Thread 31, TTC1 | Jam and her dodgers still riding the bonking bus for that elusive BFP

[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

kwick you said it!!! I've had a wand up my fanny umpteen times now and the news has never been good. Here's hoping for this time.

Good luck pyjamas! Got everything crossed for you.

Definitely up for the meet. I live in Essex so can easily come into london to meet 😀

Hi all,

Can I please join you?
Age 27
TTC #1
Cycle 6
CD 5
First month using OPKs and temping.

FFS pyjamas but very pleased you are right back on the horse 🐴

Welcome 12willow!!!

Welcome 12willow!

Just seen something for all you ladies undertaking or soon to be ivf.

#PUPO

Once you've had the embryo transfer you are technically pregnant until proven otherwise. I know its only a hashtag but I liked the idea behind it. As technically you are pregnant once that embryo is back inside.

Hope everyone has a fun weekend ahead of themselves. My Friday gratitude is
1- having a cosy night with a film with OH tonight
2- managed to do some exercise last night. Although it hurts to walk today I know it will do me good in the long run.
3- Ive figured out what to get my OH for his birthday

Kwick - I'll rest when I'm dead! I never let AF get the better of me. Just drug myself up and away I go. Actually was very productive today once I focussed myself.

Kath - 3 weeks?! So jealous xx

Pyjamas - I honestly wish you the best of luck for round too, your body knows what's what this time - can't wait to be celebrating your BFP in less than a months time. 😊

Welcome willow!

I'm loving this Friday positivity we do every week. I thought I wouldn't because it's hard when it's CD1 but no, fuck that - here's mine:

1. AF pain wasn't chronic, if it was it was masked by drugs - AF feels less daunting as the cycles tick past.
2. I will be able to drink at my birthday meal which is good because the booze will be on the house.
3. I'm getting quotes for our loft conversion soon, it will be really good to have an extra bedroom before our baby is born.

Wishing you all the luck pyjamas I feel like I'm watching and learning 👀 you are handling this strength and style

Keeping everything crossed for you harriet the waiting must be torture

Welcome willow

Loving the Friday positivity extra kudos to you skipper , glad day one isn't as bad as has been for you

Meet up - I'm thinking weekend coffee somewhere central maybe kings cross way? I'll do a doodle - please dm me and I'll send the link.

Loving the PMA basset 😘

Haha skipper!!! Glad you had a drug enhanced productive day!

Kings Cross sounds good jamon I will PM you when I can get online

Quick question ladiea....had appointment through for our first ivf appointment -31 October.
For those who've started on this journey already, did you have this initial appointment and then find out after that what the waiting list delay was?
So far our two hospital appointments have been with gynaecology whereas this is our first ivf appointment with the actual fertility clinic attached to the hospital.
I'm under no illusions that anything is likely to be started this side of Christmas.

So sorry about af pyjamas good luck with your appointment, thanks for the info on the website & book will have a read.

It's sad so many of you I having bad experiences with friends and consultants a little bit of compassion goes a long way.

Will defo get that grateful app Jam looks great.

Kwick totally get feeling a bit jealous but being happy, both my closest friends and my sister in law now have babies and Who knows how old they'll be by the time we finally have ours! My sister in law is also forever posting pics of baby stuff as well I love my niece but I could do without seeing all the baby equipment!

Mouse - I have a short lp started vitex this cycle and have ovulated at day11 which is 2-3days early for me, I'm hoping this means I'll get a few days extra to my lp... but may just have a ridiculously short cycle I will let you know!!
Have you tried temping?

Thanks everyone for the luck! Just finished appointment - they could see 10 follicles and am good to go with starting injections tonight 👍🏼 Here we go again!

Meeting my best friend for lunch now (let's see how she is about it) - hope all you lovely ladies have great Saturdays!

Kings Cross (or anywhere else on the Northern Line) works for me 😊

That's great news pyjamas enjoy your lunch x

Hello caz

Winging our very first appointment with the fertility hospital was March. They wanted bloods, a scan, semen analysis and then added us to the 6 month waiting list for IVF. Then they did an HSG. I get the impression they put you on a waiting list to give you a proper good go at conceiving naturally, but I could be wrong - that could just be how long it takes for funding and getting through the list. Our first IVF kick off appointment is this month and I think we talk about the process and protocol and the treatment actually starts in October. I think they do a dummy embryo transfer too at some point. The wait has felt like an age but at least we can say we gave it everything naturally and it just wasn't to be.

Can I join please?

Age: 28
Cycle: 5
CD: 25

Baby dust to all!!

Evening ladies, well... good morning lol

So, my AF was an expected very short and light 2.5ish days. Which is to be expected if I have zero lining to shred. 🙄

I also got a letter yesterday with my results from my recent bloods. I'm not sure if I'm happy with them... anyone care to add to my list of worries??

TSH 2.15
Free T4 10
Free T3 6.1

No abnormals recorded but I'm not 100% they are optimal results for TTC. Ah well.

Caz, I temped this last cycle (and continue to do so with docs orders) which is how I spotted my late ovulation. CD16/25 this last cycle and I'm guessing the same for the few cycles before.

Pyjamas great news that you're starting the next round. I have every hope for you!!! Good luck!!! PMA!!! PMA!!

Sk1pper hope AF continued to be better this cycle. 🍹birthday drinks!!!

