TTC for 1 year +

[FlapJackered]

Does anyone want to join?

I have been TTC #1 for 15 months and had a MC at 8 weeks in February.
I am off to the GP tomorrow to try and get a referral to a reproductive endocrinologist.
Tried every trick and tip and old wives tale in the book to get a bfp!
It would be good to have a group of longer term ttcers to chat to.

This thread has been busy! Just catching up ...

@bunhead34 my TSH was 3.6, then 2.7 on retest. Fertility clinic say that is normal, although I am going to get a second opinion from my GP on Thursday. I think if you are on thyroid medication anyway they aim for under 2.5. So I dont see why they wouldn't do that with me too...

Hi again @starkid. I can relate to feeling like your life is on hold, that is exactly where I am too. Since I started ttc my friend has had her third child and moved house. I just feel like my life has got stuck!

On scar tissue, I think an hsg or a hycosy is meant to test for that. They check your fallopian tubes are open, and my understanding is that the main risk of scar tissue is that it will block your fallopian tubes and stop the sperm and egg meeting. I was worried about it too because I had a laparotomy, but in the event both were open. So it sounds like they should refer you for one of those given your history.

I think I am pretty much at unexpected infertility now. No one has said that but I've had all the tests plus DH had his SA and all were normal. They have said you only get IVF on the NHS after trying for 2 years, so either I can wait another year, then have IVF for free, or pay privately and have it sooner. With the added worry that as my AMH is on the low side, I may not want to leave it another year.

In other news I am having a crap week (rant and to ahead). I think I've got thrush, I've never had it before but I was on antibiotics a few weeks ago and it really feels like what people describe. But thrush is also much more likely in pregnancy so now I'm hoping it's an early pregnancy sign. Which is super unlikely as I'm only 10 dpo, so I'm just setting myself up for disappointment in a couple of days when AF arrived. Will go to the doctor tomorrow and see if they'll give me an urgent appointment as you're not meant to use over the counter stuff if you're ttc. I have an appointment on Thursday to discuss fertility but not sure I can last that long, plus I've waited a month for that one and I want to use it to discuss fertility! Sorry for the tmi and the rant.

@RosettaR - they wouldn't like having too many things to discuss in a GP appointment anyway so I say yes to having a separate one for possible thrush. Poor you :(

Yes I'm hoping for a HSG (always forget the name for it and just said dye test!) to check for scar tissue, as that's my main concern. My poor abdomen etc. has been carved right up :( If it isn't that then we're on to the unknown I guess.

@Crossfitgirl so good to hear from you!!!
I can't believe it is that time already! I bet you just want to meet her now. I have been thinking about you and hoping it has all been going ok. Back at you with all the support. ❤️ I don't know what I would have done the last year or so without some of you girls.
Good luck!!!! I will keep an eye on the other thread and my fingers crossed for a positive birth. Keep in touch! xxxx

@KatBeCool I am so impressed 💪🏻 I am such a wimp! Though I have had so many needles stuck in me the last 6 months I feel like I will probably be ok if it comes to iui/ivf.

@Broodyaf I know what you mean about unexplained infertility being more difficult to take. It does seem easier knowing what the issue is. Before we got DHs results the consultant said to us there is no reason why we shouldn't get pregnant and to go away for 3 months and try and if no luck come back. I can't remember how old you are but I think the older you are the more quickly they are likely to get you on the ivf route.

@RosettaR poor you with thrush. I agree with Starkid I would keep the two appointments personally. 🤞🏻af stays away.

@FlapJackered I'm 37
So afraid i am running outta time and still not been to fertility clinic 🙈

@Broodyaf the good news is that once you get the fertility clinic appointment they will likely prioritise you for treatment like they have done with Katbecool. It sounds like you're on the right track with the tests being done so I am sure it will happen fairly quickly now 🤞🏻

Thank you for your reply @FlapJackered
Please God once I get my 1st appt with fertility clinic things will speed up. I'm just afraid because this is the only clinic in my area (in Northern Ireland) that they will drag everything out and I just don't have the time in my biological clock for that!

I'm going to see a different GP on 20th Aug to send in another referral form, but in this one state the urgency so I am bumped up the waiting list 🙏

Where are u in all this? What stage?
I'm sorry but there are too many people on this for me to remember what stage everyone is at! 🙈

@Broodyaf I will keep my fingers crossed for you!
We are waiting for our first NHS appointment with the fertility clinic also on 20th. We went privately and got some tests done to try and speed things up and found out there are some issues with my DHs swimmers. So we are just waiting for some feedback on that. Then I think we just have the hsg to do before talking treatment options. 😬

Wishing u the very best of luck for the 20th!
Do u know what day in ur cycle is most predictable to check AMH etc? Some say cd3, others 2-5, some people even say any day of the cycle?!?
does it matter that much do u know?

@Broodyaf I was asked to do amh on days 2-4 but I don't think amh fluctuates, fsh does get higher the further you are in the cycle but there are set ranges for that. Estradiol is an important one on day 3 too.

Thankyou so much @KatBeCool
As part of my 21day bloods I got my Estradiol & FSH done
Both results came back as normal
FSH 3.8
Estradiol 471
Do u have any idea what these mean? 🙈😂

@Broodyaf estradiol 471??? That's insanely high. You sure it's not 47.1?

