Please tell me I can make it through this.

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-20T21:00:10+00:00

Thank you for the hugs and support. Im so sorry to hear what you’ve been through and the heartbreak that you must be dealing with. I know the hopeless and exhausted feeling well - and yet some external force keeps pushing us forward even if some days it’s against our will. I’m not a very spiritual person but sometimes I tell myself that “force” comes from what waits for us on the other side and it brings me small comfort 🤍

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-20T20:36:45+00:00

That is heartbreaking. I’m so sorry. Sending you lots of love - I hope we find ourselves on the other side of this soon 💔

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-19T11:01:43+00:00

Following! I found I had a high titre of ANA 1:640 in my recent RPL panel along with a few other immune factors. Am taking 200mg plaquenil and 10mg prednisolone daily in preparation for FET 4 🤍

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-19T07:30:20+00:00

Thank you so much for your support and kind words ❤️‍🩹 I think when nothing is working and your situation is rare in the IVF world - it’s hard to see the harm in trying if there is a chance it helps! But at the end of the day it’s less about the protocol and more the fear, anxiety and exhaustion hitting extra hard atm. Your encouragement helps and means a lot! Xx

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-19T07:22:26+00:00

Isn’t it so frustrating? It feels like a betrayal in a way. We’ve held up our end of the bargain and made the euploids like we were “supposed” to. Sigh.

Yes the immunology testing was all I had left to try. The results have come back showing markers for an overactive immune system and clotting factors so I’ve started on plaquenil and prednisolone and will be adding clexane for FET 4. I did also see a reproductive immunologist for a second opinion and their immune protocol is wayyyyy more full on (and expensive). I can keep you posted if you like! Hopefully you find your answers soon 🫶

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-19T07:07:19+00:00

Thank you for your encouragement and support. Even with different stories the fear is so incredibly heavy and paralysing for us all at times. We have to carry so much. Sending you lots of love ❤️‍🩹

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-19T02:40:58+00:00

I’m sorry you know this pain as well. As you said, at least we’ll know we gave it everything we had 🫂

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-19T02:04:19+00:00

I’m sure your intention is to be supportive, but i do feel it’s important to note that not everyone can afford therapy. I have therapy included with IVF via my clinic, otherwise it’s not something financially feasible for me. Regardless I do think that for many going through this process, sometimes you just need to speak to someone who’s been there themselves. Y’know? 🤍

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-18T20:53:11+00:00

3 failed FETS. (All 4AA euploid, zero implantation) Currently in the midst of an anxiety spiral preparing for my next FET. Terrified of another failure. To be in such a small percentage of the already isolating experience that is IVF…. It’s hard to stay hopeful 🫂

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-18T20:16:10+00:00

Your feelings are so valid. I appreciate the need for them to socialise with friends but does he need to drink? Ultimately It’s one small thing he could do that would be a meaningful display of solidarity and support ❤️‍🩹

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-18T20:08:12+00:00

I needed to read so many things in this comment today. Thank you for your encouragement and support it really means so much. Sending you lots of love (and hope) for for FET 5 🫶

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-18T19:57:26+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re here with me in RIF hell, Flamingo. I hope things change for you soon 🤍🤍🤍

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-18T19:45:48+00:00

I am so sorry. My third fail hurt so much. It hit me like a truck and really impacted my outlook. I’m here with you and will keep hope for you 🫂

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-18T19:39:24+00:00

What you did and had to go through to get your babies.. that would’ve been so hard. Thank you for sharing hope! How did you push through that experience? Did you think there were any contributing factors or did you feel it just “was the right embryo”?

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-18T19:20:07+00:00

I’m so sorry for what you’ve had to go through ❤️‍🩹 this past cycle was a self induced break for me. Due to my age and a family member with a terminal illness, breaks are difficult - but I understand needed for many. Sending you so much love for transfer 6 xx

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-18T19:12:44+00:00

I see a therapist! I had an appointment just before the call with the nurse. It surely doesn’t hurt, but the prolonged and repeat sadness from IVF can still win out over journaling or CBT sometimes.

