TTC for ten months, and the rest. Ten plussers welcome.

[MrsGingerbread]

A friendly and welcoming thread full of lovely women.

Sammy, I know, we've waited 18 months so what's 2 weeks, it is an extra few weeks to get prepared great that you have decided to go ahead. Do you know when you are going to start? I felt better once we had made the decision. I think my AMH was around 30 when I had the test done in September.

Lemon, DH doesn't want to tell anyone re the IVF (though I have told my DM and DSis and close friends) so it would be a bit awkward. BIL will be expecting to sightsee with DH and think it odd if he has to disappear off somewhere with me for a few hours....I explained to DH last night how important it is to me that we spend the day of transfer together just the two of us and he completely understands. He is hoping that we have conceived this cycle - slim chance as he was away at the weekend when I was due to ov- will do a test at the end of the month. If it is negative then he is going to rearrange BIL and pay for the rearrangement fees.

Lemon I do feel better having a plan, and am so relieved and grateful that we are allowed 1 private round without losing our nhs go - otherwise we would have waited for the nhs.

Trixie I don't know when we'll be starting, I would guess end of June/beginning of July. I'm waiting for 'the nursing team' to get in touch... How long should I leave it before I call them? Xx

You may not be far behind me at all then Sammy. We had to contact our clinic to arrange the nurses appointment. I'm waiting to hear re my meds and thinking of chasing that tomorrow as need to start taking meds to delay AF on 28th.

We can hold hands through it then Trixie! Xx

Month 14- fed up now.

Referral to fertility clinic is in but because my bmi is low we have to wait until I've put weight on.

I want a baby. Everyone I see is pregnant. Everyone. Or they have their lovely 2.4 kids and can only talk about them.

Sorry... Just feeling a bit down today. I hate wanting something so badly and not being able to have it. I'm not a patient person and have always managed to get what whatever I want in life through hard work. This is something I can't control which bothers me greatly.

Snow - don't apologise for feeling down, it's good to vent.

I'm in the same position, I was told to put on some weight and I know how hard it can be. Do you like pancakes? I've recently bought some protein pancake mix to get an extra protein boost - you could try that? Xx

Thank you.

Yes I will eat pancakes, do you have a link for the mix?

I am currently using meal replacement shakes alongside 3 meals a day and snacks in between but am still struggling to get the weight on. I am naturally very slim but since stopping my contraceptive pill 14 months ago I have gone from 9st3 to 7st7. I struggle with big meals as I don't have a very large stomach but am trying to eat little and often to get the weight on.

My dh ordered them for me, so I'll ask him for the link tomorrow. I think it was a website called myprotein.com.

Your pill really made you put on that much weight? Thats incredible!

People just don't get that putting on weight for some people is just as hard as losing it is for others. Xx

m.myprotein.com/bars-drinks-foods/food-snacks.list

Ooh he found it for me! Xx

Definitely Sammy, and hopefully both finally get onto the Antenatel threads!

Hi and welcome Snowberry, sorry that you are having a tough time of it. I completely understand what you mean about control/patience. I have gradually learnt to be a bit more patient over the last 18 months (not much though!) It sucks that you can't be referred until you have put on some weight. How much do you need to put on? It sounds like you are doing well with your meals, snacks and shakes. Have the Doctors done any tests to make sure there isn't another reason why you are not putting on weight?

I've had loads of blood tests and they can't find any reason for it. I have to be 8 stone 4 to have a healthy bmi so got 11lb to get on some how.

Hi Sammy, Trixie and everyone else. Can I join you on here please. I think I will be starting my medication for my second ivf around the middle of June so not too long to go. Would be good if we can all compare notes

I am sure you will manage it Snowberry, maybe if you aim for 1lb a week it won't seem so daunting.

Hi Lucie, of course you can. I have my first scan on the 15th June and think I start taking meds around then so looks like we will be at a similar point. I am due to start taking medication next week to delay AF as my clinic only do egg collections/transfers at certain times of the month. Bit of a pain but an extra two weeks to get ready.

Oh that will be nice starting around the same time trixie. Bit of a pain you had to wait an extra 2 weeks but it will soon fly by now.

