The WIMBEWAIF and WIMBEWAINF 2WW club, new and existing members welcome.

In a mad rush... just got in and off out again. Just wanted to say glad it went well yesterday GG sounds like you have a good dr, and you never know, with all the hard work your DH has put in, it may happen naturally in the next few months - and if not, then you have every chance of sucess with the ICSI.

Will read all posts properly tomorrow, and reply to everyone else then as well!!!

MOB XX

GG so glad it went well, and that she thinks your DH's results are better than you'd been told. That must be so great to hear (especially when his good efforts mean his sperm is probably going to get even better). And I'm glad you're comfortable with the doctor. She sounds lovely! Six months will fly by, especially with Bali in August and staying healthy and happy.

SH Have a great time on holidays! And don't worry too much about the gynae - you're not "making a fuss"! You've had an ectopic and a CP and it's perfectly normal for you to ask for reassurance, and further investigation if necessary.

MOB it will be difficult to not be ttc for the momennt . I'm hoping that the time flies just as quickly for you as for GG and that the new year brings you a healthy smear result so you can get back to ttc xx

Bucky sorry that you were upset, but it's good you got things off your chest. Your DP sounds like a sweetheart (and a well-hydrated one at that!).

Jolly so good to hear from you! As SH says, it's good to remember what we're all looking forward to at the end of this

Hi to Ei & PnM and anyone else who's about. I am crazily busy today, so only time for a flying visit to see how GG got on.
xx

I'm really glad that it went well for you GG and that you liked the Consultant. It's excellent that she thought your DH's sperm is not that bad - surely that means they should have some really prime ones to pick from for the ICSI?

Hello jollybear - lovely to hear about tubby tums - it reminds me of what nice things there are at the end of all this!

Poor Bucky, it does sound like you are having a hard time. It's brilliant that your DP is making such an effort though.

I am sorry that your period arrived MOB and I hope that the waiting period flies by. As I think I have said before, the 3 month wait to ttc after my ectopic wasn't too bad. I just looked on it as a chance to do all the things I won't be able to do once I get that BFP! I'm very glad you are not leaving us; I would miss you far too much.

Higs to the rest of you, hope you're enjpying Thursday.

I am still missing my egg, which I hope will hatch tomorrow or Saturday. We're off on holiday tomorrow for a week and I cannot wait! So I will go quiet for a week but will "see" you all when I get back. And I have to go see the gynae on the 11th (Arg! I am feeling a little chicken about that as it gets closer. I am sure he/she will think I am totally foolish for making a fuss...)

hello there - very quick post form me to update you, as I have a meeting at 11

We went yesterday to the Hammersmith hospital and we are now down for ICSI. It was a bit anti-climactic - answering the same questions as before, but this time so Westminster will fund our two cycles of ICSI. Doctor was absolutely lovely (she was Greek and I used to work there, so she was a bit shocked when I replied in Greek to a question ). She said to call her any time with questions and I felt really comfortable with her. She seemed to think DH's sperm results were pretty good for someone with sub-fertility and originally recommended us for straight IVF, until we said, hang on a minute we thought it was ICSI!!!

Because DH's motility/morphology of 45%+ was pretty good in her view, it was just count that she was concerned about and while it was low "it could be improved" and that's why she thought IVF. But she laughed and said, "Oh I can put you down for anyting we like - let's stick down ICSI and that's all fine!".

So I am more hopeful of TTC naturally again after her reaction, although if that was the case why didn't it happen in the first 18 months of trying? Still, doesn't hurt to be optimistic, I suppose.

The down side is that there is a lot more waiting time for us Six months time limit to start treatment from now, so realistically, we are looking at the New Year before we get started with ICSI. It could be quicker than that, but whatever happens it's still going to be months away. Two years from when we first started TTC. What a marathon!

Sorry I don't have time to check up and respond to everyone individually and sorry for the me me me post . I will look in later and read through the thread I get a sec. I'm off to Mr Needles too this afternoon.

GGx

Hello everyone,

Good luck for today GG. I love how your DH has become so committed to everything with his healthy eating and organised files. I'm sure they will be nice and gentle with you at the first appointment . Good luck!

