We are all jolly well going to smack the rat this month and grow a baby and we'll brook no argument. And probably eat some cake too.

[Imps7]

Ladies....begin.

BTW Sweetie is reflexology foot-based? Does it hurt or is it more like a massage?

it might even have been my 2nd box of KKs

I have this cycle to get upduffed by crimbo - anything else would fall in 2012 by my infantile calculations. So I am cheering on DH's two-headed spermage with all the enthusiasm I can muster!

I'm cheering your DH's two-headed sperm on too Popcorn! Chrimbo baby, here we come!

well I won't feel guilty about taking them away from you then

I worked out the other week that I will probably be having a fertile week over Xmas, which wold be perfect if I hadn't invited my parents to stay for Xmas for a week aarrggghh Though looking on the brightside, at least we're not at their house, and surely sneaking around like teenagers trying to get a quick shag without the parents noticing must be a sure fire way to get upduffed

Gawd, so many posts I don't think I have caught up properly!

I am an acupuncture lover too though, for whoever it was who was considering it (Beedle or Bean I think, sorry )

Well done for starting the new thread Imps

Yes - reflexology is feet-based and can be very helpful if there's a possible blockage in the system/stimulating your ovaries and feels as good as choc chip/ pecan cookies taste. I had it to get a baby out and lo and behold along came the little mucker the very next day (+8) but who knows if that would've happened anyway. DON'T have reflexology after you've ov'd - needs to be in the week before preferably round surge time. First trimester is a no-no for reflexology.

Thanks Imps. New thread a-go-go.

Acupuncture is expensive but think of all the dosh you'll save once your updiffed and there's no more big nights out to pay for.

And thanks for the best wishes for DTD. I think every two days is good enough. Those spermies do last a little while in there don't they?

Hey Popcorn let's send some big positive vibes to DH's/DP's spermage. The doc this morning wasn't even willing to consider SA for DP. It worked 2.5 years ago it will still work. Allegedly.

But then the doc just wasn't interested full stop until I insisted on a referral for a private test...

So it's all just down to my 40-year-old eggs. No pressure there then. Boo-hoo. On the positive side - I better get positive - there's still a chance there's a little corker egg in there waiting to be spermed up in the last chance saloon.

Oh bean that's rubbish (did you visit my doctor??). I don't suppose your DP could go and see his GP and request a sperm test. (though I can't imagine many men would really want to go to see their doctor and make a request like that )

Hi Beedle - not so rubbish really. I suspect doc is right. And DP (bless his cottons) is now taking some herbs to boost the wrigglers. (Sorry - we are terrible hippies in this household.)

I'm not even sure DP has a GP tbh.

So I have my referral for AMH. Then I can go for a free day21 progesterone test if AMH isn't so bad, then we can go from there if I push docs and explain that further investigations should be made.

Or I can just keep trying to enjoy life - have sex enough for it to be a possibility in the next year or so and stop baby-gurning and look after my toddler with a bit more zest instead... Beginning to think that might be better than all this test malarkey. I'm in swings and roundabout mode at the moment and getting dizzy.

Sorry - enough of me. I really hope you do go back for another talk with someone about things. Not speaking much English is quite rubbish - this is such an emotional rollercoaster you really need someone decent to take you seriously.

x

Bean - no no no no - sperm working 2.5 yrs ago doesn't mean he shouldn't get a SA now! We had DS and DH had his first SA when DS would have been 2 and a bit and it showed low motility. And we got pg twice quickly before.

Your doctor sounds a bit rubbish if you don't mind my saying so? Sorry, I'm sure you've already said but how long have you been ttc? The day 3 and day 21 blood tests along with a SA are standard issue if you've been ttc for 6 mths+ if you're more than 35. And that is if either of you are more than 35.

Sorry - I'm sure you know all this so I'll take my nose elsewhere

Lots of love and brooking all round especially to cupcake's DH (anonymously) and Solars.

Where's Shiny?

Hello all! I wondered where you'd all got to Ooh, love what you've done with the place!

Just marking my spot really . I've spotted shiny around the boards recently but don't know what she's up to.

Biscuits - you are very sweet and encouraging. My docs IS rubbish - massive SE London practice, never see any one doc twice. I was clearly quite distressed when she saw me this morning but she wasn't having any of it. Much the same as the last doc who was fertility specialist (middled-aged male - no kids)... If it's worked before it will work again they say. You're getting old they say; it takes longer. /

I could try to get DP to go in himself but he's not comfortable with all this - show me a man who is - so I feel like I'm pushing it. BUT - the good news is he has been to see acupuncturist with me (so can see what I'm going through TTC) and is on some Chinese herbs which are supposed to be very good given 3 months to kick in.

TTC ever since sex life revived after DS (who is now 21 months) drove a truck through. BFing finished about month 10. AF arrived about month 8 so you could say roughly 11-13 months. I've been charting/OPKing about 8 months but am v regular so already knew that days 9 - 13 should be party time.

If DP's count is low/poor motility I do think that herbs will make a big difference. What else could help even if this was confirmed by SA, do you reckon?

Thanks for advice. It really means a lot to me.

If I got upduffed this cycle, DC could conceivably share a birthday with DH... it would only have to be 10 days late...

Reflexology the thought of someone, anyone, touching my feel makes my skin positively crawl. I can just about cope with touching them myself, but anyone else - NO.

Bean I reckon, have your tests and if nothing shows up, push for a SA for DH. Even if you have to see a different GP at the practise? A lot can happen in 2.5 years.

