Assisted Conception (and the bits in between) Volume 5

[Bumpless]

Thought I'd set us up a new home! kettle's on and choc tin open.

This is a lucky start to our new thread: 2 BFPs and a fantastic fertilisation rate from Dueling!

Boobs and biscuits to everyone

OAAm still here lurking. BB fingers crossed you find someone who can prescribe you what you need.

Haven't been to weight watchers but have been doing 2 classes at the gym a week and might start running. Diets scare me.

Anyway gp told me if I relax I will conceive another child. I did nearly slap him. He hasn't referred me to a fc but have an ultrasound and have to go back to discuss Things from there.

Hi to everyone this is on my phone and am losing patience with it.

KC!! so sorry to hear about your meal with your sister-in-law. It is tough, no two ways about it but busying yourself and just getting through it is the best way. It is so hard for people who have not been through it to realise what it is like. And in a way we can never really tell them. As you said, the tummy stroking is subconscious. I've noticed people talk about what they can and can't eat, and it is annoying.

Keziahopes thinking of you. Kezia, is that your real name? It is quite an unusual biblical name, are you or your family Christians? Just being nosy (as I am - both a Christian and nosy!).

Loujalou well done on doing the gym classes.

MM how are you?

OK, a challenge, what can you say or show me (websites) to get me losing weight! Anyone I've managed in three days to lose my new calories counter pocket-sized book and I am not getting anywhere at the moment! Finding watching Big meets Bigger is really helpful!

Chocbunny are you still around?

Anyway I had my ultrasound and the consultant couldn't see anything wrong. Which is a good thing. But he didn't ask me what day of my cycle I was on or seem to measure anything. My friend who is an expert on these things told me that they check the size of follicles. Oh well back to the GP now. To be told again to relax. Mmm.... Also am 10 dpo so half of me wanted to be told I was pregnant. But suppose its too early.

Sorry just needed to write it down. I guess I just want to be told that there is something wrong and it can be fixed rather than be unexplained.

Hi all, back from America...

MM--I am really thinking of you. I'm just catching up on posts now, and was thrilled to hear of your BFP. Sending you calming vibes and hoping scans are good.

BB--So sorry about AF. Big hugs your way...

Kezia, you lucky girl! You only have to wait two months for your NHS cycle? Our PCT is making us wait TWO YEARS, despite our special circumstances. I'm coming to live with you

Cerubina--Has jury service ended? I only had to do that once in the States, for one day, but I can honestly say I would rather watch paint dry

Poppy--TWINS! HOLY CRAP! So happy for you, and hope you feel good through the rest of your pregnancy (ginger for nausea)

Italian--Still thinking that whatever decision you make will be the right one.

KC--My SIL gave birth to twins, and then a year later was pregnant again. She held off telling me because she didn't want me to be upset. I was, of course, thrilled for her, and feeling guilty at the jealousy I felt. I think taking yourself out of it, like you did when going to the kitchen, is the best way you can handle it.

Had a really terrific time in the States, where I became another year older...

My nephew is fabulously gorgeous, and it was really wonderful to see my twin sister in action as a mom. I'm so hopeful and desperate to give Judah a cousin.

In the meantime, I did get my period for the first time since my ERPC, and it was AWFUL. Sorry, TMI. And I think I'm finally done bleeding from my cone biopsy. Thank goodness that's over with.

I think I might be getting the sack from my nannying job, which sucks because I absolutely loved it. I might be reading too much into text messages, but that's the feeling I get.

I want to share with you something that I figured out while in the States. I'm Jewish, and I went to synagogue while I was there, as I'm friends with the rabbi and his wife. As I was telling her that I was turning 36 on the 14th, I realized that 36 has a very special significance. You see, the word for 'life' in Hebrew is 'Chai' (the ch sounds like you're clearing your throat), and the numerical value of the hebrew letters adds up to 18. (This is a very mystical aspect of Judaism. Each hebrew letter has a numerical value) This year I'm 36, which is double chai, so I believe that this is the year that I'm going to have a baby, and that this year was chosen for me for a reason.

Ladies, I hope this is your year too. We just have to keep believing. Never give up. We are all deserving, and it WILL happen for us, I just know it!

Hugs and chocolate biscuits to all...

Loujalou hope you get some answers and things going your way.

