Maca root

Hubby and I have started to take Maca root as a supplement. I got this idea from forums and blogs of people about trying to conceive. 

image source: www.livestrong.com

These are some of the benefits of the Maca root:
(Source of information: http://www.vega-licious.com/maca-root-powder-properties-and-benefits/)

• Increases energy and endurance
• Increases stamina
• Alleviates chronic exhaustion (fatigue) syndrome
• Improves sexual function in men and women
• Enhances fertility in people and animals
• Helps to regulate menstrual cycles
• Reduces hormonal dysfunction during menopause and andropause
• Can regulate hormonal imbalances
• Aids in alleviating depression- gives a sense of well being
• Reduces anxiety and stress
• Has a beneficial action on the circulatory system;
• Speeds wound healing and reduces anemia
• Enhances memory, learning, and mental ability
• Has a beneficial action on the circulatory system; gives skin a more youthful appearance
• Helps treat anemia, rickets, osteomalacia, and stomach cancer
• Good for healthy teeth and bones
• Acts as a fungistatic and bacteriostatic
• Acts as an anticarcinogen and antioxidant
• Is an alternative to anabolic steroids, helps to build muscle
• Libido enhancer

This is the kind of Maca root that we use, bought from Healthy Options:

We mix a half teaspoon of Maca root powder with a teacup of water. It tastes a little weird, but tolerable. It's hard to describe the taste and I'm still looking for something to compare it to. For those who don't like the taste, you can mix it with your smoothie.

Mothers' Day blues

It's Mothers' Day again. From the time I started to try to get pregnant, Mothers' Day is one of those days that I really don't look forward to. I just feel bitter about not being a mother yet. I can't help it. I'm only human. 

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“When God Created Mothers"

When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said. "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one." 

And God said, "Have you read the specs on this order?" She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 movable parts...all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands." 

The angel shook her head slowly and said. "Six pairs of hands.... no way." 

It's not the hands that are causing me problems," God remarked, "it's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have." 

That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. God nodded. 

One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say. 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word." 

God," said the angel touching his sleeve gently, "Get some rest tomorrow...." 

I can't," said God, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick...can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger...and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower." 

The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed. 

But tough!" said God excitedly. "You can imagine what this mother can do or endure." 

Can it think?" 

Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator. 

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. 

There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told You that You were trying to put too much into this model." 

It's not a leak," said the Lord, "It's a tear." 

What's it for?" 

It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride." 

You are a genius, " said the angel. 

Somberly, God said, "I didn't put it there.” 
― Erma Bombeck, When God Created Mothers

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HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY, MOM! I love you! =)

When panic attacks

Because of my 2nd failed IUI, I started obsessing about things I should do next to get pregnant. I have been preoccupied with reading blogs about IVF, particularly in Taiwan. I even e-mailed 2 of the most popular doctors in Taiwan who do IVF to inquire about the procedure -- Lee Women's Hospital and Mackay Memorial Hospital. I am eyeing on the latter though. Both replied through their secretaries anyway. I even checked information about visa application, accommodation, and air fare. Everything seems so easy to get, except for one thing -- funding...haha...

As I was taking a shower yesterday, my mind also wandered. Suddenly I had somewhat of a panic attack. I thought about turning 36 this year, my clock is ticking, and I don't have a child yet. I cried so hard thinking about these things. Good thing hubby was there for comfort. He told me to be strong. I have been trying to be strong, but sometimes it's just so tiring...so I cry for temporary relief.

I feel happy when someone I know gets pregnant, but envious at the same time. One of the blogs I have read was about a Filipino woman who underwent IVF in 2012 at Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taiwan. She was 40 then and got pregnant with twins! This gives me hope somehow.

This is the link to her blog: http://infertilitynotes.blogspot.com

There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness. We must of felt what it is to die, Morrel, that we may appreciate the enjoyments of life. 

" Live, then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, and never forget, that until the day God will deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is contained in these two words, 'Wait and Hope.” 
― Alexandre Dumas

IUI #2

One good thing about this cycle was hubby's post wash count went up. I only had one dominant follicle though, but there was another follicle that would have caught up until my ovulation.

I was confident about the timing of the IUI. It was my CD13 that I got a positive result on the OPK, so we went on with the IUI. It was a Saturday (April 13) and SLMC - GC's CARMI was closed on the weekend, so the procedure had to be done in Dr. Jing's clinic at SLMC - Quezon City. 

Unfortunately, AF came today -- my CD30 and 17DPIUI. It was supposed to come two days ago, so I had high hopes when it was delayed. Thus the frustration I am feeling right now. I am still somewhat in denial, hoping that it is just implantation or pregnancy bleeding. I have read in some forums and blogs that bleeding like period could happen even when pregnant. Some women claimed that their "period" lasted for five days just like their regular period, had pregnancy symptoms after that, and confirmed through tests that they were pregnant. 

At this moment I'm not sure if I still want to try another cycle of IUI. It is just so sad, stressful, and emotionally exhausting. 

Studies show that IVF has a higher success rate compared to IUI. It may be our next option, but not for now. It's way too expensive.

Maybe I will take this time off from work-up for a while....maybe....I can only sigh...

