Thread 24. TTC #1 - It's been a tough start to the year but 2017 is still the year of the BFP

[AlexiaB]

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

It's not been the best start of the year for most but we're still trying to keep it PMA

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...

Jam - yeah I get you, I'd be very worried if it was my partner and he lied about where he was. Maybe he's worried that you'd assume the worst if he told the truth but unfortunately lying and you finding out is even worse. How are you feeling now about it all?

Jam, I'm so sorry that DH is being such an idiot particularly re the lying. I know my DH often tells me what he thinks I want to hear rather than telling me the truth because it's easier for him and it's taken a while for him to understand how much that damages our relationship. It feels particularly shit of him to do it when it's your FW coming up too.

Pug, take as much time as you need and whatever it takes to help you heal. Thinking of you

Sk1pper, yes it's all through NHS, although there are no IVF facilities at the hospital so they use the private clinics in the area.
The fertility consultant (who works at the private clinics, too) has been amazing and after reviewing all the test results has reassured us that he can't see a specific problem so no more tests are to be done (I have PCO, but not PCOS, and seem to be ovulating).

He said the next step would be IVF and that it was up to us when we wanted to do it. As soon as we do, we just need to email him and the appointment will be made with the clinic. He has already sent on our details to them for when/if the time comes. There is no waiting list, apparently, so once we say go then that's it.

I was very surprised it worked like that and assumed there'd be a long wait so was relieved to find out there isn't. It means we have control over the situation and don't need to second guess when to get the ball rolling by factoring in months of waiting lists.

I have no idea how normal this is - suspect it might be a better service than some other PCTs!

Hi I'm Carley, new to all of this so please bear with me

Age 25 (DH 27)
Cycle 1
CD 5

Last cycle was 32 days. Not sure what is 'normal' for me yet, I was on the pill for about 7 years, came off that last year after being diagnosed with endometriosis and given a couple of meds to stop my periods. Off those now but think my body is still a bit out of whack as my AF this month was extremely light and barely lasted a day (normally 5-7 days).

Can anyone give me a recommendation of OPK's? Thinking to give them a go but not sure if some are better than others?!

Hi guys,
Stats:
Age: 32
Cycle: not sure - about 11ish, no hint of a BFP
CD: 11 of 35
I was here a while ago and have been off for a bit trying to take some of the pressure off. Got to a point where I'm frustrated. OPKs have been positive, started testing again after few months off, bloods were ok. BMI too high for fertility referral. Following slimming world and trying to lose weight while carrying on carrying on.

Inspector - thanks for explaining, I hope it's the same where I am. I'm not sure I want to start IVF before my wedding, so I'm hoping I can have the same arrangement with my consultant.

inspector wow!! What service!!! Do you have any control over which clinic?
Have you tried Inofolic for your PCO? It is a supplement you take twice a day and can help with fertility.

Welcome carley!!!
For OPKs I would go with the strip ones you can get on Amazon called "One Step" - they are cheap and reliable and the thing about OPKs is that if you are testing you want to be able to test a lot at first to get an idea as to when your LH starts to surge.

Welcome back emalady!!! Sorry your BFP has been elusive. I am trying to get back on Slimming World again - and generally be a bit more active.

So..... this numpty has just realised that she left her bbt thermometer on the bedside table at her parents house where she and DH stayed last night. .....

So no more temping for me this cycle, and what an interesting conversation that will be if she finds it! (It's pink, says 'babystart' on it and looks like a pregnant test. ...)

Hi all
I'm bluebell.

I've been lurking around these threads for a little while, and posting on some.

Joining you all at:
Age 29
TTC#1
Cycle 4
CD3

I don't know whether I am on CD3 or not as had heavy bleeding for the last few days which I wasn't expecting and didn't know if it was a chemical. Anyway, if it's AF then I've had a 33 day, a 27 day cycle and then a 24 day cycle since coming off BC.

I have cheapie OPKs but didn't get them until mid cycle last month and didn't start using them early enough so haven't seen a positive one yet.

Will start using them as soon as the bleeding stops this month to see what happens with them.

Fingers crossed for us all.

Kwik there are two clinics operating in my PCT catchment and we were offered either, but one of them is only 20 mins walk from our flat so was the obvious choice (compared to being 30 miles away).

I just looked up Infolic but it looks like it's geared to PCOS as opposed to PCO? I don't seem to have any of the symptoms which it helps with - my periods are every 30-35 days and I had a blood test which showed high progesterone following ovulation so don't think I have any reason to take it. If anything changes in that respect though I will definitely consider it, thank you.

Welcome newbies! Wishing you a quick, stress-free TTC journey :)

Hello all!

Can I join too please? I'm another long termer - not even sure how many cycles as I was looking after my ill dad for a few years which disrupted a few cycles. I'm guessing between 17 and 24.

I am CD 21, due AF 28th Jan but Ovia reckons 9 days to testing which makes no sense. Usual cycle is 33 days.

Just started using opks and using clearblue advanced digital monitor which was bang on with my LH surge (confirmed it with a boots ovulation test). Tried to do bbt but totally failed this month.

