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!

Sorry ladygee I missed your update when I updated mine.

euro interestingly in my otherwise dodgey GP appointment she suggested a fasting glucose test.
I get the shakes quite regularly and can become quite, ahem, unhinged/grumpy if I'm hungry. DP will quite often scuttle off to the kitchen and come back with a sandwich for me when he sees the signs!

I'm glad that your test results were okay Stasi and that your appointment was productive. Your results sound quite similar to ours, only issue being slight male factor with poor morphology. We too were advised to bypass IUI and look at IVF, albeit privately. My HSG thing followed quite rapidly after our first appointment so fingers crossed for you.

nelly TBH the low GI diet wasn't so bad when I was on it, wholemeal aside. I think it is definitely one of the better diets to have to be on. The only issue I really had was all the eating. Three meals and two snacks seemed a lot of eating to fit into one day!

kitty I'm a sugar craver too and have to have something naughty everyday. With the low GI thing I used to eat rice pudding and think I was being virtuous
My DP would eat wholemeal pasta and rice all the time - freak!

lemons You made me laugh about the evil mother thing Don't think she is evil just very vain and selfish. The long and the short of it is as long as she is happy she doesn't care about anyone else, it's always been like that. She has really shot her bolt with DP this time though following the wedding thing and Xmas shenanigans. DP is the most patient and kind person I have ever met so to have pissed him off she really has gone beyond too far. He is being so sweet about everything and hasn't batted an eyelid over the extra expense of a new dress. We are trying to see it as a positive and I'm hoping to get something more "bridey" in a low key, registry office kinda way We are also secretly laughing about how the fascinator will no doubt be making another appearance...let me tell you that a fascinator on a staggering drunk person is not a good look, it ends up looking like deeley boppers [evil smiley]
My GP told me that little new potatoes with their skins on are okay for low GI but jacket potatoes should be avoided like the plague. Something to do with all turning to sugar, but obviously not sugar in the strictest sense....euro help me please
Good luck with your appointment. Are you going to be discussing your next steps RE IUI?

Ladygee I too would like the cereal bar recipe. Makes grovelling noises at Nelly
Your holiday plans sound very glam, am very envious!
Believe it or not wholewheat pasta is edible with chilli run through it like you would serve bolognese [plebian smiley]

Happy weekends everyone.

I'm quite a sugar lover too and have been known to feel unwell and shaky if my sugar level isn't quite right. Also done the grumpy cause I needed food. I've never quite figured out which way it is that makes me feel ill, whether it is too high or too low. I read that things like that can be linked in with PCOS, which adds weight to my belief that that is my issue. I'm finishing my Christmas treats off before going to a less sweet things diet and maybe even going to the full low GI diet. Before Christmas I was being really good and if nothing else it got my weight a little more under control. About 2 years ago I asked my Dr about the unwell feeling and all she said was my body was working properly and it was my bodies way of telling me I needed something. I have to eat the same thing everyday for breakfast because since i've done that i've had less unwell spells than I used to.

wine ttc 12 months, me 34, nothing appears to be drastically wrong yet bar a 9.5 fsh that consultant thinks was done on wrong day. Mr wine 32, 7% morphology which seems to be a problem and not a problem depending on who we talk to.

Nelly ttc 17 months, me 37, blood tests show nothing major wrong, no further tests done on me yet. OH 34, both SA all within normal ranges. Unexplained so far, need to get to the doctor asap to get a referral sorted. Normal-ish cycles but they are quite short, although LP seems ok.

Pixiepops ttc 12 months, me 35 - blood tests all ok apart from low amh so time is of the essence. Starting clomid next cycle, if no bfp after 4 cycles our consultant's going to refer us for ivf. DP's 36, his only SA was good.

Karbea ttc 13 months, me 37 - blood tests all ok, not further tests done yet. DP's 38 - 1 SA done results "average" (whatever that means). Going to ARGC on Monday! Yikes!

LemonDrizzle ttc 16 months, both 32; all tests done at 12 months: nothing wrong with me (except slight irregularity, but we are talking a range of 24-31 days, with most 26-28), DH's SA okay but low volume and possible (head) morphology issues - after deliberation they sent us home to try more. Next step is IUI in Feb, then IVF in summer/autumn. Debating whether I want intervention yet, because it took my parents 6 yrs.

