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???

I'm home. Out of the 17 collected there's 12 good enough to use and poss 3 more if they grow on bit more. Been given pills to help stop ohss. Still feel bit out of it so catch up with everyone's news later. X

Great haul, Pixie!

Rest, rest, rest...

great news pixie and gil, congrats both.

beaky just had a skim over the last week or so. Sorry you've been feeling so rough . You've been an amazing support to me and are a really thoughtful person.

Tiger I was just telling Mr nol about the dog pjs last night, and he got he giggles so I showed him the photo. Weirdly his only quesion was 'why are they so tight?'

wild we're like nuns, Af showed up yesterday for me too. guessing this means a guilt free boozy christmas though (3rd one since starting ttc)

stupid bureacracy, lumen. last thing you need.

How're you two doing trill and spare?

Fab news pixie, keep chugging the water to keep ohss at bay.

nolly you just made me laugh out loud in the office with that pj comment. I had to show the pic to my dh on thurs night too as he wanted to know what I was talking about. I also had to explain what a clusterdiff was -realised how complicated it was to explain what the word meant

Feel like an interloper but wanted to ask if non-berries are allowed to post (solely in event of if they feel they might have something useful to add that may help or luvveryand beautifully hopeful RL stories?)

to all the berries who I suspect have more lurkers willing them on than any other single thread!!!

Do you not meet the tight criteria Munning? I'm sure useful thoughts will be welcomed.

Pixie good haul. Get some sleep and drink water like you are in the desert.

Spare and Trill I can't stand the wait until the 27th so you two must be going insane.

Made my first midwife appointment today!
I think I'm going to hang around on both the Berries and the 'Copter until the 9th when I have my scan. Then I'll know I can graduate.

Pip I thought I had some internet cheapies left, so was going to do a few early sneaky tests, but they're all gone, and it feels like a waste of money to actually buy proper ones from Boots, given they'll just be wasted anyway!
Do you think the CB ones will be good to use a day early?!

Aw Nolly thank you, that is very sweet.

Pixie that's a fab haul! Well done and hope you recover from the ohss very quickly. Implantation pom-poms are out and if I ask very nicely Gill might let me borrow her fire batons while she is away

Munning I'm always up for hearing something useful! Were you not wanting to join or have you managed to get your lovely bundle already?

Pip 2 weeks tomorrow! Fab. Hang around as long as you need I say!

Spare you sound like you have a host of symptoms! Still crossing appendages here for you and Trill of course.

Spare have you tried superdrugs own brand early response? They have a really good reputation and you can get two for about 4 quid (They are in a bright pink box).

Beaky, haven't tried those yet, but will see if I can find some. There aren't any Superdrugs near me, but about 5 branches of boots! Might send DH out to get some for me.

Pip Please hang around! We need your wit and take on the world (You have me in bits reading your post on an aibu last week - about every c* needing to go on a journey in documentaries )

munning What wisdom do you have for us please?

No Pipin, I do not in any way meet the strict entrance criteria as spelt out in the OP. Can tho promise to not include anything like 'baby dust' and 'baby dancing' not least as have no clue what they mean and they sound horribly like the 'huns' from 'over there' Am however one of your many lurkers and have read something that was once a problem for me, so wondered if could share it even tho do NOT have what it takes to avoid the bouncer and thus be escorted off the premises

Which would, frankly, be a tad embarrassing

Will post if given overt permission to do so!!!

Post away Munning!

Oh, and 'baby dust' is some cringeworthy euphemism for sperm.
Although I think someone needs to tell them that if it is really dusty, they should probably send their DH to the doctors...

PoundLand and Wilkinsons sell cheap dip tests.
I've ordered some more internet cheapies as I am now obsessed with POAS. After all those years I am going spend as long as I can looking at two lines.

Good for you pip

Great haul Pixie! Look after yourself this evening - actually scrap that - put your feet up and get your DH to look after you!
Gil glad all is going well. Long may it continue. Hope you're enjoying your break - glad the weathers been a bit nicer for you today!
Munning post away, don't be shy. We could all do with some wisdom.

more wisdom the better as far as I'm concerned munning

Oh berries I just went to pieces in the John Lewis car park. I bought a new baby card for my nephew. It has two big and one tiny elephant on it and says 'and baby makes three'.
I thought all this would get easier.

Pixiecongratulations on the eggs-cellent haul (sorry couldn't resist) get plenty of rest.

Gill yay to the lack of issues, here's hoping that the nasties stay away!

Boo to bureaucracy Lumen that is just ridiculous!

Exciting times Pip hang around for as long as you need!

That is an amazing result on the EC Pixie - go you! Just out of interest, have you been taking any supplements at all?

Sorry smidge and spare got my Ss mixed up before. Smidge good to see you safely back from camping. Spare your self-protective mind set expecting a poor outcome seems sound.

at the nuns comment nolly ! You, me and beaky seem nicely in sync.

Oh, Pipbin , I guess going through this will stay with you for life. Sounds like a cute card though.

I went to visit a friend and her three year old DD + there is baby no2 on the way. It was nice, but threw me out of sorts and I had to sit down and have a cry in the dark in the way home. It just seems so flipping unfair sometimes. Gluckschmerz all over.

Armed with welcome overtures, am venturing into the berries

Beaky You seem like such a fab bunch I'd love to join but I do indeed have bundles (if can you call hulking DSs of 22, 19, & 13 'bundles'!) so nope, am here simply as my stalking lurking led me to spot a couple of things...

