ERA EMMA ALICE testing thread 8

[Gardenlady543]

@2021ivfagain @kerrym87 @Janefx40 @seven201 @thislittlebird @Spin101 @Enfys23
@CailinInUK @BewilderedBee @Loz2467 @Lori2022 @VenusStarr @clhiu @Faithhopelove83 @APSR @ChickenT2b @Mina209 @IVF22 @Lizzybeth1988 @AM08 @Fluffykins33 @Sar1010

Continued in from thread 7 :)

@Gardenlady543 how much did all these test cost , its a huge list (if u done mind me asking)
also are these biopsies or blood tests?
tx

@Gardenlady543 so glad ❤️. Impossible to completely stop worrying though I know.

@Mybabydream I’m really sorry to hear things haven’t worked out. After my euploid embryo resulted in a chemical, I’m also going down the immune route. I’m seeing Dr Shehata, which I believe alongside Dr Gorgy is one of two leading reproductive immunologist in the UK and his name kept coming up for me even before I decided to try IVF. The only potential inconvenience is location, the main clinic is in Epsom and they’ll want to see you in person for the first consultation. I’m having my follow up with the results tomorrow and that’s allowed remotely. I’ll find out more, but I understand that any treatment such as intralipids that I need and also all pregnancy scans have to be done at the Epsom clinic. They do have a laboratory in London where you can go for blood tests at any time and a satellite clinic in London Harley Street, but that’s only open every other Monday of the month for appointments. I’m going to enquiry tomorrow if treatments and pregnancy scans can be done in London as well as Epsom.
They accepted all tests I had done at the other clinic, including the thrombophilia profile, except for full blood count because the last one I had done would have been more than 3 months old at the start of treatment and NKC bloods. Their reasoning for repeating NKC was that although the Chicago tests the other clinic did are some of the best, their view is by the time bloods get there from the UK they’re too old to provide valid results. Looking at the results they sent me, that is actually one test that found an issue and my NKC are too high apparently so I’m glad I repeated it.

These are the tests they proscribed and came to a total of £2,398 + £350 for the initial consultation and £200 for the FU tomorrow:

• NK Cells CD15/56 and CD69 count
• TH1/TH2 cytokines
• HS11 NK Cells test when they are put in a pregnancy-like status and medication added to show impact on reduction
• Antibodies ANA,Thyroid, Gliadin, ENA
• TB Gold Quantiferon test
• FSH, LH, E2 (AMH was not re-tested as I had that done just a couple of months prior)
• Prolactin
• Wellbeing Screening test (FBC, liver function, kidney function, rubella antibodies, clotting profile, rhesus factor, HbA1c)
• Vitamin D

Happy to answer any further questions.

@Mybabydream my clinic did the autoimmune screen and thombophilia screen alongside a very specific test they do called C4M2 mutation, which both partners need to have, if the man has the mutation then the woman takes heparin still. That cost £1500. Fertilysis charge €1200 plus the cost of a courier, I think that's about €60. The NK activity biopsy was £550. I think if you did this with Dr Gorgy it would be about £3500. I think the first consultation was about £300 and about £200 for follow ups.

@Gardenlady543 tks for the info so better not done all with dr gorgy then

Thanks @clhiu best of luck to you!! Fingers crossed for the tests

@Gardenlady543 Congratulations. I’m pleased your scan went well.

I had my last vaginal clindamycin treatment last night. This morning I was ok but this afternoon my ph seems to be getting higher and don’t feel infection has gone yet. Did you feel your infection went quickly or did the probiotics with balance activ help to get rid of BV more? On the last night I did not have enough to fill the applicator full time the top, but been on norethisterone as well so ph is naturally high. Should I start using two canesbalance a day tomorrow before period starts? Problem is as I’m close to my period I don’t have much time to bring it down especially with lack of lactic acid.

@2021ivfagain I really think the clindamycin would have worked, you can use the acid product before your period. The pH will naturally go higher this time.

I’m really worried as I start my treatment this week. Should I call my GP tomorrow or try to get more clindamycin myself? It’s really hard. I wish I could take oral clindamycin as I can take canesbalance and vaginal probiotics with these easily. I wanted to avoid too much vaginal clindamycin due to scans.

@2021ivfagain how long did you take the clindamycin for?

@Gardenlady543 I can feel things getting worse again. I have bad discharge. When I took metronidazole, I did not feel better until two days after treatment but this time it’s being interrupted with my period.

Did you feel instantly better after taking vaginal clindamycin?

@Gardenlady543 It will be interrupted with my period. How long did you take vaginal clindamycin for? Have you said it’s better to take it for an extended course?

@2021ivfagain I didn't have symptoms really so there was no difference. I really don't think you will have dysbiotic bacteria the day you've finished a course of vaginal clindamycin.

@2021ivfagain I'm pretty sure I did a really random course length of 12 days of oral metronidazole and 7 days of clindamycin for the first 7 days.

@Gardenlady543 7 nights but last night I did not have a full applicator full as might have used too much first night. Is 7 nights enough?

@2021ivfagain that's fine, if it needed to be measured out perfectly it would come in separate dose portions. Some courses of treatment for BV are as short as 3 and 5 days.

@Gardenlady543 It was a bad infection as GP doesn’t usually pick it up but they did. Even when I’ve had BV infections before GP has not picked it up. Invivo picked them up before.

@2021ivfagain if you were to take treatment for longer how would that work with your period and your treatment? I don't think you should use vaginal clindamycin while on your period, Why don't you take some oral metronidazole if you want to carry in during your period?

@Gardenlady543 I’m immune to oral metronidazole now. I’ve taken it so much. Last time I took it for 8 days and symptoms only disappeared when I started Flora Femme. BV did go away but came back worse when I stopped canesbalance. My problem is due to being peri menopausal my ph sits higher. I don’t know what I will do after transfer.

I wish I could get some oral clindamycin. I have oral metronidazole and vaginal metronidazole as well but my gynaecologist said clindamycin was more effective. I think my microbiome is ruined. Sorry I’m just worried.

@Gardenlady543 Is it possible to get oral clindamycin and just do a 5 day course?

@2021ivfagain if you mean you think resistance has developed, the fertilysis doctor said he finds that with longer courses it will eradicate it.

You can tag on however many days of clindamycin as you want up to about 14, as you have already completed a course. It comes as 7 day supply though. If your pH goes up as soon as you stop the acid product then I can't think of anything you can do except take one that is pregnancy safe throughout the cycle.

@Gardenlady543 Thanks. I feel hopeless as it’s due to oestrogen. I’m on 3x2mg a day of hrt and feel good apart from this Bv issue and lack of cervical mucus. I wish my consultant had let me do my transfer 2 years ago when my hormones were so much better.

I think I might have to chance vagibiom. Good Clean Love is also a vaginal probiotic which lowers ph. It contains citric acid which is a concern but vagibiom contains lactic acid.

I’m thinking of not stopping the vaginal probiotics. Is that safe? But just use Flora Femme until after implantation phase.

@Gardenlady543 Thank you so much. I might take Flora Femme and see how I feel after tomorrow. Thanks for all your advice. You know a lot. Thank you.

Wonderful 💕 @Gardenlady543

Thanks @Enfys23 ❤️

@2021ivfagain I only came up with stopping for the 2 days, nobody mentioned this so I'm sure you're fine to continue.

When is your next scan @Gardenlady543 ? What have you had included by the clinic/midwife and what are you arranging yourself? I hope you have a better week.