The Bumsnet Bus: It doesn't matter how long your journey, or how many twists and turns you've taken, there can only be one destination: BFP! Wipe your flaps and jump aboard!

[eskimoflo]

Thought I'd get this party started. Here's the stats: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sHG9PPsOs0yIqgR-o2UXX_fdlCQXdVNLfmPpNOePPjQ/edit

May this bus yield many BFPs! Hoorah!

welcome newbies!

I've just been through the last few pages and updated all stats. Could everyone have a look at the spreadsheet and check it's all UTD please?

I spoke to the consultant's secretary today. He wants me to try another round of clomid at 150mg. I'm supposed to wait until two weeks after AF is due, take a pregnancy test and then, if nothing, start the progesterone pills again. However, if I do all of that , it's going to take me into January and I'm going away for two weeks over Christmas, to two different places so am at risk of having a cd21 when I'm away. I've therefore worked out that, if I start the progesterone pills next Wednesday (18th), I should have cd21 around the 18th December, which is the day after I come back from Germany and two days before I go to the Lakes! I don't think it will matter if I start the pills earlier than I should because a). I didn't ovulate anyway, and b). we last DTD 11 days ago, so unless it's an immaculate conception, I will not have conceived in the last two weeks!

Hope everyone's ok [santa]

nervous I Haven't, there's one around the corner from where I work, might give them a go...

Hmmm eskimo as long as you're 100% certain then why not give it a go. Is another round of clomid what you were hoping for? I know you felt rough last time around.....?

Thanks for updating the stats Eskimo
I take folic acid if you want to include that? Xx

DizzyN I'm not sure what I was hoping for really I do feel better just doing something. It's the almost unbearable waiting around limbo that drives me insane, and I've had it for a year now, so I'd much rather be taking pills, or counting days. Having said that, when we went away at the end of August, I took a complete, self-imposed break and it was bliss. No pills, no pressurised DTD, no calendar counting. But if I do that again, it will get to my follow-up appointment in January and I'll be in the same position as I am now. I think, if I get another round of clomid in before that, they will have more to go on won't they? Aaargh, it's so difficult! If I do the clomid and get another cycle out of the way before crimbo, at least I won't have to do any tests and things over crimbo.

You were asking about an actual diagnosis. I haven't really been given one as such. My consultant is a bit abrupt and rather stern, so I didn't ask many questions at my last appointment (when I was prescribed clomid back in June). I did manage to muster up the courage to say 'Do you think it's the after-effects of taking the pill and my system just isn't working again after stopping it?' and he nodded. That was it! Just a nod! He may be more open in January...

eskimo that is so frustrating. Could he be just agreeing with you to keep you quiet? Does he actually know? I'm annoyed for you. You should be given a reason this is happening to you. At least then you can gain some acceptance of your situation and plan head properly rather than never knowing what might happen next. Its 2015 for goodness sake! They can transplant a persons face or give them a robotic arm but they can't figure out what someone's ovaries are up to?! Really?!

Sorry for the rant! Its probably a bit rich coming from me, with my wildly irregular cycles yet I haven't even bothered trying to speak to my GP again about it

At least he's presented you with some options right now. If I was you I'd want to take the pills then relax over Xmas. You can always take a break after January?

Hi eskimo, I'd definitely take the clomid for another month. Like you say, the waiting is just horrible, feeling like you can do something - even if it's just taking a pill - will help get you to that appointment in Jan. I've had a pack of clomid in my cupboard for a couple of months now and I'm desperate to be able to start taking it. At least you know you have that appointment to get to and it will save the "what if" of the month in between.

How are you feeling in yourself? X

Thanks ladies. It has made me feel a bit better to have a 'plan' in place, and if the clomid doesn't worj in December, at least I'll have something else to go on for my follow-up appointment.

DizzyN I think he just wanted to give me my prescription and send me on my way. Clomid is a fairly common (and cheap) solution to hormone imbalance or ovary issues, so it would have been everyday stuff for him and he may have thought that it would be sorted within a few months?? I don't know. Maybe after having the highest dose and that only working sporadically, they will spend a bit more time on me? Or maybe he's just overworked, stressed and fed up with his job? (I know that doesn't excuse it, but I can't help feeling that the kids I teach don't always get 100% the best of me, especially with what's going on at the moment, so I could cut him a bit of slack.

nervous I know exactly what you mean by a desperate feeling to start clomid What is your next step? The prog pills for an extended amount of time? Hopefully that will make you have a proper, full on bleed and you can get things moving I am feeling fairly glum, but trying to keep chipper. We will get there, we all will

Hi Ladies,

Thanks for your welcome to the thread. Looking forward to my G.P appointment 2moro, it would be wonderful if the g.p would prescribe the clomid, i'll just have to see how i get on.

