TTC 10 plus months, Part 7

[lisacn]

A friendly, supportive thread for those of us who are taking a bloody long little longer time than average to conceive.

Bloody hell joy. Imagine if all along, some minor infection that could have been knocked on the head with cheap anti-b's is what's getting in the way? Fucking hell (excuse my french, Mr Nelly watching game of thrones in the other room, the language is choice) but why oh why on why is the whole thing so under-investigated, so confusing, so much down to our own efforts. And then your mother. And indeed your MiL. Personally what you wrote above didn't sound nearly ranty ENOUGH. I would be with the pair of them. Firstly for MiL telling your mother, secondly for the complete lack of support. Thinking charitably, is there any way that your mother was trying to say Don't worry Joy this'll happen for you soon? . I wish you a huge amount of luck talking to your Consultant. I have to say I got about 5 minutes with mine before his pager went and he ran out of the room.

carrie I am equally on your behalf. Without a doubt, a complaint is in order. I am glad you managed to get in the sex, it would have been too much to handle if the pain was for nothing. Assuming you've ovulated, is the pain subsiding?

Anyway just a quick check in from me. Had a mega busy day yesterday, not so much today. Or at least I've attempted several things on my list of "massive annoying problems to be fixed" and failed at most of them. That's probably the same list that has "get pregnant" on it. ERTD due in 2 days per my App, but no idea really as I kind of forgot to check when it started as I was on my hols. Anyway, good news is no spotting yet, which is unlikely to indicate anything positive regarding pregnancy; but does at least mean that so far this cycle has behaved rather better than last. I have had some rumbly-tumbly pains as per normal, so suspect I will be out soon. Ah well, I guess I better get that first IVF appointment booked :(

Hope everyone has had good weekends. Oh, honeymoon - back on South Pacific for now - if I can actually figure out how to fly to Tahiti and sell my soul to pay for the accommodation . Seychelles might be a possibility (it'd be too ridiculous to discount it on the basis of the fact that BA don't fly there, wouldn't it? I'm a bit of a Miles addict!). Friends were round today talking about it and they said oooh what about Africa? I couldn't think of a good enough reason to explain why that wasn't possible. By the way thanks euro for the map - sadly a lot of places that will be hot in January do seem to also be malarial, not entirely surprisingly!

Right tea (dinner, supper) is ready so better go. Luffs to all x

Good luck Buzzy hope you stay well.
Joy that's awful you need support and negative comments aren't helpful. I'm in the same boat everyone and I mean everyone I know, knows we are trying and having problems except my mother. I finally broke the news yesterday and she just shrugged it off. I have a wonderful OH but my mother has had diffculty accepting him due to not being happy with my marriage breakup, which was years ago. She's finally accpeting him because she can't not. He's never put a foot wrong, takes care of me and is a natural stepdad to my DD without stepping on her fathers toes. Having said that we do still argue and he isn't perfect, he's not good at talking or providing emotional support with TTC but she wouldn't know that lol. Does your mother know how long you have been trying and that the majority of couples will take 18 months max unless their is a problem?

Hello lovely ladies,
Hope you are all keeping well. Sorry it's been a while. I don't have much hope of catching up but have just had a good scan through about a week's worth of posts.

Firstly princess and purple please don't ever feel that you have been/ are being judged. Purple I probably didn't comment on your hangover because I don't think it would have registered as being a biggie! And princess you must never ever blame yourself, after reading everyone else's posts I hope you now see that. I am certainly in no place to be a judgeypants, having the weakest willpower ever- I'd never be able to stick to your brown diet! Sorry to hear about your friend and her situation- sounds like she is a great friend and I'm sure you'll be as close as ever, I totally understand your worry about friends having mat leave together, my two BFs will be in a couple of months and the has been unbearable.

euro what a bloody nightmare with the smear test timing. Sounds like the gynae was great though and fx crossed for your results. Sounds like you are taking the treatment in your stride- I so hope this is your time.

carrie sorry you've been in so much pain. Some of the docs involved in this seem negligent IMHO. It sounds like it could have been much worse. I admire your tenacity with the shagging though!

artemis how bloody infuriating with the HSG wait...and even more so with the 'think positive' radiographer- eff off! I too am not sure about the whole clomid thing- I get scared that as I do ovulate I'll pop out a year's worth in a month then not have enough to do the job naturally (I am aware of how stupid I sound but this is my thought process!)

buzzy GL with the IUI- yes, we are definitely owed a success on here. Sounds like the SA results are in the brackets where it can be worth a good try!

wine- has the spotting turned into AF? Remember that your womble has had a pretty traumatic time (as have you), it might take a while to settle...but I am convinced that when it has settled that the currently downright lazy finger will be pointing your way!

gin what's new pussycat? Hope you had a great night

Welcome to freedom- hope your stay here is short and sweet!

