The Elderberry Pavlovas: still chasing that 'copter in the hope of a festive BFP. Thread 16 (the one where Happy was left in charge!!)

I think the waking up early is a sign of stress Barking. Hopefully the acupuncture and impending school hols will get you nice and relaxed again.

Barking I know how you feel regarding the acupuncture! It's nice to have something to rest your hope on! Give it another few years and I may even try religion I don't know if you've seen it in the Infertility thread, but there is some interesting reading here Hope you get things sorted!

Feather hope you get to have it checked, at least that way you would know you have a chance with the clomid!

Gill I'm glad op went well!

Sid I would say that when it is out of our hands it takes a bit of the pressure off, but doesn't exactly mean we can relax about the whole thing! But there will always be random unscientificly proven things that we can do to help, whether it is eating pineapple at certain times of the month or acupuncture, so there will be those things to keep you busy!

RP YANBU! Drag him to the doctors! (Or at least the acupuncturist!)

Bunny I agree with the others! Enjoy the festivities, but don't NOT shag - maybe that'll do the trick

Pixie hope you and your DP are coping OK, there are still options - hope you find the one that works for you

Looking back on the year and at how other people's bumps and babies have grown, where as for me it is just: fall apart, start again, fall apart, start again. Over and over. But I know I'll get there.

Grrr. Fourth morning in a row I've woken at some random time before 5am and not slept properly since. It's not helping my temps!!
Maybe the acupuncture can sort out my sleep patterns as well going from cynical to expecting it to solve every aspect of my life

rp the rule in our house is you either shut up whinging or you do something to fix it! Took ages for DP to go and see the physio to sort his shoulder out, I feel your pain!

Not sure there's much point in speaking to the gp, as soon as they see you're under the fertility clinic they just tell you to go back there!

Not much I can do now anyway, can't start taking another 5 days of clomid so will just shrug my shoulders and move on to the acupuncture - fx I can get an appointment pretty soon.

Barking I hope you thanked Mr Godsgift profusely for his advice

Can you go to a GP about this? I know they won't know about clomid, most likely but could they tell AF - e.g. from a physical examination?

Feather you get persuadin'

Am CD6ish but it will make bugger-all difference as we only dtd once this cycle about 48 hours beforehand. I know it only takes once but really, what are the chances. still not drinking though just in case

DH is still in pain from his accident. AIBU to hook a safety pin through his ear and haul him off to the dr?

Hey barking not read it but DH has bought us another one of hers - Total Fertility I think is the name - he thought it sounded good!

Well, DP has agreed to pay half so I've called the acupuncturist and left a message . My pg colleague has also leant me 'The Baby-Making Bible' by Emma Cannon. Has anyone else read it?

In more frustrating news I'm spotting again, 6 days later. Wtf?! Got possible AF cramps as well. Just finished taking the clomid yesterday so if this is AF starting I've really buggered up this cycle haven't I?!

RP not sure they've agreed yet! but I'm pretty damn pushy/persuasive and hoping they'll say yes. The fertility clinic I have been going to for the last year are amazing - I don't have a bad word to say about them and I'm aware that I should be thankful for that and I am.

Sid sounds like the IVF plan is a real positive! Changes of it working are super high. When do you think you'll start?

Aquarius good luck next week. Here's to a swift recovery! I always find GA quite nice, and if you can convince the nurses to give you a little hit of morphine when you wake up for the 'pain', it's bliss.

Barking just about to cart myself off to acupuncture next week. Also have bought organic castor oil online to start doing something called 'castor oil packs' and learning to give myself fertility massages via YouTube. As you can tell, I'm desperate, so willing to try anything and going in with and open mind.

Gill I'm 34. Reckon I've got a few rounds of clomid left in me yet. Then on to IVF if it hasn't worked by April/May (assuming I get the hsg and that tube is clear)

pixie very sorry to hear your news. I don't know much about it so don't have anything useful to say except

I started acupuncture last week barking. I have no faith in anything alternative, but am a bit desperate! I found it really helped calm me down, partly I'm sure because she was so positive, when my gp and FC had been so negative. And if it's placebo I don't care, as long as it works!

Barking my MIL is the never a day off in 40 years type & swears by acupuncture. She didn't use for fertility but has aided her recovery from major surgery on her spine. She is really keen to get me to her person - she's briefed her already! - I think I'll go for it in new year if only to relax me.

Gill glad you're recovering well from GA.

RP great festive season advice!

Yes had a GA in August and yesterday. Both times were fine. I felt a little woozy yesterday but I think I got ready and left a bit quickly. Had a lie down and a lovely sleep at home and have been fine today so nothing to worry about. Hardest bit is coping with the hunger beforehand!

It's next week- couldn't come sooner. Never had a GA before - bunny tells me it's very effective and I won't remember a thing. Did you have a GA for your fibroid op? Hope you're recovering well?

When is your lap and dye Aquarius?

Yes Aquarius the book suggestion was from me. Not that I've read it yet - currently ploughing my way through Robert Winston's IVF book. Next on my list though.

Maybe the acupuncture is a good idea Barking at the very least it should relax you a bit.

bunny getting 'blotto' at christmas is surely the best option -like rp said, just shag and drink (like your style rp!). Not that the FC would approve mind - I'm still wondering how to cut down on drinking like our consultant said when I've so many Christmas do's coming up...

