TTC for 10+ months, part 10

[princesschick]

A very friendly and supportive thread for those taking way longer than they had ever expected to make a baby.

Artemis I went to work without a bra once, in a white top, oh and this was in Khartoum which made it so much better (no drugs required for me). I'm a little late too so my timetable will shift a bit I guess. We might be IVF buddies anyway.

Are we allowed a little giggle at your expense, Artemis?

Akuaba I think you win the brazen hussy award. Though i do have a colleague who loudly announced before a meeting a few weeks back that she wasn't wearing any pants. Agreed, nobody likes VPL, but if someone is taking the commando option I don't need to know. MrsM perhaps your bridesmaid was hoping to get lucky - isn't it the rule that the bridesmaid should cop off with the best man?

I've rung the clinic and am relieved that I can keep my appointment after all, so assuming the scan shows silent ovaries I should be OK to start stimming this weekend. Eek. Which also means that EC/ET is likely to coincide with a conference that I have paid about £500 for and that has passed the refund date. Not so good. Oh well.

The past two weeks have gone remarkably quickly. Aside from clothing malfunctions, other random brain farts and intense desire to hibernate, the dowregging has so far been nowhere near as awful as I had feared. I'd still have preferred at least some discussion of the short protocol option, but for anyone else facing downregging, it isn't always an ordeal.

x-post Euro. Giggle away. I'm just relieved it wasn't worse...

cosmos I am so sorry about the dinner party. My advice would be to say that you aren't feeling well and skip it if you aren't up to it. Your first responsibility is to your own wellbeing.

artemis [hgrin] at the forgetting of bra tale. I can't believe your downregging is already done - that flew by. Really annoying about the timings with the conference. Is there any chance you could call the conference organisers and say you have to have an operation on that date and see if they'd waive it out of goodwill?

buzzy how are you doing - you've been uncharacteristically quiet. I hope you are ok.

doll no bra in Khartoum, bloody hell, the mind boggles! My mum used to not wear a bra and she once showed me a skimpy, semi-sheer crochet halter top from the '70s that she used to strut about in sans brassiere. She had dainty little A cups though, which made it bohemian, rather than eye-popping, like it would be with anyone more well-endowed. [hwink]

mrsmellow love the bridesmaid tale. That is so fast for a cycle, 19 days, wow! Do you know when you'd start? You could definitely squeeze in a go before Christmas, it sounds like.

sar well done on talking to your manager. Is there any way that you could start the following week and just take an extra week's unpaid leave? Things are usually slow in early January, certainly in my job anyway. I think an op and a new job at the same time would be a lot to cope with.

euro when do you start with Create again, was it January? If so, it looks like we are going to be cycle buddies. [hsmile] I just emailed my clinic to say that I wanted to start in early January, to give my body a chance to settle down a bit. The next two months will fly by, as gin wisely said a couple of weeks ago.

Waves and [hbiscuit]s to everyone else.

critter I was thinking the same thing re art's conference. artemis might be worth a shot right? It's not a small sum.

Great that you made a plan critter , January is just around the corner. I'm with your mum on dainty rather than well-endowed, but still. My office building had a ton of bloody mirrors in it so I noticed pretty quickly.

The cycle sounds great at your clinic mellow I like the sound of that and IVF is just made for your situation so you are in a great place to do this.

Damn, thought I had more time... Cosmos good to see you here and waves to everyone....

at the no bra stories. Art at what point in the day did you realise??? That is very funny, more so from my point of view as I can't imagine it ever, I would look like I was auditioning for readers wives. And Art what did you say to your colleague who announced about no pants???

Doll, sorry I seem to be out of synch with my posts to you, really hope everything is ok there after the car bomb, that must be pretty scary stuff - hopefully making IVF seem less so by comparison.

Critter I wonder how the next 2 months will go for you after what's gone on recently.

And Critter I am very tempted to do just that about the dinner, but at what point does it become just stopping seeing friends? Am trying to tell myself i ought to go, but reaaaaally could do without it. Speaking of friends how did the dinner party go Doll?

cosmos if you do decide to go to the dinner party, I'd arrange to do something really cheering (and non-child-friendly) with your DH afterwards. That's what I did after my double baby shower Saturday a couple of weeks ago when we went for oysters and rose at a really nice bar, and it made all the difference in giving me a little mood boost.

Oh cosmos more than half of my guests were last minute no shows, bomb-related and a couple of more pedestrian issues. Shit happens. I have so much bloody food. Everything is fine right now actually, it's a fragile place of course so it's just a question of if and when things tip over the edge. On your dinner, well I know what you mean about avoiding friends but just deal with these things in whatever way seems right at the time.

doll Was this the brunch? And I know what you mean about the word 'brunch', I remember back in the 90s when it was this hip new word and now people bandy it about with nary a care. [hgrin]. Can you bring the extra food into work? My colleagues are like gannets when it comes to leftovers.

art I was going to say that you made me [hgrin] with the Rod Stewart leopard leggings remark this morning.

[hhmm]] I think I like these Halloween smileys a little too much!

