ERA/EMMA/ALICE Testing thread 4

[Janefx40]

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

Oh @Janefx40 how confusing for you. I thought after ovulation the lining changed / compacted - could it be due to that?
Is it far off your lowest cut off? Are you thinking of not going ahead?

Honestly, I just wish all of us could catch a break. I don't understand why this is getting harder for us all ❤️

@Babydustt12 🤞 I'm glad you got to transfer, lots of love.

any signs of ovulation for you @Gardenlady543 ? Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly for you.

So pleased you saw a heartbeat and some growth @seven201 hopefully little one was just abit slower settling in and they'll catch up 💗

No news for me. Although feel like I'm getting pre-af twinges. Hope its not far away. Stopping hormones on Thursday.

Off to the theatre tonight - bought these tickets for dh Christmas 2019! Saw the new Elvis film last night and enjoyed it. I won't spoil it, but I had no idea how tragic things were for him x

@Yuliaaa I think changing clinic/consultant is a really good idea.

@Gardenlady543 I'm glad things are getting moving for you next week. I hope the estrogen rise hurries up!

@Babydustt12 11th isn't too far away now. Just see how you feel nearer the time and go from there. My scan is also the 11th.

@Janefx40 oh for goodness sake. What is that about? Although, I do think most women do shrink back a bit and as you say the measurements from studies are pre-ovulation. In case it helps any thoughts, my lining was 7.6mm in the lead up, although obviously my pregnancy isn't going 'perfectly'. What are you thinking of doing? Aghh.

Not much to report from me. I've had mild cramps constantly today (could be just stuff stretching or the start of the end!) and my resting heart rate has dipped a little. Trying to not overthink it all, but failing obviously.

@seven201 I don't know much about resting heart beats I'm afraid. What might dipping mean?

In my book cramps have always been good. I didn't get any cramps when I miscarried but have always had cramps when things are progressing.

@Janefx40 resting heart rate goes up in the first trimester. Today mine is 4 beats slower than the average for this week, but I didn't sleep well so could just be that. It can fluctuate so I just shouldn't look at that bit if my Fitbit, but I can't resist! The fitbit is really good at getting me to do 10k steps, but if it carries on driving me mad I might have to sack it off!

Have you had any more thoughts about what you'll do? What does your dp think? Mine would say "do you whatever you think best" which wouldn't be very helpful!

So the dip could be signalling the start of the pregnancy failing. But it's not an exact science and I just should ignore it!

@seven201 ah I’ll be thinking about you on the 11th. I know it’s easier said than done but try to be positive.
There is a 50% chance things will be ok and just stick on to that 💓

@VenusStarr thinking of you today with your little girl's due date 💐💐💐

In other news, I have now tested positive for Covid. So that's that.

Oh gosh well the bad news continues with me :(

@VenusStarr thinking of you today on this difficult day ❤️

@Janefx40b erg I am so sorry what a shit time for this to happen.

@seven201 I hope the heart rate doesn't mean anything, is it really as subtle as 4 bpm difference?

I have had the LH surge minus any oestrogen rise to prewarn me, so I'm likely to ovulate on Friday and that means my biopsy will be done the day after the app says I'll be on my period. I've called the place and the manager is going to see if they can bring things forward to the Tuesday but it doesn't sound likely :(

Thank you for sharing info re ERA ladies appreciate it

@Gardenlady543 ah why do our bodies do this to us?!! Really hope you can move the biopsy! If not just ring every day until they get a cancellation. Someone is bound to get Covid (do you want me to go and lick any of their patients? Just kidding clearly!

Xxx

@Janefx40 lol! It is unfortunately not a over capacity issue but a doctor on holiday problem! The manager is talking to a different doctor to see if they would be able to come to the clinic in their lunch break to do the biopsy even though they have a clinic elsewhere on the Tuesday when I need it, they also need to ensure there are enough donors on the Tuesday for me to have donor pooled LIT then rather than the Thursday as planned. Not sure what I'll do is the answer is no to Tuesday. It will push everything back by a month if I need this biopsy and can't get it this month which will interfere with the fibroid surgery planning :(

I'm also concerned why the CB monitor didn't pick up an oestrogen rise, makes me worry I won't ovulate at all. But I've been reading that it's the oestrogen rise that triggers the LH surge, so I have no idea what's going on.

@Gardenlady543 I’ve had no end of issues with cycle tracking over the years so can appreciate how frustrating it is. My oestrogen would often rise 2-3 x each cycle before I got the surge and sometimes I’d have two surges. Hopefully you can bring the appt forward 💛

@Janefx40 gosh what a week you’ve had so far. I’m so sorry 😞

I’ve got a wee update. Posted on the pred thread but as I know a few of you are in the immune camp too, thought I’d share the results of my tests.

