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!! 🍀🐣🍀🐣

Woah cutie kitty cat!! So small and fluffy!

Kitten!!! 😍 He's so lovely!

OMG what a cutie 😍😻

just heard from our hospital that our transferred embryo didn’t have any abnormalities! We will get full report in the next couple of days but the good news is that it didn’t have any chromosomal abnormalities! The frozen one had trisomy 18. Of course my main question is why miscarriage happened? And last year too! Naturally I’m worried if I’ll miscarry with donor egg?! And now I’m thinking shall we try IVF with my eggs again? Have a bigger dose from the start? And try different meds?! And somehow support my system against miscarriages?! I’m now more confused than ever! And upset as my own embryo was ok and yet I miscarried. I just don't know what to do next! I was convinced it was abnormal! What would you do?!

@BambiOnIce80 Aw cute puddy tat! 😻

Hello @BambiOnIce80 I was wondering where you were. I have been nosing on here but also having trying to cut down on my ttc screentime. It’s going well 😊. Your week sounds right up my street 🥂. How were the in-laws?
Ar amazing news on the kitten 😍. Pets are such good company. What it’s name?

I’m CD16 and had a bfp OPK this afternoon so 🤞. So 2 days fewer than last month. Although ttw is getting a little old now and I’m going to try just doing what the hell I like considering nothing else has worked so far. My pretty Muddy race is on the 6th July 🏃‍♀️ 👍.

Some maybe interesting info... I have had much more ewcm (tmi) this cycle since I started taking omega 6 vits. Hopefully a good thing 🤞.

@Russkispy that's a lot to wrap your head around, isn't it - excellent news that there was no chromosomal abnormalities, but then confusing as to why the MC occurred 😔💐 Did you see the link @Laney79 (I hope all is well with you?x) posted a few pages ago about progesterone support in recurrent MC? Might be worth a look and a chat with the docs? As you say, there's no point putting yourself through the DE process if there's treatment that can be given to support an embryo with your own egg. I hope you get some answers soon.x

@Carley32, awesome news on the BFP OPK at CD16 and the EWCM! 😃 I've been taking the omega fish oil too and get the impression it's helping in some way (I feel 'healthier' at least). Don't blame you for cutting back on TTC screentime - I think it gives an essential headspace break which is definitely periodically needed 🧘‍♀️ I've found it quite helpful this last week... well, that and the new kitten (aka Rocket 🚀 😼)! 😄 Oooh, the 6th isn't far off now! 🏃‍♀️💪 I definitely don't think you should sweat the TWW - you're absolutely right to enjoy yourself and not end up resenting giving up all the stuff you love but forgo if AF turns up (sending you positive vibes that she doesn't this cycle, as always🍀🤞🏻🔮).x

@79andnotout @QuantumGirl @Weathergirl1 @Pinkywoo, thank you all for the kitty compliments! 😻 The little 💩 slept through peacefully for 6 & a half hours last night, which should be a god send... unless you're me and you wake up every 2 hours, hear silence and lay there thinking he must be dead but you can't go check in case he's just sleeping and I disturb him and undo all the good work! 🤪 Seriously - if I'm this mental with a kitten, what the hell would I be like with a bambino?! 🤯 And thank you to whoever (threads ago) recommended 'the world's best cat litter' - it's massively helping keep my inner neat-freak appeased! 😄

Yes Io is needed. Aww well Rocket is just lush 😍. I noticed more energy too @BambiOnIce80. But today I woke up feeling very nauseous and had to come home from work at 12. No aching and still bloody nauseous.

I wonder if anyone else gets unwell during ovulation or just before af. This seems to be an occurring thing for me. But not every month, mostly every other. Which has worried me.

Good news @Russkispy 👍.

Glad all you ladies are good too 😊.

Thanks for asking after me @BambiOnIce80 -holiday was amazing, gorgeous place and really relaxing. Had another scan today and all went well-measuring 11+1! Booking appt sat and 12 week dating scans week today (they had to move it in case we want trisomy screening as at my original scan I'dve been too far gone on today's measurements). The relief is incredible! We've told parents today-holding our till next week to tell friends and wider family. Just hoping bub keeps growing and developing well.

@Russkispy I'm guessing you were on progesterone pessaries during your pregnancy (assisted conception if I remember right?) so not sure if the prism info would help to be honest. It's so hard to understand why these things happen when there are seemingly no answers forthcoming. Really feel for you xxx

Oh and @BambiOnIce80 such a cute kitty!

He’s gorgeous @BambiOnIce 😻😻😻 I love black cats. We’ve got one too! We’ve got an appointment at the fertility clinic at the end of the week so will let you know how it goes. Not sure what they’ll say about the failed HSG 😫

Sounds promising @Laney79 🤞💕

Ok so got my thyroid immune tests back -

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies - 350 [0-34 kIU/L]
Thyroglobulin antibodies - 621 [0-115 kU/L]

@BambiOnIce80 do you do any of these tests in your lab? I clearly have very elevated antibodies but I'm not sure if this is clinically significant.

I've been having a bit of a read, and found some good articles summarising infertility and miscarriage risk with anti-thyroid antibodies.

