Heather

I am scheduled to have my first AI in a couple of weeks. My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for many years now, but took a two year break to help both of our mothers through cancer. We decided that we'd like to start trying again, and I made an appointment with my RE for today. When I went into his office, I was really expecting to begin all over with the lab work and all that. He pleasantly surprised me though, by saying, "OK, let's pick up where we left off." And he told me to call back when I start my cycle, and we'll get started. Low and behold, as soon as I got home, my period had started! So I called, and they've got me scheduled for an IUI on the 27th! It just caught me off guard to be happening so fast! I mean, I'm grateful that I didn't have to go through it all over again, but I'm just a little shocked. The pharmacy called today to say my Clomid and HCG injection are ready to be picked up already! Anyway, I'm looking for any info, suggestions, tips, and whatnot for my first IUI.

I live in Louisiana and have insurance through Vantage, which does not cover any infertility issues. I have heard of supplemental insurance policies that can be purchased that will cover infertility treatments, including IVF. Does anyone have any information on what kind of specific policies cover such procedures? I am also curious about the Mandated Infertility Coverage in some states. I thought that Louisiana was one of those states, but I can't find any information on it. Does anyone have more information on that? Any help is appreciated!

I live in Louisiana and have insurance through Vantage, which does not cover any infertility issues. I have heard of supplemental insurance policies that can be purchased that will cover infertility treatments, including IVF. Does anyone have any information on what kind of specific policies cover such procedures? I am also curious about the Mandated Infertility Coverage in some states. I thought that Louisiana was one of those states, but I can't find any information on it. Does anyone have more information on that? Any help is appreciated!

I've been in a buying war with someone over a particular friend on the "Own Your Friends" application. We are constantly buying the same person back and forth and there appears to be no end to it. It's all in good fun, but I was wanting a leg-up on her. Does anyone know if it's possible to lock my pet and keep him from being bought by anyone? Just curious. Thanks!

I'm not even sure where to start, because I'm still pretty much in shock this morning. I found out last night that my Mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She will be having a Mastectomy next week and will most likely have to undergo Chemo in the next few weeks/months.

My husband and I have been TTC since January 2006, but not I do not feel as if we should continue, given what is happening in my family right now. My Mother has begged me not to stop on her behalf, but how can I concentrate on getting pregnant when she is going through a life-threatening illness?!

I am 27 and an only child, so this is just really killing me. Sure, I've had grandparents with cancer, but not my MOTHER. I don't know that I can handle this and TTC. And I'm scared that if I do end up pregnant, that I will have too much stress to carry if healthily. Has anyone gone through anything similar? If we did stop TTC, it wouldn't be forever, just until she is well, maybe 6 months to a year.

I'm not even sure where to start, because I'm still pretty much in shock this morning. I found out last night that my Mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer. My relationship with God was already very strained because of my two-year struggles in trying to conceive, but this has just really made it almost non-existent. I know she needs prayer right now, but I don't feel that I can do that yet, because I'm still just so angry. In my heart, I still believe that God CAN heal her, but I'm afraid that he WON'T, because there are so many other things that I feel he has "failed" me at: striking my father with an illness that kept him in a coma for 13 days, taking both of my grandparents from me within three weeks of each other, allowing me to suffer through two years of "unexplained" infertility, and now breast cancer in my Mother. I am 27 and an only child, so this is really hitting me hard, and I just don't know which way is up right now. I want to have a relationship with God, but…....

I'm not even sure where to start, because I'm still pretty much in shock this morning. I found out last night that my Mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer. I'm sure the Dr. told her what kind, but in all of the crying last night, I didn't find out anything about it.

I guess what I want, is to hear from people that may have been through breast cancer, or had a loved one go through it. What all did you go through? How do you handle the fear and sadness? How do I stay strong for my Mother, when I'm scared out of my mind?

She is having some more tests run this week, and is planning to have a full Mastectomy next week. She is taking this so..........I don't know........unnaturally. I know she's trying to be strong for me, but I don't think she realizes how "well" she's acting. Is it denial? Is this normal? Has she already accepted it? I just can't stop crying, no matter what I do. I am an only child, am 27 years old, and this is the worst thing to happen to my immediate family

I have often wondered about this.....is there a way to test and see WHY a pregnancy is not achieved? What I mean is, can a Dr. tell if your egg is being fertilized and not implanting, or if the egg is just not being fertilized at all? I would think that this would be a huge issue when deciding what treatments to take.

If you are able to fertilize the egg, but it just won't implant, then wouldn't things like IUI and IVF be basically useless? On the other side of that, if your body is not able to fertilize the egg, wouldn't that allow people to move straight to IVF without going through months or years of trying other methods that will not work anyway?

