ERA EMMA ALICE testing thread 10

[Gardenlady543]

Last thread is maxed out... happy for anyone new to join to chat about anything ERA EMMA ALICE or pretty much anything else fertility investigations and treatment related

@2021ivfagain @Enfys23 @clhiu @CailinInUK @Loz2467 @Mybabydream @ChickenT2b @kerrym87 @Sar1010 @thislittlebird @APSR @VenusStarr
@Dochas12111 @SallyLovelady @Lyrabee @Lauralozzle @Sera9 @Twigg12 @Wren123 @Summerishere83 @Vicky81B

Sorry youve had these problems @Enfys23.
Being up and down is to be expected for sure, hoping May or soon after brings happier times that you deserve. Great you've got a holiday to look forward to. I tried to do that or a night or two away in between my treatment cycles. It kept me going.

Saccharomyces Boulardii probiotic/yeast is recommended alongside and after antibiotics such as coamoxiclav. This should help with the diarrhoea etc. Clotramizole good for thrush. I experienced it for first time recently after antibiotics and this seemed to sort it. I think the microbiome can bounce back quite quickly but would say important to supplement orally and vaginally straight after the antibiotics.

Thanks @Enfys23 I’m on CD7 today so in the middle of my modified natural mild stims FET. The way my CD1 fell, it was likely that my best trigger day (CD13/14) would’ve fallen on the weekend so I suggested to consultant to use a higher or lower stim dose to try avoid this. So I’m on 112.5IU per night instead of 75IU. (Yet he’s dropped it to 75IU tonight as response been quite good.)Yesterday, after 4 nights of stims, I had 5 follicles between 9-12mm and lining 6mm. E2 was 570. I expect trigger will be Weds CD11 or Thurs CD12 if things carry on ok. I hope things haven’t gone too fast such that my lining doesn’t get as thick as it can. Got same day blood test booked for Weds at Cherish.

@2021ivfagain
have you had your CD1 too? And you @Dochas12111, have you got firmer dates now?
Are you recovered now @Gardenlady543 ?

I hope everyone is doing ok.

@CailinInUK full steam ahead then. I hope the scan shows lining is good for you and bloods this time are reassuring. That number of follicles sounds promising for a good E2 level at trigger 🤞🏼

thank you 🙏🏼 I’ll have a look for those. Is there a vaginal probiotic anyone can recommend for someone who’s crazy sensitive to any chemicals being put up there? I can’t even use clotrimazole pessaries - either have to get miconazole vaginal cream ordered in for me by chemist or when I can take it take fluconazole caps. Cyclogest pessaries felt like they burned me 🙈

@Enfys23 you could try these:

www.spectrumsupplements.co.uk/supplement/biophresh-vaginal-homeopathic-suppository-10-suppositories/

They're homeopathic and natural based, I've used them and no issue (but have also used Vagibiom and Balance Activ with no issue too).
If you do wish to purchase and want them quickly, just check that the company has them in stock in UK already as if not, they'll be coming from USA and will take a while.

@CailinInUK I had to cancel again as my husband had a bad cold which I ended up getting but cleared within 5 days. My immune system seems good but then goodness knows what my nk cells are like so I had to cancel. Felt worried about fsh as I did get a headache around my period this time which I always used to get in the past. That’s when I got the cold as I had a bad headache but I do think I was feeling stressed as I was worried about catching the virus. Anyway I need to do the transfer now in May.

@Enfys23 I really like using Vagibiom. That is my favourite. You used to be able to get them on Storkz but you can get them on EBay strangely enough. It’s odd that the Vagibiom with organic jasmine natural you can get a pack of 30 but the non-scented you can only get a pack of 15. I will be using non-scented closer to transfer as did last time. I sometimes use two a day. If I use canesflor, I use it with canesbalance to keep ph good. This is the first month I did not need to use any probiotics around my period so I think continued use of Vagibiom really works.

@CailinInUK @2021ivfagain thank you ❤️

@2021ivfagain sorry to hear this. But 🤞🏼for May now

Hope things going okay for you @CailinInUK ?

@Enfys23 lovely of you to think of me.

Yes, all seems to be going ok. Waiting for the afternoon call for next instruction, which I assume will be trigger tonight for transfer next Weds.
This morning on CD11, I had six follicles measured - 20,19,18,14,13,10mm (I only need one to ovulate for this FET) and endometrium looked very good at 9.4-10.4mm.
Bloods this morning showed 2600 E2 and LH 1.0. E2 more than high enough this time, hopefully not too much. I wasn't expecting so many follicles to grow. Will be checking my LH at home this afternoon and hoping I don't surge before trigger.
How are you getting on?