Waves to mrs den, joycep, critter, lemon, pout, nelly, teu, sarlat et al!

I'm in a strange place with the ttc thing at the mo. When I hit the year mark I went into full on panic mode, became really stressed, obsessional and emotional. I don't know if it's hitting the 2 year mark and/ or the home situation (we are moving- finally finding out the situ Thursday after weeks of uncertainty) but I am actually kind of OK. I've had 2 preggo announcements this week (1 potentially v hard-hitting) and 2 birth announcements. Not a tear! It's unlikely to last I know but I feel quite relaxed and numb towards it all. I'm bored of ttc consuming my thoughts and defining who I am. Having a month off mentalling (with the jubilee non-IUI) and not IUIing at all this month has done me the world of good. Have a consultant apt this week so it may all kick back in, who knows, but I wish I could stay in this frame of mind forever!
Hope you all enjoy your Sunday evening- v of all of you living in sunnier climes- it's like November here! xx

nelly rumbly tumbly can mean other things, I think that big fat lazy finger might be stretching in your direction :)

joy how did you get to speak to his son?? did he say what antibiotic they use?? You are certainly the woman to know :) cannot believe your MIL . As for your mother, mine is a cow and we don't speak she should support your decisions and be there to emotionally support you even if she doesn't agree with you. This is tough enough without being judged by others/family for the decisions we make. Big hugs for all the preggy announcements,
I used to have normal periods but they have become lighter and shorter usually 1-2 days, I thought with the extra progesterone that it would have been heavier and longer

my MIL is driving me mad, they wanted to pop round tonight which wasn't convenient and Mr B's aunt had already popped in, I think what pisses me off is that she didn't come and visit me after 2 ERPC'S but keeps popping round to see him, I know that its his mum but she could have made more of an effort with me. As for talking to her about our situation I mentioned IVF in an email and she ignored it, told me to relax and it will happen and to be grateful for what I have like I need that pointing out, and that she had 3 miscarriages and thought Mr B might be an only child, I felt like calling her and screaming yes but you already had a fucking child we don't!!! Our situations are not the same!!!! Anyway MIL rant over, she is good and does have a heart of gold, she just doesn't live in this dimension,

well i hope you all had a good weekend

frannie x post glad you are ok we have been worried about you, sorry about the announcements, not sure about iui this month as Mr B is still recovering from his op, I'll see what Mr Shehata says but i think next month might be better and Mr B's swimmers might have recovered and hopefully his cocktail of vitamins might have had an affect.
I know what you mean about wanting to stay in this frame of mind, it becomes such an emotional rollercaoster

Took me so long to write post that I x-posted with joy. That Troth conversation sounds fascinating, albeit a little alarming. Is there any mileage in seeing if you can be tested for the pysospermia? Did he say whether the antibiotics had to be specific to the gynae infection or can sometimes other antibiotics end up killing 2 birds (as you felt had happened with your prev pregnancy)?
Grr to your mum/MIL...sorry you're not getting their support. You are absolutely NOT being ridiculous, as hard as it is try to not let that put you and DH off the paths you choose. x

Hello lovely ladies, can I join? I've been watching this and similar threads for a few days and now realising how much wisdom/sanity it can bring....just finding like minded people going through something similar.

I'm 33, DH 30, ttc for about a year and a bit, though really only properly counting and monitoring cycle since August 2011. We got pg Oct 2011, then mc at 11 weeks in December, which was just awful. The most terrible thing to go through even though i know it's fairly normal.

V naively we thought we would get pg pretty fast after mc, from previous experience and all the stats (v fertile first 3 months-body looks after new pg...whatever). But no joy, despite various combinations of no booze/sensible diet/loads of exercise/ov testing (no positives).

So I saw GP on Friday. She did the whole "it's v normal, probably nothing to worry about. But given your age (33) no harm to see if the machinery is working."

