Feisty & Fabulous at 40+ more adventures of TTC

[gonepearshaped]

Actually now I feel guilty using up the last post of the thread - hope this will do as a continuation

Happy New Year to all. Big hug to ILGH - so sorry to hear that things didn't go well for you. I know it's no consilation but I agree with whoever said - at least you know sperm and egg are meeting up. I'm still a bit confused about what a chemical preg is??? I really hope the next one is a sticker for you.

We went out for NYE - first time in ages. Everyone was amazed at my willpower - not drinking. They kept saying have a drink and leave the car here - I just kept saying I didn't mind. At midnight Dh put his hand on my tum and said "here's to the baby" God I hope this is all ok - I am allowing myself to get far too attached.

My latest worry is that it is ectopic this is cos the consultant said my womb lining was thin, I just keep thinking where did it settle then??? Still not long to go now before I can ask to see it on a scan and then I'll have my answers.

Sorry to bang on about my situation.

Where is Mahb?? Happy New Year wherever you are.Good to hear from Tetley again.

Love to all.

ps. forgot to say thank you so much for all the positive support. You are a great bunch.

Happy New Year girls! I think it will be a good one!
We had a pleasent Eve with neighbourhood friends, and new year's day was incredibly busy with visitors. I spent most of the day cooking, doing dishes,cooking,doing dishes, hosting,making cups of tea, and finally waving our last lot of visitors off at 6 pm. I was knackered! I told DH I don't want to see anyone for a week.I'd just like a quiet one to reflect on the past year and to look ahead to the new one.

One decision I have made is to slowly wean Charlie off the boob.It will be a slow process because it will be hugely challenging: he loves the boob. Lately he is lifting my shirt, putting his hands down the front and hassling for it all the time.So it is not only the wish for a return of fertility that is driving me, he is just getting too demanding and dependent on it. So today I want to try and limit it to naptime and bedtime. The biggest problem is that I will have to stay on my feet, when sometimes I'd just like to sit down and have a cuppa!I think it is worth it.

ILGH, how are you feeling?I hope the bleeding subsides soon.

I hope everyone else is well and enjoying the new year's celebrations.I can't believe it is 2010! Amazing...When I was a kid I could hardly believe I'd still be around after 2000.It seemed so Sci Fi!!

Happy new year everyone.

Gutted for you ILGH. Hope you're doing OK. It can be such a horrible rollercoaster.

hipppy glad to hear your news. Please try not to worry too much (so much easier said than done!) about your lining. I sometimes wonder if too much information isn't always helpful. I did laugh at the conversation between your consultant and his secretary!

It's a poignant time of year. I got quite low before New Year as saw my acupuncturist and she suggested I get my FSH levels tested at the doctors. For the last two cycles, I've got High readings very early and prolonged on my CBFM and she suspects my FSH levels may be too high. Of course, I went off googling and got myself really depressed that it's game over..... Then I found two lumps on my beloved dog (another session of googling) and awaiting results next week. Also had a leak come through the ceiling on New Year's Eve. So downed a bottle of bubbly that night!

Here's hoping that 2010 is a fruitful year for us all. And that Charlies gets the hang of his mum's new year's resolution quickly!

Hi everyone,
Happy New Year!!

TFLS Aaaaah you are having a rough time. Have you had your FSH levels tested by your GP in the past.
If you go and tell them you have been TTC for six months (should be enough to be referred when you are over 40) they should refer you to your local fertility centre and the fertility unit will usually request the female side of the hormone testing be done via the GP surgery.
The will also want a sperm test, which is usually done at the hospital, your DH has to drop off the sample himself in the morning.
As far as I remember all results are available via your doctor, rather than waiting until the fertility unit sees you.
Sorry if you know all this already, but just in case you didn't.
Bloomin' ceiling leak grrr! I hope it isn't in your sitting room, directly above your TV!! Will your buildings insurance cover any of it, is it due to the weather?
Hope your doggy is OK.

Gum, you might find Charlie drops the requests once he is back to normal health and the holidays are over. I always found being at home with no schedule seemed to prompt lots of feeding, possibly boredom on his part?
Thank goodness all the busy stuff is over though eh?! Nice to have a bit of time vegging.
It snowed again here last night and I really can't be bothered to go out in it. I think the novelty has worn off for the local kids as well, they aren't out throwing snowballs, which they did after the first fall. They will all be back in school on Wednesday.

Hippy I'm glad to hear things are progressing. I have read plenty about people with thinner linings having perfectly normal pgs. It is a real issue for assisted conception women because they have so many scans they know every detail of their uterine lining and get all worried. I think anything over 6mm is OK, or at least that is what they look for in assisted conception.
Tetley are you home again yet?
ILGH how are you? I hope you are taking time out and being kind to yourself.

