ERA/EMMA/ALICE Testing Thread 3

[Janefx40]

Hello all,

This is a continuation of the ERA/EMMA/ALICE Testing thread.

New posters are welcome. On here you will find a group of women who are either doing these tests or have done them already and are further on the journey

This is the friendliest and most supportive group so feel free to join and post

Xxx

@VenusStarr I'm not surprised you're exhausted. I'm glad Pals are on the case. It sounds like she is helping now you have finally got hold of someone. Have a cosy evening - we can't always make ourselves relaxed and we can't always be happy but we can be cosy! That's the best we can do sometimes xxx

Oh @VenusStarr how awful. What a stupid mistake, but such a painful one to be on the receiving end of.

@Janefx40 and @seven201 encase of interest the clinic has just brought on board a new doctor called Dr Edge, she is super lovely and smart, and was shadowing the other consultants in December, so although I expect Dr S will still do initial appointments it means they will have more capacity once you are on the books for follow ups x

@StillTrying10000 👍🏻

@StillTrying10000 that is reassuring, thank you. How are you doing?

I had my mid cycle scan today to see how my lining is naturally. I'm on cd14 (usually 32 ish day cycle) and my lining is only 5mm and not triple line. Feeling a bit flat as I thought it would be thicker now. While I was typing that I was rung and told to come back next early next week. Bit annoying as I initially booked for Monday but was worried that was too late so went for the Friday! I do wonder if that's why I've miscarried twice since the op - still a thin lining issue.

Can anyone work out if one of these blood tests is the thrombophila? I went into the gp and asked them to print my blood tests out and was given this and it's fine that I don't understand it (it's for me Shehata) but just not sure if maybe some results are just not back yet and need to go again on Monday to see if there are more to arrive. I can't get through on the phone to ask! Also, is one of these the cd2-4 one (as nurse said she was doing it anyway on cd11 as she couldn't not print off the label or something!).

@seven201 nope there's no thrombophilia tests there, did your gp agree to a thrombophilia screen? It can take a bit to come back. The ones you've got there are the routine tests.

@seven201

Some of the ones I listed for day 3 are there:

LH no
FSH no
Oestradiol no
Testosterone yes
DHEA no
Sex hormone binding globulin yes
Prolactin yes
AMH no

Thank you @Gardenlady543 that's really helpful. She did say she'd do the thrombophila, so probably just not back yet then. I'll pop in on Monday to ask.

How are you doing? Any decisions on the treatment or are you understandably just not in the right head space to decide?

Do you think it's worth pushing to do the cd3 ones? I might buy an online kit one instead of the stress of trying to book it around work.

@seven201 I would, these are the ones I got towards the end of the year:

medichecks.com/products/anti-mullerian-hormone-amh-blood-test

medichecks.com/products/day-3-fertility-check-blood-test

It would be good to see where your AMH is if they haven't done it in the recent round of tests and since AMH is variable getting a value for FSH and LH would be a good idea too. Sorry to hear about your lining on the scan, it's best to see what it looks like just before ovulation so hopefully it will thicken a bit over the next few days. For the thrombophilia screen, your gp probably has sent off just a few tests, but any tests you can get would be good, there are loads of things that can be tested for this.

I don't really know where I'm at, my specialist report came through today from last weeks appointment, it's a bit shit to see in writing, "As discussed with you concerns have been noted about the quality of your endometrial lining”. I'm basically right back at the start again. The more I think about things the more I think any form of artificial oestrogen or progesterone is a bad idea, but then I think, well if that was my issue then why have I never had a positive test, even when trying naturally. This just all feels like an unwinnable fight.

Yesterday I saw someone had written about a second opinion service, so I signed up and sent everything off, it's $350 they will go through the notes I've sent them and then provide a report on what they think I should do next within the next 2 weeks:

www.centerforhumanreprod.com/contents/services/second-opinion-program

Thank you @Gardenlady543 I've ordered the medichecks kit. Expensive few days - 2 scans and now blood tests.

I can see how it would feel like being at the start again, but you have made progress, even if it's just ruling things out (which I know doesn't fee
Like much, I'm not trying to minimise). The second opinion thing is worth doing, if only for some piece of mind. You never know, they may have some suggestions you'd ruled out previously but may wish to reconsider now.

I have some happy news to share on behalf of Cream123. She gave birth to a baby girl on the 31st I believe. Congratulations cream! For the newer joiners, she was on the original ERA thread and had to do a lot fighting to get where she is now. I hope we all get there too!

Congratulations @cream123 💗 I'm so glad your baby is here after everything you went through

Congratulations @Cream123 🥰 wonderful news xx

@seven201 that's wonderful news. Congratulations Cream.

Can someone remind me which day of my cycle I start taking canesflor?

Xxx

@Janefx40 I've never been told. Mr Lower said to do a week on, week off and probably best to avoid the fertile days. I originally was told to just do the initial course of treatment. I do one every few days roughly as I don't like it very much!Personally I'd wait until light flow then start.

Congrats Cream! Lovely news.

Thank u girls. I’m going to keep being nosy on and off on here as I’m waiting for more good news…..

Hugs to all u strong ladies…my section was complicated and my uterus bore the scars of all my surgeries and previous miscarriages…during the op the surgeon said “no more kids right”?! I said. NO! Time to close this chapter of my life and start living fully again.

More good news will follow on this thread soon . I am sure of it

Xxx

Congratulations@Cream123! We've spoken before separately about immune issues and Dr Gorgy.

What do you think worked for you in the end?

Do you think I should cancel my mid-cycle scan tomorrow? My ovulation tests are very negative and the clearblue ones are 'low fertility/empty circle, so not even showing as leading up to it. Tomorrow is cd17 and I usually get a positive opk tomorrow ish, but that's looking very unlikely. On Friday it was 5mm and not triple line. Although it's my day off tomorrow my dd is poorly so my dh will have to take the day off work so I can go to a scan that now seems pretty pointless and a waste of money. I won't be able to go later in the week due to work and possibly a still poorly child. I can't decide what to do! Maybe I just try again next month instead?

@greendress789 for this one I had ashermans and a c section niche which were repaired and my next pgs normal embryo worked. I did do it alongside era Alice too. But I did no immunes

For my son it was my first pgs transfer which I think is what I needed but I did also do full on gorgy immunes of ivig/pred/clexane/hydroxy/gcsf and prob more I’ve forgotten.

Ultimately I’m not sure but pgs and repairing my uterine lining for no 2 were prob my main issues.

We have severe male factor , Rec mc, and then infertility for no 2 due to my lining /niche .all the best x

Don't worry about answer me, I've made a decision. Sorry! My dh has pointed out it might be helpful to go anyway seeing as I have my Mr Shehata appt later this month. Otherwise I think I'd have tried to cancel it and try and time it better next month.

I had my additional mid cycle scan today. Lining only 5.2mm today (was 5.0 on Friday) but now triple line and lead follicle jumped up to 14mm with ovulation test still negative (although first day of flashing smiley on clearblue). Ideally I'd go back for another scan the day I get a positive opk but I don't think that's doable this week. And at £140 a go it's all wracking up!

That's good @seven201 if you haven't got the LH surge yet then there's still time for it to thicken. Does the CB test you're using flash when it detects oestrogen? I have the CB monitor.

@Cream123 thanks for responding and enjoy your bundle of joy!