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

❤️

@Gardenlady543 it sounds like you need to just focus on your recovery for now. It's good to know that a transfer is somewhere on the cards but not something you need to think about just yet. You are understandably in shock.

@seven201 yes I more or less tested out my trigger. I last tested on Sunday and it was a super faint positive on FRER but still 1-2 weeks on CB. So the trigger should have gone or completely faded by now.

I can't believe you had a reply from CRP! I got nothing!!!

I'm ok. Happier since DP came home and I can just sit in bed. Still bleeding but lightly. Hopefully stopping thinners may help. 4 out of 5 of my previous positives haven't worked out so I'm not exactly celebrating. Also had lots of ovary type pain yesterday so wondering about ectopics. I know we all dream of a BFP but there's a long way to go before I start celebratingt!

I won't keep updating unless you specifically ask or want me too because I know it's not easy dealing with peoples' neuroses around positive tests when going through tests and procedures.

Thanks tho everyone for sending supportive messages. Xxx

Thank you @thislittlebird . I have a high amh and have always responded well to these types of meds too, so it's a worry. Good idea to get tested for thrush.

The problem is @Gardenlady543 is now you have all this time to just think, and sometimes that's harder. After my op last year I started watching greys anatomy from series 1. It's so silly and easy to watch. How about crosswords? Or something more useful like learning a language using one of those Audio companies? Personally, I'd go for mindless tv, but I don't think that's probably your thing. Is there any online training you could do for work (although maybe good to have a proper break from work)?

I've got my scan booked for next Friday. Had a really down day yesterday as just fed up with it all. Just really hoping my retained products have gone and that the letorozole dose is right for me. My period has been light and dark brown, so my body isn't back to normal yet.

@Janefx40 I can only speak for myself, but I do want to hear every little update. We're all rooting for you as it's been a long road for you to get to this transfer. You've supported so many of us. My email to CRP was about appointments, so wouldn't have needed to be checked with a doctor or anything, maybe that's the difference.

@seven201 good call about Grey's Anatomy. I've just finished Sex Education. Thought it was sooo good!

When my period is dark brown it's usually because it got delayed by something - maybe I was stressed or for whatever reason it started a day later than it "wanted to"! Oh it will be such a relief if that scan is all clear. Fingers crossed.

Have you seen Severance? It’s really good. We watched it last week.

Thanks for the info @Gardenlady543. I’ll look at it in more detail tomorrow.

Could you do anything like yoga or Pilates once you feel better? I did a Pilates class today for the first time in a couple of years and obviously it’s heavy on the core so would depend if you’re allowed to do that sort of stuff after a while.

@seven201 hmmm. Maybe take the 7.5 and then see how you get on. How many months are you doing it for?

@Janefx40 updates are fine. It’s hard when you’ve struggled and not many people understand it.

I had my FET scan today. Lining is all good, I have a follicle of 17mm so should ovulate in the next few days and can book in my transfer.

@thislittlebird great news about your transfer! Will you trigger or just wait for natural ovulation?

Haven't seen Severance. Currently watching The Capture which is great so far. Only on series 1.

@thislittlebird that is great news!! Always good to 'pass' a scan. When do you think transfer will be?

I've not heard of severance. Tonight we watched married at first sight uk (utter trash, kind of love it) followed by grand designs and it was a couple who couldn't have kids and are now happy. Made me cry.

I started the 7.5 on Thursday, just having doubts that it should have been 5. If I do still have retained products then this cycle will end up being a test one anyway. Provisional plan is to do 3 months, then use our last embryo. Just going to see how it goes I think.

@Janefx40 how is the bleeding?

@Janefx40 yeah will wait for natural. The good thing I’ve found about natural modified transfers is that it demonstrates I do ovulate naturally. I was worried for a while I didn’t because of my low progesterone results.

Severance is the best tv I’ve seen in ages, very well done but only one season so far on Apple TV. Great cast too, Christopher Walken, Adam Scott, John Torturro, Patricia Arquette. Good one to watch if you have or get an Apple sub.

@seven201 A week or so probably. I have to get my positive ovulation test and it’s still showing ⭕️ right now. Maybe in the next couple of days I can log my positive.

