[AuntLissE3]

Okay.. so I'm still TRYING to play it cool..taking my time, not trying to dive deeper into the whole "I HAVE to get pregnant NOW!" thing..even though my biological clock's ticking sounds like someone beating on a gong...
This is where I stand..
6th cycle this month since my Laparoscopic surgery/dnc/tubal chromation (sp..basically another HSG I think)..so my doctor asked me where I was emotionally with wanting to get pregnant and discouragement. I didn't lie, I was honest. I still want a baby just as bad today, if not worse, than I did when I started seeing him a year ago, after a year of trying without medical intervention, and an additional 6 months of trying with the whack job who put me on clomid without even testing me or DH to see where our issues were. As far as if I was still crying each time dear ol' AF comes knocking..no, those tears have been gone for several months now. I'm just...indifferent I guess. I EXPECT AF now, and don't HOPE for a bfp..

So he says "I want to try another medicine on you..I have great success with this with women who have PCOS, and I want you to try it. You aren't ovulating every month, and your cycles are still at the 30-33 day threshold (they were 34-40 a year ago before Metformin). It's called Femara, and blah blah blah blah blah." He told me the controversies and arguments about using it as a fertility drug, told me what it's meant to be used for, and told me that there's around a 5% risk of twins/mults. So, since I was already too far along in this cycle to start it, I start on day 3 of my next cycle (providing I'm not pregnant this cycle), and take 5mg a day on cd 3-7. He says I'll see a lot more PMS symptoms, and should see a better cycle length. Have any of your girls ever been on Femara? If so, what can you tell me about it?...I want the good and the bad..I've spent several (gobs) hours researching it online...and just want to know if any of you have any experience with it.

Today is CD 16 for me...So I get up for work this morning...POS for the monitor, and (3rd day of elevated fertility)...have an EGG! Earliest I've ovulated so far since I got the monitor..usually it's about day 19-20 that I ovulate.. Typically, I would be absolutely elated...call in to work, tell them I'm going to be late...and BD with DH..only, DH's back went out yesterday, and he was in excrutiating pain with it this morning...so I didn't even broach the subject. Instead, I took him to the Urgent Care Center, got him some meds for his back...and brought him home..but along the way, I asked what he thought about trying the turkey baster method...(desparate, I know..but I know there were a few ladies on here who mentioned they'd tried that when all else failed, and it actually worked for them).. but he agreed...and so I found myself pulling into the grocery store on the way home, picking up a turkey baster, and coming home to sterilize a cup...you can guess the rest...so...where does that leave me? Heading into the 2WW..

I guess I'll know in 14 days...

[KR258]

I have no advice. I just wanna wish you Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jkl123]

Hi,

I am one of those who conceived with the ole "turkey baster: method" but I should tell you that you don't really use a turkey baster - that is overkill and just the term used to describe the method of self-insemination. You can just use a child's medicine dispenser - the kind with the plunger, not the squeeze-bulb. A turkey baster could seriously hurt you, and since you can't plunge anything, only squeeze it in, you won't get all the 'goods' in there. If you want more help with this, feel free to PM me!! GL!!

[QueenAngie]

Wishing you all the best!

Have you also tried using those hygiene Cups after BD to keep the sperm where it should stay? Several friends on line here have used it with great results. One of my friends used it and it worked!

[deedee1231]

I have heard of using the feminine hygiene cup for insemination as well. I think it is called a diva cup? I am sorry I don't know much about it, but in case you don't know what a hygiene cup is (cuz I didn't til recently )...I think it is called a diva cup.
Good luck!

[AuntLissE3]

Originally Posted by jkl123

I am one of those who conceived with the ole "turkey baster: method" but I should tell you that you don't really use a turkey baster - that is overkill and just the term used to describe the method of self-insemination.

