Assisted Conception (and all the bits in between) volume 8

[lucylookout]

Looks like we need a new thread for Italian, Scrummy, Beginnings, womanly, lissy, rowing, fretfree, Teds77, keziah, frustrated and anyone else who wants to chat about assisted conception!

Thanks Scrummy, I will keep that nearby to give me inspiration when I need it. My friend hasnt replied to her text, I hope I haven't upset her. She might just be giving me some space. Anyway, I have managed to stop crying, and am showing some slight interest in tv, and have managed to eat about 5 chips, which is all I've had all day. I really hope I can start to come to terms with this, and the sooner the better. Thank you all for being my shoulder to cry on and being such good support

You're very welcome. We've all been there and some of us will again when the moment takes us. You've done the right thing in going to see you're GP and getting some rest. Sounds like you have a very lovely DH too, so if you can, count your blessing that you have found him and that he wants to start a family with you and try and put TTC off your mind in the next couple of weeks and just do things that make you feel good about yourself. If you feel panicky, take som deep breaths and tell yourself to go to a 'happy place' - whatever that image is for you. I find that really helps. And something a friend of mine told me is when you feel it's all a bit too much, move into slow motion. Do everything very, very slowly and just focus on one thing at a time.
Your friend will be there. Don't worry about her just now. You need to get yourself in a happier place.

Thanks for asking after me scrummy

Just done my first menopur injection - bit of a marathon after lovely gonal f pens last time but if this works I'm not complaining!

Hi all,
just popping in to update you. I've booked a flight (did I say this? Senility setting in!) I'm off to Bratislava on the 6th of November and then will travel to the clinic from there. The transfer will probably be on the 9th, possibly the 8th.
The clinic haven't responded yet, but they had better come up with something, even if it is duck embryos. I would like a baby duck actually, don't eat much, no university fees.
I'm taking progynova, which is an hrt thingy and I feel miserable and reclusive, so that's nice! Good to know what to expect when the menopause sets in.

rowingboat that made me laugh out loud at my desk! Brilliant. You still have got some sense of humour so that's good. I have just realised now that I am off the menopur that I am no longer a grumpy byatch to be around ! I'll tell DP not to get too used to it though

rowing at baby duckling... now we know what to call your babyrowing!!! Glad you have a flight booked...I have been to Bratislava, lovely cakes at the airport cafe, and they understand English so don't worry!! (recommend the cafe not been to the restauraunt bit)... and it is a modern, light airport - unlike the other one we went to in Slovakia which had 2 desks, got off plane (propellar jet!!) and got case from plane before crossed the tarmac

rowing ha! Ducklings. No wonder your dh isn't/wasn't quite on board. Are you having one duckling or two? All the best to you my dear, and a quack quack to everyone else x

at baby ducklings rowing (look at me, I ed) First day off went well apart from a rather nerve wracking conversation with my not so friendly line manager. I'm now dreading going back to work after my 2 weeks off, just another thing to stress about. Spoke to a counselling service who are going to locate my nearest counsellor who will arrange an appointment so hopefully that will help me move forward slightly. Still haven't heard from my friend who I may or may not have offended last night. Don't really care if I have to be honest, I'm so low at the moment I need to look after myself for the time being. DH has managed to get next week off work so hopefully we can have a little 'us' time and reconnect. Bless him he felt the strain today, he couldn't concentrate at work and I could tell he was trying really hard not to break down, it was me conforting him for a change, although with my being low every month I could promise him it gets better, and believe it aswell, you've just got to put up with the pain for a while, then it subsides a bit.

evening ladies,

haven't been on for a while as been very busy at work.

we had our initial consultation today at The Lister and it's all go for long protocol on day 21 (10 days time - eek!).

left there with the down regging spray but need to get the other drugs from my satellite clinic where I will have scans.

it all seems very real now we've started handing over the dosh, really hoping it all goes well as we should get the results just before Xmas

Welcome to marmitemad.

Beginnings thanks, if it is on line (the article) you can just link to it from here.

Scrummy, what did you think of the Apprentice? Not as good as the adult version but sadly they do come across as mini adults!