I'm off for a gynae exam next week, followed by the initial blood tests at the start of next cycle (LH and something else days 1-5, then progesterone day 21). All a bit scary - the idea that we're being tested for "possible fertility problems" but all the same relieved that we're starting to do something.

Anyway, sorry for long download. Just hopeful this or similar threads will be a source of sanity for whatever madness might ensue...

Holding up glass of vino to everyone! (Sorry - don't know the clever shortcut which puts in a wine glass symbol!) xxx

Oops - just realised from seeing some of the other lovely ladies on here that I might have been on this thread already a few weeks back. So...with apologies....I guess I should be asking if I can re-join xx

Morning everyone

Welcome hopeful, or welcome back! The testing can be a long and confusing road but at least you've got things kick started and there will be plenty of support and hand-holding on here whenever you need it.

Euro I'm glad Mr Microscope could offer some reassurance. FX for the test results. at the IVF drugs causing a menopausal cervix... presumably it goes back to being pre-menopausal later in the process?!

Nelly glad this cycle is behaving better. Looking good in the party pants! And hooray for honeymoon planning. Sounds v exciting

Joycep sounds like you've had a rough time. 3 pregnancy announcements at once is too much. And your mum and MIL..... I am a mixture of and . They have no business discussing your medical choices behind your back. The reason I haven't told my mum about our investigations is she would react the exact same way as yours - 'don't be stupid, you don't need that' etc. She's done it before with other medical issues and it is hugely upsetting and unhelpful. Hugs to you. Has your DH said anything to his mum?

Buzzy your MIL is being insensitive too... there is a world of difference between someone who miscarried and went on to have a healthy child and those of us who haven't.

Purple I saw your hangover post. I thought 'thank god, it's not just me' I'm thinking you could send us some of your sorbet. It would go beautifully with the sunshine that Critter is sending our way

Princess I'm amused that Mr P got caught in the offside trap... I saw part of the England game last night while doing my ironing and I have to say the ironing was the more interesting part of the equation. Mr A will still be watching the rest of the matches though. And Wimbledon starts this week...

Gin ooh Tom Jones... I am . Fingers crossed now for baby Delilah!

Sarlat I'm sure you know in your head that the big O does not cause miscarriage. Apparently pregnancy hormones make women want more sex - something to do with keeping your mate - so actually make an O more likely when pregnant than when not. One of the many ironies of TTC! But i guess we look for reasons. Good luck for Wednesday's appointment, not long to wait now though it will seem like an age.

Carrie I'm really shocked by that A&E doc. He probably knew less about OHSS than you do, you were right to point out you had not been properly assessed. I really do not understand the whole 'we don't do scans at the weekend' crap. Surely healthcare ought to be a 7 day a week service? It particularly riles me when accompanied by the 'relax and don't worry' line. Grr. Well done on dtd through the pain. Are you stopping the clomid now? It doesn't sound as though it suits you at all.

Frannie that is my fear exactly with the clomid. I got scanned the first month I took it and had loads of follies - the nurse said it causes loads of eggs to be released but only one follie becomes dominant, so presumably the others (from my finite and dwindling supply) are wasted. I worry that it will use them all up and I won't have any left by the time I get to IVF!

Am hating clomid actually. It has really buggered up my cycles. It was meant to regulate them but so far they have been getting longer and longer, and there is no scanning or testing after the first cycle (this is my 4th) so I don't even know if it's working any more. CD31 today, I've been getting all the symptoms of AF since thursday (temps dropped, boobs deflated, abdominal cramps etc) but no proper bleeding, just horrible brown spotting. According to Dr Google this can be a sign of clomid thinning the womb lining. Am going to ring the unit later this morning and try to speak to a nurse to find out if this is normal and if/when I should start taking the next lot. Wondering whether I should POAS first as they might just tell me to do that but I really don't think I'm pregnant, don't feel it at all, and don't see how I can be given the temps, cramping etc. Then need to ring the radiography dept again and kick up a fuss about the HSG. It does my head in how the consultant tells me time is of the essence, age is not on my side etc, then can't offer simple diagnostic procedures within a reasonable timeframe. from memory I think the cost of having it done privately is about £400 so that would be my next question. I bet he'll find time in his busy diary then

One thing I do have burning a hole in my desk drawer is a script for some heavy duty antibiotics I was supposed to take for the HSG... Joycep I am really interested in your New York investigations. I can't believe this research is out there and nobody here seems to be taking it seriously. Imagine if a fortnight's worth of antibiotics could be all we need. When will you get chance to sound your consultant out about it?

