I still feel our failed FET could be related to autoimmune issues. Yes there's always the blame card right? My body has been it's own combination punching bag and Mike Tyson for the last several years though. It took out my thyroid with Graves' Disease. Possibly was a factor in taking out my ovaries. And for lack of any other good reason I think it may have helped take out the poor little embryo and chance that was given.
I know most doctors would call me crazy (or any woman crazy) but I honestly really believe that the cramping and twinge feelings I had the evening of and day after the transfer were that embryo trying to make a home. It wasn't cramping all over. It was one very precise side and spot. And I felt it a few times over those first few days in the same place. Followed by achey fullness and light stretching almost as well and then some lower back cramps. I was 100% convinced it was working. Then my body started reacting to the shots (maybe coincidental but I still wonder) and it was very soon after that all of those "good" feelings went away and I started realizing it was over.
I've read A LOT on autoimmune stuff in the past and now I've begun reading about secondary infertility (non-ART and via failed IVF cycles) and found medical information about the body (especially those with a history of autoimmune issues) developing natural killer cells and T-cells (?) that can work in the uterus and target and even prevent implantation of the embryo from being successful. I wonder if that was and would be the case in the future. I emailed the team to also ask about this possibility (without going into detail on the feelings I had) and any testing to do before trying another transfer. We will see what Dr H has to say if anything about it. If anyone reading this has experience with autoimmune stuff or treatment during IVF please let me know (I appreciate the contact I did receive and will reply soon).
Update on asking Dr H. He agrees that this possibility is definitely worth looking into and possibly testing for and also mentioned prevention/suppression he has done with other patients. He mentioned steroid treatment during cycle and also use of baby aspirin and a possible endometrium biopsy. He also shared a research article about mild medical injury (ie scratching) to the uterus prior to a cycle improving the chances of implantation greatly. It sounds like we will need to set up an appointment with him to go into more detail. It makes me hopeful that he actually considers this a very possible interaction though. I wish we would have considered this before we used up our best frozen chance. I hope it's not too late if we look at it now.
2 comments:
I have an auto immune disease as well, and for both my successful cycles we did steriods, anti biotics, and the regular lining meds (baby aspirin included). I credit our success to the steriods and the anti biotics. I'm so sorry this didn't work, I was really praying for a different outcome.
Thank you ks for the reply. I was thinking you had done autoimmune treatment on your last pregnancy but couldn't remember. I will have to look up your past posts. If you read this would you mind emailing me sometime with a little more detail about what you did and for how long? Thanks again!
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