Assisted Conception (and all the bits in between) volume 7

[Italiangreyhound]

Hi ladies Pumplinjoy, Shirley, Lissy, Keziah, Womanly,Val, Late, monkeybumsmum, tametortie and Rowing* - hugs to you all.

woowa of course you can join us.

Choco and Horton and londonlottie do you still look in on us?

Can you all find us?

Hello,
Law thanks for the info about DHEA. I have looked into it quite a lot and still think it sounds very promising, but have decided that when it comes to ARGC I'm just going to throw myself wholeheartedly into their way of doing things and obey whatever they say. Maybe that will be my next step if this doesn't work.
Beginnings the mid cycle monitoring appt went quite well, thanks. It was a 'perfect scan' apparently. Nice big follicle measuring 21mm getting ready to pop, and good thick lining. My inkling has always been though that I ovulate well and regularly, but that it's the second half of my cycle where things go awry. I'm very interested to see what my blood test will be like 1 week after ovulation. Oh and I had my blood taken for the immunes. 17 vials of it, SEVENTEEN VIALS OF IT!!! It was fine, and I barely felt a thing, and didn't feel any different after, but it seemed to take a long time! Your dinner sounds lovely. It's the same in our house, I actually enjoy eating really healthily, it's just that when DH and I eat together (most of the time) I need to make a few compromises so that he enjoys it too. I'm a (newbie) fellow gardener too and have taken so much pleasure in growing rocket, peas, radishes and carrots this year. There's something very exciting about picking something from your garden that you've grown and eating it!

Good luck with your scan, and fingers crossed for good, healthy follicles.
Waves to everyone else!

lucy- I know what you mean about the 17 vials. I got myself a bit worked up over it, so I made sure to eat a loaded protein breakfast and brought snacks with me in case I got lightheaded. Turns out it was no big deal! I had my Kindle with me, so it seemed like it was over in a snap.

Italian- Have a fantastic time on holiday. You certainly deserve it!

beginnings- Here's hoping you have loads of nice juicy follies!

scrummy- Well done on your referral to ARGC. You might have to wait several weeks, but at least you're on your way! In the meantime, get ALL of your paperwork and test results together. I sent mine in before my appointment AND brought it with me on the day. Maybe just a bit of overkill...

keziah- How are you feeling, sweetie? Hope everything is going well.

rowing, my love, what's the haps?

womanly- Good luck with your IUI. Keep us posted!

AFM, doing well, if not nauseous all the time! Finished antibiotics on Saturday and it seems to have done the trick for the cystitis, although I'm still peeing so much I'm afraid it's going to come back. Drinking loads of water, though, so hopefully it'll keep my system flushed out. Back for another scan on Thursday, and self-referred to my local hospital for ante-natal care. Been emotional too, and upstairs neighbors are total jerkballs who let their kid run around at all hours, so it sounds like a stampede. I've rung their bell and knocked on their door twice in the last two weeks, and they haven't done a thing about it. Oh, and apparently it's "harassment" to complain about the noise! Reduced me to tears last night...

Have a great day everyone!

Lissy I also got my first phone call from the girls at the clinic yesterday. It was brilliant; 'these are Mr Taranissi's instructions for you today', I felt like a special agent accepting a secret mission! (although my instructions were to pee on a stick. Not much glamour in that )

Ah the vials upon vials of blood. That's the good thing about having half the tests done at the clinic and half on the NHS. I got to spread that out!

I just ate five jelly babies. I really am struggling with this refined sugar thing. Which is weird as I don't generally have a sweet tooth!

Glad to hear you're feeling sick lissy. Fingers crossed I'm the same way in a few weeks time!!

Keziahopes do let us know how you're doing, we're thinking of you!

late DH got himself into a real state this weekend on the thought of twins, it was actually quite funny. I would welcome twins anytime. Will you find out their sex?

Lucy I can't believe how quickly time has passed from you getting on the waiting list and here you are, getting your first instructions. How exciting. Glad to hear the scan went ok. I'll POAS tomorrow for LH, so we're still in sync! Spooky

lissy Glad to hear you're feeling better on the cystitis front. Sickness sounds good.long may it continue I'll defo send them (if I can get my hands on them AND take a copy with me. After all this, I'm gonna make are there are plenty copies around. As for neighbours - is this a pregnancy symptom or have they always treated you this way?

beginnings good luck with the scan tomorrow morning. Got my FX for loads of juicy follicles!

