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???

Hi berries, I don't think this cycle is going to be successful. I had such great hopes but last night all the pre-af clunking has started. I don't have any full boob or weeing issues. For those who've had bfn will af only start once I finish progesterone or could she turn up despite it? Feeling rather upset.
Sorry for my absence...been a busy week which has helped time fly by. OTD is Wed.

pixie it's not over until the fat lady sings bleeds. As it were. And I'm not calling you fat. And you won't bleed anyway until you stop the progesterone. so that really didn't work at all Don't rule it out yet. Are you pimping early?

Happy what does this mean for your dates?

What is pimping barking? I assume a predictive text thing from a while ago that I've forgotten (or joined too late to be party to!) I assume must be related to OTD or poas but can't think how pimping comes out of it...

Pixie I'm sorry to hear you are feeling pre-AF instead of early pregnant. I totally get where you're coming from after my 2 unsuccessful attempts. I did bleed (both times) before stopping the progesterone, but only spotting - and since I get that normally before day 1 I guess it's not necessarily a symptom that means anything for you. And others with BFPs have been just as certain it's all over (until they actually take the test). You have my sympathies though - the wait is so much harder in the second week.

I think I have finished my contracting work - 13 days on the trot with an average of 10hrs a day. I am pooped!! (House is also a tip, no Christmas shopping has been done, and I'm completely unprepared for my flight home next week). Ah well, after a long lie in tomorrow I can start writing some lists (I'm a list freak... I even like adding things to the list that I've already done just so I can cross them off and look more effective )

DH and I are going out for a nice meal on Weds evening before my flight on Thursday - no shag week for us over Christmas as we'll be on opposite sides of the world. Perhaps I should get myself a stork Tiger! And some sort of temperature controlled carry case for a pot of his swimmers, . Wonder how I'd get that through the airline liquid police!

Sorry for not commenting on other berries posts, I'm on the phone after slamming down the laptop lid in triumph at finishing my work and although I've read them (nodding sagely, cheering and sympathising at appropriate points) my muddled brain can't remember enough about who said what...

Pixie sorry you're having a tough time but as Barking said it's not over yet! As far as I know all the symptoms of early pregnancy are similar to AF symptoms. With regards to bleeding before stopping the progesterone some do and some don't. I had a teeny tiny blink and you miss it bit of spotting on my OTD date but obviously I stopped the progesterone then and started bleeding properly a few days later. When is your OTD? Keeping everything crossed for you
Smidge do you mean to tell me you've been a Berry all this time and you've never pimped?? . Pimping = Pee In My Pot. Us Berries are far too posh to POAS so we pee in a pot (preferably one of those little glass Ramekins the lovely Gü desserts come in) and dip instead. Get pimping woman!!

Sorry Barking I ignored your question. Not really sure what it means for our start date until I speak to the clinic. It completely depends on whether they can fit us in for the scratch. I'm going to ring them on Monday. Fx we'll be good to go early January.

I was going to say Pissing In My Pot but happy is obviously posher than me
I'm a list freak as well. Lists for everything.

Have allowed myself a little cry but trying to pull myself together now and get on with it. Nothing I can do and as you say, I don't even know anything for sure anyway. I have a friend staying and we're gonna head out for brekkie. Not gonna pimp early. I have a couple of important meetings Mon/Tues so don't want to be distracted. Deep breaths.
I have been catching up on all the news. No time to write more but keep plodding on the yellow brick road everyone and have lovely weekend.

Morning you lot , everyone is up early for a Saturday!

pixie I really am hoping for you and keeping everything crossed. No symptoms or pre af type symptoms are not game overs. A pawhold and a hug from me to keep you going till Weds. In a show of defensive pessimism, even if this doesn't work and there's no reason to think it won't yet chances are one if your lovely frosties will and you'll have your baby in your arms before you know it, I'm sure. Keep your eyes on the prize my lovely.

aw smidge there's nothing like a good list. A fellow list freak here too! Mr T is forever picking my lists up from around the house and trying to throw them away . No wonder you're pooped after working so hard! Hope you can relax and enjoy your trip home and the festive season - warning, it's f'ing freezing here at the mo!

kuma so sorry to hear about more delays for you. So frustrating. Hope you're ok.

happy what is it with that af mo-fo showing up and spoiling best laid plans?! Fingers crossed everything will slot into place in Jan!

Afm I went out last night, didn't drink but I feel slightly hungover. What is that about?! Must be lack of sleep! Anyway best get back to sealing the shower tray, need to do at least one DIY job before any fun is allowed!

pixie sorry you're feeling down, it really takes you through the mill all of this but as the others have said don't think it's over until testing day. You sound v sensible waiting til OTD and trying to keep focused on other things. Have a lovely breakfast.

happy fb sounds the worst for baby crap and my life is sooo wonderful shit. I'm not on it and when I've been tempted to join it's those things that put me off, quite sad that it's avoidance of baby stuff and happy families that makes me avoid connecting with other friends but there you go. Where are you for today's shopping trip?

wildflower I want to see a pic of these biscuits ( or am I being too hopeful to think they'll be some left!!) I have ingredients for Christmas rock cakes so might give them a go later.

Are you on a health kick tiger re not drinking at your work do or are you not much of a drinker anyway?