Gin ttc 16 months. Me 33, DH 32. My 21 day blood tests all fine. DH's SA disastrous! Count of 3 mil, very few normal and crap morphology. Urologists appt in Dec.

cakes82 ttc 15 months, married 20 months. Me 29, DH 28. (af irregular range of 22-43 most around 25-26) DH's SA satisfactory, bloods done not really sure if all ok. HSG done and all seems fine. Depending on consultants opinion, possible diagnosis of PCOS and being prescribed Clomid. See consultant Feb/March.

citysnow ttc 14 months. Me 35, DH 35. Irregular and longish cycles before accupuncture started in May (now about 30 days rather than 38-44) so trying to pretend it has only really been 6 months...All tests done and show nothing so we are unexplained. IUI due to start in Jan 12 (with clomid?!) And now a BFP

ladygee tcc 13 months. Me 29, DH 32. DH SA is below average on all counts (don't remember all the stats). HSG showed blockage at the opening of my right tube. On NHS waiting list (13 months). Starting self-funded ICSI at the end of Jan 2012

euro ttc for around a year (now on cycle 14) and was casual with contraception for a couple of years before that. Me 35, Husband 36. Married 16 months. My blood tests fine, although I only just scraped a reading of 30 to confirm ov. TV u/s fine. HSG - tubes all clear. Hubby's 2 SAs fine -some below average scores but on different factors across the 2 tests so the fertility clinic thought this was fine. Officially diagnosed with "unexplained infertility". Now awaiting NHS IVF. In the meantime I am seeing a private gynae for immunology testing, which has found v high NK cells, so I am about to start immuno-suppressant treatment for that. He has also prescribed Letrozole and a HCG shot to give ovulation a boost and try to speed things up.

joycep ttc 19 months (22cyles). Me 32, DH 29. DH SA fine (7% morph). 1 m/c at 7wks 17months ago. I seem to be fine with a low AMH level for my age. Shortish LP. Tried Clomid for 2 months. Progesterone Suppostories. 2 x IUI cycles. 3rd IUI cancelled.

kitty 32, DH 34. TTC #1, on cycle 16. DH's first SA showed poor morphology (2%). Second one count and morphology better (7%). Third one morphology disastrous (

sorry if I confuse have redone stats so that it has mine and ladygee's updates on it.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Ha ha eggnog I did think it was a strange comment

Pout Can't believe your mum have you found another dress? Any particular style? I love looking or dresses. Just read you're other comments, sounds complicated :(

Ladygee I'm almost the most south-west you can get in West Yorks, before hitting the Greater Manc, South Yorks and Derbyshire borders

AF still hasn't arrived so looks like it's going to be CD29 as normal. Ny boobs are killing me though. Definately no chance of it not arriving though, there was no SWI or SFF this month. IN fact, there's a severe lack of that since we found out there's like a less than 0.1% chance of it ever happening naturally. But that's a whole other issue

I went shopping this afternoon for a few new baby presents Got this for my friends DD born on Sat and this for another friends DD. So cute. There's a boutique-y childrens clothes shop nearby that a friend works in, can't wait to be able to look properly. Although I'll probably be constantly skint then

How's everyone else this weekend?

Sorry again fatima I will be more careful in future! I like the outfits, and did have a wee chuckle at the name of the website on your second link, given the sugar chat we've been having today!

There do seem to be quite a few themes between us don't there - between sugar cravings, spotting before periods, immunology issues etc. It can't all be coincidence.

Right - cereal bars. They are Nigella's Breakfast bars out of Express, so recipe here. They are the easiest in the world to make, but here are my tips:

I use 200g of whole oats and 50g of pinhead oatmeal, because I like the slight chewiness this gives. Actually not sure it's chewy I mean, but anyway it's all personal preference I guess!
I change the dried fruit - sometime blueberries, I've used prunes, I guess it would work with anything really. Love it with cranberries too but it makes it feel less samey to switch about. I'm sure could use chocolate bits if you were feeling less healthy.
I don't use peanuts as to me that's weird for breakfast, I don't replace them with anything else, just leave them out.

I mix up all the ingredients first, then heat the condensed milk. Just because if I take my eyes off it, it can burn and that slightly ruins the taste . I bought a silicone baking tray specifically for these, to turn them out. They can be hard to cut in a regular baking tray, albeit maybe not worth buying them till you've tried them at least once!

They keep at least a week and I haven't gone off them after making them at least 20 times!

Oh forgot to say euro, I thought you were stalking me around the supermarket tonight, at least virtually! I had been very good and written a proper menu for the week, but as I picked things up I was thinking Sugary? Wholemeal? I picked up 3 loaves of bread before deciding on one (now this is maybe going too far, it was the kingsmill half and half, but I saw it was plus Omega 3 which I thought had a TTC benefit, but can't remember why! But chose it on that basis anyway), then rolls for our Sunday bacon sarnies, and chose ones that said "wheaten", whatever that means, but they didn't look totally white at least! And I walked past an offer bit that had iced coffee cake, which I was lured towards, but then did a zig-zag style body swerve, as if you'd jumped in front of me and said "NO! Too Sugary!"

