TTC for 10+ months, part 4

[eurochick]

Time for a new thread as the other one is just about full.

Fingers crossed for lots of patiently-awaited BFPs on this one!

cakes - Can't help you with the cryptic note, I'm afraid. Sounds intriguing though. Do you suspect PCOS?

On the HSG, I would definitely take painkillers beforehand and have some handy for later that day. People have different experiences - for most it's really easy and there's no pain - but I'd take them just in case.

karbea - Hope you're ok?

When I saw consultant and he did scan he said there were cysts and suggested PCOS but wanted blood tests to prove it.

Assuming your in UK its possibly a tad late for lunch. Hope your ok!?

cakes just a quick one from me. The gynae I saw yesterday said the blood tests only show an LH/FSH inbalance indicative of PCOS in 50% of cases. Mine was normal for example but the scan (2 of them) showed PCOS and I certainly have some of the symptoms (mostly acne, gah!!!).

joycep your gynae sounds awful, name and shame her? What a terrible thing to say to someone. I did indeed have a rogue TSH level at 3.7 which although is in the normal reference range is rubbish for TTC purposes. It really need to be under 2 (but not everyone recognises this). With some B vits and brazil nuts I have got it down to 2 now which is good news as I did not want to sign up to a lifetime of thyroxine (but I would if it got me pregnant!!!)

karbea I have thrown out mince pies and chocolates leftover from xmas as I kept nibbling away at them! Drastic but necessary.

Quick check in before bed. Tomorrow is planned as a 'do something' day. We've been lacking those here recently, and as DH and I are both back to work on Monday I want to go do something fun.

I've been borrowing DH's DSLR for a while now, and already own a couple of expensive lenses. I've got a macro and a zoom, about £900 worth. Embarrassed to say I don't really know how to use them, but I will soon!

Cakes you can watch OBEM on 4OD. I did. There's also no adverts on there :)

I read on here somewhere about Project 365, but can't find the post now to see who said it. I'll take a look at it tomorrow and sign up, then I'd love to link up with people.

Joycep My checkup was great, everything normal and nothing to worry about. So I can tick another year off my list. I have no more tests before Sept now, so need to get pg in the gap. Hopefully the fertility consultant I'm seeing on the 12th will have a plan of action.

DH and I are planning on getting up early tomorrow morning as practice for work. So I really should be in bed already. First early morning in about 3 weeks!

Hi to everyone I've not mentioned, hope you're well. I'll be much better at keeping up to date when I'm back to work next week.

Hi Stasi I did give in and watch OBEM on 4OD despite my internet being really annoying and buffering half a million times. It must be the post af hormones cause I was able to watch it very objectively. I hope the midwives we all have are as good humoured and kind as the ones on the prog! Have now set the +box to record it every week.

This 365 project sounds interesting, might have to investigate. We have a basic lense SLR but I have just had a new compact I need to play with. Aside from the price DH said the compact is handier to travel etc with and at 12mp when our SLR is only 10mp should be fun.

Hope the early morning isn't too much of a shock.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend :)

Hello ladies.

Euro I'm glad that you ovulated in the end. I find the 'have I, haven't I ovulated yet' part of TTC really stressful. I have been trying to estimate when ovulation will be next cycle so we can rebook our wedding for a time when I'm not ovulating or having AF....not easy!
I am a bit confused about what the heck the GP was going on about about the referral. She said something about a triage system and a referral for a lap being rejected because she doesn't think I have endo. She said once I have the repeat blood tests and repeat scan she will refer for a general infertility/gynae appointment which to me will be a total waste of time and NHS resources.

Nelly I'm glad that your swab test results were good. It's always good to have another thing checked off the list. I have never been swabbed for STI's and sometimes worry about Chlamidiya (sp???) but not enough to want to have the test!!!

cakes You know we were taking on here recently about what TTC has ruined well another thing for my list is One Born Every Minute. I used to love it and we are now onto a third series that I won't be able to watch because it's too upsetting. I have said for the last 3 series how I will be able to watch the next one or catch up with the current series on 4OD because I will be pregnant. Pah!
Good luck for your HSG. I would take painkillers before hand. I had to take antibiotics before the HSG but I think this policy varies from hospital to hospital. If you needed to have them you would have been given a prescription at your last gynae appointment so you too could have queued for hours at the hospital pharmacy!! Didn't get any results at the time of HSG and had to wait until next appointment.

