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..

@blahblahetc sorry to hear that, I get what you mean, I knew the last one for me had failed quite early on, but it is still early so hold on as you never know. I'll unlikely test before 7dp5dt next time with a FRER, only because of the need of having to test again and being in limbo but that's just me as I found it a bit much last time having to keep retest. Are you going to go straight into another one if this doesn't work? Hopefully that doesn't happen of course.

Had my scan this week and being monitored for ovulation now. On CD 7 lining was 5.6mm and follicle 13mm so hopefully keeps progressing, not sure of a transfer date as it depends on my lining being thick enough, ovulating and my Progesterone being low before trigger. Hopefully will know more later this week, just doing ovulation tests at the moment until the next scan

@Babydusttous2024 Don't be silly; it's always going to be a little difficult for the ones with the BFNs but it's all part and parcel of this journey.. good job waiting to test! The one thing I lack, patience!

I'm only 5 days past but I kinda feel exactly the same as my last failed one..😑

@Sunflower360 why do they measure follicle? And is that the dominant one? Pardon my ignorance, never had a natural FET so trying to find out more (although I have enough meds for at least 12 weeks now!).

I want to go straight into another if this one fails, only because I will be busy with family and travelling between July-Sept. So if possible, I'll do one in May, as the next one won't be till Oct. I'm going to reach out to the (private) NHS doctor to see if that's possible. I have 2 day-5s + a day-3 in the UK; and 2 day-5s in Prague.. somehow the testing and retesting keep me sane, it's ironic.. I dont know why I put myself through the disappointment when it changes nothing!

Congratulations @Babydusttous2024 ! And if anyone knows how much anyone here deserves their BFP - it's everyone in this group ❤️ Enjoy it 🥰 It's given me joy and hope seeing all the successes here, helps me keep going for the next one 👊

Hope you're doing ok @blahblahetc - 5dtp is super early! But best of luck for if you do take the plunge!

@blahblahetc no problem, at all. They measure the follicle to track how far you could be from ovulation and to also consider prompting ovulation through the trigger shot if ready to do so. The trigger allows some element of control if it is taking a while to ovulate as long as the lining is thick enough to trigger, it also ensures ovulation and production of Progesterone (lining needs to be above 7mm and the follicle 16mm for trigger shot). This is to get the optimal implantation window and to sync your body with the embryo being transferred, which it would do naturally anyway post ovulation-but its important to be sure what day ovulation was so the embryo transfer can occur accordingly - hence the close monitoring. Personally I prefer natural as its less meds, as long as you ovulate and feel comfortable tracking ovulation then you're fine. I've been tracking for so long now kind of know it well enough and gives me something to focus on so I feel like I'm doing something towards this!

@Sunflower360 Thanks for the information, I might ask if I can do that instead with the UK doctor.

Congratulations @Babydusttous2024!

@blahblahetc Sorry about the negative this morning but it really is early.

@Sunflower360 Did you have the blood flow test yet? How did it go?

@lemons44 Good luck for the transfer tomorrow (I think?) 🍀

Some update from me. Things are not looking as good as I hoped. I had a second beta done four days after the first one. The hCG is rising very slowly (and from a small number), at the rate of around 63% in 48 hours. So the doubling time is 67.8 hours. My clinic thinks it's still within the acceptable range, so not to worry at the moment and asked to do a scan in two weeks. But I cannot help worrying and the more I read about it the more pessimistic I am getting. I cannot find a success story with my level of hCG and doubling time. I might do a third beta to see the trend but I am not very optimistic as the FRER lines are not getting any darker either. At this stage, I am just hoping for the best but also preparing for the worst.

Hope everyone who had BFP are progressing well and best wishes to those waiting to transfer or in tww 🍀

@Serendipity24 Hello, I would definitely do a third beta just to check that it is still going up; it could be just increasing slowly albeit consistently? Could you also get the clear blue digital ones that tells you how many weeks? I'm keeping my fingers crossed tightly for you.

