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!! 🍀🐣🍀🐣

@79andnotout that’s the problem, I don’t know if it is peri or if I was just being a period bitch. I don’t get hot flushes 🥵 and vag is still as it should be but I do get depressed for a few days and everything and everyone annoys me but I can relate to the temporary ‘memory loss’ and newly discovered joint pains. I just pray the drs will be able to save some of my eggs 😢.

I’m glad you will go for the ivf consultation at the end of June and although being away for FW isn’t ideal I’m jealous of your trip to China.

Do you ladies know what I can do to improve my lining? I’m on a very healthy diet with the odd drink (3 units a week give or take) and some chocolate but lots of fish and salad too and my period was a disaster 😭

Hi @quantumgirl - yeah hard to tell. I wish there were nice clear indicators when something was wrong, instead of all symptoms of all issues being more or less the same. GPs have a tough job.

No idea about lining, sorry.

I've just ordered the female hormone package on Thriva - as I want to know what my current blood results are before the appointment at the hospital next month.

I can see myself falling down a rabbit hole with these tests though - there are a load more I'd like to do but will see how I get on extracting blood from my fingertips first!

Morning all.

I'm updating sitting by dh who is in hospital 😔 suspected gall bladder stones or possible ulcer. He's been in overnight and just waiting for a ct scan. Can't believe this has happened. He's in so much pain, it's horrible not being able to do anything.
My nan also had a seizure and is in a different hospital. She's on palliative care now, so just waiting for sad news 😢 they do say bad things come in threes.

Hsg is booked for next week, kind of not worried about it now with all this going on.

Sorry you're having a strange cycle @QuantumGirl. I used to listen to bfn, finding it harder to now, feeling like I can't relate at the moment. Hope your ivf appointment goes well next week

Sorry your 'fast-track' appointment seems like typical nhs waiting times @BambiOnIce80, being in limbo is horrible but I guess gives you some time to focus. Try not to worry about your age

Well done on the sly drinking @Carley321, are you waiting to test? Hope af stays away.

Not long until your appointment @79andnotout, good to have a distraction. Have you been to China before? The furtherest I get to travel for work is London (from the Midlands 🙄). We were always taking June off ttc due to the hsg but dh joked this morning about dtd being the last thing on his mind, no offense taken!

We decided to stay with the NHS and go self funded @79andnotout, which was supposed to mean 3 weeks until the initial consultation and IVF within 3 months - but apparently not when they're shutting the clinic over summer 😕 I'm going to give it a few more weeks and then ring to see if there's any cancellations I can snag - if not, it's just more time to save up (focusing on the positives 😬). Good luck with your thumb-pricks for your tests 🍀 You're a braver women than me - I don't mind blood coming out of my vein at all, but have always found thumb-pricks to hurt like a mofo! Out of interest, which other tests are you considering?

I think I read somewhere that the various B vitamins, E (but stop if pregnant!), L-arginine and omega 3 are supposed to be good for endometrial lining @QuantumGirl 💊 I'm thinking of giving the BFN podcast a go once I've finished the series I'm currently listening to, but also don't really want to get too obsessed with TTC again (with maybe 6 months to go until IVF and what not 🙄). Nearly finished 'The Teachers Pet' - I've found a spot of unsolved murder and treachery has been good for taking my mind off of TTC! 😄

Your poor DH @VenusStarr! 😟 And your nan too! 💐 This holiday is looking like perfect timing - you're both really going to enjoy the chance to relax.x

Sorry you’re going through so much @VenusStarr x

I can imagine how frustrated you are @BambiOnIce80 every months wait counts at this time doesn't it! Everything has a waiting list. It's so frustrating. I am one that always needs a worst case too, so I don't think I could go private unless I had it either.

I am CD27, not much hope for this cycle. I had bloods done last Weds and Fri and the results today, all fine. Then it dawned, if I was pregnant, surely it would be in my bloods?

You are doing well @79andnotout 3 months would kill me at the minute!

Yes anxiously waiting @VenusStarr although after blood results and a few cramps, I'm not getting my hopes up.

