TTC 35+ Thread 7

@Marvellouslymadmum as well as my low progesterone I have always suffered with anxiety and stress, I definitely think it impacts sex drive like for your DH. Maybe not for everyone, but I'm sure it has an effect on me.

Yeah I think they're the 5mg prednisolone tablets, and also on Azithromycin, and then onto Lymecycline. I'm less worried about those as I feel like people must conceive on antibiotics all the time.

I totally get not considering adoption when you have kids already. I am unsure about it myself, I'm trying not to think too far ahead and panic.

@Twelvestars it's month 3 of the monitor, so still pretty new! That info is really helpful, thanks. I've been prescribed Citalopram too. I read stuff from people saying there's a better one for ttc and started getting anxious about taking it or trying to come off of it. It's 10mg, I've been anxious all my life but never been prescribed anything for it until now. What dose did you have? The dermatologist seemed to think it would help me with the skin and ttc.

After initially thinking I wouldn't ttc this month now I'm thinking I might. Got a few days to decide yet, but the idea of missing a month is bugging me lol. I might try to book a hycosy for my next cycle so that it's done before my NHS referral appointment.

@thislittlebird what have they prescribed for the anxiety? I've been on sertraline 50mg for about 3 years now and it's been life changing. I continued taking them throughout my pregnancy and my girl is perfect, very bright and has hit all of her milestones. My gp said that the risks posed from the drug were far lower than the risks of uncontrolled cortisol from my severe anxiety. I think sertraline is the ssri of choice for pregnancy and also breastfeeding (if that's your intention.)

@Marvellouslymadmum wow! That’s some serious stuff there! Sorry you and your son have to go through this but at least now you know it when it comes on and you catch it early with the necessary treatments before it turns into anything more sinister. We all need to avoid hospitals as much as possible in this new covid world we’re living in!

@Twelvestars I have severe brittle asthma which means it can go from being fine to ending up in the hospital within 10 minutes. I've had bronchitis so many times and it easily turns to bronchial pneumonia if not caught quick enough with the treatment and often if they just give me the antibiotics I'll need a second or third course then they'll eventually end up giving me the steroids too to kick it, a normal chest infection always turns to bronchitis and lasts a minimum of 6 weeks up to about 12 weeks if not caught quick enough so it's kind of a preemptive strike, my son asp has the same issues and has done since he was just 7 months old, was in and out of hospital I don't know how many times and also had to have the same, I even have a rescue pack of steroids at home for him that I have to give him as soon as he gets a cough before even going to the docs

@Marvellouslymadmum bronchitis is annoying isn’t it? But why the steroids? Is it that severe? I remember I had a bad case of bronchitis Jan 2020 (I still suspect it’s covid cause I had to go to ER and was given oxygen and we’d been travelling through several international cities and airports for Christmas holidays) and they gave me just antibiotics. But it took 2 weeks for my chest to completely clear itself. Hope you feel better soon ❤️

@thislittlebird ah right! I hope you enjoy your new monitor then. As for anxiety meds... I have suffered from anxiety all my life. It comes and goes in waves. This period I’ve been feeling anxious. So sometimes I take a very small dose of Xanax (0.25 mg) to relax me before bed. But I am very careful with how often I use it so it’s just when I strictly feel like my anxiety is through the roof. But in 2011 I was put on Wellbutrin and then Citalopram in 2012 and getting off them was very easy. In my case no withdrawal symptoms. But they helped me a lot and although it’s been ages since I took them, they sorted me out for good. If you feel anxious and stressed, would you consider taking the lowest dose? Our mental health comes first. As for steroids and its impact on ttc, I am none the wiser in this department.

@selina37 right! The whole buildup to meeting for the first time and even the buildup to follow up dates especially when there’s been a long wait in between and online chats in tandem. Sorry if I missed your story on here but this thread moves soooooo fast, but did you meet your partner online?

@Magnum99 men are infuriating aren't they! A lot if the time for us it's kind of the other way around as I have a high drive and he suffers with stress and anxiety so often isn't in the mood due to that, I do have a strop sometimes and must confess I did wake him up for it in the fw 🙊 but i wouldn't do that if he had to get up in the morning and or had a long day or anything and most of the time I'm very understanding.