We conclude that patients with subclinical hypothyroidism are facing an increased risk of pre-eclampsia and the hitherto under-reported risk for perinatal mortality. The presence of thyroid antibodies in euthyroid patients is associated with unexplained subfertility (which was so far unknown), miscarriage, recurrent miscarriage, preterm birth

Hi'ya @79andnotout, I'm by no means an immunologist (disclaimer!), but those levels have to be significant. My understanding is that them both being high indicates a likely autoimmune thyroid disorder, possibly Hashimoto's given that both of them are raised. I don't know enough scientifically speaking about it to advise whether that could be the cause of the difficulty to conceive, but I can tell you anecdotally that DP's XW had Hashimoto's and when they couldn't get pregnant from 3 years of TTC it was put down to that. On the NHS tests front, you're right that your clinic will likely want to check those values themselves rather than taking the home test values (the fact you have those results gives you a case to ask to be checked, of course). I know in my area you wouldn't get the thyroglobulin test offered, but I think some areas down south do it - post code lottery 🙄

Sorry you're feeling unwell around ov @Carley32 💐 Maybe you have one ovary that's 'more active' (my right one is!) and that gives you more ov symptoms/discomfort than the other? The nausea is possibly your hormones surging and messing with your stomach. I get nausea pre-AF when my progesterone drops... which doesn't mess with my inner symptom spotting psycho at all! 🤪😏 Hope you're feeling better now?x

So glad you had a lovely holiday and everything is progressing nicely @Laney79! ❤️ You'll be posting us a lovely scan pic soon then?😉

I hope you're clinic appointment goes well @PixieN 🍀 Please give us an update when you can.x

Thanks @BambiOnIce80 - very sensible advice as always. I will see what the clinic say tomorrow. Time to do some research myself too so I'm properly armed.

@BambiOnIce80 I've been a bit scared to post a pic, but do you know what, no matter what happens I might as well enjoy it right now! So here you go....

Amazing @Laney79 I'm so happy for you! Good luck for the rest of this crazy journey! Xx

Awwww, that's a stunning profile your bean's got going on there @Laney79! 😍 Absolutely enjoy every moment of it!xx

Ooh, your appointment's tomorrow then @79andnotout 👍 Please also report back on how that goes when you can 🍀 I've still got another 3 months to go before mine, so I'll live vicariously through you and @QuantumGirl for the time being, if that's alright?! 😄

Ha yeah if course, I'll update tomorrow after the scan. I'm looking forward to it. I'll be 6DPO so should have a good lining. Will see.

@QuantumGirl how are you getting on? Have you started round one?

So I had my ultrasound and it's pretty good. 10 follicles on one side, 8 on the other, she confirmed I ovulated on my left side a week ago, and said my lining looked fine and there were no signs of any abnormalities. So still unexplained infertility.

That's an excellent follicle count @79andnotout! 😎 What's the plan of action now?

Hi @BambiOnIce80 - it is a pretty hefty hoard of follicles - I'm now thinking maybe she didn't count them correctly? It seems a bit much for my AMH (which has been between 8 and 10 in the past). Anyway, I'm not going to worry about it, as it all helps get my NHS funding.

Next step is more waiting. The nurse who did my bloods said expect to get a letter in six weeks or so with a consultant appointment. In the meantime I'm going to head to my GP armed with some papers to work out what to do about my thyroid.

So, all being well, I think IVF will start in the autumn. We'll be IVf buddies!

That’s a good amount of follicles @79andnotout. The waiting must be so hard, but at least your heading somewhere soon x

I’m feeling much better... finally @BambiOnIce80 It wasn’t a pleasant few days. It’s just so strange to me. But I have my gp appointment coming up to discuss my ultrasound results, so maybe i will mention it. I wondered if it may be symptoms or a sign of something not being as it should, but my ovary being more active sounds better so i’ll go with that. It does mean that I am out this month though so that’s shit! How are you doing, Did af show up after?

Wow @Laney79 that’s a fab scan pic. Like @Bambi said just enjoy every minute 💗.

Hi @BambiOnIce80 and @79andnotout. Sorry for the lack of updates but my ivf 'journey' (bleugh!) has been a shitstorm so far. My stupid body decided to ovulate right after my AF and that meant there was no time to use any of the injections (not that I was looking forward to it) and in the end despite the clinic's efforts to 'save' the situation in a rather chaotic manner which did not filled me with reassurance, it was decided to cancel the egg collection this cycle and try again next month.

The problem is I feel that more and more I am a lost case and the way the doctors handled my situation last week confirmed it. I hear of people mentioning 'low AMH' but even these people's low AMH is well higher than mine. On the scan only one (ONE) egg could be seen and the fact that my ovulation was so early in the cycle the egg quality is probably quite poor as the body havent had the time to mature it properly not to mention the lining required to implant which barely had time to recover from the period. This is the second month in a row this happened and I think this is how it will be from now on. I am struggling with the idea of donor egg and I might start counselling soon in order to bring me closure and face the ivf process which now feels a massive waste of time and money. I am not cut out for this type of emotional head fuck, my ivf treatment hasn't even started but I cant wait for it to be over.

Apologies for such a negative post but I am struggling to come to terms with my body failing me at the age of 38. @79andnotout I am really thrilled for you, it's a great number of follicles and I really hope things turn out ok for you. I also have been reading about immunologic tests for fertility and would like to discuss it with you all but I'll leave it for another day as today my mind is in a rather dark place.