Fantastic 40+ thread - part 7

[lolfactor]

Shiny new thread - over here everyone

My lovely GP gave me 3 months' clomid without me having to see a consultant. You cam take something like robotasim (sp) to help with egg whites.

Gotta say it didn't work for me obviously but does for many. There are always threads to join with others who are on it. Only thing I will warn is this:- after I took it I had w couple of annovulary cycles which I'd not had before - could be a coincidence - think I'm having an annovulary this month but not temping anymore so just guessing. Sorry to be so abrupt - on phone.

Re the clomid...I think it depends on the PCT who advises your particular practice and the trust to who they belong. My GP cannot prescribe it hence the referral to the fertility clinic. I was lucky enough to get a first appointment with the nurse at fertility clinic about a week after I first saw my GP in July (but first appointment with consultant not until end of October..2 days before OH goes away with army ) This was 2 months after stopping the pill which I had taken since January following removal of coil. I had regular periods whilst taking the pill from Jan to April.. it was only when I stopped it that I had my first very long cycle then a 28 dayer then 40 days. In my ground crawling mood this week I am convincing myself that I am going through the menopause ...rah.

A question for you ladies. At my fertility appt back in July they gave me 2 blood forms for 21 day bloods....I trotted along last month on day 21 only to realise 7 days later that I was having a late ovulation (and a sneak peak at those results showed progesterone at 1.7). I actually vsited my gp on 7dpo and asked her to do a test (this was 12.7 which she said indicated no ovulation...very confusing) Day 21 this cycle would be next Thursday and at this point my body shows no signs of complying again. So, my question is, should I be going on day 21 to show a low result or wait until 7dpo (should it occur)?
hopeful your last post reflects my current thinking...hugs.
miasmummy thankyou...trying very hard to keep in mind "its all about the sex...not making the baby" lol.

A kindly gentleman who lives across the way has just given me a mountain bike he can no longer ride since his stroke. I am off out to feel the wind in my (short, gamine, pixie) hair. I will be back to talk with you all soon.

MiasMummy, please can I have the chicken and spiced plum sauce recipe?

...if you can be arsed. If not, don't worry..I'll goggle one. Sounds delish.

Hmm. My romantic notion of cycling up hill and down dale (I live in a valley) with the wind in my hair didn't quite materialise as I had envisaged. I got royally drenched whilst trying to untangle my trousers from the chain from whence they had got stuck (oh why did I go out in my beautiful forest green needle-cord Diesel jeans?) It turns out the gears are defunct on this bike (stupid old man) and so any attempt to climb the hills resulted in me pedalling furiously like a four year-old whilst getting precisely nowhere. I returned looking like Annie Lennox on speed; all wild-eyed with bleached hair slapped to my scalp

Mia'sMummy, I never feel quite worthy enough offering you advice or succour as you seem to have been through so much and managed miraculously to come out the other side. So, instead, I'll just be annoyed with you about your MIL & her sister. Are they, perhaps, of that generation who do not speak of the deaths of children? How painful for you, though, to not have her name uttered by them. Can you scream at them to speak her name or you will poison their food? I feel for you and hope this matter gets resolved x

Hopeful, I know the side effects from Clomid can be a bit grim. I doubt I will do anything rash whilst I am 41 and therefore still a nubile wench until I really feel time is no longer on my side (next week?) However, at 41 (just!) I guess I am willing for Clomid to send my hormones a little whack or completely off kilter (a la anovulatory cycles) whilst I have the time

I'm sorry you've had an uncomfortable reality check about your age, Hopeful ((big hugs)) Your cycles do sound erratic now. I wonder what Lolfactor's were like before she conceived Teddy?

Hippy, thanks for your input. Does it matter about no EWCM (I'm already having more cycles without it) if I'm going to try Pre-Seed? Surely that will mimic the egg white?

My plan is to wait until New Year and if I've had no BFP by then I will approach my GP and threaten him with tell him of my plan to buy Clomid over the internet and would he at least tell me how to take it and who to ring should I grow a pair of hairy balls. As it stands it is only 6 months since my MMC/ERPC and so I think I would be hasty to start panic-buying Clomid off the internet. However, I am not going to wait around indefinitely. There are currently gangs of workmen coming and going at the farm across the field and I stare at them for immoral amounts of time fantasising about inviting them all in next Tuesday (ovulation day) for a and some in return for several gallons of sperm (one of them looks like Benicio Del Torres and I have already decided he could go first whilst the others are getting undressed).

