Toot, Toot. Calling all dirty chicks! Jump aboard the charabanc with Barry & The Berries. Destination BFP" (thread 26)

[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.

Current passengers:

Happylass, 37, TTC since Aug 2012. 2 failed ICSIs. Time to defrost the spare.
Beaky 35, ttc coming up 3 yrs, 2x failed iui 1x long protocol ivf cancelled due to poor response. Awaiting follow up with FC and possibly short protocol IVF next.
Minx, 34, both tubes blocked, 1 buried ovary, appointment with consultant early March.
Nolly, 33, TTC 2.5 years, BFP Christmas Eve, MC New Years Eve. Awaiting "spontaneous conception" before IVF starts, August 2015.
Wild 40 - TTC for three years. IVF double-stimms freeze all embryos cycle started in February - due to complete May/June.
HampshireBlues 36 TTC 3.5 years, unexplained. Cycle 1 chemical pregnancy, cycle 2 abandoned due to cyst, cycle 3 failed. Plan thrombotic profile, scratch and short protocol.
Lumen, 35, ttc since Nov 2011, unexplained, two IVF cycles in 2014, both bfns, waiting for lap&dye and results of numerous bloods, aiming for one last IVF cycle in the summer.
Tigerdog, 34 ttc since Jan 2013. Unexplained. Starting ivf in March.
Gillster, 40, TTC since Feb 2012. Had IVF in Feb 14 and had 6 one cell embies frozen due to polyp. Cancelled FET cycles in Sept 14 and Dec 14 due to more polyps. Awaiting hysteroscopy before commencing natural cycle FET. Hoping to be at least PUPO on the 4th attempt!
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
Kuma - 40. TTC 2 years. Low AMH high FSH - DH antisperm ABs. Failed IVF June 14 and two cancelled IVFs Nov and Dec 14 due to poor blood results. Hoping for another try at natural cycle IVF end of Jan.
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. BFP Feb '15

Sorry I've been mia! Just had not a right lot too say!

Ha! Barking yes my scan was today. I've had a good week until last. night when I hasd a tiny bleed. Back into the pits of despair, no sleep, crying this morning, absolutely bricking it for scan...

ITS TWINS! And they're measuring just as the should with heartbeats just right too! Got another scan in 2 weeks to check progress! But for now oh and ...

Whaaaaaaaaat!!!!!!!! TWINZ!!!!!!!!!

We all said it was twins with those hcg levels

I can't imagine how exciting that scan was!!!! Talk me through it!!!!

Fantastic Jellie I'm so excited and happy for you

Wow!! Wow!! Wow!! Jellie - that's amazing news even though we all knew already Sooo exciting.

Big congrats to you too Kuma I can't believe you are finally underway. Everything is crossed for you for this cycle being perfect and giving you the right result.

Glad everything has gone well with your stitches coming out Beaky. It's not vain at all to worry about how it will affect your appearance. It's perfectly natural to think about that.

Patch hope things are going ok with your three follies. I guess it's one of those dreaded two week waits for you now to find out if it's worked.

Nolly thank you for posting that petition. If we all sign it then maybe ridiculous situations like Happy's won't happen any more. I agree with the others Happy don't tell them how many private cycles you've had. I highly doubt that your private clinic will liaise with the NHS - why would they? Love insider Tiger's advice on NHS ability to communicate with outside organisations.

Nolly I agree with Barking that your MiL will win. Are you sure that doing it on her birthday/ Mother's Day weekend doesn't just make it all too easy for her to get sympathy running her way again?

Not much going on here. I will start the Norethisterone tabs again in about a week to prepare for second stim cycle. I'm feeling really impatient and wish I'd just done the cycles back to back! Oh well, not too long to go now.

Jellie, that's amazing news, congrats

Happy, I'd be surprised if they ever found out about the cycles, I haven't asked at my FC, but some online research I did looked like it might be ok. Your private FC will send a report back to your GP, where a secretary will put it in a file which nobody will ever have a chance to look at as they are all overstretched. I suspect the docs at the FC would never stop you having a cycle even if they did find out, that's just a hunch though. When I asked my consultant about funding as I turned 40 before I could start my cycle they just brushed it off and said it didn't matter as the funding was agreed before the cycle started.

