Welcome!
This is a revolving buddy group for women who are over 35 and TTC. This is a place to compare notes and get advice from others who are in a similar situation. Every so often, a moderator will start a new thread for you. If you feel a new thread is needed, please use the Report Abuse feature to let the moderators know. Good luck and
Link to last page of Last Month's Thread
Wow, guess I get to be the first March poster... in Feb. :P
Not great news from the u/s and b/w today. Biggest follie was 12.5mm and my LH and Progesterone were low. :( From what they said, it sounds like they think I'm not actually going to O at all.
So the RE gave me a prescription for Provera so that I would get my period in 10 days or so. I'm pretty confused about why I need provera since I have pretty regular cycles... unless it was the Clomid. Also not sure why I am not apparently ovulating... I guess, this is what the nurse said... I don't know if this is part of the problem all along or just a result of the Clomid this month. My cycles were regular, had thermal shifts and positive OPKs... I wish I knew what was going on. So I was torn about taking ANOTHER drug. Still am. Also not convinced that we are out this month, although maybe it's just wishful thinking. I had read about Luteininzing Unruptured Follicle Syndrome a long time ago and wondered about it... it's where you have all the signs of ovulating (BBT, OPK, CF) but an egg is not released. Wondering if that is my issue...
Oh, anyway, I guess I'll take the provera and then next cycle we'll bump up to 100 mg of Clomid. Yay for more drugs. :( I'm so ready for this part of the journey to BE OVER. AARRRRRRGH.
I know you all are too. Hope to do some more personals soon!
Me: 37, DH: 35 ttc #1 since January '11
preg #1: m/c 3/2011 at 11 w; preg #2 chemical 12/2011 @ 5w
IUI # 2 April 2012 (unmedicated): BFP!!
EDD 1/8/13 ~~ Praying for a healthy LO!
tracy: I am sorry your news isn't what you had hoped. I'd call and ask what was up. Was any of this conversation w/the doctor at all? A question I'd ask is if taking the provera would disrupt a potential pregnancy too. Just in case your body does O and you do catch an eggie. I am sending you hugs - , I am sorry this journey is becoming tough for you. I wish it were easier.
Tracy, I am so sorry to hear things are going rough. Maybe you are a low and slow cycler like me. I didn't know that until I did this protocol. When the doc checked me on like day 10 or so I still looked like day 3 he took me off stim meds for awhile then when he saw follies get to around 12 he started a different med and then they took off. That wasn't till like cd 20 so most people would have O'd by then, my eggs weren't ready. So he held me off till cd 25 for an O. I couldn't do Clomid cause I had lining issues so I went straight to injectibles. They are harder but maybe more effective for "poor responders" like me. I don't know much, I only have this one cycle to go on but I am just sharing hope it helps you to see there are still protocols that could work. I think the follies have to be 16 to be viable at least that is what I was told. Its so tricky to figure out what to do. This is truly a rollercoaster ride.
I am thinking of you and wishing you the best. If it turns out you can't do it this cycle just take the opportunity to do the things that you want to do for you before you get pregnant. Something to pamper yourself. Sending lots of hugs.
Me 45 DH 37 DD born 3/09 at age 41(naturally conceived 2nd mth trying) TTC#2 since Dec 2009 3 early losses 7/6/2012 BFP!! Beta #1 101 Beta # 2 422 ! 1st u/s 7w1d 165+ !!!! EDD 3/17/2013 Baby Boy Born 3/12/2013
Tracy - sorry that didn't work out...it is crazy how we can get that surge and not ovulate, but it happens apparently...i think at least you were monitored so at least you know and doc can work with that information. i hope the next round is better. if clomid continues to mess with you, i know some women use femara which isnt supposed to affect the lining like clomid, but doc will order what is best in your case! (hugs)
me 43 dp 46; 4/11 IVF#1 BFN ; 7/11 IVF #2 BFP
tracy: How are you doing today? Did you get any answers from your doctor?
thea: Well, I do not plan to eat a muffleta, but the description I read was short and I knew you said you were from NO, so why not ask on it. Usually its always the things that are famous from a region have the high calories! I am doing ok on my diet. I walked again today which is a help. I cheated and hopped on the scale and am down 2 more lbs. So that's good. Will see what my weigh in is next week. I am hopeful. Hey, if I can get rid of 10 lbs thats a big help. That's 2 bags of flour or two bags of potatoes. Hey - will you have to do heparin once you have a +?
