Roll up! Roll up! Mount those uni cycles and shake those pom poms. The Elderberry Pavlovas are drumming away in the hope of a Christmas clusterdiff (Thread 24).

[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 definitely no mention of baby dust or baby dancing).
Those not abiding by the rules may be escorted from the premises.

The roll of honour:

Gillster 40, TTC Feb 2012, IVF Feb 2014 resulting in 6 frozen one day embies. No transfer due to polyp. Failed FET cycle in September due to polyps. Starting 2nd FET cycle on 4 Nov.
Happylass 36, TTC since Aug 2012. Antibodies in DH's sperm. 1 unsuccessful cycle of ICSI September '14. Starting cycle 2 in January.
Smidge, 38, TTC since Jan 2013. Unexplained. IVF#1 Short protocol July 2014 yielded 1 blasto, BFN. IVF#2 in process - Long Protocol Oct/Nov 2014
Serenity 34 TTC Jan 2013, unexplained infertility, DH has textbook super sperm, 3 rounds unsuccessful clomid, 1 ICSI June 14 with complete fertilisation failure, next ICSI Nov 14.
Jelliebabe - 40, Threw the pills away 8 years ago. Unexplained but have a very low AMH, 1st IVF with clinic in Prague, 2 embryo's, chemical pregnancy. 2nd IVF in London branch of clinic - 1 embryo, BFN. Hoping to go back to Prague for Donor eggs in January
nolly, 32, TTC since Sep 2012, unexplained. 6 months clomid did sod all, next appointment 29th Oct, hoping to start private round ivd soon.
Pixie, 33, TTC June 12, DH has zero sperm count but managed to extract some under surgery, start downregging in a week, long protocol, ICSI Nov
Tigerdog 34, ttc 21 months. Unexplained after all tests and currently on waiting list for IVF.
Beaky 34 ttc since aug 2012. Unexplained with recurring cysts and adenomyosis. 1 failed IUI, IVF appointment in November and hoping to start first cycle in January.
Bushy 36, ttc since dec 2011, low amh, ovarian reserve, dh sperm had low count & motility but improved to 'normal' standard, IVF/Icsi in May bfp, then later missed miscarriage at 12 week scan. 2nd Ivf imminent but not sure if dates will work over Christmas.
HampshireBlues 36 TTC since August 2011, unexplained. 1st cycle of IVF chemical. Had a break over the summer. Cycle 2 planned for November
WildflowerMarmalade , 40, TTC 3 years, unexplained, underactive thyroid + immune issues. Sept IUI - BFN. Due to start IVF in Jan
lumen, 35, ttc since Nov 11 without a sniff of a bfp, unexplained, had only nhs funded IVF summer 2014, no implantation, trying self-funded IVF Nov 14, currently mid cycle
AnnieHoo 41, ttc July 2012. Unexplained. MMC Nov 2012, MMC May 2014. IVF Oct 2014 BFN. Waiting for FET.
Trill 41, TTC since March 2013. Endo with one completely blocked tube and one kinked with adhesions. Currently stimming.

And Gil's handy guide to the current IVFers....

Smidge - PUPO on 3 Nov
Pip - ET on 5 Nov
Lumen -EC on 5 Nov
Trill - day 5 of stims
Pixie - week of DR done
Seren - stimming yet?
Gillster- start DR on 4 Nov
Kuma - you starting soon???

happy yes I am TAFKA Parsley!

Kuma that must've been a sight. hope you weren't left waiting too long.

a bunch of friends are off to India for a wedding next week, shall I get them to bring back a suitcase full of Ganesh statues?

I've just had a fig and walnut tart from a local patisserie to celebrate all the good news. Patisserie is always appropriate, I find, through all life's ups and downs.

Welcome back Rain nice to see you again and hope all goes well this time.

Berries I'm feeling very emotional today.. Don't know whether it's because of pip's news, which is fabulous but also brings the reality that we may have to go through treatment several times and even then may not be successful combined with my 'it's so easy to get pregnant I just sniffed my DH and got upduffed' collegue prancing around with her bump. Or maybe it's just the hormones. Also feeling so bloated that my trousers are tight and I can't even suck my belly in. I've done 5 days stimming. Feel a little nauseous and knackered. Scan is on Wednesday so guess I'll know better then how dollies are progressing.
Wild I could do with a patisserie right now but will have to settle for cuppa soup .
Rain yes please, one for me!

Bugger... Follies not dollies!

Day 2 if these bad boys but my charts are confusing me

Aww pixie sorry you're feeling emotional. All this ttc malarkey really does take it's toll on us. I hope you feel better soon.

I'm glad I took this week off work, I still feel like rubbish! Surely this can't be right?! I called my clinic 3 hours ago, still waiting on a call back. Boo!

Pixie, sorry you feel down, it's a tough ride but the berries (and Ganesha) are here with you.

