TTC 1 year+, Doctors appointment looming!

[Helen]

Hi all

My OH and I have been TTC for a year now. Those of you who've seen my daily witterings in the TTC Buddies thread will know that we are both over 30 and that we now have a doctors appointment on 6th Jan.

I expect OH to have to provide a sample of his little swimmers, but what will they want to do with me? I'm worried that the doc will just stick me on clomid without thinking or will ignore all my charting which seems to suggest that I ovulate around day 20 rather than day 14.

Has anyone got any experience of this and can let me know what will happen?

Thanks

Helen

 

[hayley]

Hi Helen

I'm sure your GP wont put you on Clomid without firstly testing you to see if your ovulating. With me, he sent me for a blood test n day 19 of my cycle. Like you i don't ovulate on day 14. My cycle is 27 to 28 days and i ovulate between day 11 and 13. But he still sent me for a blood test on day 19. The results took a week to come back! and i was ovulating okay. The next step is to check you OH swimmers. My DH had to do this with his own GP and not mine! We never got that far as I got a BFP but i would check with your GP first if your OH can have a swim test at your GP or will he have to do this at his own. The quicker you work the better... if your test comes back showing yor not ovulating i'm sure you GP will discuss the different types of hormones they can offer you. If you don't want clomid i'm sure they will be able to offer another. Your results may come back showing that your ovulating.. in which case it will be down to your OH. I he has good swimmers with good numbers then i think they may as you to try for another 6 months.... This was the advise i rec'd from my GP.

Good luck

x

 

[paulaws]

Hi helen
i am in the same situation as you. We have been TTC for just over a year with no luck even though I became pregnant with our son after just six weeks. I have an appointment with my GP next Tuesday and am not quite sure what to expect. My husband is registered with a different practice so I suspect he will have to go to his own doctor but will find out more when we go.
Will keep you posted,
Paula.x

 

[hayley]

one more thing ladies..

I got more advice phoning the womens hospital (liverpool) I called them up and tried to book tests direct with them instead of going thou my GP. They told me i'd have to go throu my GP first but they gave me loads of advice.

Try giving your local hospital a call and see if they are as helpful.

Good luck
x

 

[Lindsay]

Helen I have replied to you on the other thread!!!!!

Xxx

 

[Helen]

Thanks for your replies.

Paula, sorry to hear you are in the same boat as me. It'll be interesting to compare notes on what happens to us both. Lindsay and Hayley have put some helpful stuff on the TTC Buddies thread (page 55 I think), you'll have to come and join the chit chat, we could do with a few more TTCers!

H

xx

 

[rachypoo]

me 2 i have been ttc for 19 months now and i am 19 years old. i am very disappointed to think i could be or my other half could be infertile. i wason the contraceptive jab for 6 months in 2004 and i started trying as soon as icame off it. but i feel i have only just got back to normal this month my body has only recently been making eggs again and i feel so sad that its taken his long. someday we will all be pregnant and have beautiful kids of our own its just when its been going on for months it starts to hurt. dont worry darlin im in the same shoes and i have to visit the doctor aswell

 

[susie]

Hi Helen i to am in my 30's and been ttc for 15 months now here is my experience of what hapened after visit with gp, i went to see her sept 05 and she did day 20 ovulation blood test and also set up a sperm check for my hubby they both came back ok so we were sent to specialist, he has asked me to go in for an hycosy examination (but still cant get appt) then he will put me on clomid for a few months and see what happens. I would say ask your gp to do all initial tests while waiting for your specialist appt to save time.
good luck
Susie

 

[Helen]

Hi

Thanks for your replies Susie and Rachypoo. Whislt I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy it's a reassurance to know that others are going through the same as us.

Our appointment is in the morning so feeling a little excited about it now. I hope it's not a complete anti-climax!

Will let you know how I get on.

Helen

 

[paulaws]

Hi Helen,
I forgot to log on after I had visited my GP on Tuesday. I thought I would let you know what she said,it may reassure you. She said that i would need to have blood tests to ensure I was ovulating but that she thought I probably was because my cycle was regular. She also said my husband should have a sperm count. she advised me to do a temperature chart as well. Am booked in for blood tests on 19th-she says it has to be in the third week.
I felt much better because i felt things were moving-that was until my husband told me today that he has a lump in one of his testicles and that he has been to the gp today and has been referred for an ultra sound-he thinks it could be a cyst but that it could b affecting his fertility so things aren't as positive as I thought.
Anyway hope you have a positive experience tomorrow-keep me posted
Paula.X

 

[Helen]

Hi Paula

Glad things went ok for you at the docs and fingers crossed for your appointment on 19th.

