ERA/EMMA/ALICE Testing thread 4

[Janefx40]

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

@Violette22 After so many losses I think it is impossible not to worry, no matter how reassuring the updates may be. Just stay strong and hopeful!💜
I started the estrogen tablets, aspirin and probiotics a few days ago and I will be having an ultrasound this Thursday to check the lining. Hopefully it is slowly getting thicker because it is it that is causing all the struggles. I am not looking forward to the other meds that I will be adding later (progesterone injections, pessaries, clexane, prednisolone and intralipids). My consultant is not a fan of immunes, but she reffered me to an immunologist this January. I did all the blood immune testing available here and there is nothing wrong, however we agreed that I should be put on an immune protocol just in case there is something that the tests couldn't read.
The whole process is quite stressing. I am happy to have the things going, but on the other hand I am so stressed about a negative outcome, especially because if this transfer fails, I will need to take a break from everything so that we can financially afford a new cycle.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for everyone here. Sending hugs and to each of you! 🍀💜

Thanks @Violette22 for that link. I'll take a look. I know it's very easy to say, but perhaps try and keep away from Google for a bit. It will just drive you mad.

@StillTrying10000 not long until weds now!

@Yuliaaa fingers crossed you have a good thick lining month!

@VenusStarr I'm just waiting for my period too. Stopped norethisterone Saturday pm so it should arrive by end of tomorrow, but it doesn't feel like it's on its way.

@Babydustt12 sorry, I got you confused. Protocol wise I'm on estrogen max dose I think (patches, oral and vaginal) as my lining doesn't like to thicken, aspirin (to help lining and also dr s), viagra (lining), progesterone (suppositories and injections), clexane, intralipids (will be my first go at this - immune stuff), prednisolone ( first go, immune), inofolic (pcos), levothyroxine (thyroid levels, only an issue for me when ttc), metformin (diabetes drug for pcos). Fee like I've forgotten one! Ah! I usually have a neupogen infusion into my uterus in the lead up to transfer, again to help my lining. It's expensive and no idea if it does anything! I've decided to not bother with acupuncture this time. I'm
Pretty sure it was my acupuncturist who gave me covid over new year and therefore delayed my ivf appts, so she's not my favourite person. I've given her enough money over the past 4 1/2 years!

My friend had a baby today. Her older child is 2, mine is very nearly 6 and we wanted a 2 year gap. And another friend of mine has been sending me pics of her bump. To be fair to them both, they've been asking about my ivf, but it still stings.

@seven201 oh dear you are on a lot of meds!! I’ve decided to go all natural this time. When I say natural I mean complete lifestyle changes and supplements for all the issues. Not sure if will be successful but know a lot of people who were.

I did look into steroids and intralipids as well but due to long term side effects decided against it.

I completely agree with the Accupunture - I’ve been doing it for about 2-3 years now (not sure it helps) and does find it too stressful as well to keep up with all the appointments. Definitely not against but feel if it’s going to stress you out then it’s not worth it.

Did you do all the meds for your first child as well?

@seven201 thank you! I hope yours thickens too! Indeed we should have a "lining issues" club!
@StillTrying10000 fingers crossed for Wednesday!

@Babydustt12 I did have one natural FET, but didn't work. I asked if I could reduce some of my meds this time but was told it wouldn't be a good idea.

I didn't have any treatment at all to have my dd. She took 9 months to conceive and I had a few early bleeds and a complicated/tough pregnancy. She was also breech, probably because of the big adhesion I had removed last year. She's quite a stubborn character so we think she just refused to be ejected out of my uterus until she was ready! Secondary infertility was a big surprise for me and it transpires I do have quite a lot of infertility issues to solve.

@Yuliaaa good idea! This thread has certainly deviated from ERA!

@VenusStarr thanks for your nice words ❤. My next scan is on Friday😨. I have 0 symptoms, even the tiredness I had at sleeptime has gone away now. Absolutely NO symptoms what so ever just like in my losses which is worrying. I hope you get to start your super ovulation meds this week, how exciting!

