Strapping on our lady balls and going menkul because we HATE THIS SHIT!! The Berries: a lovely bunch of 30 something Ladybros TTC #1

[happylass]

The small print:

The Berries have strict entrance criteria: TTC #1 for 12 months+, over 30, NO instadiffers, must have a special pimping pot and absolutely no mention of baby dust/dancing. Not that we're fussy!

Current Ladybros:

Minx 35 - TTC 2.5 years. Stage 4 endometriosis, both tubes blocked, 1 buried ovary, IVF #1 started Aug '15 at Mustache Towers, if all goes well results due mid-Sept.

Smidge 39, TTC since Jan '13. Unexplained. Some high NK cell immune treatment. IVF#1 Short protocol Jul'14 BFN; IVF#2 Nov'14 and IVF#3 Feb'15 both Long protocol BFNs; Natural FET Jun'15 - Another BFN. Trying to work out what to do next.

Happylass, 37, TTC since Aug 2012. 2 failed ICSI cycles, 1 failed FET and 1 abandoned cycle due to poor response. Hoping to start antagonist cycle mid September. HATE THIS SHIT!!

Beaky 35, ttc 3 yrs, 2x failed iui 1 long protocol ivf cancelled, 1 short protocol IVF BFN, very low amh etc etc. In 2ww for 2nd sp IVF.

Tigerdog, 35, ttc since Jan 2013. Unexplained. IVF #1 chemical pregnancy. Currently redoing tests in preparation for IVF #2.

barkingtreefrog 36, ttc since Dec 2011. clomid bfp summer 2013 then mc @7 weeks, iui bfp summer 2014 then mc @6 weeks. Factor V leiden thrombophilia diagnosed at the repeat mc clinic. IUI bfn Jan 2015, IVF bfn April/May 2015. FET bfn August 2015, remaining frozen embryo perished. Pursuing private tests and then long protocol ivf in Oct/Nov.

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.

Kuma - 40. TTC 2.9 years. Low AMH high FSH - DH antisperm ABs. Failed IVF June 14 and March 15, cancelled cycle June 15. Last try September 15

Lucieloos, 36, TTC 18 months, low AMH & sperm motility. ICSI#1, April 2015, Czech, 2xblasts transferred, BFN. Icsi#2, cancelled before EC. Icsi#3, 2 mature and fertilised, both to blast and frozen. Icsi#4 in October, embryo banking.

Rain, 34, ttc since March 2012. unexplained. Mystery bfp oct 13, MMC Nov 13. IVF#1 Aug 2015

Sesame, 40, ttc with no dp, on this road for 2 years, multiple failed IVFs, 3 ETs, 1 bfp then mc, poor responder with v low AMH, but still looking for the golden egg.

nolly, 33, TTC 3 years, 1 confirmed MC, 2 more suspected. still in limbo

Spare, 34, TTC 3 years, IVF#1 short protocol + ICSI August 14 BFP but pregnancy loss at 20+ weeks, 3 failed FET, IVF #2 short protocol + PICSI August 15

Funkymonk 33. Ttc since October 2012. Mc June 2013, Mmc dec 2013, mc June 2014. Factor v Leiden thrombophilia. Abandoned IVF Jan 2015 due to thin lining. Abandoned FET Aug 2015 due to thin lining. 4 embies on ice. Cycling again November time I think.

Clem, currently on 3rd Clomid Cycle

Pip - quite simply the Best In Show.

Minx your otd feels like forever away still! Superdrug do cheap own brand tests if there's any near you.

Sesame I hope you went! I prefer running in the rain to the heat, when you get back and have a lovely hot shower and get all snuggly.... must start running again now

Hi everyone,

Antonia sorry to hear about your laparoscopy, but good to know that they've figured out what's wrong. How are you feeling? With me the bloody gas they pumped into me was the most painful, in my shoulder of all places. It passes with time, and a hot water bottle was a god send.

minx awwww you're like me! I have one ovary hiding away, they couldn't see it properly. I had dye test too, and they said that both tubes were clear so, and I quote "there's no reason the workmen can't get to the station". Thanks for that, the World's Most Patronising Doctor. I like the black pudding description for your grapefruits. They told me mine was the size of an orange, and being a chocolate cyst, I call it Terry's Chocolate Orange. Terry for short.

