Trying to Conceive....7

[ChaCha]

Well you never know, might get lucky!!
Good luck everyone....here we go!

StaceyK, not sure what your symptoms could mean. I guess at this stage for you it would be great to get some sort of regular cycle. Some months, just before af, I get flushes, cramps and feel really sick and other times, nothing.

ShouldKnowByFriday How would your dh feel if you did get pg? Or will you cross that bridge when it comes to it?

Futurity, great news, hope your birthday bd was a night to remember!!!

My temp has risen to its highest today this cycle and FF puts me at 12DPO. Have had some stomach cramps/twinges, really really tired especially in the afternoon and no spotting yet. Not getting hopes up, been there for so long that I just don't have the enthusiasm to be optimistic anymore. Also not sure that the FF ov day was the actual ov day, might have been a week later, so hanging on in there for a bit longer.

thanks Bluestar, Thats what I can't understand I can't possible have af as only cd13! I just feel dreadful, completly shattered, with pains, and hot flushes. So don't want to be at work today! I haven't gone down the OVP road yet, as think my cycles so screwed up would be waste of money/time. Just wondered if anyone else felt like this? I had my first go of reflexology last Wednesday, the lady is really into healing and the spiritual side, she said she could tell my hormones were all perfect!!! (strange considering pcos) but that she could tell I had blockages/cysts? was a relaxing hour, even if it does come to nothing. Got another sess this Wednesday.

ShouldKnowbyFriday : Will your DH freak when you get pregnant or will he eventually be pleased. I have a good friend with two DS's who did exactly what you are doing - her husband didnt come round and became really depressed ... she lost the baby at 13 weeks pg and decided not to try again ... husband has since had a vasectomy! Sorry to be negative but it is worth thinking about the consequences to your relationship

Thanks GillW and others,

But just as a matter of interest, that site has sooo many different OPK brands. Which ones have any of you used and are they accurate, easy to use, etc.?

I think I will order some as a pack of 40 strips with a digital thermometer costs the same as 2 boxes of Ovu-sure over here - considering that the exchange rate is 11.94 - 1.

any advice on best brands greatly appreciated.

Staceyk: I've got my first session on reflexology and like you I am hoping to have an hour of being pampered but with the bonus of any information into my strange cycle.

Bluestar: fingers crossed for you..and yes I did have a good birthday

Have re-booked my blood test for next Monday..looking forward to it..but not really as I hate needles!!

Just looking at the excellent link from GillW for OV test kits etc and noticed they sell a special lubricant with the same PH as sperm.
Does anyone know if this means using KY jelly is harmful to sperm ?

MoseGirl, I understand that you shouldn't use KY if ttc.

Jinty123, I have used Clearblue OPKs and found them easy to use and understand. Unfortunately they did not result in a pregnancy for me so have given up relying on them now. Also look at pregnancytesting.freeserve.co.uk - they sell pg tests / OPKs etc. too.

StaceyK, your symptoms could be ovulation. One month I felt really ill and was sick, bad cramps and at the time did not know what it was but thanks to reading on this site for some time, I worked out that it could have well been ovulation and of course felt so lousy that a bd was out of the question!

AF has finally arrived - with a vengeance - today, after a 48 day cycle. Oh well makes a change from 18 days last time around! Time to order some more OPK's - but even from the cheapy on-line place it could get expensive if things are going to carry on being this unpredictable. Anyone tried those little telescope things which work on Saliva? Do they really work? I'm thinking that one of those might at least give some clues about when to start using the OPK's each time, and ultimately prove cheaper.

Bluestar, I was hoping someone might say thats what it meant, although been trying forever (18 months) still very new to this, been taking all the pills, etc but don't really know much more, I'm on CD13, and I heard that you should bd every other day from day 10, so thats what we've been doing. I am a complete novice when it comes to knowing when I OV and how long for, and if I do and when you all talk about Luteal Phases I have no idea what you are talking about! I'm going to carry on bding every other day, pillow under bumming, and praying until, next AF which could be at absolutely any time, after 15 months with no AF, then lately every other month! Anything else I should be doing?