Bucky Sorry to hear you're feeling down. Your DP is a real sweetie too. I think it is good news Mr Needles didn't find anything to target specifically, a general tune up sounds just the ticket! Have you tried removing the door bit and trying to get Molly to go through the hole? That's how we trained our old cat. Hope she gets the hang of it soon.

MOB I'm so sorry you are having to take a break from TTC, it must be very difficult {{{{{hugs}}}}}}

PnM Well done on your mammoth walk! I hope you've recovered. How at your GP. I cannot believe it is going to take so long for a simple test. Hopefully you'll get a BFP long before then which you can rub the GP's face in.... maybe not literally

ei I'm really pleased you have an appointment and really soon! Good luck with your job appointment

Hello to SH and caitni and anyone I've inadvertently missed.

Everything is fine with me and Jollycub. I'm getting a nice tubby tummy and matching swollen ankles

MOB - for you at AF turning up, even when you know it will. It must be so hard for you not TTC after months of trying so hard. Have you sought any more advice from GP or anyone else as to whether ICSI will be suitable for you and your DH and where you might go for treatment? Thanks for the good wishes for this afternoon - means a lot to know there are people looking out for me . I don't know what to expect at all, but I'll post first thing tomorrow with what happened. Maybe I'll learn something that might be useful for us ICSI people generally. Who knows, we might be going through it at the same time - ICSI buddies !

It's a lovely sunny day today in Ye Olde London Towne. River is all sparkly outside and work is slower (thank goodness!) so I am pstching myself up. Don't know why I am so jittery about this appointment !

GG Not long to go now before your appt. Hope it goes well. Don't worry about not having read the book, i'm sure you are already more informed than most people they see! Maybe get a contact name & number of someone you can ring afterwards, incase you & DH get home and suddenly think of lots of things you want to ask. Thinking of you both & with you all the way. XX

Bucky poor Molly - we had a cat like that once. It just took a long, long, time. I'm sorry you feel down after yesterday - maybe perservere with it for a bit, & if it's not for you, there are other alternative therapies out there that may suit you better.

SH LOL at whether the consultant is the sort of person i'd like to get me pregnant!! I did get home and say to DH that in the middle of the meeting i looked at the consultant trying to work out whether i could imagine him with his hand up my bits! He was ok actually, had quite a nice manner. Lunar fertility looks interesting - am going to read up on it!

EI glad you've got your appt through and it's not too long away. Hope the meeting about the job goes well.

Caitni get pouncing - practice makes perfect!!

PnM have your achy muscles recovered from Sunday yet?

Well, CD2 for me - AF turned up as expected yesterday. Officially now NOT ttc. Feels strange. DH & i just desperately hoping that ICSI will be suitable for us, & that I will get a normal smear test result next time. The next few months are going to draggggggggggggg.

hello all

Bucky - please don't be disheartened by Mr Needles. I am so sorry you are disheartened. Big (((((higs))))) to you. I know how you feel . You want to be told that whatever issue you have can be "fixed" and to be enthused that there is a solution. I felt a complete fraud at my first appointment, because there is nothing really to "treat" me for when we ran through the list of issues I had. I had no real problem to be treated, 'cept for trying to maximise my receptiveness to DH's swimmers on zimmers. It isn't a cure, but I view it as preparation for ICSI and getting body and mind in the best shape they can be to carry a baby. I think scary is right when she says you have to view it holistically as a tune up, not a targeted treatment. Accupuncture makes me feel good - whether that's a placebo effect or truly all my yin and yang balancing out and my chi free flowing, I don't know! Maybe it's not for you? I honestly think that Mr Needles lack of promises is a good sign. That he is reputable (is that the right term?) and he doesn't claim quack-style miracles, but everyone gels differently with doctors and you have to be comfortable.

ei - that is brilliant news abotu the referral. Really pleased for you and the days until the 28th of August will fly past and then a BFP shall be yours, I am sure.

scary - i have just googled the lunar fertility stuff. In fact (now that the matter I was working on has cratered) I have been checking out weird and not so weird fertility rites. At the moment, I have emailed DH details of holidays in Dorset so we can have a quick shag on the cerne Abbas giant's penis in the hope that will get his swimmers motoring

picknmix - any more news form your doctor about your DH's sperm test. I can't even imagine how frustrated you must be by al this . Big ((((higs))))) to you too.

caitni - haha , I pounced on my DH last night . It's CD13 for me today, so we are there or thereabouts for OV in my 28 day cycles.

