Eggcellent Egg Buddies! Come and join us if you're IVFing in August, September or October!

[nobeer]

Share your experiences, worries, recipes, holiday recommendations. Swearing welcome.

Can I ask you all what you are doing in terms of changing diet etc for Ivf? I'm interested in caffeine really...I was caffeine free for my first 2 cycle and mostly free for cycle 3, but not for last few cycles. I drink tea not coffee and have 2-3 cups a day. I've found it harder to give it up as each cycle goes by, but a part of me wonders if it makes a big difference or not. What do you all think?

Big hugs too all who need then, especially my old mate res XX

I had fertility counselling after bfn and it really helped. My friend is having it too and she's finding it helps. Good luck with it badhair x

Omg res, by old I mean I've known you a long time NOT your age!!!! Don't want to add to your woes!

Stars - I drink decaf, have for years. I love my tea and coffee and try to swap a cup a day for herbal tea. Especially at work, I can go through 5-6 cups a day easy.

My clinic said no caffeine when cycling.

No caffeine at all? My goodness, that sounds tough. Why is caffeine dangerous when cycling? Is it to do with the drugs? I knew you shouldn't drink alcohol, but wasn't prepared for this!

Winkle you made me smile, fear not!

Stars gawd I hope you're not married to my boss. He spent last week in Newquay ...

Thanks too for thinking of me but the only good thing about being busy at work is that it keeps your mind off this crap (well, until nursery pick up at 5 which brings me back to it with a bump).

Any news from Miss?

Funny but I didn't miss caffeine as I don't drink coffee and don't eat (too) much chocolate. The booze, however, now that's a different story.

Life is miserable without booze, it's true. I am waiting until 5.30 until I crack open a bottle of white wine. I can't sleep right now so am telling myself its for medicinal purposes. Big hugs to everybody. Being in your 40s isn't 'old' at all - it's awful that the consultants constantly refer to age. Bet most of them are blokes as well. Am I right?

Me and OH are off the booze. Throwing everything humanly possible at the next cycle.

Hello all. I haven't read back properly but did notice your sad news Marypops - am thinking of you. Along with everyone else on here having a crap time. Sadly I am not about to make things any better

So after getting the unexpected BFPs early last week I had a few lovely days of hoping I might experience a miracle, for which I curse my stupidity. On Thursday I did another IC and got only a really faint positive, so managed to get the clinic to move the scan forward to Fri morning. I was expecting the worst but still fell to pieces all over the lovely nurses when they confirmed there was nothing in the uterus to see at all. They were therefore worried about an ectopic so did a beta and then repeated that and the scan today. The beta was only 21 on Fri, and I started bleeding again today. Repeat scan today showed nothing different.

I don't think anyone really knows what has happened; either a very early miscarriage or maybe an ectopic that resolved itself? But regardless it has been fecking awful. The one good thing is that DP persuaded me to tell my sister about it which I did on Sat and am so pleased I did as she has been brilliant. And by doing a lot of crying on nurses I got them to move my review forward so I only have to wait another 2 weeks.

Despite all this, I am feeling a lot better today and have a copy of Dr Beers' "Is Your Body Baby Friendly" waiting for me at home and plan to go into the review as informed as possible. I remain convinced I have implantation issues and am determined to get to the bottom of it!

I will try and catch up and be a better member of this thread again very soon.

Oh miss, how horrible big cuddles lovely xx. Btw I've just started that book and aim to become a woman who knows a fair bit about all this shite!

Hello badhair - yes caffeine is definitely off the list along with lots of other yummies. I recommend Emma Cannon's baby making bible for a good guide on what to eat and avoid. What's also frustrating is that even decaf is not great but it's amazing what you can get used to. My nutritionist advised a maximum of 2-3 cups of decaf a day so I am now a big drinker of water (this summer's heat wave made that much easier!) and more interesting herbal teas - my fave's are fennel and pukka's detox tea. Can't stand all the berry versions!

Res I hope you're feeling a bit more cheery lovely. Easier said than done tho lovely. I had a melt down at the weekend and just sobbed my heart out all over DH. Poor thing, he just didn't know what to do with me these things just have a habit of catching up and over coming us every so often don't they. Thinking of you. Xx

Hello All

I have become gluten free for my cycle and have had consultations with Melanie Brown who has been an absolute god send. Its expensive- the supplements alone cost us around £160 a month (would be £300 easy if we took them all but she did give us the option to shelve some of the more expensive ones) and we are eating very well. My main menu for a day=

breakfast

Gluten free porridge oats with whole organic milk, chopped organic banana, chia seeds, flaxseed and honey.

snack

Almonds or some coconut.

lunch

tomato and red lentil soup and some rice cakes and a pink grapefruit.

Dinner

Chicken breast with steamed veg or salad, maybe some brown rice and sometimes some roasted sweet potatoes.

I have stopped drinking alcohol on the whole but have had a glass here and there to be social and haven't beaten myself up about it.

I drink herbal tea most of the time but if I am going to have tea or coffee, I have a massive mug with caffeine and whipped cream etc.

miss I feel for you, I really do. Not many people on here will remember this but with my MC in June, I had a week of limbo. Rising HCG (got into the thousands in the end), lots of bleeding and a sac that did nothing when I was scanned. It was dreadful and I'm sorry to say, I was relieved to miscarry because the agony of not knowing was dreadful. I'm glad you can talk to your sister, take some time and go easy on yourself. And most of all- spoil yourself a bit. Sounds daft but small things perked me up- coffee with friends, a night out dancing. I just longed to be normal again and even a tiny slither of normality perked me up. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

res hope you feel brighter this arvo. I sympathise on the age thing. I was only 25 when I started TTC. 7 years later, age is getting mentioned more and more I don't think they would unless my eggs were so shit but its still a kick!!

fab I love the emma cannon book!!!! Ever made her spicy rice pudding??

wish are you still about??? hope you are ok xxxxx

choco how are things with you? Still moving along??

brooker anymore news on the cyst? When will they scan again?

nobeer hope you are ok too chick xxxx

euro sending good vibes your way. Have you looked at any other clinics or made appts??

twinks glad you are getting closer to FET x

stars hello again x

Hello to everyone else xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I am still limping and rattling here. Also started acupuncture with a new lady who is lovely- am so happy that we are now making steps towards our next go. I feel proactive!!

