Starting IVF on Monday; what's your advice?

[fluffygreenmonsterhoody]

Just that really. Been ttc dc2 for four years and on Monday I go into Edinburgh to kick things off.

Do you have any advice? How were the injections for you? What did you tell work? Did you need much time off?

Anyone else in the same boat?

[Wonderflonium]

The injections were fine. I thought they'd hurt way more but if there was any discomfort at all, it was only immediately after. I did get bad headaches with menopur so be ready with some paracetamol and water. Everyone recommended magnesium to me but I didn't try it.

In the country I'm in, you can get the borough council to reimburse absences due to long term health conditions. So, work did know because I filled in that form and let them know when they could claim. But I don't think my boss actually read the form, he just knew it was a health thing. My line manager didn't know because I didn't trust her not to gossip about it. (Sure enough, she was spreading rumours about her guesses). I think telling them is a good idea, especially if you work at a place with "wellness interviews" after time off for ill-health or whatever.

I needed a bunch of time off especially since I got hyperstimulated. The first part of the IVF was manageable because I knew weeks ahead when I'd need to be off. The bit where they were monitoring my uterus to see when they could implant needed a lot more time off with much less notice.

But what I went through the most with IVF was waiting around. Waiting to get on the waiting list, waiting to be on a cycle, waiting for my ovaries to do their thing, waiting for my ovaries to calm the feck down, abandoning cycles because my uterus didn't respond. Just a lot of opportunities to practice being patient.

[kezmarie]

Fluffy come and join our thread - cycle buddies oct/Nov. Plenty of ladies on there going through cycles at the moment. Some on down reg, some starting injections and some have already had transfers!
Come and join us
X

[fluffygreenmonsterhoody]

Thanks wonder it's all a bit overwhelming so good to hear others' experiences.

Kezmarie thanks! I was looking for a thread but couldn't see one. Would you mind linking?

[fluffygreenmonsterhoody]

Ignore that, it was right in front of me!

[kezmarie]

Fluffy - haha see you over there

[EnglishBreakfastTea]

Agree with the waiting, if you've got a hobby throw yourself into that because having free time to run through "what if's" can be really stressful! I was surprised post egg collection how crampy I was, have the paracetamol ready! Wishing you the very best of luck

[icy121]

Stick to the protein heavy low sugar diet whilst stimming. That's the only thing for me which I found a good amount of research on.

Best of luck, it's such a mind fuck.

[Meredith501]

A hot water bottle on your stomach each night after injections. I didn't do this for my first cycle which was cancelled but did it for my second successful cycle. Granted my meds were changed for the 2nd cycle but for some reason I really believe the hot water bottle helped a lot!

Also, I worked though my first cycle without telling work about the treatment so was constantly rushing to and from appointments. My doctor signed me off sick for my 2nd cycle because the clinic wanted to scan me every second day so it just wasn't practical to work. Being off, not having to hide the treatment from people and just being able to relax every day was brilliant.