The Over 40 Crowd

Discussion group for all topics related to infertility including preparation for pregnancy, causes, investigation and treatment of infertility.
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robyn
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Posts: 40
Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2005 11:16 pm
Location: london, UK

Post by robyn »

Hi
Gail Thank You for your words of encouragement. Can I ask you of the three follies did you get three eggs? and how many did you transfer? Good Luck and I am praying for you to get a BFP. My DH had a previous sperm test and all was fine. The first test was on our first consult and then again at the last EC. That is why we are so baffled by this. what was 22 mil and 26 mil is now only 1.8 mil. If We have to do ICSI we will. I won't give up until.......I have no more egss. Now i have to look into ways of lowering my FSH. I am thinking of trying acupuncture and meeting with Marilyn Glenville. She is giving a lecture/seminar at the london fertility centre next week. Anyone heard of her?
Robyn
Me 40
DH 46
DD 4
Secondary unexplained infertility
12/05 ivf (madeit to ET with one embie) BFN
3/06 ivf/icsi no fertitilisation again only one follie
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BevT
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Posts: 312
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2006 2:16 pm
Location: Lincs, UK

Post by BevT »

Hi everyone,

just dropped in for a quickie, got sister and BIL coming to stay, and as yet, I haven't cleaned the spare room/bathroom yet. I just can't be bothered. I wish I could be one of these people that when you feel "down" just start to clean - I'm the opposite. I sit and veg. Very bad for me I know, but the last couple of years have really started to take their toll on me - in so many ways. Not least, my enthusiasm to do anything. All I seem to want to do is plan my next move towards having a family. I'm quite happy to sit and sort out all my travel plans to Kiev etc. but can't even be bothered to cook DH his dinner. How bad is that!

Tammy, hope the little embies are coming on. Have you said why your clinic won't freeze embies, but will freeze eggs? Good luck with your ET - when will it be?

Robin, good luck to you to, sort of lost track with your progress, is it 3 embies you are hoping to make it to ET? Fingers crossed for you.

Lara, still thinking of you, and hoping that your little embie/s stay strong and keep growing. So sorry for you and your mum. Hope your step-father is now at peace and pain free.

Debra, thinking of you too, as you await the inevitable. Big hugs to you.

Hi to you Jo, hope your forthcoming tmt goes well and you get a BFP.

Lisa, good to hear from you. Sending you big hugs too.

Hi to Anna, Jules, Randa, Gail, and all our other lovely "over 40 crowd".

LOL Bev xxx
4 m/c
Precious daughter stillborn @ 32 weeks
2 x IVF with own eggs
Now turning to DE tmt end of May.
BFP 13th June 06
Blessed with beautiful son William born 23rd Jan 07
AMck
Valued Contributor
Posts: 1401
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 3:26 pm
Location: Surrey

Post by AMck »

Hi Ladies

Lara, sorry to hear about your step father. Hugs to you x Have you taken a test yet? Hope those embies are snuggled in and holding on tight.

Well done Tammy. Fingers crossed for you that this is your time. Good luck for Wednesday.

Robyn, how do you lower FSH? Is there a special diet or supplements to take? Are you going for ICSI now? It is frustrating when clinics don't explain things properly. Have you read Zita's book? She explains things really clearly. ICSI is when the sperm are put directly into the egg. They choose the best sperm to do this with. Good luck with your tmt.

Debra, thinking of you. Hope you are Ok. How was the girls night out?

Gail, how are you? Am I right that you are on 2ww? How many embies are snuggling in?

Lisa, thinking of you. Hugs x

Hi to Kat, are you still around sweetie? Hope you are OK. Thinking of you.

Bev, know exactly how you feel. It's far to cold and miserable outside to do much. Lethargy has kicked in for me too! My house could do with a spring clean...but just not today! Still waiting for Af and to see if cyst has gone. So I cancelled yesterdays scan. An all too familiar story for me :lol: Fed up of not being able to plan anything. The precious Easter hols are coming up soon. I don't know whether to organise some time away or sit and wait!! Very frustrating all round. Anyway I'm hoping my patience will be rewarded, fingers crossed.

