SQUARE ONE TO GRADUATES! Come on ladies we're huntin' BFPs!

[MotherOfBeagles]

I get twitchy at the end lol! So next rollover thread. Roll call?

Yes you're absolutely right Jam and I do feel lucky that I can give myself a kick up the bum from time to time and plough my focus into DS. It's more the friends I have that don't get the struggle of ttc altogether; My best friend is not at this stage in her life yet, and thinks I'm a lunatic for stressing... she says very flippant/dismissive things like 'well if it doesn't happen you've got your Son'. I know this is true, but I can't face the possibility that it won't happen. I met another friend who's in the same boat as me today and we had a 2 hour heart to heart about how we're coping. Was nice to get everything off my chest.

So glad your test came back clear and great timing for DTD in the end! Hopefully you are more fertile after the flush! Got a good feeling this month for you!

I'm seriously considering IUI, my friend was talking me through it today, could be worth a try before thinking about IVF, and doesn't sound stupidly expensive. Might go down that route this Summer... any of you guys thinking about this??

Footy that puppy!!!!!!!! Want cuddles!!!!!!!!

IUI is on my radar too...and hey! it worked for Russ!! Must prioritise fertility appointment... just need to find time for a phone call!!

So busy at work this week and it's fw. Been working every night. So tired. dtd last night, but the every other day pattern is looking good.

Not having experienced secondary (or really even primary) infertility, can't say I have an opinion/ view!

One of the many reasons I left my previous school was because of the women in my old department who were mothers would often say things like, 'oh, you can't possibly understand; you're not a mother.' Or another gem, 'mothers make better teachers.' They didn't really mean so horribly by it, but it was hard to take that shit, especially after we started ttc!

I'm still very much here, dfollowing the thread and rooting for you!
I'd definitely recommend IUI. The "shot" reaches higher and place the sperm at the place where a man can't reach naturally. Perhaps you'll need just one try as your bodies are ready. You've been taking all vitamins, some of you took Clomid, no coffee, no alcohol, loads of DTDs, excercising regularly. Ovulating regularly too. Most of you, anyway. Maybe your body needs that nudge of IUI. I believe I'm the oldest on this thread being 41. And got my only IUI shot at 40 after trying naturally for 5 months. Then I didn't want to wait any longer so we went for it. Also, DH's sperm was collected in the day, "washed" which was even higher in motility. We beats the odds and I'm sure you can do it too!

Russ I don't know why I haven't considered this sooner! It was the 'washing' bit that I hadn't considered before, means the quality of swimmers going back in is much better. Good to know the placement is better too! I need to chat to DH to see what he thinks, he hates stuff like this. I hadn't considered properly because I thought it was best for couples suffering with a male factor, and DH's SA was good, but just been reading it can help those whose failure isn't explained. Also could just be a shortcut to success if nothing else!
Success rate with LFC is about 30%

PS. Thank you for your continued encouragement x

Glad you were able to get your feelings off chest tee. It really helps to be able to talk things through with people who are going through the same thing. I'm grateful I have two boys already but that need for my 3rd and probably my very last is desperate. So worried about time running out. I'm the big 40 this yr. my Dh getting on a bit too at 44 so not sure these factors are on my side.
Iui sounds a good option, I don't qualify for that unless we pay private, but haven't got the funds.
Do u feel any different without the aspirin yet? Wondered if u had any withdrawals?

Jam I've heard good stories about tubes been flushed and successful bfps!
Fingers crossed.

Kate how you doing? How's the WW going? Any lbs off? Do u exercise?
I went for a jog yesterday with a friend up in the hills and felt so good. Had a good giggle running away from the suspected bulls in field but turned out were just friendly cows.

My 8yr old is giving me stress over homework. Oh how I hate homework! He just isn't motivated to do it and we have melt downs constantly. Any tips kate? Wish the puppy had eaten it this week too!

Mimi, you still with us? Hope you are well. Thinking about you nim also.

Mama what are you studying for? Can't remember if you said before? You must be gearing up for ov soon?

