35+ TTC#1 Thread 6

@laney79 that's interesting, I'll need to check them out

@CNizzle sorry about your GP, they really don't get it sometimes do they. I'm really lucky mine has been amazing generally-mostly it's just constraints of the nhs that cause issues, but she really wants to help. If you want to get a thyroid test and are happy to pay I've had several done via medichecks...including the thyroid one. Mostly just finger prick tests you can do at home. Thyroid ones I think are £40-80 depending on which ones you go for...and it's worth checking for voucher codes as sometimes you can get 10-20% off.

@AliceRR I used the CB digital connected, worked well for me. Although I did discover my first month of temping that I appear to ovulate the day of my first peak fertility, rather than the standard 36 hours later, at least that month anyway. My temp rose sharply the same morning I got the peak.

@Carley32 just the basics from the consultant for me-limit caffeine, stay off the booze, eat healthily, try and keep stress levels down, and keep taking the vitamins I'd listed. So no specific lifestyle advice. I think they do give it to the fellas as they know changes can improve sperm function within three months...sadly our eggies not so much!

I'm doing ok, freaking a bit as I am getting the aches/pulling sensations but they seem to me to be more on one side so of course I'm now convinced that this one is ectopic! Trying not to wind myself up but it's very hard. I'm somewhere around 4 and a half to 5 weeks (LMP says 4+5 but ovulation date puts me at 5+4) and the babies so far stopped growing around the 5/6 week mark before so anxiety is rife.

I'm trying to decide about an early scan. My epau will give me the progesterone to take on holiday, just in case I need it, but I have to have a viability scan before I go. So do I leave it as late as poss to be sure of getting a definite answer (so if I left it I'd be about 8 weeks, so if no heartbeat it would be another mc) or go a bit earlier, then if there's a heartbeat great, but if not it may still be too early? I really want this holiday but if I find out I've lost again I don't think I'd want to go. Really tough decision. Was going to wait and have a scan when we got back at 9 and a half weeks-but if I want the progesterone I have to have one before we go. What would you do ladies? X

Hi cycle buddy @VenusStarr. Iv been reading about it because of my lack of, and it says that’s it’s perfectly healthy to have ewcm for up to 5 days before. So maybe you’re not that off? Are you using any opks?

Sorry about the unpleasant go visit @QuantumGirl. It sounds like you are trying so hard too. You have more will power than me. I’m managing spin x1 week lol, I really want to up it though. It’s just such a busy term in work I know it will stress me out even more trying to find the time.

Hi all! Floating past again, sorry I've not kept up to speed these past few weeks.
@bambionice80 good luck with your 2 lotto tickets this month!
@VenusStarr good news on the counselling appointment.
@QuantumGirl interested to hear how you get on at further fertility appointments .
I'm back after a particularly unpleasant AF, 2 days I'd painful but light AF, a day of spotting/nothing where I thought I'd finished followed by day 5 which was flood/agony. Oh joy!
Asked my go about a thyroid blood test... I really felt like she either didn't believe me, or she didn't want to give me the blood test. Told me I should start running if I wanted to lose weight (currently doing 3x spin & 2 kettlebells/circuits classes per week, and have my food monitored by a PT) I appreciate running is good exercise , but I m not sure how substituting hi intensity cycling for running (which I really don't enjoy) is gonna make a difference.
She also said "ooh you don't look like [your weight]" & "you carry it well" to which I couldn't help but feeling that wasn't helpful , especially when I mentioned I needed to get my weight down if I was ever to get referred for ivf. And that "not looking overweight" didn't really wash with the ACU criteria.

I just wrote a reply to all of you and lost it 😩 so this is slightly condensed version!