@thislittlebird I was so pleased when I actually got a helpful gp! As far as the steroids if they're 5mg each that's standard and 6 is the standard adult dose, I've been given 7 before and usually have to take them for 7-14 days whereas a lower dose would be a 3 or 5 day course, I'll also get out on a high dose of antibiotics as sometimes it can take a few doses of these and steroids to get rid of it all. So sounds like you're on a pretty standard dose and the fact they're dropping them down but keeping you on them for a while is to keep them in your system with a slow reduction so they keep on working, so should really help. Thank you I'm hoping I've caught it quick! X

I use the clearblue advanced digital connected which is very similar to the monitor, and I think I'm in the almost whatever it takes group as we would deffo go to ivf maybe even egg donor or surrogacy but I don't think we would adopt, not that I wouldn't love to, I've always thought it would be an amazing thing to do I'm just not sure it would bring our children closer and bond our families like we hope a little one would but you never know! I wouldn't rule it out that's for sure.
My oh takes anti anxiety meds if he doesn't take them the anxiety can get worse but he's no addicted to them in any way shape or form if that helps, and you absolutely can just stop the steroids if you needed to.

@selina37 that was definitely the exciting part about online dating, I found for all the first people I met I had different expectations in my head and was disappointed but learned to be more open minded after a while lol

@Twelvestars I can definitely vouch for the whole romance building through messages and phone calls!! I remember being so nervous on the first date thinking 'please live up to the dream' as it seemed just too good to be true! 😂

@Magnum99 Yep I really can’t be bothered to dtd when it’s not fertile window either! Once a week is enough for me haha! Luckily OH seems to be more or less on the same page. We’re just so tired from work that going to sleep is far more appealing!
I think you’re quite justified in being annoyed at your DH waking you up at 1:30am!!

Sorry forgot to finish saying to @Twelvestars that I don’t think I can stop the drugs unfortunately, I think it’s a bit risky to suddenly stop oral steroids which is what it is. I need to get on top of my stupid skin anyway, I’ll have 5 weeks to go from Wednesday with the dose decreasing weekly. I’m fairly sure antibiotics are fine for ttc, not sure about the aforementioned anxiety drug though.

I think we’re both knackered and the chances are slim we’d initiate much outside of the schedule right now @Magnum99. But waking you up at 1.30am sounds a little late - do you think he’s making a point?

I don’t have a high sex drive either, less so as i get older so it’s the last thing on my to do list usually. Weirdly a symptom of low progesterone too, which I seem to have.

why does mumsnet do that for weird link thing? Here’s a clean link in case the one up there takes you nowhere @KG1145
www.amazon.co.uk/Gut-revised-expanded-Giulia-Enders/dp/1911344773?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Glad MD got better for you @Marvellouslymadmum. Yeah I’m glad CB figures it out, you know? I’m going to do it whether we try or not, want to see how it goes.

Oh, to have second option of GP! I’m glad the second one is helping you more, that sounds like good things to get going on. I’m interested in your steroid experience. Do you know what counts as a high dose? I’m on 6 tablets per day per week, then 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, then stop. Sometimes I do wonder if my dumb auto immune diseases also have an impact on my ability to conceive, who knows. Hopefully your chest isn’t too bad x

On the topic of meeting other halves...mine was at work, not very exciting I’m afraid lol. But we had a mortgage together just over a year later and I simply would never ever have done that with any exes, weird how it happens.

Missed you all too @Twelvestars! I have not been fantastic company the last couple of days. Today I was furious at the inanimate object that is our new laptop

Thank you! I hope we all get our little families, I feel like we should.

The image is a clear blue fertility monitor thingy. Bought one second hand on ebay, i think it does the same thing as the apps some folks here use, you insert the wee sticks into it and it reads them for you.

