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.

@Unicorn9 I tried until I saw a gynecologist who said "every other day starting cd10 through 20". Or start cd10 and every other day until 3-4 days after positive opk.

@KatBeCool - that's the kind of amount/timing I aim for, except I usually stop by 2dpo :)

That’s what I have been doing but think maybe we stop too soon after ovulation. I ovulate day 12 normally and then 14-16 days til AF. So every other day and then maybe slip one in if it’s a flashing smiley face....

@starkid I remember giving up too soon too. Usually I stopped once I recorded temp rise for two days.

Sorry, I will read all msgs I missed up on when I get a chance tomoro but I have my appt with my GP tomoro to
A. Put in ANOTHER referral to fertility clinic and make this one urgent
B. Request bloods taken to check my AMH & FSH

Can someone please tell me what days these bloods should be taken? Some say days 2-5, some say day 3, other say any day. I know it's not something my GP
Offers so if I ask I want to also be armed with the right information and get them booked for the right day.
Also - isn't it AMH & FSH that are the only important ones in this test?
(I've had the 21day bloods which tested LH, Estradiol, progesterone, LSH & prolactin)

Please advise as my appt is at 9.20am
Thanks in advance!

@Broodyaf My consultant gave me a paper that says days 2-4. They test amh, TSH, fsh, and Estradiol. Estradiol on day 3 is to see your baseline. Those are the important ones on those days. The consultant will also test for any stds, hiv, rubella immunity, etc. But those other ones can be done on any day. Good luck!
You could also ask to test all sex hormones, like testosterone, doesn't hurt. And also vitamin D and B. If you have an option to check everything, go for it.

Thanks for reply @KatBeCool

Welcome newbies 👋👋
I'd love to see a happy ending in this thread soon - I think we're due one, but having said that, it's nice to know we're not on this struggle alone and yet more 2lines flashed in front of our nose!

So I went back to GP this morning - explained that fertility clinic weren't calling be until Novemberish, even though I was referred in March! And that they downgraded my referral to routine. So she has put in an urgent referral to the Royal fertility clinic in Belfast (the big one in N.Ireland) and that I should hear from them pretty soon. That their waiting list isn't that long.
She also said that in the event that I have to go for IVF, N.ireland is only given ONE free round on NHS! I feel so gutted about this even though I don't know that I need IVF, but something's telling me I will!
She even went j to detail about checking out foreign ivf centres in the mean time in case the waiting list for IVF in NHS over here is long....
Do I do this or what?!

I have to book in for rubella bloods and AMH bloods next week but apart from that she said throw all ovulation sticks in the bin, only record periods from now on and have regular sex every week. That psychologically I'm wrecking myself and that isn't helping things!

Good luck with your appointment today @FlapJackered.

@Broodyaf hope your appointment comes round quickly now for you. Try not to worry, so many people get their BFPs whilst waiting to go to the fertility clinic or even after. My GP also told me to throw all the ovulation sticks away. It just adds more pressure to dtd.

Tested this morning and it was negative, though I'm convinced if I hold it in the right light I can see a line. I'm still having back twinges, and feeling sick, with very mild stomach ache.
I'm cd26 and AF is predicted on cd28, though I usually start spotting on cd26/27, so I'm a bit apprehensive everytime I go for a wee!
I'm sending myself mad, it's all I can think about.
Going to test again on Friday if she doesn't turn up by then.

Thanks @Mrs71

Ur not out til the witch shows @MrsChicken89
It's hard not to drive urself crazy

Is anyone else in the same boat as me in that they've kinda given up now that they're waiting on fertility appt?!
Like what else can be different this month than the last 30!!!!

@Broodyaf are they going to test your fsh or only amh? Usually they do both. Hopefully your fertility clinic appointment happens soon. IVF is the first thing they do when there are issues, especially with male sperm. Otherwise, they do medicated cycles and those medications are quite effective. Just don't let them give only Clomid, my consultant repeatedly said that Clomid alone rarely works. If you have money to go abroad for ivf, and medications didn't work, definitely do it. I'm not sure if that one free round is worth possibly many months of waiting. But don't feel gutted yet, ivf is usually the last resort.

@KatBeCool the GP wasn't going to bother testing for AMH at all as she said it wasn't one of their normal tests and that it is the 1st test they do at the 1st fertility appt, only that I pushed for it she said she could chance asking for it but didn't guarantee they would do it for me (in the treatment room in my health centre)
She also said it didn't matter what day in the cycle that the AMH is checked so for me to book in any day?!
Will I book in any day or what until day 2-5 and while I'm job there ask for FSH etc and chance my arm?

