Hi guys, I did just post this in the LTTC forum but then thought i should probably be in here since I am using assisted conception (and I think this is where I used to post as in the past - need to jog the memory!!!).

Well, I haven't really been in the forum much since around this time last year! I'm not sure if there are any Long-Termers from back then still around or not!

Just a bit of background info. I started my fertility journey back in 2004 when I was diagnosed with fibroids and had 9 removed (the largest 15cm!). Two were left behind because they were too close to the main blood supply and at the time were also out of the way.

Since then I've had 2 x DI attempts (I'm single - can't find Mr Right!!!!) and 4 x IVF attempts - all with no success. Each time I only had around 4 to 5 follicles, 2 eggs and only one of those was suitable for transfer.

May last year was my last IVF cycle and since then I haven't been too well unfortunately (one hurdle after another!!!). In June I hurt my neck and shoulder at work and my boss couldn't have been more unsupportive if he'd tried! The six months following were just awful. Thankfully both he and my neck have improved this year BUT from January I've been feeling really sick (bloating, nausea, stomach pains, joint pain, tiredness) which my usual GP has basically ignored. I changed to a new GP recently and she has mentioned I could have a gluten intolerance. Still investigating it at the moment (and am on a gluten free diet to see if it makes a difference).

In the meantime I also caught up with my FS a few weeks ago and it seems the two remaining fibroids have grown and have now started causing me grief with my cycle! GREAT!!! He doesn't think I have a chance of getting pregnant while they are there BUT the catch is that because of their location, I only have a 50/50 % chance that removing them will work. So I could end up having a hysterectomy during the surgery.

SO! I currently have a lot to think about - and not much of it very good!!! I've pretty much decided to go ahead with the fibroid surgery in the new year, as the fibroids are only getting worse anyway. I guess the catch is whether I end up with another chance to try and get pregnant, or whether it will all be over. I've thought about trying to 'move on' even now but while there's even a glimmer of hope I can't let my baby dream disappear just yet! So if the surgery doesn't go well, then I guess I will have no choice but to move on - but then I don't want to think about that too much yet!

And of course I need to get fit and healthy before the surgery as well, so hopefully I can get this gluten thing sorted out, or find out if it is actually something else and get back to feeling healthy again!

Okay, so that's my long-winded update!!!

Hope everyone is doing well. Will try and catch up on threads and who's doing what. Good luck to all those going through cycles.

Marg