Thread 19 TTC#1 Just. Keep. Swimming.

[AliceScarlett]

Hugh enjoys ISW and his love affair with Doreen. He watches out for skittle tits and weepyitis. Mrs Arseholey Fucknut (Af) shows up when you least want her but brings wine and soft cheese as a consolation prize.

We don't have rules as such but expect to be talked down from the ledge with kind and well meaning but firm words if you get too hysterical. But most importantly don't convince yourself you're pregnant in the tww That is paramount! It messes with your head and makes you crazy crazier

We don't get a lot of baby dust in these here parts. We want a fanny full of determined Doreen, not unicorn farts and gnome tears with extra sparkle. We've been going a while now so the novelty has somewhat worn off and we're slightly battle scarred and bruised in the cervix area.

Post your stats and add your dates. A more lovely, supportive group of ladies you couldn't wish to meet. We like it when the grads stick around. No question is too daft. We have opk experts, cervical mucus management teams and symptom spotters extraudinaire!

fishy nausea is a good sign !

have you arranged a booking appt yet? i think you should have it week 8 or 9, so depending on waiting lists, it is not too early to try to arrange one.

Hello ladies. Have been to see my NHS consultant since I last posted and thought I'd share the answers to a couple of questions I asked him incase it helps you lot too.

1. How much alcohol is ok or do we need to give up while ttc esp as we have mild MFI? For me, 5 units per week. For OH he said 10 OK. Max 15 (but I'd prefer it to be 10!). No need to abstain.
2. Is it true fertility "falls of a cliff at 35"? No. It does start to come down, and then again around 37/38 but he wasn't too concerned till 42/43 when stats become much harder. Also, for those of you starting to get tests, check if you are immune to rubella - if you're not you'll need a vaccine and can't try that month so don't leave it until you're desperate! I also need an up to date smear before I can be referred to IVF so make sure you're on top of your 3 yearlies! AFM, I'll be starting Clomid next cycle for a couple of months before I see the consultant again. Slightly scared of the crazy mood swings but glad to be trying something anything new. Fingers crossed something will bloody work!

i think i like my hospital... which i will go back to ! (well the antenatal not the gynae bit .... PMA)

just had a phone call for a "follow up". as well as asking how i was doing (bleeding, pain etc), they asked if i wanted keepsakes e.g. candles etc. I declined as this isn't for me, but i thought it was nice they do this.

thanks geeup ! my OH will be glad to hear that !

I know I am overdue a smear, but want to wait till my next/first AF as they always want it in the middle of a cycle.

music mine is about 9 or 10 days typically.

Another Stranger Things fan here -we watched it all in a week :-)

Hep my local places like to see you at 8-9 exactly like you said, and they only run one morning a week so it's quite a narrow window! I'm booked in, I'll be 8+4. That's also really nice if your hospital, the follow up with the nice little touches. Glad they're looking out for you!

Geeup exciting that things are starting to happen, fx that this does the trick for you!

geeup thanks for sharing! I'm particularly glad to hear about the alcohol bit although 5 units isn't that much when you think about it. Ttc is tough enough without taking alcohol completely out of the equation!

Hep that is really nice re your hospital. Definitely sounds like a good one to be at for antenatal. Which I'm sure you will be in not too long

Winging What dietary support are you trying this time? I've been taking vitamin D although I heard it takes a few cycles to take effect (if it does anything at all!)

Dropping in for a moan. Lower tummy and back still aching like mad. Still no AF.

when were you due mouse ?

No idea hep. Only stopped my pill 13 days ago. No withdrawal bleed like I was told I'd have.

mouse ah ok. in which case, i would be tempted to poas in a day or two. (even if just to rule it out fx ).

Have you been stressed or ill?