I phoned the clinic and they have taken a not of the arrival of AF, but I also told the I didn't want to go ahead this cycle, just not up to the whole thing. I feel quite happy with that decision.
We didn't go and see the film Gum, it was 'Up', but I had a rough night and couldn't face the cinema.

Rowing, "Up" is a gorgeous film.I took my DD to see it. I shed a few tears, it is so touching. We both loved it.

Well, day one of operation weaning went well. He didn't even have a feed to go down for his nap, as his daddy was able to rock him to sleep. But he did wake up cranky, so had a big feed to help him through. I tried not to feed him in the night, but at 1.30, after half an hour of him tossing and turning and keeping me awake I let him have the boob, then he slept through til 6.
So, I think as long as we keep busy it will be okay.You are right, I think he often wants it due to boredom.

Rowing, it sounds like you're being wise about waiting til you feel better for the fertility treatment. Are you having a FET, or will you be doing the whole thing? It must be incredibly stressful, so feeling healthy and ready is really important.

Hippy, when do you have your scan? I bet you can't wait. Are you feeling any preg symptoms yet?

Okay, pulling up boot straps, shoulders back...onto day two of operation weaning...we'll start with breakfast.

hippy thinking of you today. Good luck.

All back to normal here, boys back at school so just me and the baby in the morning now. Went to see my friend in her new house by the sea. Lovely. She had mc a couple of months ago so we commiserated and then had a nice cup of tea. Back on the bus now. I am in control .

Good luck with operation weaning gumblossom. You going for it next month rowing?

Hope everyone else is well.

went to docs this morning. She was v. positive. said 4 bfp's were pretty conclusive. I am getting a blood test tomorrow but she said that was more to convince me as she was already conviced - she is so lovely my gp.

She said that what the consultant thought was a cyst could well have been the corpus luteum - you'll have to google if you're interested - far to complicated to explain. She also said not to worry about the lining it obviously did thicken up and implantation took place. She agreed with my consultant that there is no false positive. She kept saying, "You're definitely pregnant!" with a big on her face.

Wont get a scan on NHS until about 8-10 weeks but we have pretty much decided not to go for the scan with the consultant on friday - just can't justify £150 for him to say yes as well.

Would you still go for the private scan or just wait for the NHS????

Glad to hear you're ok ILGH.

Think it's good that you didn't rush back into the embryo transfer rowing.

Good luck with weening gum

Splendid news, Hippy. Glad you're feeling ok, ILGH. How's the cold, Rowing? Everyone else doing ok? A friend announced her accidental second pregnancy yesterday, and I barely had a twinge - I'm getting better at the whole thing, thank goodness. Anyone got a good lot of snow yet? I'm hoping for a really good dumping of it, so that I don't have to go back to work on Wednesday.

Hi all

No snow here yet kiwi but loads forecast for tomorrow. I'm a misery guts as I'm fed up with it - had enough before Christmas! Oh to have a child's joy at snow rather than think about travel plans and shovelling out the drive! Impressed by your reaction to your friend's news.

Hippy - good news re the appointment. Personally I think I'd wait for a scan as I think the early ones can be pretty inconclusive and hence cause unnecessary worry - but someone please correct me if I'm wrong. (Hummm but I suspect the reality is I'd be getting the private one done in a shot - patience was never my strong point!)

Glad to hear you're doing OK ILGH.

Gum - How's day two of operation wean going?

Rowing thanks for the info, much appreciated. I feel torn. Part of me doesn't want to go down any testing route - our originaly philosophy was what will be will be. I'm worried the test results will be bad news and just depress me. If my levels are high, can anything be done about it? I think in TCM they try to lower them so will chat it through with my acupuncturist on Friday. Sorry for the waffle - bit of thinking aloud to myself.

Hope everyone is warm and toastie!

Yep, pretty warm here, hot in fact! Today's forecast is for 37 degrees C(98.6 F). So I guess we'll be at the beach this morning. I love warm weather, but this is a bit too hot for me and we have a hot north easterly wind coming off the Aussie desert which makes it unpleasant.I am glad I don't have to shovel snow though!

Hippy, I think I'd wait for the scan too, unless I'd had something like bleeding or cramping.Just think of all the lovely baby goodies you can buy with the money you could spend on the scan.

Day two of O.W is going really well.Most of the time I can distract him with something else, but it's still here when he is really needing comfort. Trouble is he isn't very keen on other liquids.Doesn't like milk or water much, likes orange juice, but I think it bothers his eczema so I don't like giving it to him. I will definately keep trying because I am getting frustrated at not ovulating. I am finding that whenever I read about someone's bfp online I feel very impatient. It isn't making me envious or sad, I just want to get a shot at it!

