The Elderberry Pavlovas head into 2014 which will be full of ivf, berry babies and BFPs!!! (thread 17)

[Bunnygirlie]

The smallprint –
Berries have a strict entrance criteria (TTC #1, over 30, TTC for 6+months (preferably 12+) NO instadiffers, must have a special pot and def no mention of baby dust or baby dancing UGH !!! Ooooh aren’t we strict!

The 17th thread, wow! This had better be it ladies, time to get off the Sofa of Pity onto the Pouffe of Positivity and beyond!

Hi blue only done one injection so far so no side affects as yet.
With the short protocol that I'm doing you inject from cycle day2 up until eggs are ready usually around cycle day 14, I believe the long protocol is completely different.
If it wasn't for Christmas getting in the way I could have started ivf not long after my planning appointment, once the drugs had been delivered so you might squeeze it in before you go away.

funky my DH has v low sperm count which is why we are having ICSI. He tried taking all sorts of pills and vitamins etc but it didn't change his count

kitty thats real crap for your friend.

Happy New Year Berries. Hope it's a very fertile and prosperous one for us all!!
Still in Dublin after a fab few days away. Heading back later this eve but got to go straight to Sheffield as DP is working there for a few days. Coming home via Gloucester where we have a wedding. Be glad to see my own bed on the weekend after all this hotel hopping!
Have read back as far as I can on my phone but a huge apology if I miss anyone out!
So sorry to hear about your friend Kitty. Must be truly devastating anyway but especially so after such a long time TTC.
Funky my DPs morphology was also 3% and the consultant said they like it to be 4%. Said it wasn't really anything to worry about as all other aspects of the test were well above what they should be. Plus the test is over a year old and this was only mentioned for the first time about 2 weeks ago. Neither my GP or the nurse we initially saw at the FC picked up on it. DP is re doing test next week and consultant said result may be different then. Fx! Still imposing an alcohol ban and getting him on the vits ready for when we start back though!
Yes Bunny I'm getting married this year wooohooo! Not til August though. I believe Barking is next month??
Hope everyone else is well and will have a proper catch up on happenings when I get back.

BlueBirdy I'm on round two of IVF so feel free to ask questions.

Well done Bunny on a successful first jabbing! Brave girlie!

Didn't realise barkings wedding was so soon. Are you all sorted barking? What's the date again?

Thanks for swimmers advice all. Sperm count was 22 million. So I believe that's the lower side of normal. It's all so confusing!

Is everyone having a relaxing New Years Day?

From what I understand there has never been a 'normal' sperm study.
The guidelines as to what counts as 'normal' are so wide because the results come from tests taken from chaps before they have the snip.

Ooh happy what a manic few days for you.

Thanks funky although I feel a fraud as I haven't done any jabs yet, DH has done both so far!

How are you doing pip?

Yes, happy, next month! Hadn't thought about it like that but now we're in January I suppose it is!!!
funky nothing critical to do as we've kept it quite basic. No cars, flowers, photographer etc. However, since actually having some time off work and space to think I've been coming up with lots of little ideas for crafty type stuff I want to do! Currently watching Oblivion with DP which is shit rubbish so I'm actually online looking for wedding shoes...

Hello ladies

NotWithoutMyMerkin pointed me in your direction.

I've clearly got some catching up to do as I haven't read the previous 16 threads! But I hope you don't mind me jumping in?

In case you're interested, this is me:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/1954169-Infertility-meltdown

I'm generally quite minimal with my posting, but I wanted to let you know I'm here, lurking! I don't know anyone in RL experiencing infertility, so I've found it helpful to read people's stories.

Ambler - 31, ttc since June 2012, 'borderline' post ovulation progesterone, 3 unsuccessful clomid cycles, next NHS fertility appointment in Feb

I hope there'll be BFPs all round in 2014!

Welcome Amber. Make yourself at home. Sorry to hear that you're struggling to conceive but you're in com

Sorry posted too soon. Bloody iPhone!

*completely the right place that was meant to say

Hi Ambler welcome to the club that no one wants to join.

Hi Ambler,

Just read your post in infertility - you sound quite similar to me. I'm pretty sure I ovulate based on temps, opks and cm, but progesterone levels weren't great (2 confirming ov but only just) and I have a short luteal phase (9 days). Got stuck on clomid for 6 months with a half way review. Clomid fixed my luteal phase but no joy after 3 months so I refused to take anymore. Now in the IVF process.