LissySilver hope all is well and glad you had a great time in the states. Are you actually America? Glad to hear this could be your year. I am Christian and I am always thinking of significant things! Like at church is the sermon is about a passage with a name in it, like Naomi, I think umm if I go home and find out I am pregnant I will call her Naomi! Not as special as your number thing, I know.

My big thing today is pants! I bought some whopping Bridget Jones pants by accident and they are making me think I need to use them for something significant - like having a baby! For those of you still waiting for number 1 big pants may not hold such significance but when you have a baby you need to wear big unappealing pants for a while, especially if you have a C-section as I did (no, I am not too posh to push)., Anyway, keep feeling I need to put these big pants to use!

Hi all

Sorry to post and run but today is my birthday (38 years "young"! HA HA) and my DH is taking me out for dinner somewhere nice. Have put on a frock and everything.

MM sending you my thoughts and best wishes because you have had a horrible time. I hope the bleeding has stopped and there is absolutely no reason to worry but I know that wouldn't stop you anyway, and nothing will do so until the scan. I hope it goes well and shows things are fine.

KC I know exactly where you're coming from. I have a SIL who did the very same stuff to me last year when pg with her second, all the tummy rubbing right in my face. I found it very hard to cope with and I think I was a bit short with her to be honest. She knows something of our troubles and for my money should have been more sensitive. I think you did the right thing getting out of the situation and doing something else, it's hard when you feel you are just being 'mean' and it should be happy news all round, but it doesn't make it easy to deal with.

Loujalou it must have been very tempting not to slap your GP or scream in his face! I know what you mean about wanting a diagnosis, the important thing is to keep pushing for all these tests and don't let the GP fob you off. Maybe one day you'll get a diagnosis and a treatment plan, or maybe it'll still be unexplained but at least you'll know you have explored all the possibilities and can make decisions from there. Being unexplained doesn't mean you can't have IVF or whatever, and it does mean you should have a good chance of success really, if there's no obvious reason why not. So hold on to your determination.

Hi Italian, hope you are getting somewhere with your thoughts and discussions on next steps. We're here to listen as you know!

Lissy welcome back from the US and sorry that you have bad vibes about your job and a nasty period. Hope you are feeling fully recovered and find out what's up with your employers. Are they usually the type to muck you around, have you felt insecure there before?

Still on jury service, it's hotting up and actually getting somewhere now so am enjoying it more. Got to run out of the door now so will check in tomorrow - hi to anyone I missed and please help yourself to birthday cake!

Italiangreyhound

Weight loss is extreamly simple (scientifically speaking) yet near impossible to stick to.

but here are a few tips which will help.

1. eat more not less, starvation/meal skipping etc, will result in weigh gain because... your metabolism will slow, you will pig out on junk food, and your body will try to extract as many calories out of the food you do eat.

2. drink more low calorie non-fizzy fluids. (aka water) and always have a large drink half an hour before eating. We are very bad at distinguishing hunger from thurst.

3. eat of a small bright blue plate... blue is one of the few colours that doens't really occur naturally in food, so is an appetite suppressant, and a small plate will trick you into thinking you had a big meal.

4. don't buy diet versions of high calorie foods, as many have misleading claims (ie low sugar crisps, low fat jam) AND you will be tempted to eat more as you know it is diet food.

5. learn to flavour food without loading the calories. Herbs, spices, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, chicken stock, vegetable bullion, parmasan cheese, garlic, choritzo, pepper, peppers, can all add flavour to "boring" foods like couscous, millet, and my favourite, bulgar wheat.

6. when you eat out just do the best you can, and if there are no health choices enjoy "non-diet food". Respect it for what it is, and if you are not doing it every day, don't worry.

I could go on for weeks, I won't. Do I always stick to this...no. But it does work when I choose to make the effort.

Cerubina, happy birthday for yesterday! Glad the jury stuff is getting more interesting.

Lissy, glad you had a good time in the US and are recovering well.

MM, what news? I've been spotting again too, it's v worrying I know.

BB, hope you're doing ok.

KC11, oh that's hard with your SIL. My impression is that pregnancy is so overwhelming that you just don't think about anything else (well, barely). It's like no-one else has ever been pregnant before! It would be great if everyone were sensitive to our difficulties, but unfortunately it just ain't going to happen. All you can do is distance yourself, and look forward to the time you can be the one doing the rubbing!