Hello all!
AM: I guess O is on it's way, I thought I had a +OPK yesterday, but the more I thought about it, I didn't see the darker line until after the fact. So I marked todays OPK as + instead, which it is. Complete w/EW and a tad bit of pain on the right. I haven't had that in a while - always makes me wonder.
We are to go to my mom's tomorrow, but she's to be hit by 8" of snow. WTH?! I wish spring would just get here NOW. So will have to see how the weather plays out before we go. I told DH we could leave at 7am if the weather wasn't to get crappy until noon, The rest of the weekend looks fine, just tomorrow.
Keeping the body on track today, that's a good thing. Learned I can not eat cauliflower and popcorn on the same day talk about uncomfortable! DD had me dance w/her last night, so that was extra body moving. Even better! I need to go find something to make for dinner. I aim to loose and remain happy w/my body while TTC in the background. Perhaps it's my weight hindering anything from happening. Who knows, but I am working w/it.
Wishing you all a nice Thursday. This site is darn slow, I can open a window and leave and come back and then it's finally up. Whatever, I wish it'd work fast all the time.
Happy day to you all!
Lemon: You are so right the famous foods are usually the treacherous ones I think its awesome what you are doing with your plan and just taking care of you and your own health. I tell you that with weight loss comes increased positive hormones that can make all kinds of changes in your cycle (as long as you really hace weight to lose...some women wreck their hormones by over doing the weight loss and exercise). Plus it just feels good for you to do something for you doesn't it?
I think I will have to keep doing heparin for at least the first trimester but I am not sure. I know my dosage has increased every week since I started on it. I take a PTT test every Tuesday and it always tells them I am using all of the heparin I am taking in. Geez my blood must have been like rubber before or my vessels were that inflamed...not sure which but it stinks. I must have injected poorly last week cause half of my lower abdomen is bruised knotted and sore. I can't stand to touch it. Its gross and painful. Hoping that will pass soon. I have been doing better this week on my shots. I have to take them slowly over a 25 minute period without pinching the skin to not bruise. Sitting still for 25 minutes is not easy for me esp. w a needle in my stomach.
I started peeing on the sticks today to watch the hcg shot leave my system. I didn't want to originally but i have the cheapies so why not? The line is faint but I still have at least a week to go before its all out. Some people say that their tests didn't ever produce no lines, they just got light and then returned to dark for a BFP. We'll see. Its one big experiment isn't it?
Well I am going to go. I don't know what is wrong today but I am in a horribly low mood. I feel kind of ill and tired, and I am not interested in much. I think I am going to go take a nap. Hope you all are having better days.
thea: I have a good deal of weight to loose, so what comes off, no matter how much is better for me. I was excited today to be down another 2 lbs. We go to visit my mom this weekend, so I hope I do ok. I am packing my shoes for walking and various outdoor gear since it's winter into spring. It's that crazy time of year. Sorry you are down. Sometimes this process gets nutty and thats your letdown from being excited, hopeful and the like. And being tired, you could be on your way to being pregnant. Hope the nap was good.
AM: You know, I wish your body got a way informative sign that yes, I am ovulating at this time exactly. That would help me out tremendously! Anyone else care to have something like this, it'd sure take away the questioning we all have leading up to O time. I muse about crazy things when I'd like real answers, not the ambiguous you might O in the next 24-36 hours. Right, my body is really good about doing things on time. NOT. And it doesn't like to follow rules either. Hah!
Wishing you all a good weekend. We leave early tomorrow and I don't know if I will be on again until Sunday. Hope some of you find good news soon. Catch eggies, implant and whatever other stage we all are in. BEST OF LUCK!
Still feeling great, feels like the whole thing was a non-event I want to stop by and wish everyone well and lots of Since I'm on a break the rest of this cycle I'm going to take a break from the site too. My acupuncturist pointed out was good to wait a cycle and let my uterus heal and have a period before we resume trying, I was bummed at first but she's right a little break will be good. I'll "see" you all in a few weeks and hope to come back to some BFP's and news of dancingmamas little one.
