Page 23 | 9DPO Symptom Spotting

unCliche · 2020-11-22T11:31:22+00:00

Hey *@ButterscotchBabe*! Continuing our chat here 😁 I loooove that your temps did exactly what mine did too. So good that AF hasn't arrived at CD26!! Happy for you! When your temps increased last month, was it is to a gradual high or did it jump up again and then AF started? Because if this pattern is new, it could mean good news! Ours definitely look like the beginning of a triphasic chart. My temps last month started dropping at 7DPO, so it still being high at 9DPO is such an achievement for me and no sign of AF either although my vulva feels AF'y in a weird way. My pulse and breathing rate have also continued to shoot up!! If temps don't tell you AF is coming, pulse rate defo will because it always starts falling a few days before AF for me. I do suspect chemical but no BFP so can't confirm and nothing else changed that cycle so I can't explain it. Hormones were defo the reason I never took the pill, it plays such a big part in changing your reproductive cycle that of course it would have an affect on cycles after you come off them! 45 day cycles sound like a nightmare - especially when TTC too. I do have a FRER! I'm always so scared to use it though. I always use rubbish ICs which probably aren't the best thing but I will use my FRER with you! I like predicting what my temps will do with DH. What do you think will happen tomorrow? I think both our temps will go up again 😆

Original poster

unCliche · 05/01/2021 12:22

Oops just realised I'm ovulating from my right ovary! But it was sonographers left. Not that it makes any difference...

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Original poster

unCliche · 05/01/2021 11:43

BTW, I don't have PCOS. I think it's just PCO, which is more common.

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Original poster

unCliche · 05/01/2021 11:19

Just finished my scan. All is good. I'll be ovulating from my left ovary as that's where the dominant follicle is. It hasn't happened yet but will very soon!! The sonographer counted 11 follicles on my left and 23 on my right. Apparently my right is polycystic so I guess it's a good thing I'm not ovulating from there. My endometrium is good too. I think generally, I'm fine! Just sat in the car waiting for DH to return now.

Maybe a CD17 ovulation is a good thing for you then! Fingers crossed that your LP is even longer than before. Hopefully last cycle was just a fluke too.

Since the egg hasn't even burst forth yet, we probably still have a chance if we DTD today and tomorrow. I know his sperm will be so depleted though 😔 but it only takes one. Did you manage to DTD right through ovulation?

Ah that's sad. It can't be easy going through your 20s and 30s single and knowing biologically your clock is ticking and there's nothing that can be done about it without going down the sperm donor route. To be honest, I've rarely been single but I think I'd start feeling anxious if I was at 35. In that situation would you ever considered a sperm donor and going it alone? I'd hate to settle with just any guy for the sake of a baby.

The way things are going, we'll probably have winter babies too! Being a November child myself, I think I'd prefer if my child wasn't born in November!
Yes, I'll definitely have the opportunity to meet my neighbours baby. But we'll probably visit loads anyway as the new house is just a 10 min drive away.

If I got pregnant this cycle, I think I'll be around 12 weeks in March so hopefully I can announce the news on my one year wedding anniversary 🎉

Looks like your Greek holiday may not be going ahead... Pregnancy or no. We're right back where we started with covid.

Home now. DH hated the experience! I couldn't stop laughing. Poor guy is traumatised 😂😂 he said 'never again'. I think he's in a bad mood now and he says he won't be in the mood to DTD today. I'll have to find a way to seduce him! 😂😂😂

Thanks for the recommendation. I was leaning towards the blue, so would probably go with that. It's upholstery fabric which is great because I like structure in my garments. Plus I love going with the unconventional 😁 you should buy something like curtain fabric and try it out.

I bet you guys are amazing at jive! Do you practise at home together? DH and I spontaneously dance sometimes - no style in particular. Just random.

How are you feeling about the national lockdown?

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ButterscotchBabe · 04/01/2021 22:53

Yay so that means you should ovulate tomorrow, keep doing the OPKs tomorrow though, to see if it stays negative because I had 2 peaks this time. Yes so I think I ovulated yesterday which was CD17, I previously ovulated on CD17 on my 4th cycle and that was the one where I had an 11 day luteal phase, the longest yet! That's great our cycles will be closer on the TWW 😊.

Sperm can survive up to 5 days so DTD on CD12 should be close enough but you'll definitely need to DTD tomorrow!