@Bambi I’m the same re TTC bit I think many people are. It’s not something people discuss in my family and friends groups

@VenusStarr @PixiN

Thanks for those asking about me. I feel a lot better today. Had a nice dinner and cocktail out with a friend tonight and I’ve ordered CB digital connect (decent price on amazon) so that might help me pinpoint ovulation

I take pregnacare. I too. The pregnancy version while pregnant then carried on after until they finished and then just bought the conception version. Didn’t realise it can affect cycle length. I had a much shorter cycle last cycle but it’s only three months since I gave birth so that could be the reason so will keep an eye

I am CD 5 of my second cycle TTC @Pastnowfuture

Really interesting to hear about all the different vitamins. I have so much to learn. AF arrived so I am now on CD3. If anyone at a similar point to hold my hand through first ever month ttc and tww?

@Carley32 we're cycle buddies, I'm cd14. I have had ewcm since cd5 😔 no idea if I ovulated yet. I usually do on cd12 but wondering if my cycle is out.

Thanks the the info @Laney79, dh is a tea feind but generally OK on everything else. How you getting on?

Glad your period is back on track @QuantumGirl, good to hear the clinic specialises in amh but not good about the long wait you had!

Hope you're well @BambiOnIce80

How are you @AliceRR?

Good luck for the hsg @PixieN, that's the one I'm not looking forward to. Hope it goes well.

Hope everyone else is doing well xx

@Laney79 I just realised what a stupid question I asked. I obviously know The recommendations were for DP. But wondered if you had any personally?

Thanks @BambiOnIce80 I was definitely up for trying the pregnacare but the mixed reviews scared me. I’ll see how this cycle gets on and if it’s still crazy I may well give them a whirl. I don’t feel like I’m doing enough.

Thanks for that @Laney79 that’s really helpful, so that’s for just DP or both?

CD13 here. No clue what’s going on really. I had 1 darker than usual line on CD10 but just back to the very faint since. I’ve had a few twinges on my left side this time but no idea if that’s anything to get excited about. No ewcm either. 🤞🤞🤞 something will start happening soon.

Let's try that again with the pic!

@Carley32 I've attached a pic of the sperm advice our consultant gave us...

@BambiOnIce80 looks like I have managed to sort the progesterone...find out tomorrow, fingers crossed! X

In terms of vitamins, first time I fell pregnant I was just on standard 400 folic acid and 10mg vit d....second pregnancy pregnacare pre conception and this time it's the vitamins as mentioned below! I did start coq10 too after my second loss, just 100 a day though x

Phew 😅 thanks for the info @BambiOnIce80. I'll ask the doc when I go for my consultation in June

Thanks ladies.

This is what I’ve been concerned about @QuantumGirl.... taking something and it having an affect on my cycle (which already has a mind of its own) so to add to that would be no good.

Thank you @Laney79 I take folic acid and then vit c & zinc in one vitamin. I buy the boots brand. Was also wondering on omega 3? As I don’t eat a lot of fish?
DP is currently taking wellman. Any advice I can get would be appreciated x

@Carley32 if it helps my consultant told me to take the recommended daily allowance of:
Vitamin C
Zinc
Selenium
B complex
Plus for me high dose folic acid (5mg) as I was put on that after my last loss And 50ug of vitamin D as my levels aren't optimal...but for anyone else it would be the RDA of those too.

He's also given advice and recommended supplements for OH-want that too? Xxx

Hi @Carley32 pregnancare messed up my cycles and gave me spotting before my period so I stopped it. I'm on COq10 300 atm and just spent a small fortune on DHEA when @BambiOnIce80 sent over the link. I'm now scared to take it. I also stocked up on melatonin from the US but haven't taken any either.

@VenusStarr the open day at the ivf clinic was ok ish. There was little I didn't know and we had to wait nearly 3 hours for a 15 min free consultation but was good to get DH involved. We decided to book an appointment soon as they are specialised in women with low AMH so I seem to fit in well. In the meantime I'm still ttc. So good to have my period back on track 😊

While we are on the subject of taking extra vitamins etc. Are there any recommendations or negative comments about any in particular?

