FET in September/October

[MyEasterEggs]

I’m preparing to start my treatment cycle in a month or so and thought it might be helpful to start up a thread for anyone heading for FET soon.

This will be my first FET so I’m nervous but also feeling hopeful having gone through a fair amount of testing and treatment. Think I’m about as prepared as I’ll ever be!

Current cycle finally got going two days ago after a bit of a delay and I’ve decided to use it to focus on eating well and getting into the right headspace.

Anyone at a similar stage and want some company?

@CentaurChiron my OTD is the 13th seems so far away! I know I won't be able to hold out and not test til then either.
It's constantly a battle of not wanting to see a negative test but that need to know.

@dlkiik I can imagine the 13th feels like it's years away. Is it just me or does time do really really slowly in the TWW?
I completely understand the mental battle of wanting to know but also being terrifed to test. It's mental torture.
I think waiting 14 days to test is excessive after having an FET. My OTD is on the 18th but as that falls on a work day, I'm going to test a couple of days earlier when it's the weekend. I'm half tempted to try and convince my clinic to give me a blood test before that even (although I doubt they'll agree) because I'd rather know and not have do the bucket load of medication that I'm on for a full 14 days if it's failed.

@CentaurChiron yeah the progesterone makes me feel so bloated and awful and adding it with the estradiol doesn't help with my emotions.
My clinic don't do blood tests, they will just book you in for an early scan if you get a positive test. Do you get blood tests as standard?

@123cats not to give you false hope but I used an FRER which is super sensitive. CB is less so. And if it wasn’t FMU that could be a factor 🙂

@CentaurChiron @dlkiik youre not joking about the TWW. I was planning to hold out until OTD but then worked out that 10DPT was equivalent to 15DPO so ended up testing 6DPT.

Hey, maybe I’m in the clinic’s bad books because I didn’t hold out? 😂

@dlkiik The hormones are definitely no fun and make the waiting even more emotionally challenging. Also, it's so confusing in terms of symptoms. It's the constant wondering if a symptom is related to the progesterone/oestrogen or a potential pregnancy (although so far this FET has been pretty much asymptomatic for me).
My clinic will as a standard have you in for a blood test if you've had a positive home pregnancy test on day 14 after transfer. I think if you've a history of chemical pregnancies or early losses (as in you've had a fair few) you can convince them to do a blood test before the 14 days are up, but aside from that scenario I understand they're very reluctant to do that.

Hi @MyEasterEggs 👋
That's exactly it, 10dpt is in a lot of cases enough time to get a positive test. 14 days after having a transfer would effectively be 5 weeks pregnant if it's worked. In the US a lot of clinics have you in for a blood test 7-10 days after transfer, which seems more sensible to me and also means you don't have to continue with the drugs for longer than necessary.
I think clinics really hate us testing early. Pretty sure my clinic would give me a telling off if I tested early. I wonder if us early testers get put on some naughty list 🤔😃
Congratulations on your BFP by the way! Did you have any notable symptoms in the lead up to your positive test? I currently have no symptoms (although I'm only 2dpt) but I had some pretty obvious early symptoms with my last transfer which resulted on a chemical, and comparing the difference between the two is really messing with my head.

@CentaurChiron @dlkiik I meant to add that I had no symptoms in my first pregnancy, which has been my only successful one, so far anyway. A dizzy spell a few weeks into the pregnancy and that was it. I know it’s hard to let go of reliance on symptoms - I’m exactly the same and have less symptoms today than I did yesterday which is playing on my mind - but I try to hold onto that first experience.

Thanks for sharing @MyEasterEggs that's helpful to know. It's funny because the symptoms or lack of can be reassuring but also worrying at the same time. On the evening of my first transfer, I had flu like symptoms, including extreme dizziness, chills and body aches, so I knew something was going on in there. However, when it resulted in a chemical I was worried that those symptoms where some kind of immune response and my body rejecting the embryo. You can't win either way when it comes to symptoms.

