TTC after 35

New here

Hi everyone -

I've just discovered the bump and this board.  I've been reading some of your posts and would LOVE a glossary for all the abbreviations!!  LOL.  Some I can figure out but others I'm still scratching my head on :)

I'm 35 and have been off birth control for 2 years (minus a 6 month stint last year while I was planning my wedding - not sure how smart that was).  Up until 3 months ago we were just in the "whatever happens happens" mindset and, well, nothing did.  But I'm not getting any younger so I started using the ovulation predictor kits.  I'm not sure if I'm doing it wrong though - I have never gotten a full fledged positive test.  Usually I get nothing for a few days and then that second line slowly gets darker for two or so days and then disappears again.  Am I just missing it?  Should I test multiple times a day?  So frustrating!!

I was diagnosed with endometriosis 5 years ago and had surgery - it was pretty mild I guess - I never had any major pain, just some pulling when I coughed, etc. but the doc did remove some lesions.  I have recently been having some of the same pulling and am wondering if it's back.  Anyone know if having endo while pregnant can cause problems and if so, what?

I also have a tipped uterus which I'm told is not THAT uncommon, but I'm wondering if it could have an effect on fertility - anyone know or have experience with that?

I would love to hear some success stories if you have any to share and any advice as well.  I'm sure I'm not alone in freaking out that it might never happen!

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Re: New here

  • Hello and welcome to a great board.

    1. There is a Bump Board Glossary down and to your left, look under "my boards".

    2. Read Taking Charge of Your Fertility. Excellent book.

    3. You might want to consider charting. Many people do and its a great way to find out more about what's going on in there. www.fertilityfriend.com is the site most people use. You can click on my chart in my sig if you want to see.

    4. No advice on the endo, sorry. I have a tipped uterus. Apparently not a big deal.

     5. Do some lurking around the boards and you'll get a feel for things.

     Again welcome, and GL!

     

  • QE2QE2 member

    Hello and welcome to the board. You are right, you're not alone in freaking out because I do also.

    The bump glossary is located at the bottom left of this page under the My Boards heading.

    Ovulation Kits (OPK's) can be tricky for some people. Some women never get a + and some have a very quick surge so they miss their +. I used to test every 12 hours because I was paranoid that I would miss the surge. I used Clear Blue Easy because they are OK to use with first morning urine (FMU). I would test when I first got up and then again in the evening. I would also get the fade in line for 2 days so I knew my surge was on the way. I would start testing with the regular (2 Lines) OPK to save $, but once I started to get a second line, I switched to the digitals to cut down on the confusion of whether the 2nd line was as dark as the control line. There's no confusing a smiley face :)

    I don't have any experience with endo. There are plenty of women on the Trouble TTC board that can give you some answers.

    Good Luck!!?

    TTC since 3/08 DOR, High FSH, Hypothyroid, Uterine Polyps, blocked tube, MFI, 5 rounds of clomid, 5 IVF attempts, 2 hysteroscopies, 2 natural conceptions=2 losses (Methotrexate, D&C) Successful DE cycle twins born 10/7/11 Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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  • Hi!  Your name suggests that you are/were a gymnast or a gymn coach?  I am a former (bad) gymnast and current judge/gymn fan.

    AND I have a tipped uterus and just got a BFP at 39 in the 5th cycle TTC.Smile

    Good luck!  Glad to have you!

  • Thanks to all of you for your replies!  I see the glossary now - LOL - sorry about that!!  I haven't dug around here too much yet but I will definitely check that out as well as the fertilityfriend site.  I'm hoping the OPKs this month are a little clearer!!  I guess maybe the fading in could be a benefit of sorts?  A little extra lead time?

    GymDogFran - yep, I am a former gymnast and former gym coach Smile

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  • Welcome to the Board! ?Everyone here is really nice and supportive. ?Good Luck!
    Married 5/12/07 Took 3 IUIs and 2 IVFs for our sweet boy He was worth the wait! Image and video hosting by TinyPic
  • Welcome!  Sorry the OPK"s have been frustrating  - they never work for me but I have ovulatory dysfunction and would need to test for 40 days in a row to catch my surge if it even happened!  I agree with the charting idea - it may give you a better sense of what's going on.  Anyway, best of luck!
  • Welcome to the board and good luck!
  • Welcome! Hope your stay here is a short one! I have no experience with endo, but I do LOVE the Clear Blue Easy Digital OPKs. I like seeing the smiley face to know that it's a great time to grab DH for some fun! He now gets a kick out of asking me if i have a smiley or not. Good luck!
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  • Welcome! I don't have experience with OPKs (I chart instead), but I have been researching endo as it looks like I'm headed toward that diagnosis. While endo shouldn't have an effect on a pregnancy, it is associated with infertility. If you are seriously TTC, I would discuss your history with endo with your doctor sooner than later. Good luck!
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  • Hi there!

    I just wanted to chime in on the endo question.  I have it as well, and had the laparoscopy in March to remove it all. 