Morning lovely ladies!

Welcome (back) always, good luck for the tests next week. It is scary but good to get stuff started!

Well, I don't know where to start joycep. Maybe at your mum and MIL, I am so on your behalf. I cannot believe the disrespect they've both showed you in different ways. It is unacceptable of you MIL to tell your mum (even if your MIL is otherwise okay and supportive). And your mum is unbelievable. So sorry!!
The infection thing is interesting and I am once again nobody treated you after your DH's pyospermia. GRRR. Really hope a simple not IV-antibiotics may do the trick. Also, I am very in awe with your persistance at the investigation what may be wrong. I am taking a much more back-seat approach. Any news on whether they'll offer you a lap and dye as well? Can't remember when your next appointment is!

On the topic of being OMG at carrie, this is totally unfair and I think the NHS really is letting you down here. A complaint and a switch of consultant seems warranted. Impressed btw at your persistence in the SWI stakes! And artemis another NHS fail for you at the careless 3 month wait they are doing for your HSG. Is changing hospital an option? Or doing it later in the cycle? Oh and I would have yelled at that radiologist!

Frannie so good to hear you're doing well. Really pleased that you found a bit of zen, after the 2-year mark stress. Although we've had a month off, I am still very occupied with it all. It is the lap coming up, combined with the arrival of yet another nephew... I am happy for them, just so bloody .

I am loving the honeymoon plotting and planning nelly! It is good to do something distracting from it all, and the no malaria zone has been central to our holiday plans for 2 years now, which also meant our honeymoon. As we spent all our money on the wedding itself, we went camping in Italy, which was LOVELY.

How are you feeling now euro. I saw your misery here or on the other fred and have been thinking of you. Keeping everything crossed for good news from the gynae!

Hope your DH feels better soon buzzy and that you get pg after IUI, it is time and that your MIL will fuss about you so much, it will drive you round the bend!!

Just adding my voice to the we-don't-judge-you chorus at purple, it honestly won't have registered with me. We had several, very nice, alcoholic beverages this weekend and yesterday may or may not have been a write-off as a result! And princess OF COURSE you are not to blame for your MCs.

How are the others? Pouting dave, mrsd, sarlat, wine et al? Many waves and some lovely (brown-honestly) lemon drizzle cake!

As for me, being very meh at the moment, in the two not-waiting-weeks for AF. And it is TWO years now since we started trying. And I am tired of this autumnal weather. And I am cross with my boss. And I cannot be bothered to work. So if you're about entertain me, pretty please!

X-post with artemis some more about the HSG and about the clomid messing with cycles and possibly killing your lining. That is not good. I remember euro having letrozole messing with her cycles and I heard before clomid can thin your lining. No use then, really. GRRR on your behalf.

Happy Monday!

Welcome hopeful , it sounds like your Dr is on the ball in getting the tests underway for you. I found that having the tests done is much easier than I'd feared.

commiserations lemons at reaching the 2 year mark. It is 2 years for me too. We started trying the weekend of a friend's wedding, they now have a 5 month old. How unfair is that?

boo to clomid mucking you up artemis. frannie and artemis I think girls are born with about 2 million eggs so I don't think you'll use them all up!

carrie shocking the way the Dr treated you. I thought that you were supposed to have scans on clomid because of the risk of multiples. Isn't that how people get sextuplets? Well done on dtd through the pain. I had bad ovulation pain last month and it sounds like what you described. It was painful to sit down.

joycep I am so on your behalf. Do your MIL and DM often talk behind your back? Mine don't have contact with each other, or at least I assume they don't. Now I'm wondering if they phone each other up for a gossip. I know it's hard but try to take no notice of your mum, she doesn't know how hard it is does she? It's not like you're taking the ivf decision lightly. That sounds really interesting about the infections and antibs. Will the clinic you're going to privately test you for this?

I am going to have my own little MIL rant. She rang up yesterday to announce that her and FIL are coming to visit us next month. They were about to book the flights but thought they better check with us first . No consideration at all about whether we might already have plans (we don't but that's besides the point). A whole week of them, it will drive me insane. Also, I know she will bring up the subject of babies. She is desperate to be a grandmother. I've told DH that he will have to tell her everything if she brings it up because otherwise she will go on and on about it. Over Christmas she showed me all the knitting she'd been doing for her as yet not conceived grandchild. It made me feel really sad, it's like we're letting her down. The thing is if we do tell her she will be fairly unbearable because she'll want to know every last detail and we won't get any peace. FIL will be ok I think, although he's quite old fashioned and I worry that he might take a dim view of ivf.