Calibee, I'm not sure how you are guaging whether or not you have ovulated. Are you charting your morning temperatures (if not why not)? OPKs can only tell you if you have had a surge of luteinizing hormone - not whether you have actually ovulated. If you are going to rely on blood tests at the GP's you need to know for sure which day is seven days since ovulation. I'm sorry if this isn't making much sense but when doctors tell us to have blood taken on day 21 etc they are assuming we all ovulate on day 14. Which, of course, we don't (especially you after coming off the pill). If I were you I would join fertilityfriend.com, buy a basal body thermometer from Amazon and get charting. Then you will know for sure when you are ovulating and you will only require CD3 blood tests to determine your levels of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), LH (luteinizing hormone), thyroid, glucose etc. If I'm wrong here about CD21 tests I'm sure the ladies will put me right.

Lotsofcheese, how did the doctor's appointment/CB test go, love?

Thanks for asking. The CB digital had increases to 3+ which is in line with my dates.

My GP was nice - she'll refer me to my usual consultant - even though I said I'd prefer to wait till after 12 weeks ( last time I saw her at 6 weeks, which I felt was too early)

I've also made appointments for booking at the midwife & 12 week scan. EPU have decided to bend the rules for me & offer 2 scans at 8 & 10 weeks - instead of just 1.

So here we go again... I hate cancelling all these appointments when it goes wrong, but if you don't get on early there's none at all.....

Crumbs. Girls, can you help? I've just found EWCM on the toilet paper and I'm only on CD10!!! (I ovulate on CD15) Actually, it wasn't like raw egg white; it was even thicker, like that rubbery glue you can buy, but it was stretchy. After further vaginal rooting I found it to be wet with that creamy lotion stuff. Do you think I'm about to ovulate? How soon after discovering EWCM can I expect to ovulate? I only started charting again yesterday and don't normal use OPKs until CD13. I will try an OPK later after no fluids and obviously will have to DTD when DP gets home (poor sod will have done a 13 hour day). I am now panicking that it's not EWCM and I have gonorrhoea and that I'll have to cancel my date with Benicio Del Torres et al.

Cheese, bloody brilliant that you've been offered scans at 8 & 10 weeks (I know, I know things can still go horribly wrong after that but still...) So, are you about 5/6 weeks pregnant now? Have courage, missus, there is every reason to believe that this bean will be here for the long-haul x

Update: More EWCM tonight and faint line on OPK. Can this really mean I'll ovulate tomorrow? On CD11? Is this possible when I always ovulate on CD15? Anyway, tonight we had sex and I used Pre-Seed. Tomorrow I'll try another OPK and see if my temperature has soared

As far as I know Golden, you need a positive on the opk (so not a faint line) to expect ovulation within the next 12 - 48 hours. It really depends on the individual.I quite often catch my positive opk very close to ovulating.

You may ovulate early, which doesn't mean anything sinister (aka menopause), so if you have fertile mucus make the most of it and have sex.That lovely egg white mucus will give the sperm a leg up into the fallopian tubes ready and awaiting your sweet little egg.

Oh, I see from your last post, you did have sex. So all is well.

As you know, I have ovulated early this month too. Perhaps it will bring good tidings for us both. More likely you than me, as you said, you are still a nubile wench!

Besides, if I get pregnant now it would put a major spanner in the works re our holiday and life in general (but that would keep things interesting).

*Cheese8, glad the CB digi is saying all the right stuff and that you can get early scans.

Deige - it has been a while, is all well? Opening the bistro tonight? If you are, I'd like scallops for entre, swordfish for mains, and a lovely lemony tart for dessert.

Thankyou

Thanks, Hopeful, I guess I was hoping that the faint OPK line meant the tail-end of a surge and that I was in fact ovulating right now! x

Hello again
golden I chart temps, use a clearblue fertility monitor and some cheapy internet opks. I have had 2 sets of cd3 bloods....fsh was high at 20.6 and 21. Also had an amh of

got a 1mm on my nuchal which is about as good as it gets but have learned i must wait 2 weeks for the bloods. i have a private combined test for next thurs so think i'm going to take it up as i'll know the full picture that day. Too neurotic to wait.

cheese hope you're doing well, wishing you tonnes of luck.

xxx

Hi,

Just popping in - Cheese and somewhere good to see that things are progressing well! :)

Golden - I was going to say jump on DH but see you have already :lol:

I'm lurking here rather than posting at the moment - to be honest don't really feel I have much new to say. To be honest I'm not that hopeful of managing to get pg again. Not because of my age but because it's 5 years since I last used contraception and we know there is nothing physically wrong with us - but in that time 1 mc and one suspected early mc is all we have to show for it. So I guess I'm trying to get on with my life and enjoy it (whilst obviously secretly hoping there is still a decent egg somewhere).