Joycep I'm sure that you do feel financially taken for a ride - I would too especially seeing as she couldn't even be arsed to get back to you when you had a problem. She so shouldn't have made you promises she couldn't guarantee keeping, it is just another upset for you that you could do without.
I wondered about calling my old GP but just worry that they are so busy anyway without me being a nuisance.
I too worry that if I ever have a baby that it won't be the amazing experience I have built it up to be. Weirdly at Christmas when I had a suspicion that we might have hit the jackpot I felt really afraid and panicked. Not the reaction I imagined.
BTW my mum has done the naked thing a couple of times too...not quite like that spectacularly though!

Karbea Your families reaction is so sweet.
I had to eat most of a packet of Pringles so as to remove them from the house and let us get on with our post Xmas diets. It was hard but I selflessly did it in the best interests of everybody

Stasi it's good news about your checkup. How was your early morning?

wine How are you feeling today? I still can't believe that your sonpgrapher missed your problems and to say that you had an "excellent womb" really is the tin lid on it.

DP was supposed to come with me to my appointment but he has been really busy at work and I thought I could handle it on my own. I didn't expect to have crying meltdown and become so incoherent and useless. We have a new plan of making an appointment with a different GP and bringing in printouts from the internet with the relevent parts highlighted in the most garish ink I can find and demand that the GP explain why I can't possibly have endo given the info we have provided him/her. We then will ask that he makes a referral to a specialist in endo and put in the letter the info we have provided so the referral can't be refused. If we have no joy I think we may pay for a private consultation. I'm too old to be worried about being tactful and making a PITA of myself. I do not want to ever look back and think that I didn't do all I could to have a baby.

Gin I'm sorry that your fence blew over...rant away

I find it scary how many ignorant GPs there are. I sometimes wonder whether it is just womens "issues" that are ignored. I really feel for people who may be a little clueless and less informed and just accept the wrong advice.

city I'm so happy that you have had your pregancy confirmed by your GP and that things re going okay.
I agree that it is all about budgets. I remember at one surgery I was registered with the GP referred to me always as the "expensive patient" because my migraine medication apparently costs a bit. He thought it was hilarious. Not so hilarious when he tried to take me off my meds and put me on Beta Blockers over the telephone with no consultation or blood pressure reading!!!!!

Izzy I'm sorry that you had such a hard time with your last pregnancy. I keep reading on here how every pregnancy is different so hopefully next time it will all be palin sailing for you
Here's hoping for a "normal" cycle for you this time too!

mrsd I often dream about babies and children in the 2ww. Weirdly though I always feel that they are never my children though I am their mum...odd!

Ladygee I'm glad that you have had a positive response from your family about IVF.It's nice that you are having the support.

Hello to far

My God, epic post. Sorry. That'll teach me to miss a day!

pout this thread moves so fast, it's impossible not to have an epic post if you want to reply to everyone.

I like the sound of your plan to bombard the GP with highlighted internet printouts. What would be even better is if you could take your laptop in with a prepared powerpoint show. That would teach them. Seriously though, it pays to be persistent. If your GP referred you to a fertility person again, wouldn't they investigate endo too if you brought it up?

izzy it sounds like you've had a very tough time. At least you will be prepared next time and you or people around you can spot signs early on if it is about to happen again.