@2021ivfagain sorry to hear about your postponement but understand why you did. Is your Vitamin D level ok? (for immune system).

@CailinInUK that all sounds very promising. How are you feeling about it? Did you get further instructions yesterday?

I am doing okay. The wounds are still oozy from a hole in each one I think it’s a suture issue under the skin. So feeling I’ve done 7 days of co amox (have another 3 to go) for nothing! Been back in work and facing the “at least” brigade but think I’m managing. Looking forward to having our break away now.

@CailinInUK this all sounds great! :)

@Enfys23 how frustrating, wonder if its the correct abx after all. Where is your holiday? X

@Enfys23
any improvement over the last few days? I dread to think what the ‘at least’ brigade have to say, how do you handle it? I was relieved my work colleagues didn’t mention my late loss after I returned to work though they did express sympathy in reply to my email prior to returning. Sideline benefit of working with men maybe.

@kerrym87
have you got dates for your FET? Are you sticking with clinic’s protocol?

@Gardenlady543
Thanks. Of course, wondering if progesterone will be too high/l’ll be post-receptive with the multiple follicles and pessaries, but trying to focus that most FET studies don’t consider high progesterone to be a problem, only one or two. More important is the duration of exposure. And some immune consultants prefer a high level.

I triggered on Weds night so transfer is Weds afternoon. I checked my LH remained low before trigger. Will get a progesterone test on Tuesday. I asked for a lining scan too. Limited value, I know, but wanted to check thickness, appearance and level of compaction.

@Enfys23
you asked how I’m feeling. Hmmm, feeling like there’s a good chance this could work but also an equal chance it won’t. If I get a BFP I’ll be an absolute wreck of nerves. I’m trying not to focus on the aftermath for the moment. Also fearful that the 44 year old Day 5 5BB euploid blastocyst might not survive the thaw! I had a Day 6 5BC euploid that didn't survive.

@CailinInUK going to stick with protocol for now as he's been the best we've had. However things are up in the air as ive asked for prolactin test as i suspect it's raised. My cycle is also well off due to stress, bereavement and 2 awful viruses so I've been unwell 3 out of last 5 weeks.
Getting prolactin done Monday before we fly Tuesday so at least it's done. Will have to wait for result before we know what's going on, plus I think I need time to recover!

@CailinInUK I really don't understand it because there are a few studies showing that the optimum progesterone level is so much lower than RIs want it to be. I think it's because RIs see complicated patients and progesterone is anti inflammatory so I wonder if it's the studies not representing the patients they see. It's pretty much the higher the better for RIs.

@CailinInUK I think you’re doing so well, it must feel hard to feel it’s all riding on this but you have done everything humanly possible ❤️
@kerrym87 are you off on a break too? I hope the bloods are favourable.

We are off on our first overseas holiday since our honeymoon 5 yrs ago! With COVID, then IVF expenses….But house renovations can wait and we really need this! As my DH says a life threatening situation really puts a perspective on things!

I am still oozing from unhealed areas of two of the incision sites but they’ve decided after a further hospital review yesterday to hold off on more antibiotics until I have the results of a new swab. I’m happy not have more unless definitely needed. And they’ve said I’m okay to go on holiday.

I’m so acutely aware I shouldn’t get pregnant while I may still need some super strong antibs or even a further procedure to remove a collection, and time ticking from the endo op when fertility will be at its best. So feel this huge time pressure with that. Obviously with the pregnancy and the aftermath we’ve only been able to try for 1 month out of 5 and apparently the best chances are 7-8 months post excision.

So I’ve been feeling a bit blue with this going on. Every time I move I’m reminded because my incisions still sore, and now feel I’ve done 10 days of co amoxiclav and potentially ruined my great microbiome for nothing. And on top of that went to a bone density scan on Friday (because I’m coeliac) and I was prepared for the “any chance you could be pregnant” part but then the women in a laughing joking way said “because you’re just about young enough for that still”. I cried all the way home 😓. Why do people say such mindless hurtful things.

I’ve not been able to source a vaginal probiotic yet. Everything seems out of stock or from US. I’ve been taking the S. boulardi type orally and increased dose of my Optibac as apparently the L. Rhamonsus is good for post co amoxiclav microbiome recovery. I wonder if I should do a vaginal microbiome menstrual sample or something to check things okay before we try again?

