Hi Everyone,

I hate to add to the downers this morning but AF has decided to show -- right on time mind you :mad: if only the rest of my life was so perfectly scheduled!!!

I am so frustrated but surprisingly it isnt coming out in anger or sadness ... instead I am like a mad women on a mission ….I am soo determined to do ANYTHING this cycle... Here are my plans so far:

Drink red raspberry leaf tea up to ovulation
Vitex supplement up to ovulation
shot of wheat grass daily
stay away from sugar and dairy
eat lots of veggies and fruits
no caffeine or alcohol
Prenatal vitamin every day (been doing this)
drink 8 glasses of water a day
walk 30 minutes a day
sleep 8 hours a day
yoga twice a week
acupuncture once a week (starting tomorrow)
BD every other day starting day 5 and then refrain on day 12 and 13, IUI prob days 14 & 15 and then every day for 5 days after.

After IUI – cut down on most of these things and try to sit as still as possible for the first few days!!!

AM I CRAZY??? Whew I feel like it … but this is so hard and frustrating month after month that I want to maximize my chances … I want to know that I did everything in my power!!! The rest is not up to me I guess.

Thank for letting me vent.

-Dana.

I'm sorry that AF showed up Dana. That sucks. I was praying it would work for you your first time - I am doing my first IUI this month and really need some inspiration. I don't think you're crazy at all for trying to do anything and everything in your power to make it work. I used to do that too, but so many months of nothing have left me a bit tired. I feel like my life is on hold and I'm just tired of it all. Listen to me, I'm supposed to be trying to cheer you up! Today really IS a rough day.

At least there is a bright side to AF showing...you don't have to see a negative result and wait around for her to come so you can start again...You're already started...So, there is some good to come out of it I guess.

Best of luck to you on your next cycle. I'm praying really hard for BFPs for all of us!

Holly

hi dana,

sorry about AF... im reading your list. Do they think those things help? I mean ovbiusly some are a definite like the caffiene and prenatals bt what about the sugar and wheat grass? and what is vitex?

Dana u should do what u feel is right.I asked my re if there is something I can do after iui like go home and lay down.He said no the sperm gets to the tubes in a matter of minutes while u are lying there after iui.He told me if it is going to happen it will.Now he said weather I go home and lay down or go to the mall walking around will not increase or decrease my chances.Drinking water is good staying hydrated is good.Just wanted to share that with u.

But like I said we all do things we think is good for us and thats fine.Just do whatever makes u comfortable.So when is ur iui?Mine should be Monday and Tuesday or Tuesday or Weds.Well good luck to us.

Mapia

I agree with Mapia, do what you feel is right. I think that the yoga and acupunture would help a lot, keep you centered and relaxed. Listen to your body too. I knew what my ovulation days were and started taking the OPK earlier than the nurses said to. So listen to your body too.

Hi Dana. I am sorry that AF showed up for you. Are you one of those 28 days per cycle girls?? You said right on time, so just wondered. Also, how many days post IUI were you??

I think that most of the things that you are doing sound good. But, I just wanted to say that you might should ask your RE before you taking those herbal things. You might have already and I am not trying to sound like your mother. It's just that I read that some of those herbal things can actually do more harm than good. But, like Mapia said, we all do what we think is good for us. Like I do stay away from caffiene and too many meats, b/c I believe it is good for me. But we are all different. I hope I didn't make you mad. You do what you feel is right.

Good luck to you on your second try!!:) If you get a chance, do let me know how many days post IUI you were. You know I am still in the 2ww from my first one, so I am trying to get all the info I can.

Anna Leigh

Hi Dana, sorry to here about AF showing her ugle head, I am suppossed to test tomorrow but I don't think that I am going to have to wait that long, I am already starting to feel AF like cramps so I am sure sometime tonight she will arrive. So I guess I will start IUI # 8, I might follow your list of things that you are going to do, I will try anything if it helps.

Good luck on 2nd IUI, I will keep my fingers crossed

Stephanie

Hi Dana,

So sorry AF came. It's so hard everytime and no matter what the day she comes is the worst day of all. I hope your feeling better soon. I guess today is just one of those days for the board. I was telling Michelle I am throwing a pity party for all of us on the board who feel like crap. Why... b/c we desearve to be able to vent all we want today!! It's a bad day and we desearve to have a party!! You and I can drink (oh but you said you won't)but Michelle is in the 2ww so she may want to refrain :) Believe me I am having some vino tonight, I wish I could have one now. I will have one for you tow if you are going to refrain :) Hang in there next cycle is just around the corner :)

But all kidding aside I really like your plan of action and think it's great how determined you are. YOU GO GIRL!!!!! Wishing you all the best for the next cycle!!!!

Kathy

Whew - computer problems at the office - finally able to log on.

Holly - Thank you so much for responding and for your support, I really do appreciate it and hope things go well for you this cycle too. I was talking to some Tech Support Agent today and her name was Holly - I thought about you and said .. OMG, imagine if it was Holly from the boards" -- lol, just wanted to share that..

