Grab your Ganeshas and collect your cats: The Elderberry Pavlovas in the Quest for the New Year clusterdiff (thread 25)

[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.

No worries lumen! I wish my dh would just eat what he's given. I don't mind when he does the cooking but it's a hassle sometimes!

Minx hope your lap goes ok on Monday, I'd think they will be fine ro go ahead regardless of you not ringing. Let us know how it goes.

Wild I've just had all of my drugs out and reread the treatment plan/instructions and now I feel excited as well as nervous! I really just want to get on with things.

Beaky I find making the area a little cold first helps (I have naturally cold hands so no need for ice) pinch a bit and then go for it. I inject fairly slowly and then re I've the needle after a couple of seconds. Sometimes they sting a little and others they don't.

As for side effects, I have a bit of a headache at the moment and am I find that I do tend to get night sweats when down regging.

Off to the holiday cottage tomorrow for the week and am really looking forward to it.

Minx I'm sure all will be okay for Monday. You cod try raining the admitting ward if you want to check though as they should have the theatre list and a list of patients to come in. Good luck.

Pip ouch to injections in the bum. Who does them?

That should read "then remove the needle"

hello everyone,

beaky I've got one more week until the new job starts. Nervous and excited. It is the upheaval that is making more nervous than the job itself, being away from home is not ideal, but it's only for the short term. Exciting that you are only a day away from the start of IVF. No advice from me, just cheerleading from the sidelines and chanting positive mantras!

minx I'm sure the hospital will be expecting you. Did you have a pre-operative assessment already?

Impressed with the meal planning lumen. I do also plan a week or so ahead, as we often get a veg box, and it's hard to be creative on the spot when you've got aubergines and a kohlrabi to use up!! No more meal planning needed for a while though, as I'll be away Mon-Fri (sob). I keep thinking of Mr T having dinner for one and feeling sad. I think I'll probably make him some lasagnas for freezer or something. Not that he can't take care of himself!

jellie have you done the 5:2 before? I'm tempted to try it. Good luck with it all! I need to find a decent healthy eating plan and stick to it. Till then, I'm demolishing all of the left over Christmas chocolate!

Interesting debate about the clinics and paying for IVF. I think we are conditioned to think that that expensive = better, but it's so hard to tell with IVF clinics. I guess the things to consider are success rates, treatment regime (do they personalise vs getting a standard treatment plan, tackle specific issues etc) and then convenience in terms of location/work/home etc. I'm considering writing to my CCG and asking that I be able to choose a provider in London. The fact I haven't even seen an FC consultant prior to starting IVF and the nurse who did our consenting and prescription appointment couldn't even manage to take either of our bloods properly did not fill me with confidence!! Also my CCG have made a big hoo-ha about patients being able to choose hospitals recently, with some issues going right up to Secretary of State, so I'm not sure how they could refuse....

Glad there are loads of us having a booze free January! We can whinge about it together. I drank loads during December, so I am happy to go without for a while to be honest. I do regularly go a few weeks at a time without a drink but as soon as you tell me I can't have something then that's all I want suddenly! Me and Mr T are both doing it so that should help.

Did the last festive catch up today. Was a children and babies one, which is fine, as the kids are cute, and giving them presents is fun and holding a good natured baby for a while can be lovely. It's the baby chat with the grown ups that I find a bit trying, but it wasn't too bad.

I am only on CD 20 and I already feel a bit PMT-ish. I had the rage this morning, and then some random spotting today. Not sure what is going on, but wouldn't be surprised is this is a random short cycle because of illness/holiday/booze consumption, which I'm sure all conspire together to give me shorter cycle.

Sorry, that was a big old stream of conciousness ramble....I'll shut up now!

Just a quick post to say that DH does the injections. They aren't all that painful and I don't know if my bottom is bruised. I can't see it.

I think on the FC debate of more cycles versus one expensive one, for someone just starting i am not sure of the best option. However we are coming at this from two failed cycles (one self funded) and we always said we would give it three goes. So I want to know that I did everything possible to have a baby. The FC we used took a one size fits all approach and the only time I saw a consultant was for my review meetings after the failures.

I have spoken to work and they have agreed to give me a months sick leave without any doctors note (huge benefit of being open with them and one of my bosses having been through IVF a number of times) so it will be easier to cope with the intensity and travel.

I think we all need to make these decisions for ourselves based on our current circumstances.