Hi ladies - just a quick update!
I saw my OB and it seems that I am starting to dilate-- 1cm or less only, so no biggy at this point, but does mean things are starting to happen...I am about 36 weeks now and C-section is planned for 39 ( so need to subtract 7 days from the date on my siggy)...In any case, we are doing okay, so just need to stay healthy and watch!!!
I hope you are all doing well...Sharonovich, I noticed you are going to take a break...we look forward to you coming back with good news!!! Have a good weekend all!!! The weather is supposed to be nice in this neck of the woods at least....
Is anyone here still TTC naturally that is "diagnosed" peri menopausal?
http://www.tcoyf.com/members/christina878785/pccharts/22.aspx
Hi all,
Lemon, Thea, Dancingmama - thanks for your thoughts. Wow, the ups and downs!
I suppose I'm in the 2WW that never was.. :P Taking Provera now for 10 days and then AF should come. From what I've read I believe what happened is that I did ovulate, but there were perhaps no mature eggs. Whether or not this has happened in the past is unknown. And my first month of Clomid I did have a big follie, big enough. I'm not totally giving up on this cycle since we BD'ed the night of ovulation. But I am thinking an immature egg, if any came out at all, doesn't give one much of a chance. It's nice to understand it all more.
Our strategy for next month is to go up to 100 mg of Clomid. I have a feeling we will be moving into IVF eventually though... Oh well. It has much better odds. :)
Lemon - best of luck with losing weight, sounds like you're off to a great start! Happy O!! I hope you nailed it and egg meets swimmer.
Thea - Since we'll probably be moving into more injectables with IVF I am happy to have your words of wisdom!
Dancing - Wow, dilated! It's so real! How exciting for you and your family. Thanks for hanging in here with us and keeping the hope alive!
All - best of luck with BDing and testing and waiting! I think the upcoming Spring is just what we all need to bring our BFPs!! Thanks for being so wonderful and supportive. Have a great weekend!
Sharon - have a nice relaxing break, and we'll see you back again soon!
tracy - thanks. i hope the increase in clomid helps so you dont need to go the ivf route, but hope you get your bfp soon!
definitely - there is hope for ttc over 35 and over 40. i just notced, it was a while ago when i created my first signature. right now i am 44 about to be 45 in 2 months and this ivf was with my own egg! the golden egg is there! it may take time and some aggressive technique for some of us to get there, but it is possible! keep the faith! please keep us in your prayers as i won't be at rest till the little one is here and healthy!
Hi ladies, sorry i have been mia from posting. I have read posts via email, but have had so much going on that I haven't had time to respond.So, here it goes...
Tracy-sorry that this cycle wasn't meant to be. Sounds like you have a plan though. Good luck with the Provera and keep us posted. Hopefully this will move your cycle along faster to get a BFP sooner!
lemon-Congratulations on the weight loss. I applaud you. I am in a rut and have been doing increased eating and snacking. It is the stress of TTC and all of life's other stressors. I am hoping that as the warmer weather approaches, i willbe able to take some walks too! were you able to confirm O yet? my cycles are now a little behind yours, as my cycles have been slightly longer.
apaw-glad that your RE appt went well and that you have a plan!
thea- sounds like all went well this cycle. Good luck with your 2 ww.
Sharon-So happy that all went well with your surgery. and, the wait will give you time to heal and give acup time to work.
jazz-sorry AF arrived. that is awsome that your ins covers acup-wish mine did. It would probably save them money in he long run.
AFM-well AF arrived and I am now on CD 8. I actually am having good CM, first in a long while. I am surprised, as I am still on clomid. hope that the cm is a good sign that this will be agood month. prior to all of my losses, i had great CM and then the past severl months none. Anyway, maybe the trick is the EPO-my acup recommended 1,000 mg 3 Xs day with meals. I did start temping the past two days and plan to continue till O is confirmed. I am due to start OPKs sunday and monday am scheduled for an US to measure follicles. that there are a few good sized follicles this time around! Funny, for me nearing O until I confirm O is the most anxiety provoking time for me. I continue with acup and therapy and trying to take care of myself. also, start progesterone 72H after surge. i am working to weigh the benefits of what I have with what I desire and trying to see the positives in whatever the outcome of all of this will be.
to everyone!
me 39, DH 35
#! born in 2007- conceived naturally first month trying, using TCYOF
12/2010- started journey of TTC #2
3/2011- Missed miscarriage at 6 + weeks, followed by D&C
8/2011-miscarriage at about 5-6 wks, ? chemical
10/2011-started consult with RE, very hopeful.
