[Debbiecakes]

Hi everyone. I am 37, I have an 8 year old daughter from a previous relationship. Met my DH and we married last July. He has no children at all

I'd had the mirena coil in for 5 years which was removed in Sept, but following irregular periods (which I had put down to being post coil) we only started TTC Dec.

However my AF has been very irregular since then cycle days 29, 14, 29, 60 - I skipped March completely ! And I keep experiencing abdominal pain, tiredness and nausea so GP referred me to a gynae (luckily I get free private through work so seen quickly).

Abnomality found in uterus on ultrasound - have a hysteroscopy and lapaoscopy tomorrow, although cons does not think this is serious and suspects a fibroid (had these twice before) or a polyp. Cons also took loads of bloods, for which I received the results yesterday and feel I have just been hit with a bat as I had a CD4 FSH of 25.8 !! All other tests were totally normal - L H and estrogen levels were spot on. Cons is "hoping" it is just a glitch - but I suspect he is just holding off the worse. I am not really sure what the normal levels of LH/estrogen with the high FSH level means - am new to all this and only just realising how high that is for a CD4 test.

Anyway have to go back for more bloods on CD21 and also CD2 of my next cycle (assuming my next one turns up) ! In the vain hope its a one off. Not too hopeful as I recently discovered my Mum had menopause at 36. I don't have too many other symptoms apart from the tired/nausea stuff. But no flushes, sweats etc nothing

Finding it a bit hard to talk about at the moment. My Mum and MIL don't really know what to say - I probably wouldn't either in their position. Oh apart from the obligatory "well you have one already". Doesn't help when DH has none.

Anyway still trying to get my head around all this but any help would be much appreciated

Debs xx

 

[ikklesmiler]

hi hun

just wanted to let you know that your FSH can change every month, so dont worry, hopefully its a glitch and it will be much lower next time.

good luck hun

Ann MArie xxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[Julie Wilts]

Hello Debbiecakes

Well, firstly, welcome to FF - you've found the best place to be.  Friends and family can be fantastic, but I think if they've not been through it, it's hard to comprehend all the emotions that you go through.

Like you, I am 37 and have a nearly 4-year-old, but are ttc #2.  I had FSH levels between 19 and 21.9 and I have been diagnosed as peri-menopausal.  However, I refuse to give up on the chance of another baby just yet.  I have been taking a low dose HRT to boost my oestradiol levels and trying to eat as healthily as possible. I've had 2 IUI's and am currently on my 2nd 2ww. 

I just wanted to say that I know exactly what you mean about feeling like you've been hit with a bat.  I had no expectation of what my diagnosis was going to be, and as my Mum didn't have her menopause till her late 40's thought I was fine. 

I really hope that after your tests tomorrow (good luck by the way) you will have a clearer picture and then can plan what to do next.  I wish you the very, very best of luck in having #2.

, Julie XXX

 

[Debbiecakes]

Hi Julie - I will keep everything crossed that I can

Although with have the ops tomorrow it might be a little difficult to cross my legs 

Thank you so much for both replies. Its great to find a forum with others who understand whats happening

Debs

 

[Julie Wilts]

You're welcome hun.  Just blown you some bubbles to, to get you into double figures.

Lots and lots of luck for tomorrow.
XXX

 

[Mrs_Gally]

Hi debbie, Just wanted to say hi and welcome you to the boards. I'm fairly new here too and just trying to get over my first BFN from an ICSI cycle in Jan. It's absolutely devastating finding out you have fertility problems isn't it but I'm sure you'll get lot's of help and support here.

I hope you don't mind me asking but did you used to post on Confetti forum

Rachel

 

[Jeza]

