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

❤️

@seven201 I had the same on my post miscarriage test. It was faintly positive. I called the EPU but they weren't bothered as it was so faint. I think it was gone a week later. Sorry you're back to hoping tests are negative instead of positive ☹️

Do you need to track your cycles with super ovulation or does the clinic do that?

@Gardenlady543 I was reading a blog by Dr Sher who said that he thinks lining thickness is more important than triple layer. So fingers crossed for this month if you did try naturally x

I can imagine you're feeling really confused after today @seven201 I think its reassuring that Dr S thinks you can conceive without ivf. And that you've had a change in your protocol. Will you start hydroxy straight away?
Have you ever done medicated cycles? I know superovulation does work for a lot of people, I'm not one of them sadly. Seems to have the opposite effect on me!
Do you feel ready to try again?

Hope you're settling in after the move @MyEasterEggs

How are you @Janefx40 ?

Have you tried naturally this cycle @Gardenlady543 I'm pleased things aremovibg forward for you.

I'm on estrogen again. Not feeling hopeful that this cycle will be any different. Nevertheless, I did acupuncture on Saturday and scan later this week to check my lining.

EPU nurse said to re-test on Friday. Hopefully will be negative by then. I'll go in for a scan on cd 11-13 to see how I'm getting on. Before ivf I did some clomid, tamoxifen and letrazole cycles. I always responded well, but that was 4 ish years ago now and had the adhesion in the way. The hydroxy prescription is being posted to where I am on holiday - I'm pleased that I can have a loading dose and not be delayed. I definitely feel ready; I'm impatient as usual!

Estrogen can be horrible but hopefully worth it. Acupuncture sounds a good idea. Good luck for your scan @VenusStarr

Hiya. Great that you can get going again @seven201

I had a counselling session today to help me decide how to proceed. I have decided to do another natural cycle but not have a fixed cut off about lining thickness. It will be my 4th month in a row of being scanned so I have a better idea now of what can be achieved. If it really isn't good then I will know that I can't do it naturally and switch. I was also wondering whether doing natural with a bit of extra estrogen might help. I've not heard of anyone doing that and it would invalidate my ERA but I'm not too bothered about that. May email my consultant tomorrow and ask. Feels good to have made a decision. Now just need to tell DP....

@Janefx40 what a great idea to have a counselling session to help you work through it all. Sounds a good plan to me. I hope it goes down well with dh. I think estrogen can sometimes be used with superovulation (I hope I haven't made that up) so I don't see why you couldn't just take a bit for a FET.

I wonder if I should give counselling another try. I'm not very good at talking about myself in person though and just didn't get much from
The one session I did have. I'm pretty annoyed at the world still after my latests mc, but then I guess that's just normal and I just need time.

I know this is bad but I keep seeing very very overweight women with young dc or pregnant, or just women just visibly being a bit of a shitty parent and I just want to stamp my foot and shout 'what the fuck, that's not fair!' Says me who ate far too many biscuits again today.

@Janefx40 you've prompted me to arrange another counselling session to help me get in the right frame of mind for FET. I think it would really help. How did your chat with DP and consultant go?

@seven201 I used to have similar thoughts at times. But I’ve gained weight myself in the last few years and was bigger than I am now when I had my daughter so honestly don’t think it makes a blind bit of difference. That said, I do feel uncomfortable, and it’s one of the reasons I’m delaying FET as I really want to get in better shape. My mum and DP have suggested today that I just go ahead this coming cycle though as a month isn’t going to make a huge difference and I haven’t totally undone the hard work this year. It’s a bit of a headf*ck though and making me question my plan to hold off rather than just go for it. Going to have a long walk tonight and try and make (and stick!) to a decision!

Hey. Had my day 8 scan today. Not feeling hopeful. Feels the same as my cancelled cycle. Early triple layer but only 5+mm. They've upped the progynova and I'm back on Friday. Feeling really deflated. Just want to give up.

@VenusStarr I'm so sorry. Ugh this process is shit isn't it! Hopefully there is time for it to thicken. I know so little about medicated cycles but I'm a natural it can suddenly jump.

Also call me crazy but I'm going to dance a lot in my next cycle!! The cycle where my lining was ok (but cancelled for Covid), I went to a gig on cycle day 11 and danced for 3 hours straight! Not sure if it was the exercise or the oxytocin (I felt so happy for once!) but I'm going to try it!!!

@VenusStarr I am sorry the lining is stubborn again. How much estrogen are you on? I remember during my first transfer I was on 6mg progynova and 4×1.53mg daily.(transdermal estrogen spray). Perhaps they can up your dose a little bit more.

@seven201 thank you for thinking about me. I am sorry to hear you are still bitter about what happened, but I think you have all the right to feel so. I am still on a break from IVF so I am not doing anything anymore at this stage. I had the fibroid checked yesterday and it's gone, so there is no need for surgery yet. I am bitter too, but I am at a stage where I can't afford to let infertility control my life anymore so I am slowly taking it back.

