Thread 19 TTC#1 Just. Keep. Swimming.

All good alexia totally know what you mean about getting it all out. And good to share tips! Has your oh tried those electronic cigs? Could that help?

Our diet tends to be pretty good, we cook everything from scratch, he drinks lots of water and exercises lots. He's exposed to radiation at work which worries me - but there's nothing I can do about that and there's no evidence his job affects fertility.

It's just the booze! He does love a drink. We don't drink during the week now but as soon as it gets to the weekend it's wine / beer open. Also anything with friends always = booze. We've got a dinner party on Saturday with four friends and I've already had to start mentioning that he shouldn't be drinking much

It's so hard! He is now on proxeed so hopefully that will be helping. Thanks for that tip geeup

Bluebird just spotted your news. So sorry it's not what you wanted but they can seriously work miracles nowadays so ivf is a fantastic opportunity for you. FX for you. X

No problem Jem I think it's worth a try as they did get amazing results. I'm going to try and incorporate almost all of it into mine/DH diet.

It's funny you asked that because I was literally just nagging him about his smoking and blabbing on about this woman's husband. I hope if your DH reads it he might be insipred to cut back/quit for you. My DH has cut down on smoking but he told me he was quitting on Sunday, and then Monday but he still hasn't! DH and I do drink just very rarely like birthday or New Years. If I'm with my mum I'll drink wine with her at dinner but it's just not something we buy, so luckily he doesn't need to quit drinking too. It's his diet I'm REALLY working on! He rarely drinks water so I've been monitoring his bottled water intake and making him cut out energy drinks. I've also been making him eggs with spinach, red pepper, tomato, onion, little bit of grated cheese and a brown bagel for breakfast or granola with yoghurt/almond milk, with seeds, almonds/brazil nuts and blueberries. I've been a shit wife with food the past 3-4 months because of the mc and all the stress of ttc. I just didn't feel like cooking/couldn't bring myself to very often and as he's so busy working basically 24/7 he would have to order takeaway which is awful I'm back to myself this month and have been also cooking lots of homemade curries with ginger, broccoli, spinach, chicken, and no white carbs. This is why I'm so surprised his SA was as good as it was because his diet, water intake and smoking was terrible quite frankly. He doesn't drink coffee but he drinks a few cups of tea a day so I'm going to try and switch that to green tea and add more antioxidant fruits and things into his diet. He has a healthy bmi so we just need to make better choices and incorporate better things.

Sorry I've gone on a bit but sometimes it helps me to write it all down xx

Bluebird - sorry your results what you hoped for. I've been there (still am!) and it's a horrible shock. Don't panic though. We went to see Dr Ramsay (UKs leading urologist) and he recommends a sachet of Proxeed twice a day (buy on Amazon). Says it has proven results at improving all factors but especially count. It's expensive but worth getting on. As all things, takes 3 months to ensure the impact as that's how long it takes sperm to regenerate. Good luck. We'll be 3 months on it in November so can report back when we have or next SA.
Also please do book another test - results vary wildly from one month to another. We've had one test as 52m and one as less than 10m. It could have been a bad month for him.

Thanks for those links alexia, anything we can do to improve his morphology would be good. I just don't think he will give up alcohol I'm desperately trying to get him to reduce but it's constant nagging and reminding which I hate. Does your oh drink? Are you trying to get him to cut down?

Skipper that sounds so painful! I wonder how they know it's not an ectopic. Did they scan you?

Ooh Dixie that's good! Yes I usually start with spotting but it tends to go straight into AF. I think only once I have spotted one day and then come on a day or so later.

Bluebird sorry about those results that must have shocked you both. The fact they've referred you straight away and know what the problem is will hopefully mean you can get started with IVF quickly

skipper gosh that sounds awful!! I hope you're pain free now? How annoying that it disrupted your weekend away too. These things have the worst timing!

Hep hope AF hurries up!

Dixie it could be an implant bleed and just not showing on a test yet or you could have ovulated later than you thought? There's just so many things to consider. I've had light spotting the day before AF, it stopped after 4 hours but I got full AF the next afternoon. I really thought I was pregnant when it stopped and was crushed! Being in limbo sucks

bluebird oh I'm so sorry to hear that How unfair. What were motility and morphology like? Glad you have an appointment lined up though.

I read these links today and think they could be helpful for some with diet and supps info - www.bubblesandbumps.com/how-to-improve-semen-quality-in-90-days-even-morphology/

www.bubblesandbumps.com/antioxidants-list/

Oh so sorry Sk1pper that sounds so painful!!! So glad you got it looked at though.

I'm 33 next month. And I suppose depending what it is, yes it could effect me. I would think I'd have problems with my pelvis if I do fall pregnant as it's so painful now. I was sore all afternoon after he had prodded and poked me so I feel your pain when they prodded your ovary. He's given me some exercises to do every morning, given me the ok to still go to the gym and encouraged further weight loss. Thankfully there was lots of sitting down at the funeral and after at my uncles house so I planted my bum and didn't move lol

Sorry skipper that sounds horrible. One of my friends used to get ruptured cysts and they would take her out for a couple days with the pain.

I'm feeling very sorry for myself today. we got Dh's SA results back and he has quite a low sperm count. Normal is 40-300. 20 is ok if motility and morphology is good. Dh has 6.7. The only real treatment is IVF for low count. we don't have out fertility clinic appointment until 14 nov but ive been researching myself.

Okay so I was due AF on Sunday & thought I started on Monday but I didn't it was just very light spotting. Nothing today still. BFN on Monday.

Anyone else ever experienced light spotting on the day AF is supposed to start but nothing else?