PND is interesting because like infertility it's something people won't admit to. I can't think of any friends who have recently given birth who have admitted to it being hard but I sometimes wonder if a lot of that is about putting a brave face on it. pout I think it's natural where it is taking so long ttc for us to sometimes have second thoughts about whether it's what we want. Other people don't get this chance because they're pregnant before they know it so no chance to back out. Sometimes when I'm around some babies I do think it all looks like way too much work and wonder whether I can be bothered with it. But I do really want a baby, it's just that I'm not that keen on other people's babies iykwim.

farfalla I've added thyroid to my list of things to worry about now. My tsh was 3.1, is that too high? I was told it was in the normal range and totally fine but now I'm wondering if this was right. I don't think I have any symptoms of thyroid trouble. Does anyone else know what their tsh level was? My Dr also said that not everyone with pcos has abnormal blood results, you can have it but your results be fine.

mrsd I think freelance on the pred thread is very well informed about thyroid stuff (I might have got that completely mixed up of course!) so you might want to try to catch her attention. As I understand it (and this is just from reading various posts on here and elsewhere) there is a range that is fine for normal life and a smaller range within that that is the aim when ttc. I'm not clued up enough to know where 3.1 would get you though!

pout you could always put your mind at rest re: chlamidiya by doing one of the Boots tests like I did before my HSG. You just buy the kit and stick your sample in the post. Other than the fact that the first post box I went too had a slot too narrow for the wee pot, it was very simple! I am glad you have a plan of action to tackle crap GP. I think going in there with the aim of getting her to justify why she doesn't think it is worth testing you for it is a good one. It makes going ahead the default position in the conversation, so it is a good negotiating tactic!

Evening ladies. Had a bit of a weird day. Started well with a shag last night and this morning - OH clearly feeling horny . Then got up and did loads of various chores, including taking my Christmas tree down (I've been putting it off as it was so pretty!). Then headed off early afternoon for a lovely treat - full body massage and facial - it was bliss :) However when I was finished, there were 5 missed calls from OH, saying my horse wasn't well :(. Cue an emergency vet visit. She will be ok, had a bit of a gas build up (horses only have a one way digestive system), so had a bit of colic. She is quiet now and on restricted food till the morning, hopefully will be a one off, but I feel a bit guilty for taking some time out for me . And also, I have a mild crush on my vet who is rather handsome, so double guilt .

mrsden I know what you mean about sometimes not sure if you can be bothered with a baby. I'm not a fan of little babies at all but I love them when they get a bit older. And when I've been around little babies that mean something to me, like my nephew or the babies of really good friends, then I see them differently. So I'm assuming my own will be ok .

I watched OBEM. I didn't cry. In fact I called someone a chav while watching it. Oh dear I'm full of confessions tonight! Anyway I am looking forward to watching next weeks one to see what happens to the woman who brought a bikini style outfit (you'll know what I mean if you saw the end of this weeks one).

I had a very weird dream in the last 2ww. I basically had a very vivid dream that I had a BFP, dreamt full conversations about telling everyone, going through the pregnancy with my SiL at a similar time, long conversations with OH about what our parenting style would be; the whole shebang. I wondered if it was a prophecy. sadly not.

My chlamydia test was required - it was one of those boxes that needed to be ticked before we can get a referral, though it's always nice to be told you don't have an STI.

I don't think I said hello again to Karbea - good to have you back, though as always none of us would be here by choice!

Anyway been typing this for ever, better go back outside and check on my poorly pony :( Hope everyo

Accidental post!

Hope everyone is fine and sorry for not namechecking. Has anyone heard from Lemondrizzle lately? Hope she's ok!

Hi ladies ? aaargh have missed a few days and am so behind. Will try and catch up but sorry if I miss anyone.

nelly so sorry to hear your horse is ill :( hope she feels much better soon. Bloody typical isn?t it, the one chance you get to properly relax/indulge yourself and something stressful like that happens. The hot vet sounds nice though I was also wondering about lemondrizzle - hope you are ok, if you?re reading this. When someone hasn?t posted for a while I always hope it?s because they?ve got their BFP and are in shock.

joycep I still can?t get over what your gynae said to you. What a thing to say and how can it even be true?? Am so angry on your behalf especially as you have given her loads of cash. However ? if I were you, I would be thinking, well at least I gave it a shot. Because at the end of the day, you couldn?t have known whether it would work or not. It?s just such a shame she screwed up that last cycle. But onwards and upwards x

stasi hope the health kick is going well and the photography project sounds like a great idea. Also I hope your consultancy appointment is productive this week.

