35+ TTC#1 Thread 6

[BambiOnIce80]

Spring is in the air and it's time for a new thread!

Basically: a wonderful bunch of ladies supporting each other through the TTC journey when trying for a first baby after 35.

Here's hoping we get some spring BFP luck for all of us!! 🍀🐣🍀🐣

Hi @PixieN the aspirin evidence is minimal...some specialists say take it others say don't. Both my consultants (fertility and the one I saw during my mc) day it's worth a try and unlikely to harm so I'm taking daily 75mg. I didn't with my last two so feeling that I need to try something different. Also continuing with reflexology which I didn't in my last pregnancy and will go for acupuncture too. Way I figure it none of these things alone will cause a loss, so if there's any chance they may help, even if just with a placebo effect then let's try it. DHEA wise...like @BambiOnIce80 I was wary about this one looking at the evidence. My friend who had ivf in Hong Kong was recommended to take it by her doctor to try and help with egg quality, but with me and knowing my hormone levels were already a bit screwy I didn't want to upset the apple cart even more without advice. My fertility doc said not to when I asked him as he said it wasn't proven to help yet, and he didn't recommend it as it was "experimental" from his point of view.

@Carley32 it really annoys me when they won't give you results/copies of results. They are YOUR results!!! It's about your body so you gave an absolute right to see the results.

@Pinkywoo great idea about the witnesses! Hope the rest of the planning goes well.

@BambiOnIce80 frustrating about the funding but your gp sounds really helpful, and honest. Sounds like a really good appointment. Fingers crossed you can get the fertility stuff sorted ASAP. I think having a plan really helps. I'm still awaiting my AMH results but I did catch a bit of the info the dr was relating to the nurse at my scan last week-I think from what he said he could see 5 follicles for me, which doing research as I would isn't great and I worried that that might mean I wouldn't respond well enough to ivf...but then 3 days later I found out I was preggers so at the moment at least it's not an issue.

@Weathergirl1 great news on the scan! Fingers crossed all goes well with the bloods after the effort it took to get them pesky cells!

Got an appt with the fertility dr today-was meant to be to get the results of the sperm test, and my AMH and scan - but obv now it's likely to be more about me freaking out about a new pregnancy and doing all I can to avoid a third mc. Part of me feels I should've cancelled it, but I really want the test results, and some advice in case the worst does happen again. Mind you poas again this morning and it's definitely darker....

@Laney79 thank you! And yes that's definitely a much stronger line now 😀👍🤞

Sorry I didn't come back yesterday. I feel really out of sorts, disconnected somehow. Its very odd. Anyway, they haven't discharged us, the consultant barely acknowledged the miscarriage. It was Very clinical appointment though. He's happy with dh's SA results so no need to redo. I will be hashing another scan, laparoscopy and hycosy. Then a follow up in about 4 months to review. He did mention the amh blood test but we agreed that at the moment we'll give ttc on our own a good shot, along with these tests, then if it's looking like we'll need an intervention / ivf then do the blood test. I think it'll make me more anxious to do that now and then almost no where to go with it, if that makes sense. In other news cd8 and I've had a fair bit of ewcm. Pleased my cycle doesn't seem affected by the miscarriage and we can just crack on.

@Laney79, hope you get some reassurance today. The line progression is good :) today you are pregnant 💜

@Weathergirl1 great news, When's your 12 week scan?

@BambiOnIce80 sounds like your appointment was productive. Sorry about the funding. We didn't even talk about ivf / funding at ours. Kind of feels a bit early to be doing that for me. Especially as we only get one free shot, I kind of want to exhaust other opportunities before we go down that route. And save some money!

Sorry I haven't mentioned everyone, hope you're all OK xx

@VenusStarr urgh I hate it when medics are very clinical like that, especially when it must be pretty obvious that the patient is quite anxious about the whole thing. A little bit of compassion doesn't hurt! 🤞 With cracking on. My 12 week scan is in a fortnight (so will actually be a 13 week scan) - I'm expecting the process will be a bit more conveyer belt like than last night.

