TTC for 10 months or more, and now we're moving onto thread 4! Ten plussers welcome!

[MPP81]

Thread for anyone TTC for over ten months. Please feel free to join us!

Took the liberty of starting a new thread (with what is obviously a brilliant piece of rhyme!) as I assume everyone else is sleeping peacefully right now :)

I'm so sorry Lucie that really sucks.

I'm sorry you don't ahve an answer Maple but I hope that means that you still have a chance.

Hi all, just popping into say hi. lucie that is so frustrating, I really hope you resolve it soon one way or the other.

maple sorry you didn't get the answers you were looking for. IUI just makes sure the sperm is there at the right time in the right place so whilst it's not super successful in terms of odds, it does improve your chances relative to natural conception - so would think about it that way, as giving you a boost!

brenna hope you're doing ok

Morning all!

Thanks lucie, itsme, Brenna and stealth - it's frustrating as surely there is technically something that's the issue and there must be some kind of explanation? Anyway, after yesterday's woe is me moment I'm feeling a bit more positive today and just going to keep on trying dtd and wait for my letter!

Not quite managed everyday like I said (was far too optimistic haha) but have done cd14, 15, 17, 18 and plan to tomorrow (cd20) too. No idea when I actually ovulate as I got scared off OPKs when I never got a positive and also with the spotting... I so wished I had asked about the spotting now! And yes I might give them a call and ask for specific results, but like you itsme I kind of just put trust in the consultant and assumed all is normal as she said!

Feeling more excited about the IUI - hope it gives me the helping hand I need and been reading people's success stories... Will get DH back on the vits to make sure he has the best swimmers when they do it.

What vits does everyone else take? I'm just on super drug own brand folic acid at the moment. I went through a phase of changing my tea to decaf etc but I decided I'll do what I like until I get a BFP (in a wishful way to keep my mind off it / take a "relaxed" if it happens it happens stance - yeh right) but now wondering if I should be trying harder with what I eat etc...

Sorry for the me me me post just now:

Lucie I'm sorry about the darker tests. I really hope things change between now and Monday.

Brenna hope you are alright, been thinking of you.

Hope everyone else is ok too! And that it is sunny for everyone wherever you are now!

I always seem to leave appointments wishing I'd asked more questions Maple. I would definitely phone up and ask for a copy of your results. We were in the 'unexplained' camp after our tests and it is hard because on the one hand you are relieved that they haven't found anything wrong but on the other hand you want something to fix. Good that you have a plan in place
I have been taking a Zita West conception supplement which I got on Amazon plus Co Enzyme Q 10 which is supposed to be good for egg quality plus omega 3 fish oil. I don't think there's any harm in cutting back on the caffeine. I don't drink it anyway and have cut out the wine completely the last few months. It's hard to get a balance because you want to still enjoy life but you want to do everything within your power to conceive.

I hope so Lucie, just want it to be next Wednesday so I can have my scan and see what is going on in there. Feel a bit uneasy about having to wait until then for a scan but fx everything will be fine. I'm so sorry that you are still in limbo, it is just so cruel after everything that you have been through

Star, I missed the bit about wedding planning, so exciting. Hope your appointment goes well today, looking out for your update.

I am using Pregnacare Before Conception and DH is now on the Wellman Conception vitamins. I have heard of a few peoplegetting upduffed using IUI, I hope you are one of those who just needed a little boost.

Thank you all for asking. Under the circumstances I am doing ok. Tomorrow is my due date for my first pregnancy (Rowan) which is not an idea combination with last week's latest disaster but I am coping and only occasionally weepy. We are back in the saddle and have managed to DTD the last 3 nights. Onwards and upwards and all that. I haven't managed to do any OPKs yet, really should start that this evening. Unless the miscarriage has mucked everything up I should ovulate between sunday and tuesday.

Trixie, congratulations on getting started! How was your scan this morning? I bet you must be chomping at the bit to see how the stims are going.

Lucie, so sorry things are still not resolving. Hope the blood test on Monday tells a different picture.

