40+ and TTC? Join the club...

[cloudjumper]

To continue the support for everyone 40 and over who is or wants ttc. Lots of hand-holding and understanding, we're all together in the uphill struggle.

This is my first month temping with FF. I don't think it's going very well. FF still says I have not ovulated, however the chart shows a sharp V shape with the lowest point being on day 14. I am now day 21. Immediately before the V I had two days of higher temps, but I had a sore throat at the time and must have been fighting off a cold that several others in my household suffered with quite badly. I didn't get the cold in the end, just the sore throat. Aside from those two days the temps to the left of the V are all lower than the temps to the right of the V. There is not a massive difference between each side, but there is a difference.
I think I was more annoyed this morning as I woke up at 5am this morning, for no reason, and the app then told me off for taking my temp too early. If you wake before your alarm should you take the temp then, or lie there waiting until the correct time??? The temp was only very slightly different from yesterday's anyway.
Maybe it's not for me.

Fromwest, first month on ff for me, too. I imagine that a cold really mucks up your temperatures. Trying to detect tiny changes in probably hard with a backgound low fever..

So from what I described would you guess that I probably did ov on day 14, but the health issue masked it so FF won't recognise it?
We did actually dtd at all the right times if ov was day 14. I'm more concerned now as to whether I'm actually ov or not, rather than waiting to test for pg. First hurdle first!

I would assume that, Fromwest. Have you tried the "discard" option on the menu? Maybe it will detect it then, but I am new to this, too, maybe some of the more experienced tempers have an idea.

Yay Reni! Clever you! I just did what you suggested with the discard option and I have the red lines, ov day 14. I am happy now!

Chewy, thanks you very much for your reply to my query about DHEA. I appreciate those links. I have read everything and am still unsure what to do about locating the 'best' DHEA. Can you explain what 'ultra micronized' means, please? Why would a micronized version of the drug be considered less effective than a prescription dosage? I wish I understood the pathology of it all. Are you currently taking DHEA? Do you agree that 75mg is the optimal dose?

This study evangelises about DHEA improving oocyte quality as well as quantity and lowering miscarriage rates for women with diminished ovarian reserve. When I showed it to my GP he kindly pointed out that we sometimes need to look at who has funded the study, what methodology was used etc. Bit patronising as I had already discerned for myself that the results are pretty valid. I like this piece of research, but perhaps you could critique it (if you're interested, of course)?

To his credit my GP wrote to my consultant to see what he thought about DHEA and so I am awaiting some equally patronising waffle from him...

Sorry for the waffle. I guess what I am trying to say is, I still don't know where to buy it from..

Cd 6 for me & have already started dtd!! More to do with the fact we're on holiday though so actually did it purely for pleasure! That's something that doesn't happen too often
AF barely lasted 3 days though & didn't seem to be fresh blood at all. Very weird. Don't know what's going on but wondering if it might be the beginning of the end for me. Both my mum & aunt started menopause super early so I wonder if it's my turn. Bit dramatic after one dodgy period I know

Shirley, in defense of your GP, this is not actually a study at all, but a review by 2 authors who both are "co-inventors of a U.S. patent, which claims beneficial effects from DHEA supplementation" and are also both directors of a commercial fertility centre in New York.

They did not do any original research for this review, but collated studies supporting their idea. How cherry-picked this is I cannot possibly tell, human reproduction is not my specialty. As you say, they do evangelise a bit.

Not saying it is not true or valuable, just bear in mind a potential conflict of interest of the two clinicians in question.

Grizzer, you'll wear the man out starting so early ! I get those really short periods, often followed by an absolute blood bath next round (sorry if tmi), and I do panic about them, too. Someone know what they mean?

Shirley I have bought my DHEA off Amazon (it's aptly called Pregnenolone on there ), simply because I couldn't find anywhere else that would sell it for a (relatively) decent price without a 6-month delivery time (I might be slightly exaggerating here ). But for me, the main thing was to have the micronized form, as the argument about better absorption makes sense to me. I've also read that 3x75mg is the optimal dose, but I could only get the 50mg capsules, so I am now taking 2x50mg/day - so far, I have not noticed any bad side effects.

I have no idea if taking an 'ultra' micronized version makes any difference... For now, I will stick with the stuff that I have, purely for financial reasons. I have spent so much money on supplements in the last few months, I need to become a bit more careful about this. So for now, I'm sticking with the Folic Acid/conception vitamins, CoQ10 and DHEA, and DH has to take his wellman vitamins.

Gah! AF arrived bang on day 27 this morning (28 if you count first partial day of AF last time). I was hopeful because I'd had cramps around day 21, and I never got them early so hoped it was implantation. In great timing, we had stacked up a load of DS's old toys to take to the charity shop (we really need to declutter) and I did take them but had to grit my teeth. I have put some of the 'special' ones aside for now.

Hope everyone's getting on OK. Good going Grizzer! I am going to follow SMEP to the letter this month, even if I have to drink Lucozade to keep my stamina up..

So sorry to everyone who'se AF has turned up. So disappointing but onwards and upwards! Cycle day 7 for me (like you grizzer). DC are staying at their nan's for a couple of days so will take advantage. Bad timing it's so early in my cycle but every little helps. I did say that I would dtd every two days up till ov but I was being way too over optimistic with this. My slightly more realistic plan is as follows: cd 7, cd 10, cd 13, cd 16. I have to be realistic, DH just won't cooperate if I pester too much!

