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

@ChickenT2b fingers crossed for you. Darker lines is a good sign. Have you received your second beta yet?

@kerrym87
sorry you’ve had a tough time lately. I hope it’s behind you now. Have a great break, must be good to know you have several euploids in the freezer waiting for you when you get back.

@Enfys23
thank you ❤️ Did you get the result from your new swab test? I’m so sorry about the treatment you had at the bone density scan. The older I get the more I’m minded to call people up on things like that. But that somethings take more energy, which we don’t always have. Yes it's probably a good idea to get your vag microbiome checked. Worth noting that my vag microbiome didn't reflect my endometrium and this happens to one in five people. But it's a good place to start, to see if there's an issue. There's an Optibac Intimate Flora for women, which might be worth taking. You store it in the fridge. Studies show that the strains were effective in helping women to recover from gardnerella faster than with antibiotics alone.

@Dochas12111
That's so frustrating about the delay. For my long protocol egg collections, I always phoned on my Day 1 after having started down reg on Day 21 previous and it was fine to proceed. Was it that you were meant to phone on Day 1 of previous cycle to start on Day 21. Harsh that they didn’t let you carry on if that was the case. Fill your diary with some fun things for the next few weeks to pass the time and relax.

As for me, on the day before transfer my progesterone was 168nmol/L so this reflects several follicles ovulating after my trigger, as suspected. Hopefully it’s not too high. They’ve said to continue to take the pessaries also (400mg x 2 per day), though I dont think it’s necessary for now. I didn’t raise it with consultant. My lining was 10.3mm on day before transfer so similar to pre trigger thickness.

Embryo thawed nicely, it was hatching (pre-made hole in zona) and transfer went very quickly and smoothly, even the speculum wasn’t uncomfy! It was almost an anti-climax but perhaps that’s self preservation. I didn’t see the embryo go into the lining as you often do with the white air bubble so hope it did actually lodge there ok. Did my pre and post accupuncture for what it’s worth.
It’s 1dp5dt and I’ve felt sensations down there since yesterday, on and off, so hopefully a good sign but may be nothing. OTD is 30th April. Got a few days off work and don’t know what to do with myself!

@CailinInUK meant to message to say thinking of you yesterday. Glad all went smoothly! Enjoy being PUPO! Have you got any nice crafts? The forecast looks better next few days.

@ChickenT2b Hope you get reassuring news from the HCG 🤞🏼

Thank you ❤️
I now have an appointment with consultant (as I’ve seen quite junior people so far) and scan of abdo wall - but sadly all that’s next week so I’ve had to cancel my Algarve trip 😓. Sorting this has to take priority though. We can’t contemplate TTC again until these fully healed.

@CailinInUK I have everything crossed for you.

@ChickenT2b how was the blood result today, I hope it was ok.

@Enfys23 oh no that's rubbish, a break would have been so well deserved with everything you've had going on :(

@CailinInUK @Gardenlady543 Oh my goodness I’ve been a nervous wreck this evening. Results just in.
First beta 11 dpo (I think) 25.8
Second beta 13 dpo 84 🥹 doubling time of 28.2 hours.

We have survived another day and tomorrow I go for IVIG.

All the best for your TWW @CailinInUK 🤞🏼

Amazing result @ChickenT2b what's the plan next? Are you going to do anymore blood tests or wait for the scan, after my three tests I just waited out for the scan.

@Gardenlady543 i don’t think I will do any more blood tests. But I want to keep POAS until I get a dye stealer.
I’ve booked an early reassurance scan with Tommys miscarriage clinic for week commencing 29th May so praying we make it that far.

Hi ladies, are the at home BV tests reliable at all?
I’m struggling to interpret my result. It seems borderline normal/abnormal?
Should I call the GP in the morning to have a proper test? I don’t want to take antibiotics unnecessarily but obvs want to treat if needed. Can’t see the GP’s turnaround being quick though!
Thanks

Sorry forgot to add the two on the left side are ‘normal’, the rest on the right in abnormal.

@ChickenT2b mine are always this colour, you need to look at it and decide, does it look blue. Mine are very obviously blue when the pH is off. Does your discharge smell fishy? If not then I wouldn't worry about BV, I would use vaginal probiotics, as I did one daily until 8 weeks but without symptoms and unless the stick is blue, I wouldn't be going on antibiotics at this point.

@Gardenlady543 sorry it’s me again. I’m really in two minds about what to do with Gorgy’s advice…

He has advised me to get a LIT booster immediately, even though my 3rd LIT was only 3.5 weeks ago..so haven’t re tested lads since the 3rd. After 2nd they were 38% and 44% so not within ideal range. Gorgy can only get me in either this Thursday (week before viability scan) or if not, it will be at 8.5 weeks.

What would you do? If LIT lasts 6 months not sure why I need another one so soon… but don’t want to chance anything and wonder what if…😖

I guess I could arrange a private scan for tomorrow but I’m only 5w+1 so not likely to show much. I just don’t want to throw £1k away to find it’s not even a viable pregnancy.