So sorry about your nan @Venus. I hope DP feels gets better asap. What a stressful time for you. You will be in much need of this holiday xxx

Hope your DH is okay @VenusStarr, poor guy. Sorry to hear about your grandmother too. But yeah, at least it takes the heat of the HSG. No not been to China before, but I travel a lot for work (annoyingly). Should get to eat some nice food, but otherwise will be working the whole time.

I've never done a finger prick test before @Bambi. Maybe I should have looked into it a bit more first. Although I am always cutting myself with the knives in my kitchen a OH was sharpening them yesterday, so maybe I just need to wait until i just do that next. The test is for LH, FSH, testosterone, oestradiol, SHBG, and TSH/T4. I assume day 3 is the best for all that. I might do the full thyroid profile too, as my doc has previously refused to do any except the standard ones, and given how i was previously hyperthyroid I'd like a bit more reassurance. She'll probably hate me if I turn up with a list of results I've done myself though, so will have to manage that exchange of info carefully if there is something off kilter.

What bloods did you have done @Carley321? I don't think you can tell if you're pregnant from anything taken on day 23, it's too early for HCG.

Hi girls, can someone please help me with a bbt question? I have been bbt for a few days now and this morning my temperature was 33.94C which fertility friend rejected. Then I realised it's because the temperature was taken from under my arms (and I think maybe the thermometer overshot). Should I take the temperature from somewhere else? Where do you put your thermometer? Please please don't tell me it should be in the back door 😳😭

That all sounds very confusing to me @79andnotout. But good luck. I hope you get some answers. If the doctor can see you are going to your own extremes to get answers, then maybe she’d be more willing to help?

It was for progesterone I think. Oh is it to early? So I guess there’s still some hope then lol.

I have another appointment In June with my doctor. So I will pick all your brains before-hand so I can go in there armed with knowledge and answers.

🤣🤣 @QuantumGirl

Oh @QuantumGirl, I literally lol'd my arse off with that one! 😂🤣😂🤣 You'll be relieved to know you don't have to go for the back door option 🍑 🤣 I take it under my tongue (slightly to the left to kind of sit under a 'pad'). It's a little uncomfortable at first, but you'll soon get used to it it - and nowhere near as uncomfortable as the other option! 🍑🌡️

@Carley32 I doubt they would have done your hCG as well - great news that your progesterone is good and you've ovulated 🤓 Definitely sounding hopeful this cycle for you 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

@79andnotout I'm sure you'll be fine with doing your thumb-prick yourself - I'm just a wuss 😬 I'd be a shite diabetic 🙄 Very jealous about your China trip - I hope the dim sum are awesome! 🥟😋

Phew! Thanks @BambiOnIce80 tongue is a much more dignified way to bbt 😛😅

Hello Ladies, just catching up in reverse order. 🤣 @QuantumGirl about the BBT question and so glad @BambiOnIce has put you straight on that one 🤪

@79andnotout I did a finger prick test for something similar about 18 months ago. I'm a complete wimp with blood and needles so I was laid on the bed while DH collected it. Or tried to. I didn't bleed enough from my finger!! Anyway we have a lactate testing kit at home (for sports training related reasons) so had extra lancets available and knew that earlobes were just as good to get a sample from so did that instead (earlobes are where we have to use for lactates as fingers can be contaminated by sweat 🤓) - it's less painful too so you might want to do that instead 😉

@Carley32 how many DPO are you? And we're they testing HCG?

@VenusStarr I'm sorry to hear about your DH and Nan. My mum had gallstones (and related pancreatitis) about 20 years ago so I know how painful it can be - I hope he gets sorted asap. & I hope your Nan is being looked after, despite the prognosis 😢💐

@BambiOnIce sorry to hear about the lead time - that's pants. However, it's good you can see the positives & I do think it's the only way to stay sane.

@Laney79 my scan was last week. I'm now stressed about measurements moving EDD based on shite science when I know ovulation. I have found a fellow scientist moaning about it on the pregnancy board though so reassured I'm not insane. How are you?

I hope I haven't missed anyone!