StaceyK, 15 months with no af, have you had any tests done as this seems pretty unusual to me? I have been ttc for over a year (had an early miscarriage last summer). I have tried OPKs, temping, bding every day, every other day, just on the OPK positive days and yet nothing so have sympathy with how frustrating it is. Have you tried temping (taking your temperature very morning at same time before getting out of bed and recording it on a chart) have a look at fertilityfriend.com for more info on how to tell when you are ovulating. A luteal phase is the time from ovulation to the first day of your period.

GillW, sorry about af I think the saliva thing is called calista and costs about £30. Might be worth a try.

Normally when I say this, someones graduates from this thread so here goes - will anyone start the 'anyone due February' on pregnancy board? No-one there yet. We need some Valentine babies!

Oh dear 6 months TTC and only now find out that KY jelly should not be used!
Bloomin' eck I guess AF will come along as usual this month....

What do most people use for lubrication? (sorry to sound so personal)

Sorry to hear about AF GillW I think I really did mess up my Persona when I went on holiday and didn't take it with me (and so didn't reset it for AF). It has indicated ovulation on day 9-10 this cycle, which would be very early, and my last stick was yesterday (day 14). I used a spare one I had this morning, even though I couldn't "enter" it into Persona, and the stick showed two blue lines, indicating ovulation (about right according to my previous cycles). I will assume that today is the correct ovulation date. I just hope DH gets back from his business dinner before I'm fast asleep tonight. Do I have any Persona buddies out there? It's normally quite reliable, and only £10 a month (ok, after the initial £64 or so, which at least includes 16 sticks for the first month).

MoseGirl, just checked but yes KY is not sperm-friendly. Did a google and you can buy Pre-Seed lubricant which is sperm-friendly. Can buy it on pregnancytesting.freeserve.co.uk - 1 box (6 applicators) costs £19.99 so rather expensive. It seems to suggest that you use it around ovulation time so perhaps you can use KY for other times if you know your cycle.

Thanks Bluestar. I came off pill, and had no af's docs docs tried me on clomid, but nothing, then another doc realised that my hormones too low I wasn't producing eggs, so they gave me progestrone, which gave me a false af as it were, they say I have pcos, and hence why I'm on metformin. Having said that a week before I started Metformin I had natural af (March) then nothing april and another af in May! so maybe the Metformin is working, maybe me losing a stone helped, or maybe just taking me a very long time to get into cycle after coming off pill! It may sound really daft but I didn't want to get into temping, thought I don't want to become too obsessed, and treat it "if it happens it happens" type way! Who was I kidding, slowly as the months pass on I get more and more obsessed. So maybe the temping will be the next thing to try!

Azure - I never thought I'd say it but I'm actually glad AF arrived at last. This cycle was obviously no-go (still testing -ve after 40+ days), so I just wanted to get on with the next one. Have decided I will get one of those saliva test things - can't hurt, and the ways sods law works I'll get one to save money long term on the OPK's and it will probably work 1st time!

Hello everyone, just checking in at CD6!
DH wants to stop TTC for a few months He says all the hormones i'm being given are no good for me. What can i do? Without them, i doubt there would be much chance. Will book in for a scan in a few days and see what's going on.
I'm going to be 28 next month - no kids yet

StaceyK, yes temping etc. can leave you a bit obsessed but it does help to see what your cycle is like. Saying that I seem to be having a disagreement with FF and my temping chart! Today I entered some symptoms like headache, frequent weeing, cramps and it suddenly decided that perhaps I haven't ov'd after all. If I ignore my temps altogether, my body feels like I am nearing the end of a cycle. I've had sore boobs, headaches, spots, cramps, some cm - all my usual ov signs but temps have gone a bit weird I do admit.
Do you think that the time of year can affect your temps? I started temping in the winter so central heating, big duvet etc. overnight and now it is getting close to summer, windows open at night, I wonder if this would give you a lower body temp. Anyone any thoughts on this? In general, my temps do seem to be lower now than through the winter. Think I am going mad!!!!!!!

ChaCha, big hugs for you. Men are more logical by nature and I guess your dh would like to take the pressure off you but deep down, I guess you never want to stop trying until you get what you want, whatever the disappointments each month. I know we all get down when af arrives but once she leaves, I know my enthusiasm returns for starting all over again. Hope you can work something out.