Aha! Pimping. I've not really got to that stage before it didn't quite register

Did I mention that the office I was working in was just around the corner from my fertility centre? Uncanny, huh?! So I popped in (after getting no response from the annoying secretary over email) and picked up the consent forms for both fresh and frozen IVF - just so we're ready when I get back. Still not 100% sure which we'll do in jan/feb.

Did you never dabble in temping and opks smidge ?
It's been a long while since my pimping pot has been used.
Some of my lists are now saved on the computer and I print them off (packing lists, different ones for different types of holiday)

Don't lose hope Pixie, AF symptoms are very similar to early pregnancy symptoms.

So I got up early this morning to pick DH up from the airport. We did our food shopping in Sainos on the way home and then I spent a couple of hours on the sofa. Only then did I realise that I had forgotten to put my bra on this morning! How is this even possible??? I wasn't exactly last in the queue when they were giving out boobs!

Pixie I was sure AF was on her way before my BFP. It felt exactly the same. Also, I didn't have, and still don't have, the need to wee all the time. I wee a lot because I am drinking a lot, but I don't feel like it is anymore than needed.

My scan is on Tuesday, and I have convinced myself that it's going to be bad news. I just don't feel pg.

pixie just adding my voice to all the others - I had unmistakable AF symptoms 5 days before my testing day, and no boob growth so was convinced by transfer hadn't worked. Pip had to talk me down of a ledge because I was so down about it.
Hang in there... We are all waving pom-poms for you

Lol Gil I can't imagine ever forgetting to put my bra on - it'd feel so weird! And I was at the back of the boobage distribution queue!

Pip I'm keeping everything crossed for you. I'm sure everything will be fine but can understand that it just be such a worrying time

So OTD is Wed. EC was Mon 24th. When would be too early to test? not that I'm gonna test tomorrow but just wondering...and with the 241 on FRER in boots I do have 4 tests waiting...

Given that you had a blast transferred 8 days ago would this be equivalent of day 12/13 in the 2ww?

I think so gill...is that too early? I probably just need someone sensible to tell me to get a grip and be patient but that has never been my forte! I just feel so desperate and pre-afy that i would just love to be proven wrong....

Pixie I tested a day early but my OTD was 13dp5dt which I think is 2 days later than your OTD? I would say it probably isn't too early to test but the problem is if it is a BFN (which I'm sure it won't be) you'll never truly accept it as there's still that niggling doubt that you tested too early iykwim? I really feel for you though as the last few days before OTD are pure torture. Hang in there

My otd day was a Thursday. I tested on Monday and got a bfn, then did a FRER on the weds and got a very faint line.
I don't think a bfn will 'count' if it is more than two days early, so not sure if it would reassure you one way or another.
Can you hang on til Tuesday

Pixie the result will be the same whether you test early or not. It depends how you personally will deal with the result. For example, I preferred early and daily testing than wondering was I/wasn't i, some people prefer later testing so they only have to do the one test and know the result mightn't be different the next day iyswim.
I got a clear as day negative on the Friday eve before my positive the next morning on 11dpo
Good luck whatever you decide x

I explained that ^^ really badly. Some people want to do 1 test and know the result is right as they've left it late enough. Some people (me) don't mind testing early and not knowing whether a bfn is because it's too early or because it's truly a bfn. You have to figure out which of the above scenarios work best for you. I preferred the latter as it felt like I was being let down gradually if I got repeated bfn day after day

Side point - digi tests never gave me a BFP until well after the cheapies in any of my cycles

pixie I'm thinking of you and really hoping that you will be proved wrong! I felt so stressed the last few days of my 2ww, I just wanted to know one way or the other. Even though I didn't get the result I wanted I almost felt relief because at least I knew. Saying that, I didn't have the courage to test early, I wanted to be PUPO for as long as I could be! A bit of a contradiction I know!

pip hope your scan goes well. How's the kitty? More lap cuddling?? My wee boy is having problems with his third eyelids, they're not fully retracting as they should. Kinda creepy when he's looking at you! The vet says it's nothing to worry about as long as he's well within himself.

spare my fellow poss buddy! How are you feeling? Hope you are well.

Hello to the rest of you lovely berries snow is forecast for today, will it appear?? Hope so!!

Thanks for the sausage wangs! I managed to hold off pimping. DH said he'd prefer if I waited. Plus I realised I no longer have a pot...it must be over 18 mths since I last pimped. Threw it out when I found out we'd never conceive naturally. Figured that although I'm expecting a bfn I'm not quite ready to see it confirmed. So that now means waiting til Wed...which feels ages away! Meanwhile af symptoms getting stronger and stronger.... Grr

trill bless your kitty, hope he is ok! I had a cat who had to have his third eyelid removed after a scrap with a mean old tomcat. Didn't cause any long term problems. Hope you're well!

pixie well done for hanging on. I'm keeping everything crossed for you. I'd be an early tester for sure, I'm not renowned for my patience! These days I rarely poas as I just know I'm not pg then af makes it 100% certain

bushy not on a health kick (just eaten a huge piece of cherry crumble!) but avoiding alcohol to be a bit healthier. I only had a couple of drinks during November and felt good for it.

Have had a fairly relaxing weekend ahead of a packed week, and suddenly feeling at how little time there is before I start my job. Mr T has a second interview for a job in London too so it's all go!

Hope everyone has had a good weekend?