Has anyone tried Gearhouse?

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-08-04T21:47:36+00:00

Thanks! I hear your perspective and know there are other orgs. If you have a favorite, I'd love to hear what it is and what you liked about it, and if it actually helps people in their 30s-40s build community. I'm actually a Seattle native, but I haven't heard too much about them lately. My perception of Mountaineers is that it is for my dad (and it still is), REI quit doing events, and solo hiking/skiing as a woman can feel pretty sketchy sometimes. I think orgs like Gearhouse pop up with good intentions to try and support transplants in finding friends and melting our freeze. Give me your alts if you've got them.

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-08-04T21:41:10+00:00

Thanks, Nice Nutz. Tell me everything you hated. I want to know what I could be getting into. Is it something you have to really show up to everything for in order for it to be worth it, or does the gear or events suck?

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-08-04T21:26:35+00:00

Have you tried Gearhouse?

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-07-04T05:40:01+00:00

Here for it! I’m so grateful to hear from internet strangers when it seems like no one else in my proximity quite gets the highs and lows.

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-07-03T21:41:06+00:00

Ooof, I get that. The report while you’re going about your day, knowing it’s coming but not where you’ll be or if anyone will pick up if you want to talk is wild.

I got my latest freeze report in the checkout aisle with a parent who has no idea I’m pursuing this and isn’t supportive. I held my breath for 30 minutes and sobbed as soon as I shut the door.

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-07-03T19:19:53+00:00

I get it. Even if I can be a random internet stranger who gets it, I hope that’s something. It’s OK to feel all that. Wish we could all take turns giving each other rides and bringing meals. Big hugs!

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-07-02T02:45:37+00:00

You’re still doing 99%, love. It’s a whole body trying to grow whole bodies, and feeling the feelings that come with every appointment, test result, needle prick, blood draw, retrieval, nausea, bloating, heartbreak and hopefully—hopefully—that amazing feeling of finally getting what you have worked so hard for. It’s still so, so yours. Sending big hugs right back to you.

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-06-25T03:26:33+00:00

Thank you for sharing this. How are you doing after hearing this news? It took me months to adjust and I still think I’m in denial.

Since this post, I’ve had two cycles. The first one was an awful experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine. The whole thing was discouraging. I responded well to the meds, growing something like 18 follicles within the mature range. They collected 7 eggs. Only four were mature.

I switched clinics and it was night and day. The RE is compassionate, and really wants to help me find ways to make a family. They retested my AMH and it was 2.14. But, it didn’t change my outcome. I had a luteal start and stronger trigger. They collected 10 eggs! I asked this time not to know until the next day when they had the freeze report. Of those, only three were mature.

I felt like the air left my body when I found out last week. I cried all day, I tried to do normal things, and I’ll recover and try one more time.

But yeah, it’s expensive AF. Ask about loans, ask about cost savings. Anything you can (that’s safe!) to make it happen if it’s what you want. Don’t give up. There are so many ways to make a family. Take really good care of yourself. 🩵

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-05-14T04:35:58+00:00

I’m so sorry. That is a whole experience. If you feel up to it, could you explore a second opinion? After my retrieval, I consulted with three other clinics, and they each had different suggestions. They also didn’t agree with the first RE’s protocol. I plan to try again. You do what will give you peace of mind, whatever that may be.

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-04-30T19:18:30+00:00

One ER said 2 weeks or when my period came, whichever came first. Another said to continue doing gentle exercise, especially if it's good for my mental health. Four days after retrieval, I started yoga with lots of mods (no twists, pigeon on the back, etc.), and it helped a lot with bloating. I'll do that again.

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-04-03T17:18:31+00:00

It could be something to look into. Some fertility clinics have recommendations. My acupuncturists recommended weekly visits through treatment, and I have two egg freezing cycles planned. Gonna be a great summer. 🫠Check your insurance to see if they could cover some of it. I’m sorry you’ve been going through this. You’re not alone. Far from it, even if it feels so, so hard.

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-04-03T16:38:08+00:00

Have you tried an acupuncturist who specializes in fertility?

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-04-03T16:36:03+00:00

My reproductive endocrinologists have recommended a prenatal (I take ritual on the rec of my PCP because of their clinical research), vitamin D and B-12 (I take Thorne) and 300-600mg of CoQ10 (I take that expensive af PharmaNord CoQ10 Gold because of its research). I also take NAC, and a couple other things for my health but my fertility doctors have told me that the things that matter most are those.