Best of luck to all who are currently in a cycle or about to start. Let me know when I need to get the pom poms out and I may do some actual dancing rather than just virtual as it might help shift a few pounds!

Ps I really need to go to sleep and get back to 'normal' hours as getting up at 4.45am on Monday is going to hurt

I'm hoping the night owl hours I've been keeping here at my parents' (they still go to be later than me) will help me get prepared for the time difference for when I'm back down under. I leave on Tuesday will miss family, friends and lovely English countryside so much. MrSmidge will obviously be a big bonus over there though

Just spent a lovely day at a National Trust property with 2 sets of university friends and their children. All four born from IVF. Uncanny! I took along my nephew and niece too, so got some good auntie brownie points.

Isn't it funny how children are excited to meet new friends, whereas at some point we or is it just me get scared of the idea of new people and worry about whether they'll like us or we'll like them Got me all wistful and thinking about adding a change in my attitude/outlook to 2015 resolutions..

HB I have cold hands too! May try ice though. Thanks for the tips. When are you in for a scan? Enjoy your holiday cottage! Where are you off to? Sorry if you've said already.

Tiger thanks for the support I will most definitely return the favour. How many dpo are you? Maybe implantation spotting? That would be the ultimate FU-NJ!

Lumen yep I agree that you definitely need a tailored approach especially with your history. A new FC can't do any worse in my book. A break will hopefully help and that is great of your work agreeing that. Hopefully it will give you the space you need when going through the cycle. Also, I'm never going to get to sleep at decent time tomorrow either

Smidge will you always live over there do you think? I've only been on holiday to visit family but I did love it. I know what you mean about kids being so friendly, my niece came to a christening with me and met some new kids, within 5 mins she was in there and came back to say "Aunty beaky these are my new friends"! So sweet!

Hi berries...been keeping up with your news and wanted to wish you ivfers huge luck. It's exciting, emotional and nerve racking times I know. I have everything crossed for you for good responses, no cysts etc and pom poms at the ready.
And tiger hope new job goes well and is everything you hoped for and you settle into life in the big smoke quickly.

Morning Berries! Looks like a lovely day out there so think will go for a walk later (even though my hip is hurting again, grrr).

By my reckoning, I ovulated on Friday (had major Mittleschmertz on Thurs/Fri morning and it was CD20 which is when I usually get a positive OPK, not that I've tested) so am 2 days into the 2WW. Can't remember when I was last in this position! Managed to just stop bleeding from Monday's hysteroscopy in time to DTD Thurs evening and Friday morning (think DH was pleased that normal service has resumed). Also managed a cheeky sesh this morning although probably too late to count. Given that the hysteroscopy would have been like an endometrial scratch, I can't deny that I have increased hopes for this cycle. No doubt they will be dashed in 12 days time but it's the first month in almost a year where I think we may have a chance.

Now time to get up and make the most of this day before being back to work tomorrow. Boo.

Oooo Gil that would be a proper FUFC. We've not TTC naturally since July. The one chance we did have last cycle we were both full of the lurgy and didn't want to go anywhere near each other!
Minx I'm not 100% clear on what a scratch does and I'm having one on Wednesday! Something to do with scraping the old womb lining away and the new lining is more receptive to implantation??

The scratch effectively agitates the lining of the uterus which encourages blood flow to the area which helps implantation. They're supposed to be good for 2-3 months afterwards.

Did you have a scratch last time Happy?

FUFC = F* You Fertility Clinic! (i.e. A BFP just before IVF or similar treatment is about to commence)

Maybe the Farnham Fireballs should form the title of our next thread?!

Nope Gil first scratch. Wasn't too worried until the nurse at our planning appt kept banging on about how painful it is!
Lol at Farnham Fireballs. If only they knew!

Go Farnham Fireballs. They need Ganesha and a cat as their mascot.

I think a scratch can help too if you have immune issues - so AliG tells me anyway. Body sends in heaps of repair cells to fix the lining and they then outweigh the attacking killer cells.
Got mine in a couple of weeks too. Yuck - last time I was under anaesthetic as she did it during my lap. This time I'll just be in a chair 'like a smear' she reckons. Pah...not sure I believe that.

minx they were all singles. Couple 1: 1st child on 3rd attempt, 2nd child was their 2nd attempt; Couple 2: I think their first was 3rd attempt and second child was their 1st. (Iykwim!)