Hugs to all :)

Calibee, I am giving you permission to go upstairs and take the illegal Clomid. I will be godmother.

Somewhere, too neurotic for what, love? What does 1mm nuchal mean? What's a 'combined test' for? Down Syndrome? x

Goth, remind me how old you are? Have you & DH had all the tests then? You have a remarkably healthy attitude to all of this. Is it because you are a goth? Are you really 'in recovery'? No need to lurk for fear of having nothing to say; I waffle about allsorts

Today my CM is watery. Evidently these faint OPK lines are indicating that a proper LH surge is on its way. So...DTD last night and I plan to do it again tomorrow as early as possible (in case I ovulate then, too). If still no LH surge I'll continue with the Sperm Meets Egg strategy.

More advice, please: Today I have received an appointment for 10th Oct with the gynae consultant asking me to take along a specimen of urine. The letter is addressed to me only. I rang to confirm I will be attending and asked the receptionist what this is all about. She said it's 'standard procedure'. I have had the US scan and blood tests and took DP's sperm sample 2 weeks ago. Surely if I am being called to hear the results they would have invited DP too? But they only want to see me (and urine). What's this all about? Have they found something wrong with me?

calibee shall be intrigued as to whether you take it or not. Don't be too down-hearted about your results, while they might be a general indicator of your body at the moment, they do only take account of that particular cycle - and there are plenty of women here who have managed to make improvements through changes in lifestyle, drugs, hypnotherapy...

1mm nuchal fold, i'm guessing, somewhere? That is a good result. (golden it is a neck fold measurement test done at 20 weeks which is often used along with age and blood test results to determine likelihood of Down's syndrome or other genetic issues. Not infallible, but a good indicator. Our age usually pushes us up to higher ratios of probability...)

golden as hopeful says, EWCM is very good news, and so don't worry about squiffy cycles, that can just be part of the vagaries of being 40+ and ttc. But had to giggle, what happened to the grand plan of every 2nd day?? As for the gynae, if it's just standard procedure, I wouldn't worry too much, perhaps they want a chat with you by yourself to understand more details on your history, rather than simple relying on test results. Btw, I would think they will send DP's results by mail, after all, their focus is on women, not blokes!!

goth shall we be hopeful for you then?? It is sometimes harder to admit to yourself what you want, for fear of disappointment.

cheese delighted to hear that your EPU is being understanding and giving you extra scans. We are thinking positive for you too.

My MIL and that side of the family are generally lovely (even if she had incredibly outdated notions about pregnancy and gender-based child-rearing!) and I am sure she just doesn't 'want to upset us.' I will have to say something to her absolutely directly that it is ok, preferably even, to talk about Mia. I do suspect that she might say that she only has two grand-children though instead of three , unless I blatantly tell her not to. I will never deny my beautiful girl, she will always be a part of my life.

Good afternoon, everyone! TGI Friday - nice to be out of work/nursery/toddler schedule for the weekend

Mia'smummy It must be very hard that your MIL isn't acknowledging your daughter's anniversary - especially after the wonderful celebration of her life you had organised. Not mentioning Mia seems a bit unfathomable - perhaps she doesn't realise how hurtful that is.

Golden good luck with your Sperm & Egg plan - I know loads of people who've had cd 10 day conceptions - I'm one of them too! Most hospital letters are system-generated, standard letters which can only go to 1 person - so I think you're fine to take DH - as both your results will probably be discussed.

gothin it sounds like you are moving on in some way - ultimately Mother Nature decides for us & we must defer to her. Life TTC can seem "on hold" so moving forward in your own way is positive & self-affirming.

somewhere hoping you're reassured by the nuchal scan - my obstetric consultant informs me the combined screening is more accurate for us "older" (ahem) ladies.