TTC has officially turned me crazy

Heh! I quite like being a virtual supermarket stalker! I feel terribly guilty now that I am sitting here reading this eating a Quality Street.... (in my defence, I am about to go for a run and I find a couple of chocolates before hand helps me round in record time!). Try it for a couple of weeks and see if it makes a difference for you. The effects for me were: less tiredness, fewer sugar cravings (after the first few days), not getting the shakes or irritable when hungry.

You're right about the Omega 3. My private gynae has asked me to take pregnacare plus Omega 3 whilst ttc. I've seen some stuff on the internet about how omega 3s are supposed to help.

pout the deely bopper fascinator made me laugh. You really are taking you mum's actions in your stride very well.

Fatima the outfits are really cute. I hope we will all be buying our own cute outfits soon!

I'm still waiting for AF. This is a record for my luteal phase but I think it is just due to the steroids rather than anything to get my hopes up about. I am also starting to feel a little chubby, which I am also blaming on the steroids. The odd Quality Street aside, I have actually been pretty good since Xmas so I shouldn't be putting on weight under normal circumstances.

I went out for drinks with 2 friends last night. One is the one I have mentioned on here before who has 3 lovely ICSI kids. The other had an unsuccessful IVF cycle before Xmas (her first attempt). It was so obvious that the two of us were not our usual selves. I don't think I'm depressed. I just feel a bit "hollow" at the moment.

wine ttc 12 months, me 34, nothing appears to be drastically wrong yet bar a 9.5 fsh that consultant thinks was done on wrong day. Mr wine 32, 7% morphology which seems to be a problem and not a problem depending on who we talk to.

Nelly ttc 17 months, me 37, blood tests show nothing major wrong, no further tests done on me yet. OH 34, both SA all within normal ranges. Unexplained so far, need to get to the doctor asap to get a referral sorted. Normal-ish cycles but they are quite short, although LP seems ok.

Pixiepops ttc 12 months, me 35 - blood tests all ok apart from low amh so time is of the essence. Starting clomid next cycle, if no bfp after 4 cycles our consultant's going to refer us for ivf. DP's 36, his only SA was good.

Karbea ttc 13 months, me 37 - blood tests all ok, not further tests done yet. DP's 38 - 1 SA done results "average" (whatever that means). Going to ARGC on Monday! Yikes!

LemonDrizzle ttc 16 months, both 32; all tests done at 12 months: nothing wrong with me (except slight irregularity, but we are talking a range of 24-31 days, with most 26-28), DH's SA okay but low volume and possible (head) morphology issues - after deliberation they sent us home to try more. Next step is IUI in Feb, then IVF in summer/autumn. Debating whether I want intervention yet, because it took my parents 6 yrs.

Gin ttc 16 months. Me 33, DH 32. My 21 day blood tests all fine. DH's SA disastrous! Count of 3 mil, very few normal and crap morphology. Urologists appt in Dec.

cakes82 ttc 15 months, married 20 months. Me 29, DH 28. (af irregular range of 22-43 most around 25-26) DH's SA satisfactory, bloods done not really sure if all ok. HSG done and all seems fine. Depending on consultants opinion, possible diagnosis of PCOS and being prescribed Clomid. See consultant Feb/March.

citysnow ttc 14 months. Me 35, DH 35. Irregular and longish cycles before accupuncture started in May (now about 30 days rather than 38-44) so trying to pretend it has only really been 6 months...All tests done and show nothing so we are unexplained. IUI due to start in Jan 12 (with clomid?!) And now a BFP

ladygee tcc 13 months. Me 29, DH 32. DH SA is below average on all counts (don't remember all the stats). HSG showed blockage at the opening of my right tube. On NHS waiting list (13 months). Starting self-funded ICSI at the end of Jan 2012

euro ttc for around a year (now on cycle 14) and was casual with contraception for a couple of years before that. Me 35, Husband 36. Married 16 months. My blood tests fine, although I only just scraped a reading of 30 to confirm ov. TV u/s fine. HSG - tubes all clear. Hubby's 2 SAs fine -some below average scores but on different factors across the 2 tests so the fertility clinic thought this was fine. Officially diagnosed with "unexplained infertility". Now awaiting NHS IVF. In the meantime I am seeing a private gynae for immunology testing, which has found v high NK cells, so I am about to start immuno-suppressant treatment for that. He has also prescribed Letrozole and a HCG shot to give ovulation a boost and try to speed things up.

joycep ttc 19 months (22cyles). Me 32, DH 29. DH SA fine (7% morph). 1 m/c at 7wks 17months ago. I seem to be fine with a low AMH level for my age. Shortish LP. Tried Clomid for 2 months. Progesterone Suppostories. 2 x IUI cycles. 3rd IUI cancelled.

kitty 32, DH 34. TTC #1, on cycle 16. DH's first SA showed poor morphology (2%). Second one count and morphology better (7%). Third one morphology disastrous (

Oh poo. Just wrote a huge thread and lost it when posting. And I'd mentioned everyone! Maybe I can do it in a nutshell. Why does mums net do that sometimes?

