Clearblue Fertility Monitor Support Group Buddies Vol 5!!

[boba82]

Ladies from Vol4 - welcome to our new home.

Hi SBC - not had that test, but know I was at the top level for corticosteroids on one blood test and nothing was done about it. So it sounds good that you have a proactive endocrinologist and hopefully getting all your levels sorted will aid natural ttc.

In School

Twowoulddo TTC#2, Cycle #6, CBFM cycle 1?, Aged 31, UCL 31, CD101
Rosieposey TTC#5, Cycle #12, CBFM Cycle 6, age 38, UCL 29-35, CD103
Missyraines TTC#1, Cycle #14, CBFM Cycle 9, age 33, UCL 32, CD82
CrazyAlien TTC#1, Cycle #6 CBFM Cycle 2 age 28 UCL 31-35??! CD75
Arabella36 TTC#2, Cycle #1, CBFM Cycle 4, Age34, UCL29, CD70
Roastie TTC#1, Cycle #23, CBFM Cycle 2, age 32, UCL 29, CD61
Fr00tbat TTC#1, Cycle 7, CBFM Cycle 3, age 32, UCL 30-38 (av 34), CD59
Ses TTC#2, cycle #6, CBFM cycle 8, age 37, UCL 28-30, CD46
TinaO99 TTC#2, Cycle#2, CBFM Cycle 2, age 42, UCL 28, CD54
wantbaby TTC#1, Cycle #12, CBFM cycle 6, age 38, UCL 28, CD44
aMuminwaiting, CD42
KnackeredCow TTC#1, Cycle #17, CBFM Cycle 6, age 32, UCL 28-30, CD37
Littlefan TTC#1, Cycle 12, CBFM cycle 5 , age 32, UCL 32-38, CD22
SlightlyBabyCrazed, TTC#1, Cycle #25, CBFM cycle 3, age 35, UCL 28-31, CD12
Tilly TTC#1, 3years, CBFM cycle 10, age 36, UCL 28-34, CD12
Keziah TTC#1, Cycle #31, CBFM Cycle 19, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD10

Graduates

Emmylou30 BFP 22/10/10
MissLolita BFP 30/10/20
Notnearly BFP 6/11/10
StormBird BFP 10/11/10
AnytimeNow BFP 20/11/10
IloveKittyElise BFP 30/12/10
Boba BFP 07/01/11
Chocciechip BFP 11/01/11
Clockspotter BFP ??/02/11

Hi all,

Sorry to ask a beginners question - I have just ordered a CBFM and wanted to know on what day you start using it on your first cycle with it?

First day of period, or after period? Can feel AF on the way - was obviously hoping I wouldn't need to buy the monitor - but just hoping it gets here in time to use for next month.

Thanks very much.

Hi mashpot. It's best to start using it on day one - which is basically just turning it on and pressing the m button in the middle of the time you are going to be getting up each day. If AF doesn't start until lunchtime or later then set the day one as the following day.

Good luck - if you want to join us add your stats! (Saturday is a low usage day, we weren't ignoring you!)

Keziah I have my first FC app on Tuesday and we are down to have IUI - seems almost pointless to mess with my hormones now and then have the whole hormone thing done anyway with the FC, but I'll just go with it for now. Typically it seems my body is reacting to the pituitary gland meds and now just getting low readings on the CBFM - I hope it hasn't completely thrown my cycle as I was up until now like clockwork for a few years

Thanks very much slightlybabycrazed, appreciate your help.

just wanted to say hi to all the ladies here, hope everyone is ok?

I'm now on cycle 4 (I think) of the monitor, on a high (day 8) today so will be trying over the next few days

dh will be going for his sperm analysis very soon (possible next week?)am hoping this proves ok so then it's just a matter of trying and waiting!

any more BFP's lately?

It's been about 14 months of trying now and I have hit a wall. Had a huge fight with my husband last night and I know it came from the fact that this is all getting to me. I have never hated having sex so much as I do at the moment. What once was intimate, relaxed, passionate and romantic is now mechanical and pressured. We think it's time to go to the doctor but in addition to that I feel like I need to speak to someone to sort out my head. I am feeling so depressed and think my marriage is falling apart with the pressure and disappointment. My cycles are completely out of whack and I can't do anything about it.
Sorry - I know you are all probably in similar positions but i needed to vent - you guys were the better choice - before I head into a meeting with my boss - wanted to avoid spilling my guts there!
Thanks...

littlefan it is really hard. Try talking to your husband as apart from us lot he's probably the only person who will understand in RL. I know how much stress it puts on a marriage. We went through a similar phase but talking does help. x

SBC sorry I never had that test either. Good luck for your appt tomorrow.

keziah how did your scan go on Thurs?

