The Elderberry Pavlovas head into 2014 which will be full of ivf, berry babies and BFPs!!!  (thread 17)

Another score for acupuncture! . How long have you been ttc win? Surely you can get a referral regardless of the result? Add your stats to the latest list .

Win, if you've only had one FSH test then surely any GP worth their salt would want to double-check that? How rude to think it a waste of time! I could be wrong here but shouldn't they also be doing an AMH test? Any other Berries know?

wino I would take what your gp says with a pinch of salt until you've seen a fc. I'm not sure why he hasn't referred you already! I'm a dietitian and gps never cease to amaze be how little they know about dietetics so I definitely wouldn't be taking fertility advice as gospel just yet!

No ref to FC yet either, think the gp wants to see what the next set of results say...

I had some tests done in November which showed very high fsh. Which means I have very few eggs left. I went to the gp to get the tests re-done to see if there was any improvement. I think the gp thought it was a waste of time, but we're getting them re done anyway. I started acupuncture after the first fsh result barking. I really like it! Maybe responsible for me ovulating this month??

Of course we remember you win Have you been referred to the FC? At my gp surgery there's only one doctor who deals with the fertility referrals, the others I've seen just shrug their shoulders and declare themselves 'not a specialist in that field' so it's unusual for a gp to be so certain. Signs of ovulation sound good. Jump on the acupuncture bandwagon .

Everythings moving quickly for you bunny and pip is close on your heels!

Pleased to hear you're happy with your new acupuncture lady barking. It is so frustrating that all the evidence for low progesterone/short luteal phases seems to be brushed under the carpet by most health care providers.

Hi Wine. What did your gp make this shocking statement based on? What tests have you had done to date?

Morning all, don't know if you remember me from last year? Sorry for being so quiet. I had an upsetting gp appointment where he basically told me I had no chance of getting pregnant and needed to consider doner eggs. I've been licking my wounds a bit since then. I've been temping this month and it looks like I've ovulated so surely can't have no chance?? Anyway just wanted to explain my absence. I've been lurking and sending many positive and fertile vibes to you all.

Oh dear, apologies for the essay I wrote last night!
Happy Weekend Berries .

Ambler sadly the nhs appear to be in stubborn non acknowledgement all over the country. I've had the same experience as boodle and yourself. Opks and temps suggested I was ovulating every cycle, blood test showed I definitely didn't by cd21 but cd28 blood test was deemed ok. LP generally 8 days, backed up by blood test. AF very light, mini tampons more than sufficient and didn't need changing regularly. I was always convinced the short LP (and light AF) were a problem, but FC said there was no such thing as a luteal phase problem. He dismissed opks and temping as a waste of time. The clomid worked for me so I assumed that it made O strong enough. Since the mc no AF at all, but the acupuncturist seems to think the cycles are still there, I just need to stimulate the blood flow. I'm going to bore you now so if you read on you've been fair warned....

The way she explained it was the 'normal' female cycle was 14 days of estrogen while the follicles get bigger and stronger, then 14 days of progesterone. The pill gives you 21 days of estrogen so after 10-15 years of taking the pill your body is a little confused. She said that in cases like mine the progesterone is there, as shown in the blood test, but it's just lying dormant after so many years of being supressed when it should be active. The accupuncture stimulates everything and gets it moving again.

As I basically haven't had a clear cycle since July she said I should take the wet herbs as well. This means actually making it into a herbal tea. Only I failed miserably . I was supposed to soak the herbs in cold water for half an hour then bring the water to the boil and simmer for 1.5 hours. However, I put the water over them then realised I was going to be out running when I needed to start boiling them, so they were soaking for 2.5 hours. .. Then I brought it to the boil and turned it down to simmer, noting that I would need to leave it until 10 we sat down for last night's silent witness. Then we watched tonight's silent witness. Then I realised it was gone 11 . The whole house stinks of herbs but I've boiled the bloody thing dry and there's no liquid left to drink. .

Great news about twinkle, hadn't heard .

Sounds like you're on the fast track Bunny, have they given you a date for your bfp?

Oh and I've just seen from the IVF thread that previous Berry Twinkle has had a BFP, I had no idea.

Wow thats super quick!
So I start stiming on Sunday. First scan next Friday. Then a week of every other day scans. Then egg collection the following week. So about another three weeks to go!

Are you on stims already Bunny? I spent about 3 weeks already down reggging and I start stims on Sunday. When are you expecting egg collection?