@Yuliaaa Thank you 💙. When will your transfer take place if the lining looks good? Im happy you got referred to an immune person, I cant find anyone from my home country that really believes in immunes. They use intralipid blindly but dont believe in the tests that are available abroad.

Thanks @seven201 💙. It is interesting to hear that you have had a child with no meds at all! I really hope you will soon succeed with the current protocol.

By the way, when I brought the immune testing abroad up to my new doctor on Saturday, he said that prednisolon may cause the pregnancy more harm than help. This is really confusing to hear from such an experienced doctor at the same time knowing that it is used so widely in other countries. Any thoughts/ knowledge on this subject?

@Violette22 I believe the transfer will happen around 21st or 22nd.

Regarding prednisolone and pregnancy, none of the doctors I spoke to seemed too concerned because the dose is quite low (16mg) and also because it is only taken for a short period of time (6 to 10 weeks). The info available online is quite conflicting and I stopped reading stuff because then anxiety kicks in. My consultant is quite straightforward and I am pretty sure she would have advised against it, but at the same time I am aware there are risks associated to taking it.
The only person wary about it is my psychiatrist because he says steroids worsen depression

I hope you get good news on Friday! The whole symptom analyzing thing is so stressful!

@Yuliaaa Im happy that your doctors have shown you green light for predinisol ❤In a way I feel like it is the miracle drug that I would also need to succeed..I think it can be beneficial for many. It is so frustrating that no-one here believes in it.

I woke up with a sore throat today and just did a covid home test, thankfully negative👏otherwise I would have had to cancel my scan!

@Violette22 no symptoms isn't an issue. I didn't have any symptoms with my dd.

I think it was on one of the Dr S podcasts where he says the first pregnancy/baby can trigger immune issues.

@seven201 thank you for sharing that experience 😊I hate how people write online "I have no symptoms EXCEPT sore boobs"....So they actually HAVE symptoms as they have the sore boobs, oh my god😡😅. My boobs arent sore at all. Would have no idea Im pregnant if I hadnt done the tests/seen the scan. So did you really have nothing, no sore boobs or anything around 5 weeks @seven201 ?😎

@Violette22 , no sore boobs, no bigger boobs, no nausea. I had cramps and was convinced my period was about to arrive, so didn't do a pregnancy test until I was a week late. At some point I was tired, but I think that might have been after 6 weeks. Don't get me wrong, I had annoying pregnancy things later on, but no early pregnancy things at all.

👋 Hi everyone. I've been struggling to get on to read and post!

@Violette22 I'm keeping everything crossed for you for your next scan. These early days are strange but I hope you get some reassurance ❤️

I'm due af any day. I've been temping and pleasantly surprised to see my temps are consistently high. Really hoping that's a good sign for next cycle. I'm wondering if it's due to the metformin settling my hormones. The only downside is I've been waking at 5am everyday and had nausea for the last few days.
Got our FET planning call with our ivf doctor today. These next couple of weeks are going to be busy!

How are you getting on @Janefx40 @Gardenlady543 @seven201 @StillTrying10000 @Yuliaaa ? Xx

Hey @VenusStarr hope af arrives for you soon. Good about the steady temps.

My period arrived yesterday morning but it's light and just very dark brown. Not sure why! Got my baseline scan tomorrow. Been a long time since I did a FET, maybe a year!

Eek, how are you feeling @seven201? I hope your scan goes well tomorrow. Are you doing a medicated transfer?

We're all OK for a FET in June (obviously hoping that we don't need it and superovulation works), but if not, got my nurse consultation booked in for my meds. He said we could start straight away, but I haven't had my biopsy results back yet and would still need to see the nurse anyway.

