Old birds wanna join the coop???

I'm not going to lie to you seb trust your gut, if you know the timeframe doesn't fit, then keep on at them. I was on CD11 when I tested, 5 days after finishing my period. There was no way I could be just pregnant as they thought as I should've been about to ovulate. However my hcg went from 105.9-275 in 48 hours and progesterone from 3.9-17. They said the numbers were too low to be 5-6 weeks yet I knew it couldn't be anything else. That's why I kept phoning the ward at the hospital and saying this and that I had pressure in my left side all the time plus brown spitting when wiping.

I hope your pg is just slow to increase and all is ok but please don't take any chances. I'm here for you. If you want to on with your mobile I can give you mine. Ring your EPU this morning if you have pain or spotting. Xx

Tranquility - can I have some advice please? May I ask what your numbers were doing when you had your quantitive hcg testing. I am terrified and my doctor is trying to congratulate me!!!

My numbers have gone from 66 to 108 in 48 hours. He is calling this double, I am calling this a slow rise consistent with bad news. He thinks I'm just a scatty bitch who is 1-2 weeks pregnant. I know that unless I am growing baby Jesus in my womb I didn't even have sex in the time frame we would be talking, let alone ovulate.

Patch- good idea to get an idea of the standard tests they should do so you are clued up: day3 is usually oesterodial, fsh and LH. Day 21 is normally prolactin, progesterone and possibly thyroid (TSH). There is another text called amh (anti mullerian hormone) but I had to get that done privately.

Sebs- yeah, I'm with the others- make a point of asking for those tests and if your dr refuses ask him why and reiterate that women over 35 who've been ttc for 6 months or more are advised to seek help and have investigations.

Stubborn- sounds like a good practice. Misspent youth- too bloody right! Although I was soo careful not to get pregnant like so many of the young girls in my area- I knew that would mean I'd be destined to live there forever and not get a chance of a good education and seeing the world...which I'm happy to say I have, in the main, achieved.

Ginger- thanks for reminding me that life is for living. It's so easy to get bogged down but I do have a nice life which I enjoy and have so much to be grateful for. I have a unique and interesting job, a nice home, lots of lovely friends (although the non-sprogged ones are dwindling somewhat) and a wonderful husband and loving family on both sides. I'm very lucky in many ways. I enjoy exercise (it actually does help to ease stress levels), going for big long walks in the country (we did 11 miles on Sunday), girly weekends/dinners with friends, hosting friends and family and cooking up a feast, doing a bit of DIY/decorating and making stuff for the house on my new sewing machine (future new hobby and sewing bee contestant...yeah right)! DH and I go to gigs, theatre, nights away/ spa breaks and lovely holidays. It's just this year DH wants to save his leave so he can take time off to spend with his dad (his dad has quite recently been diagnosed with lung cancer). Hence why things seem doubly shit right now.

I'd love to get a dog...but prob don't have the patience to train a puppy and would get a rescue dog. We'd do it in a flash but our jobs require us to be away from home quite a bit so that's the only thing preventing us. My plan was/is to get one when we have a baby and I'm a full time mum! That will happen one of these days!!

Sorry for the essay!

I will see this through to it's conclusion then go back there re. the 21 tests and see what the reaction is.

It's funny because I'm a very strong character in real life and don't take much shit from people. But put me infront of a doctor and I feel like a nuisance/burden and find myself just accepting what they say.

I definitely think you should change- it's a lottery, and you may well get a sympathetic doctor the next time. Or at least one who is a bit less awful.

Stubborn - he said he would only refer me for tests if I was going for privately funded IVF. I was having regular periods but hadn't been able to fall pregnant in the seven months id been trying (id been breast feeding for six of those). So he was happy I was ovulating and said to go away and keep trying. I fell pregnant on that cycle funnily enough do he was right, I was ovulating, but as we know that's only half the story.

My LP is 12 days which is acceptable but I am still suspect as to whether my progesterone gets high enough to sustain a pregnancy. I know it could be dodgy eggs but two in a row is suspicious.

Btw I really hate my GP practice. I am a hares breath away from changing, I'm just not convinced another practice would be any better. From their point of view I have one child, I should be satisfied with that.

sebs Your GP really does sound useless, is there another one at your practice you can see? Bearing in mind you're over 35 the tests I mentioned are routine and you shouldn't be being dismissed. I would look at changing surgery if I was in your position, the care you've received has been awful.

Patch Your DP will need to visit his GP and request a sperm test, he'll be given a pot and some instructions and will be told where to drop his sample off. My DP had to make an appt with the local hospital to drop off his sample, have to admit he was surprised he couldn't just dtd and drop off when he'd managed it :) he was told to get it to the hospital within an hour of filling the pot.

Stubborn I had a scan for squatters :) coz my scan at EPU following mc last year picked up on a small fibroid. I spoke to my GP who is really supportive and recently had a scan, it was really useful coz not only could they tell me position and size of fibroid but she also checked ovaries and lining of uterus at same time. I'm totally with you on the misspent youth! ;)

Why the hell did the doc turn you down for the day 21 tests Seb? I went to see mine and got booked in for the test straight away (had it done on Friday).

