Thread 25. TTC #1 - February Fertility Fighters on the FRONTLINE

Hello!
I'm very new to this baby making business- could someone give me a quick idiots guide to the acronyms please?

Thank you Kathrino and Sk1pper

Thank you LondonJam - all great suggestions!

Nothing wrong in any of the tests no - although the ones you get on the nhs aren't that exhaustive - but I ovulate and sperm is all good :)

I think you're completely right about exercise - I find I get really low after a few days of no exercise. I also try to eat healthily as if I have too much sugar I also get a really low mood. I just had a massage today to try to destress as well!

Very much hoping chatting with all of you will help too as you mentioned!

Oh wow. This thread moves quick! Think I need to takes some notes to try and catch up!

Sorry to hear about your CP harriet I hope the cramps have started to ease. Good luck with the doctors tomorrow

So I'm starting cycle day 64 tomorrow with no hint of AF. I can usually tell it's coming within 2 weeks due to violent mood swings, general self loathing, teenage cystic acne and painful boobs and I have not a single symptom (I'm usually dying for it to turn up by the time the two weeks are over so
Not
Wanting it to appear is new for me
And taking some getting used to ) So after my dh insisting, and advice from you all, I'm off to the doctors Friday. Fingers crossed I'm not sent away for 6more months... anyone any advice of hownto explain this to
The doctor...or do I just show them
My 5 years worth of charting data and hope
They understand?

Gaeltach make up sex! It'll relax you both so you sleep better too

Skipper take the plunge , literally haha! It's easy to get out you just bear down and you can easily get your finger under the rim

EJ get your hot water bottle filled , hope they ease off

Thanks hep and pjs. I've accepted dtd isn't likely and still apologized. I'm so mature these days!

Oh no gaelach - looks like there is definitely something in the water with all the arguments flying around! Tough one - maybe worth backing down just this one time? I'm horribly stubborn so i know it's not easy.

Ah did it EJ - sounds like you needed that bath!

gaelach honestly, I would just aim for DTD tuesdsy and Wednesday.

Welcome Kerry - I'm sorry you're journey had been so long but I'm glad you are among us at last.

Pug - yep always this heavy. Pain sometimes not as bad, not sure what triggers the excruciating pain. What you've described is exactly what I get, it's like waves of labour.

Gah I'm so scared to use a mooncup ha ha!!!

I will have to look into this mooncup malarky. I learn so much on here.

I've just treated myself to a post yoga bath despite knowing the no bath rule in tww i've been in so much pain today with my uterus performing some sort of sadistic crampibg ritual.

Got my positive opk today. Planned to dtd this evening. On our way upstairs to dtd, we got in a trivial argument (about drying clothes on the radiator...) things escalated, clean undies were thrown on the stairs (by me) 'are you serious' being shouted (by him). Now I'm up in bed, he's downstairs, and dtd is definitely off the cards. Need a cunning way to get him upstairs and into bed without me admitting any wrongdoing in the argument. Advice?

Welcome Kerry, sounds like you've had a long and stressful journey. I hope it won't last too much longer for you!

Also a moon cup user here! Totally swear by it. I'm really due to buy a new one but I was putting it off in case a BFP was just around the corner anyway... though maybe getting a brand new one would invoke sod's law??

Thank you HepKestrel!

Oh harriet I'm so sorry. At 4+4 I would say it's an early miscarriage rather than a chemical. I was 4+6. You are not broken. I'm glad you have a GP appt, at the very least it will get noted down on your record. Please look after yourself, no matter how far along you are, a miscarriage /chemical can be devastating. Lots of love.

Skipper don't apologise, it sounds awful. Are they usually like that? I used to have awful periods when I was a teen, the pain used to make me faint and they would be very heavy. The last time I had a very painful one was about 2 years ago. Got stuck in my car outside asda as I couldn't move and was puffing my way through like I was having labour contractions. Had to get DH to come and get me.

Another convert to a moon cup here. So much less faff than tampons/towels.

No further pain overnight or today thank goodness.