Yep TTC her first, I haven't caught up with her in a while so I don't know how she's getting on but she hadn't been with her boyfriend for that long, so I think she's had to wait for the relationship to develop. It must be really hard for ladies who want to have children but didn't find the right man when they were younger.

Aww hopefully you'll get to meet your neighbours baby before you move out, is your new place far away? Winter is a nice time to have a baby as you can dress them up all warm and snuggly 🥰.

Yes I was planning on adding some embellishments around the neck area or waist probably but depends on the dress. I didn't realise you could do a zigzag stitch that close to the edge of the fabric, I thought it might break the sewing machine if there was no material to pierce through 😂. Which stitch would you recommend for this?

Ooh the air mesh looks cool, although I agree I do prefer the larger holes of the black one, it has more of a sexy look!

I would recommend the blue or purple fabric!

I like the white trim and the design is cool, it looks grecian! So many ideas, need more sewing time 😂.

Yeh we're okay at jive, it's difficult to judge yourself! We've had compliments so we can't be too bad 😂. Dance classes won't be coming back for a while unfortunately, everyone's gonna be rubbish by the time covid is over 😂😂.

Good luck with your appointment tomorrow! Hope all goes smoothly and they give you an idea of what's going on!

Original poster

unCliche · 04/01/2021 19:32

I think I'll buy that black mesh fabric and pair it with one of the attached fabrics. Not sure which colour to go for but I like either of the top two.

I've also decided on buying a white faux suede to match with this white trim and make the design I've attached here. Loads of ideas!

Haha I don't really take dance classes anymore but I'd love to go back, I really did enjoy it. Are you really good at jive?

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Original poster

unCliche · 04/01/2021 19:28

Oh that's awesome, I hope your temps go even higher! I wonder what mine are doing - actually, I don't want to know. Yes, I got a positive OPK this afternoon, it was at 118% then and 90% this evening. So looks like you'll only be 2 days ahead of me, which is pretty good considering you started AF 4 days before me. You ovulated on CD17 right? Has it ever been that late before?

Nope, no more spotting. It was pretty random. Not sure what to make of it. Some say it means super fertility. I hope so since we've only DTD once on CD12.

Gosh, I think if I saw my mum more often, she'd drive me crazy with the constant questioning 😂 I guess this lockdown has been a blessing in some ways. Is your friend TTC her first? As she's 40 she can probably see her GP after 6 months so hopefully she'll get the help she may need soon.

I haven't spoken to her, only her husband. Her and the baby are home now I think, so they must now be busy adjusting to a newborn. My neighbour is also due to give birth this month. Babies everywhere! So exciting, hopefully if I conceive soon, my child will have friends to grow up with.

You can never have too many spools of thread so that's only a good thing. The beads, will you be adding embellishments to garments? You don't really need an overlocker to stop fraying. You should zig-zag stitch the edges of your fabrics (see image) or you can use the overlocking stitch that's on your sewing machine. I rarely use my overlocker and I haven't found it essential as I'm barely a professional seamstress. I only sew for myself.

Oh that's an idea. Going sleeveless with the black. I might just do that. Yes, I'll be using a stiff tulle, which I have loads of. The fabric is kind of like satin, I'd have to take a photo to show you. But the black and white are exactly the same, just different colours.

I also recieved the air mesh (the teal one) that I ordered from China today. It matches the colour of the fabric I already had, although I wanted the mesh holes to be a bit bigger, like the black one I've attached.

Cont...

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ButterscotchBabe · 04/01/2021 18:26

Temp went up this morning and OPKs are negative so pretty sure ovulation happened yesterday! Have you had a positive OPK today?

That's strange you had a brown streak in your CM, some women do have spotting around ovulation but it's not very common. Have you had anymore since?

Haha oh dear, it probably makes it easier to hide TTC during these lockdowns as you're not seeing your Mum as often? None of my friends are pregnant or have children, one friend is TTC, she's 40 and it hasn't happened yet so they must be struggling but we're not close enough for me to ask personal questions! How is your friend doing, the one that recently had a baby?

I bought a few haberdashery bits- zips, bias binding, beads, needles, thread. Don't know what I'm gonna do with them all but I'm sure I'll find a use for them 😂.

That must have been a lot of pressure having 40K followers but pretty cool as well! I hope you're proud of what you've achieved!

Aww thanks haha, it will take a long time before mine are anywhere near as good as yours! I think at some point I'm gonna need to get an overlocker because the fabric on the inside keeps fraying up to the seam.

