The Turkey Baster Gang (gobble gobble)

@ComebackQueen I wonder if it would be worth finding the contact details for the surgery manager and explaining the confusion so far and asking to know the process and where exactly your referral has gotten stuck and if you'll have to wait until GPs are doing referrals or if they can confirm the referral was made and the 'blockage' is on the side of the fertility clinic?? It might help clarify for you what has gone wrong and who is responsible for what? It might not resolve the issue but might give some clear management of expectations for you when things ease up. We've always had a good outcome when taking this route, without really making a complaint.

It's so frustrating that the process is already so long and is just getting longer. I'm so sorry for everyone going through that.

Focusing on what we can control rather than what we can't is really good advice and I'll keep this in mind for myself!!

@ComebackQueen I’m sorry to hear this I completely understand why you feel like you do. I would maybe try and get a telephone conversation with your gp as it is effecting you mentally to and just explain what you have said to us - your mental health is so important. I also had to wait a while but it will happen and hopefully another call you might be able to push them a bit. Hoping things will start to get better this year COVID wise it’s so awful 😞 the numbers keep going up.

Hope everyone else is ok too x

@Sydney1986x oh no, sorry to hear you’re still waiting a year, even whilst being on the list!

I know to some this isn’t the end of the world but the mental aspect of dealing with infertility and mine is through a psycho sexual issue, I’m 14 months off my 40th which is the cut off for IVF in my area, so I really feel like I’m not only missing my chance at being a mother but also that my vaginismus will never be sorted and I’m living a half life and a fake one too.

@Bluey18 thank you, it was her scolding off me on the phone which really was a kick in the teeth.

@Makingnumber2 thank you and yes I’ll concentrate on what I can control.

Honestly thank you to all you wonderful people, I come on here in panic mode and then when I read all the lovely responses I feel much better.

Oh @ComebackQueen that is utterly shit- I am so, so sorry, In my job we couldn't just sit on referrals for anything either (although education sector not health) just because it's a global pandemic. I know the admin teams at GPs are drowning in calls and booking people in for the vaccines (my godmother is a receptionist at a GP surgery) but it's just so unfair that things like this are put on hold- especially as your referral was agreed pre new strain panic and vaccine programme coming. I don't think you're being unreasonable or selfish at all- I would be feeling exactly the same.

Try to focus on what you can control right now- like your SI days, your meals you've planned etc. to try and help you feeling less panicked. I know how hard it is though to try and not think about these types of things.

And @Sydney1986x I'm sorry your referral is also delayed because of this- the cost of the pandemic is huge for this country, with so many people suffering in so many different ways. We can only hope that vaccination programmes start making a dent in community transmission rates to ease pressure on hospitals and allow them to get back to a more normal way of running for all departments.
Hugs to both of you ladies xx

Aww ComebackQueen, I'm so sorry, that is completely shit . Of course saving lives takes priority, what a stupid thing for that receptionist to say . But this is massively important to your life and the least she could have done is given you a bit of empathy when she is giving you bad news. And I would be seriously annoyed in your shoes if my GP didn't send off a referral when they said they had.

@ComebackQueen I am so sorry to hear about the referral not going through and the experience with the receptionist! That sucks, whilst I understand their need to prioritise it doesn’t help you and your personal situation at all! i work in mental health services and we wouldn’t dream of turning away referrals (nor would we be allowed!!!) so I find it so hard to accept too!

I had a similar experience as in March we were supposed to have been referred, then they said they hadn’t received, then they had and I called back in Sept to chase and the lady at the hospital dept very black and white told me ‘you’re on the waiting list for initial appointment, there’s a massive waiting list, and even bigger now due to covid, don’t expect any correspondence from us for 6 months at least’, I felt like screaming.. so that’s almost a year now of not even an initial
Consult or apt.

I feel your pain and frustration xx

Omg I’m in a meltdown, I received a text from my surgery saying they are only dealing with patients with covid, an acute long term illness or symptoms of an illness that is potentially serious. All non essential and routine work is suspended. I rang up to check with my surgery and what this means, as I thought I had been referred for fertility treatment and the hospital said no I hadn’t.

The ‘lovely’ reception said no referral requests for ‘routine’ issues will be made as we are it the midst of a ‘global pandemic’ and all resources are being diverted to help save lives. This will remain until the Government instruct otherwise.

Feel thoroughly selfish but I’m also miffed that my fertility referral which was made pre this new thing, was never actioned and because of that, I have potentially months of waiting just to get that sent off.