Hi all, thanks for worrying for me. My hpts held steady for 4 days then darker again for two days, no honestly as dark as they go I guess. no drop this time, just a plateau. Still on the men's. And I am at 25 mg, even if I too, am undiagnosed by biopsy. but docs think as I do early kill-offs of the embryos it may be something they do not test for.
Pred is a drug not to be treated lightly, it is a strong hormon interruptor and reading also pred thread here I think your docs are not taking this seriously enough.I see people are quite casually also provided with it for minor issues like bee stings etc, just to quell the immune reaction. i find it terrible, knowing how damaging renal fatigue can be to people, which is the result of taking pred long and for example not weaning properly and slowly. Some people stay life long dependent on it, because their adrenal glands will not recover and restart its own production anymore. No hormone treatment can be considered safe in my opinion, and I do it because I hope it may help. But I do not want to end up with lasting side effects, so if things are going downhill I want to know immediately to start weaning. Bichemistry/genetic engineering is my subject and of course I am a bit more crazy about things as I realize the risks......

All the typos... I am away in Alps somewhere, struggling with net access and hurrying to write before net goes again. French really do not do Internet....

Oh, reni, I'm so embarrassed How did I not discern all that for myself? Thank you for reading it.

Cloud, thank you, too. Finances are an issue here, too. In fact, I felt rather dismayed (not to mention stupid) when I read Chewy's Lister Fertility Clinic link that attested to co-enzyme Q10 optimal dose as being 300mg twice-a-day!. I've been taking 30mg per day It is all so expensive. I take co-enzyme Q10, maca root, B6 complex + vit C, folic acid, vit D and omega 3 fish oil.

Did you mean you are taking 25mg DHEA three times-a-day? So 75mg? How much does this cost you per month, please?

Shirley, how do you remember to take the supplements? I can see the financial problems, but just as pressing for me is remembering to even take the damn pills! (I have a patchy record even with the folic acid/ Pregnacare . I have put a pack next to the toothbrush and one downstairs in the kitchen. Used to remember about 5 out of ten days, now up to prob 8. Better but not great.

Reni, it's ritualistic, I guess. I am on antidepressants and they are stored together with all my supps in a shallow Tupperware. I just take one of each colour of pill and lob 'em down my neck. I don't think I've missed a day yet!

DH & I have resorted to artificial insemination for the period of my fertile window and this month I inseminated eight samples I continued for two days after ov, too, which we've never been able to do before ever. I feel far more sanguine knowing I have that amount of sperm inside when usually we can manage only one or two dtd sessions at the most when we do it 'normally'. The chances of conception are almost the same as normal lovemaking

reni I agree with Shirley, it becomes a ritual. I have the supplements with my breakfast every morning, and then another round when I get back home from work. Have you tried setting an alarm on your phone to remind you every day? I do this for other things, and it works quite well...

Shirley I'm taking 2x50mg DHEA per day, as I could only find 50mg capsules on Amazon (£10 for 60 capsules). So it's slightly more than the recommended dose of 75mg/day... But I am not planning to take this for more than 3 months max, as it's a hormone after all, and it's not recommended.
I've also just upped my CoQ10 to 300mg/day, until now, I've been taking 200mg/day. The book that I've been referring to for supplements to improve egg quality recommended 100-300mg/day of this.

Well, CD11 for me, and I've got a +ve OPK. SMEP, here we go again.

I read about making it a ritual on here, that's why I put the tablets next to the toothbrush. Amazingly, I still manage to forget the pills . Might try the alarm.

Cd21 of a 24 day cycle, 9dpo. I think I'm out, temps were high since ov, but dropped below baseline on 7dpo, back up on 8dpo and back below baseline on 9. Temping has been interesting, I have even stopped wasting hpts from 4dpo.

Reni, I don't remember either. Actually checking this thread provides a good memory jog. (Goes to kitchen to take folic acid).

Right, done that.
Sorry you think you are out. My chart looks more normal since I discarded the two illness temps. Temps since ov have all been up on pre-ov, but not massively so and they zig zag a little from day to day.
I don't think I'm pg though, unfortunately.

Maybe we have to do a daily "Everybody take the pills now" post on here.

I feel like I'm not taking enough!! I only take folic acid & do that just as I'm getting in to bed with the lip balm, hand cream ritual.
Jass you're terrifying me about the pred. DD was prescribed it last April when she was diagnosed with HSP (long German name I can't spell!!) we did wean her off it gradually but she took it for 6 months because of kidney damage. I would know by now if there were any side effects wouldn't I? I should have researched it more but I was so shocked that a fairly minor illness caused her major complications I just blindly trusted the drs (it was Great Ormond St so I think I was right to trust them....) feeling slightly nervous when I read what you say about the effects. She was only just 4 when she started taking it!
I don't have much hope for this month. We are on a week's holiday & have a hot tub which dh is in every night - that can't be good for the sperm can it? It is lovely though so I have no chance of persuading him not to use it!!

Grizzer, your dd's natural cortisol production should be back to normal by now, I agree you were right to trust them, kidney disease from HSP how frightening for you all.

Ooohhh grizzer enjoy the hot tub!