2023 TTC 35+ Part 2

[VixFromThe6ix]

Hi ladies,
This is a new thread as we maxed the other one. I tagged everyone that posted in the last 12 pages. If I'm missing someone, please tag them in the comments.
@Eirlys1986
@Muriel84
@Un7breakable
@vitahelp
@Mirla
@TheFanciestPants
@Mummyme87
@FiddleLeaf
@Anna531
@Poppy708
@Golaz
@LeopardLover
@Floralsandsmiles
@Bumblebee413
@TrudyProud
@13Bastards
@DinkyGT
@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7
@TTCnumberfour
@Cirque1
@39starstartry
@Freya8
@Angelsrose
@TheBirdintheCave
@AgeGapBbe
@BengalMama
@BB2023

It's so nice that a few of you will get to go join the same due date thread!

I've managed to start second guessing my decision to not test today, but the cramps and spotting really had me convinced earlier that AF would be here imminently. It's fine, I'll cope whether I have a final burst of hope or not, but it does mean I'm sitting around wondering and looking up how long implantation bleeding can last instead of doing my work 🙄
That being said, I'm sure I'd have found some other distraction if not this. I really need a kick up the behind some days 😂

@Mrsspoon3 Thanks :) I'm doing ok! Just caught up wishing this was the month. As are we all, of course.

@Mirla I think implantation bleeding can last upto 3 ish days as far as I’m aware. I just had a single large clot with first pregnancy then crazy cramps for 24 hours then it just all switched off with a heavy background ache and heaviness remaining which then made me suspicious. Maybe test again in 24 hours or so if no AF arrives

@Eirlys1986 Ok, thank you. I was thinking since it was two days since the first spotting it couldn't still be implantation. Hmm.

@Eirlys1986 @Muriel84 @Mummyme87 sounds like things are progressing really well for you all 💖 sending positive thoughts all your ways.

@Mrsspoon3 so glad you had the best time at Eurovision!!

@TheBirdintheCave and @emmatcc1 hope things went ok for you both too.

@Mirla I have been feeling a down yesterday and again today too and whilst AF isn't due yet and I havent tested I get the nagging feeling now that it will be here soon :(

Dreading work today so have decided I will pick up some early tests from boots this afternoon. As having felt hopeful I feel like my bubble has popped today so can't hurt either way now!

Those of you who test regularly, i won't get to do the test until this evening, am I best waiting until tomorrow AM first thing or is it worth a test this evening?

@Elen123 thank you 😊 I’ve been testing first thing and late afternoon up until today and I’ve found my afternoon one has been darker than the morning. Though this mornings was darker than last nights too. I’m going to chill on the testing once past the date I’d expect my period so Wednesday and Thursday. I had some AF twinges this morning so took a boots early and got a good line within in a minute so hopefully things are moving in the right direction. Good luck 🍀

@Elen123 traditionally manufacturers always say to use FMU for a pregnancy test, however I always find that my later morning or evening results do tend to be stronger for reasons unknown. Likely because my toddler has me up all night and then I pee whenever I’m up! 😂. I think you can do anytime but just make sure you haven’t been for a wee for 4 hours before if possible and don’t chug lots of fluids before hand as it will dilute everything. Hope work is ok for you today xxxx

@Muriel84 eek! Test looking fantastic xxx

Hi ladies, I've been trying to have a calm cycle this time so haven't visited the thread. I'm so glad you see your good news @Eirlys1986 @Mummyme87 @Mirla @Muriel84 Huge congratulations to all of you, and I hope everything goes well ❤

I'm 12/13 dpo so expecting AF any day now. I succeeded in keeping calm this cycle and haven't symptom spotted or tested. I don't really feel pregnant though so doubt I am. I'll be having an HSG scan this month and after that I've had all the tests so will need to decide if we carry on TTC or not (it's been 12 months now).

@vitahelp 12 months sounds scary, but I have quite a few friends who took more than one year and have babies now or are pregnant. Sometimes even with nothing found to be wrong, it can inexplicably take a bit longer. Even @Mummyme87 has taken 19 cycles this time around. Hope you're okay.

I'm just catching up on the thread now, hopefully we will have some more good news soon from those whore due to test

*who're - missing apostrophe sorry!

@vitahelp I’m glad you’ve had a calm cycle, we do need those, ttc really gets in to our heads. Is there a reason you would stop ttc at this point? 12months is still a normal length of time, even when everything is normal. I’ve never had an issue falling pregnant until this time, like @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 said it’s taken 19months which was like 26/27 cycles.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 It is quite a scary milestone to reach and feels quite surreal to think it was this time last year I first decided to start trying, completely naïve to the idea that I might still be in the same position by the following year.