Hi @weathergirl1 I’m 10dpo I am testing Friday though, as we have yet again more plans that include alcohol sat lol. We are on a golf trip and stay at a hotel.

This cycle has me obsessing like a nutcase. But more and more af symptoms keep resting. So I will test Friday.

Rearing*

@Weathergirl1 I'm doing ok thanks. Yesterday was an amazing day-had my scan and everything was as it should be! I'm further along than I've ever been before successfully and we saw a heartbeat which was just amazing - I sobbed! Little one measuring 14mm (only ever got to 3.1 and 4.2mm before) and so they put me at approx 7+5 which is around what I thought from ovulation, but almost a week ahead of LMP dates!

It's still very early days, and there's still lots that could go wrong, but finally having a good scan and seeing that heartbeat was just incredible. We have another scan booked for the day we get back off hols on the 19th June so I should be 10+5 by then.

For those doing the finger prick tests, they're not too bad-just make sure you follow the instructions (run your hand under warm water to get the blood flowing, massage finger etc) also use a finger that you don't use as much - I tended to use the one next to my little finger, that way if it is a little sore afterwards you're not using it to write etc.

@BambiOnIce80 pain about the wait, especially as you're paying but sounds like you're thinking about it the right way.

@Carley321 good luck for testing!

@QuantumGirl 😉 I always used the under the tongue method when I was doing bbt! No back door required!

Sorry not to reply to all individually xx

Amazing news @Laney79 🎉💕

@Laney79 oh that is lovely to hear. Lots of 🤞🤞 that it all goes ok. My 11w scan matched ovulation too!

@Carley32 good luck testing. I think I was 12dpo when I got my really feint line (on a One Step). 🍀

Thanks for the finger prick testing tips! It arrive yesterday, and AF due today, so day 3 will annoying fall over a weekend I think. I asked OH if he could help and he said absolutely no way (he nearly faints when he sees blood so not a surprise).

That's great news @Laney79, congratulations! Fingers crossed for a healthy pregnancy.

@Weathergirl1 - that's interesting about the lactate testing - I've never heard of that! What sport (or is that too revealing)?

@Carley321 - ooh good luck with the testing tomorrow!

@QuantumGirl - I could never get a reliable reading from under the tongue, I go for the half way house of in the vag. It does mean the dog is overly interested in sniffing it afterwards though! Pleasant.

@79andnotout any sport where you're holding stuff in your hands - though I imagine it's probably better to use ears if you can regardless as the lobes don't sweat (and aren't in the drip zone!) 😁 Good luck getting your sample.

@Quantumgirl look what you've started! @79andnotout 's poor 🐶 is having its habits outed in here! 😀

Thank you ladies. Although I don't think i'll get to test. serious af symptoms starting, bloated, dull ache and a faint brown tint when wiping today (tmi) sorry.. Gutted! I had built my hopes up this month. I'm in the …… This is never going to happen 'mind set'!

Hope you are all having a good day. Good luck with the test @79andnotout

Fantastic news @Laney79! ❤️ Such a relief! 😌 Did they prescribe you the progesterone too? So glad you're going to get to have your nice, relaxing holiday.x

How are things looking this morning @Carley32? Have you gone ahead and tested? 🤞🏻🍀

Am I right in thinking you were due to be induced some time around now @Kescilly? I hope everything is going along nicely, if so.x

That’s brilliant news @Laney79 so pleased you 💗.

Yes I tested @BambiOnIce80 bfn at 12dpo I think. Not long after had a bit of spotting too. It’s just strange I’ve not had any cramping or backache like previous months. Well it’s been a year ttc and I’m out. So moving on to 13 months now.

How are you doing?

Anyone have any lice plans over the weekend?

Thanks for all the luck wishes ladies. Hopefully i’ll Need them again next month lol 💗

That's lovely news @Laney79, really happy for you

So, I got married!!! It was lovely (and nice and short) and @BambiOnIce80 was a wonderful witness!

Congratulations @Pinkywoo I saw earlier in the thread you were doing this and @BambiOnIce80 was witnessing. I think it's lovely and just shows what a beautiful thing MN can be! Xx