Ok, here goes.

joycep hurray for new woo. I get sore boobs and not sore boobs. All cuddle for me throw out their own evil surprises.

pout have you looked at dessy for dresses? Hug about your mum but what's that old cobblers about imitation being flattery?

nelly don't worry, I don't get the shakes or sugar craving so we aren't all exactly the same in some odd infertility syndrome I love cheese and nuts and crisps and all things salty. Yum. Does anyone crave cauliflower and peas do you think?

kitty smoke that bfp with bump jiggling horsey holiday! Good plan.

Stasi how do you feel about the appointment? How good are we going to get at waiting? But isn't it hard?

lemon good luck with yours.

Fatima all the best with the next chapter.

Um. I know Ive missed people off now but need to go out in a bit. I've been licking my wounds and going mental with the waiting, always the waiting! My lump pains and pressure are getting worse in not good places. Two weeks til scan. I think we should really use condoms this month but that feels a tad unecessary. Would you chance it? Advice has been very vague from the hospital. When my teenager is stropping about I will tell them my story and make them look at my scars! Waves to mrsden lady gee cakes

Cycles not cuddles!

There are some odd typos in my post. I'm not going insane I promise.

Hi everyone, hope good weekends are being had. I'm having an ERTD me day as advised by Stasi, CD2 here. Very heavy AF, if I wasn't on the wagon I'd be having some pints of Guinness. No breakdown or tears though, which is a step forward.

wine I'm so sorry you are having all this pain and worry, I really feel for you. Given that you're experiencing increased symptoms is it worth contacting the hospital again to see if they can fit you in sooner or are you too close to the scan now? Hope your DH is looking after you. I'm really not sure on the SWI question, sorry. Annoying that the hospital were vague.

euro sorry your night out was a bit flat, and your poor friend with her failed cycle. Is she trying again soon?

nelly that is so funny about virtual euro following you around the supermarket! I am afraid after all my bleating about wholegrain everything, I bought a packet of white English muffins yesterday, they went down a treat with butter and marmite

Hi ladies! Hope you are all having a good weekend! Mr Gin is at work so I've been a bit bored obsessively googling IVF clincs. Have a smear test tomorrow, which I'm not looking forward to, but thought it would be a good step in trying to get used to getting my bits out for medical professionals

kitty sorry to hear about ERTD turning up, but well done on not having an AF melt down. I see from the updated list that your ttc problems are similar to ours! Stupid sperms.

joy You have been so brave with your op! I'm such a wuss with anything medical (see smear test fear above). Not that I know anything about it, but I'd guess that the pain and pressure is scar tissue, as you are healing?! Big hugs.

And I know what you mean about the waiting. We've been trying for at least 18 months now and don't have our next appointment until the end of Feb. It's all rather frustrating, particularly with my 35th birthday not being far away, the age after which the medical profession deem me unable to reproduce effectively, grrrr.

nelly - at your supermarket trip! I did exactly the same thing on Friday evening in Asda and bought wholemeal bread, rather than the tasty tiger loaf. I too get lack of food shakes, but when then did my bloods they tested glucose etc and it seemed fine. Having said that, I'm veggie, so don't think I eat enough protein. And then yesterday in my boredom, I made some more Nigella rocky road. Healthy, yes?!

pout Hope you are beginning to feel excited about the wedding, despite dress trauma. Is there anyone who could "be in charge" of your mum on the day? We did this with my dad on our wedding day and it worked well and meant that I didn't have to worry about him. And yay for more dress shopping. Annoying you have to do it, but good excuse for more shopping/trying on pretty dresses.

Euro I know exactly what you mean about the "hollow" feeling. Sometimes (normally around AF time), my whole life feels a bit hollow due to lack of children. But then I have a glass of wine/buy some nice clothes/go to zumba/do something else I couldn't easily do with kids and feel a bit better. Hope the rest of your weekend has been ok.

Fatima has AF shown yet?! Lack of swi sounds familiar. It's so hard to be bothered when you know there isn't really any chance. Although I normally STILL get my hopes up in the 2ww - you think I'd have learnt by now. Also, can I ask, you mentioned about have time of work for the IVF - how long do you think you will be off? I'm trying to work out roughly when we might go for IVF and trying to fit it in with holidays, weddings, work colleagues' leave.

