The price of ovulation...

Today is CD17 and I am hoping to ovulate any day now..... the only problem is I ran out of ovulation tests - eek!

I normally bulk buy the test strip ones from Amazon as they are cheaper than branded ones (plus any pee-on-a-stick-addict knows how expensive it can quickly become). I used my last one this morning and thought I had a spare pack but they turned out to be HPT ones..... Queue mad dash to Sainsburys this evening by my gorgeous hubby to restock.

An astronomical £19 later.... I am now the proud owner of 7 clearblue digital OPK tests (the only ones they had). All I can say is I better be seeing a smiley face on that test tomorrow for that price! :-D

I will keep you posted.....

Baby dust to all xxxx

Happy 1st Birthday Blog!

My blog has been going for a whole year yay!

When I started posting it was intended as a form of therapy, allowing me an outlet for how I was feeling about our fertility issues. I honestly never thought so many people would read it and support me. In the past year my blog has received over 3,200 page views - wow! So thank you to everyone who has followed me so far :-)

So where am I now?

Unfortunately, round 4 was a failure and I am currently taking the pills for round 5. It wasn't as hard to take the failure this cycle, as I didn't feel like I had ovulated (plus no positive OPK).

Fingers crossed for this cycle xxx

I only have one more shot after this cycle, otherwise it will be IVF for us. I have mixed feelings on this, one part of me feels it could work for us, the other is terrified of the treatment itself.

I hope Clomid works and it doesn't get that far but with four failed cycles behind me already I am preparing myself for the possibility of it.

I will keep you posted!

Once again, thank you to everyone who has supported me over my year of blogging (and my close to 2.5 years of TTC), I couldn't have gotten this far without you xx

Baby dust to all xxx

The Great Times In 2012!

As this is my last blog post for 2012 I thought I would focus less on the fertility issues we have faced, and more on the great key moments from the year.

Here are a collection of photos I love from 2012!

Thank you to everyone who has read my blog and given me support throughout a challenging year. I love you all and wish you all an amazing 2013!

Extra special New Year baby dust to all xxx

Round 4....

Well, what can I say, Clomid round 3 was not the success I had hoped for! I am now facing my 3rd Xmas since TTC without the prospect of a baby shaped light at the end of the tunnel.

I started this cycle (and round 4) on 12/12/12 and, based on the last cycle, I should ovulate on New Years Day! Hopefully both good omens! Fingers crossed xx

I finished the tablets for this round yesterday and so will start OPK testing early next week.

The good news is I actually ovulated last month. My progesterone reading from my blood work was apparently good so looks like Clomid is working. The downside is that because we have problems on both sides, even with Clomid this isn't a guaranteed miracle for us.

I had a good chat with the fertility clinic when my cycle ended about whether Clomid is the right path for us considering we both have fertility issues, I was reassured that I can be referred for IVF as soon as I am ready - even if I don't want to finish my last couple of Clomid rounds - but that it was worth continuing for a couple more cycles (as if I was able to conceive it would be easier, both physically and emotionally, than IVF).

I am going to stick with it for now, the Clomid should finish by March so it is not too long to wait. It was also reassuring to find out that if it comes to IVF, the time between referral and starting treatment is only around 8 weeks - much better than the big waiting list I was envisaging.

On the whole I am feeling much better about things and, in a way, I am glad this cycle ended before Xmas so I could enjoy the time off without waiting for AF or a BFP like previous years.

Although that said, hot flushes and party glam are not a good mix...... *runs off to find green correction makeup*

As always, baby dust to all and hope you all have a fab Xmas!

Xx

Positive OPK Yay!

I am so, so sorry for being such a lame blogger recently! The failure of the last cycle hit me hard and to be honest I couldn't face talking about this cycle until now.

So where am I now?

Since my last post I contacted the fertility clinic who agreed I could have 21 day blood tests, but that I need to have them day 24/25 due to my longer cycles. Essentially this will track the hormones in my blood and will indicate if I ovulated, it needs to be done a week after "ovulation" (so a week before my period is due).

Unfortunately days 24 & 25 fall over a weekend so I would have to go for either day 23 or 26. Not yet sure which I will go for and will probably call the clinic again for advice.

I did ask for follicle tracking scans but was refused this. Although some areas offer this from the first round, this area doesn't due to the large number of patients using clomid. Apparently this may be an option on round 5 or 6, although by that point it won't make much difference.

If the blood test doesn't show ovulation has occurred it is likely the clomid dose will be doubled for round 4.

And the good news?

Tonight I got a positive OPK (ovulation predictor kit), although this doesn't guarantee ovulation the line was strong again like in round 1 (round 2 was barely a positive) so I am optimistic.

I have also suffered more symptoms this round, the hot flushes were hell and lasted for a week after I stopped the tablets - which makes me feel like it did something - fingers crossed!

I will keep you posted xxx

:0(

Sorry for not updating in a while life is just crazy busy at the moment.

I started spotting this morning so Clomid round 2 is another failure.

I think this is possibly the lowest I have felt in the last 2 years, I just want to cry at the moment.

I don't like the person I am becoming. I can feel my body subconsciously giving evil looks to pregnant women I pass in the street. I don't want to be bitter but it is really hard.

For months I have been clinging on to my positivity but in the last week I just haven't been able to do this.

Everyone keeps telling me that it will happen for me, whilst I truly appreciate the support, what if they are wrong? There are couples who it never happens for, what if that is us? Those couples probably had friends telling them they were born to be parents too.

I am sorry, this isn't meant to be a pity party, I am just a little bit sad at the moment.

I am going to call the clinic today to talk about options, because I really don't think this latest round did anything.

Talk later xx

A Quick Hello.....

I am still here *waves manically* ......

It has been a crazy week with hosting events at work so I haven't really had a chance to blog. Equally I have not had a chance to dwell on things, so that is good :-)

I have been opk testing all week and think I detected positives on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. I have had some cramping since then but nothing major.

I am not sure whether I should be concerned as last cycle I had really, really strong positives across a few days and mega cramping. This cycle seems inferior in comparison.

I am supposed to contact the clinic after my third cycle (if no BFP) to arrange blood tracking on my 4th cycle, but I am going to call them today to see if I can have the tracking on my 3rd cycle instead.

If this dose isn't working for me I don't want to waste another cycle.

I will keep you posted!

Baby dust to all xxx