TTC 10 months + Part 17.

[MuddyWellyNelly]

For all the lovely 10+ers, and anyone else lurking, who has been trying for long enough to start worrying. This is a great place to rest until the elusive BFP shows up.

Apparently the Pill can change your cycles anyway, and it might take a while to settle down.

Pregnacare (which covers Folic acid) is a good one. Actually, I've had a cold recently and a couple of minutes of taking pregnacare I felt much better!

Cos lovely. I’m glad it has started but obviously wish you weren’t having to go through this. I don’t think us long term ttcers will ever be able to enjoy pregnancy. There is far too much pressure for it to work. Also, you didn’t exactly have the nicest experience with that heavy bleed early on which clearly put you on high alert and worry. Then you had the scan. It was not a pleasant introduction to pregnancy. I always look at pregnant women in the street and assume that they have had it plain sailing. I guess i’m envious of that and envious that their bodies seem to do what they are suppose to. I’m even envious when friends say they have morning sickness!. I love you for saying i’m too young for the Argy’s approach! Brilliant. I really am not sure I am but i think i would have liked a gentler approach but then again apparently very low amh people are difficult to flare up and that’s why i was put on that protocol. Anyway who knows. What was this you read – that people who stopped trying to conceive , their nk cells come down??
In terms of immune treatment – the Lister are suppose to be very good with good success rates. Also Dr Nudkwe at ZIta West. He is suppose to be lovely. I gather waiting lists for him are long. And of course there is Dr Gorgy and he does all the Chicago immunes. Unless you are going to cycle at the Argc, I wouldn’t do the immune stuff with them. What other tests are you thinking of having? There is a test that I was umming and arghing about ages ago called the DQ Alpha test or something and I think this is a compatibility thing. I have read that some people have to have their husband’s blood put in to them or something because they share a gene. LAD or LIT or something. I’m not sure.

Rabbit – i’m pleased you are getting going quickly. No hanging about I reckon is the best way forward. You don’t have time to think about it then. I was on the cetrotide from about day 3 until trigger. I had to do it at 5am. I didn’t have the others experience of it though. I found it fine but then again i was half asleep plus I have quite a lot of padding! A hysteroscopy might do the same as a scratch. I know my clinic do hysteos because they have found the trauma helps implantation. I guess it’s along the same lines....

Mrsd – that sounds very odd about havinga reaction to the cetrotide. I guess you have to take these doctors words for it. What will they put you on to stop ovulation then ?

Mad/Nelly – eeek. I think rules in Scotland and England are different but by the sounds of things, I could well have blown my free round. And yes, there is no way of hiding the fact i have had two rounds of ivf already. I will speak to my GP.

Dulcet – what an awful GP. I concur with what Nelly says and always go and get a print out of your results and never take their word for it.

Euro – crgh is expensive isn’t it but i think if they monitor you well that is really important. It does make me sick how much all this costs especially as it is only suppose to cost about £300 a round for the clinic. grrr

Has anyone ever considered going abroad for treatment? I know Buzz went. If we manage to save some money in the next few years, I am wondering whether I may go to Serum in Greece. A lot of ladies go there on FF and sing their praises and the drugs out there look cheap plus you don’t need a prescription for their pharmacies apparently. Their costs are so so cheap compared to UK too.

I see in the Daily Hell that some woman I have never heard of, Tina Malone, is expecting a baby at the age of 50 through egg donor. Apparently and I quote “she is very proud of her body”. this has got to be hope for us all!

well its got heavier and i just passed something solid (sorry tmi). it felt more solid than a blood clot. i couldn't look. people who've had m/cs how much stuff other than just blood did you pass? just wondering what to expect.