@Janefx40 I think you've asked if there is a possibility to have a natural cycle with estrogen suplementation. I did that during my second transfer. It was a natural cycle and I took 1×2mg estrogen pessary for two days before ovulation to thicken the lining more and it had increased nicely. But I am not in the UK so I dunno if estrogen pessaries are available there. Perhaps you could ask for oral estrogen? Also, I dunno the impact of estrogen suplementation on ERA.

Love all!

Wow that's a lot of information in your appointment with prof Shehata @seven201 so what happens now, when will your next FET be?

I'm still seeing the psychologist, I've maxed out my insurance on it so I have to pay now, so only having appointments every 2-3 weeks. I think if you're going to see someone @seven201 try and find one that you can see regularly, I had a couple of sessions with the counsellor at the clinic and I didn't find it that helpful she just told me to take up colouring in or gem art and I already have about 100 hobbies!

Also I see people with young children and don't get it either, they had a baby session on at my gym swimming pool and I just feel when I see young mothers and pregnant women they often look quite unhealthy compared to me, I feel like I have made healthy decisions throughout my life and it's done nothing for me.

@VenusStarr are you in a medicated FET at the moment?

We did try naturally although I'm using the term naturally very loosely since it involved a syringe and a menstrual cup and sticking to doing this just twice on the peak days. I think the chances of it working are very low but at least I will know I tried to avoid a lifetime of survival scars! I'm also taking over the counter nytol for the next few days. In the USA a lot of people do an at home immune treatment and it involves a few over the counter drugs although in my case I thought just 1 nytol at night can't do much harm, I'll stop by the weekend though as I have my second LIT session next week.

Thank you @Yuliaaa I was on 6mg of estrogen for 7 days and they've put me up to 8mg today and back on Friday. Depending on how that goes, they may add patches. I just feel more estrogen probably isn't going to help. It wasn't my ivf doctor today as they'd originally said. But I'm so over it now, I didn't bother saying anything.

Yes, medicated FET @Gardenlady543

My acupuncturist reckons it's definitely going to get cancelled, so that's great 👍

Thanks @Janefx40 I've just done some yoga and having a raspberry leaf tea.

We're definitely taking some time off after this. Probably until new year.

Surgical scars not survival scars!

@VenusStarr are you using any estradiol vaginally? that seems to increase my estradiol blood levels up the most.

No, just oral at the moment. I think I'm absorbing it ok, it's just not having an impact on my lining.

When will you test @Gardenlady543 ? X

@VenusStarr I think the final arrangements for the surgery will probably be made 2 weeks before the op which will be 10dpo so I guess I'll test then, that's next Wednesday. I really don't think I will ever implant though especially not with a fibroid.

Maybe you could put one of the tablets in vaginally, that's what they have me do, worth a shot maybe?

So sorry @VenusStarr. Can appreciate how deflating and frustrating this must be for you 💛

I'm absolutely shattered. Neighbours car alarm went off at 3.30am (it's been randomly going off in the day too). So I've been awake since then. Mind in overdrive 👍 so I've done some yoga and a mayan massage this morning. Had lots of ewcm, which means nothing really. Might do my evening progynova vaginally tonight.

Hope everyone is OK. X

@VenusStarr oh how frustrating. Good for you doing something productive with your time. I'd probably just have laid there getting more and more annoyed!!

I think the EWCM is probably just the oestrogen maybe? Could it be a good sign that your body thinks you are getting ready to ovulate?

Thanks @Janefx40 I won't ovulate, my ovaries are very quiet, so it's just the estrogen. Just wish it was doing the job on my lining. Definitely could go back to bed. Fed up with it all.

How's things with you?

@VenusStarr 💜

@VenusStarr sorry what I meant was...your body thinks you are about to ovulate even though you aren't - which is good for lining thickening.

@VenusStarr sorry you are fed up.

I have finally been beaten down. When the clinic emailed to say I needed a thyroid test from within the month (even though they have never asked for this before) and a full blood count (ditto) I didn't even argue. We also have to have a video consultation (didn't have one last time) and again, I just booked it. They have broken my spirit.

Period due on Friday and am determined to get there this time. Does being determined help with endometrial linings?!

@VenusStarr oh and I've also got some weird gastric problem whereby I get heartburn when I swallow anything - including water! So haven't eaten anything yet today.

I think I may have an issue with my appendix. I have a pain in what I thought was my right ovary. Hurts when I move in certain ways and has been there since yesterday. Am panicking. I can't take any more delays. Hoping to be wrong.

Oh no @Janefx40 😢 can you get in with your GP today?
Before my period this time, I had an awful flare up in my stomach, felt bruised inside and had acid type issues. It did clear once I started my period, but I couldn't eat. I put it down to hormones. Never had anything like it before.

I really hope it's nothing serious. Just in the car waiting to go in for my scan.

That's exactly what I have @VenusStarr ! It started with really bad heartburn. Even swallowing water hurts my chest. Then this pain came. Felt like I had twisted my ovary like when you are doing stims and are sensitive but the pain hasn't passed. I can still move around - just went for a run - but it is there.

Have GP appt at 1620 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