Hi to keziah rowing Italian womanly and questiontime

The crossed fingers seemed to to have helped, thanks ladies!

I have five follies (for those of you horrified, I have low amh so am thrilled). Today is day six, and I've had five doses of treatment, on is 12mm, one is 11, two are 10 and one is only 5 so probably won't work. My lining is 9.4 so is doing really well. The nurse wasn't exactly jumping for joy but when I asked her to compare to my last cycle she got a bit more positive. Another scan on Friday but I reckon we're looking at collection on Monday or Tuesday.

I feel pleased today.

Scummy having a couple of friends with twins, I'm kind if with your DH! It's hard work!! But I also agree with you, I'd just be grateful for what I'm given!!

That's great news way to go! Have a little on me. I guess I figure that if I want more than one, twins is probably the only option. But let's get pregnant first...one step at a time Scrummy...

lucy- Just wait until you're getting that phone call every day!

beginnings- Well done, you, for your five follies! A big saying on here is that it only takes one, so you're well on your way! Frankly, I don't think the nurses should do anything to raise or lower the hopes of a patient. That's up to the doctor!

scrummy- It's true, I have been having super-heightened emotions lately. But in comparison to how it's been, there has been a lot of banging and running around from upstairs, anywhere from 8 AM to 10 PM and later. I don't think I'm asking too much by asking them to have a little consideration. And DH totally threw me under the bus...he sent them a letter saying that I'd been unwell and feeling really emotional, and that I'm probably making more of it than necessary. Thanks a lot, honey. He was complaining only last week! Suffice to say, he will now be on my shit list until he makes amends. Me: not a happy bunny.

Keziah- Where are you??? Are you ok???

Big waves to Italian, rowing, late, womanly, and anyone I missed.

Scan and bloods for me tomorrow!

lissy hope your scan goes ok today. Do come back to report. I didn't mean to belittle your neighbours behaviour or your feelings about it, so hope I didnt offend you. I'd be furious if my DH did that. He should stand by your side no matter what. In fact he should have made even a bigger fuss to them about the noice having seen how much it affects you. Don't blame you for putting him on the black list.

Got a little update....my results arrived in the post last night power to the people! And the verdict is....unexplained infertility. I haven't got the stats with me (as usual already on the move) but DH morphology has gone from 2,5% to 6%! There was 5 weeks between the samples. His count was 230 and 40% mobility. My stats were 5.5 for LH, 6.2 for FSH, 48,7 for progesterone, 128 for oestradil and 230ish for prolactin - or was it the other way around? Structurally all good. During US ( day 22 of 26 day cycle) lining was 9mm. Immune to Rubella and no Chlamydia or gonnorrea - phew! So, we'll see what Mr T says. DH is keen to try IUI first and I think I agree with him - at least once or twice. But we'll see. Might actually fall pregnant before that

Lucy did you get your positive OPK? I got one last night and again this morning. Fully the norm, so expect to see my temps rise tomorrow to confirm Ov today.

lissy at your DH! Did you know he was going to do that? I think serious amends need making. Let us know how today goes.

Scrummy that's great news. Fingers crossed that you have success really soon. And well done for getting the results!

Thanks for the good wishes. I found myself practically skipping to the station at 6.45am this morning saying, "this is going to work, this is going to work" Positive mental attitude and all that!!

Beginnings 5 follicles is brilliant, I'd be delighted with that. And you sound so positive too which is great. I'll keep everything crossed that this is the one that works.

Lissy noisy neighbours are hell. There was a single Mum with teenage children in the flat above me in my last place. She thought they were responsible enough for her to leave them alone for the w/e while she went off and stayed with her new boyfriend. I would get woken up by Dizzee Rascal being played full volume at 4 in the morning, and noisy sex at any time of day and in varying rooms. Nightmare. I completely sympathise with you and agree that DH really should not have done that. Then again, you'll have a newborn in a few months so hold him/her up towards the ceiling when he/she is bawling at some ungodly hour . That'll learn'em.

Scrummy what great results you got! You must be relieved. Roll on your appointment. I did get my positive OPK on Tuesday (day 10), so think I probably ovulated yesterday? Not too sure, as I don't temp but I have a 24 - 25 day cycle so that's probably about right.