I’m glad the grand designs people were happy. that sort of happened to me with another show. There’s a channel 4 one with people adopting dogs (can’t remember the name) and I put one on for light relief and a couple who had multiple rounds of failed ivf were adopting a collie. I just started bawling at it, we’ve been talking about getting a dog for ages.

3 months isn’t bad, fingers crossed it will have a good outcome.

@seven201 you've got me down to a tee, I find it really difficult to not have 100 projects on at once. I get quite obsessed with doing things daily, I have been doing a daily art book, daily Ukrainian lessons on Duolingo for over a year, the daily plus word, wordle and heardle. My therapist said doing nothing like just watching tv would be good for me. I can't watch the medical stuff as I annoy my husband with what should be done before the characters do, he put on bodies and I was like "what are they on, call the anaesthetist", then "this is ridiculous get a crash call out" watching a medical drama is no fun with a doctor in the room lol. I have a few different streaming accounts but seem to just have the royal coverage on, if I don't change the channel soon I will soon become a royal expert!

I relate to what you're saying about being fed up, both of us have constantly thought yes solved it, only to then have a new issue pop up since we started this thread early 2021. I think try not to worry with the letrozole if you have too many follicles they will tell you to abandon won't they.

@thislittlebird am excited for you!

Am going to have to try Severance as you are all recommending it.

@seven201 very little bleeding now just some pink on wiping. Went in for bloods today tho kind of wish I hadn't because I wanted to stay in my bubble for a few days and try to enjoy it. Now am going to be panicking waiting for news and then stressing if it isn't high enough. Had to do it today tho as I'm not really around next week much to do repeats. Due back on Monday for the second one. Wishing I could go back in time to my first BFP when I didn't know as much about Hcg levels and loss and just felt happy - for the first couple of days at least x

Hi everyone. Wow! Lots of activity on the board this week.

Tentative congratulations @Janefx40 I hope the bleeding has stopped 💛

@Gardenlady543 glad you’re slowly on the road to recovery, as frustrating as it must be.

Seems the rest of you are still having ongoing testing or treatment and I wish you well. have no idea when my FET cycle will start after giving up on easy@home ovulation tests. I should have trusted my instincts and not attempted the whole ovulation testing thing again because it really triggered my anxiety - peeing on strips, staring at lines - and it’s taken me days to quiet my nervous system 🥴

I have a consultation lined up with Dr Gorgy on Thursday so I’m looking forward to getting a second opinion on my plan. I just hope he doesn’t scupper my FET by suggesting more tests!

@thislittlebird exciting that it should be next week ish!

@Janefx40 did you do another test this morning?!

@Gardenlady543 what about a crime tv series? Yep, we've both been through a lot of 'maybe this is THE solution' moments! Yeah, they could just cancel. But I don't react well to things being cancelled. I'll just be pissed off that they put me a too high dose and angry at another missed month.

@MyEasterEggs that's good you're seeing Gorgy. Sometimes it's best to just get the tests, as annoying as it is (time delays and money).

@seven201 I had immune testing a couple of months ago - probably not the full suite he offers - so I’m hoping he’ll review my protocol based on those results. It’s a Zoom meeting so no plans to have more bloods done at the time unless he thinks it’s absolutely necessary. We’ll see! I really just want a protocol review. Would he be open to that, do you think? @Gardenlady543?

@MyEasterEggs yes he is very flexible, he is happy with patients selecting what they are comfortable with when it comes to tests and treatment. Eg a friend was advised to have the thrombophilia tests but didn't want them as she's already on heparin in cycles and didn't want to do the immune biopsy, he was fine with no my doing those and put together her plan based on the tests she had. He is fine with interpreting tests you've had elsewhere too, make sure you send a summary of what's happened in your case and all the results of tests you've had.

@seven201 oh yes it would definitely be a pain if it got cancelled, I hope the dose is right though.

@Janefx40 how are you doing today?

@Gardenlady543 you are so active! I am awful because I speak no Ukrainian but spend my life organising the Ukraine support group! My side is more about constitutions, bank accounts and fundraisers. But I'm running a discussion group on Tuesday in Ukrainian and I can't speak the language! Going to be interesting....