I'm in the N West, referred to Liverpool. I'm not eligible for NHS because DH had a vasectomy reversal (long story, previous marriage), but his SA came back really good, so the problem seems to be me. Might not be though, who knows, he may have scarred back up after the VR.

So, I'm waiting for them to chop Terry out properly, and then I'm on the IVF bus.

Thanks everyone for making me feel welcome. Sorry I haven't caught up with all of the rest of your news, I'll figure out who's who soon enough.

Can I join back in? I was here a while ago under a different name. I got frustrated with every baby and swore off the fertility forums for a while.
Anyhoo, about me.
TTC since Jan 13
Unexplained infertility. I have two fibroids and that's it. DH is fine.
Had every scan under the sun.
3 rounds of clomid - unsuccessful
1st IVF/ICSI - total fertilisation failure
2nd IVF/ICSI - total fertilisation failure
3rd IVF start next month.

Berries, I'm getting behind again, I have a busy week then there are hundreds of posts to read! Welcome Ungoogle sorry you're here, but hope we can help you get back out of here!

Happy that sounds like a hard time - I hope you don't get too bogged under.

Tiger that's great news, how lovely. Always good to have something nice on the board, other than the odd BFP!

Smidge - hope you're feeling a bit better, sounds like you've had a rough time.

On DHEA, which I feel is a bit of a specialist subject of mine, you can expect improved results to stimulation if you have low ovarian reserve. Norbert Gleicher's team in the US have done most of the work. He hypothesises that the age of your eggs doesn't matter, its the state of your ovaries and how they process those eggs - DHEA helps to improve the state of the ovaries. He has patented his work, this is the abstract:

The present invention is directed to a method of using dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to treat a human female with diminished ovarian reserve. The method includes measuring a baseline follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level of the human female, and when the baseline FSH level is below about 40.0 mlU/ml, administering about 75 milligrams of DHEA per day to the female for at least four months to treat ovarian follicles in at least one ovary of the female to improve human folliculogenesis during the at least four months. The present invention further is directed to a method of restoring the ovarian environment of an older human female to that of a younger human female. The method includes administering about 75 milligrams of DHEA per day to the female for at least four months.

If you want to read the who specification including experimental results you can download 130 pages from here ... not for the faint hearted!

My first consultant was pro DHEA and I took it for 3 months prior to my first IVF - got 1 top quality embie, but it didn't make it after transfer . For IVF no 2 I didn't take DHEA, got one egg which didn't fertilise properly. Current consultant isn't sure about it because she says there isn't enough research. I'm not taking it for this cycle - mostly because I've run out and am taking so many other supplements.

Hope that is somewhat useful. I'm very pro CoQ10 and omega 3s.

Sorry for those I haven't said hello to directly !

Wow I just can't keep up in here!

Tiger, that's fantastic news about your engagement and something to plan for and lol forward to. Congratulations!

Beaky, I haven't had my gennet appointment yet. I have deferred it until next year as I got frosties in my current clinic so made sense to carry on my embryo banking there. Gennet have a great reputation though and excellent embryologist a I would jump at the chance of a consultation with them if I were you.

Rain, I am also on short antagonist protocol this time. I used it for my first ivf cycle and found it worked a lot better for me than the flare agonist.

I did it, I ran! Thanks for the berry motivation minx! beaky, you're right, much cooler now and a bit more comfortable, tho getting starting to get darker.

googles I think I much prefer the sound of your chocolate orange to minx's black puddings...

grin hi, total fertilisation failure is a horrid thing to go through, it happened on one of my cycles. Did the fc tell you why they think that happened?

