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 how are you doing? My AF have arrived in the morning. So far doing okay, slight cramps and normal flow.

@Sunflower360 hope your transfer went well today. Did you have a single or double transfer? When is your OTD?

@lemons44 thank you, I think I am coping okay, really lucky to have my family's support. Sometimes I feel low and sometimes I feel really low but that is to be expected. I hope you stay strong and positive till OTD.

@Serendipity24 I'm ok thanks, went for a double transfer. The day 3 turned into a 5BC so decided its better to put two in, if it was a better grade would have stuck with one but in any case glad it turned into a blastocyst. I'm generally ok, although I think the transfer has become so routine with it being my 3rd back to back FET I kind of don't have the PUPO feeling if that makes sense, of course I'm still following my diet and making sure I don't lift or eat anything non pregnant friendly but I think I've resided to doing another EC. After 2 BFNs in a row I'm not sure what will be different this time round and have done it purely to work through the embryos as their untested and to save time to get on with another EC. The protocol was the same except I've added probiotics and I had my Progesterone tested when I surged to confirm it was low that day to further accurately schedule transfer day, so unless the protocol needs reviewing its down to the embryos, and in the absence of PGTA I really don't know if their good or not. Not sure what can be reviewed with the protocol as everything appears textbook and goes well up to transfer (I surge, lining is good, transfer process goes well) so perhaps it could be worth doing the EMMA/ALICE test if this doesn't work? But then I'm on probiotics and I don't believe I've ever shown symptoms of infections to warrant antibiotics? But its the only tests I can think that I haven't had done, bar PGTA

Sorry mind dump there 😂 Bet your wishing you never asked now 😂

Hope you're ok

@Serendipity24 How many days past are you now if you don't mind me asking? I'm in this limbo state, no sign of AF, no symptoms except I'm very very itchy, randomly, at random times with no obvious rash (I've self-prescribed and upped my prednisolone to 5mg x 2 hoping it will stop the itch, thinking I might need dexamethasone next time!). When can you transfer again?

@lemons44 Have you tested again?

@Sunflower360 Congrats on the double transfer, hope it works this time for you🍀. I know what you mean about the transfers and feeling PUPO; I haven't done back to backs but I feel that I might be a little indifferent with the next one (and perhaps not waste so much money on pee sticks and HCG tests!). What number transfer is this?

I have gone for my third blood test this morning, for closure if anything else. I hope the number decreases if it's definitely not sticking. I'm worried it will go up by a stupid % and give me false hope again. My OTD is today too, so also worried my clinic might disregard any results prior to this and ask for a "second" reading.. can only blame myself for being an early tester! I did do a HPT test this morning - I feel that 13dpt is stronger than 12dpt.. but today's is going lighter or the same as yesterday..what can you see? Not sure why I'm still hoping for a miracle when I know it's 99% non-viable..

@blahblahetc this is FET 3. I'll likely not transfer, despite having more in the freezer, until a further EC. So that could be end of summer/early autumn. I've got my follow up diarised already so I can develop a EC plan if this doesn't work, just want to keep things moving. We have quite a busy social month in May/early June so be a good break from it before going into another EC in any case if that happens. I'll probably sounding pessimistic with this transfer but I'm just trying to be realistic of the possibility that it may not work, I deal with things better that way should it be a negative!

I have to say your lines look pretty good. If it was a chemical I would have thought it would have started fading by now. Hopefully it comes up with an increase. Have you had any symptoms of implantation or pregnancy symptoms at all?

@blahblahetc 12dpt to 14dpt is definitely darker-its 48 hour progression you need to be looking for as hard as that is...the waiting game is the worst with all of this!

@Sunflower360 Good plan on the another collection, how many rounds are you thinking? Have you considered duostim? I'm not sure if Create does that, but I managed to get double the number of blasts in my duostim round. And definitely try and keep positive for now, you need happy hormones to aid implantation😊

I have had absolutely no symptoms. Maybe my boobs are a bit fleshier when I cup them with my hands😆but it could be from the meds as well. I hope to know by 2pm one way or another. I went and bought 2 bottles of wine last night, husband was like, "do you really need 2?"; well it's a bundle sale so why not!

