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.

@Spin101 The heat lamp should not be used after transfer. I get cold during acupuncture so in the past I have taken a light sheet to cover me. One acupuncturist never used a lamp at all and I just used a light bedding sheet for warmth. Most use heat lamps on belly and sometimes feet as well.

@Gardenlady543 Thank you for your message. I believe I got CE from my miscarriage last March at 12 weeks. It didn't get diagnosed until October though unfortunately. I believe I have persistent CE that did not respond to doxy/metronizadole/levequin. I live in the States btw. I found this article on multi-drug resistant CE (MDR-CE), however, the sample size is quite small. My RE can't find a pharmacy with oral lincomycin in the States, so I have no idea I'll even be able to try that for my persistent CE. Do you know how long it takes to get good bacteria (i.e lactobaccilus) back to normal levels in the microbiome? I bought Vagibiom but noticed it made me itchy and I possibly had a reaction to it due to the coconut oil in it. Sigh. I don't know what else to take or try now

www.mdpi.com/2673-8007/2/3/43

@2021ivfagain can you use products for vaginal dryness?

@Mina209 this is the post I wrote on the microbiome https://www.reddit.com/r/infertility/comments/rwsxwy/theuterineemicrobiomeemmaaliceemenstrualfluid/?utmmsource=share&utmmedium=iossapp&utm_name=iossmf
I don't think it takes long to recolonize, I recommend using vagina acid product with vaginal probiotics, flora femme is the best one. But you need to get rid of the dysbiotic bacteria first. The person I spoke to who knew the most about the microbiome is the doctor at fetilysis, you can book a free consultation with him on their website. He told me if my third test was still 0% lactobacillus I could go there (Greece) and have intrauterine antibiotics, he also recommended a hysteroscopy had I not had one already.

@Gardenlady543 Thanks for sharing your Reddit post! Incredibly helpful and I have it bookmarked now. I will take a look at FloraFemme. Apparently I don't have any dysbiotic bacteria if my EMMA/ALICE test came back as normal i.e. no bad bacteria detected? Or am I wrong in interpreting it that way? I also had no good bacteria, as I mentioned. So not great...sorry for all the questions. I am trying to understand if I even need more antibiotics if I don't have any bad bacteria...?

@Mina209 I don't know what else would cause the ongoing histological endometritis aside from an infection. All the Emma Alice tells you is what bacterial RNA was found in the small sample tested. This is why I wonder whether the menstrual fluid test is worth a shot in case that finds something. They could also potentially do microscopy, culture and sensitivity if they found something. This was something I asked about in my case. Have you had a hysteroscopy to assess the macroscopic appearance?

@Gardenlady543 Yes I had a hysteroscopy last month and my RE said that there were some micropolyps and slight inflammation but that if he didn't know about my history of CE, he wouldn't have thought anything of it. Not helpful at all! I'm so upset. I don't know what to make of that information. He said my hysteroscopy looked mostly normal. I was under anesthesia for the procedure as well.

@Gardenlady543 I think that’s why I get relief from using vagibiom plus canesbalance as it’s a double lactic acid but I know I have to stop it. I emailed my consultant yesterday about it as vaginal dryness

increases my chances of infection. All they said is my lining is coming along nicely, I cannot use canesbalance until second trimester if I get pregnant and to only use canesflor post transfer (no others) if I absolutely need to. I don’t know what to do. Could I contact Fertilysis as well? Thanks.

@Gardenlady543 Is it possible that continued norethisterone and zumenon have dried up my natural cervical mucus or is it due to age? The strange thing is I took vagibiom for weeks last month and felt really good and was producing lots more cervical mucus.

Where are you guys getting flora femme or vagibiom from who are U.K. based please? Can’t find any online available

Wow, this thread has moved so fast, I'm sorry I can't keep up. Dh is really ill, he's not been right since taking the Doxycycline. I think the GP is not doing enough as the medication they've tried is not working, hes been on max doses of 3 different types of laxatives. So I'm trying to get him to go to hospital... he's basically not been to the toilet for 17 days and his stomach is massively distended now. I'm terrified something awful is going to happen 😢

That's good you've had one @Mina209 if there was some inflammation then that sounds consistent with your other findings as I have had a hysteroscopy with 0% lactobacillus and mine was deemed as looking completely normal.