Hi to Jules, Robyn, Jo and all ladies. PMA all round
Bye for now
Anna x

Our list
New 40+ Mommies:
Alette (own eggs). Son Nov 05
Jude - twins (DE) 05
Joy - twins (DE) 05
CarolineP - Daughter Nov 05
Squew - twins 05

Ladies in waiting:
Debbieed - own eggs, BFP August 05. EDD - April 06?
BigJ (Jules) - BFP 9/12/05 - EDD 15/08/06 praying hard
DPerry (Donna). DE. BFP July 05
Debra - BFP 20 Feb. No heartbeat, big hugs xx
Lara - BFP, history of m/c, hoping all OK

On meds:
Tammy- bumper crop of follies, ET Wed 22nd March
Gail - ET Tuesday 14th March

Preparing:
Kat - deciding next step
Amfy - FET March/April
Bev- Off to Kiev 30th March for tmt DE
Jen - Taking time out then, next IVF in May...
Robyn - 2nd IVF cycle in March
Anna - Waiting for AF to start short protocol.
Lisa - FET May 2nd
Jo - 2nd IVF cycle esd 28 March.
Me 44, DP 42 ttc 3yrs
7 cancelled IVF cycles during 2005/6
ED tmt at IM June 06 BFN
ED tmt at IM July 06 BFP
Matthew born 23/3/07
teachertam
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Posts: 896
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Location: Indiana, USA
Contact:

Post by teachertam »

Good morning ladies:

Thanks for all the encouraging words.

Gail: How is your 2ww going? Your test date will be here before you know it.

Robyn: How is stimming going? When will you have EC?

Lara: Did you take the HPT? How are you feeling?

Anna: I'm hoping that AF comes without a cyst.

Bev: The end of March is upon us. Are you getting excited about your trip to Kiev?

Debra/Gail/Bev: My doctor has moral/religous reasons for not wanting to freeze embryos. It is not the freezing of embryos that he has a problem with, but the question of what do you do when you are through with fertility treatments and have leftover embies. He and my embryologist have developed a procedure for freezing eggs with the same success rates if not better than the success rates of frozen embies. We knew his position when going into this process.

I got a phone call from my embryologist this morning................ALL 8 EGGS FERTILIZED! DH and I are happy, however we have 4 more days to go. I'm sure that a few will arrest before ET on Wednesday. My doctor will transfer all viable embies at this time. Women of our age need to tranfer more embies to increase our odds of conceiving. I read an article that said 4 out of 5 eggs are viable for a young women, but only 1 out of 5 may be viable for us older gals. That is why I am hoping to tranfer 4 or 5 embies. My RE is more conservative, but my embryologist is the one that said tranferring 4 or 5 embies will not result in more than twins for us older ladies. I guess it just does not happen with older eggs.

Have a nice weekend,
Tammy
Me 46/DH 48 (12/05 & 3/06: IVF#1/#2: BFN)
6/06:Nat. Preg.-DS 2/07; 12/08 IVF#3 fet -BFN
5/09& 6/09 Femara#1/#2-BFN; 7/09 IUI with femara/GF BFN
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/2;10750;80/st/20070228/n/Andrew+James/k/c5ae/age.png[/img]
gailbunny
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Posts: 107
Joined: Sat May 21, 2005 9:05 pm
Location: Harrogate

Post by gailbunny »

Tammy hope those embryos continue to grow strong & Heathly and congrats on so many!!

Robyn we got three eggs from the three follies. All three eggs fertilised but one gave up before ET so we are attempting to nuture 2. I would also do ICSI if it was necessary but I was lucky as DP sprem was ok. Really hope all comes together for you.

I was doing well at forgetting the 2ww but today it has got the better of me and I have just been really weepy. I cry at the littlest thing and its really frustrating. DP asked what was making me so weepy and that made me cry too. I think he is now just staying out of my way incase he makes me cry again. I suppose it is just cos this is last chance with my eggs.

Lara hoping your BFP is getting stronger by the day.

Debra my thoughts are with you at this sad time.

Lisa glad you are feeling a liitle stronger.

Bev not long too long to wait now!

