Pom Poms, Placards and Picket Lines. The Berries are putting up the barricades and will not be crossed! A delightful bunch of 30 something Ladybros TTC #1.

[happylass]

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:

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. 3 failed ICSI cycles, 1 failed FET and 1 abandoned cycle due to poor response. Awaiting next and final cycle with own eggs hopefully Feb/March time. HATE THIS SHIT!!



Beaky 35, ttc 3 yrs, 2x failed iui 1 long protocol ivf cancelled, 2 short protocol IVF both BFN, very low amh/poor responder etc. 3rd IVF in January.



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. Private tests showed high nk cells activity and th1/th2 as well as mthrfr gene. Started downregging for long protocol ivf in Oct 15 plus two intralipid drips, and got pg. Third mc @ 6.4 weeks despite heparin, intralipids, metafolin and prednisolone. Last Ivf attempt starting February 2016 then on to adoption. 



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 Jan 16. 



Lucieloos, 36, Low AMH & sperm motility. ICSI#1, April 2015, Czech Republic, BFN. Icsi#2, cancelled before EC. Icsi#3 & 4, Embryo Banking. 3 blasts in freezer. Icsi#5 in Czech in Jan. NHS cycle in Feb / March.




Sesame, 40, ttc 2 years with no dp, multiple failed IVFs, 4 ETs, 1 bfp followed by 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. 



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. Currently experimenting with different cycles in an attempt to thicken lining.

Clem, 39, ttc since 2013. diagnosed with anovulation by nhs so on a course of clomid. no male factor issues. all other test results have come back okay inc. ovarian test reserves. currently being referred back to nhs for single funded cycle.

Nolly, 33, TTC 3 years, 1 confirmed MC, 2 more suspected. Starting IVF in January.



Antonia79 36, ttc #1 since 2009, adhesions made for sticky insides & one tube removed, confirmed NHS IVF route Sept 15, TTC naturally again as recommended by doctor until IVF cycle starts (early - mid 2016) if not conceived by then.



Grin - 35, TTC 3 years, NFI why I can't get pregnant,, 3 X failed clomid attemots, 2 X ICSI failed fertilisations, 1 x IVF BFN. Doing another cycle in Mar 2016 and thinking of embryo donation.



The Roll of honour:

Pip - Quite simply the Best In Show.
Lumen - The Legend that is....

tiger fingers crossed your gp will do the immunes. I hate how long you have to wait for everything, July is ridiculous.
I didn't meet dh until I was 30 and we also started trying when I was 32. I'm 37 this year . It's such a huge and depressing part of our life together, which just stinks.

Sesame it's so hard to know what best to do. Are work being okay so far?

Antonia all sounding very positive. I'm a sit down stabber, or even reclined on the sofa if I'm at home. This evening it was in the car park at Ikea .

Amazon messed up I swear I ordered the tests that had prime delivery and they're not even dispatched yet, and they won't even answer my email asking to cancel the order I never order from sellers other than Amazon for this very reason, which again makes me feel like this wasn't my mistake! and the current delivery estimate is after otd, which is bloody useless! So I'm paying for tests that I will never have reason to use as I'll probably have my official bfn by the time they arrive!!!
. So no pimping in the morning. Tomorrow after work would then not be fmu, so if I'm not too terrified to face reality, it will be Thursday.

tiger that NHS waiting list is totally shit. I’m on your behalf. Is there anything more that you can do, e.g. would it be possible to transfer your remaining funding to another fc to do a full round elsewhere? Although time off from ttc and some nice trips does sound very good.

I caught up with that R4 programme this morning. I do get quite annoyed about that delaying ttc media thing. Much as I greatly regret not doing something about it earlier, we all know lots of women in their late 30s and early 40s getting diffed, without any problems. This is the bit that lulled me into the false sense of security – as when I compared myself to others, I still had plenty of time to get my happy ending. The age thing only comes into play for fertility treatment – which is a really shit and inefficient way of getting pg, when compared to ttc naturally – that’s the bit the media don’t tell you about.

barking, I’m impressed by the stabbing in the car park. I’m so sorry about bloody amazon. Did you manage to get hold of a test? Do you have any symptoms right now?