Are you having any investigations done into why no joy with the cycles so far? Have you read 'Is your body baby friendly'? It's all about immune issues and it may give you some pointers (although be prepared to be fobbed off by your clinic!).

Hello to everyone else!

Lissy - when PCT funding is agreed, it will be a 2month wait at the clinic we have chosen, yes. But it has taken us almost a year of NHS queues to get to this point. Many private clinics to NHS work, NHS funded - I am going to a Care one - they do free open evenings!! But all tests have to be done on NHS and only if qualify for IVF or ICSI(sadly we do as probs with us both) can we go this route. And we only get one NHS funded cycle, not up to the government limit of 3, so would not recognise moving here!! Why not see what clinics accept NHS funding where you are - or where you can travel to?

Italian - yes to being a Christian. And also I have lost weight very successful with my local slimming world. I have stuck to it, never been hungry - works well for me.

Interesting about the blue plates and we need some more plates too!

Hi ladies. I posted here a few months back (I've name changed since then) because DH and I were stumbling down a road to possible IVF. It's taking such a long time... still.. to get things set up or to find anyone who has answers. I just got my Day 3 test results back and wondering if anyone here can offer any interpretation based on your experience. I've just read somewhere that high E2 results can indicate suppressed FSH and a sign of poor ovarian reserve, so I'm feeling extremely shakey and tearful right now. I've posted these in a new thread too in the hope someone can offer insight. But you ladies are probably the experts in this area. I would really appreciate some insight into the results.

*Ref range for LH/FSH/E2 refer to early follicular phase

LH U/L 2.0 - 9.0
My result: 8.9

FSH U/L 3.0 - 10.0
My result: 5.2

Oestradiol pmol/L 75 - 140
My result: 148

Moonracker I love the diet ideas and will get a blue plate!

I think it is time for me to sign out for a bit. I will sign back in when things are clearer for me but I wish you all the very best and will continue to lerk! How do you spell that word!

If anyone want to email me you can do so on my name italiangreyhound and my imaginary age 39 at yahoo dot co do uk

Thanks to all

Cocobunny/Idreaminchocolate if you are around please email me!

Kezia--We've already gone private. We found a London clinic that accepted us into a special program that gives us two cycles for the price of one. We're going for an appt in August to discuss my M/C, and to decide when to start the second cycle.

Cerubina--Happy belated birthday! My employer has never been flaky until now. In fact, she said she totally understood my taking a break from what I'd been going through to go to the States for a couple of weeks. But hey, this just means that something BETTER is coming my way . Glad your jury dury is getting interesting.

Penguin and Italian--Thanks for the well wishes.

Moo--Interesting tidbit about the blue plates...

Hope everyone is doing well. I've been laid low for the past few days with a Norovirus type thing that I probably picked up on the plane. Damn that recycled air!

Hello all and sorry I've been so quiet lately.

Lissy I'm glad you've had a good time in the US, despite bad news (potentially) about your job. Hope you're recovering well from your virus, too.

Cerubina how is the treatment going? Fitting in OK with the jury service?

Penguin good to see you're still doing well. When is your scan? Surely it must be soon?!

Italian I hope you get things straightened out. I'm sure you'll make the right decision.

Choccie I wish I could be of more help, but I'm afraid I can't provide much guidance on your test results. Does your clinic not go through them with you? If they haven't you should insist that they do. In my experience, they'll run a series of tests and then you have an appointment with the consultant to discuss all the results.

As for me, I've got some good news. Had my scan today, which was a bit early (only 5 1/2 weeks) but after my MC scare last week the clinic wanted to put my mind at rest before I head off on holiday. They found one nice strong heartbeat and a second gestational sac with yolk sac but no identifiable heartbeat. The lovely scan tech said that this isn't unusual as they don't expect to see the heartbeat before 6 weeks. Both seem to be of normal size for their ages, so we've got another scan once I'm back from the US to confirm its twins. Poppy if it is, I'll be looking to you for advice!

It was also my last day at work and we're flying out to Michigan tomorrow, so the news of potential twins was - still is - just too much to digest.

Anyway, I'm going silent for a bit while I get my head sorted, my holiday underway and turn my attention to the Big Move to Australia. I'll pop back in to give you an update after the next scan.

Best wishes to you all - I hope to find lots of good news when I return!

MM, that is great news! We can be equally terrified twin buddies!