Yaaaaaaay glad your nanny state stash has arrived skipper! I've got mine ready for Friday as well 🙂

Another fan of the mooncup here - love how I can just pop it in in the morning and forget about it until night time, no waste, no drying out like tampons did and no horrible pads to deal with!

I really could be better at the exercise ladies ha ha - was just a half hour cardio session in my kitchen, but better than nothing!

It's DH's first day of no caffeine and he's struggling - he said 'well maybe one won't hurt', I said 'probably won't hurt but will it help', he said 'touché' 😂

I had a skin break out last cycle carley- I've never had spots, I was very annoyed!

*not pretend everything is fine !!

Welcome Kerry! Sorry it's not been an easy journey for you. So there was nothing wrong on any of your tests? That's positive you are getting started with treatment and I hope you are not far off now.

The stress. Well... sharing on here helps me massively. I know it's an often used phrase but I really don't know what I'd do without this place. Sharing these feelings that are so unique to TTC with people going through the same thing is invaluable. People here have shown me how to have strength and grace and grit when you are at your absolute lowest. And have given me such a laugh too.

I also have taken up ceramics - something I've wanted to do for years, and started daily yoga. I swam outdoors in the summer lots. Basically doing things for yourself that you enjoy and give you mental space.

Apps like headspace can help you practise mindfulness. Some people like acupuncture. And exercise can be really helpful.

I think it's finding something for you where you can switch off and just be yourself and not have every waking moment dominated by TTC.

That all said, it's also the most intense and emotionally draining experience I have ever been through - and it's improving to acknowledge that and pretend that everything is fine. When you need to cry have a good cry! I'm sure you've been through all the ups and downs of it. What do you find helps?

Welcome Kerry the main rule for keeping sane is that all rants and tmi are welcome on this thread!!

Sorry you are still TTC after 2 years. We have few iui-ers and ivf-ers here. Between us all we have experience on all sorts !

So sorry Harriet This absolutely does not mean you're broken, but you do need to give yourself time to grieve. Please take time off work if you need to, your health comes first x

I totally recommend the Mooncups too, everyone! (Although I use a different brand, I'm sure it must be pretty similar). I was harping on about them on here a while ago and thought everyone must have thought I was a crazy hippy!

So sorry Harriet This absolutely does not mean you're broken, but you do need to give yourself time to grieve. Please take time off work if you need to, your health comes first x

I totally recommend the Mooncups too, everyone! (Although I use a different brand, I'm sure it must be pretty similar). I was harping on about them on here a while ago and thought everyone must have thought I was a crazy hippy!

Macs go for it! I love mine. I don't find it makes much difference to cramps but I just feel cleaner. I remember moving from pads to tampons and not looking back - now I feel the same way about my cup!

I am still getting the knack of getting it out on day one when it's heavy. Avoiding spillages is not easy!

Hi ladies! Hope it's okay to jump in!

I'm 32, TTC #1
Came off the pill almost two years ago so I guess this is cycle 23? Cycle 15 of really concerted trying with apps, ovulation tests, etc.

We went to the GP after just over a year off the pill, had all the tests - no problems that can be detected with either of us. We were referred to the local hospital fertility unit ready for IUI x 3 and then 1x IVF which is what you get where we live.

I've so far only had one aborted IUI as my eggs had a sudden growth spurt over a weekend and I ovulated before they could do the treatment. I then started my next period on day 21 of my cycle (usually its 28 like clockwork) so I'm a bit unsure if this is a normal cycle or if things are messed up. The hospital is too full for me to do another treatment this month so the next one would be potentially March.

Possibly TMI but Hi everyone! It's so nice to be around (even virtually) people who are going through the same thing as you.

Question - how do people deal with the stress of this?

I love my mooncup! I can highly recommend them. I used it even when I had super heavy periods. One thing I love I'd that, and this is tmi, my insides feel much healthier and less dry since using it. I still do use pantyliners for the heaviest days but it's so much better. My cramps have been much less since using it too. Xxx