Joy i'm so glad you're thinking in terms of more treatment and other options. you're right i've read loads of good things about serum. i haven't ever considered it, not really sure why, is it logistically possible to do it there i wonder without moving out for a month or two? you're right its a good option. Hey maybe a summer off in a villa in greece is the way to go?! Bit like the gap year / summer for the over '30s?? Hey there's a money making scheme in there somewhere. I can see myself now revisiting my holiday rep role, with clipboard, welcoming everyone off the plane, with a specially written welcome speech. oh dear, sorry everyone, in a bit of a dark mood today.

do you know Joy low amh really doesn't add up with getting 13 eggs a pop you know?

its so stupid how the nhs varies so much. i know where i am its particularly generous (2 fresh and 2 frozen) and you can choose between 2 clinics and no-one ever asked me about whether i'd already had treatment. Would they really bother to check with the hfea, the gp clinic sends the referral straight to the fertility clinic, and its not in their interests to check as they want the money / treatment to go ahead. i don't know maybe there is a central record and checking done but sounds a bit efficient for the nhs to me.

Absy sorry it hurt, hope you're feeling better now.

waves everyone else.

cos I had several days of passing clots every time I went to the loo. And on the day of the worst pain, something that looking like a squished blueberry (sorry everyone) came out. I think that was the sac. I didn't examine it too closely though.

joy I don't see how it can cost so little given the EC is a minor op essentially, with a gynae, anaethetist, nurses, theatre time, etc. That day alone must cost a fair bit.

absy sorry it hurt. It might be a "good" thing though - perhaps it cleared out some debris!

essie I'd add another day or two - they pick up the surge BEFORE ov happens, usually about 48 hrs before.

Oh Cos that all sounds normal I am afraid. I had severe cramping and very heavy bleeding and passing clots for a day and the next day I passed the sac. It was quite obvious and it's best not to look as it is upsetting. You sound quite jovial all things considered. You are a good ten plusser fighter with lots of spirit!
I like your idea. Basically let's run some ivf holidays! Anyway as far as I can work out, you certainly don't need to move out there. Perhaps be out there for 2 weeks max. Even with flights and accommodation , it doesn't seem to come close to UK prices plus you get a little holiday at the same time.

Your are right about the amh thing. I met someone whose amh was 4 and she got 16 eggs.

Euro- you are right. I probably plucked that figure out of thin air.

joy I don't think the waiting list for Dr Nudkwe is that long, on one of the other threads some of the ladies have seen him and Gorgy. Nudkwe also isn't interested in AMH levels, he is more interested in you
Serum are good and do immunes I believe they follow Bravermans protocol but I think it can get intense but Penny is a legend and thorough from what I have heard, Gorgy seems more reasonable to deal with now. Both use neupogen and Gorgy has prescribed a lady hydroxy which as far as I was aware it was only Sheheta using it.
Maybe ask on FF or the pred thread about DQ alpha and LIT again on the pred thread and AC after miscarriage one of the ladies has had these tests and been to serum.
Reporofit don't do immunes but will support you but you would have to do them here but they do offer intralipids when you are there. Our trip all up including flights food 8 nights accomodation and treatment was around £5250.

absy sorry it was painful, I never had any of these investigations

cos my natural miscarriage was along time ago but I remember it was painful and passing some 'things' but didn't really investigate, sorry you are going through this

Just popping on briefly to say cos so sorry you are going through this. I found that the pain acts as a distraction and the emotion hits once it's all over. I passed mostly thick blood with smaller clots, the sac was quite destinct in both cases, like a larger clot but smooth and more solid compared than the rest. It was preceded by contraction like pains and after it was gone the pain and bleeding began to ease off.(sorry all for tmi)
Each person is different and my second mc was no where near as painful or scarey as the first but that could have been partly down to knowing what to expect. I hope this is over for you as quickly and painlessly as possible. Big hand hold.

joy I think I saw something about bargain IVF for 300 quid being possible in the press earlier this year, so maybe that is where you saw the figure. I genuinely don't understand how that can work though. I think the clinics are money making machines, but I can't believe that everything over 300 quid is profit for them. Surely not....

Thanks all for the comments. I do think my doctor has been helpful in the process so far but perhaps her choice of words was far from ideal. I will call and get the levels and try to avoid Dr Google in the mean time! I am being naïve to think I do ovulate? Maybe I should just accept the results.