Cha Cha

I started trying for our 1st baby 01/04/95, I was told 2 years later that the reason I wasn't getting pregnant was because I had Polycystic ovary syndrome, after 2 further years of treatment I was told that there was nothing else they could do for me, to go away and think about IVF, so I went away and thought about IVF and started feeling sick, hey presto I was pregnant, pregnant for the millenium celebrations and my 30th birthday the following June (2000), now I am ttc #2 and having to start all over again, at least this time they know whats wrong, so I cut half the procedures out, but I'm at the hospital 4 times a month and they are not wasting anymore time, I'm on CD8 and this morning I had a scan, follicles everywhere, so I go back on Monday next week for another to see if any have grown, then day 21 a blood test then day 29 back to see the consultant and we will repeat the procedure again next month, I'm 34 in 3 weeks time and I'm praying for the best birthday present ever. I could throw the towel in everyday, but I look at my daughter and she's there alive, very well, if very cheeky and I can't imagine life without her. Sure my husband can't be by my side and support me every step of the way, but he's there at the end of the phone as soon as I have my scans, how did it go, how many little gits were there, he makes it sound funny and easy. Last time we both gave up and the process was worse, we wanted a baby, as simple as that, our parents didn't even know we were in trouble until my husband broke down at a family barbacue after my mother-in-Law asked when I was going to have a baby, its all pressure. The best thing we did was stick with it and turn it around from being a chore to being fun, I started to cook fancy meals and have wine and then the fun started, I asked to try different positions in bed, or the stairs or every room you can think of and it did become fun, I was the one who got giddy everytime my af was late, my husband was the one with his feet firmly fixed to the floor. Even when I came home after discovering I was pregnant, I range my husband and he said pure and simple, you can't be, we are going for IVF, you'll have to do another test. I ended up driving to his work, getting him out of a meeting and showing him all 7 pregnancy tests, he sat there and said nothing until finally about 15 minutes later, he said, should we phone a doctor. One thing I learnt from all of what happened to us was, you think you are the only one going through it, but you husband, partner is going through more as thet are the ones that pick us up when af arrives, they are so disappointed too, but they have to be strong to carry us both. Maybe a rest would do you good, you never know

Malinki, thanks heaps for that :D
That is the kind of story that i really needed to hear. An inspiration to us all. I haven't taken any medication this cycle (usually take tablets CD2-5 and then progesterone after ovulation) so i'm just having a rest, letting my body breathe so to speak. Think i will forget hospital this cycle, do what you said - entertain DH and have a good laugh, BD lots then think about it again next month.
Thanks Malinki..and good luck to you! xx

Tis very quiet here today. How are you Bluestar? Just read your msg below, think i went straight into Malinki's Thanks for lending an ear too
Did the dinner thing tonightMalinki and DH is now snoring on the sofa Hope i can keep this up - only CD7 today (i think)...

Becki F - How's it going?

ChaCha, just wanted to say "hi". I do try to keep up with all the news on this thread and was sad to see you and dh going through a down patch. I think you have the right idea, put things on the back burner this month and try and enjoy each other. Then you can maybe start afresh next cycle or whenever you both feel ready. I know it was a strain on my dh when we were ttc, he felt like I was just after his sperm, not the rest of him and I think he was a bit resentful even though he desperately wanted a baby too. I think people can forget this lark is tough on men too. ChaCha, it will happen and I know you feel like time is passing by but you are still very young so that is one thing enormously in your favour. Hug to you Bunnyx

Had my reflexology last night ..chatted through my problems in the girl department and then had the session. At the end she went through all the stuff she found and it was fascinating to find out how the feet tie in to different areas of the body. The areas which came out were my piterary gland (not sure if right spelling) which controls hormones and my left fallopian tube area (which could be because I have just ovulated.). Having another session next week which even if it doesn't do anything else helps me to relax for an hour!

Well 14DPO (according to FF) so did a pg test but negative However I have not given up hope completely yet as I also think that maybe I ovulated a week later too (due to other signs). Strangely though my temp for the last 3 days has been higher than the rest of this cycle yet no other signs that this could've been actual ovulation. Trying to hang in there as no spotting so don't think af is on the way yet.

Futurity, glad the session went well. If no success this month, might try reflexology too.

well we are now not sure that now is the time to be ttc. we have probs with housing dept, our new car wont have space for 3 car seats, unless we somehow find 3 slimline ones. feel mixed up, part of me thinks be sensible, u have plenty of tyime to have more children as we are young, but i have this over whealming need to have another baby.

think i'm just not gonna try as hard, if it happens, it happens.