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???

jellie, that is quite an achievement! really hope you're feeling better soon tho.
excellent egg haul pixie, how are you feeling? hopefully no threat of ohss for you.
gill glad you had a positive scan - onwards and upwards now.
Ahhh, my memory is so rubbish, and you can't check back while replying on the app do apologies to everyone else I've missed!

had a message from MrP's best friend last night,married in April and - you guessed it - now diffed. I think MrP is more sad than me this time.all his mates are now ahead of us, when most barely even had steady girlfriends when we started trying.

Lumen just thinking, can your FC not request a lap and dye for you? I think mine can, but they are the same consultants that run the women's clinic too so maybe that's why.

Tiger your work situation sounds bizarre, and stressful. Hopefully it's nothing too bad. Also, not long now til the new job woop! Thank you to you as well that's really nice of you.

Bushy bless your dh, his confidence must be shot which to be fair I'm not surprised at but so far everything sounds like it's going well. I bet your FC will be nearly as happy as we were to hear of your bfp I'm totally jel of your Christmas markets, we were meant to go to one but my friend who was staying didn't want to and apparently it was brilliant!

Jellie fantastic news!! I am really pleased that things are moving forward for you. Join the rest of us in a boozy Christmas and then 2015 is the year for us all!

Rain so sorry to hear about the announcement, that is shit. Hugs. Im sure you'll get there but the waiting for anything to happen is an absolute killer. and in the meantime.

I have my consultation tomorrow, has anyone got any suggested questions I should ask? I've got a few but think I'll end up overwhelmed and forget.

Spare and Trill still pompoming for you both here, hope you are both doing ok today. I've seen some silver tassels and an elf hat that I thought I might add in to the pom-poms for testing day

Beaky & Tiger Vis the 50mg of B6 - I think, for me, that whilst I was unquestionably uber grateful I suddenly had 'normal' cycles (periods were just so fricking painful after 45+ days), the biggest impact was the otherwise inexplicable reduction/elimination of early MC's.

EG I carried on taking it in the 3 years or so after DS1 and then when was trying for DC2 I had NO MC's at all. IE at X point I got P. and TGod stayed P.until DS2 safely arrived. BUT.... for reasons can't recall now, I then let B6 'drift' but was brought back to earth with a bang when TTC DC3 as that's when I had 1 or 2 early MCs again (am certain it was 2 as first one my 'period' was v late and v v heavy but I hadn't tested so can't be 100%, the second one however was v def another early MC as HAD had a positive test).

I then restarted the B6 and then when became pregnant I 'stayed' pregnant, so my own belief is that the B6 didn't simply snap cycles into v v regular/28 days etc, but that it somehow increased the 'stickiness' of early preggers - if that makes sense? - as without B6 had >>number of early MCs but with it I had not a single one. That's what prompted me to ask if I was allowed to post as wanted to share that just in case helped anyone else.

Apols - thank you for sympathy Beaky as it was a bit rough having that number of MCs (esp the ones past 6 weeks or so as had kinda got 'confident' with those IYKWIM), but I am very firmly of the view that not all MCs are 'equal' & TBH it pisses me off when some people do act as if they are 'equal' when in reality they are fortunate to be able to get P. easily again as context is everything. The - sheer pot luck - reality was that I was someone lucky enough to not have fertility problems (other than the MCs); I was relatively very very young (24 when had DS1) so blissfully naive in many ways; and the MCs I had were all v v 'early'. I don't think I have any kind of right to feel sorry for myself that I had those, or that my distress remotely compares to anyone who has been TTC for a very long time and who then, god forbid, suffers a MC (no matter how 'early') as that must truly be utterly devastating.

On that note of folks TTC, I wanted to ask a Q re eggs? Can anyone donate eggs or is there a strict criteria? And if you did want to think about being an egg donor, do you have to know a couple who need eggs or is there a central 'bank' (IE a la sperm donors?).

jellie that sounds miserable. Hope you feel better soon.

Pixie How are you feeling today?

rain That is shitty. Hope it hasn't knocked you too much. DH and I only got married this summer, so I'm half expecting a few 'you didn't hang around' comments if/when we get to announce something. Oh if only they knew..!

Trill How are you getting on? Have you decided when you are going to test?

