We might be over 40 but we are young at heart, taking our supplements, shagging on time and waiting for the precious BFP!Over 40's TTC, join us here...

[Gumblossom]

Starting the new thread, Cloudjumper.

Anyone over 40, trying to conceive, whether it is your first or 6th (or more), we're facing the obstacles together.

I've been at it for 6 years now, but there are plenty of good news stories from these threads over the years.

Come and join us with your worries, woes,successes and milestones, we are here to support one another in our quest.

Congratulations, Cloud, what lovely news. Yes, funny, when you thought this cycle was a right off. I do hope it is smooth sailing for you, however, I do understand that it may be an anxious time for you. Remember we are here to hold your hand whenever you need.

Fromwest, I am sorry to hear it isn't going well. I hope by the time my message is posted, you are tucked up in bed at home.

I got a flashing,smiley face this morning. Hurray!Maybe ovulation will be at a reasonable time this month. With a bit of luck, perhaps I'll have a healthy egg pop out for a change

I'm home at last. Things went a bit pear shaped last night with heavy blood loss, nurses concerned I was going to pass out, then the placenta got stuck in the cervix and had to be manually removed. Ouch. Nearest thing to that is a head crowning down there.
Anyway, I'm fine now, if feeling a little light headed still.
Now to wait this mc bleed out, wait out the wtf cycle, and back to business.
The doctor discharging me asked if I was planning any more children....I said....maybe....in a very non committed way. Didn't want a ticking off. At least she didn't say there was any reason not to.
All the best to you Cloud. After 4 mc you deserve this to be the sticky one.

fromwest Poor you, that sounds like a bad night! Glad to hear that you are home now, please look after yourself. Is your DH with you? Wishing you a straightforward recovery

Thanks all for your well wishes. I am currently waiting for a call back from my GP about all the meds that I need prescriptions for - just spoken to one of their nurses who didn't feel confident enough to assess my needs and will pass the information on to the duty doctor. So more waiting for yet another call I really have a lot of respect for the NHS, but dealing with my GP surgery gives me the rage, they are so inefficient.

Just popping in to wish you a speedy recovery fromwest. Sounds like you've been having a really rough time. Hope you're over the worst soon.

Fantastic news on your BFP Cloudjumper

Fromwest, I am sorry to hear you are having a bad time with the mc, it's hard enough as it is. I've been away for a bit and sad to hear this. I hope the bleeding stops soon. xx

Sorry you're having a rough time Fromwest. Hope the recovery is quicker now you're home.

Really sorry to hear your news Fromwest. It must be so difficult and thinking of you.

Congratulations Cloudjumper on your BFP - exciting news!

Congratulations cloud and fromwest.

Well despite spending a week feeling premenstrual it appears the ovulation hormones haven't worked. No period, now on day eleven since I stopped taking them. Had a blood test a couple of months back that showed I'm not menopausal, but I have been BFing DS more than usual, including night wakeups due to teething. Rang my gynae, waiting to hear back, but has anyone had anything similar?

Dinah - Its not something I know anything about, but wondered whether you'd seen the TTC while BF thread? Link here. I went to visit my friend's gorgeous newborn DS yesterday, apparently conceived by accident (albeit very much wanted) after reducing BFs for his brother (had to stop completely for 3 days, then BF on a greatly reduced schedule). He was a lovely surprise for the parents after their older DS had taken 6 years TTC and 2 cycles of IVF!

I posted a week or so ago about my WTFFFF cycle, with a solid smiley face (positive OPK) on only CD8, and thought I'd update on the weirdness, as really not sure whether to laugh or cry. I've been trying to attach my chart, but can't make it work, so will try to explain ...

Because the smiley on CD8 seemed way too early (and CM was all wrong for ov) I carried on testing twice a day (with ordinary pink Clearblue digital ones that just give you a smiley or not, i.e. don't flash). I got another positive on on CD16, along with EWCM and, er, associated urges .

Ov on CD16 seemed to make sense. I'd taken Soy CD5 - 9 (but only 80mg/day, so hardly any) and Soy with that timing - as Jass pointed out - is thought to make ovulation later. Plus I read that Clomid can give false positives on OPKs, so maybe Soy might do that too (re the smiley on CD8)? I even read some complaints that Evening Primrose Oil (which I took CD1 - 9) can also delay ovulation.