Haha that's an awesome quote to go with your new design! What fabric do you think you'll use? Looks like you'll need tulle for the bottom of the skirt? Maybe the white one could have sleeves as it's the more innocent look and then sleeveless for the black one.

That's cool you dance too! We do jive dancing but have also done a bit of salsa. Although I found salsa harder, jive is basically salsa without the footwork 😂. Aww that's sweet and a nice way to meet a decent guy, he obviously grew on you!

Original poster

unCliche · 04/01/2021 12:56

A lot of my following came from youtube. I have about 40,000 subscribers on there. I blew up some years ago and was popular for a while until I quit. I don't think I'll go back. I'll follow your makes and like every single one!

I know what I'm going to sew next! It came to me at 2am in the morning and I had to quickly sketch it down. It's going to be a half one shoulder/half strapless V neck dress with a skirt like this and a single sleeve like this. I can see it in my mind and I think it'll be nice. I might refine the design though - I'm not a fan of long sleeves. I'm thinking about making it twice, one in black and one in white. The black version will be styled gothically while the white version will be more innocent and cute and I'll caption it, "better the devil you know..." "...Than the angel you don't know" or something like that.

I'll have to do an OPK at 2pm and then maybe 6pm or 8pm. I hope I peak today. I had looooads of EWCM yesterday, so annoyed I couldn't DTD. When wiping I saw a random streak of brown in it. It wasn't a lot but it was pretty conspicuous, which is interesting as I've never spotted around ovulation. Have you?

Have your temps gone up?

My mum is actually crazy. I graciously accepted the gift and didn't react because I refuse to give anything away. She'll find out once there's actually news to share 😂 You're lucky! At least your mum isn't applying any pressure. I like that no one knows! Do you have any friends that are pregnant or have kids?

Haha cute! What sewing stuff did you buy??

No, she never mentioned it. Parents probably do know when you're lying but I guess the random woman convinced her 🤷‍♀️ I don't think I'll ever ask her.

Ah! That's amazing! I used to go to salsa and bachata classes, I loved it! What dance style does he do? I love dancing! 1:1 practice sounds like a great way to woo a lady, hehe!
I met DH at a young professionals meetup. The first time we met, I had no opinion of him and we never spoke. The second time, we spoke briefly and that was that. I wasn't interested in him but we somehow found ourselves meeting up with each other and the rest is history! It's a long crazy story 😂 which is pretty synonymous to my life.

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ButterscotchBabe · 03/01/2021 22:51

Yes I could upload my sewing makes, I'll have to get DP to take some good pics. There's probably not much point me having a separate profile though as I'd have no followers 😂. How did you build up your following?

Haha from Tuesday evening you'll have to get on it! Yes LH surges can definitely change, in my 4th cycle TTC (1st time using OPKs) the rise was gradual (lasted 2 days), on my 5th cycle the rise was sudden (1/2 day - 1 day) and this cycle the rise was gradual again (had two peaks over 2 days). So it's best to test 2 or 3 times a day around the time you're expecting to ovulate.

Omg I can't believe she got you clothes for after giving birth, not exactly a subtle hint 😂😂, what was your reaction?? I'm not sure if when you start menopause is hereditary, I started my periods 3 or 4 years before my Mum did, so I don't think my body is following hers! I don't know if she's expecting grandchildren, she hasn't said anything 😂.

Ah yeh probably best not to mention the awkwardness as you don't want to put the idea in his head. I don't know how my DP would feel about it but I think he'd be okay. I'm probably not gonna order a progesterone test just yet as I just bought some more sewing stuff and I'm meant to be saving money 😂😂.

Did your Mum challenge you about it when you got home? If not then she must have believed it 😂.

We met through dance classes, DP is a more experienced dancer and I was a beginner, he took a liking to me and I got lots of 1:1 practice 😉. How did you meet your DH?

Original poster

unCliche · 03/01/2021 20:42

Thank you 😆 My DH only took the most recent pic. Previous ones have been exes 🙈 and friends. But going forward ALL of them will be taken by DH. Might even invest in a new camera. You should also share your sewing makes on social media. There's a huge community and lots of people to learn from. I've followed back with my sewing and personal page too. I'm not much of a poster on my personal either.

Phew! I may have a chance this cycle then although I haven't been pumped full of sperm like you have 😂 I'm not sure how quick the vitamins I bought DH will work but I hope they'll help this cycle. If not, then next. Strangely enough, my OPK lines have been almost none-existent but tomorrow I will probably test twice a day regardless. Can LH surges go from sudden to gradual and back again??