.
kuma thanks for the dhea info. Looks like I have some more reading to do. What are the other supplements you're taking?

Sesame nice to meet you too I'm just glad the surgery is over and done with. They thought I'd be back home same day but as there was more work they needed to do to me, it was about 7pm when they finished. I went down at 4pm!

Minx The doctor came over to see me the next morning to explain what happened (and to show me pictures of my insides!), then said we're going down the IVF route and initial consultation will be in about six weeks. I'm happy with that as wasn't expecting a decision so quickly! I'm now on the sofa, pot of tea, some chocolates and buggering about on the Internet. Lovely relaxing morning!

Ungoogle I'm feeling much better thank you, still tender! Got a whacking black bruise on the right hand side where they took out my chipolata sized tube though. The shoulder pain was the weirdest part, it was bad yesterday and today it's practically gone, just a twinge now and again. Mind you, the chocolates are helping I think...

The doctor said I should wait at least a week before I go back to doing yoga and the gym, or two weeks to be on the safe side for the gym. I do a mix of cardio and a bit of weights to keep my legs and arms toned up. I was thinking of taking up yoga again after a week and then crack on at the gym after two weeks. Is that sensible?

Evening Ladbryos. Praise be to all the Berry Gods above, it's finally the WEEKEND!! Someone please pass the real Champagne - don't bother with a glass, I'll have the bottle
Tiger huge congrats on the wedding - exciting times! I found all the planning totally helped with taking my mind off TTC. Where in Wales are you thinking of? Beacons? Gower? Further West? This link dropped in to my inbox today if it's any help m.travelzoo.com/uk/deals/Wales/?utm_source=localdeal_uk&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2109982_html_nationwide_deal%3a0&utm_content=2109982
Rain sorry to hear you've been feeling blue. Go easy on yourself you've been through one hell of an ordeal and it's still early days yet. Sounds like you've got some lovely trips to look forward to - booking hols is my coping mechanism too!
Welcome back Antonia and Grin. It really sounds like you've been through it Antonia. Hope you are making a good recovery - glad to hear things are getting sorted for you.
Beaky great news on your appt with Czech. How long were you waiting? Thinking I should get myself on the list just in case.
Lucie I took Northisterone on both my cycles at CRGW. AF appeared within 2/3 days of me stopping meds if that's any help.
Nowt happening chez Happy. AF is still playing hide and seek. Cd30 today. I'm a regular 25/26 day girl but I did have a 31 day cycle after my second failed IVF so it's looking more and more likely that the witch will make an unwelcome appearance mid Glamp tomorrow. Can't believe that we still haven't got anywhere yet - was hoping to have squeezed our 2 NHS cycles in before Xmas so that we could explore other options next year if necessary. Think any chance of that has now gone out the window - bollocks!! On the upside I'm definitely having a drink this weekend. I've been teetotal for 2 weeks now so sod it!
Hope everyone else is ok will try to follow events more closely, I promise. Have a top weekend all!!

Thanks happy that's helpful! I'm thinking 3-4 days although other have told me 5-7 which seems quite long so it's hard to judge. Hope you enjoy your glamping weekend and a nice few drinks. I have taken advantage this time in between cycles I can't keep living the life of a saint haha!

Hello ladybros. AliG finally called me last night - after I'd already given up coz she's on holiday from today and are uncontactable on Fridays.

So, we have a plan...
Long protocol (which I am begrudgingly agreeing to after the chat with the embryologist, even though I keep coming back to thinking it's just luck or the fact I started on CoQ10 that the long protocol gave slightly better results).

Got to use syneral this time - the nose sniffing thing, which I'm not keen on. Previously I've use lucrin - injections (but hey, they're easy now right!) which I liked coz I knew I was getting the right dose. But worried with sniffing that I'll spend my time anxious worrying about whether I've sneezed it all out again or something . Unfortunately the entire country (aus) has run out of Lucrin so there's no choice here. strangely I actually quite like having no choice

Using GonalF this time as the FSH. (Previously puregon). Dose being 200 instead of 150, so a slight increase.