10 seconds after getting a positive covid test I started now bleeding pink blood, I seariously dont know how to cope anymore 😢😢

@Violette22 oh no. Can you remind me of your previous losses? Is this how they happened too? For what it's worth I had three red early bleeds but then had a healthy dd. I've also had 3 mc though, so I know you just can't know which way it will go. Is there a lot of blood? If not perhaps try and arrange HCG bloods or a scan if anyone will see you yet.

@VenusStarr I'm feeling alright. Worried I've got my hopes up a bit. I've never gone into an ivf round/FET with much hope before.

How are you? It's good you have the ivf potentially for the month after if needed. Can you remind me of what the biopsy is for?

I'd hope to do a superovulation round with Dr S in June but I doubt I'd be able to get that sorted in time as he said I'd need another appt, and from what I remember you need to start the ovulation drugs on day 2 or something.

Oh no @Violette22 thats scary. Are you on any blood thinners? If you've got covid does that mean you can't have your scan? I hope it's not serious ❤️

@seven201 I asked them to check for endomitritis again just in case the last miscarriage affected things. I'll chase them on Monday if I've not heard. They've still not come back to me on the gcsf prescription, so I'll just sort that when I'm down for my superovulation scan.

That's annoying that you'd need another appointment. I'll take the letrozole from cd2, I'm also going to be on the lovely progynova because my lining was rubbish last time.
Hope is a strange one, I can feel it creeping in and it's unnerving. But I also kind of think, if you feel hopeful, allow it to be there 🙏

@VenusStarr that's a good idea to have the check for endemotitis (I can't spell it!). That's interesting you can have progynova at the same time as letrazole - I might ask about that too! Although I do hate taking it - headaches! I hope your get your prescription sorted.

Forgot to reply to your earlier post - yes this is a medicated one. I've just been rummaging in our spare room wardrobe to find all the meds. All still in date luckily! And I've had a full sharps bin waiting for a year too - going to give it back tomorrow

@VenusStarr I have been busy with work and some stuff at home lately. I am also dealing with the side effects of estrogen tablets. I am thirsty all the time and full of anger. I can't remember how I felt last time I took them. I am having a lining scan tomorrow. Hopefully it has grown a little.
It is exciting to have everything planned and ready to start, isn't it? Hopefully your biopsy results will be all right so you can begin the next cycle immediately. 🍀
@seven201 🤞 for your scan tomorrow! I hate hope! It's the worst of all but I think it's what prevents us from giving up.
@Violette22 I am so sorry to read your updates. I really hope nothing is wrong!! 🙏💜

How's everyone else doing?

@Yuliaaa I hope your lining is having a growth spurt!

@StillTrying10000 how did the transfer go today?

@seven201 love that you have a drug store in your spare room! Exciting to be back on the plan.
@VenusStarr in glad you have everything linned up but hoping the SuperO does it’s job and it won’t ever be needed. This Mumsnet update does stop me using it like I used to too.

My transfer got bumped until tomorrow, I got the impression Kings was over booked and I know another lady at CRP was also trying to book her transfer on the same day. They say it will make no difference but it’s a WHOLE EXTRA DAY TO WAIT. So silly but gosh I just want to get on! I’ve been locked up for two years but this cycle I thought I NEED to start living my life and actually have some fun things to do rather than stewing and testing every 4 hours so I’ve booked to see Diversity dance show Friday night. Now I’m kicking myself I’ll get covid from going and feeling like it’s a really stupid idea. Why does this all have to effect every single part of our lives.
We also decided we can’t afford a holiday this summer which is rubbish as obviously haven't been out of the country for years.
Eh I’m meant to be channeling all the good vibes but clearly by 6th transfer it’s hard to build up any excitement, then just feel guilt for not trying everything I can. At least in 6 days I’ll know where this is heading x

Sorry for silence. In caravan with no phone reception or wifi except if I hold the phone in one corner I can kind of load 3G.

Read your updates and thinking of you all especially @Violette22 xxx

@Violette22 someone shared this on a FB page I'm on. I've seen it before - it helped me through some of those uncertain times xxx

@StillTrying10000 good luck for today.