Immune/NK cells - pred thread 29

[StillTrying10000]

Starting a new thread as the last was full.

@Onwardsandupwards1206 it's so hard ❤️ I feel like maybe I was on too much medication? I don't know. It's all really confusing.

I did do the Endometrio tests with crp - are you naturally ttc? The era part is only really helpful if you're doing ivf frozen embryo transfers, so you might be able to do it for slightly less, but it was £2000. I had to pay for a progesterone blood test on top which was £95! All to tell me what we knew that I hadn't ovulated as I was on estrogen! But I'm glad I did it for peace of mind.

Dr S put me on fragmin for my ivf (I don't have any blood clotting issues) but clexane is just the same and I had some from my first round of ivf, so rather than change over mid way, I just stuck with the same it's supposed to help implantation in ivf.
My ivf clinic put me on lubion because in my fresh cycle, I bled really heavily and early at 7dp5dt (12dpo) and then I tested positive 2 days later, but my progesterone had dropped to 20 by that point and although my hcg tripled, it was still very low, then my tests faded. I definitely think it helped. I'm not sure if it would be used in natural cycles but in my frozen embryo transfer I was on estrogen again, so wasn't producing progesterone on my own.

I really hope that you get good news next week. When do you go back? Did Dr S give you any hope that it could work out? Xx

How are you getting on @myrainbowjourney?

I'm waiting for my period, think it'll be here over the weekend and then I can start my meds.

I hope everyone is doing ok ❤️

@myrainbowjourney he didn’t give me a % chance or anything, I do think he has a nice way of being optimistic until absolutely necessary, which I appreciate. But from how low it was I know it’s a pretty bad prognosis. I think my only hope at this stage is some kind of miracle, but I don’t really believe in those so I’m preparing for the worst.

The cramps have subsided a little but spotting is still ongoing.

I’m just so bad at waiting, once I know it’s going bad I just want to have the MVA and get on with my life. Can’t stand still having morning sickness and tiredness all for nothing.

Really appreciate all your messages xxx

@Onwardsandupwards1206 I would be feeling exactly the same as you, but as I have the benefit of looking in from outside, I am going to suggest that the rest of us ladies keep everything crossed, hold onto the hope and send all the positivity to you. You just focus on looking after yourself and distract yourself as much as possible until next week.

I'm not going to say stay positive, because it's near on impossible, but we are all behind you.

@VenusStarr I am fine thank you, except I woke up with cystitis today, which I haven't had for ages. And I hate it. It's annoying as I would have liked to have DTD tonight but I don't think that's a good idea.
I can't remember if I said, but the scan showed one 20mm follicle and 3 little ones behind it. I'm triggering Monday to catch the 3, but he suggested DTD on Tuesday just gone in case the first one went. I haven't had a positive OPK since so I don't know if it ovulated already or isn't going to, but want to cover bases in case.

Thanks for checking in ❤️

That's exciting that you can start the meds soon. How are you feeling generally?

xxx

@Onwardsandupwards1206 sending love and strength. It’s hard to be in limbo, I know. Holding onto hope with you 💛

@VenusStarr thanks for checking in. I’m a little nervous as my cycle started a few days ago so that’s us on the countdown to starting stims at the end of March. Just awaiting sperm dna/urine culture results, which we should get within a week or so. I think my vaginal microbiome results come in then too (a bit like Alice/Emma tests apparently). I’ll be relieved when we get started I think.

@myrainbowjourney good luck for Monday 🙂

Hope everyone else is keeping well xx

Just having a really shit day & I know you guys will understand. Sorry it’s a bit of a long one.

I’ve been struggling with feeling low since my due date just over two weeks ago. Today AF arrived after buggering around and being 3 days late, I knew in my heart of hearts I wouldn’t be pregnant but I was so desperately hoping to get off the IVF rollercoaster! I’ve then had a phone call off my mum to say my cousins grandma has suddenly died today (we are a close family so knew her pretty well). I haven’t been able to see her for a long time so I feel bad about that. Mum decided to end the conversation by telling me my second cousin has had a baby and luckily oma was able to see the baby about two weeks ago. I really didn’t need to know that. The baby must have been born the same time I had my miscarriage. I decided to go on Facebook after avoiding it all week (after seeing a previous pregnancy announcement) and read some stuff in an ivf group which calmed me down. Stupidly I then checked my home feed to see another pregnancy announcement from someone I never imagined having a baby. Lovely couple and I’m happy for them but feel so jealous. We should be celebrating both having newborns. To be honest I feel at rock bottom now. I know period hormones are not helping, which have been so much worse since miscarriage anyway.

Oh and I have to put a brave face on this weekend as my dad and in laws are visiting to help move all our furniture so we can have carpets done & I really don’t feel like talking about it at all but I know my mother in law will want to know how I am.

