The Turkey Baster Gang (gobble gobble)

[Oilyoilyoilgob]

Just starting a new thread on self insemination before our first one locks down!

39 pages of highs and lows and THE most supportive group you could wish for if you’re starting or on a self insemination journey.

💚✨ good luck ✨💚

I’m CD6 too, woo hoo but I don’t have regular periods they are within range of 34-38 days.
I’ve purchased some ovulation strips so I will start testing from CD14 until about CD25 as I usually have extreme bloating around CD20-25 so that’s when I am ovulating I presume.

I keep reading moon cups are the best thing for SI but there’s no way I will even consider that, I should be working but instead my mind is constantly on googling self insemination success stories!

We also did a few take aways since NYE so today I’ve already mapped out our meals so I can stay on track.

A lot of smoothies of spinach and blueberries and a lot of fish and lentils.

Omg I’m in a meltdown, I received a text from my surgery saying they are only dealing with patients with covid, an acute long term illness or symptoms of an illness that is potentially serious. All non essential and routine work is suspended. I rang up to check with my surgery and what this means, as I thought I had been referred for fertility treatment and the hospital said no I hadn’t.

The ‘lovely’ reception said no referral requests for ‘routine’ issues will be made as we are it the midst of a ‘global pandemic’ and all resources are being diverted to help save lives. This will remain until the Government instruct otherwise.

Feel thoroughly selfish but I’m also miffed that my fertility referral which was made pre this new thing, was never actioned and because of that, I have potentially months of waiting just to get that sent off.

@ComebackQueen I am so sorry to hear about the referral not going through and the experience with the receptionist! That sucks, whilst I understand their need to prioritise it doesn’t help you and your personal situation at all! i work in mental health services and we wouldn’t dream of turning away referrals (nor would we be allowed!!!) so I find it so hard to accept too!

I had a similar experience as in March we were supposed to have been referred, then they said they hadn’t received, then they had and I called back in Sept to chase and the lady at the hospital dept very black and white told me ‘you’re on the waiting list for initial appointment, there’s a massive waiting list, and even bigger now due to covid, don’t expect any correspondence from us for 6 months at least’, I felt like screaming.. so that’s almost a year now of not even an initial
Consult or apt.

I feel your pain and frustration xx

Aww ComebackQueen, I'm so sorry, that is completely shit . Of course saving lives takes priority, what a stupid thing for that receptionist to say . But this is massively important to your life and the least she could have done is given you a bit of empathy when she is giving you bad news. And I would be seriously annoyed in your shoes if my GP didn't send off a referral when they said they had.

Oh @ComebackQueen that is utterly shit- I am so, so sorry, In my job we couldn't just sit on referrals for anything either (although education sector not health) just because it's a global pandemic. I know the admin teams at GPs are drowning in calls and booking people in for the vaccines (my godmother is a receptionist at a GP surgery) but it's just so unfair that things like this are put on hold- especially as your referral was agreed pre new strain panic and vaccine programme coming. I don't think you're being unreasonable or selfish at all- I would be feeling exactly the same.

Try to focus on what you can control right now- like your SI days, your meals you've planned etc. to try and help you feeling less panicked. I know how hard it is though to try and not think about these types of things.

And @Sydney1986x I'm sorry your referral is also delayed because of this- the cost of the pandemic is huge for this country, with so many people suffering in so many different ways. We can only hope that vaccination programmes start making a dent in community transmission rates to ease pressure on hospitals and allow them to get back to a more normal way of running for all departments.
Hugs to both of you ladies xx

@Sydney1986x oh no, sorry to hear you’re still waiting a year, even whilst being on the list!

I know to some this isn’t the end of the world but the mental aspect of dealing with infertility and mine is through a psycho sexual issue, I’m 14 months off my 40th which is the cut off for IVF in my area, so I really feel like I’m not only missing my chance at being a mother but also that my vaginismus will never be sorted and I’m living a half life and a fake one too.

@Bluey18 thank you, it was her scolding off me on the phone which really was a kick in the teeth.

@Makingnumber2 thank you and yes I’ll concentrate on what I can control.

Honestly thank you to all you wonderful people, I come on here in panic mode and then when I read all the lovely responses I feel much better.

@ComebackQueen I’m sorry to hear this I completely understand why you feel like you do. I would maybe try and get a telephone conversation with your gp as it is effecting you mentally to and just explain what you have said to us - your mental health is so important. I also had to wait a while but it will happen and hopefully another call you might be able to push them a bit. Hoping things will start to get better this year COVID wise it’s so awful 😞 the numbers keep going up.

Hope everyone else is ok too x

@ComebackQueen I wonder if it would be worth finding the contact details for the surgery manager and explaining the confusion so far and asking to know the process and where exactly your referral has gotten stuck and if you'll have to wait until GPs are doing referrals or if they can confirm the referral was made and the 'blockage' is on the side of the fertility clinic?? It might help clarify for you what has gone wrong and who is responsible for what? It might not resolve the issue but might give some clear management of expectations for you when things ease up. We've always had a good outcome when taking this route, without really making a complaint.

It's so frustrating that the process is already so long and is just getting longer. I'm so sorry for everyone going through that.

Focusing on what we can control rather than what we can't is really good advice and I'll keep this in mind for myself!!

