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

@TheFanciestPants good to know you still had spotting the month you conceived even with what happened. Spotting is one of my main concerns. I've got private insurance but changed jobs so not sure if nee one will consider it preexisting as I had scan before policy started, so hoping I can get an NHS referral. Will know tomorrow. Very anxious.

@Un7breakable good luck tomorrow. Sorry to hear you are worried, very normal, think this journey is one of the most stressful. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

@Un7breakable im also pretty worried about spotting as it’s the only thing different to 3 years ago and I can’t seem to find a reason as to why some women experience it when ttc. My periods have been quite short since it started. I put a request in with my GP for a phone appointment a week ago. Still waiting to hear. Did you get any bloods done (sorry if I already asked this)? I’m wondering about temping this cycle to see if that shows anything but it’s such a faff. X

@Muriel84 GP was good at first appointment did internal and booked scan but said I didn't need bloods as my cycles were regular. I've had progesterone done myself whicheas normal and am doing a thyroid test myself this week. I'll let you know how I get on tomorrow. It's comforting it's not just me, although I'd prefer if none of us were.in this situation.

@Muriel84 the gynae I saw did a lot of blood tests and a pretty detailed scan, I even got sent pictures 😂.
Definitely tested thyroid, FSH, AMH and a couple of others. I think it only cost the health insurance about £300 so not crazy money either. I don't know what the NHS does as standard but I can look up the list of what she tested if helpful?
My cycles are 24 days so pretty short but she said everything was ok and to come back in 6 months if I'm not pregnant.

Morning ladies, I hope everyone is doing ok. I've recovered from covid now and feeling better, and AF is coming to an end. Unfortunately I am abroad with work next week in my fertile time, I'll only be away 3 days but think it might be the main 3 days...I hate the thought of missing out on a cycle but in some ways it will be a relief to have a break from the 2ww madness.

@Muriel84 I've checked my letter from the hospital to see if it mentioned what the scan was, and realised it just says I've got an appointment booked in Gynaecology and says it will be a medical consultation and discussion of any further examinations/procedures. I've got a bad feeling now that it will just be an appointment and the scan will be a separate visit that I will have to wait for. That would be frustrating as I've already gone over all the details and had blood tests with the GP, I thought this was simply for a scan.
I hope you can work out what is going on with the spotting, I wasn't sure if it meant progesterone was at the lower end but I don't know that for a fact. What I do know is a few people on these boards have mentioned luteal phase spotting and got pregnant anyway.

@Muriel84 I asked for an appointment with the GP 6 months after my miscarriage, as I'd had spotting from about 8 dpo and felt my hormones were off. They said the miscarriage reset the clock to a year (even though I was over 35) and they gave me a thyroid test and a basic hormone test - I came back within normal range. Some Drs may be more helpful than others though- I was in London and it was a v busy surgery.

My friend went as she had spotting and hadn't gotten pregnant after trying for many months (also over 35), but they wouldn't do anything until she had stopped breastfeeding for a while as they said that could cause it. She did actually get pregnant within 3 months of stopping, but it was very stressful for her.

@vitahelp hopefully if you do it the night before or the morning of, and immediately when you get back, you'll cover enough bases. Ugh bad timing though!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 that's super interesting a miscarriage resets the clock with the GP. We are going to see ours on Thursday to ask for SA so will see what they say. I think we will go privately if they aren't helpful.
@Un7breakable how did it go today?

@Muriel84 interesting what your GP said about miscarriage resetting the clock on ttc. This must be an area specific guideline as it’s certainly not the guideline we would follow where I work. There is variation unfortunately across the country and from practice to practice(and even doctor to doctor!- this certainly shouldn’t be the case but is sadly true in my experience )

@TheFanciestPants it was a telephone appointment and no one called. So I'm going to have to chase tomorrow. I want a certain Dr for continuity so not sure when the next appointment will be. Pretty annoyed as have been anxious all weekend, and with work it's difficult to schedule appointments. Had to rush home tonight for any chance of privacy.

@Un7breakable that is horrific. I am so sorry that happened. Definitely chase up and complain. I had a similar thing yesterday with a private gp but got there in the end. I do think regard for end users service has generally gone down hill since Covid.
I feel really funny atm. Looking back my Ovusense had the wrong ovulation date so my period was actually late. I feel really sick and my bleeding has had lots of clots and is lasting longer than normal. Urgh, when will we get a break?
@Eirlys1986 thanks for the info. I will probably be very emotional with the GP so good to have the inside track.

@TheFanciestPants sorry to hear what you're going through. Do you think you had a very early miscarriage?

My GP surgery is very hit and miss but actually has got better since COVID as if you want something non-urgent you can email.

@Un7breakable @TheFanciestPants thanks ladies for taking the time to let me know what you had tested, that’s super helpful to know. @vitahelp thats annoying it’s not just for a scan but I think they should be able to organise one fairly quickly once you’re in the hospital? I’ve also read lots of people with spotting getting pregnant on these boards so hoping it’s not too much of an issue.

@Un7breakable was it your GP you were waiting for? I’m really sorry it’s such a let down when you’ve organised your day around it and been thinking about it so much. Did you get to speak to the surgery to find out why?