2/2012- clomid
3/2012-chemical pregnancy
8/2012- started IUIs with injectibles- BFN
9/2012-IUI inject- BFN
10/2012-IUI+ Inj- BFN
11/2012- in process of IUI + inj- in progress, but poor response.
if no success, may have one shot at IVF in 1/2013.
christina: Sorry, I am not of too much assistance. I am still on my own for trying to get pregnant and as far as I know my body is still working as normal (my synthroid does help me w/this), though I have lost a day here or there every few months and then gain in it back in the waiting to O. I will say though, w/work, persistence and the like you may find what you are looking/hoping for.
dancing: Yeah for dilation! Hope all goes well for you and you find some rest before the big welcoming. Do you have names all picked out? Good luck!
thea: I hear you on the regional foods good to eat. I am in the original dairy state, so cheese, ice cream . . . totally fat but good. I hope you are enjoying your 2WW. Any symptoms so to speak?
sharon: Enjoy the break, you will find it can fly by quickly. Luck to you for the next cycle of trying.
hmvp: Hopefully you do find this time a bit less stressful. There is only so much you can do and the rest, you just have to remain hopeful. During my early 2WW I am just in the happy phase, it's when nothing is progressing much further that I want the cycle to move on and out. Hang in there and look forward to good news.
jazz: How is it all going? Is your SIL also from England/N Ireland? How long will she be visiting?
tracy: How are you doing? Are you feeling better about everything?
babyor: How is the job wait going? Any word for you? Any word or sightings for jobs for Eric?
apaw: Are you planting yet? Or starting from seed? I picked up a small tray for when my seeds get in. I am only starting a squash and a vine peach so I don't need many jiffy trays this year. The rest I will just set in the dirt when it finally warms up. I see this weekend we have a plethora of geese heading back north in my area. Fantastic - ready for spring.
Hello all!AM: Well day 2 of a nice rise in temps. Yeah, that's good I guess. I find that if you keep adding extra days of +OPKs it keeps shoving your O date over. So I took the other ones off my chart here and only have them marked on my paper charts. Will see if we met anything. I took a good nap today. I have been visiting w/my mom. DH and I had a small date night tonight and did some shopping and of course I splurged points wise and we split a piece of cake. I did load up at the grocery on weight friendly veggies and fruit, so that should start my week out well.
Wishing you all well. Hope to read of good news soon. Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.
Hi ladies,
Sorry have been MIA lately. It's been hard to find time to write on our trip. We have been in Hong Kong meeting with my family. The trip in India was better than expected. My inlaws are very nice people who are still mad at my DH for choosing his own wife. His mom was crying on the last day of our trip but really, things could've been a lot worst all things considered.
I got asked a lot in Hong Kong by my relatives and friends about babies. And there are kids, babies, and pregnant ladies everywhere. I guess things are the same everywhere in the world. My LP seemed to be longer this last cycle... 15 days and AF is paying me a visit. There goes my cycle 2. Will hope for cycle 3.
tracync - sorry about this cycle. I wish you all the best for the next round.
dancingmama - wow you're almost there! Wish you a very easy ride til the baby arrives.
lemon - yay for temp rise! I hope that the weather gets better for you soon and it gets warmer and warmer.
