Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

TTC for 10+ months, part 3

999 replies

joycep · 22/08/2011 12:33

The other thread was just about to fill up and so here we are again with a slightly different name now as many of us have been trying for well over 12 cycles now. We had a few great successes on Part 2, with a couple of people getting bfp's on their 17th and 19th month of trying. So let's hope for more successes on Part 3. (Moaning, crying, sadness, anxiety & bitterness is certainly allowed on here!)

OP posts:
munki · 10/09/2011 14:21

Hi all, sorry I never seem to have the time to come on here at the moment. Hope you're all well. Interesting about migraines/raynaud's/alzheimers. Now I already have a DC but I do wonder about immune issues, I get migraines and there is alzheimers and other autoimmune disease in my family. Hope that's not another thing to worry about! Just trying to get H sorted at the mo!

Re. acupuncture, I'm really cynical about most 'woo' stuff except as you say joyce if it has a placebo effect, then might it be worth it...? And I've definitely got to the point of total desperation now, I think I'd try anything. Anyway I read something about acupuncture improving sperm so I've sent H, he's had two sessions so far and says it has really relaxed him - which is good because he's been under masses of stress at work lately. He's just produced his second lot of sperm for analysis so I'll let you know if there's any improvement when we get the results next week...

The acupuncturist did tell him to try and get me to come in as well - which is obviously good salesmanship - but I am quite tempted. I'm so stressed out as well and really need to do something to relax. Latest thing is I got a big lump on my inner thigh, on the 'fold' bit. TMI! Have a GP appointment on Monday as I foolishly googled (secretly hoping it would be a cast-iron proof of pregnancy, like the other 'cast-iron proofs' which sadly turned out just to be a normal symptom of the 2ww like yellow cm and dark nipples) it and found loads of stuff about lymphoma.... Anyway it has actually started to go down now, but is really hard, hopefully it's just a boil (TMI again). This ttc lark has made me into a serious hypochondriac.

nelly I am jealous of your hobby! I was horse-mad as a child, though couldn't ride them. Always read loads of books about girls and their ponies and dreamt about winning a rosette at the gymkhana though!!

joyce I hope the baby shower is OK. In those situations I just put away as much booze as possible because I can, I know it's childish and also not good for my health but I just have to cling to the positives. Have you seen your GP about recurrent thrush? I guess you have had your blood sugar tested? Just because I know those things can be linked. I'm guessing you have already thought of this though!

pixie I hope if there is an issue with your tubes the HSG flushes it out. I know it doesn't happen for everyone but I know a couple of people who got pregnant immediately after having it done. Fingers crossed it works for you too.

hillbillie I know what you mean about letting the career take a back seat while ttc, maybe you should jack your job in and just go for what you want to do (very irresponsible advice...) - thereby invoking law of sod and getting pregnant, or if not then at least having a job you enjoy? We managed to survive on the minimum SMP when I had DC, and it was fine - you just do when you are in the situation.

Sorry I've not 'spoken' to all of you, have got so behind with this thread!, but I hope you're all OK.

Purplelooby · 10/09/2011 14:21

Oh no joycep I'm sorry to hear that you are teary :( I know this isn't very nice, but apparently putting live yoghurt 'up there' sorts out thrush? I've had it twice and I admit that I used that cure...

Now - in which other part of our lives could we read these words: "Am really interested Euro that your periods are less clotty". LMAO.

My stats are thus: Aged 31, DH is 30. TTC #1 and probably in cycle 12-16 but actually no idea for reasons that are boring an complex. Had a HyCoSy this month (like HSG but ultra-sound rather than X-ray) and tubes are fine, but found a fibroid which apparently shouldn't make a difference (hmmm). DH SA fine. Bloods all fine. But not PG - not fine. Doc offered us chlomid and we decided to give it 3/4 more cycles first, so will be starting chlomid in January. Until then, it's shag and hope - but we are officially not temping or using any kits.