I’m also in the whatever it takes wagon, I guess. I just fear it all and try not to think too far ahead or I catastrophise. I don’t love the idea of all the drugs etc with ivf and need to do more reading on the mild options I’ve heard about from @Kitekat81. Research is needed on my part. But I’m hoping they might be able to offer me clomid when I go in May.

Is anyone taking anti anxiety meds here will ttc? I have one to start and I’ve been putting it off because I’m worried about what if I want to come off and it’s hard etc. But I’ve been feeling really low and anxious today, was debating starting it.

Anybody else can't be bothered DTD when not in the fertile window?
DH had a strop the other night about it but I think he was out of order. I'd gone to bed and was already almost asleep when he came to bed, he then started touching me and when I told him I wasn't interested he sulked and made comments about it not being on the calendar 🙄
FFS it was 1.30am, I was half asleep, had to be up early for school run and then working a 10 hour shift in the day followed by my self employed business at night. No I don't want to miss sleep to have a shag when I'm not even horny plus I'm not fertile. Even before us TTC I didn't have a high sex drive anyway so at least he's getting more sex than he was a few months ago.
Since when has it even been ok to wake your partner up for sex? I didn't wake him up last week when he fell asleep at 8pm when I was ovulating. Aargh men! 😡

@Twelvestars thank you, I'm seriously considering it again now actually, you've all had such lovely comments about it. My partners son came round at the weekend (this is still allowed in lockdown) and had a cough so it will have come from there but yes it's definitely not Covid just good old bronchitis, I've had it so many times! And yes I've had my first Covid jab. I don't know when the next tests will be yet as I'm now waiting for my referral to come through but 🤞🏻 won't be too long, excellent that all yours are on their way

@climbershell I also want a baby no matter what. If it doesn’t happen naturally then ivf, egg donor, surrogacy, adoption are all routes I’d go down. Whatever it takes!

@Marvellouslymadmum oh sorry you’re feeling unwell! How did you get the chest infection? I am guessing it’s not covid right cause I remember you mentioning you’ve received your vaccine. I might be completely mistaken. Fingers crossed for your tests. Will be doing all of mine at the start of my next cycle which should be in 11/12 days from now and a hycosy on day 5. But if I get a BFP this month then I won’t need those tests. Fingers crossed for us both. When will you do your tests?

@KG1145 did you end up peeing on the stick? Good luck with your tests tomorrow. Annoying about the extra £150... he could easily write the prescription for you and leave it with the secretary for you to pick up without having to blatantly rip you off with a consultation fee that you don’t need.

@Loladoodle I’ve been having random 22 day cycles the past few months, which I don’t know if they qualify as random anymore. My cycles used to be 25/28 but started ttc 3 months ago and I suspect the stress and pressure and worry may be causing it. How long are your cycles usually?

@Magnum99 I’m no expert in all this (apart from what @Pamparam said, honorary MD - made me laugh but I can relate haha) but sounds like perhaps it’s a CP? Also I doubt at 9 dpo anything would be visible. 6 weeks the earliest. Goodluck on Wednesday. Fingers crossed you’ll have answers.

@thislittlebird missed you! Now every time I take my magnesium and B6 I remember you 🤣 just read what you wrote about Mother’s Day... I hope you get to have your little family and become a mom. But like you said, you’ve already got it with your husband ❤️ So this image you shared, is it the clear blue fertility monitor? Btw, if I were your place, and it was just about the steroids and antibiotics, I would continue ttc. If you get BFP you can stop them right away.

@climbershell actually I share your exact sentiments about doing whatever it takes to make this happen. I was at the consultant yesterday and we saw my dominant follicle (I will ovulate tomorrow most probably) and all seems well but I have a list of blood tests to be done and hycosy just as preemptive measures. I’m not wasting a moment. Ideally I would love to have 2 babies before 40 so this gives me 3 years to achieve this goal - in an ideal world but it’s okay to dream. IVF is an option I’m definitely open to. I would love to adopt if I had no other options at motherhood but my husband (understandably) isn’t up for it. So that’s out of the question.

