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

@whatcangowrong thanks! Fingers crossed. You know this has been such a long journey of drugs and tests, that the concept of an actual baby seems very remote.

Sorry if I offended anyone by calling us complex cases!!! I just meant that even the fact that we are on this thread means we've been around the houses a bit. Amazing women all of you!

Xxx

Everything crossed for you @Janefx40

Don't worry about calling me a complex case, I am!

Has anyone here had a hysteroscopy ? I have to have one next month, I thought it was an HSG which I have had before and was fine. I didn't realise that this time is a camera up in there so is different

@AdrianeMole I've had a couple of hysteroscopies. My old IVF clinic do them as standard - I was under sedation for them though. NHS don't usually offer sedation. I was asleep during but had very little discomfort after. A medium amount of blood and very mild cramps for 20 mins or so. First one found some cysts and drained them. Second one didn't find anything of note.

It's a good thing to have done. I've also had a saline scan done - not sure how they all differ tbh

Xxx

Thanks @Janefx40 I will ask about sedation. Mine is private but at a hospital. It said on website they do it without anaesthetic or under general. I would prefer to avoid a general I guess but we will see. Yes good to have it done for sure
Xxx

@AdrianeMole my acupuncturist was talking about this the other day. She had two hysteroscopies without sedation - one was absolutely fine and the other she found tough.

Have a think about it. There are advantages to having sedation and to not having it x

Hello, I've just been asked if I want to have my EMMA & ALICE tests under sedation or not- does anyone have any views?

@StillTrying10000 that's an interesting one. I had a saline scan before my ERA, Emma etc tests which I found really painful and traumatic / it was the insertion of the catheter that was so painful so I was concerned the biospies would be similar as they use a similar catheter. I considered sedation but didn't have it due to expense and practicalities (eg not driving after). I went into my biopsy appointment literally shaking and crying. But my biospies were absolutely fine. I didn't even feel it and it was quick (incidentally I bled loads after the scan but barely after the biospies so I think the nurse was just better and did a better job). I think it depends how you feel about it all and whether you can afford sedation and can have someone collect you afterwards x

I had mine under sedation but I have an abnormality of the cervix so I have embryo transfer under sedation too as it’s tricky for them to get the catheter in.

I agree with @Janefx40 I was in hospital at 7am and didn’t get released until 3pm with recovery time etc so it is a bigger deal to do it under sedation.

I did two hysteroscopies and one saline scan under sedation. I don't tolerate pain well and I chose not to through it at all. IVF is already a heavy and painful experience (both physically and mentally).
I am not in the UK so I don't know how it works there. I wasn't allowed to eat or drink before and after the procedure. It was almost the same as EC.

Thanks everyone! I'm so silly I looked back at my referal form and it's just an HSG, have had that one before. Now am wondering why not a hysteroscopy but OK I'll take the HSG as that didn't hurt before.

Thank you so much for sharing you experiences @Yuliaaa @Dochas1211 @Janefx40 it stupidly hadn't even crossed my mind that I would have to pay for the sedation so that's a good consideration. I think I will just go for the grin and bear it approach. I didn't find my IVF implantations painful but the video of this procedure looks much more invasive so I am pretty apprehensive. Thank you x

Not had era but found my NK cell biopsy painful & a little traumatic (was not expecting any pain at all so was a total surprise). BUT it lasted 10 seconds (they counted) and I managed to go back for the second. Take some good painkillers beforehand (better than paracetamol 🤣)

@StillTrying10000

Thank you so much for sharing you experiences *@Yuliaaa* *@Dochas1211* *@Janefx40* it stupidly hadn't even crossed my mind that I would have to pay for the sedation so that's a good consideration. I think I will just go for the grin and bear it approach. I didn't find my IVF implantations painful but the video of this procedure looks much more invasive so I am pretty apprehensive. Thank you x

Take some paracetamol about half an hour before. It was fine for me, but I think it can be luck of the draw. For me I wouldn't want the sedation as it makes me want to throw off and I don't like the fuzzy head it leaves you with for a while.

@Janefx40 and @Dochas1211 congratulations on the negative pcrs. That's great news! So good you can get going now Janefx.

You've made me realise I would quite like to get my next round in soon, as I hope just having had covid I'd have a bit of extra immunity to protect me from the students in school!