So in the tww - medicating through it with a trip to see La La Land today and lots of new year tidying and clearing out.

EJ2009
30
Cycle 7
CD 27 (of normally 28 day cycle but my egg ran off this month so lets see when i get af)

DH not happy with me as he wants ttc to be 'natural' ie not focused on fertile week. I would agree with him but his sex drive is not consistent enough for that so our journey is at times tense while i walk the line of not treating him like a sperm bank but also trying to remind him that biology denotes that we dont have many days per month to make our baby

Mrslz hello welcome - never trust Ovia

Hi all! Lurker for a few cycles, time to join in.

Gaelach, 29
Cycle 6
CD12

Have temped in the past, but it's not for me. This month I'm using OPKs and trying to dtd every 2-3 days. I'm feeling very positive that this is my month!

Hi everyone, still here moving through my first cycle TTC...

SmittenPears
age: 3 2
TTC #1
CD 18 (FW on now for me)
cycle #1!

EJ, I totally get the delicate balancing act of trying to keep the "romance" while TTC...!

Jesus Christ is there never a quiet time on Eurostar???? I am on 6.50 to Brussels and it is rammed!!! Everyone is being so loud!!! Shushi!!!

Wow major in flux of newbies! Welcome one and all!!!

Kwick what happened to reducing your travel schedule?!

Morning all👋

Thanks for new thread alexia- hope you're doing ok- thinking of you x

My stats:

Binky
31
Cycle 6, CD 10

Continuing with the DTD every 2/3 day approach to try to keep my sanity, and also to keep DH from getting frustrated it's not "natural" like EJ said. For us, that seems to have helped as he has instigated nearly all the DTD since we've started this approach- he didn't even do that before TTC. Would that maybe be worth a try for you EJ?

Hi to all the new people-welcome!

Jam sorry you've had a tough time with DH over the weekend. It sounds like he's struggling with TTC and not knowing how to support you, so he's just mucking things up a bit. Hope this gives you both an opportunity to chat things through, get feelings out in the open and come back stronger👍

Skipper how's the wrist? Keeping my fx for you that it's just too early on the testing front

Thinking of you pug. I'm an ex NHSer and trust me, you are not letting your colleagues down by looking after yourself. I sent staff home a few times when they came in to work in this situation- as I was the team leader I was the only one knowing why they were not in but everyone just buckled down and got on with work, no problem. You have to look after yourself first- take care

Winging haha your bbt story made me remember when I left a vibrator out when I left home for university once Hope it doesn't bring too much awkwardness for you

Bluebell I read your post and a similar thing happened to me a couple of months ago. I've tried not to think about the possibility of a chemical and just get onto next cycle but it's so hard when you don't know what your body is doing. Hope the bleeding settles and next month is your one

And kwick- yes indeed what happened to reducing your travelling??!

LSFX all

Binky - wrist is okay but going back to work today and not sure how I'm going to get on using a computer for a prolonged period. I hope by some miracle that I'm not out too but feeling very cramping and spotting badly today, it may even be earlier than expected.

Thank you for not taking offence kwick.
It has been a tough start to the year for many of us so hard to find PMA in January!

My stats -
Age 38 on Wednesday
TTC #1
Cycle 3 (not counting last cycle as didn't dtd in fw due to cold/flu)

Thank you for the new thread alexia xxx

Hello all newbies
Kwick when did you

Even though am not due on yet. I have this feeling that this month is now not my one. Am so sick of this shit alll the time for god sake can't I get a BFP?

Kwick I started a sentence but don't remember what I am going to ask.

Morning all

Blue Monday today but I'm determined to ward off gloom. I will have a productive enjoyable day at work and then enjoy my ceramics class later

Kath skipper yes I think it was a quick decision to lie and say I was in bed rather than tell me the truth and upset me. I'm glad he then did tell me the full story. He's on his way home now, I haven't replied to his text as cannot trust myself to not be sarcastic eg Good flight with your new friends? Any crying in the cockpit?? Etc etc. I am not stooping to this. Where is my halo

That really is great you have this level of control inspector and I hope your chilled approach leads to a BFP before you have to press the ivf trigger

Hello to all new people! I will add you to our now humongous list. I might have to lose people who have dropped off ((Afire macy gingerhanna redpony supper erest )) as our stats will not be right. Please rejoin us if you wish!

Tell me this is real

EJ I had some slightly similar issues with DH and although we have tried every 2/3 days often it starts well and then life/work etc gets in the way. We had a bit of a chat and I ended up downloading the glow app as your partner can have it too and access the info which helped him feel a bit more in control. Difficult if that isn't "natural". If only it was as easy as I was convinced it was the whole time I was panicking at uni!

Pug That must be unbelievably hard to go back to - look after yourself and I'm sure most GPs would sign you off if you need it. Its not good for you or anyone else if you go back too soon and cannot cope.

It's all a bit flat on here at the moment, hope there is some good news soon. I am trying to focus on the holiday we booked for March time - all inclusive so if I'm still lacking the BFP then can enjoy a bit more of the food and drink!