Secondary infertility support group here!

[Annabellaboo]

Ladies-I hope we all find each other here from the original thread! I didn't realise we had ran out of room on the other thread! Shout if you are there!

[AurorasEncore]

Oh that's a bit disappointing cola but at least you are on the testing path. Have you considered going private?

Glad you don't have to wait long for some results Harry.

Well I've joined Tee and I think I'm Cd 1 today. I say think because yesterday was weird: nothing till lunch then the weirdest watery almost orange on toilet paper, which then stopped. Then came back. Looked more like normal af in the evening but only when wiping - didn't make it to the pad, so although I know it was af I am going to put that as spotting and cd1 as today as my God, it's like full on evil flow today. Does that sound right?

How cruel is my body messing with me right up to the very last minute? I'm going to be strong and not early test ever again, not symptom spot at all, and only pay my body any attention if I am actually late. Make that 4 days late. Haha! We will see.

Actually I've decided af is my favourite part of cycle. Apart from the initial "f-you universe!" It's the only part where I feel acceptance. Fertile window is awful. I've decided I hate bding and would happily never do it again. And the TWW is just awful. So I'm going to enjoy my few days of af before the merry dance begins again!

[Colabottles64]

Aurora amen to what you are saying about AF - once you accept its come then only no pressure time in cycle!

I had gone private but we decided to try save money on investigations part by going nhs to do the hsg, tests Etc and have the money saved to do IVF if we need to. I've booked in initial ivf consult for July so we could start in Aug/Sept if no progress. I'm hoping we won't need to but looking more likely every day.

I'm really hoping the hsg makes you fertile like it's rumoured to and that it does the trick for us. I'm willing to invest hope in anything really!

[Colabottles64]

Btw aurora I'm so sorry about af and the cruel tricks of nature xxx

[AurorasEncore]

That's a good idea cola, saving money for as long as possible and in the meantime you could get your BFP naturally (we can dream). I think we will do something similar. It's just soooooooo frustrating waiting and waiting.

But nothing worth having is ever easy.

[Annabellaboo]

Hi ladies. Just saying hi. Still reading everyone's updates.
Auroras- thanks for your lovely words the other day. I really do care about all of the outcomes. I know how hard this journey is and it's still very much a part of me so I'm not going anywhere! And if I can ever help anyone in anyway I want to be able to. And yes I know exactly what you mean about AF being the easiest part of your cycle.
Colas- yes it's really hard to be patient I remember all those tests and just waiting waiting. Good luck with it all. I did have to push for a laparoscopy btw. My consultant would never have given it to me (I even exaggerated my symptoms a little). Just letting you know that because they won't dish it out easily. It's no walk in the park however so also be aware of that. I was in a lot of pain after, very sore and I have some scars.
I am 6 weeks now and things are going well so far I think. I am however oh so sick. Not complaining of course but my goodness this pregnancy is really doing a number on me. Wasn't this bad with DS. I can barely function most of the day. Not sure how I can work like this?! Hoping it passes soon. I just want to get through this pregnancy and have a healthy baby then I will count my lucky stars and be happy with my lot. I have an early pregnancy scan scheduled end of next week. Just waiting to hear that heartbeat then I will feel a little more relaxed I think.

[AurorasEncore]

Anna, hope your feeling better soon, when you hear that tiny heartbeat everything will feel perfect!

I worked out that our SA next month falls exactly at the end of fertile window. Typical isn't it! So that's another month wasted.

It made me have an idea though that's worth sharing. I phoned up and asked if there is a cancellation list, which there is, so we are on that and hopefully will get seen quicker, although it would have to be lucky that DH is off work and has abstained for 3 days!

It may work for other procedures too so always worth asking to go on the cancellations list if you are able to go in short notice.

I don't know what to do about my supplements. I was going to give up agnus castus but after 2 months use my LP has gone from 10-11 to 11-12 plus my PMS symptoms have been negliable this time so I think I will stick with it.

