Trying to conceive for 10 months or more. Thread 5. All ten plussers welcome.

[lucieloos]

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

It's normal to feel crampy and like af is about to arrive there's a lot going on down there and the embryo is burrowing in. My NHS clinic don't routinely offer bloods and just scheduled me in for a scan. I was in the camp that bloods are too stressful and I would rather not have that additional stress but having been through what I went through last time if I am lucky enough to get a BFP again I will definitely be getting bloods done. As scary as it is it will either give me reassurance that things are developing as they should or an early heads up that things aren't right rather than the weeks of what ifs I went through last time. I would rather know sooner rather than later as couldn't face that again. I'm sure everything will be ok with yours and you can breathe a sigh of relief whilst you wait for your scan.

I agree Lucie, I need facts! My nurse is pretty no nonsense and just told me I should be pleased with a positive test, not to test again, mentally prepare for the scan in two weeks and to get used to my new bloated body because it's not going anywhere! So looks like I've been told lol.

I will pay privately for mine regardless if my clinic recommend them or not as I just want to know I won't be able to relax after what I went through but you have no reason to worry and if you are happy to wait then just go with what the nurse has suggested x

In other news I asked dr sher about my blood test results and he doesn't think the high folate level will be a problem at all so I just have to get through my scan tomorrow morning and then I'm all set to fly out. Good luck with your scan MPP. Update us with how it goes.

Will do Lucie! I'm quite nervous now. Am I supposed to, like, feel any different, because I dont at all. Really hope the gonal f is doing what its supposed to. Good news about dr sher. I hope your scan goes fine tomorrow too. You'll be making your way over there before you know it!

Itsme, two weeks must seem like an age right now, but hopefully it'll fly by for you!

Great news on scans and bloods ladies!

Think we're looking at a cancelled cycle. Lining hasn't moved at all. If anything it's thinned

Three leading follicles have grown to 20mm and am taking oestrogen tablets but absolutely nothing. It's 6mm at best. And not triple line.

My consultant is away on holiday so was scanned by a colleague. She said maybe she doesn't know my endometrium and his 'magic hands' might get a different view. But she's a consultant and it's not like she doesn't know how to do an ultrasound

Have to carry on with all the meds until Sunday when my Dr will scan me. At which point I guess we'll trigger and cancel the cycle.

Wish someone could just sedate me until we can go again - guess next step would be higher stims (ie IVF dose)?

Obvs wish we could just cancel now and he done with it but then there's the silly bitch part of me that because the consultants want to give it every chance before we call it quits, has a slither of hope...

oh, Banana, I'm sorry to hear that. I don't think it makes you silly to hold on to the bit of hope. If they cancel this cycle, when would you be able to go again? Thinking of you.

Just coming on to say massive congrats to Sammy and itsme

Oh banana, I'm so sorry to hear that. You've had such a long hard slog over these last few months. You know your lining can get there though it's just so disappointing at the moment. I really hope your consultant can come up with something when he gets back.

MPP, the scans are definitely nerve wracking I think it's just the unknown. It's probably a bit early to be feeling a lot. I only had a few twinges before my first scan but now I have definitely felt aches etc since yesterday.

Oh banana, I'm so sorry. It's so frustrating. As others have said, I think the hope part is normal.
Have you tried estrogen patches instead of tablets (or as well as)? They seemed to make a difference to me.
When will you be looking to go again?

Itsme - my clinic don't usually offer bloods either, I think it's quite normal. I only had them because of the bleeding... And I had to pay.

Lucie - glad the high folate isn't a problem, and good luck for your scan!

MPP - good luck for your scan too, are you guys planning to meet?

Pikz - thank you. It still doesn't feel real. DH and I feel like we're making it all up.

Hi all

Hoping I can join, have had a quick scroll through and you are all wise owls when it comes to all this stuff!

I'm feeling a bit wobbly and looking for some advice. We've just had a follow up after I had a lap & dye a couple of months ago (mainly for hideously painful af). They found minimal endo (which they lasered off) and said everything else looked clear. I have had some cysts in the past, and it was suggested I was multicystic, not PCOS, and my cycles sit around 32-35 days. All bloods are normal, if borderline, and I've done OPKs which come back +ve around day 18.

BUT I've been off the pill for 3 years with no BFP. So we are at that awkward 'what next' stage.

