London TTC buddies chat thread

[Leeze]

Hi everyone!

I had a great time at The Fertility Show today, much better than expected. I think it's really given us both a bit more confidence in TTC, that we're doing all the right things and that there's lots of options out there if it doesn't happen in the next few months

Also I've discovered the Zita West fertility clinic is right next to where I work so I'm going to go there for acupuncture and my OH has offered to pay half. I'm going to book this next week so I'll let you know how it goes.

Hope you're all having a great weekend

Day 10 for us so we're planning to have a "quiet night in" xx

 

[SophieBee]

Hi Leeze

Glad to hear that the Fertility Show was good. We both came down with dreadful colds this weekend, so we had to give it a miss in the end. Was a bit annoyed at wasting the tickets, but just couldn't face it and was prob better to rest ourselves. How was the talk about getting the most out the the NHS - anything interesting?

Right, I think I'm going back to bed! Hope you all had better weekend than we did!

 

[Leeze]

Aw - that's a shame, SophieBee

the talk was great, he gave us some really good pointers. He said firstly to find out which PCT (primary care trust) your GP surgery comes under - you can do this by putting the postcode in google then PCT beside it. then you need to find out which fertility clinic/hospital covers your area and ideally try to find out what their eligibility criteria is - you can do this by emailing your local clinic. My clinic is the Homerton in East London - their criteria is you've got to be -

- aged from 22-39
- in relationship and living together for at least a year
- TTC for at least a year
- with your GP for at least a year
- no living children from current relationship

I think that was it. you firstly get a range of tests at the centre once your GP refers you and then they decide if treatment is necessary and which treatment would be best. also most clinics do "self-funded" treatment - not the same costs as private because it's not 1 on 1 care - essentially they fund you at pretty much what it costs them to give you it. Ideally it would be best to get it all on NHS but feels a relief that if it all failed for some reason that you could follow this route

hope you feel better soon xx

 

[SophieBee]

Thanks Leeze - finally feeling much better now, which is just as well as we're about to hit the fun time of the month

I've looked into the criteria for our PCT before and it's 3 years TTC and under 39, although they apparently take age into consideration. I think our plan is going to be to continue as we are and then head to the doc in February if nothing has happened as it will have been 6 months by then. We'll then get all the tests done and take it from there.

Started using the CBFM this month - no high days identified as yet, but I tend to ovulate around CD12 or 13 (I think), so I wouldn't expect anything quite yet. Seems to be fairly straight forward to use though, so I hope it helps us out a bit!

 

[Leeze]

3 years TTC - that's outrageous!!!!!

good incentive to keep trying hard the natural way, then!

Oh, my OH has just got back and it's O day so I'd better dash xxx

 

[SophieBee]

Yeah, 3 years is rubbish isn't it? I guess the thing to do is see if we can get the tests after 6 months of trying, just to check everything out (if we need to of course) and then take it from there. What I don't know is whether or not they will make those tests available to us or if we will need to get them done privately. I guess there is no harm in asking though.

And as you say, we'll just keep on doing the old fashioned method and hope that we don't need the tests

Still showing low on my CBFM, but I guess it is still getting to know me or something. I'd have liked a "high" reading by now, but have read that some women go straight from "low" to "peak" on their first month using the CBFM so we shall see what happens. All quite good fun though, and I much prefer POAS in the morning than not drinking anything all afternoon and doing it when I get home from work...

 

[Leeze]

3 years feels criminal! Also given the funding cuts the coalition government have announced recently I feel like it could only get worse.

I went to see a fertlity specialist yesterday after hearing about her clinic from the fertility show. She gave some good advice, I'm going to cut and paste it and post on here on my next thread in a few minutes - but I had already pasted this link below and keep losing things on here so want to post this first

I got this free ebook from the fertility show I went to on Saturday. I haven't really had time to look at but thought I would share it with you guys (then if one of you says it's good it might encourage me to read it!). I've read so much over the last 10 months about TTC and how to improve it - I don't feel i've got the stamina to do it today! Mind you my OH goes away next week with work so I'll probably have lots of time then!!

https://www.naturalfertilityexpert.co.../nfg-ebook.pdf

xx

 

[Leeze]

Re the fertility consultation yesterday, here's the main points:

- drink 2 litres water daily
- sleep 8 hours a night
- exercise regularly 3-4 times a week 30-60 mins
- eat lots of fruit and veg
- don't eat late in the evening (we do a lot)
- BD 3-4 times every week
- try to relax more, she gave me a relaxation CD to listen to every day for 20 mins
- see the doctor about a referral for a day 21 progesterone test
- see the doctor about getting a vitamin D test as that's meant to be a common deficiency
- see if I can get the doctor to refer me to the local fertility unit at the hospital to do a test on my ovarian reserves
- drink minimal alcohol - no more than 3 units a day and in total no more than 5-6 units for me and 8-10 for him - per week
- see how I can reduce stress at work too
- go for acupuncture twice a month (just before O and just after)

she also recommended we both go and see a nutritionist for a personal nutrition plan. The consultation set us back £195 which will probably come off our holiday fund, but it felt worth it to get some tips and reassurance.

