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 😊

@Spin101 No. I didn’t want extra stress. I had bloods done at 14dpt so 4 weeks 5 days. Hcg 1186 and progesterone 158. They said these were good. I’m feeling worried as some days I have no symptoms.

@Enfys23 I had bloods done at 14dpt so 4 weeks 5 days. Are you doing the same?

@Spin101 I wish I could have my scan earlier. Mine will be 6 weeks 5 days. So I understand the long wait.

@VenusStarr I'm so sorry about your AF coming even tho you expected it. November sounds like a good plan - long enough away for a break but not too long.

@Dochas12111 it's so hard to know whether to transfer what you have or make more. I guess it depends on how much time you think you have to make more embryos after transfer if the 3 didn't work (ie AMH/age etc). 3 is a good number tho anyway. My DD was a day 5 morula so presumably would have been a day 6 so they can work.

@thislittlebird it's so hard to know what to do re job but I felt my life was on hold for several years which was frustrating. But having said that there was something good about not having the stress of new job/new people when I had so much else going on. But I do and did feel frustrated work wise. Of course if you have a baby you can then get stuck in your job anyway because it's hard to move if you have a job that is relatively flexible etc. My career is dead in the water through a combo of IVF and (very luckily I know) having 2 young DC.

@CailinInUK it's not often I get called an inspiration 😂. I don't have any tips beyond what you are already doing. You know it all already. I'm a big fan of PGT testing for older women but you're already doing that. I did moderate my diet but then for balance, I had my DD without doing that too. I chose my clinics carefully but that's just personal choice. There were only 2 that had good outcomes for over 40s when I was first looking so I went there! Honestly tho I had my 2 pregnancies from 2 different clinics and I'm not sure I particularly rate either of them! So not sure that really matters either. If you do have questions feel free to PM me but not sure I know any more than you do xxx

@Janefx40 yes we will know more in August when the new AMH and Semen Analysis come back.

I would be interested in others thoughts on what they think we should do / what you guys would do re the embryos vs a fresh collection! I’m 37 now.

@VenusStarr ah I remember and also you were under prof Brosens I think.will you do more immune meds with your next Ivf? What about lit?

@2021ivfagain sorry to hear about your dad, symptoms are variable so I wouldn't worry, they also don't mean anything, people can be really symptomatic with a great hcg and then have a blighted ovum. So I wouldn't think about it too much and just await the scan, the waiting is tough though.

@Dochas12111 personally I'd do another collection round to try and bank more before doing transfers. It's good that you're arranging some tests first to optimise things.

Oh wow @Spin101 that's not long to wait for the scan. For the bloods with medichecks sometimes you get them back the day they get to the lab other times the next day.

I just wondered if there is any point in the progesterone testing once you reach OTD? @2021ivfagain @Gardenlady543 The medichecks options has HCG and a HCG plus progesterone. But would one do anything about the progesterone being low at this point?
Do people use FMU for OTD home test? I know some people say FMU doesn’t work as well for them. Or would it not make any difference by OTD? I used second MU the other day only due to indecision.
I am probably overthinking things….
I am dreading seeing blank white tomorrow….

@Dochas12111 your frozen ones will be there and age no barrier technically to using them but I’d also see what happens with another collection now x

@Enfys23 I heard second morning urine was better but then found first morning urine to be the best. For OTD, you could do both. I chose to do both the hcg and progesterone as sometimes it can drop in pregnancy and dosages are increased up.

@Gardenlady543 thank you 🙏🏼

@Enfys23 I always do first morning urine and found Clearblue 1 minute rapid result to be really good. I used pink ones as well. They say fmu tends to have strongest hcg. I would definitely test hcg and progesterone on OTD via blood tests. I was 14dpt. I also tested tsh. My levels were good but now getting ibs again (diarrhoea) due to stopping my probiotic. I used it in tww but IVF clinic are a bit worried about me taking it. My progesterone was really high on transfer day 181 but on OTD it was 158.

@Gardenlady543 Thanks. I only have another pregnancy to compare this to and my symptoms were really overwhelming from the beginning. My clinic said that was perfectly normal so worried about my scan.

With Medichecks, how do you do blood tests? Is it finger prick?

@2021ivfagain I’ve used medichecks quite a few times now and generally if sample can be done by finger prick (seems most can especially if only testing one or two things) then easiest to do this way. I can take bloods because of my job so I have done my own if needed a big tube for a larger panel of bloods but would not recommend especially if you’re not trained in phlebotomy.

@Gardenlady543 I’m guessing from their professional point of view they have to counsel (though shouldn’t sound lecture like!) you in order that they’re not seen as taking advantage, and can document they’ve told you, but if it’s getting you through and providing reassurance then there’s certainly no harm is there (except maybe to your pocket!)! Taking things one moment, day, one week at a time is all we can do. Your situation is not like others and I’d hope the sonographers would “get” that.

@2021ivfagain with medichecks you can do fingerprick but I mostly chose to go to TDL to get blood drawn as I was often in central London anyway. If you go in you mostly get same day results and also they then use the TDL lab which is the same as CRGH so I figured the results were calibrated. But finger prick is fine too.

@Gardenlady543 progesterone levels fluctuate hugely across the day so it is very hard to compare them. A difference of 30 may not actually be a difference at all. Either way your level is still very high x

@Enfys23 officially FMU is always recommended but there are some people who say SMU is better for them or even evening. I think go with FMU unless you have a reason to think otherwise as that works best for the majority of people xxx

@Enfys23 if in doubt do both!!! And good luck tomorrow. This stuff is so hard. It takes a lot of courage but we'll be right there with you in spirit xxx

@2021ivfagain I choose make own arrangements as I can have my blood taken without needing to book anything.

Thank you @Janefx40 that means a lot ❤️

@Gardenlady543 thank you. I needed 4 lancets today as it’s always a struggle to get any blood from my fingers!

@2021ivfagain glad your levels seemed good. I hope the week goes by quickly for us.

@Enfys23 thinking of you for OTD tomorrow and really hoping for positive news x

Thinking of you today @Enfys23, sorry for all the worry and that your first BFP couldn’t be more straightforward ❤️

Applogies for my absence the past fee days. I’ve a lot of catching up
to do x

@Janefx40 The TDL place for getting bloods done is so far away from where I live. There are not many places in Plymouth that do it quickly enough. I have a scan next Tuesday so I might get bloods done then.

@Enfys23 Good luck today.

@Spin101 The bloods I had done were at 14dpt so not since. Are you using Medichecks?

What bloods would you do on the day of your scan @2021ivfagain ?

Good luck today @Enfys23

@2021ivfagain I used medichecks. I struggled yesterday to withdraw blood from my fingers. Hopefully I’ll get results today or tomorrow. I ordered two kits so I can do another in a few days. Feel I should have done these earlier but will hopefully provide me with some reassurance

Thanks for the support, sadly another BFN for us today. Hard to know how we pick ourselves up and keep going. That quote about doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome being the definition of madness keeps coming into my head. Why would a 6th time be any different. I just feel so tired and sad. Facing another fresh cycle just feels like Everest today.