Anyhow, we'd DTD every other day since CD8 (8, 9, 11, 13, 15), so then we DTD CD16, 17, 18 as well. I still thought the timing was off, as I only seem to get pg when DTD really close to a positive OPK (preferably just before the +ve) whereas DTD on CD15 was v. early morning, and CD16 was v. late (early hours of CD17) - working round a toddler who NEVER seems to sleep!

I had a good thermal shift after CD16, so I started to feel a bit better about things. But then a small dip between 4 - 6DPO (CD20 - 22). Then loads of EWCM (tmi, sorry) on CD22. So I did a late night OPK on a whim and had yet another bloomin smiley face! When it was still positive the next morning (CD23) I even got a bit carried away and wondered if it could be one of those positive-OPK-when-pregnant scenarios, but it was negative again by the afternoon.

As I clearly had no idea what might be going on, we DTD anyway again (on CD22 and 23), both really bored of DTD by now although surely this was pointless as even if the CD22/23 was ov, how much luteal phase could I expect? Should I deploy the progesterone pessaries I've got in the cupboard from last year's MMC (still in date, I checked)?

Three separate, positive OPK's in a month? Seriously??? DP is ready to leave home. I've spent the best part of 50 quid on plastic sticks . FF changed its mind about 6 times as to when I might have ovulated. Next month has to be better, it surely shouldn't be this effing hard! . Sorry for mega post. Rant over.

Wow Chewy, no idea what's going on in your cycle but am sending rapturous applause for dtd so much!!!! Now that's stamina. Hope next month is a bit more relaxing.
I'm wondering if I'm starting a weird cycle too. Had positive opk this morning on cd12. Very early so intend to keep testing. Dtd cd10 & as luck would have it, had hosp appt with dd today so both dh & I had day off but dd went to school for an hour this morning so we used that time wisely .
Good news is dd has been discharged from GOSH after a year of treatment (some of you might remember she had a virus that developed in to kidney problems). She has finished with all the meds & I just need to dip stick her urine every once in a while to check it is clear of protein. Woo hoo

Chewy, could this simply be an anovulatory cycle? Can you actually photograph your chart and post the photo here? What is your usual cycle length? Does your chart show a sustained thermal shift anywhere?

cloud, May I ask what mg of DHEA you were on before you stopped? How long had you been taking it?

I'm sorry for all the questions tonight I'm 7dpo with pathetic just-above-the-coverline temps .

Aww, great uplifting news about your dd Grizzer.

Chewy, with primrose oil ans soy,cmaybe weird interactions happened? i would not take progesterone pessaries as it would create additional confusions, and soy is supposed to push luteal phase proge up anyeay. So in case you get bfp - testing time really hard to predict- you can then start maybe?

WTF here too. This morning I finally had a bfn, after what looked last weekend like a period, albeit very light. It was 25 days after my first eprc, but only 2 weeks after second one. But doctor insisted it was period (had a 2w follow up on Friday). So maybe ai am on a new cycle now, but still not sure.

Cloud, how are you? Hope all looking good!
Fromwest, hope you are recovering well.....

flotillas I was taking 3x25mg/day of DHEA, and I think I started taking it back in January... But it was a lower dose of 50mg/day at first because I couldn't get hold of didn't want to pay forthe 25mg pills.

chewy I bow to your dtd endurance, that is very impressive. Don't think I ever managed that much in a row, not even when I was young and fit.

grizzer Fab news about your DD! One worry less for you.

I'm OK, thanks for asking jass. Managed to get to the GP on Monday and have started the progesterone, heparin and aspirin. Emotionally, I feel very detached... Totally head in the sand. I know I can't avoid it, but I am very scared of getting emotionally involved. I think I might consider having another therapy session at some point, as this worries me quite a bit. Ah well, we'll have to see. Currently working out dates, and if all goes well this time, I'm going to struggle with both our summer holidays (when I will need my 12 week scan) and autumn half term (planned to visit DSis in Berlin, but probably won't be able to fly anymore by then).
But I'll cross those bridges when I get to them. First hurdle will be the 8-week scan.

Cloud, head in the sand is good tactic! And we need you to go to term now, as it has been nothing but mc here lately!

Seems like a few of us are up the creek cycle wise this month.

Chewy have you thought of POAS? As in a HPT? (apols if I've missed anything crucial and am way off track)

Grizzer great news about DD

I feel fecking awful. Had two days of nasty PMS headache - a real killer. And now AF here. Thinking it's time to be realistic and just buy DS a puppy. I get so sad when I see him talking to all the local kitties like they're his mate or a sibling. And he's been such a handful recently too. Nursery had a good moan about him last week and he's been poorly and grumpy this week. I wondered, just wondered if the DHEA was having a negative affect on him so stopped it pronto. I will take all your advice and not bother with the soy this month.