Gonal f is the stimulating injection. I found my morning one more stingy and itchy afterwards, that was suprecur (downregging one). I definitely found my thigh less painful than my abdomen, and I preferred sliding it in rather than jabbing straight in.

Had my acupuncture this evening which was painless. Lovely lady, plenty of talk about chi, and after needles all down my spine and in my wrists and little burning pyramids on my feet (Moxi ?sp), my burners are all in alignment and my fire, water, wood and lungs are all strong

Bunny If the jabs hurt are you sure you're doing them right? I really find them completely painless, but then maybe I have a high pain threshold. I do find that they are getting itchy when I get hot at night.
How long until you start the stims?

ambler my friend (who sadly has just mc) seems to have similar probs to you. Her nhs consultant did nothing apart from throw clomid at her and put her on the ivf waiting list. Oh and made her have 2 uneccsary hysteroscopys. Anyway, her private fc said 'there's no evidence but I'd like you to try prog pessaries and a mild ovulation stimulating drug (letrozole)...and hey presto bfp. If you live in the west mids I could get you his details

pip re the vits, it's funny as of all people you would think that as a dietitian I'd be sensible to practice what I preach! I eat a balanced diet and aren't even in my first trimester any more yet I'm still a complete sucker for consumerism and religiously take pregnacare every day!

Oh Ambler, rant away! I get so frustrated about the luteal phase thing too. Now that I'm off clomid I've gone straight back to a 9/10 day LP with 3 days of spotting beforehand.

There was a Q & A on here awhile back with some specialists. I asked a Q and mentioned my luteal phase concerns. I was dismissed with the message that I must be ovualting around day 9 or 10 as I would definitely have a 14 day LP.

AAAAAAAAAAARGH!

So my OPKS, CBFM, CM and temps are ALL wrong then? Sulk.

Elderberry pavlova came from the term elderly primigravida which is used for any first time mother over the age of 34.

It's because there was a group of us on threads ages ago who were fed up with people either trying for number 4 and bitching about it or who were trying for number one but were about 23 and didn't have the same worries as us berries.

Hi again

Just catching up... I'm so sorry to hear about all the crap you're all dealing with

Boodle I'm about the 14 day luteal phase thing!!! How can a HCP working in a fertility clinic FGS think that all women have the same luteal phase???

Although I'm not surprised - noone has said that to me outright, but the GP, fertility nurse and doctor have all dismissed me when I've mentioned my concerns about my luteal phase.

And herein lies my rant...

What I'm worried about is the NHS don't seem to believe the problem I think I have exists:

I do ovulate every cycle
My luteal phase isn't great - 10/11 days
My post ovulation progesterone level is 'borderline'
I nearly always have mid-luteal spotting
My periods are light - indicating to me that my lining is probably crap

To me, it makes sense that I would have trouble getting pregnant. But AFAI understand, the NICE guidelines don't recognise so-called 'luteal phase defect' and don't advise on treatment (I think this might be where the reluctance to prescribe progesterone comes from).

Just wondered what other people's experiences are in this respect?

I've realised I have a lot more rant left in me, but I think I'll stop there for now

So finally... Since apparently you're happy to answer questions that may have been covered previously... What's the elderberry pavlova thing about?

Are you done with work yet feather? You deserve a nice glass of wine tonight. Do others know about your history and will be sensitive at the time of the general announcement?

I do agree with you pipbin but at the risk of boring everyone again as I'm sure I've ranted about this before the difficulty is that she has no people skills. Like zero. I explained to pg colleague it was difficult for me and she was great. It took me a couple of months to visit my mate who gave birth to twins on the day I miscarried but she understood and just gave me a hug when I got tearful. This woman is not understanding. She considers no one but herself. She is openly bitchy and upsets people on a regular basis. She will not consider my feelings, she is more likely to say something hurtful, deliberately or otherwise. Mutual friends (including DP and a mate who was her bridesmaid) have agreed that there's no point expecting any compassion for my situation. When said bridesmaid recently split up with her partner of 12 years and was in a complete mess, a few of us went out as just girls to try and cheer her up. This woman just went on and on about her wedding. Continuously, and ignoring all the not so subtle hints and attempts to change the conversation.
I think thunder is right, I need to start showing up at social gatherings she might be at and face the bump discreetly without actually having to talk to her beyond pleasantries.