It sounds pretty worrying about your OH's lump. My OH had a lump before I knew him and when he went to the docs he got in trouble for the wrong kind of pants (it was when boxers were popular i.e. no support ). Thankfully lump went away on it's own but he is worried that it may have had some effect. We will be asking about that tomorrow. When does your OH go for his ultra-sound?

Did they say what happens if everything comes back normal for both of you?

Will let you know how it goes tomorrow. Really hope I don't blub!

Helen

x

 

[Amanda]

I just wanted to wish you the best of luck for today Helen. I'll be thinking of you.

Oh, and Paulaws - my DH had a lump a couple of months ago. Granted it wasn't on his testicle, but was about halfway down the actual penis, but it turned out to be an infected haird folicle. I hope your OH's ultrasound goes well.

 

[margaret]

How did you get on Helen? I must make an appointment myself soon. we've been trying for 2.5 years and I must admit I'm simply afraid of bad news from the doc.

All the best!

 

[Helen]

Hey all

Doctors appointment went well this morning. Managed it without bursting into tears which I didn't think I would do, but I had a coughing fit instead (trying to get over germs from OH).

Doc was lovely. She's sending us both off for tests. OH has sperm test to do but he's off on hols on Sunday am for a week so I'd rather have recreational BD before he goes He has to abstain for 3 days anyway before giving sample and then get it to hospital within an hour. We were both giggling at the thought of him trying to get to hospital without crashing. He'll be all dozy and cross-eyed!!

I have to go for my blood test next Thursday (day 21) so similar to you Paula. We should both get our results within 3 or 4 days. Doc said next step is to refer us to hospital after that and start on further tests (mostly on me) probably checking for tube blockages first.

She also said that we need to start thinking about how far we want to go with this i.e. IVF. She said that she thought that you got 2 goes on the NHS (is this by area?) but that the waiting list was very long.

I took all my charts and OPK results and she looked at all of them closely. That was definitely worth doing (and carrying on with).

Margaret, I wondered how old you are if not too personal a question. I feel under pressure cos I'm 33 next. All this press recently about being over the hill at 35 and previous medical history meant I didn't really want to hang around waiting.

Thanks for all your support. Paula, any news on OH and lump?

xx

 

[paulaws]

Hi helen,
It sounds like we have been told similar things. I am also 33 this month and wondering if time is running out.
My OH has an appointment at the hospital next wednesday so we will waiy and see what happens. We are quite lucky we haven't had to wait long because we get private medical cover with his job.
Will keep you posted-stay positive and enjoy your weekend
Paula.x

 

[margaret]

Helen

Sounds like you've started the standard procedure. I shouldn't be scared about it!! I just turned 32 in December. When I talked to a doctor when we first started to 'try' I was 29 and she said things like "You're young, you're lucky. Some women start trying later in their thirties and it is harder." So I felt good about that at the time. But now 2.5 years later nothing has 'struck'!

Congrats on making it through without crying. I am exactly the same way. And great advice about bringing charts etc. Thanks!

Good luck to all
Margaret

 

[Helen]

Hi

Margaret, maybe it's time to pluck up courage and go along to the docs. Who'd have thought being over 30 would make us feel so bloomin' past it!

Meant to add for anyone reading this that the doctor, in a motivational sort of way, wrote "Infertility" on both our tests. Nice!

Paula, I've been wondering about private healthcare and how much it covers as I have it too. I wouldn't expect it to cover something such as IVF but do you know whether it would cover some of the earlier tests?

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Helen

xx

 

[paulaws]

Hi Helen,
Our insurance doesn't cover any part of "infertility" treatment but I am not sure if all insurances are the same. If I was you I would give them a ring -it can't hurt can it.
My OH goes for his scan on Wednesday so hopefully we should have the results by the end of the week and we will know what we are dealing with.
Let me know what your insurance company say-Good Luck
Paula

 

[Helen]

Hi

Just thought I'd post an update and say that my results came back normal today.

Paula, good luck with yours on Thursday. I hope all is well with your OH and they came back with good news on his lump.

Helen

xx

 

[paulaws]

Hi helen,
Just to let you know I have replied to tou on the TTC Buddies thread
Paula