35+ TTC#1 Thread 4

[BambiOnIce80]

We're very close to maxing-out our previous thread, so time to start afresh 🙂

To borrow the intro from @Blondcat (our old threads founder):

A wonderful bunch of ladies supporting each other through the ttc journey when trying for a first baby after 35.

Good luck all!! 🍀🤞🏻🍀🤞🏻

@TheNewbieStep I fess up, I don't avoid any drinks no matter what time of the month it is but I'm a very lightweight and usually get tipsy on the second glass 🥴

@TheNewbieStep How long have you been on metformin and how are you finding it? Have you heard of Glucobay?
My periods were 27 days up till August - which was a stressful month - since then I've had slightly shorter cycles 25 days, 26 days. After the period I get spotting (is brown so old blood?) for up to CD10 and that's always been the case. Am currently CD18.
I follow a vegan diet and that set the ObGyn off. She said my diet was very starchy, and I probably have insulin resistance. She did an ultrasound and said she could see small cysts on one ovary and a complex cyst on the other! and wants to start me on Glucobay immediately and Metformin in 1 or 2 weeks.
I've not used the cheap OPKs but Clear Blue showed a surge of estrogen and LH for me too - both last month and this month and then my temps went up... however she (obgy) says I' haven't ovulated!

@terriwrist

So interested to hear your obs/gyne said you hadn't ov. I had a blood test (a year ago) to test for a surge and the gp was very clear that I had. Thing is with PCOS is that ovulation can be very random.

Ask for slow release metformin. The non slow gave me a terrible tummy. I've not heard of/had the other one they have suggested for you.

Aim for serious amounts of iron from your veggies- seaweed, green algae etc. If you have light periods you tend to be a bit blood deficient so these all bolster the blood. Taste like shit mind! X

@QuantumGirl

Not making excuses but my work is very social with meetings and lunches and drinks and I can still polish off a bottle of wine without too much wobbly effects.

Have made conscious effort to cut back. Client dinner of 200 last night and I drove! It was actually brilliant!

I know I should drink less than I do. It bothers me.

Anyone else get the feels of guilt?

@TheNewbieStep oh yeah, total guilt feels. I've cut down a lot recently, but mostly because DH is doing a no-booze few months and I'm a sucker for peer pressure either way. I wonder whether that helped us conceive recently (although it didn't stick, it was the first BFP I'd ever had).

I'm having a very baby-heavy weekend, staying at my parents' house with both my sisters, who both have 18month olds. So I have moments of "so glad I can give them back", but also lots of the opposite feelings as well.

Happy mince pies, gin, wine and cars, everyone xx

Thanks for the tip about iron @TheNewbieStep.
The form I have says Metformin SR (I hope that stands for slow release - otherwise will ask).
How long have you been on the slow release one? If you don't mind me asking.
Also, how are you timing BD then? Are you BD'ing only around fertile time based on OPK's? Or every other day the whole cycle? Do you temp by the way? Obgyn basically dismissed my temp rise. Says I should start the meds and do an ultrasound in Feb to check the quality of the follicles. I should have asked HER all these questions I'm asking you but the PCOS diagnosis really threw me.

@LeonieKate nice to have sisters with babies! Both my sister and I are fertilitally-challenged... :(

@terriwrist SR is slow release - so that's fab!

I've been on it about 9 years, as soon as l got the PCOS diagnosis. No adverse effects since I've had the SR x

Hi ladies - can i join this thread - would be great to get some support.
37 ttc since feb. 138 days since last period - been prescribed progesterone to try and bring on my period. Just finished the course so got everything crossed that af comes in the next few days!

Yeah my sisterhood is also fertility challenged. I think me and my younger sister will be doing ivf at the same time. We've had the same results for everything even thyroid issues. Gotta love genetics!

Another one here who doesn't give up drinking at any time of the cycle, but just tries not to binge. I don't feel guilty though. But I rarely do! Life's too short for guilt.

I was told recently I wasn't ovulating but asked for a retest and I was. @terriwrist maybe ask for another test before deciding on how to proceed?

Welcome @Pambo81 and fingers crossed that's sorted it!

Regarding booze on the cycle. I don’t give up but I try to go easy in the tww. I try to eat really healthily and exercise so I think the odd glass of wine or G&T won’t hurt. Everything in moderation, right? The only thing I try to cut back on is caffeine, but that’s partly because it makes me jittery.

Welcome @Pambo81 👋🏻

Just wondering, and this may have been done before, what supplements are you all taking, if any?

In the morning I’m taking:

1 1000mg L-Arginine (mid morning)
2 200mg co-enzyme q10 (with breakfast)

In the evening:
2 200mg Magnesium Glycinate
1 Pregnacare Conception
1 200mg Fish Oil
1 671mg Vitamin E

I love a supplement! I rattle!

