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.

So Smidge, what did Mr Smidge say? How are you feeling now?

Lucie good luck for ec tomorrow, fx for some lovely follie action!

Sesame well done on your run and great that managed it in the time you hoped for! I really need to get my trainers back on too much and at the mo. Glad your scratch went ok, when do you start stabbing?

congrats to jellie exciting times!!!

Oooo Tiger how did the dress trying on go? Everything sounds so exciting, you're so organised! Any news from your FC? I'm grand thanks. Just loopy with mood swings and don't feel myself. I need to get myself in order before the next round and I don't have the willpower.

Clem sorry it wasn't your month. The show sounds interesting too. I have a consultation booked with a Prague clinic - Gennet. They do quite good prices and have an excellent reputation. They have a canny website if you want to have a look.

Ant sorry for the announcement. It's shit. A person I see most days is pg and it's hard.

Minx so pleased everything has gone well for you so far, I'll be crossing everything for the rest of the time. I'll miss you....... At least you won't have to do the baby corridor at moustachio towers now! Aww you and Smidge have finally got a seat in the cooter!! How brilliant.

Ungoogs how are you? Any news from the clinic?

Barking best of berry luck for your results tomorrow - take notes as in keen to hear all about it how soon do you think you can start?

Sorry if I've missed anyone, it's tricky trying to get back on here. Friday tomorrow at least

Ermm, copter not cooter!!!!

beaky thanks for that, will add gennet to my list to research.

time for a stupid quesion to everyone ( isn't my first stupid question, and sure as hell, won't be my last )...ref. supplements. I've been researching what additional supplements to get for me and dh today (head is pounding, and I have about 50 tabs open in my browser). how do I know what dosage to give me and dh, with each of the supplements? there seems to be a lot of conflicting info out there, so just wondered how you all decided...just want to make sure I don't mess this up.

beaky just so you know, a cooter is "a north american river turtle with a dull brown shell and typically having yellow stripes on the head" thanks google

Oh wow Smidge that's amazing. Brought tears to my eyes, it gives us all hope. I bet the nurse was made up too, not every day you get to break such wonderful news to someone!

As a newbie though, please could someone tell me what FUFC means?!

Well I've had an interesting few days. After my complaint to the hospital about the mixed messages from the secretary about my referral (which went like this):

1. I'm being referred
2. I haven't been referred yet and need to see the consultant again to answer my questions even though I insisted I didn't
3. I'm not going to get referred until I've seen the consultant....Grrrr

The lovely consultant phoned me yesterday. He said that he totally agreed that I didn't need to see him again, and that the secretary was just a low grade staffer and didn't understand the question (and yet was apparently still able to delay my referral and make decisions on who should see the consultant ) and that although my referral had been dictated it never got transcribed and sent . He then said that they had asked for a second opinion from an endo specialist, and today I heard that the endo specialist agreed that I needed my cyst dealt with before commencing IVF and so I've FINALLY been referred to him. Hooray!

Then he made me want to cry by saying "Obviously because of your age (37) you need to highlight the need to progress quickly". But it's progress eh.

And the moral of the story - you have to hound and complain to get anywhere with the hospitals. Sad but true.

Excellent news ungoogs! Keep in their backs. FUFC is fuck you fertility clinic i.e. You get a bfp just before treatment

Clem not a bother. I thought cooter was a word for fanjo! I'm liking the stripy turtle though!

*on, not in. Ffs!

OMG how am I only just seeing this?!? A massive congrats Smidge. Absolutely over the moon for you my lovely. FUFC indeed!!
Hope everyone else is ok. Will have a proper catch up tomorrow - another crazy week in happyland .

Good luck lucie hope it all goes to plan.

google that is entirely true sadly. I work in the NHS and it is just as frustrating on the other side too. At least progress has been made. I keep hassling mine but they are so busy there are no cancellations and a long waiting list. Fertility - the only thing where my usual determination and focus has achieved NOTHING! I hate waiting.

Dress trying was good beaky, have found one I love with room for a bump, wishful thinking Will try a few more before deciding. Nada from the FC. Have resigned myself to Jan start. I'm going to spend between now and then getting in shape! How can we motivate each other?!

Last day at work tomorrow before week off - whoooop!