I spoke to the clinic today, I'm booked in for baseline scan on 26th June (af depending)so won't be too far behind you Trixie! We have an appointment with the nursing team on the 22nd June so will know more then.
It means I'll have this cycle and 1 more to try naturally.

Hey Lucie, yes join us! How're you feeling about it all now? Xx

Oh sounds like we could all be starting around the same time Sammy! I still have my up and down days. Have now found out that short cycles might not be good for ivf either. Just stressing about things at the moment x

Really Lucie? But why? Surely with IVF your cycle is drug controlled? Xx

I don't know I filled in a questionnaire for another clinic and they basically told me because I have such short cycles I might have dominant follicles before my previous cycle has even finished and if so I would need careful monitoring to make sure they managed to collect the largest one even if that meant sacrificing some of the other ones. Well on my last ivf I had a large follicle on the first scan and then it disappeared on the second never to be seen again so I'm worried about that now and they also said shorter luteal phase can mean lower egg quality so stressing about that too. The actual clinic I'm with hasn't mentioned any of this so kind of feel the pressure is on me to research everything and come up with things we can try

I wish I had some answers for you Lucie, but I know so little.
Could you book a private consultation with a clinic here just to discuss things like this? You could pretend you're thinking of having treatment with them now. Xx

Thanks Sammy, I don't know it did cross my mind but I had a consultation with a fertility specialist in the UK last year and she asked all about my cycles and didn't mention anything about them being short. Neither did my gp. I'm going to start taking b6 and see if I can lengthen them a bit.

Hi ladies I'm new. Have been ttc our first baby for a year and a half and although we aren't desperate for a baby I was fairly concerned that nothing had happened yet so plucked up the courage to visit the doctors. I've had numerous blood tests and have been referred to the hospital. My appointment is later this week. Does anyone know what I can expect? I'm a bit nervous about it all but at least it gets the ball rolling. X

Hi MrsG, welcome to the thread
My first hospital appointment was only a discussion really and they sent us away with an appointment for an ultrasound in 4 months time. We'd only been trying a year at that point though, so if I were you I'd push for the ultrasound immediately as you might just get your way. Good luck, Xx

Hi ladies, hope you are all having a lovely bank holiday. We had a BBQ yesterday and the healthy eating plan well and truly went out of the window, you can't be good all the time though.

Lucie, that does sound confusing. A normal cycle is anything from 21 - 35 days so even though you have a shorter cycle than most it can still be normal. They say the dominant follicle has the best egg so collecting this one may not be a bad idea. It must be hard having to look into things yourself, it is hard enough as it is.

Welcome MrsG, I think things can vary area to area. With my NHS referral I was sent loads of forms to complete and send back. I then had a letter back last week asking me to phone and make appointments for DH to have a semen analysis and for me to have a scan (without an appointment first)

Have been having usual Pre AF symptoms- PMT, clumsiness and cramps. Had a bit of a melt down on Friday as hadn't heard from the clinic re my medication and had to do chasing myself. I guess I was really hoping that DH and I would end up being one of those couples who falls pregnant the month before IVF and feel really disappointed. Need to work on my positive mental attitude!

Thanks Trixie, you made me feel a bit better saying that. I've also read online that cycles can vary and anything from 21 days is normal. Everytime I mention that to anyone though they seem to look a little taken aback. This new clinic basically told me that a short luteal phase can indicate poor egg quality so I'm not sure what to think! Mine is normally 10-11 days. I'm going to try and put it out of my mind now though and try and focus on the positives of the next cycle as worrying is not going to change anything.

I know how you feel about hoping you would get a bfp the cycle before your treatment. You hear of it happening to so many people. I was the same and felt a bit down and disappointed when it didn't happen. It also took me a good while to come to terms with the fact we needed ivf when most people around me are falling pregnant at the drop of a hat but now I don't care how the baby gets in there so long as we can have one.

Thanks ladies. We've been sent some paperwork to complete and take with us. Hubby's sperm has already been tested as he had issues when he was younger and everything is fine. Dogs you have an internal scan TrixirRay? If so what was it like?

Thanks for the advice SammieLou. I think I will. We're not desperate for a baby but if there's something wrong I want to know asap.

I know exactly what you mean about hoping to get a bfp before treatments and appointments. Fingers crossed for us all! X