Right better get on. Hi to everyone else. Sorry for monster post - am posting on computer rather than phone for once, and it's soooo easy to type on here, that I can't stop! I've booked me and DH onto a couple of clinic open days in Feb. As we're in London, there's such a choice of clinic that it's baffling. However, a large number of the really good ones are far out of our price range, unless we manage to egg share... Enjoy your Sundays. I'm particularly looking forward to some Benedict in Sherlock tonight :)

Oops sorry, meant wine not joy in my post above. Obviously I associate booze with pleasure! Sorry both.

Here's an updated list.

wine ttc 12 months, me 34, nothing appears to be drastically wrong yet bar a 9.5 fsh that consultant thinks was done on wrong day. Mr wine 32, 7% morphology which seems to be a problem and not a problem depending on who we talk to.

Nelly ttc 17 months, me 37, blood tests show nothing major wrong, no further tests done on me yet. OH 34, both SA all within normal ranges. Unexplained so far, need to get to the doctor asap to get a referral sorted. Normal-ish cycles but they are quite short, although LP seems ok.

Pixiepops ttc 12 months, me 35 - blood tests all ok apart from low amh so time is of the essence. Starting clomid next cycle, if no bfp after 4 cycles our consultant's going to refer us for ivf. DP's 36, his only SA was good.

Karbea ttc 13 months, me 37 - blood tests all ok, not further tests done yet. DP's 38 - 1 SA done results "average" (whatever that means). Going to ARGC on Monday! Yikes!

LemonDrizzle ttc 16 months, both 32; all tests done at 12 months: nothing wrong with me (except slight irregularity, but we are talking a range of 24-31 days, with most 26-28), DH's SA okay but low volume and possible (head) morphology issues - after deliberation they sent us home to try more. Next step is IUI in Feb, then IVF in summer/autumn. Debating whether I want intervention yet, because it took my parents 6 yrs.

Gin ttc 18 months. Me 33, DH 32. My 21 day blood tests all fine, no other tests as of yet. DH's two SA disastrous! Count of 3 mil, very few normal forms and crap morphology. Urologist said ICSI was the only chance of us being able to have a baby. Our PCT won't fund any IVF, despite the fact we meet all the criteria. DH has an ultrasound on his bits next week and we then both have to go back to the urologist in late Feb for the results and to discuss next steps. We would like to have a go at ICSI at some point this year, if we can find the money...

cakes82 ttc 15 months, married 20 months. Me 29, DH 28. (af irregular range of 22-43 most around 25-26) DH's SA satisfactory, bloods done not really sure if all ok. HSG done and all seems fine. Depending on consultants opinion, possible diagnosis of PCOS and being prescribed Clomid. See consultant Feb/March.

citysnow ttc 14 months. Me 35, DH 35. Irregular and longish cycles before accupuncture started in May (now about 30 days rather than 38-44) so trying to pretend it has only really been 6 months...All tests done and show nothing so we are unexplained. IUI due to start in Jan 12 (with clomid?!) And now a BFP

ladygee tcc 13 months. Me 29, DH 32. DH SA is below average on all counts (don't remember all the stats). HSG showed blockage at the opening of my right tube. On NHS waiting list (13 months). Starting self-funded ICSI at the end of Jan 2012

euro ttc for around a year (now on cycle 14) and was casual with contraception for a couple of years before that. Me 35, Husband 36. Married 16 months. My blood tests fine, although I only just scraped a reading of 30 to confirm ov. TV u/s fine. HSG - tubes all clear. Hubby's 2 SAs fine -some below average scores but on different factors across the 2 tests so the fertility clinic thought this was fine. Officially diagnosed with "unexplained infertility". Now awaiting NHS IVF. In the meantime I am seeing a private gynae for immunology testing, which has found v high NK cells, so I am about to start immuno-suppressant treatment for that. He has also prescribed Letrozole and a HCG shot to give ovulation a boost and try to speed things up.

joycep ttc 19 months (22cyles). Me 32, DH 29. DH SA fine (7% morph). 1 m/c at 7wks 17months ago. I seem to be fine with a low AMH level for my age. Shortish LP. Tried Clomid for 2 months. Progesterone Suppostories. 2 x IUI cycles. 3rd IUI cancelled.

kitty 32, DH 34. TTC #1, on cycle 16. DH's first SA showed poor morphology (2%). Second one count and morphology better (7%). Third one morphology disastrous (

Hi all!

Hope your boring weekend is not too bad, gin. It sounds like a mixed bag, really. Googling IVF clinics can be good - in the being in charge way/depressing/scary as hell/all of the above. But rocky road is definitily fab, even if euro is stalking you as well . That supermarket trip made me smile a lot, nelly. I am sure she ius a good conscience to have. My DH did the supermarket shopping and impressively she seems to have stalked and corrected him, how else can I explain the lentils on the menu today? I am pretty sure GIers would approve. I do want to make Nigella's cereal bars now. Why do you do this to me?