So only 3 eggs collected again the same as last time. A bit disappointing but to be expected really considering i only had 4 follicles there. I don't know what I was expecting really. We managed to get 2 fertilised last time and both to blast and frozen but what's the chances of that happening twice. We will need a miracle! I'm going to rest my ovaries until Jan now and then try again. I'm thinking maybe the fact I am only having one cycle between treatments means the follicles are not responding so well.

Oh my word, Smidge! A proper FUFC! I think SydneyBristow was the last person to have one of those, and her son is now a year old!

(Google, it's a fuck you, fertility clinic, when you get a bfp just as you are about to start ivf)

Keeping everything crossed for you, Lucie

Hello everyone else

tiger and beaky I'll join you on a #FUFCcomeonwombs getting in shape drive. what we need is train yoga tiger. A good commute surely a chance for some lovely downward facing dogs, screw the audience

Hi everybody
It seems I've missed all the excitement. I've been away for uni prac so haven't been mn'ing.
Firstly a huge congratulations to Smidge!
I'll have to read the thread and catch up on everything.
I picked up my drugs yesterday after having all my blood tests. They rang to tell me all was good which was why I collected the drugs. I got a phone call today from the doctor telling me that I have had a positive reading for syphillis. It's a false positive which they and I both know but their protocol means that I have to cancel the cycle and have new blood tests in two weeks. I've taken leave, DH has taken leave, I have to now cancel all our flights. I don't know whether to cry or scream.

grin what a nightmare, that you have to cancel...how bloody disrupting. have a good scream I say (just make sure no nervous people around).

lucie sorry, I missed your post. 3 sounds good though, have everything crossed that they do well xx.

Thanks clem, I don't know how many mature yet though or if they will even fertilise so not feeling too hopeful about it all really but nothing more I can do now.

clem for supplements and doses I started with this link on fertility friends. And I've taken on board advice in it starts with the egg. I think barking posted a list of supps for men to take up thread. Aw cooter's sound cute....

googs glad that your chasing is finally paying off and you get to see the right sort of specialist soon and then get moving.

happy sorry about all the crazyness. Hooray it's finally the weekend!

lucie glad you got to ec ok, 3 eggs can definitely work. Fingers crossed for some good fertilisation news in the morning. When are you planning to fly home?

grin really sorry you won't be able to get going now. That's really shit news after all the build up. Is the plan to start on next cycle then?

beaky I start stabbing on Monday. Sorry things aren't too great for you right now. Hate that post failed cycle feeling. Yes better get your trainers on and get running, hopefully it will help. Go beaky go!

tiger time to get running too! glad the wedding plans are falling into place and you've already seen a fab dress.

barking how did your appointment go today?

smidge so tell us more...? Did you pimp? How did Mr S take the news?

nolly love the sound of train yoga... in fact I'm on the train now and I've got almost 2h left.... Perhaps it's time to start a trend...?

So I'm still thinking about the fertility show. I'm wondering at which stage I might start thinking about donor eggs. It might be an opportunity to check out some of the foreign clinics and get a feel for what they might offer. I don't know if I'm ready for that yet though. And London can be a bit of a faff.

Thanks sesame, I've just got home! Dh can't believe I only went yesterday morning and I've been to Czech Republic, had egg collection and back the next day!

I was thinking about donor eggs on the way back too. I don't think I'm ready for it either but I keep trying to get my head around it. The only real sticking point for me is that I think part of the excitement is wondering what it will look like and a combination of a mini me and Dh. I would miss that side of things a lot but I know I can't keep going on like this indefinitely.

Lucie I'm amazed too at how quickly you are back! Take some time to rest now girl. 3 is good - there's no reason for a low fertilisation rate is there? Didn't you end up with the best % stats last time with 2 out of 2 making it to freezeable blastos? I'm going to start pom-pomming anyway - someone put on Barry.

Tiger how fab you've found the dress. Sensible to try on a few more just in case, but I suspect you'll be back to this one. Once you know the make and model can you put Dr Google to better use and search for the cheapest stockist? tightwad, moi?