I'm more keen to find out when I can go again..

@blahblahetc no Create don't do duo stimulation. I'm happy to go with mild again as I got 5 embryos when I did that in December but of course that could not replicate again given each cycle is so varied dependent on AFC. We would consider another 2 ECs but may just see what happens after another one - if we do ECs the aim would be to get euploids, I'm not sure I want the uncertainty again with untested embryos, but then it depends if we get a good number of embryos (if any) to warrant testing. In the meantime will just see what happens with this and try and keep positive! Having a plan makes me happy 😂

Good luck for your blood results. You may be unlikely to have the wine as your FRER tests looked like their is still a decent amount of HCG there!

@Sunflower360 no worries, it's good to talk! Congratulations on the double transfer, hope at least one sticks. I know back to back treatments can make you feel like it's a routine, but it might just happen when you least expect it! 🍀

@blahblahetc For me, it would have been 6 weeks 1 day today, so 24dp5dt. I always only bled after stopping progesterone. I don't think your lines are getting lighter, if anything it has darkened from 12DPT to 14DPT. So I will not worry about having AF now and hopefully the result will give you the assurance you need. 🍀

Just had the consultation with the doctor. He does not think it was an ectopic and said the pain I have on the right hand side could be from the corpus luteum as my dominant follicle was on the right hand side. The hCG levels were so low that it implies the embryo was still at the cellular stage, so a scan would not reveal anything. But of course I should seek medical help if the pain intensifies.

He does not think any additional tests are needed at this point. He recommends one more bleed before another FET, so looking at late June, He also said the next period might be late. He recommends the same protocol- modified natural cycle with Ovitrelle trigger, single embryo transfer, and my choice of progesterone e.g. whether I want to continue with Lubion or switch to cyclogest. They usually recommend cyclogest because it's cheaper and less demanding on the patient (apparently most patients don't like injections). But weirdly I prefer injections to pessaries so he has given me the freedom to choose. He also agreed to test progesterone level before transfer this time.

Me too@Sunflower360 A plan on excel with dates and milestones😆!

Result is back, 57 OMG this is a joke! I knew it was going to be neither here nor there.. just waiting to hear back from Prague clinic..

@blahblahetc that is unusual, hope its not the case, but have the suggested it could be an ectopic? Although I would have thought you would have symptoms with that

@Serendipity24 If it's ok to ask this - what was your highest HCG level and what did it drop to? I was just going through my notes for my very first ET, my HCG was 1212 at 14dpt, went up to 2739 at 17pdt and then dropped to 1182 on day 19.. I don't know why I'm still obsessing with numbers.. good you have a tentative date for the next one, we might be transfer buddies again in June🙂

@Sunflower360 All the NHS doctor said was it's not viable.. I'm waiting for Prague's advice... I havent taken my afternoon estrogen nor progesterone..

I keep thinking, if I hadn't tested my HCG early, maybe I'll be hopeful for a few more days? Technically, today's result is the first HCG reading from Prague clinic's perspective...

@blahblahetc So sorry the number is still low 😞 I know it's not reassuring or anything but your FRER lines look much darker than 57 when I compare with how mine looked a day before the last blood test when it was 57 (pic attached, the bottom one).

At 9dp5dt the level was 59
At 13dp5dt it was 157
At 20dp5dt it was back at 57

I would say don't stop your meds until you are absolutely sure it's non-viable.

@blahblahetc sorry you're still in limbo with these numbers. I don't know much about the HCG numbers but is it possible some are just slow to develop?

@Sunflower360 that's great you've now had another transfer. I am exactly the same about wanting to forward plan. It helps me to cope with bad news but automatically focussing on the next steps. It's like when people say the best thing to do after an interview is to apply for another job.. it's just a way to keep moving forward so if it's bad news it's less crushing.

@Serendipity24 how are you feeling after the consultation? I'm relieved for you that they don't think it's ectopic and hope you don't have any more side pain.

@blahblahetc so after I tested at 6dp5dt I have stopped testing completely.
I felt like by stopping at 6dp I can still have some hope that it might have worked whereas if I'd have tested 7dp or 8dp and got a BFN I would definitely think I'm out and wouldn't really want to carry on all my meds until 14dp which is what the clinic want. So I did it for my own sanity really. OTD is Thurs 9th so still almost a week to go. Trying to keep busy.

