The Genuine BESH Palais. To misquote Carlsberg, we're probably the barrenest TTC-ers in the world...

[HesterShaw]

We are Barren. We are Evil, on account of having left procreating until our 30s. We are Selfish, thinking only of careers and money and cars and holidays. And lastly, we are Hags. Welcome to the BESH gin palace. Babydusters and instadiffers need not apply.

I thought your post was great Bugs. Sorry your holiday was a bit shit.

I'm still on the frolic acid. And a cocktail of other things that seem to do nothing other than make my wee expensive.

I'm taking a B vit complex which amusingly turns my wee radioactive, EPO pre ov, Omega 3 supps, and DHEA.

Don't know why I bother, but still.

I still take folic acid, though not at the moment as I'm on the cycle that never ends . I'm on the cheap stuff - Holland & Barrett buy one get one free - cant be arsed with the expensive Pregnacare and the like now. I take vitamin D when I remember.

I take pregnacare, but I'm a bit slapdash with it, to be honest - I aim for every day, but frequently forget. I discoverd a two year old half-empty box of agnus castus in the cupboard the other day, though. It's now in the bin, along with my hopes. I really am expecting to be starting with adoption this time next year; a baybee of my own making seems like a ludicrous pipe dream.

Your post was completely realistic, bugs. Some will think it harsh, but it's truthful rather than cynical, so I reckon you're okay.

Are we really the barrenest BESH ever? Were there lots of miracle wins in the olden days?

EPO, Hest? Erythropoietin? Like Lance Armstrong?

Evening Primrose Oil.

Never been a fan of coagulating my blood on purpose!

for a minute there I thought you might be a lying cheating bastard with cold dead eyes.

Can you imagine how terrible it would be if one of our heroes was found to be a drugs cheat - Cav or Chris or Wiggo or Victoria or Nicole. How many people Armstrong let down :(

I think our guys are okay. I'd be very upset if they weren't! South Park did a hilarious episode about it where Jesus is exposed as a drugs-cheating fraud and everyone goes to have their (yellow, Livestrong style) wristbands ritualistically cut off...

Have you read David Millar's book, Racing Through The Dark? It's very good, really readable and explains a lot about the drug culture in the bad old days. It's why I trust that the Garmin-Sharp riders are all clean, and am hopeful that the other teams are predominantly clean too. If the clean riders are competitive (and they are), then there can't be anywhere near the same level of doping. Apparently the power output of the peloton these days is 10% lower than it was in Armstrong's heyday - amazing what riding clean does, no wonder once the balance tipped so many of them were doping just to keep up.

Just me that doesn't bother then. Safe to say which of us will be the shitty parent who's always disorganised.

I don't bother, twink!

But you did, for a really long time!

You mean you never have? Never mind, that sits nicely with our current CBATM ethos - you are bang on trend.

Morning hags!

OUCH about the awful blood draw

As to supplements for a few optimistic months post-mc I took folic acid and vitamin D religiously, but I didn't bring either on our 3 week hols in April... I have a slap-dash approach to it now, even though in the midst of IUI. I think I'll be good once the IVF cycle gets going...

Waves at draf's adoption plans. In part with deciding to start IVF finally, we agreed to seriously look into adoption but it is soooo hard once the cycle fails. So I read lots of bits on the net on it.

On drucks, cycling and EPO, I am still convinced none of them are entirely clean.

Just had a look at the excited thread and thought you were kind and considerate bugsie. So hurrah for you.

I did for about the first six months norf, and I did again for the first three months this year when I went on a big health kick, but it feels like a big arsed waste of money.

I thought you wrote a lovely, measured and kind post bugs.

The Kate Garraway chat is not going well. Quelle surprise

My question has been strangely ignored... (although to be fair, another less aggressive way of asking the say thing has been raised).

Well that was a wishy washy load of shit wasn't it.

My thoughts exactly twink.

I have received the FC paperwork. woooooooo! its only been 16 weeks since we were told we needed IVF. Once we get that back in they will give us an appointment to start sometime within a month. Just as well, my stress levels have become so high I've either constantly got a headache (been in bed with another migraine since lunch time) and my cycle is now on its longest ever at 42 days and counting. The only other time I've had such a long one was when I got married and it decided to arrive on my wedding day. Bitch.

Kate Garraway is a knob. I had a look at that thread and that 'X' woman is batshit mental.

So, do you think I should start taking folic acid again? I haven't taken it for about 2 years I don't reckon so don't worry Twink, we can be scummy together :)

That's great news Raspy! Hoorah!

I started reading the KG thread and gave up as it was stoopid and annoying.

Rasps, I reckon go for the folic - s'not so much about improving chances as reducing risk of spina bifida in the baybee that you WILL win on the ivf. The SB reduction is solid medical fact, rather than all these "may help conception" things, and you have to be taking it before conception for the most effective risk-minimising action.

That's all the opinion I have about pre-conception supplements.

Woohoo rasp!! That's great news. And not before bloody time. Come celebrate with me in scummy corner, fried chicken and alcopops for everyone