EOE, I'll write more when we get more time here!
me - 38 DH - 35 Married April 2011
DH - normal count (64 mil), slightly low motility (55%), borderline low morphology (5%) (6/2012). Chinese herbs and supplements (multivitamin, CoQ 10, Zinc, Vitamin C), added acupuncture (4/2013)
me - elevated FSH (10.7) (1/2013), ultra low AMH (0.16) (1/2013) AFC 6 (3/2013). fibroids (abdominal myomectomy 10/2011), slightly low progesterone (9.9) (5/2012), left tube partially blocked (HSG 9/2012). Chinese herbs (6/2012 to 1/2013), moxibustion (8/2012-12/2012), new acupuncturist (3/2013) and lots of prayers
TTC since 1/2012, charting daily, hoping and praying for our own bab(ies), trying to find a solution for diminished ovarian reserve. Looking into IVF, mini-IVF, natural IVF
Just dropping in to update everyone....so it seems that having the cervix opening performed on the day of my egg transfer cause my uterus to get upset and with the cramps I was experiencing after my lining started to deteriorate and the eggie never had a chance to latch on or so they say. Now I am told that on the day of transfer they usually like my uterus very quiet and for me to have no complications. Well having to open my cervix is a complication that I can not understand was not seen before. I mean should they not have seen it when they retrieved my eggs.
So as you can tell I lost the eggie. I started bleeding on Monday and by Wednesday my beta should nothing. It was a pretty heavy flow this time around and painful. I have my follow-up appointment with my RE next Thursday and I hope they have answers for me. So far I know that they are going to monitor me this cycle and take blood around ovulation and then when I am nearing AF they are going to scrap my lining and biopsy it to see what is wrong. They are doing this for 2 reasons: 1 to get my lining to discharge everything and hopefully get rid of any scar tissue or something and the 2, to see if there is anything wrong with my lining. Then I am going to do a natural cycle and use one of my 4 frozen eggs, where they will put in 1 egg day 5 after ovulation. They will also put me on 2 injections to extend my LH phase, hoping to keep my lining a lot longer than 11-12 days.
And to top it off, I got the news on my birthday, 29 February. So not a good birthday present. I also got a call on this day to say my cousin gave birth to their daughter, so now I am sharing my birthday and I don't like to share. Having a birthday on 29 Feb. is special now it's no longer special. No one's going to remember with this new little addition. And what topped it off is I was told to go see the baby, it would make me feel better. How on earth would that make me feel better after just learning the news I'm not pregnant. It boggles my mind.
Can you tell I'm still angry.
Right now my DH and I are trying not to be angry and to get our hopes up again. We know it's all in Gods hands but it does not make it easier. We are looking forward to our first vacation in 5 +years. We are meeting my parents and brother in Orlando and we are going to have some fun. We leave in 2 weeks and we are counting the days down.
I will write again and catch-up once I'm in a better frame of mind.
Good luck to all those this cycle.
liza - so sorryy for you and you have the right to be angry and re owes an explanation. they should have done a mock transfer to know if the cervix was opened before or not and shouldn't say after the fact that it caused the problem. i am glad you have frozen embies ! with an open cervix, you might even get a chance to get pregnant on your vacation?! vent all you want! we are here when you get back (hugs).
bread- glad things were ok in india. like you said could have been worse! enjoy your fam in hong kong! it is time to get the ttc train movin!
liza: I am sorry your medical staff didn't plan too well, or investigate better. I am hopeful for you that after all this you'll have your babe. You have every right to be angry.
bread: Yeah for having a mostly fruitful meeting w/the ILs. I hope your trip went really well. Is your family from Hong Kong? Do you get to go often? Have safe travels for the rest of it all. How's the home reno going?
AM: Can I just say my body is a confusing wonder. I had two days of a nice high temp jump and then this morning I drop back down to 98. WTH? So now it's moved my coverline way up to 98.5. Whatever. I will see what tomorrow brings, but I have no CF really except a few times that were way sticky. Crazy thing.
My visit went well w/my mom. Sometimes it's always short, but we had fun w/the time we were there. DD and her got to visit, which is the importance of our trips down. We are planning a week soon for DD and I to go down and spend. DH will come on the weekends.
I was watching HGTV w/my mom today, we were both yelling at people's stupidity on choosing a home - it's not decorated in my taste, I'll have to rip out the kitchen there isn't stainless or granite - but secondly - I have no clue how to cook, I can spend up to this amount, so let's go 25K over . . . OM I can't decide if they just find that dingy of people to appear or egg them on to say these type of things or what. Every so often there is a show where the people are practical and can see beyond things to make them their own. It just makes me roll my eyes something fierce. Do any of you have this issue if you watch?
