Thread 23. TTC #1 - New Year, New Opportunities. Let's keep those BFPs rolling in!

[AlexiaB]

Calling all OPK-ers, Temp-ers, Clomid-ers, Femara-ers, IUI-ers, IVF-ers and anyone else on the TTC #1 Bus.

Happy New Year! It's 2017 and it's OUR year

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. We've ditched the Gregorian calendar in favour of the TTC Cycle Day calendar, and we don't get a lot of baby dust in these here parts, we just keep it legs spread and fingers crossed (LSFX). We love a baby bomb from a prior bus-mate but if we get told to 'just relax and enjoy it' ONE MORE TIME you will get a punch in the face!

We have a new Grad's Thread. We recently lost a whole load of ttc veterans to the good side and we're absolutely desperate to join in the fun! May 2017 lead us all to upduffed heaven and the Grad's thread, amen.

We don't have rules as such but expect to be talked down from the ledge with kind but firm words if you get too hysterical. But most importantly, don't convince yourself that you're pregnant in the tww. That is paramount!

Hop on board, post your stats and prepare to be dazzled by the wealth of TTC knowledge we long-timeys have to share...

Ssh that line is still a bit paler compared with control so keep testing and see hown the strips compare over the next couple of weeks

Welcome ssh, I hope you don't have too long to wait :)

sk1pper, I've also pledged to do yoga every day in Jan. I've signed up to Yoga with Adrienne who is doing a daily series. Two days down and feeling good! I hope all goes well at your appt tomorrow.

Good luck tomorrow Sk1p. Let us know how it goes.

Fire I echo kwick, do NOT trust Ovia! Fertility Friend is far superior imo.

kwick that thread and I thought my mum was bad lol

Jam Clomid taken cd2-6 or cd3-7 will typically make you produce MORE eggs so therefore more opportunities to conceive. Clomid taken later on cd5-9 is more for egg quality and size. Even if you ovulate on your own fertility drugs like this or Femara can be the helping hand you need especially if you add IUI, monitoring and trigger shot into the mix (like kwick did). IUI is easier than IVF on the body and much cheaper. As your DH's sperm count is good I think a couple tries of this could do the trick. I will move to IUI if I haven't conceived again in 6 months. I'd probably just go private. Obviously I'm not an expert but this is what I've seen/heard/read.

Thanks alexia is there any difference between clomid and femara? Does it have to be prescribed or can you get it elsewhere? I seem to recall you got some from America?

Welcome shh. That does seem very early to ovulate but I'm not sure it's impossible as my friend was pregnant 2 weeks after her last pill. It's still not fully positive though so keep testing and when in doubt - dtd!

Welcome ssshh!!!

I am so thankful I have a mother that would never dream of hacking into my bank accounts!!!!

Finally home - traffic back was horrendous. Feeling very tired - another early night for me I think. Not sleeping so great at the moment.... may need to get a new mattress - but first need to try turning mine... just worried about heavy lifting.
I have an arranged for a rabbit to come tomorrow to do loads of odd jobs for me - may ask them to lift and turn...and also tighten screws - think one of these days, bed will collapse!!!

Jam apparently the NHS don't actually prescribe Femara, only Clomid (someone on FF told me this). I don't know why though as I have many American friends who use it and from lots of other countries too. There isn't really a huge difference between them, Google would tell you more. Main issues with Clomid is it runs the risk of OHSS and can thin your womb lining, Femara doesn't. Both can cause headaches and other symptoms. I did one round of Clomid and did conceive but my chart was crazy and I spotted almost the whole tww (most likely why it didn't stick). Ovulation was extra painful on it too, although with Femara I got bad toothache and headaches (2nd cycle of Femara was fine tho). You can order Clomid from the OxfordOnlinePharmacy with prescription and Dr phone call (know lots of people who've used it). Femara I got from MIL so can't help there really.

Hey ladies. I'm not ready to completely disappear just yet.

Kwick that thread!!!! I found it when she first posted but lost it again. Her mum sounds like a nutcase!

Sk1pper all the luck for tomorrow. X

kwick a rabbit!? Definitely don't lift anything heavy!

Jam I should say, don't you have your fertility appointment on the 14th? I think They should be able to guide you in the right direction. I only took drastic measures because I had stopped ovulating and was seriously fed up!