In case anyone wants a symptom update, no weeing last night, but my boobs are definitely a bit bigger. DH has been sent to Superdrug to buy a double pack of their early response tests for me...

sorry to hear about your repeated MC munning - sounds really traumatic and stressful. Thanks for your wise words and well wishes

rain sometimes the announcemnets catch you out in an unexpectedly bad way. Really sorry

jellie are you Ok? sounds awful. when's your xray?

Just seen this blogs.biomedcentral.com/bmcblog/2014/11/24/ivf-past-current-and-future-developments/

it's a series of updates on how IVF has progressed over the last ten years. might be helpful.

fx spare and trill, forgot to say!

beaky I don't think my FC can sort me further testing as they are just a FC, not attached to a hospital or anything. But I will ask when at my review meeting.

munning there are criteria for egg donors but I'm not sure what they are. You could ring your local FC to find out or maybe try the hfea website or my best pal, dr google

Spare yey to the big boobs! Fx for you tomorrow

Nolly that's a really interesting link, but I feel totally thick as I can't understand some of the info on the trials it links to, but can see that there are clearly some good results there Has Mr Nol been in to review the 18+ laminated materials yet then? I feel so sorry for them sometimes!

Ah Lumen that's a shame. Hopefully your dr can get you through then. Would it be worth going private for? I have no idea of the cost so ignore me if that's ridiculous. Hope you are doing ok too.

I'm a totally miserable crabbit bitch today. I dunno what the deal is but I could cry my eyes out at the drop of a hat. Anyway enough ridiculousness from me!

beaky A very un-MN hug and some
I think it is the weather making everyone tense. Half of my office seem to be in a cob today as well

munning back in the early days of the berries there was conversation about B6 and I think that one thing that was decided was that it needs to be a b vitamin complex.
Interesting to hear your experiences though.

Fx Spare! I've had to buy new bras twice so far and they were 32G to start with!

Thanks bunni
I was a 34E to start with, so don't really need any additional chest to carry around!

I'm having a lazy day in bed, being waited on by DH. I was in so much pain yesterday when the anaesthetic wore off I could hardly walk. Didn't get much sleep. Pain has eased now though to a general ache.
Pip been glugging down fluids and loaded trips to loo which is a good sign against ohss. The side effects of the pills I'm taking are compulsive spontaneous behaviours like gambling and sexual drive! Struggling to imagine heading off to a casino and picking up a random right now for a dirty night. Maybe in a few more days when I've had a few more pills.
Started on the pessaries today. Joy.
Sooo impatient for tomorrow's call. Feel nervous for the little dude/dudettes, it's the first time they've had a chance to meet so I do hope they get on ok and like each other. And that barry white and the mood lighting is creating the right ambience for them to get it on.

Is it really still 2 more days to go for trill and spare? Or will you cave before then? I'm feeling impatient so can't imagine how it feels for you guys!

Jellie really exciting news! So pleased you got it confirmed.

Oh and Nolly I did try taking a look at reports. I don't know whether it was because I was reading them at 3am which did keep me entertained for a while thanks! or maybe I'll just join Beaky in her corner of confusion. It is amazing how far medical research has come though. Icsi wouldn't have been an available option to my parents. So I'll sit on my pouffe of possibility and be grateful that there is at least a chance.

Pixie. I had those tablets. I loved the thing about compulsive gambling.

Evening berries!

It really is two days until test day! The time had gone by so slowly yet I'm in no hurry to test. I'm terrified, I'm so scared that it hasn't worked! But I will test Thursday when I get home from work.

I hope your pills are helping pixie. I was so sore after EC, I was surprised at how long it took me to feel better, but then I am ancient . Well done on your haul of eggs! I hope they're doing well.

Sorry for not name checking the rest of you, first day back at work and I'm shattered! Couldn't sleep last night, mind wouldn't stop. Hopefully tonight will be better!

Trill the wait is just grim, isn't it.
Still keeping everything crossed for you. How are you feeling otherwise?

I've just been to Boots and the Early Response tests were buy one get one free. So I have 4 of the bloody things.
Pip, is that a good omen or bad omen?
I need to be up at 5 tomorrow for a work trip so will be testing then.
Wave those Pom Poms please!

