The side effects of failed ivf

[Jillianec]

Hi Everyone

I recently had an unsuccessful cycle of ivf in early December. This comes after 1 successful pregnancy, 1 ruptured ectopic, 3 miscarriages over the past 7 years but this time around the physical side effects have knocked me sideways.

In addition to the disappointment, I’ve been having hot flushes, skin breakouts (I never have this during my usual period cycle) bloating,weight gain, mood swings and insomnia.

I expected to feel some of these side effects but when can I expect it to stop? I’m on an emotional and physical rollercoaster!

Any tips on how best to recover and help my body heal?
My husband, family and friends don’t really understand how I’m feeling so I feel I’m just battling this on my own and it’s not working.

Thanks in advance.

Sorry you are going through this. Maybe posting in the ivf thread may give you more support.

So sorry to hear about your failed cycle. It sucks doesn’t it? . You seem to have had a hard few years. Unfortunately infertility seems to be quite common so you are definitely not alone and there are plenty of women going through the same as you, quite a few of them on the infertility board will be able to give you some good advice xx

I’ve had 6 ivf cycles, 5 of which failed. A few of them had various side effects as I had different drugs through 3 of them. I remember the hot flushes, etc disappeared after I had my next period. You may find you bleed a bit more than normal and be a bit crampier too on your next one.

It’s the hormones that are making you feel/look like this so once they are out of your system the effects will disappear. I mostly got my next period 4 weeks after it failed. The one time I miscarried it was around 7 weeks before my period returned. Making time for yourself can help with healing, whether it’s a long soak in the bath, a glass or 5 of wine or a massage. Even if it just gives you 5 minutes to forget about what happened. I always focused on my next cycle to get through it but that’s maybe something that you dont want to do.

Take care of yourself Jillian xx

You have my sympathy, failed IVF is devastating.

Side effects for me were more emotional than physical. However I did struggle with insomnia. I started going for two-weekly reflexology sessions. Yes it's an expense, but the therapist found that I had adrenal fatigue, not surprising after what I'd been through and she really concentrated on that area for a noticeable improvement in a couple of sessions.
I just felt that I was doing something healing and nurturing for me as part of my recovery and being ready to face the next attempt. I would really recommend it.

Those all sound very familiar to me, but I always had some severity of OHSS. Did you have a large number of eggs, or any mention of OHSS? It took me a good few months to physically recover from my last fresh cycle, and for all the bloating to go down, and to stop feeling "not quite right".

I don't think there's anything specific you can do, sadly, except to take things slowly if that feels better, and try to live somewhat healthily ("lots of fluids" was the constant advice I had).

Thanks so much everyone for your comments and advice. I did also post on the infertility page when I realised I had posted here:)

BadlyAgedMemes i only had 4 eggs retrieved of which 2 were good enough for embryo transfer so 50% wasn’t too bad.

I’m 42 so to be honest for the first time over the past 6 or so years of trying for another I do feel too old and realise that I need to move. It’s heartbreaking and I do catch myself with a lump in my throat when I see a little one. It comes and goes at the moment and I’m not sure how you come to terms with knowing you’ll not have another child. I know I’m fortunate to have a daughter but I worry about her being on her own. We don’t have a large extended family so there’s not lots of cousins around.
There’s very few children at her school or activities that are only children.

The physical side effects have improved the past few days (minus the odd mood swing or hot flush) but the emotional strain is very much there but I’ll book to see my miscarriage counsellor I had been seeing previously and my acupuncturist.
Thanks for the reflexology recommendation! I’ll give that a go. Thank you again 💕

Hi OP

Sorry for the situation you find yourself in. I have secondary infertility and had 2 miscarriages followed by 3 rounds of IVF in the last couple of years, all of which failed. Last one was in June and 6 months on I am feeling better emotionally and coming to terms with my family looking a different/smaller than what I longed for.

Physically I do feel like the process has aged me. Weight gain and hair loss being the main factors. The weight I am now dealing with and my hair seems to be recovering a bit too. It such a tough ride and take times to heal from all the physical and emotional trauma. All I can recommend is plenty of self care. You will have good and bad days, but you already know that. Time does seem to help with acceptance but you have been through a hell of a lot, so go easy on yourself.

Enjoy your girl ❤️💐