Ooo Gum definitely a day for the beach, that does sound a bit too toasty.
I lived and worked in Greece for a while and remember heading down to the harbour or beach most days to get the lovely breeze. Alternatively I would seek out the nearest air-conditioned building and stay there.
How is the snow situation for you guys?
There seems to have been a big fall overnight in many places.
It's not too bad here, snow, but not that much, and at least it has replaced the ice on the pavements.
I think we are coming down to the realisation that this is going to last for a while and kind of accepting that white is the new black.
TFLS I know it can be a bit trying to have tests, but on the other hand it does put you back in the driving seat a bit. Even if your results aren't text book there is still every chance that you will have a natural pg.
If you are like me and your hormone levels are fine, but you have a blockage then I think it is better you know before your hormones begin to change.
It could be your lovely DH as well of course, but there are lots of courses for both male and female sub or infertility if that is the case.

Hippy it all sounds like smashing news, I think I would go for a later scan personally, so you can have a 'proper' look. I always felt a bit bad that my poor old DS had lots of scans because there is a dose of radiation each time for you both.

ILGH there's nothing like having somebody to talk to who knows 'exactly' what you are talking about. I'm sorry for both of you, but glad you have each other to talk to.
You do sound a lot more positive, but you are bound to fluctuate.
Any more news on the lp support? I wonder if you could get some support for your next pg?

We are just off out in the snow to see friends. I have a phone appointment with the doctor late afternoon so will probably get a referral to ENT. Not sure how long it will take, but hopefully it will all fit in with the frozen embryo transfer.
I heard back from the clinic in Czech Rep, the said they would have another look to see if they could find a closer match for DP.
I asked if we could see photos, but they haven't come back on that yet. I know some places do have photos of donors, but it may vary.

Hello everyone, from snowy snowy Edinburgh. Dunno where you are rowing but my parents live up near the hills in the southern part of the city and we're under a big white blanket of powdery snow. It's unbelievably lovely. We took dd sledging this morning on one of the golf courses and she had a ball

hippy glad it's all going well. It must be all sinking in by now. Your gp makes it all sound lovely and smiley - it's so great when you get a warm and friendly health professional.

ILGH good to hear you're feeling ok and positive about things

I'm nearing the end of the 2ww and trying not to go nuts, having put big pressure on myself considering the supposed rise in fertility post-mc...AF date coincides with end of holiday and going home on saturday, so on one hand willing time to pass and on the other in no hurry to go home and back to horrid january reality

Snow here - v. thick. Looks great but is becoming a pain.

I cancelled the scan for friday. I too think a v. early scan might just cause more doubts than reassurance. Also I know he was looking to see why I was having short cycles and not looking for a v. early preg but my GP said what he was probably looking at was the Corpus Luteum and not a cyst at all - I keep thinking, "Call yourself a specialist?"

Imagine if I'd said - do the lap immediately, woul dhe have mucked up the preg trying to remove a cyst??? Just lucky I didn't jump in to the lap I guess.

I feel fairly positive about everything, I think it's funny that whilst DH, cons and I were discussing laps, sperm tests and cyst - the baby was just quietly getting on with by himself (just a guess on the sex!)

DH is moaning about paying him for the other scans so he defo wont want to pay him for another. Think we'll spend the money on a Nuchal scan instead.

Rowing What is the bit about the Czech Repub - I must have missed all that - do tell???

Lots of Love to ILGH - you seem a very positive person.

Good to hear from Tetley again. I always visalize the tetley tea men (do you look like that???)

It is good to hear a bit more chat going on, Tetley, it's good to hear from you.

Well, it was a HOT day and we headed to the beach in the morning, then back again in the afternoon when the paddling pool just wasn't cutting it! The afternoon was lovely with the sea breeze and by the time we got home, it was really very pleasant. Would have been a great day for G&T's on the deck, so I had a T instead with a twist of lemon, which was just as good.

Have you all pretty well given up the booze in the quest for a baby? I do have the odd glass of wine here and there, but not much at all really. Which is fine cos at my age I don't seem to cope all that well with more than three glasses!

Are any of you taking Maca? I have been for a while, hoping it will help, I heard on another website that a lot of ladies swear by it, saying it helped them get preg. I'm hoping that something will help.I suppose just ovulating might make a difference!

Rowing, I'm guessing that your DH has the blockage if you're using a donor? Did you do that for your son? If I'm prying, feel free to tell me to shut up!

Today I'm off to collect seedlings from the nursery.It's all part of my new year's resolution to be more resourceful- growing our own vege. My maternity leave is up for review in July and I seriously don't want to go back.I'm allowed another year, and would dearly love to be pregnant so I can get anothe three years.I don't want to go back while Charlie isn't in school (which doesn't start til he is 4). Anyway, thinking if I'm more resourceful I can stay out of the paid workforce for a bit longer...I guess I shouldn't have done that boden order this morning, but couldn't resist some cute things for DS for the next winter.

Very envious re the sun and gardening gum!