No symptoms sesame (I've had sore boobs, insomnia and nausea since starting the progesterone and prednisolone before transfer) but I did get a bfp after work today.
4th time lucky perhaps. It's really not sunk in yet, too concerned with my drugs running out on Tuesday so needing to confess to the clinic that I pimped early so they can get me another prescription. Might call on Friday.

barking Whoop!! We've been waiting for this to happen for you. Come on embies, you can do it!!!

Barking that's bloody brilliant news! I'll cross everything for you! Go little embies, go!

Had a scan this morning, now have eight follies above 10mm and my lining is 14mm. Been told to carry on as I am with stims and next scan on Saturday morning. If all goes well, looking at EC early next week... eek!

barking just wanted to pop on to say congratulations...have got everything crossed for you.

not had a chance to keep up for a few days (head not really in the right place). have had our wtf app earlier tho, so I'll be back soon catch up with everyone.

Been bleeding all day #hatethisshit

Not heavy, but it's every time I've been to the toilet all day. Fuck knows if it's all over.

barking I'm sending every ounce of hope and strength and postivie energy to you. Huge hugs. Thinking of you x

Hugs Barking, thinking of you. If it makes you smile, I've just weeped over a toilet paper advert because they are planting millions of trees and they showed picture of big green trees. Wtf.

Called the clinic. Fucking useless. Stop the clexane in case it's making the bleeding worse and call us back after you've done a pregnancy test on Tuesday was basically the gist of it.
They won't do anything at all before their otd. And then it's either stop the meds for a bfn or wait for a 6 week scan for a bfp.
If by some miracle I have a bfp on Tuesday I'll be demanding a blood test, I don't give a shit if it will be 'inconclusive', it will give me an indication of what might be happening inside my body and help me not go totally insane.

Barking sending every bit of luck I have your way, I so hope this works out and the bleeding is not the end. How frustrating that the nurse was so unhelpful. They can really lack any empathy.

Tiger was this your last day? If so, hurray! How ridiculous is that wait for a follow up, and then for a second cycle, It really does add to the stress and shitness of all of this.

Sesame have you decided what to do now?

Clem how are you holding up?

Ant that all sounds very promising so far! Fx for your scan tomorrow, hopefully you'll be in for ec on Monday!

Hope everyone is doing ok, at least it's the weekend and for me.

Oh barking I'm sorry. This process is frustrating from start to finish. Hopefully it is just the Clexane thinning the blood - certainly makes sense. Fingers crossed it's calms down and just the embie burrowing in. Good luck for Tuesday, and yes, demand a blood test. though bear in mind I had mine on Thursday last week and still haven't had the results back. My Aussie clinic keep sending me messages wanting the results. Arghh

Thinking of you barking. Hope the bleeding stops and this BFP sticks. Big paw squeeze from me.

All sounds like it is going well ant! I remember stims made me very weepy on my last cycle!

smidge - Yep the NHS takes an age!! Did you tell your FC you're in England? Hope you're getting settled and enjoying being back!

clem I hope you're doing ok in the circumstances. It's hard after an unsuccessful cycle, look after yourselves.

Yesterday was indeed my last day beaky! I had wine last night and then felt a bit rough today. How are things with you?

I've just had the most fabulous afternoon tea with all my lovely friends and I feel so totally loved, and lucky to have such a fabulous bunch! I'm also suddenly realizing the wedding is really happening and this time next week I'll be married! Two weeks off then a new job and back to being a full time resident of the midlands.

The only thing getting me down is the wait for my follow up and FET - beyond a joke. I'm going to make an appointment at the private part of the clinic and see what I can/can't do. I can't wait until September!

I suspect I will be ovulating this week if my cycle is back to normal, hope it bounces back ok this time. Can't be doing with buggered cycles alongside everything else!

beaky hope you're enjoying the and

smidge yep, nhs isn't the speediest operation at tines.

tiger one week!!!!!! Glad you had a good hen do

Bfp this morning but much fainter and I'm bleeding red again, this time it's watery, not clotted at all, despite not having had any clexane since Thursday #hatethisshit.

