TTC for fabulous 40+

[xserialshopper]

I've decided to start the new thread

Anyone coming to join me?

hi roque! i am a terrible lurker
i am fine. we older birds can definitely do it!!! so have faith and look after yourselves

rowing it was really really hard - it's partly that it is so physically addictive (killer headaches when withdrawing), but that it was such a part of my daily life - quick break - cup of tea; feeling a bit glum - cup of tea; someone call round - cup of tea. But I have got used to it - but I refuse (stamping feet emoticon) to give up the first cuppa in the morning. On the upside, I sleep a lot better without it.

I don't actually know why caffeine is a problem, does anyone else? As I say, if either of them was that much of an impediment to conception I think the population would not be very large! Our mothers all drank gallons of tea - although they mostly didn't drink much alcohol. Rambling on again - tells self sternly to go back to work (writing lecture, so allowed to muck about on MN from time to time, especially as I can't have any tea!)

Actually, both Tesco and Sainsbury's do half decent decaff tea which helps. Lavazza do really good decaff expresso coffee - the best I've found by a long way.

Hi everyone, and hello heron! Wow 24 weeks, that seems to have gone quickly... Well probably not for you!?

Well done to all those BD this month. Good efforts all round

As for coffee. I have been drinking decaf since last Sept and don't miss it at all.

Hi everyone

xerial - blimmin great doing it 5 or 6 times - woo hoo! Fingers crossed.

Hi Heron - nice to know someone else who's graduated from the TTC'ers! Nice to hear about some other "pre-seed couples" too. My hubby was asking the other day if maybe that was preventing things happening, so I will tell him Heron's good news!

Hmmmm, giving up coffee n alcohol sounds quite stressful. Each to his own I think. I'm on decaff coff and not much booze at all but then zilcho supplements either except the folic. Might look into what you guys are all on!

Hi fifi! Rowing - good luck with the travel plans. I'm nervous and excited for you. Keep us posted.

I'm quite naffed off today. Doc not in today so STILL on tenterhooks waiting for grim news of why my day 21 test isn't normal. Feeling v negative about ever being pg again. Sorting through DD's summer clothes today and wondering why I'm saving the ones she's grown out of. Prob won't even be another baby at this rate .

I'm sure I'll live to fight (or BD) another day but it dunt half wear you out when you've been trying for years doesn't it?

Hi Girls.

Alcohol free day yesterday. Don't know if I'll be able to keep it up, but am aiming for 5 glasses of wine a week. This means that this week I should aim to drink nothing until Friday, as we're off to Brighton for the weekend and I plan to relax, which will definately involve alcohol!!

Don't want to pee on your decaff parade, but have read that decaff is worse for you than drinking caffiene, as the chemicals they use to extract the caffiene are quite nasty. Don't know if this runs to the fertility stakes, may be just general healthwise.
Tea doesn't have too much caffience, so the odd cup won't do any harm. Otherwise it's better to drink fruit / herbal teas.

Glad all is going well Heron. Keep posting - gives us hope!!

juicy lucy - yes, I've heard that about the decaff too - but I don't actually drink that much of it - maybe a cup of either of tea or coffee a day. I think they don't know what it does . I've tried, I really have, with the fruit/herbal tea but to me, it just isn't tea, it's a vaguely flavoured cup of hot water. The exception is mint tea.

Well, just sipping my glass of grapefruit juice so thought I'd check in! Yes, I've heard that decaff is not very healthy too, because of how they extract the caffeine, but there are some decaffs that extract it using water only and I think these avoid any nasties!

i too am ambivalent about fruit teas - mint tea I like, laso lemon and ginger. However, they really remind me of having morning sickness (I go off tea and coffee when pg) so I tend not to fancy them much when not pg!

Well done on the wine JL - I only had 1 small glass yesterday too. Your weekend sounds fun - I love Brighton, it's not far from me and we often go there. We are going to some friends' for dinner on Sat which will be very boozy so maybe i should also try to abstain till then!

I had read negative bits and pieces about de-caff, but couldn't remember what they were. One thing that I did remember was that they do still contain caffeine, I think there was some chart which compared brands and the amount of caffeine.
At the moment I am drinking tons of coffee - lovely. Had two cups this morning already and intend to have another. I will stop soon, but since I'm having IVF at some point I don't care.
Well done Juicy on the cutting back.
I quite like chamomile tea and fennel or peppermint, don't like those ones that smell like an air freshener, strawberry or whatever! Lemon and ginger that is quite yummy Roque.
Green tea is rather a contradictory beverage as it is supposed to enhance fertility, but does contain caffeine. [confused face] Green tea with jasmine is nice, with a bit of honey.
The woman from the IVF thread phoned me last night and we were on the phone for a couple of hours. Still not sure where we are going to choose, but was really helpful and she gave us an idea of timescales. I never thought I would pay to have a baby (if it works), as if it doesn't cost enough after they are born.
Fruit I will definitely keep you all posted on this: it does seem rather surreal to me.
I think we are on day 19 or 20 now.
What day are you on now Rhet?

Hi Cece! i hear that CONGRATS are in order! how are you feeling? how far gone are you?