Having some stress with this natural FET. I'm concerned that I could have started ovulating before trigger which would mess up the timing.

On the mock cycle they did scans and bloods and we triggered before I had a positive OPK but when I'd had a couple of days of flashing smileys and the lining was 9.2mm and the follicle 18mm

This time for some reason they took no bloods and the follicle was already 22mm on day 9. We triggered on day 11 but the follicle was already 25.7mm and I had a positive OPK that morning. I feel like having had a positive OPK before triggering makes it risky that I could already have started ovulating before the trigger.

What's worrying me is that I only tested in the mornings so if I had my positive surge in the afternoon or evening then our timing could be wrong.

I went back in yesterday evening and had them take more bloods to check but had to trigger anyway as results weren't back in time.

Sorry for the massive splurge. I guess this is the downside of natural FETs.

Why is everything always such a stress?!

@Janefx40 my recommendation would be to get a blood test, which you've done. So it sounds like you've done everything you can.

Tests came back ok so we are going ahead. Just me panicking about nothing as usual! Progesterone was low so not about to ovulate yet. Glad I checked though x

@Janefx40 sorry to hear about all that stress. You were right to double check with the bloods. I hope you can relax now. When is your transfer date? Wishing you the very best of luck!!

Thanks @Dochas1211 yes I'm glad we checked - I'm also quite glad that I went back in for bloods late in the day as it's doubly reassuring that nothing had started during the day. Tests were only a couple of hours before trigger.

Transfer is now next Monday at 1pm. That also confuses me as it's half an hour later relatively from when I did my biopsy that showed me as receptive. But maybe 30 mins is ok x

I was told there is an hour leeway either side so 30 mins sounds fine! (I was also fussing as I was delayed checking in so asked them to check with my consultant). Not too long to go now.

Will you take any time off after transfer? I don’t remember if you work in office or from home?

@Janefx40

Tests came back ok so we are going ahead. Just me panicking about nothing as usual! Progesterone was low so not about to ovulate yet. Glad I checked though x

Phew! I hope that puts your mind at ease. There's always something to worry about isn't there?!

Hi everyone, hope you're doing well. It's been a while 🙂 it's cd1 today, my second period since my surgery. I've been tracking my cycle as I got very anxious that I'd have issues like scarring after the surgery. But I think it's OK. It's been 7 weeks so still no results from the baby yet. I can't remember if I said but I was at epu for a scan just before Christmas and they checked my notes and said histology confirmed they got pregnancy tissue, so I'm really hoping we do get some results and we can make a plan. I'm currently off all my meds. I've put on a lot of weight, so I'm trying to focus on my diet and exercise - I'm doing a workout and yoga daily at home, made zero difference to the scales but I feel a bit better for doing it. I started back at work last week in a phased return too and had my second counselling session.

@Janefx40 wishing you all the best for your FET 🤞 ❤️

How are you getting on @Gardenlady543 @seven201? Hope everyone else is well xx

@VenusStarr so good to hear from you. That's good news they got the correct sample - did they say how long it would take? 7 weeks is a long time. It's good your cycles seem to be back to normal. Are you taking a full break while you wait for the results or are you trying naturally? The yoga sounds good and well done for starting back at work. I hope they're being supportive.

No news from me really. I'm waiting for my period so I can have a mid-cycle scan to see what's going on on a normal cycle. I have a review appt booked but I think it will be too soon (just before the scan instead of after) so pretty pointless but the clinic won't let me re-book it for a sensible date until my period arrives (due Sunday/Monday ish) but there's a 6 week wait just for that I think .

@Gardenlady543 are your results back yet?

@Janefx40 I hope you're doing ok while waiting for the transfer.

@VenusStarr it's so good to hear from you. Well done for doing yoga - I'm no good at keeping these things up. Hope work is feeling ok and that you get your results soon. Sending lots of love

@seven201 how frustrating about the appointment. Although maybe you won't need a full review after your scan. Can you just email your consultant about it instead?

Yes I'm fine. Now that I'm feeling reassured about the timing, I'm just trying to forget about it until transfer next week. Of course my brain is now full of all things IVF and I'm spending way too long reading threads and FB pages. But that is normal for me!

Xxx