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.

I'm glad it was all fine Nelly. You are in the same boat as me - on paper it looks like we should be popping out babies left right and centre! I waddled around with the sanitary towel for a couple of hours but didn't even get one tiny drip so then did away with it.

wine the morphine is probably making you a little blocked up. They should give you some lactulose or something to help with that.

I arrived home to a reminder that my smear test is due last night. Come one, come all. It really is like picadilly bloody circus up my chuff at the moment!

And welcome to the noobies!

Morning, morning,
Very quickly this morning... sooooo much to do I'm still in my pj's as had a mound of fishy washing up from late dinner last night, dishwasher stopped half way through cycle and OH had to rush to pick up cement mixer.

Wine sorry to hear you are in pain today and hospital is very nice. Sorry I made you a laugh about the . Whole new meaning to choccie biccies now Hope you are feeling better today and they have given you a large dose of painkillers for breakfast this morning.

Nelly glad your appt went well and didn't hurt. Clear dye is a massive oxymoron! That's like blue invisible ink?! I'm a big fan of the big knickers. Although bandage knickers are a step too far even for this pantaloon sporting princess! Sorry to hear there are still no explanations - how frustrating. What happens now? Have you got any more appointments? When are you off on hols?

Buzzy how are you doing today? Better I hope. Big hugs xxx

MrsT Welcome, welcome. Glad things are going well in the old NHS dept. 3 weeks for an appointment? Wow, that's really good, wipes the arse of my 8 week wait anyway! Sounds like your hubbie could be a contender for The Sperm with a count like that... I'd keep that kinda info on the low down otherwise you may find him surrounded by ladies flocking for his magical life juice Sorry to hear about your tests. I'm in a similar boat, OHs sperm good, my progesterone is super low. I have no idea what the next step for me is. I personally think progesterone cream but I don't want to self medicate so I'm waiting, and waiting, and waiting to see the consultant. Only 24 days to go (and counting - this is the WORST 3ww ever). I am probably being a thickie again, but what is a hypercosy thinks to self it sounds like a 90s colour changing tea cosy is it the same as an HSG?

Becks sorry about your potentially wasted cycle. Although you could have a magical holiday baby? Fingers crossed and "keep at it" as my mum would say . I hope you enjoys your hols anyway. I'm v. as we are not booking a holiday until my hormone stuff and the house is sorted out as I don't want to give the NHS any excuses for not being able to see me. We do have some weekends away planned tho.

Artemis I read the NICE guidelines and plan to do so again before my appointment. And take them to the appointment. I may even highlight the relevant sections and mark pages with post-its so that the document can be brandished in the face of anyone who tries to fob us off. Knowledge is power! When is your next appt. Fingers crossed for the HSG. Hopefully you won't have to spend your hard saved on private treatment either. My OH is self employed and although it affords him freedom it makes me nervous about when I want to take early retirement at 32 maternity leave. It's also crap if we go on hols because he has to lose the money he would have otherwise earned. He only has one client and we are hoping that they will take him on full time when he's finished the project he's currently doing for them.

Waves to everyone else. Sorry for any mistakes, no time to check today, back to the grindstone! Love to you all xxx

Oh dear having a low day today so sofa and you guys. Sorry if I make rookie talk errors, I am very new to this.

Wine: I really hope you feel better soon. Sounds as though you have been through the mill, hang in there you sound so brave. I would be a blubbing mess, I am such a scaredy cat.

Nelly: Hope the HSG went well. Let us know. I am hoping to get mine scheduled at the end of the month.

Oh buzzy i am sorry about your rubbish day yesterday. I hope you are feeling a little better? Temp drops and spotting just make people feel so utterly crap.

critter - such a shame you are in the US and can?t join.

pricness - at the jammy dodger ! I hadn?t even noticed it down there before.

