Printable View
Hello all,
I am about to embark on my first IVF cycle and am feeling quite scared. Have been going through a bit of anxiety and depression lately and am worried that the IVF stuff will further aggravate things. Just looking for some reassurance and some advice on what to expect. Have just started primolut yesterday which I wil take for 7 days to bring on AF then the ball will start rolling!!!
Thanks in advance for any comments.
It is normal to be a bit scared when starting something so new, unknown and when there is so much riding on the outcome :hug:. There are plenty of others in your situation or who have been in your situation that can give you some guidance on here. So I am glad you have posted looking for support and advice.
For me IVF is a emotionally challenging journey more than a physical one, but everyone is different, and some find it the other way around or both. I think managing your expectations and accepting that there will be moments of frustration, bewilderment, sadness, discomfort but also hopefully joy during IVF and afterwards, can help prepare and help get you through the journey the best you can.
If you don't feel you are ready for it right now, be honest with yourself and consider delaying if that is what feels like the right thing to do.
As you go through the IVF process ask as many questions as you want to of the medical professionals. It is their responsibility to help you and support you too. Don't let them fob you off if you don't feel satisfied with their answers. Some women tell their nurses to cut the bull **** and give them the facts if that is what they want.
This may be sounding a bit blunt but this has been my experience to date if that helps.
I will move this thread into the LTTTC/AC area where you may get more replies as there is more activity in there.
Good luck and ask lots of questions of us!
xx
Ann :hug: what you are feeling is normal sweetie and for me I apporached each cycle as one step closer to reaching my goal and the control freak in me felt like I was doing something.
As to the protocol dicuss that with your FS but usually it is a set of 10-14 days on each drug to get to the next step
The best advice I was given came from my FS sometimes it takes I cycle to get that dream BFP but mostly it takes 6 + and not to be too hard on myself we would get the drugs right and make a baby. Well she is due in 2 weeks after the 6th cycle.
My whole story is in my blog feel free to follow the link in my signature and have a read :hug: and :goodluck:
Cadence I am also about to start my first IVF cycle and like you already have a 2 yo, a son, and have been TTC #2 for around 18 months.
Can't give much advice on what to expect as I have no idea myself but can be here to support and help. I am on the pill at the moment and due to start taking syneral in a couple of days.
I wish you the very best of luck. Try and relax and feel positive about the fact that you are taking active steps to get closer to your goal!
Hi there! I'm just doing my first IVF cicle this month... :D It's my 5th day on Puregon. Today I had a scan and my doc said likely to have egg pickup on Friday!!!! and ET on Monday... Tomorrow I'm having another scan to confirm. I didnt have any side effects from drugs... just noticed more pimples on my face...
Good luck for you all!!:pray:
Had egg pick up on Monday. Collected 13 eggs and it was very exciting for me and my DH. Yesterday I got a call from the lab saying that none of the eggs have been fertilized... I was devastated... the worst thing is that no one (family and friends) know about what's been happening to us and I don't have anyone to share with....
Today lab called again to tell me that 6 eggs are dividing... late fertilization???? Well, now I just have to wait until Saturday and confirm if I'm going to have an ET...or not...:pray:
i was in your place one year ago and very scared, but i don't think it was as bad as i expected. i gained a little weight, which i have lost most of it ( prob wasn't eating well, maybe have something to do with weight)
it was a bit scary but i am going to do it again. good luck x
hi esperan, my clinic lets us ring and speak to the embryologist every day, perhaps you can ask to do the same. we find it really helpful to find out what's happening.
cadence and kmond - ivf is definetly a journey that will change you. But like dusty said, if you are not feeling ready mentally, put it off for a few months til you do feel so. I don't find it physically too bad, although i'm very brave with needles now, but by the end of the 6wks of medication (full stim cycle), i'm really emotional and just happy for it to be over. your clinic should offer counselling, take advantage of it if you need it. i also found these forums helpful and a book called IVF and Ever After - information was my friend.
one little thing we found - my first cycle i didn't exercise (despite being a runner) much as I was pretty tired. Second cycle i forced myself out there and regularly ran 20-30km a week. DH and I believe all that extra oxygenated blood circulating around me during egg growth really amde the difference. We got 2 more frosties than last time and one has stuck! (so far). - more eggs and better quality embies.
dh is also on Menevit- a vitamin to help with the spermies. you can get it from an online pharmacy.
not sure if any of that helps but good luck with it.