Welcome Magpie!! X

Hi willow and magpie & belated hi to ladybird and caz!

mouse can't add any expertise, I'm afraid - hopefully if there aren't any red flags, that bodes well. What was making you concerned?

pyjamas exciting you're going into the next round, everything crossed for you xx

Seem to have a slight fever which am feeling disproportionately pissed off about - feel knackered and had loads I wanted to do which didn't involve me resting in bed

skip yay for birthday drinks and how exciting on loft conversion!

Hi mouse
This website is good for more info www.btf-thyroid.org/information/leaflets/34-thyroid-function-tests-guide
But you are within the normal range so I doubt they'll do anything.
I have hypothyroidism and my last test TSH was 1.45 and they said that giving more thyroxine wouldn't improve ttc. You are also in the normal range for first trimester but they will likely check that again once your pregnant.

I have also wondered if it's my thyroid that affects my ability to conceive, but the doctors say it shouldn't affect it...
There are some books on diets that are supposed to naturally improve your thyroid but I've not tried them TBH....
are you using an app to record your temps, Kindara is good and has a good community to help figure out how to do it.
Good luck

Sorry Caz probably should have explained more, im hyperthyroid and medicate for it. I had a mmc in February at 10 weeks probably due to the condition as I only started medicating at 7 weeks. Whilst my levels are now normal (took 4 months after the mmc to verify) I'm now thinking the TSH number should be under 2 for optimal TTC. I believe originally it was 0.01 when I conceived which is why my little one didn't stick. I believe the thyroid is making me have a short luteal phase which I'm trying to lengthen this cycle. X

Mouse from what I have been told your t4 looks a bit on the low side of normal. I was told mine needs to be between 12-22. Hoping my bloods in September show more progress from 27! I think as well your tsh needs to be below 2. Can you ask your consultant for more info??

Pyjamas - oh nice one on your follicles, wow round 2 came up fast - good luck again hon xx

Welcome Magpie!

Mouse - I've always envied your short AF but then I never really thought that it could hint at lining issues.

Speaking of AF, mine's still in full swing. I've had two days of meidum-severe cramping and (++++++++ MASSIVE TMI ALERT ++++++++) the worst clots I've ever had. Please don't read on if you're squeamish or anything, but some are so big they make a mess everywhere when they drop into the toilet. They actually make me nauseous because I can't believe they were inside my body, they are absolutely disgusting.

I have them every period, but the amount this time has really set alarm bells going off in my head. In true freak-out fashion, I've been trawling Google for answers and there are obvious links between this and infertility. Clots mean that blood flow to the uterus is bad and your fertilised egg may not have a healthy, lining of blood to embed into each month. The problem is, if this is truly the cause of my unexplained infertility - then IVF is going to do squat.

So I'm going to try one last thing and that's Caster Oil therapy four times a week up until ovulation (natural-fertility-info.com/castor-oil-therapy). It's probably a waste of yet more money, but I'm at a loss here.

Blimey... im on holiday and grabbed two summer block buster books at the airport. Both are about crazy infertile women who try to steal other people's lives because of their issues. Pass me back the maeve binchys please..!

Mouse I'm afraid I don't know much about those other than your TSH looks okay - I think it's supposed to be under 2.5

Skipper what a worry, sorry to hear that. I wonder what's causing it? I also wonder if it's worth speaking to a fertility acupuncture specialist as the guy I saw seemed fixated on what my menstrual blood was like. Castor oil is meant to have incredible healing properties, I think that sounds worth a go. Did you have a think about the counselling line?

Chlo great - just what infertile women need - to be made out as loons 🙄

Jam - I hadn't really heard of castor oil until now so I'm glad you've heard it's good. I haven't sorted any therapy out yet, I've been trying to keep myself active and mentally engaged which has helped distract me for the time being. I will call them next week though.

Hey skip I've been reading a lot about improving my lining and found this which might be good for you to read. Kwick has already touched on a few points but it might be worth looking at what in your diet that thickens lining, especially since you have the opposite problem to me. Or maybe you can give me some of yours 😜 DONT WORRY, I've read that fixing a lining issue can solve a huge number of fertility problems and this might be what we both need for a sticky bean, you may not be having any problems having sperm meet and fertilise the egg, it may be a sticky issue. PMA, we can do this!!!

Have you had any scans later in your cycle to see how thick your lining might be? It could be something as simple as taking a supplement or progesterone so it doesn't break down when you implant. Although honestly I've only really looked into thickening up a lining rather than thinning.

heidibrockmyre.com/blog/2014/12/15/how-to-increase-your-lining-in-48-hours-or-less

Skipper have you tried self fertility massage supposed to help with blood flow to uterus and is free, videos are on YouTube to show you how it's done. Is a nice relaxing 10mins even if doesn't work.
🤞Your clots are normal and not a sign of anything else, dr google isn't always correct (thou I know how addictive it is) Hope your period is lighter tomorrow.

Mouse I thought 2.5 or under is ok, but prob best to speak to your doc as is close to that.

I'm 9 DPO and going slightly mad looking at my chart, I think I'm putting way to pressure on this cycle as it's my last one until my gp appt. any tips on keeping sane?!

I normally wait till after my periods due to test (& it hasn't been late for 8months) as I find negative tests depressing but I feel like testing this month as I ovulated earlier...