Feeling blue. Just made my first appt with an RE.

[Anonymous]

I've posted on here a few times about having a short luteal phase. Lately i've started spotting only 4 days after I ovulate (which happens on day 20) - lasting until my period starts on day 27 or 28. My progesterone has been tested. Sonogram performed. Levels checked. Oh, and I also had surgery for endometriosis. Joy. My OBGYN said that he doesn't think Clomid can help my situation, but we're going to give it a shot next month anyways.

I just made an appointment at Shady Grove and am feeling quite upset about this next step. I'm so mad at my body and sad about the situation, even though I know how fortunate we are to already have our son. My extremely fertile SIL and BIL just had their third child and everyone keeps asking us when we're going to go for #2. My BIL even ribbed my husband just last night, saying that they're "lapping" us when it comes to having kids. Normally a nice guy, but WTF?

I know a lot of ladies on here are undergoing treatments. I'd love to hear some words of encouragment. That it's not that bad... Might not take forever...whatever.

[Anonymous]

OP. Big hug for you.

First, do not blame yourself. This is a medical condition. If you had high cholesterol you'd get medical treatment, you would not beat yourself up.

Second, if you know you are ovulating, please don't just "try clomid" to see what happens. Clomid thins your lining and can delay ovulation even further in your cycle. That does not sound like something you need to do.

Shady Grove will take care of you. Luteal Phase defect can be easy to treat. Be optimistic and take care of yourself.

Third, f*%& fertile SILs. We all hate them sometimes!!

[Anonymous]

I know the feeling. I had my first appointment at SGF almost a year ago to the day, and, after seven straight months of treatments, now I am expecting this summer. It is a tough road and the initial visit is really hard. It's very emotional and they throw all kinds of information at you and tell you to schedule a million tests, many of which have to be done at different places and at different times during your cycle. At the time I did not have any close friends who had been through the infertility process, so I read the Infertility Survival Handbook before my first visit and found it to be really helpful in preparing for the visit. As for insensitive comments, they are going to happen. Some people like to have a good come-back ready, but I always just smiled a gritted my teeth because it wasn't worth it to me to say anything. Eventually you will find others who have been through it or are going through it who can provide some support. It is a rollercoaster for sure and you will have moments when you just want to give up, but it is worth it in the end and, believe me, you will find strength that you never thought you had. Best of luck to you.

[Anonymous]

ugh, I was in your shoes re SILs, but different probs. I had 4 m/cs, and on the 4th one, BOTH my SILs had similar due dates. Insert knife, twist.

Well, I tried GW and Cornell for consultations, but ended up at SG, who have been wonderful -- from the front desk people to the nurse and my doctors. I went to K Street. The reason for the m/cs was always a mystery, and that lack of control has made me completely furious at my body. SG found a good cocktail of hormones, blood thinners and vitamins, and I'm 12 wks pregnant.

I have a lot of confidence in SG and wish you all the best.

[Anonymous]

Don't feel sad - your BIL is making these comments probably because he is a little envious of the seemingly more carefree lifestyle you have with one vs. the chaos of kids he now has with 3!

My issue wasn't related to LPD, but it sounds like a common issue and I would imagine most centers can treat. As for your body letting you down...think about it this way - everytime you get sick, your body is technically letting you down. There are many influences to this outside of your control and you can't control it, just like you can't control hair color and height, etc. I am sure your fertile SIL is dealing with her own issues - we all have them!

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone for the kind words! I really appreciate them.

Right now I don't have any friends that I want to talk about this with (oldest galpals don't want kids so can't relate). Hearing your stories help me feel a bit less alone as I stare down this somewhat overwhelming path. And somewhat more hopeful.

You're all right - it's simply a medical condition, and one to be treated. I need to keep that in mind. Thank goodness for modern medicine, I guess. Otherwise we'd really be in a pickle. Also, I'm definitely going to pick up a copy of that book. Thanks for the rec. And thanks to 15:33 for cracking me up with the end of your post. That's exactly how I feel about that right now.

[Anonymous]

OP again - forgot to add, good point on skipping the clomid. I also don't want it to impact getting things underway with the RE. So no clomid for now at least.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm about to make my first appt. with an RE and am bummed about it too! For the past few months, I've had what seems like a short lp-- 3 or 4 days after my temps spike and the opk color fades, I start spotting. This month, however, I started clomid and I think I ovulated several days earlier than usual, and thankfully haven't spotted yet (5 days later). This may not mean much, but I'd like to think clomid, in combination with targeted acupuncture, is helping to lengthen lp. Now, to figure out how to make everything else connect!

Good luck with everything - I've heard so many success stories about friends, etc, getting pregnant once an RE gets involved.

If you haven't

[Anonymous]

Pp here, sorry for unfinished post. I hesitated in recommending acupuncture, but since I already partially blurted out my thought, might as well say it. I've only been a few times, but I always leave feeling much more balanced and calm and it's a really nice counterbalance to my deepening involvement with "Western" medicine. I actually feel more empowered trying acupuncture as a means to conceive, because it's so natural, and I don't feel the anxiety about negative side effects, like I do with clomid.

Just my two cents!!

[Anonymous]

Hey, it might not take forever at all! Once my RE figured out what was going on, I got pregnant the first month with clomid and timed intercourse. And it honestly wasn't that bad at all!

[Anonymous]

I just had my first visit at Shady Grove and it was definitely overwhelming. I just want to forewarn you, like 16:06 did, that the first visit is FULL of stuff and kinda makes your head spin. We had the MD consult, followed by the NURSE consult followed by the financial coordinator consult, followed by my first blood draw and we had scheduled my husband's semen analysis for the same day a couple hours later right there in the office, so it was definitely a LOT to process. But I highly recommend scheduling the SA on the same day if you can because it's one less appointment later!

Over the last few days we've been reading and reading what they gave us and going to the lab and pharmacy and other doctor's appointments trying to do all that is required before the next visit. Just take each thing step by step, one day at a time. I found the easiest thing to do was to make a calender and checklist.

Deep breaths.

You can do this.

[Anonymous]

You can have your OB send your SH for his analysis so you have that done by the time you go in to the RE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just had my first visit at Shady Grove and it was definitely overwhelming. I just want to forewarn you, like 16:06 did, that the first visit is FULL of stuff and kinda makes your head spin. We had the MD consult, followed by the NURSE consult followed by the financial coordinator consult, followed by my first blood draw and we had scheduled my husband's semen analysis for the same day a couple hours later right there in the office, so it was definitely a LOT to process. But I highly recommend scheduling the SA on the same day if you can because it's one less appointment later!

Over the last few days we've been reading and reading what they gave us and going to the lab and pharmacy and other doctor's appointments trying to do all that is required before the next visit. Just take each thing step by step, one day at a time. I found the easiest thing to do was to make a calender and checklist.

Deep breaths.

You can do this.

Yeah, I broke down in tears after the first visit. Extremely overwhelming. But, just take it day by day and do what your nurse says. Eventually, it WILL work out!

[Anonymous]

First visit is the hardest - once they have you on a protocol, the toughest part is going in (sometimes frequently depending on what you are doing) for scans and bloodwork.

[Anonymous]

Try not to be too bummed. I tried for more than a year (due to insurance) without help and no pregnancy. I got pregnant after my first cycle of treatment at SG. It was stressful, but it worked.