@KatBeCool just the thought of it scares me. Mental side of it as well as the physical side. I will go through it if he comes to it but I rather not.

@FlapJackered not long to wait till your appointment. Best of luck.

No @KatBeCool it's 471 which is in the normal range. 1st set of 21day bloods it was 330

Had my GP appointment this morning and annoyingly the fertility clinic hadn't sent them any of my results despite me asking. In any case, the GP did a referral to see a consultant on the NHS as we are now at 12 months. Most of the wait times were over 100 days, but at one hospital a bit further away they were only 28 days so I guess that's where we'll go. I kind of feel like we're starting again but it will be good to get a second opinion I guess and hopefully they won't need to re-do the tests.

@Mrs71 I completely agree about IVF, I am really scared of the mental side of it and waiting to see if it has worked. And I think if it fails that must be a terrible feeling.

@RosettaR so great you found a place that'll see you sooner! Yes, it does feel like you are starting all over, I felt the same. But the things start happening so fast after your initial tests. That was it, I was told to let them know when AF arrives and the treatment started. I go in tomorrow to get everything measured. Hopefully I grew a few nice follicles. And hopefully not too many as they'll scrap the cycle.

Hi all, I'm new here, hope I'm ok to post to this group? I'm cycle 10 of TTC and going to the GP on Monday. Although I'm cycle 10 I'm near to being 12 months of trying to conceive - had some long cycles. They've varied from 26 days to 38 days. I'm heading to my GP Monday, but worried they'll turn me away but going to insist on blood tests! Is there any advice you can offer? And any guidance on what I can expect. Really hoping I'll have a positive appointment. Got a bit scared recently - I've looked at my local nhs fertility clinic which is over the border in Shropshire (I live in mid wales), and they say welsh patients wait a year to be seen. So thought I'd got to the GP now just in case I need referring on! Could be a long wait....

@BewilderedBee welcome. Ten cycles is close enough. Since your cycles are so irregular, I would ask the GP to look into that. A variation of up to 4 days is considered normal. Also, if your AF is very heavy or very light, it might be a sign of something. Definitely ask for TSH blood test and vitamin D, and any (or all) hormones tests. There are so many variables to ttc and so many of them affect each other,hopefully those tests shed some light on things.

I have been TTC for two years, I have done a pregnancy test after not having a period for 56 days and not sure if it’s an Evap line or a faint positive

Hey!! been ttc for two years and I have done a Sainsbury’s rest today. Not sure if it’s an evap line or a faint positive. Not had a period for 56 days. Let me know what you think

Welcome @BewilderedBee! That's great you have booked a go appointment to get the ball rolling on tests. I would just emphasise with the gp that it's been having a negative effect on your mental health and that getting some tests will really help you.
Good luck, let us know how you get on.

@RosettaR that's great you have the referral through. Can you get the tests from the private clinic and photocopy them yourself? I rang the nhs clinic we are going to and they told me they won't have access to any of the tests the gp did which surprised me! So I have asked the gp to print them out for me to take with me.

@Mrs71 thanks lovely. I know what you mean about ivf. In my head I just never thought it would come to that either, it seems worryingly final too.

@Broodyaf I wasn't asked to do amh at a particular time, so I don't think it matters too much.

@Mrs71 I had my first acupuncture yesterday. It wasn't what I expected. We talked for a long time about cycles, digestion, diet, general health. The bit with the needles was really short. I didn't enjoy that bit but I think I'll get used to it. And afterwards I did feel really calm so that part about it is true. AF has started today and I think the calmness has stayed to an extent, in that I'm not as devastated as I normally am, even though I had really high hopes this month.

@KatBeCool good luck for you scan today, let us know how it goes.

@FlapJackered yes that's what they told me too, they won't have access even to what the GP's done so we just have to take a big folder of test results. My appointment is on 2 October so not too long.

@BewilderedBee welcome! They shouldn't turn you away after 12 months. They may refer you straight away or they may do blood tests and a semen analysis for your or partner first, then refer you.

@ALeigh could be either really. You could try the GP, particularly so long without a period as if you're not pregnant that might be something they should investigate if you're ttc. They might get you to do a test there or I think they can do a blood test if the results are ambiguous. You may already have done this ...

@RosettaR I have my first appointment on Monday! I had to cancel my last one. Oh really, did you find it painful the needle bit?

@BewilderedBee Welcome to the group!

@FlapJackered I know when I started ttc I was naive to think it would happen pretty much straight away. I had a call from my consultant yesterday saying she wants to re do one more blood test and then hopefully can give me some meds depending on which way the thyroid is going. If she still can't figure it out from this blood test she wants to do a scan. So least she's on top of it and I'm glad the thyroid side is getting sorted.

Hi everyone, happy Friday!
Patiently () waiting for my appointment to come through after being referred to the fertility clinic last Friday.

Have realised that if I get pregnant this month I will find out on my birthday - not sure if that's good or bad!
I'm resigned to seeing negatives at this point anyway. So doesn't really matter!

@ALeigh sounds like either way you should head to the docs. Although I could expect a positive when you are this late to be pretty strong? Fingers crossed for you.

@Mrs71 good luck for Monday, let us know how it goes!

@BewilderedBee I think it's v unlikely they will turn you away! You should at least get 21 day bloods, and maybe a scan too.