Hugs to you all, Lissy, Keziah, Rowing, Londonlottie, Mojangles, Flip, level, Lucy, Teds, tametortie and JosieSmith1*.

weller, thanks for asking. I am fine, have been ill for the last week and that is why I have not checked in to you guys. Being ill really puts things in perspective and makes me realise what I have in life and how great it is.

Looking like we will have our next and final cycle in January and February next year.

Hope you are all well.

Hi Italian really nice to hear from you. I hope it wasn't anything too bad. Glad you're feeling better now. I couldn't agree with you more on the making them look like adults, but then part of me thinks it's the kids who think they need to behave like the adults. I'm loving Strictly this year, but not so much the X factor. Got to see it though, but it just doesn't feel right.

Jan/Feb sounds very near.

rowing if you end up having multiples, you can have all your ducks a row, sweetly following you around. Love it! You must be relieved that eurozone has settled a bit. not so good about feeling like your going through menopause. You are so brave.

teds I'm not looking forward to the injections, if that's what we'll end up doing, so I raise my hat to you (and everyone else) for managing to get through it.

marmites wow, 10 days (Or shall I say 8) is only around the corner. Best of luck with your journey.

There seems to be quite a few of us in the middle of treatment or just about to start. Let's hope we get some BFPs too!

My dear AF arrived two days earlier than expected, which meant that I headed for blood tests on Thursday. My hormones were ok, but FSH borderline at 10.2. Was given the option to go ahead or wait to see if we'd get a lower result next month. We decided to go ahead. I'd have waited if it was IVF, but I felt I needed to get a cycle under my belt, to reduce some of my anxieties. So, after another blood test and a scan (and a number of frantic phone calls to establish whether i had in fact chosen to go ahead with IUI, rather than IVF - I wasn't impressed but we got it sorted) yesterday I was provided with my Clomid prescription and instructions to start. Today is day 2 and I've had a hideous hormone headache - like I sometimes get with first day of my period- but otherwise I'm ok. Whilst there waiting for my scan, I had a look at my notes and noticed that my progesterone was measured at 86.4 last cycle. With it being that high, I'm not surprised that I get some spotting when it crashes down. It'll be interesting to see how much they prescribe after the IUI, which, if my body does what it usually does, should be Monday after next.

Hope you're all having a good weekend. lissy you must be heading back to uk soon? Hope you had a great time. Lucy how are you getting on?

Happy Halloween [hsmile]

Hi from the States! I've been keeping up with the thread, but haven't really had time to check in.

Italian- January isn't too far away! It'll be here before you know it.

marmite and scrummy- Good luck with your treatments! You must be so thrilled to finally start. The best thing I can tell you is to try and remain calm and go with the flow.

rowing- You too! Wow, November 6th! I'm sure everything will go splendidly.

Josie- Sorry to hear you're having such a hard time. You've done the right thing in taking time off of work and getting yourself settled. Mental health is super important. Don't give up hope, ok? We can't predict the future, and the best thing that we can do is have faith.

Hi to everyone else!

We're back to the UK tomorrow night, but in the meantime, there is a freak early snowstorm happening in Philadelphia right now. Expecting about five inches of snow. Last time it snowed in October was over thirty years ago! Unfortunately it isn't going to be enough for us to be delayed...oh well!

Catch up with everyone when I return...

Lissy my daughter's Godmother (my old friend) is here and we are making red velvet cake tomorrow! Very American. We have the Hummingbird Bakery recipe.

www.pigpigscorner.com/2009/08/our-red-velvet-cake-obsession.html

How is everyone?

I was ill for a few days and ended up going to hospital. It was not life threatening but it did make me revaluate things and I am just happy to be well again.

Hugs to all.

Hi Ladies,
I was wondering if I might join you all? I posted elsewhere and Scrummy kindly suggested I may be able to join you all?!? Hope I'm not crashing!
Here's my bio,
TTC just over 2 years. Me, 34 and DH 37. Me all good, DH been diagnosed with mild male issues. Due to start IUI at ACU UCH (nhs) this cycle and AF just arrived today.

Was wondering if any of you are due to start IUI soon?, I know Scrummy is.
Any tips?

Decided to start some acupuncture to complement the IUI this week. As it turns out acupuncturist doesnt want to see me again for a while, but wants to see DH! Makes sense, thought he wouldn't be so keen to go, but was actually very good! Anyone else doing acupuncture as well?