Well, I told MrSmidge this morning - at least, I put the pimp stick in his hand and he stared deeply into it (the line is way fainter than I expected people. Am trying not to be concerned) and had to be convinced that it was indeed a line. Thankfully telling him the nurse said their blood test was unequivocal helped. But I think shell shocked is the best description. He did give me lots of hugs initially and kept asking what we should do to celebrate but ever since then he's been really really quiet. All day. I mean, not grumpy as such but certainly not displaying the dictionary definition of being thrilled, excited, elated or indeed happiness. I'm hoping it's just going to take time to sink in!! To be fair, I've had a bit longer to accept it, and during that time did have the odd scared wobble about oh heck what now. So much of this journey has been about getting a BFP and all my research and knowledge is just about IVF, not an actual pregnancy let alone baby.

In the meantime I'm still a bit concerned about how faint the line was on the test - it claims to pick up from a couple of days before AF is due, anything over 25units. They said I was at 175, which seems a lot higher, so I was expecting it to be quite dark. I'm also still getting a brown sort of discharge too which, although not the same as my usual pre AF spotting, and I think brown must be better than pink/red, is still a bit unsettling.

I'll see if I can work out how to post the pic.

(This was taken at the best possible angle to make the line look darkest - in normal light you do need to squint a bit!)

Thanks to everyone for their congratulations. You are all amazing - Truly fabulous people without whom i think I'd have become a crazy humourless obsessive a very long time ago.

grin I'm so sorry the timing is all buggered up. If they know and you know it must be SO frustrating. But rules is rules and boxes must be ticked it seems Pah. I hope you aren't delayed for long.

Happy it sounds as if you could do with joining tiger on her week off. Hope the weekend gives you a breather.

Smidge, wow, I wouldn't say that's a faint line looks nice and clear to me. I would get some frers for your next test though. Thanks for the poms poms I think I need them. DH has said he will ring up for the results this morning while I hide in the other room as I just can't face it! We normally get good fertilisation, so far it's been 100% on the last two rounds that we've done. I'm pretty sure at least one of the eggs won't be mature though which is what happened last time. We did get 2 out of 2 to blast and frozen last time but I think we must have been extremely lucky and just not convinced that we could have the same sort of luck twice!

Wow Lucie that was a quick trip! Fx for 100% fertilisation and as you said you have a good record a of getting to blast so I'm sure everything will be fine. With regards to donor egg did you see this recently?www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3259508/Scientists-hail-amazing-discovery-s-revealed-infertile-mothers-use-donor-eggs-pass-DNA-children.html
We've already decided that if I don't respond to my next cycle or if the cycles aren't successful then we'll go down the donor egg/embryo route. It's obviously a very personal decision but neither myself nor DH feel strongly about having a genetic link - I'm not denying it would be nice in ideal world but, for us, it really wouldn't be an issue.
Smidge I can't believe you've kept your amazing news from your DH all this time!! There's no way I would've been able to keep quiet - but then I'm a total blabber mouth!

Smidge that looks like a good old fashioned BFP to me. Dont worry about it being faint, I'm sure in a couple of days it will be stronger. I can't believe you managed not to tell DH straight away. I imagine he's just concerned and letting sink in - it's all so overwhelming.

Lucie wow that's amazing, so quick. Fingers crossed it all goes well.

Grin how bloody frustrating!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend so far. I'm waiting for AF (I bloody hate that term, is there a Berries term for it that's not so bloody twee?!). Had some spotting yesterday so I know it's on its way, and because of my Endo it's usually excruciating - so I just want it to arrive and get the torture out of the way today while I can lie on the couch with my hot water bottle!

googs I agree, AF is an awful, very unberrylike term. We need to come up with something else.
Glad you and lucie think the line is normal. I might do another one in the morning (I was trying to wait til the third day but my will power is lacking). happy I'm not sure how I did either, I think I just had to see a line for myself before I could really trust they hadn't given me someone else's test results .

The annoying secretary called and has booked me in to see AliG on Monday. She was true to her name again, starting leading questions about not knowing why Alison wanted to see me, but 'perhaps it might be about progesterone support..???' Trying to find out if I knew.. Nosy woman. I didn't fall for it though, and just replied that I wasn't sure - and "I guess I'll find out when I see her on Monday" taking pleasure in my final chance for oneupmanship. For too long she has held the power

Will be glad not to have to deal with her again! I think she is my equivalent of the baby wall in mustachio towers. I'd love to lean over and draw a big mustache on her in permanent marker on my way out of the room!!