Maple, so sorry about the unexplained 'diagnosis'. It's not really a diagnosis at all is it. I guess the truth is there's so much they don't know yet about fertility that they rule out the most common causes and the rest is treated by ivf so they don't bother investigating too much after that. You may as well give it iui a go - you never know it might just work and is much less invasive than ivf. I can't remember how old you are - if you don't feel you have time on your side then I would be keen to move a bit more quickly onto ivf. I feel strange saying that as I was so scared of ivf before, but now I'm getting desperate!

In terms of supplements, both of us are on proxeed and CoQ10 and I also take zinc. I'm going to get 500mg vit C for my partner as that would get his VIT C up to about 1000mg/day which is meant to be good for sperm. We are pretty much caffeine free now but still drink but not too often (well, every week. ahem). I really would like my partner to lose some weight too - he's technically overweight which I don't think can be helping.

stealth hi!! How are you doing? Hope all is well...

Brenna, i'm so so sorry - it must be a really hard time for you. Well done for getting back on it. Do you have anything planned for tomorrow to distract you, or maybe to mark it somehow? I don't know what I would do for the best, but do be kind to yourself

As for me, I had my second appointment this morning and am not where I thought I would be and a little bit confused. I expected to be planning IVF/ICSI and was hoping to start in July. I was really upset yesterday because just worked out that OH is on stag do over my next fertile window and I thought we'd be doing IVF in June so we were officially done with trying naturally. So... the consultant now says that my OH's sperm is normal - when asked to clarify she said he'd had one normal and one poor analysis so it's not certain that there's a problem there. She then said that we can't be sure I'm ovulating because my ovaries are polycystic (there are no cysts but I have a high AFC) and she said temping wasn't conclusive. She says she's not keen to do IVF right now as I have a high ovarian reserve so time is on my side . So she's prescribed clomid with scans and a trigger shot (ovitrelle?) and then timed intercourse. We do that for 3 months and then IVF - she's recommended a step-down protocol because of my high AMH - high stims for a few days then low. The weird bit is that this is all private (only our IVF will be funded) so it's £400/cycle for stimulated ovulation. The success rate is 30% after 3 cycles so about the same as IVF I suppose, but I'm not expecting it to work if I'm honest. I thought I'd be cycling soon but this feels almost like more limbo.

will be thinking of you tomorrow Brenna.

Star, I just had a blood test this morning. My scan is on Wednesday. Already feeling a bit bloated and a few twinges so really can't wait. How long ago was the normal sperm analysis, after the proxeed? It's horrible when you have an idea of how things are going to go and then it all changes. It sounds far less invasive than IVF so I guess if it can be avoided then that is a good thing.

Trixie I don't actually drink that much tea anyway (one a day) so I think I'm ok on that front... Except chocolate which I have everyday!! Do you take the Q10 everyday throughout the cycle?

Thanks Brenna I bought the well man vits for DH at lunch today! I might try the pregnacare for me too - would I be able to take the Q10 alongside it??

Star yes I got a bit confused as I did say to my consultant I had kind of hoped there was "something" and she said there is no such thing as unexplained infertility which was confusing as she had just diagnosed me with it! I think I know what she meant though - just like you said about not knowing everything about it.

I'm definitely giving all 3 rounds of IUI a go - I just turned 30 a few ago.

Hmm why didn't they say anything about DH sperm and not ovulating before?? Or have they only just looked at the results? Like Trixie said it is less invasive and maybe they are right and it will work, even though it feels like the IVF is getting delayed. I guess anything is worth a go!

Well happy birthday maple! You have plenty of time, so three rounds of IUI sounds sensible.

I'm 35 and been ttc for 18 months now. I felt like I started at exactly the right age (34) and now I'll be 36 in August so I feel suddenly old. My consultant was saying that if I was 35 with low AMH then she would be recommending IVF immediately but since I have a high reserve then we should really try this first. Personally, I don't think a high reserve means all that much as egg quality declines with age, it really doesn't matter how many I have!

Re CoQ10, both me and OH take 200mg of ubiquinone per day throughout my cycle. Ubiquinol is more easily absorbed by the body so you only need to take 100mg of that, but it is also more expensive so take your pick.