:pray:
Cadence, I just went through IVF round 1 in Jan/Feb this year. I have to say I was a little reluctant initially and did 2 IUIs first as wanted to try as close to "natural" conception as possible. After our IVF round, we now know that it's not going to happen for us without extra the extra intervention of ICSI as well.
I'm not too worried by needles, but found that the psychological hurdle of stabbing yourself in the tummy is something that I really needed to think through as I was doing it, or the injections just wouldn't have happened. Other than that, my only issue was a couple of snappish moments with DH (which I apologised for straight away, so no big issues left over!) and feeling extremely bloated as I approached the egg pickup.
We got six eggs - 4 mature but only one embryo which wasn't dividing properly. Didn't find that out until I went in on the day of transfer and to put it bluntly, it was devastating. I still don't know how I managed not to cry in the doctor's office but I felt that the relative anonymity of the street was a better place for it! Go figure.
Anyway, we took a month off, allowed AF to reappear and started on the Pill again for a full stim cycle again this time. Just finished the Pill bit today, have been on Synarel for a week and got a scan next week (just need to book it) and we'll see how we go this time around. I'm feeling hopeful because my FS said that the first cycle is usually a bit of a trial run to make sure that drug dosages etc are working at the right level so they kind of don't get your hopes up too high (good and bad in some ways). As I said, we've discovered from that cycle that we'll need about as much intervention as you can line up to actually get pregnant so we're incorporating ICSI and possible embryo glue this time around, just waiting to see how we go.
Esperana - good luck. I hope your transfer goes ahead and everything works out wonderfully for you. Thinking of you for Saturday . . .
yeah, that's one thing i should have written... lower your expectations. i'm not saying give up hope, but like meo our first cycle didn't work.
however we did at least get a transfer and one frostie.
we also have icsi as apparently we are both a bit useless at baby making naturally. lol.
hugs for you meo. we got our first ever bfp on our first transfer of the second cycle, which i responded to better... so don't' lose hope. our nurse told us every cycle can be different even if its the same protocol.
;)
Hi Girls!
Thanks for all the support! Actually typing through this forum and reading about each of your experiences gave me a lot of more hope...
Unfortunatelly my ET was cancelled due to poor egg fertilization! 6 of the eggs that surprisingly fertilized later on the week didn't get into blastocyst.
I was very sad today... I really thought the spirit of Easter would give us a little miracle...Didn't cry much though... had already cried my eyes out last Tuesday when the lab told me that NONE of the eggs were fertilized... I was in SHOCK... emotions were Up and Down this week!
But I guess we have just to keep trying... Doc has already organized our next cycle plan, this time I'm going on the full stim cycle with Synarel (last time was antagonist) hope this give me luck!
Happy Easter to you all and Baby Dust!
:hug: hugs for you esperan. sorry this didn't work out as you'd hoped.
starting a new cycle, you feel a bit like this .... :wall:
is your fs going to consider 3-day embies this time? Our fs told us there's so many variables with the eggs, such as culture, handling etc that it can be difficult to tell how any one cycle will turn out.
anyway. good luck with your stim cycle.
oxox
Hi grub17, Thanks for the kind words...and
:happyforyou:
CONGRATULATIONS to you! Wish you the best on your pregnancy! Enjoy!!!:dance::pregnant:
Kmond and Meo, good luck on your cycles this month!!!:pray: :crossfingers:
Hi LADIES
Been having a bit of a read of this thread as looks like DH and I will be starting our first IVF/ICSI after 2 BFN after IUI. Our FS thinks we would have better chances with IVF because DH s/count is so varied all the time and its hard to pinpoint the right time.
I am a bit nervouse myself - as I really am not knowing what to expect. I am also really worried about all the costs associated with it.
I see the FS on Thursday to discuss where to next.
Esperence - sorry about your first go - hang in there though. I will be along with the ride soon too and perhaps we can help each other.
Same to you Cadence and others.
I wish you all the very best.
Hi Candice
I've just started my first IVF cycle too.
If it helps I have been/am scared too. To begin with I was scared about the drugs then about doing the injections then my egg collection procedure (which I had yesterday) - what a woosie! But so far I've got through everything and ready for whatever comes next. Yep its all scary but I must be tougher than I think - bet you are too!
Hi K1,
What a lovely post thank you!! :hug:
I am doing okay, had my down reg scan today and am starting puregon tomorrow.
Can I ask how many days of injections and what dose were you on before you were ready for egg pick up?
How many eggs did you get? I have my fingers crossed for you that you get your BFP soon!
To all the others that have replied to this thread thanks so much for your comments, reassurance and support, much appreciated!