My CD69 count is 1.19% (up to 1% being normal) and TNF alpha was 35.2% (up to 31% being normal). The suggested treatment for this is prednisolone 20mg from 3 days prior to FET, reducing to 10mg at 10 weeks, 5mg at 11 weeks then stopping at 12 weeks. Intralipids will be given at 5 days post FET. I’ve asked if further infusions will be given.

Interested to know how this compares with the results and treatment others have had? I’m still awaiting endometrio results.

@MyEasterEggs it's hard to compare results as I'm not sure what I'm comparing too. I have 4 different CD69 results (total, NK dim, NK bright and a few other breakdowns) and two TNF alpha' too. I am high for both (possibly higher than yours but depends which number we are comparing). My treatment is 25mg of Pred from 5 days before transfer until 12 weeks pregnant and then wean off. But it's hard to compare without knowing the exact comparison. I am with Mr Shehata at CRP

@Gardenlady543 can you not go to the other guy's clinic and save him the trip? Let us know what happens.

I know that some people have surges without rising oestrogen. Your oestrogen surge could have been very quick. Were you testing once or twice per day? I wouldn't worry if it's a one off. We all have odd cycles sometimes x

@Janefx40 oh I didn't think of going to the doctor! Since we are in London for the day for the LIT anyway. I just called and asked but was told the doctor is working at a different company on that day which complicates things, but the manager said they would ask.

I was taking the oestrogen test daily, I thought it surges and stays high so it's a bit strange.

@Janefx40 I shared me CD69 absolute count as I believe that’s what treatment us based on, and my only raised TNF marker was IL-10 which was the 35.2. Everything ends is normal.

I’ve found the results a little hard to decipher but having a follow up to plan FET so will find out more then. As you say, everyone is different, but it’s good to get some reassurance 😊

Sorry for all the typos 🙃

@MyEasterEggs so my most recent Absolute CD69 was 1.72 and my TNF 1l-10 was 39.4. So that could explain why I am on a higher dose? I think tho that is probably Mr Shehata's standard dose because the treatment plan is basically a tick sheet and just just ticks which bits you should follow.

Oh @Janefx40 how absolute shit!! How are you emotionally about it? Maybe it's a little helpful (well not!) as you were worried about your lining. So sorry.

@Gardenlady543 oh no! What a nightmare. I really hope some miracle happens and it all comes together for you. Opks have always been all over the shop for me, sometimes never show estrogen rise (or do for a week) and sometimes never show the LH surge, but I do ovulate each cycle. I wouldn't worry about it, other thank being annoyed of course!

@VenusStarr thinking of you today. Hope you've managed to find a way to make it through the day.

I can't remember my results (I posted them on this thread a couple of weeks ago though). My treatment is prednisolone 25mg from 5-7 days before transfer (I think). Intralipids 7-10 days before transfer then weeks 4, 8, 12 and 16 I think. I also had adimulumab/ humira injection.

No problem. Shout if you have questions

Thank you for thinking of me today 💗 I'm doing ok, I think.

@Janefx40 I'm so sorry that you've got bloody covid, ffs. I hope you're feeling OK in yourself.

@Gardenlady543 I hope you can get the biopsy and lit sorted. Coordinating appointments is a full time job sometimes.

@seven201 ❤️ how are you?

@MyEasterEggs I'm glad you have your results back.

@StillTrying10000 thinking of you for tomorrow 💕

Last day of estrogen and cyclogest today, supposed to be tomorrow but I can't be bothered, just want this cycle over now. Randomly feel like I'm gearing up to ovulate which I'm pretty sure is impossible. Just hope that things settle quickly.

Lots of love to all xx

I re-checked those earlier @seven201 as I find it helpful to see other results along with protocols. I suppose it gives me confidence in my treatment plan. Wish I could trust in my clinic 100% but I’ve had some poor experiences and it’s left me a bit unsure especially when it comes to the more costly investments.

Thanks @Janefx40 I think it makes sense that my plan is a bit milder then.

Good to hear from you @VenusStarr . I doubt stopping one day early is going to make any difference. Maybe see how you feel in the morning.

@MyEasterEggs it's really hard to trust people isn't it. I've been let down many times along this journey, leading to waisted time, money and huge emotional toll. It's just massively crap! As Jane said, the CRP clinic have a tick list and I'm on the complex protocol. My ivf clinic, like yours do 20mg of prednisolone, instead of 25.