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 😊

@Gardenlady543 thanks a lot for ur reply! Quick question: which prednisolone dose are u on? I was told to take 10mg and increase it to 20mg after FET. I’m worried about side effect or impact on baby, do u have info on this?

@Mybabydream I took 25mg from CD8 and weaned off at 12 weeks. You will likely get moon face but this will resolve after you stop, steroids can cause a lot of different side effects, but usually these are more concerning for long term use. I didn't get anything really aside from moon face. Steroids are used as a treatment for morning sickness so I didn't get that early on. I haven't heard of issue with the baby because of steroids.

@Mybabydream like @Gardenlady543 there is only issues with baby with long term use or for example, threatened preterm delivery for medical reasons or preterm labour they give steroids but very high doses. Repeated doses of that nature can slow growth and affect brain development a little but mature the lungs. Lower doses such as you guys use have more benefit than not. They are very careful what they give pregnant ladies as there technically aren't studies as they aren't ethical but they gather evidence other ways abd are very cautious

Thanks very much @Gardenlady543 @kerrym87 for ur replies! All the best

A nervous update from me at 3dpt5dt
I am experiencing full period like pains very low down and on my back and this morning there was the teeniest faintest pink streak. Which I initially took as a really good sign and woke up DH with joy!

out of my 2 CP and 2 BFN FETS I have never had implantation bleeding but i also never experienced any cramping or anything. In fact I didnt bleed until all medication was stopped both FETs. I feel completely confused- partly positive and partly terrified.

I guess I’m just sharing because I don’t know what to do with myself! Any experience? I probably should just distract myself for a little longer.
I’ve let my clinic know by email though they did say to expect some spotting. I had my bloods done yday morning and they rang to say everything looked good both prog and estro at the right levels.

should I be relaxing more? I just don’t know what to do!

@Sar1010 my main concern would be progesteone not being high enough (I bled early in my fresh transfer and it started as spotting), but you have just had that tested and it's fine. So I can't see anything else to worry about. Do you know the progesterone level out of interest? May be worth asking if you don't.

@Gardenlady543 they told me over the phone and I think they said its at 132 (would that make sense?) but I have just emailed them to get it in writing too!
Good idea x

@Sar1010 132 is a great level, there's no issue with that.

Actually it was:
135 prog
691 oestrogen.

nothing to worry about there is there. Just going to hope it’s was the rare phenomenon of IB and try and chill.
@Gardenlady543 how are you doing now? Not long left I imagine?
x

@Sar1010 I don't know much about estradiol, I know there is evidence about the level before a transfer. In the UK none of the specialists seem to monitor estradiol levels in pregnancy, the RIs in USA do though. They don't check progesterone in pregnancy in the UK routinely either so I did my levels myself your progesterone level is great. What are your plans with pregnancy testing? I am good, c section is 5 weeks on Friday. It probably seems like this time has gone very fast, but to me it's gone really slowly!

@Gardenlady543 yes I was quite pleased that they asked me to come back in 2 days after transfer to check my hormones. and has been a peace of mind though now I’ve moved on to worrying about my breasts not feeling full or sore. In both my CP the reason I tested was because my boobs were huge and swollen. Always choosing something to obsess and worry over !

im not really sure what to do about testing both acupuncturist and gyno said wait til the actual time and in both my BFNs previously I did. But part of me wants to know- especially with my history of chemicals would be good to know if/when that has taken place. I think I’ll see how long I can go.

yes 5 weeks! How fantastic for you, and yes it’s felt very quick to me. But ofcourse I can imagine time must slow right down, especially with all your ups and down and sickness too!

xx

@Sar1010 you honestly can't tell anything by symptoms/ lack of symptoms. The only thing I had was burping. If you would rather know re: chemical, then I would test around 6dp or 7dp.

@Sar1010 hope the waiting game isn’t going too slowly for you and keeping my fingers crossed.

@Gardenlady543 couple of questions I’d you don’t mind. I’ve had my prescription through from Dr Gorgy, it looks to be about 3 months worth. What happens when you need more? Do you have to pay for another consultation just to get him to write a new prescription? Or is there a separate cost? Assuming it is not free of course 😃
And secondly, I’ve booked my first intralipids at Cherish. They said the first one needs to be diluted, was it the same for you? Guess I’m wondering if it will be as effective. Don’t fancy a day trip to London if I can help it though! Thanks xx

@ChickenT2b if you need a prescription always ask for it when you happen to be having a consultation anyway, as it's included in the price. If you need one without a consultation, I think there is a £60 script fee. This is why I asked my GP to prescribe me inhixa for the pregnancy as Dr G would only prescribe 4 weeks at a time and when you add the cost of the med privately + that fee it would have been very expensive. I get NHS prescriptions free because I have hypothyroidism.

