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

❤️

Congrats @OrangeBengal that's great news.

@Enfys23 I've had 6 biopsies they are not pleasant but I've found it's painful while it's being done and I'm ok after. I've been able to power walk back to the train station and do a long journey home right after.

Oh wow @VenusStarr exciting times for you today! Glad everything went well and if gets crossed for the next few days.

@2021ivfagain I need to wait until late December to do a FET transfer. Waiting on bleed number 2 at the moment and then mid cycle scan to check what my lining is like post fibroid removal surgery. I have all my meds ready for the FET. I decided to take a course of metronidazole, my vaginal pH is ok but I feel that the vulval pH is creeping up and since it's been a year since my last microbiome test and with the big operation I thought it's probably best to use the next few weeks to get it as good as I can. Only issue is metronidazole makes me so nauseated! I'm also trying to get my ferritin in the mid range and sent a test off for that. And I'm pretty sure I haven't reacted to my LIT treatment. I don't know just overwhelmed with trying to optimize everything in myself right now.

Thanks everyone! I’m keen to minimise time off work especially with hysteroscopy probs next cycle too that will mean a bit more time to recover and for the procedure so that’s great. I’m quite used to being prodded and poked by now and did ok following HyCoSy scan so hopefully can just take appt time off.

that’s great news @VenusStarr ! Hoping those little eggs do their work overnight and you get some positive news over the next few days. Also great transfer going ahead! 😊

@Enfys23 I went back to work after my biopsy. I think you're meant to take paracetamol 30 mins before your appt or something. It's not fun but it's quick to endure.

@VenusStarr oh brilliant. So glad you got your bonus egg collection in! Keep us updated on how they do.

@Gardenlady543 I am in awe of how much you monitor and treat so much yourself. Why do you think the LIT hasn't worked? Do you mean because you haven't had any physical symptoms?

@seven201 I won't know until I do the blood test in a couple more weeks, I'd just expect it to be very itchy and swollen, that's what it was like the first time I had it but I've got no symptoms at all this time, it's like I didn't have it at all in the region of the injections. I guess it doesn't really matter anyway, I've decided I'm not doing more than 4, it's £1k a time.

How are you getting on?

@VenusStarr great news on the EC. Fingers crossed for some good fertilisation.

@Gardenlady543 sorry you are feeling sick but well done for being so on top of it all (as you always are). Xxx

@Gardenlady543 for what it's worth (as not LIT) sometimes I react to some meds or injections strongly, sometimes not noticeably at all. It's good to have a set number as it's easy to just keep on haemorrhaging the money without knowing if it's making much of a difference.

I'm fine thanks. My low dose trigger was last Tuesday evening so I think I might test tomorrow to see if the trigger is gone/going. I'm off work this week so have too much time to overthink!

@seven201 how much trigger did you take? It usually takes me the best part of 2 weeks but that is with 10000 Gonasi so much higher dose. Let us know how you get on!

@Janefx40 I'm on 250 ovidrel. I read something about 7 days for 250 (10 for 500 and 14 for 1000), but my official test day isn't until Saturday, and I assume that's to be sure the trigger is gone. So if there is a line tomorrow I will know it could be the trigger. I just don't want to wait all the way until Saturday. Impatient I know.

Hope all is well with you?

7 days to trigger is equivalent to transfer day isn't it? So you should be able to take it tomorrow without it picking up any actual pregnancy Hcg. I'd use a FRER tho as the cheapies aren't different enough at the early stages. Good luck x

Thank you!

Morning all, hope you're OK. Had the call. We have 2 fertilised normally! 🥰 One has something in it maybe just one cell, but she wasn't sure if it was abnormal fertilisation or if it was just not clear, so she's leaving it a bit longer in the culture. Next update on Thursday. Can breathe again now. How are you @seven201 did you test? Are you continuing to test @OrangeBengal 🙏 @Gardenlady543 it's so expensive 😫 I hope you're pleasantly surprised when you have your bloods done. I know what you mean about being prodded and poked @Enfys23 for this cycle I've had 6 TV scans. When is the biopsy again? Lots of love ❤️

@VenusStarr that is super news! Fingers crossed the third sorts itself out and they all do well over the next few days. Bet you're feeling all the emotions after this surprise egg collection!

I did test. There's a feint line but logically I know it must still be the trigger (only did it last Tuesday night) but the irrational part of me is thinking maybe it's showing early as it's triplets . I annoy myself so much with overthinking everything. I need to give myself a talking to!

Thank you @seven201 ❤️ I feel like I don't know how to react. All of this feels very surreal.