MrSmidge and I have to attend an hour session with one of the scientists as AliG is insistent that we have any embryos put through PGD. MrS and I both kind of meh about this idea but AliG is adamant

Freeze cycle, await results. Possibly do another fresh (will the bank balance allow?!). Then FET.

For FET I've reasked about extra oestrogen coz I was concerned about my lining. (She wasn't). I said I'd heard >9mm was way better than >6mm and my last cycle they only measured just over 6. She checked and said my stimulated cycle was 8.8mm so fine, and for the FET at 6.4 the measurement was taken a few days before, so she would expect it to fatten up more before transfer. She has said she's happy to do a repeat dildocam next time to put my mind at rest. V happy about that.

She's also agreed to a combination of HCG and progesterone support given my bleeding. Hurrah.

So - better late than never! Just checked the dates though and it's looking a bit tricky. (1) first bloods supposed to be on Friday but I'll be in Melbourne, so they've had to send me the blood test form and I'll have to find somewhere to take the blood there and let them know. (2) I'll either be on stims or even trigger when I'm supposed to be camping with a bunch of friends. Pretty sure they need to be refridgerated and timing and cleanliness not v easy to achieve in a tent!! I haven't told MrSmidge about this as I know he'll be cross and want to put it off. (Whereas me, I don't mind an excuse to have to miss the camping - it's only 2 hrs away, I could always just go for the day...)

Sorry for the me me me post but am on the phone, so will post this now and return later to comment on others..

Well done on the running sesame. I will go tomorrow (honest!) but today I'm feeling a tiny bit hungover after last night's amazing meal - five courses, plus lots of little extras and matching wine! It was bloody lovely!

smidge the plan sounds good. Does your LP involve downregging for two weeks then stimming? What makes you feel reluctant? I think I will be LP for my next cycle, the difference being that I'll have very close monitoring, whereas my first cycle was pretty light touch - no bloods at all for example.

Cheers for the link happy. There's a couple that I might take a look at - have you ever booked through travel zoo?

welcome back grin. Do they know why total fertilisation failure? Sorry you've been through this shit.

Waves to all - I'm just about to go and try on some wedding dresses!

Just checking in quickly to say good luck to Minx for your blood test today! When will you hear from the clinic? Fx for great numbers.

Tiger enjoy wedding dress shopping!

EWCM on cd31 and 19 days since I stopped stabbing . What the hell is going on?? Even if my whole cycle had started again I would have OVd by now. Am never going to get going again at this rate
Tiger yes I think we have booked a few things through Travelzoo - never any problems.

Tiger congratulations! Wedding planning with definitely keep you occupied. I think it's a great idea to try on wedding dresses after a fancy 5 course degustation menu, means you won't have to worry about it fitting on the day

I'm a bit reluctant re LP just because I felt the 2 LPs I had before were less likely to work than the original SP. perhaps I was just more naive the first time with SP, and was less worried about spotting, and maybe I was IVF weary by the 2 LP attempts. But I just never felt as if they were going to work. Literally from about 2 days after transfer. And although I got an extra blasto they were of poorer quality 2:3 instead of 2:1. However, on the upside this time we'll be separating the EC from the transfer, so perhaps it won't be a problem.