Welcome mrs tolls. I have been at this for a similar length of time and it totally sucks. I hope they can find out why you have low progesterone and perhaps the hycosy will show something...

nelly - good luck today and hope the spring cleaning of your tubes does the trick! And here?s to mrnelly being an affection man from now on

wine - poor you, sounds miserable and trapped gas is horrible. I hope they have gien you some painkillers now.

artemis - there is no doubt my cycles changed after my m/c. Having been a very steady 28/29 cycle my whole life ? they changed immediately. I haven?t had a cycle longer than 27 days since. Once they were as short as 21 days. It?s strange your cycles changed as well. Mine were very heavy and clotty for a long time afterwards and then acupuncture sorted that out and now they are much lighter. When i mentioned to My private gynae, she said that shortening cycles are a sign of the menopause which of course we all know but it was yet another disgraceful comment from a supposedly respectable doctor. I don?t understand why she kept feeding me this sort of scary information.
The consultant I saw on Monday said about the shortened cycles, ? there is a lot we don?t know about fertility and I know it looks bad when we say we don?t know but I?m not going to guess as to what is going on?. I liked her honesty. I wish they did know more but she is right that there is no point guessing and hypothesising. I do wonder whether the m/c triggered a hormone imbalance or perhaps something was out of kilter to begin with.

Also they most certainly should be giving you an hsg. And I have been saving for maternity leave for years but i?m going to be blowing it on ivf. When i?m in one of those angry modes , i get very cross when i think about it. One woman wrote ?I don?t regret ivf but I do resent it?. Very well put I thought but it had a barrage of horrible comments of course.

I have discharged myself a day early and come home. My entire hospital experience has been truly horrible. I saw my discharge notes today. In spite of feeling immensely pissed off that I never did catch the wretched fibroid fugitive, there has been one there that has given me an 'acute antroverted' womb. I really do hope it stays away from my bowels after the rearrangement. A further lap would have failed and been converted to laparotomy anyway, so trying not to be angry and think about the sorting out they've done. I'm finding it very difficult to come to terms with though. I have heavy bleeding, a c section scar but no prize to take home and sharing the lift with a proud mum and dad and their tiny newborn felt harsh. More personable updates to follow, after a bit of a wallow. Still got my brave (massive granny) pants on though in spite of hand canula blood explosion!

Well you wouldn't bloody believe it. The viewing yesterday went well. The guy is VERY interested in the flat. He is a musician just like OH so v. interested in the variety of instruments we have strewn around the place and the flat being quite sound proof. His parents are arranging to come and see it but contacting solicitors and surveyors etc in the meantime. They live in Greece and if they are looking for solicitors - this must mean business . Oh did I mention this guys Dad is the bloody Vice President of Greece! My mum has been sent into a right old frenzy - " Dignitaries , in our flat!" You could hear the excitement in her voice. She'll be on the phone all afternoon at this rate - to all the relatives and anyone in M&S who'll listen. Oh gawd. She thinks we should cook up some Greek lamb for when they come to look at the flat so it "smells like home", offer to show them around Brighton on a guided tour and get their photo . Do ANYTHING to get it sold. Thank god I'm married, otherwise she'd be over here bartering me for some goats or tzatziki or something.....

wine oh wine I'm so truly sorry that the entire experience has been so horrible for you. You're very, very brave. It will be better for you at home where you can have proper TLC. If it's any consolation we have anteverted uterus' in our family and that hasn't stopped any of the others having completely normal pregnancies and births. I really hoped that you mend soon and that the next BFP is for you. You really do deserve it. Loads of hugs xxxxxxxxxx

Joycep I also find it strange that I got pregnant accidentally the first time (1 shag sans protection = pregnancy) and now it's taking so long. I am sure I had an imbalance before tho due to crazy hormone swings. I wonder if my cycles mess up when we're trying because something gets going but can't be supported due to lack of hormones. This cycle (no TTC) has been pretty much like the old days, as were the cycles I had when we stopped TTC before our wedding. If I win the lottery and I am personally going to fund some research into this lark as it's thoroughly ridiculous that they don't know more about our bits.

Wine You poor dear but at least you can recover in your own home. What is it with babies turning up just at worst moments. It is as though someone upstairs is having a really good laugh!

Princess Great news about the flat. Keep us posted.

I have never really thought about mc causing hormone inbalances. I had an early mc at 4 weeks four years ago. I was on the pill so I dont know if it affected my cycle. When I came off the pill my periods came back straight away and started with 27/28 day cycles with the odd 30/31. For the last four months I have been 30 days. I don't know what any of this means!