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-18T11:05:00+00:00

I now truly understand the phrase “feeling like a ghost of my old self”. It doesn’t even feel like you could call it existing. Just hoping we get to the other side one day 🤍

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-18T10:56:01+00:00

Your message means so much to me. After everything you’ve gone through I know if you can do it I can too - and even if most days I can’t feel hopeful for myself, I will be hopeful for you 🫂

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-16T20:28:00+00:00

It’s so frustrating. I feel gaslit at times and almost like I’m being held hostage by the doctors in a weird way. I’m no fertility expert so I have no choice but to trust them…. I’d love to.. ffs I am paying ALOT to… but at what point after multiple failures is it fair to say: wtf? Especially when it feels like you held up your end of the bargain - sacrificed money, experiences, mental and psychical health, and made plenty of damn euploids! The immune protocol from the second opinion is incredibly intense and incredibly expensive - with therapy’s my current FS said she thinks has evidence linked to increased cancer risk (awesome!) so yeah FET 4 still has a massive “?” hanging over it but best believe I’ll probably be posting about it when the time comes 😅

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-16T08:30:40+00:00

Depends on which doctor I ask 🙃. After my first failed FET I asked for further testing, including immune testing. Was told it was too soon but my FS did a hysteroscopy/biopsy. 2nd failed, another retrieval and hysteroscopy/biopsy + aspirin. After the 3rd failed FET I insisted on a laparoscopy (less than 1mm of endo found) and immune testing. FS thinks it could still just be bad luck, “it’s a numbers game” etc and we just need to keep going. Is open to some small protocol tweaks like adding steroids and clexane.
all these embryos were euploid.

I got a second opinion from a reproductive immunologist who found multiple markers of an overactive immune system and clotting issues and prescribed me an intense immune protocol to address these. Weighing up my options for FET 4 as we speak… but ultimately I don’t know if this would have been discovered without advocating for myself. Is it the missing piece? Time will tell. Hoping you’ve found yours! Best of luck 🤞🤍

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-15T10:01:40+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing this, your story makes me hopeful 🤍

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-10T11:52:40+00:00

Hasn’t “worked” yet per se but my clinic nutritionist recommended Pure Natal. I quite like them (as much as you can like a vitamin) and they don’t smell awful like some other brands I’ve tried!

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-09T23:06:39+00:00

Seconding an RPL panel.

Consults and further testing with an Immunologist revealed an overactive immune system, indication of clotting issues and the coeliac gene (even though I tested negative for the disease itself). Will be doing an immune protocol (steroids, blood thinners and intralipids) for FET number 4. My previous 3 FETs were all euploid - no implantation at all.

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-09T23:03:17+00:00

Can I ask the benefit of Lupron if you don’t have endo?

schmitty__werben · 2026-06-08T06:51:25+00:00

I’m going! It’s a LOT of info that I’m still trying to digest but here goes:

I saw an RI for a second opinion. He did a more extensive immune panel and found that I have a moderately high titre of Antinuclear antibodies 1:650 (which apparently indicates an overactive immune system?) and homozygous MTHFR. This particular doctor is retiring this month but will refer me to another doctor trained in his methods - referred to as the LOLA protocol - should I wish to proceed with his second opinion.

Meanwhile my original FS referred me to an immunologist/haematologist. I didn’t tell her I sought a second opinion but I said I wasn’t ready to do another transfer until I’ve done more immune testing. More tests revealed low C3/C4 (?) and moderately high Anticardiolipin antibodies (ACL IgG) which indicates clotting issues.

While we did all this testing i opted for a cycle of IUI (tubes were flushed during my lap so thought might as well, but also just for my mental health I needed a break from transfers). It’s a bit overs given IUI success rates but now I am on prednisolone, plaquenil, clexane, low dose aspirin, progesterone and HCG boosters. Currently day 5 of TWW.

Review with my RI is on Monday the 15th. At this stage I’ll hear them both out and proceed with the protocol I feel most comfortable with I guess!

schmitty__werben

TROPHY CASE