TTC first baby thread 26

gotta have a laugh about these things @CycloGoose! And that was supposed to say pissing on sticks obviously

I'll reply properly later. Just in a queue but had to laugh. Not heard the word fanny since I was at school 😂😘

Thank you @CycloGoose good luck with the en-suite reno! We've just moved back in after a year having our entire bungalow done. There's still a lot to do but It's so worth it! I think you're right about the 'dieting' I originally tried intermittent fasting after Michael Moseley' 5:2 programme back in 2012 but that's when I realised I needed to sort the hunger out so cue keto low carb paleo etc. And I did so well with these and totally not attached to sugar at all! It really helped to improve my ME symptoms so I stuck with it 80-90% (because life) since 2015 until last summer. While there are so many benefits it really is time consuming cooking everything from scratch all the time and never having anything "convenient" and after 2017 as my ME improved and I started full time work again my lifestyle just didn't allow for all the time needed for planning and it became very stressful no matter how man "hacks" I applied. So the diabetes is bizarre and I think must be autoimmune but nothing found on tests. Anyway after realising I wasn't getting the results I hoped for (either weight loss or blood glucose control) I realised I missed variety as I was slowly but surely going 'off' foods I used to love like bacon and chicken and spinach and cauliflower - I think that was my body's way of saying we need more variety! I'm on insulin and metformin and my blood sugar control has improved and my body shape has also improved - I gained muscle. Lost fat and got a more feminine shape, suggesting this who fat loss stuff really is more than just the diet and exercise!

Please also keep me updated @thislittlebird I'm looking forward to the holistic benefits as well hopefully. I'm hoping it will help with several other symptoms at the same time

Welcome @Deedlebum it really can become all consuming. I even had a break from MN for nearly a year but now back (been TTC since 2018). My morning routine consists of taking my temperature, passing on sticks, and sticking fingers in my fanny! Obligatory charting steps to check ovulation and to plan DTD lovely stuff! There's a lot of ladies on here who are a wealth of knowledge.

@MIW01 sounds like a really painful journey for you both. Good to know nothing 'wrong' fertility wise but also then completely frustrating as to why no BFP!

I think if your dieting was making you stressed it's probably no help. I know lots of people have successfully reversed diabetes with diet but doesn't mean it is going to work for everyone. Sounds like you are on a more realistic track. My heart goes out to you. I'd be suffering serious withdrawal if I had to give up sugar!

@thislittlebird sounds like you have all bases covered on the supplements front. No point in DTD every other day ALL month. Try not to be too hard on yourself.

Welcome @Deedlebum hope you have a calm and successful TWW.

I started ripping out the ensuite yesterday... Therapeutic or more stress inducing I don't know!

Good evening ladies!!
Mind if I join?
Hubs and I are TTC our first after one year of marriage but been together for 10 years.
We decided in Dec 2020 to stop trying not to get pregnant and to just go with the flow and see what happens!
So while we're not avidly trying, I have OBVIOUSLY Googled the bejesus out of conception, fertility, implantation, fertilisation, ovulation, LH, HGC, progesterone, CM, pregnancy tests, ovulation tests... You name it!

Anyway, we're officially on our third proper month of trying. I had a chemical last month (kind of a weird experience seeing that faint positive then bleeding, but not really emotional about it as seriously did not expect anything to happen so soon!).
I'm now on CD14 so officially in the TWW (pretty sure I OV on the 11th, so 3DPO).
PHEW as much as I never thought I would get absorbed by this all... Here I am, completely absorbed!
Good to know I'm not alone though!

Sending lots of love and luck to you all!

@CycloGoose god I could really do with a massage, so annoying that we can’t do all that stuff still, although since you reacted badly you might not want one again lol

I’ve got Seven Seas trying for a baby, ubiquinol, EPO (for days 1-ovulation), Omega 369, acai (antioxidant) and I’ve just ordered magnesium and b6 which may or may not help balance my hormones a bit, we shall see. I also have a vitamin D spray I use when I’m in the mood to lol. Husband has ubiquinol, impryl, omega 3, b12 and vitamin c I think.

I would try these cups if I was any good at using them, but I can confirm I am not so it’s legs in the air for 15 minutes for me lol.

Oh no, it’s not you, sorry, was thinking of someone else on month 1 but 6 months is down the line enough to be having tests on the brain imo. I started them at that point but I had just turned 37 at the time.

We’re trying every other day this month. I say “month” but probably more like two and a bit weeks because we just started yesterday. Handy because I had a migraine today so can’t be getting up to any of that right now but thinking we should have started a little earlier.

Very tempted by the glass Tupperware myself @orangeloo. Most of ours is very old anyway.

@MIW01 let me know how it goes! My next session is 11 March. good news on your tests!