While I"m at it have one question for you ladies. DH unfortunately has to be overseas for business for 1 day this month. Can't avoid it. With AF arriving today, he's due to be away on CD 21. So the dilemma is to go ahead with this IUI cycle, fingers crossed that ovu will occur as it usually does around days 16 or 17 and then can go ahead with the IUI with plenty of time before DH is away for the day. Or do we play it safe and cancel this cycle and wait till next cycle?

I'm keen to not waste another second, but I'm also keen to ensure we don't waste a whole cycle. Need to call the clinic tomorrow and make a decision.

What would you do?

Many thanks

sunnyg welcome. What an interesting name, if you are willing to share where it comes from I would love to know (as long as it is not your REAL name of course!).

Personally, I would ask the clinic, they usually trigger your ovulation with an ovulation shot so they MIGHT be able to control it by a day or so if necessary but do CHECK. Sorry for all the capitals, just want to make sure you know I am not an expert! BUT I did have a DD thanks to IUI almost 7 years ago so it does work sometimes! We are trying to have number two with donor IVF in January/February, our last attempt.

Sorry you find yourself here but hope we can help. And for the wait as you prepare just eat as well as you can afford, focus on positive things, avoid stress and relax (all virtually impossible but good to have goals!).

Hi Italian, thanks for the welcome. I'm Australian, so being a bit of a sun-worshiper is where the name came from... Sunny Girl, Sunnyg. I know it's a bit sad, I found it so hard to think of something!
I think I will call the clinic tomorrow and just ask their advice, they must have had 100's of cases like this, so I'm sure they will know what to do. Fantastic to hear that you had success in the past with IUI, love hearing those stories. And best of luck for IVF in Jan/Feb. Thanks for the tips too!

Hi all,
Welcome sunnyg and good luck with the IUI. I second italian's advice and say call the clinic. From what I know about IUI it just helps your natural cycle along, so you shouldn't ovulate earlier or later than usual.
Hi Italian nice to hear from you and glad you're feeling better. I have no idea what it is, but red velvet cake sounds amazing!
Hello over in Philly lissy! hope you're well.
scrummy congratulations on starting your IUI. Argc do seem to have been a bit confused about your treatment so far, but I'm sure now you're actually being treated they'll be on the ball. Hormone headache sounds horrible, but at least you know something has started happening.
Josie welcome to the thread. I hope your time off work allows you to relax and get things into perspective. I keep telling myself something that I read on this thread, that perseverance and determination will get you the baby you so want. Don't give up, you'll get there.
Good luck with your treatment marmite. wow, there is a lot happening on this thread at the mo.
AFM I'm day 15 and I think my cycle is just about on track again, so am expecting AF in about 2 weeks, and depending on day 1 results could start my IVF cycle. I am still feeling oddly removed from it all, convinced that there will be another delay to me starting to cycle, but who knows, maybe I'll be cycling in November too.

sunnyg welcome. I have just done my first IUI and am half way through my 2ww. Unless you know that u ovulate bang on day 14 every single month then I think you should go for it. My cycle is 28 days but I have ovulated between day 12 and day 17 then I got the Clearblue smiley face on day 13 this time so was called in the following morning for the IUI. Hopefully I ovulated that day and its a success but you can't predict what your body will decide to do. I was on menopur for the week before but I didnt have a trigger shot, they waited for natural ovulation. The clinic could plan to trigger it a day earlier before DH disappears if they are happy with the size of your follies. Talk to them and see what they say....I think once you have decided you just want to get on with it! I know I did

Best of luck to you and I have heard that acupuncture is good but didnt do it as I went private and it all happened really quickly before I managed to pull my finger out!

Hello to all the other ladies and Happy Halloween just off to scoop out my smelly pumpkin ?