It's just really frustrating that as medically advanced as we are today that this simple determination can't be made to help in the process. It would just make things so much clearer.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure nothing like this exists, but I wanted to ask.

AF came on 3/16/08. I had a blood test scheduled for 3/17/08, so I decided to keep it. AF was mostly brown, almost black, with clots (sorry if TMI, but I need to be clear) and I wanted to be SURE. Anyway, the nurse said there was no sense taking the test if I started my period. She asked if it was heavy and I told her it was (because it was THAT day), and she suggested just going ahead and getting my MMR shot (which I need because I am not immune and cannot begin IUI process without it).

I am worried now because my period was only heavy that one day and now it's just brown spotting again, I never had red blood. I've already gotten the MMR, which causes serious birth defects if given while pregnant, so I'm scared out of my mind.

Before AF, temp dropped below coverline, symptoms disappeared, and I've taken a test and it's BFN, but the weird cycle is throwing me off. Please tell me there's no chance I could be pregnant with all of that! I'm so scared of the MMR effects if I am!

I'm pretty sure AF is gonna be waiting for me when I wake up in the morning. I just went to the bathroom and I have a little bit of spotting, which is normally what happens the night before AF comes. I pretty much knew this was coming when I took my temp this morning and it was my second temp below cover line. The only good thing about this cycle is that I actually experienced a 14 day luteal phase for the first time with the help of the Progesterone.

I'm try to not be too upset. I'm going to take a month off to take my MMR vaccine my Dr. recommended and we'll be doing an IUI around the first of May. At least I have that to look forward to.

Anyway, I just wanted to update. I do have a question though about Fertility Friend. I charted my temp from this morning and it changed my cover line from 97.57 to 97.37, and it's now a dotted line. Why would it do that? Yesterday's temp was also below my original cover line until I charted today's temp and now it is above it. Confused?

I don't know if this has anything to do with my cycle, but I'm just really curious, because I didn't experience this last month. I'm

I am taking Progesterone suppositories, so you all know the drill about inserting them. Anyway, I noticed when I did so early this morning, it was more difficult and actually a little painful.....well, more uncomfortable. I also took Progesterone last cycle and never had a problem like this. Also, 12DPO right now and my temps dropped below coverline yesterday, but came back up this morning. And, all of the symptoms I've been have gotten weaker. Is that a bad sign, or has that happened to anyone that still ended up being pregnant?

Has anyone had any experience with this? Could it be a symptom of early pregnancy? Could something be wrong and should I be concerned?

http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/119831

BTW: Have not BD'd in a few days and haven't noticed any soreness until this morning, last night's dose was normal.

I'm am so upset...........and just totally confused. I REALLY though this month was going to be different. I've had symptoms I've never had that seemed so promising. Now, this morning, I take my BBT and it bottomed out below my coverline! I'm only 11DPO today. I didn't think my luteal phase would be so short since I'm taking 100mg of Progesterone twice per day! If AF comes today or tomorrow, this will be my shortest luteal phase ever. That doesn't make any sense! What is going on?!

I'm trying to stay positive and think, "well, it's just a dip, it will go back up" but I don't know. I took my last four Clomid cycles and overlayed them on fertilityfriend.com and they all end around 11-13DPO and then AF shows up. The only difference in this cycle is that I'm taking the Progesterone, which is supposed to lengthen my luteal phase, but it looks like it didn't make any difference. How is that? All I can do is wait til tomorrow but I'm so sad!

http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/119831

Hey everyone! I just read a post about wanting us to go look at a chart and give our opinion, and that got me to thinking.........

I'm going to post my chart and ask you to use the poll on my chances for pregnancy this month, by following the link and voting. And when you do, please leave a link to your chart in your answer, so that we can all vote on each others' charts.

Hell, it helps pass the 2WW and it's kinda fun to see other people's charts and hear your opinions. So, I want to see ALOT of charts people!

Here's mine, tell me what ya think!

http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/119831

Don't forget to leave yours below!

I know that no one is going to "know" the answer to this, but I would like to hear from anyone who went, or is going through this.

I am currently taking Progesterone suppositories from 3DPO until 16DPO each cycle. This is my second cycle taking them and I am now 9DPO, and having some side effects that I didn't have last month. I started cramping about 7DPO, having some occasional sharp twinges in my lower abdomen and groin. I have also been having hot flashes at night. Just today, I had a couple of minutes of nausea, nothing much, and my breasts are starting to hurt just a little on the sides under my arms.

I'm so frustrated! I can't tell if these feelings are due to possible early pregnancy signs, or just the Progesterone playing tricks on me (how cruel!)