Over the weekend my mum would not stop talking about me being pregnant!! She bought me a robe and slippers for after I've given birth!!???? 😂 She had all her kids by 33 so by her standards, I'm old 😂 I think after my 2nd or 3rd I'll ask DH to get a vasectomy, don't think I'd want to risk pregnancy in my 50s (I'm not even sure if my mum has started the menopause yet so I could be fertile for ages (is it hereditary??)). Haha! Your mum is funny! But no more AFs can only be a good thing (at least once you're done with baby making). Is she expecting grandchildren any time soon?

I haven't actually asked him how he feels about having to do his business somewhere awkward. I don't want to ask because I don't want to get him nervous. How do you think your DP would feel about doing the same? Maybe in the meantime you can order a progesterone test? It cost me £45 from Superdrug.

Haha yeah! I can't believe she agreed to speak with my mum 😂 I wonder if my mum actually believed it?! She must have heard I was on the bus before 😂

Welcome to the patriarchy. Many women blame themselves and are too ashamed to come forward 😔 I think we should consider ourselves very lucky with our other halves. My DH is amazing 💕 I'd hate to be single in this day and age, dating seems so complex! How did you meet your DP?

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ButterscotchBabe · 03/01/2021 19:57

Wow your photos are amazing! You look great and that's so impressive you made those clothes! I'm excited to see what you make next! Is your DH the photographer?

I liked your post and followed you but I don't use Instagram much so there aren't many pics of me on there. I'll private message you my username.

Yeh I think you'll ovulate Tuesday or Wednesday, can't be Monday as you didn't have positive OPK today. Will you do OPKs twice a day from tomorrow? When it gets close to expected ovulation I do them twice a day so I don't miss the LH surge. Last cycle my surge was quite sudden, this time it was gradual. So it seems it can change between cycles.

I never thought of being pregnant at 40 but I suppose accidents happen! Oh gosh that would mean like 30 years of no lie ins 😱😱😭😭. Wow triplets in late 50s!! Omg they're gonna be a handful! Haha no I don't think my Mum wants anymore kids, at Christmas she gave me a box of tampons as she said she doesn't need them anymore 😂.

I'm not sure about the fibroid but I'm sure they'll be able to tell you if it's an issue. Is your DH feeling okay about providing a sperm sample? It must be awkward having to do it in a clinical environment 😂.

I know his answer will be no if I ask him now but I'm hoping he'll change his mind when he sees a BFN. Although hopefully it will be a BFP, we've definitely put enough sperm up there 😂.

That's funny you got a random lady to pretend to be your teacher, quick thinking!

That's awful what that guy did to you, it's unbelievable what some men think they can get away with, they think it's their right to touch any girl/woman they want. I think there definitely needs to be better education on what is/isn't acceptable treatment and girls need to feel more comfortable to come forward and report it. Part of the problem is most girls probably don't report it and these men keep getting away with it. Yep we'll definitely teach our sons to be respectful and our daughters what is not acceptable!

Original poster

unCliche · 03/01/2021 18:35

Just sent you the link. You can see my covid weight gain!! I was hoping for rain as a sort of juxtaposition to the summery fabric but no luck! Either way I'm happy with how my first project (in a long while) has turned out.

Also DH and I won't be able to DTD today as it is too close to our appointment, but defo on Tuesday when we return from it.

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Original poster

unCliche · 03/01/2021 18:12

Well happy ovulation day for today! 😂 It would have been too spooky if I ovulated today as well but I had another -ve OPK today so hoping for my +ve on Tuesday - that would be best case scenario. And then you'd only be 3DPO ahead of me.

I think 20 years is quite a conservative number! If you get accidentally pregnant at 40, then what??!! My dad's friends just gave birth to triplets (via IVF) and they're in their late 50s!!!! While I'm so very happy that they can finally be parents, I think it would be difficult being quite old and having to raise 3 kids. But at the same time, I get it. Being a woman and holding out hope for kids. Bless 'em. Can you imagine your mum getting pregnant again??

Yeah agreed. I'm not worried about the number of eggs I have left so I do think I may have jumped the gun and booked something I don't need. I think the scan is to check for number of follicles or something like that - I can't remember. I had a gynae appointment just before we started TTC and all is generally fine although I do have a small, 1cm fibroid but I read 98% of the time, they don't cause fertility issues 🤷‍♀️ but maybe it'll be worth having it checked again anyway...

