Anyone else preparing for FET April 2024

[blahblahetc]

Hello, wondering if anyone is preparing for an FET in April?

This will be my 3rd transfer. 1st one implanted but early loss, second (euploid) and third (untested) did not implant. I'm waiting to do a hysteroscopy next week + an ERA following week prior to transfer in April.

We decided against testing this time, and are wondering whether or not to do a double transfer. Our embryos are AA/ABs so want to feel hopeful but fully aware of the possible failure(s) ahead of us..

@OchreDeer huge congratulations!! And thanks for sharing the hope with no symptoms at all!

@2024forthewin congratulations on being PUPO and welcome to the tww!
Definitely a case of learning as you go... maybe someone should put together a giant handbook and make a fortune from that! I asked my consultant about embryo glue and she said that the clinic only uses that... I can't remember the exact terminology she used but it sounded like it was the liquid they use in the cathater?

@Lasagne30 congrats to you too on being PUPO and everything crossed for your sticky embryo! did you transfer on Tuesday too? There's a few of us: @Serendipity24 @MotherOfShihTzus and me too 😊How are you feeling?

@blahblahetc glad to hear your lining is looking great! No experience with fibroids here but it sounds like your uterus is clear so hopefully that should all be fine for the transfer! Have you confirmed the date?

@Sunflower360 how are you today? Has the extra progesterone made a difference to the spotting? I fnd the 'black box' that is the tww mindblowing and I'm sorry you have to go through all this uncertainty! Here's hoping it's 'normal' implantation bleeding 🤞🏼

@LouP87 So sorry about the pain, I hope it passes soon! Sorry no advice here as I've not taken Progynova.

@LouP87sorry to hear you are having a painful period. I took Progynova during my mock cycle as well as fresh transfer cycle. I had slightly lighter flow than usual. That's because I think my lining is actually thicker on a natural cycle than on a medicated one. Medications affect different people in different ways. I would contact your clinic if it's so painful that you are waking up at night. Hope you feel better soon.

Hi all, just come back from my second check up scan as my lining was 6mm last time so they put me on additional patches of estrogen, this time the lining was thinner, 5.5mm! I have to go back again on Monday for another scan to see if it’s any thicker, otherwise this round is being abandoned. SO annoying, more waiting and waiting. Feeling very negative right now.

Hope everyone else is doing ok, this process is just so draining, you don’t realise until you’re experiencing it.

@beachbum85 I'm ok, still got brown spotting, moreso when I wiped this morning. AF would have been due Sunday so could be my body prepping for that. Its been pretty consistent since the pink spotting at 5dp5dt

@2024forthewin Congrats on your successful FET! And now relax...brazil nuts and beetroot juice they say😁
That's interesting that the injection is standard, isn't it more expensive though?
The only reason I haven't asked for lubion is because of its price! I mean, I dont actually know if I need that... and the only time I was offered a prescription was when I was miscarrying.. and in terms of the embryo glue, my understanding is they soak the embryo in this hyaluronan-enriched solution prior to the transfer. It isn't technically glue but it's supposed to help with implantation. I haven't used it previously but will be hopefully this time next week! Still waiting for a confirmation..

@OchreDeer Welcome! Your story has given me hope! I too am 41 and onto my 4th transfer and am considering a double transfer this time.. if I get the go-ahead, it will be the 4AA (day-5) and 4BB (day-6). A BFP at 6dp is very positive! I'm surprised you are on 150mg... I was on 75mg with Create, and now 100mg with my Prague clinic. Can I ask if you used clexane too?

@Lasagne30 I am struggling to keep on top of this thread too! But good to see some good news stories and also the ones who are soldiering on like myself. How are you feeling today 3dp? Sorry if I missed it, is this your first transfer?

@Serendipity24 How are you feeling today? Are you also 3dp?

Thanks @beachbum85 I am just waiting to hear back on transfer date now, I've assumed/planned it to be the 19th (based on my previous cancelled cycle) so this time next week!

@Sunflower360 Have you taken a test today? Brown is ok as long as no cramp was what I was told...