From what I can see, IUI is around £800.
Yes aspirin is out the window. I noticed fractionally more clots in AF and I'm getting a pinching sensation in my chest which was worrying me last night!! I went down to every other day last cycle as didn't want to stop suddenly! Really regret ever taking it now.
Footy it will happen for you, you've been at a disadvantage with unpredictable ovulation. Are you still on the Metformin?

Yes but can't get past 1000mg- think it's more successful on 1500mg but I feel like I'm dying on it! Lol makes u wake up feeling like you have drink a bottle of vodka.. euyukk

We can't justify iui as needs new house. It's not a good successful rate for my age..kicking myself we didn't try before this.. down in dumps today as keep seeing soooo many new mums and have pram envy!

Foot - WW going pretty well. I've lost over half a stone in not quite a month! I'm now on the healthy/ overweight border! Whoop!! Probably going to have to add exercise to the regime... ugh.
Not sure about Homework - is there any way to turn it into a puzzle to be solved? I was dead keen on puzzles, learning, challenges as a kid... so that's probably not helpful. I am more a fan of using the carrot than the stick approach!

Not sure when we give up and admit we need help... I do kinda have my fingers secretly crossed that it could actually happen still. But I know I need to give up hope in order for it to happen.... Not sure how IUI would affect any eventual NHS stuff??

Jam - was the HSG painful? Were you knocked out? Please forgive my ignorance.

Kate no worries at all. You are not unconscious. You're told to take painkillers beforehand as it can be painful. They use a speculum to see the cervix and insert a small tube into the uterus. They take out the speculum and start to put dye into the uterus, taking pictures with an X-ray. They keep going until they see it flow through the Fallopian tubes. Once that's done they stop and remove the tube and you're all done.

It can cause intense pain like period pains. It wasn't too bad for me at all. Just before they stopped I could feel my uterus contracting and it did hurt but I took a few deep breaths and was fine. It was over very quickly.

When we inseminate mares we centrifuge the semen down so that it is super concentrated (my boys is 75% motility) and it always has an extender in.

Can women have a corolon (not sure would be the same chemical) to ensure ovulation within 48 hours?

Durez - yes think their is something in the fertility drugs that cause this. Might be called a trigger? Hcg trigger or something? Think that's something they may do before ivf. I've heard of people talking about it but not sure exactly. How you doing?

Jam- sounds a bit painful to me but very reassuring it's all working ok.

Thanks kate, yes a bit of bribery might work. Told him today that he's not allowed on the iPad until his homework is done. We'll see..
Well done on weight loss that is fantastic!! You must be well chuffed. Keep it up! If u add a bit of exercise it will get rid of any imbalance of the nasty stress hormones you may have. Start with 20 mins of something, then build up to 40 mins at least twice a week and you will feel great. Then aim for exercise every other day.. you'll soon feel like SuperKate! And be ready to tackle the sleepless nights, nappies and baby cries..it will happen x

I might try couch to 5k... just before I met dh about 7 years ago I ran 4 miles twice a day so was pretty fit. Now I think back and it's pretty demoralising my crap fitness level in comparison... so I don't do much exercise... must try harder. More effort needed. I might be able to find half an hour a couple days a week. Weekends now wouldn't be a problem (no more Saturday teaching 🤓).

durez I think it's so cool that you know all about this stuff!!! Hope you're well!

I still need to figure out what the plan for next cycle is... going to start fertility testing July/august privately. Or maybe just go straight to iui??

I've now agreed to plan an overseas school trip to cern next Feb, such is my optimism (not).

Oh and I finally filled in an absence form for work from the cp and felt very brave putting brief description of illness as 'miscarriage - confidential' as the reason.

I'm thinking loads about IUI now, it's given me renewed positivity and hope. I have in mind to try up to 3 consecutive cycles starting in July. Need to convince/bribe DH though, he hates this sort of thing, wants it to happen naturally which I do understand, but I can't stand the ongoing heart break much longer, I'll end up a mess of a woman! x

Hie ladies
Hope everyone is doing well. Been failing to post lately, lost a good 4 long essays .am still here waiting for af (been spotting the last 4-5 days ) , so I can start my last cycle 24.

tee , did a little reading about iui, and I quite like the idea too. Why hadn't you though about it earlier hey .l have been off the pill for 3yrs 4 months and actively trying for 2 yrs now. it is so stressful and hope life too can bribe dh into at least one cycle of iui.he had said this is our last month and we can forget about it.

foot , the puppy is so cute. Hope you are feeling much better now hun. It's amazing how many people are upduffed or with babies around when it seems to never happen for you. Have you ov yet? Fingers crossed for a good egg.