How about you ask your DP whether you can book the appointment in advance as you'll have to wait about 3 weeks anyway, and if you do get a BFP this cycle, you can cancel it. If not then you'll only have to wait about a week after AF starts.

I hate that 9 out of 10 times another woman will have a story about sexual assault. I was just young and stupid. I didn't really start drinking until I was about 23. I think he lied about his age. He must have been in his 20s, which is absolutely disgusting just thinking about it. He basically kept asking me to come over to his place. I actually tried one time and my mum called to find out where I was and I lied and said I was still at school. She then asked to speak to my teacher but I was on the bus trying to get to this guys place!! I panicked and got off the bus and didn't know what to do!! Then I saw these two women smoking and I approached them (they thought I was going to ask for fags.) I asked them if they could pretend to be my teacher. Thankfully one of them agreed and spoke with my mum then the random lady told me to go straight home and I did. But the guy didn't stop asking me and again, I gave in. This time I made it to his place - I took the train instead. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I told him I didn't want to have sex. He pinned me down, fingered me (?) and tried to get a condom out. I tried pushing him off and he wouldn't move but eventually he did and I went home. There was something on my leg and school skirt. Not sure if it was my fluids or his but I've always been confused about that night. When I got home, I went straight into the bath and scrubbed my skin raw. I felt disgusting. The worst part is, I actually felt pleasure from the fingering. It took ages for me to work through it and I couldn't bear to be touched down there nor did I ever find sex pleasurable, but now I'm really trying hard to enjoy it more.

And that's my crazy story. It's bad, but I think what you potentially experienced is worse. The not knowing must be horrible and I am so sorry that that is something you have to live with. What I've learnt is that it wasn't my fault and it's not your fault either. It's horrible that some men can be so predatory but you're a stronger person for getting through it. All we can do is teach our sons to be more respectful of women and women's bodies.

Yes, maybe a link to the photo will be better!

OP posts:

ButterscotchBabe · 03/01/2021 15:22

Hmm yes it seems the private message function is very basic, you could upload them to a photo sharing website and send me the link through private message?

ButterscotchBabe · 03/01/2021 15:08

I don't think ovulation happened yesterday, the LH peaked again and my temp was low this morning, so I think ovulation is happening today! Least it will be one day closer to yours now 🙂.

Yes I'm definitely making the most of lie ins while I can! Once we have the first baby it will be around 20 years before the next lie in 😭😭.

Your ovarian reserve should be good as you're young, even if it's low it doesn't stop you getting pregnant aslong as you're regularly releasing eggs. Do you know what they'll be looking for with the ultrasound scan?

Are you able to DTD today or is that too close to your appointment?

That must have been scary for you at 16, how did it happen, were you drunk at the time? It's surprising how many men will try to sleep with girls much younger than them. I remember when I was 14 an 18 year old boy kept trying to get me back to his house, luckily I guessed what his intentions were so I didn't go. Then when I was 15/16, my Mum's new boyfriend's mate was flirting with me and trying to pursuade me to go back to his. When I was 20 I woke up after a night out at some guys house I didn't know, I had no memory of how I got there. He quite quickly wanted me out and drove me to the nearest bus stop or train station I can't remember, I was probably raped that night but I didn't think about it at the time, just thought it was my own fault for getting drunk.

Hopefully you'll receive good news but if there is something bad, at least you've found out early and have plenty of time to either fix the issue or have help to conceive. I would like to book an appointment asap but I need to convince DP, I think he's more keen to try for a bit longer but he may change his mind if we get another BFN.

Oooh yes that would be lovely to see those! I've never sent a private message on here so I'm not sure if it can be done, I'll have a look after I've sent this message.

Original poster

unCliche · 02/01/2021 22:04

Glad to hear you're feeling better 💕 Could have just been a combination of things but hopefully it's nothing.

Sleep is getting better I think. Slept 7 hours but still feeling knackered. Hopefully tomorrow I'll feel better rested and can have a lie in until 11 like you! These will be one of the few times during the rest of our lives where we can sleep in. Until the kids and the sleepness nights come!

Oh gosh, interview prep. Not fun but you've been doing the job so the interview will be a breeze for you! But good luck either way. A permanent role comes with great benefits so sounds like a great opportunity.

Haha I started reading the first fifty shades book but then couldn't really get into it so stopped. I haven't seen the movies either but I have had a TV show that really got me in the mood. At least you're still making baby-making fun. You go girl!

