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

Mouse - the lining thickness is okay, I've had a couple of internal ultrasounds. What I think is the issue is the quality of the blood, I don't think my body is shedding the old lining properly so the egg hasn't got any nutrients. It would explain the brown spotting I get days before my period, the clots and the pain - the severe cramps mean that the muscles of my uterus are trying to shift thick, matted and old blood. You are 100% correct though, if we both have lining issues and that's the only thing wrong, it's actually quite an easy fix. It's just how. Also, have you tried raspberry leaf tea? That should help thicken your lining and it's delicious.

Caz my stay sane mantra goes something like "I accept the outcome of this cycle whatever it is". And left the thought float away

Skipper I looked into castor oil years ago for skin problems and it does seem to have very healing properties. I might see if I've still got a bottle and give these packs a go. They sound quite relaxing if nothing else!

Caz - I hadn't heard of it, I've just spent the last hour watching videos on YouTube as you suggested. This is perfect, I think this combined with the caster oil packs should do some good. Thanks xx

Thanks Jam I will try that 😊
No problem skipper I quite liked it when I tried it a few months back hope it works for you x

Adding raspberry leaf tea to my list. Thanks skip. Fx the massages and caster oil have a positive effect for you. I do worry that it's something as simple as a dietary thing. I'm going to try everything.

TMI warning....
Also, I have a dull tummy ache, we BD this morning, and now I have bits of blood in cm (probably man glue) when I wipe. Ffs. Today is CD5 but my AF stopped Friday & was very light. Maybe I was too eager. 😳

Also, got myself one of those fandangled clearblue dual hormone ovulation kit thingys. Says I should start testing on CD7 with a 25 day cycle but I'm not sure since I think I may ovulate on CD15/16. Think I might start then just for the heck of it.

Evening all, sorry for being MIA. Work has been 😫 and have been having FC monitoring with fanjo cam etc and it's making me lose it a bit

Have been reading along but every time I've tried to reply something's distracted me. Just had a mammoth re-read to catch up and hoping tomorrow brings a better week for everyone. Sorry some are feeling particularly low ATM- thinking of you all.

I also echo the best friend feeling- more and more I feel that I've drifted from mine. It's just another agony of this whole shitness. I know I'm behind but would love to be included in the meet up if allowed??

PS. fx pyjamas!🤞

Mouse - I didn't get on with the dual hormone tests, I've got quite a few spare test sticks. If you run out and want some more, PM me and I'll post them to you. There's probably enough for a cycles worth.

binky hope the tests went OK - hope you get an easier ride at work this week

skip I also (TMI klaxon) get lots of clots in some months (get a few pretty much most months, but sometimes it feels like more than actual flow now AF is much lighter than in my 20s). Also worry that it's a bad TTC sign, and might raise it with GP at the year mark - though have told myself it's nothing for the time being :s

mouse hopefully just last of AF or an enthusiastic GOS Well done getting back on it :)

Welcome magpie!!
I think most of us are a bit too jaded to believe in baby dust - but I may be wrong

Wow pyjamas that is a lot of follicles - without any drugs?

jamon I love the Grateful app - thanks for recommending 😘

Get well soon quiet

skipper I have clots most months and have always regarded my heavy periods as a sign of fertility- but what do I know!!! Not sure what the castor oil thing is but if circulation is an issue have you thought about doing some specific yoga poses (yin yoga would probably be the best) and acupuncture?
Oh I see others had very good advice - as usual

caz STEP AWAY FROM THE TESTS!! but make sure you have a stash of FRER at the ready for 12dpo

mouse when I was still doing chukka chukka I nearly always bled - consultant I saw about it said I needed to do chukka chukka more often 😳

binky all the FC appts can be a bit draining but they are a necessary evil.

Wow I am going to try castor oil thing too!!! If nothing else it will help me use up a bottle of the stuff!!!!

Skipper do you take aspirin? I'm thinking that could help prevent clotting. There is a big underground TTC community on instagram - not sure if others use it - but I saw a post earlier talking about clotting and sticky blood and have screenshot it for you.

Binky good to see you yes of course everyone and anyone can come to the meet up. I need to sort this today..

What's the community like jamon? I'd never heard of it before you mentioned.

How are you doing pyjamas?

I'm 7dpo and am really spotty already! Great!

Afternoon ladies! That's me back from holidays, I have caught up on the thread but so much to reply to!
Am sorry that so many of you are going through the mill of emotions at the moment, the whole thing is such a head fuck and you can go from being OK one day to being so low the next.
Interesting to hear about friendships, I've one friend who has been really good, she is currently single and we've a pact that I don't ask her about men and she doesn't ask about babies - unless we want to talk about it and our own situations. Never thought she would be as supportive as she is. I've not really told many others and in particular I've not told one of my absolute besties, but somehow her not knowing allows me to be normal when I am with her? Don't really think I'm explaining myself well but sometimes its nice to forget about it all.
I'm feeling really good after the holiday - and hoping that its the start of some positivism. FC called while we were away and DH is scheduled for a second SA tomorrow and then they have us in for our first appointment in a month's time. Just feels like things might be starting to happen now. Determined to spend the next four weeks being healthy and happy.
Hope everyone is having a quick Monday and I'm looking forward to catching up with all the news again!

Yeah I'm pleased with the number of follicles kwick - someone with higher AMH would have a lot more, but keep telling myself it only takes one!

Welcome back flora and great to hear you're feeling positive after your time away

Hope the digi opk tests work out for you mouse - I'm a late in the day surger, so they never worked for me, but they do for a lot of people. I'm just awkward.

Hope the self fertility massage and oil help - definitely worth a shot I reckon.

