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

❤️

@MyEasterEggs yes day by day. Am hopeful for yo. Careful what you test with - I found the cheapie easy@homes were reliable but take a very very long time to get much darker. They just panicked me even tho I had blood results to compare xxx

I’m using FRER @Janefx40 as they’ve been reliable in the past. I do have CB digis but was keeping them to see progress. I’ve always found comfort in seeing the numbers rise week after week in the early stages but it doesn’t actually change the outcome so I’m not sure why this would bring me comfort now. My test today doesn’t look much darker than the one two days ago, though it did come up sooner and the test line is lighter, but I can’t say it’s reassured me. Why do we torture ourselves?! 😕💛

@Janefx40 have you had your scan?

@MyEasterEggs that sounds good to me, todays line that is. Coming up sooner and if the test line is different to previous tests it's fine.

@MyEasterEggs I bought loads of FRER and weeks indicators for this cycle but didn't use them in the end. I did a few and then realised it was stressing me out so I did Medichecks bloods instead. It's hard to compare lines and so stressful.

@seven201 yes just had scan and all fine. There was a horrible moment when it looked like we were measuring super small but she readjusted and all was fine. Very relieved and starting to believe. It's early days but we're definitely in a better place than we have been before. Really liked Dr Edge. Or is she Dr Silva-Edge?

Hope all is ok with you all x

@Janefx40 oh woweeee. I'm so pleased! Phew. Oh good question. I always thought Silva must be her first name but I definitely could be wrong!

@Gardenlady543 yeah, they took my bloods again today. I'm pretty sure it's over tbh, just waiting for them to call to confirm.

how was the foot stool?

@MyEasterEggs @seven201 thank you x

@Janefx40 glad to hear your scan went well

EPU called to confirm progesterone is 40 ish now, but they said they need it to confirm it's not an ectopic and I won't ovulate naturally until it's below 20 so I have to go back to next Friday for more bloods to confirm. On the plus side it's gone from 80 to 40 in two days so fingers crossed it shouldn't take too long to get back to normal.

@thislittlebird sorry that it's been confirmed as bad news. I hope you and your DP can comfort each other and have some time over the weekend to process.

@seven201 I've taken a few days off sick to just process it all, it's hard but I need to try to take the positives which is I can get pregnant. And at least I can tell my new clinic how Cyclogest clearly isn't lifting my progesterone up sufficiently. I wish I knew why it was low when I don't spot and ovulate naturally, no one ever looks into why.

When I had my miscarriage at the end of July the EPU sent off my tissue sample to Guys for testing and I was told someone would be in touch with the results. I tried calling and was put through to women and Children, they had no clue and put me through to EPU who told me they don't know, ask my consultant. I don't have a consultant as I'm having private fertility treatment. I was given a random consultants secretary's email address, but she says she has no idea but will try and find out. All a bit ridiculous!

@thislittlebird I'm glad you've taken some
time off. My progesterone, I think, is fine when trying naturally. I have lentogest oil injections 3x a week when I go IVF. I don't think that's the common drug and it is expensive! On my first cycle my period arrived on day 5 or 6 after transfer, so I've had the lentogest since. My clinic don't do blood tests for progesterone. They're all so different. It's good you can go to your clinic with that information.

@seven201 oh, my clinic is Guys. I can’t say I’ve been impressed. They decided I was a private patient the last few weeks and kept sending me bills. I tried to get it resolved and no one helped, the they told me I had “consultant led care” and I just lost the plot and ended up shouting at this woman on the phone. I’ve barely seen a consultant, no idea what they’re bloody on about.

I suspect I’ll be on something like that, is it painful? I’m not looking forward to the cost. Mine is naturally low and I do natural transfer cycles. Mine was 54 before transfer and 31 this Wednesday. The best its been is when I was on letrozole + 1 c Cyclogest when it was 110 and probably ovulating two follicles so I’m going to ask for/suggest that for ‘natural’ transfers in future. Keen to avoid medicated because of the oestrogen.

@thislittlebird I'm so sorry. It's such an awful thing to go through. Sending you so much love.

I had my DD through Guys so it can work but their organisation wasn't the best. They spent years chasing me for a bill that I'd paid years before and then putting all of the onus on me to prove it. It got resolved eventually. I was an NHS patient.

@thislittlebird I'm so sorry to hear about your news today, I hope the hcg comes down quickly ❤️

I have had a annoying day trying to sort out my protocol, the end result is I can tell you how much various forms of progesterone cost at 2 different places:
Fertility2u
Lubion 7 pack £85.40
Prontogeat (PIO) per vial £9.35
Cyclogest 400mg 15 pack £17.25

Asda pharmacy
Lubion 7 pack £56
Prontogest (PIO) per vial £3
Cyclogest 400mg 15 pack £12.96

Massive price difference, if I can get everything I need for a FET from Asda it will cost £625 vs £1200 at fertility2u.

@Gardenlady543 yes ASDA is good and I use them as it's a massive saving especially on Lubion but it's slightly time consuming. You have to get the prescription faxed and if they use a secure mail it can take 4 hours to show on ASDA's system. Then you have to go in and pay before they'll order it. Then go back and collect. Occasionally we get lucky and they have it in stock. We are Asda Watford.