@CentaurChiron in the 2-3 days following transfer there were a few tiny moments of tugging and pulling which I hoped were implantation. A lot of what I’m experiencing now - achy boobs, hot flushes and fatigue - I was feeling before transfer so it’s really hard to determine what’s the drugs and what’s the pregnancy.

If I tested this Sunday it would have been a total disaster from a mental health perspective. There would’ve been nobody to chat to at clinic. It’s a public holiday on Monday so nobody at GP to book in bloods or prescribe the extra meds (I’m 400 miles from clinic so nipping there isn’t an option). So I guess I feel comfortable with my decision to test early as it’s meant I can plan and have peace of mind which counts for so much!

@MyEasterEggs it's impossible to determine what any symptoms could be related to.
Testing early makes total sense if your OTD falls on an inconvenient day, and like you say at least then you're able to digest the result, get some peace of mind and make plans whatever the result.

I just hate all the waiting! The clinic seemed pretty certain it would be a positive by today whatever test was used so I don’t really feel any hope, just wish I knew why I have to carry on with the drugs!
I was definitely feeling nauseous and the metallic taste a couple of days ago but then last two nights I had hot flushes which I sometime get before my bleed so I’m sure it’s coming. Why are the symptoms of pregnancy and periods so similar!

Hi All, I’m late joining but have read the full thread. I’m 9dp5dt and losing my mind. I agreed with DH that we would wait to test until Saturday when neither of us is at work. Early on I had heavy and sore breasts but that seems to have gone now, still getting odd cramps and twinges. My first FET resulted in a BFN and I’ve resigned myself to the same again, the waiting is awful though. What’s frustrating is that I did the ERA which found no issues and both times all has been good with linings etc. There’s no reason on paper why it shouldn’t work

@CentaurChiron - we’re also doing IVF to avoid a genetic condition (although on DH’s side)! Good luck

@123cats the symptoms are crazy-making! I'm sorry it was a BFN. I've been there and it's really rubbish.

@IVFAnon good luck for testing. I hope it's not a BFN, but I completely understand not wanting to get your hopes up. I'm exactly the same. Very used to disappointment now and I almost find it easier to prepare for the worst than tell myself it'll all be fine. It is frustrating about the ERA, but from what I undrstand everything needs to be just so, the embryo, the uterine environment etc. Human reproduction is sadly extremely inefficient. A lot of the time it can be about just finding the right embryo. Good luck to you, this is not an easy process by any stretch.

Well I got home from work this afternoon and gave in to a test, now 6dp 5dt and got my positive 😅 feeling of a similar mindset to you @MyEasterEggs.
I'll test again Saturday and then leave it until OTD on the 13th 🤞🏼
Fingers crossed for everyone else waiting to test.

@123cats how many DP5DT are you? This is the issue with early testing. It never gives you the answers you need. I'm so sorry you're going through this.

@dlkiik massive congratulations. I hope you're able to celebrate a little today x

Congratulations @dlkiik!

I don’t understand all the acronyms sorry! I had a 5 day embryo put in on Sunday 25th so I’m 11 days post transfer if that makes sense! I’m waiting for the clinic to call and advise about bothering to carry on with all the meds as it seems pointless and stressful!

Ohhh @dlkiik congratulations!!!!

Can I join?

Have a date for my FET - 14 Oct. Immune protocol... here's hoping!

Congratulations @dlkiik

So I had a moment of madness when I got home and did a test, after what I posted earlier I can’t believe it!

Wonderful news and gentle congratulations @dlkiik 😃

Oh @IVFAnon wow! Congratulations to you too ☺️

Sending heaps of love and luck to everyone else continuing to test over the coming days. I know how bloody frustrating it can be 💛

@IVFAnon woohoo! Amazing congrats!

@123cats sorry, the lingo is a bit much sometimes! So you're technically 16DPO. I would expect a positive by now. Even on a CB. Not to be negative , but I've tormented myself so many times over the past few years convincing myself it's the test or the urine or wrong time of day to test. I hope you get the support you need from the clinic. Was this your first cycle?

Congratulations on the BFPs @dlkiik and @IVFAnon !!