TTC 35+ Thread 8

@thislittlebird it's a ridiculous amount of time to wait! The annoying part for me is even if I pay for a private amh and afc I will still need to pay consultation fees etc with a private clinic and have to pay for the clomid which is obviously not ideal as I'm trying to save for ivf should I need that! And that's even if the private clinic want to give clomid as loads of people seem to be sent straight towards ivf with private. It's just really put a spanner in the works for me, if I had a few extra years on my side I may wait or just get the amh and afc done and then wait to see the nhs consultant but I don't. I don't know what to do now 🙁

@Marvellouslymadmum Thank you. I've just had a quick read and it does sound promising. Albeit at £4K per cycle for a 7-29% chance of success I am not sure it will be for us.

@thislittlebird No, I haven't had the afc / amh tests yet. Are they typically done after referral from the GP?

@wj82 I'm not sure what improving eggs means, as I didn't think changing what we already have in our ovaries was possible. Seems I do need to do some reading. Thank you.

@TTCat39
Have you tried reading "it all starts with the egg?"
I picked this book up after going through this thread and like the ladies here, it gives me a lot of hope in terms of improving my eggs.

@Marvellouslymadmum shared her list of concoction so do look for that (a few pages up).

Coq10 is supposedly very helpful (I take it too) but be careful with the type you buy. Ubiquinone is not the one you should go for ...I think ubiquinol is the better absorption one.

@TTCat39 Have you had an afc and amh test yet? It might give you a clearer picture of what those numbers mean. If you know those you might be able to see which clinics are best suited to help you, like the low ovarian reserve ones (including Create).

@Marvellouslymadmum that is so long. Ridiculous. I wouldn’t wait that long. I’m only waiting until may because when I had a private consultation hoping to discuss clomid and they kept raising ivf so I thought I’ll do the nhs one in may and then go from there.

@thislittlebird the man on the phone said they triaged the referral and decided it was a routine thing rather than an urgent one - which yes I understand so it goes on the waiting list and that is currently about 33 weeks and then I'll probably just get a phone call at 33 weeks! Which I don't get, I need tests not a phone call 🤦🏼‍♀️

@Loladoodle im at the point where I don't care lol we have tried anyway and if it happens I'll cross that bridge when we come to it (and probably smack myself on the head every year 😂)

@Twelvestars it's only a referral to find out if there's anything wrong etc may be given clomid but we won't be eligible for ivf anyway that would have to be private. Apparently that is the waiting time here in East Sussex to be seen by a gynaecologist! The trouble is I don't have time on my side full stop as I just turned 42! 😢

@TTCat39 there's a couple of people who have had the same issues recently, I believe you can look into 'natural ivf' which is done at the care fertility clinics I think! But some of the others may be able to help you more

I've had my CD2-4 blood test results back and I'm really worried that not only does it not look good in terms of ttc naturally, but that we won't get any help either. My results are -

FSH 13.2 iu/L
LH 10.4 iu/L
Oestradiol 175pmol/L

LH and Oestradiol seem to be in range for CD2-4, but FSH is too high, which indicates depleted ovarian function. I know I still have my CD21 test for progesterone to go yet, but the NHS guidelines in my area for acceptance onto IVF are an FSH lower than 9. So...what happens next? I am catastrophizing to the point of panic.

[quote Twelvestars]@lemonade83 I am sorry you’re out but at there’s always next cycle so a few days and you’ll be back in it! Or a prenant holiday as you said. I’m expecting AF tomorrow so let’s see. I am trying not to test. Trying real hard! Gonna go wash some veggies 😅[/quote]
Lots of typos! I really should stop walking around as I type my responses here. Corrections : at least - pre baby

**Actually between tomorrow and Friday. I’m 11 dpo today.

@lemonade83 I am sorry you’re out but at there’s always next cycle so a few days and you’ll be back in it! Or a prenant holiday as you said. I’m expecting AF tomorrow so let’s see. I am trying not to test. Trying real hard! Gonna go wash some veggies 😅

@Marvellouslymadmum omg what!!! 12th November is a LONG WAIT! That’s crazy. But why? I don’t understand. Yes, definitely go private. If there’s anything that comes up in the tests that needs to be addressed, at least you’ll have time on your side.

@Marvellouslymadmum we have 7 birthdays nov-jan also 🤯 with Christmas thrown in the middle! It really would not be ideal 😅 but beggars can’t be choosers as I avoid dtd as much as possible during fw

What do you mean you were triaged and now have to wait 33 weeks? That’s a long time? @Marvellouslymadmum

@Loladoodle I know exactly how you feel, Christmas would definitely not be ideal for us as we have four teenagers between us (very expensive) three of which have birthdays in December 🤦🏼‍♀️ plus 5 other family members thrown in for good luck - I guess March is a fertile time for my family.

