TTC after ectopic/after loss/older age etc ALL WELCOME 🙂

@Stategigi well done for listening to your body.

@MrsB2019x and @YellowZ had to go into the office today (my office is in the sticks) so no chance of buying a test. I've started spotting though and continuing to cramp so I think I'm probably out unfortunately. It's not normal though as I don't usually spot - not since the ectopic and cyst removal. And I'm maaaasively bloated - which I don't usually get anywhere near this bad before AF.

I also don't understand why some months some tests turn positive after the time limit. It was only one this month, but a couple of months ago 3 tests by 2 brands turned positive after the time limit just before AF arrived.

This month has just hit me hard as it's our 6th cycle and it took 6 cycles for our daughter. I was told it would have been hard to conceive due to the cyst I had removed so thought it might be quicker this time. And our ectopic was also first time.
I know I have a lot going against me fertility wise: cyst, prolactinoma, short luteal phase, one tube, high bmi (though I am 10 kg lighter than last pregnancy), and my age (38). Think next month I'm going to focus on getting healthier, and also get things like my prolactin levels rechecked (I hadn't checked those since the before the ectopic and they took a while to come down after my first pregnancy even with medication. Im wondering if my hormones are a bit messed up. I've had night sweats most nights this cycle which I usually get a couple of nights before my period. Only times I've had them continuously before if when my prolactin has been high (because of the prolactinoma and after pregnancy)

Hi @YellowZ , @lemonyfox , @Confusedddddddd ,
Thanks so much for your kind messages. It all got a bit much for me so went insular to listen to my body and the consultants and I decide what to do. We went a few more days off HCG levels. They were still low-ish (under the 1,500 threshold) but as they only ever kept increasing and I hit over 1,070 on the Friday before Christmas the consultant thought it was fair to go to surgery. On the Wednesday before I insisted on scan and saw some blood but he wasn't concerned. One point I found interesting is that not all patients rupture and often blood can drip out of the end of your tube into your abdomen due to the implantation damage. That rupture when ectopic is found early is quite rare. It's when your symptoms are changing that you have to be wary and go in for another quick check up as the internal bleeding could be increasing / 'adnexal mass' increasing in size.

It was absolute hell and of course devastating to lose a fallopian tube but the feeling was an EM would leave damage and increase risk of another EM in that tube which was a turn off of keeping it for me.

I'd also note that expectant manage is more prevalent as a treatment in Europe than the US, when found early, as they're finding many can resolve by themselves. But of course go straight to A&E if you have a change of symptoms or increase in pain. Which I did do one night.

I'm pasting below all my details for anyone else that finds them helpful in the future. I'm so grateful to all you kind ladies that responded to me in detail and checked in when I went radio-silent. You're all stars in the sky.

ßhCG / Serum Progesterone levels:

• Date: 07.12.2023, ßhCG: 67 mU/l, serum progesterone: 55.10 nmol/l
• (4 weeks, 3 days)
• Date: 11.12.2023, ßhCG: 331 mU/l, serum progesterone: 53.50 nmol/l
• Date: 12.12.2023
• night - spotting. Friday night it started coming on my pad more in addition to the wiping.
• Date: 15.12.2023, ßhCG: 402 mU/l, serum progesterone: 31.50 nmol/l
• confirmed ectopic, found in left fallopian - mass size - 8mm x 8mm x 8mm). That evening 1am to 5.30am @ A&E as pain felt more insistent and throbbing radiating down both legs and into hip. They said it was good I went in but confirmed it wasn’t rupture. I would note that if you’re rupturing you need to get to your closest A&E so they can monitor you. But not all A&E have gynae specialties so they’d then transfer you to appropriate hospital. Bleeding started coming on my pad more in addition to the wiping. I also passed a very thin, long blood clot in the hospital and some pain eased after that. ßhCG 516
• Date: 18.12.2023, ßhCG: 594 mU/l, serum progesterone: 29.50 nmol/l, repeat bloods on 20.12.23 (NA).
• (Mass sized- size 12 mm x 12 mm x 9 mm)
• Date: 20.12.2023, ßhCG: 866 mU/l, serum progesterone: 26.90 nmol/l
• (I insisted on scan as had some slightly different symptoms (ache in shoulder and some shooting jabs up belly) and they found 5-10ml of internal bleeding but the mass had shrunk a little to 9mm.)
• Date: 22.12.2023, ßhCG: 1071 mU/l, serum progesterone: 25.50 nmol/l.
• Admitted for surgery Friday 22nd. It was pushed as other emergency surgeries came in. I went in on Saturday late afternoon and was back on the ward by 8.15pm.

In surgery they said there was 50ml internal bleeding and the mass had grown to circa 2 cm and so I’d been admitted at the right time. It did start to throb more insistently again on the Saturday afternoon so I was glad I was taken in for surgery and in hospital already. I stayed another night and released the next day - Christmas Eve.

The surgery was absolutely fine, I breathed in the anaesthesia and next thing I'm waking up in the recovery room. Your throat is a little sore from the tube for a few days but nothing some tea can’t help. Belly is sensitive but I coped with just paracetomol/ibuprofen. I didn’t take the codeine as I know it constipates me. Constipation itself was very real after the surgery (still now) but I find eating the right things and keeping hydrated makes a big difference. So smoothies, salads, water and lots of fruit etc. I did have several occasions of sitting for 45 minutes to an hour on the toilet. Key was not to strain and let the body work it out. Nerve-wracking nonetheless!