Trixie, the normal SA was back in August and the bad one was in November and we started proxeed in January. So we've booked another SA for two weeks time to see whether the proxeed has made any difference. I have my fingers crossed for lots of follicles on Wednesday. Do you have any idea when egg collection will be?

I'm pretty sure you're allowed one tea/coffee a day when pregnant so I definitely wouldn't worry about one Maple. I also have some chocolate most days, I figure if I eat well most of the time it's fine

FX for a good result in two weeks Star! Will be interesting to see if there's any change to my DHs after proxeed, he had slightly low motility and I think we're looking at 50% IVF 50% ICSI. I think it will be Monday 16th for collection and hopefully the Saturday for transfer.

Star that sounds interesting, is it the same in effect to clomid? Are the risks of multiples much higher?

Its strange attitude this 'you've got plenty of time' that's what everyone keeps saying to me that I've got potentially ten years but then, that's not what time means ... I wanted to begin my family two years ago!

I know what you mean itsme. I guess I just meant that in maple's case she should feel comfortable going with 3 cycles of iui even though the odds aren't great. Obviously we all wish we got our bfps a year or more ago, as this really sucks!

I think it's similar to Clomid except with the trigger shot I think it's easier to pinpoint exactly when ovulation will happen. I think it'll only make sense for us if our sperm analysis is improved. I'm crossing my fingers!

Where are you in your cycle right now?

Hey all. I'm currently midway through my first IVF cycle - hoping for collection on weds. Shall give my boring background!
I'm 34, the mr is 36. He's fine. I'm a bit rubbish! We have an almost 4 year old who was conceived after much surgery and drilling and metformin just before embarking on IVF. I have endometriosis and recurrent cysts and a bit rubbish at the whole ovulating thing. So stupidly I thought getting pregnant again would be easy. Hahahaha. What a an idiot. We had a suprise positive in August but then miscarried at about 7 weeks which was horrendous. Then ended up with cysts again so had to go on the pill and here we are. Oh and then my amh whilst bit horrendous has dropped from 59 to 13 in 3 years which isn't fab.
Looking forward to following all your stories xx

Thanks star! I'm confused by what you said you take - is ubiquinone and ubiquinol different things or the same or a diff name for Q10?!

Welcome bean! I'm so sorry to hear about your mc and everything you have been through I joined this thread not long ago but everyone is so so lovely and supportive I don't know why I didn't join sooner! Good luck for Wednesday!

Yes you are right star, any treatment which gives you a boost is well worth giving a go if you have the biological clock on your side!

I'm day 18 of this cycle, need to let the doc know when I start AF and then the IVF clock starts on day 21 of that cycle with the first lot of injections.

Eek! Good luck on weds beanhunter!

maple big hugs for the ‘unexplained’ - at least at the outset there are so many issues that the initial tests don’t look for, so unexplained doesn’t necessarily mean unfixable, it can just mean undiagnosed. Tubes, eggs and sperm aren’t the only variables. But usually more advanced investigations aren’t necessarily appropriate unless intermediate interventions have failed. Sounds like you have a great pathway - superovulation and IUI are a good start. And knowing that you have the building blocks all in place is brilliant news! Agree with lucie 100% about getting your records.

Vitamins wise - er, how long have you got. I am absolutely rattling, but that’s cos with my appalling AMH and FSH I basically followed EVERYTHING in the book ‘It starts with the egg” when it came to supplements to help egg quality (I ignored all the bits about plastics and nail varnish!)