euro it?s interesting that quite a few of your friends have had fertility problems. Have any of them given you any advice? Glad to hear you ovulated in the end. The NHS IVF process sounds slow and painful ? not looking forward to starting that. I?m sure that once you get to the stage of actually having the medical procedures, it will be fine though.

pout I am so so sorry about what happened with your GP and how upset you were, I would?ve been the same. It?s so hard to talk to deal with GPs in relation to fertility stuff :( it just feels like they don?t know and don?t care. A referral back to the consultant might not be the worst thing though? Am glad you have a plan in place to deal with it anyway, sounds v sensible.

cakes good luck for the HSG. Fingers crossed it will be fine. I found it ok, obviously it?s not exactly enjoyable but it was over really quickly and the people who did it were really kind and made sure I was comfortable. It?s such a relief once it?s over too. Another step along the road. And I got my results straight away. The lovely radiologist (I think that?s what he was) gave me the option at the beginning of whether to go through them with me or not. I had to queue at the pharmacy for the antibiotics afterwards.

wine I will try the brown butter tortellini next ? yum. Making healthy food is turning into a bit of a full time job but it?s rewarding and it helps to keep my mind off things. I have also wondered why Heidi doesn?t have children, in fact it?s the first thing I think about when I encounter anyone vaguely in my age group . Obviously I then deduct points if they have got children unless I know they had a hard time conceiving I am a bad person. Hope the yoga was good this weekend and your recovery continues well.

I have avoided OBEM, in the same way I try to avoid anything much with actual babies in it. It?s just too hard and makes me feel very very infertile :(

izzy glad you had the laptop fixed. Good luck for this cycle. I?m sorry you had such a hard time after your last birth. Hopefully because of this, the doctors will be hyper aware of any issues this time which might provide a bit of reassurance.

mrsd I also get loads of weird dreams in the 2ww and often preg-related. I had a vivid one the other night that I?d finally got my BFP and I was getting pissed to celebrate!? I don?t think I?d be doing that in RL!

karbea Hope you are ok. I saw your other threads about ICSI. Sounds like a lot to get your head round but from what I understand ICSI is a standard treatment for sperm problems and very successful. I wish you the best of luck!! Make sure you keep us updated on everything, you could be our first ICSI BFP on this thread :)

gin has your AF buggered off yet?! I will watch out for the copius EWCM/horrible AF thing. I do have some really bad periods but not every month so it will be interesting to see if they are connected. It would make sense I guess - more EWCM = strong ovulation response > lots of hormones making womb lining extra thick and more painful when it sheds maybe??

Not much going on with me. I?m in the 2WW and expecting ERTD maybe Friday or Saturday. I haven?t really got PMT, but you know how you can just tell it?s on its way? Am determinedly trying to avoid gloomy thoughts and an AF meltdown this time. We?ll see. I keep coming across stories of people who should have had problems conceiving (eg age related or gynae problems), but who conceived with no trouble at all. It makes it hard to accept our difficulties but things could be worse so I am trying not to feel jealous . Health kick going ok, I think it?s getting on DH?s nerves though. He must wonder what on earth happened to his previously laid-back
wife when he looks at the crazed woman brandishing bowls of lentil soup at him .

Hope you all had lovely weekends. Apologies for monster post and waves to anyone I have missed!

Hello!

I rarely dream (or know about it anyway) during the 2ww or otherwise, so I miss out on the trippy dreams!

kitty we seem to be in synch. ERTD is due for me around Friday too. I'm not having my usual sore boobs/pms type feelings I would usually have by now, but apparently the steroids can mask symptoms.

Brown butter tortellini sounds lovely!

Hi all!
God I am crap, keep looking at this thread and thinking i'll read through everything and update and then I forget, then the next time I look there's been another 100 posts

But I AM going to read and catch up now, promise!