Big hugs (in a non-MN way) for wine, I am sorry you are feeling so rubbish, that op seems to have done more harm than good -GRRR for waiting for the scan! Have some nice wine, cuddles from your OH and some GI-defying chocolate!

Sorry about the hollow feeling and the not that great night out, euro. Hope you AF stays away and turns into a BFP! And failing that, it might as well come and get you onto the next cycle. Sympathies on evil tides, kitty and being nice to yourself for a day, without mentalling sounds pretty good to me!!

How did you get on with dress shopping pout? I hope you managed to find a lovely outfit and can save the other one for another day (and not having to confront your apparently not entirely evil, but still selfish, mother). I thought the tip of having a mum-minder was a good one.

I'll be updating the list of stats after Tues's appointment, we are discussing the treatment plan indeed . And as the last performance of DH with his pot was a little less than hoped for, I am having nightmares about having to go straight to IVF, apparently we get a cycle funded, so that is okay. But it scares me... Well, no use mentalling about it before we hear anything. I had an exercise-virtuous weekend, with cycling and yoga and besides lots of cuddles with my favourite little people, so I am doing quite well here... AF is about a week away too, so no mental hormones, either although I did manage to pick a fight with my DH last night over which pub we were going too, sometimes I am stupid!

Anyway, I hope you all have lovely weekends, step away from google, gin and have some more rocky road. In fact, in your benefit, shouldn't we share it out on the thread? It might have magic brazil nuts (which I love) in which are good for everything.

Apologies for all the typos, I seem to have lost the skill entirely over the holidays!

I promise I haven't been drinking, but you lot make me feel all warm and fuzzy sometimes :) Just caught up on the last few posts and for some non-specific reason they all just made me smile and think "awwwww".

Had an ok weekend, not too strenuous and amazingly I've spent no money! I'm probably too scared to go to the shops in case someone stalks me around them . Sorry you had a bit of a down night out euro - I know exactly what you mean by the hollow feeling. Sometimes I'm outrageously cross about the whole thing, but at other times it's just all a bit and I'm not sure which is better (worse?). Lesser of the two evils really.

Does cod liver oil count as omega 3? OH has a stash of those upstairs.

Sorry it is all getting on top of you wine and that the scar is hurting a bit. Easy to say, but the time will fly be at you will be at your next appointment before you know it. But I love the focus on the teenager in our futures. Sometimes when I think of that, it puts me right off TTC . Gentle non-hurting hugs for you.

Boo to ERTD kitty and well done on spoiling yourself to spite it. But bleurgh to marmite you weirdo What is wrong with a nice bit of butter and jam???

The clinic open days sound really positive gin - I am struggling to get OH to lift his head up from his work long enough to have a quick shag, let alone discuss/pro-actively do something about IVF or other options. I guess sometimes too much choice can be a bad thing, when it gets closer to the time I'm sure lots of lovely MNers would have advice on the various clinics. I don't know that there is much choice in Edinburgh. Nigella rocky road = total health food probably not. I have made a noodle salad of hers I've not tried, going to have it for lunch tomorrow at work. Except I keep going into the fridge and picking at it!

Lemon haha at euro stalking your OH as well, she does get about doesn't she . Sorry about tempting you with the cereal bars, but I am pretty sure they are on the healthy end of the spectrum. Oats = low GI. Dried fruit. Seeds. Nuts. OK a bit of sugary condensed milk, but hey we can't be perfect! And I have to say, they are a lifesaver in terms of rushing in the mornings. I am impressed at your virtuous exercise weekend! And good luck for Tuesday, hope you come away with positive next steps.

Right better get a few things done, before I tackle a Jamie's 30 minute meal. I'm really quite competitive, I consider it a challenge to try to beat the clock, weirdo that I am. Typical male cook though, I've laid out all the ingredients and equipment, as instructed, and my kitchen looks like a bomb has hit it .

Hi ladies. I am now on cycle 15 - my period arrived today. I am not too upset. I knew I wasn't pregnant and am just relieved that my drug cocktail didn't mess things up too much. I ended up with a 35 day cycle (against a usual 28ish) so not too disastrous. I start taking the Letrozole again tomorrow and am hoping this cycle will go better as it can be properly monitored without Xmas getting in the way! If it doesn't, this will be the last go at it!

wine ttc 12 months, me 34, nothing appears to be drastically wrong yet bar a 9.5 fsh that consultant thinks was done on wrong day. Mr wine 32, 7% morphology which seems to be a problem and not a problem depending on who we talk to.