Welcome googles. I think it's a great sign that your insides are chocca with endo, coz this is clearly the cause of your infertility, and IVF works wonders in those situations. As others have said, 3 cycles should be possible within a year - however, I reckon you've a good chance of not needing that many now they know your problem

beaky and sesame thanks for your info on the DHEA. I'm quite pleased to hear it's for egg quality rather than implantation, as I've realised I won't be having a transfer for ages! However, am a bit concerned now that it hasn't been shown to help for people with good egg reserves she says, still clinging on to her good AMH test from two years ago . Hey ho, I'd rather give it a go I think.

rain I've used cetrotide before. The only difficulty there was that I had to mix it myself - a vial of powder and one of liquid. Make sure you swap the needles - one was fat just to mix the ingredients, the other is thinner for the injection itself.

antonia I'm glad you found us again. Your incisions sound just like mine, which are now fading away. I'm amazed you're thinking about going to the gym in two weeks though, I felt tender for quite a while. As for googles I think it's a real positive that they found endo. IVF works really well for that cause of infertility.

beaky glad you're having a family boozy/eating weekend. Make the most of it! (She says, quaffing a large glass of red)

Grin welcome! But I am too curious, what name were you here under before?

happy enjoy your drink!

Oh, and thanks berries for asking - the cystitis is a lot better than it was. The doctor left me a message this morning mobile rang mid coitus*, and MrS refused to let me answer it to confirm that the tests showed the infection was indeed the expected bacteria that should normally be elsewhere in your body, and that the antibiotics she'd prescribed should therefore do the trick. Have to say though, I've only got two more days of taking them left, and although it's a lot better, it still doesn't feel quite right. Fingers crossed 2 more days will make the difference.

*it's shag week, and much as I keep thinking I'll ignore it, I just can't help but try.

happy dare I say it but isn't EWCM a sign of pregnancy? 19 days since you stopped stabbing... Did you get it on? If not, I guess it's just yet another mindfuck that this process sends us. But I would have thought you'd have ovulated a while ago by now.

As a tmi aside, when mentioning ttc to a friend before the IVF, they asked if I knew when I was ovulating. I said that this whole EWCM thing is impossible to detect once you're having sex all the time! How can you tell the difference between that and ... Well, you know

minx good luck for the test! So exciting!

Smidge I wasn't a prolific poster but I was HowsTheSerenity.

A tentative wave to you all......

I'm 37 have been TTC for 2 1/2 years. Have been referred to NHS fertility clinic. Just had a hysteroscopy and laparoscopy which showed nothing. Never been pregnant and feel like I never will be pregnant.

Work in a job that requires me to do 12 hour shifts on a 7 day fortnight rotation. Meaning for 2 weeks I work from 0600 - 1800, then swap for 2 weeks of 1800 - 0600. Sick of people telling me that my job means I won't get pregnant. I guess I'm meant to give up work and pay for IVF from my imaginary treasure chest filled with unicorn gold. Believe me I would LOVE to leave this place (check out the time of my post, yes 04:45 on a Sunday morning - guess who's wooooorkkkiiinnngggg??!) but the possibility of leaving somewhere I've worked for 15 years to find another job in my, particularly fickle industry fills me with anxiety (not good for TTC all that stress!)

I have workmates that are AGGRESSIVELY fertile. The idea was always to get pregnant then leave after maternity leave - how I laugh at those plans now.

I feel like time is running out. I feel a failure for not being 100 % tee-total, wheat free, unstressed, vitamin taking, pure vessel into which a fetus could implant. I feel guilty every time I do something that a TTC person is not meant to do (like have a glass of wine) that I deserve all the infertility I have.

I want to get on with my life, I'm sick of waiting for the NHS to dictate when this can happen (they've already lost my referral once).

I want to kick every person that tells me to relax in the face. Along with those that suggest timing sex (we do), acupuncture (doing it), holidays (with money from the IVF savings you mean?), yoga (yup I've dragged myself there after a 12 hour night shift on 3 hours sleep), reflexology (check), clomid (according to my NHS consultant I don't need it). Oh and just for good measure "you are relaxing aren't you?", well in between bouts of chronic insomnia due to shift work (that I feel guilty for taking zopiclone occaisionally for) and racing around to try and fit in all of the above, the answer is "kind of".

I'm scared of private IVF. I'm scared of it not working and not knowing where to stop. I''m scared of it bankrupting us and destroying our marriage. How the fuck do you even go about finding a private fertility clinic anyway?

