infertility

[percival]

My new appointment at the clinic: March 2, 2004, 11am. Let's hope I've collected enough samples by then.


It still defeats me how I'm going to be able to give them clean urine samples, though. Have you ever tried separating the midstream of your urine from the blood gushing out of an opening slightly behind the urethra? On the morning of the third day of your period? Give me blood tests any time. At least we've now got a freezer with a pee drawer. (Urgh)

Interestingly, I can't recall the date of my last period at the moment - neither can I recall the date of my supposed fertility maximum. Does this mean I'm slacking? Or that I'm getting my life back?


I also seem to be going off coffee. It tastes increasingly bitter to me, and coffee makes me feel slightly queasy after I've drunk a few cups. I didn't use to be this way - I could down eight cups a day no problem. Detox side effects?

Comments

[wang1961.livejournal.com]

We had fertility problems, too. Clomid took care of them... we have two children now.

Didn't your doctor tell you to drop the coffee?

BTW, not all Christian meditation involves visualization; Fr. Laurence Freeman OSB advocates silent, non-object-oriented meditation with a mantra. www.wccm.org

[perceval.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's right - and the nutritionist I went to also told me to drop the sugar, the dairy and the wheat and take lots of expensive supplements.

I'm currently trying deliberately to live a normal life - that includes drinking coffee. I just couldn't stand the pressure of trying to conceive any longer - it will have been two years in October. So I'm off TTC at any cost. I will start living a healthier life again in January - so that a baby does not coincide with my massage course exam. The plan is to eat healthily (7xfruit and veg, no caffeine, no sugar) and get massages to loosen any tensions.

In the mean time, I'll just enjoy myself.

Glad to hear Clomid helped!

[cynthia-black.livejournal.com]

Does this mean I'm slacking? Or that I'm getting my life back?
Definitely getting your life back - the less you worry about it, the better for you it is.

It's probably a good thing if you're going off coffee. If you've detoxed recently, then it just shows that your body isn't dependent on it at the mo.

re urine collection: tampons?

[voxmaille.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you're actually looking for advice on taking the urine samples during your period, but as the daughter of a gynecologist, I have a couple of suggestions. Please excuse their personal and graphic nature. I'm merely trying to be specific.

If it's that you need to sample your first pee of the day, and it doesn't matter if you take a few minutes before you collect your sample, I suggest going into the bathroom, inserting a super-plus tampon and then taking a shower. Use baby shampoo to wash your vulva--it rinses cleanly and quickly, so it shouldn't leave any residue that would be picked up in the sample. Hop out, dry yourself off, and go take your sample. Then you have both your sample and morning shower taken care of in one fell swoop.

But if you have to get right out of bed and take the sample, put in a super-plus tampon, wipe yourself clean with a really dripping wet washcloth (no soap), and take the sample. You might need to wipe a few times if you don't wear tampons to bed. Baby wipes can help here, but finish off with something using only water, since again, you're trying not to contaminate the sample.

[perceval.livejournal.com]

Whee!

much appreciated!

percival

[lilac-bearry.livejournal.com]

Good luck, Percival. You're going about it the right way, though. You have a healthy attitude about it. I also second the tampon, though I would imagine they take "monthly visitors" into consideration for pee tests.

[b4zookajules.livejournal.com]

Good luck with everything, buddy. :) My parents had a lot of trouble getting me, and as a result I'm an IVF baby (and proud of it!!). I'm guessing that's what you're possibly going in for, but either way, good luck - I hope everything works out for you. :)

-Jules. xxx

[shellebelle93.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Oh, *hugs* *hugs* *hugs*

It seems as if you've gotten some great suggestions from the above posters re: urine samples.

Actually, if I've been drinking a lot of coffee, it tends to make me feel ill after a while, and I have to stop drinking it for a while. Go figure.

Good luck, Percival!

Mercy sakes!

[murasaki99.livejournal.com]

You've gotta collect samples till March of next year??? Aaarrrgh! My sympathies - do hang in there! And yay for resolving to live a normal life! If you're anything like our family members, you'll go off coffee the first week you get pregnant. Both my mom and my sister said coffee smelled horrid practically the minute they got pregnant. So in theory, you can drink the stuff till zero hour. :-D Peanut butter tends to be another food that has an aura of 'you can't eat me!' to pregnant women. Want the healthy multigrain bread recipe I just tried?

[queenriley.livejournal.com]

You're getting your life back, and that's a good thing... but I suggest you keep track of your period anyway since it cuts down on surprises at the most inconvienent time... well, that works if your period is fairly regular anyway.

As for the coffee, it's not entirely a bad thing that you aren't wanting it much. Coffee, in small amounts, isn't all that bad for you, but more than a cup or so a day and it can really mess with your system.

I second the suggestions of everyone else when it comes to the urine sample and your period... tampons and a good cleaning will usually take care of it.