Can anyone tell me exactly what to expect when i get the clomid? i understand that i have to have had a bleed before anything, do i then have to wait for the next bleed before i can start taking the clomid? i'm extremely confused by it all. Also, would you suggest that i buy anything else? i mean, i'm so all over the place with my cycles etc so i wouldn't have the foggiest idea when i was suppose to ovulate or anything! I feel like such a novice at the whole baby making thing

Amy Ask any questions you like. I'm sure that between us, the ladies on this bus have pretty much been through everything!

You start to take clomid on CD2 of your cycle, (so the day after you start your full bleed) and continue until CD6. They will start you off on 50mg if it is your first time, which means 1 pill every day. People advise that you take it last thing at night, as clomid commonly causes hot and cold sweats, which can be very uncomfortable. Taking it before you go to sleep can ensure that you sleep through some of these symptoms. It will also possibly cause mood swings and irritability. On the first day of your period, you should book cd21 blood tests, which will reveal whether or not your dosage has worked. If you have ovulated, they should prescribe you a further 5 months at the same dose (so 6 months in total). If you have not ovulated, they will up your dose to 100mg, and then 150mg, which is the highest dose that I know of.

I wouldn't advise using OPKs as clomid can interfere with the result; however I always end up going against my own advice and getting false positives throughout my cycle, thus giving me false hope. I never learn...

I think that the best and most reliable way to track ovulation is through temping. Although I've never done it, I am going to give it a go on my next clomid cycle. There are ladies on here much more experienced than me who will be able to advise you about temping. Good luck for your appointment tomorrow. Let us know how it goes

Oh... just read that it's the GP that you're seeing. As far as I'm aware GPs are no longer licensed to prescribe clomid, and haven't been able to do so for a good few years. They will probably book you in for cd3 and cd21 blood tests, if you haven't had those already. After that, they will probably refer you to a fertility specialist. There's really not a lot else they can do. GPs are pretty clueless when it comes to fertility, I'm afraid.

Sorry for being absent for a while, work has been driving me nuts and I've not had a second to myself.

I was also trying to keep things nice and relaxed in the 2ww, but with 1 week to go, I've noticed my boobs are aching and I'm feeling nauseous. I'm on anti sickness tablets so the nausea is unexpected. I used to always get sore boobs in the week before AF, but since I've been on hefty painkillers, I've not had anything like that. I'm 7dpo so realistically it is too early for symptoms, and it's most likely just AF ramping up to come early, but it's so hard not to hope.

I'll have a read back during my lunch and catch up with you all, but just wanted to say hi

eskimo its hard to keep chipper but try and keep busy ( the run up to xmas usually is and with your trips away hopefully that will be a bit easier) and the Jan appointment will be here before you know it.

DizzyN the more you talk about the cause of our problems and attitudes of GPs/Consultants, the more it gets me angry too. I wonder whether they think because it isn't life threatening and "just" so we can have a baby, its not as important as others. Maybe its laziness, maybe its lack of resources, I don't know. But it certainly doesn't help, if we knew more about it we could do more ourselves, preventative or otherwise.

With the clomid Amy I had it prescribed by my GP but only after I'd separately been to see a private consultant, he'd written a list of recommendations to my GP if I didn't have a period in the 3 months after i saw him. So I suppose the intent came from him, but technically she wrote the prescription. not sure if that helps but just ask and see where it gets you.

Went to the appointment this morning. Seen a very nice female G.P. asked all the relevant questions. Last AF, ever been regular, when i noticed the changes, what investigations ive had, what investigations DH has had. Sent me for a blood test, LFT, FBC, Thyroid, HBA1c etc etc. Obviously they can't do the CD 3 or 21 bloods as i haven't had a period since June. Referred me to gyne.

She said because of the gap in time since i was last at gyne, she was unsure which avenue's the Doctors and specialist will want to take, whether they'll want to start a complete fresh or whether they think that they've done all investigations which can be done. She did also say that there would be a few weeks wait for an appointment, which i don't particularly mind as it's coming up to Christmas and the next 6 or so weeks will be busy, hopefully this next few weeks until i receive my appointment will go quickly!

amy a few weeks for an appt is good, earlier in the year I was speaking to my GP and they said it would be months! Annoying how treatment varies depending on where you live. Great for you though, hopefully you'll get a date soon and you can get some answers.
Perhaps write down a load of questions to take in with you, I wish I had done that!