BTW - I'm thinking about reflexology. Really this is because I like having my feet played with (rather than having needles stuck in me) - has anyone tried this for fertility and if so, do they know anyone in the Manchester area?

Hobby: knitting.

popcorn78 · 10/09/2011 15:39

joycep really feel your pain about the baby shower. I hope you get through it ok and totally agree with munki about getting a few drinks down you if possible. Or alternatively just crying off - if it's going to make you feel that crap, maybe you should be kind to yourself and give it a miss. Sending a non-MN type (( ))

(that was meant to be a hug by the way in case I got it wrong)

munki sorry about your lumpy bit, if it's going down though it sounds like it's probably just boil like you say, or maybe an ingrowing hair, I've had a few nasty ones in that area! massive TMI!! I have always been a bit of a hypo but TTC has exacerbated it hugely. I am phobic about hospitals, doctors and blood tests, and every test I have I always imagine the worst news, gets pretty wearing after a while.

purple I got excited when you asked about reflexologists in the Manchester area. Partly because I thought I was the only one on the thread in the Manchester area, and also because I thought I had a reflexologist to recommend. But then I realised the lady I was told about in fact does reiki, not reflexology, so I don't, but I'd be very interested if you do hear of a good one, and if I hear of anyone I'll let you know.

joycep · 10/09/2011 19:09

I think that's it Munki desperation sets in and bring on the woo and the drugs and whatever they can do. Keep us updated if there is an improvement in your DH SA. And thanks for the tip about blood sugar, can that be a reason? I did have a splurge on chocolate and sweets! Also don't worry about your lump too much especially if it's going down. I have got a huge lump that appeared on my arm and apparently it's just a fatty lapeama and nothing sinister.
purple - live yoghurt really??! God maybe I should go and do this. Sorry far tmi but it woke me up in te night - all the itching, how revolting! I may go to a walk in centre tomorrow as my GP must be sick of me! I have also considered reflexology but I didn't know it was feet rubbing! Do they bend you?

Been to the baby shower. It was lovely but really hard atthe same time. Lots of people with babies. And a peripheral friend I spoke to 6 months ago who said she was going to struggle to get pregnant because of pcos, too thin and 45 day periods Is pregnant. Clomid did it for her. Obviously felt gutted for myself! Aren't I awful. Anyway I literally was holding back the tears. I guess we all have to just get use to this sort of thing though!

OP posts:
eurochick · 11/09/2011 09:07

hillibillie I am trying AC. I was quite apprehensive as I tried it 10 years ago for PMT and recall it making me feel loopy a bit odd. This time I upped the dose very gradually and it only made me feel a little strange for a few days. It is since I have been on it that my ov has been brought forward by one day but I am not sure if it is that or the acupuncture (or neither!) that is responsible.

Joycep that baby shower sounds tough. I spent yesterday at a lunch where the only other two women are both pregnant and due in November and there was a couple of cute kids running around. It was fine though. The women are good friends and I am happy for them both. I always feel like I have been kicked in the chest when I hear about a pregnancy but once I have got used to the idea I am ok about seeing them and their eventual babies. It's just the initial news that I find difficult.

Hi to everyone else!

Karbea · 11/09/2011 14:30

Hello lovelies,

How is your weekend going? I'm supposed to be out with my nephews right now but I've been up all night with a bellyache and now I'm tired with a bellyache :(
Last night we had a curry and I over ate and now I feel rubbish. So dh has gone without me and I'm going to read my fertility books. I'm really fed up eating rubbish :(

Dhs results came back normal, he is going to get the actual results on Monday I think. We had a big argument about it on Friday night, he doesn't want making a baby to become a chemical experiment :(

Anyway I don't plan to do anything more medical now until we move and we've a new doctor...

But I am going to try and live healthier!

Karbea · 11/09/2011 14:30

Oh and I was sure there was evidence acu worked for fertility, but googling now all the research I can find says it doesn't.

Karbea · 11/09/2011 16:55

Diet

Eat every 2 to 3 hrs.