Anyway, did anyone take Progesterone and get pregnant, and happen to remember any specific symptoms that stood out? I'm a sucker for success stories, so I guess that's really what I'm wanting. I'm trying to endure the 2WW!

I'm really looking for insight from those who were charting when they got pregnant. This month has been completely different from any others. Also, Murphy's law states that I am more likely to get pregnant this month, because we have already come up with the $ and scheduled an IUI for next month!

I have been TTC for the past 26 months, and have ovulated on CD18 or 19 each month, consistently. I also, NEVER get EWCM or hardly any moisture at all. I take my BBT, and normally after ovulation, it will spike about 0.6º, but never more. THIS MONTH, I ovulated on CD17, I had plenty of CM, including some EWCM, and my temp spike was more than 1.5º! In light of these changes, we decided to BD every night instead of every other (Dr. says sperm count is adequate to do so). So, now I'm in the horrible 2WW and I'm wondering if anyone else got pregnant during a "unique" cycle like this.

Also, what about my temp spike? Is that any indication? http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/119831

I'm really looking for insight from those who were charting when they got pregnant. This month has been completely different from any others. Also, Murphy's law states that I am more likely to get pregnant this month, because we have already come up with the $ and scheduled an IUI for next month!

I have been TTC for the past 26 months, and have ovulated on CD18 or 19 each month, consistently. I also, NEVER get EWCM or hardly any moisture at all. I take my BBT, and normally after ovulation, it will spike about 0.6º, but never more. THIS MONTH, I ovulated on CD17, I had plenty of CM, including some EWCM, and my temp spike was more than 1.5º! In light of these changes, we decided to BD every night instead of every other (Dr. says sperm count is adequate to do so). So, now I'm in the horrible 2WW and I'm wondering if anyone else got pregnant during a "unique" cycle like this.

Also, what about my temp spike? Is that any indication? http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/119831

This same thing happened last month, but I just blew it off as a weird feeling. Well, it's happening again this month and now I'm curious as to what's causing it.

I had an ultrasound on 2/26/08, and my Dr. told me that I have a follicle ready to release and should be ovulating within 48-72 hours. So, according to the US, my temps, my CM and my Clearblue Monitor, I am ovulating today or tomorrow. I started noticing yesterday that I am having a "pulling" sensation low in my abdomen. It doesn't really hurt, it's just uncomfortable. It almost feels like I've been holding my urine and have to pee pretty bad. That's not what it is though, and I know that I don't have a UTI or bladder infection, so I don't know what could be causing it. This also happened last month around ovulation, but disappeared after a few days. And something else, I have a cough I can't get rid of and I have to hold my stomach when I cough, it hurts so bad!

Has anyone else ever experienced this or heard of this?

I’ve researched the fish that I want to put into my new fish-only 150 gallon tank. I've been reading about compatibility and I think I have a pretty good selection. Since I have chosen some very aggressive fish, I am worried about the order that I should introduce my fish. I understand that I need to put the most passive and smallest fish in first and then work my way up to the more aggressive ones. I have showed my list to my LFS a few times, but they're just not the best at paying attention and being helpful, they're too busy.

I just want to make sure that I do this right. I put my first fish in about a week ago (a pair of Ocellaris Clownfish and a Pink Spotted Shrimp Goby). They are doing well and I have heard that I should wait about a week in between introducing fish, so it's about time for me to bring my next one home. I just need to know which one, (I'm thinking the Royal Gramma). I welcome any comments and/or suggestions. Thanks in advance!

I have recently been informed by my Dr. that I will most likely need to have an IUI cycle in order to conceive. I will be taking Clomid with an HCG trigger, because I do not have a proper LH surge to release my eggs. I asked the nurse before we left our appointment yesterday about the costs of everything and she gave me a fee sheet, which puts the costs of one cycle at a little over $1,000.00. (This includes the 2-3 ultrasounds, Dr. fees, labwork through the month and also the medicines) I am a member of www.fertilitylifelines.com, so I can get a discount on the HCG trigger (save about $50.00), but the rest will be 100% my responsibility up-front, since my insurance doesn't cover infertility.

My question is this.......does anyone know of any programs that can assist in the costs of ART, where it doesn't have to specifically be an IVF cycle? I found a couple of places, including www.inciid.com, but you have to go through IVF to be eligible.

I have looked all over the Internet trying to find out what the name of the goby is from Finding Nemo. In the fish tank in the Dentist's office, there is a purple and yellow goby with an OCD problem about germs. Can anyone tell me what his name was? I recently brought home a goby for my 150 gallon tank and I want to name him after the character in the movie. Thanks for the help! Serious answers only please.