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 glad to hear your scan went well and you’ll seemingly be able to proceed to transfer this time

@Enfys23 I’m not a headachey person generally, but with my first two pregnancies I had horrible migraine within 24 hours of the MC starting so definitely linked to a drop in hormones. I also had them with my 3rd pregnancy for a couple of days and freaked out thinking it was another MC starting, but had a scan after that a baby was still alive at that point. I hope you feel better today, but I hear you these hormonal rollercoasters can be absolutely horrendous in many ways.

@thislittlebird sorry to hear about your eczema, I’m intrigued now as to whether this is linked to increased autoimmune or NKC activity? Is that why you said you wish you were on Pred? I never suffered eczema before, but had a horrible outburst after my EC in December, then again after the mock cycle in Feb and again now, although slightly decreased each time; I put it down to the Meriofert as it’s the only medicine I had all 3 times, but have no idea and not mentioned it to my clinic thus far, especially since I had full immune profile assessment, @Gardenlady543 would you have any insight into that?

Transfer yesterday went really well so that’s another hurdle overcome, but I know it means very little unless I get an actual BFP. It’s a strange feeling seeing the embryo being placed right in the middle of your uterus on an ultrasound, but knowing you’re not actually pregnant, knowing you’re neither definitely pregnant nor not.
My clinic prescribed 50mg of Diclofenac rectally 2 hours before the procedure and again 6 hours afterwards, I think I misread that as 6 hours after the first dose, but might have been meant as 6 hours after transfer. Got myself worked up in a panic from having taken the second dose too early and have messed up my chances so emailed the clinic for clarification and all they said is ‘it is not a problem’, but they still haven’t told me if I did in fact take it too early or not. I’m now worried I’ve messed up my chances because of that, especially since I learnt that’s a COX-2 inhibitor. I wish the clinic provided more reassurance and details sometimes.

@Enfys23 The amount of estradiol seems high when your fsh is still good and your hormone levels are better than mine. In oestrogen priming I take 2mg twice a day. Maximum dosage I sometimes take is 2mg 3 times a day, but no patches. Too much estradiol can also cause headaches. How long are you on this much estradiol? Also with the dhea for someone with good fsh, it seems quite a lot.

@VenusStarr I think I was typing at the time you posted.
I’m sorry to hear your body and mind are going through such intense effects, are you saying you haven’t experienced them before, despite being on similar medications in the past? Hopefully a good sign in that case, I can imagine the level of tension on the day pre-test, I’m 2 weeks away from mine and absolutely petrified already. I hope this is the one and if it is your body can adjust to the pred so you can sleep better at least 🤞🤞🤞

@clhiu Good luck. I’m sorry I’ve been quiet but had a really difficult and stressful week. I had to call an ambulance for my mum who initially refused to go to hospital then 2 days later my Dad was unwell. I can imagine you are nervous. Are you taking probiotics still? What was your lining thickness?

@clhiu I'm so pleased transfer went well 🥰 definitely the first hurdle done. I'm sorry that you were stressed and worried after though. My clinic don't use that after transfer (just egg collection) so I don't know about timings. But I'd try to hold onto what the clinic have said 🙏 I hope you are feeling OK today.

I hope what I'm experiencing is a good sign. A little bit of hope is there today, despite feeling so crap!

@2021ivfagain I'm so sorry that your mom and dad have both been unwell this week. It sounds very tough ❤️

Glad to hear the transfer went smoothly @clhiu . I don’t think the timing of the doses you mention would make any difference so try to forget about it and enjoy being PUPO ❤️

@2021ivfagain those estradiol doses were for when they were trying to get my lining up for medicated frozen transfer when my lining was barely getting to 4mm (and then biopsy cycle), until we realised my body just doesn’t respond to it and we moved to natural cycle FET. The DHEA apparently has evidence for helping those with poor response to stims like me even if not necessarily with higher FSH so 🤞🏼.
Providing the migraines settle I’m willing to give anything a go to try and get more eggs. I’ve only had 4 follicles for retrieval each time but at a size they needed to do EC ie wouldn’t have been any point extending my stims. I’m getting my testosterone etc checked after 4 weeks DHEA (even if my clinic don’t think it’s important I am going to do via medichecks!).

