TTC 35+ thread 10

[Marvellouslymadmum]

We ran out of thread!! Will go back and try to tag everyone in here 🤦🏼‍♀️

@CocoLady I've just started reading It Starts with the Egg, might be worth checking out? The author covers a lot of these supplements in there.

So far it's good, I think @Misty84 has finished it.

I'm feeling a bit more hopeful today. I've started eating healthier again this week (mediterranean diet!), started reading the book, confirmed the urology guy appointment, and I've also called the Lister for a consult, am waiting for their reply. The NHS have just dragged their heels, misinformed me and wasted my time. I will have the conversation with my doctor but I can't wait for them and need to get going on all this in the next couple of months.

I also spoke to a colleague today and she had IVF, but she told me she had egg donation which was great to hear about. It was nice to speak to someone who had such an experience and was happy to talk about it, it's hard to come by.

@Geriatric1234 probably a good idea to get it checked. Mine vary from 24-35/36 days but usually 29 and I do have low progesterone.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 see if they'll do the day 21 for you, it's very odd for them not to offer that.

@CocoLady I've just started reading It Starts with the Egg, might be worth checking out? The author covers a lot of these supplements in there.

So far it's good, I think @Misty84 has finished it.

I'm feeling a bit more hopeful today. I've started eating healthier again this week (mediterranean diet!), started reading the book, confirmed the urology guy appointment, and I've also called the Lister for a consult, am waiting for their reply. The NHS have just dragged their heels, misinformed me and wasted my time. I will have the conversation with my doctor but I can't wait for them and need to get going on all this in the next couple of months.

I also spoke to a colleague today and she had IVF, but she told me she had egg donation which was great to hear about. It was nice to speak to someone who had such an experience and was happy to talk about it, it's hard to come by.

@Geriatric1234 probably a good idea to get it checked. Mine vary from 24-35/36 days but usually 29 and I do have low progesterone.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 see if they'll do the day 21 for you, it's very odd for them not to offer that.

@CocoLady I've just started reading It Starts with the Egg, might be worth checking out? The author covers a lot of these supplements in there.

So far it's good, I think @Misty84 has finished it.

I'm feeling a bit more hopeful today. I've started eating healthier again this week (mediterranean diet!), started reading the book, confirmed the urology guy appointment, and I've also called the Lister for a consult, am waiting for their reply. The NHS have just dragged their heels, misinformed me and wasted my time. I will have the conversation with my doctor but I can't wait for them and need to get going on all this in the next couple of months.

I also spoke to a colleague today and she had IVF, but she told me she had egg donation which was great to hear about. It was nice to speak to someone who had such an experience and was happy to talk about it, it's hard to come by.

@Geriatric1234 probably a good idea to get it checked. Mine vary from 24-35/36 days but usually 29 and I do have low progesterone.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 see if they'll do the day 21 for you, it's very odd for them not to offer that.

@thislittlebird that sounds really positive, with the Mediterranean diet and the Lister consult! If I'm honest, even after just trying to battle with the NHS for the last month, I'm over it already. Going private and saving time and stress (considering how stressed you were after the last horrible doctor) sounds good. Sounds like you've had a much much longer battle with them than me as well. You could then always maybe take your results from private back to the NHS to be prioritised.

I'm just going to go private also, I can't even be bothered to keep calling. It takes about 40 minutes of my day to get put on the GP call list, then I'm meant to be available all day for them to call me back for the consult. Invariably, as I've a job, they call when I'm on a conference call or something and then I'm back to square one of calling again the next morning from 8.30am trying to get on the list 😂

@CocoLady I definitely recommend the book as it goes through all of the studies, but if not most of the supplements are the ones we are taking above, and the diet is Mediterranean - lots of veg, beans, wholegrains, fish twice a week, and low in meat, white carbs and sugars. That was the general gist from memory, unless you've PCOS or endometriosis where there are different supplements to take

It posted twice? stupid.