I can't remember who said about dreading weddings but I totally agree. We got an invitation today to a wedding in September. I'm sure that they will try straight away. I also hate 1 year anniversaries because a lot of people start after a year of marriage. There are a couple coming up over the summer so I expect there to be a new wave of pregnancy announcements in the autumn.

euro that's great news about the cervix looking ok. Although I too am a bit shocked about the menopausal cervix. Will it go back to normal after the drugs leave the system? Are you still downregging?

nelly - your experience with your consultant sums it up really...5mins! Mind you I got 10mins with my private consultant and that cost £300 . How can they look in to people?s history in that short amount of time? I don?t actually think I am seeing a consultant on the nhs, i think she is a gynae but perhaps there is no difference. I was furious with MiL because she has no business to talk to my mother about it. And MiL only knows about it because we had to give an excuse as to why we didn?t want her to live with us...long story but she?s a nutcase. I could have predicted my mother?s attitude and hence why I wasn?t going to tell her. I paint her in a bad light when normally she is actually fairly caring and supportive (ish) but for some reason she is very old fashioned & backwards about fertility and has it in her head that it will happen when I stop thinking about it.
That?s good you don?t have spotting ...if ertd does arrive , are you booking in to do ivf soonish?

carrie - i?m sorry that your mother shrugged it off , it?s not helpful is it? And I find it odd as well that they don?t seem to care. It must be some kind of lack of understanding. I was with my mother when I had a miscarriage so she knows it has been several years now but oh no it?s still because I?m thinking about it that is preventing pregnancy.

frannie - ah you are around and I@m pleased you have other things to keep your mind off things. I expect moving is really helping and well done on not shedding a tear at the preggo announcements. I need some of your will power please. I get in to phases where I am so bored by ttc and thinking about it ? sometimes it just totally exhausts me. Anyway long may it last for you and hope all else is well.

buzzy - i booked an appointment to speak to the guy in the Dr?s office and I didn?t realise it was his son until about 40mins in to the conversation. I just wanted to find out a bit more about what was involved and what they looked for in samples. I?m not entirely sure of what antibiotic he uses, it depends on the infection they find..i?ve seen a cephalexi antib being used and various oral antib like zithromax, flagyl ..whatever these are. Oh goodness and I?m sorry about your MiL?s response to ivf, i.e. by ignoring it. There seems to be a very unhelpful running theme going on. How irritating.

alwayhopeful - welcome again. I?m sorry about your m/c last year. I don?t think there is any harm in getting all the basic tests done, if anything just to put your mind at ease. I would say that I do know several people who had m/c?s around the 10/11 week mark who did take a year or just more than a year to get pregnant again. One woman i know has 3 kids and the only one that took a while to come was after a miscarriage and it took a year to conceive. Anyway best of luck.

artemis - i?m sorry you are having a hard time on clomid. It?s not reassuring when it starts messing up your cycle even more. That?s what it did to me. Can I ask why you have been put on to clomid? Is it purely for regulating your cycles or do you have ovulation probems? Artemis....uuum if you don?t need your antibiotic prescription can I take it/? I?ve even found a BBC article from 2008 about antibiotics being used for infertility by some clinic in London. I will investigate further and let you know. As you can probably tell I?m on a bit of a mission on this one! I see the gynae on Wed so will get back to you.

lemon - sorry about the mehness, 2 years is a long time and I notice that the vast majority of us on here are past the 2 years now. It winds me up just thinking about it. Oh i have taken quite a back seat in all this for a while and not wanting to face things but I do go through phases of gathering information and researching and trying to piece things together. But ivf is coming aknocking and I don?t feel comfortable doing it when we don?t have a reason to and sarlat?s discovery of this research has spurred me on a bit to really try and figure out what is going on.

Hi all. Non-big finger here. Period arrived. Meh. I have a friend staying who also came on this morning. Over our morning coffees she said 'hey its great this not being pregnant together thing, right?'