Thanks to @beachbum85 for the nudge to join this group! I'm currently in my 2WW following my second FET last Friday (currently 5dp5dt). Did a trigger shot 12 days ago, and stupidly POAS today, got a faint positive and obviously now have no idea whether trigger or actual bpf - absolutely classic. Hope everyone else is doing okay in their 2WW or leading up to transfer 😊

@wildhay thank you so much for your kind wishes especially after your sad update. I'm so sorry you confirmed it was a chemical and I hope your next transfer is the one! Happy birthday to your daughter in the meantime, and enjoy your holiday abroad xxx

@Serendipity24 sorry to read your update - you must be so worried having to wait till the scan to figure out if those doubling rates are OK. I've never had a beta so I have no idea, but I know the uncertainty and preparing for the worst would do my head in. Definitely would try get some answers from a third beta. Sending strength and positive thoughts

@blahblahetc I'm sorry the first test was negative. I know you know your body best, but it's still really early. Good idea to move the HCG test forward though so you don't have to wait too long to know for sure.
I really hope you won't need it, but totally agree with @Sunflower360 that a natural FET can be pretty straightforward with less meds.

@localbunny hi and I hope the lines get darker! Good lcuk over the next few days!
Thinking of everyone else in the tww too @Southlondoner88 @Lozzy000 and I'm sure I'm forgetting others...

@Babydusttous2024 huge congratulations!!! I'm so pleased for you! Well done for holding out so long... I'm sure you must be enjoying the day with your partner after this fabulous news 😊

@Sunflower360 glad to here you've started on this cycle and fingers crossed that things keep going smoothly and you can transfer soon 🤞🏼

@LouP87 glad things are going well and you're all set. Very best of luck for the updates over the next weekor so xxx

@Sherr33 you nust be glad to get started - good luck with your transfer! No endometrial scratch here, sorry.

@lemons44 good luck with your transfer tomorrow! xxx

@blahblahetc were you offered natural FET at Create? Hopefully you can get that option with the NHS. I think some clinics do lean more towards medicated to also work around their schedules as medicated can allow that flexibility, risk with natural is cancellation in case you don't ovulate and your lining remains thin but I preferred that to medicated as I've got polypw previously and woukd rather do back to back through natural FET

@Serendipity24 blood flow was good on the scanner so did not need Clexane and fine to proceed as long as I ovulate and lining thickens

@localbunny I would be surprised if that was your trigger I tested mine out and it was gone 7 days later. So a preliminary congratulations!

@beachbum85 thanks, will see what this FET has in store. If its a BFN then I'll do another EC in June after a 1 month break and would likely then not transfer until Autumn assuming we got embryos to PGTA. In any case I would still have some untested embryos frozen from my initial ECs but will revisit those as their lower grades 5CB/5BC/4CC, would rather get back to embryo banking whilst I can as I'm concerned my AMH could drop

@Sunflower360 gosh do you think so? Don't want to get my hopes up, I've had terrible mood swings and sore boobs last few days so thought I had pms. I'll have another look tomorrow or Friday and update...

Also not sure the background to your convo with @blahblahetc but my current FET was NHS funded at Create and mine was natural modified (e.g. just a trigger and cyclogest)!

@localbunny, it is possible, if you can get a FRER that may be good plus use FMU, but I would be surprised if that was still your trigger

@localbunny with your natural FET when did you trigger? In terms of CD, follicle and lining size?

@Sunflower360 interesting okay! This was just a cheapy little strip one off Amazon in the middle of the day, so I guess it would be stronger on a FRER first thing too. Very faint though.

So I believe my lining was about 7.5mm? Triggered on CD15 but my cycles are totally irregular and tend to be around 31-35 days so honestly wouldn't put much store by that. The follicle I'm not sure, I think at my first scan it was maybe 13mm and then I triggered 2 days later so not much bigger than that. I was surprised because my Mira device still had my oestrogen as quite low, but he said the lining was good so we could crack on. Hope that helps!