Crapping myself about the appointment this afternoon and will update you all tomorrow morning as the internet is down at home, so have to log on in the office. I have NO idea what to expect (or what to ask ). The letter wasn't exactly explicit as to what we'd be doing, so it's a magical mystery tour sort of appointment! DH (being the super organised soul that he is) put togethe ra file of all our paperwork to take just in case the NHS has lost bits or files haven't been transferred. He has asked for/kept copie sof everythign and it has saved us a couple of times already having the info to hand.

Right, I'm off to bite my nails for a few hours and wonder what's happening next for us in the great TTC marathon. This month and next really is our last chance saloon to TTC naturally. Hopefully, the results of DH's sterling efforts consuming NO alcohol and to eat lots of fruit/veg/seeds/organic every day, should be beginning to work [fingers crossed emoticon]

hello to anyone missed!

GGx

hi ladies
good luck today GG il be thin kin about you today
xx ei xx

Ah yes, thinking of you GG.

Haven't caught up properly as am just on way out to work but just wanted to say hope all goes well at the appt today gg. Will be thinking of you xx

Hi to everyone else!!

i forgot to add earlier
PnM well done on your 25k and your amazing efforts of raising £2000
xx ei xx

that was a and not a [win] lol

Definitely time to put the laptop away now!
Czzzz

So good to see so many people on here!

PnM well done on raising all that cash! Such a great cause too . I was thinking of you on Sunday, and said to my DH that I hoped the weather would be cooler for you (though not rain ), course we ended up swimming in the sea it was so hot so glad to hear you survived it

MOB you poor thing, I hate summer flu bugs - it's so much worse when the weather's hot and everyone around you is in summer mode. I hope you're fully recovered. I'd love a chance to see a consultant I might visit as a patient in a situation like that, as they'd not be "on" (in that charm the patient manner they can have). You'd get a much better sense of them I thin. Anyway, hope it went well!

GG I'll be thinking of you tomorrow - hope the appointment goes well [hand holding emoticon]. I second Bucky about not feeling bad about not reading the book. It's a lot to take in, so it's better to gen up on it once you've had the first appointment.

Bucky sorry to hear you sounding a bit down. Mr Needles pretty much told me the same thing - that it sounded like everything was fine, that I was ovulating (even said I'd lovely charts), so the focus on the pre-AF spotting was my insistence as he said it's not a problem. SH is right that it's about generally tuning up the body and helping combat stress...maybe Molly dog could get some needles for her dog flap phobia?? Poor Molly, I hope she gets used to it soon

SH glad you enjoyed the in-laws! I may look up this lunar fertility, out of interest (can you tell that TCOYF has me interested in the non-medical aspects of ttc??)

Ei I'm SO glad you've got your referral to the recurrent miscarriage unit. While I hope you get a nice BFP before then, it's good that the ball is rolling on sorting out this obstacle in your ttc path

Anyway, off to pounce on DH (not quite start of fertile phase but nothing wrong with a bit of practice [win]).

Blessings of the saints on you all!!
Cxx

oh i forgot to add
scary my auntie swears by the moon/cycle thing she used to harp on about believe in mother nature and things will work themselves out...but then shes a loon aswell
i have to go for my meeting to sort my job details out at 130 tomorrow so wish me luck i hope they havent changed their mind/come to their senses[nail biting emoticon]
xx ei xx

