ERA EMMA ALICE testing thread 7

[VenusStarr]

Hi all. We're on our 7th thread! Really hoping for some more positive news in the coming months.

Thank you @Gardenlady543 I'm ok, pretty tired and just want to be home. Funny how the novelty of being in a lovely hot country and fancy hotel wears off quickly. We're hopeful that there will be a transfer tomorrow 🙏 spent ages on the phone today, back and forth.
Well done you for going into work after your trip! 😊

@VenusStarr I'm always cold but within a few days of a UK heatwave, I long for a nice cold room so I can snuggle under the duvet. I so hope you are both back in the UK tomorrow 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

Oh, he's going to a different hospital on the island for an operation @Gardenlady543 really hoping were back in the UK by the weekend 🙏 I've lost all concept of time!

@VenusStarr I thought he was going to have the operation in the UK, I hope the new hospital out there is better than where you are now. It sounds like if he can get the op then he'll be on the mend and will hopefully get discharged and home asap ❤️

Sorry, I probably haven't updated @Gardenlady543 late Friday they told us there were no beds in the UK 😒 so they asked the current hospital to do the op, but they don't do it, so he needs a transfer. And then he deteriorated over the weekend and was no longer fit to fly, even with nurse support due to liver issues. So we had to go with the complicated hospital transfer but everything shuts down over the weekend... its taken all day to get something moving. He is brighter in himself today. Language barriers and dealing with insurance and 2 hospitals is challenging but hopefully were getting somewhere now 🤞 x

@Enfys23 thank you! I don’t even know where to start with immunes and NK cells? Is it tested in the blood and as a biopsy? I just wish they would give me the pred as adeno has the name nature as endo and more endo suffers have presisolone? Don’t they? Hoping the rest of the TWW goes quickly for you and glad you’re signed off work.

was there anyone else in this group with “suggested adenomyosis” or not?

@VenusStarr arggg I hope they speed things up and get him to the other hospital pronto, this must have been a really tough weekend for you :( You guys really deserve to catch a break. Thinking of you and hoping that tomorrow is a good day ❤️

@VenusStarr I’m so sorry. You have been through so much. I can only compare it to when my parents were taken into hospital and had life saving surgery/treatment. It’s so hard, but with the added language barrier that must be really difficult. I’m pleased he’s brighter today and that you can negotiate a transfer. Take care

I’m very sorry you’re still having to fight and sort things @VenusStarr I hope things get moving now.

@Loz2467 I think both are done depending on who you go to for tests. I can’t really advise as my consultant was willing to prescribe pred and clexane based on my history, so I’ve not had to go down this route yet. I will do if this FET doesn’t work out. I would want to get full answers and see if I can get intralipids too. But I don’t think it’s the endo alone that swayed them to give me pred and clexane. I think it’s the fact I have autoimmune conditions too, and I got the results of antiphospholipid antibody screen on day of transfer which confirmed one key antibody raised.

@Faithhopelove83 I don’t really know much about cervix positions, I do my Cyclogest pessaries rectally too so not really got familiar with cervix! It would seem to make sense to get progesterone checked that it has been rescued by dose you’re on now. When my clinic were being awkward for the last transfer I checked via Medichecks - they were quite quick but obvs there is delay with post time.

Thanks @Gardenlady543 . Good to hear from you and glad you were able to sleep off the jet lag. Hope being back at work is ok x

Thanks @Enfys23 . I'll chase the clinic today. I hope I don't have to resort to Medichecks - it must just be me, but I found the lancets agony! But I'll have to if the clinic continues to let me down. I hope you're doing ok. My cervix had gone back up last night, which was a relief, but I'm still in crazy symptom-spotting mode (or worrying over lack of symptoms) even though I know it's not helpful. You would think I've learned after 6.5 years, but it doesn't get any easier only harder. Have a good day and keep up the positive affirmations 🙂xx

@VenusStarr it’s umbelievable your DH still hasn’t been able to have surgery, I really hope for you both it finally happens over the next couple of day. It must be so draining and overwhelming.

@Faithhopelove83 thanks for your nice words.

@kerrym87 thanks for the tips, I wish it could be a bite, but definitely ruling that one out based on a number of things. Hoping for it to be a swollen lymph-node or cyst, but so far many things point to thyroid gland.