I'm doing fine, thanks to all for kind wishes. I think I'm in a lot of denial about this pregnancy, and the lack of symptoms is helping that! Aside from being a tiny bit more tired & having slightly bigger boobs, there's no nausea, intense fatigue etc like I've had before.

I've told a couple of friends but not really been talking about it much with DP - doesn't seem much point at this stage.

Aaaaargh!!! The Sperm Meets Egg Plan is ruined! DP just took me over the pouffé against my will (kinda)!

goldengirl - I think the SMEP will cope with a bit of extra shagging!

I was at the hairdresser's yesterday and read an article about having babies in your forties,and there was a feel good story - Collette Dinnigan (fashion designer) is pregnant at 46,her baby will be born when she is 47. She was telling other women not to wait too long because she had years of unsuccessful IVF, then took a "natural" approach taking supplements etc,and fell pregnant naturally.

I looked it up on the net,but most of the articles were a bit negative with the doom and gloom stats, but I did see this comment from a reader,which is heart-warming:
"I thought after my five adult children that was it - however I had another two late life children one at 45 another at 49, both certainly not planned even though I was running my own business at the time, and I managed. However at the time the heavy pressure was really on from the medical profession and friends to abort them for all sorts of reasons.
I just couldn't - but found it easier caring for babies today than 41 years ago - with all the mod con's, disposable nappies, electric breast pumps, child care and my experience. They are normal healthy kids, I'm 60 now, a grandmother and a great grandmother and they don't care, nor does anyone else. It's all family and there is plenty of love to go around."

So, although I know my chances are slim, as far as I'm concerned,as long as there is sperm hanging around my fallopian tubes when I ovulate, there may well be a chance, albeit 1-5%.

Somewhere, was that a 12 week nuchal scan? That's a great result, I'd be really happy with that. The way they do the test here (Australia)is a little different.They do the blood work just before the nuchal scan, then do the figures there and then.

Although I would be over the moon with "good" results, I wouldn't put any faith in negative results because of what happened with my DS's pregnancy. They had me terrified from 12 - 17 weeks waiting for an amnio because I was told I had a one in 178 chance of trisomy 13 or 18(both horrible chromosomal abnormalities). So I had 4 weeks of being terrified that I'd have to terminate. Luckily for me I saw the best fetal/maternal professor in W.A. and she was able to tell from an ultrasound that my little boy is perfect (and he is) and I didn't have to have the amnio.

After three miscarriages I don't think I could go through an amnio as I'd be so worried about miscarrying.However, if I do get pregnant again, I'll be doing the 12 week test, and then making a decision,as I know that my DH just won't agree to continue a pregnancy with a trisomy.

Of course none of that matters at this stage - I have to get pregnant and make it 12 weeks first

Helloooo, Deige, where are you?Is the bistro closed???

Hopeful, what's 'trisomy'?

Gotta dash...The Burning Bed with Farrah Fawcett is just starting on True Movies.

Yes...where is Diege?

Morning all....
Thanks miasmummy for your encouraging words, there have been days when I have felt like giving up based on those results. I found both this thread and some of the ones on FertilityFriend.com that goldengirl pointed me towards, have given me a renewed and positive mindset.
On that good note....my monitor has given me a high today (cd16)....hooofookingyah.!!!! Big cheesy grin. And just in time for my naughty night away lol.
cheese congratulations, how far along are you??
goldengirl any more signs of ov?
hopeful thats a good story...I love those
On another lovely vybe, OH mentioned going to Caribbean next year to see his family (he's Grenadian). I see myself beached, cocktailed and tanned mmmm mmmm mmmm. Something nice to focus on though :)

Hopeful: I'm old; I have a holiday looming; I'm thinking of giving up TTC...I'm ready to move on...

Us: Yes, dear...glad you're quietly resigned...you know best...holiday shouldn't be ruined...

Hopeful: As long as there is sper.....

Us: YEEEEEAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!...you go, girl....fuck the holiday! (etc, etc..)

Calibee, what a result! Fertile during filthy weekend away! Holiday in the Caribbean sounds dreamy. Mind you, I'm so desperate to get away that Syria is beginning to looking inviting to me..

Forty-eight hours after discovering EWCM (or gonorrhoea ) I still only have a faint line on the OPK. So...back to the Sperm Meets Egg Plan. Looking back at my pregnancy chart, however, I noticed that I had EWCM on CD12 then no fertile fluid at all until CD15 when I ovulated (and got pregnant!)

I hope you all have a lovely weekend xx