The geriatric gang 👵🏻🤰

[Stillwinston]

Just a lighthearted thread for those of us now considered to be geriatric by the NHS 😂 looking to meet other women TTC who may also be feeling past their prime!

A little bit about me - I'm 36 and TTC dc no.2. Been trying for over 2 years now and depressingly started AF today so am yet again starting CD1. Hubby doesn't quite understand how upsetting this is each month so it'd be great to chat with ladies who get how I'm feeling ❤️

@Rainbowwishing BBT thermometer will be better. Your watch takes your temperature all the time you're wearing it, whereas the thermometer will take it just once before you get up in the morning.

Thank you @SarahShorty, hoping to feel a bit more positive in a few days xx

@ttcat37 is the finger prick progesterone kit easy enough to use? Do they share with you the progesterone number?
The doctor who scanned me told me to judge myself based on my progesterone level. If it comes back under 30 then I should increase my clomid dose next month as I will likely not have ovulated.

I'm going to pester gp surgery on Tues again regarding the blood test. I'll likely order one online just incase they still won't offer an appointment.
I've wrote out a letter to the consultant at hospital detailing my concerns and questions and ive asked for a face to face appointment since I'm taking medication that I was prescribed under their care . Im hoping to leave it at the hospital tomorrow, as its a 35mile trip.

It seems everywhere is short staffed at the minute. We had an appointment with the nhs fertility clinic in Belfast also that's now been pushed back until June. I was hoping that I could have discussed the situation with them and perhaps they could give me some clarity on everything but I'll already be onto my next cycle by the time that appointment comes around now.

Opk line was slightly darker last night and has decreased today. It only registered as 0.8 - 1.07 on premom which is lower than what I usually peak at. Surely I couldn't have missed it, I took a test every 3-4 hours . Does anyone else peak around this level and still ovulate?
I had ECWM pronounce itself today after a bowel movement. TMI i know 🙈 but I'm hoping thats a good sign ? The only one cycle I've ever produced ewcm is the one we conceived on cd20.
I think the clomid must have definitely helped bring my ovulation forward as its usually way , way later than this. Seeing the smiley this early in my cycle has really lifted my mood a little. I'm just glad to be potentially ovulating since I've only managed 4 cycles out of 18 years 😆

Thanks @Rainbowwishing 😊 I'm 8dpo today and have zero symptoms. I know that I'm still really early but already convincing myself that I'm out yet again 🤦🏼‍♀️ I'm actually going away for a week on Wednesday to the Highlands so hopefully a break away will take my mind off things x

@MK85 yes it’s really easy to use. You get these sterile pin things that prick your finger and you drip the blood into a tube. Then just post it! Everything is included. Make sure to only post Monday to Thursday. You get the measurement- I’ve attached mine to show what you get from Medichecks. A doctor also looks at your results and says if you are likely to have ovulated (although the reference ranges are included so you can see without this). I also got an AMH test from Randox- the result was super fast but the kit took a week to arrive. I think they’re based in NI, I’m in England, so if you’re based on NI you might get a kit quicker than I did if you bought from them. They are cheaper than most places too.

It does seem like everywhere is so stretched for staff. It’s hard to even get a GP to call you at my docs. Really hope you get some answers soon and the monitoring that you really need! Yes they might be short staffed but it’s irresponsible to not be doing any kind of monitoring when you’re taking clomid.

It sounds like if you peaked and you’ve got EWCM you’re ovulating!! My peak is different every month, sometimes 0.8 and sometimes over 1. So I think 0.8 is plenty high enough! If your OH is home tonight I would be getting busy for a few days!!! And then doing a progesterone test in a few days. Do you test bbt?

@Stillwinston that sounds like a great plan. I always find getting away from normality helps to relax and reset me mentally . Have a great trip

@MK85 def sounds like you caught part of the peak on opks, my last pregnant month the peak I caught was only 0.8 (ended in mc) but the last few have been 0-9-1.15 ish but honestly it's only if I catch a high peak early on in the day, after that my urine is too dilute from drinking during the day. This month I got 0.7 at 6am 0.9 at 8.30 am
And the I assume it got higher during the day but it wasn't rising as I'd been drinking from morning time then and I'm not dehydrating myself to test! 😂 as long as I get a temp rise a couple of days after peak I'm assuming it's fine

@ttcat37 I've just ordered from medichecks the 21 day progesterone too, I'm hoping it gets here before this cycle 21 (only a few days!) but see what happens

My luteal phase has been short since my mc but it seems like I'm ovulating so I guessed it was worth just checking it, I'm also taking b6 and vit c as that's supposed to support luteal phase length...