After the CP I started to have a glass of pomegranate juice in the morning as it’s supposed to (anecdotally) be good for you uterine lining and it’s an antioxidant. I also have a cup of raspberry leaf tea morning and afternoon after af is over and up to positive opk because it tones the uterus and increases blood flow. I’m hoping it sorts out my short light periods.

@79andnotout I'm going to get a second ultrasound/second opinion hopefully next week. I understand metformin and glucobay may be quite commonly prescribed for PCOS, but I'd like to see if there are any natural/diet options first before starting on the drugs. I'm not overweight but I do love carbs so will eliminate that first.

*sorry - meant to say reduce carbs rather than eliminate.

According to FF app I'm on cd11 and ovulating on cd15 so I peed on my first opk this morning (momentous occasion!) but only a faint line so that's probably not happening, but dtd last night just in case. I do have a tmi question, I'm prone to UTIs so always pee straight after sex, but should I be waiting a while first now we're ttc? All these stories of people doing headstands for 10 minutes afterwards suddenly make more sense!

@Pinkywoo I always laid in bed for about ten minutes, then did the awkward run to the bathroom to pee and clean up. No legs up in the air or anything though!

Someone asked about supplements earlier. I took a multivitamin, extra folic acid because I’m overweight, and lots of vitamin D. I take vitamin D year round because I always seem to be deficient. Even when I lived in California and was outside all the time!

The cycle that I got my BFP, I had started taking B6 and CoQ10 but I don’t think it had any effect because I hadn’t even taken them for a full cycle. I also stocked up because it was 3 for 2 at Boots and now I have all these extra vitamins! Not a bad problem to have though.

We are having the floors redone in our house because we are rushing to get everything done by May. They finished the ground floor today and I don’t think we could be happier with the end result. But what a mess to clean up!

@pinkywoo I read somewhere that just laying for the time it takes to get you breath back is enough to get the ones that are going to make it to the right place. I am the same always pee straight after sex for the uti issue and got my bfp (both times) just pausing to catch breath after then heading straight to loo.

Hope everyone is well and enjoying wine soft cheese (brie in particular) mince pies etc.
Got my first scan this week (very nervous) but still feeling pregnant so taking this as good sign all is well (even if I do still feel rubbish a lot) looking forward to second tri glow and energy as missing exercise and dtd with dh.

Welcome @Pambo81 👋 That is quite a stretch between periods - have they done your bloods as well as prescribing the progesterone? Fingers-crossed that it's done the trick 🤞🏻

@TheNewbieStep, I spent yesterday sampling many, many different gins, so you can probably guess my stance on the drinking whilst TTC issue 🥂😂 I generally keep it down to

Thanks @Kescilly @Blondcat @BambiOnIce80, I was waited a couple of minutes but was then trying to wee while also trying to hold stuff in (I may be going crazy because I was also whispering "stay in little sperm"!)

I waited not was waited

I'd never considered that sperm could be like plants @Pinkywoo! 😂 Maybe I should try giving them some verbal encouragement too 🤔😉

Hi all 😊. Just catching up with 3 days worth of chat. Lots going on.
I have felt guilty in the past about drinking in TWW but after hearing some facts I did sneak a little ripple in last cycle. It’s so hard to plan around it..... most of my plans include alcohol 🙈.

I ventured into the city for some tapas and cocktails this weekend. Was very much needed and a lovely day. But I am certainly feeling the Sunday blues tonight.

Af is also very light and short for me (I only have 2 cycles to go by though) I have brown before and after so not sure if that’s normal? then just a 2 day spot and that’s all. CD18 here and no BFP OPK yet. 🤞 I get one at all.

@Blondcat good luck with the scan xx.

Hi @Pambo81. That is a long cycle. 🤞 for af soon.

Good luck with your scan @blondcat! Keep us posted!

Fingers crossed TWWers...I did the legs in the air & it seemed to work! Also prone to UTIs but figured 5 mins wouldn’t make a difference (& it didn’t!)

@Carley321 hoping you get your BFP OPK soon! Even two cycles can feel like an eternity once you’re ready. Tapas sound so good right now!

@Blondcat good luck for your scan! I know you must be feeling all sorts of things going into it, but it’s almost here now.

@BambiOnIce80 I am impressed by your (and your DH’s) dedication! Hoping it pays off!

Goodluck @Blondcat!!

Hi Girls, I have a burning question and I need some help. For you guys who BBT, how long after ewcm/ smiley or positive opk do you ovulate? So far I have not found a way to pinpoint ovulation apart from bbt but as I get up at 6am on weekdays and later at weekends my measurements wouldn't be very accurate. Also the ovulation dates indicated on the apps don't seem to correspond with real life, all very confusing 🤯