hi ladies
nice to 'see' so many of you around todaywe have been rather quiet of late
GG glad you had a nice time in germany and good luck with your appointment tomorrow
scary glad your time in germany was nice aswell
bucky it is a good sign that the needle man cant find much to treat and he thinks just a general tune up is in order you will have your BFP in no time if he gets everything straight for you
MOB sorry you have been under the weather i hope you get your surprise BFP this cycle
caitni at your stealth book buying and your list of saints!! i usually go by st jude when i lose my keys...not sure she is the right one for when i cant find my egg/BFP etc BTW im in no way religious i just find it helps having someone else hep me look for my keys
PnM hi hope you are ok and you know what i think of GPs so i would maybe try and find a private appointment as if you have to wait that long for SA how long do they make you wait for treatment/follow up if they do find a problem?? i dread to think of it!! where is it you live? are you a northerner like lil ole me? i cant reme,ber if you have mentioned it before but i know someone is from up this way
hi to anyone i have missed
i got my referral finally for the recurrent MC clinic its for the 28th august at 330pm so im counting down the days til i hopefully get some answers or get the ball rolling to find them anyway either way i will either have a bfp before then or i will be nearly due to ov on cycle 10 i havent oved on this cycle yet though so i dont know why im even wondering about it
i hope everyone else is having a nice evening
xx ei xx

Forgot to say, I am getting so desperate I have started looking at lunar fertility (the theory that as the moon regulates your cycle, you have a chance to conceive when the moon is in the same phase it was in at the time of your birth, regardless of when you expect to ovulate).

I think loon may be the operative word...

Hi All

Sorry I haven't been about more, I am just being a bit rubbish...

Bucky don't be disheartened by what Mr Needles said. I don't know how much you know about Chinese medicine - I don't know loads, but I have learned that it is more about looking at the whole person than at fixing one problem. The more "results-driven" approach is really a feature of Western medicine. I view the acupuncture as a "tune-up" (to help my reproductive system function as well as it can) and to help me feel more positive about ttc. Try to relax a bit and see what happens. It might not be for you, but you might enjoy it. Re the water, could you drink Ribena? That might be a good way to increase your intake - I have read that dehydration can be a significant factor in whether or not women conceive, so you go for it.

Picknmix well done on your walk and raising such a lot of money - that's really great. I hope you're not aching any more. And [grrr] at your Dr for making you feel stupid (which you definitely are not).

MOB I hope the bug has gone and you are fully recovered. How did the meeting go? Did the Dr seem like the sort of chap you'd like to get you pregnant? (please forgive the lame joke...)

LOL at the list of saints Caitni (although I am not sure it is done to laugh at saints...). I am not a Catholic, as you can tell, although DH claims to be one (I've not seen any evidence of this). I will read them later and try to pick my favourite - a sort of Saints Top Trumps...

Fingers crossed for natural conception for you GG. Glad you had fun in Deutschland. My visit was a little more...sober - to the in-laws but it was a good visit and my DD had a great time which is the main thing.

Are you around Ei? Are you well?

Coming up to ov here so am trying to spot and catch the egg. I have a feeling this cycle is the one (psychs self up for cycle... 12? 13? I've lost fecking count )

hello everyone!

caitni - I am PMSL at the list of saints to pray to who represent barren wimmin like me . What has King Henry II got to do with fertility!? . Think I'll stick with the obvious choices of Sts Felicity or Anne. Ha, I'm not even catholic, but DH is, so I'm sure they'll take pity on him at least.

MOB - I thought I would be very nervous about my appointment, but I have been so frantic, that I haven't had a moment to think about it! Or to think up any pertinent and informed questions for the doctors. The IVF book I bought is sitting unopened in a drawer because I have been getting home from work about midnight, exhausted, and I daren't read it on the tube in case someone sees me. I like to be informed, so I am feeling a bit vulnerable . I'll let you know how it goes and what happens with timetabel and procedure, in case you have to start ICSI.

'Cause I'm so busy, i told my boss yesterday that I would be leaving the office at 3.45pm on Wed for a hospital appointment and he said "Erm, I think that should be ok" . NO you idiot, I am not ASKING you if I can leave, I am TELLING you I am leaving at that time. Oh, and p.s. I will be totally uncontactable too for the rest of the day, so don't bother calling my mobile or expect me to check emails, matey boy! . Didn't like that one bit, but tough, I say!

picknmix - I am in awe of you raising £2,000 for Cancer Research! That is fantastic and in all that heat [phew emoticon]. Did you get sunburned? My dad has prostate cancer, so i know what a good cause it is. YOu are having a horrid time of it with the health services in your area. I can't believe it takes that long to do a sperm test, but the way your GP made you feel like an idiot on such a sensitive matter really makes me on your behalf.

