The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Conceive when its just not happening (12m+)

QQuaver

Hi Maddie! I'll get to 12 month mark in 2 weeks. I'm CD2.
It's good that you are being seen by a doc:j
Mine is on 9th. It's my first, so don't think there's any tests etc that day.

I've heard the tests to unblock the tubes can hurt really badly so dreading that:(
I had mc last August. When my mum had mc (still birth at 6 months) before she had me, she couldn't conceive for years. She went to a fertility specialist and got her tubes unblocked an then had me on her next cycle.

Could be the same for me:(

QQuaver

angelavdavis wrote: »

Re: Low carb diets: Zeta West isn't an advocate of these as they cause the body to become acid which in turn can cause an unwelcome environment for sperm.

Oh, didn't know that thanks.:o

ginvzt

Well, aF is sort of here now. It is a strange one, as no pains, not too much bleeding (which is usual for me for the first few hours), and my temp this morning is much higher that I usually have at the start at the cycle! (36.8 instead of ~36.3!) I guess it has something to do with my health at the moment, as although the voice is slowly coming back, I can't stop coughing.

So, I am not calling hospital just yet. If anything, day 1 is today. If I start bleeding as usual for my during AF, then today will be day 0 and tomorrow day 1. I'll just have to beg to have my scan on CD 13 this month, as CD11 is Sunday (when they would like to scan me), CD 12 is Monday and my boss wouldn't let me get out from work all day.

I am staying at home today hoping to get better quicker, as don't have to talk to anyone all day and can get my vocal cords to rest.

nadine220

liloandstitch wrote: »

Hi everyone, nice to see some new 'faces' and lots of chat!

Had my next check up today, MRI remains clear - just got to get the isthmic smear result and Im a happy little bunny! And they are referring me to a gynae at St Barts who is a specialist in post-trachelectomy infertility and treatment so hopefully I should get an accurate picture of what I can or cant do. She can look at stretching the stitch and has the experience with IVF post op, so I am hopping and skipping at being able to talk to someone who may be able to help! The slightly bad news is that both my tubes are swollen, but hey, if I can get past cancer, slightly knackered tubes arent going to trouble me! Apparently they are consistent with endometriosis which I have had diagnosed years ago, so prob nothing new to worry about.

Anyway, good to hear about successful doctors appointments and I am sprinking the luckiest baby dust for you all XXXXXXXXXXX

Lilo

Hi Lilo

I had my stitch stretched just before christmas as they had been unable to do the hycosy in Southampton. I had my trachelectomy done at St Barts - they are fab and my gynae consultant has been in touch with local oncologists and the St Barts team to make sure they get everything spot on.

When are you going to Barts? I have to go again in October for a check up although I am past the 5 years now, they need to see me annually for another 5 - unless I get pg before then (here's hoping).

Will be interested to see what they say though as my consultant has said IVF is way to go but I still need to lose weight to qualify for the NHS funding. Apparently it will still be difficult and they will need to do a trial embryo transfer first to make sure it will work!

Here's hoping!!

xx

sarahs999

angelavdavis wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Re: Low carb diets: Zeta West isn't an advocate of these as they cause the body to become acid which in turn can cause an unwelcome environment for sperm.

Interesting. Though it certainly didn't affect my ability to conceive; I got pregnant three times while low carbing. It's just later on I get the problems (while not low carbing!).

jiblets1

Hi Maddie, welcome!

QQuaver wrote: »

I've heard the tests to unblock the tubes can hurt really badly so dreading that:(

Quaver I assume you're talking about the HSG where they put radioactive-type-stuff up your lady parts and xray to see if it all flows out as it should. For me this was painful, thought the pain lasted for about 20/30 seconds then stopped instantly after. My tubes were blocked though, I think most people without any blockages don't feel too much. It's not specifically to try to unblock the tubes, but they do say you may be more fertile just after the HSG, because if you had some mild blockages it may flush it out.

Right ladies. How can I make my period come? I think I'd like it in about a week please... Then I can get on the downregging! :eek:

liloandstitch

nadine220 wrote: »

Hi Lilo

I had my stitch stretched just before christmas as they had been unable to do the hycosy in Southampton. I had my trachelectomy done at St Barts - they are fab and my gynae consultant has been in touch with local oncologists and the St Barts team to make sure they get everything spot on.

When are you going to Barts? I have to go again in October for a check up although I am past the 5 years now, they need to see me annually for another 5 - unless I get pg before then (here's hoping).

Will be interested to see what they say though as my consultant has said IVF is way to go but I still need to lose weight to qualify for the NHS funding. Apparently it will still be difficult and they will need to do a trial embryo transfer first to make sure it will work!

Here's hoping!!

xx

Hiya:wave:

I had a trial embryo tfr, and I was told IVF couldnt be done - cos of the way the wound had healed. At the Marsden, they said that it was probably that they had not got the experience with post trachelectomy and there shouldnt be any reason it cant happen other than the stitch needing stretching to actually get the catheter in iyswim. So I have been referred to the gynae team at st barts, specifically dr Tozer. I assume that any investigations will be carried out NHS, but I will have to be a privately funded IVF patient as I am too far over the hill for NHS support.

You may need to look at this option yourself if you have any similar probs - it was my cancer team that have asked my GP to refer me, as I understand it, you can have a referral to anywhere you want so long as you need the referral, you choose the location. It is a bit of a bind needing to go up there, but my previous clinic was in Wimbledon so had to travel anyway.

If you need to go this way and need any more info, let me know!

I dont know when I will be going - I am sure they will contact me eventually!

Lilo

QQuaver

jiblets1 wrote: »

For me this was painful, thought the pain lasted for about 20/30 seconds then stopped instantly after.

Thank you Jiblets.
20/30 seconds is long, but it's worth it. I wonder why they can't put me under general anaesthetic like in erpc?

Anyway, I haven't even met the fertility specialist yet so don't know how he'll go about it;)

ginvzt

HCG is not bad and the risks of general anaesthetic are not worth it in this case. I have HyCoSy - it is basically the same, just they use ultrasound instead of Xray. I had lap&dye afterwards (one tube not draining and cyst discovered), when they do put you under GA.

Honestly, it is a bit painful, but nothing too much (I was advised to take 1 paracetamol + 1 ibuprofen half an hour before procedure).

I have managed to call hospital this morning and actually talk to them - my voice managed to hold, barely. So, I got my scan booked for CD12, June 8th. Starting to take Letrozole tomorrow... Fingers crossed I can loose enough weight for my IVF referral. I have stepped on the scales this morning and it was 81.2kg! (of course I wasn't losing anything for nearly a week as AF was on its way), which means I only have little bit more to go. I need to be 81kg with whatever outfit I will be wearing that day, so fingers crossed I can do it!

sarahs999

I have to say that I found the HSG awful, and couldn't go through with it the first time. BUT BUT BUT that is more about my psychological state than pain. It's actually no worse than a smear coupled with a bit of period pain, if you can imagine that.

However I've had many, many distressing gynaecological procedures (accidents, GP screw-ups, unsympathetic nurses, things left inside me that shouldn't have been... far too many to mention!) and I am always very scared of even simple proceduires. I even cry at smear tests! I had to rebook the HSG with a sedative. They will give you one if you ask but you need to have it done with an anaesthetist present, so often it takes much longer to get an appt. I took my DH with me and he held my hand all the way through; I still cried and whimpered but was sedated enough to be able to put up with it! I'm not one for scare stories so please don't be put off, most women are absolutely fine withi t. I just wanted you to know that the sedation option is there if you're a really nervous patient. My consultant offered the general but I wasn't keen, decided to try the sedation, which was fine.