    It's likely grown back if you are having the same symptoms as you did 5 years ago.  It is relatively common to have endo regrow, sometimes even within one year.  Nasty little condition!  Endo won't interfere with fertility unless it is specifically growing on or in your fallopian tubes, ovaries, or cervix (this is what I was told). 

    Endo subsides while you are pregnant.  The hormones your body produces during pregnancy prevent it from growing, and actually shrink it.  Same as if you were on the pill, which likewise also prevents from growing and shrinks it.

    Good luck to you!

    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • Thanks cc, I knew you could add something!
  • Welcome - I also second the backup testing of OPKs using a CBE digital . They are way too pricey to use everyday, but help with the confusing is that line dark enough debate.
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  • imageccbanana:

    Hi there!

    I just wanted to chime in on the endo question.  I have it as well, and had the laparoscopy in March to remove it all. 

    It's likely grown back if you are having the same symptoms as you did 5 years ago.  It is relatively common to have endo regrow, sometimes even within one year.  Nasty little condition!  Endo won't interfere with fertility unless it is specifically growing on or in your fallopian tubes, ovaries, or cervix (this is what I was told). 

    Endo subsides while you are pregnant.  The hormones your body produces during pregnancy prevent it from growing, and actually shrink it.  Same as if you were on the pill, which likewise also prevents from growing and shrinks it.

    Good luck to you!

    This is good to hear!  I was reading a post on another board about a woman whose uterus was "frozen" - basically attached to all the surrounding organs - and it completely freaked me out since my doc has told me mine is stuck.  But other than the minor pulling, I don't have much pain like that poster does.  I'm such a hypochondriac!!

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  • Welcome & Good Luck!
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  • Those OPKs are a pain.  I agree with the pps about the ClearBlue OPKs.  They are awesome.  I use cheapy ones too to get my POAS fix.

    Welcome to the board!

  • Welcome to the board!  Good luck to you. I hope your stay here is short.
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  • Hello and welcome!!  Personally, I like the CBE digital OPKs with the smiley face but sometimes I had a hard time waiting 4 hours to pee so OI got the CBEFM and love it! You use it with FMU which is much easier.

    Good luck TTC these ladies are wonderful and very supportive.

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  • Welcome!  I wish you the best on your TTC journey.  I had problems with those OPK sticks too, and finally bought a Clear Blue Easy Fertility Monitor.  It worked much better for me and took away the guesswork.  I also have a tipped uterus.  I got pg with DS at age 21 without really having to work at it.  DD took 2 years of trying at age 38.  Now I am finishing cycle 4 for #3, and no luck.  I don't think my uterus is the issue since I had two term pregnancies. 

    I just want to wish you luck.  It is so hard to stay patient, and very easy to get caught up trying to figure out why it isn't just happening.  My advice is to read Taking Charge of Your Fertility to get to know your body better.  The CBEFM was a huge help to me when TTC DC#2. Chart if you have the time, but try not to obsess over it.  You might go to your OB now if you think your endo has returned to see if you need to do anything for it.

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    Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickers
  • Thanks to everyone for the welcomes and advice!  I'm heading out to the doctor shortly to see what my next step is :)
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  • Hi, I am new here too! I am happy to get to know everyone :-)
  • Welcome and good luck! ?I don't really have anything to add as these ladies have given a lot of great advice. ?Hope you enjoy our little board!
    Image  by TinyPic Me 43, DH 49 Married November 3, 2007 TTC #1 since November 2007 First RE appointment May 13, HSG 5/17- tubes are clear, SA - very good, FSH 6.8, rubella immunity, saline sonogram 7/2 - uterine polyps, hysteroscopy date FINALLY 9/4! Blood pressure and thyroid are under control! Come on BFP!!!! My Blog IUI#1 1/14 , AF=BFN 1/28, IUI #2 3/9, AF=BFN 3/20 Cycle 20 IVF #1 = BFP!!! Beta #1- 196 Beta #2- 784 Egg retrieval 5/1 - 11 eggs! Update 5/2 - 9 mature, 7 fertilized! Embryo transfer 5/6 - transferred 2 beautiful blasts and have one snowbaby Induction scheduled for 01/11/10 - 38 weeks, 1 day April 3, 2012 FET with snowbaby (identical twins) BFN and a big broken heart Moving on to DE Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic Image and video hosting by TinyPic Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker8/2012-Donor chosen! 9/2012-12/2012-Donor passed all testing, off BC pills, waiting to complete 2 full cycles. 12/16/2012-cannot move forward with donor, cycles not regulating. 12/17-New proven donor 1/11- started Lupron on our baby boy's 3rd birthday 
    Egg retrieval 2/27 - 27 eggs, 24 mature, 19 fertilized
    Embryo transfer 3/4 - 2 beautiful, hatching blasts and nothing left to freeze.  Beta #1 461 9dp5dt. Beta #2 1230 11dp5dt.
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