Woow - that was a barely literate rant. I only wanted to say hi.....

Sorry berries, ive found it tricky keeping up this weekend as I've mostly been drunk, although I haven't felt good for it either following mornings. I've not really drank for about 6/7 weeks I think!

Anyway, Grin I remember you! Welcome back, how are you doing?

Water yes to a pot full of unicorn gold Are you unexplained then? IVF is scary but that's why these threads are great.

Happy wtf is going on there? Get the white trousers on and see if that helps move things along?!

Smidge about your lp, this protocol is usually the first choice for IVF clinics, because unless you're a poor responder or have low ovarian reserve it's thought to get the best results. So I'd say that there is still a lot of hope that it will work well this time. It is a nightmare having to make these decisions though. Hopefully the dhea will help regardless of your amh. What's your afc like? When do you start stabbing? Also gonal f and pregnyl both need to be kept in the fridge.

Tiger that meal sounds amazing! And it sounds like you had a lovely anniversary. How was dress shopping? What type of style do you fancy? There's an fb page called dog friendly Wales, if that's any help to you?

Who's for running today? Sesame, Tiger? I promise to do my first one post IVF. Af isn't even here yet, how annoying! It'll probably arrive for us going away for a few days next week. Great eh! Also I've stopped spotting despite being off the progesterone now. Arghhhh.

Weirdly I came out in an allergic reaction to baby wipes after erm, cleaning my face with them the other day. The whole think went red and swollen! That's never happened before. Don't you love IVF berries.

Smdge ahh camping. The joys of summer. No lucrin Australia wide? That's weird.

Beaky I'm well thanks. We have moved to bumfucknowhere, I've left work and am now studying full time and start cycle 3 in a month. I'm changing clinics after this one (if it doesn't work) as I don't like them.

Antonia Sounds like quite a job that surgery! Hope you heal quick and you get to go back to all those activities very soon. It’s not really the same, but when I did yoga during IVF I would go easy on all the postures that sort of put pressure on that whole pelvis area, like twists (doing the modification) and didn’t go into shoulder stand following the instructions my teacher gives the preggos I also went easy on some of the core strength work.

lucie if it helps, I got af about 3-4 days after stopping norethisterone, after taking for over a week.

happy sorry about the non-appearance of af, sounds like you may not have ovulated immediately when you stopped the drugs. When I’ve had an anovulatory cycle, there’s no way of working out when af shows up. Although given smidge’s session, perhaps you should pimp…?

smidge glad you got to talk to AliG and it sounds like you have a plan. Good news. Gonal F doesn’t need to be kept in fridge once it’s been opened. As for the trigger, it depends which one you are taking. Best to take advice from your fc/pharmacist.

tiger how did you get on with the dress shopping? And did you run today?

minx how’d you get on with your blood test?

water hiya and welcome, sorry that you are going through all this shit. The hfea website is a good place to start to read about what treatment involves and for advice on how to find a clinic.

beaky glad you’ve had a chance to let your hair down, hope you’re not too hungover today? Did you run? I’ve had a sore leg the last couple of days so haven’t been out this morning, cos I don’t want to get injured 2 weeks before the race. . Will wait to see if I feel better later, and maybe go out for a walk run. Resting with laptop right now.

grin sorry about your clinic. I have a bit of a love-hate with mine. It’s great that it’s convenient, they don’t have a waiting list, and I know their limitations. But I’m really sick of hearing all the effing bad news, doom and gloom, cancel now and go donor stuff from them all the time. They also messed up over my meds on the last round. I think for now though it’s better the devil I know….

So I’m feeling a bit rubbish this weekend, af is here and I’ve got horribly oily skin, and wondering if it might be the DHEA? My follow up at the fc is tomorrow and I’m not feeling too good about it. I do want to go another round on my next cycle. But I think it’s now my last chance to try this year, which I’m a bit depressed about, having got nothing at all out of treatment over the last 6 months. I know I’m not there yet, but I turn 41 in the new year, and I didn’t want to still be doing this at 40, let alone at 41...