Anyway, I'm curious about all the malaria avoidance talk on the thread. Ignorant but curious...what is the deal with TTC? In case you are updiffed and taking meds? I've lived for 10 of the last 15 years in locations with malaria and haven't come across this concern before. Anyway like I say, just wondering.

I'm off now to enjoy CD1.

at the announcement of visiting PIL mrsd. I would NOT be happy. My PIL have a habit of inviting themselves if they miss DH, but at least they leave again after a few hours. I am getting old, but I do find people staying over quite annoying. I have lots of friends from foreign parts, so we have guests regularly, but I have come to the realisation that I would prefer it if we had more space (now it is traipsing over sleeping guests to get to the loo and stealth SWI/hiding hormones/folic acid etc). So maybe we should move to the country and buy a mansion (with the lottery win still waiting to happen).

I indeed think 2 years is simply too long. Give me back my pre-TTC life and preferably a baby. NOW. Stamps foot unreasonably.

Purple apparently the profylactic anti-malarials should be avoided while TTC, we got recommended I think a three month wait after them. So went elsewhere.

My new job might start the week of my lap (been quoted two dates, early July or ealy August), I tried to postpone the job starting date, but they don't want to. How annoying, I won't tell them the details now, but if needs be they can join the dots and realise actually I was not being lazy but trying to avoid days off sick in the first week of employment...

PS Hiss boo to CD1, purple. I recommend chocolate (brown) and tea (also).

lemon yes, I see. I'm surprised that there is no anti-malarial that is safe, there are different options, including an antibiotic! Long-term dwellers in malarial lands tend not to take prophylactics so I guess that's why I haven't heard about the TTC connection before.

Hello All!

So sorry, I've been completely rubbish at keeping updated this past week!
I have read the thread, but in big chunks on my phone and have confused myself as to who is doing what and when! Bad Hocus, must try harder!
I will start afresh today...

So, first day back at work today after my Lap and Dye, which I had on the 15th.
It was actually ok. Bit scary in places, but all very quick and mostly a positive experience - as much as being knocked out while someone slices you open can be..
The bit where the anaesthetist picked me up from my little cubicle and prepared me on the walk down (walk? I wanted to be wheeled! ) that we would be going straight into the operating theatre and it might be a bit daunting was the most scary part..
We walked in and I was really surprised that the room was so big, and there were so many people! Literally about 7 or 8! I don't know what I was expecting though to be fair.. and they were all busying about as I was de-dressing-gowned and de-slippered and clambered onto the table. Was then asked about 15 times name and date of birth by 3 different people! Was all very surreal, but the 2 anaesthetist chaps were lovely and made me laugh, although after a couple of minutes of all of the above I felt pretty overwhelmed and said I couldn't wait for them to knock me out!

When I came round I was very teary which had all the nurses clucking round me, but was fine, it just seems to be my "thing" when I've had GA as I remember this happening last time. Literally loads of tears but for no reason!
Kept having to tell them I was fine while they made this face at me -

Clearly its not a normal reaction!

Anyway, was allowed home after a couple of hours and was fine just very tired and a bit wobbly. DH informed me upon collecting me that I looked "tired and sick" Thanks darling.
Only sore for first 2/3 days, kind of like a bad ache rather than actual pain, and really tired which I've only really shaken this weekend. Stitches are a little annoying as they are itchy and also anything with a fitted waistband was very uncomfortable up until saturday, but today I have work trousers and a belt on and only occasionally aware of them.

The consultant told me afterwards that they had found some endometriosis which they zapped while they were in there, that could have been causing a problem, but that my tubes were fine in your face evil ExBoyf!
She also said that chances of getting BFP are 15% higher for next 3 months, so fingers crossed...

Anyway, bit of a mammoth post, but hopefully those having Laps in the near future aren't feeling too nervous - it really was fine and the incisions are tiny.. horizontal though, rather than vertical. Don't know why that surprised me...

Waves to all, I get the general feeling that it has been a bit of rubbish week for many of you, with scary smears, crap relatives, 1yr/2yr milestones and general rubbishness from medical people who should know better, so a little tale to hopefully inject a little bit of positiveness...

My mum had an (supposedly exploratory) op when she was 21, not long after having my brother due to lots of "womens problems" When she woke up, the consultant matter-of-factly informed her that both overies had been covered in cysts so they had removed them all, bar a tiny portion to continue with hormone production. She should think herself lucky she had one child and would never have any more.
Anyway, she ended up having me 4yrs later and my younger brother just under 2yrs after me :) They lived abroad when she conceived me - she thought I was some horrible tropical disease when she suddenly started being sick all the time!

hocus good that you got that out of the way. I had a cyst removed by lap a few years ago in the US and I had the same surprise with the walking in the op room and climbing on to the table. Weird stuff.