Yay! Happy ovulation day. Did you get an ovulation dip in your chart today? I saw mine again and I'm at 36.4 which I think is quite high for where I am in my cycle. Anyway let's see how it goes. I did an OPK today too and no line so I'm not ovulating yet. Either way, we DidTD so hopefully there are some super healthy sperm that can hang around for another few days. The specialist only checks for AMH and does an ultrasound scan but I don't think that's what I need but it's better all my bases are covered.

Men are always so optimistic about how easy conceiving will be. I hate it. But you haven't been trying that long so if you do get pregnant this cycle, it would still be a somewhat quick conception.

I went to a girls school so didn't really meet many boys but I did have a sexual assault experience at 16 which could have easily been a rape situation (well I hope it wasn't. I'm not sure what went inside me. I think just his fingers 🤷‍♀️) so it could have happened to me much younger too. But I'm glad my sister was honest about it. I know nothing of the guy but I don't approve of him. Sister's intuition 😉😁

I'm quite nervous about the appointment but mostly because I don't want to receive bad news about either me or DH. I want them to tell me I have super eggs and he has super sperm and we just need to be patient. Will you be looking to book an appointment with a specialist if this cycle isn't successful?

I did a photoshoot of the outfit I made. I was going to send it to you in a private message but I don't think I can attach images there. But I'll find a way!

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ButterscotchBabe · 02/01/2021 16:25

Happy New Year to you too! 😊🎉

Feeling better today, I don't know what caused the nausea, it was probably drinking vodka until early hours in the morning but I don't normally feel sick from drinking.

How was your sleep last night? I slept reasonably well, alarm went off at 7am to take temp then went back to sleep and didn't wake until 11.30.

Not feeling ready to go back to work, would like another week off! I'm currently on assignment and my role is being made permanent, unfortunately they're not allowed to just give it to me, it has to be advertised and I've got to pass an interview again. So not looking forward to going through that in 2/3 weeks time.

Haha yes I didn't plan to DTD lots but the Fifty Shades Trilogy was on TV in the days leading up to New Year's Eve, neither of us have seen the film's before, I think watching the naughty films made us feel more up for it 😂😂. Have you seen them?

I think I'm ovulating today, had my peak yesterday, the test line was still quite dark this morning but I'm expecting it to be lighter later. Had a few twinges on the left side so I think it's the left ovary this cycle. I hope you get a later ovulation, then you'll have a better chance of conceiving this cycle. I didn't know you could get home progesterone kits! Although surely you won't need it as you're now seeing a fertility specialist?

Yeh in my last luteal phase my temps were rubbish so really hoping they'll be higher this time. Yours were great previously, so hopefully you'll get that again this cycle!

Haha a few months ago DP was convinced we would conceive and it would be easy, I think each time we get another BFN he warms more to the idea of getting help.

Yeh it's crazy how 30 years ago houses were around 3x a person's wage, now there more like 10x the average wage. Prices up North are much more reasonable but with most my family in Devon I wouldn't want to be that far away, so similar thinking to you.

😂 Aww that's sweet your sister told you and funny that she's lost it at pretty much the same time as you did! I was naughty and lost mine when still at school 😂😂.

How are you feeling about your appointment on Tuesday? Excited or nervous?

Original poster

unCliche · 01/01/2021 22:26

Happy new year lovely!!

Oh sorry to hear that. What happened? Did you eat anything funny? Maybe indigestion? If I drink after I've eaten my food never settles and I always feel sick. Or is it a more hungover feeling? Hope you're feeling better 💕

I did wake up a little earlier today. 8am. With 5 hours sleep which I think is pretty good! Hopefully I can get at least 7 going forward. You ready to go back to work?

Yay! I can see you've been DTD loads! I hope it helps!! I'd love some good news for the new year. I'm actually hoping for a late ovulation. CD15 or CD16 would be great. I'll do an OPK on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday just in case. Plus I'll need to know when I ovulate as I've just impromptu ordered a progesterone test kit!!! Whhyyyyy?!! I think my progesterone peaks at 6DPO as that's when I start to get sore boobs, so I'll test then.

Also your temps look good! They went down quite low so them going back up to 36.6 (or higher) would be a nice increase for you. I checked mine (with DHs permission) and I went down to 36.2, which is normal for me, and now it's starting to go up again. I'd like to see it go as high as 36.8 again though!

