ERA EMMA ALICE testing thread #6

[Gardenlady543]

@Janefx40 @birdbybird @seven201 @Gardenlady543 @patientpatient @MyEasterEggs @thislittlebird @Yuliaaa @Violette22 @2021ivfagain @OrangeBengal @Enfys23 @Loz2467 @DEIVF @Hopeful199 @ER12 @greendress789 @Douchas12111 @Lori2022 @AdviceForJane @Anonbaby @Molls87 @ChickenT2b @GoldenElephant @IVF22 @StillTrying10000 @warrior101 @whatcangowrong @Yaynayokay

Oh yes it really has happened we are onto thread #6.

All are welcome to join us, we started out as people interested in ERA EMMA ALICE but we seem to have had every test available between us.

So if you want to know about the microbiome, reproductive immunology or you just feel your case is complicated and what like minded people to talk to about it you've come to the right place

Thanks @Janefx40 @Enfys23 @2021ivfagain ❤️

Any OTD news yet?

Morning Ladies,

@Gardenlady543 I’m sorry your feeling this way. I know you’ve been doing it much longer than me so I can only imagine. It’s been 2 years today since the loss of our baby girl 🥺 and here I am negative test and brown spotting that started yesterday. It’s just so hard.

Just to update Everyone. It’s not like I expected my first fresh transfer to work but it’s still upsetting and such an emotional time.

I started with brown spotting yesterday which was 15 days after my egg collection and 10dp 5dt so it’s my period trying to start. Seems like my lining can’t sustain no matter the amount of progesteone thrown at it but it’s technically like 15 dpo isn’t it so was it just ready as there is no pregnancy? Sorry I’m still learning along the way.

I had a call booked in with a Dr who was a new one and I completely wasn’t sure on her! I really liked my old Dr but he’s retired. Anyway explained about the lap appointment etc. She said looking at my scan from October she would just down regulate. Prostap on day 21 of my cycle (buserelin isn’t available is it) and then do an FET. The reasons for the lap she said would check for endo, tubes and scarring outside of the uterus. She said she feels like I’m going for it because I’ve been waiting for so long and she doesn’t think it’s needed because I don’t have symptoms and the down Reg for the adeno treats a down Reg of endo too. I do obviously suffer the brown spotting before and after my period which she tried so say is hormonal but I do think it’s linked to endo / adeno. I asked if there was an option for longer down Reg and she asked why I needed reasurrance 🙃 anyway she said she would do me 2 injections of prostap so nearly 2 months of down Reg if it makes me feel more reassured.

Ideally I’d like to do a 2 month down Reg and an FET but I know I’ll always question the lap but then I don’t know if I’m just nervous of more bad news and more recovery! The area which looks like a patch of adeno they often get confused with fibroid but it’s so close to the lining and it definitely looks like adenomyoma which has now gone from 2mm in Jan 22 to 1cm in oct 22. I don’t think this can be removed anyway.

Even if I had the lap timings are still the exact same and it would mean I’m throwing EVERYTHING at it! A lap and a 2 month down Reg. Plus this brown spotting is coming from somewhere! Even in my natural cycles when I had 400mg of cyclogest a day I didn’t get spotting then I got my period straight red about 3/4 days after finishing it. So strange?

Tried to speak to my partner but it just causes issues and he thinks I’m putting my body through a lot. I was trying to explain you don’t put embryo in after embryo you want to figure out and change things!!! We’ve only just started IVF and already it’s like this.

Wishing @Enfys23 @2021ivfagain luck with OTD. 💗

Sorry for the long post.

Thought I’d geared myself up for it, still devastated to get a negative result this morning @Gardenlady543 . Seems it always ends in agony with no glimmer of hope. I know many have had more than three failed transfers but just feels desperate situation. We have one blast left. I’ll probably do next FET quite soon as can’t face waiting either. Need something to plan and focus on. This is the poorer quality blast though, they said it was good because it got 9/10 on embryoscope but the grading they’ve told me now is 4BC. Prepping myself mentally for third stims come spring now. But feeling really without hope today, just going through motions. DH away with work for fair bit of Feb and March too which is going to be tough.

I am so sorry to hear this @Loz2467 2467 ❤️ thinking of you today. My otd was earlier but even on 800mg of cyclogest and a lubion, my body tried to start my period. In my positive cycle, I was on the same and I didn't bleed at all.

I am similar to you, I like to know things are different each time. I think if you have the option for the lap I'd take it. I've never been offered one and do wonder sometimes if them having a good root around inside might help. It is a lot to go through, but having a plan you have trust in goes a really long way I think.