My first cycle with Femara

Today is my CD11 for this cycle and I had my TVS for follicle monitoring. There were five follicles found, but only 2 were dominant -- one on each ovary. Hopefully, the others would still mature just in time for the IUI. There was no fluid found in the cul-de-sac and the endometrium's thickness was ideal. So far, so good.

Instead of taking a trigger shot before the IUI, Dr. Jing recommended that we do LH monitoring using an OPK (ovulation prediction kit). I will be doing the test for four days, starting tomorrow. IUI will happen any time between Saturday and Sunday, depending on the day I get a positive result. I bought the kit from Dr. Jing because it's a lot cheaper compared to the ones sold in Mercury or Watson's, even with the same brand. 

Ovulation prediction kits are a very popular method of detecting ovulation. One of the benefits of using an OPK is that you can predict ovulation before it occurs. OPKs work by detecting LH (Luteinizing Hormone) levels in your urine. Just before ovulation there is a surge in LH. When this LH surge is detected, ovulation should occur within 36 hours. (Source: http://www.justmommies.com/articles/ovulation-prediction-kit.shtml)

A ray of hope shines

Today is my CD3 for this cycle and I had TVS to check if there was a cyst causing the fluid in the cul-de-sac. The TVS was a little bit uncomfortable because of my period. But there's good news! The fluid is gone. This means I can move on to IUI this cycle. There were 3 follicles found on my right ovary and four on the left. If the fluid were still there, I would have undergone laparoscopy to have it removed.

I'm done with Clomid. Dr. Jing changed my meds and I will be taking Femara twice a day (2.5 mg each) for five days from CD3 to CD7. I will also be taking Folic Acid (5 mg) to avoid any neural defects just in case I get pregnant this cycle. I hope Femara works and stimulates all of the follicles found to give me a better chance of succeeding the IUI.

What is Femara - Letrozole? 

Femara (generic name is letrozole) is an oral drug which can be an effective fertility treatment for women with ovulation problems, or for those with unexplained infertility. This medication is in a class of drug called aromatase inhibitors. Femara has mainly been used to treat certain cases of breast cancer. 

(Source: http://www.advancedfertility.com/femara-letrozole-fertility.htm)

What is Purifol for?

-prevention and treatment of folic acid deficiencies during pregnancy, especially in assisted reproduction techniques to prevent neural tube defects and orofacial clefts in fetus; in chronic hemolytic anaemia, exfoliative skin disease, gingivitis, angular cheilitis, alcoholism, anorectic cancer,cervical dyslpasia, elderly patients, gout, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal inflammation, malabsorption and tropical sprue. 

(Source: http://www.thefilipinodoctor.com)

Hubby will continue to take Livoncel.

Livoncel is a premium nutritional formula of complete multivitamins + mineral with antioxidant vitamin power plus natural vegetable extracts. It helps protect the body from harmful free radicals, pollutants, and other health damaging factors. It also enhances the body’s immune system against common colds, infections, cancer and other diseases. Livoncel protects the body from damage due to oxidation and free radicals and thus help ensure healthier and longer active life.

Contents: Vit A 2,500 iu, b-carotene 5 mg, vit E 2300 iu, vit B1 5 mg, Vit B2, 5mg, vit B3 15 mg, vit B5 5 mg, vit B6 5 mg, folic acid 200 mcg, vit B12 9 mcg, Vit C 250 mg, Ca 50 mg, Zn 12 mg, copper 1 mg, iodine 75 mcg, biotin 150 mcg, selenium 100 mcg

Indications: Treatment of vitamin & mineral deficiencies
Dosage: 1 softgel capsule 2x a day
Packaging: softgel capsules in bottles of 15s, 30s & 100s

(Image and content source: http://meyerspharma.com/livoncel.html)

When an obstacle comes

Today I had a repeat follicle monitoring to check if I had already ovulated and if there was still fluid in the cul-de-sac. The good news was I haven't ovulated yet, but the dominant follicle on my left ovary was nearing its rupture. Also, my uterine lining thickened to its normal size (I'm guessing this is because of the estrogen supplement I took for three days). 

Unfortunately, there was still fluid found in the cul-de-sac and the amount even increased from 24 mL to 28mL. I don't have pain whenever AF comes, so Dr. Jing cancelled out endometriosis. We are still wondering what the cause of this might be. If AF comes next cycle, I would need to have TVU on CD3 to check if there is any cyst that may be causing the fluid. If there is no cyst found and the fluid is still there, Dr. Jing will investigate more through other ways. For now, I have to continue taking Doxin (an antibiotic) for four more days. 

It would have been a perfect timing for the IUI, but we had to forgo this cycle's procedure due to the situation. Because I would most likely ovulate today, Dr. Jing gave me a Pregnyl shot and told us to do BD today and tomorrow, hoping that we would conceive naturally this cycle...crossing fingers now...

Pregnyl (chorionic gonadrophin for injection)

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a polypeptide hormone produced by the human placenta, is composed of an alpha and a beta sub-unit. The alpha sub-unit is essentially identical to the alpha sub-units of the human pituitary gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), as well as to the alpha sub-unit of human thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The beta sub-units of these hormones differ in amino acid sequence.

(Source: http://www.drugs.com/pro/pregnyl.html)

*BD: baby dancing