Beginnings I'm struggling with sugar today too. It was my birthday yesterday though (I'm officially 40 now and thought I'd be feeling extremely depressed, but as DS kept telling complete strangers yesterday that I am 41, I'm actually feeling pleasingly youthful) and I have chocolate birthday cake in the fridge. I'm figuring an exception should be made for that. In fact, would anyone else like a slice of chocolate cake? There's loads to go round Cheers!

Hi to everyone else, Keziah, hope you're OK, Italian, Rowing, Womanly and Law!

Hi all. Listening to the stampede as I type! I knew DH was going to write a letter, but I didn't know that he was going to put the blame on my shoulders. He still doesn't understand that what he wrote was totally humiliating. MEN!

Anyway, sorry don't have time to namecheck, but wanted to let everyone know the little bean is 17.2 mm, and my progesterone is 457, so things are looking very excellent. Back next Friday for next scan, and provisional appt. booked at local hospital for August 20.

Night, will check in tomorrow...

Lissy there is almost nothing worse than that. I used to live below someone who liked the minimalist look. She painted her Walls White, had no curtains, put down laminate flooring and moved in before she'd put down skirting boards and had a party. I was not impressed. She also used to have REALLY loud sex with her girlfriend. Was really annoying. Sounds like all is growing really well for you! Fingers crossed that it all keeps going well.

Lucy I'm on my way in to check progress now. Have the usual nerves that nothing will have changed....but this is par for the course. I leave there really pleased and that lasts for 24 hours and then I get scared again. I can't think that the odd bit of sugar does us too much harm, especially for those of us that live in London and breathe the air and drink the water. I say eat cake!!

Morning to everyone else!

Hi there everyone - not quite sure of the etiquette of joining such a long thread: seems like I am pushing my way into quite a tight-nit group!

Anyway - to introduce myself: 39 years old and TTC number 1 (didn't meet husband until relatively recently and definitely didn't want children before that. I can beat myself up about why I didn't do anything earlier, but why bother - I didn't want them then. Such is life).

We've been TTC for about 18 months now. Both been tested. My results seem ok, although obviously could be younger :)
FSH is 5.8 (acceptable range for day 2/3 was given as 3.9-8.8),
Estradiol is 178 (acceptable range for day 2/3 was given as 78-226),
TSH is 1.45 (range 0.3-4.3),
LH is 4.1 (range 2.0-7.8)
AMH is 12.2 (acceptable range is given as 7.4-42.2 pmol/l).

I don't seem to have any problem ovulating - although I have given up with the sticks that you pee on (the ones I had were for use mid morning and for pee that was at room temperature - not ideal for the office!) and I don't sleep very well, so temperature monitoring is just not an option.

Husband has good quantity and mobility, but at the bottom of the acceptable range for morphology.

I went for the Day 1 dildocam this week before starting IUI and I have a small residual ovarian cyst (was not there when I had a HSG during the previous month) so my Dr has put me on birth control pills for about 8 days for it to disappear, then we start the IUI process. I will be on Puregon injections, followed by Ovitrelle to trigger ovulation.

Does anyone have any experience of these particular combinations? (apologies - reading back through 24 pages is a little daunting!)

Anyway - went on for a little longer than I expected! Hello to everyone - I hope to learn from your wisdom and experience and have somewhere I can share what will probably be very silly thoughts throughout this process...

Fretfree

fretfree you're very welcome. The etiquette for this thread appears to be dive on in. I think I joined about a month ago and everyone has made me feel very welcome.

I didn't got the iui route as my situation is different to yours. I have low amh and high FSH. The one thing that I would say is that testing for morphology is a bit hit and miss. My DH had an awful morphology test done last year but everyone since has been fine. The only difference we can make out is that the first was done at our local hospital where the rest were done by our fertility clinic. My point is, with a bit of luck, it might be better than you think.

Had my scan this morning. I now have one follicle at 17mm, one at 16, one at 13 and two at 12. Another scan on Monday aiming for collection on Wednesday. Things still moving in the right direction.

Happy Friday to all!

