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

❤️

@Janefx40 yeh it's strange, they said they contact early if there is a problem to bring me back in for a biopsy and if I don't hear soon then a letter will likely come at some point saying it was normal. It's nice to have this crossed off my list as it's been lingering over me since January now. I still have to wait for the outcome but I guess had I shut it all down at the time it would have been because the sample was in the bin.

They normally recommend doing the LIT 3-4 weeks apart followed by a LAD test 3-4 weeks later, LIT #3 will be without DH involved, he needs to redo his viral tests which have run out anyway. I won't manage the train at the moment so the plan is for DH to drive me down to London, he will get his viral tests done and I'll have the donor pooled session. It's easier to book in donor pooled vs donor pooled including partner. So I will have to take what they give me for session #4, I am hoping to have it 3 weeks later though and then repeat the bloods 3 weeks after that, as time is ticking to get this stuff in before my FET.

I am CD33 and waiting on my period, hoping it comes soon to get in the FET before Xmas closure. The surgeon said the first 2 cycles are very variable as the surgery messes up things.

That's understandable that you're struggling @Janefx40 I hope it keeps going well. I have a good feeling about it for you.

@Gardenlady543

Hi. Thanks for the information. I really appreciate it. IVF is so hard. There are so many uncertainties.

Good luck with the next LIT. You seem to have a good plan. I hope everything goes ok with the scan as well. There’s so much to think about. Are you doing your frozen transfer in November?

@Janefx40

I’m sorry you’re struggling.

Thanks @Gardenlady543 . I'm probably being naive but I was expecting the recovery from this to be easy/quick. It's next Friday at 6.30/7am (I wonder how much business epsom premier inn gets from CRP patients!). I'm meant to be going to a spa the next day (a 40th present from 3 friends who are coming too). I guess it depends on what they have to do in the op and how long I'm sedated for. I don't recover well from general anaesthetic so was really pleased this was a sedation one. I emailed the clinic to ask if I can go to the spa and they said it should be but need to see how I feel, the sedation affects should have gone but I might be crampy with spotting. I don't work Mondays, so at least I won't be at work until Tuesday.

I'm pleased you have the first (third) LIT booked in now, so the decision is final! Is DH on board? I'm glad he's taken some time off to look after you. Did you say you mainly work from home (video dr appts)? You feeing ok about returning to work? The breast stuff sounds like a weight's been hanging over you a while. It's really hard to deal with more than one heavy problem at a time.

@Janefx40 definitely normal to be struggling given what it's taken to be where you are now. Are the clinic(s) looking after you well?

@seven201 I've had 2 hysteroscopies under sedation but admittedly without much of a procedure attached. The first one they aspirated a cyst, the second one was just a look around. I had minor cramping for about half an hour afterwards and a small amount of bleeding but was basically fully recovered within maybe 6-12 hours. I mean, I didn't go running but I wasn't in pain and could move about normally etc. So hopefully you will be fine.

The clinic aren't very hands on so I've been doing DIY aftercare (Medichecks and being scanned by EPU tomorrow).

@Janefx40

I’m sorry to hear the clinic haven’t been supportive. When I got pregnant with Jack, I had a 6 week scan and weekly scans but I had some issues they were monitoring. I had no beta blood tests as it was lockdown but had lots of scans until week 10. Has it all changed?

@Janefx40

I’m sure you’ll be reassured when you have your scan tomorrow.

@Janefx40 will that be the first scan? I hope it all goes well.

@seven201 I pay for all the treatment so DH just goes with what I think. I think he like me just expects everything to not work at this point. I've been wfh during the pandemic but need to go and do some quite active stuff every couple of weeks which I'm not ready for yet.
Usually they say not to go in water after interventions in the uterus. So I think it depends on what the spa has, I would probably put on a loose fitting dress and find somewhere comfortable to lie down there. If you're having treatments then I would go for treatments on the face.

@2021ivfagain the plan is to have a FET with my third bleed, still waiting for bleed number 1 at the moment. At the moment my app is predicting bleed 3 to arrive at the end of November.

Sending ❤️ to everyone.

and thanks to all for yesterday ❤️

@Gardenlady543 yes it's the first scan and with EPU because I have concerns. I have a lot of trauma around scans as I'm sure many of us do.

@2021ivfagain the clinic probably would have done more if I'd asked but Medichecks is cheaper for bloods. Things like scans I'd prefer to do locally if we get that far as it is cheaper and easier.

@Gardenlady543 how long has your cycle been this time?

Oh no, I'm sorry to hear you've got concerns @Janefx40 I really hope this will be a reassuring scan, best of luck for it, let us know how it goes ❤️

Thinking of you @Janefx40 ❤️❤️

Thank you everyone. Scan went well. All fine and in the right place. Massive relief. Very early so not much to be seen but I feel like I'm on a better track than with the miscarriages at least.

I'm really glad it was at EPU. I think I find it less traumatic than the clinic even though I've had losses there although I did have to see a consultant who was predictably quite scathing about all the treatment I've done - but what does he know he?! He was nice with it.

