Any success stories and ideas for secondary infertility?

[Annabellaboo]

Hello ladies.
I am hoping to get some ideas and support on here.
I am 35 years old, very healthy with a 3 year DS. We have been trying to conceive our second child for 2 years now. I became pregnant very easily with my first and had an easy pregnancy.
This time nothing.
I have had all the tests the nhs provides. Progesterone normal, I ovulate, DH sperm count is normal, no blockages etc etc. I have tried charting, ov sticks, changed my already pretty healthy diet (cut out refined sugars and have lots more greens etc, and alkalised my body). I take advised supplements and have even tried acupuncture.
I do however have short cycles, sometimes as short as 21 days but averaging 24. This is a little shorter than I had before my DS.
We cannot afford IVF and I am not sure I can face that anyway.
My consultant last month has prescribed me a half dose (25mg) of clomid, which a scan showed on the first round it definitely boosted things even more with a good few mature follicles. I already ovulate but she thought as my cycles are quite short and a little irregular it may give me a boost.
I have been convinced several times I was pregnant (oh how cruel our bodies and brains can be!) but AF always turns up.
I guess what I am asking is does anyone have any other suggestions of things I could try or why I can't conceive time. I am open to theories and alternative methods.
Any experience in this subject and success stories please share.
I try not to stress about it all, but some months it just really gets you down as there is no real 'reason'. The hard thing is watching other mums around get pregnant multiple times so easily.
Thank you for listening!
Anna

Hi all. Hippy- I am no expert on the temp situation. I did it for a while and then just gave up as it didn't help with my obsession. I also know pretty much when I ovulate and use opks to be sure.
I did do accupuncture for a while and do believe it can help with many things. my local guy I don't believe is very experienced in the fertility area, I felt there was a lot of random guessing and so I stopped treatment after a few months. If I had a really good one near me I would go back. Instead I go to a lady who does refelexology and reiki. She is wonderful and I have seen an improvement in stress levels and general health I believe. I used to go weekly at first but not just every other week as it all gets very expensive doesn't it!
I am 2 days into my extreme diet plan. So far it's not too bad although a lot of effort to cook so many things I can actually eat. (It's basically just organic meats and veg). The no carbs is the hardest so far, but I feel good knowing I am doing something to hopefully benefit my health. Trying to heal that gut as supposedly that is the key to so much. Still wonder how so many women I see or know manage to pop out endless babies whilst consuming copious amounts of junk food!

Tara - I can't be offered clomid until a year after my mc on NHS and financial situ took a dive earlier in the year (redundancy few weeks after mc) so can't really afford private but still looking into it.

Hi ladies. Just checking in. Bit quiet on here at the moment. Sad none of us have anything to report. I have been on my crazy diet for over a week now but yesterday I broke it a little. I am finding it so hard I can't totally maintain it. I do have more energy and generally feel really good so am going to try and mostly stick to it when I have the willpower. Also talking low dose aspirin daily. Figured why not, worth a try for a while. On the 2ww. Feeling positive at the moment that my little miracle could happen one day....
How's everyone else doing?

Hi Anna and everyone, I'm
Not too bad, I've started fsh injections this month for IUI.
Actually I was going to ask those of you here who have had IUI something:
I'm taking merional injections 75mcg every other day. Last cycle, I hyperstimulated after 5 injections over 5 days, so this time they've told me to take it alternate days. By the time they next scan me on Monday it'll be 4 injections. Worried I'm going to hyperstimulate again. Does anyone have any experience with this drug/doses etc?

Anyway, hope you are all ok, yes I'm also sad no one has had better news- apart from Jenny obviously, which was so uplifting to hear. Good luck with the diet Anna- I'm bad enough with any diet so very impressed xx

Hi Rose

I don't think I can help I'm afraid. I was on the lowest dose of gonal F and that produced one good size follicle. Could you perhaps tell them your worries and ask for an additional scan in a day or so? I think there is an iui thread in conception, you could also try posting there in case someone else has had the same injections as you.

It is a shame that there hasn't been more success on here. It makes me think that secondary infertility must be fundamentally pretty hard to fix. That said, a friend of mine in real life has just become pregnant after a long struggle with secondary infertility so it shows it can happen and I'm very very happy for her (whilst wishing it would happen to me at the same time of course!)