[Tee4me]

Hi Anna, it will be wonderful to hear that heartbeat, I can totally understand what you mean about relaxing a bit at that point. Lovely you are here willing everybody on.
Aurora that's pants about the SA timing. Of all the points in the cycle it could have been! Good idea getting on a cancellation list, let's hope you are lucky. We paid for DHs SA privately. We timed it for early on in my cycle, but then the day before he was due to go in, I got loads of ewcm, so we DTD and thought lets just take the results with a pinch of salt. Turns out the count was still very high. I think I'm the problem in our case.
I too have been stressing about all the supplements I'm taking. DH had a go at me yesterday when he saw 5 vitamins lined up! I usually spread them out over breakfast, lunch and dinner, but forgot yesterday.
What do you ladies know about aspirin therapy? I've been on a daily low dose since my first miscarriage in March 2016. I don't know whether to persevere with it. I'm definitely keeping up the high dose folic acid (5mg!) and coq10 because these are supposed to be really good for egg quality, and are recommended a few months before IVF (which I'm considering for the end of the year). I take epo during the first half of my cycle now and also a prenatal multivitamin. It doesn't feel natural but just hoping it helps!

[AurorasEncore]

Lol @Tee4me I also take 5! Sorry I don't know anything about the aspirin what is it supposed to help with? I've not heard of epo either, what is this?

Coq10 is supposed to be very good for both male and female fertility. I think it's supposed to be good for aging eggs too. My fsh was OK but I'm not getting any younger so it may be worth me starting to take it incase this journey takes many years (I'm guessing it most definitely will).

I just feel that all my supplements may be unnecessary expensive overkill and maybe wait until I get some, if any, diagnoses, before I start trying out new ones

[Tee4me]

Oh haha!! What 5 do you opt for?!
The aspirin is supposed to help with blood flow to the uterus and is often recommended for those who has suffered multiple miscarriages. Being a blood thinner it helps with those who have 'sticky blood' which can be problematic for early embryos. My sister had x4 miscarriages in a row, started aspirin and fell pregnant with my niece 5 weeks later. She told me this story last year when she recommended it to me, so clearly I haven't been as successful. It's horrible not knowing what's the right thing to do. I'll post an article about it in a min.
EPO is evening primrose oil. You take it up until ovulation, supposed to help with producing lots of ewcm, creating a more fertile environment.
I have no idea about my egg quality. Turned 34 in January so hoping they are fairly spritely. Just feel like if this is going to take years, I need those eggs at their peak! My mum just told me my aunty went through the menopause at 34, freaked me out! Do you find out about fsh when you do the initial blood tests? I had that done last year, my doctor said all looked ok, so didn't look into any particular readings, but maybe I should have in case I was on the low side of average for anything. How old are you Aurora? x

[Tee4me]

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/11943048/Aspirin-a-day-could-boost-chance-of-having-a-baby.html

[AurorasEncore]

Thanks for the link. I take folic acid 5mg also, a multivitamin, extra zinc, Agnus castus, and my latest one is Shatavari root extract. I give DH a multivitamin and a zinc.
That's very interesting, I've never had a miscarriage thank God, I haven't had a chemical either I don't think. I think my uterus must be hostile!

I usually get plenty of ewcm but before or after ewcm I use fertile gel just to help it along. Although I read on FF that actually there's only about 2 days you can conceive which is a bit different from the 5 days. I suppose saying sperm can live "up to" 5 days is the best case scenario but most probably don't.

Yes I had fsh done at initial blood tests. They did everything wrong and I had to keep going back but finally got my progesterone done on the right day. I get a print out of all my results from reception. Gp told me that the results are for the consultant and they don't interpret them themselves.

I'm 33 and relatively healthy. I could exercise more but you know.... when I conceived DC1 I was probably a little underweight, and around the time implantation occurred I was eating a lot of pate and blue veined cheese and drinking gallons of red wine and smoking the odd ciggy! Typical isn't it!!!

[Annabellaboo]

Hi ladies. Happy Easter to you all.
Just a quick update. I had to be admitted to hospital as I am suffering with hyperemesis and can't keep anything down. So grateful and happy to be pregnant but at the same time am in hell with the sickness. I didn't have this the 1st time. The good news is they gave me an early scan and I saw the little bean and heartbeat. Makes it all just about bearable.

[blackcherries]

oh no - you're allowed to feel miserable btw, that sounds horrendous. Hope it doesn't last too long. Great news about the scan. x

[cluelessnewmum]

Hello all

I just thought I'd chip in as a couple of you are talking about supplements.

