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

Great to hear from you Spiral.Sorry about your fertility results. It doesn't mean it's impossible does it?Will you consider going down the donor road?

I loved your analogy and it sometimes feel the till is moving further away, and that it is almost closing time...

But, we mustn't give up hope.

Thank God - it is only 19 degrees today - positively chilly for us!I feel like snuggling under the doona, but young Charlie has other plans!

Rowing, how are you feeling? I hope you can get to the bottom of your ear problem. I had an ear issue a few years ago, it turned out to be a mysterious virus.

I'm excited for you ladies starting ivf. Can't wait to hear of your bfp's.

Oh no, milk being poured on the floor!Bye!

spiral I have read that AMH is only 70% accurate so whilst we all know the odds are stacked against us I don't think anyone should give up hope as a result of the test. A friend of mine had a very low (i.e. barely detectable) AMH result and was pregnant 3 months later and gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby boy. True story.

ILGH working as an executive search researcher lends itself brilliantly to working from home and to flexible hours. That's why I started doing it. I used to be a mid-market recruitment consultant doing the whole end-to-end process but that doesn't work when you want to work part-time so after having DD I changd to doing research. I much prefer it tbh - it is very pleasant indeed. It's not a big mental challenge but you do get to have grown-up conversations with really interesting people. What fun!! I think you'll find a job without too much trouble as people with FS sector experience seem to be in demand. If you have any further questions feel free to ask.

Hello Everyone,
I have been absent without a note for a very long time and like a student putting off revision I'm back on here because it's time to leave for the hospital for my polyp removal this morning. Have just done a pg test because that would mean I didn't have to go but it's a No so I have to go...mind you look at the snow, it's coming down very thick and fast, wonder if it will last?

Spiral I do know how you feel as we are the same age, I haven't had that test done but I feel that someone has called TIME and I wasn't at all ready. I thought that we would be considered too old to adopt and my wouldn't we have to be extremely 'sorted' to take on any damaged child even at a toddler age and anyone who had to be given up for adoption would in some way be wounded. I hate to admit it but I'm not sure I can hold up my hand and say I am that selfless.

Our consultant has given me 3 months of clomid to take from this mnth and I'm not looking forward to it, I'm moody enough without more hormones. After that he says there is nothing more to do except go abroad for donation.

How is FIFI doing? Any news - sorry I haven't read for a while I seem to sink into the quicksand of life too often.

I too will catch up soon so lovely to see this commuinity still rooting for eachother.

Okay, you need to tell me not to test until Sunday, at least.

Having a bit of brown spotting today. Am hoping it's an implantation bleed. Have been having very vivid,lucid dreams, yelled at my 4 year yesterday for mucking about with his seatbelt and - bad mummy, am knackered, have shocking bloating but no weight gain, am a bit more doolally than usual. What do you reckon? Am CD22 today.

Frosticle, how are headhunting firms doing anyway? Is it likely to get such a job in the current climate? Not sure how the jobs market is going in the middle east and therefore how interested they'd be?

ILGH go ahead and test. Go on! You know you want to! OK then. Don't. No, definitely don't do it. We all would, of course but its a totally bad idea. Good luck! We'll miss you.

Recruitment is picking up generally and in terms of Exec Search the market is a lot more buoyant now than it has been for the last 18 months. Having said that, I don't think Spencer Stuart suffered at all in the down-turn but the other top Exec Search firms -EZ, Russell Reynolds etc - did and are climbing out of it now. I don't know how this compares with the Middle East and how much the financial woes in Dubai have affectd things there.

Until last summer I worked for one of the top global firms. Their office in the Middle East is in Dubai. I know the partner out there - could put you in touch?

I'm looking for a new job myself at the moment but I really want part-time and it has been tricky. There's a fantastic start-up that want me - with hours to suit - but they're not ready to go yet and I can't afford to wait. I've now stopped looking for part-time and have started applying for full-time roles as there are so many more full-time opportunities. I might have to do full-time but I'm hoping once I get in front of them someone might be prepared to offer a part-time arrangement instead.