@Marvellouslymadmum your story on how you met your partner is beautiful. Why not write a story about it? That whole part about the cousin and band. How small this world can be! And also @Magnum99. Online relationships can be very beautiful owing to the angst and mystery that builds up over time whilst getting to know the person. You get to know the person in a deeper way that is perhaps not possible (in the early stages) through face to face dating and eye contact. Also all the day dreaming that comes along with it 😅 My husband and I met at a local pub and every time we’d bump into eachother he’d come upto me and try to open up a conversation. I wasn’t interested at all the first month and felt I was better off focusing on my career and what not. Then something clicked. We had a long distance relationship as he lived abroad and would travel back and forth for me. So there was a lot of daydreaming and angst and all that jazz. We got married after 7 months of meeting. We never know when love comes our way but that’s the beauty of it all... in how it unexpectedly it hits you and suddenly everything falls into place. This thought always brings to mind the song “At Last.

@thislittlebird I completely get that, I had a rotten Mother's Day myself to start with but it turned out ok in the end.
My clearblue have asked me to start testing a day later this time as my cycle was 27 days rather than 26 of last month so that makes sense.

I spoke with a different doc on Monday and she completely understood, was lovely and referred my oh for an sa and me to fertility so 🤞🏻 I should get amh and afc and clomid if needed! However today I've come down with a chest infection and I have brittle asthma, so got another appointment tomorrow and will most likely be given steroids and antibiotics too as it's standard protocol for me, they're high dose too as I end up in hospital if I don't have them 😕 I'll carry on ttc anyway as I was given both when pregnant with my son and they told me the risk to baby was higher if I didn't have them than if I did

@KG1145 oh no that's annoying! That's shocking that he wants to charge you again have you not had progesterone tests at all?

@Farfaraway1 thank you ! I have fingers crossed for our BFPs this cycle ! I didnt expect to feel as annoyed as what I did xx

@KG1145 I'd definitely be doing a digital with date as well if I was you 🙃

I think I may be different from some of you, in the fact that I want a family no matter what. If it doesn't happen in the next year then IVF etc, if that doesn't work then adoption, ideally a baby

I'm cd 11 today, so a day off dtd thank god lol. So busy at work, just want to have an early night to sleep lol

My peeing after work on opk is fine, was bursting when I got in at 6pm last night, so went normal person, 45 mins later did opk & it was slightly darker, so all good

Thanks ladies for keeping me sane! 😘

So rushed out on my lunch break for the tests and forgot the forms so having to reschedule anyway... 🙈 Not succeeding very well on keeping stress levels down.

The consultant who already recommended progesterone wants to charge me another consultant fee (£150) before he'll even do the prescription. Yet he was the one who said I 'needed' it from when I got a bfp. It feels ridiculous tbh and I'm annoyed he's made this recommendation without testing my progesterone levels when he did the other tests.

I think I'm going to buy another test to pee on and try and reschedule the blood tests deep breaths

When in doubt pee on a stick 😬😂

@Marvellouslymadmum yeah, rough few days tbh. As mentioned up there Mother’s Day is a big black hole of nonsense for me so I just didn’t want to think about ttc really.

I decided to start testing today with the clear blue gadget. It finally gave me a LOW. Not sure if that’s because of the rejigging thanks to the acupuncture or what, I dunno. It did test a day earlier at cd7 (usually starts asking for sticks day 8, but I ovulated earlier last month and it’s asked for one earlier) so will be interesting to see how it pans out and if it’s straight to HIGH again tomorrow.

My plan not to try at all this month is feeling shaky at this point. I don’t know what to do. I guess I should read more on steroids and antibiotics and ttc. Not sure what others would do in my shoes, it’s hard to know what’s best.

How’s things with you?

@KG1145 This is the book:
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00VGJMAHA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_d_asin_title_o02?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

So far it's really interesting and really highlights how much our gut does, how much it's connected and how influential it is but also how overlooked it is in every way really. Really interesting stuff.

Love the story on how you met @Marvellouslymadmum

Sorry to hear about your likely CP @Fredsmama

@KG1145 I'd still get them done but not sure if it'll help give you any answers about the pregnancy. Great that you got a darker line today though!

@thislittlebird how are you doing?