@Enfys23 I'm really sorry ❤️ even when we expect it, its absolutely devastating. Give yourself some time.

Managed to speak to the clinic, turns out I do have ureaplasma too (does the Emma / Alice test for this? As I had nothing previously). Anyway, after a bit of faff (they'd given me 1 week and dh 2 weeks of antibiotics) hopefully getting the prescription later.

First day back on hydroxy. Am doing the loading dose, so doubling up today and tomorrow. I've gad a rash that I think is psoriasis on my hand and it seemed to be on my eyelids as well, been really sore, so I'm hoping the hydroxy might sort that out too. Will report back.

I hope you're OK @Gardenlady543 it can feel relentless. I'm thinking of you xx

Really sorry @Loz2467 you're going ahead with the lap is that right, I would if I was in your position. It sounds like a productive conversation discussing the down reg which I think will be good too.

Really sorry @Enfys23 they told me their data shows embryoscope score trumps grading, 9/10 is very good. I know how you feel about wanting to move forward for the next try. Is it cycle off and then try again?

@VenusStarr yes Emma Alice does test for it but it didn't pick it up x2 in my friend who was picked up twice on vaginal swabs, it sounded like you were prepared for antibiotics anyway, so just need to take them so you can move forward. Best you both take them I think.

Thinking of everyone during these hard times, we are all here together ❤️

@Enfys23 @Loz2467 really sorry to hear your updates, it’s such a tough process and doesn’t get easier the longer it goes on.

@Gardenlady543 sorry to hear you had bad news too

@VenusStarr we got DH’s results. His testosterone was:

17.6 nmol/L (Range: 8.64 - 29)

I thought it was interesting that the testosterone range seems to start at a higher number than with your partner’s test?

Sorry to hear lots of people are having a tough few days ❤️❤️❤️

I meant ‘particularly tough few days’. Christ if you’re anything like me then the last few years have been tough!!

@Loz2467 @Enfys23 so sorry to hear your update. I had hoped your expectations were wrong. It’s so hard.

@Loz2467 thinking of you and your baby girl especially today ❤️

@Gardenlady543 sorry you’ve had other bad news to deal with on top of everything else. I know what you mean about returning to same
place two years later without seeming progress has been made. I thought I had graduated for good from fertility clinic in August and now have to return and probably spend most of 2023 there :(

@2021ivfagain you asked when I’m next going to clinic. I’ll be next going to hopefully confirm down regulation and get go ahead for stims. Probably around early March. I hope your prep for FET is going better.

@VenusStarr good luck with your drugs. Sorry I don’t know what they do, I’d have to Google. I have suspected (guttate) psoriasis at the moment. It’s a month before dermatologist appt is available for me and that’s private! You said this recent break was good for you, that’s good, though I appreciate how hard it must be to come to that stage.

Hoping the board has some good news stories soon

Ignore me @VenusStarr

I’d completely misremembered and thought the range started at 7 and it wasn’t, it was 12. I’m talking rubbish!

@Enfys23 and @Loz2467 I'm so sorry. It's always devastating when a cycle doesn't work out. Sending you both lots of love. X

@VenusStarr hope the hydroxy sorts out your psoriasis. My current clinic test for urea plasma as part of the screening tests but I don't think either of my previous two did. From what @Gardenlady543 says this can make a big difference so really they should all test for this.

That's interesting about your friend @Gardenlady543 does make you wonder sometimes though, what else did the test miss 🤔
How are you feeling today? Hope tomorrow goes smoothly for you.

@thislittlebird glad you have his results and they're OK. The consultant came back go dh and he said his were fine too, so no clomid.

@CailinInUK thank you. I'm back on hydroxychloroquine which is an immune modulator. I think @Gardenlady543 is on it too.
It was really hard when we decided to stop trying but it's done me the world of good. I've lost (a bit) of weight, feel much more like me. Its been a long time, years, since I've felt like this.

Thanks @Janefx40 good to hear from you. My clinic definitely doesn't test for it. Hoping the antibiotics sort us out! Hope you're OK xx

@VenusStarr yep hydroxychloroquine twins! I started it in September 200mg twice a day. I am feeling ok, I don't think I will feel good if tomorrow goes badly, really need it to be normal.

@VenusStarr you have psoriasis? I have an unusual type of eczema which is different but not a world away. Were you also one of the rhesus negative gang? I find it weird when we have things in common. Glad you’re feeling better too.