Really glad to hear your scan went well @Weathergirl1 (and that 💩 is getting very real! 😂).x

That is one fabulous looking line @Laney79 😍 Good luck with your appointment today @Laney79 and I hope you get some good results 🤞🏻

Sounds like you've got a mini plan of action there @VenusStarr, so fingers-crossed for the next 4 months 🤞🏻🍀

@Pinkywoo, looks like I'm good to go for 1.30pm on the 30th so I'm all yours if you need me.x

Oh @BambiOnIce80 sorry about the just plain crap ‘grey area’ that is you next steps with the nhs. At least you seemed to have a lovely go who sounded very informative and helpful! You seem to have a plan of action which sounds exciting though so 🤞🤞🤞 for that. Good luck with those egg checks 🤞.

That is a strong line @Laney79 😍.

Time is going so fast @weathergirl1!

Sorry you had a ‘clinical’ (shitty) appointment @VenusStarr. I understand their job must be difficult, but showing a little compassion would go such a long way!
Hope you feel a little better soon ❤️

Thanks ladies. I know it was very frustrating. They seem to have an answer for everything, she said that she would send the results herself (with a letter at a charge mind). It was all a bit shady. But this time I’m hoping to go armed with answers for every but!

I have been able to book cycle bloods like advised for cd 21 and 23 though so that’s a positive. Currently CD7.

Your and GP. Bloody predictive txt!

Very interesting...

Hormone 'can reduce chances of miscarriage' www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-48207396

@VenusStarr I also hate it when the medical professionals are like that. I think sometimes people don’t know what to say. It’s good your cycle seems on track 🤞

Sorry for not replying to everyone I’m just getting to know what everyone is doing

Can I ask what is aspirin supposed to help with? I’ve read of people taking it but wasn’t sure

I do indeed have a lovely GP @Laney79 and @Carley32, but I haven't seen her for the best part of a year since she referred me to the fertility clinic 😄 Tuesdays appointment was with the NHS fertility consultant... yep, I'm the kind of nightmare patient who questions whether the specialist consultant is interpreting the criteria correctly 😂 She's the only one who has the power to refer us to the ACU - lovely GP lady couldn't, unfortunately 😏 Should all be fast-tracked now we've had that conversation with her though, so we'll wait and see what they mean by "fast" 🐌 🙄

@Carley32, on the results front they should never be allowed to charge you to give you a copy of your results! 😱 Given the mention of an accompanying letter, was it possible she would be charging you for a referral (and to send your NHS results) to a private clinic when you were discussing that? A list of questions and potential follow-up questions sounds like a very good idea 💡🙂

@Laney79, that study sounds very interesting 🤓 I was reading through the IVF paper work that the clinic gave us in preparation for the referral and I noticed it mentioned that they only leave us on progesterone for 3 days after a BFP as there is no evidence to support a better outcome by using it for longer... I know the study is looking at a slightly different situation, but certainly makes you wonder 🤔 I'm already putting together a list of questions for our first IVF consultation (because I am a nightmare patient 😬), so think this progesterone query will be added to it 👍

Science geek here @AliceRR (🤓) and I know that the way aspirin works is to stop our platelets (blood cells that are essential in forming blood clots) from doing their job so well. I guess the logic in taking it through pregnancy is to stop it being so likely that clots will form in the placenta/cord and therefore potentially causing complications? Pregnancy makes it more likely for a bodies to form clots more easily, so some people start forming unnecessary clots when they wouldn't if not pregnant (if that makes sense?!). Happened to someone I used to know - no problems with inappropriate clot formation when not pregnant, but huge problems when pregnant. They ended up putting her on low molecular weight heparin rather than aspirin alone though.

Thanks @BambionIce80

@BambiOnIce80. I told her that I was going private and she said she would send my results over with a cover letter for £30. Because they needed a letter to be attached. But when I spoke to the consultant he needed no letter and was just curious about my results and what they class as normal. So he has written his own letter to my surgery asking them to send my results to him. But I doubt they will.

I hope fast-tracked means FAST for you @Bambi 🤞. You have done enough waiting!