Aymie, from the research I've done these things are supposed to help BUT you should be careful using them after Ovulating in case you are PG. This of course is a more holistic approach to IF but I believe that in some people it works. For example, red raspberry leaf tea is supposed to strengthen your uterus and reproductive system (only use before O) ... I suggest researching (google) these things but this list comes from my own research... I plan to do more so maybe if you gals want I will post a complete list when i get it.
Almost forgot - wheat grass is supposed to help fertility - there have been cases of dog breeders who had old 'barren' dogs and when they gave them wheat grass daily they were able to have litters again (ok they are dogs - but its something..) I have read on several sites to stay away from sugar when TTC ... I guess the sugar highs and lows mess up with your hormones and more specifically can effect your thyroid which relates to fertility. Hope that helps!

Mapia - thank you for sharing what your RE told you -- maybe I will be overdoing it, you're right!!! So I will go on with normal activities after IUI but no excercising for me! My IUI will probably be 13-14 days from today ... if all goes well! I am so excited for you to do yours!! GOOD LUCK!

Bonitagirl - Hey I've been thinking about you -- thanks for responding and I will use the OPK sooner like you reccomended. Is everything cool with you?

Anna Leigh - most of the things I'm doing I have discussed with my doctor but i plan to run it by her again tomorrow when i go in for my 'cyst' check. I'll keep you guys updated. My cycles are exactely 29 days... very rare when I'm early or late ... I O'd on day 15 (LH SUrge day 14) and had IUI on days 14 and 15. Today when AF showed it was 14 days after O/IUI ... oh and that was being on clomid 50 mg days 3-7 -- hope that helps and GOOD LUCK.. when are you testing?

Sillygirl - I highly reccomend acupuncture if nothing else on that list -- i have heard and read about amazing successes through it. I am sorry you feel like AF is here -- but you never know .... keep me posted!

Kathy - thank you so much for the encouragement and PLEASE do have a glass of wine for me .. I would appreciate it!!!! I am sorry things are cra**y for you today and hope your mood improves (btw, dont drink too much in case you are good to go this cycle) .... ;)


I think I got everyone --- THANKS LADIES!!!

-Dana.

Thanks Dana I really hope ur iui gets u a bfp this month.

Mapia

and I hope for you too -- I know the set back you had this month was hard ... maybe we can both meet up in the PG boards next month ... ;)

Thanks for letting me know, Dana. I am currently on cd30. I did my trigger shot on cd17 and IUI on cd18. That puts me at 12dpiui. Did you do a trigger shot? I am just wondering if that could postpone me a little for AF. My temp shifted the morning of the trigger but the nurse said to go ahead and trigger. I am guessing that would mean that I didn't ovulate until cd18, which could mean that AF isn't really late yet. I never go past 12 days. I always start on the 13th day which then becomes cd1. I am not wanting to get my hopes up if this is not a BFP, so I am just trying to get all the opinions I can.

I go for a beta on Friday if no AF. I guess I will be shocked if she doesn't show tomorrow.

Anna Leigh

Dana,

I'm so sorry the witch showed up :mad: Sounds like you have a great attitude and a great plan for moving forward though. I hope the next one is it for you :)

Lori

Hi Dana
You are definitely not crazy! Sometimes IF makes us feel so out of control that we resort to doing the things we DO have control of. Anyway, it all has to be good for you and can only help.
Best of luck and remember we're all rooting for you!
Ruby

Anna Leigh -- I do not do a trigger shot i am only on clomid -- so i dont know anything about that -- SORRY!! But it sounds like you might be able to test tomorrow if AF doesnt show. Have you asked you RE?


Lori and Ruby - thank you so much for your encouragement and support!!!

-Dana.

Hi, Dana. I am new here. :)

I'm in pretty much the same situation as you. My first IUI has just failed and am now looking forward to 2nd.

Good luck to you and all of us here.

Amy

Hey Dana. So very sorry that AF showed, that old bag. But I think it's great that you have a plan. I just wanted to let you know that I also am going in for acupunture tomorrow, I've never tried it, but I have a friend here in the city where I'm traveling this week who swears by it. Says it does miracles. I'm willing to try it and since I can trust the referral, I'm gonna give it a go. Is it your first acupuncture? If so, we'll have to compare notes :)

Amy - So sorry to hear about your failed IUI, when did you find out about the failure? When is your IUI scheduled? are also "unexplained"?

Kari - how exciting about your acupuncture tomorrow... we definitely have to compare notes tomorrow. I also have heard it does wonders and plan to do it even after I am pregnant. I have had it done a few times before but didnt like the lady so i stopped - this was a year or two ago. Dont worry it doesnt hurt AT ALL!! good luck and keep me posted!

Not even sure if I am posting correctly as this is my fist try. First off, gotta say thanks to you all as I have been TTC x 24 cycles and have been pouring over your posts for support and insight for a long time.:) I am currently in my first 2ww after clomid(days 5-9), no trigger shot, 4 follicles 19-28mm, opk + on day 13 and iui on day 14 & 15. So today is like 10 or 11 days past iui. I caved this morning and did hpt and got bfn. Am I out of the game this cycle? Anyone have any insight or hope? I have had some pg symptoms but don't even trust my own instinct anymore. Help:(