Isn't there someone else who's due to have a ramekin forced into their hands this week? Who is it? Come on, own up! :o

Bean there's allsorts that can cause low sperm count, not just dietary or vitamin deficiencies. A friends husband had some kind of growth (so small they couldn't see it - it was only revealed after testing) that blocked a tube or something, minor surgery sorted him out - this was after they'd had 2 kids. And I'm shocked, totally shocked, you're getting fobbed off after 13 months aged 35+. You should have been referred months ago. Can you write to the practise manager with a copy of the NICE guidelines or something? and your behalf.

:o

bean what herbs are they? I've forced Man Vitamins on DH. They look like horse tranquilisers. Will see if they do the job this month (they're very expensive, alongside Lady Vitamins and sticks to pee on!)

It's his birthday today, so we are going for pizza with another family then cinema by ourselves. Bliss. Then home to make babies.

Thanks Popcorn - I like your plain speaking and with wit too.

Exciting that your bean could share DH's birthday - perhaps not for them though? My two boys are same star sign and you can tell. Lawd - there goes my inner hippy again.

I will get this AMH test done. If there are still eggs there, then I'll insist that everything else is checked out. I will drag DP to docs with me and we will both make sure that we are taken seriously.

Big hush hush secret but DP had a rugby accident at 18 - noticeable damage down below (one side) and he's perhaps not firing on all cylinders (Ouch Ouch) which obviously wasn't a factor before but wonder if it needs checking out...?

I think I will make a complaint to practise manager if we don't get anywhere. Time to get the boxing gloves out. Thanks Brookers, you're stars.

Hi gals, i thought I had lost you all, phew, found the new thread!!

beans I was told by my consultant that sperm health is very very lifestyle driven so cutting down on booze, fags, no tight boxers, no jacuzzis, cut down on caffeine etc. My DH is taking the Zita West Vitamen one, its well spenny though.

Interestingly he thought sperm analysis can cause more problems than it solves as they can change so frequently and men get a bit funny about it. He did not recommend one for DH but our problems is slightly different (early mcs). However, it seems sensible to me. By the way, my DH smokes (but has cut down to 5 a day from 25), has wine every night and a coupld of very boozy work events per week, works in a stressful job etc etc

My view is not to nag him about it much He is taking the vitamins and cutting down but I don;t think I can get him to do more than that. I have to save my energy for SWI persuasion!

I think you also asked me what my mum had said to make me feel better. She just has this wonderful way of saying the right thing, of making me feel liek I have a right to be upset but then (nicely) telling me to pull myself together. I am not sure how she does it but she really is a tonic for the soul :)

solar that sounds so positive!!
imps you are so positive, sorry about AF but I am going to try and adopt your positive attitude from now on!!
generic did you manage to get some pre-work SWI in?

Welcome to all the newbies

jazzy yyeeeeessss so pleased for you hun. We started in the CBFM thread at around the same time I believe, so you seem sometimes it really does just take a year!

cupcakes dh best of luck!

popcorn my reactive face stuff has arrived and have been using it for a week. Big difference already, yay! It is quite drying though so I use it 4 days a week and use my old stuff the other days.

Nothing much to report here, CD23 but will have a longer cycle this month as I ovulated so late (cd17). Off on hols in 10 days I really cab't wait and actually don;t want to be preggeres this month and not much chance either given we stopped the SWI 3 days before opk positive.

But I am feeling very no brooking for next month :) :) :)

p.s. have some lemon drizzle cake

Hi whimsi

These are crazy Chinese herbs given by a traditional chinese doctor/acupuncturist who has taken pulse and made a diagnosis (she is also treating me with acupuncture). Extremely expensive I'm afraid and we will only try this for a few months before the piggy bank is empty. We are doing his/hers vits too. I'm throwing a lot of resources at this. Comes with being old and having worked a lot of years before I managed to start a family...

Enjoy birthday and pizza. Hopefully he will be giving you a very special this month....

Hi Far

Countdown to hols... Definitely gotta be preggers if you don't want to be (fate is so easily tempted I do believe).

Your mum sounds ACE. Mine is very wonderful too, but I worry about upsetting her and she's been through me dating cads-not-dads for years so I don't want to keep landing this on her to top it all.

Sounds like sensible advice re your DH and SA, and marvellous that he's down on the fags. I'm brooking big time that you beat the MCs. If you have any spare dosh think about acupuncture with next BFP .

Ok - better go. Naptime nearly over.

Oh you are preaching to the converted on the acu - I have been going since May and I really like it. Not convinced it has done much good but I find it relaxing and like the lady who does it, its like therapy!

p.s. I find it helps to start crying at the GP, normally does the trick........

Far - yes did occur to me after my preaching. Great you are going. I think it will make a big diff and if you keep going after you get BFP even better. I started at 37 thinking (wrongly then) it would take me ages to get pg. In fact I was already pg but didn't realise it. Anyway, I kept going and I think it made all the difference to that pregnancy. So fingers crossed for you. Sounds like your DH needs a few needles where it counts. No real offence intended of course.

Don't worry - the GP could see how affected I am though I did save most of the tears for the bathroom. Didn't win me a test-fest though. Still, I am going to push on.

TTFN all you top-class gals.

Sorry Bean, tact and subtlety is not my strong suit

Far your mum sounds just lovely. Your face stuff sounds good too! Have you thought about combining it with an oil-free moisturiser, if you're not already? My clinique one is fabby. Where are you going? Is there room in your case for me?