If this one doesn't work out we will go straight into transferring our other frozen and then if that doesn't work it will be time for a 4th egg collection, although we paid for an access fertility package of two rounds so the next egg collection is actually already paid for, which takes some pressure off.
xx

Good job on waiting till OTD @lemons44 I wish I had that patience!

Prague clinic's gotten back and said to try and get specialist medical assistance asap (they must not have heard of the UK health support non-exsistence😏) and to continue meds until I know what's going on.. Both NHS doctor and Tommy's clinic didn't offer additional support, assume it is a chemical and will resolve itself. My GP was quite helpful in a sense that she actually got back and said to get the Prague doctor to provide directions/prescriptions and she can action accordingly.

So I'm thinking, I might book myself in for a 5week scan at one of those boutique clinics on Tuesday and hope it's not ectopic, and/or try and referral from my GP to the EPU. I kinda want to stop meds and that's the difficult bit. I usually would have bled by now (even on meds)..

@lemons44 thank you

@blahblahetc probably best to stay on the meds as it could be a slow grower, I'm not sure what the stats are for that but suppose it is possible. Would a period start with hcg in your system?

@blahblahetc so sorry you're still in limbo, it must be so distressing. Did Prague say why they want you to seek specialist assistance asap, are they suspecting ectopic? I'm not sure whether anything will be visible at a 5 weeks scan. Perhaps better to go to EPU who can monitor blood etc. and take action accordingly. Good that your GP is cooperating and is willing to refer you to EPU. The EPU in my area doesn't want to see anyone before 6 weeks unless they are bleeding and/or in pain. I would continue the meds untill I'm told to stop by Prague/EPU.

@Sunflower360 I think period can start with low levels of hCG. My doctor told me today to take an urine test once the bleeding stops to make sure all hCG is gone.

@Sunflower360 I have read success stories hence still clinging onto something, but also want to be realistic and not be put on pause 😞

I started bleeding when my HCG was sky high last time; I mean I only got worried when I started bleeding and then got my HCG checked. It’s so annoying as this was most likely an aneuploid, why did it implant and why didn’t my euploid implant 😒

On a separate note, I found this very interesting post today and found a good use for my ovulation strips - https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1N0CQSAETOAZV?ASIN=B000052XHI#review-media-gallery1714714463533

I just peed on an ovulation strip and it’s looking more like 1000 in that picture. Is it possible the lab is wrong 3 times?! 😒

@blahblahetc I am so sorry for this rollercoaster. The whole thing is a mind fcuk!

I am encouraged by so many tentative good outcomes, I am behind on my FET due to stress and illness which flattened me. Looks like I'll be starting meds in next 3-4 days ish and I'm absolutely terrified. I thought by my 4th round I'd be more chilled but it will only be our 3rd transfer as our embryo yield has always been very poor.

I am terrified of it not working, I never test early cos I can't imagine being strong enough to deal with a chemical. There's more pregnancies recently in friends and colleagues.

You are all amazing ladies in this group!

@kerrym87 Definitely go into it with a ‘hopeful but prepared’ mentality.. and know that it’s going to be like this for at least the first 12 weeks..

Good luck and keep strong!

Does anybody know after a failed medicated FET how long you have to wait until you go again? Just want to be prepared for if I get a BFN next week

@lemons44 I'm sure it's possible to do back-to-back FETs if it was a definite BFN and you bleed normally.

It would be a different story if it was a chemical as I don't think they count the early miscarriage as a period..

@blahblahetc I've done back to back but that's natural, although I have had a trigger for ovulation abd Progesterone pessaries. So hopefully it is possible, should it be a BFN

@lemons44 sorry was meant to tag you!

Thanks both.

Forgot to say, don't know if u remember but after my transfer my progesterone was 67. The clinic wanted me to add more so I did and 4 days later they did another blood test and my progesterone was 230 which they was happy with.

Does anybody know if with the progesterone pessaries/jabs it will just keep going up and up? Or does it level off? I just thought if it was 230 4 days after transfer I worry that it has kept going up since then.