I'm glad agnus castus is working for you Aurora but just a word of warning to anyone else - I tried it one month and ended up with an anovulatory cycle (ie I didn't ovulate, and whatever my fertility issues are, I always ovulate). Also gave me a really short cycle of only 22 days. So doesn't work for everyone. The next cycle was normal but I really crapped myself that I'd done something more long lasting to impair my chances further

Harry78 I know what you mean about the supplement creep. I've started to read 'it starts with an egg' so I've started to take some of the ones she recommends on top of what I was taking, so it's about 8 a day now. So I wonder if it is too many.

But I'm doing ovulation induction again this month (bit like clomid I think but different drug), and as last time didn't work I want to feel like there's something different this time which might tip the balance, although supplements prob won't have an effect until the next couple of cycles I guess, but still.

[lostworkerbee]

Hello. Can I join you all? Only just found this thread and can't tell you how reassuring it is to not feel alone (although very cross anyone has to go through this!!). I have lovely friends but nobody going through the same who really understands. And I feels so guilty for my DS...
My stats are:
Me 39 next month, DH 37. DS aged 5 and we've been trying for number two for 4 years. 1 MMC at 12 weeks in that time (2015).
DH SA all good. I have mild pcos and endo. Also suspected partial septum (MRI inconclusive). Had a lap and dye in 2015 and got bfp following month but sadly ended in mc. But other tests all good, I ovulate each month and cycles are regular. AMH 18, which I think is ok for my age?
We're about to start first round of ivf - waiting for af at the end of this week (and still hoping it won't turn up but all the signs are there). Very nervous about ivf - feels like we've been putting it off for ages but can't put it off any longer... Anything I should be doing to prepare? Taking folic acid but a friend also suggested royal jelly?

[AurorasEncore]

Sorry to hear about the sickness @annabellaboo what a journey this baby no.2 is for you! Does this mean you will have to let people know early so they won't be wondering why you are in hospital off work etc?

@cluelessnewmum thanks for the warning re agnus castus, I read bad things also after starting it and also crapped myself, but as it turns out I only take 4mg a day instead of the recommended 1000mg so I think it's been absolutely pointless and a waste of money and time. Doh!

@Tee4me I was browsing through the vitamins and I ended up buying some epo. Do you notice a change in cm when taking it? I also found some baby aspirin in the drawer so I've started taking that too. I'm going to order some coq10 and royal jelly too. This is ridiculous, I am going to rattle with all these supplements, this can't be good for me!

Hi @lostworkerbee thank's for sharing your experiences. Sorry for your mmc and struggles. I don't really know anything about IVF as I can't imagine we would go down that route but who knows where this desire for another will take us. Wishing you all the luck and strength with it.

[blackcherries]

Hii lostworkerbee. I've just had a round of IVF which didn't work (cp) but have some frozen embryos which we are going to transfer one of next month. Try not to be nervous and take it one day at a time! I found it far easier than I was expecting, until I got to egg collection which went fine but felt a bit bleurggh for 4-5 days afterwards. The jabs aren't fun but are far easier than I thought. Hope it goes well for you!

[lostworkerbee]

Thank you auroras and blackcherries. And sorry to hear of your cp blackcherries but wishing you all the best for your frozen embryos. It is reassuring to hear the injections didn't make you feel too rubbish x

[AurorasEncore]

Ah Harry enjoy! Life before I knew what cm was seems like a distant memory

[Tee4me]

@AurorasEncore the supplements thing is bonkers! I also starting reading 'it starts with the egg' @cluelessnewmum, that's where I learnt about the CoQ10 and the recommendation for 5mg of Folic Acid after MC's (rather than the 0.4mg I'd been on). In this book she does warn against Royal Jelly, I'm afraid to say. Having said that, I have heard other good things about it... so hard knowing what to do for the best!
I haven't noticed changes in CM since epo to be honest, although I never really had issues with lack of ewcm, it generally appears at the right time. I have read that it is a good accompaniment to the aspirin therapy, so I take these supplements together with breakfast. Then the other 3 (CoQ10, folic acid and multi vit) with evening meal.
Hi @lostworkerbee, good luck with the IVF. If we are not successful naturally, I will be pursuing this avenue too!
@Annabellaboo so sorry you are suffering, it'll get easier soon x

[lostworkerbee]

Thank you Tee4Me, that's really helpful to see that article. It is so hard to know what to do for the best, but I think I'll just stick to the folic acid. Don't want to mess with all the other drugs too! x