Nelly ttc 17 months, me 37, blood tests show nothing major wrong, no further tests done on me yet. OH 34, both SA all within normal ranges. Unexplained so far, need to get to the doctor asap to get a referral sorted. Normal-ish cycles but they are quite short, although LP seems ok.

Pixiepops ttc 12 months, me 35 - blood tests all ok apart from low amh so time is of the essence. Starting clomid next cycle, if no bfp after 4 cycles our consultant's going to refer us for ivf. DP's 36, his only SA was good.

Karbea ttc 13 months, me 37 - blood tests all ok, not further tests done yet. DP's 38 - 1 SA done results "average" (whatever that means). Going to ARGC on Monday! Yikes!

LemonDrizzle ttc 16 months, both 32; all tests done at 12 months: nothing wrong with me (except slight irregularity, but we are talking a range of 24-31 days, with most 26-28), DH's SA okay but low volume and possible (head) morphology issues - after deliberation they sent us home to try more. Next step is IUI in Feb, then IVF in summer/autumn. Debating whether I want intervention yet, because it took my parents 6 yrs.

Gin ttc 18 months. Me 33, DH 32. My 21 day blood tests all fine, no other tests as of yet. DH's two SA disastrous! Count of 3 mil, very few normal forms and crap morphology. Urologist said ICSI was the only chance of us being able to have a baby. Our PCT won't fund any IVF, despite the fact we meet all the criteria. DH has an ultrasound on his bits next week and we then both have to go back to the urologist in late Feb for the results and to discuss next steps. We would like to have a go at ICSI at some point this year, if we can find the money...

cakes82 ttc 15 months, married 20 months. Me 29, DH 28. (af irregular range of 22-43 most around 25-26) DH's SA satisfactory, bloods done not really sure if all ok. HSG done and all seems fine. Depending on consultants opinion, possible diagnosis of PCOS and being prescribed Clomid. See consultant Feb/March.

citysnow ttc 14 months. Me 35, DH 35. Irregular and longish cycles before accupuncture started in May (now about 30 days rather than 38-44) so trying to pretend it has only really been 6 months...All tests done and show nothing so we are unexplained. IUI due to start in Jan 12 (with clomid?!) And now a BFP

ladygee tcc 13 months. Me 29, DH 32. DH SA is below average on all counts (don't remember all the stats). HSG showed blockage at the opening of my right tube. On NHS waiting list (13 months). Starting self-funded ICSI at the end of Jan 2012

euro ttc for 15 cycles and was casual with contraception for a couple of years before that. Me 35, Husband 36. My blood tests fine, although I only just scraped a reading of 30 to confirm ov. TV u/s fine. HSG - tubes all clear. Hubby's 2 SAs fine -some below average scores but on different factors across the 2 tests so the fertility clinic thought this was fine. Officially diagnosed with "unexplained infertility". Now awaiting NHS IVF. In the meantime I am seeing a private gynae for immunology testing, which has found high NK cells. I am now taking steroid treatment after ovulation to try to suppress NK cell activity. The private gynae has also prescribed Letrozole and a HCG shot to give ovulation a boost and try to speed things up. I'm on the second cycle of trying these treatments now.

joycep ttc 19 months (22cyles). Me 32, DH 29. DH SA fine (7% morph). 1 m/c at 7wks 17months ago. I seem to be fine with a low AMH level for my age. Shortish LP. Tried Clomid for 2 months. Progesterone Suppostories. 2 x IUI cycles. 3rd IUI cancelled.

kitty 32, DH 34. TTC #1, on cycle 16. DH's first SA showed poor morphology (2%). Second one count and morphology better (7%). Third one morphology disastrous (

Hope you've all had a good weekend. Mine's been quite quiet

WRT time off for IVF Gin i'm quite lucky as I work flexi time and we also get up to 3 hours paid for hospital appointments, so I can utilise this for appointments for blood tests and check up scans.
I'll be using a days holiday for when I go in for egg collection and i'll probably have a couple of days off after as well; I've heard you can be quite tender afterwards. But hopefully EC will be on a thurs or fri so i've the weekend to recover. ET is supposed to be an in and out within an hour job so I could just use hospital allowance for this but I might have a day or two off to take it easy. I suppose it all depends on how I react to the hormones and whether I get any OHSS or not.

AF still hasn't arrived but I can tell it's on the way. It's strange going from months of TTC and hoping AF stays away to hoping AF arrives quickly so I can get treatment started quicker.
I presume it'll arrive over night/tomorrow morning as that's when i'm due, so i'll have to ring MFS to say "CD1 again". But they better hopefully they'll ring me tomorrow with news of the recipients CD1 anyway

Brilliant images of nelly and lemon's DH being stalked by euro around the supermarket ? hilarious!