@ChickenT2b since your levels weren't ideal anyway I would have the LIT asap. It will hopefully increase levels more which would be beneficial regardless of the scan outcome. I had 4 x LIT to get my levels in the 90's, the 4-6 months is how long you'd expect the IgG to remain at a good level rather than time inbetween LITS.

@Gardenlady543 thank you. I think you’re right. I have booked for Thursday.

Congrats @ChickenT2b best of luck with the scan. I agree I’d get the LIT. Hope you can get booked in soon.

@CailinInUK how are you feeling? Are you an early tester or a wait for the blood test result like myself? Believe it or not I’ve only ever done 3 pregnancy tests in my 5 years of TTC!

im starting the sniffer next week. So it wasn’t too much of a delay. Of course my plans to use the extra time to become zen, full of vegetables and lose half a stone have not come to fruition! 🙈

@2021ivfagain how are you getting on? Is transfer lined up?

@Enfys23 I'm sorry you had to cancel your holiday - did you manage to rebook? Have you had your consultant appointment yet?

the probiotic situation is dire everyone btw! I’ve looked everywhere and Canesflor is gone. I did have a pharmacist suggesting I break open optibac for women and mix it with natural yoghurt and use as a vaginal probiotic but this sounds very suspect to me. 😂

@Dochas12111 I've seen canesflor behind the counter in Asda pharmacy before, could you call round and see if they have any. I am sure a nutritionist told someone bio femme v can be used vaginally. Interesting what the pharmacist said, I wouldn't be against breaking one open if they could prepare a vaginal preparation. This is what Igenomix say:

In case that no vaginal Lactobacilli probiotics are available in your area, you can also order your pharmacist to prepare vaginal suppositories or capsules containing L. crispatus, L. rhamnosus, L. gasseri and L. plantarum (1049 CFUs each).

ive been on these threads in the past. Still here and still trying 😢

just had Emma / Alice done for the 4th time - can anyone help to analyse the results?

its so upsetting I’ve done the treatment 4 times - anti bs, probiotic tablets etc ☹️

@CailinInUK Good luck 🤞

@Gardenlady543 @Dochas12111 I was told Bio Me Femme could be used vaginally but they are primarily used orally. I found when I used them they were useless. If you have to use them, use with Balance Activ gel. Canesflor is ok but Lakcid Intima is better. These cannot be used after transfer however even though they contain similar ingredients. The live probiotics are really high. I still use Lakcid intima with something like balance activ. I use them sometimes twice a day or with Vagibiom. But Lakcid Intima must be stopped couple days before transfer and replaced with canesflor or Flora Femme. I found lately that Flora Femme is so expensive and not as good as Vagibiom. But that’s just my preference now.

I have heard of people buying really good oral probiotics looking at the strains which help vaginally such as Pro Bio for Women and transferring them to vegetable based capsules which dissolve better. I think you can buy lots of this stuff online but it is time consuming.

@Gardenlady543 That’s a good idea about the pharmacy ordering probiotics but I don’t know many that would do it.

I have had quite a lot of delays. My son is going to nursery so every time he goes he becomes ill.

I’m on norethisterone at present with hrt doing oestrogen priming so planning to have baseline scan in May. The other issue is last week I was told that my Dad who is in a nursing home has deteriorated so much that they cannot do much more for him. So I have to have a meeting this week with my Mum and a doctor to discuss end of life care plan. Plus my mum was in hospital for 2 months at beginning of year. I had a scare recently and feel stupid now. I have put on weight with eating too much 85% dark chocolate and occasional red wine that my bras have become very tight. I’m usually quite small but last week I started getting breathless and have fast heart rate. I went for blood tests. Of course I was nervous due to the medication I’m on and my Mum and Dad’s heart problems. I decided to wear my maternity bra and they were fortunately very loose and I started feeling better. I even walked my son to nursery and back carrying him most of the way there! I was fine. I feel a bit stupid but also relieved. I do feel that my anxiety has been getting worse with norethisterone. It wasn’t usually but been on it a long time and things weren’t good with my husband last year. Things are better now but I still struggle with things he has said in the past.

@ChickenT2b I’m sorry about the BV result although it doesn’t look that high for BV. I had BV so much from 2022 -2023 and it was due to all the antibiotics I took for IVF which ruined my microbiome. I did find out that you can take canesbalance in pregnancy. It is safe. It just shouldn’t be used for natural conception as it affects the sperm.

Hi Everyone,

sorry I’ve been MIA. It hit me really hard after our last loss and I was trying to move towards acceptance of not trying again and just enjoying our lives as it was. I still had my bad days obviously but I could feel a change in myself and life was becoming a bit more enjoyable then I seemed to go back to square one on Wednesday when I went for some results. The NHS gynae that I’m under happens to work at my fertility clinic one day a week too! He did my a hysterscopy 2 days ago awake so I saw are where the adeno cyst pushes into the lining. He said it’s a small area and still lots of area for implantation however he’s said he will try and remove a small amount of it. My recurrent miscarriage bloods showed a second out on one of the clotting ones but I was in asprin and Inhixia anyway. But what’s standing out is my raised white blood count and neutrophils and low lymp. I’ve seen this is common with endo and adeno due to systemic inflammation. I also worry about long covid because since the issue 3 years ago I’ve just never been poorly again etc, I think my body is attacking anything and everything!

