Didn't make it to test day - advice

[VenusStarr]

I've just finished my first ivf round, 5 day transfer with a 5AA embryo. I'm on prednisolone, clexane, intralipids, aspirin, utrogestan and hydroxychloroquine and had a scratch before starting the cycle and it looks like my period has arrived at 8dp5dt, I have a beta blood test tomorrow but I'm almost certain this is not going to end in a bfp. I've been advised to stop the aspirin and clexane for now.

The round went much better than we predicted and we have 2x 3AA frosties - despite low amh, 3 fertilised and made it to day 5. I'm just trying to think about what we can do differently in a FET. I had my progesterone tested 2 days after transfer and it was 56, so they were happy with my levels.

Are there any questions we should be asking our consultant at our review appointment? I'm confused as to why my period arrived when I'm on 600mg of progesterone.

Thanks x

Hi @VenusStarr I've just seen your thread.

I'm in pretty much exactly the same position as you. Today was 10dp5dt (frozen) and went to my clinic for OTD blood test. They just called me and said hcg is 5 so it's not looking great. Particularly as I've been obsessively testing using FRER and clearblue and the lines which were medium strong on Saturday are now super faint.

They've asked me to come back tomorrow for more bloods but feel like I can't face it. Feel like all the anxiety of the past few days has come crashing down and I can barely eat/function! Hope you are ok and I completely understand when you're still getting lines and don't know if you're coming or going

Hi @freshflowers2 I'm so sorry you're in a similar situation to me ❤️ it's horrible. It's the not knowing and limbo which is so hard. If I had a definite answer, I could begin to start processing it. I've mostly eaten chocolate and crisps today. Are you working? I've taken the rest of the week as sick, I can't concentrate. Sending you a big hug xx

I've got some comedy on @Janefx40, my results won't be back until tomorrow afternoon (on Monday is was after 6 before the results were in). Dr Shehata's nurse called me which was nice. Xx

Thanks so much for your lovely message. Just sitting at the clinic now for repeat bloods. I'm with ARGC and despite them being a pain in the ass they are speedy so are likely to telephone with results at 1/2pm.
I'm 100% sure it hasn't worked, but there's nothing much that can be done about it now. Ah well. Feel very flat but yes I do work (from home so can tell a few fibs and catch up in the evenings) so that is providing a vague distraction.
Hope you are feeling a bit better today? Honestly my clinic told me that 1 or 2 out of 100 women do go on to have a successful pregnancy with extremely low hcg levels on OTD. You never know

Hi @freshflowers2 I'm so sorry you're going through this too. I've been in the same situation before (with ARGC) and it is very tough although they are a good clinic for that because the nurses give you lots of time and support. Lots of clinics it's very clinical and hard to get hold of anyone.

Are you on the ARGC Facebook group? If you're not and you would like to be, PM me and I'll send you the information x

Thanks, that's very kind of you. Need to make a decision on whether to carry on or give up (DH doesn't want to do any more but may do if I push)

They have confirmed that hcg is now 3 and I'm to stop all medications.

Is there any news @VenusStarr ...?

I'm so sorry @freshflowers2 ❤️ even if you're preparing yourself for the worst, it's still a shock. I hope you can take time to grieve and try and process things.

The nurses called, I'm still in limbo, my hcg is now 14.9, so it has almost tripled (first test was Monday at 10, second test was Wednesday at 1). So I'm continuing progesterone and back on Monday for bloods. If its gone down, it's a miscarriage (my 5th 😢) or if its gone up, it's still inconclusive and I'm to watch out for signs of an ectopic 😕 I tested again this morning and my tests were darker, so I was anticipating a higher level. Just wish I knew how it will turn out. X

Ahh well that's definitely good news for now. I totally know what you mean about the limbo but any increase is good- from what I know it's about things going in the right direction, more than the numbers themselves...

At the same time it's obviously not ideal and totally understand that the clinic are trying to manage expectations and you don't want to get your hopes up. But still- everything crossed for you 🤞🏻🤞🏻Would love to know how it turns out 😊

Thank you @freshflowers2 it is good that its risen, hopefully it will continue that was 🤞 I'll keep this thread updated. I definitely think the clinic are erring on the cautious side. I don't think this happens very often. X

Hi @VenusStarr we've spoken on other threads but I'm a frequent name changer. Just wanted to wish you the best whatever the outcome, am really hoping it's a good one

Thank you @NotMyDayJob 🙏 (trying to work out who you are 🤔 🙂)

@VenusStarr I hope you don't mind me asking, but how are you doing?

Hi @2mumlife, thanks for checking in. My tests got darker the day after my second beta but then got gradually lighter. I had a follow up beta on the Monday and the clinic confirmed it was a biochemical pregnancy 😢, so my 5th pregnancy loss. I've got my review appointment on Wednesday. And we do have 2 3AA frosties, so I'm hoping we can get a plan for moving forward.

How are you? X

@VenusStarr I'm so sorry to hear this wasn't the miracle outcome we'd all hoped for you. It's great to have some frosties but will be good for you to find out at review if there is anything they can do different to support pregnancy to continue.

I'm good thanks, just in the waiting period now X

Thank you @2mumlife ❤️ I feel like I need a break and don't want to transfer quickly, but I don't know if it's the grief of everything to this point, but my mind is racing and panicking about taking some time out. But I also haven't bled since my hcg dropped, so I'm not really sure where I am in my cycle now.

I've got everything crossed for you 🤞 xx

I'm so sorry @VenusStarr. Thinking of you. 💐

Hi @VenusStarr really sorry to hear this.

I didn't get a bleed until 6 days after stopping meds, it all just messes with your head 😣

Can relate to the panicky feeling about when to try again- haven't had a review yet so I don't know if they advise to carry on straight away or give your body a bit of a break.

Hope you feel alright in yourself. It's hit me more than I thought and in different ways- been feeling kind of breathless and panicky and just not myself. It's probably a mix of the huge drop in hormones and of course the inevitable sadness.

Definitely don't lose hope though- it's anecdotal but everyone I know who has used IVF has got there in the end, and your embryos are fantastic quality. Xx

@VenusStarr I get you, I've taken breaks at various points, you just need to step back sometimes and recover

Hi @VenusStarr I'm so sorry this didn't end as we hoped. I've had a chemical from IVF and found it harder than when I got a straight BFN. Absolutely take a break if you need one. I have everything crossed for those Frosties xxx

Thank you @Janefx40 @freshflowers2 @Scirocco @2mumlife, had our review with the ivf clinic and feeling more deflated than ever.

He said that it seems like there was a slow implantation, I shouldn't have bled so heavily on progesterone and the fact I did bleed indicates it was struggling to implant. Because I'm on so much immune medication, we can rule that out. There is a chance the embryo wasn't genetically normal, so we could rest our remaining embryos, but they're not strongly pushing that and he didn't seem convinced that was the issue.

They believe it's an issue with my lining, so they want me to have a hysteroscopy. I do have lots of fibroids and they're concerned there is something going on, so have a look, take out anything that shouldn't be there and take it from there. So they're sending me the details for a couple of private surgeons to book in with.

He also mentioned surrogacy 😢 which is definitely not on the cards for us. But made me feel totally shit. He said our embryos are good quality, so best to check before we do a transfer.

I still haven't bled and I forgot to mention it because I was so overwhelmed with what he was saying. Its been 12 days since I stopped the utrogestan. Xx

@VenusStarr I'm sorry you've had such a tough review. It sounds like removing fibroids might be a positive next step, and perhaps having another cycle after that and see how things go? It sounds like there are some things still to try for you yet