Hi all,

Yes, it's been v quiet hasn't it? Maybe we're just all in the 2ww?! I am. Currently on cd21, and due on cd26, according to ovulation... Currently trying not to obsess, but of course you can't help but put things down to 'maybe...' I've not been in the best of health these last two weeks, fighting off infections I think - must be the beginning of autumn and back to school germs. Think I'm feeling a bit better today, but still quite weak. I have felt quite crampy this cycle, I'm wondering whether it's the supplements I'm taking (dong quai, evening primrose) regulating my cycles, as I ovulated two days later than normal this cycle. Could be the Accupuncture as well. I got a clear temp shift, so that's good news.
Anna, good luck with your diet! I think the trick is to follow it, but not in a way that stresses you out - be kind and loving to yourself.
Rose, I'm afraid I know nothing about IUI, but wishing you the best of luck! As Closephine says, maybe speak to your doc if you're really worried. Hopefully you can get some reassurance.
Closephine, that's great news about your friend. There's hope for us all!! I do believe that we can just have blocks (maybe even mental blocks/subconscious) that just clear and make way for baby. We should all keep hope - I believe it can happen for all of us. I follow a beauty blog called 'a model recommends', and she suffered with infertility for four years before she had her first. I would recommend checking out her blog post about it. I think she went to see an alternative doctor who made some changes to her diet and she was pregnant within a few months (can't remember exactly!). She's called Ruth Crilly. I personally find stories like that really reassuring. Four years can seem like a long time, but it doesn't mean it won't happen...
In other news, i've got to give speech at work today, and I'm pretty nervous, so with me luck!! I need to find a quiet corner to meditate in and hopefully that will calm my nerves!
Where are you all in your cycles, and when are you due!? I'm due on the 20th - any cycle buddies? X

Hi everyone - here is a link to the article BTW: www.amodelrecommends.com/2015/06/05/the-john-tsagaris-clinic-and-my-fertility-journey/

I hope it is helpful for some of you!
x

BTW... do any of you use fertility friend? I find it a really good app (that's where my chart was from, that now looks like this... see pic), but also, they do this 'pregnancy monitor' and it gives you loads of stuff to look at and assesses your symptoms and how much they match positive results. Anyway, do you remember I was worried we missed our window? Well, we got there just on time - see pic. Also, did you know you are still in your window AFTER ovulating? We always take a break after!! Interesting! So it's reassuring to know we're not out entirely this cycle, even if it does say our chances are 'low'!

Hello. Nice to hear from you all.
Rose- I can't help at all with IUI as I've never had it. I do know what it's like to be overstimulated just from clomid so I can imagine the injections are even more extreme. Hope it's all worth it! Jenny is proof that it can happen.
Hippy- glad you are not out this month. I will definitely take a read of that article, always helps to hear a success stories.

Thanks ladies, I ended up giving myself 3/4 of the usual dose, so we'll see where that gets us .

Hope you speech went well, Hippy, I'm not a big fan of public speaking myself so good on you! I used fertility friend for quite a few months actually, but stopped a while back, as everyone kept getting pregnant after a couple of months and I found it a bit demoralising! But it is a handy way of tracking your cycles.

I had a little cry in front of a couple of friends the other day. Totally unintended, but they asked (very nicely) how it was all going and I had just started my period. I think for the first time, I'm beginning to try and accept this MIGHT not happen. Ladies- one of you HAS to get pregnant soon, I need hope!

Rose - poor you! I think it's good to let things out... hopefully it would have been a release for you and I hope they were supportive and empathetic. And keep the faith! I believe it can happen for all of us...

I've got acupuncture today - really looking forward to it - it's just so nice and relaxing! Due on Weds now, so heading into the worst part of the cycle, even without the possible disappointment of period at the end of it... I had what you could say was an 'implantation dip' today, my temp went below the cover line. But apparently it's not a very reliable indicator after all. Ah well...
(Posting my chart again, in case you guys are interested... as you can see, I had a mini dip on 4dpo, weird.)

Hope the rest of you are ok! X

Hello all- nice to see people chatting here!

