ERA EMMA ALICE testing thread 9

[Gardenlady543]

@2021ivfagain @Enfys23 @clhiu @CailinInUK @Spin101 @Loz2467 @Mybabydream @Janefx40 @ChickenT2b @kerrym87 @Sar1010 @AM08 @thislittlebird @IVF22 @APSR
@Faithhopelove83 @KLM25 @VenusStarr
@BewilderedBee @Dochas12111 @seven201 @StillWishingHoping

We've maxed out the other one so here's thread 9 😊

@SallyLovelady welcome aboard! You sound a little similar to me, is it 4 or 8 blasts you’ve transferred? Sorry, I’m not sure I read that properly, I’m walking and reading!

I’ve transferred 7, 5 single blasts and a double transfer of iffy morulas. So far, my only BFP has been on 10mg of prednisolone and this time we added PGT-A in. This embryo is our first confirmed euploid and I turned 40 in May, so I’m assuming a number of mine have not been euploid.

@thislittlebird Hope you’re still going to get those trousers despite the trolls (and that they won’t fit you in a few months!). The trolling is a known issue on MN. They’re such a waste of space.

@Gardenlady543 Juno said to avoid using the pessaries for two weeks, then they said one week. I’ll go for at least 10 days but will check Igenomix criteria too. Did you use Vaginal pessaries during stims at all? I never have but would like to use just one or two, avoiding scan days. Really hope you’re on the mend.

@Dochas12111 good to hear from you but sorry about your issue. Good to get your breast checked out, you’re doing the right thing. Can’t believe you’re still waiting for test results. One was AMH and also Emma/Alice? I’m planning on Emma/Alice in Nov and transfer in Dec/Jan, assuming I’d get (favourable) results back within two weeks. Might have to rethink. I hate the waiting and the drawn out process, even though we’re only talking months.

I had my down reg scan this morning and all looked fine to start stims. Just waiting on call to confirm to at I can start tonight. Had an AFC of ~15, which I’m really happy about as it’s the highest for the last three stim cycles. Just hope we can realise the potential.

@SallyLovelady welcome aboard. Sorry you’re here but we’ll try to help.
It’s really good news you make blastocysts. Have you considered PGT-A? Hopefully this round will work in any case.

@CailinInUK and @thislittlebird thank you 😊 @CailinInUK congrats getting a bfp and a euploid!!! It shows it’s really worth all testing and you know exactly what you’re getting. What is in your protocol @thislittlebird ?
You’re both right about testing the embryos. I don’t know why it hasn’t been mentioned yet? 8 total - 4 in uk - but now another two that went in a week ago!!
I think because my partner didn’t have any sperm that Spain has assumed I’ll be okay with a donor. I’ve produced had 3 AA blastocysts (one in at the mo and one that didn’t work). But that doesn’t mean they’re okay does it. Also it took ages for me to get chicago tests - I kept saying there’s something not quite right and nobody listened.

The TWW is something I feel I always crumble on. I turn into an irritable mess and convince myself I’ve ruined it anyway.

Sorry meant @thislittlebird great about euploid. Getting used to this tagging and loads of brain fog!

@kerrym87 I think next time keep really detailed notes, and if he's going too fast stop and ask again and clarify. I make sure I probe him on things, eg he'll mention a drug, I'll say what dose, how often, starting on what CD, when will I stop it. You should definitely say this was discussed though and ask for the nurses to ask the doctor for info so it can be provided.

@Dochas12111 I'm with your sister on this one, I mean I've never had Covid so have no comparison but it will be 2 weeks on Thursday and I'm not myself still. I am sleeping ok luckily as rest is important. I am mostly working from home so have the ability to have a lie down when needed. I ended up at the breast clinic twice, they always referred me on the two week wait system. What test results are you waiting on?