DH and I have been have a bit of an up and down time over Christmas and New Year but it's getting better. Still waiting to hear when we start our ICSI cycle as well.
But less about me, i'll catch up on everyone else first

I've read through most of the posts, so many to name check everyone.

Just wanted to say massive congratulations to purple and citysnow for your festive BFPs.

Also, thanks to Eggnog, kitty, whereismywine, ginsoak and everyone else that offered their sympathy with DH drinking too much over Christmas. We've had a bit of a chat but there's still issues under the surface i think. It's one of them where after the situation you don't want to bring it up again when things are better. I won't moan too much in this post, don't want it to be a me me me one, but no doubt i'll offload at some point

I'm going to make it my new years resolution to check and post more often on this thread

OK ladies the mentalling is starting very early this month. I mentioned I thought I was having very early OV pains the other day. We've only had sex so far this month on days 8 and 9 (it's 10 today) but when i went to the loo earlier I wiped and there was a sort of mucus, with a very definite pink streak through it . I'm not sure if I have ovulated yet (it's pretty early) so what the blazes is it??? Did we maybe have slightly over-enthusiastic sex and it's damage

Horse is doing ok, thanks kitty. Not quite firing on all cylinders but that's to be expected. Did a 3.30am check on her last night and will do the same tonight - consider it training for babies

Hello again fatima I hope you and OH are getting some peace again. Hope you hear about the ICSI soon!

Hope AF doesn't turn up for either of you Kitty/ Euro

hi - i hope everyone had good weekends.

nelly - do you think it could just be remains of af. I sometimes get this about 5 days after af. Well that is often my theory when i see it. Or perhaps it was just rough sex!

stasi - that's great about your checkup. That really is marvellous news!

mrsd - Fallarocks also knows quite a bit about thyroid levels. I think she was seeing a consultant who was clued up on them. Again it's one of those things where there is a standard nhs normal level. But there is some research to suggest that it should be below a certain level. It's all a bloody minefield. My tsh was 1.7.

euro - id on't like the sound of the mild anxiety but i hope it's not effecting you too much.

well i have to shoot off to work. I got AF this w/e. My boobs were hurting so i didn't have any warning. At least it was a fairly normal wait this time. My dh was also congratulated at the w/e on my pregnancy. |Thank god i wasn't there as i probably would have had a melt down. I have no idea why this person thought i was pregnant.

Morning lovely ladies,

Thanks Kitty I think my issue with IVF was the way DH reacted. He is so stressed at the moment, so any little thing causes him to fly off the handle a bit. I think I might have to take his cat to be put down tonight, so expecting a sad DH tonight :( He is back on track re: ICSi now... so i'm just waiting for AF to arrive now. Went out for my parents Ruby wedding anniversary yesterday, and all they wanted to talk about was when I start treatment and what the process is etc, very odd having lunch talking about my cycles!

Fatima my DH drinks too much too... although he is now drinking Becks Blue and alcohol free wine mid week. He drinks because of stress with his job. You can only nag so much, I feel your pain :( Where are you having IVF?

A quick update on the bizarre notes Drs leave about blood tests- ? Follicular change translates to you were in the follicular phase of your cycle when you had your blood test done!! Well at least that means I actually had it done at the right time this time. I did ask what my LH/FSH level was and was told 5.something and 6.something but I can't remember which way round she said. So as Far said if I have got PCOS the bloods don't appear to agree. I did read something that said the blood tests make a difference to the 'S' without the blood tests agreeing you have PCO, with blood tests agreeing you have PCOS.

Hope everyone is having a good Monday :)

cakes those sound like similar results to mine.

On the thyroid issues, I have seen 2 consultants who have both said they like to see TSH below 2 for TTC purposes. At that level you are not likely to have any symptoms of an underactive thyroid though. My first test was 3.7 but I jave had 2 tests since then which have been 2.7 and 2.1 so they have decided not to do anything but keep an eye on it. The only thing I changed was taking B vits and eating 2/3 brazil nuts a day (the selenium apparently helps the thyroid)
Its definitely something to keep an eye on but I would not necessarily worry about borderline results at the 3ish level because they do fluctuate quite a bit.
Itgs a very cheap test for your GP to do so might be worth asking for a repeat test?