@2021ivfagain I don't know if Fertilysis will be able to help as they will mostly be looking at what your next steps are with tests and you're in a cycle.

@Lori2022 florafemme from their website, vagibiom from eBay. Both come from USA and are expensive.

Oh no @VenusStarr has he had constipation like this before, is he passing wind, if no wind then you need to go to a and e as it could be a bowel obstruction.

Thank you @Gardenlady543 not. But he had gall bladder issues a few years ago where he's stomach swelled like this. But had severe vomiting.
But he's literally doing nothing. No stomach sounds or anything. When he takes movicol sometimes he'll pass something watery but I think that's just the movicol gerribg through. The GP said he thinks it's not bowel obstruction but I think it is. His stomach last night was so swollen 😢

Oh @VenusStarr have you tried phoning 111?

Yes, he did last week but he still had covid so had an emergency telephone appointment on Monday. Then he got a face to face appointment on Friday (was negative then). The gp line is just clogged so might have to do 111 again. Last Monday they said he needed to be seen in 12 hours @CailinInUK x

He's got an in person appointment this morning 🙏 I really hope they don't fob him off x

@VenusStarr I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this on top of everything. When I took doxycycline, I had stomach issues and constipation. I found kefir helped, porridge and chai seeds, but you need to get advice on this. I also found the oral probiotics from Inessa to be excellent. I highly recommend them for gut/Stomach issues. They are Inessa Advanced Daily complex. They are very expensive as you only get 30 but they work quickly. Obviously, your husband needs advice on whether to take oral probiotics but they have really helped my ibs. Good luck with the doctor’s appointment. I find 111 not good at all. I once waited for over 4 hours to get through and didn’t get a response and had to call Devon doctors in the end.

Thank you @2021ivfagain we're in A&E 😢 the doctor was unhappy with his pain on the right hand side wants him to be xrayed and to be honest, he's doubled over cradling his stomach now... I don't even think he realises it. He was going to drive himself but ive brought him and he still made me put his work bag in the car! As if he's going in today 🤦🏻‍♀️

@VenusStarr i hope your husband is ok! Has he recovered from covid? Do you have an A&E nearby? Could you go there so they can do any necessary scans/tests to check for obstruction? Really hope he’s ok!

@2021ivfagain that’s useful to know. covering yourself with when the needles are in is brave!

For those of you who have had a BFN after FET, did you find your periods were more painful? I’m in a lot of pain at the moment. Not sure the paracetamol is helping. I think it’s probably because I’m having a proper period for a change

@VenusStarr just seen your post. I hope they’re able to see him soon in A&E and help. Work can wait!

Sounds like he's in the right place @VenusStarr I sent my mother in law to a and e with the same issue a few months ago as the last doctor that saw her didn't ask if she'd passed wind. She was admitted and diagnosed with a bowel obstruction but it seemed to only be constipation causing the issue, as all tests after were fine.

@Spin101 I think IVF just really messed with cycles in general.

I have been in for my CD8 scan in my modified FET today, the doctor thinks this cycle the follicles are much bigger

Last modified natural FET on CD8 I had 4 x 8-10mm, 1 x 11mm and 1 x 13mm

This time I have 2 x 8-10mm, 1 x 11mm, 2x 12mm and 2x 13mm

LH is creeping up but estradiol low, he said letrozole makes estradiol low. Lining is only 4.7mm but this was similar to how last cycle went and it didn't budge above 5.5 until menopur was added in at CD12. He said don’t take menopur as I have too many follicles recruited and he thinks I will have more than one this time and if I took menopur it would be like an IVF cycle. So I just took fyremadel and he wants me back for a scan on Thursday. He thinks I will trigger on Friday or Saturday but I'm not sure, fyremadel really stunted everything last time. I started prednisolone and clexane yesterday and had intralipids today.

@VenusStarr let us know the update when you know how your partner is

@Gardenlady543 have you seen the link between genital tuberculosis and endometritis? Apparently that is a subtype of endometritis, caused by the mycobacterium tuberculosis. I have gone down a rabbit hole now. I really hope I don't have genital TB =/ The prognosis for that even after treatment is very low in regards to fertility.

Sounds like you've all had alot going on, @VenusStarr hope hubby is sorted x
For some reason it wasn't sending me updates when messages posted on here, hopefully now I've posted it will