Hi Blondie,
Thank you so much for replying, this has at least given me some hope that it's not all in my head and maybe we can do something about this.
Let me see if I can dig out my file to see what's been done so far. Sorry if this is long-winded - I don't really know how much is relevant:
- 1990 blood test showing all clear for arthritis/inflammatory problems
- 1991-1998 on the pill and had to change them every 6 months or so because of severe mood swings, headaches and generally being unpredictable emotionally! DH very supportive :-)
- 1993 swab and ultrasound to try and find cause for abdominal pain - all clear
- 1994 Lap - small ovarian cyst found and removed, otherwise all clear
- 1998 started TTC
- 2000 start of severe stomach problems and ended up in A&E (throughout the 2 weeks before I was almost certain I had conceived, things felt different, then same pattern again each time it happened - very early M/C perhaps?)
- 2000 started infertility investigations at St George's in Tooting - hormone tests, ultrasound and HSG (HSG was VERY painful and resulted in bleeding, but they said that while there was a small blockage, it really wasn't enough to explain the infertility). SA and everything else normal.
- June 2001 investigations for joint pain - full blood screen looking for rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Tests incl:
---ANA Anti-nuclear antibody test
---Biochemistry screen
---C Reactive Protein
---Complement C3/C4
---DNA Binding Antibodies
---Full Blood Count
---Immunoglobins
---Latex Test for RA
---Lupus Anticoagulant
---SLE Screen RO, LA, ENG
---Thyroid Function Test
---Bone Profile
Was told that all came back normal.
- September 2001 both pelvic and abdominal scans done. Normal.
- October 2001 further test for stomach problems - blood tests included
---Amylase
---Biochemistry Screen
---C Reactive Proetin
---Full Blood Count
Again, all clear, then after colonoscopy and barium enema (ick!) came back clear, abdominal pain diagnosed as IBS
- 2002 two monitored cycles with Clomid & HCG. Each time multiple eggs were released, but didn't conceive. Then the AC unit at St. George's, Tooting closed and we decided to give things a break as I'd also been made redundant and the stress was killing me
- 2003 Another couple of severe episodes of stomach problems and had to keep a supply of drugs to treat it myself – Buscopan, Mebeverine, Diclofenac, Lanzaparole.
- 2003 got married, then went travelling for a year together. Carried on TTG throughout that time thinking that if stress was a factor, then being on a year-long holiday should sort that out!
- 2004 went back on the pill for a couple of months to try and kick-start things again - it didn't work
- 2005 decided to start trying again and had to start over. Because we'd moved house we got a referral to St. Helier, but our notes from St. George's weren’t transferred to them - this delayed things about 6 months as all through NHS.
- 2005 bizarrely allergy tests for all the things that made me ill (dairy, beer, mushrooms) came back negative! Tested for coeliac – negative.
- 2006 investigations started all over again - TVS, blood tests, screen for Rubella, Clamydia etc all ok, SA ok. Started getting recurrent BV & candida after AF and still do on and off. Have used heavy-duty anitbiotics, but it comes back.
- 2007 GP said slight possibility of Endo and suggested could have Lap to confirm one way or another - but said probably not necessary. Decided not to at this stage.
- 2009 part-way through blood tests - FSH & Progesterone. Because of my age - 35 - and previous tests, GP says next step is IVF and has asked me to choose where I want to be referred to. GP wants to save time by sending the referral once fresh tests are back.
So that's where we're up to. Like I said, sorry if it's too much info!!!
xx