Oh that is good princess. Though whilst they are round, could you ask them to sort out their flipping economy and government so the rest of Europe can settle down a little . Good luck with it! And LOL big time at your Mum selling you for the goat!

wine you poor soul, you are having such a rough time of it. I wish I could come and give you a big hug, albeit that might hurt and not be what you want at all. Exploding canula - boak. I have a bit of a thing about needles and an avid fear of any being put in my hand. But remember you are now moving towards full health again, not away, so it's only going to get better.

joy I am glad your consultant said that, sometimes they are very arrogant and pretend they know it all, which winds me up. I am especially pleased you are getting better treatment now as you had such rubbish before. You deserve to have someone talk sense to you - and maybe magic up a little BFP as well :)

Welcome mrsTolis - the HSG was fine and nothing untoward showing. No discomfort at all, apart from about 5 seconds where I got what felt like very very mild period pains. And then having a nurse pull up the bandage-knickers and stick a sanitary pad in to catch the day, wasn't entirely dignified! But actually they were all very lovely at the hospital, I got to watch the screen and was surprised that the tubes are very long and thin and floaty. They don't go in such a direct route to the ovaries as I thought, and are much much thinner too. I think the right one took a tiny bit longer to show up than the left but maybe that's just as she was putting the dye in. Anyway apparently the gynae will discuss the findings further, but so far as I can tell there are no real findings to discuss

euro it's so frustrating isn't it? It's the not knowing what to do next. And also the fact that the more healthy things they find, the more I worry that it's my age, that I have crap eggs, and they aren't going to be able to help me even with IVF. I don't know how I'd feel about donor eggs; although we're not at that stage yet (haven't even tried normal IVF yet!) I think I need to start getting my head around what else might be an option for us short of turning into a bitter old cat lady and possibly stealing a baby. I did chuckle at your Piccadilly Circus Chuff though

Back to reality though, someone was asking what is next. I have another NHS appointment - for nearly 4 months time . What a cheek when my very first appointment took at least 3 not including the 4 months Mr Nelly procrastinated about going back to the hospital to do his second SA although I'm assuming that someone will at least call sooner than that to discuss today's test. Anyway, given the news that my FSH was higher than ideal, I guess we do some serious shagging in the next couple of months to give the HSG a chance to work, but in reality we will be off to the private clinic now. The plus side is we've had the equivalent of about £1k of tests done on the NHS (today's one was £700 privately, which seems rather expensive, yes it needed a fancy digital x-ray machine but only took 20 minutes and some dye .) Anyway I guess we are pretty much hurtling towards IVF. I've bought some aspirin which I might try for a cycle or two, I am suspicious that my feet are always quite cold so perhaps that will help with the blood flow to my uterus - but it all sounds a bit non-specific to me. Acu is something else I've never tried so might be worth a shot. I have started charting as I want to see if it gives me any more info than I already get from being aware of OV pains and CM, but other than that, science it is :(

Re TCOYF - joy I think you asked how I found it. Well in some ways reassuring as I'm fairly sure I know what's going on with my cycles, and I didn't read anything earth-shattering. Not as patronising as I thought it might be; but it actually made me do a sort of weird crying thing a couple of times (I'm not a big crier about stressy type things, only at things like Animal Rescue or ER on TV!) but once or twice she was quite blatant about age being a big issue, and it sort of made me wail out loud and cry for about 30 seconds - it was very weird, I never cry when ERTD arrives or anything, but I guess it was me blowing off steam . She is massively hot on the CM thing and how important it is. I do notice it (sometimes in textbook fashion) but I think I've always thought "oh well as long as we have sex around about the right time that'll be fine" whereas perhaps I need to pinpoint it more to this textbook CM so that I know the fluid is definitely there at the right time. One of the age issues is you get it for far less time during your cycle than younger woman. So perhaps having sex in the run up to OV is pointless from a TTC perspective as the sperm as just dying with nothing to swim into? Of course we'll still have sex when we feel like it from a romance point of view, but going to try to be more focussed on this short window.

Hello to everyone else artemis becky mrsden lemon pout critter buzzy and everyone else I've missed. Will sign off this essay for now, seen as it was all about me anyway .