@Enfys23 I'm sorry :( I'm sorry for the wound issue that is really dragging this out and I'm sorry for that really hurtful unnecessary comment, you are right, people say things without any thought at all. That kind of comment is so unnecessary no matter what, I wouldn't dream of ever saying anything like that to anyone, I have no idea where these people learn than this is ok :(

I ended up having quite a lot of antibiotics because of the various procedures and operations I had after the microbiome testing and was fine, so I wouldn't worry too much about taking antibiotics, and just focus on getting the wound stuff sorted and then you can sort any microbiome issue out after. Have you looked for gynolact, it's quite reasonably priced and comes from Europe, the website I ordered from before is out of stock but you may be able to get them from somewhere else.

Thank you for the love and understanding @Gardenlady543 it helps so much. That’s really reassuring you didn’t find the antibiotics did too much damage. I’ll have a look for those too 👍🏼

@Enfys23 thank you for checking in.
Gosh that’s absolutely shocking, that doctor/nurse should know better! I think it’s a brilliant idea to go for a holiday, as much as we want to plough on, a break is so needed.

We’ve just got back from a ski trip which we booked pre IVF, to have something positive to look forward to should it not work.

Lo and behold, this morning I’ve peed on a stick and got a stupid faint line. It’s crazy how immune you become to these.

I’d not been taking any meds except my hydroxychloroquine. So today I’ve added my prednisolone in and Neupogen and I guess I should take progesterone. I’ll test again this evening on an FRER and will get IVIG booked if it’s a decent positive.

So difficult as I actually feel silly for acting like this could actually be a positive but it’s also the right time to be taking these meds if it really is 🤦🏻‍♀️

I’ve been almost dairy free and yeast free following my intolerance testing a month or so ago and just had my 3rd LIT with Dr Gorgy so again, has it made a difference 🤷🏻‍♀️ or will I end up with a BFN before I know it and feel like a fool 😩

Oh wow @ChickenT2b this is exciting news! How many DPO do you think you are?

@Gardenlady543 well I wasn’t monitoring 🤦🏻‍♀️ we literally dtd once around ovulation time. I would guess I am 10/11 dpo.

Attached pic of tests. Top is FMU and bottom is about 2.5 hours later 🤦🏻‍♀️ I still see it but soo faint. Just wanted to see if it was a false positive.

I’ll do an FRER tomorrow. I wish it felt exciting, I’ve been here before many times 😕

Hi all,

@CailinInUK how are you getting on? How long until transfer day?

big mess up here unfortunately. My consultant told me to call in the first day of my cycle. It turns out I shouldn’t been taking down reg from day 21 so now I’ve to wait another month. So disappointed. I was completely geared up to go, work informed etc.

@Enfys23 sorry things are so hard. I hope you’re having a lovely holiday and come back refreshed.

When I saw You couldn’t get Canesflor I took a look as I’m in Ireland so thought maybe I could get some and send it to you - it’s always in the shops here! And it’s completely gone from everywhere I looked. Got DH to contact his pharmacist friend and it’s completely out of stock. No date for return. Totally mental. What is going on!

I have ten capsules left that now need to see me through this month and FET so will have to ration them. @Gardenlady543 any tips for this? Should I take one a week?

@ChickenT2b fingers crossed for darkening lines!

@2021ivfagain sorry to hear you are also delayed. It’s never easy!!!

@Dochas12111 I would probably not do anymore this cycle and then start after the bleed in the FET.

@ChickenT2b 10dpo is the earliest you'd expect to see something really so it's ok to be faint. Will you get any blood tests? I would do two to see doubling before paying for IvIg of if I were you since it's so expensive.

Thank you @Dochas12111 🤞🏼

@Gardenlady543 the craziness has kicked in and I’ve done test no. 3 of the day 🤦🏻‍♀️ it was darker than SMU so feel a little better.

I’m going to test again in the morning and if looking good, HCG same day tomorrow and Thurs then IVIG on Friday depending on results.

You’re so right about the cost, it’s difficult because you want to do it asap but also really need to see hcg double first. But what if you need the IVIG to get that far 😫.

@ChickenT2b don't worry about it I had 3 x hcg before having IvIg from what I can see I ended up having it on 17dp5dt. Your plan sounds great :)

@Gardenlady543 do you remember what your betas were?
My first at 11dpo (possibly 10dpo) was 25.8, 2nd beta tomorrow. It seems low but probably ok considering it’s early and I guess its tomorrows result that counts. My lines have been darkening. It’s all so nerve wracking!

@ChickenT2b

Mine were:
13dpo 94.1
15 dpo 152
20 dpo 477

So I started fairly high and then increased the minimum amount.

Fingers crossed for today's result!