Although I am v.v. lucky in my doctor's- it's a rural practice, so they don't have that huge volume of patients, so are able to really take time with you. I know most MNers would faint to hear that you can normally get an appointment for the next day! (Although one problem with their assiduousness is that they'll send you up the County General- 40 minutes' drive away!- for tests on the slightest excuse- I spent the whole day sitting in the Orthopaedic Ward with a swollen knee waiting for tests because the doctor decided "better safe than sorry" .

Stupid question alert. When would he need to do his sample is there a time frame to get it to the surgery?

I was told they did an ultrasound as well, to check for uninvited squatters in the womb area?

I hope so, because I feel that, if there's anything actually "wrong" with me apart from ageing eggs, it could possibly be a polyp (had one before) or an ovarian cyst (on account of all kinds of weirdy inexplicable pains- and now nausea ). This month I've had loads of pain, sometimes period-like, sometimes ovulation-like, and sometimes too much wind-like , ever since 7DPO. No idea what's going on, it's all quite random.

I've got pregnant several times over the years whilst consuming industrial quantities of alcohol (extremely misspent youth). Maybe I should go back to that???

(have just consumed a huge bowl of rhubarb crumble with seconds of custard FOR DINNER and now feel quite sick......SYMPTOM! )

My doctor turned me down for 3/21 day tests before my first mc in February. Now in all likelihood I have had another early one, I am going to ask again and if he says no I am going to ask to be referred to my local Spire hospital where I will pay to have the tests done. If prigesterone suppositories are what I need to get me through the first trimester I'm going to bloody well get myself some. I am sick of my GP practice fobbing me off.

Ginger The CD3 one is key and provides crucial information, I've only just been told this so had a blood test on Monday.

I'm starting to wonder if the strict regime is having an adverse effect coz it's causing more stress trying to stick to it and then feeling disappointed with myself every time I stray off it. Up the ttc revolution! :D

Good luck with your tests Patch keep us posted!

Ask for the following blood tests:

CD3 which is for FSH/LH
CD21 progesterone which will tell you whether you ovulated that month and if your progesterone level is high enough to sustain a pregnancy (needs to be 7 days before your period so could be a day or two earlier/later)
Thyroid mention it but they should do it along with one of the bloods above.
And if your DP hasn't already done one, get him to do a sperm test.

After that the next one would be HSG scan or sometimes called lap and dye which is where they insert dye and scan to see if your fallopian tubes are blocked.

Ladies have I missed any?

No tests yet, we've been trying 19 months ish.

Just as a footnote - last year I conceived the first month of trying (have to keep stating this as it's my only achievement to date) and I was drinking tea and coffee, having 3/4 glasses of wine a week, eating chocolate/cakes etc!! I'm seriously starting to wonder if giving everything up really makes any difference!

Patch77 Have you had any tests done so far and how long have you been ttc?

Thanks Ginger can I have a little vietnamese baby girl, they're so cute! :)

Tranquility I started to read "Taking charge of your fertility" but have to admit I've put the book down and been reading positive articles like the one about Kate Silverton who recently announced she's expecting again at 43. I can understand your DH's reaction, he must've been really scared. When I had my MC last year my DP said he wasn't bothered about ttc again, he hated seeing me so upset. Give him time x

Born welcome! Hope your bloods ease your mind tomorrow.

Sebs How are you doing?

I've been really busy this afternoon....eating an easter egg and homemade coconut cake and taking a trip to starbucks...yep I have well and truly fallen off my healthy eating regime now. :) I've now been ttc for 10 months and it's driving me mental! I can't keep up the no caffeine, no 'treats' , no alcohol, I'm sick of putting life on hold and every time I socialise being the only one drinking lemonade (I'm not a big drinker 2 glasses of wine and I've had enough!) only to get to cd27 and be disappointed again.

I'm hoping acupuncture will sort me out :)

First appointment with gp on Friday after work. What should I expect?

Indeed! How generous of you!

You're right...and I really admire your coping strategies and optimism. I think I go through brief phases of optimism followed by hopelessness, despair and anger- all very up and down. It's so bloody unfair! I hate being on this roller coaster and really really want to get off it now! I know we all want to get off it.

I should hopefully be starting iui in July. But I fluctuate between seeing iui as a hugely positive and active step forwards and an intervention that may not even work.

Need to get out of my slump I think. Would love to plan a nice holiday or something but this summer will be all about the iui(s). Plus, DH doesn't want to be too far away from his dad in case anything happens, so we aren't even able to discuss holidays right now.

Shit piled on shit!

Just to give people hope one of our long time TTCers on the miscarriage thread tested positive today . Two years TTC, been using Clomid for around a year I believe.

It absolutely can happen even when years pass, but I know that is little solace when you are living with the disappointment of BFNs each cycle. *hand holding

Thank you I'll stay. Would miss you all terribly. After being absolutely terrified Sunday for my own life, I'm now just starting to grieve about what we've lost. God it's bloody awful isn't it?

If like to in time, try again, not sure that DH agrees but he's said let's let things settle down and we'll talk about it.

Sorry to hear you feeling so down Fankle. Hopefully the iui will give you a new focus.

X