I hope you all had good weekends. AF got me Saturday, boo! Onwards and upwards to the next cycle though!

fatima and karbea my DH also drinks too much (and smokes, gah!) but I agree there is only so much nagging you can do.

nelly I have read that pink mucus is a very fertile sign? I would carry on with the SWI just to keep the bases covered!

Morning all. Well I'm back at work today and not really enjoying it. However, it pays the bills and gives me something to think about.

I think AF will get me today, I'm on about 9DPO and had a big temp drop this morning. Hasn't actually shown up yet, but I'm pretty certain it'll be along soon. I had hoped to get to 10 or 11 DPO so I was right at the start of my cycle for my consultant appointment incase he wanted to re-do any of the tests. Should still be ok I hope. I need to get DH to phone the doctors and arrange to get another sample pot for SA. Really want it all sorted before appt on 12th. There's still time I think, if he does what he's told.

Cakes glad you know what your notes mean now. I didn't get any of the numbers for my tests, but will ask for them on thursday, along with whatever DH's results were. Do you think you do have PCO(S)?

Far is TSH done as part of the day 3/21 bloods? I wasn't given any details on my result for these, and don't even know if I was tested for thyroid. Glad the b vits and brazil nuts seem to be working, it's nice to know not everything needs drugs.

Pout Your plan for the doctor seems like a good one. I try and remind myself it's hard work being a GP, they have to know the symptoms of so many diverse medical conditions. I've a friend who completed her Dr training not so long ago, and her GP placement was in many ways the hardest one for her. I'm not excusing the behaviour of your GP, but I can understand how she might not know as much as you've found out about endo. If you do take in printouts, try and get 'official' ones, maybe from the NHS website. Alternatively, the appointment with the gynae may result in a referral if you discuss your concerns/symptoms with them. They'll know more of the specifics than the GP.
I've also discussed budgets with a nurse, she was saying the extra procedures and expensive tests are hard to get at the end of the budget year. I'm not sure if it was just Scotland, but she was saying the surgeries literally cannot go over budget (I guess they have the equivalent of a bank account) and so they actually can't send you for procedures if they don't have the money. Scary to think how often this might happen, and how many people may have been ignored/given the wrong treatment because of it.
Also, for the chlamydia test, I did one at home, but got the kit from the GP. It was just a little cotton bud and a test tube. Then took it in and handed it in at the front desk with no appt necessary. It is a requirement here that you do the test before getting an infertility referral.

Kitty I hope AF stays away for you, but staying away from gloomy thoughts is good. I've said it before, but I find it really helpful having a 'me day' when AF arrives. Nice dinner, glass or two of wine, and a good movie with DH. I look forward to all of those things as much as I dread the arrival of AF. Kind of balances it out.

Fatima sorry to hear you've had a bit of a rough time over the holidays. I hope you can get him to open up and talk about whatever else might be bothering him. My DH is terrible at sharing problems, it turns into yes/no question time with him, and if I don't ask the right question I won't learn what's bothering him!
This is a bit of a tangent, but I was talking to a friend who lives in Norway. There's some kind of ban there on advertising alcoholic drinks, so every brewery has a really, really good alcohol free beer they advertise instead. This means there's a very good selection of very tasty 'beer' for people to drink. If you think about it, what are your options for a non-sweet, non-hot drink in the UK? Tea and coffee are all I can think of. Anyway, maybe your DH isn't drinking only to get drunk, but because he likes beer and doesn't want to drink fizzy pop or tea. Maybe see what alcohol free beers are available locally, or on the internet, for him to try?

Nelly I think I read somewhere about ovulation bleeds too. Maybe it's that, and you've just never had it, or noticed it before?

Joycep sorry AF got you, how strange on someone congratulating your DH on your pg though. How did he handle the situation? Do you see this person often?