We had our scan yesterday at 7w+1 and saw a little heart beat flickering away ... and another heartbeat flickering away too!

The H responded with 'Oh God my life's over' . The nurse said 'I'm sure you mean, your life as you know it is over', with a v cross look . So we spent all last night just feeling !

How is everyone else doing?

Wow twins! I have friends with twins and they find it hard work but at least they don't ever need to have any more babies. Though I once met someone with 10 month old twins and she was pregnant again (think she was a glutton for punishment).

Right I need to make a doctors appointment to discuss ultrasound results and beg and sob ask nicely if I can get referred to a FC. Just because it could be stress meaning that I can't conceive doesn't mean that is the reason. I would rather be referred so at least we can rule out what it is not. In a funny way it might relax me being referred. Am digging out my hypnosis stuff too to see if I can relax a bit.

Hi all

Nice to see you on here again LL.

What amazing news for you MM! I am so pleased after what seemed like bad news for you it has turned out to be so much better. Very good luck to you for continued growth and development at your next scan, and I hope you have a good holiday (though you will have gone already I think).

Also so glad everything looked good at your scan, Penguin! Is it sinking in with you yet? Are you excited or more worried/shocked still?

Chocciechip I'm afraid I can't offer much insight into those results either but I hope someone is doing on your other thread. I believe that you want to have LH and FSH approximately equal (a ratio close to 1:1) and yours are not so that might be something to discuss with the doctor (a real one, not Dr Google!)

Italian I hope a break will help you get all your thoughts in order and decide what happens next, keep us posted when you are ready to and we will miss you while you're gone!

Lissy, hope you're feeling better after your bug. I had something like that at the start of the year and felt just GHASTLY with it. It was so grim! Fortunately it does pass fairly quickly but give yourself time to get back to full strength again - you have had enough to deal with haven't you!

Loujalou I definitely think it helps with the mental processes when you know action is being taken or that you are on the road to having some positive action. So yes, grab that doctor and make them refer you. You might also find reflexology or acupuncture helpful to try, have you thought about those at all? I've been having acupuncture for 2 years now - obviously no babies in that time but I do reckon it helps with the headspace and may have helped me conceive the twice that it has happened. I'm keeping it up for ICSI too.

Well my jury service is all over, all of a sudden! 80% of the case collapsed today and we were left with only one charge to consider, which was very simple and straightforward so we dealt with it there and then (convicted) and have been discharged. It was a really fascinating process in a lot of ways and I enjoyed it, but the fact that so much of the case had to be put aside shows that the prosecution didn't really get a lot of it right. Anyway we had that thing at the end where you hear about the previous convictions, and our little verdict was shown to be right and will now lead to the defendant being charged on other counts, so we have done a good public duty I think!

Anyway enough of legals given that this is an assisted conception thread! I've got my scan appointment on Monday to check that downregging has done the trick, and can't wait - hopefully will be stimming before too long.

Have a great weekend everyone!

That last post is with apologies to our resident barristers on here who will probably be appalled at me saying the previous convictions show the one today was right...but you know what I mean, they have a history of the same thing!

Thanks Cerubina I have tried acupuncture but found it hard to understand that it could work, plus DH wasn't so keen on the cost whole idea, so gave up after 6 sessions. DH was more keen on hypnotherapy and need to start listening to the tape again daily as I was more chilled when having the treatment.

I have never been called for jury service. I think it might be quite interesting. My brother got on the wrong side of the law and that was quite stressful for us all.

BB my aunt used to be a barrister but gave it up for babies and then managed to get back into it but found it too much stress. She was in chambers with Cherie Booth and Tony Blair, when they were a lot younger. She liked Cherie but not Tony. Sorry slightly went off course there but its a good claim to fame.

Congrats on those scans - wow, twins!

Lissy great you got a clinic and that deal sounds great. Only deal we can have is donate sperm (but dh has poor morphology so no good, or donate eggs for free cycle - and I am too old in a few weeks time).

Really low - keep hearing people I know who are pregnant, another at work, another who is a friend etc, family ... yes am genuinely pleased for them, but just feel it is never going to be. Still waiting for apt to see a consultant, probably in autumn now testing is done and then have the dreaded test to see how my ovarian reserve is - just with all results and my physical health in past year - that its bound to be bad news. Sorry, a low self centred post.