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.

@VenusStarr it sounds like a good plan to do the colonoscopy, the main emphasis is him getting his gut moving again and the bloating and pain down now though and it may take a few days. It's good they have ruled out anything that needs urgent intervention though.

@Enfys23 glad you are in your cycle, so it's a natural FET with immune meds?

@seven201 I think if you aren't going to do a beta then you need to stop the urine tests. Because a beta will give you a conclusive answer and the urine tests are just making you worried. 15th March is still a little while away :(

@Mina209 I think I mentioned the intrauterine antibiotics to you as fetilysis suggested this, obviously better if you can get it locally but worst case scenario you could arrange it in Greece and make a holiday of it. GUM is genitourinary medicine, they are a type of doctor that specialises in STI including HIV we also have infectious disease specialists in the UK who deal with infectious diseases in general and then microbiologists who deal with the lab side of things.

I'm having one of those days today, on all the hormones in the middle of the cycle and stuff that I just really don't want to have to deal with in the middle of all this. I just feel awful because I have no control over anything and it's not like I'm distracted by a family life as I don't have one and may never have one. Erg one of those days. I have no estradiol in my system so I think my scan tomorrow will show no lining improvement but we will see. One big positive though is I took nytol last night and got a really good nights sleep. I have also moved from jigsaw puzzles to a cheap version of Lego, it's called loz mini, I bought a music box thing where I'm building a tree on top of it. I like making things eg crafts, but in my unsuccessful IVF journey I have a load of things I can never look at as I made them in cycles that went badly. This way I can make it and then just pull it apart after.

@Enfys23 Thank you for that information. Yes I am now looking for an infectious disease specialist to help me sort out the enometritis and help rule out TB.

@Gardenlady543 Thank you! Yes that's exactly it...I came across the study that the two investigators are running in Greece with intrauterine antibiotics. I would definitely make the trip to Greece if my dr is not willing to try it. Though it is a 30 day long treatment period...I am desperate though. I wish the physicians in the States were more knowledgeable about chronic endometritis. One can hope they familiarize themselves with the latest literature. On another note, I'm sorry you're having one of those days. I also feel just very down right now and like I've hit a dead end with my fertility journey. It's exhausting always having to do all the leg work for our treatment and figuring out the root cause of our struggles. I really hope we get pregnant this year. I am so so so tired of this journey.

Really sorry you’re feeling down today @Gardenlady543 . That sounds a great idea about the crafting though. I know what you mean about stuff then reminding you later so that seems a good solution.

Yes natural FET but with progesterone luteal phase support and the immune meds. I hope my lining behaves… keeping to the routines that worked December and January. Rod for my own back now!

I had a bit of meltdown this morning and was upset. Sorry for not keeping up with latest posts. I triggered yesterday with lining at 13mm but I was waiting for several hours for my lh blood test result. They didn’t know whether I had to go to CRGH 4th time in a row today or tomorrow. My lh was only 5.2 yesterday before trigger, so they said it was safe to come back in 2 days to check I’d ovulated.

I’m getting worried about vaginal ph as since I’ve become close to ovulation it’s less acidic and feels really uncomfortable. I don’t know what to do.

@Gardenlady543 I’m sorry you’ve had ovary pain. I know I had twinges in my ovaries before I started stimming. I hope your lining thickens. When do you start stims? Are you still having acupuncture?

@Janefx40 Thanks for asking. My lining is good but worried about recurring infections. I hope you’re doing well. Did you test your tsh just before transfer? I’m wondering if steroids will or could change it.

@VenusStarr Doxycycline triggered my ibs but honestly after taking Inessa Advanced Biotic complex and kefir my symptoms changed dramatically. I’m sure he will get better with the right probiotics.

@Loz2467 Sorry your periods are light. Mine start quite heavy and then end very light. Can you try acupuncture?

Does anyone take or has taken Flora femme 3 days before transfer? It is quite strong as it has several strains, but wondered if I should take two together as I did not absorb one properly last night.

Has anyone done the Digital endometrial functioning test at Coventry Implantation Clinic? I got my results yesterday and I’m abnormal and increased likelihood of my lining breaking down and miscarrying. Another thing to add to the list. They’ve suggested I take sitagliptin for three cycles before ivf but I’m stimming next cycle so I can’t.