Ok, POSS useful experience to share with the lovely berries??? I never claimed 'wisdom' tho!!!

I've seen a couple of posts around varying lengths & unpredictability of cycles (AF??!!??? Don't know the secret lingo and acronyms I'm afraid ) and they struck a chord. I had many many early (some so early TBH that I wouldn't have even know was preggers if hadn't been TTC & thus testing, so would genuinely have just presumed was a late and mega hefty/painful 'period') miscarriages. Earliest were literally 4-5 weeks, latest up to 8 weeks. By far the majority of these were before I had DC1 with only a couple after, and only explanation for this as far as I can see is the shift in the variable below...

... When I saw my GP (who had rarely seen before, let alone talked gyne stuff with!) for DS's/my 6 week check, I mentioned that hadn't yet started a period but wasn't worried as my periods were always just mad - would range from 32 days on a rare but good month through to 47 days, 58 days (you get drift!) GP asked me if I took any vits or supplements - I in turn looked at him as if he had 2 heads (remember this is nearly 23 years ago and even NOW most GPs laugh at vits etc).

He suggested/recommended that I take 50mg of B6 daily as 'was vital for cycle health' - I was a bit bemused but frankly was so frickin desperate to get cycle to 'normal' and end both period AGONY pain as well as unpredictability that I bought these - Boots 10mg by 90 for £3.05, so 5x10mg per day for daily dose of 50mg means 90 lasts for 18 days, but their 3 for 2 means you get 270 tabs for £6.10 and lasts for 54 days so BARGAIN!! - and commenced taking daily. Along with large dollops of utter skepticism.

Period then started X days later and then cycle ended BANG ON 28 days. I was like.... !!!

Thought must just be a coincidence but from that day to this, EVERY SINGLE CYCLE where have taken them properly has been 28 days or 30 max. Was literally like someone had flicked a switch. The obvious bonos aside (knowing when period was going to be, knowing when 'best time' was to get preggers again when planned that etc etc), the other impact was that my ratio of miscarriages to sustained pregnancies just shifted MASSIVELY.

Went from about 8/9 MCs pre DS1 to maybe 1 or 2 TOPS inbetween successful 2nd and 3rd pregnancies.

So, having lurked and seen cycle lengths and >>>period pains mentioned, I just wanted to share my experience (both per se and vis >successful pregnancies and

That's interesting Munning I've been recommended b6 but I haven't taken it outside of what's in pregnacare because I don't want to change my cycle length at the mo with starting IVF soon. I have quite short cycles anyway though. Thanks for your post though and sorry you had to go through so many mc's. That must've just been so heartbreaking.

Happy how was the NE?

HB nice to see you back, how you getting on?

Wild and hugs. Hope you feel a bit better soon.

Pip maybe it will get easier in time

Anyone heard from Bushy?

Hope Monday wasn't too awful for everyone!

Evening all!

lumen what a faff. Classic NHS / health system bureaucracy at work there. Any joy?

pixie great news. Hope you're recovering ok and getting some rest.

gill glad to hear they didn't find anything during their rummage. Hope you have a fab holiday part 2.

nolly glad the dog pjs continue to amuse! Hope your boss is behaving himself this week.

Thanks beaky. I second what nolly says too

spare I really hope the peeing is a sign! Not long to test if you're going for Wednesday. Keeping everything tightly crossed for you and trill.

wild I'm sorry about the gluckschmerz it is so hard. I have had two birth announcements recently and choosing cards made me feel so sad.

munning interesting about the b6. I have been taking it for around 4 months now but I already have regular 28 day cycles so not sure if it is doing much.

Such a weird day today. Strange incident at work meant loads of disruption which is likely to continue for some time. Tired.

I'm still here! Had busy w/e. Out for drinks on Friday, I was the 'Dessie' but it was fizz Friday and I love prosecco! My friend was like you can have some. In the end I sniffed it!! I was tempted to spill the beans but kept stum! Had a lovely, old friend come up to visit Sunday so had a lush Sunday roast, the went to Christmas markets. Was v festive with brass band playing. They played 'In the bleak midwinter', which is my favourite hymn ever, I welled up!! So know where you're coming from pip. Talking of you- woo oh you getting scan appt. is that an early one? I must, must, must ring the fc and doctors to let them know the situ.

We were driving home from fizz Friday & dh said he thinks we're going to get shafted with this, I was a bit shocked. I think last time he was the confident one and he's had his confidence taken away.

pixie way to go!!

Oh wild it's so difficult. X x

Good luck trill & spare, we're inching closer!!

Pixie - great haul o eggs lady! Well fine my prize chickadee . Let's how they've left the lights down low in the lab and the Barry white on repeat!

Spare when I was preggo (slightly,) after my first ivf I kept getting up for a wee and I never do that. I take that as a good sign.

Went to choir tonight for first time since cough commencement (week 4 now so have missed 2 sessions. Went to the loo, started coughing and managed to be a little sick in my trouser leg! Bet you can't match that for class eh? Got another Dr appt today and he sent me for a chest xray. Not sure this will do any good, they say the results can take a week to ten days... Sick of being sick... I really hate being ill.

In other non gross news, I've booked time off work for next cycle and told my colleague (who was excited for me!) Gawd FEB seems like aaaaaaages now! . Dh had confirmed okay with work so I've formally accepted donor! Squeeeee