ERA/EMMA/ALICE Testing thread 4

[Janefx40]

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

@StillTrying10000 omg!!! This is amazing. What a lovely little miracle. Naturally you are still anxious but today is a great day. So pleased.

All fine at baseline. Largest follicle is 8.4 which is better than last time. Lining 4.something. So here we go again.

Started having a nice chat to a lady in the waiting room (very rare at my current clinic) but then another very loud woman scared her off! The best thing about ARGC pre-Covid was that it was really social because you go every morning for bloods and really got to know each other. I miss that extra support! But I have you guys so that's all I need 😘

Xxx

Wowee @StillTrying10000 that is such incredible news! Realise you will still be feeling anxious but fingers crossed this is your time! Sending hugs and positive vibes 💕

indeed @Janefx40 this is a really nice group to be part of!

so tough isn’t it, I had a few people in a similar situation to talk to but now they have all fallen (super happy for them obviously) but just feeling a bit left behind. This group is a fab support

tablets started today, scan next Friday and hopefully the biopsy on 8th (apparently they want you on oestrogen for 10 days at least…. This has never been said to me before?!)

@MyEasterEggs I couldn't get a private message to attach photos so putting them on here. I think I've removed my name from all of them. 2 more photos to follow

@Hopeful199 will you be on progesterone too? I’ve just had a mock cycle and was on oestrogen as well as progesterone pessaries and injections but then they did want to try and emulate an actual cycle as closely as possible. Is it the ERA you’re focusing on only?

Last two. I didn't include the standard blood test stuff, this should be all of it

Thanks lovely @seven201 I’ve bookmarked these. Helps to prepare myself and get a better idea of what everything means. Wish I could just rely on what consultant says and prescribes but no…got to understand it and get a degree in immunology 😅

I love this group too. I've tried to join in on others but I can't keep up with it and get myself in a muddle (I do that on here too a bit!).

Good news on the scan @Janefx40

Hi everyone. Thanks for thinking of me. I'm struggling a bit with my mindset at the moment, feel very detached from this process.
I just had my lining scan, day 9 today and it's 5.7mm. The nurse didn't seem that pleased with it and said its on the low side for this stage. They showed me and it did look the beginnings of triple layer but that's my untrained eye. No change to meds (6mg of progynova). Back on Tuesday. Just not sure how to feel to be honest.
Off to buy pom juice and beetroot 🙄 already been having Brazil nuts everyday, vitamin E, selinium and walking lots.

Hope everyone is OK x

@VenusStarr hi. I think if they were properly worried about your lining thickness they'd have upped your estrogen, so try not to worry. I've never been scanned as early as day 9 but it doesn't sound bad to me. Sorry you've been struggling. Sometimes you've just got to do whatever you can to make it through. Thinking of you x

Hi @VenusStarr sorry things have felt tough. Hope the lining thickens up. Surely that is the job of the estrogen x

@VenusStarr do you take L-Arginine and N-Acetyl-Cysteine? I’ve read that they can help over time. In the short term you could get some turmeric in your diet and I believe proteins such as fish, poultry and nuts can help. My nutritionist suggested beet shots.

I wonder though, is your lining really a huge concern? What would they have liked to see? I had my first scan at 12 days so can’t compare 😕

@VenusStarr sorry to hear about the lining. How long have you been taking estrogen? 9 days or less? And when is your next scan? Perhaps they will add more estrogen later on? I was put on 6mg and then they added some estrogen spray. Perhaps things will improve by your next scan. Hugs ❤️

@VenusStarr just read this on a fertility clinic blog:

“The first half of the proliferative phase starts around day 6 to 14 of a person’s cycle, or the time between the end of one menstrual cycle, when bleeding stops, and before ovulation. At this phase, the endometrium begins to thicken and may measure between 5–7 mm.”

So I reckon 5.7mm must be okay for day 9?

So my period started yesterday, three days after endometrio, and I’m not in the best place. I don’t know if it’s the hormones leaving my system or what but I’m having a major wobble about potential FET in August. I’m almost wishing for something to come up that needs to be treated so I can avoid pregnancy for a bit longer. Isn’t that crazy?!

It’s also my son’s sixth birthday next week and that’s a stark reminder of how long we’ve been on this journey since losing him. Six losses in three years and then a three year break. So it was always going to be a hard decision to try again. But I’m trying to take comfort from the fact that we’re in a different place and also doing IVF for the first time. So it’s not the same.

Hope you won’t mind me offloading 💛

@MyEasterEggs I'm sorry you're feeling so raw. I'm not sure why your period started but it's probably just because they gave you progesterone in advance of the endemetrio and then stopped it. I think my clinic probably had me on noresthisterone so I can't compare I'm afraid.

You don't have to go ahead in August if you're not ready. It's your decision and your body. Do what is right for you.

@seven201 is your scan tomorrow or Tuesday?

@MyEasterEggs if you need to take time, please take the extra time. One month isn't going to make any difference. I think my period usually arrives a few days after stopping progesterone. Sorry you're having such a rough time. The hormones will be causing havoc and of course it's just an incredibly high pressure time.

@Janefx40 it's on Tuesday. I made the mistake of doing a weeks clearblue and it's showing as 2-3 still, was hoping for 3+ as I'm 6+1. I do have a very dark line on normal pregnancy test though and I do know the clearblue 3+ threshold is super high, so I'm trying to put it to the back of my mind. How are you doing?

@Janefx40 thank you ☺️ they did say to expect it within 3-7 days so that wasn’t a surprise tbh but I can’t believe how rough I feel, emotionally as well as physically. I thought I was doing okay. But I’ve been spiralling since the procedure. Think I need to cut myself some slack and feel what I need to feel before planning ahead 💛

@seven201 x posted! Yeah, I thought I was getting off lightly with the hormones but it would appear not 🙃

I had a good chat with my mum today and think some of the pressure is coming from feeling like this next step is all on me. The whole thing feels quite isolating despite having supportive family and friends. She’s suggested I start reflexology again to help me relax so next step is to book a few sessions 💛

@seven201 it's hard not to worry. I think at this point the scan is more likely to give you answers than a pregnancy test. I'll have everything crossed

@MyEasterEggs reflexology sounds like a great plan. When can you have the first session?

@Janefx40 this week I hope. Trying to book a session before we go on holiday on Friday. Glad I have a proper break to
look forward to. How are you? I’ve been a bit me, me, me this week 🙂

@seven201 I’ve been caught out with the 2-3 week thing too and all was fine. As you say, the threshold for 3+ is really high. Good luck for Tuesday 💛

@seven201 thinking of you tomorrow. You don't have to update us if you don't want to - do what is right for you - but will be thinking of you either way xxx

Good luck today, @seven201 !
Love all!

Good luck @seven201 !

Thank you ladies. I'll let you know x