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 😊

Can anybody please provide knowledge, ideally reassurance on something?
Currently in 2ww at 6dpo - based on previous ERA test which I know could be meaningless, if fertilisation happened successfully, implantation would have started yesterday and be in flow today. I’m sure it would have failed again, but in case I stand a chance…
I just had a big bowl of really hot soup and that caused me to really over-heat and get quite sweaty, I panicked about having fluffed my changes and took my body temperature with the same method as I do my BBT in the morning under my tongue and it was 37.7, it’s never that high unless I’m ill, but then again I only ever measure first thing in the morning and I know it’s higher as the day goes on. I read that the ‘core’ body temperature is the most important one for favourable embryo environment so decided to take my temperature rectally and that came up at 38.1. Does anybody know the parameters for that? What core/rectal temperature is too high and will spoil implantation/damage a possible embryo? Have I fluffed it even if the feeling of being too hot only lasted half an hour and I’m cooling down?

@clhiu firstly I don't think a hot bowl of soup would affect your core body temperature. The rectal temperature runs higher than other sites, this is from gpnotebook, "the rectal temperature is higher than at other sites, traditionally oral and axillary readings are adjusted to the rectal temperature by adding 0.3°C and 0.5°C, respectively". Your oral temperature of 37.7 is on the high side, I'd call this a low grade fever, are you feeling unwell?

@kerrym87 yes that's the only place offering LIT in the UK, next closest place is Greece.

Hope you're ok @clhiu, like @Gardenlady543 said, I wouldn't worry about the soup, are you feeling well? I didn't realise so many of us were at roughly the same stage of the tww

@kerrym87 I think the words "informal chat" takes a lot of pressure off, which is quite nice. A chance just to ask questions about it all.

oh no, hang on, I'm confusing 6po with 6dpt, so not the same stage but still the tww!

Thanks @Gardenlady543 and @thislittlebird I feel completely fine, no signs of being unwell whatsoever. My body’s always done this thing where it gets hot almost like a hot flash for a bit after eating hot soup then cools down again. So except for the getting hot and sweaty and worrying about possible implantation, I wouldn’t have even thought of taking my temperature at all. I cooled down afterwards too and don’t feel hot now anymore. Literally no signs of illnesses, but I’ll keep an eye out for any symptoms.
Does anybody know which body temperature compromise implantation? In the sense of being too high rather than too low? My acupuncturist was adamant that during this phase of the cycle you should be keeping warm and eat lots of hot food, but then I also hear to much heat is bad for the embryo.

@thislittlebird the informal chat sounds great by the way! Definitely good to keep your options open and if you can have a job that pays more and has more working from home this can only be a good thing for treatment.

@clhiu it's all Chinese theories I think, they say to keep your feet warm, but then people advise not to get the abdomen too hot, by this they mean don't sit in a hot tub which is constantly maintaining a high temperature and don't put a hot water bottle directly on your abdomen. We have to remember that people get pregnant in countries that are incredibly hot compared to where we're located and the majority of the world don't have access to air con etc, so it really can't make that much difference.

@thislittlebird that’s right, this was a superovulation cycle rather than ET so 6dpo, but keeping a low profile as I know I’m fully headed for another fail.
Your interview outcome sounds very promising! If it’s a great opportunity you should totally go for it and do what feels right for you. We let infertility holding us back and stand in the way of too many things, I’m on a mission to reclaim a bit of my life back from this beast, easier said than done, but my life is important, baby or not baby and it’s easy to forget that sometimes when in this particularly unfortunate type of situation.

@Gardenlady543 I’ve sent you a PM if you don’t mind. :)

Thank you @Gardenlady543 I was hoping it may be just a load of theories without proper foundation 🙏🙏🙏

@clhiu I know that feeling well! If the IVF was to work by some miracle I'd be sacrificing mat leave if I was to take a job, but at the same time, some opportunities are hard to pass up and would be beneficial in the long run, we shall see. It was a bit depressing seeing the manager on the Teams call who is about 8 years younger than me, I think. First doctors start looking young, then my bosses get younger and I'm still here!

I woke up this morning to a racing heart and I didn't love that, I made the effort to calm my breathing for a bit. Now it's happening again, can progesterone do that?

@thislittlebird progesterone can definitely do that. I ended up in urgent cardiac care when I did my first progesterone & oestrogen FET protocol - thought I was having a heart attack! Consultant said it was likely the meds. When it happened after that I listened to a ‘calming anxiety’ thing on the calm app until it passed. I’m sorry - it’s not a nice feeling.

@Dochas12111 thanks - yeah, it is a little worrying. I'm going to find a good calming anxiety thing like that. I have breath works app and used that this morning but it wasn't the best.

@Enfys23 I’m sorry you’re feeling like this. I felt exactly the same before I started IVF. I hope the consultation goes well in London. Not sure if you’ve already had it. Your age is on your side.

@CailinInUK and @Janefx40 Thanks for the support about the grades. It’s hard moving forwards. I know I ovulated as last week I had ovary pain and lots of cervical mucus. My consultant thought I’d be getting period very quickly after miscarriage. What is your experience? If I ovulated last week, my period should not arrive until next week surely? I’ve been on norethisterone a lot but I remember that my cycles used to be 26/27 days sometimes 28/29. It’s a bit scary. My consultant said about giving me a medical review if I don’t get period by the end of this month, but I have read lots of stories of period being delayed for 6 weeks.

I’ve not been good with diet lately. I eat healthily but also sometimes eat cake and have had pizza sometimes and some wine. I’m trying to take on extra work to save for my frozen transfer.

@Gardenlady543 How are you feeling with the covid?

@CailinInUK Hope you avoid covid and your daughter is getting better. Are you still doing another egg retrieval this month? Sorry if I’ve missed updates.

@thislittlebird I completely understand not wanting to test. I had implantation twinges but that’s it. I had more symptoms after 5w and closer to 6w. I took the first week off and worked the second week. In a way it gave me a distraction. I hope the pre-interview chat and interview go well. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you. You seem to be doing well.

@thislittlebird Rapid heartbeat is very common. I had that with both pregnancies. So with my son and also with my last pregnancy. I even had it before transfer. I think it’s when progesterone also gets higher but it’s a good sign.

@thislittlebird I found drinking some water helped a bit and relaxing. I found that the more I talked or moved (even gentle walking) increased heartbeat. I even felt dizzy with my last pregnancy at times but it’s all normal.

@clhiu Before my last pregnancy, I had night sweats due to progesterone increasing even though oestrogen was high. It was the effect of cyclogest which can cause this. It did not affect implantation at all.

My fertility acupuncturist told me the higher the progesterone the greater the feeling of heat in the body.

@clhiu These night sweats stopped as the pregnancy progressed but rapid heartbeat continued.

BFP for me today! First ever. It feels surreal

Oh wow @SallyLovelady this is fantastic news ❤️

@SallyLovelady that’s great news! So happy for you 😍x

@Gardenlady543 @clhiu thank you!!

Blood test Monday and consultant told me to double predisolone to 20g today. Keeping fingers crossed but feeling really positive.

@SallyLovelady That’s great news. Were you previously taking a lower dosage of prednisolone? Do you mind me asking is this your first child? I did not take steroids when pregnant with my son but from what I’ve read it’s more risky with future pregnancies. Good luck with blood tests.

@SallyLovelady Sorry I’m being silly. I just reread your earlier post about first BFP ever.