I've seen plenty advertised for Researchers with FS experience (something I have little of and tbh an area I'm not much interested in) so as you've got that, I suspect you won't find it too difficult.

ILGH go ahead and test. Go on! You know you want to! OK then. Don't. No, definitely don't do it. We all would, of course but its a totally bad idea. Good luck! We'll miss you.

Recruitment is picking up generally and in terms of Exec Search the market is a lot more buoyant now than it has been for the last 18 months. Having said that, I don't think Spencer Stuart suffered at all in the down-turn but the other top Exec Search firms -EZ, Russell Reynolds etc - did and are climbing out of it now. I don't know how this compares with the Middle East and how much the financial woes in Dubai have affectd things there.

Until last summer I worked for one of the top global firms. Their office in the Middle East is in Dubai. I know the partner out there - could put you in touch?

I'm looking for a new job myself at the moment but I really want part-time and it has been tricky. There's a fantastic start-up that want me - with hours to suit - but they're not ready to go yet and I can't afford to wait. I've now stopped looking for part-time and have started applying for full-time roles as there are so many more full-time opportunities. I might have to do full-time but I'm hoping once I get in front of them someone might be prepared to offer a part-time arrangement instead.

I've seen plenty advertised for Researchers with FS experience (something I have little of and tbh an area I'm not much interested in) so as you've got that, I suspect you won't find it too difficult.

Oops! Didn't mean to post that twice - lost connection just as I was posting it and thought it hadn't worked. I guess I'll be wearing the donkey's ears today!

summersky why would you have to go abroad for egg donation?

Hi all,may i join,im 40this year and ttc number4 at the mo.Im on CD10 i think,but since i had my endomitriosis treated my cycle is a bit haywire.Im hoping something happens straightaway(dont we all) as DH goes away for nearly 4months in Feb so will have a heck of a wait inbetween sessions!

Welcome totallyfloaty - not helpful timing on DH's trip!

Summersky - lol at "absent without a note"! Hope today went well for you.

Spiral - love the analogy. Sorry to hear about the results but I've also read that they are not that reliable so hopefully the shutters ain't down yet.

ILGH - good luck holding out. I'm on day 29 here and still no temp dip or spotting so indulged myself with another internet cheapie today - BFN of course, like it was yesterday. What did I expect - duhhhh.

Hippy - I at least imagined that you should be into folk music!!

In terms of looking like our names - I am a fat lady and I do scream regularly!

Rowing - are you around, how are you doing? I do always imagine you serenely rowing down a stream when I see your name

Oh and Kiwi - I always think of a kit kat when I see your name (as well as New Zealand)!

Summer, how did it go at the hospital?
ILGH, fingers crossed you get two lines!KUP
Rowing - how are you feeling?
TotallyFloaty - I hope you're able to get the deed done with perfect timing.I honestly don't know how you manage with DH away for four months.I would find it so hard.
TFLS: I don't look anything like a gumblossom, I really should have your name, except it should probly be "the fat lady cries" in my case!
Well, despite saying I would give up temping and charting I didn't!And according to FF I am 7 dpo. I'd be surprised if it is true, but maybe it is.DS has been frustrated at the boob, which may mean I'm producing less milk or it tastes different due to ovulation or pregnancy, but I've had this (FF saying I'd Oed) happen before only to find nothing came of it, so I'll believe it if AF turns up, or if I get a bfp after 19 days of elevated temps. It's a waiting game.I've promised myself, no matter what,I'll not take any preg test unless I have elevated temps for 14 days.I only have one digital and I really don't want to buy any more tests.
I don't really feel like much is happening - I had some mild cramping, but, you know, that could be wind right?! My boobs have been a little tender, but I think it is more likely due to Charlie chewing on them!
Time will tell...Ruby the psychic said maybe Jan 2010 for bfp...hope she's right!

Hi all,
TFLS are you feeling better now? What do you think is up with your temp?
I like you thinking about a boat, it's such a lovely image, hadn't thought of that, but it's nice.

Totallyfloaty that is such a cool name, very hippy. Have you met Hippychick our other floaty person?
Welcome to the thread.
I'm not a proper TTC person because we are more on the assisted conception side, but I refuse to leave this thread.
ILGH that sounds like an interesting set of symptoms. Fingers crossed.

Kiwi I'm feeling a bit better now thank you. Still not getting much kip, but oh well.
I think my hormones are returning to normal after the treatment, I am feeling loads more energetic since LP started, it's great.
It's a bit chilly up here, but feels positively balmy after that snow and ice.
How are you sweetie?

Gum I'm very intrigued to hear about your ear virus, what happened? I need details!!!

Frosticle I love your photo with your DD, you look gorgeous together. When was she 4?

Summer we went abroad for our first cycle, would this be your first time abroad?

Hairy I'm not sure about the HSG. If you go private, I'm not sure you need a referral, but it's worth getting as much as you can get done on the NHS.
We even went to the local STD clinic for our pre-treatment tests, rather than pay £150. It all adds up.
Are you on Fertility Friends? There are a lot of people over there who could answer your questions about going private.

Italian Thank you for the offer of info. If the FETs with our own embies don't work out we will definitely be looking at going abroad again for a donor embie.

thefatladyscreams Thanks for the compliment, I chose the name as it sounded elegant!

hippychick66 and thefatladyscreams I am still working on the sleek greyhound look! I went to keep fit this week and was totally out of synch with everyone else! But by the end (after some horrendous music and jumping up and down and feeling cr*p) I actually felt quite energised!

spiralqueen I know that feeling (closing shop) I reckon we got lucky, having DD 5 years ago by IUI and then just a year after her birth going back for more IUI and finding it didn?t work any more! We are hoping to start treatment with donor eggs and will attempt adoption if that does not work.

IloveGregoryHouse Don?t test until Sunday, it?s only a few days. I know what you mean about feeling like a bad mum. I have to remind myself that beautiful but moody dd is only 5 after all. So many times I say sit down and watch TV, so I can go on Internet! Today she went to new club for first time, school girls not night club! She was very stressed and didn?t want to go. I almost gave in as she got so upset but in the end I just kept saying good things and then gave her the option and she said yes, within two minutes of getting there she had forgotten all about me and was having a whale of a time! I think they are made happy quite quickly again!

Totallyfloaty35 welcome.

rowingboat When are your fets?

All the best to all, what?s the phrase, sticky, sticky, sticky! Or in the words of Black Adder, may you all be as sticky as a stick insect that has fallen in a jar of honey and been awarded an honorary degree in jam-making

Hi everyone:

I've added SpiralQueen and Totally Floaty. Here's the list. Please make changes if I have anything wrong.

Hopeful45 -Age-45 - TTC#4 -DD(10);DD(6);DS(4)
Jollster - Age-41 -5 weeks PG with #2 DS(1.9)
HippyChick-Age- 43 -8 weeks PG with #3?
Frosticle - Age 44 - TTC#2 DD (4)
Gumblossom- Age 43 - TTC #6 DS(18)DS(16) DD(12)DD(9)DS(1)
Jemima Puddle-Age 42-TTC#3? D(10); D(2)
Tetleytea-Age 42 - TTC#2 DD (3.5)
Rowing Boat
ILove GH - Age 40 - TTC#4 DSx3
The FL Screams - Age 41 - ttc #1
KiwiKat - age 43 (44 on 21st Jan - I like chocolate cake and wine) - TTC#2 DS (3.6)
Missy 8c - Age 42 DD (21);DD (7 mos?) - WTT
Italiangreyhound - Age 44 - TTC#2- waiting for DE - DD(5)
Gonepearshaped
Summersky - Age 46
Totally Floaty - Age 39 - TTC #4
Spiral Queen - Still 46! TTC#2 DD(2)-natural conception

Rowing: I'm also Assisted Reproductionbut we are both still Fabulous & Feisty & TTC in our 40s! I'm trying a stimulated cycle and IVF (if lucky)at the end of February. On month 7 (with a break in the middle) of IUI/Clomidcurrently 2 dpo. Please add your info. if you like (copy and paste the list to a new message) or just post your info. in a message and I can revise list again (my specialty!)

Spiral Queen: I love the shop closing analogy. Even though the hours are posted on the door, it's still a shock when they won't stay open a few minutes later to let you shop! Either that or I'm fighting over a cute dress with a 20-year old who tells me there's no way I can pull it off so I might as well just hand it over.

Also wanted to let you know that my AMH is less than 0.1! (don't know if I have any!!) and my antra follicular count is very low but I am still going to try and see what happens. I'm thinking about DHEA to improve my follicle count since I'm expected to be a poor stimulator. Anyone trying that? I had a blood test taken earlier this week to see what my natural levels of DHEA are. Still awaiting results.

KiwiKat - happy birthday (it's my DS's 4th birthday tomorrow also!)

Hi everyone, I've been absent for quite a while due to another bout of illness and another AF....
Still, on a lighter note at least we feel well enough for BD so fingers crossed!
Spiral, we are in pretty much exactly the same situation, I had DS naturally at 43 after a few mcs, and have 'returned to the shop' just before closing time for another rummage...

Just to update the list;
Hopeful45 -Age-45 - TTC#4 -DD(10);DD(6);DS(4)
Jollster - Age-41 -5 weeks PG with #2 DS(1.9)
HippyChick-Age- 43 -8 weeks PG with #3?
Frosticle - Age 44 - TTC#2 DD (4)
Gumblossom- Age 43 - TTC #6 DS(18)DS(16) DD(12)DD(9)DS(1)
Jemima Puddle-Age 42-TTC#3? D(10); D(2)
Tetleytea-Age 42 - TTC#2 DD (3.5)
Rowing Boat
ILove GH - Age 40 - TTC#4 DSx3
The FL Screams - Age 41 - ttc #1
KiwiKat - age 43 (44 on 21st Jan - I like chocolate cake and wine) - TTC#2 DS (3.6)
Missy 8c - Age 42 DD (21);DD (7 mos?) - WTT
Italiangreyhound - Age 44 - TTC#2- waiting for DE - DD(5)
Gonepearshaped
Summersky - Age 46
Totally Floaty - Age 39 - TTC #4
Spiral Queen - Still 46! TTC#2 DD(2)-natural conception
Woodelf - still 46 TTC#2 DS(3) - natural conc.

Hi everyone, glad to see it's all still so busy on here and lots of expectations of BFP's, especially love the Black Adder quote.

TFLS interesting about no temp drop so hold out - it doesn't always show up - have some pineapple to pass the time.

Rowing I started on Dong Quai again, are you still on it - feel a lot better for it - except today as I am very sore after surgery - they had to stitch me up oouch! just like giving birth again. Thanksfor asking Gumblossom VGL with testing, how exciting.

Where did you go abroad? I fancy Turkey as it's hot and the food is good. Hubby not so keen on donation though.

Frosticle I'm sure I read that egg donation stopped at a certain age in UK and 46 doesn't qualify. Someone can correct me if I've gotten it wrong - which I would love to have.

Did anyone see a trailer for an older Mums programme on Tuesday 10.35pm I think it's BBC

Ha Ha Italian greyhound Love a bit of blackadder.

I'm confused that some of you seem to be talking about going abroad for doner and others are having it in UK - perhaps it's an age thing.

Good luck to all anyway, isn't it amazing that there are people out there who are willing to donate their eggs. Not sure that I could have done it before and no one would want my eggs now

I went for reflexology last night and told her I was preg. She showed me what she had written when she saw me just before Xmas (before I knew I was preg). She had written 'uterus feels full'. She said she didn't mention it cos we'd just had the negative news from the consultant that our chances were minimal (idiot! - I know I put that every time I mention him).

Anyway, she didn't want to say anything to get my hopes up but she said it felt different even then. I was very impressed. DH joked that she probably had several notebooks hiden under the desk and just pulled out the relevant one.

She said she would have to avoid stimulating my uterus when doing the reflexology but she could feel that it was different just by touching it (on my foot). Amazing, all that from my feet!

I'm Hippychick cos that's what my hubbie calls me - he says I don't look my age cos I'm too trendy (haha what does he know about trendy???)

Italian good luck with the exercise class - sure you'll be sleek and elegant really soon.

Hi SummerSky and hippychick66

Not sure what the final age for treatment in the UK is, it seems to vary. I guess many people go overseas for treatment as the waiting time is probably less, I am not sure how costs compare. Our treatment is costing more than £5,000, so maybe it is cheaper too!

Regarding the age they stop IVF in the UK. Here is what I found out about two years ago, by phoning around clinics in England. I guess older ladies are more likely to be candidates for donor eggs and most of the clinics I spoke to, whether I talked about donor eggs or not, seemed to have different ages at which they stopped offering IVF.

Ages ranged quite a bit, 45 was quoted by a few, however some also said 48 and older. The Lister in London takes older women as well as younger and has (I think) a good reputation. We chose to go with Care Fertility, which has many clinics in the Midlands area and elsewhere in England for private fertility treatment.

The ages are younger than this if you are going on the NHS.

We were told that donor eggs would be our best bet. We have been on the waiting list here for about a year and hope to start treatment very soon. The list is not always this long. It depends if you are CMV positive or negative.

SummerSky Are you definitely going abroad and definitely going for donor treatment or is it still undecided?

Took us ages to decide mostly because dh was not keen/not sure. Now he seems fully committed to it.

Thank you hippychick66 for spurring me on with fitness, I even managed to have natural yoghurt after lunch today instead of a topic!

All the best to everyone for TTC and for treatment if necessary ? we are still waiting to hear more from clinic!

Thanks for the birthday wishes - and happy birthday to you too, Frosticle!

Rowing, about the ear virus. I got a sore ear after being dumped while surfing, so thought it was due to that, however, when I started to notice that I couldn't hear very well, and that it wasn't improving I went to my doctor.I ended up having hearing tests, MRI,CT scan and specialist visits.In the end he said it sounded like a virus cos they couldn't find anything else. The soreness stopped, and the tinnitus (thank god, that was awful). The hearing loss was hard to take, especially as in noisy places I found it difficult to hear people in conversations. It meant for some funny incidents in the classroom.When I asked a girl to get on with her work, she replied"I don't care" to which I replied,"well, you ought to!" and she said,"Sorry miss,I just said 'I like your hair'".Gee I felt bad!
The hearing loss has improved over the years, or I have gotten used to it.It wasn't a great deal, about 20% on one particular frequency.
Sorry about the long story... I hope they can get to the bottom of your sore ear, but I don't think you've had hearing loss have you?In any case, they should probably do a scan to rule out other possibilities.

My temperature is still up.Still feel like it is a figment of my imagination!

Hippy - I love your story about the reflexology! That is so cool.Do you think the reflexology helped you fall pregnant? I wish I had your reflexologist here, I'd go and see her.I think the ones in town here might be quite amateur, I'll ask around.How are you feeling?

Welcome back Woodelf!

Im a reflexologist/massage therapist,my speciality was pregnancy and the relief of common preg problems.My friend is a fab reflexologist and she specialised in conception and had a lot of sucess.Unfortunatly i developed rsi and she got Arthritis in her hands so we 'retired'.I would recommend it though,for relaxation if nothing else.Accupuncture is very good to,i used both Reflexology and accupuncture to induce my last birth and keep the contractions going.
A friend has reflexology to make her cycles regular and so far it seems to be working.

Temp was still high this morning so thought I'd do another internet cheapie but checked my CM first - it was slightly brown (sorry TMI) just like the start of a period.

So game over I thought but did a cheapie test for luck. Got a BFP.

So feeling pretty bemused. Great it's a BFP but looks like it could be a chemical miscarriage and over before it began.

I'm on day 31 (ovulated day 13) so too late for implantation bleed.

Yours bemused of bemused land. Please don't congratulate me as I really don't feel this is going to go anywhere.

Thefatlady,my last pg was like that,had constant feeling period was coming and bled lightly at time it was due for first 3 months of pg.Dont write it off just yet.