They were pretty quick at the FC actually, got there at 9, waited a bit till they decided I needed to do bloods, queued for 20 mins or so at phlebotomy then went back and was almost scanned right away. Apparently my endometrium looked a bit thick which could be because it was a funny AF and only half way through the cycle. They'll call this afternoon when they have blood results and let me know if we are good to go. If we are its back Friday, Monday and Tuesday for scans.

Sorry you are feeling pants pixie and trill, having been in your situations recently I can tell you it will improve and you will start feeling better, just think that this is taking you one step closer to achieving your dream.

But even if it is not this time, which is so hard to say, they will be learning loads about both of you and the embies you create, so it can work another time. I took our first attempt as a learning process for all involved. Whilst we would all love to be successful on our first go or with a FUFC the percentages are not in our favour.

Sorry if that is a really downbeat message, I am trying so hard to stay positive but this 2ww is much harder than last time. One minute I am happy, the next worried, then telling myself off for worrying, then sad that if might have all failed again. Ah hormones, I hate you right now

Aww berries, so much going on at the moment and all super stressful too. Lumen Pixie and Trill hugs to you all, I'm sorry things are tough and of course copious hormones never help. Lumen I am still pompoming away for you and crossing fingers & toes. I hope this is your time.

Kuma hopefully you will get the go ahead for this cycle later but wtf with the lady in handcuffs! At least we can all be grateful that's not us!

Gill what's your next step? Is it a scan this week?

Rain yes! Clearly Ganesha is the berries new leader and black cats too.

Funky fx for a fufc for you!

Pip how are you feeling now?

Who have I missed..?

Using a racecourse analogy, here's an update after all of today's drama.

Runners and riders as follows:

In the winners enclosure:
Bushy
Pip

On the racecourse
Lumen - PUPO, OTD 21st Nov
Trill - PUPO, OTD 27th Nov
Spare - PUPO, OTD 27th Nov
Pixie - day 6 stims
Gillster - day 14 DR, awaiting AF before scan on 18th Nov

Still in the parade ground
Kuma - limbering up for short protocol end Nov (hopefully)

Falllers
Smidge

Current BFP clusterdiff ratio:
2 from 9

DH has told his mum, who was very excited and has told everyone.
That lead to me getting a message from my niece (who is 25) being all excited and asking how far gone I was and I had to explain that we only found out today ourselves.

I've been to the clinic to get more gestone and I'm booked in for a scan on the 9th of December.

It all feels very odd.

oh. my. god. Bushy, I can't believe I missed your amazing news! I am so, so pleased for you. Really excited for you and so hoping this is your time.

Pip - not surprised you're feeling a bit dazed. Fantastic news

Hi all, esp Lumen and Beaky - sorry been awol, some crazy rants to catch you up with at some point this week ;)

welcome home rain too, and hi new people again!

Back to the parade ground/knackers yard for me as FSH too high. Not sure if that's because it's a duff cycle or not but I'm to try again next cycle, whenever that may be, although it may clash with Xmas so might be January. Back to the no wheat, alcohol or sugar diet in the meantime

Sorry kuma, is there anything you can do to help it for next cycle? Do you see an acupuncturist? I have found mine very helpful for regulating everything.

Bring on the rants nolly! I need cheering up.

Back to the no wheat, alcohol or sugar diet in the meantime

I would like to point out that I ate crap for this cycle.

Oh Kuma sorry to hear you didn't get the green light for this cycle. Fx things will settle down for next time. Come join me on the lounger of limbo.

Oh no Kuma that must be so disappointing/ annoying/ worrying for you. I admire your willpower with the diet although Pip's point about eating crap is interesting (and gives me reassurance!)

My word Pip, good news travels fast in your family!

Liking the winners enclosure Spare. Hoping I can make it there and that Ganesha's luck doesn't run out as looking like I'll be in last place on the racecourse.

I have my blood test tomorrow at the FC. Don't actually have a scan booked in but wondering if I should request one given my polyp history. At least if I did have one and they couldn't see anything now but then if they saw something in a couple of weeks at least we would know definitively that oestrogen is causing the problem. (If all goes to plan I start on oestrogen tablets in the next few days). I also need to ask about this aspirin business. Remind me Pip, did you take any? You also took all of your 2WW off work too didn't you?

Thanks funky I know it's very strange But good :)

Damn limbo, it's been months already. The diet is a (totally unproven) way to reduce FSH rather than being a general health thing, and I'm prepared to suffer through it on the offchance it helps with the FSH levels as that is the gatekeeper between me and the NHS funded cycle. Lumen I do see an acupuncturist who has me on various lower your FSH potions, and has done a good job on my cycles but I haven't seen her in a few weeks due to my travel schedule. I have an appointment tomorrow night though.

Gill, good luck tomorrow, I hope everything is well and you can move on to the next step. No harm in asking for a scan too....