Karbea sorry your DH is stressed, and sorry to hear about his cat too :( I told my parents and sister about my appointment this week. My mum is being strange, she wants me to get pg before my sister has another baby. She's made it into some kind of competition for some reason - v. strange!

Sorry for the long post, I'll hopefully post more now I'm back at work and won't have to catch up quite as much.

Hello ladies - hope you all had lovely weekends.

Sorry for AF arrivals farfalla and joycep. And how odd about the pregnancy congratulations, any idea why they thought that? I bet you are glad you weren't there.

Nelly - I've had that once or twice in the past - it is supposed to be a good sign just after OV, I think I read somewhere.

Well, AF arrived on Saturday for me so I've just made the call to the clinic to say we're ready to start ICSI. I'm booked in for my scan on 27th Jan and, all being well, will start the injections that day too. Eek!

Karbea and Fatima - sounds like we might all be going through the ICSI at a similar time? If we are, it would be great to support each other through it.

Re diet, lifestyle and stress - we've had several conversations about changing all manner of things over the past few months to improve DH's swimmers and our general fertility. We've pretty much cut out the booze now and have been making an effort to eat more healthily. It's tough though and I think the pressure of knowing you need to change things can cause stress in itself. It now helps me to think of it being good for our health more generally rather than just because we're trying for a baby.

Af has arrived today. Mine is strange this month too joycep, because my temps are still high and my boobs are still sore. Normally they stop hurting a day or two before AF so I thought I had a few more days to go yet. I can't believe someone congratulated your DH, why did he think you were pregnant?

nelly I had a blob of blood around when I ovulated this month, I've never had that before and I'm sure I would have noticed because I always check when I wipe now out of habit . I have no idea what it means though.

Thanks for the thyroid info farfalla. I've added it to my list of things to worry about. It's getting to be a long list, I think it would be easier if I made a note of the things that are ok. I will ask the Dr about it when we have our first consultation at the fertility centre. They will redo all the blood tests then so I imagine it would be one they check. I feel a bit that is hasn't been mentioned to me before if we're supposed to have levels under 2 for ttc. I'm beginning to question whether Drs really know everything they should.

ladygee how exciting about IVF, I can't wait to be starting now.

euro I would tell the Dr about the drugs because it might affect a blood test result or interact with other drugs they give you.

Sorry for the quick post, but I'm at work and have to get to a meeting now. I will try and post back later. Hello to everyone I've missed.

Just lost my post.....

mrsdI like your powerpoint presentation idea. If the laptop hadn't joined the great laptop graveyard in the sky I might consider it!
I'm not keen on another general fertility referral because my internet research has shown loads of stuff about how endo is routinely missed unless you see a gynae who specialised in it. There was an article in the Independent I think recently about women who have ended up with fallopian tubes and ovaries being removed because their consultants have refused to test them for endo.
I agree that TTC for ages does make you overthink the whole baby thing. I think you are right that if you conceive after a few cycles you don't have the time to dissect every little thought and fear over and over again in your mind. Like you I'm not keen on other peoples offspring generally and find that most kids usually have their last meal all down their fronts, snotty noses and a hacking cough. I would need full protective clothing and an electrified bargepole before going anywhere near Of course my children would have dog hairs all over them be pristine & angelic!

Euro I didn't know that Boots did an over counter dip test. I might muster up the courage at some point to look into that.
Thanks for your comments about my new plan RE GP. It is helpful to have someone elses opinion on it and to know that it isn't a bad plan!

Nelly How is your horse. It is always difficult when an animal is ill.
I have never had blood at ovulation time so can't help I'm afraid though I wonder whether SWI might be the culprit. I have never had that either and must have a fanjo like a bucket so again am pretty uselss at shedding any light!

kitty what is brown butter? I made pasta once and it broke up in the saucepan so the pasta machine very quickly found a new home in the dustbin.
Your BFP celebrations made me chuckle.
I had no PMT last cycle and felt positively serene and detached, it was a great relief from my usual want to rip my own skin off and beat DP myself to death with it feeling that I usually have.