I’m CD6 too, woo hoo but I don’t have regular periods they are within range of 34-38 days.
I’ve purchased some ovulation strips so I will start testing from CD14 until about CD25 as I usually have extreme bloating around CD20-25 so that’s when I am ovulating I presume.

I keep reading moon cups are the best thing for SI but there’s no way I will even consider that, I should be working but instead my mind is constantly on googling self insemination success stories!

We also did a few take aways since NYE so today I’ve already mapped out our meals so I can stay on track.

A lot of smoothies of spinach and blueberries and a lot of fish and lentils.

Hello ladies. I'm so sorry AF came @Makingnumber2. And ruining your sleep in too. Fingers crossed that this is your month. I've not tried a soft cup myself but would love to hear how you get on, I might get one next cycle if this doesn't work out.

I'm CD 6 now. Trying to think how best to approach it, my DP's DE is quite severe so even using SI we only managed twice last month. And it doesnt help that I can ovulate any time from CD13 to CD 19! So we will probably SI CD 12, CD15 (ovulating CD16 is quite common for me) and try and get an extra one in whenever I get a positive OPK. I don't want to put him off completely on Cycle 2

Hi all! 😃 @MrsKin90 @primrosechill I'm CD6 today too, so just a day behind you! We will do SMEP this cycle, so we start SI on Wednesday. Told DH to be prepared for a marathon! 💦 😆

Hi @primrosechill great news about your triple pack plan! I hope your SI plans this month go well- I think we will do similar and do every other day from around CD7 then every day approaching ovulation.

Sadly AF came for me in early hours of this morning- with horrendous cramps too that kept me awake for hours, So she stole my last remaining lie in before returning to work tomorrow and also messed up my BBT because I was tossing and turning and in and out of sleep from about 3am and so when I got up at 7.30 my BBT was 36.47 whereas previous 2 days it was 36.26. Anyway I am going to order either some soft discs or a soft cup of some kind- but I am not going to lie, I am really terrified. I don't think I've ever been able to find my cervix before (sorry if TMI but don't think my fingers are long enough!) so not sure if the cup/disc will be a help or a hindrance but surely worth a try eh?!

@MrsKin90 hope your SI goes well this cycle once you get going on Weds with the Ziggy cup! Excited to hear the review of how the cup is to use etc.

And, as ever, big fingers crossed for some BFPs this month!

@primrosechill I'm CD6 too! 😊 We aren't going to start SI until Wednesday, CD9. But I know I usually ovulate late, so that one will be a practice one with the new cup and we will start "properly" on CD13 with expected ovulation around CD18. Hopefully I won't be too far behind you!

Exciting that you can buy a triple 'pack' of iui. Something to feel positive about if this cycle doesn't work out but I've got everything crossed that it will for you 🤞 🤠 (positive hat!!).

Hi all, just checking in to say hello - glad we seem to be in high spirits for 2021 🥰 @MrsKin90 I totally get what you’re saying about putting pressure on yourself though. It’s a fine line between “staying positive” and “obsessing about success”!

@Makingnumber2 any signs of either AF or BFP yet?

I’m 6DPO today. We’ll forego IUI this cycle because of covid madness (long story) but we will also buy a “three-pack” if this cycle doesn’t go our way - meaning we’ll pay for three cycles of IUIs which works out much cheaper per one and will make us feel like we’ve fully explored that option.

But for now - positive hat on for this cycle! 🤞🏼 We’ll start inseminating every other day from tomorrow - ovulation expected in the next 6-7 days - and then maybe every day once I get my peak on OPKs. Must. Stay. Optimistic. 💆🏻‍♀️

@Sydney1986x that is lovely news for your friend 😊 fingers crossed for you for your tww! My body does whatever it likes on a changing monthly basis so I'm likely to fall out of sync with everyone quite quickly 😂

@Makingnumber2 the ziggy cup is quite intimidating! I'm sorry about your BFN and hope you get either a bfp or AF soon. Waiting is such a nightmare!!

How is everyone? 😊 Hope you're all looking after yourselves. I'm feeling nervous for this cycle. I feel like I've already put loads of pressure on myself 🙄

@Oilyoilyoilgob I hope you're okay??

Thanks @eloiseislost I think I’ll be avoiding any form of excitement then lol, I’ll probably not be in any mood as due to vaginismus anything going upwards usually results in pain and shame

Keeping my fingers crossed for all you lovely ladies for 2021.

What brilliant news about your friend @Sydney1986x - she must be so over the moon. And it is lovely to hear when people get their happy ending! Hope your SI went well this cycle!