Critter t'was the brunch. Hate hate hate the word but I feel I have to use it. Ridiculous. I'm not really at an office these days, been sending Ken off with plenty though. Moving to leg-wear issues, I'd just like to share that Ken once went to a job interview in leather trousers - before I knew him, he told me and I tell everyone else.

[henvy] is my favourite

Will do an actual post later

Yep, Critter. I have a consultation in December with a view to starting a cycle after Christmas, so we may well end up cycle buddies. [hsmile]

doll I am glad the downregging has gone smoothly for you.

cosmos I don't think you could blame yourself for skipping the dinner, but if you decide not to, at least you are prepared for the announcement so you won't be sideswiped by it.

Brunch is my favourite meal. It conjures up weekends and all the things I have time to make then, rather than just shoving some museli in a bowl - smoothies, eggs, bacon, rummaging round the local market for tasty morsels. Mmmmm.

I'm loving the Halloween smilies too. [hgrin]

Heart - goodness i missed your previous post but I am glad the spotting has stopped. I can understand this is a very nerve racking time but I am hoping this is going to be your time.

Art - I don't want to laugh at you forgetting to put your bra on but it's quite funny!! I would definitely not get away without a bra....someone at Uni once asked me whether I was wearing a new bra once...I was...they had noticed because suddenly my breasts were hoiked up to an acceptable level. eeek. I'm glad you can still have your appt this week. I'm glad the down regging hasn't been as bad as you feared.

Cosmos - sorry about the dinner . It's so difficult. Could you agree to go and see how you feel on the day? I find some days i am really cheerful and I might be able to handle something like that but a bad day would be a definite no no. But requires playing by ear.

Well i think I'm going to call in sick to work tomorrow. I'm not very mobile and been quite light headed - is that normal? And my throat is really sore. I was warned of this but I am wondering whether they scratched it when they put the pipes down there.

Big waves to everyone.

Evening ladies!

Oh joy, I didn't realise that the lap was a special birthday lap.. You poor thing having to wait until 5pm but sounds like you were super brave and have a certified clean, shiny womble. If I were you, I'd take the whole week off sick...belated happy birthday!

cosmos the dinner party sounds tricky. Like critter has said it'd depend on my mood. I've been invited round to see a new baby at the weekend, with some other ladies and their babies.. I'd really like to meet the baybee but slightly scared it'll make me feel shit. As you've said, I don't want to stop seeing friends. Think I'm gonna see how I feel on the day.

Your bra story made me arte. Gawd, I need the extra padding of mine to give me any shape at all! And yay for probably being able to go ahead with the stimming at the weekend. I love how calm and collected you were at the weekend, having shot up in Zizis toilets! I hope you can persuade then to give you the conference fee back, the tight bastards. I really would have thought better of them.

critter I loved your bad baybee story. And I'm pleased to see you seem happier with your new year ivf decision. With Xmas coming up, it'll go so quickly.

Mmmm brunch doll. Send some of the leftovers over here! Although seriously it must be tough out where you are. I have visions of you and ken living out Homeland. I hope you manage to see the cycle through. Have you had a scan yet?

Waves to sar. I agree with everyone else about trying to postpone new job until after the lap. Does this mean you'll be able to have a boozy Xmas (am already missing wine, after a whole 2 weeks of not drinking at all...) :) at you seeing my workplace everywhere. Come and visit, although only when you don't mind seeing lots of preggos and kids. They are bloody everywhere!

euro I like the word brunch too. I think cos it means its ok to not get up and have breakfast... Much better than Sam Cams kitchen suppers.

Welcome s4.

mellow your clinic's protocol sounds like my clinic's, I think. It all takes place in 1 natural cycle.

Waves to everyone else.

Speaking of which, my period is here, so will start shooting up shortly. Create's shit admin has already shown itself - I rang today to say it's cd1 and was told by the receptionist no that's tomorrow cos my period started after 12pm. I made her check and she confirmed, but when I got home and checked the notes from my treatment consultation, I had clearly written down cd1 counts if it starts before 5 or 6pm (it had properly started by 4pm). Grrrr. So now we have to ring and check and probably argue with the receptionist and I've already booked off the scan times etc at work and organised meetings. Fucking idiots. She says nicely. Nope, no pmt here...

Ps [hbiscuit] [hbiscuit]. These are cute, although look a bit boob-like

I promised to come back and post later, but I haven't. So [hgrin] at Art's wardrobe malfunction, hooray for no lap concerns Joy, [heek] at so many people shooting up all of a sudden. Hope the spotting stays away Heart, so so much. And I agree that though the word Brunch is a bit wanky, the reality is sooo much better.

I collected my first drug today, but this is just the pill basically - Norethiserone or something? I think it's just to make sure I have a period when I'm meant to, which is a bit odd really now I think about it. I am wondering if I should phone tomorrow and remind myself why I am taking it, as I will have a period starting approximately 9 days from now, and if I don't then it's only cos I'm pregnant [hhmm]. Real jabs not till mid-Nov.