Hi fretfree and welcome to the thread. Your blood results are really very good. My DH had low morphology, and apart from it varying naturally anyway, one fertility specialist I saw told DH to take Fertility Plus for Men supplements and a fatty acid supplement. In about 2 months he went from 2% morphology to 14%. Might be worth a try for your DH too. I did try IUI in May, but it wasn't successful. I think it didn't work because I have low AMH (around 4). At the time my FSH was around 5 but it's since shot up to 12, so that might have been a factor too. I had letrozole tablets and Gonal F, and then also had ovitrelle to trigger ovulation. The drugs were fine, I was worried about the injections but the needles are so fine you really can't feel them going in, and the drugs didn't seem to affect my moods too adversely either. I'm now going through a monitored cycle with a new clinic and hope to have IVF soon.

Beginnings your follicles sound like they're doing great! How does this compare to your last time? Have you done anything differently? So hope it all works for you this time.

Hi to everyone else!

Hi all,
sorry I haven't been on, but just wanted to wave to you all and blow a couple of kisses! mwah! [everyone wipes face and grimaces]

Hello... sorry not been around much, just read last few pages to catch up! Finding everything a bit stressful, with what has felt like a massive gap till scan at 8wks (so glad had private one at 6!) next week. Bizarrely got 2 scans next week - one NHS one, one at Care (latter one will sort out my ongoing meds and probable discharge from the clinic). I fluctuate from thinking I measured so small at 6 weeks that there will be nothing there next Thu to trying to keep positive that we saw a heartbeat. To be honest, finding out 6 immune issues when pregnant and being told all the medications needed to help has stressed me out, especially with my consultant leaving the clinic in weeks.

Hope cycles go well womanly and beginnings.

Italian - sounds a long wait for DE. Is it worth phoning clinic and asking fro a rough date to expect?

Lissy - so glad your little one doing so well. Great stats to encourage you!! Do you have anymore scans or tests or wait until 12 weeks now?

Hi Beginnings, hi lucylookout, and everyone else

Thanks for the kind words - really encouraged about the morphology info. I am a dreadful google freak an avid researcher, so of course unearthed loads of horror stories. Sorry to hear your first attempts were not successful and fingers crossed for you both. I am still trying to get my head round a few of the references and people's stories - it will take a while. But so glad to have found a support base.

Can you remember what the fatty acid was? Husband is on men's vitamins, and zinc level is good, but they sound really interesting.

Keziahopes I really feel for you. You sound like you're really anxious and I have every sympathy with that. Fingers crossed for you for next week. Even if you're not checking in, know that we're all thinking of you.

[wipes face] hi rowing boat!

fretfree places like this are good but the Internet in general is dreadful IMHO!! I looked at fertility friends last year and, while i know other people think it's fab, there were so many bad stories on it, I couldn't take looking at it too much. Regarding the morphology, while I do think the initial results were as the result of not great testing, there were other things we did that definitely helped. DH is on three supplements. They're all by biocare and you'll find them easily online. They are maleforte, nutriguard plus and pine bark extract (specifically for morphology). Also, I would suggest cutting right back on the booze, and if he's a bike rider, then stop it other than no more than two hours a week over a couple of gos. The cutting back of booze goes to no booze for either of us during a treatment cycle. Also, making sure he keeps cool, doesn't sit for too long at work, drinks plenty of water and ejaculates at least once every three days.

As for me, no Lucy I don't think I've done anything majorly different this time (although remember,I did get pregnant from my last fresh cycle, so technically, it was a success) but I am definitely having more sleep, am trying to work better hours etc. Also, I think I'm doing more of eating little and often which seems to be working better. Another scan in the morning, we'll know more then!

Hi, thank u for all the good wishes.. insemination completed on Fri so am in my 2ww. I want to remain calm but that's easier said than done :) fret I am on puragon and ovitrelle... this is my third cycle of iui.

Ooh - congrats on being in 2ww *womanly". Calm is good idea, but I can tell you that I am not so good at that!

Hi fretfree - hope all goes well for you. I made my dh eat brazil nuts every day, for selenium and banned him totally from caffeinated drinks before our ivf - which really helped his numbers and morphology improve, as well as supplements.

Thanks Keziah. I am just terrified. I know that is not good but I have built so much hopes into this cycle.. well every cycle. Just so badly want a good break. I can't wait for work at least I will be busy.

Well done womanly. looks like I'll be doing collection for ivf on Thursday so hope to join the two week wait after that. It's horrible. You can't hope but pin your hopes on this and the feeling of lack of control is just horrid and doesn't work for people like me so well either. Calm thoughts coming your way....