@2021ivfagain so sorry to hear about your parents, I hope they’re being looked after and their health issues addressed. It’s easy for forget the world continues outside ivf. Still taking oral probiotics, but stopped the gynocanesfloor. I may restart it now transfer is done, but that means having to take Cyclogest rectally as I was advised not to take vaginally if taking anything else that way and I prefer not too. I didn’t actually ask about lining thickness yesterday or even at my last 2 tracking scans, but the last time I did ask, it was above 12mm. All they said yesterday is that is was ‘nice and thick’. Were you per chance prescribed Diclofenac for transfer by CRGH?

@clhiu Thanks. It’s really hard but it happens a lot. I hope I can transfer this month. My gynaecologist is good but I wish my own consultant from CRGH respected my symptoms and listened to me when I said I had atopobium Vaginae. My counsellor said it’s money well spent but now I have barely enough money for my transfer. I have had to take on more work to survive financially. Also been trying to sort out my parents’ medication as both have carers in but now I’m handing over to the carer as I’m struggling to deal with it all.

As for diclofenac yes I know all about it. Been with CRGH for years as have a son via IVF. When I got pregnant with my son, I was given it prior to transfer but was told does not matter either way if I didn’t take it after transfer. All it does is it deals with any pain but also stops any contraction of uterus. Try not to worry. As for canesflor, I have been told I can restart 4-5 days after transfer, but I have had symptoms so it is essential I use them. Do you mind me asking if you conceived your first child naturally as if that is the case implantation might be higher?

@clhiu Also I suffer from
eczema and it is worse when I go to CRGH as I use their liquid soap and antibacterial gel. The best thing for eczema is to use a bar of soap instead. Avoid liquid soaps. I also use diprobase every night and things are better. It is hormone free so you might be able to use it. When I was pregnant, I used coconut oil. That is very safe.

@2021ivfagain the financial side of it has me truly startled and is the primary reason why one round was all I’m planning to do despite knowing I’d have good chances if I could afford another 1-2 rounds of EC with PGT-A, but just the one has been eye watering, plus unexpected costs keep coming out of nowhere and piling on. I’ve spent every dime of savings and gotten in debt despite taking home a decent pay check, parents had to help and even so they’re limited to how much they can support with.

I have no previous children unfortunately. I’ve been pregnant 4 times in the space of 11 months across ‘21-‘22, but sadly every single one of those pregnancies ended in miscarriage. But yes, they were all naturally conceived and especially with the first 3, I did hardly anything other than almost entirely quitting drinking, taking a folic acid supplement and have properly timed intercourse. In that sense yes, I have some hope that implantation is less of an issue in my case and since I was able to produce this one euploid embryo (2 of my losses were confirmed aneuploidy and generally my issue was put down to poor egg quality due to both my age and exclusion of other tested issues) and the transfer went well I may be over the hardest hurdle, but I also keep thinking an IVF transfer isn’t the same as your body doing its thing naturally and also that I never seem to have good luck with this sort of thing and so it’s not going to work. I know the formal statistics and they’re not in my favour. I guess that works both ways and 4 consecutive losses happen to less than 1% of pregnant women and I fall right into that tiny odd so you never know!

Thanks for the eczema advice, it seems at its worst on the outside of my ankles, it’s only come back a few days ago and I resisted using anything initially because the FET plan said not to wear body creams and lotions in the 24 hours before transfer, but today I caved and applied E45 cream, is it best avoided in IVF and pregnancy? Coconut oil sounds like a great tip, thank you.