Joy - I think Tina Malone is the Mum in Shameless. Which is a bit funny as she had a baby in that at an older age too. Naturally there though.

Cos - sounds normal to me too. My experience is a few years old now but there was definitely a difference between clots and... something else that I didn't explore much but the image is stuck in my brain forever. I agree with joy, where possible - don't look.

Thanks for sharing your experiences thats really helpful, sorry to bring up bad memories. Yes Coco the waves of contraction like pains seem to have eased off now.

No time for proper post. Oh cos I'm so sorry you are going through this, the biggest hug ever to you. I'm hoping this is over quickly for you.

Absy sorry about the hycosy pain but good news all is clear.

Joycep serum sounds like it rocks from what I've read. All these tests, I'm so naive and like a wet ostrich at investigating them. I'm fretting now that my dilation will have healed itself over and that if I get an egg they won't be able to put it back.

I had reflexology tonight to try and get myself off the ceiling of angst that I'm having to inject myself with drugs and possibly don a surgical gown. I have not had a solid nights sleep for 6 weeks so hoping its worked! Will say night now, keep fingers crossed for me that I get more than three hours.

Wave to everyone (mad I was thinking of you today in my autumn term frenzy, glad you are doing well).

Just popping on to say huge hugs & handholds to you, cos. My mc was very early so mostly just a really heavy period. But this whole infertility malarkey is pretty grim anyway.

Will catch up later with everyone. Waves meanwhile.

8 hours sleep! Woo hoo

Thanks for the concern! DH was very sweet and made dinner for me, and listened to me complain about it (he had complained previously about the semen analysis, but now he's not so whingey). "perhaps it cleared out some debris" That's what I'm hoping as well - I was having this twinge, weird tiny stabby pain on my left side (very subtle) and that's stopped now. So here's hoping ...

Morning lovelies, Just a quick update from me. I am quietly panicking, as I've been spotting since Monday. It makes me very on edge and unhappy. But there is nothing to be done. It might mean something, it might not. It's all in the hand of the fertility gods (and Lembie II of course). I called the clinic and they tried but failed to reassure me. What was a little cheering was my hcg number at 16dpo, a whopping 890

So sorry you're going through this cos. With my mc I spotted for a week, bled light-period-like for about 5 days, then had some really severe cramps, unmissable and clear, and passed the sac. I bled lots (nearing a maxi-pad an hour) and clotty for the next three days. It took a week from the passing of the sac for the bleeding to stop.

rabbit the old ladies wee is a little fiddly, as you mix it yourself, but otherwise fine. I have heard good things about its effect on egg quality, particularly in older ladies. Handhold and good luck!

Thinking of you all, but trying to avoid MN a bit at the moment 16sleeps til scannage !

Lemon hand hold. That is a really good hcg and it is probably settling in spotting but the worry must be horrible. Big love to you.

lemon Big paw squeeze, I had this with the spotting, it worried the crap out of me, could be several reasons for it happening, do you have another hcg test before your scan

Just a quick one to hold Lemon's hand. The HGC sounds great but it's hard to believe the good stuff, I know.

My other hand is held out to Cos. You are in my thoughts so much. I hope the pain isn't too unbearable.

Hooray for 8 hours Rabbit!

Lemon - hand hold. Spotting can be perfectly normal but I understand how scary that can be. Also hcg levels are phenomal for 16dpo, I am wondering whether Lembie2 has split in 2?!

Cos / thinking of you.

Rabbits - hurrah for 8 hours sleep.

lemon I know from personal experience that nothing will make you stop worrying but I am here as well with a hand to hold. A pregnancy without spotting seems to be the exception rather than the rule but I am sure that is little comfort just now. I am willing the next few weeks to fly by for you xx

cos have been thinking of you loads. I hope that the worst is behind you.

rabbit we are two days from half term up here. Woohoo!! We are off to a little cottage to escape from the world. I will be banned from the internet for the duration. So pleased that you got a good night's sleep. Interesting article on the bbc website today about sleep deprivation. You are much more capable of dealing with stressful situations when you have had a good night's sleep - and you are in a very stressful situation just now. Hang in there. I have faith.