I guess having a Lap & dye &whatever else is going to mean no booze for a bit

barking sorry to hear about your not so helpful consultant. I'd say go for it with the acupuncture - if nothing else it's bound to be relaxing. my dh's ex-army physio is doing acupuncture on him - not fertility related - but he says its making a difference.

gill I know what you mean about IVF feeling scary. Was it you that recommended that 77p kindle book about a woman's IVF journey? I just bought that and it's really reassuring so far. We're not quite there but seems likely if the Lap doesn't change things.

bunny give yourself a break . In the grand scheme of things what's one cycle? Use it to relax in the knowledge that IVF and a big fat chance of a bfp is on the way .

sid same advice to you! Chill out and relax, help is on the way .

My consultant was incredibly helpful. He passed a message through his secretary. Take a pg test. If it's negative carry on with the clomid. Marvellous. Who needs to speak to an 'expert' about whether I've actually ovulated, whether that brief 18ish hours of light bleeding was indeed my period, whether I can expect to ovulate this cycle and if/when to take clomid if I have this uncertainty again?

So, returning to my default position of 'the fc knows nothing' I'm considering acupuncture. It's not something I've been interested in trying before but now my cycles appear to be totally screwed up and my stress levels are high it seems like something that could work on more than one level, both leading towards a better chance of a bfp than I have right now .

Berry thoughts welcome!

Pixie welcome back; I'm really sorry to hear your news and am hoping with the others that sperm retrieved surgically might be an option. If not, we are all here to listen to and support you

Gill well done on getting the fibroid out; I hope recovery isn't too uncomfortable. The IVF lady we saw last week echoed what the surgeon who removed my polyp said, that that sort of thing can change the womb's environment making it less hospitable to pregnancy thereby discouraging implantation or encouraging miscarriage - so fx you and I both see a benefit for getting cut on, and quickly!!!

Feather I think you're right to push for the hycosy - whatever discomfort there is would surely be better than assuming all is good when it may not be. The physical pain side of things is small potatoes compared to the emotional pain of all the uncertainty, IMO.

Bunny I agree with Gill, DTD as and when the mood takes you and enjoy one last adults-only Christmas

11DPO for me and FF says AF will arrive on Fri 13th. Fitting, isn't it. I've had dull AFstyle cramps for the last day, which was never my pattern til I did a round of Clomid. I'm sad about it but at this point there are v few decisions left to be made so am trying to be philosophical and relax into our plans for IVF. All the months of trying & the resulting stress and unpleasant emotions have led to this, and I feel like things are very soon to be out of my hands, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a v scary thing

Oh pixie, so sorry to hear your news! How awful. What a lot to get your head round. Has he been tested to see if they can extract sperm for ivf? I saw this on the bbc news. You've prob already seen it:

m.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25018137

Gill, glad to hear the op went well. Fingers crossed for ivf!!

Bunny you should shag and drink, but then I'm in Plymouth and we're classy like that

Feather I have no idea what you should, but totally sympathise with your wanting to know and make an informed decision. I think I'd feel the same! Would that do that procedure for you, just on asking?

Pixie how awful. When you say 'totally zero', is there any chance at all of extraction or is it really nothing at all? In which case, gosh.... how very hard

Bunny given that the FC say that it would be very unlikely to get pregnant naturally I would only DTD if you fancy it and have a relaxing Christmas to get you in the right frame of mind for the start of your IVF.

Gill glad your op went well, FX for a fast recovery to the next step of your journey I'm sure yourPalace of the Child is now fresh, springy, and healthy

boodle watching strictly in the bath - you are a genius!

Aquarius is your lap soon? I had lap and a hysteroscopy in oct so any questions just ask !

Hi pixie I remember you! So sorry to hear your news though, what rotten luck

Hello to everyone else!

I have a dilemma, CD11 here so we should start DTD but I'm not sure I can be bothered, due to start injections next CD2 plus Christmas party is on CD21 and I intend to get blotto, what would you do?

Hi pixie I'm so sorry to hear about your latest news. I've been ttc since may 2012 ish - think i remember you from earlier threads. i'm sure I've seen others on conception / infertility threads in the same boat as you- you're definitely not alone and like Merk said, there's a very large shoulder to lean / cry on here. You've a lot of processing to do and then no doubt a lot of people waiting to help you - I hope you get all the right support and advice at the FC.

Pixie sorry to hear your news. I'm afraid I can't recall anybody in the same situation - I assume you've tried the infertility boards. Hugs and strength for you at a tough time. Stick around if you want as the collective berry shoulder is a good one to cry on

Terrible news Pixie, I guess that will take some time to digest, so sorry. Not totally sure of available options other than the obvious donor sperm choice. There may be a chance that they can extract some swimmers straight from your DH by injection but not sure if they'd be suitable. Maybe worth a bit of research. I guess the best advice for now is to take this on board, possibly seek counselling and try not to let this awful news put a strain on your relationship. Hugs. X

Hi pixie nice to see you but so very sorry to hear your bad news . I have nothing useful to say other than take a hand to hold or a hug if you need it. That's a really shitty situation.