Strapping on our lady balls and going menkul because we HATE THIS SHIT!! The Berries: a lovely bunch of 30 something Ladybros TTC #1

Lucie I'm amazed too at how quickly you are back! Take some time to rest now girl. 3 is good - there's no reason for a low fertilisation rate is there? Didn't you end up with the best % stats last time with 2 out of 2 making it to freezeable blastos? I'm going to start pom-pomming anyway - someone put on Barry.

Tiger how fab you've found the dress. Sensible to try on a few more just in case, but I suspect you'll be back to this one. Once you know the make and model can you put Dr Google to better use and search for the cheapest stockist? tightwad, moi?

Well, I told MrSmidge this morning - at least, I put the pimp stick in his hand and he stared deeply into it (the line is way fainter than I expected people. Am trying not to be concerned) and had to be convinced that it was indeed a line. Thankfully telling him the nurse said their blood test was unequivocal helped. But I think shell shocked is the best description. He did give me lots of hugs initially and kept asking what we should do to celebrate but ever since then he's been really really quiet. All day. I mean, not grumpy as such but certainly not displaying the dictionary definition of being thrilled, excited, elated or indeed happiness. I'm hoping it's just going to take time to sink in!! To be fair, I've had a bit longer to accept it, and during that time did have the odd scared wobble about oh heck what now. So much of this journey has been about getting a BFP and all my research and knowledge is just about IVF, not an actual pregnancy let alone baby.

In the meantime I'm still a bit concerned about how faint the line was on the test - it claims to pick up from a couple of days before AF is due, anything over 25units. They said I was at 175, which seems a lot higher, so I was expecting it to be quite dark. I'm also still getting a brown sort of discharge too which, although not the same as my usual pre AF spotting, and I think brown must be better than pink/red, is still a bit unsettling.

I'll see if I can work out how to post the pic.

Thanks sesame, I've just got home! Dh can't believe I only went yesterday morning and I've been to Czech Republic, had egg collection and back the next day!

I was thinking about donor eggs on the way back too. I don't think I'm ready for it either but I keep trying to get my head around it. The only real sticking point for me is that I think part of the excitement is wondering what it will look like and a combination of a mini me and Dh. I would miss that side of things a lot but I know I can't keep going on like this indefinitely.

clem for supplements and doses I started with this link on fertility friends. And I've taken on board advice in it starts with the egg. I think barking posted a list of supps for men to take up thread. Aw cooter's sound cute....

googs glad that your chasing is finally paying off and you get to see the right sort of specialist soon and then get moving.

happy sorry about all the crazyness. Hooray it's finally the weekend!

lucie glad you got to ec ok, 3 eggs can definitely work. Fingers crossed for some good fertilisation news in the morning. When are you planning to fly home?

grin really sorry you won't be able to get going now. That's really shit news after all the build up. Is the plan to start on next cycle then?

beaky I start stabbing on Monday. Sorry things aren't too great for you right now. Hate that post failed cycle feeling. Yes better get your trainers on and get running, hopefully it will help. Go beaky go!

tiger time to get running too! glad the wedding plans are falling into place and you've already seen a fab dress.

barking how did your appointment go today?

smidge so tell us more...? Did you pimp? How did Mr S take the news?

nolly love the sound of train yoga... in fact I'm on the train now and I've got almost 2h left.... Perhaps it's time to start a trend...?

So I'm still thinking about the fertility show. I'm wondering at which stage I might start thinking about donor eggs. It might be an opportunity to check out some of the foreign clinics and get a feel for what they might offer. I don't know if I'm ready for that yet though. And London can be a bit of a faff.

Thanks clem, I don't know how many mature yet though or if they will even fertilise so not feeling too hopeful about it all really but nothing more I can do now.

lucie sorry, I missed your post. 3 sounds good though, have everything crossed that they do well xx.

grin what a nightmare, that you have to cancel...how bloody disrupting. have a good scream I say (just make sure no nervous people around).

Hi everybody
It seems I've missed all the excitement. I've been away for uni prac so haven't been mn'ing.
Firstly a huge congratulations to Smidge!
I'll have to read the thread and catch up on everything.
I picked up my drugs yesterday after having all my blood tests. They rang to tell me all was good which was why I collected the drugs. I got a phone call today from the doctor telling me that I have had a positive reading for syphillis. It's a false positive which they and I both know but their protocol means that I have to cancel the cycle and have new blood tests in two weeks. I've taken leave, DH has taken leave, I have to now cancel all our flights. I don't know whether to cry or scream.

tiger and beaky I'll join you on a #FUFCcomeonwombs getting in shape drive. what we need is train yoga tiger. A good commute surely a chance for some lovely downward facing dogs, screw the audience

Oh my word, Smidge! A proper FUFC! I think SydneyBristow was the last person to have one of those, and her son is now a year old!

(Google, it's a fuck you, fertility clinic, when you get a bfp just as you are about to start ivf)

Keeping everything crossed for you, Lucie

Hello everyone else

So only 3 eggs collected again the same as last time. A bit disappointing but to be expected really considering i only had 4 follicles there. I don't know what I was expecting really. We managed to get 2 fertilised last time and both to blast and frozen but what's the chances of that happening twice. We will need a miracle! I'm going to rest my ovaries until Jan now and then try again. I'm thinking maybe the fact I am only having one cycle between treatments means the follicles are not responding so well.