@MrsKin90 I forgot to ask you before but is the Ziggy cup pretty similar to the soft disc? Have you used soft discs? I quite liked the soft disc this past month so will continue using them but if the Ziggy cup is essentially the same thing but reusable I might look into it? X

@ComebackQueen I'm very sorry to hear about your referral being delayed. And I'm angry that the receptionist was so dismissive of your concerns, this should have never happened! I second what @MrsKin90 suggested, try to speak to the surgery manager about this. I understand the huge pressures the NHS is under at the moment, I am part of it, but life hasn't stopped because of COVID and people need and deserve medical care for millions of other issues. I hope you find an answer and a solution to this as soon as possible!

@Lori23TTC I was wondering about the ziggy cup too! @MrsKin90 if it's not too much hassle, could you measure the diameter of the cup? That'll give us an idea of how similar it is to the soft discs in size. It would be a much cheaper solution!

I've never used the softdisc and have yet to inset the ziggy. I'm weirdly nervous and don't know why. I'll measure it when I get home and add a picture!! 😂 I don't want to put anyone off but it looks enormous. I've no idea how big a softdisc is in comparison. Does someone want to measure one of those as well? 😊

@MrsKin90 Thanks, you are a star! 🌟
The soft disc diameter is 75mm including the rim, just measured one. It looks huge but I can't feel it at all once inserted! I suspect the Ziggy will be similar!

Thanks @eloiseislost I was just about to measure mine! I can’t feel it once it’s in either and a lot easier to get out than a menstral cup (never again!) I’ve never been able to find my cervix so I feel this is good for me as I don’t think there is a wrong way to insert it, as long as it sits behind your pubic bone I would say it’s in the right place. X

Okay! The soft disc doesn't sound much smaller to be fair.
Here is a picture of the measurements according to the internet, it ISN'T round like a disc, it's more oblong.
And a picture of it in my hand for reference (although you'll have no idea how big my hands are 😂) and a picture of the shape from the side. There's a "front" and "back" to the ziggy cup. It is super super soft.

I measured it to be 80mm (not 76) from the outside of rim edge to rim edge and 60mm going the other way. If you squeezed it into a disc shape, in which case 76mm would probably be accurate. It doesn't naturally form a circle though.
I got mine front currentbody.com as it was so much cheaper, currently on offer. 😊

*from. I got mine FROM. My typos are everywhere today.

Thanks @MrsKin90! I think if you account for firmness of the rim, which looks much softer on the ziggy cup, they should be pretty much the same! The oblong shape should make it easier to insert without spillage too! Off to currentbody.com I go!! 😆

I think I’m going to order one too! I’m quite ‘small’ so I wasn’t sure the Ziggy cup would fit but I think it should be fine! More money spent on ttc 🙄 be worth it one day! Thank you @MrsKin90 mega helpful! Have you tried it yet? I know it can be quite daunting I freaked out when I used the soft cup at first! X

@Lori23TTC It's worth every penny if it results in a baby! But part of me is jealous of women who just have sex on a seemingly random day and get pregnant… for free!! 😄

Slightly off topic, but since AF got us all recently, I found this article about euphemisms for periods from around the world: https://thelanguagenerds.com/top-20-euphemisms-for-period-from-all-around-the-world/ thought it was funny!

@eloiseislost that made me laugh.. the Dutch call it ‘Monthly Party’ not sure what kind of parties they are having but it’s not one I want to be invited to!
I came on today after being 4 days late and I have the worst cramps I think I’ve ever had! Just looking forward to it finishing!
Yes I’ve ordered it so will try it out once it arrives! Xx

Oh and totally jealous of women who fall pregnant by accident or oh it was our first month and we only did it once! How lucky to be those people! X

I've not used it yet 😬 I'm being a chicken. I WILL try it tomorrow, in advance of "using" it on Wednesday. I hope you both get on with it okay or I'll feel guilty!

I'm so sorry AF came today @Lori23TTC aka that it's ketchup week!!! 🙁

That article made me laugh/is utterly ridiculous. 😂

Don’t be silly don’t feel guilty we are never going to know if it will be good for us until we try it anyway and it’s totally worth trying if it does work. I’ve actually been using the soft discs today as I’m on to get more used to them and so far so good! I’m sure I’ll be fine with Ziggy! They are so much easier to use than a cup!
I’m not going to be doing my bbt this cycle as I’m up between 4-6am and I just can’t do it the same time everyday at the moment, I’m going to do the SMEP this cycle to change things up a bit and use the soft discs x

Ketchup week 🤣🤣🤣 I’m deceased. @Lori23TTC sorry you had to join the gang.

All you ladies using all kinds of cups and discs are inspo to me - I literally cringe just at the thought of it, but hey that’s vaginismus for you.

Cheers from my bedroom, currently lying with my legs up 😂 and trying not to freak out at the prospect of the next six weeks in lockdown ha!

@MrsKin90 Don't be silly, it is definitely worth a try because it's reusable. And @Lori23TTC is right, the only way to find out is to try it. 🙂 Each box of soft discs is 20£! And I actually like the concept so much I also use them for AF, so I use up a box per month.

I booked my appointment to get the COVID vaccine next Thursday! 💉 I decided that I will get the vaccine and I won't stop TTC. As a healthcare worker I have a responsibility to my patients and as a woman I'm not getting any younger!! Read lots of how the covid vaccines work and I have some medical background so I'm confident that it's the right thing to do. I'll let you all know if I grow a tail or something! 😆

@primrosechill Best of luck for this cycle, keep those legs up! 🤣 We are starting SI tomorrow as per SMEP, I'm actually excited, don't know why! I think my hormones are finally back to normal. 🤷🏻‍♀️