No idea why my follicle count went up. I've taken every supplement available to man at some point, taken random herbs, had acupuncture and been on the pill so could be any of those, or maybe the sonographer was just looking more carefully!

Kuma great news that you can finally get going. Everything crossed for you.
Beaky hope you're recovering well from your op.
Rain great to see you back.
Jellie a huge congrats again. DH and I have mentioned going abroad once or twice lately. If we do it won't be until next year as obviously I can only go in school holidays - but the seed has been planted!
Barking hope the stabbing is going well. Not long til the first scan now and you'll be able to see all those lovely follies progressing
Kuma there was a box on the consent forms asking if we'd agree to our GP being informed. I think we may have ticked it as we didn't think we had anything to hide!! I need to go for a smear in a few weeks so I'm casually going to ask if there's anything on my record. Rain I did ask for results from the NHS when we first went private but we go to a different hospital for the IVF and we're allowed 1 cycle without it affecting our chances so I don't think that will be an issue.
The reflexology was good (if a little more painful than I imagined) but it was the first one so it'll be a while before I see any results if any I was absolutely exhausted last night though and wonder if that had anything to do with it? She said I would be as she'd been 'moving things around'
Absolutely nothing happening with me. Waiting for first proper AF since the ICSI. Should be here any day now then we'll have a better idea of dates for the FET.
Hope everyone is ok. Have a lovely weekend all.

jellie! fantastic news.

yes, you're all right, MiL will win, and more easily on bday, mothering Sunday etc (smothering Sunday in my head). what can one do? it's dh's family, he's got say whatever must be said. I mentally turn into Wednesday Adams, that's the trouble! oh well. Af properly here after 6 days,what-iffing so at least GIN.

Just found a letter in the envelope that the FC gave us with the pg test in. It outlines the treatment/drugs I've had and is addressed to 'Dr......' Guess they are relying on me to deliver it. Pahaha

happy I love woo chat. you have to be in the mood though. 'alignment' is classic. I always wonder should I out myself as a scientist. probably not. a nice quiet lie down never did anyone any harm. never done reflexology, just woo needles, but it was about the most relaxing thing I've ever done. Which is on its own, right?

happy check if it's cc'd to go. if not then

Hmm. There's actually a (tiny) sticker with my address on in the top corner. Guessing they may have sent a copy to my GP also. Oh well, pointless stressing. Guess I could say that the 2nd one was a FET, as it just says 'Happy has has a 1/2/3 embryo transfer following a course of treatment'. FETs don't count apparently.
Nolly I'm the worlds biggest sceptic when it comes to the woo. But she did pinch one of my toes and said I can tell you have sinus problems (which I do). Also said she didn't pick up on any other issues. At worst it's a lovely, relaxing but expensive foot rub

ooh teacher berries

www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2015/mar/14/secret-teacher-demotion-work-life-balance

nolly it's happening everywhere. Just within my friends who are teachers I know a science teacher who quit her TLR, an assistant head who went back to being english hod, a deputy who passed her npqh (for headship) but is now applying for classroom teacher jobs, another science teacher who refused promotion when it was offered, DH was headhunted for a hod role at another school but turned it down, and has asked to resign his TLR in September, and obviously myself who quit completely in order to be able to avoid the stress during the fertility treatment.
And that's not friends of friends, that's only within my own circle of friends!!! Only those really focused on progression at any cost will end up still wanting the top jobs. The route to get there is just extra responsibility with no extra time. You're already working flat out to do the teaching job, the hours just don't exist.

Happy I'm also a woo sceptic... Maybe she just heard you sniffing

Jellie I knew it was twins! Such strong HCG levels. I'm so happy for you but can MrSmidge and I have one?

My usual screwy cycle following failed IVF has begun. Started bleeding on day 18. Expect it will now continue until day 33. Hurumph.

Saw some friends yesterday who had another friend come over with an 8 month old. She was so lovely, smiling all the time and interested in everything you do or show her. MrSmidge had seen her before at Christmas (when I was back in England) and said she's his favourite baby, and immediately asked for a hold. Then spent the next half hour playing high-five games and having her stand on his knee, chatting away to her. I didn't realise how soon they turn from tiny babies into small toddlers.