Ah so it's all about the waiting times. That's really awesome (but terrible that NHS patients could be made to wait 4 months!!) But in 3 weeks you could be getting checks done! That's exciting. And also nerve racking because I'm really nervous! But you seem to be a much calmer person than me so you'll probably handle it better. Let's hope your DP is willing to get the ball rolling. I think seeing how upset I get with every BFN makes DH want to do anything to keep me happy so maybe it's time to turn on the waterworks?? 😂😂

My parents live in London and bought their house for 200k and it's now worth 550k 😱 how can prices get so expensive?? I can't imagine prices going anymore higher. It already seems ridiculous! I'd love up North/Midlands prices but for down here in the South. I studied in Sheffield and that was great... temporarily, but I'd want to be closer to home long term.

Also just found out my 18 year old sister has a boyfriend and has lost her virginity!! 😂😂 I lost mine 3 months into Uni too 😂😂

OP posts:

ButterscotchBabe · 01/01/2021 18:09

I've felt so awful today, mainly feeling very sick. I did have a few drinks last night but drank more on Christmas Day and didn't feel this bad the day after!

Glad you got to your parents okay, hopefully the roads will be just as quiet on the way back.

Ah yes if your body is used to waking up at 1pm it's going to be a struggle to get up for work! Maybe set an alarm for 10am tomorrow and then 9am on Sunday? I tend to wake up
quite early (around 4am) and then try to go back to sleep!

OPK positive today 😊, so ovulation will probably be tomorrow. We really need to DTD today but I'm struggling with my queasy stomach! Tuesday might not be too late, it will depend when you ovulate. Are you doing OPKs this month?

I doubt the doctors will be too bothered, they'll probably be pleased to have the business! I emailed the fertility clinic and they said NHS patients wait around 3-4 months for their consultation, private patients wait around 3-6 weeks. Once patients have had a consultation then treatment is started at the same time. So basically private patients get in the door quicker but once you're in they don't treat you any quicker than NHS. So if I don't get a BFP this cycle I'll see if I can persuade DP to agree to make an appointment.

Yes Newton Abbot is a bit cheaper but we wouldn't want to live there, it's got a bit of a reputation 😂. £500K is a nice budget, although property in your area is quite expensive so you need it! Our budget will be £200K, which is enough to get what we want, if we move. You could get a mansion in Birmingham for £500K 😂.

Original poster

unCliche · 31/12/2020 20:33

I made it to my parents. The roads were pretty empty which made for a very easy journey.

It did take a while for me to fall asleep but I managed it eventually and slept right through the night until 1pm. I should fix my body clock with work starting soon again! How has your sleeping pattern been?

I won't be able to DTD on Sunday plus I'm at my parents over the weekend so Tuesday and maybe Wednesday are the only probable days and they may be too late. Oh well! Onto the next cycle.

It's not really the money I'm worried about. I just think the doctors will think we're silly. But having that peace of mind will be worth a lot more than paranoia. I'm not sure how waiting list works but I assume they'll have a specific block of time where only NHS patients can be seen. They'll probably be more flexibility for private patients. Give them a call in the new year.

OPK positive yet?

I draft the pattern first and then cut it out of the fabric. But you can also just draw it out on the fabric but I like working with paper.

Just had a quick look at Devon house prices and 😱 our budget is 500k and if we were buying in Devon, we'd get so much for our money. We could buy this! I hope you won't have to go down the IVF route so you can get your house quicker. It took us about a year to save 15% so hopefully it won't take you too long! Fingers crossed for next year!!

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ButterscotchBabe · 30/12/2020 20:28

Oh no, hopefully you'll be tired today and will be able to sleep better tonight! I think lots of people are struggling with sleep at the moment, it's probably a symptom of this ongoing lockdown, lack of daily structure and things to look forward to.

Okay maybe it's best to keep your current appointment and DTD as close as you can before it. If that's Sunday you would be on CD13? That should be close enough to give you a chance at conceiving, as you can also DTD the day after the appointment.

Most people would probably say you didn't need to get tests after 3 months of trying but if you can afford it and it gives you piece of mind nothing is wrong, then it's probably worth it. On the other hand if they do find something wrong, then you'll be glad you found out sooner rather than later!

We will go private but I don't know how the lists work, would they have one for private patients and one for NHS and let in 2 private per every 1 NHS?! I guess they'd never tell you that...

OPKs are still negative today so hoping I get a positive tomorrow, meaning ovulation would then be on CD15. Seen as my previous 5 cycles have all been quite different, I can't predict what's gonna happen!