CD8...the countdown begins! I feel good about this month - but that's probably because the misery of August's failed efforts have faded and September has passed v. pleasantly, aided and abetted by not having to watch what I drink quite so closely. Also, I'm quite busy which does help a bit. So come on everyone, we need some more BFPs! And I had no wine yesterday, nor will I today but all in a good cause, I suppose.

Upwards and onwards Rhet!

I drink nighttime tea from Holland and Barrat. Its a herbal infusion and isn't as strong as some herbal teas.

blurgh to all fruit teas. Yuk, yuk, yuk!

PS

succumbed and had a glass of wine with dinner

Oh well Juicy you're only human. [pats Juicy's arm].
That night time tea sounds good. Will look out for that, we seem to buy quite a bit there.
I have discovered elderflower tea in the cupboard from a herbal shop. It sounded nice, but have yet to try it.

JL I had a glass of wine too...I am arguing it is medicinal as I have caught a cold from ds2!

rhet, good luck ! My turn next week!

Finally spoke to doc tonight and my suspicions were confirmed. My progesterone day 21 was really low at 20.8 so didn't ovulate last month. I'm sure this has been happening on & off for a while . Am being referred to the fertility clinic - the gyny who actually performed my D&C in June so obviously mixed feelings about that .

Am considering clomid. Anyone any experienves to share?

All in all another cack day. With migraine to top it off. Off to bed...

Oh fruitbowl, I am sorry you are having a rubbish time. Look after yourself won't you.

At least you have the referral now although of course that too brings mixed feelings. No Clomid advice here I'm afraid but just wanted to send you some positive vibes.

Fruit, I know it is poo and you must feel low, but on the other hand, you now have information and something you can make better. As far as I know Clomid makes your brain think you have low oestrogen and raises you FSH and LH, stimulating egg production and ovulation. I don't think Clomid fixes progesterone, it fixes ovulation, which, in turn, raises progesterone. X-serial is more of an expert than me and can probably tell you about what it does.
Everything seems worse at night. See how you feel tomorrow.
Hugs to you!

fruitbowl - sorry that the news is not so good, but as rowing says, you can now move forward - I hate that sense I have sometimes that my body is not obeying my orders (e.g. ovulating earlier than required!!), but at least if you know then you can take action. So take heart! And take care of yourself.

Hi Rhet, how's work?
I am insanely happy because I downloaded an old Prince CD on some dodgy site, and it totally works!! It's 'Around the World in a Day' - I haven't heard this for about eight years.
Having a nice cup of coffee as well!

hi rowing; work is good - long day today, evening lectures although they are for adults and I just love teaching adults, so its OK. In compensation at home this morning - new carpet being fitted and a load of blokes hanging around outside "repairing" the great hole in the road which has been there for about 18 months. Prince, that takes me back!

decaff for me, but not bad; my 40th birthday present to myself (urged on by not entirely selfless dp) was a Gaggia expresso machine, so I am glad to still be able to use it, even if I am polluting its innards with decaff muck!

how is everyone else - too busy at the old BDing to drop us a line?

Well, I've been told to take low dose Aspirin for three months before trying for another pregnancy - I'm waiting for results of blood tests to see if I even have a clotting issue. I don't know if this might help anyone else or if it's normal NHS advice. I've heard of taking Aspirin after a positive pregnancy test but not before. Hey ho, it keeps me occupied.

Rhet, I love teaching adults as well. I used to teach an intro to computing at a local community college, they were so nice.
Sounds like you will be sloping in late tonight. Have a good one!
Tabitha, I have heard that low dose aspirin supposedly increases blood flow to the placenta and theoretically helps maintain a pregnancy. Why do I know this stuff! We shouldn't have to know all this should we, it's not fair! [stomps foot]
I don't know if the aspirin theory is very well supported, I have read conflicting opinions. It could be something else though. I think they should be a bit more informative really, before they tell you to take things. [cross at them face]
Nice to hear from you though!

If the blood test results come back negative, I shall be straight back up there - the consultant said that three miscarriages, even at the advanced stage of life that I have now reached , can't just be put down to my age.

Hi everybody

Just to let you know that I had my CVS last thursday and got the results on monday afternoon and all is well! I had no bleeding at all after the procedure so am hoping all will continue to go well. I am 12+3 now, so have come out of the pregnancy closet and told everybody my news. That was a huge relief as I had been trying to hide my expanding bump for about 3 weeks now and had run out of dangly scarves and necklaces!

Have been dropping in from time to time to catch up on your collective progress. I was taking those Marilyn thingummy supplements the last time I conceived, this time my pocket couldn't quite stretch to those so I took a Solgar prenatal one instead.

I don't know if this made a difference but I had lost a stone and a half (not to help me get pregnant but for my wedding) through diet and exercise and when the weight came off I conceived twice. Had early m/c first time and 2 months later this sticky one appeared! I felt so much better for losing the weight and felt much fitter from the exercise classes and lots of walking. I am sure that being fitter and lighter made a difference to my fertility at this ripe old age!

Good luck to you all. Will keep you posted. X

Ladymac, that is wonderful news. Take it easy and enjoy the next few months.