Hi, thanks for support. Stress levels went through roof at hosp today, as they had not given me the right form to have bloods done, so had to run all around hospital to get one then sat in pathology waiting room with a whole group of young and teenage pregnant girls with them all comparing notes and complaining about having to wait two months for scans - GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

littlefan absoultely the right place to vent (as above!). We all know how you feel, taking a month off TTC can sometimes help, or if you are able a week or weekend away of just self indulgence no strings attached is good. Going to the doctors is definitely a good start too, they can at least check your bloodwork - the gp is perfectly able to do this without referring you straight away.

Hope all are well - at least the sun has started to come out - spring is on it's way

littlefan I've felt the same way as you. It's horrible how TTC takes something that makes you feel so close to your DH and turns it into this mechanical and (for me at the moment) pretty painful experience. My GP told me when trying the second time to take a month off and she's said it again this time. But I am so desperate for my baby that I can't comprehend doing that. Its why this month of not knowing what the hell is going on down there I've been so obsessed about catching the elusive ovulation surge! For the past two days I've actually been less mental about it all but it's not because of anything I've forced on myself (which is impossible).
I've not got enough work coming in, the orders I do get are quite often lost or damaged by royal mail, my psoriasis has gone completely crazy and for the first time since I was little has appeared all over my face. My DHs family have fallen out with us because we don't want to be around DHs pregnant sister-in-law and my family just keep saying "your time will come, don't worry". I'm on CD45 and seeing my GP again on Thursday. One day I think I'm having a meltdown and the next day I'll feel ok.
I hope your GP gives you some help. And I hope you get some good days soon.

Littlefan - it is really hard, and I have got to the stage you have found yourself at several times on our long journey tcc'ing (still ttc'ing also for number 1). I totally agree how sex became mechanical for us, such that we had 2 months totally free from sex/baby making sex in the last two years, which really helped us.

littlefan going to the dr is a good step forwards. From my own experience (now having fertility treatment) I would share that:

• the Gp can order blood tests to check there is nothing physically wrong with things such as thyroid, hormone levels etc, as obviously they need addressing and no need for any fertility testing.
• you will need an up to date smear test,so worth booking one if due one soon.
• the Gp will order 2 blood tests known as day 3 and day 21 (though they will tell you when you need them depending on cycle length) to check your ovulation etc.
• the Gp may order a semen analysis after your physical blood tests are clear.
• When all blood tests back, the Gp may refer you to the hospital to see a gynae or order more tests first. They are all different!!

Also, talking about stress and relationships is really important. Personally, if you can afford to go private for counselling I would really recommend it, if you think you want to go to that stage of help - I say this only because I went through a nightmare getting ivf approved due to depression as an NHS diagnosis!! But I hope I am just a very rare example. Sorry for saying too much, feel free to ignore.

Boba scan went ok thanks, have a cyst with fluid but allowed to go to stimming phase, so scan again on Friday with hopefully some largish follicles and lots of them!!

Oh how frustrating SBC and definitely have sat in waiting rooms similarily filled!!

aMuminwaiting - I know the desperation, but your Gp suggesting a month off ttc might reduce the stress for you and help you physically? Does stress affect cycle length - I don't know, but perhaps your Gp can suggest something to help? All the best with apt.

Keziah I'll be hoping for lots for you x

CD46 and I thought I'd better do a HCG test before my GP appointment and I got a very faint positive on the clearblue test! It's a very thin faint line going up to make the cross but it came up after 20 seconds and stayed there. Can it be possible?! I'm going to use all of the very limited will power I have and wait until the morning to do another one.
Fingers VERY crossed!!!

littlefan It is very very hard. The worst point we got to, I lost my rag mid BDI pushed him away, yelled at him at the top of my voice, then got up, got dressed, and stormed out the house to walk in the dark at about 2am in the morning. I have never ever behaved like that before. Never. The stress is intolerable. But I do talk to my DH and we resolved it and both agreed that the strain was taking its toll. Neither of us wanted to miss critical times though so > he went to the pet shop and bought a syringe. Whenever we (or he or I) didn't feel like DTD, he'd give me a 'sample' and I "self-IUI'd". We'd laugh about it as well. I've told the ladies here that in the month we got our BFP we DTD twice - actually we IUI'd once, and DTD the second night. DH wonders now whether the syringe might have been our 'magic solution' ... but I don't think it was. It did take away a lot of the stress though. (Can't believe I've told you all that!! )

littlefan I also echo keziahs advice about seeing someone outside NHS if you want counselling, and if you can afford it. I was never officially diagnosed depressed, and I don't think I was, but I was persuaded by my GP to see a psychologist because of phsyical symptoms I had. The tag 'depressed' now follows me through all my appointments and records (and I don;t know who started it), and I do think it influences people's decisions. I was horrified and furious at my first scan to see 'depressed' written at the top of my notes. Totally untrue and irrelevant, but there anyway.

amum As far as I know, false negatives happen with HCG tests but false positives rarely do. A line is a line no matter how faint, and the fact it came up so soon is a good sign. I have all my fingers and toes crossed for you.

keziah VERY good luck with your next scan on Friday. How are your spirits bearing up? x

ha ha choccie, well you never know maybe it was your lucky charm?!

amum FX for you hun.

amum FX for you!!

