yep) and everything waist down done. In the meantime, I cannot pluck or wax. The hair root has to remain intact. Which means, I have stubble on my face. It's not incredibly noticeable. But I notice it and it drives me nuts. I usually pluck as soon as a hair is long enough to grasp with tweezers.

My first appointment is July 3rd. I cannot wait.

TTC Update and etc.

I'm the only one here on my team this morning. It's early and dark and quiet and I don't want to work yet. The robots that control our work environment can't detect my presence unless I make movement about a foot behind me. Therefore the lights go off. Then I'll stretch and the lights come back on. However, these robots are determined that it will never be warm in this office.

I think I mentioned previously that we have started seeing a new fertility specialist. She's actually an endocrinologist. I will provide a quick run down on what we've learned and what we're doing.

I have high prolactin and excess androgen male hormones. I'm taking two prescriptions at very low doses. One is bromocriptene. It's for the prolactin. I'm only taking 2.5mg per night. That's half of a very small pill. I'm also taking prednisone for the androgen male hormones. It is a cortico steriod, which, ironically, makes my body produce less male hormone. I'm only taking 5mg per night. That's an entire very small pill.

My chart? It is crazy. It's all over the chart. My temperatures are much higher than they normally are. I think this could be because I'm exercising pretty regularly. It could also be that my body is healthier and is regulating my body temperature better. Who knows? I don't know who knows; but I can tell you who doesn't know: my doctor. The amount of understanding and knowledge that physicians lack really makes their level of hubris and assumed authority puzzling.*

Husband doesn't have enough male hormones. The irony is just slapping me in the face. We are going to have to schedule an appointment to learn how to give him injections of HCG(LH), which is the hormone women produce when they are pregnant. Counter intuitive, I know.

His last "sample" had improved morphology, but quantity and motility were still very low. I was glad to know the quality had improved. I admit that I was a little worried about getting pregnant with one of the defunct sperms and having a child with some sever genetic problems. So, improved quality makes me feel much much better.


*This is a generalization and is not meant to be applied to individual physicians.