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.

@Gardenlady543 Thank you. I’m thinking of trying another oral probiotic. I take prebiotic as well. Do all of your oral probiotics have a prebiotic as well? I use Pro Bio Women which has 50 million strains and recommended by nutritionist but I’ve not been absorbing it. It does have a prebiotic as well. I’m taking 2 a day now, but thought I could take optibac or Jarrow Dolphilus as well for awhile. Does your oral probiotic have to be refrigerated and do you refrigerate your vaginal probiotics? I don’t but keep them in the coldest room!

@seven201 Good luck for scan.

@VenusStarr That’s good news. It’s a shame he has to have another operation but at least he will be able to recover from this operation first of all. It’s been really hard for you, but you are getting through it.

@Enfys23 I know how worrying it can be but my clinic won’t accept a result until 14dpt so it’s still early.

@2021ivfagain I keep femdophilus in the fridge, not the other oral probiotics though. I used to keep flora femme in the fridge but it says on the packet room temperature and they aren't stored in the fridge before they get to me. In USA I saw quite a few probiotics in the fridge in Wholefoods but never see that in the UK. I don't think the ones I take have prebiotics in but I guess is that less important with oral ones as the food I'm eating would be prebiotic? It's just the energy they need to metabolize isn't it, like glycogen?

Woop Woop @VenusStarr any news on how long before you guys can get home. I bet you are put off holidays now!! What a disastrous trip!!

Good luck for tomorrow @seven201 🤞

My OCP treatment break is coming to an end soon, I spoke to the doctor today and he said take the last dose on Saturday and expect a period and baseline scan in the week and we will go from there. I have somehow managed to fill my work diary with all sorts for this cycle, I guess a good thing to try and keep to normality rather than stop everything and focus on a cycle, especially with the last one getting cancelled. He also told me they aren't closing for Easter so that's one less thing to worry about.

An update that I had an ultrasound to my neck today and the sonographer told me the lump is just a cyst not to worry about. He said I’ve a lot of other nodules in my neck apparently, but that is very common, than more than 90% are usually benign and that from the ultrasound he couldn’t see anything concerning. Have a GP video appointment tomorrow so I’ll show her the results of the ultrasound in case she thinks it grants further investigation. I have no other symptoms of thyroid issues so hopefully that’s that, but just to be on the safe side I also booked a TSH blood test directly with my clinic for Friday morning just to go into FET with full peace of mind.

@Gardenlady543 it sounds like we might be starting stims at the same time, I’m finishing NET on Monday and expect my period just before the weekend. Did you say even though my consultant prescribed gyno-canesfloor for 14 days, I can keep taking it up to the transfer? Can you also recommend a good oral probiotic with lactobacillus?

@VenusStarr glad to hear your DH finally had the surgery and you’ll be hopefully be in your way home very soon.

I’ll be thinking about you @seven201 tomorrow, good luck

@clhiu that's good news that it's a simple cyst, what's your FET protocol? I'm doing a modified natural with low dose Meriofert, after my letrozole + low dose stims cycle was cancelled.

Oral probiotics:
Optibac for women (you can get this in tesco, sometimes it's on offer)
Bio me femme V (only oral one I know with l crispus)
Femdophilus (2 strengths available)
Physioflor oral (comes from France)

I like to mix and match.

I'll be taking a daily vaginal probiotic, stopping 2 days before transfer then starting 2 days after transfer.

Thank you all. We've had a slight setback in that dh is really sick from the anesthetic and feels awful. I've just got back from the hospital (no taxis and had to run/walk, horrible). Hated leaving him when he's so poorly but the op went well apparently, it's just knocked him around. Next check is bloods and review tomorrow afternoon 😫 he's having obs every hour. X

@Gardenlady543 mine’s also natural modified. 300 Meriofert on alternate nights. After trigger and confirmed ovulation I’ll be on 2 daily Cyclogest pessaries and Lubion injections for 5 days.

@VenusStarr good to hear the surgery went really well, I hope he comes round soon from the anaesthetic. Sounds like a real pain you cannot even get taxis to and from the hospital. I hope you both have an easier day tomorrow

Oh wow @clhiu we are on a really similar protocol which is interesting as low dose stim FET protocols are pretty rare. I did my first modified natural cycle late 2022 having done medicated before, the plan was letrozole 5mg CD 2-6, I got about 5 follicles responding and then all but 1 disappeared and the cycle was almost cancelled when GnRH antagonist was added in, but menopur saved it. We then replicated it again recently, this time I had even more response and about 6 big follicles on CD8 and then the antagonist was added and everything went. The thing is it's painful when the follicles are increasing in size in the early part of the cycle and then they all disappear. Unfortunately menopur couldn't save the recent cycle. So this is the first cycle where we are scrapping letrozole, the plan is to go with 75 units of Meriofert as you can't get menopur in the UK now. I have a 5000 unit trigger, the doctor wants to add in the GnRH antagonist again to stop me ovulating and help time the transfer and I'm dreading this as it messes everything up. Anyway we will see, will be good to see how we get on having the cycle at the same time. I'll be taking a lot of Progesteone and I'm also on a immune protocol and have clexane added.