Had my meeting at the Fc today - we are being offered 6 unmedicated IUI - which from what I have read everywhere is pretty much useless and the Dr said it has a 5-8% success rate - woohoo!

At this point I told him all my charting etc shows I have ovulated until at least day 18 - he then changed the program to we'll try one and if there is no ov before day 16 then we will medicate instead - phew!

Feel quite positive though as he thinks the cabergoline will have reduced my prolactin sufficiently now that I may just be able to conceive - FX

choccie - there is a thread about the basting method, gets a little TMI (well a lot actually) but I have discussed the option with DP and he was kind of up for it!

Pancakes anyone (where's the picture!)

amum I have EVERYTHING crossed for you!! It's getting painful so pls update soon!!

choccie you make me smile! and there was me thinking - 'I can't possibly post that idea!!' Will of course now be looking for the thread that SBC mentioned - oh God no one access my google history!!

littlefan big hugs! Most of us have been there, some of us are still there and yes we empathise completely! LTTC is a complete head *** but keep venting and you'll find the Ladies here are wonderful - thats been my experience to date anyway!

Anyway - day 16 so must be going! 2nd peak today (Whoop whoop) Hoping to dtd twice today!

Love and best wishes to all

Tilly xx

Hi - amuminwaiting - how exciting!!

choccie - yes, although we have had 2months totally off (and I think over 3yrs that is acceptable ), we also have only hit specific dates for a long time to reduce the stress. Have also tried the diy IUI route, though with a softcup rather than a syringe. Have lots left if anyone wants to try one!! So you are not on your own. Gosh, yes they have put depression on my notes too and I am not depressed either, was years ago but not now grrrr...

#SBC* - great you offered treatment, one unmedicated and then medicated sounds sensible so you know how things go. All the best!

Did two boots own brand tests this morning and both negative. What the hell is going on?!

Sorry about the BFNs amum, perhaps it has been a chemical pregnancy? I have had that happen to me twice, it can be so disappointing and upsetting. Try again tomorrow morning. I recommend First Response as I have found no room for errors or misleading lines with them.

sbc that's great news. FX everything works for you.

Good luck with the SWI tilly

amum I don't know what's going on, is the honest answer. And you must be going through hell. I think in your shoes I'd call my GP and tell them about the BFP and ask for a blood test at the surgery. Try get this done as quickly as possible. I'm afraid I have had two MCs, so my logic is to get any potential PG 'officially recorded' on NHS records asap. There's a brutal and cruel rule that you can only be tested for why you have MCs after you've had 'only' 3 MCs. I am not suggesting this is happening to you, but it is something I didn't know or think about when I started TTC. The other thing I'd do is what boba says and buy a First Response (or two).

sbs Unmedicated IUI isn't completely useless (if you see my previous post it might have worked for us ). My understanding is it won't necessarily offer greater odds than nature. But 5-8% does seem low - lower even than nature I think...? Or isn't it?? Good news you managed to get him to agree to medicated as well.

keziah A softcup! Wow, I admire your dexterity. I struggled trying to use one of those even when it was 'empty'.

Hey ladies

Haven't checked in for a while so thought I'd say hi.

amum i've been thinking of you and hoping that little line was good news. it sounds like you have been having such a difficult time and its all so unfair. this sounds awful but at least if this has been a chemical pregnancy you will start bleeding and know where you are. when i had one i counted third day of bleeding as day one of cycle and still didnt ovulate to day 19 so if that is the case, just warning you it could be another long one

kezia it sounds like things are going well? will be thinking of you on thursday

boba im not sure when you were due to have your second scan and probably missed posts but hoping it is all going well

littefan im sorry you and your other half are having a hard time. its horrible when sex is not fun any more. the syringe idea sounds pretty good i wish i'd thought of that!

amum - thinking of you and I hope you get an answer one way or another very soon.

Well, after using all 20 sticks and still being on low and then a few opk''s and then giving up for the month, I eventually got a positive opk! (thought I'd give it one last go as noticed some potential ewcm -sorry tmi) Hooray - was beginning to think I wasn't ovulating at all but it was just very late (cd33). So now am dutifully waiting to see what happens. Am really not getting my hopes up as one ovulation does not a baby make, but it's a start at least! Have to assume af due 14 dpo as never had a cycle longer than 39 days before.

Just a quick excited line from me - after 9 days of low got a peak today - first one, so fingers crossed we hit it - day 18 - not too bad for the luteal phase. FX