Hi @SallyLovelady I use nytol to help me sleep which is used in the at home antihistamine protocol. Could you look at increasing the dose of prednisolone, I took 25mg from Cd8, I also started LMWH From cd8 and I didn't take aspirin until after an established pregnancy as this can affect implantation. I did daily vaginal probiotics in a FET and took doxycycline 100mg twice a day for 3 days starting 2 days before the transfer.

@CailinInUK during stims I did what you plan and used around the transvaginal scans as I didn't know the pH of the lube. I also kept a close eye on my pH and used before collection as they will puncture the vagina wall going to the ovaries so I didn't want bad bacteria carried there.

Is it medichecks you girls use for blood tests? Clinic wants 175 for an amh before our initial consultation!

@SallyLovelady my BFP was on pred a year ago and it was a chemical, but my fingers are crossed for this tested euploid one that’s currently on board! 5dp5dt today 😬😬😬

So our rounds went…

1. nhs, very few extras, 3 blasts - 2 didn’t implant and 1 was a chemical and I self-medicated with pred
2. Lister - should have been PGT-A but dh had a fever pre-EC and his sperm mostly were dead as a dodo. Transferred 2 x untested morulas
3. Lister - FINALLY got to do PGT-A, tested 3/5 and 1/3 was euploid (my current FET). 1 was transferred fresh (5AA) and one is on ice, untested, a 5CC so not good odds.

All this makes me wonder if we had very few euploids, or maybe my progesterone was too low, or maybe my immune system rejected them. The outcome of this one might tell us more.

Oh and my FET protocol this time @SallyLovelady is 10 mg pred, Arovi/Clexane, Lubion daily and Cyclogest twice daily.

@Gardenlady543 I wrote most down apart from dose and when to start thats how I knew if that makes sense. Nurses were great and rang me back when I queried by email and said he hasn't written it all but it's good I took notes, (3/4 side of a4). They said to do lit, sort out a clinic then contact us again and they'll pin him down to an exact regime, give px to me etc when we've got a plan from local clinic

@CailinInUK I got them already, I love how they look! The only issue is they’re a tiny bit long so I might need a trainer with a slightly deeper sole. Mad to say I hope they don’t fit by Christmas but it’s true lmao

fingers crossed you start stims today!

Thanks so much @Gardenlady543 ! I’ve read all your posts on micro biome.
Congratulations to you too. A long time coming and fingers really crossed for you that everything is super smooth for you now.
Ordered what you use but past couple of months have used garden of life and pro life and canesflor. I did what you recommended and took in the run up to/after transfer too. I was taking doxycycline as it was in my protocol and had penicillin a few weeks prior to collection - long story I was convinced I had an infection even though tests for bv etc came back negative (all this can drive a person mad).

In terms of predisolone I agree. My last two transfers in Spain I was on 5mg and had to reshare my chicago tests and ask them to please up my dose. They agreed to 10 - said they don’t want to suppress my immune system. The one transfer I had after chicago tests in UK had 20mg on my protocol - weird how different approaches/advice can be!

@SallyLovelady what about seeing Dr Gorgy so he can look at your results and put an immune plan in place, if clinics don't want to prescribe he will prescribe. He mostly recommends LIT and puts people on hydroxychloroquine, other meds with things like KIR issue (neupogen) and Th1/Th2 issues I think he looks at things like tacrolimus.

@kerrym87 yes medichecks, I did AMH with them. They also do a good test called male hormone blood test, this is a good one to do CD3-5, it's the cheapest way to check the hormones, don't worry they will use female ranges.

@thislittlebird oh I see! It sounds like a few factors but you do produce euploids! And at least you’ll never have wasted false hope as you know with testing your embryo is fine.

Your protocol does sound similar to mine.
I’ve been on aspirin too - which given Gardenlady’s advice is might affect implantation worries me a tad.
Did they test your progesterone? And you’re in your TWW! How are you feeling generally? I’m off to get nytol now as I need to sleep!