I take (deep breath): prenatal, omega 3 fish oil, DHEA, CoQ10 as ubiquinol, melatonin, resveratrol, high dose Vitamin C, D & E, selenium, 5mg prescription folic acid (epilepsy) and iron tablets. But with my high FSH we expected I would have completely duff eggs so needed all the help I could get!

trixie loving the cat massage. Sounds like she’s doing her bit to get those follies going - hope stimming is going OK

lucie good luck for your blood test tomorrow - really hoping it’s just resolving slowly, and the MTX won’t be needed. Thinking of you

Itsme your consultant sounds amazing - sounds like you’re in terrific hands

brenna thinking of you - and hoping things regulate for you ASAP. If you’ve already got BFN, then hopefully things will get back to normal pretty quickly. Although as I’ve now learned, it is absolutely possible for your cycle to kick back into gear once hCG levels are low, even if they’re not absolute zero.

star my consultant is v much an advocate for the ‘IVF should be a last resort’ school of thought, and that other interventions should be tried first, before rushing straight to IVF. Even in women who ovulate, he often recommends a few monitored cycles with Clomid + trigger + timed intercourse - my friend is doing so right now. He says Clomid without monitoring is a waste of time, and always triggers to ensure intercourse can be timed optimally, and to ensure the follicle definitely ruptures.

He also advocates for step down stims - it really goes sound like you’re in terrific hands. And yes high AMH means quantity not quality - but I’m the same age as you, and my Dr says in fertility terms we are relatively young, and have age on our side for quality.

beanhunter welcome! it’s a fab bunch of women here, have got the most tremendous support over the last few months, very sorry you have cause to be on this thread at all, but delighted you have joined us . Keeping absolutely everything crossed for your cycle - many of us have been or are currently doing IVF (and others potentially doing so), so you’re very much amongst friends

Thanks all for the support. I decided to make this weekend a celebration of our marriage and all the beautiful babies we have produced (whether we will meet them or not). So we started our wedding anniversary celebrations early as we had a bottle of champagne left over from the wedding last year and I will be in my TWW by the time our anniversary comes round. So I stuck it in the fridge and cooked a lovely dinner for DH on both friday and saturday nights, got some nice new undies and some nice chocolates and we spent the weekend eating yummy food, slobbing around,eating chocolates and jumping in and out of bed. I also just spent a while reading my book and sitting in the chair beside Rowan's ashes, keeping him company. We did some digging and planting out at the allotment too. It has been a nice relaxing weekend.

Welcome Beanhunter. So sorry you are in here. Best of luck with the IVF.

I should imagine if you take the Co-Q10 with the Pregnacare you will just pee out any excess. It is not like Vitamin A where you can overdose.

Hey banana yes I think I read that some clinics don't start you with super ovulation but I'm glad mine does. Hope I get my appointment letter soon! I might have a read of that book! Do you buy all your vits online?

Good luck today lucie.

Brenna that sounds like a really lovely weekend! I'm glad you had a chance to relax and look after yourself and take time out with DH.

I got very drunk on Saturday night so was feeling very sorry for myself yesterday! We did have a BBQ at my sisters though which was nice! I had a cry on Saturday about TTC - not actually cried about it until now but I think I needed to get it out of my system. Dust myself off and hope the IUI works for me / I magically get upduffed before then!

Bleugh to it being Monday!

Welcome Bean, I'm hoping for egg collection next Monday so will be just behind you. Sounds like you've been through a lot, best of luck with this cycle.

Brenna, glad you had a lovely relaxing weekend.

Hope you're feeling better today Maple, sometime a good old cry helps.

Lucie hope your blood test is ok today. I was thinking about what you said about the intralipids before, I wonder if by now they would be out of your system.

Thank you all. Did my trigger last night. Really bloated and uncomfortable today and have a 3 year old who wants to be on top of me. Am bribing with chocolate. Really nervous about anaesthetic and ec tomorrow and the outcome. Trying to balance cautious optimism with a healthy dose of reality that this probably won't work first time.

Hello all!

Apologies for being MIA! I went off on my hen, then came back to two last essays (which I am slogging my way through) and the rather exciting news that we had an offer on out house after 18 months, so looks like the next few months will be hectic - marriage, ivf and moving! Crazy! Anyway, epic catch up...

Star Fantastic news about wedding planning! I've enjoyed almost every moment of planning ours, and I can't believe how fast the time has gone. When are you thinking about having it? I'm sorry you were a bit disappointed with your appointment. I imagine it's hard when you've geared yourself up for one thing and then have to get used to something else, but hopefully the SA will be good and this will give you a great chance!

