IVF Anxiety - am I over-worrying?

[Hepburn19]

I'm very new to Mumsnet and a nurse recommended reaching out to see if there were other women who would be willing to share their IVF experiences. I have to have my second laparoscopy and hysteroscopy operations in 2 years and I'm truly nervous about the whole thing already! Due to a 2nd obstructing thyroid, I have to have the operation again. Has anyone been through this and did it help IVF?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! xx

[BeaCat]

Hello, I also had two laparoscopys due to blocked tubes. The first was diagnostic and the second was to remove my tubes as I had fluid in them which can be dangerous to an embryo. Recovery time after a lap is about two weeks of feeling stiff, groggy and bloated but it was necessary for me. It's a rough and tiring road and you need resilience but if you're lucky enough to get a baby at the end of it it'll be worth it! X

[BeaCat]

Also the physical side of ivf isn't that bad, I think the emotional side it the hardest.

[Hepburn19]

Thanks Beacat, both times are just for diagnostic, they haven't mentioned fluid/tube removal. Great to hear you felt better after. I think I need to trust their plans as this will hopefully get me closer to conceiving.

[Oceanblueeyes21]

Hi Hepburn19,

I have had a bit of a rough time of it this past year. I had 2 laps, the first was to investigate and they found stage 4 endometriosis. The second was to clip both tubes because of the fluid thing. I have found the whole process very emotional. I start the ICSI process in January and the closer I get the more nervous I get about it all. I think you need to see this as a journey rather than a destination. Stay as positive as you can and anytime you do something like have surgery just try and see it as if you are one step closer to getting pregnant xx

[Hepburn19]

Thank you Oceanblueeyes21 for sharing and you are so right about the journey. I have already been down this route but the relationship failed and my thyroid has grown hence doing it again. I was annoyed them didn't remove everything the first go; I have move hospitals and I just feel a bit prodded and poked. You have hit the nail on the head, it is emotional and I hope your nerves calm as you get nearer. It's not knowing what to expect - do you know anyone who has been through it already?

[RyvitaBrevis]

After going through the pain of endometriosis and two laparoscopies within a year for it, one of them very extensive, IVF was no big deal at all. I wasn't expecting to feel this way, but actually it felt amazing to be doing something more constructive, or at least different, after years and years and cycle upon cycle of BFNs the natural way. I had heard so many people talk about how IVF is the most difficult thing they have ever experienced, and it no doubt is for some people, but everyone experiences things differently and it may not be as hard as you are imagining.

You've been through a lot. I suspect people who find IVF the most intrusive or difficult to manage are the ones who have never really experienced a medical problem or even a big disappointment before infertility. Personally, I'm not afraid of needles so that side of it was fine and something I got used to quickly (although my actual technique at mixing the meds never got consistent).

I've never had a thyroid problem so I can't comment on that directly.

Yes, IVF is an emotional process but I went into it expecting it not to work, which I'm sure helped me to cope with the TWW. As it turns out, my first cycle was successful, which felt nothing short of miraculous and of course it doesn't happen like that for the majority. There are IVF cycle odds calculators you can find online that give a somewhat personalised result by age, which might be helpful if you are looking for data beyond the anecdotal.

Hope this helps. xx

[Maggie272]

I haven't had exactly this, but you can get through IVF, stress and all. I found the hormones the hardest. Keep doing the things that make you feel good during the process xxx