She said since we got pregnant before even though I had m/c, that this was really good sign and she was really encouraging about us being able to conceive naturally, so fingers crossed xxx

 

[SophieBee]

Interesting, thanks for that Leeze. There is NO WAY I would get OH to agree to acupuncture - he's a science guy by background and needs all sorts of empirical evidence before even considering the benefits of something. I had to work really hard to get him to take the supplements I bought him, and had to show him loads of research evidence on the benefits of the vitamins. I glossed over the other stuff that is in them (maca, ginseng etc), and focussed on the B vits and selenium - in the end he was convinced in the end by my "what harm can it do" argument.

I think I'm probably doing most of the things on the list already, so we'll just keep doing what we're doing and see how it goes. I got my first "high" reading on the CBFM today, so it's a weekend of BD-ing for us!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend x

 

[Leeze]

Hi there

I'm going for my first acupuncture session tomorrow, so I'll let you know how it goes. My OH isn't up for going either, but it's quite expensive and he's agreed to pay towards mine so I'm happier about that! I think there's more to suggest that it benefits the woman although I had read somewhere that it gets recommended for low sperm count.

SophieBee - I hope you had a successful weekend of BD-ing. Welcome to the 2WW! I'm 5dpo and trying not to go crazy!!!

Also, I'm wondering what happened to everyone else from this thread!! I hope everyone is ok!!!

 

[SophieBee]

Hi Leeze - hope the acupuncture goes well. If it does nothing else, it is supposed to be very relaxing, so that can only help

Interestingly the CBFM has indicated that I ovulate a couple of days later than I thought. I had two high days on Sat & Sun, followed by two peak days Mon & Tues. Today has gone back to high. This is later than was suggested by the calendar I had been using, although I don't temp (I'm far too restless a sleeper), so I had been working out on an average basis. Very interesting to have used this and discovered that we may well have been putting our efforts in on the wrong days.

So we BD'd on the two high days, missed the first peak day but managed again last night. I also managed to get the hang of the softcups, so have been able to keep as much as possible in there. Don't know if we've done enough to catch the egg this time, but we certainly have a better chance than last month!

Entering the 2WW now - due on 29th Nov, so actually a little less than 2 weeks. Not that it will feel any less! And of course, I have bought those cheapy tests from amazon, so bang goes that resolution of waiting until AF is due

 

[Leeze]

well, the acupuncture actually felt really nice. My mind was racing a bit but I felt quite pampered and my body definitely relaxed even if my mind didn't!

I've just got a CBFM so will be using that next month if I don't get a BFP this month. Interesting what you said about your peak days and high days. This month I kept doing the OPKs until it was negative and actually realised that I had 2 days of strong positives on that so I think we'd been focusing too much on the first day and the days leading up to that when actually it might be the same for us that the more important days are the later ones.

Sounds like you've got a good chance this month. I'll be testing from next Monday although my AF is due next Thursday. This already feels like the longest 2WW ever!

Fingers crossed!! x

 

[SophieBee]

It sounds like we have both increased our chances this month - so fingers crossed and lots of

It's funny this TTC lark isn't it. I spend half my time ridiculously optimistic about getting that BFP and the rest being all gloomy and pessimistic, convinced it will either never happen or will take ages. Such a lot of conflicting emotions

Anyway, glad you enjoyed the acupuncture - I hope it does the trick for you this month!

 

[Leeze]

Ha ha - I know exactly what you mean! One minute I think "Oh, I wonder if there's a little bean implanting right now" and feel really excited because this time next week I could be pregnant. I can imagine it and can totally see my bump growing and can imagine telling everyone. Then a few minutes later I'm thinking "It's never going to happen" and thinking of months of anguish ahead!!

Let's hope it's a lucky month for both of us! If it doesn't happen this month then I will be on my most serious mission EVER next month!!

