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.

@Hassyboo progynova is estradiol, so you're on 4 x lubion a day. Like I said I take lubion, but just once a day with cyclogest pessaries. 4 is a lot, so I don't think you need to worry about your progesterone level. I hope you get a BFP

@Gardenlady543 I can't see it being later than Wednesday... more likely Tuesday which will be 8dp5dt. I got a clear bfp with my son on d7 so I'm always tempted but I learnt last time that the trigger can stick around. Yes I have usually done a mildly medicated fet with trigger. This time I'm on a bit more progynova as my lining was "chaotic" whatever that means! So she wasn't sure if I would have ovulated or not, but she likes to get a bit of hcg in the system apparently. I think sounds right about better pre receptive, I wonder how long they can survive in there just doubling away but not attached/implanted, any idea?

@Janefx40 good luck for tests and let us know what they say.

@Dochas121 you're inching closer to test day, hope you're feeling ok. Be sure to spoil yourself with an instant coffee today 😂. I def will be 😬

@VenusStarr and @seven201 hope you're both ok and the nerves are holding out. Hoping for some positive scan/hcg news this week for you both.

@Hassyboo - garden lady is the resident expert on these matters! Progesterone on its own can't get you pregnant but important to make sure level is where it should be, and sounds like you have lots!

Hi everyone, thanks for asking after me. I've been really struggling with anxiety these past few days. I saw the clinic counsellor yesterday and I think that's helped a bit. The reality is I have to accept that I'm going to be worried and I can't change the outcome, so just need to try and focus on the here and now.

@Janefx40 glad your test results are back, hopefully you'll have a plan of action after today.

@Gardenlady543 glad you're able to get started on countdown to transfer. I started with a lubion injection too. I do mine now at 8am, then a cyclogest at 3pm and 10.30pm I'm glad your consultant is supportive.

@seven201 I'm sorry you had some more bleeding. I hope your hcg result reassures you today ❤️

@whatcangowrong big hugs, I don't trust my mind or body at the moment! It's exhausting second guessing yourself. This time, I had no symptoms until period pains at 6/7dp5dt so was convinced it hadn't worked, so I'm taking from that that you really can't tell. Glad you have been looked after :)

@Dochas121 we've been ttc 4 years this month too ❤️ I hope you have a lovely wedding anniversary this weekend

@msgloria I am so sorry

@Hassyboo I'm on lubion this time round, 1 injection and 2 cyclogest and I did her a bfp this time. I was only on 2 utrogestan in my fresh cycle but had a big bleed and thrn tested positive. You are on a high dose of progesterone, so hopefully the spotting isn't not related to your levels. I've had no spotting on this dose. Best of luck.

I'm meeting my sister for dinner this evening which I'm looking forward to. I hope everyone has a good day xx

@Gardenlady543 I'm not on 4 lubion I on 1 in the morning and 1 in the night so x2 a day and progynova tablets I take 3 times a day. My test date is on 14th November :) thank you soo much il keeps yous updated... this chat is so lovely why haven't I done this before

Tbh I'm new to all this still I'm still on my 1st gpubd 2nd transfer I don't know much about my p levels as I thought the nurses and dixtirs are the experts :/ do yous thinks that's something for me to worry about if you canr easy mg last post I'm on lubion 1 in the morning and night not 4 sorry I wasn't clear and x2 progynova tablets a day

@whatcangowrong wow not long till testing at all for you. I did indeed just enjoy a nice coffee in bed while reading a chapter of the Christmas Chronicles. One chapter per day from November till Feb all about winter traditions and winter food. It’s my favourite part of the day! Hope you enjoyed yours too!

@VenusStarr I’m glad the counsellor helped. Thanks re anniversary. It’s amazing it just becomes a benchmark of failure when you can’t have a baby. If we got a positive it would be the best weekend ever! I hope you enjoy dinner with your sister.

Good luck @seven201 with your HCG result. And good luck @Janefx40 with your results today too.

Seems to be wedding anniversary season, it's our third anniversary today as well!

Congratulations to those with wedding anniversaries! @whatcangowrong @Dochas121

Remember the love and the wedding. 👰🏻Sorry that it's also a reminder of years of TTC 🙁 and for you too @VenusStarr

@VenusStarr I think what the counsellor said makes sense. There is no way to stop the anxiety or worry. It is totally natural and normal response to what you have been through. I always think it's the hope that kills me. I can almost take the failure and loss but when I start to hope it can feel unbearable. Time will pass and hopefully your day will come. Sending lots of love xxxx

@Hassyboo these threads have been a life saver for me over the years. There will be other threads too with women going through IVF cycles at the same time. They may also be a good source of support.

I've made some great friends on these threads too. I've met a couple of women that cycled with me when we were TTC our first. And I have another really good friend who I email regularly still.

This is a particularly lovely thread xxx

@Hassyboo that dose of progesterone is fine don't worry, I think 2 x lubion will be about the the same as what I'm on. The reason my specialist didn't want to put me on 2 was because of the cost. I had an allergic reaction in my fresh cycle so was abruptly moved off cheaper utrogestan onto expensive lubion. If this cycle doesn't work then in the next cycle if you're worried you could have the progesterone level checked the day before the transfer, but it's not routinely checked so there's no need to worry. Glad you're finding the forum supportive, you've managed to stumble into a thread of quite complicated people (in the nicest possible way) so you're in good hands for advice!