Avoid

Red meat, lamb, pork, poultry, hydrogenated margarine, pastries, pies, biscuits, crisps, sweets, ice creams, cereal bars containing hydrogenated fats, deep fried food.

Shark, marlin, swordfish, canned fish.

Alcohol. Caffeine inc decaff, chocolate, green tea,

Can eat.

Water
Peppermint, camomile, fennel tea
Watered down fruit juice

Salmon, herring, trout, sardines - oily fish twice a week.
Fish oil supplement - not cod liver oil.

Whole grains
Oats
Wholemeal pasta
Rye
Corn
Millet
Wholemeal bread
Brown rice
Buckwheat
Raw vegetables
Steamed vegetables
Fresh fruit
Beans and pulses (kidney beans, chickpeas, adzuki beans, lentils)

Organic fish, eggs, nuts, beans, lentils, seeds,
chicken no more than 2 or 3 times a week.

Bio yoghurt (not fruit) or probiotic supplement.

Extra virgin olive oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, nut butters(almond, cashew), unhydrogenated margarine, butter, fish oils, linseed oil, mackerel, sardines, nuts, seeds, soya beans,
Avoid

Pies, ready meals, microwave dinners, sausages, hotdogs, burgers, pates, read meat, processed meats. Red meat, beef, pork, lamb,, game
Tea, coffee, caffeinated and soft fizzy drinks

Sugar, White flour, White bread, White pasta, biscuits sweets, puddings, soft fizzy drinks, undiluted fruit juices

Karbea · 11/09/2011 16:56

Diet

Eat every 2 to 3 hrs.

Avoid

Red meat, lamb, pork, poultry, hydrogenated margarine, pastries, pies, biscuits, crisps, sweets, ice creams, cereal bars containing hydrogenated fats, deep fried food.

Shark, marlin, swordfish, canned fish.

Alcohol. Caffeine inc decaff, chocolate, green tea,

Can eat.

Water
Peppermint, camomile, fennel tea
Watered down fruit juice

Salmon, herring, trout, sardines - oily fish twice a week.
Fish oil supplement - not cod liver oil.

Whole grains
Oats
Wholemeal pasta
Rye
Corn
Millet
Wholemeal bread
Brown rice
Buckwheat
Raw vegetables
Steamed vegetables
Fresh fruit
Beans and pulses (kidney beans, chickpeas, adzuki beans, lentils)

Organic fish, eggs, nuts, beans, lentils, seeds,
chicken no more than 2 or 3 times a week.

Bio yoghurt (not fruit) or probiotic supplement.

Extra virgin olive oil, sunflower oil, sesame oil, nut butters(almond, cashew), unhydrogenated margarine, butter, fish oils, linseed oil, mackerel, sardines, nuts, seeds, soya beans,
Avoid

Pies, ready meals, microwave dinners, sausages, hotdogs, burgers, pates, read meat, processed meats. Red meat, beef, pork, lamb,, game
Tea, coffee, caffeinated and soft fizzy drinks

Sugar, White flour, White bread, White pasta, biscuits sweets, puddings, soft fizzy drinks, undiluted fruit juices

eurochick · 11/09/2011 17:03

karbea, the study I know of relates to IVF. I found this report on it:

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article3327648.ece

However, I understand that other studies have been unable to replicate the results. But I think it is that study that leads so many people to give acu a go.

It has tangibly changed my cycle and "flow". I can't explain why. I am not generally a believer in "woo" (I have never tried any kind of alternative therapy before).

Karbea · 11/09/2011 17:06

I think my digestion might be a problem, Reading this boom that says because I often have a dodgy belly my immune system will be in attacking mode, which isn't good as dh sperm could be being attacked, so if I sort out my digestion that could help. Makes sense.

whereismywine · 11/09/2011 17:13

Hello and a leisurely Sunday update where I will endeavour to say hi to as many of you as I can.