@Eljane34 I've been eating lots of grains stuff, and cruciferous veggies and of course protein to help with the lining :)

@blahblahetc I'm ok, unclear if its pre AF spotting or not (looks like it is but the pink spotting at 5dpt5dt is whats confused things) but will find out soon enough. I didn't spot at all in my last FET-additonally my Progesterone levels were really good at transfer this time. In any case I've decided not to test and to just wait until OTD, resided to the massive possibility it hasn't worked this time round anyway and testing is driving me up the wall so best for me to just step away from the tests until I know its a definitive result (well as definitive as it can get after the tww)

@Sunflower360 It is so difficult, I’m impatient yet nervous to go into next week.. Will you be going in for a blood test? I hope you have the PUPO mindset (easier said than done for me..) and find a way to relax this weekend.

@blahblahetc they said I can see if things improve spotting wise tomorrow and then come in Monday for a beta test but in all honesty I'll just do a FRER-it detects 7iu with FMU so seems pointless getting a blood test to just get told its negative if that was the case.

I'm not the best to get into the PUPO mindset mainly because I like to prepare for the possibility it hasn't work! But there is a plan if this definitely hasn't worked as I have my follow up day after OTD and am ready to go straight into another cycle (unless more tests or meds are recommended) so I'm reassured by that

@Sunflower360 yeh, I’m with you on the PUPO mindset really. I want to know one way or another.. hang in there.

@Eljane34 I would suggest pomegranate/pomegranate juice, protein at every meal, nuts and seeds, citrus, and whole grains for thickening lining. You have three days until next scan, so don't worry there's time to improve the lining. My lining increased from 6.7mm on CD9 to 7.6mm on CD11. Wishing you all the best 🍀

@blahblahetc yes, I'm 3dp5dt. Doing okay and trying to stay positive. I feel a bit nauseous from time to time but that's due to the hcg trigger I think.

Hi all,

Just checking in - hope you're all doing well.

Day 8 of progynova for me today with my scan in Tuesday to check lining. Had a massive panic as I was supposed to take azithromycin yesterday and only realised today however the clinic said it's fine as it's only an antibiotic so doesn't matter that it's late. Does anybody else get given lots of antibiotics by their clinic? I have on every cycle and after every procedure including my dummy transfer and scratch. This year along I think I've have 4 rounds of antibiotics with the clinic. I worry a bit about antibiotic resistance in the long term!

@LouP87 sorry you're having this. My clinic made me start taking it in day 3 of my cycle so towards the end of my period however it didn't impact my period at all. Have you had any other side effects? Is this your first period after a fresh cycle ?

@OchreDeer congrats 🎉

@Eljane34 sorry to hear about your lining ! Have you had thin lining before? I've had thin in the past so I'm worried about this. The only thing that I think helped me before was daily brisk walks to get some blood flow. I sit at a desk all day and I noticed ever since I moved to working from home since the pandemic, my periods are lighter. So I think in my case it's due to a lack of movement. There's also a few yoga positions to help blood flow to that region. I don't do yoga however I try and do these positions if I can. One of them is basically laying on your back with your legs up the wall and I try to do that. Whether it works I have no idea. Really hoping it thickens up. How strange it got thinner - I wonder how that is possible? I had this before and they said depending who scans you there can sometimes be a few mm difference.

xx

@Eljane34 these are the two positions I try to do. No idea if they help or not but makes me feel better to try.

@blahblahetc I just had to google what cruciferous vegetables are and learned that wasabi is in fact a vegetable and not just a spicy paste that I get with my sushi 🤣

@lemons44 Regarding antibiotics, I was prescribed azithromycin for one of my cycles but didn't get to use it as that cycle was a total fail with zero fertilization. I was also given azithromycin suspension before hysteroscopy. I can understand taking antibiotics before a procedure like Hysteroscopy or scratch but not sure about it's use before an ET.

@lemons44 😆I learned the same with horseradish!