Jo Anna PMA

Weepy Gail
Me 40, DP 29, DS 10
IVF 1st Cycle - May 05 -ve.
IVF 2nd Cycle March 06 -ve
DebraP
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Posts: 2784
Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2003 4:40 pm

Post by DebraP »

Robyn, I've read recommendations on here for Marilyn Glenville's vitamins, esp. for men. I know she has lots of books on the subject. Let us know what she says.

Bev, lol re. the clean. I'd rather eat than clean, and it shows.

Anna, I understand your frustration re. not being able to plan anything for Easter, it's felt like that for 2+ years now. There's no supplement / med for lowering FSH unfortunately. It's a reading of the state of play in your ovaries so there's nothing you can do to change egg stock/quality which is what it reflects. Zita does talk of diet, exercise, lifestyle changes - but when doesn't she?

Gail, I too cry very easily right now. Or not at all. I'm dry eyed at times when I think maybe it would be good to let it all out. Good luck with the rest of your 2ww.

Tammy, sending positive thoughts to those 8 embies. Will ET be mid-week or earlier?

Me? well I feel like crap. I have a hangover, not surprising after a G&T, 2 beers and half a bottle of red. I've not had that much to drink in years. Plus, and maybe this is a good thing, the m/c has started this morning so I didn't have to wait too long afterall. Some nasty cramps but given I already feel 'uck, doesn't make much difference.

Hi to everyone else,
Debra.
Me: 44, DH: 31
Game Over.
Dates: Aug 02 - May 06
Tries: 5 fresh + 4 frozen.
Results: 1 daughter, 2 m/c, 1 ectopic.
teachertam
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Posts: 896
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2006 2:37 am
Location: Indiana, USA
Contact:

Post by teachertam »

Debra:

I'm so glad m/c has started. You will be back on the stimming drugs soon.

I am having ET on Wednesday. I just got a call from my embryologist. He said that all 8 of my embies were 2 - 4 cell.

Regards,
Tammy
Me 46/DH 48 (12/05 & 3/06: IVF#1/#2: BFN)
6/06:Nat. Preg.-DS 2/07; 12/08 IVF#3 fet -BFN
5/09& 6/09 Femara#1/#2-BFN; 7/09 IUI with femara/GF BFN
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/2;10750;80/st/20070228/n/Andrew+James/k/c5ae/age.png[/img]
AMck
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Posts: 1401
Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2005 3:26 pm
Location: Surrey

Post by AMck »

Hello all lovely over 40 ladies

Gail sending you PMA in a large bucket. Hang in there! Image Hope the days fly by to your BFP! When is your test date?

Debra, I asked about FSH levels as Robyn said she was trying to lower hers. Mine is low at 4. I was wondering is it something I've done or just luck? My thoughts are with you today. Take care of yourself. Hugs xx

Tammy, wow what great news. 8 embies! How many will you transfer?

Good news, Af has arrived so I will book a scan for tomorrow. If cyst has gone I can start stims. Fingers crossed!

Our list
New 40+ Mommies:
Alette (own eggs). Son Nov 05
Jude - twins (DE) 05
Joy - twins (DE) 05
CarolineP - Daughter Nov 05
Squew - twins 05

Ladies in waiting:
Debbieed - own eggs, BFP August 05. EDD - April 06?
BigJ (Jules) - BFP 9/12/05 - EDD 15/08/06 praying hard
DPerry (Donna). DE. BFP July 05
Debra - BFP 20 Feb. No heartbeat, big hugs xx
Lara - BFP, history of m/c, hoping all OK

On meds:
Tammy- bumper crop of follies, ET Wed 22nd March
Gail - ET Tuesday 14th March on 2ww

Preparing:
Kat - deciding next step
Amfy - FET March/April
Bev- Off to Kiev 30th March for tmt DE
Jen - Taking time out then, next IVF in May...
Robyn - 2nd IVF cycle in March
Anna - starting short protocol soon!
Lisa - FET May 2nd
Jo - 2nd IVF cycle esd 28 March.