Yes they all know about me - I'm a megahorn when it comes to spreading the news reckon fertility issues should stop being kept so quiet.

Good luck Gil. Nice to have a tww again! I've completely stopped thinking a natural BFP is even possible! If I ever get another month when we're actually allowed to get it on, I'll have forgotten what to do .

smidge I liked what you had to say about making friends with the eagerness of a child. I've been feeling lonely since my a bunch of best friends had babies at the same time, and am resolved to getting out there and meeting a few more people to widen my circle. Interesting that you have two friends who have been through ivf. I only know one couple in our wider group but no one I'm close to. Must be good to talk frankly about it in RL with people who have been there, although friends off t'internet have been a great help too. hope you enjoy your last few days. Very envious of you going off to Oz. If I was to become a contractor, I'd spend every January in Sydney getting away from winter in England!

minx hope it all goes well tomorrow. Lol at the Farnham fireballs!

All this talk of the scratch is making me clench but sounds as though it's worth having. Good luck for yours on Weds happy.

gill you never know! Good effort! I've been plodding on through the usual monthly cycle and 2ww in the hope of a natural bfp, and despite the constant disappointment I still get my hopes up! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for us all. I don't think I'll be getting a FU-NJ though beaky but I'm hoping af comes early so I get it out of the way before I start my new job! Am drinking raspberry leaf tea daily to improve blood flow and lessen the cramps, hopefully. When are you doing your first injection?

Thanks for the good luck wishes pixie. I hope all is going well with you!

Hope all the teacher berries and anyone else who's had the Christmas holidays off isn't feeling to depressed about going back to school/work tomorrow. I've got a very busy week ahead so making the most of some quiet time by the fire snuggled up with Mr T and the hound.

I'll be honest ladies, the endometrial scratch I had back in June was pretty uncomfortable. Imagine someone having a rummage with a fork and that's pretty much it. I suggest a couple of painkillers about an hour before you have it. I've been poked and prodded a lot in the last 12 months and this was the worst. The good thing is that it is bearable and should only take about 20-30 seconds. Also there was very little pain once it had been done.

Is it worse than the HSG Gill? I heard horror stories about that but it was fine. When I agreed to it I was told it was just like a smear - that was long before the nurse of doom scared the life out of me! Have been advised to take painkillers an hour before - what's the strongest, co-codamol?
Just started my healthy batch cooking - Honestly Healthy granola and Delia's pasta sauce tonight!

Gill exciting! I hope you get an fufc this month! Hope you enjoyed your last day off! I'm back tomorrow as well but had nearly two weeks off so can't complain really!

minx lol! Ask away if there's anything you're not sure of. Maybe we should use the Farnham fireballs as new mascot to compliment Ganesha and cats. Best of luck for your lap tomorrow, let us know how you get on.

Smidge that's interesting to know about the effects of the scratch. Do you find that having your IVF'er friends know what you're going through helps? I haven't told anyone about fertility issues but that's mainly because I don't want my immediate family to know as the pressure and expectation would be too much. I have thought about telling someone but my closest friend has made some unhelpful comments about another friend who has had trouble conceiving and had 2 mc's so that puts me off. But I have you guys!

Oo Tiger becoming a contractor sounds good! January is such a crappy waste of a month I find so that would be lovely! It's a shame we don't all live closer to each other! I hope your last week of work goes well. I have my first injection tomorrow morning, will check in after. Eek!

Good luck for Wednesday Happy! It sounds wincey to say the least. (If that's even a word - my face is like this ) I made the HH granola recently and it was lovely - it lasted ages as well and is really nice with natural yoghurt, a few strawberries and blueberries.

Trying to have a relaxing evening before an early night but it's not working! So much to do and I'll never get it all done in time

Nice cooking Happy. I have pretty healthy meals planned for all of this week. Also considering putting a big bowl of fruit on the open plan desks at work tomorrow as opposed to the usual pile of sweets we have lying around.

In my opinion the scratch was worse than the HSG which I also found to be fine. People compare it to a smear test but they must have had some pretty horrific smear tests.

Please don't let my words scare you. It's pretty uncomfortable but it's over quickly and I can't remember there being any pain after (just a dull ache for a couple of hours). Just focus on the end result. Cocodamol sound good to me.

Thanks Gil. Hopefully I'll be ok, I'm generally not too much of a baby when it comes to things like this