Hippy - that's a great thought - your little bean growing happily away whilst you're fretting about ttc

Tetley - fingers crossed for you. Hope the next couple of days flash past.

rowing - that's a useful perspective. Will probably make the appointment (had stuck it in the too difficult to think about box!) What's this about the clinic? Sorry if nosey but think I've missed something.

Had a delivery of logs today - so feel like hibernating. One good thing about being snowed in is that we've eaten up all the Christmas leftovers!

Hi all,
Gum yes I have taken maca, can't say I noticed a thing, but I don't really know if I have any hormone imbalances. It is supposed to be very good though, from what I have read.
That sounds fantastic all the veggie growing, I wish we had somewhere to grow some.
Three years maternity is amazing, we only get 9 months paid here and your job is only held open for 12 months. How would that work, if you were pg, would you be able to stay away from work completely?
I have blocked and damaged tubes, I think they may have been a bit dodgy for a while, but I had an operation after DS which may have added to the problem. DP is good though, no issues with him at all.
The donor embryo is what is a double donation, i.e. it is from a sperm and egg donor, nothing to do with us at all. Kind of like a proper adoption, but at an extremely early stage.
TFLS the clinic is one I kind of unearthed when we were looking for cheap options or a plan b if the IVF didn't work. We are running out of money and time so plan to move swiftly from one option to the next.
Is is freezing where you are? It's so cold here tonight, apparently we are quite close to having the same temperature as Siberia.
Work is off here, I don't go back until Monday because of the weather.

Rowing, the mat leave is unpaid.I got 14 weeks paid, but the rest is unpaid but they keep my position for 3 years. I worked so hard to gain "permenancy" that I don't want to give it up. I suppose if I don't get preg within the first three years I would have to go back til the next mat leave started. If that's the case, I'll go very part-time, maybe a day or two per week at most!

I can't believe your temp is like Siberia! Bloody heck that's cold! And to stay home that's amazing - is that because of the snow? How cold is it it exactly?

Rowing how your drs appointment go?

Operation wean goes well during the day but he's making up for lost time during the night.I know I have to be patient...

Evening all, sounds like you're all doing well this week, despite the chilly temperatures. I've been enjoying catching up on everyone's news. Tetley, fingers are crossed for you.

Hello! Been completely out of the loop on everyone's news for ages but have just had a quick look and wanted to congratulate hippy - fab news!

Hi all,
not so cold tonight here. It's a bit of a joke being off work because I could easily get there, the snow is only a few centimetres and the roads are fine, but that's in town. I know a lot of people further out have a lot of snow.
We were out sledging today and it is very lovely and sunny, but very cold, OK as long as you are well wrapped up.
Frosticle perfect name considering the current temp. How are you?
Kiwi waves. Is it freezing where you are?
I think it is minus 8 or something here.
Gum hopefully you can put off returning to work for another three years, what a hoot!
I must admit it isn't so bad for me, it all fits around DS quite nicely, but isn't the most rivetting of jobs.

Hello Rowing, yes, blimmin chilly, but can't claim it's freezing, with only -2, and you're so much colder oop north. I've been slip sliding on the ice, had a couple of close calls, but not yet gone head over heels. Sounds like you've been making the most of the snow, lucky thing.

Another day at the beach! It's a tough life!This is where we were today www.virtualtripping.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Greens-Pool-450x337.jpg
Rowing, what do you do (at your job?)

I've decided to give up temping and put my FF account on hold.It isn't doing me any good.It's just a habit.I don't think I'll waste any more OPK's either.I'm just going to wait til AF returns and play it by ear.

Oh...gotto run, my dd is watching "Torchwood" and I don't want to miss it!

Hi all, just dropping in to make sure this is back on my i'm on list. Am on CD12 today and am using the opk this month just to see if I do ov. But am staying away from the hpt until AFTER I've missed a period. So, if I mention doing an early test, kick me up the arse. Ta!

Gum do you get a lot of dvds or do you manage to get iplayer down there?

Hi everyone,
TFLS logs! what a great thought, sitting in front of a log fire. So envious!
gumblossom how bizarre to think of you on the beach after being knee deep in a snowy garden with dd yestarday, adjusting her snowman's dodgy smile.

Thanks for all the crossed fingers, but it's game over for me. As could have been predicted, AF started to put in an appearance this afternoon an hour after we got back home from hols...naturally. Have to admit i'm absolutely gutted Terrible timing - back to reality. i'm sorry to be so gloomy, really i was due yesterday so i was already "late". B++++er.

One thing i just don't understand. Can any of you enlighten me? I keep reading that while the first half of your cycle can vary in length, the 2nd luteal phase is generally very constant. Is that another myth, like that the one that says all women ov on day 14? It's just that i'd got my hopes up this cycle because this phase will be 17 days by the time AF starts properly tomorrow. That's much longer than normal!!! Is that a post-mc thing?