London - agree with what alexia has said but can add my own experience. My NHS fertility consultant wouldn't have put me in clomid as I was ovulating naturally on my own - he just wanted to send us for IVF based on all clear tests for me and the poor morphology - but I asked for something to try while we wait as I was desperate (and 34!). It's really important you get scanned for at least your first cycle with it to check how many follicles you're producing (you don't want to over stim) and also to check if it's thinning your lining as that's a side effect you don't want!
So far it's done nothing for me - I produce an extra egg each month but sadly I don't think my DHs sperm can get in
Unlike alexia I probably won't try IUI just because success rates are very low for very good sperm let alone our funny shaped ones (alexia - did your hubbie have the uber amazing sperns?). I'm tempted because I'd love to avoid the medical intervention of IVF but think I'll just save the money incase I need a private round of IVF. Let me know any other qus - I was scared when I first took it but it was fine for me. Just a few hot flashes.

jam to IUI or not IUI that is the question! During this last 2ww I really did start to question my sanity of doing an(otger) IUI.... even though this option was fully endorsed by consultant... but IUI, whilst much less intense and hard on body, does not have the miracle and "certainty" of seeing an embryo... but I got a BFP from an IUI so there must be something in it!!!
There are so many variables that can impact the course of treatment, your FC Dr will guide you.

Kwick - Is rabbit a nickname for something or is it just a typo? If it's a typo I may wet myself laughing...

All good points Geeup. No my DH's sperm wasn't amazing but wasn't the worst either. 75m count, 5% morph and 58% motility. He has since been on a fertility diet (mostly), quit smoking and added lots of daily supps like ubiquinol, selenium etc. We want him to get retested at Create in a couple months just to see if it worked.

Nothing is a given even with IVF unfortunately. My friend 28 & tests all clear (DH had poor morph) transferred 2 high grade embryos and not one stuck! She then did a FET (frozen egg transfer) of 2 good grade embryos. Again BFN! It's very frustrating and unfair. Seems to be a luck lottery.

I'm already dying laughing at rabbit 😂

Hi everyone,

Aged 30, 31 next week
TTC #2
Cycle 1
expecting AF sometime this week (fluctuating cycles)
New to this as my first dc was unplanned but a delightful welcome.

Fx for everyone!

Alexia yep a 🐰 from TaskRabbit - great app & service for odd jobs. I think it is only available in London area - if you want an introductory discount PM me and I will provide :)

The big difference between IVF and IUI is the egg collection part - which is what I found the most unsettling and terrifying - otherwise the scans, meds (if you take them), bloods and actual transfer/insemination are pretty similar. The success rates of IUI are lower but as age increases they apparently equal out (on the low side). Also the magic potion gets treated before an IUI - and I think before IVF - which makes the magic potion more powerful and potent

Welcome er!!!

So glad I could oblige with providing laughs alexia and sk1pper.... this is very good indeed if you are in 2ww

Ooh kwick, a rabbit sounds like exactly what we need. DH and I have a long list of minor jobs that were too lazy / incompetent to do ourselves. We were saying only today that we need someone to sort them all.

And thanks to all for they useful info on IUI / IVF etc. I'm putting my big girl pants on tomorrow and will ring for a GP appointment to get the ball rolling. For those in London, does anyone have any recs for private clinics? I think we'd be happy to pay if it meant speeding things up.

kwick I'm in the tww Thanks for the kind offer lovely but I'm not in London. You certainly are the Queen of outsourcing

Welcome Rest

ChaoticKate are you new here too? If so, welcome!

Ooooh now I'm back thinking maybe I should do an IUI Kwick! So hard to know what to do

Create Fertility in London. There are 3 there I believe Kathrino. Well done for taking the plunge, it'll be worth it

What's so unsettling about the egg collection? Not sure I really want to know but feel like I should.

Thanks Alexia, there's one not far from DH's office and not too bad to get to from mine so I'll check it out.

kathrino CRGH - on Great Portland Street - opposite the Portland Hospital... not that I have ever seen anyone famous. Have high success rates & no waiting lists.
When choosing a clinic also think about logistics - you have to go there a LOT!!!!

geeup I am sure your Dr will help you decide.... I sort of stampeded mine way back in 2015 - as I was so convinced I wanted to do natural IUI - probably should have just done 1 that way and then moved on to medicated...

Sorry chaotic if I did not welcome you either!!!

Hi can I join? It would be nice to be around those in a similar position. This cycle is my first using opks and I've already messed up by not reading the instructions properly and testing in the afternoon and getting a static smiley on the first day of testing. It doesn't even know what my base levels are. Anyway me and DP are dtd lots just in case!

Name: colourmylife
Age:29
Ttc: #1
Cycle: 6
CD: 16