ERA/ALICE/EMMA testing thread 2

[seven201]

Link to the old thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/infertility/4187520-era-testing-after-multiple-implantation-failures-anyone-had-it-done?msgid=110302437&utmsource=mentions&utmmmedium=email&utmcampaign=2020-10-19&utmmterm=You+have+been+mentioned+in+a+post&rei=438192#110302437

Welcome to the new thread. Anyone welcome.

@Janefx40

Wow I've missed such a big day on the thread!

@seven201 congratulations! This is so exciting and yes, I know, scary too, but it's a start and a great one.

Yes yes to taking progesterone. For my natural cycle FET it is just one suppository twice a day.

Good luck. Don't apologise for hogging the thread. This is what the thread is for. Xxxxxx

@Janefx40 thank you! That's interesting. I was thinking of dropping down to one a day instead of 2. Are you talking about cyclogest 400? Just checking as in the past I've had ultrogestran (made up that spelling) and I think that was just once a day.

@Gardenlady543 thanks for the medichecks tip. I tried a local place but they don't have a phlebotomist today or tomorrow so I've ordered the finger prick ones.

@seven201 it was 400 yes so 800 a day overall. Actually sorry I realise that that dose was pre-transfer - I'm not sure what the dose would be after transfer because so far I've just done the test cycle so we stopped at the tests. I also did a natural cycle FET at ARGC and was on cyclogest plus Lubion there after transfer (but they are project overkill - why take one drug when 20 will do!!! And that was also based on my drug results).

@seven201 this may lead you down the road to madness. But I use Clearblue Digital with weeks indicator to give me a vague idea of Hcg levels. I know those tests maybe haven't been accurate for everyone and it can be a mixed blessing because you can drive yourself mad with these results. But for me they have always been accurate and tallied with blood results x

@Janefx40 thank you. I will stick with the 800 then I think. Going to leave off the lentogest (even though I have about £400 worth in the cupboard!) as I think that probably isn't needed. Maybe I'll get some of those tests too.

@seven201 tentative huge congrats to you. Any luck getting a HCG sorted? It really does sound like the surgery has helped. Keeping fingers and toes crossed here for more good news!

@Gardenlady543 glad your consultant is optimistic. It sounds like they are being very thorough. Is your baseline scan today? I hope it goes well.

@VenusStarr how are you feeling today? Sorry to hear about all the anxiety. Hopefully talking it through with the councillor will be helpful. They might be able to give you some coping mechanisms too. I like breathe in for 7 hold for 5 out for 7 whenever anxiety kicks in.

@whatcangowrong how’s all progressing with the FET? Have you got a date yet?

@Janefx40 any sign of day 1? Are you going for a FET this month too?

Hi @Dochas121 yep, first scan was today, I'm at 7mm which is a personal best for me at CD9 and the lining looks "lovely", nice triple layered and my ovaries are nice and quiet. They will call me this afternoon to tell me what I need to do next, I think they will probably leave me on my current dose and book in a scan early next week, but we'll see.

That’s fantastic @Gardenlady543 glad it went so well and it looks great. Hopefully all the probiotics antibiotics etc have done their thing

@Dochas121 thank you. Not managed to find anywhere to do the HCG so ordered a finger prick one to be delivered. Have miraculously managed to make a gp appointment for this afternoon to discuss meds, so that's good. How are you doing?

@Gardenlady543 oh wow, that is really good!!

@Dochas121 yep it's on Monday, yikes. Last chance saloon (well, last chance without more ivf). I'm stressing that it doesn't feel like the right cycle day compared to others, but I take a trigger shot so guess it's under influence of that. I'm also stressing that as the embryos are both early, they'll miss the implantation window. Gah. Anyone know how it all works re the progesterone and how wide the window is etc? How are you feeling post yours?

@Gardenlady543 - yay for your lining. Hopefully this is your time! (Before I started using mn I couldn't have foreseen myself congratulating a stranger on the inside of their uterus, strange times).

@seven201 have you done any more home pregnancy tests? GP could do an hcg test for you no?

@VenusStarr how are you holding up?

Now I've been Googling early blastocysts and finding out that very few are euploid. Feel quite depressed about the fact this transfer almost certainly isn't going to work, again 😞

@whatcangowrong

Now I've been Googling early blastocysts and finding out that very few are euploid. Feel quite depressed about the fact this transfer almost certainly isn't going to work, again 😞

What grade of early blastocyst do you have?

One of my twins didn't make blastocyst until day 6 - she was 4bb

It's a 2,2 (BB). Got a 5/10 on caremaps so that's not great either. The other one I have is expanded blast, BB day 6 with a 4/10. So a bit worse. Guess you never know, good to hear you had success with something similar!

@whatcangowrong my son is a 2.2 and my current pregnancy is a 2.2 as well
X
@seven201 hope ur feeling ok. Has bleeding stopped? Have u tested again? Is the line any darker I totally don’t think u should do that though but I must admit I ended up doing it this time!

@whatcangowrong don’t be writing yourself off before you even get going! Lots of success stories with not perfect grades blasts! I actually transferred a 3BB even though I have 3-5 AA as I’ve read so much about lower grades turning out normal and top grades not.