Update on me (since we're doing that and good idea) to start. I'm 34 and rapidly heading to 35 god damn. Dh is 32. This is my 11th cycle of well timed TRYING and we were lax with contraception a good 6 months before that. But, I'm not counting those. We had one SA with low morphology but excellent everything else. Second SA had better morphology (7 so not ideal) and still excellent count, motility etc so fertility consultant seems to think that is fine. I've had prog tests (47 on last count), ultrasound was fine and am awaiting to book hycosy next cycle. I ov regularly, if not sometimes a bit late. I spot a few days before my period. This annoys me. I do a lot of yoga and am currently in a bikram yoga frenzy which I am sure is not good for ttc but I'm throwing caution to the wind as it has done amazing things to my mental state (ie I'm much less balanced about ttc - I don't know how it works, but it has for me). I've tried almost ALL alternative therapies (more below) but yoga is the one I would recommend, for sanity if nothing else.

Today I'm 9 dpo. No symptoms worth noting, in spite of checking the veins on my nipples every time I go to the loo. and nightly shoving them in dhs face to monitor for changes. Sexy times. pout my boobs also go all pregnant on me in the tww, the veins go much bluer. Who knew?! No boob pain yet or little cramps or spotting. Please all stay away. Any cycle twins out there? Nothing exciting about temps either.

So, I am no 5 with Raynauds, or so i think. I agree euro that this is a bit suspect. When I told dh ( who knows about here) he rolled his eyes which for him, is rather extreme. I've never been officially tested - I didn't know you could be? But my grandma has it and my toes go White/purple when the temp drops below about 16 degrees. I get chilblains and ulcerations when the weather is very cold on toes and fingers. Gp just said that is what it was and to wear woollen socks! Had no idea it linked to other things. But, to cheer you up, my grandma had 5 babies. Will try not to think about it too much. Immunology is all a bit too scary for my liking. And I don't understand it either.

Karbea don't worry about then odd eating blow out. Fertility books do set ut pretty severe and often unrealistic regimes that can be hard to stick to and then you feel like you failed. I try to stick to 10 units a week ( although this month has been a bit of a fail there) and the good old 80/20 rule. I eat peas too Grin but hope your tummy feels better.

Well joycep you are a better woman than I because I don't intend to go to any baby shower until I have my own baby, no matter how close I am to the bump bearers in question! I hope you are feeling better with the old wretched thrush problem. Canesten pills have always helped me but not sure how they work with ttc...yoghurt v soothing too. I find that the tww is my bad time for thrush. Do you think some of your meds might be to blame? I've been so much better off the pill in terms of thrush and cystitis which both used to plague me.

purple and pout I'm also in your neck of the woods. I tried reflexology once over the summer, it felt lovely. The girl was nice but very young and pretty much ignored my fertility aspect, so I thought about going to someone more in the know. I read about a lady in Didsbury I think? If I had have got a bfp that month no doubt I would have thought that was it, it was a really tingly nice experience. I've mentioned before I think that I'm on an acupuncture break. To see good effects, I needed to go weekly ( this made me ov on day 14 and got rid of spotting and period pain) once a month wasn't enough. At 40 quid a pop I couldn't quite keep it up. I also got fed up of feeling and being told that my body was 'stagnated' if I spotted, it felt a bit negative. But I wouldn't rule out going again, it was very relaxing. But in 8 months, no pregnancy so I've called it a day.

Probably best to call this post day too, it's rather long!

Karbea · 11/09/2011 17:14

Dont eat after 8, umm this'll cause dh issues.

Karbea · 11/09/2011 17:16

Euro I would say my period is 'cleaner' I used to spot or have brown discharge a few days before, now I seem to go straight to blood (sorry tmi) and my cycle is a day longer.

whereismywine · 11/09/2011 17:18

Cross post Karbea..what book is it?do you have ibs? I do, but despite much scouring have found no link to infertility...mine is pretty much under control if I eat carefully (red meat and eggs particular culprits)

Karbea · 11/09/2011 17:21

I'm on day 18 I didn't track when I ov'd but I'm normally a 25 day cycle so 7days to go...