Good luck lucie hope it all goes to plan.

google that is entirely true sadly. I work in the NHS and it is just as frustrating on the other side too. At least progress has been made. I keep hassling mine but they are so busy there are no cancellations and a long waiting list. Fertility - the only thing where my usual determination and focus has achieved NOTHING! I hate waiting.

Dress trying was good beaky, have found one I love with room for a bump, wishful thinking Will try a few more before deciding. Nada from the FC. Have resigned myself to Jan start. I'm going to spend between now and then getting in shape! How can we motivate each other?!

Last day at work tomorrow before week off - whoooop!

*on, not in. Ffs!

Excellent news ungoogs! Keep in their backs. FUFC is fuck you fertility clinic i.e. You get a bfp just before treatment

Clem not a bother. I thought cooter was a word for fanjo! I'm liking the stripy turtle though!

Oh wow Smidge that's amazing. Brought tears to my eyes, it gives us all hope. I bet the nurse was made up too, not every day you get to break such wonderful news to someone!

As a newbie though, please could someone tell me what FUFC means?!

Well I've had an interesting few days. After my complaint to the hospital about the mixed messages from the secretary about my referral (which went like this):

1. I'm being referred
2. I haven't been referred yet and need to see the consultant again to answer my questions even though I insisted I didn't
3. I'm not going to get referred until I've seen the consultant....Grrrr

The lovely consultant phoned me yesterday. He said that he totally agreed that I didn't need to see him again, and that the secretary was just a low grade staffer and didn't understand the question (and yet was apparently still able to delay my referral and make decisions on who should see the consultant ) and that although my referral had been dictated it never got transcribed and sent . He then said that they had asked for a second opinion from an endo specialist, and today I heard that the endo specialist agreed that I needed my cyst dealt with before commencing IVF and so I've FINALLY been referred to him. Hooray!

Then he made me want to cry by saying "Obviously because of your age (37) you need to highlight the need to progress quickly". But it's progress eh.

And the moral of the story - you have to hound and complain to get anywhere with the hospitals. Sad but true.

beaky just so you know, a cooter is "a north american river turtle with a dull brown shell and typically having yellow stripes on the head" thanks google

beaky thanks for that, will add gennet to my list to research.

time for a stupid quesion to everyone ( isn't my first stupid question, and sure as hell, won't be my last )...ref. supplements. I've been researching what additional supplements to get for me and dh today (head is pounding, and I have about 50 tabs open in my browser). how do I know what dosage to give me and dh, with each of the supplements? there seems to be a lot of conflicting info out there, so just wondered how you all decided...just want to make sure I don't mess this up.

Ermm, copter not cooter!!!!

So Smidge, what did Mr Smidge say? How are you feeling now?

Lucie good luck for ec tomorrow, fx for some lovely follie action!

Sesame well done on your run and great that managed it in the time you hoped for! I really need to get my trainers back on too much and at the mo. Glad your scratch went ok, when do you start stabbing?

congrats to jellie exciting times!!!

Oooo Tiger how did the dress trying on go? Everything sounds so exciting, you're so organised! Any news from your FC? I'm grand thanks. Just loopy with mood swings and don't feel myself. I need to get myself in order before the next round and I don't have the willpower.

Clem sorry it wasn't your month. The show sounds interesting too. I have a consultation booked with a Prague clinic - Gennet. They do quite good prices and have an excellent reputation. They have a canny website if you want to have a look.

Ant sorry for the announcement. It's shit. A person I see most days is pg and it's hard.

Minx so pleased everything has gone well for you so far, I'll be crossing everything for the rest of the time. I'll miss you....... At least you won't have to do the baby corridor at moustachio towers now! Aww you and Smidge have finally got a seat in the cooter!! How brilliant.

Ungoogs how are you? Any news from the clinic?

Barking best of berry luck for your results tomorrow - take notes as in keen to hear all about it how soon do you think you can start?

Sorry if I've missed anyone, it's tricky trying to get back on here. Friday tomorrow at least

Waaaaaaahhhh!!!!!!!
Amazing!!!!!!!

OMG smidge!!!! That is the stuff dreams are made of! You must be absolutely elated. I think I would die from shock if that ever happened to me. I'm so happy for you.

I'm sat in the airport now waiting for my flight! Will update you all on the egg count tomorrow but it's going to be a max of 4. Argghh please pray for my little eggs!

Oh my god Smidge this is amazing news!!!!!!! Waaaaaaaahhhhhhhh honestly, I am so so over the moon for you! Hooray to antibiotics and dhea!!!! Gosh I am so excited and over the moon - a natural diff for you after everything you've been through is just amazing.

Sorry I've not read the rest yet, I was trying to get on to catch up at a quiet moment but there's been so much! Back soon though.

smidge what amazing news to wake up too, so happy for you . now have a big smile on my face. keeping everything crossed for you. xx

smidge that is truly amazing news! An fufc is brilliant! That looks like a good hcg level too to kick off with and you probably won't need fmu to pimp. Congratulations to you and Mr S!