I'm close to giving up actively ttc. I've wasted 2years obsessing and with nothing of note having happened in past 7 years of being careless with contraception (bar mc in Jan) I'm thinking it's time to enjoy life... then again I think like this most months and by cd1 I'm back to square one and feeling optimistic.
I'm 6dpo and usual pelvic ache and sore boobs. Don't expect a positive result

Hi all - paranoia alert, be warned!! I am now due in 3 days (Weds), and today have had quite bad one, have felt moody, low, headache, irritable... so that's not been great, but the weird thing is that I've felt quite crampy since about Friday, and since Friday, on and off, I've been getting this throbbing, stabbing is too strong, but mild stabbing pain on my lower right abdomen, right above hip. It happened quite strongly in the shower on Friday morn, and then has happened maybe a few times a day since then... anyway, I'm being paranoid it could be an ectopic pregnancy!! Somebody please tell me to shut up! It's probably just normal PMT cramps, mixed with PMT hormones! Ok, feel better already just writing that down... does anyone know anything about ectopic pregnancies? X

Hi hippy. Don't worry yet, only if it gets worse. I have heard it's bad pain when eptopic so I would imagine it would progress quickly so just keep an eye
on it. I often get some random small stabbing pains low down around the time of possible conception, and often on one side too. Many times I have thought it was implantation only to be disappointed when AF turns up. I am currently having some mild stabbings at 7dpo. It's making me hopeful which i hate in a way because the fall is always harder when I have some symptoms. I also had weird insomnia the last 2 nights and have a constant mild headache and slightly tender breasts (unusual for me). Agh this is torture! Prob just coincidences and nothing exciting, but it's getting my hopes up

Hi Anna! Thanks for your quick reply!! Yes, it would be worse wouldn't it - I'll try not to worry.
I know what you mean, of course my mind is also filled with 'what ifs', and being hopeful, but you know what, I'm going to embrace that feeling, right until I know otherwise, as I think it's good to tell your body you want a baby there. Emma Cannon says you should visualize each stage, and be open and welcoming. That's what I'm trying to be. Then if it doesn't happen, I will move into the next cycle positively.
My acupuncturist said that my pulse was the most reactive it had ever been on Saturday! She was really pleased with me, so maybe, even if it's not this cycle, I am building better fertile ground for the coming months...
I just wish I didn't have to have the PMT. Oh well. When are you due then Anna? Anyone else due around now?
Wish me luck with positive thinking, and not succumbing to bad PMT! I hate getting PMT at work. It feels so exposing, and hard to do job!
Good luck everyone else too, with whatever you have coming up! X

Hi girls I have been reading all your posts rose I realy hope it works this time for you with a lower dose.
Hippy it's realy good to see someone so positive still and I wouldn't worry fingers crossed it's just implantation pain your feeling
Anna I totally get the new symptoms makes your hopes so high so fingers crossed it's a good sogn for you.
Bloop I'm with you just spoke to dp about how fed up I am of this my hole life revolves around peeing on sticks and counting days but I hope when cd 1 comes you bounce back and that's total bill crap with the Clomid as it would ovisly double your chances if you ovd every month!but keep in mind you have got pregnant in all those years so it can happen!
Well I had the sorest boobs ever and one spot of pink blood on 10 dpo and my period was late only to get hit with af this morning I never get sore bbs and also had loads of jelly cm so if I was 3 days late it ment my opk was wrong and I totally missed it?must of been a false surge.wish I had your attitude hippy your realy positive.well rant over lol hope this is some1s month and we start seeing bfp on here xx

Hippy-that's a wonderful attitude. I am also in a more positive place now than I have previously been. I have started doing some visualisation too and generally being kind to my body and believing that a baby can and will grow in me again. I say this knowing I have not always been this positive at all and have had many negative and dark times which can seem impossible to overcome. So much so I am pleasantly surprised I am managing to feel this way now. Very grateful that somehow I brought myself back to a better place. Long may it last! I admit that my body does feel better than it did and technically more ready for to carry a baby. Let's see if it really is!
I have also found myself a new tcm clinic that I have booked to go to. I was looking into the London top sought after ones (thanks for the article you posted it pushed me to rethink Chinese medicine again). After looking at the prices of the London Harley street clinics I couldn't believe the expense so decided to look a little closer to home. The clinic I have chosen seems very good and the dr I will see very qualified and experienced at a fraction of the price. I feel good about this next step. It's all for my overall health too so can't be bad.
Tara-sorry AF turned up for you. Our bodies really can trick us sometimes can't they it's so frustrating. I have leaned not to trust any symptoms as I swear I have had every possible pregnancy symptom over the years, often with many together and never had a bfp!

Hiya!

