ERA / EMMA / ALICE testing thread 5(!)

[VenusStarr]

Just setting up a new thread as we're coming to the end of thread 4.

@Janefx40 @birdbybird @seven201 @Gardenlady543 @patientpatient @MyEasterEggs @thislittlebird @Yuliaaa @Violette22

❤️

Ha - toilet stool! The things we go through on this journey and the phrases that randomly become part of our vocabulary @Gardenlady543!

Oh @Janefx40 sorry your relaxation plan isn’t working, I hope you find some pockets of peace during your tww. Your approach to treatment seems bang on too. You really need to be your own champion.

@Gardenlady543 how is the toilet stool? Hope you are doing ok.

I had my progesterone tested today (at my insistence) and just got my blood results back from the clinic. Progesterone levels have dropped to 39 (they were 78 on Thursday at transfer, clinic like them over 80 for a natural cycle and I've been taking more meds since then).

I'm trying not to panic about why they've dropped - it's so early since transfer that I'm hoping it doesn't mean anything about the embryo not implanting - but my head is telling me that if the embryo had implanted it would be producing progesterone and might be higher!

Anyway it's a good thing I insisted on them testing me.

On the other hand DD is finally better and having time to process has really helped x

@Janefx40 can you throw everything at it now, will your clinic prescribe more cyclogest and Lubion so you can do something similar what I did? Awful to come off, but that’s not the priority now. Well done for insisting on the test.

@Janefx40 were you on meds when it was tested initially? I think there is not a set level for what's acceptable, and 39 should be ok but it's fine to supplement if your clinic like it higher. When I had my progesterone checked they said it varies depending on the time of day, so to test at the same time for subsequent readings.

@OrangeBengal oh yes they wanted to increase me from 2 x 400mg cyclogest to adding one Lubion but I already added a Lubion and an extra cyclogest on Saturday.

So we are going to 2 x Lubion but I may do more. I may just check my ARGC protocol and do that. There is literally nothing to lose and I may as well use up the meds.

Thank you xxx

@Janefx40 is PIO an option? I'm going to be on this every other day in my next cycle with 2 x 400mg cyclogest hopefully. It has a longer half life than lubion.

@Gardenlady543 I've generally avoided PIO as it's so painful. Also it does have a longer half life but as that is 22-23 hours, it might be worth taking it daily.

I agreed with the nursery 3 x cyclogest and 2 x Lubion but wondering whether to do 3 Lubion because why not? Being tested again on Wednesday x

Not nursery!! Clinic!!!

Anyway @Gardenlady543 how are you feeling?

No worries @Janefx40. I think PIO would have had to be my next step if I didn’t raise my levels. PIO is pretty serious though and I think not usually recommended in the UK. @Gardenlady543 have you tried doubling both the cyclogest and lubion, just conscious that PIO injection sites can be quite sore and stay sore for awhile and this process is rubbish enough as it is!

@OrangeBengal I've taken PIO before so wouldn't rule it out but my levels with 3 Lubion were over 200 before so hopefully this will work x

That’s great @Janefx40.

@Janefx40 I'm ok, it was my first night back in my own bed last night which was nice but I don't know what to do with myself. I'm supposed to walk about but mostly I'm staying sat or lying down, it hurts a lot to change position though, so standing from sitting etc.

Dr Gorgy told me I should be on lubion twice a day not once, I was on 1 lubion and 2 x 400mg cyclogest a day in the past. I asking if it's better to be on PIO which he thought it was. I'm not looking forward to it but since my transfers have never worked it's not like I'd need to be on it for that long if history repeats itself. I'm speaking to my fertility specialist on Friday so I can see what she thinks about my progesterone regime.

@Gardenlady543 thanks. In the past I've always questioned why anyone takes one Lubion a day given that the half life is 12 hours so it would wear off. But as I was taking it off my own bat and the leaflet said that was the usual dose, I figured I would start with that.

But yes I am definitely going to increase.

Glad you are back in your own bed. Shame we don't know each other/live near each other in real life or we could hang out while we are both signed off!!!

Hope your recovery continues.

Thanks for being there for me x

@Janefx40 Lol you would regret that one, I'm not much fun to hang out with, my friend came to see me twice in hospital and she was having to move things to me and constantly pour me water.

@OrangeBengal @Gardenlady543 @Janefx40 i took PIO injections daily for 12 weeks. It’s painful but not as painful as all the failed ivf tbh. Once it was positive I was happy to take it despite the pain so it’s only really 2 weeks you’ve to get through before knowing if you’re doing it for a good reason.

it’s great for getting levels up, I was on x2 cyclogest and x2 Lubion before and my levels were on the floor. PIO got my levels from 12 to .> 100 after just two injections.