Ok, well - just know my body confuses me some more, I guess it's keeping me on my toes. Whomever knows, but here's to good news for you all.
Happy Sunday to all!
Sharon: Hope you are enjoying your break, relax and soak up some you time. See you when you get back!
dancingmama: 3 weeks to go! So excited for you that you are starting to dilate. You are in my prayers and I believe that everything is going to go beautifully for you! We will probably have to beg you to visit us after your beautiful little one enters the world.
Christina: Welcome! I have not been diagnosed as peri menopausal but I am 43 (44 in two weeks) and I tried naturally for the last 2 years. I am using meds now and doing timed intercourse so its a combo of natural and very unnatural ;) I am also doing acupuncture and before the meds I was using herbs and also Mayan Abdominal massage. We were getting pregnant but not implanting so I had some losses. I don't know if I can be of any help to you but I am here if so and this board is a great place to get support.
Tracy: I think you and I both were having the immature egg issue, I think I mentioned it before. Let's hope we both get whatever road blocks we have corrected and find our solutions. My Doc told me that an immature egg doesn't really stand a chance. And I was ovulating late but I started the egg growth late in the follicular phase also, then my luteal was too short to support any embryo. Lets think positively that we are close to the answer!
hmvp: I completely agree with you on working to weigh the benefits of what you have and what you want meanwhile loioking for the most positive outcome. Well said. Its a blanacing act of emotions and choices and it gets tiring. But I think you will have you answers soon and the CM is great news!
lemon: Well since I took the HCG trigger shot I got the pregnancy symptoms in the beginning like breast tenderness and fullness, then bloat and fatigue (yay!) But those are leaving now and I am just waiting for them to return due to a real pregnancy I sure do hate the multiple +OPKs! I hear it happens more as you age. That is why I do both those and the CBEFM because it measures Estrogen and LH so you get a more accurate result. I use the OPKs the CBEFM and my temps to tell me the story and I too doctor the computer entries to place the O where it happened. I also get my TCM Doc (Acupuncturist) to give me her take on my chart since she sees so many and knows the signs. But even then its still a guessing game to a degree. I say just cover the dates the best you can and something has to give
breadpudding: How awesome that you are getting to travel but I am sad that his mom is troubled by his choosing to marry who he loves. Its a shame when people are so rooted in rules and rituals that they can't allow love to happen. The world is so much bigger than restrictions on love. Good for you guys sticking to your love for one another and for being brave.
liza: I am so sorry that it didn't work out. I don't understand what happened because I don't know enough about the transfer process but I hope they give you some answers. They surely owe you an explanation especially seeing what dancingmama said they were supposed to do a mock to check. Keep the faith and believe that this next cycle is going to be the one. Also Happy Birthday!!! (I am a Pisces too!) I am sorry to hear you experienced the insensitivity from family and friends. That is why I am anonymous here and also why on my facebook and twitter I don't discuss my fertility issues. Because my family seem to be the MOST judgmental about me trying for a baby "at my age". They say the rudest and most unkind things and I can't handle it so I keep my public life and my fertility journey separate. It would be easy for me to share my identity and photos and everything with you all because you are like minded but I can't do it in a public place so my family doesn't find my postings and judge me. So I totally get it. I would rather leave my "family" out of it. I am wishing you huge success this cycle! Also have a great trip, my DH and I haven't had a true vaca in 8+ years so I know where you are coming from. It's much needed and well deserved. Have fun!
AFM: I am 7 days past Trigger and 5 days past Too early for anything. I am just POAS everyday to watch the HCG leave my system and it is getting lighter. It supposed to be gone by day 10 we'll see. Maybe it will just start getting darker I am really moody and irritable off and on but I think it might be the progesterone gel. Using the Crinone gel is not nearly the horror story most people described. I just wear a panty liner and if any leaks its no biggie. Also after I insert it in the morning I lay down for 30 minutes to let it absorb. Much better than PIO shots in the butt muscle YIKES! Just waiting to get to the days when POAS will actually give me an answer. Till then I am in limbo. That limbo tends to pervade other areas of my life. Does this happen to you all too? Like you get immobile mentally during the 2WW (TWT) ??
Ok well I have to run its time for me to spend some QT with my DH and DD. Hope you all are having a beautiful weekend.