Hey Cadence
I did 10 days of injections with 200 units. We got 17 eggs and the clinic just rang to tell me 11 of them were mature and injected (ICSI) and of that 7 fertilised. Scheduled for transfer on Sunday if all continues to go well.
Good luck with the Puregon, it wasn't half as bad as I had imagined! Let hope these IVF cycles lead to BFP for us both.
Hi K1,
Thanks for the reply!
That's great 7 eggs fertilised, how exciting. I hope all goes well with your transfer on Sunday, I will be thinking of you.
I will be on 200 units for 6 days and then will have my scan to see if I need to take further injections.
Keep me updated as to how it is all going, take care.
esperan, I'm sorry to hear it didn't work out this time around. Please treat yourself gently and feel what you need to feel. And sorry for the delayed response :redface:
Welcome, Loops, good luck for your first IVF cycle. We tried IUI a couple of times first but no dice. I wasn't comfortable going straight for about the most invasive baby-making procedure I could think of :rolleyes:
Good luck K1 and also welcome aboard. Your egg numbers and fertilisation rate are looking good!
Seems like my puregon dosage is a bit low (100 units) in comparison to you and Cadence, but I'm in a bit of a risk category for OHSS, so I guess it's better to be safe than sorry! Still, worked last time, so it can't all be bad, just means a few extra days of stabbing myself in the guts, oh joy. Once you get over that particular mental hurdle, it's not actually so bad, I reckon :lol:
PS, sorry for hijacking, Cadence, just wanted to wish everyone luck. I'm still new to the whole IVF thing too.
Cadence, wanna hold my hand??
I am taking my first dose of Puregon tomorrow too. Such a huge step forward finally for me. Lots of mucking around with getting me down regulated.
I am starting on 175 and have my stim scan booked for the 1st of May. Hoping time flies by and we can get good news on the follies and eggies and bt's.
Hi all,
Don't worry Meo, more than welcome don't stress about hijacking am glad that this thread has provided support for people!
Loops- good luck for your appointment on Thurs, thinking of you hope all goes well.
SROSE, yes let's hold hands and go through this together, hopefully at the end of it all we will be celebrating our BFP'S together.
Good luck and best wishes to everyone else.
Thanks Cadence... its nice to have hands held along the way. I have primed my puregon pen tonight ready for the morning dose. I'm just hoping its as easy as the Lucrin injections.
First one is always the most nerve wracking I think, so once tomorrow is done we should be on our way.
Hey y'all! I have to say thanks to all you lovely ladies in this thread, I'm really feeling at home here. It's good to find some others who are "new" to the LTTTC thing, IYKWIM? :D
Loops, how did your appointment go today? I hope you got some good advice and it helps with your decision making process.
Cadence, S'Rose, just wondering on your higher dosage of puregon - do you take it all at once or in two injections? I only have the one in the evening, but only on half your dose. S'Rose's comment about getting the morning needle ready kinda confused me.
I'm going ok, got my follicle scan tomorrow morning, and then the rest of the day free which will be nice. I feel like my midriff is expanding by the hour though, quite bloated today and have discovered that I have to wear my jeans to work as that's all that fits at present! Luckily they're not too concerned about it.
Good luck, ladies, and I'll be back tomorrow with an update for you all :D
Meo - Sorry hun, I take my Puregon in the morning, thats all I meant. And yes all in one dose, I found it stings a little but the advice I was given was to apply pressure to the spot to ease it. I actually feel like I am on a moderate dose actually, a lot of the women I've followed have been on up to 300 units a day, and I can say that would not be at all easy. I'm glad that you get to take it easy with your dose though, I worry about OHSS terribly already.
ps. on a completely unrelated matter... there's a BB request to reset your mood, they want everyone to do it so they can complete a fix - there's a thread about it in the messages from BB section. Just a head's up ;)
My injection was pretty okay today, its still a fine needle and easy to do. The clicking pen is a little off putting and I didn't like the stinging but I think I will be better at it tomorrow, at least a lot less nervous.
Cadence - How have you gone hun?
Hi ladies,
How are you all?
I just did my puregon shot (Meo I am only on one shot of 200, my three previous ov induction cycles the highest dose I have had was 125 and it took 3 weeks or injections to get a decent follicle so maybe that's the reason for the higher dose?) I have decided to take the injections in the evening this time, previously I did the morning but felt too rushed when having to get ready for work so am doing it at night this time.
Thanks for asking about me Srose and I hope all continues to go well, my needle didn't hurt at all but it was difficult to push, felt like it took forever to get back to zero.
Meo I am looking forward to hearing about your scan tomorrow!