@2021ivfagain sorry you’re also having Ph worries. I’m in the same boat so no advice to share. I’ve just started canebalance and canesflor. I can’t seem to buy flora femme in the website is there a knack to getting them to ship to U.K.?

it is normal for ph to increase round ovulation so maybe it will right itself once you’ve moved past it? I worry so much about mine and can imagine your stress xx

@2021ivfagain it will be fine 3 days before, I'd stop a couple of days before transfer though. I already did letrozole, they haven't asked me to start menopur, I'm waiting for my cd10 scan now and know my estradiol is still low from the cb testing strips.

@Lori2022 is that for NK cells, I know they were going to implement a quicker result turn around analysis, what result did you get?

@Gardenlady543 no my nk cells were normal. This is for deciduation and the linings ability to turn into pregnancy tissue (I think!). My report says imbalanced towards low 18th centile so increased likelihood of lining breakdown in early pregnancy.

@Lori2022 oh I didn't realise they did that test.

My scan showed that the follicles have got smaller and lining is the same. I expect they will tell me to start menopur today, if they tell me not to then I can't see the transfer going ahead.

Hope they say what you need them to today @Gardenlady543 🤞🤞🤞

@Loz2467 it sounds like it was a very light period. That's what happened to me. I agree though, I wouldn't want to do a cycle after such an odd period. Very frustrating delay though.

@VenusStarr thinking of you and dh. Interesting/annoying it could have triggered IBS.

@Gardenlady543 sorry you had a rubbish day yesterday. I'm quite crafty but I teach DT so kind of have had enough of it by the end of the day, but I think I should probably get back into making clothes as I do love that. Expensive buying fabric though! I didn't realise follicle could get smaller, maybe just inaccurate measuring. I hope the menopur gets everything moving again. Not the appointment you were hoping for I'm sure. Why do our bodies do this to us?! Sorry.

@Mina209 good luck finding the specialists you need. I hope you get answers.

@2021ivfagain exciting you've triggered! Sorry you're having a bad time of it. I wish I had advice for you. Can your clinic advise? Such a good lining!

@Lori2022 I've not heard of that test. At least they've given a treatment plan but 3 months is quite a while. How are you feeling about it?

@Gardenlady543 Thank you for your advice. I’m sorry your follicles are getting smaller. I’m sure that when they add the menopur your follicles will grow. It’s a shame you have to take the letrozole. What cd are you on? I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you.

@Lori2022

I can’t remember where I got Flora Femme. My husband ordered them for me twice, but I remembered googling a lot to find a place where you can get it in the U.K. I’ve just googled now and www.desertcart.co.uk/amp/brand/florafemme came up. You could read the reviews and see. Vagibiom is also good from EBay. In fact, with EBay I had free ph tests.

I know that vaginal ph goes up near ovulation but I tried to suppress with canesbalance which I have had to stop.

@Gardenlady543 It’s good you have puzzles. I like playing games like Yahtzee and viticulture as it’s a good distraction. It’s a shame that they can’t give you medication that you would have before a long protocol where it turns the hormones off and all follicles grow at same length with very mild stims. I hope your next appointment goes well.

I’m on my way to my appointment at my clinic to confirm ovulation but getting worried about vagina ph which is 5. Does anyone know if you can take Flora Femme twice a day?

@seven201 Unfortunately, my clinic are not helpful when it comes to vaginal probiotics. My consultant keeps changing his mind so I get confused.

@seven201 ah I didn't realise you taught DT, that's pretty active!

I didn't expect my body to do anything to be honest, I think normally one follicle takes over as the leading one and the others ease off but I don't have a leading one, so I don't really know whats going on, as this is a modified natural FET I only need one to grow and ovulate, so I don't know what will happen, the fyremadel has basically stopped everything growing, so that's a waste of 2 days. I was panicking and sad last cycle when everything was looking shit, but I just expect it to be shit now, so I am not really surprised. I'll have to see what they ask me to do this afternoon. I am hoping they say start menopur and come back for another scan, which would probably have to be on Saturday. My prediction is that I won't be able to trigger until Monday, the doctor said he thought Friday, but that's clearly not going to happen!

Feeling a bit unwell at the moment with a racing heart.

@2021ivfagain thank you. I can’t believe how much money we all spend on these probiotics 😬

I recently ordered flora femme (I think that's what it's called) from an american company called storkz I think. Not arrived yet mind. Ages ago I did an order for vagibom (or whatever it's called) on eBay but then got emails saying it wouldn't meet the customs rules so was refunded. Iherb is good, but it doesn't stock some of them.

That's weird @seven201 as I've ordered vagibiom a couple of times through eBay and it's been fine. Lol at how I've got everyone on here ordering these expensive probiotics from USA! Let's hope they do something beneficial for us.

