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 😊

@Sar1010 hope your monitoring appointment went well today. Are you triggering and/or using LH strips to time ovulation/transfer?

My ERA appointment went ok this morning, things moving in the right direction. Lining good but follicle(s) still has a bit to grow so back on Weds for another scan.

FYI everyone, there is currently a 25% off Black Friday sale on Medichecks for a selection of tests, including hormone and thyroid ones. I know several of us use this company so thought I'd let you know.

@CailinInUK oh, thanks for the tip about Mdedichecks, that's super useful to know! I would never think about Black Friday discounting in terms of something like that, but here you go. Glad to hear your cycle is proceeding in the right direction x

@CailinInUK
Scan was ok today: Follicle at 20mm Lining at 9mm
Not triggering just using LH strips and bloods.
They assess the bloods and scan and will call me later to tell me whether I should go in again tomorrow or start the Lubion

Good to hear your heading in the right direction. We are around the same time in our cycle which is nice. Is this your first ERA? I had one a few months ago and found it really frustrating at the time doing a mock cycle- though it was super super insightful (found that my lacto was 0% and that I had traces of endo! but everything else was normal- which gave me confidence going forward)

thanks for the black friday tip! :)

@Sar1010 sounds like you're close now!!

This is my second ERA, first Emma/Alice.
I did a medicated ERA in late 2018 prior to my successful FET (additional day of progesterone was recommended). Due to catching COVID in Oct, I was recommended against IVF so opted for this modified natural ERA and Emma/Alice instead.

You're v welcome @clhiu. How are you getting on?

Im still waiting on my Fertilysis microbiome results, 16 working days now.

@CailinInUK, what timelines do they usually quote? I think when I did with my clinic it was possibly 3 weeks, but I don't know about Fertylisis. Wish some of these investigation's didn't take such a long blooming time!

eh, meh! thanks for asking, I'm now around 8DPO, however my tracking app has been very non-committal this month, maybe because I was just off the back of a chemical. I did LH tests since CD 9 got a very clear surge on 11th November so I either ovulated on the 12th or 13th, putting me at 8 or 7DPO today, cannot have been sooner without any sign of surge I am sure. We miraculously managed the timed intercourse, despite my husband back again. I've had a lot of breast tenderness (but that started even before OD) plus I've been on Cyclogest since last Tuesday. I also had on and off nausea since around 5DPO and was feeling optimistic, but since 2 days ago I've been spotting, very lightly, just very light watery pink or brown, not getting heavier and should be too early for AF, but not feeling like it's a good sign. The strange thing is with my last cycle I started spotting in the exact same way at the exact same time, started cyclogest after 3 days of spotting and that stopped it, but ended in a chemical so I would have described that as implantation bleeding rather than early AF, but so hard to know when the loss happens so early on. This time however I started Cyclogest sooner and I've never spotted or bled whilst on it so I'm mega confused. I just hope my cycle and my hormones which have always been very regular and balanced haven't suddenly gone askew!

@Gardenlady543 Ive sent you an inbox - hope you don’t mind.

Also just asking for a friend should baby asprin be taken once she’s had the positive test? If she has endo and adeno so blood flow issues and is only on the 20mg inhixa not the 40mg?

Hope everyone is doing okay and I’ll have a read through the thread soon xxx

@Loz2467 main reason for aspirin is to prevent preeclampsia, I took from when I asked Dr Gorgy if I should be on it, he said start with an established pregnancy. I take 150mg a day.

Hi all @Gardenlady543
hope you are well!
anyone has any experience with embryo glue as I was told that I could chose to have it or not
there is no harm but they are unsure of benefit
Also initially I was told it’s not suitable for hatching blastocyst , now they say it is open for everyone
im lost if I should go for it or not
thanks

My Fertilysis microbiome results are in and aren't great :-/ see attached.

(@clhiu to answer your previous Q, results turnaround are quoted as approx 10 working days from receipt; mine took 19)

@Dochas12111 I think you had similar (Strep and Staph?) with your biopsy? May I ask what treatment you undertook in terms of antibiotic type and duration? How long are you giving it between antibiotics and re-test?

