What do you do between cycles?

[fairfax]

We just did our first egg retrieval, so now we have some time before the next one. My dr said I should get my period in about 2 weeks, then we wait for CD 1 of the next period so I’m guessing somewhere around 6 weeks we have “off”.

The circumstances for the cycle we just completed were not ideal. I had not been taking great care of myself, I’m very overweight and work has been CRAZY stressful for the last 6 months.

Work is much calmer now. I am planning on doing another round of Whole30 (may be more like Whole21), getting back to the gym, and maybe taking up yoga and/or meditation to further help with stress.

What do you all do in between cycles? I want to take care of my health, but I also want to have some fun!

[seeyalater52]

This is such a well-timed question for me!

I don't know what I'm going to do as we likely won't be able to transfer again until October (!!!!) and it feels sooooo far away. Right now I'm drinking allll the wine just because it's been so long. I definitely need to get back to eating well and exercising as the hormones packed on a lot of extra weight.

I also need to decide whether to start acupuncture in advance of our next transfer so I'm going to be researching different options there in the meantime.

And I probably need a hobby that isn't obsessing about having a baby since that's not going super quickly or well at this point.

[fairfax]

Jul 11, 2018 14:25:14 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

This is such a well-timed question for me!

I don't know what I'm going to do as we likely won't be able to transfer again until October (!!!!) and it feels sooooo far away. Right now I'm drinking allll the wine just because it's been so long. I definitely need to get back to eating well and exercising as the hormones packed on a lot of extra weight.

I also need to decide whether to start acupuncture in advance of our next transfer so I'm going to be researching different options there in the meantime.

And I probably need a hobby that isn't obsessing about having a baby since that's not going super quickly or well at this point.

Oh I definitely had 2 margaritas last night (I wasn’t feeling nauseous from the anasthesia or anything) and they tasted SO GOOD.

I did acupuncture when we were doing IUI - obviously it didn’t help me get pregnant but it was a nice self-care thing and did help with some other issues I had.

I broke out my old coloring books this week, so that’s been fun.

[FishChicks]

I really focus on keeping my eating clean to prepare for whatever is next. I also add back in things I've missed while cycling, like endurance exercise and travel, or even group events at night that I can't attend while doing injections.

[fairfax]

Jul 11, 2018 15:02:07 GMT -5 @slk4117 said:

Besides stress the fuck out? lol

I've been trying to obsess about fitness. The healthier I am, the healthier body for a baby to grow in. I've also cut out a lot of people who were making trying to conceive harder and focusing on myself and my H. Date nights, short weekend vacations, etc. I've also been throwing myself INTO work since this is going to cost way more to get pregnant than I ever imagined, and money definitely does not grow on trees.

LOL to the first part!

I hear you in the costs. I just got promoted in March, which is part of the reason work has been so stressful. I’m over the hump now though so it’s not as bad. It will be nice to be able to give more attention in the coming weeks though!

Short trips are a great idea. will have to see if I can get something on the calendar to look forward to!

[seeyalater52]

Jul 11, 2018 15:02:07 GMT -5 @slk4117 said:

Besides stress the fuck out? lol

I've been trying to obsess about fitness. The healthier I am, the healthier body for a baby to grow in. I've also cut out a lot of people who were making trying to conceive harder and focusing on myself and my H. Date nights, short weekend vacations, etc. I've also been throwing myself INTO work since this is going to cost way more to get pregnant than I ever imagined, and money definitely does not grow on trees.

Throwing myself into work was my strategy for the past 1.5 years. It was actually awesome, I kicked total ass and got a ton of recognition and two promotions out of it. Doesn’t do much to decrease stress levels, but highly recommend from the perspective of keeping you occupied and distracted and hopefully increasing earning potential.

[seeyalater52]

I might need to explore going back on Zoloft. I weaned from it 2.5 years ago in preparation for TTC (based on what was probably not a great recommendation from my PCP) and I’ve been absolutely terrified that going back on it would interfere somehow with getting pregnant. My RE says it’s fine but it stresses me out to think about doing anything that could minimize our chances in any way. Plus it makes me gain so much weight that is impossible to get rid of while taking it.

I’m just so crushingly depressed and sad and horribly, horribly unhappy and feel like I need to finally do something to get out of this dark place.

[fairfax]

Jul 11, 2018 17:28:32 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

I might need to explore going back on Zoloft. I weaned from it 2.5 years ago in preparation for TTC (based on what was probably not a great recommendation from my PCP) and I’ve been absolutely terrified that going back on it would interfere somehow with getting pregnant. My RE says it’s fine but it stresses me out to think about doing anything that could minimize our chances in any way. Plus it makes me gain so much weight that is impossible to get rid of while taking it.

