The Berries: Projecting the sausage signal and chasing rainbows whilst chanting FUFC in the hunt for that elusive BFP (thread 19)

[happylass]

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

Rosie my dh also had poor motility and low count on his first sa last summer but has got better over time and now is above the average for count and motility ok-yay!! He totally stopped smoking (wasn't a big smoker, more a would have one if got drunk on night out), tried to lose a bit of weight, stopped putting laptop on lap, found out (himself!) about a supplement called l'arginine from holland and Barrett and takes those and occasionally some cod liver oil tabs. He also eats a lot of eggs! The l'arginine is in their buy 1 get second for a penny sale, he's been on it a while and seems to think it's that's and not smoking. We have walnuts and Brazil nuts in the house and he happily chomps on those, both very good for sperm. Right before Ivf I also got really into a lot of veg with our meals and trying to go for the good superfood stuff!

I felt scared about Ivf and almost felt a bit ashamed as if I'd failed at something. It felt so final and I really wanted us to do it ourselves but I came round to it and actually once you're in the cycle you feel like a weight's been lifted and like all the pressure isn't on you to get this mythic natural bfp. It feels good to get help and feel like something positive and proactive is happening. So far, it's not been too bad. We're just taking each step as it comes and not getting too far ahead.

Really bloated at mo, I actually look up the duff. Had to spend a bit of time going through my work wardrobe to find stuff that doesn't make me look up the duff!! Will have to do a wardrobe reboot if eventually do get up duffed!!

Eh, sorry, I didn't want to upset anyone. My point was that stress affects the body and depending on each one's resiliency to stress it can do more or less. I know I get rather sick when work is being horrid, and that was the kind of thing that I was pointing out - it probably is not the only cause in my case, but I'm sure it's not helping either. Again, I really didn't mean to tell anyone to "just relax". I'm just saying that if there are other circumstances in your life that are making you stressed, addressing them if possible would not hurt (at least that's what I'm hoping since that's what I'm doing personally).

Catching up - so busy here!

Lady WELL DONE YOU and xing fingers for a positive test!

Rosie welcome back :)

Barking yay also!

Otters....? Hope you are okay.

So I am CD3, nothing to see here except this weekend, getting AF, really hit me. I think it is cos next month we will,have been trying a year. I am cleaning up my diet, cutting down on sugar and carbs, so we'll see if that has an effect.

Would be interested in details of the cleanse and what you are actually eating - wad that because?

Hi Berries! Apologies for being AWOL. I have been on FB not not mn as too difficult to follow on mobile and we haven't had functioning internet at home for almost 2 weeks. I've read through as best as I can and hope I am up to date.

Otter!!!!! Yay yay yay! Congrats! You'll be terrified I know, but keep strong and positive! How many sticks have you peed on now?!
Lady- Dead chuffed for you and have already sent my congratulations in the other place.
Beaky great news that they are doing the IUI. This was a few pages back so excuse me if you've already said, but when will it start?
Barking absolutely fantastic news that IUI will commence shortly! woo! CLUSTER DIFF, CLUSTER DIFF, CLUSTER DIFF
Bushy again, sorry if I missed this, but how are things going after egg collection?
HB where are you at?
Tiger have a wonderfully relaxing holiday. I cried like a right fool when we dropped our pooch off on way to airport
Welcome wildflower and hello to rosie. I think I missed you last time you were here, as I was travelling for a few weeks.

ps rp sorry that your basting didnt work after such a stirling effort. The 12 month mark is a smack in the face. When we started in Oct/Nov 2012 I imagined I would have a baby in my arms by the following christmas. Hahahahahahahahahaha. How wrong was I.

because if you were implying you upset me I was responding to the original question not your reply! We do actually agree, I just feel strongly that it's used in a very unhelpful way when for the majority of women it's not relevant. We're all at the stage now where we will try anything - the tablets, diets, accupuncture, minimising stress, etc etc.... All these things will improve your general health which gives your body the best chance to work, but if you've been trying 2+ years there's probably something else going on. I wasn't suggesting you were telling me to relax! Sorry if my rant was not clearly directed at no one in particular!

I think being able to sleep until my alarm and not waking up at 4.30/5.00/5.30 every morning would help get me pg. Any tips berries?! This was happening before the honeymoon as well, it's not just jet lag.

I'm getting worried about otters, someone send up the sausage projection. Are you ok?

Sorry AF got you rp. I was strangely ok about hitting one year as it meant we could start all the tests and hopefully get some help. Any anniversary of trying for something that's not happening stinks though.

HB, fingers crossed that Friday will bring good news and EC will go ahead.

RP, sorry AF turned up after your sterling efforts with the basting. I know what you mean, my birthday is coming up and I really wanted to be pregnant by now. I'll join you in the 'good girl corner' of 'clean diets' after my birthday as have been in need of comfort food the last days/ weeks.

Bushy, thanks for the L'arginine tip. We'll be doing some shopping at the weekend. DP was very proud of himself yesterday for drinking only half the amount of beer compared to his mates at the pub. So, he has officially started his 'health kick'. I do feel less under pressure about getting pg now that I know we'll need help. While the thought of IVF and the drugs and side effects associated with it seem very scary, there are some other questions which bother me more, beaky, such as how this is going to affect us as a couple. Have any of you IVFers received any counselling as part of the process?

Have a nice day everyone, bank holiday weekend almost here

HB, try not to worry about taking longer to get to EC, if they are being cautious they probably have you on a really low dose. I'm a slow responder, despite normal FSH/AFC/AMH, and I was on the maximum dose of menopur and had 2 extra days of stimming. I do wonder if people who ovulate late naturally also take longer to stim since I don't normally O until CD20-22.

