Good morning ladies.
Welcome RainyAfternoon. I can really relate to what you are saying about wishing you'd started trying earlier. But I think you still have a great chance, as you are only 42 and there is still time. I guess it must be pretty difficult with DH away so much. Have you considered something like IUI (rather than IVF) - if you could have your DH's sperm frozen, so that if he's away you could still have IUI and get the sperm into the right place at the right time.
Personally, I do not think it is ridiculous to talk to a doctor about this, but it does depend on what you hope to get from your doctor. I think it is better to go there knowing what you want so that you aren't fobbed off. Ask for the usual tests : day 3 blood tests -FSH, Estrogen and then the day 21 test (should be called the 7 DPO test) for progesterone. You can also have the AMH test which looks at ovarian reserve. That test can be a bit of a downer if it comes back "low". Mine did, and for a while I was quite depressed. Since then I have fallen pregnant (but also miscarried). But I do realise the tests, though they do give us some idea of what's going on, don't tell the whole story. My younger sister had day 3 tests, and whilst sat in her doctor's office, being told it was impossible for her to get pregnant, was able to hand over a positive pregnancy test and say, "I think you are wrong" 
She had a son, then another one shortly afterwards.
There are other things that the doc can do - you can have one of those things (HSG??) that looks at if your tubes are clear,you can take clomid to stimulate ovulation (but if you are already ovulating, you probably don't need it) and you can have follicle tracking done to see exactly when you ovulate. But I am not sure your GP will do that, you'd probably have to go private and pay for it.
Having said all that, I have been in your shoes (not completely, as my DH doesn't work away) and I went to my GP looking for help, only to be told, after all my tests, that she wouldn't prescribe clomid for me, she botched up prescribing progesterone, and in the end has said, just keep trying, you might just catch a healthy egg. I think, she doesn't really believe I will, and thinks it is too late for me. She's probably right as I am almost 47, but you are much younger, so I think there's still time for you.
Of course there's plenty you can do for yourself. I love acupuncture. Clearly it hasn't got me knocked up, but it does help me relax and I don't seem to get sick very often. My acupuncturist is a lovely older women who is wise,loving and caring, and almost a counselor to me. I do think acupuncture is great for fertility. Who knows, perhaps I wouldn't have had my DS at 41 without it? It has also sorted out painful periods for me.
As for supplements, there's a huge amount of advice on the net, and I have read tonnes of it 
The latest thing is to take high doses of Co q 10, and the best way to get it is in the form of Ubiquinol. Of course taking folic acid or prenatals is good, also I have heard that royal jelly is good, DHEA (that one is a bit contraversial as it is a form of testosterone and can cause hormone imbalances), fermented fish oil, vitamin d (You could have your level checked by the gp) and there's probably more which I can't recall right now. I have been taking Zita West Vitafem because I am sick of taking a dozen or so supplements and almost everything is in the Zita ones. They are expensive though.I am also taking Coq10 when I remember. These days I am a bit slack on the sups, but I think it is because I have been ttc for 4 years and it's become a bit tedious.
Are you charting? I think that can be helpful, but not everyone likes doing it and it can add to the "obsessive" nature of ttc. Do you have a fertility monitor or use OPKs? Both will help pinpoint you ovulation, and if your cycles are changing, then that's a good idea.
As for me, this cycle was not the one
Clearly a BFN this morning and a huge temperature drop. I do feel sad, and PMS is going to hit me soon I think, I am glad DH,DD1 and DS2 are all heading off for a few days away. I will still have DD2 and DS3 at home, but I don't want DH to see how upset I am feeling. It's all a bit heart-breaking and shit to keep trying month after frigging month for so damned long and still not get my thb. I know I say this every cycle, so please don't read on if you are sick of my moaning (I would be 
). I have always been the kind of person who was rewarded for tenacity. Everything I have truly wanted, I have gone after it with vigour and determination and have eventually got there. But this precious last baby is just eluding me. I've done everything I can, and I keep getting up and trying again. Then I get to this part of my cycle, 10 dpo and another bfn and feel exhausted and like I cannot go on trying. But I can't seem to give up trying either.
I know to most people it would seem stupid to keep doing this (what's the definiton of insanity? To keep doing something that hurts you), especially as I already have five children. I love and appreciate them, I don't take them for granted, I just feel that I am meant to have a 6th and last child to complete my family.
I suppose I have to let go of this mad desire at some point?
My acupuncturist tells me that in traditional Chinese medicine they consider a woman able to have kids, if her body is healthy and balanced, until she is 49. So I guess I still have time.
If you have read this far, you deserve 