Sending hugs @VenusStarr

@whatcangowrong I wonder about how long the embryos can hang around for too. I'm not sure that anyone knows.

So results are back and pretty much as expected. Immune bloods show slightly elevated NK and TN (haven't got them in front of me yet so can't remember the exact terms) that would respond to intralipids. Immune biopsy is normal so he doesn't want me to take steroids in case that has a negative effect. Will do intralipids during transfer cycle and again if I get pregnant.

ERA - was receptive.
Alice - negative ie no issue
Emma - slightly low lactobacillus so going to take canesflor this month and again next month.

@Dochas121 I was just doing the tests because these two embryos are our last chance so want to be thorough. There was nothing to suggest I have implantation issues as been pregnant twice (one successful, one later miscarriage) but also had 2 failed transfers so we don't know the reasons for that - we always assumed they were aneuploids but they were untested so don't know

Xxx

@whatcangowrong happy anniversary ❤️

That all sounds good @Janefx40 at least no nasty surprises with the endo trio to contend with. Hopefully the intralipids will do their job and with a normal embryo you are in with a good chance.

So transfer will be end December now?

I also did the era Emma etc preemptively as I get so few embryos. I think it’s a good idea to not necessarily wait for these tests unless you’ve tons of embryos!

Those are good results @Janefx40

I'm glad you can avoid the steroids. It's great that you're receptive. And it's good that you've got lactobacillus and just need a top up :)

Aww thank you so much.. if it doesn't work this time I will check with my nurse... Sunday needs to hurry up ;)

A total tangent but have any of you heard of the Fertility Network? I've done 7 rounds of treatment at 3 clinics and never even heard of them until a couple of weeks back. Wondering if I've missed a trick or if they aren't that visible!

No @Janefx40 but I heard of fertility circle the other day, which seems to be a "femtech" start up. That pissed me off to be honest - more people looking to make money out of us!

@whatcangowrong I know what you mean! Fertility Network seem to be a charity but they're claiming to represent us and I've never bloody heard of them!

Think I'll stick with mumsnet ❤️ def value the support I get on here but don't fancy anything more formal (or paid for!!). Counselling at some point perhaps 🤔

I have nothing new to report but just popping on to say hope everyone has a nice evening!

@Janefx40 never heard of them either!

@whatcangowrong we’ve nearly survived another day of the TWW @VenusStarr another day closer to your scan ❤️

@seven201 hope your HCG results came back and are in a good range 🤞🤞

Yes well done @Dochas121 @VenusStarr @seven201 @whatcangowrong for surviving another day of 2WW / early days hell!!!

I got introduced to someone who works for the Fertility Network. They're doing some campaign to make workplaces more supportive. Anyway we're going to talk on Monday so I'll let you know more if it's interesting.

Xxx

@Janefx40 ah well that does sound good. In my case I wouldn't say anything to work unless really at the end of my tether, what about others? It's quite male dominated and I'm the only person doing my role, and I'm too junior for my job really, so I think they would just see it as an opportunity to appoint a boss for me! Which I would hate.

I've got cramps. Means absolutely nothing either way of course, but I'm hyper aware.

@seven201 hoping your test results look good x

I’ve attended a couple of London IVF group support/social Zoom calls with Fertility Network and found it a bit lacking. Lots of misinformation flying around tbh.

Quite honestly the most useful thing I’ve done is find the (unofficial) Facebook group for my clinic - it’s a wealth of info - and prior to that, a Facebook group for my type of infertility (endo).

Hello. So many messages on here today -I'm not even going to attempt to mention everyone as I'll get myself in a big muddle.

@Janefx40 those results sound good to me. How do you feel about them? Relieved?

@VenusStarr I'm glad the counsellor has helped a little.

I've not heard of the fertility network. I've not really done anything other than read/join in with the infertility board on here or talk to friends who have also done ivf. My workplace aren't very good. My school ivf policy (that only existed since last summer) is 15hrs per 12 months, more than that is unpaid. But... what I find infuriating is obviously I try and book appts when I'm not teaching, so instead of being at work marking or emailing parents, I do that in an ivf waiting room or extra in the evening at home, but don't get paid for it. It's not like my workload is reduced! After my last failed round I went and ranted at HR (which is out of character for me) about it.

I've still not got my HCG result but I do know the sample has been received now. Only the tiniest bit of spotting today, and I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't been examining every wipe 👀 .

I hope everyone is doing ok.

@seven201 that's actually better than my workplace and we checked with the union. We're not entitled to any paid time off for appointments but we are allowed to take the time off. When I was at ARGC I didn't need much time off because their blood tests are so early in the morning. It was harder at Guys and now at CRGH because appointments can be any time of day but with working from home I can flex my hours easily anyway

@seven201 if the sample has been received I suppose you may get results by tomorrow?

@Janefx40 I wouldn't mind if they were flexible with it at all. I don't mind the 15 hours thing at all, I think that's quite nice. it's the fact that I am going out of my way to not inconvenience my classes and doing the exact same amount of work. I definitely don't mind not being paid if I'm missing a lesson. Schools are just so inflexible, whereas some other jobs have become so much more flexible recently. I can't complain about the holidays though!

I think there's such a broad spectrum of support from employers. I honestly do find the hardest part of ivf the juggling it with work, which is ridiculous really when you consider what we have to do to our bodies, the emotions we go through and all the money we're spending on drugs instead of holidays etc. Sorry, I've gone on a rant. Not aimed at you in case that's not clear!

Hoping for results tomorrow 🤞