I also found I had very, very intense period cramps about 30 hours after surgery as my uterus started shedding. The pains lasted for a few days. Still spotting now over a week later.

My wonderful ward nurse encouraged walking lightly to help recovering. I'm sure this helped me. But definitely worth taking it easy.

I hope this helps someone in the future like other ladies helped me. I'm happy to answer any questions.

This was our first month trying and first ever conception. So it's been a rollercoaster of a month. Knowing I now don't have a fallopian tube and have 2 fibroids and am 37 years old puts the spotlight on TTC but I hope to have positive outcomes like many of you women. Let's hope that fallopian tube swings around! I'm so happy to see so many BFPs and sending all the best wishes to you all on your journeys. How incredible women are and the men/partners that support us!

xxx

@YellowZ @MrsB2019x sending all the positive vibes to the universe for positive scans for you both! Glad you don't have to wait too long... but equally know any length of wait is so tough! x

How exciting!! Fingers crossed for you both

@YellowZ ah fantastic! Bet you can't wait! Great yours is booked too @MrsB2019x ! X

Exciting @YellowZ ! Mine is on 16th when I will be 6+6, they offered 8th but it would’ve been tricky to get childcare that day so opted to wait. Waiting will be a killer though!

Any sign of AF @Confusedddddddd ?

@Bumblesbee84 I've spent the last few weeks googling and read a bit of it start with the egg. I'm just guessing but as I had a missed miscarriage and still had major symptoms I think I was ok carrying so I'm thinking it was more likely an egg problem. So have been super focused on improving egg quality.

Like @YellowZ I got from it that CoQ10 especially the ubiquinol version omega 3 and methylfolate as opposed to folic acid seem to quiet important.

@Bumblesbee84 thank you, that makes sense. We have no DC yet, and with the free option, we may go for it. I'm 38 now (had just turned 37 when we started ttc), so no time to waste though.

@CatCaretaker we've decided against ivf as we'd have to self fund which would be tricky and the stats for success at 40 are only around 10%, so if we did fund a cycle there'd be 90% chance it wouldn't work. I don't think I can put us through that. I've done lots of soul searching and ultimately I know we'll be ok if it's just our beautiful DS and us. But I do feel we're still in with a shot trying naturally so happy to keep going for now.

@YellowZ thanks for that info, think I'm going to look into a bit more and do some online purchasing!

Thanks all, going to try to think positively (that'll help, right? 😂).

@Bumblesbee84 yes, will keep SMEP in mind from here on. May I ask why you guys have decided against IVF? I don't know much about it but again, open to all viewpoints. They have introduced a round of free IVF here in Ireland for the first time, so it might be a possibility for us (where it wouldn't have been in the past).

@YellowZ I can understand your trepidation, but I've got everything crossed for you. When do you think you'll have your first scan? Soon enough right, due to past ectopic?

@CatCaretaker I've tried to bear the sperm meets egg plan in mind every time we've TTC. Basically very regular sex just before, during and after ovulation and seems to have worked quite well for me so far.

@Gracie1825 @YellowZ I'm 39, wondering if I should change my vitamins regime. I'm just taking standard pregnancy vitamins. So hard to know. Tbh I've eaten so badly and drunk loads over the festive period, feel like I would have given my eggs a good battering. Start again this month though!

We've decided to get some tests some privately as we've had 3 losses. Was chatting to a friend who's had ivf and she was quite blunt (which in hindsight i appreciate!) and basically agree said nhs will involve lots of waiting and disjointedness and I don't have time for that. Me and DH have said we wouldn't do ivf but would be good to know if there is anything we can do to reduce miscarriage risk again.

@Confusedddddddd if AF is due, is it worth POAS with a digital?? Or do you wait for Internet cheap positive first? That's what I try to do, but I've been known to crack open a digital when I've run out... no self control with testing!

My eggs are well old so definite need all the help..I've started taking proceive max, extra coq10 and extra folate omega and have reduced caffeine in the hopes that will help.
I was thinking about so trying the NAC @YellowZ heard it tastes odd? Not that it matters the proceive max is pretty vile but sure we'll do what it takes

Yeah, I should start running again, even just short ones! Really glad for you that it worked out!

Happy new year everyone!

So after my faint lines I took a couple of other tests which were stark white negative.
Before popping round some friends I thought I'd just check I'm definitely not pregnant before I go drinking, 9dpo stark white negative, I have a 10 day LP so figured if it's negative now I'm probably out. Drank a decent amount but not enough to give me a hangover, couldn't sleep last night and feel like absolute crap this morning, probably from lack of sleep as didn't drink excessively, at least I didn't feel drunk. Anyways feeling a bit concerned I dig out the test- there's a very faint but obvious line in the daylight.
I'm also out of sensitive tests - all I have are digitals, and everything is shut today. FML.
AF should arrive later today or tomorrow and as I'm typing this I am feeling a bit crampy so it probably is just an evap (though test was still wet when I dug it out).

SMEP! That's it, thank you @YellowZ. Will up the healthy eating game again, and stay off the alcohol from here out. I read somewhere once that those who don't drink in the week leading up to ovulation have a better chance... I'll try everything.