.. ROFL.. Well, where were you when I made the decision to buy the baster!? lol.. Don't I feel like a huge goof...but if it accomplished the same result, I'll be happy... Thank you for the advice, I do greatly appreciate it. Although, if we have to try this method again, I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Like I said in my earlier post, I knew it had worked for some of you, and figured it was worth a shot since we clearly were not going to be able to BD this cycle. As you can see, while I said I TRY not to dive too deeply into the desperation to have a baby, I don't do too well when it comes to the actual time that I know I have ovulated.. but at least I'm past the time where I'm terribly let down each month.
Angie, I tried the Diva cups for a few months, but stopped because I had a kidney stone one night when I used one..bad experience was a turn off for me with the cup. It wasn't anything to do with the cup itself, so much as it was that mentally I relate using the cup with the kidney stone experience...ouchies. I do appreciate the advice though.
Thank you Kara and DeeDee.

[DK615617]

Good luck to you!!!!! Hopefully it worked, and if not at least your dr has given you a new plan for next month!!!!! But, here is hoping for a bfp this month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[quagmire8]

Originally Posted by AuntLissE3

As far as if I was still crying each time dear ol' AF comes knocking..no, those tears have been gone for several months now. I'm just...indifferent I guess. I EXPECT AF now, and don't HOPE for a bfp..

you said that so well, i can totally relate to those feelings.

a friend of mine is using femara with IUI (currently in the 2ww). using just femara on its own, she had 2 follicles (that was the first cycle), using the femara with follistim on the second cycle got her 4 follicles. the medication works!

good luck with the self insemination. do you think you will try it again next cycle? i am in the 2ww after my 5th IUI (with clomid). i do the IUIs with the OBGYN and it really isnt that expensive. i know with an RE it is a bit more, but as long as injectables stay out of the picture it isnt too bad. if you have any questions about IUI feel free to PM!

Good luck to you!!!

[Kats Playland]

Wishing you the best of luck this cycle hun.
As for the Femara, before I got pg this time, the doctors had talked about putting me on... But with the preggie brain right now I can't remember what he told me about it. Sorry, but Do remember he said it worked better on the hard cases than the normal one.

[AuntLissE3]

Originally Posted by quagmire8

you said that so well, i can totally relate to those feelings.

I always hate to say anything negative, because I know all of you other ladies who are having just as hard of a time as I am need to stay positive as well..but sometimes I have to blow a little steam off because I have to be "super strong and positive" all day long every day at work..and I don't typically like for DH to see how frustrated I get..but I appreciate that you know how I feel! I'm sorry to say I'm glad I'm not alone in having felt that way. (if that makes sense)..

To be honest, I'm not sure if I will try the SI again..I guess I can't say "No" since you do what you have to do when the time comes. I'll just have to see where we are in his back health and other circumstances when the next cycle rolls around. I know that my Dr says he will get us pregnant..and I trust him 100%..I know if there's a doctor to be found that can do it for us, it's this one. He is a wonderful doctor, and is...like the stern yet supportive type. And what's really great about his office is...all of the women who work for him are women who he has helped to have babies. His nurses, his office manager, his receptionist..all of them, he has helped when no other doctors around could. To me, that makes a huge statement..he can't be an easy man to work for, he expects the best, and I've seen him be pretty short with some of them at times..but they all love him.

I appreciate all of the feedback and the info..especially about the Femara. He had never told me why he was so upset about the fact that the previous doctor had me on clomid for 6 months..especially without testing me at all..until last week. He said (and of course, I'd read it on the web) that Clomid can thin out the uterine lining and cause a "hostile womb" for conception..especially in women who suffer from PCOS. He stressed that not ALL PCOS women who tried clomid had that issue, but he had seen several who did. And the fact that they did not even take the time to look at my symptoms, run the tests necessary, and make a diagnosis, and just wrote the scripts for Clomid each month, escalating the dosage each month, he would never recommend anybody to be treated at that clinic. He said it was irresponsible doctoring. At least he'll tell me what he thinks, even though he's very reticent about slamming other doctors.

Anywho..thank you all again for the info and the support! s: