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

Just adding myself to the list - still getting to grips with MN, all the links and smileys, acronyms etc and am amazed how all of you on here seem to remember everyones names and what they are up to.

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 -9 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 Age 43 (nearly wrote 53) TTC#2 going for FET February.
ILove GH Age 40 - TTC#4 DSx3
TheFatLadyScreams Age 41 - ttc #1
KiwiKat Age 44 - TTC#2 DS (3.7) Starting IVF (Cetrodide)
Italiangreyhound Age 44 - TTC#2- waiting for DE - DD(5)
Gonepearshaped Where have your details gone?
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.
Dechen age 45 TTC#3, DS 12 AID with Clomid), DD 9 (AID without Clomid)
Praggy Age 45 - TTC#1 after 3 m/c (natural conceptions)
Alfiemac Age 43 - TTC#3 DS's (3.8) - ICSI

Hi all!

welcome to all the newbies it's great the thread is so busy.

Well, Af got me so starting to give the lie to the post-MC fertility boost idea. Boo!
However, onward and upwards etc.

DD now on my lap and enthusiastically mimicking icons - she even spotted there was anew one! So, time to go!

love to all, and calming vibes to kiwi!

Woodelf, hi. I've always had short cycles. My GP said that she has three sons and her cycles were always less than 21 days.

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 -9 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 Age 43 (nearly wrote 53) TTC#2 going for FET February.
ILove GH Age 40 - TTC#4 DSx3
TheFatLadyScreams Age 41 - ttc #1
KiwiKat Age 44 - TTC#2 DS (3.7) Starting IVF (Cetrodide)
Italiangreyhound Age 44 - TTC#2- waiting for DE - DD(5)
Gonepearshaped Where have your details gone?
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.
Dechen age 45 TTC#3, DS 12 AID with Clomid), DD 9 (AID without Clomid)
Praggy Age 45 - TTC#1 after 3 m/c (natural conceptions)
Alfiemac Age 43 - TTC#3 DS's (3.8) - ICSI
SilverStuddedBlue 45 - TTC#2 DD (5)

hope yo'all don't mind my liberty of tagging onto the list!

Hi Dechen So sorry to hear about the stresses. You mentioned about not knowing how to cope with the pain. Is it worth seeing someone to talk about it? I mean a trained counsellor. I had counselling a couple of years back in relation to fertility and it was very, very helpful. It was free as I was referred to it via my GP surgery. We also got free counselling at both the fertility clinics we attended; in fact it was a requirement before we could proceed with the donor egg treatment. I am just suggesting it because I found it very helpful but I know not everyone may find it helpful.

KiwiKat don't freak out, it will be fine. I am sure you have got your answer by now about the drugs but in case not I think it is only the one-off trigger that starts ovulation that should be refrigerated BUT I had IUI so I am not even sure what drugs it is for IVF as all our IVF attempts so far have not worked (and this one has not got to the stage yet). Everyone on MN seems to be on different drugs so not sure BUT I am guessing if it needs to be refrigerated it should be delivered in a special cool pack (ours was). I'd also say to give the drugs company a ring if in the dark, or the clinic, most will have an out of hours number somewhere on the either the deliver note for the company or on the clink information. Good luck, keep us posted.

hopeful45 good luck with your cycle.

hairytriangle well done on getting a referral.

Woodelf if you don?t have any signs of ovulation, like egg whites type mucus, you may not know when you are ovulating, I know some people love the sticks you pee on to see if you're ovulating but I found them expensive! I was told to have sex every two days around ovulation and if you are not sure when to do it then do it every two days for as often as you can. If nothing else it should be fun!

Hippy hang on in there for the Doc tomorrow.

My news is my period is back! It is kind of weird having them again as they stopped last August and I thought it was for good. Now they seem to be back!

Today we bought our gift for our egg donor. Last time I spent ages agonising over the right present and went back to the shop at least twice etc. This time I just saw something nice, hubby and I chatted and he bought it! I know it sounds strange but aside from her giving us her eggs this is the only contact we have with her and I wanted it to be special and nice. It is not essential but the clinic said sometimes that people like to give flowers or a gift and I figured it would be something she could keep.

Sorry for the long post!

Waves to all

Thanks everyone for the tips on bolding. I didn't realize you had to put the asterisks around each word separately.

Alfie Mac - I misread your previous post and thought your twins were much younger. So I guess you had your successful IVF/ICSI at age 40? Would you mind telling me your meds protocol and what your FSH, etc levels were?

Kiwi Kat (I've got this bolding thing all figured out now). Are you trying your first IVF cycle too? I will be just a bit behind you, probably doing my first scan on ~Feb 22. Can you tell me what your Day 3 FSH/estradiol levels are? Did you ever have your AMH checked or your Antra-Follicular Count? Also, could you tell me your meds protocol on a day-by-day basis? Do you know if the Pregnyl is a type of FSH (like Gonal-f or Follistim)? Also, what is the Centrotide? As I mentioned, my RE (who I can only talk to by these tele-conferences which take 2 weeks to set up) is suggesting only 450 IU of Gonal-f for me, with no Menopur/Lupron etc. Are you on birth control pills now?
Hope I'm not adding to your stress wanting more details.

Hopeful45 - hope I have got this right and that your name appears in bold? Yes, we were successful on our 2nd attempt at ICSI well in theory our first attempt as boys were a FET and I had just turned 40 when they were born. Since having the boys we have had 3 x further attempts (2 x FETs and one fresh) but unfortunately these attempts failed and our last failed attempt around April last year. I thought I had come to terms with not having any more children (my DH not keen to try fertility treatment again) but I have not and am despeartely hoping for a miracle "natural" conception.
However, in our case the fertility problems were with my DH so realistically what with that and my age this is very unlikely and I (we?) are now looking at other options whether that be donor eggs or both donor eggs and donor sperm. We did make initial enquiries about adoption last summer but have been slightly "put off" for a number of reasons which I will not go into now.
With regards FSH levels etc for myself I honestly do not have a clue what they were/are and do not seem to have kept any record anywhere of what doses of what drugs I was taking during our fertility treatment.
Italian - think I may take your advise that you gave to Dechen re seeing a counsellor as feel it may be something we as a couple could benefit from. As I have mentioned in previous posts my DH although happy to try for a natural conception (I wonder why!!?) really does not want to go down the route of fertility treatment again and I guess there is a small part of me that agrees with him.
I do feel extremely blessed and fortunate to have the twin boys but I can not seem to be able to be content with that and move on and I feel almost as if I am becoming obsessive about being pregnant and having another child. Perhaps I am being selfish and its a case of really wanting what I "can't" have - does anyone else understand what I am trying to say? Must post on the assisted conception board too.
Hippy - sorry to hear that your thrush has returned - hope it clears up soon.

Hi all,
it's been very busy on here, I'm just on quickly as have a very messy house and a stack of paperwork.

Kiwi, by now you probably know that you don't need to put menopur in the fridge. I didn't use pregnyl, but I do vaguely remember putting cetrotide in the fridge. TBH the only one I definitely remember was the ovitrelle.
I had to take cetrotide, but not until day 8 or 9, it was to stop ovulation and allow the smaller follies to catch up.

Tetley I am laughing at your DD doing the emoticons. Well spotted to her for seeing the new one.

Italiangreyhound
I had chats when I first started to try AID to conceive my first born. (He will be 12 on Valentine's Day)
I went because it was part of the course but I didn't get much from it.
Perhaps I am way too single minded and inevitable & acceptance just don't compute with me.

I do get hung up on data and for my age group it isn't great reading.

I have been browsing the net and got quite nauseated by how some individuals try and milk/profiteer from the fact that there are people out there that are desperate to conceive.
Send me X amount of $/£ and I will tell you how even you can conceive ...

Even how IVF makes huge profits.
Are they viewing us as desperate cash-cows?

How are you all dealing with the TTC so much better? Or am I just too vocal?

A 46 year old has just joined us on the over 40's pregnancy thread. She's 33 wks preg and from the looks of her post she conceived naturally. I'll grill her a bit to find out how she managed it. She conceived her first at 42.

Just thought it might give you all a boost to hear some encouraging news.

GP gave me more pessaries and cream. She said that the results of the last swab was 'a large quantity of thrush'. Yuck.

Still - worse things happen at sea - onward and upward.

Love to all. xx

Dechen it is absolutely frustrating that IVF and the like are so expensive. There are clinics like Create in London where the principles are based around making IVF more affordable.
We have used a private clinic and self-funded via the NHS and the NHS seems so disinterested in infertile couples unless you make a huge fuss you are dismissed quite quickly.
I asked for a second opinion on my HSG and the treatment improved dramatically from the infertility centre.
There are so many scams out there and extremely dodgy sites. I actually got a virus from one site and killed my hard drive.
I completely understand your feelings.

Re the FET in February: I can't get back to the previous page for some reason, but somebody asked when it would be.
I am expecting to start the FET process after my next AF, which is due on the 22nd Feb, trying to get my positive head on.

Silver, most encouraging news from the 46yo - I'm all ears for any tips!!!

Italian, thanks for the encouragement about shorter cycles, I like the idea of getting it on every 2 days but I need my fella to quit working so hard/getting too tired & stressed out to be in the frame...
Hippy, I'm pretty sure I do get the 'egg white' stage so I'm definately ovulating - I am learning so much from you ladies about the 'ins and outs' of fertility. Thats the great thing about this thread - you never feel all alone! Hugs to all!

Hi all

Hi Woodelf can?t believe I am going to write this.... I am the least sexy person at the moment...!! but you need to get your man in the frame...!! Lots of romantic (light) meals (stodgy puddings will send him to sleep!) and whatever he likes in terms or romantic music, soft lights or maybe you could wear his favourite teddy (hark at me, I don?t even own a teddy!) Anyway, have fun. But don?t let on you have anything other than fun on your mind or the mood will be spoilt! No matter how much my other half also wanted a baby he found it quite hard to focus on the job at hand if he thought there was anything other than passion going on!

Hi Dechen So sorry to hear about the way you are feeling. For me, I guess it has been a very up and down thing. Sometimes I am more up and other times more down. Lately, I have noticed my moods really do coincide with my hormones and my periods, when I have them. Personally, I found the counselling helpful; it enabled me to express how I felt, which I had maybe been suppressing a bit.

I am a Christian and my faith gives me some comfort in these issues, although not always. I go to a church with lots of babies and so sometimes it is hard to be surrounded by pregnant women and new babies!

One thing that has made life great for me is that I do have a daughter aged 5 and she is very wonderful and special, so I do feel fortunate but I know that no matter how many children someone has that sometimes the desire to have another can be very strong.

I guess we all cope in different ways. For us doing the donor egg thing was something I was very pleased we were getting the chance to do, but if it does not work I hope I will now be able to walk away from the whole fertility thing. It is hard how people make money out of it but I guess a lot of private medicine is expensive. If it had been cheaper we would probably have tried more times, as it was the cost of IVF put us off quite a bit.

Sorry, guys I don?t want to sound like a bloomin? agony aunt! I guess I?ve been at this a time, it was 8 years ago this summer we started trying for a family, and we have our lovely little one so we have our family, but I am just hoping to cram another one in if I can!

Hope all is well.

Waves to all.

I am reading up about Progesterone cream and pre-seed. Could you please share your opinions and experiances with them?

Hi everyone

Blimey, loads to catch up on.

Another one sending calming vibes to Kiwi. at your boss but don't blame you for keeping quiet. I did feel for you at your 3am panic. Rowing - you are a font of info and support.

Lightlyric - 4/10 for your SWI attempt. 10/10 for making me laugh! Priceless!

Tetley - sorry AF made an appearance. I found the first one hard but I'm not sure this supposed post m/c boost has ever been proven so don't feel you've missed out on it IYKWIM. I'm sure your body is focussing on getting in real good shape for the next one to make sure it sticks.

Gum - hope you're doing OK and stepping back for a bit works for you. But don't forget us guys! Funnily enough I have only got pregnant when I stopped focussing on it - so maybe that old saying about watched pots is right?

Welcome Praggy - yes, here's hoping for preggy soon! I had a MMC last year and found accupuncture was brilliant. I'm pregnant again (but it's very early days) and still doing the acupuncture. No experience of herbs but my practitioneer does both but focusses on acupuncture for fertility. There is an accupuncture website of fertility specialists if you're interested where you can look up local people - I would really recommend this rather than going to a generalist.

And welcome Dechen. I'd second the recommendation for Fertility Friend someone mentioned. I've used pre-seed. Got it from Access Diagnostics (I think via Amazon). It's basically a sperm friendly lubricant - so helpful for those TTC quickies! .

I'm having a bit of a wobble at the moment as had an incredibly stressful week and convinced my symptoms are fading. Sorry to bring a downer - it's just I'm coming up to 7 weeks and I know that's when the baby died last time. So please give me a slap across the face with a wet fish.

hippy thanks for the encouragement re the 46 yr old. There is hope - woo-hoo!! Re the irritating little song bird, if the cream and pessary the doc gave you doesn't work, try Balance Activ gel (consistency is like pre-seed and it's safe to use while pregnant). It works by maintaining/correcting the pH balance of the vagina. I think its brilliant stuff - worked for me.

woodelf re ovulation. Forgive me if someone has already mentioned this but it might be worth getting Toni Weschler's book "Taking Charge of your Fertility". It explains the whole schbang re signs of fertility/ovulation etc in a lot of detail and also explains the whole charting/temperature thing which, if you can be bothered to do it, will tell you when you are fertile, ovulating and about to have AF etc. It's a bit of an eye-opener as to what's actually going on with your cycle.

Italian my DD will be 5 next month and her little pal who came for the sleepover at ours is 4.5 and only lives across the road (so no problem taking her home if she changed her mind). My DD is no-where near having dry nights - we've tried all sorts of things - no drinks after 5pm, lifting her etc but still wakes up every morning with a wet nappy. Or a wet bed, of course, if we leave it off. Her pal still occasionally wets the bed but was fine on Friday night. My DD was of course a bit embarrassed at wearing a pull-up in front of her friend but she pulled it on while her friend was in the bathroom cleaning her teeth and once it was on came to terms with it. They both behaved beautifully and had a brilliant time so I would be happy to do it again for them.

Damn - originally meant to post to ask if anyone see today's article re 40's fertility.

I opened it online expecting the normal doom and gloom story but it was about how many women are getting accidently pregnant in their forties and fifties because they had read all the bad news stories and assumed they didn't need to use any contraceptive. And then they got up the duff.

So quite a good news story for us in a way

I've updated the list - I'm now 45 (eek!)

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 -9 weeks PG with #3?
Frosticle Age 45 - 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 Age 43 (nearly wrote 53) TTC#2 going for FET February.
ILove GH Age 40 - TTC#4 DSx3
TheFatLadyScreams Age 41 - ttc #1
KiwiKat Age 44 - TTC#2 DS (3.7) Starting IVF (Cetrodide)
Italiangreyhound Age 44 - TTC#2- waiting for DE - DD(5)
Gonepearshaped Where have your details gone?
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.
Dechen age 45 TTC#3, DS 12 AID with Clomid), DD 9 (AID without Clomid)
Praggy Age 45 - TTC#1 after 3 m/c (natural conceptions)
Alfiemac Age 43 - TTC#3 DS's (3.8) - ICSI
SilverStuddedBlue 45 - TTC#2 DD (5)

tfls - ssschurlap! Did you feel that? IT WILL BE OK!! Now pull yourself together, go and have a (hell, why not have 3?!), imagine how blissed-out you're going to be when you've got your baby in your arms, smile and get on with your work!!

Frosticle - thanks . And biscuits as well! Now how did you know that I'm sciving off work?? [TFLS looks nervously over her shoulder]

Happy belated birthday by the way - if I've understood correctly.

Hi Frosty, thanks for the book recommendation - will zap Amazon for it in a mo.
Italian - yep, maybe this weekend is a good place to start - all the more fun for having MIL staying over.... heee heee

TFLS - - there! have 3 and enjoy the day!

Wasn't that a great article on over 40s fertility? Cheered me up Nice to hear something positive about fertility for a change.

Virtual hug for TFLS. It's hard not to worry but every day's taking you closer to the safer period.

Tetley where is the article? I wanna read it too!

TFLS - thanks for belated birthday. It was back in January (same day as Kiwi's).

Oo er...never had to do this before. here goes...

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8503726.stm

Thanks Woodelf and tetley .

Frosticle - little did you imagine us 40 year olds would be getting lumped into the same fertility stats as teenagers

I like this bit:

The Family Planning Association (FPA) believes the message on infertility and age has gone "too far".

Although fertility does wane, women can still get pregnant well into their thirties, forties and even fifties

Here is the whole article:

Fertile Forties Pregnancy Warning