Thank you@Gardenlady543, glad to hear you’re back safely. The lump is about the size of a small walnut, immediately to the right of my windpipe, between my collar bone and Adam’s apple, it’s hard and has not changed at all since I noticed and yes indeed it moves up and down when I swallow. From everything I’ve been Googling (too much admittedly) I’m 90% positive it’s a swollen gland, may also be a cyst or won’t say what, but much worse… I believe a swollen thyroid may be more a symptom of hyperthyroidism than hypo so maybe that’s why you didn’t get a swollen one. I can’t say I have many other symptoms in fairness so far, just some tenderness that feels like a sore throat on that side when I swallow. Yesterday it was much more tender to the touch, but I’ve taken aspirin as I read that’s sometimes given to treat the inflammation and it has reduced the pain, but not the size of the lump in any way. I’ve had swollen lymph-nodes before from being ill and they’re usually in a different part of the neck and they change quite rapidly as the illness evolves. Except for this mild sore throat I’m not even ill right now, in fact, I feel completely fine.

I just hope that going privately I can have it checked out real quick, an ultrasound and blood test should give some answer before embryo transfer cycle start, but I cannot be sure of the timings until I contact them later.

@clhiu thyroiditis is inflammation of the thyroid gland, so often causes swelling. My situation was quite unusual as I was found to have a high TSH out of the blue in early 2022 and was given the label of hashimotos based on having thyroglobulin autoantibodies, but I didn't have the typical peroxidase autoantibodies. Over the last year my thyroglobulin autoantibodies reduced and are now at a normal level, hence the endocrinologist felt it was likely I had a temporary autoimmune thyroiditis rather than the permanent condition, hashimotos. Not sure if you're aware that I'm a consultant physician by the way.

I can recommend the endocrinologist Mark Vanderpump if you are looking for a private consultant. Ideally you need to see someone who can examine your next, if you think it's the thyroid then see an endocrinologist, even if it isn't the thyroid, they will be skilled at examining the neck and will give you an opinion and point you on the right direction.

@Gardenlady543, thank you so much and no, I had no idea you were a consultant physician.

I’ve booked a private ultrasound scan for tomorrow, will they be able to see from
there for definite of it’s definitely my thyroid or a cyst or lymph-node do you reckon? Depending on what they see/say I’m gonna have to tell my clinic.

Either way sounds like the FET cycle expected to start in less than two weeks is out of the window isn’t it? And for who knows how long probably? 😞
If they say it’s a cyst or swollen lymph-node should I be able to proceed as normal do you reckon?

Thanks for all the advice x

@clhiu they should be used to performing ultrasounds of lumps and bumps, so hopefully you'll get some info from the ultrasound. I don't think you'll know the impact on the FET until you get some answers.

@VenusStarr any progress today?

Hey @Gardenlady543 thanks for checking in. He's finally at the other hospital! 🙏 I'm just heading over to a new hotel that's closeish. Hopefully surgery tomorrow. They've still advised that he may need a few days recovery. Really hope we can be home by the weekend. Feel like I'm forgetting things now though, like I'm paranoid we've left his bag behind at the other hospital or I've left things in the hotel. Living out of suitcases is crap. Luckily I always overpack so still got a couple of days clean underwear! 🤣

@VenusStarr anything you left at the other hospital or hotel you can go back and get that's not important to remember. You know I use the same water bottle and have done for years and left it in LA, I have no idea how I did that and I was worried as I was checking I had everything constantly and it made me worry what else I may have left behind. But you know stuff isn't important, so nevermind. So glad he is at the new hospital 🙌 fingers crossed for surgery tomorrow, my fitness to fly notes say laparoscopy you need to wait 48 hours ideally and anything more invasive will be longer so you should factor in a few days, the last thing you want is him getting ill and the plane diverting.

Hi all. Endometrial biopsy (ERA )report recommends fet to be done 146hrs after progesterone. Consultant planning to go ahead with this. Any success stories following the implantation window suggested in the ERA?
My first fet was done after 120 hrs which failed.
Also just finished 7d course of coamoxiclav ( for streptococcus). Got thrush coz of antibiotics, currently on Canesten combi after which will startvaginal probiotics- Canesten (low level of lactobacillus).
Is the Canesten enough to increase the level of good bacteria? My levels are pretty low around 8%( consultant wants it to be over 90%)
Planning to start optibac oral probiotics as well. Any opinion on that ?