@2021ivfagain I just got a bit of a whiff of a bad discharge smell, ever so slight but I freaked out! I have ordered some antibiotics and will keep an eye as I'm due to start my FET cycle next week, there's still time I hope. Have you added doxycycline into a FET? I'm thinking I should try this. I can see minimal dosage would be 100mg twice a day from
2 days before transfer and then on the day of transfer. Some people do 5-7 days but that sounds like quite a lot. What do you think?

@VenusStarr I hope you can get a good night sleep knowing your partner is safe after his surgery, lots of people feel ill after anaesthetic and regular obs means they are keeping a close eye which is great. I'm hoping he is feeling more like his normal self tomorrow, hopefully after a good night sleep for him too, well as good as it can be when they are checking bp so regularly!

Anyone here who has done fet 146hrs after the start of progesterone ? My ERA came out to be pre receptive. First fet was done after 120 h which failed.

Thinking of you today @seven201 xx

I hope the nasty sickness from the anaesthetic wears off for him soon @VenusStarr

Glad your scan has some reassurance @clhiu

Thanks for the kind words. I had a terrible day yesterday but determined to put it behind me. It does seem loads test positive by this point but not everyone so got to just keep hope for now.

Hi @CailinInUK , I’ve only ever done two IVF cycles in total in my life so far.
An egg collection cycle in November on very high stims + growth hormone, antagonist protocol and I responded very well, I grew 19 follicles and had 16 eggs collected, 12 mature, my lining was good as well apparently, but no fresh transfer because of PGTA tests needed.
My second ever cycle was last month, ERA mock FET cycle natural modified, specific protocol was 300 ui Meeiofert on alternate nights, 10000 Gonasi trigger, post ovulation 2x daily Cyclogest 400mg pessaries and 2x Lubion 25mg injections. Also responded well to it, faster than expected in fact as I was asked to trigger on day 8 after just 4 Meriofert injections when plan was for day 11 trigger. I developed a 12.5mm triple lining and the ERA test shown receptive so replicating for the FET. Of course I realise no two cycles are the same and I’m trying to prepare for things not working out as well this time. We shall see in a couple of weeks.
I should also add, although I’ll be clearer on timings and dosage after my nurse appointment on Monday, this time I’ll be also having 3 doses of intralipids. From transfer I’ll be continuing Cyclogest and Lubion, but also add daily heparin injections and 175mg Aspirin.
I hope you respond better this time and your cycle goes well. Keep us posted.

Also, thank you for the advice on probiotics.

@Gardenlady543 I’m sorry you’re getting symptoms. I have taken metronidazole in my transfer cycle and it has been ok. My consultant told me you can take metronidazole or doxycycline up until 2 days before transfer. So you could also take metronidazole if you wanted to.

I was also told by my nutritionist that doubling up on oral probiotics can help as well when you start antibiotics. Also, due to my cold, I’ve been having lemon in warm water twice a day which is also helping. Can you take balance activ when taking antibiotics to lower ph at the same time?

I still can't tag! 😡 venusstarr - hopefully he feels better soon, some people are sick after anesthetic and it can take a little while for it to wear off. Fingers crossed he perks up and gets home soon

Clhiu that's reassuring if its a cyst.

Garden lady- I'm sorry if it ls already been said I struggle to keep up and remember what's been said! I had thrush infection for first time in ages now treated(knew i had high yeast from microbiome swab). If I start ivf I will have doxcycline for 7 days prior to ec , my lactobacillus was optimal, would you have any suggestions to support microbiome during this period? I do have some canesbalance on hand at moment and have oral lactobacillus/probotic supplement which helps digestive wise anyway

@2021ivfagain people in USA seem to have doxycycline on the day of transfer. So I may add a few in and follow their protocol. I use balance activ and vaginal probiotics while on antibiotics. I put in a balance activ and vaginal probiotic last night, my pH has been ok, will check again tonight. I have a few metronidazole so will take them, just because these things can worsen quickly. I was naughty and went in water times in LA (two hot tubs at the spa and two jacuzzi baths), even though I hadn't bathed in water for 1.5 years. I just got sick of my life being so restricted. Never mind I will get on top of it I'm sure.

@kerrym87 do you know if they do docycline in FET at your clinic and when and dosage?

@kerrym87 thank you. Hoping he's settled ,he didn't have a good night by the sounds of it.
Are you on a Samsung? I had loads of issues posting at one point. I had to disable Grammarly in the settings. But it does mean it autocorrects to strange non-words sometimes! But can post normally again.