Happy new year lovely ladies! Can’t wait to hear some amazing BFP news over the next few months. I am just coming to the end of my fertile window. I wonder if il eventually end up with similar ovulation dates to the rest of you too .

A friend of mine has just announced a twin pregnancy after two miscarriages last year. SO happy for her, I’ve seen her at her lowest points and she’s half way through her pregnancy. She didn’t announce as was so nervous and scared. Let’s keep positive and keep some hope we’ve got this girls xxx

So sorry about your MC @primrosechill totally understand why that would make you not want to test and same for you too @eloiseislost
@Nej1983 AF is doing same to me too- such a cowbag. I'm CD30 today according to my app the longest cycle I've had in over a year is 31 days. So basically SURELY it must be tomorrow or Mon she arrives?? I tested again this morning with FMU 13dpo and still BFN- not even a squinter. Absolutely infuriating that AF still hasn't shown.

Happy new year to you too @MrsKin90 ! Ziggy cup sounds exciting and a tad terrifying but great idea to get some practice in now so you're ready and raring to go once FW hits. I'm definitely trying soft discs this month- am not ordering on amazon though until AF shows- it will be my cheer up AF turned up present to myself

Eloise is right- looks like we will all be in our FWs around the same time this month- will be nice to do the TWW eternity together! So, so , SO hoping we get some BFPs at the end of this month. Come on 2021- I believe in you!!

Hi lovely ladies ❤️ happy new year + 1 day!
I am looking forward to seeing some BFPs in the coming months!!
Fingers crossed for those still waiting to know one way or another 🤞@Makingnumber2 @Nej1983 hopefully there's still a chance you caught the egg if you ovulated late??

I got my Ziggy cup (in place of using softdiscs) 😂 I can't imagine getting it in place properly when doing SI as it is absolutely massive 😳 Will be doing several testing rounds just in case. Also going to be syringing some of the swimmers in, and leaving some in the cup just in case. Covering all bases. Maybe I'll try to orgasm some times and not others 😂 Although I am 10+days away from my fertile time and AF is just leaving, it's nice to have a plan.

Hope everyone is okay 😊

@primrosechill Nothing more sobering than an early MC in terms of POAS addiction. 😔 I used to test from 7DPO, sometimes multiple times a day. This first cycle post-MC I didn't even buy any tests, I have none in the house and the very idea of testing terrifies me.
I wish I could wake up one day and be 12w and go for a scan right after breakfast and see a healthy baby -anything before that scares me so much, I just don't want to know! I sound crazy! 🤪

@Nej1983 Sorry about the BFN, it's always so gutting. 😞 You're not out until AF arrives of course, but I know the days after a BFN can be almost the most stressful. I hope she doesn't show up! 🤞🏼
But if she does, at least it looks like most of us will be in the fertile window at the same time this month! We're bound to get a couple of BFPs at least!! 😁

@ComebackQueen Sorry about AF showing up but look at it as a new cycle starting, a new opportunity! 😊
I've read contradictory facts about orgasm. Some say it helps, some say it does the opposite of helping:

www.fatherly.com/health-science/female-orgasms-conception-fertility-science/

www.verywellfamily.com/does-female-orgasm-boost-your-odds-of-getting-pregnant-1960265

Personally, I find tracking my cycle and SI stressful enough so I don't add any more elements to it. Never tried to achieve orgasm before or after SI and I got pregnant on the 3rd attempt. Ultimately, my advice would be to do what feels right for you. If you can't/don't want to orgasm, it's not a big deal. If you do, well, it'll be more fun! 😁 Best of luck! 🧚🏼‍♀️

Happy 2021 ladies.
AF was due on dec 30th and no sign. Tested today but BFN so it looks like my body is playing tricks on me again and that I’m going to have a longer cycle this month! 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Happy New Year ladies

I second, third, fourth @primrosechill sentiments about getting our BFPs!

My period finally showed up on 30 December, I’m now incessantly googling how I’m going to do the SI.

I’ve ordered a syringe and preseed and will plan to SI a few days before and a few days after ovulation.

I’ve also read I should orgasm before inserting the not so stellar sperm. Others state to orgasm after insemination.

Anyone with some useful tips?

@Makingnumber2 totally! I used to be obsessed with POAS but recently I’ve felt so heartbroken by all the bfn’s that I’ve decided never to test until my period is late - plus it costs a fortune!! Since going through a MC my thinking is also: “the later I find out, the further into the pregnancy I will be - and therefore fewer days stressing about whether it will stick” 😱😩