u/MotorAd90

I (37F) have had a very crappy year and looking to get away for a long weekend (c.4 nights) in November from London somewhere I can decompress, switch off, gather my thoughts.

I don’t think I am looking for a spa hotel.

I think what I want is: somewhere immersed in nature, with beautiful but easy (rebuilding strength after a leg fracture, still not 100%) walks on the doorstep, some cultural attractions nearby, where eating solo won’t feel awkward. I think somewhere with not enough to do might mean I get too in my own head so novelty and activity would be helpful. Bookable excursions or a solid concierge would be good, rather than just relying on hiking or skiing for outdoor activity.

Looking to spend c.£6k or so.

Considering Tromso and Transylvania but the place name starting with TR is not a prerequisite…

Not feeling Scotland or Ireland for this trip, want somewhere that feels more novel to me.

Hi all,

I’m looking for clinic recommendations, ideally in the London but open to travelling if there is a strong reason.

I’m 36F, turning 37 next month. AMH is 5.2 pmol/L / approx. 0.7 ng/mL, and AFC has generally been around 6–9.

I’ve now had two very sad failed cycles at LWC and am wondering whether I need to pivot before doing more retrievals.

Cycle 1 — December 2024

• 5 eggs retrieved
• 3 fertilised
• 1 4AA blast
• Fresh transfer failed, did not implant
• Protocol was Gonal 150 (I think stimmed for 12 days) with Ovitrelle trigger.

Cycle 2 — June 2026

• 7 eggs retrieved
• 3 fertilised on day 1
• 1 additional egg matured in vitro and fertilised the next day
• No usable blastocysts produced
• Two blasts did form, but we were told they were not good enough to biopsy or freeze. We do not yet have further embryology detail.
• Protocol was mid-luteal estrogen priming, followed by Gonal 300 and Menopur 150 (stimmed for 14 days) and Ovitrelle trigger.

Male side: around 3% morphology, but otherwise parameters are normal. Both cycles used ICSI.

I have a follow-up consultation booked for 7 July, but given the attrition and lack of usable embryos, I’m thinking I may need a different clinic before putting myself through multiple further cycles. Trying to not just feel crushed but come up with a better game plan.

I’m happy to cash pay. I’m looking for a clinic that is patient-focused and willing to be thoughtful/innovative.

If you have DOR and have had good experiences with a particular clinic or consultant, I’d be really grateful to hear your thoughts please.

Hi all, planning our first trip to Japan in early Feb and would love help choosing the 2-night nature / R&R bit.

Rough shape is Sapporo for the Snow Festival, Kyoto and Tokyo, with one nature stay. We love history, art, craft, beautiful scenery and a bit of vintage shopping. High-end Japanese dining is not a focus as I’m vegetarian, though dashi/bonito is fine, and my husband is allergic to shellfish.

Nature options I’m torn between:

Zaborin: heard a lot of good things, guaranteed snow, more time in Hokkaido, but a bit more logistically tricky? We would do this between Sapporo and Kyoto, whereas the others would be between Kyoto and Tokyo.

Shoraiso: snow monkeys!, also almost guaranteed snow, feels traditional but still up-to-date, but not many reviews. Also a bit logistically tricky.

Fufu Kawaguchiko: Fuji views and looks lovely, but maybe less atmospheric than the two above?

Hakone: easiest logistics, but not sure where to stay. Slightly wary of mixed reviews for Gora Kadan. Feels like the most "expected" ryokan stop.

Main wants are cosiness, good service, good veg-friendly food and a breather from big cities. Private onsen would be nice, but we are family-planning so possibility that I may be pregnant.

Any other favourite ryokan-type stays?

Other hotel questions:

Sapporo: 3 nights, or 2 if picking Zaborin above. Is the InterContinental worth the extra over the Sosei? IC has views, Sosei seems more atmospheric.

Kyoto: 4 nights. Is The Mitsui worth the extra over Sairyu, or would you pick somewhere else?

Tokyo: probably 3 nights. Narrowed down to Palace, FS Otemachi and Janu. Which would you choose for a first Tokyo stay? I keep hearing good things about Tokyo Station and Hoshinoya as well.

My husband is into martial arts, so would love any samurai / martial arts experiences that felt genuinely engaging and informative rather than cheesy.

Any other hands-on experiences that you'd recommend?

Thanks!

My MIL (74 at diagnosis, 75 now) was diagnosed with locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma in late December / early January this year. It took a while to get things going (UK, usual story) so chemo only started in late February. She had six rounds of FOLFIRINOX (with some dose reductions after horrific side effects in March) before her follow-up CT scan and bloods in late May (they were doing functional bloods before every chemo but not CA19-9).

The CT scan showed tumour shrinkage by about a third -- from 28x26mm to 20x18mm. The tumour is at the head of the pancreas but abutting the SMV (initially >180 degrees; T3 N1 M0) but they haven't said what the involvement is now, but it is still present to some degree. Her MDT report following the CT scan says "The SMV is still infiltrated but now the disease is surgically resectable with portal vein resection."

So far, so good. Feeling cautiously optimistic.

However, her CA19-9 is still >12,000, which is the same value as at diagnosis.

The MDT has requested a PET scan to check for occult metastasis but wondering what else could cause high CA19-9 figures despite apparently good chemo response? For those who have been through this: did anyone have persistently very high CA19-9 despite apparent response on CT? No apparent biliary obstruction. Slightly elevated ALP on the pre-chemo bloods. No stent. The MDT report does say "there is dilatation of the pancreatic duct distal to the lesion".

Fervently hoping she can undergo the Whipple and have a good outcome.
I know no one can give medical advice or predict her outcome, but I would be grateful for experiences from anyone whose situation involved high CA19-9 before surgery.

What possesses someone to list such a beautiful and expensive house in such a state of disarray?

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/174986762#/media?activePlan=1&id=media16&ref=photoCollage&channel=RES_BUY