@Gardenlady543 just checked and this is the message I got from eBay.
"We're writing to inform you that your recent purchase through the Global Shipping Programme from biompharma] can't be completed.

The item in question has been classified as restricted. This could be due to import/delivery restrictions or eligibility requirements within the Global Shipping Programme. The item will not be sent on to its final destination and will not be returned to you."

@seven201 when did you receive that? I ordered fine in November 2022. Erg don't say this is one that we won't be able to get! It's a good one :(

That was mid December @Gardenlady543. Fingers crossed it was a random one off!

@seven201 That’s really bad about the order for Vagibiom.

Has anyone managed to get hold of Physioflor vaginal probiotics as I think they have a stock shortage? Lakcid intima is also another really good one as it contains lactobacillus gasseri and lactobacillus rhamonus but it does say not to use in pregnancy, so you might need to get advice on when to use it.

I had my scan today and it confirmed I ovulated. My lining has gone down to 12.5mm but they said that happens. I’ve also just been told I have to go in for neupogen infusion treatment tomorrow afternoon on the same day I start progesterone medication. Has anyone had this? I’ll also need it on day of transfer. It’s for the low nk cells in endometrium. I’m complex as they are slightly high in my blood so I start blood thinners, steroids and progesterone tomorrow.

I also have my swab results back from Invivo tomorrow. I hope everything is ok, but then that was 3 weeks ago. I did a basic swab in CRGH today as I said I was worried about my increased vaginal ph. I was told they are not worried about vaginal ph before transfer. I have also been told to stop vaginal probiotics early just in case they interact with neupogen infusion. My consultant only wants me to use canesflor post transfer and only if I need to use them.

@Gardenlady543 Any news on whether you are stimming today? Do you have another scan soon?

@2021ivfagain yeah the consultant called me and said I was right with my prediction that my body would do absolutely nothing and that his prediction about triggering tomorrow was wrong and he said to start menopur 75units daily alongside the fyremadel and said there's no point in scanning tomorrow as it's not enough time to respond and nobody is around to scan on Saturday and they are shut on Sunday so I am to continue until Monday and get a scan then, hopefully by then I would have responded, that is the day I triggered last time, CD14, but I had a big follicle by this time (CD10) last cycle, he expects I should have a follicle at trigger size and hopefully a good lining by then. But I guess I won't know more until then. The lining was starting to look triple lined this morning so at least that's one thing that looked ok.

Nope I can't find physioflor anywhere I managed to get some odd packets from random websites towards the end of last year. I tried emailing the manufacturer to ask what's going on, they never replied, it looks like the 7 pack has been discontinued which is a shame as it was the cheapest l crispus.

Sounds like you are moving forward @2021ivfagain and it's all systems go, when is transfer day?

@2021ivfagain I've had neupogen infusion into my uterus. I have it for ivf in the lead up to transfer (maybe 4 days and 2 days before) but supposedly to help thicken my lining. I'm glad they've given a bit of reassurance about the ph and what to do after transfer (canesflor). I hope you get good results tomorrow.

@Gardenlady543 there is definitely still hope for this round then. Cycles can be very random and just suddenly be looking great after a bad start. Sorry about the delay.

@Gardenlady543 At least you have a plan. I’m pleased you’re starting your injections. I’m disappointed and worried I can’t continue the Flora Femme for 2 more nights. Transfer is next Tuesday afternoon but I’m worried about my vaginal ph even though my consultant says they don’t worry about it at the clinic. I’ve had discharge around ovulation but I suppose it’s normal, but it feels uncomfortable. When my ph is more acidic, I feel better. I wish I could’ve taken my Flora femme. Do you think I should do extra swabs? The one at the clinic is basic. I’m worried I’ll transfer with gardnerella again.

@seven201 My lining is 12.5mm. I did ask about the neupogen infusion and they said it only thickens it slightly as I was worried my lining is already thick. It’s for my low nk cells in endometrium.

They did not give me much reassurance about raised vaginal ph. They just said they don’t check for it. The issue is when I had a bad infection last year they never picked it up via their swab. Invivo did but I’ve got to wait 3 weeks. They also haven’t said when I can start canesflor after transfer as they don’t really want me using it unless absolutely need it. They do lack knowledge of the microbiome.

@Gardenlady543 you seem to know your body best and how it responds. Glad the consultant agreed.

has anyone on here taken sitagliptin before to try and fix lining?