The consultant has urged us strongly to go straight for IVF, as apparently in the 6 months after surgery your chance of success is high. However the consultant before suggested Clomid first, the one said this week said he would authorise this but through 'gritted teeth'. Now we don't know what to do, Ivf seems such a big deal, but will I kick myself in 6 months if Clomid doesn't work. And if we do take on ivf can I ask for an endometrial scratch first time around, to give us optimum chance on our only free go.

Also I am interested in getting immunology testing. Which texts are most important and does anyone have any clinic recommendations.

Sorry for the mammoth post but any advice or experiences would be so helpful.

Eeekk scan went well! All follicles still present and correct! Now I have 18,18,17,17,17,16,16,14,12. I think my doctor will probably want me to trigger tonight as he seemed really keen on day 11 trigger. I think he thinks the quality might be better the less number of days on stimms so just waiting to see but looks like we will definitely be going tomorrow! I don't expect to get anymore than my usual 2 or 3 as we've had this before but if I can get anything on this mini I will be really pleased it's been so much easier and less stressful.

Oh MPP, I looked out for you but wasn't sure if you were there. Were you with anybody or on your own? We had left by 820 x

Scan went well here too, I think! 13 follicles - 2x15mm, 1x14mm, 1x13mm, 2x11mm, 7x10mm. I asked the lady (you were right, Lucie, Jodie is lovely) and she said if I was cycling with them, she'd be quite pleased with that. Lining was 8.1mm and triple line. Ive just emailed this to reprofit and am waiting for a response.

Lucie, I think I saw you coming out just before I went in. I got called in at 8.20, so I assume that was you. Were you with your DH? I was on my own as DH had an early meeting, and I was wearing a white jumper.

Hello Now! Welcome, though sorry you find yourself here. The 'what next' stage is difficult. We got there earlier than some, as DH's SA was not good, and we moved straight to IVF, so I don't know what to suggest re: clomid and IVF, though at a guess I would say that, in your situation, I would probably lean towards the IVF. Someone with more knowledge than me will probably be around soon though. Everyone is very friendly :-)

Sammy, how are you doing?

nowwhy welcome! Do you know if you actually ovulate (ie have you had progesterone blood tests 7 days before your AF)? If you are id be a bit dubious about whether Clomid will do much. If you're ovulating (despite positive opks) then Clomid is definitely worth a go.

lucie wow! All those follies! Hopefully they stay juicy and you have a great result. You must be stoked.

mpp hope your scan went equally well

That's brilliant news MPP! All sounds good there. Yes I was with DH I looked around and saw 2 ladies sitting on their own in the far corner so wondered if one might have been you.

Doctor has got back to me and I guessed wrong he wants me to trigger tomorrow so egg collection on Saturday morning!

Hi nowwhy and welcome, from what I've heard from other ladies your best chance is soon after the endo has been lasered as it can start to grow back later. If it were me and I had been ttc for 3 years (well I have but I mean in your situation) I would probably go straight for the IVF if they are offering it as your chances will be better. I'm not sure if they will do the scratch the first time on the NHS as its normally after a couple of failed transfers but it probably varies between clinics and you could always pay for it privately yourself somewhere. Your gp should be able to do most of the level 1 immunes for you but level 2 is pricey and can be a couple of thousand. I think Dr Gorgy in London does a lot of the tests. Trixie or Banana, some of the other lovely ladies on here may be able to help you as they have also gone down this route.

haha, yep, I was in the corner, closest to the coffee machine! Fab news on your scan too. So you fly tomorrow now? Exciting! Is it still Monday you fly home then?

Today's questions... What happens if DH gets 'stage fright' when giving his sample? Its only happened once to us when dtd, but it was at a very 'on demand' moment, and I wondered if/how they might deal with that if it were to happen again. Also, I know he'll need to abstain for a couple of days beforehand and that we can't dtd after collection, but can we dtd in the next couple of days?

Good news that the high folate levels are nothing to worry about Lucie and that your scan went well. Safe flight tomorrow and good luck for EC!

Great news about your scan too MPP, I didn't start to feel anything really until the lead up to EC when I was feeling very bloated and lethargic. Re DTD, I know we attempted during stimms both times but it was really uncomfortable for me. I have no idea re stage fright....I guess they just give him as long as he needs.

Banana, I really hope you don't have to cancel your cycle.

Hi and welcome Now. I agree with Stealth, if you ovulate then I would go straight to IVF, and even if you don't then I would be keen to get started with IVF. I am just about to start a funded frozen cycle (did my fresh in May and have some frozen embryos) and paid to have an endometrial scratch - really hoping it does the trick!