Anyway, welcome to the berries; good luck with getting a HSG sorted.

Thanks Bunny, hopefully I won't have to wait too long for my planning appt, may just have time then. Hope the jabbing continues to go well!

Thanks Pip - I'm trying to work out the procedure, do you start with 'switching off' drugs on CD21 and then the different 'stimulating' jabs on CD1/2? and then egg collection around CD14? I didn't think about going through all these details with our Dr as I didn't realise the planning appt would be 8 weeks from then. Anyway, 8 weeks from then lands on CD21 and then I'll have one more cycle before we are off, so it will be pretty close if we can fit it in. When are you starting round 2? Good luck for your scan tomorrow!

Barking I love DIY/crafty type things - have you looked around pinterest for any wedding ideas?

Hi Ambler, welcome - glad you found us Are you taking anything like pregnacare? I was worried about my luteal phase as was spotting through half of it, but that's stopped since I've started on those tablets - maybe it could help you?

With all the Berries trying IVF and acupuncture, the pouffe is starting to look like a giant pin cushion!

Lady - 34, TTC since Jan 2012, unexplained, chemical after IVF#1, awaiting IVF#2
Bunny - 33, TTC since June 2012, DH low count, me PCO, ICSI IVF jabs start today NYE!!!
Feather - 34, ttc since Nov 2011, six rounds of clomid, bfp in November which ended in Ectopic. Deciding on next steps in early 2014
Aquarius - 32, ttc 20mths, diagnosed with endo, awaiting follow up FC apptmt
Birdy - 30 - TTC around 26 cycles, DH low count, 1% morph, starting ICSI early 2014
Happylass - 35, 13 months of TTC but currently on a break due to wedding purposes. Starting back after one more cycle - sod the dress! Currently awaiting HSG.
Gillster - 39, TTC since Feb 2012. Just had fibroid removed but otherwise unexplained infertility. Starting short protocol IVF in Feb.
barkingtreefrog - 34, ttc since January 2012, clomid bfp ended in mc in Sept, cycles not returned since.
Kuma - 39, TTC 13 cycles, high FSH, low AMH, low antral count so generally a bit stuffed. Next NHS FC apptmt in March, likely to go private before then.
Boodle - 30 - now on my 31st cycle if TTC. Unexplained infertility with slightly low amh. Clomid failed. Now in the IVF process, long protocol, hoping to start early spring.
Yorkiebilb, 35, ttc since Sep 2012. Mmc Dec 2012. High fsh, good amh. Possible immune issues. Fx starting egg sharing ivf mid Jan. Long protocol.
Funkymonk, 31 (32 almost here). TTC since Nov 2012. MC July 2013 (5+2). MMC Dec 2013 (identified at 8+2). 2 lots of medical management but bean still in there refusing to leave. In limbo until 8th Jan when will prob be ercp. A miserable sniveller.
tigerdog, 33, ttc 12 cycles. Initial FC appointment in January. Berry newbie but glad to be here whilst aiming for a bfp.
SidneyBristow, 38, TTC 18 cycles. Unexplained. Private IVF cycle to start no later than mid-Feb; bricking it.
Pipbin - 38, TTC 3 years I think. Blocked tubes. Round two of IVF.
Snowlily -33 TTC Dec 2012, so far au naturel, with GL & acupuncture. First blood test next week.

Ambler - 31, ttc since June 2012, 'borderline' post ovulation progesterone, 3 unsuccessful clomid cycles, next NHS fertility appointment in Feb

birdy Pinterest is a dangerous place! Sucks hours out of your life!
I want to paint wine bottles and use them as table numbers (one of the ideas found on pinterest). Do you know whether standard acrylic paint would do the job?

Has anyone done any glass painting? I'm also looking at pens that write on glass (as in drinking glasses, and dishwasher proof writing without having to oven seal). I've seen some on the hobbycraft website but I've never used them before. Any tips welcome!

Hi Amber, make yourself at home and rant away when you feel like it!

Acrylic will work fine on glass. I haven't used the proper pens but I have a feeling sharpie works and is permanent... Think I've seen it done somewhere on Pinterest online

you're in the right place here! these lovely ladies will look after you! can I ask what your prog levels were? Also have you had a teams signal scan?