I was looking at the pregnacare ones?
I currently only take folic acid and vitamin c and zinc (just because I read it could get my cycles back in track). And advice would be helpful. X

Hi Ladies, hope you’re all o.k. Sorry you’re feeling horrible @VenusStarr and @AliceRR Sending love and hugs to you both

Thanks for the advice about DHEA @BambiOnIce and @Laney79 Really glad I asked as I think I have some hormonal imbalances too and the article suggests that it’s very individual as to whether to take it or not. Sounds like something a consultant should recommend anyway so I will hold off and just take ubiquinol. How much do you take out of interest? I’ve been taking 100mg, but ‘It starts with the egg’ recommends a higher dose if you’ve been trying for longer. One woman I read about was taking 400mg daily which sounds like a lot to me - it resulted in a healthy pregnancy though. Sorry if this has already been covered - the thread moves too fast for me to take everything in.

I’m feeling a bit nervous (and excited) as my HSG is booked in for next week. Yikes! X

@VenusStarr It’s natural to want it and it’s hard not to think about it. I’m actually thinking about going back to work in a month or two so as to have something else to focus on other than being at home, making dinner and TTC! Mindful breathing sounds good. I plan to start going to yoga or pilates again and also maybe trying some mindfulness or something. I do have support but I’m not one to talk openly to many people so I’m finding I’m cutting myself off a bit which is not ideal x

I'm sorry to hear that @AliceRR 💜 it's a very cruel time and to have those milestones then a horrible period on top just feels especially difficult. I'm trying not to beat myself up about wanting to be pregnant again but I need to find a way to not think about it all the time. I tried some mindful breathing at the wellbeing session earlier in the week which helped and doing the pilates today took my mind off things for a short while. Are you getting any support? Sending love xx

@VenusStarr Thanks for asking about me. I’ve had a tough few days actually. It was my first month TTC since losing my daughter but due to various symptoms and what I thought was IB now seems like early AF I have just felt crap. Painful period which made me feel unwell, feeling sorry for myself as I’m on mat leave without a baby and wishing I was pregnant again... It’s a 3 months in Monday for my baby girl. Sorry you are finding things difficult too. 6 weeks is no time at all. Well done for going to yoga.

Hope everyone else is ok x

Hi everyone, sorry I've been really poor at keeping in touch. Been finding this very hard and have been consumed by obsessing about ttc and being pregnant :(

My nhs counselling has finally come through, appointment next Wednesday. I did have a wellbeing session last week and offloaded a bit. It's surprising how I'm still so upset (or is it, I don't know. It's only been 6 weeks since the miscarriage) Day to day I'm much better, but being controlled by intrusive thoughts. BUT have been proactive and taken myself off to pilates this morning - it was hard! Made me realise I have completely neglected myself for quite a while. Impressed by the fertility clinic - follow up appointment already booked for September, ultrasound in early June and a letter to book the hsg when my next period arrives. Turns out I'm petrified of the investigations :( really hoping I don't need them.

@BambiOnIce80 that's an awesome positive opk! Think I'm joining you on the tww, don't think I ovulated early in the end, and cd12 today, my usual ov day and had ewcm pretty much all of last week and managed to get some action in. Think dh is done now, so have to hope that was enough. Did you find the ubiquinol affected your cm? Don't think I've ever had so much.

@Pastnowfuture how long have you been off contraception now? Fingers crossed af arrives soon 🤞

@QuantumGirl how did you get on at the ivf clinic? Hope your jet lag has eased now

@Carley32 any progress on your results?

Hope you're doing well @Laney79

How are you @AliceRR? Hope you're OK

Not long now @Weathergirl1 :)

Sorry, I know I've missed a few people, but hope everyone is well xx

Thanks all for welcoming me to the thread. Been reading back and trying to get an idea of who is who and where everyone is at. You all seem to have so much knowledge! I'm desperate for my period to start so I can start counting cycle days and join in properly with the convo.