Nelly I never imagined my tubes to be long and floaty and winding! I imagined them to be structured with a slight curve, like a u-bend or summit just as they are in the text books (if I could draw on here I would but then I'm no artist so that's a crap idea as well and would make no sense!) That's very interesting. Maybe the boys need satnav pictures self after SWI talking to lady bits - at the end of the uterus turn left. TURN LEFT! Then take the next right. In 400mm TURN RIGHT! Or just to make sure - Turn around when possible! 4 months for an appointment, 4 months Oh come on that's ridiculous! I'm for you. Sorry to hear about the reaction of TCOYF - this whole bollox is just so emotional isn't it. But try not to panic. I think medical things always seem very matter of fact. And very emotionless. You never know, you could be one of those, "well we were on the brink of IVF and then poof, out of no-where'. I too will feel hard done by if we end up on the IVF route. BUT, and this is a huge BUT I'm glad it's there to fall back on too. By hook or by crook.... And seen as you are sooo healthy and sooo little is wrong with you I'm sure failing a BFP sans science in the next 2 months you will get there avec le science. My OH loves sci-fi and I actually think he might be a little bit excited about the prospect of IVF. And IVF babies are usually way healthier as they are carefully selected. Think, this baby is no ordinary baby, this is a hand selected, custom made baby.
And yes, I will sit the Greek man down with a cup of decaf tea and oatmilk and tell it to him straight. Now come on, can't you just jolly well sort this out? If he comes that is, I'm sort of hoping that just the mum turns up given the state of things over there. Still everyone needs a holiday. And I need this goddam flat sold! Do you think there is a policitiansnet where they can all go and moan and talk about their problems like we do? I'd love to be on the thread, TTGE 2 terms + part 8 (trying to get elected) toryboy I've tried everything. Really I have. And still no luck TTGE. Oh it makes me so sad. I'm so ashamed of crying into my silk pillow every night. I've tried every trick in the TCOFE (take control of our electorate) book. Why don't they vote for me. Those smug MPs with all their parliamentary privileges. Urgh don't you just hate them with their briefcases and everything. BlueBalls cheer up old chum, soon you will be on the bench where you belong. Just you wait and see. VD for you (voter dust) TTFN. LOL! etc etc

Oh bums in my little afternoon brain fart sketch it was meant to be TCOYE (take control of your electorate)

hahahahahahaha Princess that is just too funny! Don't let wine see it, you'll burst her stitches . That has made me actually LOL. But not ROFLMAO as I don't think anyone ever rolls on the floor laughing, apart from 5 year old boys doing fart jokes Maybe lack of silk pillows is where we are going wrong .

I know, 4 months. The actual HSG was only 2 weeks from my first appointment which I guess is the bit I should be thankful for. And in a way it's irrelevant. They won't do IVF until you have been trying for 3 years. That's over a year away, and if we can rustle up the money we'll try to do 2 private IVFs in that time, which takes me out of the running for NHS treatment anyway. Short of maybe persuading them to do IUI for free, I think we've reached the end of what the NHS will do for me. Phew, glad I pay 4 figures in tax a month .

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=930&bih=462&tbm=isch&tbnid=_SmYYvduucAq5M:&imgrefurl=www.infertility-guidance.co.uk/fertility_treatments/hysterosalpingography.html&docid=ELIGBtEplFxSwM&imgurl=www.infertility-guidance.co.uk/gfx/treatment-images/hysterosalpingography-01.jpg&w=250&h=185&ei=shq1T9jLOuew0QWfwrToAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=367&vpy=180&dur=93&hovh=148&hovw=200&tx=131&ty=116&sig=103647621329221943620&page=2&tbnh=135&tbnw=200&start=9&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:9,i:114" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">random version of floaty tubes here Mine were even floatier I think?

Nelly I was surprised at how long and curly mine were too, even more so than on the link you posted. They looked a bit like the really long slides you see in waterparks. Diagrams always show them as being quite wide and stubby!

Oo blimey that is not what I was expecting wine fascinating!
Waterpark slides???!!! euro - this gets even weirder today. Really does bring a whole new meaning to Wet n Wild!!!

I know euro those were the longest and curliest I could find a picture of, but mine were much more ornate

Also meant to respond to princess to say thanks for the reassurance on the IVF etc and you are completely right - better to have the option than to not have it! I particularly like the idea of my child being of the M&S variety. Though perhaps not as I bought a couple of bits and pieces to take to my nephew next week, and M&S baby stuff is vay expensive . Perhaps I'll get an Asda baby instead .

My work computer has crashed out on me 3 times today. Last time was at 4.40 so I've given up work for the day.

Perhaps that is our problem Nelly? We are both actually uberfertile but the swimmers just keep whizzing down the slides punching the silly egg that is in the way out of the way as they whizz on by?