Haha yeh the bias binding is easy now! My fashion sketchbook and pencils arrived today so I can start designing my own patterns 😊. Do you just measure out the fabric or measure out the pattern on paper first and then draw round it on the fabric?

Yeh that would be a big job to replace all the tiles and silly if it doesn't need it, I reckon the changes you've suggested would make a big difference. Ideally I'd like a semi detached 3 bed with lots of outdoor space, so we have the option to extend. We can't afford that in Devon but hoping the West Midlands will have something we like within a reasonable price range. We've only got around a 3rd of the deposit we need at the moment, so we won't be in a position to buy for at least another year. Could be longer if we have to pay for IVF!

Original poster

unCliche · 30/12/2020 17:25

I guess since I've tested HPV positive two years in a row and it hasn't developed into cancer that I'm probably safe for another 3 years. I wonder if my body will fight it off eventually. Anyway, as long as it isn't causing any damage...

I had such a terrible night. I couldn't sleep during the night and eventually fell asleep at 10am!!! And then woke up at 1pm! So I was basically awake for 24 hours then only got three hours sleep. Nightmare...!

DH doesn't want to change the appointment as his work schedule will get busier in the coming weeks and then we'd both have to find a time where we were both free. I'm getting major buyers remorse. I feel silly that we've just paid so much for tests that we may not even need after only trying for 3 months! 😪

If you go private you may be able to get a quick appointment as you'll probably be a priority over NHS patients as there's a longer list. Money talks.

It could be the vitamins, however B6 should be preventing spotting! Not causing it. I guess I can ask the fertility doctor about it and see what they say.

Oh dear! Annoying that he isn't more willing!! It literally wouldn't hurt him to try. You may need to start crushing it into his dinner 😂

How are your OPKs doing? Since I probably won't get pregnant this month I'll have to stalk your cycle instead!

Haha aww! You live and you learn. Mistakes are the best way to gain knowledge so at least you know for next time. Seems like you're a bias binding expert now though!

I wouldn't want to retile the walls as they're in pretty good condition and I'd also have to remove the whole bathroom so I'll probably just get rid of the blue border tiles and replace them with grey/black ones and go for a monochrome look. What sort of house are you thinking of buying in the future?

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ButterscotchBabe · 29/12/2020 20:03

That's great there's nothing more sinister going on, although I'm surprised they don't want to do another smear for 3 years. When I was HPV positive last year they said they test every year if you're positive. I was then negative this year so now don't need a smear for 3 years. At least you can relax and know it's not cervical cancer!

Good luck with your appointment next week, that's great you got one so soon. However could you change it to the week after? It would be a shame to lose this month to TTC when your DH could do the sperm test another time.

DP doesn't want to approach the fertility clinic yet but I may get in contact and see what the waiting list is because if it's long, we'll need to get on it soon!

I've seen on here many times people saying that Seven Seas Trying to Conceive multivitamins messed with their cycles, I know you're not taking this specific one but the vitamins could be having an effect, difficult to know. Hopefully you'll have a better idea of what's going on after some tests.

Yeh I think the only day I've had off drinking since the 23rd was Boxing Day and that was only because I was hungover 😂.

It's good your DH is willing to try the vitamins, I suggested getting some vitamins to DP and he said "I don't need vitamins, we just need to eat more fruit and veg" 🙄 so I think that's a dead end 😂.

Yes the fabric was perfect for a maxi dress but unfortunately I didn't account for the extra space needed to walk 😂. It was too tight round the ankles when I took a step, so I've had to chop the bottom off and make a midi dress. Although I've just noticed one side is longer than the other urgh! Least I know for next time making a maxi dress, allow extra material at the bottom!

Your new living room and bathroom look very spacious! Yeh I agree the current bathroom colouring isn't great. For bathrooms I quite like monochrome or stoney/sandy colours. The darker colour you've given the floor does look better, maybe you could add some more colour to the walls, would you be able to retile? Larger tiles can look really nice but it would probably cost a lot to redo the whole room. Good idea to add a rug to the living room, that will make it cosy and warmer for the feet!

Original poster

unCliche · 29/12/2020 14:19

Aghhhhh! Just realised, the clinic said DH has to save his sperm for 2 to 5 days so we can probably only have sex up to two days before the appointment and I'll be ovulating anytime between Monday and Wednesday. Boo! Might have to sit this month out.

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Original poster

unCliche · 29/12/2020 14:12

Original bathroom... Looks like a hospital.

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