ERA/EMMA/ALICE Testing thread 4

[Janefx40]

New thread ladies! @Gardenlady543 @MyEasterEggs @seven201 @VenusStarr @Violette22 @Yuliaaa

You feeling ok about tomorrow?

I've been sick a couple of times this week, I think its really bad anxiety @seven201 I'm hoping its a clear answer tomorrow, either way. I'm prepared for it to be an abandoned cycle. My acupuncturist said I will ovulate eventually, it'll just be a longer cycle, so holding onto that.

I do have constant pelvic pain now. Doesn't feel ovulatory, more period like. Just hope I can sleep tonight! I don't need to set off till about 9.30 though, so not too bad. X

@seven201 am a bit confused about the ERA question! Why not just go for 6:30pm? Do you mean because you're not sure it's accurate? Why would 9pm be better? I suppose I'd rather stick to an official time than guess at a different one. But I'm definitely no expert!!!

Good luck tomorrow @VenusStarr !

I had my baseline but I had a follicle at 10mm and another haemorragic follicle at 12mm. That's big for day 3 right? I know it's an FET so follicles not that relevant but I don't want to do it on a weird cycle either. I had asked them to do bloods anyway to see if my body is playing silly buggers so they have to see if the follicle is producing estrogen before deciding whether to proceed.

@Janefx40 I guess I'm just worried that 24 hrs before other people normally have a transfer seems a lot earlier, and I'm worried it's a bit wrong/can't be that far out. It is silly to go against it though. I just need to be told to not be ridiculous sometimes!

That does sound quite big for a baseline. If something feels off this month then it's totally fine to delay by a month. You might be worrying all the way through. Blood test is a good idea.

@VenusStarr oh no, that sounds utterly miserable. Knowing that the cycle won't be completely wasted is a big, reassuring to know, deal. Sometimes knowing you might get bad news gives you time to process. I hope it's a good outcome for you tomorrow. Your acupuncturist sounds great.

@Janefx40 sorry you've got this added worry. Good you're getting things checked, I understand your concern about starting. What is a haemorrhagic follicle? Will you hear today?

I didn't wake at 5am today 🙏 woke up with my dh's alarm at 6am. Physically feel very anxious but I'm ok in myself. Going to get up and start getting ready soon.

@seven201 ah I see. I think you should probably stick to the ERA result because it's the only information you have. It might have changed but we can't know that but we do know that when you tested this was the result. If your window has changed then I doubt giving you extra progesterone will make you infertile 24 hours later. It seems to be a low risk strategy to take it early. If you were taking it later then I'd maybe be more cautious if you doubted the result but extra progesterone never did anyone any harm as far as I can tell!

@VenusStarr good luck. Glad you had a better sleep x

A haemorrhagic follicle is a follicle that has been bleeding so it could be last months dominant follicle hanging around or a cyst so they have to check

Ah OK @Janefx40 hope you get an answer today x

@Janefx40 erg sorry for this annoyance, why is nothing ever straightforward! Are you in an unmedicated FET?

@VenusStarr sorry to hear things have been rough for you, the oestrogen always makes me feel awful.

@seven201 great news on the lining!

@RPishopeful I have heard that a chemical could be a sign of late implantation. There isn't that much evidence for the ERA to be honest but I've done it twice now, my results weren't particularly consistent I was prereceptive and told not to repeat but did anyway at the new time and still only early receptive.

As for treating the microbiome embirically oral and vaginal probiotics can be used as people have recommended. If there is abnormal bacteria it probably won't do much, it didn't in my case! You can't really treat that without investigation as the antibiotics need to target the bacteria present, if you're going to do an ERA then do EMMA ALICE at the same time, this will involve a biopsy similar to the one you had before, if you're not going to do an ERA then look into the fertiliysis menstrual fluid microbiome test, my friend was found to have ureaplasma on it which causes miscarriages, she'd had 2 x EMMA ALICE which didn't test for it.

Hey everyone. Had my scan, mixed feelings. I have a plan - there is one 13mm follicle, but my lining has shrunk slightly 🙄 6mm at best. Trigger is Wednesday evening but she said I may ovulate before then. So a smaller glimmer of a chance. Not hopeful really, but good that I did have some growth. My right ovary has just switched off I think.

Got a bag full of meds and currently on intralipids. Picked up the gcsf too 👍

@Janefx40 have you heard back from your clinic?