Hand hold, please. I was constipated yesterday morning and relieved myself in the afternoon (probably TMI though I wonder if there’s such a thing after the experiences we’ve all had!) But when I went to the toilet a little while later noticed some pink spotting…

None since but I did have awful cramping for hours. Physically I’m feeling much better today but it was so scary. Similar to when my period is due. Still a little raw and emotional but trying to put it down to the possibility that straining may have caused it? There’s so much going on down there I suppose but hoping for reassurance 😣

@MyEasterEggs try not to panic. Spotting is totally normal and so is cramping - there's a lot going on in there. The constipation could be causing it or adding to it as well - I had terrible constipation on the progesterone for a few weeks. These early days are so hard. Have you joined any other threads? There are a couple of threads for women pregnant post miscarriage. I'm on an April/May one that I'm sure you could join. Sending love x

@Janefx40 I haven’t really moved beyond the fertility threads, I think because I daren’t hope too much! But maybe it would help. I didn’t think before posting that this probably isn’t the place for my worries but appreciate you commenting x

@MyEasterEggs I hope you've had a better 24 hrs and no more bleeding. I too felt a bit lost after my positive test in January. I couldn't get on with the "positive after miscarriage threads" as they were too busy and often it was women who had just had one miscarriage and fell pregnant easily. I think there needs to be a "pregnant after recurrent miscarriage and years of trying" thread!

Hope everyone is having an ok weekend.

@Gardenlady543 I hope the rest from work has refreshed and healed you a bit.

@MyEasterEggs hope you’re feeling better.

@Gardenlady543 good to know about ASDA pharmacy. Our nearest one is a 25 min drive away, I might have to try to use them. I have a house full of Cyclogest, I hope they’ll let me use that if they want me to take any, rather than buy more new.

Did anyone here have the Fertilysis thrombophilia tests?

Thanks @seven201 I'm still in pain at the moment, not really sure what's happening as I thought I'd been doing fine and then this just came on. How are you getting on what CD are you?

@Janefx40 could you get PIO from Asda? the first Asda pharmacy I called said they wouldn't be able to get it, hence me getting a quote from the online place and then I decided to call a different Asda and they said they can get it.

@thislittlebird my friend is doing the thrombophilia tests with them at the moment. If you're going to do them make sure you look through all the tests you might want to do with them as the courier is about €60 so it's best to do everything at once. They told my friend they only need a few drops of blood for the thrombophilia tests, her set came with the finger prick stuff, she is doing other blood tests so is going to get her blood taken normally.

Hi guys. I’m still lurking!

wantsd to pop on to say congrats @Janefx40 so delighted for you!

and @Gardenlady543 sorry to hear you’re still in pain. Check your underwear!!!! I put on a pair one day as normal and my scar was so painful and burning etc. I thought it was getting infected - turns out it was the underwear if put on (just normal cotton ones from primark). Just reacted with it! My sister told me it happens her too. I now bin any underwear if it’s sore after wearing it. It’s very random but some just seem to agitate the area a lot! Just wanted to tell you in case it’s same for you.

@seven201 I checked out a few threads yesterday and there was so much symptom spotting, line comparing and, of course, early losses. It was all a bit triggering and I’m here comparing lines now myself. But on the upside there’s been no more spotting (I’ve never had a one-off episode, it’s always led to loss) and I have bloods coming up Tuesday and Thursday to reassure me. One day at a time 🙂

Hi. I had my consultation this week and I was told off for only thawing 4 day 3 embryos even though it resulted in two day 6 blastocysts but they were not good enough for transfer. Also confused as this August just before preparing for frozen transfer he said don’t worry about doing era, Emma, Alice or testing for nk cells as it was not an issue in the past. Then on Thursday he said as I only have 7 day 3 embryos left he believes I need to do era, Emma, Alice and nk cells as things can change!

Also, he said we might be able to squeeze in a transfer in December. It’s so annoying because if I had done a cycle last December as well after November cycle I might be in a better position right now. So this year they are not closing early! However, as I’m doing a transfer and not making more embryos I don’t want to feel rushed at the same time. I’m so confused by everything and so worried about costs. The problem is I can’t delay too long due to fsh levels and the FET stimulated cycle is best for me.

@Gardenlady543

I’m also confused that I’m asking my consultant about interactions with zumenon and Allicin (garlic supplement for candida) and he said I should talk with nutritionist. Also, with regards to era, Emma, Alice etc, my consultant said if my fsh does get too high I would just do another protocol but what about the era, Alice, Emma etc? Surely, that would have to be repeated with a different protocol? I did medicated FET December 2019 and failed: it was the worst protocol for me as I felt ill from all the medication. This time with the stimulated FET I felt much better and responded well.

My nutritionist has highlighted candida issue and listed a whole lot of other supplements to take. Starting to worry about it all. Apparently, the only lactobacillus I have in abundance is lactobacillus Jensenii and it’s out of their high range, so it’s so high it’s off the scale. But I lack the other lactobacillus ones like crispatus etc. However, I did swab before I did intense treatment using canesflor and kefir along with other probiotics nutritionist mentioned first time. Could I post my latest swab result as it does not make sense? The company take 4 weeks to analyse results, so by the time you get them your issues might have improved or changes.

@Janefx40

I’m pleased you’re doing well. I know it’s not been easy for you. How did you feel knowing you were transferring your last embryo? I’m not going to produce more, so this is it for me. Feeling upset, scared and confused by consultant’s contradictions /changing opinions.

@Gardenlady543 sorry you're sore. Is it worth ringing the hospital to find out if you need to be checked out? Granny pants can help if you have scar rubbing. This sounds worse than just that though? I'm cd6, so last day of letrazole. I have a saline scan and follicle tracking scan on Friday. I am worried I started letrazole too early and I might actually be on cd4 ish and it was spotting from the hysteroscopy for the first couple of days. Oh well, will just have to wait and see what Friday brings, other than a big bill. Hoping to be able to at least tell if I'm on my period from next month!

@2021ivfagain sorry you had such a frustrating appointment. The era should indeed be done with the same protocol you'd use for a transfer. There's not much difference between December and January if you do want a little extra time.