Have been asked to repeat Emma and Alice bet day 14-21 next cycle.

@Enfys23 and @2021ivfagain thanks for enquiring and pardon the radio silence.

This stim cycle has been quite the rollercoaster. I wasnt expecting having to do this again and there I was, just holding it together, returning to the clinic that I graduated from months prior. To my horror, the nurse measured only one follicle on day 6. Last year, I had eight measured at this point. I really thought my ovaries had finally said enough is enough at age 44. My AFC in Feb was 12 so I wasn’t expecting such as a poor response. Anticipating cancellation, we carried on for a bit longer and slowly my ovaries responded. I normally need 11 days of stims and this time it was 15, partly due to the latter days falling over a weekend. I got six mature eggs from seven decent sized follicles, four fertilised, one morula, 3 hatching blasts but only two good quality to biopsy and freeze. Now the agonising wait for PGT-A and PGT-M results.
Very slim chance that we’ll have anything to transfer so will plan ahead for next stim cycle in May.

@Janefx40 if you have any tips for stims for older ladies, let me know. Hope you’re doing well still.

@VenusStarr - so sorry you and DH are going through this ordeal. I hope it resolves as quick as possible and you get home real soon.

@2021ivfagain and @Gardenlady543 so sorry your cycles were cancelled, it’s so disappointing after doing everything in our control to plan for it.

@seven201 I think you have a scan this week, hoping it brings positive news.

@clhiu sorry to hear of the sudden lump. I hope it’s nothing serious and you can continue with FET prep.

@Enfys23 and @Faithhopelove83 absolutely everything crossed for you. These waits certainly don’t get easier.

@Loz2467 I’ve no advice on the adeno sorry.

Hope everyone else is doing ok. Thinking of you all.

What dosage to follow for Canesten vaginal probiotics? Should we follow 6 in a row then weekly once for 4 weeks or can we take this every day ?

@APSR minimum of 10 days vaginal probiotics after the antibiotics, would be good if you can use an acid product like balance activ for the first 7 days. Then it's up to you how often you do them, I keep an eye on pH and use when I feel I should and then do daily in FETS.

Optibac for women is fine, there are 2 strains you want and optibac has them, so does femdophilus. I also like bio me femme v, as it has oral l crispus.

I would repeat the biopsy if I was you, I find Igenomix advise quite minimal antibiotics, I was advised to take co amoxiclav and when I repeated I still had 0% lactobacillus.

Hi @CailinInUK well done for getting through the cycle I so hope there will be good news coming, the waiting is so hard.

@CailinInUK I still think you are doing well. With my last cycle in August, I only had one blastocyst and it had to be discarded as it was poor quality, so you are definitely doing well to have two top quality ones. Do you think you should ask to do a short cycle with oestrogen priming? I know your fsh is probably good but I think they put you on a long protocol so everything starts at the same point similar to oestrogen priming effect. I last did long protocol at 38 and when I did my egg retrievals again from 40 short protocol was recommended. You are doing so well though to get 3 blastocysts.

So can I take vaginal probiotics continuously for 10 days in a row?
what is balance activ? Never used it before. How can I check the pH?

@APSR Balance activ is like Canesbalance but just a different make. They both prevent you getting BV by lowering ph and restricting growth of bad bacteria. They contain glycogen and lactic acid to encourage good bacteria and help the vagina probiotics do their job.

@Gardenlady543 I’m pleased your holiday turned out ok in the end.

I’ve been taking boric acid thrush duo pessaries which I started when taking a week of antibiotics. They are really working well and this is second week on them. Do you know if I should go straight to 10 days of vaginal probiotics or squeeze in an extra 7 days of acid product like Canesbalance as well?

Thanks @Gardenlady543 @2021ivfagain
@2021ivfagain thank you. I’ll definitely discuss EPP with consultant, I’ve booked a review for 30th March. I don’t think I’ll have PGT results by then but want to get a review before day 21 in case we choose long protocol again. I asked to try one short protocol last year as like you, thought it unusual to be on LP at my age. For the SP I had asynchronous growth, low number of eggs and just one (aneuploid) blast. However it didn’t have EPP to synchronise growth. Consultant seems a fan of LP for me but I don’t think it’s at all common for older ladies with low end reserve.