Another question if someone would be so kind? If I can book a smear test for dates that I want, where if the best time in the cycle to do it re TTC? I know that you shouldn't have sex for 48 hours before which suggests shag week is not the best, is post-ov fine? Perhaps I'm just being thick....

purple i usually do my smear after AF and before shag week, just because I don't want people fiddling around with my cervix in the 2ww no evidence to back my therory, sorry about ERTD arriving univited

hocus glad your lap went well, I know someone else told me they cried after having a GA, abit atthe story about your mum

mrsd sympathies regarding the inlaws, times like this I'm grateful my parents don't speak to me, I couldn't cope with that at all

lemon typical that it would all happen in the same week, and its hard to know what to say to them

euro how is it going??

hopeful welcome back

I've just had a counselling session which was great, I also called Shehata to book my follicle tracking scan but he is away, I can go into Harley Street to his colleague I wanted to discuss Mr B's SA and IUI, maybe we'll leave it this month now.........better get back to work

Quick post as on lunch and no time to read all the posts :s. Clomid mucked my cycle up as well atremis, its longer and I didn't have a proper period just four days of light flow when I normally have 8 heavy

buzzy that was my thought too, however I have a short cycle and that window is pretty small for me, falls over a long weekend this month. I should just call and figure it out. It's ridiculous, I can't tell a doctor 'it has to be done on this day because I HAVE to shag after that and after that I don't want you to undiff me even though I'm nearly 40 and never been pregnant so Im highly highly unlikely to be diffed in the first place' Think may have a 'going out of town' version instead...

purple I'm sure you can have a smear even when ttc. I had my smear done by the gynae who I was also seeing for fertility stuff. She said smear was fine to do, it wouldn't affect anything. They only lightly brush the cervix, not enough to cause any problems. I'm sure I was told that the best time to have a smear was in the middle of the cycle because that's when the cells are the easiest to analyse.

Hello lovely ladies, I?m so sorry I keep popping on here and then disappearing. I?ve never known a month like this last one and I?m hoping things start to settle down now. I have been thinking about you all lots, just never had a moment to put anything down on paper (so to speak).

I hope you don?t mind but I?ve just read the last couple of pages to try to catch up.

Joycep ? I?m sorry about your mother and MIL. I hope it was a lack of understanding rather than anything else. Interesting about the NY information, it certainly seems to make sense. The more you learn the more you realise the NHS really only offers the basics and skips straight to the end of the process with intervention.

Euro ? Hope all is going ok? Sorry about the smear test ? such crappy timing. I?m with you on the making the most of being child-free. We?re just back from a last-minute weekend away ? mainly to escape the family but it did feel good to be able to just book it and go.

Nelly ? very envious of your honeymoon planning but loving all your ideas! I spent endless happy hours planning ours.

Artemis ? sorry to hear about the HSG wait. I remember from when I had mine that the system they operate is particularly rubbish even by NHS standards. Clomid sounds ghastly too, how long are you supposed to be taking it for?

Frannie ? I?m glad you?re feeling more relaxed. I think having other major things happen must be a help. I?m worrying that I?m not worrying about ttc at the moment ? which is ridiculous.

Mrsd - PILs for a week would tip me over the edge at the moment. ILs in doses of a few hours is all I can manage usually.

Purple ? sorry about ertd arrival. Mine arrived in full force on Saturday, I drowned it in mojitos (and then felt guilty) but it was necessary.

buzzy - glad you're counselling session went well today.

Think I?ve disappeared for so long that there are some new faces ? so hello and waves to all I do know and those I?ve not yet met!

I?m coming out the other side of playing mediator in the family dramas but they are still rumbling on. We?ve still got a lodger (SIL) for the foreseeable future, which normally would be fine but with IVF just round the corner I?m already starting to worry about the impact this will have ? I know we?ll need our own space and I turned into a horror to live with last time. Trying not to think about it too much as it?s still a good few weeks away though.

Thank you mrsden I have just been having a quick google read and what you say confirms the more sane things that I read. I've never bothered about when to do it before. I guess it's part of my current TTC mania.