@TheHopefulEgg thank you ❤️. I'm going to go into this cycle just thinking it's like any other, and not pin all hopes on it. Just try and relax

I can understand your nerves but I'm so excited for you! It's nice to think that soon you'll be in the process and I'm sure you'll be so well looked after!

@InvisibleDreamer I am so sorry you're having a tough time. It often seems like everything comes at once!
Strangely I saw a pregnancy announcement recently from someone I went to uni with and I never thought she would be announcing that. It's lovely for her, but it just made me feel so low for a while. I'm trying so hard not to compare my journey to anyone else because it's so different. But it's so hard.

Can you just tell your MIL that you don't want to talk about it? Or maybe it'll help to?

Can you take yourself off for some time to yourself while they are busy? Maybe go and grab a coffee and people watch for a while

Social media can be so hard sometimes, there's so much on there to just make people feel rubbish.

Take care of your emotions though, don't talk about anything if you don't want to

We are here always if you need to vent. Sending lots of love xxx

It's awful @Onwardsandupwards1206 you're doing all you can to get through this and we're here with you ❤️

I'm sorry you've got cystitis @myrainbowjourney I hope you're not too uncomfortable. 🤞 With your follicles. I think sometimes trying to take the emotion out of things can help you deal with the day to day.
I think my period might come tomorrow, my temps have been steadily dropping and I've been cramping. Hope it's not a horrible one. But I've got my tablets ready to go. I probably could just start them, but I'll be patient.

Good to hear from you @TheHopefulEgg I'm pleased things are progressing for you. I found the time flew once I started stims.

@InvisibleDreamer I'm so sorry to hear you're having a difficult time. It's absolutely OK to put your own needs first ❤️ sending you love.

Xx

@InvisibleDreamer have you considered removing yourself from social media for a while? Removing the apps from your phone, maybe? I’m sure your MIL will understand if you’d prefer not to talk about it. Try and take some time for yourself this weekend 💛

@VenusStarr I’ve still no idea what to expect from stims. Hoping to hear from the clinic with some idea of my protocol soon although I guess it all depends on initial scan and bloods. My cycle varies from 32-38 days (at the moment) so I don’t even know when I’ll be starting but have made very loose plans.

That said, my partner asked for travel dates so he could get organised for “his bit” and my mum asked me for a start date 🙃

I hope you get your protocol soon @TheHopefulEgg I'm assuming you've got your meds? I did mild ivf as I have low amh. Around day 8 I did feel tired and bloated. Do you know when your first scan will be? Mine was about day 5, then I added cetrotide which suppresses ovulation.
We had a lot of too-ing and fro-ing on when I'd trigger, so it was up in the air when egg collection was and when dh needed to be there. It was a bit stressful as dh had to change his work shift quite late but it was ok. But hard to plan. I think it does depend on your clinic as well, some are more fixed on collection dates.

Still no sign of af... 🙄 Hope everyone is having a nice weekend xx

@VenusStarr annoying you've still not had AF. Jan said on Friday he's putting all new IVF patients on to coenzyme Q10 and I need to be taking it 6 weeks before my new cycle but of course I don't have that long now annoyingly. It's meant to really help with low stim response rate and quality of eggs. I wanted to mention to you encase he'd also forgotten to tell you to take it. He said to take 200mg 3 times a day and just buy from Holland & Barrett x

@StillTrying10000 thank you. I take ubiquinol which is better absorbed than coq-10. Have you already bought it? I get mine from amazon and its about £20 for 200mg tablets for a month. When I did my stims I did 400mg a day. I'm back on 200mg at the moment. It's the only thing I took from it's starts with the egg book, everything else seemed quite extreme!
It's on my list to speak to Dr S about down regulation for my FET as I have adenomyosis, but he might suggest I see Mr Jan to talk about that. My ivf clinic think I don't need it, plus I've heard it's not great if you have low amh.

How are you? Have you started bleeding yet? I hope you're doing as well as you can ❤️❤️

@VenusStarr sorry I forgot you're with another clinic for the IVF. He sent me straight out of the clinic to H&B so I've already spent £90 on the Q10 annoyingly. I'll have to do some reading about the difference in them. I'm having spotting and awful cramping but not on full flow yet. I have to let them know about 6pm tonight if AF is here to see if I'm going in tomorrow or Tuesday for the hysteroscopy. Trying everything I can think of to get AF here sooner! :-)

That is annoying @StillTrying10000 but fingers crossed it helps 🙂 hopefully af will be with you soon, although I'm sorry you're having painful cramps. I had some intense cramps but no spotting or anything yet.