Like Lucie says, I had some immune testing (after 2 failed transfers of good quality embryos) and discovered I have high natural killer cell levels. I had private IVF last year (was impatient) and had the NK cell tests through my clinic and some other bloods at my GP (I forget now but think most of the level 1) then had a consultation with Dr. Gorgy earlier this year and he recommended another test and a treatment plan. I was very lucky that my NHS consultant was happy to prescribe immune treatment for my funded cycles (though I had to pay obviously). I know Banana got some immune testing done via a clinic in Athens (I think) and it was much cheaper.

Ahh ok yes I did see you. Glad it all went well for you. Yes flying out tomorrow. I'm not sure about coming home yet as it all depends how many eggs we collect and when I think transfer might be. I haven't booked the return flight yet but could possible be Tuesday.

You can dtd up until about 48 hours before EC. You are brave though I couldn't face it at the moment as feel a little uncomfortable. Your DH will had plenty of time on the day to do his part. I think they have magazines and dvds to help them along too. I'm not sure what would happen if he really couldn't produce a sample. They could try and freeze your eggs but they don't normally like to do that unless they have been fertilised. I'm sure he will be fine. What it may be worth asking to do either at the same time or on transfer day is for him to produce another sample to freeze just incase your first attempt doesn't work and you need more treatment. They can normally get enough to freeze for about another 5 treatments so you would have plenty there and DH wouldn't always have to go with you if he couldn't get time off etc.

Cross post with mpp - great it went well.

In terms of stage fright, I'd be tempted to freeze. My DH had to do this prior to our EC as he wasn't able to be there on the day of EC (was travelling for work) and it was absolutely fine. They freeze the sperm in straws (gross) and then just defrost as needed.

We froze in advance of our second cycle for exactly that reason, as we had issues with a fresh sample on our first cycle

Having the frozen sample in the bank as an insurance policy took the pressure off and we had a great fresh sample on EC day on the second cycle

We ended up using the frozen swimmers on EC for cycle 3 as DH was really under the weather with a stomach bug so we decided just to go with the great frozen sample. They did straight IVF with it as the quality was great (didn't need to do ICSI), so wasn't any different to a fresh sample in the end

We had to freeze our eggs unfertilised on the first cycle

DH wasn't called to do his bit until I was out of theatre and hooked up to blood pressure and oxygen monitors and coming round from anaesthetic

Me coming round from anaesthetic is much like me coming round from an epileptic seizure, so being told to leave his unwell wife to go and knock one out was less than ideal

It's a bit like being told to have a poo in the middle of the supermarket. You don't need a poo. You don't want a poo. And you certainly don't want one in the middle of the supermarket

But you're being told if you don't have a poo then thousands of pounds and hopes and dreams rest on it

Our frozen eggs thawed and fertilised perfectly. The eggs were crap quality but that's to do with my hormones being crap, not being frozen

I cannot recommend freezing a sample in advance enough

On the sex thing, there was a scientific study which I read which explored whether you should have sex after collection and before transfer. Apparently it was proven to increase implantation rates and early cell development if your uterine environment was exposed to semen... I didn't have any soreness/bleeding or any antibiotics after egg collection so we dtd two days before transfer and without going into too much detail we were just very 'careful' .. Tbh I would be surprised if it even counted as penetration but I just wanted to make sure I had got some up there!

Sadly no sex since, I'm way too scared.

We have always used frozen except for on 2 occasions we have never had any problems with it and have had 100% fertilisation. I think from your timings though MPP it probably won't be possible to freeze before this round but I would definitely try and leave some there in case of any future treatment. Just drop the doctor an email and say that's something you would like to arrange as well. We are using frozen again this time as my mum is coming with me instead of DH.

I think the cramping is quite normal Itsme, it is just potentially a problem if accompanied by bright red blood (although even then can be fine too). From the pregnancy that got quite far compared to the ones which miscarried early there is a huge difference between the type and level of cramping associated with implantation and the placenta growing and moving compared to a threatened or actual miscarriage. They feel quite different to me, I can't really describe how, you would just know the difference. I have everything crossed for you.

That sucks Banana after everything you have been through.

Hi and welcome nowwhy. I have no advice as we are struggling with recurrent miscarriages rather than conception issues per se. There are loads of very knowledgable people on here though, who will help.

That is fantastic news Lucie and MPP. best of luck ladies.

I did yoga at the gym on Monday night and GT30 interval training last night. plus lots more cycling this week. I hurt today. AF got me yesterday as well, so we are out for this month. AT least I have time to get fit and thinner for next month.