Hi to Bev, Kat, Robyn, Lara, Jo and all on this thread
Keep smiling :)
Bye for now
Anna x
Me 44, DP 42 ttc 3yrs
7 cancelled IVF cycles during 2005/6
ED tmt at IM June 06 BFN
ED tmt at IM July 06 BFP
Matthew born 23/3/07
teachertam
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Posts: 896
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2006 2:37 am
Location: Indiana, USA
Contact:

Post by teachertam »

Anna:

I'm so happy your AF arrived. Let's hope the cyst is gone! I had a small cyst during my current cycle, but it was so small we were able to commence with the stimming meds.

My doctor will transfer back all embies that make it to day 5 blastocyst stage. I'm sure that they will not all make it. I'm hoping for 4 - 5 embies to transfer back.


Tammy
Me 46/DH 48 (12/05 & 3/06: IVF#1/#2: BFN)
6/06:Nat. Preg.-DS 2/07; 12/08 IVF#3 fet -BFN
5/09& 6/09 Femara#1/#2-BFN; 7/09 IUI with femara/GF BFN
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/2;10750;80/st/20070228/n/Andrew+James/k/c5ae/age.png[/img]
Kat
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Posts: 665
Joined: Sun May 04, 2003 5:12 pm
Location: Chessington, Surrey, UK

Post by Kat »

Hello, still here keeping my eye on everyone.
So much has happened & I can't comment on everyone's posts but I am thinking of you all. It never fails to amaze me when I see the way in which everyone responds to each other with such sound advice and understanding.

Still feeling down, I have my own little black cloud that follows me around. I assume it will get better with time, though I wish it would hurry up. I can't get it into my head that I will never have a child. I hate myself for some of the things that go through my head when I see pg women. The pg girl at work seems to carry herself in such a way as if to say 'look at me, aren't I so clever?' as if no one was ever pg before.
I must be losing the plot. I am so envious of anyone pg or with a baby, not so much if they have young children though - does that mean that I don't really want a child after all?

DH and I are thinking of going on a nice holiday at Christmas, safari or something, give us something to plan and look forward to.

Sorry for all those random thoughts thrown in there! Show you what my head's like right now.

Time to go and find what I can throw together for dinner as I have got nothing in at all. Could be takeaway I feel. Never was a very good housewife!
Take care all,
love
Kat xx
Me & DH both 41
ICSI #1 - abandoned
#2 - cancelled - DH accident
#3 - 1 transferred, bfn
#4 - 2 transferred, bfn
#5 - abandoned
#6 - no eggs at EC
#7 - DE in Barcelona - bfp but lost Dec'05
#8 - DE UK - bfn
#9 - FET Sept/Oct '07....
randa2006
Regular
Posts: 583
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2005 7:32 pm
Location: Seattle, WA

Post by randa2006 »

Hello All,

Where does the time go? Can it be March 19th already? :shock:
FINALLY some sun here. But I shouldn't complain, the coldest it gets is in the 30s at night and some of you are dealing with much worse.

Debra - sounds like you are keeping your sanity in the midst of an insane time in your life. Glad you had a night of fun and like you said, you were going to feel like crap anyway today (starting the m/c) why not throw a hangover in there to boot. The older I get, the worse my hangovers are and the longer they last. I truly cannot drink anymore unless I throw back a glass of water for every glass of liquor/beer/wine. Seems to help.

And I'm very proud of you for being able to even mention the next round when the wind is still knocked out of you from the last. I think you are brave, strong and right to see this through to the end and not stop with frozens left untapped. And this might be the one. I keep saying Brooke Shields went 10 to get her first child.

Bev - I can totally relate to you about being obsessed with all things IVF. My dh has even been worried for some time about the amount of time I spend on this board. I am so distracted by this endeavor for days and days at a time that I am only skimming the surface on the rest of my life. Nothing else is getting done fully. It's like I'm in a contest (not with you all but with myself and nature) that requires my concentration or I might lose. It's just so... unfinished all the time and I am BIG on closure of items before moving on to the next. IVF seems to have a way of making us live in the future and not for today. Anyway, I appreciated you sharing your feelings. I have to remind myself that this isn't EVERYTHING! Shame on me for not making the most out of every day.