Morning everyone, how are you all doing? I caved in and tested this morning and it was a bfn unsurprisingly - feeling deflated as I'm pretty certain I'm out again this cycle 😕

Also, just read this article - thought I'd share it as I know a lot of us are facing the same dilemma:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/may/01/why-i-quit-ivf-fertility-business-money?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

@Stillwinston I’m sorry to hear about your bfn, and well done for holding out this long. How many DPO are you?

@Maizie83 I'm 10dpo so technically still early but I'm ruling myself out so as to avoid the inevitable disappointment in a few days 👎🏻 really thankful I can share all this with you guys though, most people just think I'm a massive downer every month 😂

@Stillwinston most people haven't got a clue what you're going through, that's why. TTC is bloody hard for some people.

@Stillwinston that is pretty early to test it’s always crap seeing a bfn. wishing you luck. That article makes for depressing reading. Some of the comments on it are interesting also.

@Stillwinston sorry to hear about your bfn. Still time, but I completely get why you prep yourself for AF.
I have a cry every time my period comes. Nobody knows that except you guys. So nice to be around people who understand.

Enjoy your break away and soak up all the good stuff.

IVF just speeds things up. It eliminates the need to ovulate, it removes the "will it/won't it" with the regards to the sperm and egg meeting, it ensures only the best egg and sperm combine and generally removes all the guesswork.

Regardless of doing IVF or natural, conceiving is still very much a numbers game. It can take several rolls of the dice, so to speak, before you get lucky.

@Stillwinston Sorry about your bfn :(

I'm five days into our first IVF round. I've got my first scan tomorrow to see how well the medication is working.

@TheBirdintheCave will keep everything crossed for you 🤞 how are you feeling? X

Sorry @Stillwinston that you got a bfn today. I totally get your mindset though - I’m 9dpo with no signs of anything. I feel at this point it’s easier to expect the worst and then if anything happens it’ll be a nice surprise - definitely better than the constant disappointment.

Though admittedly I still find myself gutted each month! So maybe it’s not a foolproof strategy 🤦‍♀️

Yep, totally the same as you @Downtherabbithole83 - inevitably I'll feel gutted even though I'm prepping myself for it now. But we need to think positively - we're not out until AF shows 🤞 xx

Hi all. New here. Have no idea what to write!

I'm 42 (almost 43, yuk) and hubby is 52. We're (still) ttc No1. Our long and complicated ttc journey started many years ago but I'll not take over this thread with it. Feel like I could write a book!

Currently 2 days late, and knowing our history I'm not holding out any hope but there's a tiny bit of me wondering what if, due to some new symptoms for me this tww.

@Stillwinston sorry about the bfn. It’s still so early but I do totally understand the wanting to know and prepare yourself. I do the same, then spend the entire time coming up with reasons it’s not really negative 🤯

@LynzeeT welcome, and sorry to hear you’ve had a long journey so far. What symptoms have you had? When do you think you’ll test. Very impressed you haven’t caved already! Fingers crossed for you!

@TheBirdintheCave good luck for your scan and this cycle! Everything crossed.

Hope everyone is good and had a lovely sunny BH xxx

@Rainbowwishing Hi. Oh I have caved this month but usually don't and just wait on AF. Tested on Friday and Saturday. Friday was BFN and Saturday there was a very faint line just after the 3 minute mark but looked like an evap.

Symptoms that are out of the ordinary for me are.....Horrible acne on face/neck/shoulders/chest. Feeling cold, I'm usually quite warm. Very weepy and unable to stop crying if I'm set off. And the last one is constantly feeling turned on 😳 it's a fun one for sure, as low libido is the norm for me. Also have tender breasts which isn't unusual but I'd expect that to have passed by now.

Had cramps yesterday (in a very specific place not the usual gripping feeling I get) and a small amount of spotting so assumed I was out. Today I've had almost AF like cramps and a tiny bit of spotting but it has all stopped. I should be in full AF now and doubled over in pain so very confused. Will test in the morning if AF is still no show but don't expect a BFP in all honesty.

@LynzeeT Will keep my fingers crossed for you!

@LynzeeT welcome! Your symptoms sound very promising, will you re-test again tomorrow? Sending you all the luck in the world ❤️🤞 x

Thanks @Rainbowwishing, just drank a bottle of wine in the sun with our neighbours so I'm feeling much less depressed right now 😂 hoping you had a lovely long weekend also x

I was sitting in costa today and a man sat down on the table beside me. On his lap sat the cutest little baby girl ever.
ARRRRRGH I want a baby.
Just making my intentions clear in the hope the universe will manifest me one