Hi Debs,
Just thought I'd introduce myself. I live in Bristol and am 38. I was also recently told by my specialist that with my FSH levels as they were: 13.5ish, one month was 24, I was unlikely to conceive naturally. She didn't give me a down right not likely at all, but it sure feels like it! I also have some sort of blockage in a fallopian tube. I'm to have a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy in May to work on the blockage and see if they find anything else. I'm hoping they wont! It all boils down to positive thoughts I feel. not so keen on that positive face as it has a worried look, and I don't feel positively worried but positively optimistic! My mum also started her menopause early, 40. So I wasn't that surprized with the results of my FSH. But as someone else said, they do change every month, so it's not as if from now on they will go up and up.
For some positive new now! I went to my Chinese doctor after that diagnosis, as I've recently started acupuncture. He gave me a totally different story. Sure we might have this glitch here or there, but these holistic treatments treat the whole body, naturally. I'm well into that. They have a chinese herb that has been proven to lower FSH levels and I know personally someone who was given the same diagnosis as me and was pregnant within 2 months on herbs. So now I'm doing that for FSH and my blockage, meditating and generally trying not to worry. Acupuncture is fantastic, even if you don't like needles! I definitely felt things shifting this month and I've only been on the herbs for 5 weeks. The important thing I think is to get as much info as you can from all directions. It's all about the whole body anyhow not just a number here and a level of some hormone here. Good luck and chinup. That was a long speel! Jez x

 

[emsylou]

Debbicakes, i just wanted to say hello and welcome and good luck for today.xxxx

 

[Caz]

Hello Debs, welcome to Fertility Friends.

Good on your GP for takign action quickly for you! Your FSh is high yes, but it may be a one off (that sometimes happens) and by no means is is a disaster and mean you cannot conceiev naturally. You may well still be feeling the after effects of the coil as I understand it can take up to 6 months to sort itself out. I hope that your op today goes / is going ok and that any issues are quickly identified and sorted. Sometimes having a lap (espcially if a lap and dye) can sort of kick start things (kind of like a spring clean I suppose) and help in iteself.

Here's a few general links for you to check out while recuperating:

What Every New Member Needs To Know (includes a list of common abbreviations) ~ CLICK HERE

FERTILITY INFO GUIDES ~ CLICK HERE

Fibroid Problems ~ CLICK HERE

And don't forget to have a bit of fun while you are on FF and check out the general chit chat / jokes / hobbies area:

Girl & Boy talk - Community & Fun Board ~ CLICK HERE

You can also chat live in our excellent chat room. We have a newbie night in the chat room every week (Wednesday at 8pm), where you can meet other new members and get technical support with navigating the site and using all the functions available here. CLICK HERE FOR INFO ON NEWBIE CHAT

You can also "meet" and chat with people in your local area through the Location boards. This is especially useful to find people who may be using the same clinic and or in the same PCT area.

Wishing you lots of luck!

C~x

 

[Debbiecakes]

Hi Guys
Firstly thanks so much for all the replies
I am at home recovering from the Hysteroscopy and laparoscopy. God the after effects were painful - Not the stiches but the release of the gas they put inside you - I've had terrible pains in my shoulder and abdomen from where the gas is pushing up my organs.
Anyway - I also a D&C and the Lap and Dye.

He came to me see me after op - but was still groggy and said he'd found a fibroid which he removed, and that my tubes were fine. Said he'd discuss everything else with me on Monday. I am hoping he would have told me if any other problems there and then - he normally does

Anyway - will wait and see what happens on Monday - back to trying to rest now

Debs

 

[Julie Wilts]

Debs

Glad to hear that all those op's are behind you now, and I remember only too well the pain of that gas after a laparascopy. 

Great news that your tubes were ok, and that they took away that nasty fibroid.  Now wish you loads of luck for your appointment on Monday, but hope it's just a formality to confirm everything's ok.

Lots of rest now hun,
Take care
XXX

 

[Debbiecakes]

On top of all this I am being seen privately (I work in private medical insurance) but our outpatient allowance for staff is rubbish. I am already £200 over and still have another 2 cons and 2 sets of blood tests to go !  £ 460 for all the bloods I just had !   

Have spoken to my boss and he is going to see what he can do about them paying for all of it. At least the surgery was covered in full !

And my god that pain was awful - I had a lap in 1996 but honestly can;t remember it being so bad. But I was like a child curled up crying for 2 days - today is the first day I have felt half normal, but still wiped out

Just hope he says everything else was ok on Monday - not sure i can take much more (had a very stressful month with other stuff as well !)

Thanks so much xxx

 

[Julie Wilts]

OMG - that is so much money.  .  We were lucky to have all our tests done on the NHS, although we are paying for our tx privately.  Particularly bad as you even work in private medical insurance.  Hope your boss manages to persuade them to pay for it all.  Goodness know what the surgery would have costed.

After my laparascopy I was in so much pain I had to have morphine to calm me down.  I was so relieved when I was told I didn't need a laparascopy last year.