Robyn - Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I have come to the understanding that lowering our fsh levels (which at first I wanted to attempt) doesn't necessarily gain us anything. Isn't fsh a indicator of our ovarian reserve and getting it to read lower won't make us have any more eggs, right? Maybe you want to lower it because in some countries if it gets too high you lose the right to try IVF??? I'm confused but would love to understand this issue.

Tammy - congratulations on all 8 fertilizing and all 8 continuing to progress! :D I'll be thinking of you on Wed for ET!

Weepy Gail - hang in there, only a few more days to go and you'll be officially pregnant! :D

Anna - glad af came for you (me too today). Wow! You have a great fsh!

Kat - it makes me sad to think of you looking at preg women and feeling that way, but I also think it's completely NORMAL. There has to be other women in your situation that could tell you how long that lasts and how good it feels to finally get through it and how whole your life can be once you've come to terms with this huge loss. Where are they? Is anyone advising you?

Lara - I'm so sorry to read that your step-father died. How is your Mom holding up? Also, who is Ruth Picardy?

Hello to everyone else! Sorry I missed responding to some, but please know I read -- with full interest --- ALL of your postings.

Our list
New 40+ Mommies:
Alette (own eggs). Son Nov 05
Jude - twins (DE) 05
Joy - twins (DE) 05
CarolineP - Daughter Nov 05
Squew - twins 05

Ladies in waiting:
Debbieed - own eggs, BFP August 05. EDD - April 06?
BigJ (Jules) - BFP 9/12/05 - EDD 15/08/06 praying hard
DPerry (Donna). DE. BFP July 05
Debra - BFP 20 Feb. No heartbeat, big hugs xx
Lara - BFP, history of m/c, hoping all OK

On meds:
Tammy- bumper crop of follies, ET Wed 22nd March
Gail - ET Tuesday 14th March on 2ww

Preparing:
Kat - deciding next step
Amfy - FET March/April
Bev- Off to Kiev 30th March for tmt DE
Jen - Taking time out then, next IVF in May...
Robyn - 2nd IVF cycle in March
Anna - starting short protocol soon!
Lisa - FET May 2nd
Jo - 2nd IVF cycle esd 28 March
Randa - bc pills start March 22 for April stim
Randa
Me 44, DH 40
ttc 0, went straight to IVF
1st EC = Feb 05, 5 frosties, no transfer attempt
2nd EC = June 05, cancelled
3rd EC = Sept 05, 4 frosties, no transfer attempt
4th EC/ET = Feb 06, 3 transf., BFN
5th EC/ET = May 06
DebraP
Valued Contributor
Posts: 2784
Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2003 4:40 pm

Post by DebraP »

Our list
New 40+ Mommies:
Alette (own eggs). Son Nov 05
Jude - twins (DE) 05
Joy - twins (DE) 05
CarolineP - Daughter Nov 05
Squew - twins 05

Ladies in waiting:
Debbieed - own eggs, BFP August 05. EDD - April 06?
BigJ (Jules) - BFP 9/12/05 - EDD 15/08/06 praying hard
DPerry (Donna). DE. BFP July 05
Lara - BFP, history of m/c, hoping all OK

On meds:
Tammy- bumper crop of follies, ET Wed 22nd March
Gail - ET Tuesday 14th March on 2ww

Preparing:
Kat - deciding next step
Amfy - FET March/April
Bev- Off to Kiev 30th March for tmt DE
Jen - Taking time out then, next IVF in May...
Robyn - 2nd IVF cycle in March
Anna - starting short protocol soon!
Lisa - FET May 2nd
Jo - 2nd IVF cycle esd 28 March
Randa - bc pills start March 22 for April stim
Debra - Will start a medicated FET after April AF


Randa, thanks for your kind words. Know if Brooke Shields needed as many tries for No.2? I assume not. Lucky her. Not sure if I'm anything other than bloody minded re. continuing to date except this time we both feel sucker-punched and that if we didn't have frosties, there'd be no question of going on to get our long awaited closure. I feel almost stupid for keep going this far. I've not told quite close friends in the UK what's going on as I really don't expect them to do more than roll their eyes and wonder aloud why the hell we don't just give up.