You're going to be as busy as the proverbial bee Tiger! All very exciting!

Barking thinking of you, sounds like your clinic is as useful as a sack of festering cock weasels. How are you today?

Hope everyone had a good weekend

Scan went OK on Saturday. 10 follies above 12mm and EC is scheduled tomorrow at 9:30am. I've been told I'm being sedated so will be conscious when the harvest begins. Afterwards I will be provided with "... a warm drink and a biscuit" like a small consolation prize

Good luck ant. But are you, or are you not, being sedated? I'm a bit confused from your post.

I'm in a dulux trade centre drinking a free cuppa (no need to be precious about caffeine any more) waiting for them to mix up paint to paint over my parents bathroom tiles. Did something similar in Aus and it worked beautifully. But worried here though coz I haven't found any oil based paints and 'enamel' paint is only used for model aircraft and sold in 14ml pots

Please don't relay me with tales of peeling paint, I've dug myself into a hole here promising my parents it will be great

Smidge sorry about the confusing post! I am being sedated which the clinic said means that I'll be "... conscious but comfortable."

Hope you got your paint sorted!

antonia good luck for tomorrow. Take one piece of advice from me, if it hurts scream that you need more pain killers, don't dig in and accept it because you don't have to lessons learnt in hindsight And tell dh to shout on your behalf if you look like you're not able to (I should have briefed dh to do this but didn't think). Apparently if I had screamed louder they might have given me more. Yes, my clinic are cock weasels with some things .

smidge I painted all the bathroom tiles in a previous house and it worked fine. Can't remember what type of paint I used but it included all the tiles in the shower and it never washed or peeled off! But use a roller not a paintbrush or you can see all the brush strokes...

My hcg came back today at 411, so for today I am still pg. Clinic won't repeat it though to see if it's rising, as the levels are 'fine' so there's no need. Er.. just the 5 days of bleeding and the history of 3 miscarriages?
I'm going to call the gp in the morning and see if I can get referred to epu for extra monitoring on the basis of my history. I'm fed up of fighting the clinic even if we have paid them thousands of pounds and I just want one little blood test

It's quiet in here with all these berries on holiday! If this doesn't work out I'm on the hunt for a job back in teaching. I quit the classroom to give this my best shot and if it's not worked then I want to go back, and also be able to go on cool holidays with DH again!!

Good luck today ant! Hope it all goes well and then you can put your feet up for a day or two! Are you off work for a few days?

I am keeping everything crossed for you barking. Those levels sound promising. How's the bleeding?

Good luck with the tile painting smidge!

Hope everyone else is ok.

I'm now off work, currently at the hairdressers having a few highlights and finalising hair plans for the big day. Then home to make a batch of fudge and make a few calls to finalise arrangements. So many jobs, so little time. Starting to feel a little less calm!

So, just to add to my immune fears, my dad has recently been in hospital due to a blood clot (he's ok for now). He doesn't know all the details but they suspect an autoimmune disorder. If confirmed, that is both my maternal and paternal family with autoimmune issues. This MUST be significant.

Barking the clinic gave me just enough sedative that I slept all way through it... whether that was suppose to happen or not I don't know. It felt like a nap more than a proper sleep as I was just starting to come to as they parked me in recovery. I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable but nothing that paracetamol can't fix and a huge mug of tea. Did you have any luck with your GP today?

Tiger I'm working from home all week! Have an IT project I'm managing so need to be on hand in case anything royally buggers up. I've manage to delegate a load of stuff to other people so for me this week is just having my laptop on standby and my phone on silent I'm glad to hear your dad is OK and yes, if both sides have autoimmune issues that would be pretty significant. Sounds like you have a lot of wedding things to sort out so that'll keep you on your toes for a while!