Hope everyone else is doing well.
Take care
Hi Ladies
Thanks for your support and for asking about yesterday.
Well - we will be starting IVF in July, with most of it happening towards the end of July. Through Monash IVF but going to Sale. Not ICSI, like I thought just normal IVF. I thought we'd have better chances with ICSI but apparently not.
I was a bit upset that I have to wait for so long but its because I didnt want to go into the city for it.
Ive been on Puregon injections with the IUI so I'm not too nervous about that side of things, just the rest.
But GL to you lovely ladies with your injections etc and everything.
Will be thinking of you all. x
Hi Loops,
Thanks for the update! I know it is very frustrating having to wait so long but I am sure that the time will fly. It is all a waiting game, waiting to start IVF, two week wait, then waiting to tell people until after the first trimester!!!!
Oh well, best of luck for it all, maybe you will fall pregant naturally in the mean time?Take care of yourself and keep us posted.
Just thought I'd pop into this thread to wish you all luck on the IVF rollercoaster! It can be so challenging at all the steps along the way and it's great to have this site where we can share.
I am just embarking on a new cycle...nearly finished the pill and will start sniffing soon ...here's hoping success is very close for us all :pray:
Hi Girls,:hello: sorry for disappearing for a while... good to see more people joining us to share feelings! Thanks Cadence for opening this thread!!:loveshower:
Like possums said it is a great support in such challenging moment we are all going through ...
I'm now on the pill just waiting to start on sniffer in approx. 1 week... (possums maybe we will start sniffer same time?) It will be now my second cycle... not scared of needles anymore...:clap: My dose seems to be the lower than everyone else 150...
K1 hope all goes well for you on Sunday!!
Meo How did you go with your scan?
Loops as Cadence said time flies... I remember when I was going to start my first cycle last year and my doctor told me that my ovary cyst was too big and I had to wait 2 months to do a laparoscopy and more 3 months recovery until I could start an IVF cycle...seemed forever....but here I am on my second IVF cycle already!!:dance:
Cadence and S'rose I have fingers crossed for you! Hope all goes well on your first cycle!!:crossfingers:;)
just one more thing... sorry for my spelling mistakes... english is not my first language... :)
esperan- yes, we will be similar, i start the synarel next wednesday i think it is (will have to double check my timetable!)...it all feels a bit less daunting this time round, although i am of course just as nervous about the final result!
Meo - How did your scan go yesterday? I hope your belly is not too uncomfortable with the bloating.
Cadence - Glad it went well and it does feel like you are there for a while pushing. Glad you don't feel rushed with taking it now, I am sure that helps with making everything less stressful.
Loops - Has anyone suggested Menevit for your DH, lots of FS's seem to recommend it for improving sperm quality. I'm sorry you have to wait so long for your IVF, are you considering doing more IUI in the mean time? Is Sale closer, or just easier to get to for you both? Just wondering is all. My greatest piece of advice for IVF is to expect it NOT to go to plan, so if it does its great, and if it doesn't, its not stressful for you ;)
Esperan - Congrats on almost being back on the rollercoaster, sounds like you have had one heck of time getting back to IVF, so thats great news that you are almost ready to start again.
Emma - Glad to see you ready to get back into a cycle. I hope this round is kind to you in every way hun.
Me: Had a whoopsie yesterday morning, Lucrin needle wouldn't go in anywhere so had to use force which made me feel faint. Then had to do the puregon as well. Felt quite ill from that yesterday.
Today was fine, but was still quite white trying to do it. I am not a lover of seeing needles going in, so having it be stubborn was oh so bad. And I have to do it because DH can't even talk about needles without being icky. But I got there. Can't wait to get to scan day already.
And the bloating has already begun which is apparently normal for some women. How wonderful lol.
Cadence - Yes it is all a waiting game isnt it. Thanks - I will keep you posted. GL to you with your IVF cycle.
Possums - :hello:, wishing you all the best
Esperan - Thanks - Im sure it will come around pretty quickly. GL to you x
Don't worry your english is fine.
S'rose - Sale and the city are about the same distance for us but I much prefer to travel on the country roads rather than through the city. Also if I went to the city I would have a different specialist - not Mac T. So I stuck to what I was comfortable with I suppose. I don't think we will do IUI in the mean time just because it might be a waste of money and we might be just best to save for the IVF costs.
Thanks for the advice re: Menevit DH is already taking it - hopefully that will work and by some miracle it might happen naturally.
Thanks for all your support everyone.
Take care x
Hello, ladies!