Tara, so sorry to hear about the arrival of Aunt Flo after such good indications! I keep having flashbacks to the times I felt particularly sure, only for it to end in disappointment... but I am determined to think that if I've done it once I can do it again, and that I'll carry on trying until it happens.
Anna - that's great you're feeling so positive!! It's got to be good for us to try and nurture positive feelings, rather than let the whole thing become stressful and depressing, although I know that is the understandable reality for a lot of people. And Tara, I know what you mean about getting fed up about your whole life revolving around ttc. I think that is why I've embarked on my new positive attitude, I don't want to waste the best years of my life feeling that something is missing. I want to be happy with my life now, and anything that happens is a blessing, and enhancement. And through doing mindfulness, it helps to remind me of this, and try not to get too obsessed. Of course I still have my obsessive moments of googling "stabbing pain on right side, pregnancy sign" and get led down an ectopic pregnancy paranoia, but it does help. I would recommend it to those of you that struggle with obsessive thoughts, as I do. It's helped a lot. I just do 15 mins a day with an app called Headspace.
Anyway, sorry, long post alert, I am waiting to leave to go to Yoga, which doesn't start til 7. Sitting in an empty office!!

Hi ladies, so sorry about AF for you Tara- I hope you can put your feet up and have a glass of something alcoholic tonight (my answer to everything 😊).
Hippy- I think you wouldn't get ectopic pains till later, at least 6 weeks pregnancy, so try not to worry.
Fingers crossed for you both hippy and Anna- it's gotta happen sooner or later right?

Things are progressing smoothly with IUI- I haven't hyperstimulared and they are inseminating me on Thursday morning. Again, for those of you who have done IUI (is it only closephine?) How many hours before insemination did you have the trigger injection (hcg). My nurse seems a little bit less knowledgeable. Doesn't exactly fill me with hope!

Hi Rose

If I remember correctly, I think I've always triggered the morning of the day before and they say you will ovulate 24-36 hours later. I have then always ovulated the night before the iui procedure. Never sure if that's a good thing though, because it means the egg had been hanging around for 12 hours or so before they put anything in

Hey! I thought for a couple of days this was my month as things just felt different but tonight I've had my usual pre-af aches. The ache is in my tubes and ovaries area and it always starts there first. My uterus feels like it's not even in there.

I'm only 8dpo but given my period is due in the next 3-4 days and the breaking down ofvlining starts about now I'm giving up hope. (The terminal meh I have about ttc also confirms imminent af arrival)

Still haven't won the lottery to pay for assistance. Seriously considering giving up... I think I say this every month

Hi everyone
Not sure if you will remember me, I've not posted for a few months. Had a really rough time - not coped with the failing to conceive thing very well at all. Just wanted to say hello and am really hoping we get a bfp or several on here soon - we really deserve it.
hippy I don't know if you remember me but I used to be on the prty thread ages ago so hello to you!
Sorry to everyone who is feeling down at the moment - secondary infertility is a really lonely place. This thread has kept me going as it is official - absolutely no one in real life I know has any clue about it. The last friend who had taken a bit longer than others to conceive her second is now pregnant too (and that was months rather than weeks I mean) so I am now officially the only one who can't have a second baby.
A quick update from me - my doctor put my on anti depressants to cope with my infertility which then gave me 15 day and 20 day cycles which made me feel even worse so I have managed to get a scan on the NHS by begging and crying. That's at the end of the month. Then after that, who knows? My blood tests for any thyroid issues have come back clear. And I'm in a new kind of hell now ds is at school as everyone has siblings but him, we were at one of his new friend's parties the other day and I found myself amongst a group of women all talking about having 2 or 3 kids and how easy it is to pop them out

And sorry for the long me, me, me post. bloop - I always feel like that too when I can feel af beginning to rear, hopefully it isn't though and it stays away, fingers crossed

Hi kitten pie, lovely to hear from you again, I'm sorry you've had such a rough time these past few months, -I hope you can get some support and comfort from this group.

Thanks closephine- I called my clinic this morning- spoke to the same nurse who honestly seems clueless. Anyway she now says it's 36 hours prior to insemination and that seems to be the general consensus online so I think I'll go with that- watch this space.
How are you doing?

Rose - just in case you haven't been told. The trigger shot contains hcg so will give false positive pregnancy tests for up to roughly 10 days after. Just thought I'd mention it in case you didn't know this/nurse didn't tell you and you're tempted to test early!

I'm ok thanks, just plodding on waiting for IVF in January at the moment so nothing to report really!