This posted a few too many times, I see

This posted a few too many times, I see

@thislittlebird that sounds really positive, with the Mediterranean diet and the Lister consult! If I'm honest, even after just trying to battle with the NHS for the last month, I'm over it already. Going private and saving time and stress (considering how stressed you were after the last horrible doctor) sounds good. Sounds like you've had a much much longer battle with them than me as well. You could then always maybe take your results from private back to the NHS to be prioritised.

I'm just going to go private also, I can't even be bothered to keep calling. It takes about 40 minutes of my day to get put on the GP call list, then I'm meant to be available all day for them to call me back for the consult. Invariably, as I've a job, they call when I'm on a conference call or something and then I'm back to square one of calling again the next morning from 8.30am trying to get on the list 😂

@CocoLady I definitely recommend the book as it goes through all of the studies, but if not most of the supplements are the ones we are taking above, and the diet is Mediterranean - lots of veg, beans, wholegrains, fish twice a week, and low in meat, white carbs and sugars. That was the general gist from memory, unless you've PCOS or endometriosis where there are different supplements to take

Ok clearly I’m having mumsnet issues. All the posts you there said they didn’t post when I tried 🤦

@Geriatric1234 I'm having AMH tested along with HyCoSy. Apparently they will tell me AFC then too- was a bit surprised by this as I thought that I would need a different scan for that.
I am doing it all privately as even though I was referred to NHS fertility clinic straightaway by GP and clinic wrote and told me to arrange HyCoSy, it's impossible to get through to them! They haven't replied to the email I sent 6 weeks ago and when you phone you just get a message saying call again later. I haven't really got the money for private, but don't have the time or emotional energy not to!

@thislittlebird Thank you! I think I’ll just get it checked to be on the safe side!
(Also I posted a comment FIVE TIMES on another thread earlier...apparently mumsnet was overloaded!).

@KatRee Oh great - that’s some useful info coming your way! I’m debating a hycosy. Just heard good things about it!

Does anyone know where I can get cheaper CoQ10 ubiquinol from please ? X

No, sorry @CocoLady, I'm only taking 200mg because its expensive, even less than @Misty84

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I've only just started on the mediterranean thing but I'll try to do it as much as I can. I'm aiming to eat meat too, I don't normally because the husband is pescatarian, I had a chicken thigh with salad tonight though, will try to keep it up.

Yeah, I know what you mean about saving on the stress. I'm so worried it won't work because it's so pricey but I'm hoping we can still fight for our NHS round even if we have two failed private. I'm exhausted even thinking about having to call the doctor tomorrow. As you said, it's a nightmare. I have to call and try to get through in the morning, then explain it all again, then see if they'll let me speak to the doctor even though they said they would last week but I know the odds of them actually following through on that promise are slim. Sigh.

I have a lot of mixed feelings about being pushed into going private by them but my stress levels can't take this. I called the Lister today and they were so busy, couldn't get the new patients number to answer and was told they'd call me back. I hope it's just a case of them having one or two people taking the calls rather than everyone in London has decided they need IVF at once. Although I think Misty said they said she can start whenever she wants so maybe they're just a bit slow on the switchboard front.

How long have you been trying now?

@thislittlebird I had the same response so I emailed and they arranged the consultation with me that way. Have you thought about which consultant you’d like to speak to?
A word of advice; write down every question under the sun beforehand! Because the lady I had seemed to be wrapping things up after 25mins...rather galling when you’re paying for the whole hour! I managed to drag it out to 45 minutes but I think we underestimate how much we already know from all the research we’ve done ourselves! I didn’t learn anything particularly new, the consultation just seems to be a necessary step with any clinic!

Can I ask, how much is the Lister? And has anyone looked into ABC? I saw it’s £2500 for an ivf package incl all meds. Our next step is just semen analysis, and then after that I’ll get the tests for me. I haven’t really looked into where tho. Depressingly research.

@thislittlebird I’ve been trying since August

@Misty84 ok good advice, I'll email them as well. I do have a consultant in mind, yes, Dr Alison Taylor, I will make sure to drag it out like you did, I've heard good things about her.

It's very, very galling when you're paying so much. However, having just looked at the price list, it's better than Care where we were charged £155 for a second appointment (£230 for the initial one) but it was £155 as soon as it went over 10 minutes! Jokers. At least Lister specify £160 for UP TO 30 minutes after the initial consult.