I’m just so crushingly depressed and sad and horribly, horribly unhappy and feel like I need to finally do something to get out of this dark place.

I’m sorry you’re feeling so badly. I totally get not wanting add another variable to the many MANY factors it takes to get pregnant. But FWIW if your RE doesn’t think it would be an issue I would at least look into your options. Maybe a different drug or a very low dose? Talk therapy? I’m a big believer in having as many tools in your tool box as possible.

Hang in there!! XO

[pickel]

seeyalater52 I could have written your post word for word. I desperately need to get back on Zoloft but I’m terrified it’ll keep me from getting pregnant and that I’ll have to wean from it again if I do get pregnant (last time was pretty rough). But being in the dark hole is also not really going well either. I’m so sorry you are struggling right now. You’ve had a really hard month. Huge hugs.

[fairfax]

Jul 11, 2018 17:17:37 GMT -5 lovelyshoes said:

Sell our house so i can have added stress in my life. I wish I was kidding.
My plan was to do more yoga and self care in general. I didn’t find acupuncture enjoyable at all, so I stopped going (plus it costs a lot).
I think trying to meditate is going to be my next goal. Good luck to us all!

I hope the sale of your house is smooth and easy!

[pooh8402]

Drink

[pooh8402]

Jul 11, 2018 17:28:32 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

I might need to explore going back on Zoloft. I weaned from it 2.5 years ago in preparation for TTC (based on what was probably not a great recommendation from my PCP) and I’ve been absolutely terrified that going back on it would interfere somehow with getting pregnant. My RE says it’s fine but it stresses me out to think about doing anything that could minimize our chances in any way. Plus it makes me gain so much weight that is impossible to get rid of while taking it.

I’m just so crushingly depressed and sad and horribly, horribly unhappy and feel like I need to finally do something to get out of this dark place.

If your RE is okay with it, then do it! You need to take care of yourself!

[fairfax]

Jul 11, 2018 22:02:52 GMT -5 pooh8402 said:

Drink

LOLZ

[seeyalater52]

Jul 11, 2018 20:43:22 GMT -5 pickel said:

seeyalater52 I could have written your post word for word. I desperately need to get back on Zoloft but I’m terrified it’ll keep me from getting pregnant and that I’ll have to wean from it again if I do get pregnant (last time was pretty rough). But being in the dark hole is also not really going well either. I’m so sorry you are struggling right now. You’ve had a really hard month. Huge hugs.

I’m so sorry you’re also in the dark hole. It’s terrible. I just know that based on how I’m feeling right now if I do go back on meds and something like this happens again I’ll blame myself. Thank you for the hugs. ❤️

[grover]

FWIW, I'm currently on Zoloft and will continue on it if I get pregnant. My OB is totally cool with it, though my RE has suggested that I wean before the halfway mark.

[Jalapeñomel]

Bask in the fact that I don’t have to go to the doctor every other day. Spend my $30 copay on booze (but I did that during the cycle anyway).

[gerder3]

Jul 11, 2018 17:28:32 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

I might need to explore going back on Zoloft. I weaned from it 2.5 years ago in preparation for TTC (based on what was probably not a great recommendation from my PCP) and I’ve been absolutely terrified that going back on it would interfere somehow with getting pregnant. My RE says it’s fine but it stresses me out to think about doing anything that could minimize our chances in any way. Plus it makes me gain so much weight that is impossible to get rid of while taking it.

I’m just so crushingly depressed and sad and horribly, horribly unhappy and feel like I need to finally do something to get out of this dark place.

I'm so sorry. I'd take the meds in your situation. I've been on Zoloft since last summer and have no plans to stop. Especially with all of the time-consuming doctor's visits IF entails there's really no time for regularly scheduled talk therapy on top of it. Even the most patient and understanding employer I think would have a difficult time helping balance both of these things, which definitely sucks. Hang in there.

[shoeless]

Add me to the drinking list. Before our last transfer we drank every nice bottle we had in the house and considering the number of wine clubs we have it was a lot. Now I’m just sad they are all gone and no delivery till fall

[compassrose]

Well, this month, I'm going on vacation and I will eat and drink like I'm on vacation!

But I was eating better until my retrieval and i was exercising more until starting stims (because ouch on giant ovaries), and I really need to go back to that. Like stat.

[fairfax]

Jul 12, 2018 11:06:26 GMT -5 shoeless said:

Add me to the drinking list. Before our last transfer we drank every nice bottle we had in the house and considering the number of wine clubs we have it was a lot. Now I’m just sad they are all gone and no delivery till fall

Oh that need to be rectified IMMEDIATELY!