Hi everyone! I hope you don't mind me joining in. I have previously been on a MN TTC thread, but it kind of fizzled out after going for nearly 18 months...
Which brings me to my story. I'll try not to make it too long. I would really appreciate any advice - as this board is more relevant to me, and you guys seem to be really well informed.
(BTW, I've read the first 3 pages, and the last 3. I hope to get round to the middle part, but I am working from home today, and actually need to get on with some work! 
)
Like Annabellaboo I have short-ish cycles. I average 25 days, but periods can be anywhere from CD 21 to 30 (once). I'm 39 (art, how did that happen!?) and our son is 9. We've been trying for two years, and as far as I know, no success at all, no chemicals as far as I know and I have tested after a few times...
I got pregnant on holiday when we were both still 29, young, carefree and poor. We didn't use contraception for one hol, and when we got back and AF was late, I had a positive test, and that was that. 9 months later our amazing son was born, healthy and happy. As I said, we were pretty broke, but made it work, just about. This is because, although I was in full time work, my DH (then BF) was doing a PhD. So we decided to wait until he had full time work before trying. I had also found it pretty hard, the new baby thing, I seem to remember, and still felt so young. We were also one of the first of our circle of friends to try, so we were both happy to wait. I had a hormone free coil fitted and that was that. DH finished his PhD when DS was 2 or 3 (gosh, can't remember!). Then, when DS was 3, I had some joint complaints investigated under my private healthcare I get at work (I absolutely support the NHS, just thought I may as well take advantage). Long story short, they diagnosed me with bursitis of the hips, and the specialist offered me a steroid injection in both hips. I had some sort of reaction to that and ended up unable to walk for two weeks, in excruciating pain, and was eventually diagnosed with mayofacial pain syndrome (I guess, look it up, if you are interested?). Nothing helped the pain at all, until I tried a drug called Pregabalin, which is a neurological drug they give to Epileptics, and it literally took the pain away. But... you can't get pregnant on it. So I ended up on that for 3 years (ish). I actually got "addicted" to the pills, so they were really hard to come off. I started on 50mg a day, and went up to 600mg a day. I was high as a kite I think, looking back (I held a full time job during all of this!! How, I do not know!). So it was really hard to come off, but over about a year I got clear. I was so caught up with my health problems that I just wasn't focuses on babies/siblings, but in the back of my mind, I knew we would try again when we could. So a few months after coming off the pills, as recommended by my doc, I had the coil removed...
So (thanks for reading, if you have indeed stuck with me!) onto the TTC part of the story. I also haven't mentioned that I switched to a mirena coil (which has hormones) after I was recommended by a friend who's doctor friend had recommended it, because I was suddenly getting terrible periods on the old, regular coil, and getting fake pregnancy symptoms, swollen belly, huge tits (!), nausea, etc... It was obviously sending my hormones a bit wild. Things settled back down with the mirena. As I say, my periods are irregular now, sometimes with spotting for 2-3 days before. Before DS they were always 28 days, regular as clockwork. I remember as I used to be able to count 7, 14, 21, 21 and calculate when I was due, and therefore knew when I was late.
Anyway, we started optimistically enough, But, for about a year of our trying, I was teased with a promotion at work (which finally happened last Dec). So I have to be honest and say my heart was only half in it, and I half didn't want it to happen right away. However, after the promotion, after feeling a bit guilty and worrying about getting preg too quickly (I needn't have worried - ha!), we've been trying and nothing...nada...zilch. I feel like I've possibly been too relaxed about the whole thing, and now, here I am, aged (nearly 40!) and DS 9 (nearly 10), and the very real possibility he may be an only child...
However, I do really want it to happen, and am kind of facing up to it now. Try and buff up a bit more...
A bit more info. I've had blood tests at beg and middle of cycle (I think) and both were fine. DH is just about to get a sperm analysis (told you I've been overly relaxed), I had acupuncture for about 4/5 months, which helped the spotting, but didn't lengthen my cycles - then again, maybe a little. Maybe it helped them be more like 25 days, rather than 21. I went through a phase of temping for about 8 cycles, and I get a temp dip and rise indicating a CD10 ovulation, which would make sense with cycle length. I've tried eating gluten and dairy free for a few months, and slowly come off as it's not worked. And I always forget to take pre-natal fits. Do you think that helps?
I'm actually on a weird cycle at the mo. Currently on CD 28, which is late for me, and I've been wearing pads the last 3 days in expectation, and have had the faintest spots (don't think you could even call them that, could be darker yellow discharge?), but felt like I could smell that period smell - you know? I haven't taken a test, as I've promised myself not to until after CD30, after too many disappointments... Also, we only DDT once as we were on holiday, with other people in the house!
Thanks so much for persevering and reading (if you have), I have actually found it really therapeutic to write it all out, and feel like it's helped me reach two conclusions. 1. Bloody hell, I had a hard time of it for a few years!! And 2. Maybe I wasn't as relaxed about TTC as I like to think!