Hi ladies, as mentioned previously, I was due to start ICSI in May. To my shock I got a BFP on Wednesday after over a year of nothing.
Has anyone in here had a chemical pregnancy and would you mind if I shared my line progression or lack there of? After a previous mc I am freaking out that this is going the same way. It would be too lucky to be ‘that girl’ falling pregnant immediately before IVF 🤦🏻‍♀️

@Enfys23 wow yours started young. I started my periods at 12 but didn’t get a migraine until well into my 20s from what I can recall, maybe very late 20s. I don’t get aura. I get them at ovulation and pre-period (or often on day 1) and also post-failed transfer. I always looked forward to them going away for a bit if I got pregnant but knowing my luck they’ll get worse or something. How did your baseline go today?

@VenusStarr I’m joining you in headache ville, I’m really going through it. How are you feeling now about driving? If your test day is tomorrow, how many days past ovulation are you?

I’m replying to the latest messages on this page now!

@clhiumigraines were how I knew I was out for a few cycles. I’d get one about 8 or 9dp5dt and then I’d start bleeding. But the last few cycles I’ve had headaches and migraines at different times so hard to know what’s going on.

Yeah that’s why I said I wish I was on pred, my eczema is a dream on pred. It’s the most normal I’ve ever felt with my skin when I’m on that stuff. Sadly it wreaks havoc elsewhere but I won’t pretend I don’t enjoy being on it for my skin! Good question on the NK cells, really not sure if the flare up could be linked but my NK cells were ok and not classed as high, but then they didn’t test me on one of those flare up days so who knows. It went nuts yesterday (4dp5dt) and I had to take antihistamines in the end to get it to chill out. I suppose there could be a hormonal element to it.

Glad your transfer went well! My clinic don’t prescribe that either, but I always find transfers fairly straightforward, if a little undignified! I wish the silly little sheet they give you was a bit bigger.

@2021ivfagain hope your mum and dad are ok. My eczema is different to yours I think lol. I’m allergic to coconut oil and tried it once when it was recommended and it didn’t end well! Also bars of soap dry me out, so can’t use those. Liquid hand wash and gels work better for me. Antibacterial gels are amazing for me because they clear up some hand eczema on occasion, but I do think mine is linked to microbiome (again!) because I have a cream that targets mrsa and I know I’m a carrier. So patch test to check you’re not allergic to coconut oil @clhiu! E45 will be fine, non-scented OTC products will all be fine.

@ChickenT2b tentative congrats! I don’t have photos to share and honestly not sure it would be useful. Try not to worry about testing, my experience was the line wasn’t super strong both times I tested and then a few days later I spent the day in agony with cramps and a migraine and that was that. Is there a reason you’re worried about a chemical?

@ChickenT2b i mean are you worried because your lines aren’t strong or something physical? Or just worried?

@clhiu I completely understand. My mum and dad had to help me too as I used all my savings when doing IVF for my son. We have make factor infertility too which became worse for both of us after Covid. It’s strange but it affected my husband’s morphology and also my egg quality. It’s like it impacted upon my fsh.

Coconut oil is definitely safe. I would diprobase is better than E45. Diprobase is especially made for eczema. Another thing is Vaseline which is safe for newborns. I would perhaps call a pharmacist if unsure.

This also looks good as safe for babies:

https://www.superdrug.com/baby/baby-toiletries/baby-lotion/superdrug-oat-coconut-baby-lotion-300ml/p/777888

@clhiu *male factor too

@Enfys23 sorry about the migraines that must be tough :(

@CailinInUK I guess if the follicles are really big but then what would I do if I was imminently about to start ovulating so I'll just stick to the LH sticks. I hope the lactobacillus increases up when you get the result.

@VenusStarr I hope you're feeling better and good luck for tomo.

@clhiu in my collection cycle I was on utrogestan and got a itchy symmetrical rash and was diagnosed with progesterone hypersensitivity.

Oh no @2021ivfagain really sorry to hear about your family members, I hope they're doing better now.

