Thread 30, TTC #1 | Hilda hopefuls are still riding the shag wagon

[Jamon]

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


We've been going a while now so the novelty has well and truly worn off and we're slightly battle scarred and bruised in the cervix area. 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!


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


Key:
HS - have/had sex
GOS - good old shag
ELH - enthusiastic lavatory happenings
LSFX - legs spread, fingers crossed

*thanks not that's

Pps I am never using clearblue digi again, and definitely temping next month.

That looks positive to me Harriet! So with you on the CB digi - utterly hopeless for me.

It's a goer harriet!

I'm thinking about having some grilled halloumi but I can't face putting the grill on in this heat

Harriet if you haven't used a clearblue opk this cycle then I believe they always start with an open circle. They're so not worth the money! That ic is very positive so looks like you're going to ovulate in the next day or so. Retest tomorrow with an ic and see if it's fading out. Definitely HS if you can.

Good to hear glittery That's gone so fast! I loved your immunisation knowledge btw.

Thanks guys. Yes I am so done with clearblue!!!

alexia I have used it this cycle - got 7 days of flashing smileys in a row and then didn't use it on Monday or Tuesday, so maybe it has reset...how does it even know?! They worked for me before but clearly haven't this month.

I guess my body decided to wait until the uti was gone and the workload eased off before ovulating after all. SORRY for all my moaning about it!

Don't apologise Harriet! Just get on with GOS!

Was it skipper that tried out CB opks for a research thing? She didn't rate them if I remember.

14 weeks! How exciting glittery!

Mmmm halloumi. That's dinner for me tomorrow night I think jam.

Hi all,
Had consultant appt today. Good news was that my AMH levels are high and NK killer cells was all ok but my TH1 and TH2 levels are a bit high so once we start treatment, I'll need to take prednisone steroids which make it difficult to sleep and put on a bit of weight but small prices to pay. Bad news is that we need to try to sort out DH's sperm dna fragmentation result and try to bring it down. He's referred him to a urologist who will do more in depth investigation then plan is to go back to the Lister in 6-8 weeks to start IMSI. It only costs £400 more than ICSI but the difference is huge in terms of what the doctor can see when selecting the sperm.

We asked what the cause of the DNA could be and he said he can't really say without investigating further but often it is an infection which is easily treated with antibiotics or varicoceles which are varicose veins in the testicles. Interestingly, I have had a search on the boards tonight and there are a few people who have gone through exact same thing and one woman's story is so similar to mine, she had 2 mc's and went to see same consultant and specialist and it was just an infection which was treated with a £25 course of antibiotics! I'm hoping that's the case, he seemed very confident we could get that result down and then start with treatment so seems quite positive. I'm glad my results are all good and I know DH feels a bit crap that the issue is with him so to speak but we both agreed that it's a positive that were not up against it on both fronts as I think we were both apprehensive that would be the case and also that this is likely the reason why I've miscarried so hopefully if he gets the treatment he needs, we can crack on with IMSI and go from there. I have to say though, I would find it absolutely mental if it is something as simple as an infection that has caused so much heartache and anguish but also hoping it is if that makes sense! Also, the consultant is obviously a very very clever guy but sometimes as with a lot of clever people, they don't have the best social skills so when he saw DH's result, he said ooh ok wow so obviously we completely shat our pants for the first few minutes after he said that and then he went onto say I haven't worried you have I, I'm saying wow because I don't always do this test and I'm so pleased I have because this could be the missing piece of the puzzle. He then said as we walked out I'm just so pleased we did this test and I thought erm ok, pat on the back again for you doctor but as I said to DH, he's not emotionally involved in the way that we are so for someone who is dedicated to trying to help people who have come to him when they've already had lots of tests and investigations but to no avail, he's obviously just chuffed with himself that he finally might have found the answer! Was very odd though have to say!

Managed our GOS despite sweltering heat! So grateful to my DH right now!

Hi chlo just to say I'm on prednisolone for high NK cells. Only day 3 today but no side effects so far. There's another thread called ttc on pred that I'm on and most people have been fine on it. Great you've got some answers now. Lol at that dr!

Clear blue seems nothing but trouble. Glad you've got some clarity harriet

Thanks for sharing that chlo. The lack of focus on sperm / men in this drives me mad. Infection or varicocele was never discussed with us nor was DH physically examined. I'm trying to get another appointment in to discuss this with them.

AF came this morning, not a surprise at all I've been feeling so premenstrual. I've dealt with it quite calmly and feeling proud of myself for this. Also the cat hadn't come home last night and when I called him I could hear him miaowing in reply and had a good ten minutes of panicking thinking he was trapped or injured. Just as I thought I can't handle this and my period! He came - running 100 miles an hour back to me. I felt so so grateful.

So it's cycle 20 now. Is that a milestone, like reaching 20 weeks ?!

So sorry for AF jam but well done for being so brave and thank goodness your cat is ok! It is a milestone, you've suffered 20 cycles of sadness and disappointment and you're still here. Picking yourself up and carrying on. You should be really proud of that even though it's not the milestone you want.

Well done for the sweaty GOS Harriet.

Had a big 0.4 degree temp rise this morning. Didn't HS last night but hopefully there was enough sperm waiting.

flash there must have been about a bajillion sperm waiting! Well done you!

jam omg So glad about your cat!!! And sorry about AF and the cycle 20 milestone. Hope you are ok and can do something nice over the next few days. How is your new place?