Thanks @Loki21 @CycloGoose HyCoSy is clear, everything suggests we are both fully functioning in terms of fertility! But jist no BFP. I spoke to GP at new surgery yesterday and highlighted the urgency of getting us on the list as as we don't want to have to do a 4th round of tests! I've jist ordered us nearly £100 worth of supplements to try and help! Until recently I followed such a strict lifestyle regime including low carb but still ended up with Type 2 diabetes despite being normal BMI and active etc. So I've jist kinda gone eff it and now jist do everything in moderation as that's far less stressful! I wanted to lose weight for aesthetic reasons rather than health reasons but the only way I could ever achieve that was by literally starving myself and I though that's a bit counterproductive to fertility. It never made any difference to my blood sugar levels.

@thislittlebird I've now got Accupuncture booked for 10th March so will see how that goes.

Now on CD6 of this cycle and resuming DTD routine for it. We'll see what happens!

Fingers crossed for you @orangeloo

Also welcome to the newbies. Top tips try stay calm about it for as long as possible it's quite normal for it to take up to a year.

I got my appointment through on the 8th of March so I'm hoping to start drugs end of March or April latest. It's cycle dependent so 🤞🏼

@Annny27 thanks for new thread and the tag. Yes I have read it, definitely worth a read. Also don't get too hung up on stuff in that you can't avoid all harmful toxin exposure it would be nearly impossible and at least put you in looney bin. I did buy glass Tupperware and actually need to get more sizes so can get rid of the plastic ones altogether. I also have to calm myself when DP sprays his deodorant 🙄😬 (a real bug bear of mine) haha it just makes you so aware of everything. She does say similar in the book; to just do what you can.

Morning @thislittlebird sending calming thoughts 🤣 Glad the acupuncture served at least one of its purposes. I had a lovely massage just before lockdown 3 and came out of it with pityriasis rosea... I don't think my body likes me much.

My supplement stash is diabolical. I already had a few things I was taking so didn't get a pre pregnancy multi so I've got nearly everything on its own 🙄 Are you ready? Here goes! Standard multivitamin with zinc, folic acid, b12 X2 (I'm borderline anaemic otherwise), ubiquinol, Acetyl L-Carnitine, Inositol powder, iron. Feeling I'm missing something.... Oh vitamin D. Husband has a couple of these plus maca root and fennel seed extract. It's terrible. Should have got the multis but I'm in too deep to turn back now!

Also one of the other groups has convinced me to buy a fertil-lily cup. Two of them with bfp this month and one thing in common! Hello Amazon Prime!

I'm not sure what you class as just getting started as I know you're further down the road but we're 6 months in but I'm 34 not 35 so haven't crossed the arbitrary line in the sand.

I'm on CD8 so not far behind but we got early flashy smiley faces - like you. So I'm expecting to be in an anticipatory state for some time. Think DH got a bit confused by them though and I'm worried he's going to burn out. We've DTD 2 days in a row which is not normal for us even when TTC. I'm a bit sore and I'm sure he won't be able to keep it up (for want of a better phrase) until CD14 when I'm guessing I'll ovulate as 'normal'.

Let us know how you get on with the referral.

I’m pretty sure I’m about 96% cortisol right now @CycloGoose. Stress is a huge issue for so many of us imo, especially in this scenario, everything is just compounded and the stress just gets worse. It sucks.

Acupuncture was good, and I do think it chilled me out. I can’t say much more about it really because it’s just kinda odd and not uncomfortable? But I do feel calmer having had it.

Oh no, the supplements are almost embarrassing lmao. How many/what have you got, dare I ask? My collection keeps building 😩. I do have ubiquinol but I only started on this cd1, and only 100mg.

I’m on cd 10, what about you?

I wouldn’t worry too much about tests if you’ve just started ttc, at least I think you said you had so correct me if I’m wrong? But if it puts your mind at ease a couple can’t hurt.

I have no clue what they’re going to do with my progesterone but I wish they’d hurry up. Need to chase my referral on Monday.

Also @thislittlebird how did your acupuncture go yesterday? Good that you do seem to be ovulating but wonder how they're going to help support your progesterone. Do you think you might end up with those suppositories?

Do you take the ubiquinol?

@thislittlebird Thank you so much! That does help. Hopefully that's the same for me.

How do we de-stress ourselves? I swear cortisol is my main hormone at the moment!

I didn't get any flashy smiley faces last time, straight from zero to peak so I'm not sure what is going on to be honest.

I don't think I can take any more supps. The amount I take every day is obscene. I will need a new multivitamin without any vitamin a in when the current batch runs out.

Hope yours works for you! Where are you in this cycle? Sorry, I have lost track!

I think, if we have no joy this month, I might pay to do some of the home tests. I think it will be worth it for me. Don't think DH will do his though!

@Annny27 no, so far no suggestions of anything. Just waiting for referral and trying to help myself in the meantime.

@CycloGoose I don’t know if this helps, but I had a scan recently and my lining was fine. I had the scan because my periods had been so light for a few months I was convinced there’d be nothing in there. Turns out that’s not the case and my body is just playing tricks on me (stress is probably the culprit).

Speaking of flashing smileys, I use the CBAFM and first month it gave me a high from day 8-ovulation when it gave me a peak day 15/16. I assumed this was calibration issues. Maybe it’s not, since I have the same again this month so far.

I’ve ordered some magnesium which is supposed to keep your estrogen in check somehow, and some b6 to encourage progesterone. Would really like my hormones to behave themselves.