Well done @kate for the weight loss. I'm so impressed girl. If let don't get a bfp this cycle, I might as well look good and work on being healthier.

How are you doing @durez ?do you have a bump yet?

Glad you got the clear @jam, really really hope a good bfp follows in a few weeks for you dear.

Hie @mama, hope you are okay. Where are you now in your cycle? Fx for you too.

@russ, counting down the days now . hope you are also doing well.

*thought

I know Mim! I think I always ruled it out because I assumed it was for those suffering with a male factor (low count etc), but actually it's good for people with unexplained difficulties. I also like the idea of the close monitoring (3 scans per cycle), so you can really feel assured there are eggs maturing and ready to break through the follicle etc. They can also initiate/assist with ovulation for those who struggle with that, think they also inject hcg when necessary, so all in all I like the 'hand holding' element of the whole process. Must not think of it as the answer though, success rate is still only 30% per cycle, which is why I would plan to go for up to 3 consecutive cycles. I've been on the coQ10 & 5mg folic acid for nearly 2 cycles, so hopefully my eggs will be as good as they'll ever be by July. July/Aug/Sep would result in a Apr/May/June baby, pretty nice time of year to give birth.
Mim if DH is talking about coming to the end of ttc, perhaps this could be your leverage to try IUI or something similar? I think if you stop knowing there was another potential avenue to explore, you might always wonder 'what if'? Is it worth a discussion with him? Is he like my DH and not keen on this kind of thing?

He is such a hard head @tee but I am sure if I make him see the pros we could give it a go.l have lost so much time and the idea of iui is giving me some hope. Fx , l can knock some sense into him.

Glad you have a plan there tee. Getting excited for you and rooting for you as well. Where are you in the cycle now?

I think it would be really harsh for him to not agree considering it could potentially be a last shot for you? My DH just doesn't want to rush, he's saying maybe try in a years time, but I don't want to wait that long.
I'm CD6 today. Will try and hold out longer for DTD so we carry on well past ovulation. We have a terrible habit of burning out early.
On that note, the hospital I'm looking at to receive this treatment state that IUI usually happens 36-48 hours after ov. We've rarely bothered DTD after ov as I heard that's no where near as effective as the 24 hours before ov or when you get a peak opk? Russ, how long before/after ov did they perform your IUI?

That's interesting @tee. Could it be the reason we are missing the right time. Fw is said to fall before ov, and by ov day there is no more dtd.

I'm definitely going to do my research about iui too and hoping dh won't take too long to convince.

Just had a massive baby bomb. Best friend is 16 weeks pregnant... about 2 and a half weeks further along than I would have been. I'm happy but I'm absolutely devastated at the same time...

I just don't think I'm meant to be a mum... I know that she came off the pill in October and found out end of Feb... it just feels like it's not meant to happen for me. I think dh is tiring of my tantrums... I would not wish it on her or anyone, but what the hell did I do to deserve this hell?? Why did I have to have the cp? I feel as though I'm not deserving...

Kate I'm sorry you're feeling like this; it's definitely human nature to feel disgruntled, no matter how good a friend/family member, it's so upsetting to hear it's happened for someone else, especially if really easily. You will be a Mum, sadly you've just been very unlucky. Don't lose hope, it will happen, one way or another. You never know, you may even get to share some maternity leave with your friend and have lots of play dates. Summer 2017 is our turn for success, all of us ttc ladies on here are well over due our bfps!!

I was feeling really positive about things until this... I just think 'if I have had such rubbish luck, but most people have good luck, what the hell is going to change my luck? Thousands of pounds worth of tests and iui?? I somehow don't think so.'

I don't want a pity party or to drag anyone else down, but this place has become like my journal... so these are just the thoughts I am having.