@blahblahetc I've got appt Monday at clinic for prolactin bloods as we're staying over that night by chance. Obviously will need to pay for it but it'll be 2 weeks quicker than with GP. It's been an incredibly stressful 5 weeks so wouldn't be surprised if it's up anyway.
Fingers crossed for all of you, just read through a page and a half and can't remember who said what 😂

@lemons44 Did you get a hysterscopy done? My Prague doc said they will only prescribe antibiotics if they need find something they need to treat from the hysteroscopy.. my previous doc (Create) didn't want to prescribe antibiotics if the patient hadn't had a hysteroscopy done.. basically, it was too expensive to get it done in the UK so I got it done in Prague even though it wasn't recommended by the Prague doctor..

@kerrym87 My Prague doc finally got back and said nothing to worry about for now based on last results, which was a few months ago. So maybe it isn't something to be too focused on, but good to check for peace of mind!

My FET is confirmed for 19th April🙂 I've booked myself a progesterone blood test on the 17th too - that will hopefully provide some indication of whether or not I need progesterone injections.

Ok progesterone test on day of FET is just in - 41.59 ……. Isn’t this insanely low being on a daily injection and two vaginal gel progesterones per day??? Dr has said it’s fine as long as it’s over 30!!

Would I be mad to up my dosage? 🙈

@2024forthewin I am assuming it's 41.59 nmol/L? In that case it's fine. My level is also the same as yours (I am on a natural cycle with one daily injection).

I have been reading a lot about the progesterone level in FET and found that while below 30 nmol/L is not considered good, very high levels are also associated with poor live birth rates. I also made my DH (who is a doctor) read up on the topic and he agrees that very high level is not good.

Personally I would not up the dose without doctor's consent. High progesterone cannot also help you overcome shortcomings of an embryo, they can only mask the problem for a while by delaying period. If you are really concerned then speak to your doctor again and explain how you are feeling. They might up the dose or explain their reasons more clearly.

@lemons44 previous clinic gave me doxycycline and I had horrendous digestive side effects. They gave it every cycle. This clinic just gives a dose whilst you're having egg collection. To my mind, multiple antibiotics upsets the digestive microbiome as well as the vaginal one so it makes sense to only give when absolutely necessary.

Thanks @Serendipity24 i don’t actually know the level the nurse just said the number but I assume it must be nmol/L since it’s in and around the right range. Will double check. Thanks for talking some sense to me, clearly panicked there 😅 and you’re right if it’s not meant to be, it won’t be ❤️

Hi all, I had fluid in my cavity at the CD11 scan last week. I had a repeat scan 3 days later and the fluid was still present. The clinic asked me to continue with progynova and patches for 4 more days. Repeat scan today showed most of the fluid had been reabsorbed, there is a very small amount remaining so they are comfortable for me to start progesterone with transfer booked for the 19th. I'll have a final scan on the 18th to check there is no fluid remaining in the uterus 🤞. What a rollercoaster this last week has been 🥲. Good luck to everyone. It's always encouraging when people share their success stories x

Lucky 19! @Choose2bgr8ful We are transfer buddies 😄Hope your scan on the 18th is positive.

@blahblahetc no I haven't had a hysterscopy

I've just gone through my last meds. I had a course of doxycycline over 8 days leading up to egg collection. After my dummy transfer and sis scan I had to take 4 tablets (all at once) of azithromycin, then a week later I had my endo scratch and had to take 4 tablets all at once again. Now in prep for the FET I've also just had to take 4 tablets of azithromycin.

I can't quite work out why I need them before a FET from google there is some stuff about it being used to treat any bacteria in the upper genital tract?? No idea. I'm with CRGH and they are very heavy on the meds I've noticed.

Also wondering if the 4 tablets all at once of azithromycin is quite a small dose..

Ahhh so happy for you @Choose2bgr8ful fingers crossed the rest of the fluid continues to disappear xx

Thanks @blahblahetc fingers crossed for us 🤞

@lemons44 I was told the antibiotics before FET are needed to make sure the environment is infection free before the embryo is introduced.