@Janefx40 wishing you the very best of luck. Really hoping you get your BFP.

@Gardenlady543 hope your recovery improves soon. Keep resting!!

@Dochas12111 thank you and lovely to hear from you. How many weeks are you now?

@Dochas12111 actually I'm realising how much time has passed and wondering if you have any news??

Sorry I've been AWOL for a while as needed a break from thinking about infertility. Just had a quick skim read.

Well done one getting through the op @Gardenlady543 . Please rest up. I've had open kidney surgery and a c-section, and both times thought I was ok then over done it and regretted it! I'm glad there's no endo and the fibroids were successfully removed. I hope dh looks after you.

@Janefx40 congratulations on being PUPO. I hope you get the progesterone levels sorted. So glad you've finally had your transfer!

@VenusStarr belated happy birthday. Sorry, I don't know much about those levels. I hope the ivf clinic have some advice.

Got to dash and get ready for work.

@seven201 it's so nice to hear from you. How are you?

Thanks @seven201 how long did you wait to remove the dressing and steristrips? they told me to remove them on day 5 which was yesterday but I'm scared to. When I look online for post c section stuff it says do not attempt to remove, let the steristrips come off on their own. Also how long before you could sleep on your front, I'm so tired from being unrested as I can only sleep flat on my back.

Thanks @Dochas12111 what progesterone regime were you on in the end?

@Gardenlady543 my era was based on x2 cyclogest so I stayed on that until transfer knowing my levels would be too low as the consultant didn’t want to mess with the implantation window. An hour after transfer I had a PIO injection and from then on x2 cyclogest plus x1 PIO injection daily. Got my levels tested every 3 days during TWW to make sure they stayed high. I was told they should be >100 to be optimal.

I had a c-section in the end and I didn’t take my steri strips off for 4 weeks. I was told once I was 4 weeks past section to get in shower and soak them till they’re very wet (but gently with shower head on low), then get out, don’t dry them and they peel off easily. The dressing was already off though it was just steri strips to remove. Re sleeping I think once you feel able to do it without pain it’s ok to sleep however you want. When getting out of bed make sure you roll on your side, use your hands to push yourself up and then get out. I was told to only go up and down the stairs once per day so go down when you’re ready to stay down and have a bag or basket to put stuff in that needs to go up/ down with you. I spent most of the morning in bed then got up in the afternoon and sat up then. My DH brought me breakfast and coffee and snacks and water up so ask your DH to do this before work so you don’t need to go downstairs. Gentle walking around the house is plenty for a while. Definitely no housework. Give yourself the full amount of time to recover. how are you feeling today?

@Janefx40 Yes, DD arrived safely 2 months ago.x

how are you doing today Jane?

Thanks @Dochas12111 I'm glad everything had worked out well for you. Dr Gorgy said I should have a progesterone test the day before the transfer and should adjust if needed. I am ignoring the ERA I think, as after I had it done saying I needed an extra 1.5 days I had the submucosal fibroid and hypothyroidism diagnosed which the lab said invalidates they result. Dr Gorgy suggested just adding on an extra 12 hours as the window may shift after the surgery and with the thyroid hormones under control.

That's interesting that you kept yours on for 4 weeks and they told me to soak mine and get them off on day 5, it doesn't seem right.

When did you stop being in pain when moving around in bed, on your side and front?

The physio taught me the maneuvers luckily so I know how to do the rolling and hand pushing, it still hurts though :(

That's interesting about the stairs, they made me go up and down a flight on day 3 after the op, I don't have any stairs at home luckily, I'm in a fully adapted bungalow which makes life so much easier.

I am feeling ok, I think I'm just really bored as I can't really do anything except sit, lie down and a short walk in the house. And it's painful to change position.

@Janefx40 congrats on being PUPO. I hope they can get your levels up for you 🤞🏼

@Gardenlady543 wishing you a speedy recovery now your home and plenty rest!

Ive called my clinic this morning for IVF prices for the new year. Third medicated cycle hasn’t worked and if it’s going to work it usually works within 3 apparently xxx

@Dochas12111 oh congratulations. Sorry if I missed that news. I know you are very thoughtful about not wanting to share too much but I do like knowing that someone got their baby!

I've been pretty low today. No cramping, nothing. Only time I was like this was when I had a straight negative. I do have some CM which is another sign for me but I had it since the day after transfer so before a possible implantation. So don't think that means much.

I'm trying to let myself hope but actually can't stop crying. I really hoped we'd get our happy ending.

@Loz2467 sorry you're having to start again. I think sadly this thread is proof that it can take more than 3 cycles. I have friends who have had 6 or 7 before getting lucky. X