Oo Grin the whole work/study thing sounds good, weren't you having a really shit time at your old job? Good luck for round three. When does it kick off?

Sesame are you sure about gonal f? I've had it 3 times and always been told by the pharmacist it needs to always be kept in the fridge. Once I left the pen out as I thought I didn't have to take any more, but I needed one more night so the nurse rang the company to check and they said not to use it and get a fresh one. Weird though eh.
I've not ran yet, I've been lazing around and watched Home Alone 2!! I love Christmas films. Feeling super depressed today but the wine last night and hormones will not be helping. Anyway I hope your leg is ok, that would be rubbish if you had an injury for your race. Good luck for your follow up, don't let them push donor eggs at you. Will you start straight away since Af had just arrived or do you mean next next cycle?! I think there's a lot to be said for sticking with the familiar of your clinic, I know if had to change I would miss the lovely staff at my current clinic. I do really think a lot of them. I just wish they'd get me diffed.

Anyway off to watch the rugby internet shop secretly and make a nice chicken dinner.

beaky Gonal F leaflet says max 3m out fridge, below 25 degrees, or 28d if opened. Aw thanks, I'm sorry you are feeling down. But I hope the secret shopping and nice dinner make you feel a little better. My af is a little early which is what I had expected, so it's too late for this cycle. But I intend to start on the next one, which gives me 4 weeks to enjoy not having treatment and to take my supplements.

Shocking! At least I only pay an NHS prescription fee! That will give you extra time for the dhea and coq10 to do their stuff at least sesame.

Thanks sesame, the Gonal-F sounds the same as my Puregon in previous cycles. Long term storage in the fridge, but once you've been given it for a cycle it can stay out at room temperature (well, below 25ish degrees anyway). I just went to pick up my Synerel and asked the nurse who confirmed it definitely is OK at room temp. As it happens, the syneral wasn't there - they're now going to send it over to my house in a taxi this afternoon, as this was my second failed trip to pick up. So... I guess that means I may not have an excuse to avoid the camping trip (unless it clashes with the trigger of course). As for the DHEA, oily skin is definitely a common side effect - the Prof said to me though that it often depends on whether you had the same thing as a teen. I was fairly un-spotty as a teen and sure enough the DHEA doesn't seem to have made me greasy. (Slight shame actually as I was hoping it would stop my hair from looking so dry!).

seren! I remember you. I will struggle to call you Grin but will do my best. I hope you're not feeling too down in the dumps about this crappy process. I'm beginning to think this attempt is going to be my last. I think it's made me so crotchety lately that kids/teenagers I come across are just getting right on my nerves - and I'm beginning to wonder if the 'it's so different when they're yours' thing is just a con. still want a baby though

I read a thread on the infertility board about how boring this whole process is and it struck a major chord. There is only so long I can let it keep impacting my actual, existing, current life. MrSmidge went all quiet this morning. I managed to get out of him that it's the IVF thing (I'd mentioned picking up the drugs this morning). He said he doesn't want to have to watch me getting my hopes up and then have to deal with me crashing after. I didn't really know what to say.

Beaky haha at being drunk all weekend! Hope you had a good time (despite the hangovers). I'm not sure what my afc is. I've had 10, 8 and 8 eggs collected in my previous cycles (from more follicles), but I think my first scan each time is around day 6. I'm guessing it can't be an issue or they would have changed something before. I've got my day 21 blood test on Friday to check I've ovulated (should have been day 22 but they suddenly seem to have decided against this blood test at the weekend (?) ). Assuming I have, I'll start the synerel, and from experience I'd say I'll be on that for 2 weeks before I get my period and start stimming. (cycle normally 32-33 days and a bit longer when downregging).

Welcome newbies. Pull up a pew and have a or of your choice.