Brenna I'm so so sorry your relaxed anniversary celebration weekend sounds lovely, and I hope you are OK.

Banana I did indeed get suitably annihilated, and paid for it the next day! Good news about the bfns, though how bloody annoying about the CB monitor! Sledgehammer away, imo! I'm glad you can get moving again!

Maple Glad the hycosy went well! Fx it made you more fertile. I did giggle at your DPs reaction to the alien elephant ultrasound scan! I always forget to ask stuff at my appointments too. It's frustrating, isn't it! Sorry for the unexplained diagnosis, but hopefully the iui will give you a great chance.

Lucie I can't believe your levels have been rising. That must be difficult for you. I hope your blood tests are ok and show a drop today. Thinking of you

Stealth I hope you're doing OK!

Sammy very interesting about your substantial af! I wonder if it was the acupuncture. It's awesome that you'll be starting again in june. I had the same worries as you about my lining after the pill, but I found bananas post really helpful and reassuring.

itsme brilliant news for you too, re: starting in june. I'm sure the ruined knickers will be worth it! Glad the weather picked up for you? Are you/did you have a good time?

Boris I frequently get horrendous headaches, so I sympathise! I hope youre ok. Our wedding us two weeks Saturday and I can't wait!!

Trixie Brilliant news that you've started your cycle. I hope the injections are OK. I love the idea of your cat helping your follicles. Good luck for Wednesday.

Bean Welcome! I'm sorry to hear about your mc, and that you find yourself here, but as the others have said everyone here is lovely and so supportive. Fx for your egg collection on Wednesday!

rebecca how are you doing?

waves to anyone I've missed

I'm probably going to be posting a bit erratically for the next few weeks as I finish my essays and get married, but I'll be checking in now and then and cheering everyone on even if I don't post much!

Welcome back. I was wondering if you were all married by now and off on your honeymoon. Best of luck with everything and congratulations on the house move. :) I hope the hen was fun.

Thanks MPP, wow, very exciting about having an offer on your house and the final countdown to your wedding- eek!

Just had a call from the hospital, apparently my estrogen levels are high so Dr wants me to reduce my dose of fostimon. Need to prepare my injection as usual and then discard 1/4 of it....

Banana, thank you so much for that message - it's so reassuring knowing your consultant thinks the same way. My googling this weekend made me feel I was just being fobbed off to try a few more months before IVF (and felt a bit peeved at having to pay for the privilege of waiting!). Yes, I do think my consultant must be pretty good - she is moving to Create for a Lead Consultant role and passed me onto someone who she thought would be flexible and do a step-down thing. Anyway, from your posts your dr sounds awesome so thank you for posting that! How are things going with you at the moment? Has your natural cycle started up yet?

Maple, I read It Starts With The Egg too after Banana mentioned it on here. It's a good book. Yes, ubiquinone and ubiquinol are the two forms of CoQ10. Ubiquinol is more easily absorbed by the body. I buy that and proxeed from Amazon but occasionally get other supplements from Holland and Barrett. Sorry it all hit you this weekend. Trixie's right, sometimes a good cry is just what you need. Sometimes I worry I'll never stop but somehow you do and get on with being positive or forgetting it all for a while and then it hits you again. I just roll with it now and let myself be sad and wallow for a while until I get bored. But there's no denying it - this is properly shit.

Mpp, welcome back! It's really all go for you! Very best of luck with the wedding and everything and I hope you can take your mind off ttc for a while. And congratulations on the offer! We're looking at getting married with family abroad in December followed by a London thing probably this time next year.

Welcome to the thread Bean, but sorry you find yourself here. Let us know how egg collection goes tomorrow (or weds?), I have my fingers crossed for lots of mature eggs. I don't have any experience of ivf but I've vicariously lived through a few cycles with the ladies on here and it does seem that the wait is way worse than the actual cycle. If Clomid doesn't work then I'll be cycling in September, 22 months after I first started trying

Brenna, glad you found a nice way to spend the weekend.

Trixie, hope you're doing ok. Does it feel positive to reduce the stims or not mean much? Glad they're looking after you anyway! Did you get your intrallipids sorted out?