I've not even heard of eubacterium spp or mobiluncus spp, something else to Google.

Since providing these samples I took a broad spectrum antibiotic for something else (UTI) but it won't have improved my endometrium.
@Gardenlady543 how long was your course of antibiotics and which one did you take? Assuming you had similar result?

I'm triggering for ERA and Emma/Alice tonight so biopsy in a week. I plan to take antibiotics straight after the biopsy. I assume that's ok, rather than waiting for Emma/Alice results.. I hate the waiting and I don't think the Emma/Alice will show anything different/recommend different treatment. It's only six weeks between the Fertilysis and Emma/Alice samples.
@Gardenlady543 you mentioned culture and sensitivity test. How does this work in practice?
Or perhaps I'll just try metronidazole.

I wonder if my endometrium was the reason or part of the reason for my late loss. I suggested Emma/Alice to my consultant before that transfer and he didn't think it was necessary, that I could just take probiotics instead... probiotics alone won't shift these bacteria.

When I digest this I'll be relieved I tested, but right now just focussing on the missed opportunities in the past to do it and the further delays until transfer.

@Mybabydream the embryologist at my clinic has told me I couldn't use embryo glue because of hatching blasts. I don't actually know anyone who has used it.

@CailinInUK my results were a mix of bacteria to begin with so I had a broad spectrum antibiotic (co amoxiclav) and then it was almost all gardneralla on the next sample. It's interesting that they are saying to treat the anaerobic gardneralla first, because it says the level of that is low. To get rid of it I did 2 weeks of metronidazole and a week of vaginal clindamycin att he same time and alternated daily between a vaginal probiotic and clotrimazole pessary. I get that they may not want to put you on separate courses of antibiotics att he same time, I would have thought that a broad spectrum antibiotic like co-amp lock Av would be used first though given the staph and strep. When they do the Emma Alice, they need to fill in the date of the last antibiotic, so you probably can't start it until after the sample is taken. In which case you should get a similar result to this test.

@Mybabydream I had embryo glue for my 2 blasts that didn't take but protocol was all wrong for me, didn't know if they were euploid and didn't know my lactobacilli were around 74% so not sure I can sy for sure it not worth doing

Hi ladies,
so two months into trying naturally post endo excision. Two sessions of LIT down and taking Neupogen from ovulation. We had one chemical in Greece as I mentioned and this month a very very faint positive for one day only again. Chucking the tests out just in case.

Anyway, someone kindly pointed out on a forum that in fact my NK cells 50:1 (whatever that means) are high at 33%. Dr Gorgy never picked up on this in our initial consultation (they were fertilysis results). Just had a follow up to check and after a lot of waffle about using different Drs and sources of information he agreed with me and has prescribed intralipids, hydroxychloroquine and prednisolone (or prednisone not sure). Not sure why fertilysis think this result is ok for pregnancy but I’m just so glad I might finally have a chance on the right protocol.

Bit worried about these meds at the same time. Does anyone have experience on them? Thanks 🙏🏼

Hi @ChickenT2b
I don’t have any experience with all those meds together but just wanted to say that it sounds like things are really coming together for you and hopefully you are now on the right track. Thank god for these forums, I’ve learnt so much from all of you!
And I’m sorry to hear that there may have been another chemical ❤️

update from me is:
transfer booked for Sunday
started prednisolone this morning
Lubion 8am
cyclogest 8pm

clinic just called to say my estrogen dipped a little so they want me to take 2mg of estrodiol starting tonight. I hope this doesn’t interfere too much with my adenomyosis!

Managed to get an acupuncture
appointment today and then I’ll have another Monday morning which I’m really pleased about. I have the day off on Monday to go for a nice walk to the cinema to watch a comedy. Which I’m really looking forward to!

@ChickenT2b this is Dr Gorgy's standard plan, it's what I took.