Anyway my minds now been spiralling and I’m sure it’s now an immune issue. Partner doesn’t want to do any more IVF. Do I try immune protocols and TTC but then I can’t do a 5 hour drive and spend on intralipids for a “chance”.

Just confused now. Is there anything I can be doing/ taking? I’ve done doxy last year before transfer. I did Metz end of Feb just incase of any BV. Been doing oral and vaginal probiotics. Until they ran out everywhere. My last test for endometriris was back in 2022. But thinking of my pregnancy got that far I’m assuming it’s more of an immune issue than endometritis.

im guessing mines an immune issue as had no implantation before adding pred, inhixa.

I hope everyone is doing well.

Congrats @ChickenT2b xx

@Loz2467 thank you. It’s still very early days and the anxiety is real!

I have severe endo and always thought that must be the cause of my inflammation but now I really believe that cutting out my food intolerances has had a big part to play. Can’t be sure of course. I’m highly intolerant to dairy and yeast apparently, though don’t present with any symptoms. It might be worth checking your intolerances if you feel inflammation is an issue.

Also not sure where you are based but I go to Cherish in Sutton Coldfield for intralipids as opposed to London.

How's everyone doing, @ChickenT2b and @CailinInUK any updates?

@greendress789 re the staph and strep they will likely want to treat them as they cause endometritis, other than that you are bifidobacteirum dominant, it is also acid producing like lactobacillus. In this study they say

The good prognosis of the no-treatment non-lactobacillus dominant group may be attributed to the following two factors; five patients with the percentage of endometrial Lactobacilli more than 80% achieved successful pregnancy, and two patients with dominant....

Bifidobacterium (>90%) in the endometrium also achieved pregnancy...

Bifidobacterium dominancy may not have an adverse effect for implantation.

doi.org/10.1002/rmb2.12250

@2021ivfagain I'm sorry it's so tough with your parents still on top of the inferiority stress :(

@Loz2467 if you will try unassisted some people do the at home antihistamine protocol in USA for immune issues, it's best to see a RI and see what they advise though, the protocol is:
Loratidine 10mg in the morning
Famotidine- I’ve seen this as 10 mg at lunch or 20mg twice a day
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl in USA over the counter nytol in Uk) 50-75mg at night

@Gardenlady543 still hanging in there. I’ve got my early scan on Thursday at 6w3d. I had a third bhcg at 20 dpo which showed a doubling time of 43 hours. Down from 28 hours from initial betas but I guess still good.

I’m just so nervous as I have zero symptoms, not even sore or large boobs. I don’t feel any movement or twinges or anything inside. Keep telling myself it’s the steroids masking it. But I can’t help but fear I’ll get there and there will be no heartbeat or worse no baby. The only thing I have had is round ligament pain in my abdomen when I sneeze or move quickly which surely is ridiculously early anyway to be related.

Did you have any symptoms on steroids?

Thank you @Gardenlady543 for your reply and congrats on your baby. 🥰🥰

@ChickenT2b I wouldn't read anything into the doubling, it does slow down, but mine were nowhere near either of yours, I was at the 3 day doubling end. Not long to wait now until Thursday, this is the most stressful part I found, fingers crossed for Thursday :)

Really hope all goes well Thursday @ChickenT2b hang in there ❤️

@CailinInUK hope you’re doing okay in 2WW.

How are things going for you @Dochas12111 ?

@2021ivfagain @Loz2467 really sorry this whole thing is tough!

@kerrym87 hope you’re feeling a bit better - how are things progressing?

Not being able to go away and losing money was a right kick in the whatsits but it was worth it as got lead early pregnancy consultant to review wounds and he was great - scanned me and found seroma under belly button wound also issues with sutures. I’ve reacted badly to them. He got the sterile pack out and did some poking and digging about and sorted me out a bit. Wounds since are healing up much better. He was very apologetic I’d been back and forth so much, probably had antibs for no reason, and such a prolonged recovery. I can email him if any issues now with wounds still. Also added plus he said I could email him if we get pregnant again and he’d personally scan me at 6 weeks to check intrauterine.

It is hard to know what’s for the best as IVF much lower risk ectopic than natural conception but I think we are erring on side of trying for a bit. All the specialists seem to support us doing that for at least 3 months before going back to IVF.

@Enfys23 poor you! At least you're getting sorted now.
We will be starting process of FET hopefully within the next 7-9 days dependent on my naughty and unpredictable period! As we've not experienced the tww straight after collection it's weird and nervewracking. Lots going on at work, a few viruses which floored me and a bereavement means my head is in the shed a bit but don't want to wait any longer! It's been 3 1/2 months since collection.
@ChickenT2b I don't have gluten (intolerance) and processed food and stuff with higher fat and sugar content (even if not processed) seems to put my hormones out of whack with pcos and endo. Inflammation has a lot to answer for!
Fingers crossed for everyone, I'm desperate to transfer but so scared if it doesn't, but also does work! 🙄😬