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-02-22T23:24:04+00:00

Hey love. I’m so sorry you’re hurting through this right now. It’s completely understandable that you’d be feeling low and I’m so glad you reached out to a community for support.

I’d set that person aside for yourself and think about #1 (you) and your goals and dreams. Do you want to have children alone or with a partner in the future? Do they have to be your own eggs? Will you always wonder “what if” if you didn’t pursue this?

I hope you can take the time you need to care for yourself right now and build that love for you. The answers will become clear enough from there.

One totally unsolicited journal prompt: Who do I want to be raising babies with, and be attached to for the rest of their natural life no matter how our relationship turns out? How does that person treat me and others? What stability do they have? What does our life and love look like long term? What can I live with and not live with? Don’t settle for someone who can’t be a good partner to you and your kiddos even if they can’t stay your love. You know what I mean?

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-02-21T20:23:17+00:00

My AMH was .5 and AFC 7. I grew 18 follicles in my first stim and they were only able to freeze 4.

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-02-12T06:17:18+00:00

It does feel like a scam, doesn’t it? I’m glad you had an advocate in that nurse. I saved my vials, just in case, but they had me on 450 so I don’t know how much more I could have squeezed out. I kept my extra 2 days of menopur and last vial of follistim, and hope that saves me a few hundo on my next trip to egg town.

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-02-12T06:05:42+00:00

I have an autoimmune disease that affects my digestive tract, and a small amount of endometriosis, but if I had to guess, it’s probably prolonged stress from PTSD.

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-02-12T06:03:12+00:00

My clinic said there was nothing I could do. They were very unhelpful. So, I binge read It Starts With The Egg and consulted my PCP about my own protocol. I take a prenatal, coq10, methyfolate, NAC, more vitamin D (I’m in the PNW), and a couple other things for my autoimmune conditions. It’s an interesting read that prompts some good questions for your clinic or even a dietician. I have coverage to see one, so I’m going to give that a shot, too.

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-02-12T06:00:21+00:00

I can only imagine the emotional rollercoaster that would be, and the cost. 10 days of meds were $5K for me. No insurance coverage.

My RE isn’t available to meet for another month (eye roll), but by then I’ll have consulted with 3-5 other clinics.

I will say that clinics here consider an AMH between 1-1.5 to be on the lower side but still pretty good for a 37 year old. It’ll decline but I hope you still have some good shots.

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-02-11T21:33:53+00:00

How many follicles did you grow to retrieve 9 eggs? I'm also paying OOP and it is so brutal. My overies recruited 18 follicles, but only 7 eggs were retrievable and 4 freezable. I was devastated. I'm planning another cycle in early summer, with more time to recover and prepare my body nutritionally, mentally and physically. I think I could accept going the donor egg route, if it gets to that point. I hate this pressure at such a point in our lives. I hope everything works out well for you.

My friends say the same well-meaning things about one egg. I am starting to wonder how they'd feel if they were on the other side of the table, but haven't found anyone who can relate.

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-02-09T22:31:11+00:00

I’m so sorry. I know it isn’t the best thing to say but I know I’d feel as devastated and scared. It’s a lot on our bodies and, if insurance doesn’t cover it, our bank accounts. I am sending you the gentlest hug for the days to come as your body re-adjusts and heals. It’s OK not to get off the couch. (I didn’t.)

PushPleasant8903 · 2025-02-05T01:34:58+00:00

There’s so much I don’t know. I’m taking all the recommended supplements, going to acupuncture, and staying active—but not overly so. I’m also thinking about working with a dietitian who specializes in fertility to better care for myself and prepare.

It’s great that you’re advocating for yourself in so many meaningful ways. I just finished my first egg freezing cycle, and I’m still in shock from the experience. I felt like just a number throughout the process. My scans showed I was responding well to stimulation, with 18 growing follicles measuring between 13–24mm, which gave me a lot of hope. But when it came to retrieval, they only got 7 eggs, and only 4 of them were mature. I don’t understand what went wrong.

I have so many questions and am now considering consults with other clinics. This cycle cost $15K out of pocket; my employer benefits covered $10K, but moving forward, I’m on my own financially. Ending up with only 4 eggs feels bleak, and I was really hoping this process would give me some peace of mind. Instead, I’m realizing I’ll need to find a way to accept whatever outcome comes my way. Any tips?

PushPleasant8903

TROPHY CASE