I find it too hard to remember everyone's stories in here, I hope I'm not the only one 🙈

Where abouts are you in this whole TTC saga @KatBeCool?

I'm hoping for medical intervention as in drugs etc before IVF - I would imagine they will try Clomid along with whatever else - although my last 21day blood test came back with progesterone 25.1 so it appears I am ovulating

No sperm issues with DF

Thanks for all the good luck messages ❤️
Just had the appointment and feeling so low.
He basically said that because I have already got pregnant (mc) he is sure it will happen again. He basically ignored DHs sperm analysis issues and just told him to stick with the lifestyle changes. He said he is not going to offer any treatment.
On top of that the cyst that they thought was in my ovary is actually on the outside of my Fallopian tube and has grown so needs to be surgically removed via laparoscopy, which has its risks. Not fun.
I just feel like it's not going to happen. 😢

@KatBeCool that is so exciting it is all done! Just the waiting game now. We are seasoned professionals at that! 🤞🏻🤞🏻

@Broodyaf - yeah i'm just presuming I'm not going to get pregnant until they have a good look at what's going on inside/check for scar tissue blocking my tubes.

Had my positive opk last night in the end so will keep going for a few more days, but it's hard to feel motivated when don't feel like it's worth it? But can't just not try either.

@MrsChicken89 - how many dpo are you? fingers crossed she doesn't show before friday xx

@Broodyaf amh doesn't matter on which day it is tested. The only two that do are estradiol and FSH. However, even if fsh is tested on other days, there are acceptable ranges for each phase in your cycle, just have to look it up. So really, Estradiol is the only one and fertility clinic absolutely does that. Will she test your vitamin levels? Fertility clinic won't test for that.

@FlapJackered - whoops cross post. That's very frustrating for you :( and sorry to hear you have to have the cyst removed too. I don't have many words of comfort/advice to give except I'm thinking of you xxx

I'm not sure @starkid, I didn't track OV this cycle, I usually ov cd14-16, so 10-12 dpo.

@FlapJackered oh no, he sounds so insensitive. If anything, he should've offered IUI because of your husband's sperm count. And HSG too. Because you got pregnant before doesn't mean everything is working, well something is working, but maybe only one ovary or only one tube. Are you able to go private at all?
Surgery isn't fun at all. How soon will they be able to do it?

@Broodyaf I am in the middle of my first IUI cycle. All tests I've ever had were normal, except last day 21 progesterone that showed I might not be ovulating, despite positive opks and temp rises. So before IUI (yesterday) I was on letrozole and gonal f, then trigger shot. And now I wait.

@starkid thanks lovely xx

@KatBeCool they said surgery in approx 3 months. So I think what we will do is after the surgery I have a follow up consultation with him, which should be around a year from my MC and if he still isn't keen to start any treatment we will get a second opinion privately.

@FlapJackered that's so rubbish, hopefully after surgery things can get moving for you at least.

I've got my appointment for the fertility clinic - 23rd Oct. so glad it's not a super long wait.
What normally happens at the 1st appointment? Not sure if I should ask to 'work at home' or head to the office afterward.
I've never been so excited for a hospital appointment 😂🙈

@bunhead34 - great news it's quite soon! Mine's end of Sept (I also can't frigging wait!), so I'll let you know what happens in it.
It's at 8.30am so not sure if I ought to take it as a holiday, more as an excuse for my husband and I to have a nice day together after than anything.

Ah @KatBeCool this must be so nerve-wrecking yet exciting for you - so if you had IUI yday that u are PUPO?

So I had my Estradiol done as part of my 21day bloods and it came back as 471 which was in the normal range

Also tested for all vitamins at the start and they were all fine too

So I went and rang Belfast and explained to them that I had just been referred today and could they tell me roughly how long the waiting list is from they receive the referral to the 1st appt....
9-12 fucking weeks!!!!!! Jesus Christ at this rate the 1st fertility clinic will have called me before then!
This TTC carry on absolutely fucking sucks

Apologies for my language I am just beyond distraught today

From coming out of the GP appt with good news that we were being referred to a great clinic, to scary news about preparing myself for possible IVF to now shit news that this great clinic is no f**king quicker!!

I'm away to cry my lamps out 😭

@Broodyaf and they call 9-12 weeks "emergency" and according to your GP "the wait is not long"? In what world? Well... IUI is not very expensive, if you go private and medication isn't too much of a hit on your wallet either. Maybe worth trying?

@bunhead34 Don't worry about needing to take a day on the day of your first appointment. The ultrasound is the most invasive thing that happens and there is not even a hint of discomfort after it's done. Even with HSG, you can get through the day at work, although it does cramp a bit.