Skipper That sounds excruciating! Did they give you any medicine to take the edge off the pain? Please do take it easy and hopefully the rupture matter makes its way out quickly of your fallopian tubes. You deserve a break in this cycle of pain/bleed,

Hep - sorry to hear it was a false alarm, but maybe the spotting is a good signs? Seems like your body is trying to get back to a normal routine, but yes Sod's law says it will happen during your work trip.

Mouse - how old are you if you don't mind me asking? I assume this kind of pelvis trouble won't harm your chances in any way?

I called the 111 service about my abdominal cramping. Considering I'm the other side of the country, in the middle of nowhere, I was advised to go to the MIU at the local hospital. I was seen by a nurse, then a Doctor, then another Doctor and although they aren't 100% sure what's going on its definitely my left ovary causing the pain. I had my blood pressure done, pulse checked, urine sample tested for various things (inc pregnancy) and a body examination. When they poked my left ovary I nearly cried. So the Doctor things I've had a cyst rupture on the left side after I ovulated and all matter from the rupture is just floating down my Fallopian tube. I told him I had ovulation pain on my right side on Friday so he thinks I've ovulated from both sides within a 24 period. They told me it's not an etopic pregnancy or appendicitis, so that's good. Just gonna grin and bear it unfortunately.

EJ I have had a ridiculously short luteal phase before (5 days and then 8 days) but I think that's petty unusual and was because I had just had my implant out. Have you been off birth control long? Sorry, I can't remember your stats. But like Alexia says, it's probably nothing to worry about at all and will be back up tomorrow.

So sorry FXskip that's such a long bleed! Glad you are finding acupuncture good.

Mouse It is good that you are getting a diagnosis of back problems and that you at least you will know what you can do about it. 33 days sound normal to me going by the figures reported by other Mners. Mine wasn't as long as yours but then it still all over the place with bleeding every 10 -15 days for 3 months. I then decided to opk so that hopefully could catch the LH surge. It worked!

FXSkip Yes that was me that asked about how far along. Sorry to hear it's gone on for that long. Hopefully the doctor and blood tests can shine a light on whatever is going on. I assume that if there is any retained tissue then it will still be throwing out hcg so they should be able to pick it up with the blood tests.

8dpo and no symptoms from me whatsoever! Not even AF symptoms of a carpet of spots on my forehead that i would normally get about this time in the cycle. If anything, DH is having all the symptoms. Gassy, tummy aches and lack of sleep with weird dreams.

Oh Skip I'm sorry you're having it bad. That's just horrible.

So I went to the docs this morning with regards to my back and hips. Turns out it's my pelvis they are worried about so I'm having a full blood work up on Thursday. They are testing for arthritis. But it should maybe answer a few more questions as they are testing for loads of other functions including my thyroid.

He asked about my periods & I mentioned I'm waiting for one. He said 33 days is completely normal so that settled me. I really think that's what I'm waiting for now. No tummy ache today so might just be a long cycle. Totally normal for coming off the pill.

sorry fxskip glad you have docs appt though.

Can I make a bet that AF will arrive on 1st November?

my reasoning- my only long work trip is the week begining 14th Nov, so sods law says that will be my first FW.

Oh fxskip that's a long time to be bleeding you poor thing. I hope the doctor can help this week

Oh Skip you poor thing Your bleeding seems never ending which is extra cruel. I thought 22 days of bleeding was a lot but that's nothing. Are you sure there isn't any retained tissue? Take care I hope the Dr can shed some light.

EJ without seeing your chart I can't say much but being cold or disrupted sleep can mess with a temp. You'll know more tomorrow.

Who had their bets on heavy bleeding?! Not me anyway, I really thought it was over but NOPE. hep I feel your frustration - we're just at opposite sides of the same f*cking waiting game.
Acupuncture is good, but also have docs appt this week to look at blood tests. Whoever asked (sorry I'm crap at remembering) I was 11 weeks into an anembryonic pg, so lots and lots of pg tissue but no foetus. I am so fed up.

Yes it was really low. 36.4. I was chilly when i went to bed so i might just literally be cold!!

EJ did it dip significantly below your coverline? I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. It could be the flu jab or even an implant dip at this stage. Luteal phase temps do fluctuate but should remain above the coverline mostly. It's just one temperature and I'm sure it'll be back up again tomorrow.

Any thoughts guys. Im new to temperature charting. My temperature dipped this morning but im only 5/6dpo. I thought it should stay high until af. Wondering if a) im having a short cycle hence the af pains yesterday or b) if having my flu jab yesterday has messed with my chart.

Jem I think it's completely understandable. It's hard not to read something into unusual symptoms. Please don't lose hope. I think the stats about what proportion of people conceive within one and two years are actually pretty positive. It goes to show that it just takes some people longer - there doesn't have to be a reason.

I am busting out the OPKs to make sure that I know what is going on this cycle as I got a bit caught out last time when I was ill. It gives me something to focus on! Also aiming for more regular dtd outside of main FW just in case!

Mouse you're not rabbiting - we like hearing from you! If you have the will power to wait to POAS then you have my respect! Sorry about the cramps though - they sound a bit rubbish.

Music no I haven't. I started on CD19 and my temps have been up and down literally every day. I had a MASSIVE spike on CD21 and then back down, and its been back up the last few days. So of course I'm not really listing to that so much. Cramps have been on and off tonight, with little twinges of ouch pain, still got my (sorry TMI) non-urgent Diarrhoea and I'm gassy - i almost think the cramps could be a tummy bug. I am knicker checking like a woman possessed. HAHA. I suppose I'm not making it any easier on myself by not POAS but I just feel like I need this week. I also feel like I'm rabbiting on a lot.