Welcome Possum, this is definitely the place to be. I'm feeling good for all of us this cycle!
Esperan, don't worry about the typos, your English is fine.
Loops, we're cheering you on and hoping the wait goes quickly! I also prefer driving on country roads. We're living in Melb atm, but have a farm near Bendigo too. Spent 8 hours on the road travelling around the northern parts of the state on Saturday! Heathcote (farm) to friends' house in Maldon, to visit my dad in Daylesford. Quite exhausting when DH still can't drive at night . . .
S'rose - I've had some needle issues of late too. I'm only on a little does (100 units) but I've found that the last couple of nights when I go to stab myself, just touching the needle to my skin stings when normally I don't feel it. So I also have to force the damn thing in, but I keep telling myself it's worth it! Also, I did see about the mood change request but I can't find where to reset it? Have they taken it off everyone's profile unless you're a paid member? I'll go look at the other forum :D
As for me - Friday's scan looked OK, had another this morning (and another is scheduled for Wed at 7.45am! I appreciate the out of my office hours, but . . . :rolleyes:). I'm a bit behind where I was at the same point last cycle, so it looks like I'll be on the same dose, just a few days longer this time. So egg pick up might be Friday, if my clinic does them on Fridays. I'll ask on Wed. Or we might wait until Monday next week. So I'm still playing the waiting game . . . :dance:
Meo - what a pest that you have to wait a bit longer. And I hear you on those needles absolutely. Bodies can be crazy without warning huh! Have lots of things crossed that you will be able to get the green light Wed morning (that's seriously early for sure).
Hmmm, they may have changed the mood thingy, when I used to click it to change mood it always had a reset mood at the very top of the box that opened. Thats all you need to do and you'll then be mood blanked... such a pity to have lost it for a while.
Loops - I have to admit I would rather the country roads too if I had to travel. So apart from the annoying wait, it sounds that bit less stressful so thats always good news. I hope that the menevit is enough to give you that natural miracle too.
Me: waiting waiting waiting til Friday. Counting down how many needles until then, and trying to get through the headaches which seem to be getting progressively worse atm. Not looking forward to work tomorrow, as my eyes get sore and dry with them so a day of computer work can't be helpful. I'd just really really like good news on Friday. It would be a pleasant change.
Cadence, S'rose and Meo
Looks like things are very close to happen for you girls!
Good Luck!
:pray:
Hi everyone,
I had just been through my first IVF ICSI cycle and on Friday found out that I had a Bio-Chemical Pregnancy, very upsetting.
I have never heard of this before and was wondering, does anyone know anything about it. Has anyone had a Bio-chemical pregnancy then later on done a Frozen Transfer with a happy ending.
Have now booked on for my Frozen Egg Transfer so fingers crossed for me.
_____________________________
Me 39 (Pcos) DH 40 (Sperm DNA Fragmented over 20%)
IUI Dec 2003 1st Try - DD Born Sept 2004
IUI May 2006 3rd Try - DS Born Feb 2007
IVF March 2009 Fresh Cycle - No Good - Bio-Chemical Pregnancy
FET May 2009 ?????
Hi Danyelle,
I'm sorry this has happened to you. I haven't had this myself but a close friend has. She is doing IVF with ICSI and this happened to her twice. my understanding (and this is secondhand) is that a biochem pregnancy is where the embryo implants but does not continue - the only pregnancy sign is a detection of hcg in the blood. There are so many reasons why this can happen - the lining not thick enough, hormones not ideal, the embryo cells dont continue to divide - so it's difficult to determine why but not impossible.
Talk to your FS - there are many tests that can be done to determine why this may have happened - and many treatments for anything that might come up.
My friend discovered she has anitbodies - NK cells? (sorry I can't be more technical) - her next IVF round she will take asprin and steriods - and her FS is quite positive of their chances.
Hopefully someone else on here can give you a better answer - just wanted to share what I know and give you some support. hopefully this is a one off for you and you get your BFP with your upcoming FET.
Good luck
Hi Dannyelle,
Just wanted to say that I am very sorry for what you are going through and I have my fingers crossed that it all works out well for you.
Hi all,
Hope you are all going well with your sniffing, jabbing and whatever stage you are at!
Just a quick update from me, had my scan this morning and have 20 follies (15 on the right and 5 on the left), largest is about 14mm so ll is on track and I will be continuing puregon for the next few days and am booked in to have epu on either Mon or Tues next week (will be confirmed on Fri). I am so happy to be given some positive news for once.
Hope everyone else is doing well and am looking forward to updates from you all, thanks again for all your support!