Big waves to everyone - joy, euro, Absy, rum, nelly, dulcet, coco and all the rest.

Lemon, it's probably all good with that wonderful HCG, but I wish you didn't have the worry! May those 16 sleeps fly by.

Hope you're OK, Cos.

Well managed, Rabbit! Hope you sleep well again tonight. I need some more zzz's myself.

Absy, they're definitely meant to help do that & apparently boost fertility. Here's hoping that's the case for you!

Waves & tail feather fluffs to everyone else.

Evening all! Nightmare getting on here tonight, because of that penis beaker thread I think!

I'm sure the spotting is worrying lemon but most of my pregnant or friends with babies seem to have experienced some kind if bleeding in early stages. Don't know much about numbers but 890 sounds like a high number! Everything crossed for you.

How did you find reflexology rabbit? I think about it but not enough to follow through with an appointment yet.

Evening ladies apologies we have been away for the weekend without internet (amazing) followed by my granny's funeral which was less so.

There is too much for me to catch up on properly on a phone post but I wanted to say

Joy and Cos I'm sorry that it utterly shit for you both. I hope that you are doing as well as can be expected. It must be heart wrenching.

I also wanted to add my tuppence worth about switching to nhs after private, my nhs people said that if I had had multiple goes without success my funding would be pulled, but I also I know that in my area I am only allowed to do two full rounds privately before funding is pulled. It doesn't apply to fets though. I am sure you have already read your pct guidelines but thought worth sharing.

Cos yes a friend of mine has taken progesterone through a natural cycle as she kept miscarrying. She is now due beginning of November. Also I am really sorry you are having to go through a mc, I hope the pain is easing.

Lemon hand hold, the scan will soon be here. You know this but I will repeat it anyway, spotting is very common at this stage.

Rabbit 8 hours is amazing! I am signing myself up for some reflexology pronto. Also not sure whether this is your first go at IVF but I am on day three of injecting myself and it really isn't that bad, I was dreading it massively I hate needles but it really has been ok.

Sorry for painful tests and insensitive GPs. Hello to the newbies on the thread.

Day three of stabbing and it isn't as bad as I imagined, a bit tricky trying to always be home at the right time though - a quick flash of what it might be like having responsibilities to get home to in the evening. First scan Friday, fingers crossed it is all going to plan.

Hello to everyone I missed!

Penis beaker thread?! What on earth....

Quick one to offer hand hold and support to lemons. I'm sorry it's such a worrying time. I'm really hoping it is just lembie bedding in nice and snug.

Cos I hope you are okay and as well as can be expected. Thinking of you.

Joy. How are you? I hope you get some answers from your GP re funding. I have also read good things about Serum. The cost is def attractive there.

Ten.. Interesting about fet not included in the ivf count. I did try to find out info from my pct but it seems they have been abolished.

Rabbit. Well done on 8 hrs sleep. A good night's rest always makes me feel better. Hope it did the trick for you.

Pout if you are still reading. I think of you often and miss your updates. I hope you, mr p and big dog are good.

Waves to all other lovely 10 plussers.
I laughed so much reading about tge penis dunking

lemons I'm hoping that the spotting has stopped now, this is not what you need. As others have said though it does seem to be a normal part of pregnancy for so many people and instaduffs probably don't even take any notice of it. 16 days will feel like a very long time. One day at a time though.

joy was it today you were seeing the GP? I hope he/she is helpful. I love that you have been thinking about a Greek clinic because it always makes me smile when I think of you sending your period there and the image I have of the post room worker opening that package.

rabbit yuk, at the old lady wee, do you think they get paid? I used gonal f last time but will be on something different this time but not sure what.

Not much happening here. I've not really noticed any side effects from down regging yet, I don't know if I'm supposed to feel anything or maybe that won't happen until after the bleed. I've been having very vivid dreams though which isn't so nice. I have a scan booked for next Friday so I really hope that everything will be ok and I can start stimming after that.

Sorry not to say hello to everyone else, got to get back to work now.