The Elderberry Pavlovas: still chasing that 'copter in the hope of a festive BFP. Thread 16 (the one where Happy was left in charge!!)

[happylass]

Here we go again.....

The smallprint –
Berries have a strict entrance criteria (TTC #1, over 30, TTC for 6+months, NO instadiffers, must have a special pot) and def no mention of baby dust or baby dancing UGH !!! Ooooh aren’t we strict!

Hi all

Blue - can I ask - how come you're only getting one cycle of IVF?

Luck of the postcode lottery I think Aqua .

Hello all. Charming has it sunk in yet??

Sid I'm sorry you felt so rubbish the other night. I'm not at that stage yet so can't say I really know how you feel, but I can imagine a little -

CD9 here and my temps shot up this morning so hoping I didn't OV early. Normally OV around CD16/17. So hadn't even started using OPKs yet this month! If I have I think we might have to miss this month because we are both so tired from work: DH had a work presentation in Birmingham which about 3-4 hours from us so won't be back till late and I am having the traditional last-two-weeks-of-term hellishness. Lecture tomorrow which I've hardly looked at since giving it last year - gulp - and mahoooosive deadline for a journal on Monday. Eurgh.

Does anyone else find that work totally gets in the way of ttc? I know I need to just woman up and get shagging, but jeezzzzz............

RP yes v much so. We've had a pretty poor month on dtd front- both tired and stressed from work and extra curriculum stuff we both do.

blue that's rubbish. Had no idea you could only get one round depending where you live. Really hope all goes well for you.

On a separate note, having recently had first FC apptmt i now have a Lap scheduled for a few wks time which is scary but also a huge relief (can't remember if I said that already). I dread my periods and really hope they find and remove any Endo that's lurking in there. Has anyone else had this? Did it take long to recover?

RP you haven't O'd, you always get a raise about this time in your cycle. They'll come down again pre O so afraid you will need to woman up and get shagging soon!
Aquarius FX that your lap fixes the endo. I've always been quite lucky with AF but have friends who have horrific issues so I really feel for you
Charming you need to come and jump on the helicopter thread

Charming Wonderful news! So happy for you.

Sid and Blue are we going to be IVF buddies?
I spoke to the clinic today and they confirmed that we are on for this cycle. I should start injections on the 13th. Friday the 13th.

Yeh Aqua, post code lottery Think NICE recommends 3 cycles as normally about 35% chance of a live birth per cycle, so if offered 3 then you should normally have a baby at some point. In my area you only get one, and FC ruled out clomid or IUI helping, so straight onto IVF for us. At least it includes a frozen egg transfer if 1st go doesn't work (if enough eggs are collected and if they thaw out ok). I can see how the whole thing can be so stressful and heartbreaking, I'm managing to feel quite positive about it though (so far)!

I normally feel like we haven't done enough during shag week - it can be quite a chore sometimes!!

Pip we will be starting in the new year, hopefully won't have to wait to long. All the best for your cycle! Friday the 13th! Lucky for some - sure it will be for you

Pip when do you expect transfer day to be? (I'm assuming 13th is the start not the transfer). Every single part of my body crossed that you're second time lucky with a late Xmas pressie of a bfp

No idea when transfer will be yet, I'm waiting for the schedule.
We are super lucky here and get three full goes and then three frozen transfers.

Just popping in to pass on congrats to Charming you little beauty. I haven't been around for ages and pop by to read this amazing news, really chuffed for you!

Hi cherry how are you doing?

Afternoon Lovely Elderberries, I was hoping I would be allowed to join. I'm a lurker, who's been hoping to meet the instadiffer criteria, but unfortunately that ship has sailed.

We've been ttc for about 8months now. I've been happily peeing on sticks and in pots, expecting that something would happen. But it didn't. So, as I'm 36, I dutifully went off for my tests. We got the results today. High FSH, low AMH, no ovulation this month. Low chance of conceiving naturally, and given the high FSH, the clinic we went to wouldn't think about IVF. I'm feeling shocked and lonely and not really sure what to make of things. The FC said it may still be the result of being on the pill for a long time, and want to re-do the tests in a couple of months. sigh.

I was hoping to come in for a bit of support and hand holding?

Sorry for everyone elses struggles, and congrats Charming!

Hi Win Welcome! (but sorry you are in this position)

The second set of tests could very well yield better results, and would it be worth trying a different clinic to get a second opinion on the IVF? I don't think it is unusual to have an anovulatory cycle once in a while. Do you know if your luteal phase is normally normal? Hope you get to sort out your options soon!

Just remember that 'low chance' doesn't mean 'impossible'

I've been trawling the net again was wondering if anyone had any experience with/info on DHEA? It's a hormone that you can get as tablets and is supposed to be good for low ovarian reserve, improving chances of IVF sticking and erectile dysfunction. I've been googling but I value berry info a lot more!

Hi Win come in and make yourself at home. I can't offer any advice on your situation I'm afraid as I'm still waiting to see the consultant for the first time (just 3 more weeks ladies) but I'm sure someone with experience of what you're going through will be along shortly
Hi Cherry . How are things with you?