I'm going to visit my parents up North this weekend, I haven't told them yet we're TTC. Mainly it's because I wanted to surprise them and had imagined that I'd be pregnant by now. I think also that I don't want them asking me constantly. Then I think that it's a shame I haven't told them because they'd be really excited and supportive! So, I've definitely got lots of conflicting emotions about most things!

I probably won't be on here over the weekend, so whatever you're doing having a good one! I'm going to start testing on Monday morning, I know it's a bit early but I can't wait longer than that!! x

 

[SophieBee]

Oooh, have a lovely weekend Leeze - and good luck for the testing on Monday. I've got a whole week before I can even think about potentially testing, so trying not to think about it too much!

I decided to let a few people know we are trying - my mum, sister and best friend. My sister has known for a while, but we are very close so it felt natural to confide in her. I decided to let mum and best friend know fairly recently - both because it felt like the right thing for me to do, but also I know they won't constantly ask questions about how it's going. In fact I think I'll get fewer questions now they know than before, when they used to drop little subtle hints about getting a wriggle on

My only pause was a sort of superstition I suppose, but I countered that by saying that it could take a while and to not get too excited too quickly! I think telling people is a very personal decision though. There is no right or wrong approach, just what feels right to you.

Enjoy your weekend x

 

[Leeze]

Sad to say I've had 3 days in a row of BFNs! Been trying to keep busy to take my mind off it but it's still pretty all-consuming really. AF is due tomorrow and I really think she'll be right on time.

The good news is that my GP has agreed to refer us for tests at our local fertility clinic at the hospital. It look some persuading (mainly lots of tears from me) but he eventually agreed to it. First of all he said we still hadn't been waiting long enough then he said to me he would do the referral since "You've been trying for 2 years, haven't you?" - even though I'd just told him it was around a year. So, I felt like he was telling me that if I colluded with that then he would refer me. So, I agreed with him that it had been 2 years. So, I'm generally feeling much better about stuff now, knowing that this is in the pipeline.

What about you, any symptoms? How's the 2WW going?

I think it's lovely you told your Mum, sister and best friend. I think it's important to have support. My best friend and my brother know, and a few other close friends, but I want to be able to tell my Mum when we're at 12 weeks because I know how happy she'll be! I'll see though, if it takes a lot longer I might have to tell her!! xx

 

[Leeze]

Also, I went to see a nutritionist last week and she gave me lots of good tips. Apparently it's good to eat food with lots of Vitamin D in it because it's considered there's sometimes a link between a lack of Vit D and fertility problems. So I'm doing some research on this but it seems like oily fish are good for this. Also she said to eat lots of yellow and orange fruit and veg as these are good for healthy ovaries - so yellow peppers, carrots, butternut squash etc - and to eat lots of greens like sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, rocket etc. And she recommended starflower as a supplement instead of EPO, and to take EPA for the 2WW - this is what you get from fish oils. And she said to cut down on the Maca - to go from 4 a day to 2 a day. So I thought I'd share this info with you in case it's helpful! xx

 

[ineedaseed]

hi ladies
i was on this thread at the beginning and somehow lost it from my subscription list
i am a long termer, been ttc for 4.5 years, never had a bfp, under fs at st peters hospital but have been told to shed loads of weight before they look at next steps - next appt is march. i have an underactive thyroid and pcos.
looking forward to chatting to you all! xx

 

[SophieBee]

Well I started spotting again on Monday, CD20, like clockwork. It's frustrating, because I've spoken to a GP about it but she said it was normal. I don't see how spotting for a week before the full period comes can really be normal - I'm spotting at 6dpo, which seems to me like my body isn't giving a fertilised egg any chance at implanting. So I expect I'm out again - AF due on Monday. Meh.

Feeling really down about it, because I feel I won't be taken seriously by the GP if I go to talk to her about it again. Just going to have to keep doing what we're doing until February, which will be past the 6 months actively TTC mark, when we agreed we'd go and talk to the docs and see what happens.

Sorry to hear about your BFNs too - roll on the next cycle eh? If AF arrives as scheduled on Monday it means that my next testing date would be Christmas day, which is a little exciting! Cheers for the tips - I already eat quite a lot of yellow/orange fruit and veg, but could always do with upping my greens intake (I love it but OH hates it so I don't bother cooking it). I don't get enough oily fish either. Salmon for lunch tomorrow I think

 

[SophieBee]

Oops - and hello to you ineedaseed
Lovely to have you rejoin - looking forward to chatting to you too!