I could barely sleep last night because of cramps which I now know to be ovulation pains. Never felt them this strong before! I did another opk just now and it's still looking really positive (bottom one in the pic, top is last night) so maybe surge still hasn't come?

Lovely looking lines Harriet! I'd say keep shagging. It's cooled off now so hopefully you can get another go in? How does your DH feel about 2 days in a row?

Harriet just keeeeeep going!!!! That's a positive.

Sorry jam for AF. Sending 🌺 and 🍫 and 🍷

Have any of you come across the problem of being a bridesmaid that may possibly be pregnant?? My friend asked me a while a go and has just set a date for may next year. I'm being really optimistic and hopefully I'll be pregnant by then so not sure how to approach it. Her chief is already talking about a hen weekend (which I'm not crazy about anyways) I probably won't say anything until I actually am but is it polite to even warn? They know we had a MMC too (and unfortunately they went through one at the same time but we're not TTC) HALP!!

Mouse if you feel able to be honest, I would say "We are trying to conceive, there are obviously no guarantees but I could be any level of pregnant. If you'd rather I wasn't a bridesmaid to save the complications then that's fine, if you'd like me to be a bridesmaid, what's the deadline for dresses etc?"

I think it's helpful to be honest, as long as you don't mind not being a bridesmaid if she decides it will too hard to accommodate a possible pregnancy?

Also I've decided that progesterone makes me feel sick. Last month I felt nauseous, today I'm one or 2 dpo and feel faintly nauseous. I know it's not pregnancy so it must be the progesterone. Bonus though, boobs don't hurt!

Harriet glad you were able to get a GOS in. This looks like your peak positive so keep going tonight if you can.

So sorry af got you Jam Hope you're as ok as can be and have some nice things planned to distract you. It never gets easier and hitting the 20's is a big, crappy milestone. I just kept thinking about how I could have had an actual baby by now if I'd been one of the lucky ones.

Mouse everything that Flash said!

Flash yay for a big temp rise Sorry the progesterone is making you feel nauseous but I hope it keeps the spotting away.

Flash I've been the same on progesterone. Waves of feeling sick, dizziness and light headedness!

It sucks doesn't it Kerry? Last month I was sure I was pregnant. Thankfully now I know it's just symptoms from that I can ignore them.

I want to have a relaxed 2WW. What do you all do to distract yourself during that time?

Definitely Flash! Not to mention the bloating, I feel so fat. Completely agree that halloumi is the BEST!

Sorry everyone - this thread has been moving so fast the past couple of days that I've not gotten back to everyone I wanted to. Addressing that now!

Eva - I am SO sorry about your miscarriage. I hope you're doing okay and the advice from other ladies was helpful. All your strength staggers me. Good luck with your surgery.

Jamon - that app sounds great. I try to write down things I'm grateful for in my journal, and I have started doing the headspace app which I am finding useful. The conquering infertility book looks really good too.

Glad your cats okay too! We once went out looking for our kitty after he didn't come home and heard his pathetic meowing - he was on top of a porch around the side of a neighbours house! We had to climb over the fence to retrieve him :)

Alexia - very pleased that you're back! Really glad you're doing okay. Your trip sounds absolutely incredible! It must have been odd for you having a close friend be THAT insanely fertile - you are an amazing friend.

Pjs - how are you getting on so far with the IVF, hope its going okay? Is it your first time injecting yourself?

Harriet I'm so so sorry to hear work has been so stressful and

I'm planning on testing on Sunday which will be 13dpiui/ov. If negative, will accept I'm likely out but probably test again on 14dpiui before discontinuing progesterone supplements.

I'm not sure when I'd be likely to get my period, as I've seen other people online say it can take a few days after stopping the supplements. I'm also not sure whether I'd then have a next IUI in July, or whether it would be best to wait until August, as I have a couple of non movable things which may clash with hospital appts.

That will be the last IUI the NHS will do, and then we'd be on the waiting list for IVF which I think could be around 6 months, but who knows.

Oops, didn't finish that sentence for Harriet! I was trying to say that I'm sorry that work was so stressful and you think it might have affected things. Fingers crossed it hasn't. x

alexia I've just started temping but not sure if I'm doing it correctly as not taking it at the same time every morning. However fertility friend has been very clever and adjusted my ovulation to mon after recording a few more temps. Hope it's right!

jamon that book sounds great. Hope it's of help to you. Sorry AF got you! I'm not far behind you - in cycle 18!

flash well done on the epic GOS! Hope you'll get your BFP!

love good luck for FW. Hope it's more chilled if you're not using opks

harriet well done on the GOS. The opks look positive to me. Keep having GOS at least for the next few days

chlo so pleased you got some answers. I know what you mean about the infection but in a way it would be great if it's as simple as that
Lol at your dr

kerry good luck with testing day. Really hope you get your BFP.

Well I got a bit of bad news yesterday - my smear result came back abnormal (high grade dyskaryosis) and I've been referred for a colposcopy. Was completely freaking out but have calmed down a little. Really worried that it will affect our ivf plans or even worse little bean if we actually managed to conceive this cycle. Obviously rather not have cervical cancer. It's just so stressful! Heading to my ivf appointment now. Feeling nervous and anxious. Anyone else had abnormal smear/colposcopy?

Otters I'm really sorry to hear about your smear result. I can only imagine how worrying it is for various reasons. I've not had any experience with it but did they give you any indication of how long you'd have to wait for the colposcopy?