Scary - how was Stuttgart? I HAVE to get round to listening to the CD and getting myself relaxed and focused for what is ahead. I haven't had a chance to listen to it. I absolutely agree with your theory that you have to be mentally ready to "accept" a baby into you and this can help. I remain rediculously optimistic that it WILL happen for us - I don't know why, when it's only a 33% chance "at my age" in any given cycle of ICSI.

Bucky - have fun with Mr Needles. I wonder if he has spotted that somehting is up because all his patients have TTC issues. He's a one man fertility rite All hail to Mr Needles! [worship emoticon]

hello to everyone else. EI are you about today?

CD13 for me today and DH and I managed a quickie last night and I'll pounce on him again tonight if I can get him to stay awake for me getting home. I refuse to work late tonight

Morning ladies

Sorry not to have been around the past few days, have had a flu-y sort of bug that's been going round work - haven't had the energy to do anything apart from the absolute necessary!

PnM Well done on completing your walk. I was thinking of you in the heat. You've raised a fantastic amount of money. How is the leg(s) now? Has it made the problem any worse? Still can't believe that a long wait is usual round you for SA. Hopefully he will get a cancellation appt. I guess they make appts so that people are on hand to analyse immediately - potentially a good thing, but they could have warned you of this when you first went for your blood tests, so that he could have been in the system much sooner. Incidentally, i have been reading up on fertility clinics round us, and i noticed that one of them did SA for £60, so it looks like it can be done for a lot less than i originally quoted. When is your DH's birthday?????

Caitni I laughed at you smuggling TCOYF into your bag!! Your colleagues probably thought you'd been buying porn or something! Interesting list of saints - do you think in a few years we'll all be meeting up with a collection of DCs named after them?!

GG Hope the pouncing went well last night Sounds like you had a great fun weekend, and probably just what you needed when you are so busy at work ATM. Can't wait to hear all about your appt tomorrow. It's such a big step forward, and i guess you will get some sort of timetable for the next few months. You must both be a little anxious, but i hope you are a little excited at the same time. I'll be thinking of you.

Bucky Glad you are now back on a "live" cycle again! Have fun with Mr Needles - i am feeling quite left out - i think that those of us who can't visit him will have to stick needles in our foreheads anyway, and have a lovely red mark too

EI well done on getting the new job. Are you looking forward to getting back to work?

SH Hope you had a lovely weekend in Germany too!

Well, AF due here today or tomorrow. Already had the tell tale signs, so i can't even be bothered to convince myself that a miracle may have occurred! After this, we are on a few months of enforced T(not)TC. I have been doing some reading up on private fertility clinics round here. There is not a lot of choice, as there are only two. I don't quite know how we are supposed to choose between the two, although i will get a sneak preview of one of the consultants this afternoon. I have a meeting at work, and one of the doctors who is going to be present runs one of the clinics jointly with another consultant. So although i am meeting with him for a completely different matter, i will be able to get a feel of the sort of person he is.

Have a good day everyone. XX

I'm around as well! I think I know what it must feel like to be hit by a bus though - did my sponsored walk yesterday in blazing hot sun and I ACHE (note to self: for future ref, doing some kind of preparation before walking 25k is probably a good idea). We raised nearly £2000 for Cancer Research though so really chuffed we completed it.

Sounds like you had a fab time in Germany gg, must be nice to escape work when its proving so stressful at the moment. Good news re imminent egg arrival, keeping positive on your behalf!

Hiya Caitni, still very impressed by such a speedy response to accupuncture. Did you have a lovely bbq at the weekend?

Congrats Ei on your new job!

Hi Bucky! Did you ring that private doctors yet??

I spoke to my dr about the length of time it will take for my dh sperm test - she said that was normal for this area. Dh is now on a cancellation list but hasn't stopped me from having a bit of a melt down today - think it was just my dr's attitude, she just made me feel stupid.

Where are you mob?? Are you ok?

Am off to have supper in the garden now, speak later xx