@SallyLovelady I've taken nytol (diphenhydramine 50mg) it's the one over the counter, the one on the shelves is herbal, the whole way through. My fertility specialist told me I shouldn't take it, but in the reproductive immune groups people take it throughout the pregnancy, it's used a lot in USA by the fertility specialists, although it's Benadryl in the USA. If I didn't take it I wouldn't be sleeping.

@Gardenlady543 I am fully taking your advice and going for it. It has to be better than not sleeping which can’t be healthy either - it’s vile when you’re on drugs.
Also, Dr Gorgy, do you know is he likely to want to do new tests/would he review old ones? I don’t know about lit but do you need something from partner for it? I’m using a sperm donor so think I can’t do it. Other meds sound good though and generally be good to speak to a specialist as consultants I’m dealing with have literally looked at my results and said test not bad 10mg will do

@SallyLovelady yeah he interpreted my results from fertilysis and since I hadn't done KIR or the immune biopsy he used I had them as well. He is fine with people saying no to tests though as my friend said she didn't want another biopsy. The LIT is because having antiparental antibodies is supposed to help protect a pregnancy, he will probably recommend donor pooled LIT, that's what I had, so you're exposed to the white blood cells of several men.

My progesterone levels are back and they’re at 72! A relief!

Sounds good @thislittlebird :)

That’s good news @thislittlebird . Did you do Medicated or (modified) natural FET?

Brilliant!

@CailinInUK modified natural! If this one fails we’ll probably move to medicated because all have been modified natural to date. I’m not keen on taking oestrogen so have avoided it for now, but know it makes sense to change things up if this one fails too.

@thislittlebird have everything crossed for you!!!

Im wondering what to try next. Third transfer just failed.

Adenomyosis diagnosis - focal area on lining. Not in cavity. Checked twice with hysterscopy. Had a lap and no endo.

January - first fresh fail.

2 months down Reg for the adeno - medicated FET - failed

lap and hyst and 3 more months of down Reg - fully medicated FET - failed.

What I’m thinking is to ask my clinic if I can do a modified natural on my withdrawal bleed but I’m worried it will be a no as they aren’t open at weekends but I’ve seen this is usually beneficial in adeno due to no medicated estrogen and also higher prog results and a better window of implantation.

I know prog needs to be higher with adeno and endo so it was 103 n mol after 3 days. So I was happy with this. Did transfer after 5 days of prog but I’ve read that implantation window in adeno is sometimes off. I do wish I’d just done a lubion a day earlier but never mind.

This protocol was.

Down Reg
Doxy
serrapeptase
oral probiotics
vaginal probiotics

did 8mg estrace per day.
lining check was 8.5mm on day 11.
Started cyclogest and lubion on day 13.
Transfer 5 days later.

added Predisolone from cycle day 7 10mg. 15mg -5 and -4 to transfer from then 20mg from 4 days before transfer (no NK cell testing but used empirically). Worried incase I didn’t need this and it stopped it from working?

also added blood thinner. Along with my surgery I just don’t know what more I could do :(

Thats 3 fails now so I’m worrying is it the ERA. And the timing is wrong. Or is it the patch of the Adeno maybe? Causing implantation failure and obviously can’t have surgery on it.

I cried for 3 full days. I feel useless. I can’t motivate myself to do anything and I’m worrying my clinic won’t let me try a modified natural.

Sorry for the long post.

Hi @Loz2467 I think there’ll be more qualified responses than my own but I just wanted to say so sorry I know how hard it is and what a mine field. I’ve had had 5 transfers, 9 embryos, nothing yet.
But there are so many women going through this that don’t give up and seek answers and get there! Don’t give up.
I’m wondering, if modified natural could be good for you, would changing clinic be an option?
Also, what do you know about your embryos at this point?

@Gardenlady543 thank you!!
Do you think the lit has been a decisive factor for you?
Even though I‘m on predisonole (10 still) I’ve got a little patch of eczema that won’t budge. I can’t help thinking my immune system has flared. If this transfer doesn’t work I’m upping the dose - and I’ll contact Dr Gorgy too