@lemonade83 sorry you're out this month, when you know she's on her way it kind of prepares you doesn't it?!

I've just called the booking system for my gynaecology app only to be told I was triaged on 26th as a routine, which is fine, but the wait will be approx 33 weeks for an appointment! Which is around 12th nov so I'll
Prob have to go private for tests as I just don't feel I can wait that long for them 😑

Also very impressed with 100km running...im more of a walker and have been using ttc as an excuse not to go for run/jog lately!

Hi all! Hope you are all doing well....have my fingers crossed for those of you in tww!
I am out as of today, but knew it was coming yesterday, so almost over the disappointment now. I figure it increases my chances of getting a pre baby holiday abroad now...haha!
In terms of the dual opks...i always thought the flashing indicates oestrogen rising and static is for your lh surge. The fact it tracks oestrogen which rises before lh gives you a few extra days? Will be closely studying again next week!! :-D

@KG1145 yes stay with us here! It is not an overstatement when I say that your positive news is just filling me with hope! Plus it’s so much fun here 😂

@Geriatric1234 I use the pink CB (with static or smiley face - no flashing smiley). But from the pictures provided, the lines are there but they seem similar to me, even the one of today slightly darker. The test you’re using looks for estrogen and LH and if your test works similarly to the pink one I use (it only detects LH), you could be on your way to a solid smiley in the next few days. Last 2 months I was ovulating CD 11 but this month I ovulated CD 13!

@Noodella18 good luck and positive vibes for your sister! 100 kms this month! What an achievement for the physical effort and of course the fundraising and amount you’ve raised! How did you manage to run this much in one month? Did you follow a program? Did you work your way up to it? I love running but I don’t know if I can do THAT! Hats off!

@Noodella18 👏 great achievement! I hope your sister makes a fast recovery 🙏 i am running and walking a lot more too- it’s so good for emotional well being my mood is so much better when exercising regularly.

@Geriatric1234 tequila is also good for emotional well being right? 😜

This is the most lax I’ve been in a year of ttc, have had so much on lately and some stressful events over the course of the month that I’m just kindof exhausted and thinking will dtd when I want to and feel like it, will not be doing opk and when I checked what due date would be it said Christmas Eve 😅 i mean I’d take that date over Never having a baby but It’s not ideal given I have 2 other children to think of at Christmas 😅 secretly hoping Sod’s law will upduff me and I will end up having a Christmas baby with it being far from ideal

Ohhhhkayyy - thank you @sickofthisyear, that really helps make sense of it! Xxx

@Misty84 sorry about the news at your appointment btw- glad you're making some positive plans to move forward. x

I think just DTD when you can manage it! The flashing smiley gives you the approx start of your fertile window, but personally we couldn't manage all those days 😂 so just try and get the day before and day of peak so it's closer to ovulation as those days show best outcomes.
I'm trying not to put too much pessure on DH though. Sperm hangs around for about 5 days. Ovulation happens about 24-36 hrs (I think) after LH surge.

Thanks for the advice @sickofthisyear about testing twice a day, def something I need to do to catch that peak as I never seem to have one. Are you supposed to dtd ASAP when you see it?!
I’m only on CD2 so a bit of waiting to go 🙄

Pic would help 🤦🏼‍♀️

@Geriatric1234 this pic shows my reading from FMU (on left) -flashing smiley with not quite peak OPK- and then reading from 3pm same day- static smiley with peak OPK. But you can see the difference on the CB sticks is tiny, I think the monitor is just more sensitive.
(I tested again that day as I have peaked on CD14 for last 3 months and was cross that might mess up my pattern! 😂)
I don't know how it measures oestrogen 🤷🏻‍♀️, but that's how you (hopefully) get a longer 'heads up' to your surge. I got flashing on CD10 but because I have a regular cycle I was fairly sure I still had time to DTD before peak. Managed CD11, 13 and 14. Now 2DPO.... 😬
For others waiting for peak, the LH surge can be quick so if irregular cycles I would recommend twice daily testing when you think it's coming or you might miss peak reading. Or some months you just don't get a peak, try not to panic. Baby dust to all. ☺️

@Noodella18 what an amazing achievement! Also sending lots of love and good wishes to your sister xx

@Noodella18 I can imagine! But yes definitely worth the money you've raised. Yes we live in battle, East Sussex so kind of in the countryside with woods and fields all around us and 20 min drive to the sea so we often take the dogs along there when the weather allows