Hi everyone! Thanks for making me feel welcome (it's still Christmas until I go back to work!)

Was feeling a bit better this afternoon having dragged my arse to the gym. But then came home to ANOTHER birth announcement on Facebook. Sigh.

Boodle we do sound quite similar - my two pre-clomid progesterone levels were "only just" like you. But my luteal phase is usually 10/11 days. I will try reading the previous threads rather than bombarding you with questions! FX for IVF

Birdy I've been taking Pregnacare on and off for 19 months but now you've said it improved your luteal phase I'm going to make a concerted effort to take it every day. I didn't have luteal spotting for the first few months of ttc and I wonder if it's because that was back in the days when I was naive enthusiastic...?

BlueBirdy I'm about 3 weeks into round two.
It works something like this: Call the clinic on day 1. They will then get a schedule and your drugs out to you.
On day 21 you start down regging, which means you stop everything. The last two times I have had a regular bleed on day 28 which is when I normally would do.
Then another couple of weeks of injections (but I think it was less last time as this time had the xmas break to take into account) and you have your baseline scan. If the consultant is happy with everything they see then you start stimulating. This is when you start to stimulate the ovaries to produce stacks of eggs.
After about 2 weeks of that you will need to go back to the clinic every other day so they can scan and monitor the growth of the cysts. This happens for about a week. They will also test your blood. They will then tell you when egg collection will take place. Before that can happen you have to do a trigger injection 38 hours before.
This is very much a moveable feast. Last time I was expecting to inject on the Sunday but they called me on the Saturday saying that I needed to have a different trigger and I had to go to collect it. I was about to leave the house when they called back to say don't bother, do the original one but on the Monday instead.
So 38 hours after the trigger injection you have egg collection. This happens under a local anaesthetic and with gas and air. It was uncomfortable but not too bad. Like having an operation it's nil by mouth from the midnight before. While you are having egg collection DP will be shown to a room to do his bit.
You will be told how many eggs they have taken and how many are up to the job before you go home. They will also tell you about the sperm and if it's up to it too.
The next day the clinic will call and tell you how many have fertilised etc. They will call you every day.
5 days later they will transfer the embryo or two that they think are best. Any left that are to it will be frozen.

Of course this is only my experience, your clinic may well be different.

Hope that helps. Feel free to ask if you have any questions.

ambler just re-read my post..erm no such thing as a teams signal scan...meant trans-vaginal scan!!!

Hi Kitty!

Sorry, xpost. My pre-clomid progesterone levels were 28 and 31 - so just hovering around the threshold of 30 (can't remember what the units are).

I have mid-luteal spotting pretty much every cycle - which is what first made me go to the GP nearly a year ago.

I've tried vitamin B6 (was taking it the month I got 31 - don't know if that had anything to do with it). But it seemed to mess up subsequent cycles.

I've also tried progesterone cream, which seemed to lengthen my luteal phase by 1-2 days. But obviously still didn't get me preg.

My progesterone levels on clomid were 39 and 77. I really got my hopes up on the 77 cycle, but all I ended up with was a horrendous period and a major PMT-fuelled meltdown

I'm sorry - I don't know what a teams signal scan is - which means I probably haven't had one!

Ack! xpost again, sorry!!! I've had a trans-vaginal ultrasound which was apparently normal. As I understand it, they're looking for signs of PCO, which I have no symptoms of. But I suppose they have to tick it off the list.

Evening all.

Wedding wedding barking woohoo!!!

Do I smell a newbie? Hi ambler welcome to the gang. If you are looking for fabulous ladies and good support you have come to the right place

blue 3rd evening jab was a bit ouchy today, tomorrow I have to add a morning jab, what fun!!!

Thanks for the explanation pip although the first bit is different when on short protocol I guess the end but is the same. How are you getting on?

Pip thank you SO much! So if you stop taking drugs on CD21, when do you start those drugs that you stop? (Sorry if I'm being thick!)

Bunny have you given yourself the jab yet? FX for you and Pip!!

Barking I know! I spend far too long day dreaming on that site - I have so many different nursery/baby boards! My DH says acrylic would work, you'd be able to chip it off, but should still be fine. Hope it goes well!

Ah, when I said that on day 21 you 'stop everything' what I meant was that you stop your cycle. It essentially makes you menopausal.

You start the down regging injections on day 21 and they continue right up to the trigger injection.