Who was asking about wedding. It's not long before Christmas. Had my first proper dress try-on, it's lovely. Very plain and classic, I hope I can do it justice. But I am a bit Meh as quite a few people probably aren't going to be able to make it, due to the fact they have or will just have had little babies. Selfish fuckers. Not really. But I admit I did think that for a couple of days a nanosecond.

Anyway, wedding mania (not obsession, I promise, it's just Things I Have To Do) means I literally have hardly thought about TTC or IVF. In fact I've just had to set up a calendar reminder to start taking those pills!

OK and now must go to bed. I am so sorry I'm not keeping up properly with you all. I read and think of you all often.

ooh - shooting up gin good luck [hsmile]
my bridesmaid is married to my brother and I have known her for longer than he has - she's been my friend since she was 6... she's 36 now! So I damn well hope she didn't score the best man -my other SIL might have something to say about that!
Someone asked, but I'm starting IVF on next CD3, which based on scan and sore breasts will be in approx 10 days [hgrin]

doll scary times and places, hope, not too stressful

Heart how are you doing?

joycep it took me ages to feel right again - I was mainly just knocked out by the GA. Definitely call in sick. You are only a couple of days post-op. You should take the rest of this week at least.

nelly I think noriwotsit is the drug they usually give to pcosers who don't have periods to bring one on. If I were you, I would check to see if you need to take it. I've never heard of it being used pre-IVF for women who do have regular periods. I'm glad the pre-wedding excitement is taking your mind off things.

nelly norethisterone is progesterone essentially - it won't do any harm if you are pregnant and if not, it just helps them time your cycle days by inducing your period. I discussed taking this with my gynae - if AF hasn't arrived in 10 days and bHCG neg, I will prob take too.
How exciting about your wedding!!!! Plain and classic sounds good for a dress (although I was tempted to go with something really extraordinary just for the laugh, I too went with simple and classic, did try on all the dresses in Selfridges though, my sister paid for us to go and snaffle champers while trying on v v v v v v v expensive and outrageous gowns!). I loved my wedding dress. And fittings. I had a couple of nets and a corset so for once in my life had a figure ( I am very boy figure like normally!).

euro I love your name! - I'm going to a bond party soon and need to get a costume together, such fun!

joy all those symptoms are normal. I had mine on a Thursday - Friday was a write off and Saturday was the worst day. By Monday I went to work, but was exhausted and really still quite bloated. It does pass though, I promise.

I'd had a couple of glasses of vino when I posted yesterday and seem to have missed a few posts, sorry!
gin does sound like we're doing similar protocols. I will be about 10 days-2weeks behind you. Fingers crossed.

I had an email from a friend yesterday. We were quite close in uni, but see less of each other since she moved rurally and became a SAHM. She has 3 beautiful children. I told her in March in a chat that we were having trouble conceiving and really haven't heard from her since. Yesterday she emailed to tell me she's pregnant again, but that her scans/screening showed a 1:5 risk of a chromosomal abnormality - so she had an amnio yesterday and is waiting for her results, that she was really stressed that she would miscarry (1% risk following amnio) and how awful her life was. I am so and at myself that my first internal response was 'piss off, I can't believe this is the first thing you email me in months, you have 3 kids and don't even ask how I'm doing'. But then my better half kicked in and gained perspective and emailed back nicely expressing all the right things and offering an ear over the phone for a chat. I am a bit frustrated that I'm the sounding board for her problems and really she has no idea what is going on in my life, but I guess that's my own issue for not sharing. But also horror that even if I ever bleedin' well manage to get pregnant, there is all this angst ahead. [fear] I do have my fingers crossed that all is ok for her.
Life just isn't simple is it?!

Gin oh these details are very annoying. Did you them call again? In answer to your question I should be scanned on Monday.

nelly as I understand, birth control pills can be used on the flare protocol to prevent left over cysts that can be a problem with the high LH levels at the onset of the flare stimulation.

joy take it easy and rest well

Like the name euro

x-post mellow I don't really understand why clinics warn folk off TTC the cycle before IVF on protocols with just birth control pills in the first place. Anyway, you are a great friend to put her lack of follow-up with you aside in the face of her problems. Sigh.

Good for you mellow you did the right thing and it will feel better in the end. Be proud of yourself.

Most people are terrible at giving support. You don't really understand how unsympathetic people are until you've been through something bad yourself and seen how people react to you. I found very few people had any idea what to say or how to treat me, they seemed to either avoid me, try to solve the problem or turn the conversation around to them when what I really need was just a shoulder, someone to say I'm sorry you are going through this. The best are always the ones who have had hard times themselves, not necessarily the same kind of hard times but ones who understand what it is to go through a crisis.

Me neither doll. Could it have something to do with no fees for the clinic if someone gets a FCFU BFP I wonder?

mellow you are a bigger person than me I think. I think I could be sympathetic to someone worrying about those results generally, but not where they knew my troubles and never bothered to get in touch to see how I was doing, only bothering when they needed support. But I am pretty mercenary about friendships these days. I have little free time and only want to spend it with people I consider to be true friends (and that means giving and taking support).