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 thats a bit baffling about miscarrying resetting the clock. I phoned my GP today as I hadn’t heard back for a week and did actually manage to get a call back today. Obviously it was while I was wrangling my toddler on a train and not best places to be chatting about my periods and trying to get pregnant 🙄but anyhoo. I did feel slightly fobbed off initially being told it’s my body settling down after the pill but she is sending me for a scan because I didn’t spot the first two months after coming off. She’s also arranging bloods cos the wait is over a month so it’ll be two months before I’ve organised them in line with my cycle. I haven’t picked up the forms but I know they’re checking progesterone on day 1 and day 21. Also a very busy london surgery, I feel bad when they’re so stretched. She didn’t ask about breastfeeding. X

@Muriel84 @TheFanciestPants I spoke too soon. Got a very late call (poor GP). They are going to speak to gyne about next steps, so not a referral but progress.

@Un7breakable maybe, my husband seems convinced tbh. I have been trying not to test as my last miscarriage was crushing😥it's tough when you feel left behind. I keep trying to stay positive but it's so hard. My husband seems to think it's good news that we are getting past the start line (as it were), but I am really scared that my eggs are poor quality.

I am so happy the GP got back to you (sounds like a great practice!). I hope you get some answers/good news soon.

Ah must have missed this new thread. Just found it on active.

cd10 now, OPKs negative still. Expecting to ovulate on Friday. Cycle so far back to normal following CP.

Is anyone testing this BH weekend? Because DH is away Fri-Sun I'll be testing when he's back (I promised I would do it with him) so Sunday (if I can get a long hold) or Monday (FMU). I'll be around 13/14 DPO. Any test buddies?

@TrudyProud no test buddy here! I will be doing OPK and hopefully getting a positive on that around the weekend but that’s not nearly as nerve racking/exciting as the tests you will be doing- good luck
@Mummyme87 Hi again! 👋, fingers crossed for your positive OPK soon, I’m on day 9 and due to start testing tomorrow.
@Un7breakable so glad your GP got back to you and things are moving in the right direction. I don’t know the situation in your area but locally here gynae referrals are taking well over a year to see anyone so your GP may well feel that seeking advice will be a much more rapid way to help you as they usually get back within a week or so in that circumstance. Hope you get a plan of action and some answers soon 👍🏻
@TheFanciestPants sorry to hear about your current situation, I can understand not wanting to do the test when it was so crushing previously, perhaps best to let your body run its natural course of whatever it is doing then hopefully soon move onto the next cycle with positivity xxx

@TheFanciestPants sorry to hear things are a bit confusing with your current situation and about what you’ve been through. I can understand you not wanting to test. I had 2 very early miscarriages last time we were trying and it’s so hard. Like your husband I took it as mostly a good sign as felt it ruled out some causes of infertility (for example it meant I was ovulating and my tubes weren’t blocked) but I did worry it meant my eggs weren’t good quality too. I kept telling myself I only needed one good one though. Have you read It Starts with the Egg? I skim read a lot of it and didn’t put it all into practise, but I found the premise really interesting and tried some of the things from it last time to improve egg quality.

@TrudyProud Good luck testing!! You’re so patient waiting that long, I’m always a super early tester 🙈 haha. I’m still waiting to start testing with the OPKs unfortunately!

@Un7breakable so glad your GP got back to you, what a relief.

@Eirlys1986 absolutely shocking about gynae referrals taking that long. OH showed me a tweet from a GP saying it’s 66 weeks where she works. Is it the longest wait of all the specialities?

@TheFanciestPants i had 2 early losses before my son, very hard to deal with but was in the end a sign I was fertile. Actually conceived every cycle we tried. So 🤞also a good sign for you too x x x

@Mrsspoon3 @Muriel84 I am so sorry for both of your losses. Thank you for sharing. I am feeling pretty down right now so I appreciate you taking the time to share.
@Muriel84 interestingly I was told it is dermatology followed by gynae. When choosing who to see I found even some private consultants had a 3 month waiting list!

I have had a look at the "it starts with the egg" lists but I couldn't see much to change. I am a healthy eater (vegetarian and aim for 7 fruit and veggie portions a day and 25 different ones per week) and have a healthy lifestyle (have cut down on the endurance sports but pretty active by anyone's standards). I have recently upped the Ubiquinol I am taking as the fertility nurse from Ovusense said it's the only supplement with any valid statistical evidence. My husband is the same and we have both gone tee total since August last year. We also both try and have a glass of pomegranate juice a day!
When I had my miscarriage I had to go to A&E and they said all my blood tests were great.
I am really at a loss of what else I can do. So hopeful it's just a case of keeping on trucking.

@Muriel84 other than mental health (sadly child mental health for autism/adhd assessment currently stands in excess of 3 years where I practice), gynaecology is then third longest I think. A lot of their none cancer or emergency related work just stopped during pandemic so I think this has resulted in tue backlog

I got a super dark opk today, I think today is my peak. I wasn't expecting it for a couple days. O day is tomorrow probably.

Gotta try to find the energy to DTD tonight. My toddler has been extra active with crappy nap times. I think he's trying to tell me two naps are too much for him now. I'm feeling legit tired. Not helping that the weather has been gloomy and rainy on most days and still quite cold (5c).

I'm not holding my breath till hubby stops his TRT this summer.

I've missed quite a bit of the conversation. I feel like my days just blend together. Hope everyone is finding strength to keep going. This isn't an easy road with so much stacked against us. I'm sending everyone positive vibes and pounds of baby dust.

@VixFromThe6ix sorry to hear about your lagging energy levels, I totally get your comment about all the days merging together. I think they do with a toddler as just going round and round the same routine and battles again and again is exhausting (but also brilliant right or else we wouldn’t be in this group!). Myself and partner also had to really steal ourselves to get the energy to DTD the other night (first of smep so lord knows how we will feel by the end! 😂). Good luck 🤞

I take my hat off to you SMEPers!