The actual study @BambiOnIce80 is really interesting. Basically for women with a history of miscarriage it suggests progesterone may help the pregnancy continue- and they found that as the number of previous miscarriages increases so does the effectiveness of the progesterone. But it's only in women who've experienced bleeding in the first 12 weeks. Here's the Tommy's info graphic www.tommys.org/sites/default/files/PRISM%20Infographic_v4.pdf

I asked my GP about it and she said it would have to be Epas that prescribed it if I started bleeding. My only problem is that we are due to go to Greece on holiday the day I hit 8 weeks-so now I'm thinking I need to have a prescription so I can take some with me just in case I start bleeding whilst I'm away...does that make sense? The only prob is finding someone to prescribe it!!! Arghhh

That's brilliant @BambiOnIce80 thankyou! Sorry for the delayed reaction, I've got a uti and feel like shite, on the plus side apparently pregnant women are seen straight away at the walk in centre, I've never been in and out so quickly!

@Carley32 you are definitely entitled to your results, don't take no for an answer (I am available for lessons in being a stubborn git if necessary)

Good morning ladies 🌞

I'd get myself down to the local EPU and explain the situation @Laney79. The worst they can do is say no, but with you having all your facts and figures to hand, surely they can't?! 🤞🏻🍀

Sorry you're feeling 💩 @Pinkywoo 💐 Best to get it out the way now though so that you can be on tip-top form in 3 weeks time 💒 😉

Your GP should give your results over to the private doc @Carley32 - he's a registered medical professional that you've given your consent to to be able to assess you. I hope they hand them over to him soon 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

So. You'd think I'd be soooo over cycle tracking, what with the fact that I can't get pregnant and have to go for IVF and all, but noooooo - I'm still temping and hitting the OPK's like Pavlov's dogs running for the dinner bell 🛎 🤪 🤦‍♀️ I guess I feel about TTC a lot like the way I feel about the national lottery - you've gotta be in it to win it 😬 I feel my odds of a BFP HPT are about the same as winning the bastarding lottery too 😏 Anywho. I never really get a proper BFP OPK, just near as dammit as dark as the control line or just as dark as the control line. Doesn't worry me though because temping, blood tests and my US' all confirm I ovulate - I just don't have much luck with OPK's... until this morning, that is!! Look at the line on that bad boy!! 🤩 Way flipping darker than the control line 😁 Might just call it quits now and never POA OPK again, seems we're off for IVF anyway 😂

Me to @BambiOnIce80 🤞.

Wow that is the most positive OPK I have seen too! Excellent! So you Test in the morning and evening?
Best get in it Bambi 👍😄🤞

On*

Wow that's a corker @BambiOnIce80 ! 👍🤞

Why, thank you @Weathergirl1 😁 I've not bothered with the soy isoflavones this cycle either (thought I'd best let my body fo it's own thing, seems we're heading for IVF 😏), so that result is all my bodies own doing 😄

I think my OPK crapness might be tied-in to me not being very good at abstaining from fluids for long enough @Carley32 (I think you struggle with that too?). I've been better at doing the 2 hour hold (like the kit insert says), but I've been chugging water and green tea all day before that, so I think (judging by the super pale colour) my wee is still too dilute for a proper result even with the 2 hour hold 🙄 So I decided that when my OPK's start looking like they're heading towards BFP (like last nights), then I'll do one with FMU the next day to see what the crack is... and, ta-da! 😄 I'm out for dinner tonight sans DP (bloody typical! 😩), so I'm going to eat and run and leap on him as soon as I'm through the door (I've text him of my intentions too 😈). Did the same the night before last and we managed to avoid stage fright, so I'm keeping everything crossed that it'll be the same tonight - wish me luck 🍀🍀🍀

Best of luck @BambiOnIce80 🍀🍀😁

When we were successful it was all a bit of a 'OMG we have to do this now!' moment as I got a +ve OPK a few days earlier than I expected so 🤞 it's the same for you guys 😀