@VenusStarr sorry dh had a rough night but I'm so pleased the op is done. I hope he has a better day.

@2021ivfagain I only refrigerate the femdophilus 5billion one, the rest live in the 'drug drawer' in my kitchen.

@Gardenlady543 I'm glad you're getting set up to go again. It's hard to know how to plan both personal work diaries during treatment. It's a hard balance.

@clhiu I'm so pleased it looks to be a cyst and nothing more sinister. What a worrying time though.

I've had my scan. It's still measuring a week behind but it has grown 8 days since we were here 8 days ago and it now has a strong heartbeat. Pretty shocked as I wasn't feeling that hopeful. Obviously not out of the woods yet. Coming back in 2 weeks for another scan. So it's measuring 6+6 instead of 7+6, which is quite a bit as I had a trigger, but I do think it implanted on the later side.

@seven201 drug drawer 😂 I have a drug room!! What was my "how cool am I, I have a dressing room", is now my medical room. Glad the scan went well, it would be great if you'd suddenly raced ahead and measured spot on, but I guess that's unrealistic and as long as it's consistent and moving forward I'd hope that's a good sign.

My TSH has gone up a bit (it's actually doubled compared to the last reading) but still at 1.85, my concern is that the FET hormones will cause it to go up more, so I emailed my endocrinologist, I'm on 75mcg a day at the moment and said maybe I should do 2 days a week on 100mcg and 75mcg the other 5 and he replied to say excellent idea and if I test positive increase to 100mcg a day. So I have a plan.

Oh @seven201 that's great news ❤️❤️ definitely sounds like later implantation. Good to hear there's a strong heartbeat and they've grown exactly to the days. I know its a worry that they're behind on the dates, but if this was a completely natural cycle, it wouldn't be a concern.
When are you next back? Xx

@Gardenlady543 I also have a drug cupboard in the loft room and a drug pile in the bathroom cupboard and just drugs stashed in random drawers and bags all over the house. Oh and loads in a drawer at work. It's crazy isn't it.

Yeah, The ideal would have been that it had caught up some of those behind days, but I'm trying to feel happy that it did do the 8.

Oh that's frustrating about the TSH but that sounds a very sensible plan.

Thank you @VenusStarr next back in on the 6th, so 2 weeks today.

@Gardenlady543 I completely understand about baths. I really miss them. It’s good to break the rules sometimes. At Christmas, I went a bit mad with food and had some alcohol, but it was just in festive period. Oh you can take a strong dose of doxycycline on the day of transfer. I think a friend of mine had it, but it’s really rough on the gut microbiome as you probably know. I used to take doxycycline for egg retrievals because I was allergic to penicillin, but it triggered ibs issues.

As far as TSH is concerned, when I got pregnant with my son at 38, it was 1.5. Lately, it’s been between 1.75 and 2, but my consultant says anything below 2.5 is good. Are you on special thyroid medication as I’m not, but I am 41?

Our utility room is my drug zone! 😅 I've got a big box with my stash of pessaries, steroids, injections and then a smaller box with my daily meds and vitamins. Also got a white board that I write my protocols / scans on when we're doing treatment.

I hope these next 2 weeks pass quickly @seven201 and your little one continues to grow well 🙏

Seven201, fingers crossed for you

Gardenlady- I have no idea, never got that far 🤣

Venusstarr yes on Samsung however this only happens on here and nothing else.....it puts huuuuuuge gaps in and moves the cursor. Only predictive option I can see is either on or off and isn't grammarly, might have to Google it.....

@Gardenlady543 Can you please share the link for sterile cotton buds that you use to check the vaginal pH.

Didn’t get any notifications today for some reason but so pleased @seven201 🤞🏼xx

@2021ivfagain I'm on levothyroxine, so just the standard medication.

@kerrym87 you and Venus must have the same phone as your latest message has a big gap in it and Venus was doing that not long ago!

@APSR oh god now you're asking, I don't use sterile cotton buds because nothing that comes near or in my vagina is sterile. If you want a sterile cotton bud then you'll probably need to try and source high vaginal swabs and I have no idea where you could get them from as they don't seem to sell them at medichecks where I get my medical supplies from and even if you could get them the cost will probably add up. I doubt you'll find single use vaginal pH testing kits that are sterile either.

@Gardenlady543 At least you have a good plan from your clinic. I’m not on thyroid medication but I find dhea controls it as well, so I will be getting my tsh tested just before transfer.

Do you all make your own kombucha? I’m trying to have these fermented foods but never had kombucha. Also, I do worry about the sugar content as I’m trying to have a low sugar diet to avoid bv-related infections.

I have kefir which I buy. I have tempeh sometimes but not too often as it affects thyroid function. What others do you all have?

@APSR I just use cotton buds but do worry about them being clean. I only test when I feel uncomfortable.

@seven201 Good news about your scan.