Not only are the painters in, but now have builders in and they are a total PITA. Charming until they started job, but turn up all hours now, constantly hang out in street smoking fags (but it's ok, because they are low tar, so neighbours shouldn't object!!) But even worse, we are getting well stuck into a major reorganisation of home (ie walls down, moving rooms etc etc), and now we might have to postpone part of it. Arrghghgh. I have put up with living in a sh*t hole for years. It looks like I will have to make do with an even worse one now!!! Arrhghghghghg.

Sorry for the moan. A BFP right now would have been inconvenient, but so lovely.

Going to go and eat some worms.

Oh, Fireflies, hang in there lovely, I feel for you. It is a bastard having the builders in, it's so messy and disorganised. It would do my head in. I would be considering moving into a hotel (I say this knowing I'd never actually do it as I wouldn't be able to afford it!) It doesn't help that AF decided to turn up. I a bfp is always full of promise, so it would have been much nicer.

I certainly understand your reluctance to get emotionally involved, cloud, you've been through so much. Just take it one day at a time, remember our mantra,"for today I am pregnant".

Ah, Chewy, I really do understand your confusion. That was me last month, though not until I didn't get AF when I expected it. I suppose if I'd been doing opk's the whole time, I might have had the same confusion. It will probably all become clear when AF arrives or a bfp. However, all power to you for the stirling effort in DTD. You are a bloody champion!! I don't know how accurate I am, but if you are using the clearable opk's, they measure not just LH, but also oestrogen I think, in which case, it could be fluctuations of oestrogen (which could indicate pregnancy) that may be giving you the + opk's. When oestrogen is high, your temperature will be low (hence the dip just before ovulation, and the implantation dip (for some, not all, pregnancies).So that might explain weird temps.

It's a confusing and bewildering thing, this TTC, isn't it?

Flotillas, sorry to hear about rubbish temperatures, but do you recall similar complaints from our newest, up-the-duff member, cloud?? You're not out until the fat lady sings, or, er, the red aunt flows...

Well, I am back at work, three days in and totally fried already. Hasn't helped that DS keeps waking up in the early hours from "bad dreams" and it is only mummy who can make him feel better. So, I am not getting enough sleep, and that makes teaching a bit difficult. Luckily for me I am mentoring (that makes me feel old) a student teacher, so she will soon be doing the bulk of my teaching which will take the pressure off a bit.

I think I am about 3 dpo after having a nice solid smiley face, but temps aren't all that high, so not actually sure. We shall see...

Congratulations Cloud that's great news. Fingers crossed that all goes well.

Well, it seems like the month for wtf cycles. My temp is all over the place. It was up at post ov levels by about cd6, but has now dropped down again. I'm on cd11 and nothing on the opks yet (I usually get the flashing face by now). I'm going to try with a cheapy later and see what that says. I really can't believe that I would have already ovulated this early?? It would have been cd6 and af hadn't completely stopped by then!! Anyway, we've dtd cd7 and 9 so far. Hoping to get one in tonight (cd11). God knows what is happening. It is typical as this month I am going for a really intensive acupuncture approach - having a session every week - which is costing a small fortune, so I really can't afford for my cycle to muck about this month!!

Chewy - what day is your af due? It must be getting close, so if she doesn't appear, definitely do a test - sometimes these weird months can lead to a positive outcome.

joey Just a thought - any chance that the acupuncture could be contributing to your WTF cycle...? Some people react to it a lot more than others. Can't remember if this is your first time having it, or if you are used to it... I would tell your therapist what's happening, maybe s/he has any light to shed.
WTF cycles are so frustrating, I feel for you all!

I hate the brown spotting, I guess CD8 I should not have it anymore:-( If it is a cycle and if it is CD8, going by the day when spotting turned into bleed again......

Thanks for all your comments on my WTF cycle - very interesting food for thought. Although I didn't expect any, I was just feeling sorry for myself and sounding off. Now a bit for my self-indulgence.

On the subject of the DTD mini-marathon. I asked DP what he wanted for his (45th) birthday and he said 'a day off'. And he wasn't talking about his paid employment either. Me too. If only I'd had the faintest idea when ov might happen, I'd infinitely rather have DTD on, say, 3 consecutive days (-2, -1, Ov) then stopped. And got upduffed of course. Like Cloud for instance. Elegant and super-efficient!