@MyEasterEggs good that your appointment is coming up.

It really feels like things are starting to move now for many of us after a long period in the doldrums!

I am ok thanks. I did bloods yesterday and then turned off my email so I couldn't receive the results. I decided I didn't want to know. Then I turned it back on as I needed another email and it's not there anyway yet! So that is a relief. No more home tests either.

I really want to give myself 2 more days to enjoy the possibility that I might actually be pregnant before I get into the world of low Hcg levels and lines not progressing etc.

The bleeding has stopped (which is also making me nervous!!! Can't win).

DD and DP were away over night and a good friend came to "babysit me". It's been lovely.

I will have to do intralipids tomorrow if I'm pregnant so will need to either get the results or do a home test again so I can book it. Am doing a second Hcg test tomorrow morning too. Probably won't get the results until the next day.

If I am still pregnant I am also going to fess up to my consultant about how much progesterone I am taking as I'll run out at the end of the week and will need a new script.

Has anyone ever had Lubion from Mr S? Do you know how much he charges?

Love to you all @seven201 @VenusStarr @Loz2467 @OrangeBengal @Yuliaaa @Violette22 @Dochas12111 and everyone else on this thread!!!

Xxx

That’s a relief @Gardenlady543 he sounds like a pretty reasonable guy - I was also amazed to get an appointment so soon!

Just gathering everything now. Thankfully I’ve got a wee Google Doc with it all otherwise I’d be lost with six years of fertility testing and treatment behind me.

Part of me is excited about the possibility that I might be gathering it all for the last time ever. It’s a nice thought while I’m in a calm state of mind 💭

@Janefx40 don't let my perseverance fool you I'm still terrible at it! I've never been good at learning languages. Fingers crossed for a good blood result.

@MyEasterEggs as others told me, don't expect him to be sensitive or sympathetic, it is very much medical. People also say he doesn't tend to explain things, so if you want more information or don't understand something, ask for an explanation. The main thing to send across are the results of investigations especially the immune results.

I'm going to do my repeat LAD test tomorrow to see the response to LIT. I may start hydroxychloroquine after. I was told to start one month before the FET but lots of people say you need to start 3 months before.

Good luck for the tests @Janefx40 Really hope it is positive news.

Will be interested to hear what they say about the prog levels. Given your outcome, I am now wondering if I should up my lubion to 2 x a day?

@Hopeful199 I'm sorry I missed your name off! Love to you too x

At 7dp5dt taking 3 x Lubion and 3 x cyclogest for the previous 2.5 days my levels were 145. That is plenty high enough BUT actually not that high considering how much I'm taking

True, but as you said it’s enough @Janefx40. How are you feeling about things today?

@Janefx40 I’m glad the blessing has subsidised and everything crossed for your blood test!

im going into my 5th cycle of clomid but my period is awful :( basically none existent. I’m not pregnant it is actually a period but I’m worried of the affect of clomid on my lining when I had a thinner lining anyway. I’m thinking not to bother taking it this cycle. I ovulate naturally anyway. The idea was a “super ovulation” to boost my chances.

has anyone any experience of this or suggestions? Xx

Pleasantly surprised to be on CD1 so that’s my first scan booked! Feelings of relief to be finally starting, since our first IVF appointment was way back in January, and maybe a little excitement. Part of me wishes I felt so much fitter going into our first FET cycle but I also feel ready. A funny mixture of emotions really!

@Janefx40 did you do the pregnancy test and Intralipids?

@Loz2467 perhaps letorozole would be better as it doesn't affect lining?

@Gardenlady543 how is the recovery?

@MyEasterEggs well done on getting things moving! That is a big step.

Love to everyone else.

@seven201 hello. Yes I did another strong positive at home and then bloods. I have blood results from Saturday and today now and the level and doubling so far is good. Annoyingly they missed off the progesterone test even tho it should have been done with the same bloods so I may have to rearrange that which is really annoying.

@MyEasterEggs glad you can get going

@Gardenlady543 hope you're ok

@Loz2467 I'm afraid I know nothing about Clomid but hope you find some answers! Xxx