@Mummyme87 It has felt a welcome change to not be obsessing this time, and somehow I feel the disappointment wont be as bad as I haven't really built up to anything this time. I'm not sure what makes me think like that, I think I'm starting to wonder if it just isn't meant to be for us and feel like I should accept that. It also felt like it was taking over my life at times when I was at my most obsessive and taking away from me enjoying my daughter. But actually being able to stay calm this time has shown me that if I approach it the right way I could carry on TTC for another year without it spoiling anything for me/taking over.

@vitahelp I think that's exactly it - being able to stay calm and not let it take over really helps. I need to remember this too. The first 2-3 cycles I was relaxed as I knew my luteal phase was short and cycles were messed up, so I wasn't really disappointed. But this last two I've been either symptom spotting too much or stressing about secondary infertility. And my age gap slipping away etc. It doesn't help the process either, and the disappointment is rubbish.

If you figure out how to do it, please let me know.

@vitahelp thank you. Good luck with the HSG. I’ve heard lots of people conceive after that.

@Eirlys1986 ❤️🤞hope work was ok and distracting x

my ovulation test just came back pretty dark so might get a positive tomorrow.

@Muriel84 @Eirlys1986 congratulations, amazing news!!!

Unfortunately after a tiny bit of brown discharge (literally wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't been staring!) on Friday and a temperature spike I am now pink spotting so expect AF to be here imminently. I guess the good news is it's now 13dpo and my LP is a bit longer so I think that's positive. I

@vitahelp - I hear you. I am so sorry but as @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 says, it is completely normal to feel this way. And trying not to obsess is the way forward.

@Un7breakable I think your CT scan is due soon? Good luck! Hope it goes/went well.

My gynae appointment is the 24th so fingers crossed they will have some positive suggestions of how to move forward.

@Muriel84 work has been a nice distraction. Unfortunately made the mistake of just checking my 48 hour retest on a cheap surgery stick which are far less sensitive and it came up negative so that.freaked.me.out! (Even though I’ve had this happen before with first pregnancy early on). Whizzed to boots and lunch and bought an early test again and it’s a good strong line today and definitely progressing so feel fine now. Will retest again in 48 hours. How are you feeling today?
@emmatcc1 great you’ve had a good strong test, fingers crossed for ovulation and this cycle
@vitahelp thanks so much for your well wishes, I would completely find 12 months of trying so difficult. It’s great that you’ve had a relaxed cycle though and seen the benefits that brings you in other life areas 😊
@Elen123 I hope work wasn’t too bad today and nobody said anything too stupid!

@TheFanciestPants yes, CT this week and then Gynea in 3 months.

I'm similar to you had some very light pink spotting at 8 dpo, then nothing for two days which got me excited unfortunately this morning at 11dpo got lots of pink spotting so think I'm out.

Glad your LP has lengthened ans your appointment is soon.

Do gynea do referrals to fertility or is that GP?

Had a bit of a spiral today. It's like what are we doing wrong. We dtd at the right time so why isn't it happening. Ahhh. I really thought for a few days that this might be the month.

It feels like everyone around me is either pregnant or has little kids.

@Un7breakable I hear you. I feel exactly the same way. I am so fed up.

I think it's the GP who takes the Gynae results and then refers from there. I am seeing a private gynae (who does nhs work) so can double check with her too. If you have any general questions I can ask her too :)

Thanks for offering. Let me know how you get on.

Thanks all for the advice on the ovulation tests. I have bought some easy at home ones so using those alongside clear blue until I get the hang of it. Hate that it feels so complicated!
Congratulations to those with a positive test, I can't remember all the names but if I hang around long enough maybe I will get to know you all!
For us @Un7breakable we went to see the GP who referred us to fertility but we didn't have gynae involved at all.

Any advice on 21 day blood tests? The app I am using says average cycle length is 32 days with 61% accuracy. So not very accurate at all! How do you decide when 7 days before your period is due is?
I did one blood test which said no ovulation but then period was 5 days late so who knows!
Hope you don't mind me asking my questions it feels mind boggling?

@Pineappleapple I advise patients to just go with 7 days before your most frequently occurring cycle length end. It might mean you have to repeat it more than once to be certain you’ve caught the correct time period if cycles are irregular.

Just did an ovulation test and it came back dark but not positive yet right?

@Pineappleapple it's seven days after ovulation that you're aiming for. So if you get a positive ovulation test, you're likely to ovulate within about 24 hours. So book the test for seven days after this.