Intralipids need to be diluted initially in case you react, it just involves having it slower with saline so costs more. After you have been fine with that you can have undiluted.

Thank you @ChickenT2b things are going painfully slow and today I’ve woken up feeling super negative about lack of boob symptoms! I just feel like I can’t hold onto the embryo passed day 4 but maybe that’s just my mind playing tricks.

@Gardenlady543 did your symptoms differ from transfer to transfer? Even if one was unsuccessful and one successful? I know I can’t tell alone from symptoms but FET 1 & 2 also had this empty boob feeling by day 4. And I can’t help but feel like the same has happened again. I feel like the potential IB was completely different from the other two so must hold onto that atleast.

@Sar1010 I mean I would convinced myself it had worked when it hadn't. When I did my test at 6dp5dt I was sure it hadn't worked, I was so sad and crying the night before knowing that it would all be over with the test the next day and then watched the test light up the next morning.

Hi all
@Gardenlady543 exciting ur 5 weeks away!! 😊
question: did u continue to take vaginal and oral probiotics throughout your pregnancy after FET.
would be great to know pls if yes and which if u don’t mind?
thanks

@Mybabydream I took daily vaginal probiotics up until the 8 week scan except not the night before and night of transfer. I now do one vaginal probiotic a week. I took a lot of flora femme in the early days, now I'm using up my old stash of physioflor. Oral probiotics I take daily usually taking bio femme V or optibac for women.

@Gardenlady543 thanks and do you know what is the difference between optibac woman and optibac pregnancy and if both are suitable in pregnancy?
did you also take calcium with intralipids , for how long
thnaks

@Mybabydream I didn't even know they made a optibac for pregnancy lol, maybe I should have been taking that one! I just know about the microbiome needed for conception so kept up with probiotics for that. The vaginal probiotics will make the most difference, I don't think there is a specially designed vaginal pregnancy formula.

@Mybabydream what do you mean by calcium with intralipids? do you mean at the same time or as a supplement? I'm vegan so I've always needed to keep up with vitamin D and calcium, especially when I was on steroids. I add this calcium powder to smoothies but it specially says don't use in pregnancy so I can't recommend it to others. This is the best thing for me personally though as I was diagnosed with osteopenia some time ago and didn't like the taste of calcichew.

Calcium Carbonate Powder | Pharmaceutical Grade Ingredient | 2 Pound - 907 g | Highest Purity Limestone | Heiltropfen® amzn.eu/d/aef3ONP

Hahahah yes it is confusing anyway this optibac pregnancy and women , i thinks it’s the same.
on the calcium side, i was told to take calcium as an oral supplement given I am to have intralipids and steroid also

@Mybabydream I think it will be because of the steroids, as far as I'm aware intralipids are just fat. If you only need a bit of calcium then you could just get a supplement from holland and Barrett, they have much lower amounts in than prescribed supplements and the powder I take. The 2 different types of optibac have different bacteria strains in. I guess my main priority was to stick with the bacteria that have the most evidence in early pregnant with my implantation failure. And then I just carried on with stuff.

Hello just a gentle update from me. I have been testing positive over the last few days but because it’s still so early (8dpt today) I’ve been concerned about sharing and feel like I’m on tenterhooks most hours of the day. Also been here twice before with CP so it’s a very cautious sigh of relief at the moment. The bittersweetness of it all.

symptoms are:
mild period pains in the lower back
heartburn
aching boobs on the side (but as full or swollen as Id like)
some dizziness
but this could all be from the meds.
then there was a light pink spotting at 3DPT which I’d never had before.

I also got my invivo vaginal swab test results back and I have:

high Enterococcus faecalis
high Prevotella bivia
high Staphylococcus aureus

im going to email my clinic and ask if there is anything they can prescribe for these but would love to hear anyone’s thoughts or tips.

@Sar1010 that's great news, will you be doing any blood hcg tests? Gosh that's stressful having the swab results, I hope they get back to you soon, can you use a daily vaginal probiotic while waiting to hear about treatment?