After swi I bet if you listen really carefully, you will hear them shouting "weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" as they go round for another go!

I've just laughed heartedly for the second time in as many posts! That's probably the exact problem euro. What would the solution be? Should we get back on the manuka honey, only this time applied ahem internally, to stop them running straight off to the slides?? Or maybe Misters Nelly and Euro need to give their boys a stern talking to before letting them out to play; about behaving themselves in the theme park, they'll be grounded if they run beside the pool, etc etc. I was going to say no queue barging, but in retrospect it's the queue bargers we want!

Mr Nelly will think I've officially lost it if I make him sssshhhh after sex cos I'm trying to hear his swimmers on the flume

Oh ladies what a fun afternoon! You guys!

Sorry ladies for being such a newbie, what is TCOF?

And thank you for makiing me giggle. When I do have my HSG I know this thread will pop into my mind and all the health professionals will think I have gone mad as I laugh through the whole procedure! :0

Hi MrsT TCOYF is a book called Take Control of Your Fertility. It's the bible of temping, checking CM etc.

Quick hello and update. Feeling a little groggy so apoligies for not responding to everyones updates.

However, welcome new ladies. You have found a good bunch who will support you on your journey. And welcome home wine. Sorry the broid wasn't what they said but yey for moving forwards now. x

EC was toady. Woke up early, had shower and second dose of lorazapan. This drug makes you all chillaxed. Well it made me verrrrrrry chillaxed. Fell asleep in the car on the way and fell asleep in the waiting room in hospital with all the other couples waiting for their egg collection too. I was high as high can be. But nobody else looked like this. I loved it and didn't give a damn about what was about to happen.

Then I fell asleep during my dildo scan - now that takes some doing. Then I fell asleep on the bed in my cubicle whislt waiting to be called down.

Was all very straightforward. Had bloods taken and a venflon put in (small tube to administer drugs).

Walked down to theatre with lovely smiley young female Dr. Theatre was not big and oppressive, more like a normal clinic roon. Embryologist popped her head out of the serving hatch and scanned my wrist band like I was something on the conveyor at Tesco .

Told the Dr I was already sleepy. She administered the pain killer and then the sedative, told me to lie down. I drifted away. But then I work up. I could feel tender pain and pressure on one ovary. I tried to speak to say I was in pain (but it wasn't a bad pain). They put something else down the venflon. Went back to sleep, woke up to find Nurse (I think, could be mistaken) leaning on my left ovary as Dr sucking egg from it. Very odd but really interesting. I woke up again near the end, I could tell they were finishing as could feel instruments being pulled down (again no pain as such). I asked the Dr how many eggs (think my speech was very slurred). She said 10.

Went back to sleep more in recovary and relaxed for about 90 miutes before I was ready to sit up and have my and .

Nurses were lovely. I really enjoyed the whole experince. A different Dr came and told me thay got 10 eggs and he was really pleased with this. I am too as was predicted a few less. Go eggies go!

Got home, slept for 2 hours. Just had pasta for tea and ice cream. Mum and Dad came up. Feel wobbely when I walk and not able to concentrate fully but feel fine.

I decided not to worry about anything today after the op. Tomorrow I will worry about the eggs and sperm and any embryos etc.

Hello to everyone. xx

Thanks Princess, I will look it up on Amazon. Sounds great! Appreciate the help.

Hey sarlat great to hear it all went well. 10 eggs is great, woop woop! We'll all do some cheerleading for the swimmers now to do their bit :) LOL at the scan at Tesco! Fingers crossed for loads of fertilised ones now. In the meantime relax and let your OH take care of you.

I love the sound of the drug. I'm a bit like that when I take co-codamol. Before Christmas I had a rotten hangover, one co-codamol and I spent the rest of the day floating about and Mr Nelly had to drive when we went out again the next night

The procedure sounds interesting to. It's amazing how quickly you become used to people looking up your fanjo isn't it. I was alarmed to notice today a massive spotlight on the wall immediately opposite me, pointing straight up my cervix . I have expected to see a light coming out of my gob!

wine how are you doing just now, feeling any better for being home?

half

Grr - I seem to have lost all ability to type or spell.

sarlat great news when will you know about ET?? Glad it was a good experience

wine hope you are feeling better being home

sadly another crap day for me not sure how i'm going to cope tomorrow