I’m trying to lose some weight before my birthday (and beyond). My metabolism has gone to shit in my late 30s. Sometimes I think I’m accepting that we are unlikely to have any kids, and other times I find it hard to accept again. Tonight my brain flashed back to the one brief pregnancy we had, and how tentatively excited we were. We rushed out for tests at night because I didn’t have many. And now that feels like a long time ago, it was only October. I wish I could see a future point when it might work but I can’t. I’m probably emo and rambling because my period is due.

I’m pleased DH’s hormone tests were all normal but I’m almost a little disappointed because I don’t understand why his sperm are so poor. There’s lots of them, they just don’t swim very much. I don’t understand and try to think of reasons. I’ve got it in my head that it’s because he’s not from London and the pollution is causing oxidative stress. It’s hard not to grasp at straws.

Self diagnosed @thislittlebird ! But it flared up after I stopped hydroxychloroquine and when I googled it, it looked like psoriasis. I had eczema as a child but this rash is different, like scales 😕 It's a lot calmer now, but over Christmas it was so sore and flakey. It ended up bleeding when my jumper brushed over it. Yes, also in the rhesus negative and positive ana gang! There must be something in it.

Every so often it hits you doesn't it? How are we still going through all of this? I can definitely relate to wanting to find a definitive answer. I asked the nurse today about the ureaplasma being a factor in our losses and she said unlikely and I felt a but deflated because I just want something to explain things x

Thinking of you @Gardenlady543 ❤️

@Enfys23 and @Loz2467 I am really sorry that it was a negative. It’s heartbreaking even when you know the result. Please take time to process. Thinking of you both and sending you big hugs.

@Gardenlady543 thinking of you today.

I am sorry it’s rubbish for everyone at the moment. Hoping for 2023 is the year for all x

@Gardenlady543 Hope the hsg went ok today and you’re having a better day. It’s so hard when there are so many obstacles.

@CailinInUK I hope your appointment goes well. I’m feeling really worried as I’m on norethisterone and baseline scan will be next week. Transfer should be early March, but problem is my recurring gardnerella. I think it’s stress and all the medication as my husband is constantly sleeping in other room just in case he gets ill. I’ve not had sex in months but don’t want to with recurring infections, so I know it’s to do with other factors.

I have had some small treats of 85% dark chocolate but my diet is really healthy. I just don’t know what to do. I don’t think antibiotics worked. Last time I had to take two lots of antibiotics with boric acid, canesbalance and lots of probiotics and then it worked.

My ph is at least 5 but my discharge is bad. I’m taking canesbalance and vaginal probiotic every evening and I feel good in the morning but it wears off. I’ve started drinking freshly squeezed lemon drinks as well and more water. Should I take boric acid? Does anyone know if you can take boric acid with vaginal probiotics or will it wipe it out?

I like Invivo but I have to wait 3 weeks for the result? I’m so scared of transferring if infection is worse.

Had the HSG the radiologist said it looked fine. She said she needs to look at images on a bigger screen and write the official report but she couldn’t see an issue.

@Gardenlady543
That’s good news. I’m pleased it went well.

@Enfys23 I’m so Incredibly sorry. :(

@Gardenlady543 I’m glad it went well for you today!!! 🤞🏼

Well… plans out the window! Managed to get hold of the hospital today and they have given my appointment away which was for next weds so they had an appointment 26th Feb but my partner is away. Next one is 15th March. What I’ve requested (she’s going to email the dr) is to maybe have it end of April / May time. So that I can do an FET with a down regulation. The Dr said the down Reg calms adeno and endo so if i do have endo it will calm the inflammation. Even though she didn’t think I needed a 2 month down reg I’d rather go all out that just have one on day 21 of my cycle and chances are I’d be brown spotting by that point anyway too. So I’m thinking to try that and then if that fails have the lap (if he will move me).

Has anyone heard of pregnancy / loss or miscarriage causing future fertility issues. It seems so frustrating.

Also has anyone heard of needing immune testing if adeno / endo? Is this something I’d maybe do going into the third transfer?

@2021ivfagain sorry you’re so worried. There’s a lot riding on this transfer so it’s completely understandable that lots of things will worry you. I enquired with these about turnaround time and they told me 5-10 days. They don’t check for aerobic so not for me but they might be suitable for you:

yourdaye.com/products/at-home-vaginal-screening/

@Gardenlady543 really glad it went well today.

@Loz2467 a fertility consultant told my friend just today that our bodies generally get better at conceiving and pregnancy after they have experienced it, e.g. Lots of women have an ivf first baby and a natural second. That makes sense to me but I appreciate there are many exceptions. One example of where miscarriage could affect future chances is if the D&C causes Ashermans.