Very relieved and grateful to have got this far x

That's great news @Janefx40 don't worry about the consultant, it's weird when we go from seeing fertility specialists and reproductive immunologists into the mainstream specialty. We are the small percentage of people where we have to have everything thrown at us, and I guess mainstream specialists won't see this a lot.

To answer your question I'm CD34 and still no sign of my period.

Had a really odd day today, woke up and found a dead fish in my pond that I thought wasn't mine, constructed this story that a heron must have taken it from somewhere and dropped it in my pond and then eaten my favourite fish which is missing. Posted about it and people tried to identify the dead fish as all sorts of species, only for someone to say this is most likely your missing goldfish.

@Gardenlady543 that is so mysterious!!! I'm sorry about your fish tho. Sounds more likely than the heron. How long are you cycles normally?

@Janefx40 yeah I'm not sure why I came to the opinion that a mysterious fish swap had happened. It's all very strange, it looks perfectly healthy but dead.

Pre IVF my cycles were 28-34 days. Post IVF it's harder to say as I track in an app but have been on medicated cycles a lot. My last 2 have been 30-32 days. After my fresh IVF cycle my next one was 37 days which is my longest ever. I hope my period come soon or the Nov/Dec FET cycle will be a no go.

Tentative congratulations @Janefx40 i’ve spoken to you a few times on other threads, regular nc! How far along are you now ?
I had 4 mmcs and 2 rounds of ivf so I understand the absolute fear of those scans. I had my rainbow last year after immunes with Gorgy. That first 12 weeks is just unbelievably hard, the scans are the worst anxiety ever. I even pre-prepared a text to my dh that there was no heartbeat just before a scan, that’s how used I was to bad ones. If you ever want to pm to talk I’m happy to. Just take each day at a time.
was this a natural FET? I’m thinking of going for my final embryo next year but quite old now and I read that with irregular cycles Medicated is best?
Also, I wanted to say how lovely you are to everyone on these threads, how kind you are to invest so much energy and detail in your responses, even when you have so much going on yourself. I really am routing for you, I hope this is your time finally

@Yaynayokay thank you. That's a lot of nice things to say in one paragraph 😊❤️

Sorry about all your losses. I'm glad you got your rainbow.

I think generally medicated cycles are best for irregular cycles but the success rates are the same as natural I think. I'm now 45 so pushing "old" to the limit.

@Gardenlady543 the cycle's not THAT long yet then. Would you consider taking noresthisterone? My current clinic use it to regulate cycles and I've actually used it myself to time when I want to start including shortening some cycles. It definitely works but might be better not to add anything new into the mix at this point x

@Janefx40 yeah I still have some time, my app always seems to know though and said it should come by the Wednesday we just had. I'm just worried that if this and next cycle go too far over then I won't be able to do the transfer as planned due to the Xmas closure. I took noresthisterone as suppression in my fresh cycle. I guess while I'm healing it's best to leave my body to do it's own thing. Hopefully it will come soon.

How are you feeling after your eventful day, do you have any more scans planned yet?

@Janefx40 glad your scan went well. Been keeping an eye on your updates and it all sounds very promising 💛

@Janefx40

I’m pleased the scan went well. I know it can be an anxious time until you get to 12 weeks. I had a lot of stress with my pregnancy with my son as I had subchorionic haemorrhage, but had frequent scans and the monitoring put me at ease.

I’m sorry you’ve not had a positive experience at the clinic. It can be difficult to get things sorted.

How is everyone doing? Good to hear your scan went well @Janefx40

How's the recovery @Gardenlady543?

Sorry to hear you're feeling rubbish @VenusStarr

I'm currently in my tww. First big hurdle for me is to get beyond 8dpt, that's usually when my period is due and every transfer so far I've had a migraine or period start that day.

@thislittlebird the 2WW is horrendous. Hope you're coping ok. When is 8dp for you? For what it's worth I always get a pre menstrual migraine but also got one the cycle with my daughter. I was sure it meant it had failed but it hadn't. But I will hope yours stays away anyhow!

@birdbybird how was your appointment with Mr S?

@MyEasterEggs when is your transfer? Sorry if I should already know. I just scrolled back ages trying to find out but there are so many messages!

Love to everyone xxx

@Janefx40 it’s Monday. I’m already feeling like it’s failed. I had a feeling of mild sickness and hunger off and on all most of the day on Friday but I think it was probably anxiety about work. I’ve been interviewing for jobs internally this week and then worrying about the outcomes a lot.

Interesting you got one on the cycle with your daughter. I really hate my migraines, they’re like this awful reminder I can’t have kids every month right before AF. I got one at 8dpt the first cycle and tested to confirm it was a BFN, which it was.

@thislittlebird yes I remember spending hours researching what caused the migraines to work out if it was possible for the cycle to have not failed but I never found an answer because most people seem to get migraines the day before a period but mine have always been 3 days before. I've just concluded that hormones are complex and had to leave it there.

Also with 2 of my pregnancies, I have been crying as I took the test because I was so sure it had failed. You just can't tell but that is torture in itself.

When is your test day/when are you going to test?

Transfer is Thursday @Janefx40 so I’m currently trying to get myself in the right frame of mind, whatever that is. Just had a magnesium salts bath and might have another before transfer seeing as they’ll be off limits soon!