What has long term AC done to your body?

[grub17]

it can be so tough especially in the tww or after surgery when you can't do any exercise. Our first ivf cycle i felt so rubbish that i didn't do much and put a little weight on. but with the second cycle i just decided i would pick up my running (was doing regular 8-10ks per session before ivf) again... no excuses, no "too tireds'', i would just do it.

i lost weight, toned up and felt much mch better. we also go better quality eggs and got our longed for bfp with one of those. i really believe being so active gave us the edge this time. plus i found i handled it mentally much better and it was a good time to think on my runs.

but like i said the toughest part personally is the tww and post surgery when you just can't do anything.

i've since traded my runs for brisk 45-60mins walks in the morning.

we haven't been trying ac as long nor suffered any m/c though bluej so you'll need to take that into account when looking at us.

hope that helps you out. it's an interesting topic.

[buliej]

Thanks for the replies.

HollyBolly - I don't even know what to say because I am appalled that people just come out and ask if you are pregnant - I would think that people know better than to do this... and what that woman said about joining a gym - how rude. It does worry me that this extra middle meat is here to stay - I do hope that one day it won't matter

Grub17 - I know what you mean about being tired after surgery and during the TWW. For me, that's only part of what holds me back from exercising - the other part is the fear that the exercise will somehow reduce the odds of the embryo sticking. I KNOW that this is very unlikely and that there is no scientific proof of a moderate amount of exercise impacting sticky-ness....but I just can't get it out of my head (I worried after this embryo transfer because I thought that the embryo fell out when I stood up - despite being assured that this is not possible). I do think you are right that it actually does you good - both mind & body. I did walk on a treadmill on an incline during the TWW but I was too scared to do anything else...and then just about the time I got my BFP I was so tired (and still scared) that I just wrote the gym off for the time being. I did make myself go today even though I'm still not feeling 100% physically and it did feel really good to be doing something.

[Bengal]

BullieJ ; I could have written this thread myself. I completly relate to what your going though, word for word.

I actually, had a lady ask me today if I am pregnant, and like Holly, have someone ask me often, am I expecting, which of course, is the worst thing someone could ask. I cant get the bloating to go away, and I dont feel my body is up for rigourous exercise that I would need to remove it. When the timing is right, I will concentrate on the extra, say 7 kilo's, I have put on through this journey.


I was actually thinking of posting a thread, for a cleansing fast type thingy, to see if I needed to flush excess hormones and fluid from my body, to see if that helps. However, I think eating correctly, and walking is the best for me now.

[buliej]

I really can't believe people aren't smart enough to know not to ask whether someone is pregnant.

I find the excess middle weight upsetting because it is a reminder of all the attempts with no result - and it also sometimes gets me down when I get dressed and want to wear something only to realize I can't, because I can't close it!

I've tried a detox thing once before - I only made it 3 days (it was the lemon, maple syrup thing, cayenne pepper - no food at all). I don't think I'd try that again - but something that would get your hormones back to something more normal sounds intriguing.

[butterfly_warrior]

I think I was reasonably lucky in that the only weight I tended to put on while cycling was due to OHSS... so that I actually came out of my first stim cycle weighing less than I did when I went into it - if you want to count the three weeks of OHSS recovery as well! Because of my PCOS and tendency to hyperstimulate my FS kept me on a fairly rigid diet, which was no fun, but did work to get the weight off and keep it down.

But... it was my other health problems that assisted conception really stuffed up. I spent three years of managing my arthritis inadequately. I had some major emotional meltdowns and on a couple of occasions was completely unable to work (or function, really) because my anxiety was just so bad. My arthritis has got so bad that now (and I'm very relieved that it's after the birth of my son, not when I had to give assisted conception up completely) I'm taking chemo drugs to try to calm it down. And such high doses of prednisone that all the weight gain that others have while cycling is coming back to catch up with me now.

I wish it had been possible to manage the arthritis adequately and undergo AC, but it's just not possible - fortunately I don't have the type of arthritis that results in permanent joint damage so I can recover, but if it had been the other type, I seriously do not know where I'd be right now.

BW

[buliej]

ButterflyWarrior - sounds like you have been through quite a lot...and from reading you post it sounds like AC worked for you which is fabulous. I hope that you get your arthritis pain under control soon and that you don't have to stay on such heavy duty drugs permanently. As for the emotional meltdown and anxiety - I think that is part of this whole process (at least for me too) - it's very tough.

[Possums]

buliej- I am glad you have some answers/understanding here, and I also want to add, try not to be too hard on yourself about it. I too am not patient which is a hard way to be in this process. I have also found that due to being pregnant on and off and surgery and IVf etc that my weight has fluctuated and each time I have to try hard to get back to where I am happy. I find the lack of control over my body can be hard. I hope you have success soon, and a big obvious pregnant belly

[dusty]

Buliej, this is a great topic. I am glad you raised it.
Before IVF I was a fit and active outdoorsy type. The depressive cycle of failed cycles and physical and hormonal imbalances has eaten into this lifestyle more than I would like . It has affected my weight and fitness however, I refuse to force myself into a fitness regime that would add further stress during an IVF cycle. I believe I have to find my own balance and be able to live with the ups and downs and not berate myself as to the changes in my own body.
I still ride to/from work which keeps up a sense of normality and I really enjoy it, but sadly bushwalking, surfing and biking has taken a big back seat in my life. The bright side is DH loves my new found soft bits and if he had his way he would like them to stay!