1st time IVF in Jan12 and looking for sme +ve experiences & advice on what to expect

[Pholi]

Thanks, Mia and liseyt.

Mia, Synarel is a nasal spray... I got mild headaches from that for the first week or two. Then from Gonal F injections I was a bit emotional, but who knows how much of that is directly due to the drug and how much is because I was going through a hig stress/high emotion process. For me the real side effects didn't start until a few days after transfer - then I got bloating, nausea, gassy, tired, etc, all of which can be put down to the hcg boosters and progesterone support (but can also be pg symptoms!)

I had 2 t/f'd on day3. I fully intended to have one 5day embryo transferred, but we only got three eggs, and although they all fertilised, one looked a bit dodgy from the start. At day three, there was still one looking good, and the second best was a bit behind, too, and so they strongly recommended a three day transfer of the better 2 embryos, which would give me the best chance of a pg. The whole point of waiting til day 5 is to be able to choose the strongest of a bunch, and if there's only 2, there's no advantage in that. There are no guarentees in these choices, and we decided to go with the FS's and embryologist's combined gut feeling.

Re telling your boss, keep it minimal! I'd just say at most that you've got a short series of medical investigations and procedures that 'they' want you to have, and there might not be much warning for time off becuse the timing depends on test results. It adds a lot of pressure if people know it's IVF/fertility related, and like Maruschke said, many clinics do very early BT/scan appointments, and even transfers, so you may just need a couple of days off for the EPU anyway.

Re ICSI, in our case our problem was purely MFI (DP has almost blocked ducts, so very few swimmers make it through) so were were told ICSI was the only option right from the start. It seems that for non-MFI problems, most people have IVF, and on future cycles they sometimes try ICSI if the fertilisation rate wasn't very good with IVF. Good luck for your appointment today.

liseyt, how frustrating to have the cycle cancelled! At least they know what needs correcting this time. I found the injections surprisingly easy to give myself, and relatively painless most of the time, too. Best of luck with cycle #2.

[Amy_jellybean]

Hi girls,

Just subbing so I can come back tonight and do a bigger post in here. We had our appointment with the FS yesterday and picked up meds for another stim cycle. We only had one embie in storage and it isnt very good quality so they didnt want us going through everything and then being disappointed if the embie didnt survive the thaw

This time I will be on puregon and Orgalutran.....no more synarel for me!!!! yay!!!! I got really bad headaches on it last time. A lot of people talk about how much they hate the taste of it in their throat but to be honest it didnt bother me at all. The puregon however was really hard. I got bloating so bad, I honestly looked like I was about 5 months pregnant and they still only got 11 eggs. I was on a very low dose of 125 last time because of my age, this time they are starting me on 250 and will monitor it from there.

AF is due around 22 Jan and I will start jabbing on day 3. Egg pick up will be early Feb so I think DH will be away at work when I have it done Yay looks like we will all be in the TWW together lovelies

xxx

[Mia01]

Thanks Pholi, Miss B and Amy
It really helps to have you ladies who have been through it or are going through it now to chat too and ease my stress LOL

Lisey and Amy I will prob be up for egg collection late Feb so I'm a little behind both of you but All the BEST of luck! Please keep incontact to let me know how you ladies fair xox

AFM - I went to my appointment today and like Lisey advised got weighed and a pic taken just to make sure we're both identifiable LOL
The appointment went REAL well, the nurse was REALLY nice and patient. We were with her for about 2 hours and she discussed the whole process.
My heads spinning a little with EVERYTHING I have to do but I'm sure I'll be guided by them each step of the way.
Now I just have to wait for AF which should be here around 12-14Jan and start on the pill, 2 weeks after starting that I need to get onto that synorel spray. The nurse was super nice and said I can take panadol or in worse case panedein forte if I get migranes (I usually get migranes) and not to "put up with it" and not take anything cos I'm thinking about conceiving LOL This is something I do (put up with them) normally so she made sure DH was also aware that if I get them I CAN and SHOULD take pain relief
Feels like I'm about to undertake a marathon but all going well it will be SO worth it! She told me at this clinic they ONLY put 1 emby back so I have NO choice about that. But I'm happy with that. I'm not in it to get multiples I just want 1 healthy baby, thanks no fries with that! hahaha
Anyways thanks for the support, as always and will keep updating as I go and will follow you ladies who are going through it so please update or let me know where I can stalk you LOL

[Jane :)]

Thanks for the update Mia. Glad to hear your appointment went well. I have my appointment with my nurse tomorrow. I'm super excited and a little nervous

Hi Amy, if my calculations are correct my pick up will be late jan early feb - so yay for TTW buddies.

Pholi, like you we are headed straight to ICSI due to multiple fertility factors on both sides. Fingers crossed it works for both of us.

Lise, Good luck for your appointment next week. I hope this cycle is the one for you. Fingers crossed.

And to all the lovely ladies who have posted recently - thanks, this thread has been really helpful for me. I'm feeling excited about things rather than overwhelmed and sad which is pleasant change.

[liseyt]

Hi everyone..

(I am on night duty, hence the odd hours of posting)

Amy, I didn't do synarel last time either. But like you I was on a low dose (due to age + med history of crohns disease). The bloating was the really bad and cramping was the worst ever, spent a lot of time with heat packs on my tummy and ice packs on my GIANT, SWOLLEN breasts!!!! I guess it will all be worth it. I found the puregon super easy to use and the orgalutran a little harder to get the needle in.

Amy and Jane, What clinics are you with? will hopefully have TWW together xx

Jane, hope your appointment went well x

Mia, I was a bit like you. Thought that because we are trying so hard to conceive that I should just have to put up with the pain. this time round will definitely be taking nurofen/panadol at least.

speak soon

Thanks everyone, this is really helpful. please keep posting, so we can follow each other

[Amy_jellybean]

Hi LiseyT,

Im in WA so im always up and on here when no one else is

Im with Concept Fertility in Subiaco, WA. Its a massive clinic and really nice.
Hahaha I forgot about my giant (.Y.) last time, they were so painful, and I just found a post that I did when I was going through it last time and one of the worst parts was the hot sweats.

When do you start your injections?

xxx

[Mia01]

Lisey the side affects dnt look fun but ill just hav to keep reminding
Myself the poss outcme! Re d pain relief d nurse told me not to take nurofen as it interferes with some of d drugs, she said its best to stick to panadol or if its real bad panadeine forte. Just thought id let u know incase xo
Will def hav my ducky heat bottle on standby n my ice packs lol i think dh will love d bb's! Lol

[Pholi]

Re d pain relief d nurse told me not to take nurofen as it interferes with some of d drugs, she said its best to stick to panadol or if its real bad panadeine forte. Just thought id let u know incase xo
Will def hav my ducky heat bottle on standby n my ice packs

I second that!! Ibuprofen/nurofen/voltaren are not ok in pg, and not recommended while undergoing IVF! Thank god for hot packs and paracetamol!! (and panadeine is ok too.)