Is it tomorrow you both test.

Honestly Spare I have PO more S this last week than I ever have in the past. I think the BOGOF deal is a good omen. I'll chat to Ganesha later as I need help too.

Beaky - budge up on the crabbit bench I'm joining you. Just feel... Crabbit and tired. Deffo with the drinkers this xmas! . Hope your consult went well today.

Rain, sorry about your friends news. Its horrid feeling torn, happy for them sad for yourselves.

Munning, interesting about b6. Definitely going to look at that for me.

Spare! Hubba hubba for the massive boobalinas! Deffo a pos sign. When are you testing? (Now please)

Hi nolly, that looks interesting I'll look at that link tonight!

Pixie- glad you've had a restful day and you've been looked after. Boooooo to fanny candles can't wait to hear about your GANG! Wooooooo

Trill! Eeeeek only two days! I agree the pupo bubble is quite agreeable.

Pip, if you found shut down and have a bloody serious talk with Ganesha that would be marvellous!

Right turbo super fire powered twinkly jaztastic pompoms on perma-twizzle for you all... Gooooo berries!

Glad you are having a lazy day Pixie and being waited on, hope that the pain settles soon, I felt pretty rough for a day or two post EC.

good luck to those testing in the next couple of days, I litterally have everything crossed for you.

Regrettably it looks as though I may be out of the Christmas clusterdiff as I am CD31 and have been down regging for 11 days today and still no sign of AF. Sigh, what can't my body do what I want it to? Is it because I have been really organised and booked all the time off work that I need? Bleugh, may go and find the chair in the corner for a bit!

Hi there berries. Feel I have so much to catch up on after a few days away. Camping was OK in the end, though our tent collapsed (luckily before we went to bed and we were able to move into a spare room(!!!) of one of our friend's. Air bed was provided for us so although I'd spent ages fitting half our settee into the car, we felt guilted into using te air bed. Disaster! Was still awake at 4:20am! Next night we moved into the spare toom(!!) of another friend's tents and used our cushions, and I slept way better. (Possibly just coz shattered...). Day times were really hot but it was fun - it was a big group of us 10 adults and 10 children, no power, no phones, no internet so a good break.

Came back and have been asked to help do some work on a project I was previously involved in. Good timing as not part way through IVF, and good or the bank balance! But 11.5hrs yesterday (plus travel) and likely the same for the next 7-10 days (including weekend). Meaning I haven't had a chance to contribute to MN... Feel left out!

trill and spare I can't believe it hasn't been test day for you yet! Excitement is killing me... And the boob thing sounds great.. I was checking my boobs whenever I was naked for some possible chance they might feel fuller, but no such luck for me. Talking of naked, our campsite was next to a beach - one end of which was a nudist beach. (Weirdly it called itself an 'unclad' beach ). I managed to convince DH to get naked with me and go for a swim - first time he'd ever been skinny dipping! Unbelievable! He quite enjoyed it after he plucked up the courage! Who knows what I'll have started

pixie so many eggs! Great news. Pom poms are a shakin'.

Ok, my bus has nearly arrived so I'll sign off before I lose all my typing.

Oh, and late AF after downregging is normal I think - I was def 2 or 3 days late (and my cycle can be variable anyway so if it had naturally been a shorter cycle you could say I was 4-5 days late maybe). But it will come eventually... and stick around for ages

Good luck tomorrow spare , everything crossed for you my EC and POAS buddy!! Hope you are able to sleep tonight

Ooops! Meant ET buddy

Night night berries

Lots and lots of luck Trill and spare . Come on the clusterdiff!

Glad you managed to make use of the cushions in the end Smidge - funny about your tent falling down though. Air beds are not very comfy, the cold from the ground travels straight through them even if in warm weather. We put sheepskin rugs on top of our air bed which keeps it lovely and warm.

We've just Ben indulging in some Christmas channel films. We watched 'Love Actually' and I discovered that DH practically knows it off by heart, word for word. You've got to love a man who loves rom coms.

Good to hear you are doing ok Bushy . It's understandable that your DH is feeling the strain, you must be feeling it too! But this is your time.

Just out if curiosity, are you POAS twice daily too, like Pipbin or are you sane ? (Just kidding Pipbin, POAS to your heart's content).