This thread is moving very fast! Berry HQ feels very busy.

pixie sorry to hear you are feeling down. IVF is a tough old path and I think it's only natural to have emotional and sad times. Hope you're feeling more cheered this evening. You too lumen, the two week wait is just agony. Are you at work this week? Did you manage to work on your quilts? Distracting the mind with a creative task is the best way to keep a busy mind from worrying away. I was just reading about defensive pessimism being a good way to manage expectations and avoid disappointment so I don't think you are being negative as long as you believe you'll get there in the end.

Big hugs to you and our other PUPO ladies trill and spare, hope you're feeling ok.

nolly! Yes cheer us up with a rant or two! Hope all is going well.

kuma hope you're not too disappointed after your results. More time to prepare your mind and body though, to try and put a positive spin on it! well done on the diet, you must have some willpower! I'm wheat free, and generally avoiding alcohol but sugar is my weakness. I want to do a proper detox but I just can't get motivated.

beaky do you have a start date yet?

gill can you ask for a scan do you think?

Well, horrible af pains here. Had naff all sleep last night so just felt grim all day. Bath, hot water bottle and now sandwiched between pooch and oh on the sofa in my pjs already! I took asprin for a short while a couple of cycles ago and I had a pain free period after, tempted to try it again next month. What have others been advised about taking it?

Will be going for my amh test this week too, see if that tells me anything different. Did anyone have wildly different results with AMH as opposed to FSH/LH?

I also need to ask about this aspirin business. Remind me Pip, did you take any? You also took all of your 2WW off work too didn't you?

There was the talk of aspirin, but I didn't take any.
Yes, I was off work and literally sat with my feet up from embryo transfer to today. I walked into town for a coffee once, but took the bus back. I had a couple of walks round the parks but that was it. My friend had IVF in France (being French and living in France), she was prescribed complete bed rest for the 2WW.

And as for diet - I had been on a diet and stuck to it for the first two rounds but this time I honestly ate shit. I've eaten two bags of Percy Pigs this week alone!

Tiger Sorry to hear you are hurting. It's like mother nature really wants to drive it home.

Pixie - offers Percy Pig.

Whoop, whoop!! Yayyyy for pip!! Ganesha really is the d's b's!! Come on ladies!!

Hugs for pixie, totally normal reaction, it is a total mind bender all of this and def not helped by smug colleague-grr!!

Hello nolly!

Sorry about ur cycle being postponed kuma. Interesting that pip ate shit ( well not actual shit ) this cycle.

Yes Tiger defensive pessimism is exactly what I do!! So glad you've put a name to it. I'm generally quite an optimistic person but just can't seem to be positive about TTC. DH is always having a go at me about it. I can't seem to get him to understand that if I get my hopes up it'll hurt 10 times more when it doesn't work out. Whereas if I convince myself that it's failed then I'll be pleasantly surprised if it does work.
With regards to the AMH at 6.2 my results were the lower end of normal. However my FSH/LH results were completely normal suggesting that although I've not got as many eggs left as I should my body isn't yet having to work harder to produce follicles. Which is apparently a good sign!
Interesting about the bed rest Pip. I'm definitely going to take a bit more time off post ET on my next cycle. I said I was going to take it easy when I went back to work last time - pretty impossible when you're stuck in a room full of teenagers all day and are constantly ploughing through a pile of 400 exercise books that need marking

Great list Spare how are you feeling atm?

Nolly yes please to your rant! How are you? Still working hard?

Kuma sorry you couldn't start this time. Fx for next.

Gill good luck for tomorrow and yes I agree you should try to get scanned to. Oestrogen is definitely an issue for some of us! I think Funky is pretty clued up on the aspirin info.

Tiger no dates yet, I have my consultation next Wednesday so hopefully will find out then. I may ask about an amh too, esp after Happys info there. Hope you got lots of lovely cuddles from your puppy. I dreamed that pip got a bfp last night, but also that you did - a natural one! I would love to say I'm psychic but I can't back that up

Interesting about your French pal Pip, I wonder if total rest really does make a difference.

Happy mine is the opposite! He says not to expect anything and then a positive is a bonus! He totally won't let me stress about stuff either which does help. 99 problems, 98 of which are totally made up in own head and all that! You sound like you would benefit from extra time off after ET with your job too.

How are you feeling Bushy?

happy your amh sounds positively good in comparison to mine- mine was classed as sub fertile! Can check my paperwork to give you the appalingly low figure. So, there we go, even with a terrible ovarian reserve it can still happen!

I'm good beaky. Feel a bit odd as I'm going about my every day life but with the knowledge that I am actually pg. After all this time it's a v weird feeling. Quite twingey in the belly & my boobs hurt but ok other than that. I'm liking your fortuitous dreams- I'd love a natural bfp from tiger too! A prope funj- f* you new job bfp!!