@Sar1010 good luck for Sunday :)

@Sar1010 thank you. It blows my mind how far we’ve come in terms of what we’ve learnt through consistent and persistent research and asking questions, even when you thought you had the answer already 🙈the gift that keeps on giving! All the best for your upcoming transfer 🤞🏼

@Gardenlady543 thank you that’s good to hear. Can I ask what doses you were prescribed if you remember? Was it prescribed based off fertilysis results or the Chicago tests?

@CailinInUK yes I had strep and staph. I had a week of amoxicillin then I took oral probiotics - optibac ones and I took Canesflor vaginally. I didn’t follow the instructions - I took them one per day for 2 weeks then every second day until transfer. I couldn’t get hold of any better ones. Due to circumstances we didn’t retest until nearly 3 months after the first one but I’m retesting next week which will be after a month so I’ll let you know results when I have them! My retest showed good bacteria of 75% but I didn’t retest after that - just kept taking probiotics and did a transfer about two months later.

@ChickenT2b

hydroxychloroquine 200mg twice a day you have to take this all the time as it takes a long time to get in your system. So you don't start and stop it.

Prednisolone 25mg from cd8

Intralipids I did around cd7-11, then again with a positive test except I had IvIg instead, then I did infusions around every 3 weeks and just had my last one a couple of weeks ago

@Sar1010 thinking of you on Sunday. Glad you have some time on Monday and some pre and post acupuncture!

@CailinInUK 😣sorry the results are not straightforward but I’m sure it makes you relieved you’re doing all this testing. Hope the EMMA/ALICE results give you some clarity on best treatment.

@ChickenT2b so glad you’ve got a plan. Sorry to hear about the chemical. I’m not belittling it but sounds like glimmer of hope in there being signs of implantation in both your post excision cycles 🤞🏼with immune meds on board one embie sticks.

@Dochas12111 good luck with your biopsy next week.

thanks for everyone’s support recently. Just gearing up for my excision surgery next week now.

@Gardenlady543 thank you. Did you switch to IVIG to give yourself the best chance or because your retested and the results warranted it?
Where did you buy all of this from? Is there somewhere online?

@Enfys23 all the best with your surgery. Good timing to be recovered well in time for Christmas x

@ChickenT2b the first IvIg was with a good beta, Dr Gorgy has said it would give me my best chance with my implantation failure, then when he tested my Nk cells for the first time at 20 weeks he said they were high and he said it's worrying and I should have IvIg again so I did he said if they did a Doppler of my uterine artery and it was ok I could go back to intralipids and it was. The price difference is so high I spent more on 1 x IvIg than all the intralipids I had the whole time and I had them every 3 weeks.

The meds, dr gorgy prescribed and I got from Asda. Think I got the hydroxy from Tesco, it's pretty cheap though. Intralipids I usually got at cherish as it's an infusion.

@Enfys23 good luck in the operation, thinking of you ❤️

Thank you all for the well wishes ladies.

transferred this morning, everything went smoothly. embryo looked great. I felt much calmer this time around and totally distracted myself all the way to the appointment! Now back at home with my feet up. Back in for a blood test in 2 days.

@Sar1010 that's good :) , I had a few days of proper rest after mine, I'm sure it's fine whatever you chose to do, but I stayed on the sofa making Lego and watching tv. 🤞🤞🤞🤞 for you ❤️

Lovely to hear @Sar1010 hope you have a chilled day today.

Thank you @ChickenT2b @Gardenlady543 ❤️

Thank you @Gardenlady543 and @Enfys23. Huge good luck for excision!

just waiting for my acupuncture appointment. Stayed on the sofa all day yesterday. Today is going to be pretty chilled too not really walking anywhere.

Out of the 3 FETs this one already feels different ie I have no symptoms really (it’s still really early days I know) and I almost don’t believe they put the embryo in. I’m kinda tempted to ask them if they did!

the other two transfers I was mild to moderate cramping day of transfer - 3dpt But they were both BFN so perhaps this is a good sign.