I'm just waiting for AF now. Its CD27, nothing unusual there. Cycles are 25 - 27 days, with the v occasional 29 days thrown in to taunt me. Hypothetically, I might POAS on CD30/Sunday-ish, but have zero expectation of getting that far. I'm sure AF is around the corner, as I feel periody and ratty. Whereas when I've been pregnant, I've felt as though I was on a channel crossing ferry in rough weather by this point. Instead, I could probably offer Fireflies my services - go and kick those builders off their cigarette break and help knock a few walls down (but maybe not with the standard of workmanship FF has in mind!).

Cloud - hope you're feeling OK? Good to hear you negotiated the vagaries of GP appts and got your meds sorted so promptly.
About the DHEA - not sure if I've understood correctly - but I think you took 3 x 25mg/day, from early Jan to end Feb, so you'd stopped for maybe a couple of weeks prior to the BFP cycle? I'm sure I've read research somewhere (from CHR New York) that around 8 weeks of prior supplementation with DHEA (which is maybe what you did) is the point at which they see a statistically significant increase in BFPs and reduction in aneuploidy rates.
And do you think cutting down your supplements for the BFP cycle (after that 8 weeks or so) helped with making it a perfect one?

I also wondered whether that wonderful news you had recently from the MRI / fertility consultant (did he say a 50% chance of getting pregnant?) might've sub-consciously let your body relax and do its stuff - the power of positive thinking and all that.
Anyway, hope you'll have an entirely uneventful pregnancy and as Jass said, carry to term. (Christmas baby?)

Grizzer - great news on your DD. And well done for multi-tasking your time off for the hospital appt

Jass - it sounds all wrong saying I'm pleased for you that you've finally had a BFN, but hope you're onto that new cycle now. An odd thought, but setting aside for a moment how truly dreadful D&C's are, do you think (clutching at straws for positives) they could help regenerate the endometrium for the future, like an endometrial scratch is said to?

Joey - I had a course of accupuncture prior to falling pg with DD. Its certainly something I'd like to do again, although agree the most ouchy thing about it is the cost! I seem to remember they said it should encourage cycle into a typical mid-range pattern (towards 28 days with ov in middle) so maybe you'll ov a day or two later than CD11 perhaps?

Fireflies - sorry you're feeling down. Hope it'll pass along with AF and you'll soon find your lucky egg, with puppy entirely optional. Although your DS sounds adorable, and a credit to you that he's so caring towards animals, the opposite of kids you see chasing pigeons to try and stamp on/near them (why?) while the parents look on oblivious. Builder chaos and brick dust must be a nightmare, but bet your house will be amazing when its done.

Flotillas - as Gum says, hope you have Cloud-style 'rubbish' temps. Gum - FX for the OPK. Waves to Gerald, Dinah, Annie and everyone else.

Sunny weather's here. Some good luck all round please.

That was an epic post chewy! I can never manage to name check people properly. I post using my phone so it's so difficult to keep scrolling back and remembering who said what! Your Dh birthday present comment did make me laugh! Hoping after all that effort, your Af stays away.

I'm still waiting for AF. Think I am on about day 60! I had some ovary aches last week and got a positive opk (for the second time this month) so hopefully I have properly ovulated this time and things will return to normal.

I saw the GP and actually admitted we are still ttc. She wants me to have a blood test to see where I am menopause wise. I also pestered to have the other blood tests (is it day 3 and day 21?) Once Af arrives.

as always good luck everyone

I've not been posting much, just reading everyone's updates. I hope all is well with you, Cloud. And Chewy, epic effort on dtd, fingers crossed you get to Sunday without a visit from AF and get to test!

Sorry about AF, ff and fingers crossed for ovulation, ICallHim. I understand the need to pay for the extra lovely smiley oks, gum, they make me really happy too. I jump all day if a stick smiles at me.

My month has been rubbish so far, AF really knocked me this time, I was incredibly angry. It's just exasperating and so hopeless sometimes. AF and therefore grumpy week has been and gone, we are back to humping week and things are looking up, I feel almost serene now.

As an aside, what is the deal with all those vitamins? I have been taking them quite religiously for a while now and nothing changed! I never usually take any supplements whatsoever so I would have expected better skin and shiny hair, more energy and whatnot from this. Maybe I wasn't deficient in anything at all and now I just wee out tons of unneeded vitamins? One thing changed this month, I have copious (really) amounts of EWCM, never seen anything like it! No such thing as TMI in the world of TTC

Another wtf cycle here. 5 days early..... ohhhh well