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

@Gardenlady543 I love you! Thank you. This is so hopeful. I'll go with your full list and they can just say no to some of them.

@seven201 no harm in seeing if the NHS will do them and take them with as won't cost you anything and may save you, but just to warn you when I went he requested all tests be done again to get the latest picture. I probably could have argued it with him but felt I kinda had to go with what he would saying. I would also try naturally whilst I'm waiting as I'm totally impatient. I'm even trying this cycle when I'm doing my Emma & Alice tests on the mad hope a miracle might happen. Not advisable obviously but I just want you to know if you're considering that I would understand why xx

Thanks @StillTrying10000 I think I read somewhere on the website it will accept tests within the last 2-3 months. It is frustrating that I'm probably going to be paying for quite a lot of repeats!

It's so hard isn't it, not trying when you're so desperate to make a baby!

@seven201 glad you have your appointment booked. Good to know that is in the diary.

I have a massive migraine. I usually get a menstrual migraine at this point in my cycle though less so since I had DD. Am not too worried because I also got my usual migraine when I was pregnant (and worried that meant it hadn't worked) so I don't think it means anything either way but it is bloody awful. Have had to drive to London anyway for a blood test and just want to lie in bed and groan.

Since Thursday/Friday I've been having loads of cramping especially at night so am feeling hopeful. I wouldn't usually be cramping like this before a period and I'm on a very low dose of progesterone so don't think it's that but of course you never know! I'll probably just get a massive period on Tuesday 😆 but hopefully not 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

Ok I've gone from feeling hopeful to feeling hopeless. Had my progesterone levels checked today at my request. They have dropped to 39.

I requested more progesterone post transfer because I was only on 2 cyclogest per day and thought it was too low. My consultant said no because that's what we did the ERA test on - that makes no sense to me because ERA doesn't go beyond transfer. He agreed to test my levels at my request and now they find my levels are too low.

So now I figure that the cramping is just down to my levels crashing which probably means it hasn't worked. But I also feel furious that they would allow my progesterone to be too low - it's such a stupid reason for a transfer to fail.

Sorry for the rant. Grrrrr

This is really annoying @Janefx40 and definitely needs a rant (or several). My progesterone was 4 after 6 days of x2 cyclogest. As my implantation window was found the consultant said to take the x2 cyclogest again however after transfer to start that afternoon on progesterone in oil injections to get my levels to shoot up.

Can you get some progesterone in oil injections tomorrow? After two injections my progesterone shot up from 25 (what it was at transfer) to 108. It might not be too late. For now I’d take extra cyclogest today.

I hope you are ok x

Definitely up your cyclogest @Janefx40 in my fresh cycle, I had a bleed at 7dp5dt (that continued to 13dp) but I tested positive with a very low beta. But my hcg had dropped from 56 two days after transfer to 20 at 9dp5dt. They'd already written me off at that point but my hcg tripled 2 days later. I'm thinking of you, this process is so difficult ❤️ xxx

Thanks @Dochas1211 and @VenusStarr yes the clinic said to add an extra cyclogest and they wanted me to start crinone gel twice a day but I can't get that until tomorrow and have Lubion in the house so they said I can take that instead.

My concern is that it's too late and that the cramping I've been feeling Friday and Saturday was just my levels crashing. So it is too late to support this embryo to implant and my levels were low when it might have been trying to. Or the alternative is that my levels were crashing because it hadn't implanted. Or both.

I just feel a bit of a fool. I'm always such a pessimist but for once in my life I genuinely let myself believe it had worked and was feeling so confident. Pride comes before a fall eh?!

Why does this always have to be such a rollercoaster?

I'm glad the clinic are supportive and you have lubion to take straight away. You are definitely not out. The waiting is torture. Have you got plans between now and rest day? It's so hard to not think about it. The only thing I can relate to is my own experience after my FET and I was absolutely convinced it hadn't worked, but it had so we can't know until your Otd. Sending big hugs ❤️❤️ xxx

@Janefx40 I thought the level is more important after implantation. You were receptive on your ERA weren't you? so it must have been enough to allow implantation.

Also nobody really agrees on what a good level is, so I don't think your level is that bad anyway. But you should get it up with the extra dosage.

Thank you @Gardenlady543 @VenusStarr @Dochas1211 and everyone. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you all and your support. I've been on a lot of lovely threads in my time and this is one of the absolute best.

Xxx

Hi, sorry to barge in, but are these tests also called ‘endometrial triome’? I’ve tried searching for this term but very little has come up. Thanks ☺️

@Janefx40 🙂 ❤️

@ItStartsWithTheEgg my clinic call is Endometrio tests - ERA, Emma and Alice tests x

@VenusStarr thank you. I’ve just checked and the clinic calls it ‘endometrio’ on their website, but in my follow up letter it’s ‘endometrial triome’. I’ve only just come across these recently so will swot up!

@Janefx40 when is test day?

Hi @seven201 it's funny how all clinics do different tests days isn't it?!

So the OTD for a home test is Monday 31st which would be 14 dp5dt or 19dpo. They will blood test me on Saturday 29th. However if I was still at ARGC their test day would have been Thursday 27th for bloods and when I was at Guys it would have been Friday 28th for a home test.

So in conclusion I'm going to test tomorrow morning as that is 14dpo. If negative I will test again on Friday and cancel the blood test if still negative - why waste £80 on a test?!

I can't call this one. I had lots of cramping so felt really positive but then realised that was just my progesterone levels crashing - or was it? Then got more cramping last night and felt pleased but wiped a little pink and (sorry for TMI) I can smell blood like I do when I'm about to come on. So I can't tell if I'm pregnant or if my body is trying to come on (but can't because of the last minute hike in progesterone?)

Obvs am going a bit nuts!

Thanks for asking. Sorry for splurge xxx

@Janefx40 splurge away. Only time and tests will tell. Cramping, blood etc can end up being good signs, as you know. My clinic like 13 days after transfer for at home test, no blood test. It is crazy how they differ so much!

Thanks @seven201 I've entered into the calm phase where I'm happy not knowing because I don't want the possibility of being pregnant to end. This comes just before "the desperate urge to test now" phase for me.

I just really have no idea which way this one is going to go. Worried that will make the disappointment worse if it is a BFN

@Janefx40 good luck tomorrow with the test, I'll be thinking of you x

@StillTrying10000 thank you. It makes such a difference knowing I'm not alone. I feel a bit like Harry Potter when he goes into the Forest at the end surrounded by the spirits of his family and friends. Not melodramatic at all am I?!!

@Janefx40 ha! That's a brilliant analogy! I might get stage fright though imagining you all there as spirts watching me though hehe

@Janefx40 very best of luck tomorrow. 🤞❤️

🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼 @Janefx40

I'm going to test later tonight. I'm so uncomfortable with this period coming or at least it feeling like it. Cramps are stronger and I'm spotting. Also having lots of horrid bowel movements that is typical for me with a period. Just going to get it done tonight 13 dpo x

❤️ ❤️ @Janefx40 thinking of you xx