I've done two days of the new dose now and other than a bit of tiredness, I feel fine. Back in the clinic Weds and Friday when hopefully will know more about when they think egg collection might be. I've got two acupuncture sessions lined up this week and I'm doing the Mindful IVF app, which I really like. I also told our big boss at work as this week is going to be a stressful one in the office - she was so lovely and even got a bit emotional about it as she had trouble conceiving herself years ago. She's totally taken the work pressure off and I can go to appointments whenever - such a big layer of stress has come off which I hadn't realised was really there. I wish I'd told her before!

Hi all.
Hi to kwick who said hello when I rejoined but I went on holiday and DH and I had a phone ban which meant no MN.

So AF is late by one day. Have no interest in testing unless I am at least a week late.

Next week have Drs appointment booked after blood tests for results. I could have rang to see if I needed to come in sooner but am now bricking it.

Have been feeling more upbeat about things but have had a wobble as DH step mum keeps asking when we are starting a family. I have told DH that he needs to talk to MIL who is lovely but tell her our situation.

Jam & skipper read this a while back on aspirin, though panicked after reading the packet and have since stopped, think it might interact with thyroid or not supposed to take without drs advice... www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/11943048/Aspirin-a-day-could-boost-chance-of-having-a-baby.html

kwick thanks they are back away!

Big temp drop this morning so looks likely I'm having a short cycle, so I'm doubtful I'll make it to 12DPO, will see. 🤞

Good point jamon I generally took a baby aspirin each day during TWW after advice from consultant and after first IVF I was on Heparin injections daily.

Welcome home flora - loving your PMA!

pyjamas I was on shed loads of drugs on first IVF and only got 2 eggs and only 1 fertilised. Your numbers look great 😘
Your boss sounds lovely.

Welcome back babi! Blimey a phone ban eh?

caz LSFX!!!

Kwick -yeah we are just both guilty of flicking and looking at our phones all the time lol!

Trying to catch up... Welcome back from hols Flora and Babi.
So many good luck vibes to PJs. Ten follicles sounds great. Not sure how accurate it is but one FC said the numerous of follicles is about the same as AMH score.

To all the spotters and clotters - I get both, spotting about 6 or 7 days before AF. Consultant thinks it's possibly a problem and prescribed Clomid to see if it will help. I also get big clots, TMI alert, I had one the size of a Malteser last time, gross, and sometimes need to flush twice to get all the blood to go away from the bottom of the loo. (I care about the environment and only bother with this at work so as not to waste water!)
I might try aspirin next month if it is compatible with Clomid.

Regarding friends, one old friend knows we've ditched contraception but doesn't know about the tests and Clomid etc though I probably will tell her when we speak. She had 1 IVF baby and got pregnant again when baby was 5 months old. One other couple, friends of DH's knows and I wish they didn't as they have made all kinds of patronising helpful suggestions.
None of my other friends or family know, although I have a lot of friends who've had problems TTC, quite a few have had success with IVF. Some of DH's friends are the most fertile people we know which makes me a bit envious at times. Him too I suppose but he's good at separating how many kids they have has no bearing on us.

Kwick - I do yoga every Monday and we're always toning that area. I have always considered acupuncture but it seems expensive and I'm not entirely convinced it works. I'm doing the castor oil thing right now, I had to use the whole bottle to properly wet my cloth though but you can reuse it about 30 times so I should get a few cycles out of it.

Jam - I was taking baby aspirin but I literally stopped taking everything but folic acid last cycle. Might give it another whirl though, I feel like I'm focussed on improving one aspect this time instead of trying to go for everything.

Chlo - did you always get spots or is it a recent thing. I have major breakouts post ovulation now and I never used to, it's most annoying.

Welcome back Flora!

Pyjamas - how fortunate you have such a caring and understanding boss. That's always something I worry about, especially with managers who have chosen to not have kids because I'm not sure they can empathise in the right way. Glad you haven't had any awful side effects so far - touch wood!

Caz - thank you for posting that article, I'm going to definitely start taking it again.

Ha ha DH just walked into the bedroom. I'm lying on the bed on an old towel with this castor oil pack lying on my belly( all he can see is a Sainsbury's bag with a hot water bottle lying on it) and he just says "oh god" and walks out. 😂

Baguette - a Malteser? Im not trying to win any awards here but mine are much, much bigger than that. I'm not even going to go into detail as it's literally too much even for MN.

Oh Skip poor you. But. Nothing is too much for mumsnet. Keeping to the chocolate size is it like a creme egg?

Yes, like a squashed Creme Egg 🤢

Sorry I didn't mean to put you down or anything, clots are nasty whatever the size. If anything you've reaffirmed my belief that this is what's wrong with me.

Hi flora hope you had a lovely hol. Four weeks will fly by - enjoy looking after yourself in the meantime

That's great you had such a positive reaction from your manager pyjamas - it's definitely a source of stress for me how I'll manage work. I think I'll need to say something but hopefully be able to keep it vague.

Fx af stays away Babi

Fx for you too caz

lol skipper my DH would be the same with a major 🙄 most likely

Went to my first fertility group meet this evening. It was really supportive and really interesting. The others there were a lot further on - sadly had been through multiple failures and years of trying and had complicated factors going on such as vasectomy reversal. But they were incredibly kind and supportive to me - only just starting out really and didn't reduce my emotion or experience at all. They had lots of good advice for getting through IVF. Also there was a man there - who was very useful for getting the male perspective.

Ah and if anyone else is interested in meeting up please dm me and I'll send you the link!

Skipper that does sound big, I'm not going to try to offer false reassurances. Did you say you told your gp?