A concerned other half needs advice

[paolocee]

My girlfriend, just turned 39, been TTC (see, I know some of the lingo) for 5 years.

Had one unsuccessful IVF cycle.

Yesterday she had a positive ClearBlue Conception Indicator at around 5pm. It was the day her period was due. It said conception had been 1-2 weeks ago which would have been spot on. She'd been suffering from bad cramps for the past few days. Very grumpy too (no change there, then ;)). Had odd food cravings. Higher than average temperature. Experienced apparent implantation cramps and a little spotting a week ago. All looked good. We were very excited. Very.

Then she retested again last night at 8pm. A BFN. Not to worry we thought, she'd drunk a gallon of water - the HCG must've been diluted.

We'll leave it until morning and a FMU (is that right? I may be straying from my comfort zone now). Another BFN. Utter gloom. Total and utter gloom.

She's on the sofa now watching a week's worth of Corrie. She still hasn't come on, although, as she's felt for the last few days she feels like she's about to.

My guess is that it was a chemical pregnancy. But is there still hope? Any words of wisdom much appreciated. I feel so helpless.

There are plenty of positive studies about it. It's prescribed as a first treatment for fertility problems in Germany. And it worked for me. Couple of studies:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17211965

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12244880

The one thing I would say is that it is clearly a powerful supplement, so it will have effects which might not always be welcome. For me, it shortened and stabilised my cycles, shortened my luteal phase, reduced PMT and period pain. I then added inositol (good studies from Italy on that) and was pregnant six months later.

suplements: vitamin B6 100mg 1x a day. And vitamin c+ zinc. These really helped to regulate my cycle after my miscarriage. and the men's fertility supplement from the people who make pregnacare (that one's for you not her). We conceived the 4th cycle after the miscarriage with this combo of supplements.

Wellman Conception. We use that too. The zinc / vitamin B12 in Pregnacare is meant to be the RDA?

the B6 and the vit c I took were well above RDA. pregnacare is fine, it has stuff at RDA, but B6 at a higher dose is meant to be good for egg quality and I think it lengthened my LP from 9 to 14 days over about 4 months. Have now stopped the B6 as pregant, but still taking the vit c (+D and folic acid) now nearly 16 weeks. The vit c and zinc is really to boost my immune system. I kept getting colds just at the time of ovulation which then put me off swi, and they lasted through my lp. DH was convinced that all my coughing was stopping implantation! Vit c is pretty safe because you wee out any excess.

btw B6 makes your wee bright yellow. just in case any one was worried!

Yeah I took B6 way above RDA as well. You can't buy the strength I took in the UK anymore, after the new European rules on supplements!

Cheers for that bonzo

I am taking the prescription 5mg folic acid PLUS Pregnacare and will add in some extra B6 and B12 (apparently high levels are folic acid are 100% fine just so long as you take B12 with it).

Lists...lists...lists!!

You're just a bunch of mad scientists.

Yep. I just wish my Frankenstein would hurry up...
^ see what I did there???? ^

Thanks Kali, that's encouraging! I hope you are not feeling so bad now - I haven't checked into the HG thread for a while (sorry for hijack OP)

Kick

Of course I saw what you did there. I'm cultured innit.

How you guys feeling today?

Kick

Thanks for asking.
Still no AF, FFS (now, there's an acronym I'm happy to use). Still bloated to all hell. Very grumpy, understandably. Just wants it done. And I don't blame her.
Mind you she's made some fab hummus and a blinding soup today, so it's not all bad.

Christ I remember that from over December. We tested for ages - was 14 days late and then, it hit on Xmas day.

We even tried a blood test but got a negative. Was so confused but my doctor said to leave it another week and booked an appointment to see her the next Monday. I think Xmas was on the Saturday.

Its the waiting to know either way that is rubbish. Sorry man :(

You do have to be careful with Vitamin C in excess during pregnancy. The baby can get used to the higher levels and therefore need higher amounts when born.

Hurrah. AF is here. Let a line be drawn. Thanks everyone for all your very kind words and wishes. We both really appreciate them.

Line

Good luck for the future. And all the very best to your other half.

I hope your dream comes true soon :)

Glad the rollercoaster is over. Everything crossed for better luck soon.

Hey, I WILL be back. You won't be rid of me that easily.....

You're going to be the centre of attention.

The only Smurf in the Smurfette village

Does the Smurf position come with any privileges? It's a consideration.

I believe being the only one IS the privilege... ;)

Hi ladies (and smurf), this is Paolo's GF. Thank you to everyone who has so kindly posted words of support and wisdom, during what has been 6 pretty testing days. AF is here, but I'm hoping that she'll not outstay her welcome as she is a pain. I've signed up to the TCOYF website and am now using their calender to track this months fertility. The book is in the post.

I hadn't realised that MN had so much to offer - I'm a convert now!.... Good luck to you all and thanks again!

Nice to 'meet' you here. TCOYF is great, I'm sure it will at least help you feel more in control. Hope you're feeling ok now, those days of uncertainty are absolutely the worst. We've recently moved country too, so I sympathise with the double stress!