Love your imagination! Did you have 3 follicles at your scan? I hope this is the start of something and not the trigger 🙏

2 out of 3 is wonderful @VenusStarr and the third may catch up, my BFP came from a day 6 embryo.

Nerve wracking @seven201! I’m basically going to test until OTD (also Saturday). I’ll switch to a digital test that morning if all still looks good and get HCG bloods done that day too.

So far so good I think, 4dp and 5dp look pretty much the same now, but I think 6dp is darker.

They’ll all begin to fade @OrangeBengal but I’ve just checked mine and there are differences. I did four two days apart. Good things are continuing to go well 💛

Thanks @MyEasterEggs, the second line came up straight away today, which is new :)

How you getting on @MyEasterEggs?

@seven201 triplets it is!! At least you now have a baseline. Are you going to keep testing or leave it a few days?

@OrangeBengal these are perfect lines - lovely and strong for the point you are up to.

@VenusStarr great fertilisation news and fingers crossed for the last one.

Xxx

Yes Venus, 3 Follicles. My doctor said I'm too old for all the embryos to be good though . I definitely couldn't cope with triplets or twins, physically, mentally and definitely not financially! I know I should wait Janefx40 , but I'll be testing every morning.

@OrangeBengal those line show clear progress!

Yes, how are you @MyEasterEggs

Thanks @Janefx40 and @seven201, there is a little fear in me that says I won’t make it to when I usually test (8/9/10dp), hence the over-testing. I’m trying to get each day over with as quickly as possible, so I can see if I’m still pregnant in the morning, all whilst trying to be zen - ahhh! I’m hoping I can relax a bit after OTD.

@OrangeBengal @seven201 mostly well, thanks. Taking it one day at a time and doing what I need to do to look after my mental health. Pregnancy after loss has probably been the hardest part of the whole process. I’m grateful, of course, and have passed a few tricky milestones already. But I’ve had losses at 8, 10 and 16 weeks so still a few hurdles to get over. Dreaming of getting to Christmas and finally sharing some good news after 6 long years!

@OrangeBengal those lines look great, I’m sure it must be so nerve wracking but the progress looks really good.

@VenusStarr that is wonderful news! Such good fertilisation rates and you never know the 3rd may be catching up by tomorrow. Do you have time lapse imaging for the embryos?
thank you - I have my scan and prog bloods on Thursday 3/11/22. Really hope the lining is better this time and enough for biopsy will be gutted if it isn’t. Then the biopsy scheduled for 10/11/22 at the mo. The lady booking me in was like we normally just do bloods for biopsy and I was like hmmm I think I need a scan given my previous issues - to be fair she went to check with dr who agreed and so will have bloods and scan.

Wishing you both so much strength and luck @MyEasterEggs @seven201

Hi everybody. Hope I can join this thread. I’m doing a frozen transfer with a PGS normal embryo. My consultant is so annoying and won’t allow me to do ALICE/EMMA/NK cell/ERA as he says there is no clinical indicator for it. I only have three good embryos so I want to do everything I can to get the best results possible. I’m considering doing the following myself is this crazy?

• order a vaginal microbiome test that will allow me to test for bad bacteria/good bacteria myself. This will hopefully give me some insight although I know it’s not as good as Alice/Emma as it’s not testing the uterus but instead the vagina. ( I’m too late for fertilisys test as my FET is next month) invivohealthcare.com/products/diagnostics/vaginal-ecologix/

• i read somewhere that gardnerella was the most common infection that they find in the Alice test so I could take the antibiotic metronadizole (which I can get easily from Superdrug) on the assumption that I might have it.

• then take a vaginal and oral probiotic - canesflor and optibac.

• for nk cells - increase good fats in my diet (given one of treatments is intralipids). Not sure what else I can do on this one, very much a DIY situation going on here!

Grateful for any views. Thanks

@MyEasterEggs I'm not surprised you're feeling that. It's such a nerve wracking time for those who have lost before, getting past every little milestone. I wish we had a time machine so we could fast forward!

@Enfys23 fingers crossed for the biopsy this month!

@IVF22 have you had failed transfers before? I don't think the era/Emma/Alice was mentioned to me until I'd had 3 or 4 bfn. If doing the diy version would put your mind at ease a bit then I don't see why you shouldn't. I have no idea about the specifics though, although it reads as sensible (although not sure eating fats will make much difference). Doing the probiotics at least is a good idea.

My pregnancy test line is feinter today, most likely the HCG trigger shot on its way out still. Of course I am now feeling flat about it (despite not wanting triplets!). Serves me right for testing so early. My official test day is Saturday, so I'm not out yet.