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

Wow Bloop!!!' that is amazingly exciting. Fingers crossed the little bean sticks real good. Keep us updated. You mist be beside yourself with excitement.

thanks annabellaboo I'm actually shitting myself (or I would if I wasn't so constipated) - I'm so wary after last mc that I'm being quietly optimistic and terrified in equal measures.

I just knew you were going to be with the squinted the other day and feeling realy low.congrats so happy for you bloop xx

Oh wow this is amazing, bloop! Keeping everything crossed for you!!!!!! At last- some good news on here!!

Thanks tara and rose :)

Congratulations Bloop - lovely news

Thanks closephine

Closephine- did you get scanned before they did the insemination to see if you had actually ovulated or were just about to?
Trying to work out if I should switch to a different clinic if this IUI cycle doesn't work out.

Hope everyone is well, bloop- how are you doing? Hope all good! 😊

Hi Rose - no they didn't scan me beforehand, I don't know whether another practise would or not. Mine is not a great benchmark though to be honest, they lack in a lot of areas! How are you getting on? When was your insemination?

Hippy- you've gone quiet. All ok? Hope you are still managing to stay positive.
I have a cold so feeling blah. AF just ended so it's back on the wagon so to speak! Wish it didn't have to feel like such an obligation each month!

Congratulations bloop - how exciting for you! It must be so thrilling to see 2 lines on a test - I honestly don't think I could imagine it now.
Hope everyone is okay - sorry I'm on my phone so can't see updates but sorry for afs arriving - it's so gutting.
I've got the 'joys' of having to visit a friend's newborn this weekend - I am absolutely dreading it - they are a lovely couple but the kind where everything falls into their lap if you know what I mean - a 3 yr old ds with the perfect age gap they wanted for their newborn daughter. It seems sometimes that no one else seems to struggle with ttc in the slightest.
I've got my scan on Friday that I cried and begged the doctor for - I don't really know what outcome I want as if there is something wrong the NHS won't fix it but if there isn't anything wrong then why can I not get pregnant? It's all very stressful.

kittenpie- ah yes those perfect age gaps that so many seem to achieve so easily. I naively assumed I would be one of them once. I have recently come to terms with the gap thing and surprised myself by how much I've managed to let go of that pain and fear. But once in a while the sadness and fear creeps up as I realise how quickly time is ticking by, or I see how sweet DS is with friends younger siblings, and then realise he will never have that lovely gap and if and when a sibling does come along for him they will probably never really play together. Breaks my heart a little still. I try to see the benefits in a bigger gap, and I can mostly, but it certainly wasn't my plan or preference.
It's good you are getting a scan. Knowledge is key, even if only elimination at this point.
I have had every test under the sun and all come back normal. It's a difficult diagnoses to accept when there isn't actually one and you are left with no answers. I still can't get my head around it really. Something is obviously wrong, but no one can find what.
Let us know how the scan goes. Good luck.

annabel - yes I know exactly what you mean - i naively thought that too about an age gap. I'm the same, I can't believe how much time is flying by and still nothing here but everyone else seems to be producing babies so quickly. It breaks my heart too to see ds - he loves babies and younger kids and if - and that's a big if - it ever did happen now he probably wouldn't want to play. It's just so damn hard isn't it. I had a mini meltdown today - was writing a Christmas present list and all my friends have got 2 kids or 1 with 1 on the way, how did it get to this?
Thank you - yes I will let you know about the scan - you're right - knowledge is power hopefully

Thanks closephine, that's kind of reassuring anyway as I was worried it was just my clinic who perhaps weren't doing enough scans. We had the insemination a last Thursday so just waiting now and taking the pessaries. I've had the most horrendous cold with violent coughing fits for the past week and worrying it's going to stop implantation which probably sounds ridiculous, but it's funny how acutely aware you are of your body.

Hello all!
kitten seeing those lines filled me with fear. I'm having terrible anxiety about it all going wrong. I should be more grateful but all I can think of is what if I have another mc? I know all the rational stuff like what will happen will happen etc but it doesn't stop the fear.
Good luck rose I actually think being ill at implantation time isn't that bad because your immune system is busy fighting the illness to notice a wee egg trying to implant. Fingers crossed.

bloop - I think it's natural to be anxious when you have wanted something for so long but try and keep positive lovely, we're all behind you here and wishing you well.

Scan has been done, I felt overwhelmingly sad whilst it was being done, like I'm broken. Have to wait a week for the results. Thankfully it wasn't in the maternity building but a separate one as seeing all the bumps would have been absolute nightmare.. I just want to curl up on the sofa but have to go back to work now. And I think af is starting so a good day all round

Kitten I'm sorry you're feeling so sad. Fingers crossed it gives you good news.

I'm sorry too kitten pie, I know that feeling- be kind to yourself this evening and weekend.

I was going to also say, bloop- totally normal to be anxious, I was anxious enough when I was pregnant with my dd and that was with no history of miscarriage, but there's no reason at all why this pregnancy should go the same way as the last one did, so think positive xx

Thanks Rose but today all my quite severe symptoms have totally disappeared.

Bloop- how's it going? I have heard that it is perfectly normal for symptoms to come and go. I do however completely understand how worrying it all must be, I would most likely feel the same.

It's much the same symptoms coming and going, still freaking out. I think if I can get to 7weeks and see a heartbeat I'll relax a little. And my moms pubis is really fat. I'm hoping that's just water retention and I've not just got a fat foof! I don't remember it being so podgy before.

How is everyone else doing?

Hi all - just quickly checking in. Firstly - bloop HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to you!! Try it to worry too much about miscarriage, of course it is natural, but the odds are with you. Sending lots of positive vibes!!
Everyone else - I'll respond properly when I've got a bit of time - maybe at lunch today (hiding in the Loo's at work at mo, and just caught up!)
Thanks for asking after me annabelleboo I'm fine, I did feel a bit low after AF turned up, but picked myself up pretty quickly, and then had a very busy half term, hence the silence! More soon... hugs to all! Xxx