@localbunny thanks for sharing! Yeah I do gauge there is a lot of emphasis on the lining, the follicle is just an indicator to get to a decent thickness of lining

@beachbum85 I am super grateful to have a plan. I feel quite lost in that waiting time. I don't know if I'm being silly to try and squeeze a holiday the week of my last provisional scan and few days before transfer 🙃 I just really wanted to go away end of May

@Sunflower360 No. Create put me on medicated all 3 cycles, that was considerably more pleasant as I was on the long-protocol with my very first NHS cycle. Also, was reading this and thought of you - https://www.fertile-gut.com/blogs/news/the-gut-fertility-connection-expert-insights-on-how-to-eat-for-successful-conception#:~:text=Probiotic%2Drich%20foods%3A%20Probiotics%20are,to%20a%20thriving%20gut%20microbiome.

@local Cautious congrats! I haven't got experience with testing out triggers so I can't comment.. I am also 5dp5dt but it was a BFN this morning.. I don't feel pregnant😑I have transferred my frozies back to the NHS so I will be doing a few FETs under NHS private.

Booked in for my beta on Monday with the private NHS doctor; the price, though cheaper than those extortion phlebotomy labs, has increased by 200%! They claim it's "admin charges".. I am so disappointed! Thought these heathcare professionals were meant to help people and not exploit on our desperation!

@blahblahetc thanks for the link, I get through tonnes of greek Fage yoghurt daily for this very reason 😂 Whether it'll make any difference who knows

Thank you @beachbum85 and @Serendipity24 yes transfer is tomorrow. Feel a bit anxious about it, I've had previous difficult transfers due to a high up cervix and tight muscles. They gave me the option of having it with sedation. However I've opted not to as after my dummy transfer the nurse has typed up lots of detailed notes on the best speculum to use, where the cervix is laying etc. So I'm just really hoping it goes smoothly.

@Serendipity24 so sorry that you have worries. I really am keeping everything crossed. If you have another blood test when will that be?

@blahblahetc that's still very early. I'm still here rooting for you and hoping it works 🤞🏼

Has anybody who has been on cyclogest had cramps with them? I'm feeling crampy almost like mild period cramps which of course is putting the fear of god into me that my lining is just all shedding before my transfer tomorrow. I read online that the lining sheds when the progesterone drops and I'm on 3 pessaries and 2 lubion injections so I'm thinking surely my period isn't coming and it's just progesterone side effects?

@Serendipity24 im in the same boat as you regarding the beta hcg results. I was at 96 IU/L on day 11dpt and 138IU/L on day 13dpt. Whilst it hasn’t doubled, it’s still an increase above 35% which is what I’ve read is optimal. Clinic is being quite pessimistic despite the increase and I get the impression they’re trying to prepare me for bad news.. I’ve read a number of mumsnet threads on slow increasing hcg with both positive and negative outcomes. Also useful to use the babymed hcg calculator. The clinic want me back for a third beta hcg to get a better idea of what is going on… not going to lie, this limbo is torture ! Trying to stay positive that there’s been an increase and that it continues to increase…

Thanks for the support, @blahblahetc , @beachbum85 , @lemons44 and @2024forthewin

@lemons44 I am still deciding when to get the next beta done. One option is to repeat at the 4 days interval as before. Another option is to do it at 3 or 6 days interval as the doubling time for me is almost 3 days.

@2024forthewin Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm so sorry that you are also in the limbo. When does your clinic want the third beta done? I used the Babymed calculator too and the chart worries me. I started off just above average, then below average and if this trend continues then soon I will be below the minimum. It's so hard to remain positive.

@lemons44 Good luck today! I typed this out and forgot to send! Also, meant to say I would get the sedation if it gets too uncomfortable. I haven’t got that issue but was told it’s better in a sense they can manipulate entry + you will not be too stressed.

@lemons44 good luck for today!

@Serendipity24 @2024forthewin hcg feels like its such a personal case by case thing, hope things keep improving for you both-if its increasing then surely that's got to be a good thing

Thanks everyone for the good wishes I will update once's it's done.

My progesterone symptoms have really ramped up in the last 24 hours, feeling crampy, sicky, sore boobs etc. so glad I'm having these now before transfer so I know they are the progesterone otherwise I'd be convinced it's related to transfer.

Random question, did you all eat and drink normally before transfer?

Did anybody get McDonald's chips after for good luck or do we not believe in this 🤣

xx