Rosie counselling is available at our clinic, it was offered when I started injections. I had a session after my failed cycle.
My DH also had sperm issues and he's done much the same: wellman vits, hardly any alcohol, doesn't smoke anyway, weight loss, keeping his balls cool, flaxseed (he doesn't eat fish so I thought he might need a source of omega 3), brazil nuts and I've also put him on coenzyme Q10.

Morning the PUPO one and Barking and Rosie.

Rosie I think it was Happy who posted a while back (prob previous thread), or actually maybe it was Sid before her FUFC?? Anyway, one of them posted a list of recommended vits for men and quantities. I spent a small fortune on them but am hoping if dh was to have an analysis again then it would be better. We were told it was ok last time, but he was low end of average for count and just below average for morphology. Motility was surprisingly good. Can you remember your dh's results?

Just as a random fact... Every single time I am in any hot sun for more than 2 or 3 days I have always been absolutely plastered in itchy red hear rash. This has happened for years. However after 3 weeks in red hot Central America I had not one heat spot. I think this must be down to the vitamins I've been pouring down my throat for such a long time now. A random fact that no one is probably interested in! Just thought I'd share!!

Heat rash not hear, obviously.

I missed a BFP congrats Otters

Everything crossed for lady and bushy and anybody else on the way to the chopper

Barking am sending positive vibes, you really deserve this and I'm sure this will be your cycle

Missing you all, and doing a v bad job of keeping up with all your news

Surely the sausage projection is different to the sausage signal??

Funky that is random! Merk-thank you.
Embryologist phoned - one more for freezing so 3 frosties in total.

Wow lady that's really great news!

Hi merk! How goes it?! Hope you and little one are doing marvellous?!

Why on cycle day 9 have I had a load of bloody mc to the point I've needed a pad? A bit scared that something bad going on. Since mc 2 I've had a small amount of spotting on 2 cycles a few days before ov but nothing like this! Help berries!

It was meant to say bloody cm but got the letters mixed up

Me again. Ov is day 17 so previous spotting has been around day 12 or 13. This is more than spotting

Funky could be a cervical erosion, maybe you're going to ovulate earlier this month. Can't remember, are you already on aspirin/clexane for your factor V leiden because that could be contributing. If you're worried, see your doctor.

Hmm Funky that sounds a bit odd, sorry I can't help, but maybe try GP/FC? I hope everything is ok.

Lady great news on the extra frostie!

Merk hope you are settling into motherhood well exciting times!

Sorry about AF RP eating better can never hurt although it's difficult. Because I'd be interested to hear about your cleanse too, especially vegan, will that be tough? Are you veggie already?

Oh Funky, I'm sorry you're worried and unfortunately, I cannot shed any light on this having no experience, really. But I think lady is right, if you're worried see the doctor.

Re DP's results: count was very low (0.8mil/ml), motility was 25% and progression 1-2/4. They did not check morphology as the count was so low. I found Sid's previous post with the list of vits, thanks for reminding me. And thanks for the suggestions, lady. Let the shopping begin. It's my birthday this weekend but am not feeling in party mood just yet. Maybe once the weekend is here.

Barking, I agree with you, starting to get worried about otters...

oh yes, congrats lady - this is all sounding very positive.

Juice fast: I've got a super duper "masticating" juicer and I'm going to drink green juices throughout the day. So, going heavy on the green leafy vegetables and adding some fruit for flavour but not too much that I overdose on the fructrose. Also, nut mylks: throwing a bunch of nuts in the blender with almond or rice milk. I will do this throughout the day and then have a vegan dinner with DH who might get very sad if he doesn't get a solid meal.

This is a good example of how to do a juice fast

This is the book that we will get our dinner recipes from

We have also decide to make May a teetotal month.

I'm actually not vegan nor vegetarian, but I was for many years. I started eating meat and fish because I had not been careful about eating a well balanced veggie diet and became rather anaemic. At the moment I eat meat about twice a month and fish about three/four times a month. Seems to work for me.

Thanks Because. I was vegan for a couple of years too and thought nothing of it, now it sounds tough

I have been eating so crappily that I am just taking baby steps now. Cutting back processed sugar, carbs, trying to lose a bit of weight. But I may try a brief version of your juice fast after we get back from my mum's this weekend, where I am trading my old Yaris for her less-old Corolla so my sister can learn on the Yaris.

I do love that car, my chariot, but the Corolla makes sense as it is larger which we will need if we have a baby

otters I really hope you are okay. I am worried your line didn't pan out like we all hoped and expected and that you are in a bad place now. I desperately hope that isn't right but if it is I hope you will come back here for support

Cripes it is bizzzzeeeeeee in Berry HQ!

Hey rosie - great to see you! Sorry about your DP's results but at least now you've got something to work on and, as you already know, sid managed to conquer SA ishoos, so hopefully you guys will too!

Calling otters, come in otters! I'm sure you're probably just busy doing more interesting weddingy stuff but come and set our minds at ease!

you are way more hardcore than me. I thought I was doing well cos I only had HALF a cupcake this morning

lady and bushy I am so stoked for you guys, hope all is continuing well in your respective IVF worlds!

Nowt to report here. Waiting for OV on the CBFM - last month I am going to bother with OPKs (just doing it this month so I can get day 21 more accurately). Someone remind me of this vow when I cave in two months time! I just want to stop trying so bloody hard, I found all your posts about stress really interesting and, seeing as I did get my BFP in the classic scenario month of not really bothering, it's worth a shot right?