I had a shitty afternoon. At a friend's house some people I didn't know announced they're 11 weeks today. I squeezed out a 'congratulations' and moved to the other end of the tiny room to try and block out their naturally very excited and very loud chat about scans, dates, heartbeats, right age gap from No.1 etc. etc. They didn't know that the other 3 women listening have all lost pregnancies this year.

Kat, I know it hurts to see but that 'look at me' thing is a natural consequence of what we're all chasing so hard. It's a b*tch but it's her time to be proud. The personal black cloud will pass, one day. A long term holiday plan sounds fab, where are you thinking of? Top of my list would be back to South Africa, Oz or NZ. DF and I got engaged in Namibia nearly 6 years ago, I wouldn't mind going back to finish the deal.

Anna, your FSH at 4 is your personal good luck and we all deserve a little of that. There've been women on here in their 30s with much, much higher FSH and there's nothing you can do except track it and hope there's a dip which you can grab hold of. Good luck with your scan.

Tammy, best of luck for Wednesday, I hope you have a good selection of strong blastos for ET.

I have to stop over eating. It's become a compulsion, only this week but when it's so cold and snowy outside, easy to imagine I'll never need to wear short sleeves again. MISTAKE!

hugs to everyone,
Debra.
Me: 44, DH: 31
Game Over.
Dates: Aug 02 - May 06
Tries: 5 fresh + 4 frozen.
Results: 1 daughter, 2 m/c, 1 ectopic.
Jo1962
Member
Posts: 40
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:49 am
Location: Fleet, Hampshire

Post by Jo1962 »

Lucky for Brooke Shields she can afford to try 10 times... Great. Good for her.
Jo - 43; DH - 37 (Toy Boy!)

Natural Pregnancy Feb 2005 - MMC 12 weeks
IVF #1 Feb 2006 - BFN
IVF #2 April 2006 - BFN
We are considering calling it a day...
Jo1962
Member
Posts: 40
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:49 am
Location: Fleet, Hampshire

Post by Jo1962 »

Lucky for Brooke Shields she can afford to try 10 times... Great. Good for her.
Jo - 43; DH - 37 (Toy Boy!)

Natural Pregnancy Feb 2005 - MMC 12 weeks
IVF #1 Feb 2006 - BFN
IVF #2 April 2006 - BFN
We are considering calling it a day...
lara
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Posts: 104
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:32 am
Location: London

Post by lara »

So much has been written, it's amazing.

Tammy, way to go. We aren't allowed more than a max of 2 blastos in the UK, which is ridiculous because as you say the chances of having triplets or more are so close to zero as to be negligible. But we have no choice. that's one reasons why the States has better results with IVF - but only one reason - there are others. Jolly good luck to you girl, put all your eggs in one basket since you can't freeze embies.

Anna, one minute things are down, then up again (a bit).. glad AF has arrived, hurrah!!!

Bev, IVF is your big thing at the moment. It's huge, let's face it. Was it you or someone else who said about eating? I've gone up two sizes since I started IVF... Anyway, never mind that, Kiev is going to be fab for you, I feel it.

Good luck Gail, PMA.

Debra, glad it's started, even though it's rough. I think drinking is a good strategy with this one.

Kat, sad for you, understand so well, had that one myself. Your body naturally wants to be pg, it's normal, so you look at pg women. Remember, some pg women feel like S***, heartburn, water retention, stretch marks, indigestion, piles, swollen feet, athlete's foot, candida, thrush, insomnia, unexplained anxiety... And deep deep fear of childbirth! Sorry, I know none of that helps. When you want something, you want it and that's that. I wish I could give it to you.

Randa, great to hear from you. Ruth Picardy was this amazing Brit journo who died of cancer and kept a journal in the Guardian of how it all went up to her death. Brave woman - had kids, too. Poor little darlings.

thanks to everyone for everythig you've said. It's so great. I feel okay at the moment, although starving hungry and can't eat becaus eI've got the most horrendous sore throat so can't swallow. No other symptoms.

Hi Robyn, good luck, Jo, and all.
Love, Lara
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