Fatima ? ok so we really are close, I?m in south west yorkshire too ? about as far south as you can get but a little further towards the middle than you. Kind of inbetween Wakefield and Huddersfield.

Those outfits are so so cute. Like Euro says, hopefully we?ll all be buying our own soon. In the meantime, I?m satisfying my need to buy super cute mini clothing ?and lots of other things?buying things for my little niece who?s due in just 7 weeks? time now.

Euro ? glad your cycles haven?t been too messed up by the steroids. Sorry about your night out and to hear about your friend?s cycle. That hollow feeling sounds all too familiar.

Wine ? I?m so sorry you?re still in pain. Waiting is one of the hardest, most frustrating things. I?m thinking that we?ll all be very patient parents when our babies arrive. I hope the pain starts to ease and the next two weeks fly by for you.

Kitty ? sorry about AF turning up. But well done on the lack of mentalling!

Gin ? good luck with the clinic search, there is so much choice in and around London ? I?m not sure where I?d start. Not long to go ?til 90 mins of pure Benedict deliciousness. Without doubt, the highlight of my Sunday.

Lemon ? I?m v.impressed and feeling v.guilty with your weekend of exercise

Thanks for the foodie recipes and ideas nelly and pout- I?ve made a note of the ingredients for the cereal bars and look forward to giving them a whirl. Yum. I?ll also give wholewheat pasta another go as chilli is on the menu this week.

We?ve had a lovely, rare, weekend at home and have made the most of it ? cooking, watching films, reading and sorted through a lot of the rubbish we own. It?s reinforced that we still enjoy spending time together as a couple but also that we?re both ready for some little bundle to come and mix things up a bit!

Hope everyone else's weekends have been good

Yum, just had a tasty roast dinner. This afternoon we had a baking session, dh made bread (it's still proving ) and I made some choc chip cookies, with wholemeal flour! I had a good cry on the phone to my mum and then felt oddly better and got busy today. Thanks for all of your loves better. Its not the lap scar that's bad, that's fine now, just healing up but hardly even sore. It's the fibroid that is causing pressure on my bowel which is very uncomfortable. I thought in recent months I'd developed a new type of ibs pain but now I know it's just pressure and i wont go into details but the effects aren't very nice. But it only seems really bad in the run up to ovulation for some reason. Even if I wasn't ttc, I'd want it removed. kitty I don't recon they'd see me any sooner so I'm just crossing off the days. I'm sorry this wasn't the month for you, but glad to hear it didn't floor you too badly. It's kind of shit we have to get used to it though isn't it?

nelly which Jamie are you doing? I love that book so much and yes, the half hour challenge is important! I love the jerk chicken. I like all of the bits that go with it. Agreed that I am always grateful for this thread. Otherwise I'd feel like a lumpy wombed lonely lady. Obviously I wish none of us were here, but it's good to know there are people who get it.

euro sorry the cycle wasn't the one. But I reckon your body is just figuring things out and at least it hasn't been too derailed. It's good that you can be monitored properly this cycle and that might make all the difference.

lemon glad it isn't just me with the typos

Waves to gin and hurry up fatima's cd1 x

Cross post Ladygee with your lovely post. Glad you had a homely weekend.

I did the piri piri chicken, with portugese tarts. Managed the whole thing in 40 mins, including tidying up, which was ok. It was very tasty, might have to switch it round a little bit as it takes me longer to chop stuff etc than him. I also need to remember to turn the oven on a bit earlier as it wasn't hot enough at the start, so the tarts were a bit undercooked. Still yummy though.

Ah euro sorry bloody ERTD turned up, though as you say at least the drugs seemed not to have messed things up too much. I'm very impressed with the running by the way (and had a chuckle at you guiltily stuffing Quality Streets in!). My Sis and BiL are both keen runners, and today my OH (normally a mad crazy cyclist) went for a run. Even I was considering it though am far too lazy to act on the urge! What's got in to me I wonder? .

Good luck (I think?) with both you and your egg recipient getting CD1s soon fatima:)

Enjoy the cereal bars LadyGee hope you like them! Your weekend sounds lovely! We had a bit of a blitz on the house today, I did things like washed down the fridge door and wiped skirting boards and things. What a glamorous life we lead sometimes

Ah wine I hadn't appreciated it was the fibroid itself, that sounds horrid. I suppose at least you now know what is causing the pain, and can look forward to the op date when you can have it removed, but it must be annoying to say the least in the meantime. How were the cookies with the wholemeal?

I've just watched Call the Midwife (or at least the second half of it). If nothing else, it will make me feel grateful to be considering children in this decade, not the early 50s...