What did she say to you, just talk you through options?

Lister is £220 for first appointment, is that the price you mean? If you mean IVF then I saw a package with them on Access Fertility for 10k for two rounds of ICSI (without meds, is cheaper if you need IVF and not ICSI), which I'm probably going to apply for if the consultation is positive and they sign off on me. I looked at ABC @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 but I think I'm too old (something like that anyway) and they'd recommend Create their sister clinic.

I had already considered Create but I decided to go with lister because they mention mild IVF as an option (like Create does) on their site but I'm not sure what would be best to me so I want to discuss all options.

I can't remember how old you are, but August is not too long ago, you might be one of the lucky crew 'within a year' crew.

Access do lots of packages if you're under 38, alas I will not be in 10 days time.

@VixFromThe6ix I've got to ring tomorrow and book in a smear so I'm sure they'll look then. Agree with the words that should go away!

@Bundaberg84 I think that happens to everyone lol

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 it's very odd, can you try and speak to a different go from same practice? I did and got extra tests done and a fertility referal too though it's an 8 month wait

@thislittlebird so pleased you're feeling a little more positive, and great to hear about the lady who had an egg donor too.

@cocolady my ubiquinol were from amazon and it was £12 for 60x200mg capsules. No idea if that's good value, or even if that's a decent brand... it might just be sawdust!

@Marvellouslymadmum honestly could have chatted to her all day, it’s so interesting. She said she didn’t think she’d consider ivf/egg donation and then ultimately she did and she got what she wanted.

@Misty84 I’m at the bit of the egg book about the “BPA free” stuff . Crazy how this is all allowed still.

@thislittlebird thanks so much for all of the info. I’m so glad you’ve a consultant you like. Like with @Misty84 it’s exciting you’ve got things moving! It should happen quickly now 🤞 I think the mild and natural cycle ivf look so interesting. Tbh I was looking at ABC and Create purely because they are close to work.
Yes I know not too long in the scheme of things, I’m just really trying this month and next, and lining up the tests and research etc so they’ll be done when trying for a year. Organised....
So it’s your birthday soon, hope you’re doing something nice to celebrate 🎉 I’m 37 in a few months.
Haha yup the BPA, I’ve gone a bit overboard and swapped anything plastic which comes into contact with heat or is in contact with food a long time. Homesense was good for that. Plus tinned food out, and only using ceramic or stainless steel pans

@Marvellouslymadmum how are you? I’ve spoken to two GP’s there now 🤷‍♀️ I’ll see how the private semen analysis goes.

@KatRee have heard really good things about the hycosy! 🤞 I get not having the time and emotional energy to hang about waiting. That’s really bad that you got referred but but they’re not responding at all- creates even more stress with the waiting around and having it as another thing to tick off your daily task list - chase the nhs 🙄

Another day, another chance to cry about how the nhs are treating me. Yay. I just called the surgery after being told last week I could have an appointment today and GUESS WHAT! No, I cannot have an appointment today. I’m so sick and tired of this. She told me they’re fully booked, yet told me last week she’d book me in.

I think I’m going to change GP surgeries, this is ridiculous.

I haven’t dealt with the Lister consultant yet I’ve just read good things and good reviews so I’m going to have a consul with her. Very annoying I have to redo all my AMH and scan tests, it’s been over three months. I’m hoping they still accept it, it’s only just.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 one of the reasons I’m looking at Lister is they have a Shard clinic. Not so far for me to go (even if I have to go to their other clinic occasionally).

Don’t want the birthday really lol, just another sign of my age.

We’ve got some glass Tupperware now and some stainless steel utensils from Dunelm that were good value.

@thislittlebird sorry 😐 not a great start to the day. How rubbish. At least you’ve your Lister appointment arranged to fall back on, so aren’t totally reliant on the NHS.

I hate birthday parties, but something like a spa break with friends or with your partner just to get away and treat yourself might be lovely. Especially before you embark on treatments etc. Yummy foods, wine, walks etc