Karbea · 11/09/2011 17:24

Getting pregnant faster, Marilyn glenville.

I don't think I've ibs, I just don't think I eat a very good diet, lots of crisps, chocolate, takeaway, not many veggies etc.

Karbea · 11/09/2011 17:34

This says it's ok to exercise, as long as it's less than 15hrs.

lovesLemonDrizzleCake · 11/09/2011 19:34

Hello lovelies!

Sorry to have ignored you all for days. And no exciting news to make up for it. AF arrived exactly as expected today, despite our best (and for once enjoyable) efforts at making an anniversary baby.

Interesting conversation about woo. I am contemplating accu, mainly to do something. Otherwise known as the placebo effect. Thanks for the info euro and karbea! Interesting about the loss of clots (which I have) and spotting (which I have in months, I am convinced nothing happened, for instance 48 hours of it this month).

The regime sounds undoable karbea so I am not even going to try! I love lamb. We do eat oily fish, about once a week, which is good, I guess! And lots of pulses and veggies, because I had a vegetarian period in my life and some habits stay (and are very enjoyable).

I am just running off leaving some cupcakes (yes, I baked again pout but we did go for a couple of hours of cycling beforehand). Just warning you all, they are not good for the scary regime or our expanding waistlines!!

Apologies for no name checking, I have read everything and discovered my brain is inept at holding facts, when the most mentally challenging activity of the day has been making dal, which had lots of lentils and was yummy!

whereismywine · 11/09/2011 20:01

Oops - meant popcorn not pout living near me!

whereismywine · 12/09/2011 13:07

Where is everyone today? Come and aid my two week wait lack of concentration. I have cramps. Just waiting for spotting to start. Pah.

Karbea · 12/09/2011 13:20

Hello,

At least you can enjoy a glass of wine tonight :)

I'm on day 19, no signs or anything. I had egg and turkey for breakfast, don't think the turkey was perfect for the diet, but at least tummy feels ok, we had trout for tea last night which was yum, but I still had 3 kit kats and a packet of discos :(

I'm so bored I hate my job!

Exciting things this afternoon are... The dishwasher repair man is coming to fix my Mils dishwasher, so hopefully no more washing up!!!

My jacket potato is getting cold whilst I'm on the line to stupid help desk man at work.

joycep · 12/09/2011 13:28

karbea - good work with the diet thing. How long is your LP out of interest? You have shortish cycles like me.

it's really weird how so many of you have Raynauds. Are we on to something here? some link between ttc and Raynauds??

Hi wine - I'm on CD23, about 9dpo i think. On tentahooks already as don't want AF to turn up super early like last month. I feel it is on its way. I can't believe I didn't even have to think about AF until CD27 until ttc. I haven't been on meds for a couple of months but they have obviously buggered around with my hormones! I hope your cramps are a good sign rather than spotting signs...

OP posts:
joycep · 12/09/2011 13:32

just been reading that thread on Manuka honey....damn i shouldnt read these things. I will now have to go and hunt down this ludicrously expensive jar from somewhere. soon I will be found in a monestry, eating honey and drinking water specially flown in from the amazon rainforest all because i heard it worked for one person in a billion. blahhh

OP posts:
izzybizzybuzzybees · 12/09/2011 13:49

Hi everyone,

Ive tried to catch up after my holiday! Lots of posts to read but no BFPs :(

Holiday was fab, but just as is my luck i got my bloody period in the middle of it....after over an 100 day cycle!!! WTF??! Not amused!

We have been referred to fertility clinic which GP said shouldnt take long. DP has to hand in a sperm analysis in on tues morning. They had lost the info sheet so all we know is he has to abstain for 3 days and sample has to be at lab within the hour!! Is that basically it?

Our stats are me and DP both 27 ,ttc#2 on month 15 but had 3 cycles!!! one which was induced with progesterone and one which only started last week! ARGH! I too am interested in reflexology, i think i may call and get an appointment.

Hope everyone is well :)