My cycles are still a real mess so I am dead reluctant to even think about another go till they are sorted. Its sticking in my mind about there being an issue with my eggs maturing and I think that with a 23 day cycle like I've had the last 2 cycles they are most definitely not going to be maturing properly! The acupuncture lady is going to work on it and see if she can get them back to 28 days. I reckon that 23 days must be anovulatory??

I'm still here tame, very miserable waiting for AF after 12 days of Buserelin. I think she's on her way now, then I start Prognova. Is it a nasty drug?
I'm so drained and grumpy, sorry for the lack of personals xxx

wish buserilin can make you feel pretty shitty. I get very depressed and low on it.

Are you doing FET?

Hello Everyone,
miss I am so sorry. I was thinking of you today and just hoping that maybe one of us could have some good News for once. Look after yourself
tamehope you are back on your feet soon what a crap joke . Are you gluten free because you are intolerant or because you think it could make a real difference?
res so sorry to hear that you are Feeling so down. Sometimes I think you just have to embrace all those emotions, good and bad, so that you can come out stronger The otherside although i don't practice what I preach
Hi to everyone else and the newbies. And thank you all for your great Support you have no idea how much you have helped me over the last couple of days.

Well, as you can imagine the Weekend was shit. I spent most of it in tears but ended up telling a good friend what had happened when she popped round unexpectedly on Saturday morning. It Felt so good finally telling someone. Had to go to two Barbecues though. The one on Saturday featured the obligatory pregnant woman as well as the skinny Lady who has just had her second Baby. Fab it really reminded me of your experience. Was only asked twice if and when we were going to have another Baby as if it is anyone's Business!
And then today the News that I had been expecting. I am officially not pregnant. I have my Review on the 23rd but have been told to wait a cycle before we start again. Am now going between Feeling really sad to thinking maybe this is just something we Need to get through before we can have another Baby if that makes sense and that perhaps everything happens for a reason. Who knows? Have just ordered those two books that were mentioned earlier so at least I will be keeping busy. Am going to delve back into RL -give me wine!- so even if I am not posting as much I will certainly be supporting you all from the sidelines

wish I was on progynova and had no side effects

maryp I tested positive for NK cells and also have endometriosis. These both indicate general inflammation and immune issues.

Gluten can irritate systemic inflammation and immune issues and a gluten free diet can contribute to success in difficult cases.

This is from Mel B. I am officially a difficult case

miss I am so sorry it wasn't good news. I had my fingers crossed for you. Stay strong x

Yeah Tame I'm going for FET at the end of September but the more AF holds off the longer it's going to take! Grrr. I feel like I've been waiting forever.
AF + bruserelin = sulking

It's all so soul destroying isn't it?

and well wishes for everyone on this thread x x

Tame yes I did! It smelt amazing but I made the error of leaving it to go cold as it was a bloody hot day and it wasn't so great cold. I did bake a cake yesterday though and if I say soy self it was pretty blooming gorgeous Blackberry bakewell - super yum!

Blimey it's getting pretty busy in this waiting room isn't it? Standing room only! Hope that bloody choo choo arrives soon . Has anyone got any sarnies or a flask of coffee caffeine free obvs to keep us going? Failing that I'm cracking a bottle of wine open
missm I am so sorry to hear of the awful time you've been having. I had everything crossed for a good outcome for you . It truly is shit.
Hi to everyone else x

Marypops your weekend sounds ghastly, I can only try and compete by telling you I had to do a boot fair to sell my mums worldly goods in the rain- truly awful!
Brook the little fuckers are exactly that! They hurt and are not fun, tell me it gets easier!!!

Love and waves to the rest of you all x

llw yes it does. Honest. Where are you stabbing, tummy or thigh? What day are you on?

Ooh fab were they you own blackberries? Sounds scrummy!

burserlin is what sent me loopy (=depressed and anxious). It's known as the devil's juice in this household. Apparently most people feel better once they add the stimming drugs into the mix.

tame we went to an open evening at CRGH last week and have a consultation there is a couple of weeks. We will also go along to the follow up consultation at our current clinic and see what they have to say. Then we'll develop a plan from there. I'm also eating wheat again, so I can be tested for coeliac disease next month. Whatever it says, I am going to cut substantially down on the gluten, because it makes an enormous difference to how I feel physically (bloating) and mentally (brain fog). But I want the test because I want to know if CD could be a factor. I've heard of a lot of folks with IVF failures being recommended GF diets, so there must be something in it.

On the subject of cutting things out, I have had one or two completely alcohol free cycles (out of 3) - on the others I just had one or two glasses of wine. I've had 2 out of 3 caffeine free cycles (no tea or coffee, just the odd square of chocolate). Also, 2 out 3 were wheat free (although not 100% gluten free). None of it made any difference for me!

Hey brook I'm stabbing in my tummy,, on day 4, scan on Friday, the suprecur is fine but the Menopur is so painful. I will have to man up! Currently sat on the kitchen floor watching moulin rouge and making crab apple and mint jelly