How are you @myrainbowjourney did you say trigger is tomorrow? X

@VenusStarr hey lovely. Thanks for checking in 🥰

Yep, trigger tomorrow. Except I had a pretty strong OPK today so I'm worried I'll ovulate earlier. Not sure what that would mean?

Hopefully AF arrives soon for you both. Do you feel like it's on its way?

I think in my superovulation cycle I got a positive opk the same day as my trigger, so think I may not have needed the trigger. I think that's a good sign for you 🤞 I hope you're feeling OK @myrainbowjourney ❤️

I think she's on her way, but just prolonging it! 😂 I definitely feel like something is happening, had quite bad backache yesterday. Got a feeling it might be a horrible one.
I've still got my FET plan on the wall where I checked off all the milestones and I wrote embaby on board ❤️ and I just can't bring myself to take it down. He asked me about it today and I just cried 😢 so definitely hormonal xx

@VenusStarr I’ve to call on day one of my cycle then head straight down to London for bloods and baseline scan. My OH will be with me at the start/end of trip but otherwise I’ll be on my own. Might be a good thing depending on how I respond to the meds 😅

I really hope it all goes smoothly. My main concern at the moment is my weight because I gained a couple of stone throughout lockdown and while I’ve lost 7lbs I’m struggling to lose more. I’m in the BMI range (which I think is a rubbish measure anyway) but it’s still playing on my mind. I think it’s just a general hangup though, something that’s making me feel a little insecure rather than something that could impact on my cycle.

Rest up and make sure you have a hot water bottle and blanket to snuggle up with 💛

@VenusStarr I just think if I ovulate on my own, only one egg will release. I know the trigger makes them all ovulate, but will that still work if I've ovulated already? Ugh, I thought this all took the worry and thinking away but it doesn't.

Oh that must be really hard to take down though, it probably makes it feel so final. I think the extra meds will help and can only be a good thing, those alongside Dr S's thoughts on next steps will hopefully do the trick.
Definitely get all the period treats out.

@TheHopefulEgg try not to worry about the BMI. You are at a fabulous clinic - if they were at all concerned they would tell you, because it's their reputation too. I agree it might not be fertility related but just don't let it in your mind 🥰
It's really exciting it's all starting soon

xxx

I think those smaller ones will have grown @myrainbowjourney they grow about 1-2mm a day, so definitely feel you're in with a good chance. I've ovulated 2 follicles without meds before now (had a mid cycle scan), that was my 4th baby. It's hard not to worry isn't it? ❤️

Thought my period might have started by now, but still nothing. Hate waiting. Dh is making us dessert today 😋 I'm scared I'm pinning all my hopes on this new medication.

Try not to worry about your weight @TheHopefulEgg when is your period due? My dh works shifts, so I ended up doing my injections and the trigger on my own. Felt a bit anticlimactic! Xx

@VenusStarr it's really hard. And there's no point emailing the clinic, trigger is tomorrow anyway and they won't be able to bring it forward. If they tell me it's not good to ovulate first, I'll then just worry. And at the moment I do feel a bit more positive with the timing, so I really hope my tube just moves itself to the other side.

Ooh what dessert? Making me hungry!
It's ok to be hopeful about it though, makes the process a lot less stressful when you have faith in what you are doing.

@myrainbowjourney fingers and toes crossed for you lovely. Hope the cystitis has eased off now too. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it before but d-mannose is a natural supplement that I’ve found really effective for treating recurring UTIs. I take it when I feel something ‘coming on’. Better than turning to antibiotics which I’ve managed to avoid for a couple of years now. I meant to mention it yesterday and thought it might help.

@VenusStarr somewhere between 25-31 March. And I know what you mean. I often read of partners doing injections but I think my experience will be fairly solitary!

@TheHopefulEgg thank you lovely ❤️
I really hope I have some good luck soon, I hope we all do 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

Ooh that's interesting. I'm really avoiding antibiotics but it seemed to get a bit worse again today so I think I'll need something. Is it an Amazon purchase?

Yeah, I take these:

www.amazon.co.uk/D-Mannose-Tablets-Strength-Natural-Cystitis/dp/B01JZ4GELA?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

And if I have a UTI I take 4 every 3-4 hours for first day then drop to dose on packet. This was on the advice of my fertility reflexologist.

I also try and have 250ml biona cranberry juice diluted in water if I have an active UTI. Pure cranberry, not sugary like other brands:

www.amazon.co.uk/Biona-Organic-Cranberry-Super-Juice/dp/B00C87I7U8/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?rnid=419157031&crid=3TCKQCHI7F52X&keywords=biona+cranberry+juice&rps=1&sprefix=biona+cra%2Caps%2C104&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1645998580&refinements=p_76%3A419158031&sr=8-3