Fatima I'm so glad that things are better at home. I think that Xmas has a lot to do with it and it is rarely the idealised time of domestic bliss you expect it to be.

Joycep I'm sorry that AF has got you. I'm never sure what is better, the AF that jumps out at you with no warning or the AF that trumpets her arrival for days.
How odd that your DH's friend thought you were pregnant. I wonder where that came from

Karbea I'm so sorry about your DH's cat. That is so horrible. Thinking of you.

Far Commiserations on your AF. Hope you are okay.

Stasi Good luck with your appointment. I hope that your DH managed to get his test done in time.
I agree that GPs have an awful lot of information to know and retain though I do think that it would be better if sometimes they were more honest about not knowing. I have seen GPs in the past who have Googles something while I have been sat there. Strangely I found that far more reasurring than being dismissed out of hand with the feeling that they didn't have much of a clue. I also agree about the lack of non alco drinks on offer. I rarely drink and often have to sit there nursing a coke. I know there are the J20 type things but they are so overpriced and sweet. Not a good look for a bloke either!
Oh and boo to competitive upduffedness

ladygee I'm sorry that AF has got you too. Onwards and upwards with ICSI. Is it a very invasive/intensive procedure - excuse my ignorance.

I wonder where lemons is too and hope she is AWOL with BFP!!!!

I am confused at the moment and still waiting to ovulate I think. I had a day or so of what seemed like EWCM untypically right after my AF but that went and I haven't had anything much to speak of since though I do have some boob pain which usually indicates egg lift off I so hate this bit of my cycle and much prefer it went the ovulation window has definitely passed and I can scale down the SWI high alert.

Off now to scrub my stair carpet with a nail brush because I forgot to buy a scrubbing brush because that's the life of high glamour I lead! No doubt this will precipitate a frantic trip to Carpet Right at the weekend to replace said soggy and threadbare carpet

Hello ladies,

Sorry to hear about the pregnancy congratulations Joycep, but relieved you weren't there to punch them in the face.

Hope your horse is feeling better Nelly and well done on the 3.30am checks.

Grrrr for stupid GPs Pout & fingers crossed you find someone who knows what they're talking about soon (aside from on here of course ).

Not a lot to report here, it's cd 9 for me today. I did however have a full on pregnancy announcement this morning from a neighbour, swiftly followed by a "Do you want children", "How old are you now?", "Best not leave it too long". It didn't make me feel sad, more annoyed and frustrated. Maybe the clomid's having an effect on my moods as I've not been at all emotional in a good few weeks now (managed OBEM with no tears too!).

Hope everyone else is ok .

mrsd sorry AF has arrived for you too. Hopefully, you won't need to wait for IVF. I can't believe how quickly this has come round though, I'm weirdly very excited about it all and am trying to keep things in perspective.

pixie how crap that your neighbour thought it was ok to ask all those questions, I?d be annoyed too.

pout Sorry about the ovulation confusion. No need to be excused, it's definitely on the list of things I never thought I'd need to know about! Yes, it's pretty invasive and intense as far as fertility treatment goes.

I'm on a long protocol, which they class as being 9 weeks but really it's 4-5 weeks as you don't have anything to do for the first 3 and last 2 weeks - apart from waiting!! When you start properly you have two weeks' worth of injections to essentially shut down your normal system and switch off your hormones, then you have between 8-14 days of injections to boost your normal system so that you produce more eggs than normal.

You then have a series of monitoring scans (about 4 from what I can gather) to check when the eggs are approaching being ready for ovulation, you have one final injection and then your eggs are collected (under sedation) 36 hours later. The pressure's then on DH as he has to produce the all important ingredient to order! You get a call between 3-5 days later to have, fingers crossed, an embryo transferred back. You still have the lovely 2 week wait to go mental in at the end to find out if it's successful.

That was probably way too much information, and bits of it are probably wrong, but typing it out helps it feel a bit more real. From talking to a couple of people I know who've been through it, we've basically got to be prepared to have my hormones go to pieces for a month or so and seeing each stage as a mini-success will help keep us sane. Hopefully it will all be worth it in the end.