Hi gals
Welcome to sunnyg and marmitemad this is a friendly and comforting thread and you'll always be amongst friends.
Italian i read you'd been poorly on the other thread, but didn't realise you'd been to hospital - you okay now? you asked a while ago about religion (i'd said something about praying) i'm a very lapsed RC, i dont go to Mass but i do say my prayers and try to be a good person - well most of the time . January will come round so quickly for you and your next treatment - and at least you an enjoy a tipple or two over Christmas and NY xxx
Josie sorry you're having a sh** time at the moment, i hope you get the support you need and come through this very soon AND get the BFP you long for x
Scrummy thanks for that poem, i just loved it
Rowing I'm following your journey closely as i'm following in your footsteps. I'll be thinking of you over the next week or so as you fly out and then have the transfer. i'm currently syncing with my donor and expect my transfer end November/early December. I'll be using Progynova too - on my mock cycle, it turned out that i needed a double dose of it AND 2 x Evorel patches. i was worried too when i read all the stuff about HRT in the accompanying leaflets [hhmm]. i wish you the very best of luck and pray that it all works out.
Hi to everyone else and here's to some good news soon for us.
xxxx

Thanks, Pocket, I am fine now.

Hugs to all.

argh just lost my post! here is a reprise...

Rowing not long now! We gals got together and organised an extra-mild autumn for you with no snow, one less thing to worry about, eh? Especially since Greece is doing it's best to collapse the Euro altogether, get over there and get those embies, quick!

Scrummy , Marmite and Sunnyg good luck with your impending cycles too. (And welcome Sunny, I hope your stay amongst us is short and sweet)

Italian honestly, the lengths you will go to to watch more daytime telly... You poor love. Hands up who thinks things should start going better for Italian now [puts hand up]

I think we're still on track for One Last Attempt at DEIVF in January. I say I think, because today the clinic's associate nurse called to say the donor wanted to go this month. Eek! No drugs ready, I still want to get my ovarian cyst sorted out, and I only started work yesterday after DS's maternity leave. Plus the transfer dates would put us pretty much bang on when Greece is having its bail-out referendum so who knows whether we'd even be able to get to Athens. So despite being VERY tempted to try again asap I asked whether the donor would be able to do the cycle in January. Now wondering if that was a bad move. hmmmmmmmm...

I don't know what to say about when to go Mojangles just do what is right for you. Reallly hope it works and yes, i would LOVE some good luck!

mojangles thanks for the good wishes. If only this journey was trouble free. Like I saud to DH the othe day, isn't it enough to have to make a decision about whether to go down this route to begin with, why does there have to be so many decisions we still have to make along the way. I hope she comes back and agrees to wait.

rowing you must be getting excited and anxious by now? Not long my darling, and like mojangles says, what an amazing mild autumn we have.

sunnyg glad you joined us. The ladies here are a great source of advice and support. What was the advice from the clinic?

wellerbabe can you please take that stinking pumpkin out, Halloween has now been and gone.

Lucy great news about your cycles getting back on track. That must be a big relief. I really hope that it's all cleared now and that you can start your treatment, safe in the knowledge you have the best possible chance of being successful.

Italian you poor thing. Life has tested you so much recently. I really hope what you had was just a one off and that you can look forward to the festive season. Have you got a favourite amongst the young apprentices yet? I haven't yet.

lissy did you manage to get to UK soil safely? It sounds like it was pretty severe over there.

marmite and teds how are you getting on?

I took my last dose of Clomid (100mg) last night and apart from the headache in the first day, I've had no other side effects which is a great relief. I'm not very good at taking drugs. The Clomid has dried up my CM, just like i read it might, so drinking plenty grapefruit juice. Here's hoping for a nice juicy (single) follicle. Scan on Friday

Hi all,
thank you for your kind wishes. I'm sorry I have been AWOL, it's that blooming hrt stuff - I have been absolutely pooped and falling asleep at 9pm - chronic! Pocket the progynova is super-tiring, so don't worry if you are crashing out into your soup plate, it's normal. Now I have started the progesterone it's counteracting the oestrogen and I'm able to stay awake again - thank goodness!
Just sorting out the money, loading up my little cards with sterling today, it is supposed to freeze the exchange rates on the day you load, and both the euro and the czech koruna have taken a nosedive. Thank you Greece, you rock! Well observed Moja, there is almost £60 difference in the price of treatment since last Friday.
Scrummy you are right, the weather is behaving suspiciously well isn't it! Hope it isn't about to pounce with a big blizzard. Good luck for your scan on Friday!!!
Lucy hang in there, grim determination that's it. Not long until AF and then you will be out of the starter's blocks.
Italian how are you getting on sweetie? Still taking care of yourself and your lovely family?
Hugs to all, got to run for a pap smear in 20 mins.....screech...