Nervoussam thanks for the tips on writing stuff down. Hopefully it won't be long until I get the ball rolling properly!

Hi everyone, thanks a lot for the welcome, you're a lovely bunch

You'll have to bear with me while I try and catch up and sorry if I ask stupid questions you've already answered!

magpie - I've been thinking about cbfm for a while and got it on amazon. Agree it's a bit of an investment though - especially with the sticks as well! But if it works it'll be worth it! I came off bc back in March and had a 32 day cycle but since then I've been 28-29 every month except last month which was 38. I'm hoping it was just a blip and perhaps my body doing something strange after my treatment. I've been using cheap OPKs before that and they seemed to work ok for me.

dizzy thanks, it was a pretty horrible time but I suppose I just have to be glad they caught it early.

sammylou - I've been trying to read back a bit and sorry you seem to have been having a tough time. For what it's worth I think you were totally right not to go to baby shower - you have to put yourself first. You also seem to be resident temping expert! I've just started this month (throwing everything at it so to speak ) so may well be coming to you with questions!

I just wanted to ask a (probably TMI) question - does anyone else not really experience EWCM that everyone talks about? I definitely notice that I have different CM at different times of the month but I definitely don't get loads. I don't shove my fingers up to check or anything but just when I wipe etc! I'm fairly sure I ovulate but no actual proof - I get lower back pain and then positive OPK and I perhaps feel a bit wetter but definitely not lots of EWCM. Should I be worried? I've bought pre-seed to help but find it spoils the mood a bit!

soda the quantity of cm doesn't matter and no, you shouldn't be worried as cm doesn't mean you have or haven't ovulated, only that you're fertile. But not seeing ewcm doesn't necessarily mean you aren't fertile either as not everyone has it. Wet cm or a wet sensation down below is good. Don't worry if you can't see ew. Lots of people get bfps without ever seeing ew.

I usually see my ewcm after I've.....ahem......moved my bowels.....! There's a possibility that the reason you don't see it is because it's plopped out down the loo and been flushed away! If I go looking for it I usually can't find it either!

Thanks Soda, it's been a tough few months. We're on an enforced break now so I'm just trying to keep myself busy.

I'm not sure about expert, but I'm definitely happy to try to answer any temping questions you might have. It's not for everyone, but personally I like the reassurance of know for definite whether I have ovulated. Xx

Thanks for the reassurance re CM dizzy. It's so strange - I never paid any attention to this kind of thing before but TTC definitely turns you a bit mad!

I've also started acupuncture this month I've officially lost it

Thanks sammy first question coming up! I tend to wake up around 5.30am, toss and turn a bit and sleep fitfully (bloomin noisy neighbours) until the alarm goes off at 7.30 so I take my temp at 7.30. Would this work ok? Enforced taking a break is a pain. I had to do it after my treatment post dodgy smear- so frustrating! Xx

Hello ladies,

Feel like a total lpb but I wanted to let those know who aren't on the fb group that I've had a bfp today (early days so not counting my chickens). I wanted to thank you all for your help and support during my ttc journey and to let you know that I'll still be lurking and checking in on you all so I don't miss your bfp's when they happen!

Good luck to you all and stay strong... It will happen!

Xx

Hopes!! Congratulations!!!! You're not a lpb don't worry. So pleased for you. Can we know your stats?

Soda - the ideal situation for temping is at the same time every day after at least 3 hours solid sleep before you move/talk/have a drink so technically you should be taking yours at 5.30. I have always seen the clearest charts for me when I've set an alarm for 5am every day... Even the weekends!
That being said since we now have a puppy I'm waking around 2/3am to let her out. I've taken my temp between 5 and 6 the last few days and can still tell they're pre ov temps. I think once you've learnt roughly what your pre/post ov temps are you can relax on the timing a little bit. Xx

Congratulations Hopes! That really is happy news xx best of luck to you xx

Question for the masses: can it be any thermometer? To check your baseline temp? Xx

Amy it should be a bbt thermometer as it needs to read to two decimal places to make it accurate.

Kir thanks, I have irregular and sometimes long cycles which is one of the things that put me off. Not sure it would work for me?

Hopes Massive congrats again!

Big hugs to everyone, hope you all have a lovely Friday. Almost the weekend! What's everyone up to?

Awesome news hopes. Congratulations!

Not had much time to come on here but will be back tomorrow to catch up.