Hi Win. There's def some berries in a similar situation so hold tight and they will not doubt be along and pass on their knowledge. Sorry you have to join the berries but on the bright side they're/we're a pretty nice bunch

Hi Win, so sorry you're feeling low but you've come to the right place; the support and encouragement and commiseration shared here has been invaluable to me over the months and I hope you find the same . Right, so your test results. I had my AMH tested a few months ago and the result (16.1) came back in the "low fertility" category as per my consultant's opinion. I say 'opinion' bc the brackets vary depending on where you look so just bc one place says you're "low" doesn't mean another place would say the same. FWIW the lady at the private clinic I spoke to a few weeks ago told me that 16.1 is 'fantastic for my age' (38) and not to worry at all about it - so although I'm not thrilled that the number is outside the optimal range, I realize now that it's just one of the factors that are in play, and it by itself isn't a dealbreaker. FSH can vary and you may well have a better result upon retesting, and as Blue said, anovulatory cycles aren't uncommon at all.

This is a very stressful and lonely process and you've done the right thing by going for testing (even though it's scary to take that step). The only thing that eases my mind is to try to think of what my next move might be, at any given time. Maybe you're the same? A second opinion might be in order especially if your current FC has ruled you out for IVF out of hand - is it an NHS clinic, or private? Is going private an option? Please don't think that this is the end of the road for you. There are Berries here who have had some shockers thrown their way and will know exactly how you're feeling and can offer some practical advice. For my part, I'm glad you're here (although sorry we all find ourselves in this circumstance) - we can all support each other and help make the road we're on a little less daunting.

Hi win don't panic yet - it's normal to not ovulate every cycle, the pill truely does screw up your cycles for a lot longer than most people realise, and a different set of results could say something different . It's also true to say that a low chance is still a chance, and the odds of conceiving in any given cycle providing everything is working properly are only 25% anyway, so perfectly normal to have not happened within 8 months.
Most of us here (as you'll know if you've been lurking) are past the initial FC after one year of ttc so between us have a load of experience we wish we hadn't got that we can share. Also, we understand what you're going through in a way that friends who didn't struggle to conceive can't possibly manage, so hands to hold aplenty!!
Welcome to the berries!

ps If you diff within a year you're still an instadiffer in my book, but I won't hold it against you if you manage a golden bfp in the next 4 months! !

Hi wino sorry to hear about your results. I'm in a similar position to you, TTC for 12 cycles and have just had first appointment with FC (NHS). I had high FSH in my blood tests so have now had an AMH test done which I'm waiting for the results on. I've got to do another FSH this coming cycle and have an antral follicle count done. I was immediately put on the IVF list (I'm 39) but was told it wouldn't be funded if results show low ovarian reserve. They didn't say IVF was totally out of the question though, just implied I would have to pay for it.

You're in the right place here, and hopefully we can share our wisdoms.

Thanks for the welcome guys!

I've spent all day at work, googling and doing absolutely no work and trying not to cry!

Blue - my LP seems to vary, from 11 to 14 days. It doesn't seem to have settled since I came off the pill (which makes me a bit hopeful that when it settles down my FSH will come down?? cluthing at straws

Sid - if it helps, at the FC I was at, they said an AMH of over 15.7 was in the satisfactory level. Mine was 4.5. Less than satisfactory! (although they were less worried about that than they were about the FSH level!)

I think my next step is a second opinion. In my googling mission today I saw that there are some clinics that specialise in IVF with high FSH, so maybe that's an option after all (which probably means going private).

Good luck with the AMH results Kuma. Do you know what your FSH results were? It sounds like under 11 or 10 is okay for IVF in most places.

I was also thinking about starting to chart my bbt to see if I am actually ovulating. Any advice on what thermometer to get?

Thanks for your positivity and support everyone!!

Whilst I'm no help with your test results, charting is def something I can bore you about help you with
thermometer
Are you using OPKs already? If not try these opks as I think both temps and OPKs used together give a clearer picture than just one. If you're not already signed up, get signed up for the free version of fertility friend and stick all your info (temps, opk results, shags, CM etc) in there. You need to set an alarm and take your temp at the same time each morning, at least 30 mins before your natural/normal wake up time. It sounds hideous but you soon get to a point where you can take a temp without even opening your eyes and you them go straight back to sleep! Good luck

Blue, I've just started taking it, bought it on amazon, took quite a while to get here because I think it is posted from the US.
Dose to take is 25mg three times a day (checked dose with my consultant). Has lots of lovely side effects apparently like hair loss, facial hair, acne and mood swings. I've started taking it because although my blood tests are OK, we had 22 eggs and only ended up with one blastocyst which didn't survive so I'm worried about my egg quality. Consultant says he can't say that there is anything wrong with my egg quality but there is no harm in taking it (apart from side effects) and I should stop it after egg collection. He said there has been some positive research but he has tried it with patients with low AMH and it hasn't really helped.
If you've googled, you've probably read this already: www.manchesterfertility.com/resources/poor-ovarian-reserve-dhea/

Thank you all. cherry ! How are you?

Welcome win . You've come to the right place.

winohhh my FSH was 14.6 I understand this to be pretty terrible, I don't have a long history of taking the pill so can't really hang my hopes on anything like that. AF is regular though so I hope that is to my advantage. There are some cases where FSH can be suppressed for a time using medication which results in a period of increased responsiveness once you stop taking it, so I suppose there is still some hope if you've got the resources to find a specialist clinic.

TBH I'm swinging between optimism and totally giving up. It is shag week here but neither DH or I seem very up for it. It's hard to find the motivation when things feel a bit pointless.

I try to do my research through medical journals and I've read that with the right treatments IVF success can be up to 45% for those under 40. Keep that in mind and remember that there is hope.