@loki21 at least they're getting some testing done for you, which is a start! There's always a chance you've conceived still but sounds like a random long cycle just like I had a random short one.

@MIW01 HyCoSy sounds like advanced trigonometry! Hopefully that will be clear, too. Any suggestions of IVF? Unexplained infertility really perplexes me. Surely they can suggest something? Can they prescribe progesterone instead?

I'm more confused about the flashing smiley on CD7. I don't think I'm going to ovulate on CD10 seems very early to me but I suppose would be in line with another 24 day cycle.

I have a feeling my uterine lining is no good. I take ubiquinol but hasn't changed anything in terms of period flow or duration.

BTW Tesco has 3 for 2 on quite a few supplements

@cyclogoose - thank you, docs said to get my other half tested so he will go for that next week and then see about a referral to infertility clinic. I mean its like my body is just being so cruel - no af and just bfn!
@MIW01 - hopefully you will get some sort of reassurance soon with everything

Hello Ladies

So consultant called and congratulated me on how reassuring everything looks for me and fiancée and then dropped the bomb . . . I won't be prescribed Clomid! As I expected. We discussed my concerns about ovulation but as I expected, reassured me that all the tests indicates I'm ovulating and nothing abnormal detected on the scans. He explained that as it is clear ovulation isn't an issue Clomid would actually be detrimental as it thins the womb lining. Said the HyCoSy should improve our chances TTC. Fiancée's sperm all in good shape blah blah ready to go and get pregnant! Small problem . . . We haven't yet had a BFP in the almost 3 years we've been trying! So now just got to wait for referral in new area to go through. I've chased it as I don't want all our tests expiring yet again and then we need to go for a fourth round of tests! If this is the case My fiancée is hopeful they will have some "fresh material" for him in the new "room of shame" at the hospital . . . But let's no be so cynical here.

@CycloGoose I tried clear blue advanced digital for the first time last cycle and it went straight from blank to solid smiley for me! Apparently the 1st cycle it's jist getting used to your levels so I'm hoping to get a more progressive reading this cycle. We shall. On CD5 now will start testing from CD7.

Oh @Loki21 I'm really sorry to hear that. Do let us know what the doctors say. I hope that it's a false negative for you.

I got a flashing smiley face on CB test today. Only CD7. I'm so confused. Wondering if it's highlighting something odd with my estrogen? Or maybe I'm going to have a short cycle this time? I went straight from blank to solid smiley last cycle so this seems very early. But I did have a random 24 day cycle last time. If that's going to be a the new normal, at least it means I get another 2 cycles a year to try, right!

I couldn't wait and did a test this morning but bfn 😣. I'm heartbroken, everyone on TV seems to talk about their children or being pregnant! I'm so worried we won't be able to have any. I've rang up the doctors though this morning just to see what, if anything we can do next. Hope we all have some good news at some point

Oh ladies, I kind of wish I had but they know when I went off the pill... I've just got to hope we'll be the percentage that's just a bit slower. I just wish it was easier for us all. All this modern technology and something so natural still remains so hard and so complicated.
I feel like there's something wrong but I've been afraid of being unable to conceive all my life. Husband has no fear about it and has promised to get his act into gear more in terms of DTD. Perhaps we haven't been doing it enough/at the right time despite my best efforts.
Meanwhile, I guess we'll have to save up for private IVF.
I like the sound of a cushiony dream home!
A colleague of mine had IVF for her first baby and then got accidentally pregnant with her second. Another paid privately and ended up having identical twins!
Just going to keep chomping my supplements and hope for the best - maybe the Easter bunny will bring us all some fertile eggs!

@CycloGoose I lied as well. When I wasn’t pregnant after 6 months I just knew something was wrong so I went to the gp and said I had been trying for a year. I’m now nearly 2 years in and still not had all the tests (mainly Covid though)

@CycloGoose deffo agree with anny, I fibbed and even then it still took forever to get all the tests done and an ivf referral. I just wished I'd fibbed earlier!

@Annny27 sorry to hear AF showed her face again, still doesn't get easier. I have read that book but certainly heard of it and also bought glass Tupperware and aluminium water bottles etc I reached a point of doing literally anything! My first scan is Friday next week when I'll be 7+2 and it's with the IVF clinic 🤞🏼 the bloating is unreal the last couple of days- literally look 5 months pregnant. Keep trying to talk to our little eggsy with some positive affirmations and telling him/her to stick around as my uterus is a cushiony dream home 😂

@Loki21 4 days past AF sounds promising. I'd be tempted to test again tomorrow.

@XjustagirlX wow that biopsy sounded nasty! If only you were allowed sedation...

Hi @annny27,
Sorry to hear about AF. I felt bummed and we've only been trying 6 months.
Not heard of 'it starts with the egg' but my husband baulks at the stash of nutrients on the counter. He doesn't like taking his.
Surely we'll get there.
I don't think there's any chance we'll get help on the NHS. I'll be too close to 35 by the time we've been trying for a year so need to put energy into being calm and collected.
I'll be so over the moon for any of you ladies. You've really been through the ringer x