Congrats @ChickenT2b are your lines progressing? What dpo are you? I had a chemical in December, the lines were there but light for the days post transfer, they did get darker until 10dp5dt but then got lighter from then and were gone by OTD. There is a subreddit called TBAFLinePorn you will find every possible progression in there. It may stress you out looking though.

I went to acupuncture today, estradiol looks like it went up on CB stick, LH test is not positive but like is getting a hint of colour need it to not peak until they can trigger me.

@thislittlebird @Gardenlady543 i am worried because the lines don’t appear to be progressing and in fact look lighter day by day. With a history of miscarriage and severe endometriosis, it’s difficult to remain positive.
Thank you, I will check that out. Here are my tests so far.
It would be such a kick in the gut after finally feeling mentally recovered and prepared for ivf.

@ChickenT2b I’m no expert but yeah ok I would probably worry a bit too, my lines were not a world away but equally it could mean nothing and just be variable tests and levels. Try to ignore the digitals though, they’re not known for reliability. Were they done the same time each day? I guess there’s not much you can do but sit it out and see what happens. Unless you refer to the EPU and ask for bloods or a scan? They were pretty good when I self-referred.

@ChickenT2b it does seem to have peaked at 13dpo, it's best to take a photo at 3 mins and compare the photos though and stick to one type of test.

These were what mine looked like

@thislittlebird @Gardenlady543 thank you both and sorry to hear you have been through it. Good point on taking a picture at 3 mins as they do dry differently 🤦🏻‍♀️. I have been testing with FMU, not necessarily exact same time. I don’t believe I would have been any more hydrated as the days have gone on.
I have some pre ivf blood tests planned at GP’s for Tues so will call Mon and see if they can add HCG on.

@ChickenT2b a blood test will be good. People say second morning urine is better. This means get up, urinate your bladder empty, wait 1 hour without drinking anything, then get another urine sample.

Thank you @VenusStarr ❤
I'm doing a bit better. Next scan is Tuesday. If all is well, I'll have more intralipids afterwards.
Goodness, with the insomnia, dreams and all those symptoms, you must be hopeful. I really hope this is your time. Wishing you all the best for the morning. Will be thinking of you x

I'm really sorry it was a BFN for you @kerrym87 but I'm glad you've still got faith it will happen. Hope you're ok x

@clhiu Congratulations on being PUPO! I hope your 2ww goes well x

Hope you're 2ww is going well @thislittlebird . When is your OTD? x

@ChickenT2b I'm sorry you're worried you're having a chemical pregnancy. Its so hard. I hope you get clarity soon x

Love to everyone else too x

@thislittlebird the headache lingered for most of the day. I had to drive round what felt like a billion shops to find a bloody frer! Boots and superdrug seem to have stopped stocking them 🙄 bought a clearblue 6 days early pack just in case and then tried Asda pharmacy, and they only sell them in singles. Spaffed nearly £30 on bloody tests 🫠
I did drive, just drank water at the party. Think I'm just pure water now!

@ChickenT2b I'm so sorry you've got this worry ❤️ I hope you can get some clarity. Chemicals are a real headfuck. I hope you're OK.

@Faithhopelove83 I'll be thinking of you on Tuesday. 💗 I'm glad you're a bit better - it's weird as it's horrible feeling crap but at the same time its reassuring (I think 🥴)
I'm trying to remind myself of all the reasons this could work out. Just scared its actually all the meds tricking me.

Thank you @Gardenlady543 hope you're OK. How's the lh tests?

@Faithhopelove83 it’s mixed . Nothing much was happening but today has been horrid, headache since I woke up that has got worse and now turned into a migraine. I don’t think migraines are good signs for me. Was discussing how they kick in when hormones drop off with @Enfys23 and that’s very much what it usually means for me, it’s a bit earlier than usual so I’m worried I’ll start bleeding soon.

@VenusStarr when is your test date? I don’t think I’d have the frer dedication you do, I’d give up. I need to order some but I’ll get two at most, it’s such a waste for me when they’re never positives.