I’m not sure re implantation window. I did an ERA and they found the receptive window so that’s when transfer was. They did say there was a window of 3-4 hours. My progesterone was low at 24 after embryo transfer so I started progesterone in oil and on Thursday it was 100 so it shot right up. Again not sure how that impacts on implantation window though! Got to hope the clinic know what they’re doing 🙈

Yeah I know, my son is bb. It's these lower caremaps scores bumming me out but I know they're not perfect. I guess I'm just quite demoralised. I'm usually super positive about it all, feel v anxious and edgy.

Sorry you're feeling anxious @whatcangowrong ❤️ they wouldn't transfer if they didn't think it had a chance. It's so hard not to get consumed with the worries. I'm literally going minute by minute sometimes, otherwise my head runs away with me. Try and limit the time / what you Google if you can.

@Dochas121 my transfer was within 45 minutes of my era window. I think it's the exposure to progesterone rather than the amount, but glad it was checked and you're on more. I do think the lubion is what made a difference for me this time. Just wish it wasn't so expensive! But, if it works, I don't care.

How are you @seven201? Hope the GP was helpful. I'm just at the surgery getting my bloods done.

Good news @Gardenlady543 🤞 you'll get your transfer date next week.

Feel like time has sped up again. This time next week I'll know if we have a viable pregnancy and I feel sick. On paper, everything should be OK, but as we all know what should happen and what does happen rarely aligns, we'll for me anyway. I'm doing some mindful breathing eachibv day a few times and I started a new Cross stitch yesterday to keep me occupied. I do think I'm getting more symptoms now but what's freaking me out is I've had 3 MMCs, so had no real idea things were wrong until the scan. I'm just hoping our history doesn't repeat itself. Sorry for the brain dump.

Hope you're OK @Janefx40

@whatcangowrong don't worry about not feeling positive. I believe how you feel doesn't make any difference to success rates. Sorry you are feeling that way though. Trust in the doctors and try and have a weekend with distractions in it.

@VenusStarr well done for even coping at all. I can't imagine the worry you must feel. That's good you've had another blood test.

Still have a bit of brown blood but not a lot so not hugely worried about that. Haven't tested again. Might tomorrow (have more first response here) and just ordered the clearblue weeks one. I was in the gp for ages talking about everything but completely forgot to ask for a HCG test, but hopefully my finger prick one will arrive soon. He says it's beyond his expertise so he's going to email various people for advice on the different meds and get back to me next week. I confessed to already starting cyclogest and he was nice about it but told me off. He said he won't prescribe me any until another doctor tells him it's ok to! He said if I get to 6 weeks he'll refer me to obstetrics early as I'm high risk and need the right meds and monitoring. I emailed my ivf clinic asking for a cyclogest prescription and got a polite reply telling me they won't, I'm with the midwives and gp now - bit frustrating as now is when I need the help and I'm in between services essentially. Have emailed Mr Lower's secretary again asking for advice but no reply yet. Will just carry on with the cyclogest I have for now. I could always try the fertility paid for service garden suggests for the prescription. Or maybe I'll break in to a pharmacy

@seven201 sounds like you are doing great. I'm glad the Dr is helping by seeking advice although shame he won't just prescribe for you

@Gardenlady543 great lining! Glad the scan was good.

@VenusStarr thinking of you. Good luck with the bloods

@whatcangowrong my DD was a day 5 morula so not sure that is even gradeable. I honestly don't think it means that much. Best of luck. You have every chance and we'll all be rooting for you.

Yes I got my period today. Had confirmation from the clinic yesterday that they are closing for longer than usual this Christmas to do some refurbishment. I'm going to make a complaint that they didn't think to inform patients. I honestly think that most clinics forget that there are actual women with emotions at the receiving end of their treatment who could actually care when their transfers and cycles take place. Makes me so cross - not cross that they are closing but that they didn't tell us!

@Janefx40 oh that is shitty. I totally agree. That's what I've always felt with ivf clinics. Very little sympathy when you express a frustration for them adding a delay somewhere. A complaint is a good idea. Have a sleep on it then decide.

Thanks @seven201

@Dochas121 how are you feeling?

@seven201 how much cyglogest do you have?

I have what the clinic gave me for a FET so I guess 2 weeks ish.

Your GP sounds similar to mine @seven201 I can imagine it's really worrying to still have some spotting but hopefully it's nothing to worry about and it's just your little one getting snug.

@Janefx40 I'm sorry that your clinic have dropped that on you, that's really frustrating and poor of them not to have communicated well in advance.

I didn't get hcg bloods, just my thyroid, liver and kidney function and my blood clotting profile. I'm happy in denial and being pupo. I'm starting to get more symptoms, which of course could be my meds but have given me a bit of reassurance. Had a bit of a scare last night, sorry for the tmi, but dh bought us fish and chips for dinner and almost immediately after eating I got intense cramps and started to feel hot and sick. Went to the loo and continued cramping for about 15 minutes and then it passed. Was quite scary. But I'm OK. I've been awake on and off since 2.30, it's like when you've been out for a few drinks (remember that?!) and your body is trying to process the alcohol. So I think it's anxiety really. Also got super dry lips and feeling thirsty, despite drinking around 6-8 pints of water a day.

Can see you were awake early too @seven201 hope you're OK xx

@VenusStarr being thirsty is often reported as a symptom of early pregnancy so sounds promising.

@seven201 good luck with the weeks test. I have used them in the past but I think it's worth considering what you will do if they don't give you a reassuring answer - the in between answers can lead to endless googling and anxiety. Personally I still prefer to know because I'm anxious either way.

Splitting headache. Going to do a lateral flow!