(ah realised you are on a different pill.... hmm..... don't know then)

music Vit b-complex 50mg (b6 is the important bit but better to take it in a complex), Agnus castus and vit c 1000mg. Then cholesterol boosting foods -butter, eggs, red meat (fatty not lean). Greens like kale & broccoli. Walnuts, and from tonight pinapple (in particular the core that's high in bromelain )

Hep, I think I might have said but it was a mini pill I came off. Been on it for a year, before that the combi pill for 11 yrs. so 12 years total.

Nope no illness or stress. But I've had this dull ache for the last 11 days. Off my pill for 13. I'm beginning to think it's all in my head. Someone needs to slap me.

And to top it off, I've just been given a job at work that basically means I'll be looking at babies and baby stuff for the rest of the day. Fed up.

loveyou my DH did his in the special jizz room at the clinic. He said it was surreal. They provide "average porn" mags and tv. He has some pics of me on his phone too he said it was a very odd experience but I guess at least you know the sample is fresh.

geeup thanks for sharing. Great that you are progressing! DH has his follow up GP appointment on Monday to discuss his SA results. I'm hoping they will get him a repeat.

mouse well just for you then

Thanks Hep
I've had to talk myself out of going and getting some sticks to pee on after work. I need to woman up!!!!! I am not friggin upduffed and I should stop hoping I am at this very very early stage. Reality check!!

All part of the process Mouse I reckon!

I had a few hours in my new job today, standing in a kitchen covered in baby snot and pizza dough thinking... Do I really want this as my life?!

winging wow that's a lot of dietary stuff! Definitely keep me posted on how you get on. It all sounds good and healthy anyway so not really a downside!

Alice what is your job?!

Mouse next time please buy some sticks on your way home from work. I need a poas companion! I did one today and it was BFN as expected. I'm 9dpo and last cycle my luteal phase was 8 days so I thought I'd chance my luck. Stupid though as our dtd timing was not great this month and I don't have any symptoms, ha. I think it's because I had a test in the house, I couldn't control myself!

Is anyone else entering the testing zone atm?

Music!! You're not a good influence on my weak will hahaha. I didn't get any sticks on the way home. And I've had a word with myself that I won't do so until the end of October. It's not worth me getting obsessed over so early in this probably long process. I've resorted to paracetamol for my back/belly ache.

Haha, sorry mouse! I'm impressed by your strong will. Keep it up!

music the next possible poas-ers are sl1ver, geeup and sk1pper who have bus-tickets for sunday.

my skin is still terrible i didn't mind the spots whilst pregnant, but ffs.

Hi everyone, I hope you don't mind me joining, I've been lurking for months. Here are my stats:

Age: 33
Cycle: 9
AF expected: 12th Oct

Been having a rough couple of weeks, keep randomly starting to cry. Never thought it would take so long & be so difficult. I've been really struggling with my own emotions & stress levels through this process, this whole not knowing when (if) anything will happen is tough. Also struggling with DH as he has a low sex drive & we aren't DTD enough as he can't always finish. Doctor told me we should go for tests in November if no BFP by then, it's scary how close that is now. I'm not sure if we should try going sooner though just to talk through DH's 'problem' & see if there is something they can give to get him going

I don't test anymore. 9 straight cycles of bfns have killed it for me. The thought of staring at that white stick, holding it up to the light, shining my phone on it - actually makes me shudder.

Hello starmist I'm at 9 months too, currently on cycle 10. I went through an emotional patch a few weeks ago where I kept crying on the bus. I sympathise totally with the shock of it. You never think it will be this hard. Stay strong and try and keep a positive mental attitude. I know it's easier said than done at times. Sounds like a good idea for your oh to speak to the GP. It puts an awful lot of pressure on them.

I don't have Netflix, but I'm going to get this series somehow. I've checked out some promotional pictures and read up on it, and it really looks like my kind of thing.

geeup - thank you for your update, I don't feel half as bad about the times I've had a cheeky drink now.

music - something very uncharacteristic happened to me yesterday. 8dpo and what did I do? POAS. But not just any stick. An Internet cheapie. I mean what was I honestly expecting? Jesus to appear like he does on toast? I hardly ever POAS and when I do, its completely pointless.