So sorry to hear it's been a stressful month all round - seems like we all end up attracting lots of stress when the IF stuff is going on.
Take care of yourself.
X

 

[Debbiecakes]

Hi Debs,
Just thought I'd introduce myself. I live in Bristol and am 38. I was also recently told by my specialist that with my FSH levels as they were: 13.5ish, one month was 24, I was unlikely to conceive naturally. She didn't give me a down right not likely at all, but it sure feels like it! I also have some sort of blockage in a fallopian tube. I'm to have a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy in May to work on the blockage and see if they find anything else. I'm hoping they wont! It all boils down to positive thoughts I feel. not so keen on that positive face as it has a worried look, and I don't feel positively worried but positively optimistic! My mum also started her menopause early, 40. So I wasn't that surprized with the results of my FSH. But as someone else said, they do change every month, so it's not as if from now on they will go up and up.
For some positive new now! I went to my Chinese doctor after that diagnosis, as I've recently started acupuncture. He gave me a totally different story. Sure we might have this glitch here or there, but these holistic treatments treat the whole body, naturally. I'm well into that. They have a chinese herb that has been proven to lower FSH levels and I know personally someone who was given the same diagnosis as me and was pregnant within 2 months on herbs. So now I'm doing that for FSH and my blockage, meditating and generally trying not to worry. Acupuncture is fantastic, even if you don't like needles! I definitely felt things shifting this month and I've only been on the herbs for 5 weeks. The important thing I think is to get as much info as you can from all directions. It's all about the whole body anyhow not just a number here and a level of some hormone here. Good luck and chinup. That was a long speel! Jez x

Jezza - A few people have said about acupuncture and Chinese med so may start investigating. Well it can't hurt can it !

Thanks so much

Debs xx

 

[Debbiecakes]

OMG - that is so much money. . We were lucky to have all our tests done on the NHS, although we are paying for our tx privately. Particularly bad as you even work in private medical insurance. Hope your boss manages to persuade them to pay for it all. Goodness know what the surgery would have costed.

After my laparascopy I was in so much pain I had to have morphine to calm me down. I was so relieved when I was told I didn't need a laparascopy last year.

So sorry to hear it's been a stressful month all round - seems like we all end up attracting lots of stress when the IF stuff is going on.
Take care of yourself.
X

Thanks so much - I know so so expensive isn't. Really hope Boss can sort something out as I could do without forking out £500-600 just for the diagnostic stuff.

Am very glad it was not just me with the pain - I thought I was acting like a big baby LOL

Debs xx

 

[Julie Wilts]

Don't worry Debs - I am usually a real baby with pain, but surprisingly only had TENS and gas/air when I had DD.  DH was convinced I wasn't in labour coz I wasn't screaming in pain and digging my nails into him.  .  He was so suprised when they said I was 4cms dilated and contracting every 5 minutes. lol. 

 

[Debbiecakes]

Now I really was a big baby with dd. I had Tens. Gas & Air, Pethedine and finally an Epidural - The whole shibang

But in my defense I had a serious condition call Obstetric Cholestasis (can cause still birth) and had to be induced 3 weeks early. They made me have the epidural to keep BP down (well thats my excuse and I am sticking to it !)

 

[Julie Wilts]

You don't need to defend yourself to me hun.  If it had really hurt me that much I would have anything they'd offered  .  The bit that really hurt was the ventouse delivery with episiotomy, and then I wished I'd had some pain relief .  We had dd at 35+6 so hadn't really decided on what pain relief I was going to use.  Kind of made it up as we went along.  My belief these days is that you have what you need to make the birthing experience a good one - better to look back with fond memories than traumatic ones.

 

[Debbiecakes]

I had ventouse as well - and an episiotomy. But they'd topped up the epidural so I didn't feel a thing 

My "Birth plan" consisted of "No Forceps"!  That was it - same as you - I'd not had time to think about it.

And am completely with you on pain relief - my view was give me ANYTHING which helps a bit

(Sorry about delay in replying - had to venture out for first time to take dd to tap dancing - totally shattered me just being out for 45 mins !)

 

[Julie Wilts]

Debs - No worries about delay in replying, I've been sorting out getting dd settled for bed, then ironing, then dinner for us.  Finally my feet are up and back to FF.

Hope it wasn't too painful venturing out - I remember driving with a cushion across my stomach because the safety belt hurt my tummy so much.

Lots of luck for Monday then with your appointment.
XXX