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.

How is everyone today? Surviving I hope!

happy how's day 2 post reflexology? When you said it hurt a bit, what kind of level are we talking? I'm interested in this stuff but already dislike having my feet touched, so if it's painful to boot I think that'll be a definite no no!

smidge I hope you get a more reasonable bleed this time, 2 weeks worth sounds grim.

Wotcha lovely ladies. Just enjoying the last of the weekend before heading away for another week.

jellie has it sunk in yet?!

nolly hope you survived the MiL.

barking how's the stabbing going?

smidge hope your cycles get back to normal asap.

happy did you enjoy the reflexology?

What are people's plans for the coming week? Busy one for me work wise but having a massage and seeing friends so not all bad!

Also an IVF stimming question: long protocol peeps, how many days did you stim for?

Rain refloxology is one woo thing I can't get along with. I don't want anyone touching my feet! Hope you're doing ok? When are you expecting to kick off Ivf?

What is all this squeamishness about people touching your feet Berries?! Not too sure what the problem is there.

Smidge that sounds like a horrible AF scenario. Hope it works out differently this time. Are you planning to do your FET next cycle? I can't remember if you ever said.

Lots of work for me this weekend and coming week. Oh well. We've got to pay for the IVF somehow.

Hope everyone is ok and all geared up for this week.

ooh tiger, massage! Lovely! I could definitely go for one of them this week.
Still no idea really when IVF might kick off. The clinic have our referral now, so we'll have to wait and see. The gynae we were under treatment with before referral estimated a wait of 6-12 weeks, which seems pretty good so fingers crossed that is still the case! Would love to be on the YBR before my 34th in June.

wild it all stems from having a really bad ingrown toenail when I was a kid! It was really painful and I had to have it surgically fixed but as it was just a toe, it was only done with local anaesthetic. While I didn't feel any pain, the sensation of having a toenail pretty forcibly yanked off my toe and the accompanying torrents of blood will stay with me forever. Maybe reflexology will help with that! Or, maybe I should stick with acupuncture!

Busy old week at work for me, not much fun planned at all. Got an overnight business trip tomorrow that necessitates fighting through London rush hour with a trolley suitcase - I am usually the first person to tut at those idiots and tomorrow I will be one of them. Sigh.

Just sneaking back to say congrats Jellie and hi to everyone else!!

Aww Smidge bless MrS! I have my fave little ones from friends and families children and those faves do make it hard sometimes.

Tiger I down regged for just over 3 full weeks then stimmed for 2, it felt like forever and DR was a bit of an anticlimax! By the time it came to simming I was dying to move on! What drugs are you using? Any q's just ask! Massages and tea with friends sounds lovely!

Wild remember you are doing your body a favour by giving it a little break! You'll be back on the stimming in no time

Rain that toe incident sounds awful and vom inducing. Fx your wait isn't very long for the IVF. Good luck with your rush hour nightmare tomorrow!

Think I've found a house so if everyone can send good berry vibes for me making an offer tomorrow Id much appreciate it! Hope everyone's working weeks aren't too hectic although they sounds full on!

Hi RP! Hope you and miniRP are doing well!

Just popping in to wish Barking all the very best for her scan today. Fx for lots of lovely follies.
Also sending good vibes to Beaky. Hope you get the house!
Will catch up with everyone else late. Have a good Monday all!

beaky good luck with the house offer!
tiger stabbing with gonal f fine, stabbing with cetroride (sp?) not going well at all! Got a big purple and green bruise with two red marks in it left over from yesterday's efforts, looks like I've been bitten by a snake .
Happy scan is tomorrow. Desperately trying to not get stressed about it. Feeling totally exhausted today and nauseous, which isn't helping.

Tiger my clinic gets me to start down regging on day 23 of a cycle. I think (because my periods are normally 33 days) this means I ended up stabbing for longer than might otherwise be necessary and if you have a 28 day cycle you might be able to take 5 days off my numbers.

Most recent cycle:
DR stabbing: 4 weeks
Stimming: 12 days (overlapping)

Previous cycle:
DR stabbing: 3.5weeks
Stimming: 11 days (overlapping)