Staying Sane - Positivity during TTC journey

[KnitKitty]

Hi ladies,

So, TTC is an anxious and sometimes heartbreaking time and is just a constant roller-coaster of emotions:
Some of us have been trying for a long, long time and just feeling like it will never happen.
Some of us are trying after a previous pregnancy loss.
Some of us aren't seeing eye-to-eye with OHs.
Some of us don't have an OH to lean on and are going through it alone.
Some of us are trying with fertility treatment.
Some of us are trying for our first, and some our fourth
Some of us want to be trying but can't yet for one reason or another.
Some of us are dealing with health issues which may affect fertility or mental health.
And some of us are about to, or have just started trying and might be worrying about how long it will take or if this or that will effect fertility etc etc...

It's just not the funnest journey to be on and I thought we could do with a thread just for positive messages and thoughts.

SO, no negative messages on this thread, but feel free to post:
A positive mantra or affirmation you use or think someone else could use
An idea of how to relax or pass the TTW time
A nice thing that happened to you recently
A success story despite the odds
A picture or word of hope (rainbow pictures most welcome)
A positive message to those who are going through one of the above scenarios at the moment even if you're not on the same journey as they are right now
A nice/positive quote you've read or heard
Or something which brightened up your day

The idea is that anyone having a wobble for whatever reason can come here and soak up some positive energy to help them feel better.

I'll go first:
A mantra I have been repeating to myself at the moment is "Good things happen to me. I accept miracles in my life."

A word of hope for anyone thinking of coming off the pill or who has just come off the pill and who has a history of endometriosis; I have suffered with endo in the past and was very worried that the moment I stopped taking the pill I would get all clogged up with endo again, but I conceived in the second month after coming off the pill and I have a colleague whose wife conceived two children (one the first month after coming off the pill, the second the third month after the pill) without a problem even though she has endo too.

Right, who's with me? Any more positive stuff to share anyone?

Hello, how is everyone doing? I've been wondering how you lovely ladies are all getting on.

My positive news is despite a hell of a year my physical fitness is nearly back to where it was when I started. (After 3 cycles medicated iui, a pregnancy, a miscarriage and to top it all off a broken foot). I've been out jogging both days this weekend and the weather was perfect for it.

I've been meditating using an app called mindful IVF which I'm finding really helpful. I found the narrator guy a little annoying at the beginning of some of the tracks but after a few minutes I find it so soothing! Some of the content is paid but there's quite a lot of free content too.

I've recently had another batch of flashbacks relating to my miscarriage. These have reduced in both frequency and intensity with time but I'm not happy I'm still getting them nearly 6 months on so I'm going to try and access some counseling.

Hi ladies

Hope you don’t mind me jumping on but I was on this thread right back in June when @Knitkitty started it, going through my first round of IVF. When that round failed i had to step away from MN for a while for the sake of my own mental health, had a really crappy follow up with the consultant full of doom and gloom about my egg quality, etc. Anyway I picked myself up and spent the next 3 months doing absolutely everything i could to improve my chances for another round, and on Friday I just had my first EVER BFP! Not only was it a strong BFP, but beta HCG level looks like it might be twins so we are over the moon 😁

I’ve been i such a dark place for so long with my fertility and I genuinely had started to believe it would never happen for me (I’m now 40) so if anyon3 else is feeling that way I hope this post can bring a bit of positivity to you xxx

@crittertamer congratulations! That's fantastic news and twins too?! Amazing! It also gives me hope as I've been worrying about the age factor a lot recently (I turn 39 in December). What did you do in the 3 months to help improve your chances?

@tinypaws great news that you're physically thriving! This lovely weather is perfect for a bit of outdoor exercise - I'm trying to make the most of it too! I'm going to give meditation another try - I did have a go with it a few months back (using different guided meditations I found on youtube) but I didn't really find one that chimed with me. I've been thinking about it quite a bit recently though so I'm going to have another look for one. Remind me, are you doing IVF at the moment?

@knitkitty how are you doing lovely? Been thinking about you - hope you're okay.

I've been feeling a bit more positive recently after quite a while of feeling pretty damn miserable. Dh and I are in a good place and on the same page for pushing forward with a private consultation next month to see what is going on so I think that is contributing to a slightly more hopeful attitude for me. I'm also going on a yoga retreat this weekend which I can't wait for - will definitely be a bit of tonic for my soul!!

@CritterTamer I'm so glad to have news from you. I realised the IVF must not have worked when you stopped posting so I've been thinking of you regularly since then hoping things were getting better for you. AMAZING news, I'm so happy for you!
And your words have come at a very timely moment for me. I'm feeling a bit like giving up after my 4th pregnancy loss this year. Thank you for sharing your message of hope.

@TinyPaws You have had quite a year. I had't realised you'd also broken your foot! You're a trooper, well done for getting your fitness back. I feel like I should be doing the same. I'm feeling so unmotivated at the moment though. I'll take you as inspiration to get moving again I think. I think counselling is a good idea. Flashbacks aren't fun to live with. I'm glad things are looking more positive for you in general though. Am I right in thinking you're doing IVF again this month? Best of luck to you!

@sweetpea0318 I'm a December birthday too. A yoga retreat sounds wonderful! I'm glad you and your DH are both on the same page and getting some help soon. It's so much easier when you work as a team. I'm glad you're feeling more positive too.

I've had a very early miscarriage at 4 weeks 4 days the week before last, following my MMC in March and two CPs in between so I've not been feeling my best and have taken some time off work which has also been a source of an incredible amount of stress. Been waiting since August to be given the go ahead from my new job to hand my notice in and the waiting is driving me nuts. I just want to be out of there!
My positives:
I think the bleeding from miscarriage might finally be stopping after 12 days (and I'd been spotting for about 6 days before that too so it feels like I've had the worlds longest period).
I've signed up to have acupuncture treatment which starts on Friday and I'm feeling really good about that and have a lot of faith in the practitioner I've chosen.
Tomorrow I'm seeing my GP about getting referred to the recurrent miscarriage clinic. This might be a step in the right direction to finding some answers and hopefully moving towards parenthood.

I hope everyone has a lovely sun-filled day. xx

@Kintkitty thank you so much and I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. You are an incredibly strong person to be keeping so positive throughout this. I really hope you get some help and answers at the recurrent miscarriage clinic.

@Sweetpea0318 here’s a list of the biggest changes I made between June and October which I’m certain contributed to a far more successful IVF cycle (more eggs collected, much better quality and a far better lining):

Acupuncture every other week (more running up to cycle)
Daily fertility yoga
5g maca powder daily
5 - 10g spirulina powder daily
Vitamin D spray
Added Antioxidant supplement as well as multi vitamins
Raspberry leaf tea
Lost 3 stone since April
Regular vigorous exercise, but not over exercising
I month of testosterone gel prior to starting cycle
Small change to meds used in stimulation phase

@CritterTamer It's heartening to hear your story! Fingers crossed for a happy healthy pregnancy for you.

@sweetpea0318 Glad you're feeling a bit better, hope you have a lovely retreat!

@KnitKitty Good to hear from you, glad you're hanging in there and I hope you get some answers.

I'm due to start down regulation for a long protocol IVF cycle in 2 days. It's been a long time coming, I can't believe it's so close now!

@TinyPaws - I wish you all the very best for your upcoming IVF cycle - it’s a tough journey. Good luck!