starting IVF this week - scared!

[RaisinGirls]

I'm starting IVF this week - baseline scan tomorrow. Feeling really nervous and not sure what to expect. I've tried to avoid giggling too much as didn't want to scare myself. But I am absolutely phobic about needles and really scared about the thought of injecting myself. Any tips on how to get through it?

I'm also wondering what to expect physically and emotionally / hormonally- am I going to go raging mad? I'm doing mild natural IVF as I'm 41 and my consultant recommended it as the best way to get quality over quantity. I've already got DD but have had 3 miscarriages and feel like this is my last roll of the dice, really.

[kinga1981]

Good luck and hope your ivf goes to plan. Every ivf is different and emotionally difficult to prepare for. With my first round of injections I didn't feel any different to normal. Second time, felt not too good, put weight on and meds didn't work very well. I went through with it, and got pregnant a month ago. It took almost a year though, and it was a lot longer to what I have imagined. Maybe I was just naive a bit at a start

[bananafish81]

Good luck!

Agree with kinga that everyone is different

If you’re on mild / natural modified then your doses of drugs will be low, and I’m guessing that you’re not down-regulating first?

I honestly found the physical side of IVF a breeze, and I was on sledgehammer doses of drugs

The worst bit about the injections is the thought of it and the anticipation. Once you’ve got over the first one it’s downhill all the way from there. After the first day or so, you’ll be doing them like a boss. If you’re super nervous then ice the area first, although TBH I barely even felt the needles.

I liked to think about it as being a really positive thing - I’m doing the best thing I can to get us closer to having a baby

Hormonally - honestly, the only time I got hormonal was when I tried doing a long protocol cycle and was down-regulating, when I got a bit, er, volatile. If you’re doing mild you won’t be doing this, and the stims are fine on this front.

Drink lots and lots of water, eat loads of protein (great for those follies) and you’ll rock the socks off this cycle.

Emotionally it is a rollercoaster, I found listening to relaxation / hypnotherapy MP3s at night before bed a massive, massive help. There’s a CD called ‘The IVF Belief CD’ that I particularly liked. Also tracks by someone Aussie called ‘Be Fertile’. And the Zita West ones are on iTunes.

Have you had the recurrent miscarriage tests (clotting disorders etc)? It might be that aspirin / Clexane etc might be beneficial - worth asking your clinic about if you haven’t had these tests or discussed it with them.

Quality over quantity every time. Take each day as it comes, breathe, and have some chocolate brazil nuts after each jab (selenium is great for your lining, so it’s chocolate covered selenium!)

I've done IVF twice, got a BFP out of my second cycle, though very m/c 2 weeks ago. I cannot wait to cycle again - I'd go tomorrow if I was allowed. To me the hardest part of infertility is the 99% of time that you spend waiting. The 1% of time when you get to feel proactive by doing something I find quite empowering

And when you've done your jabs you will feel like a total badass!

[CruCru]

Practical stuff:

• Any medication that lives in the fridge - put it in your bra for half an hour before injecting (stings less)
  
• when doing the injections, follow the instructions step by step. It will take an hour to begin with, ten minutes by the end
  
• if it hurts to inject yourself, pick a different spot - it really shouldn't hurt.

[waitingimpatient]

Honestly the injections are not that bad. I was terrified when I had to do them but I didn't feel it! The needles are small and I honestly was so relieved after I'd done it. Dh did a couple for me but I found I was better at them!!!

Totally agree with banana about the waiting. It's the worst part. Look at my username that says it all. At least when you are goi g through a cycle you are doing something!!

Good luck x

[RaisinGirls]

Thanks for your replies. Had my scan earlier this morning...and my first injection, which my consultant helped me with. Was crying and scared but wasn't as bad as I expected. He is going to facetime me tomorrow evening to help me do my first on my own. I do think I will feel like a hero after that one!

My scan only showed two follicles on my right ovary, and couldn't see my left as its adhered to my womb - end scar I think. So, really focusing on quality over quantity!!

[Honeybee79]

Good luck!

Personally, I found the physical side of it fine, though the emotional side of it was another issue of course!! After you have injected a couple of times, it becomes really straight forward. The thought is worse than the reality! Great that your consultant is going to facetime you tomorrow to do the next one. Once you have done it yourself, you'll be fine.

[Vixxfacee]

Good luck!

I had no symptoms. I actually found clomid more difficult due to the side effects and scans every few days.

I must be in the minority but I enjoyed the injections!

[bananafish81]

Vixx so did I!!

I found it exciting that we were doing something really positive, that it was hopefully taking us closer to becoming parents

Maybe I'm just weird though!

[Vixxfacee]

Yess I agree! You feel like you are finally doing something. I even wanted side effects so at least I'd know it was working.

Don't think it's weird at all!

When you want something so bad the bad is part of the journey.

[RaisinGirls]

So the needles aren't that bad, you were all right! But the headaches...woah they are a killer!