Hope everyone else is as well as can be

They manage to collect six eggs, which I'm very happy with because in theory in only takes one egg doesn't it? They're going to call me tomorrow early afternoon to let me know how they've done and if all goes well, I'll be back Friday or Saturday for the transfer. Now I'm getting a bit nervous!

barking congratulations on your bfp, but sorry to hear you have been having such a bitch of a few days, with your bleeding and unsupportive fc. thinking of you, and really hoping things have calmed down for you.

tiger good to hear all your final wedding activities are coming together. I do remember back fondly to when we got married, and would love to do it all over again obviously without the stress. hope you are enjoying your final week, before the big day. bit of a bummer about your wtf app in july...hope you manage to get a cancellation before then. also, sorry to hear about your dad...hope he is on the mend...those autoimmune issues, sound like something to be looked into.

seasame really sorry to hear you had a failed fertilisation cycle, hope you are getting some clarity on what you want to do next.

ant sounds like your ec went well. make sure you take it easy over the next few days.

smidge has the tile painting started yet? how are you getting on?

beaky waves to say hello

so, I'm feeling a bit better this week...have moved past the denial, firmly into anger...but that is now starting to subside too...trying not to let it all get me down, but its very hard.

had our wtf appointment last week, and main points that came out of it, was my egg quality could be better (we icsi'd all the eggs and a lot of them were destroyed once the injection touched them), as I have "fragile membranes". told to carry on taking the proxeed supplement that I've already been on for 6 weeks, in a bid to improve them. anyone else had similar issues, and any advice on how to improve egg quality?

we also talked about another test that dh could get done on his sperm...called dna fragmentation...if it comes back showing lower figures than the normal, she mentioned changing dh to take some strong anti-oxidants...which they have had good results showing improvement in this area. again, anyone else had this test done?

Great news ant! Fingers crossed for a good fertilisation rate. Hope your work don't bother you too much. I used to do technology project management!

Clem, your appointment sounds useful. I got four good quality embryos this round compared with only one on my first cycle. I don't know if it was egg quality related, but I made two changes - took CoQ10 for a few months religiously, and increased my protein intake. Every day I had a protein shake or protein added to porridge (I used the organic whey protein co) and tried to eat less carbs and more protein generally. I found this quite hard as I'm not a big meateater, but I ate plenty of fish and beans/lentils too. Worth a try maybe. Not sure about the DNA fragmentation but I think it sounds worth doing. Is there any issue with taking the antioxidants anyway, without testing? Supplements made a significant impact on Mr T's results.

Last few days before the wedding and starting to panic slightly about the amount there is to do!! Everyone keep their fingers crossed for good weather too!!

thanks for that tiger. I've ummed and ahhed about starting to take CoQ10, may run it past the fc, see what they say.

oh, and that was something I forgot, the fc did recommend a high protein and low carb diet to us too...I'm not the great in the kitchen at the best of times, so struggling to think of meals that meet those criteria, that we'll both like. but the protein shake in the morning sound like a good idea.

and don't worry about the panic setting in, in the last few days before the wedding, thats totally normal. just stay calm, and breathe

Barking thinking of you and sending every ounce of luck your way for this bfp.

Ant brilliant news about ec, fx for your embies - when do you get the call? Glad to hear you are at home and taking it easy. Your sedation sounds the same as mine, but I was usually a bit more awake (deliberately so I could look at the screen)

Tiger yes, I also think your issues are immunes call me Dr Beaky but seriously though I wish they would take this seriously for you. Clinics seem to want to ignore it til you get to last chance saloon when they agree to give things a try. Hope your dad is ok. I'm so excited for your big day!! I hope you are managing to stay calm, I was unbelievably nervous on mine, I wish I had enjoyed things more. I'm crossing fingers and toes for nice weather for you! and for you this weekend!

Clem coq10 (ubiquinol) for egg quality for definite, read "it starts with the egg" by Rebecca fett if you haven't already, it's good for this kind of info and as Tiger says lots of protien and low carb is supposed to be good. For me, give him extra vit c now anyway and also coq10 as they are both supposed to be good antitoxin ants for men, and they don't do any harm either. Get the test though, anything they offer o would say take.

Smidge hows the painting going? Can you share a pic?

Sesame hows things? Have you decided on your next steps yet?

Hope I've not missed anyone, I'm finding it so difficult to keep up at the moment due to work. Arghh.

Clem Amazon have lots of cheap low carb books with recipie ideas which by default are usually high protien. Try slow cooker meals with meat and veg if possible, and try to incorporate eggs where you can.