@VenusStarr what type of cycle are you doing at the moment, is this an modified unmedicated FET or timed conception?

@VenusStarr sorry it wasn't better news but there is still some hope for this round. So will you start have ttc sex soonish in case of an early release? Is that it for scans and appointments?

Timed intercourse @Gardenlady543 I had 7.5mg of letrozole but haven't really responded. Disappointing and expensive! Should've just ttc naturally. Lesson learned I think.

Yes we've already been trying @seven201 so will carry on every 2-3 days and I'm monitoring my temps. I've got the ops too. It's only a small chance but that's all we've got x

@VenusStarr sorry about the scan not being better although 13nm sounds like a good follicle size anyway. I get you're feeling that you could have tried naturally but then you would never have known if this could have worked. Besides it still might

Got the go ahead to start so we have started the cycle. It's a natural modified so natural cycle but I will take a trigger. Intralipids booked for Wednesday - reckon I will ovulate early with such a big follicle at baseline. Looks like I will have transfer before the 5 mile running event I was doing so will have to cancel that but never mind! X

@Janefx40 that's great news!

How is everyone today?

@Janefx40 great news!

@VenusStarr sorry to hear about your stubborn lining🤗.

I've been quite depressed for the past two days. The closer I get to test day, the worse my mental health is.

Hugs everyone!

@Yuliaaa it is such a hard thing to go through. When is your test day?

@Janefx40 It should be on the 1st, but I think the clinic will be closed, so I'll go on Tuesday. First transfer I was scared the whole tww, second I was quite positive and enthusiastic. Now I am just scared to hope. Such a bitter nonsense the infertility road is!

Sorry you're having a rough time @Yuliaaa . Is there anything you can do to distract yourself or are you better doing meditation type stuff?

I've been out to see Top Gun 2 tonight - really enjoyed it.

I was randomly thinking on our walk about this song. I know it's about a break up, but I'm proud of all the fighting and surviving all of us have done on here and I enjoyed having it playing round in my head.

@seven201 I loved your song and your kind words. 💜 We are indeed survivors!
Funny thing is I've been quite busy lately. Last night I went out with my best friend, but she doesn't know so we talked about random things. Then today I went for a nice walk around the city with my dh and the dog. It was very relaxing. Now it's raining outside which I find quite soothing. But in spite of all this, I am worried. I spent years introspecting, meditating and in general self-discovering. I am introvert myself. I stopped some time ago and I became more active. I think I prefer a combination of meditation and action.

I am glad you enjoyed Top Gun. I heard is good. Apparently they had to learn how to fly a plane in order to get some nice shots. How awesome is that! Last month I watched the old one and I couldn't believe I was 3 when it was released!!!

OMG 3? When was TG1 released? It was mostly Middle Aged couples in the cinema and middle aged parent with kids, although they we were sat next to 3 20 year old men and I did wonder at them! It's good as it's not trying to be anything clever, it's just a nice fun film. DH was saying about them learning to fly too. Amazing. I was the only one in the nearly full, but little, cinema wearing a mask, but I've been in a secondary school until yesterday (in a mask for past couple of weeks) so I decided I'd enjoy a night out. Also had the treat of doing my clexane injection in the toilet!

Meditation and action sounds like a winning combo to me. I hope your dh is offering a shoulder. Do you think it would help talking to one friend in real life? Totally fine to want to keep it between you and DH.

@Yuliaaa there's no way around the fact that the last few days before the test are torture. I'm more scared of that than I am of the final result.

@seven201 yes we are survivors! I like stuff like that. It helps me to keep going, to walk into those rooms not knowing whether I'm going to hear positive news or have my heart broken again. Sometimes I just feel like I can't do it any more. I need songs and things like that to power me up to keep going.

I think of us as warriors. We are so strong fighting for our babies. But sometimes I just don't think I can do it any more. I'm glad this is my last transfer because I can't do this again but I'm going to need you guys to keep going through this one.

Sorry super emotional tonight - been watching DNA family secrets so I'll blame that

@Yuliaaa we'll be with you as much as we can be. Glad you are keeping distracted. It's the only way xxx

@Janefx40 here's another power you up song for you

It's all a journey. Such a big scary road for you to be on knowing this is your last IVF. We're here for you. And you too @Yuliaaa and everyone on here!