Hello Hello Hello ladies. Sorry not being in touch, had a work trip to the US with a few days in NY with DH and thank you very much for all your tips, we really enjoyed ourselves 😊🚕🗽. DH left to the UK as soon as my work week started but unknowingly to me one of my colleagues brought his wife along and she insistently tagged herself along everywhere we went to and guess what, she is 8 weeks pregnant! It was the worst baby bombing ever!!!! She wouldn't stop talking about herself and her pregnancy, how she demands help with everything, couldn't walk anywhere in case something happened to the baby, talked about how lucky they were that they got pregnant on the first try and how they have already chosen 'little messiah's' school 😳😳😳 there was one day I actually had to hog about in the ladies just to escape the baby talk!!! Worst of all is that I watch my diet and try to eat healthy as much as I can and there was her stuffing her mouth with doughnuts and a BMI which is clear a lot higher than mine 😠. And that was me thinking a work trip would do me good and get my head away from babies for a while 👶 💣 💣💣

Tomorrow I'm off to an ivf clinic open day and don't know what to ask. We have 15 minutes of a mini consultation but I don't even know if we need it. This clinic is one of those 'al natural ' ivf with no or little drugs and I can't see them answering any of my questions without looking at my tests and doing new scans. If anyone have any tips please shout!

I'm sorry I haven't caught up with the thread yet. Still very much jet lagged but couldn't ignore those strong opk @BambiOnIce80 well done! I also had ewcm while in the US do will try to get some bd done this weekend 📆

Thanks @Pinkywoo I think i’ll Probably need to take you up on that 😊.

Yes I certainly struggle with that @BambiOnIce80 I am managing the 2 hour hold but not the limited drinking (I just forget mostly to be honest). But I’m similar.
I was thinking of trying the CB OPK again but is it really worth the money 🤔.
Haha oh dear. Don’t talk to me about stage fright lol.
Good Luck ☘️ 🤞

Welcome back @QuantumGirl. Oh no!! I am so sorry about, what sounds like the worst baby bombing so far 🙈. What a pisstake 🤐. I hope you still managed to enjoy some of your time away (other than the time you spent in the toilets). Good luck for some positive news tomoz 👍

Welcome home from your work trip @QuantumGirl 🏡 😊 Glad you had a lovely time with DP, but horrified that you had to go through the week long baby bombing from hell! 😨 It is tricky to know what to say at these open clinic things - I just gave them a run down of what tests we've had done and our diagnosis and asked, based on that, what treatment they thought we would need and how much was it?! If they started throwing 'add ons' at me that the HFEA discredit, then they immediately go on the no-go list. Good luck 🤞🏻 🍀

CD16 here today, DTD last night (and successfully avoided stage fright 😪) and got a temp rise this morning, so that's 2 lottery tickets in place for the draw in 2 weeks time 👍😉

Have a lovely weekend, one and all! 🌞xx

Thanks all for welcoming me to the thread. Been reading back and trying to get an idea of who is who and where everyone is at. You all seem to have so much knowledge! I'm desperate for my period to start so I can start counting cycle days and join in properly with the convo.

Hi everyone, sorry I've been really poor at keeping in touch. Been finding this very hard and have been consumed by obsessing about ttc and being pregnant :(

My nhs counselling has finally come through, appointment next Wednesday. I did have a wellbeing session last week and offloaded a bit. It's surprising how I'm still so upset (or is it, I don't know. It's only been 6 weeks since the miscarriage) Day to day I'm much better, but being controlled by intrusive thoughts. BUT have been proactive and taken myself off to pilates this morning - it was hard! Made me realise I have completely neglected myself for quite a while. Impressed by the fertility clinic - follow up appointment already booked for September, ultrasound in early June and a letter to book the hsg when my next period arrives. Turns out I'm petrified of the investigations :( really hoping I don't need them.

@BambiOnIce80 that's an awesome positive opk! Think I'm joining you on the tww, don't think I ovulated early in the end, and cd12 today, my usual ov day and had ewcm pretty much all of last week and managed to get some action in. Think dh is done now, so have to hope that was enough. Did you find the ubiquinol affected your cm? Don't think I've ever had so much.

@Pastnowfuture how long have you been off contraception now? Fingers crossed af arrives soon 🤞

@QuantumGirl how did you get on at the ivf clinic? Hope your jet lag has eased now

@Carley32 any progress on your results?

Hope you're doing well @Laney79

How are you @AliceRR? Hope you're OK

Not long now @Weathergirl1 :)

Sorry, I know I've missed a few people, but hope everyone is well xx