Day 1 of IVF treatment - follow my journey

[IVFmumtobe]

Hi,

I wanted to start a blog of my IVF experience to help other women in the same position as me, but also to keep me calm through an unknown experience.

I'm 37, and my husband and I have being trying to conceive for a long time and began investigations with the NHS in February 2016. Today, 20 months later is Day 1 of IVF treatment. Due to my polycystic ovaries I have been placed on a short cycle. This means from day 1 of IVF drugs, my egg collection is approximately 10-14 later. Polysystic ovaries produce more follicles in your ovaries, hence a shorter cycle, but there can be risks of hyper stimulation during this phase (let's hope not!).

I was nervous about self-injecting but let me reassure you that it is very easy, and just feels like a little scratch. I have been advised I may
feel tired and experience bloating from the ovaries growing in size. Baggy pants are ready! I've attached a photo of the drugs which stimulate the follicles in the ovaries and those which stop ovulation.

I'm booked for a follow up scan in 5 days, 7 days and then egg collection in 10 days.

I'm feeling excited, but nervous... sounds about right I suppose?

Follow my posts, and share your thoughts on this experience...

:-)

Hello I'm shamelessly placemarking and also wanted to wish you all the best.
I also have severe PCOS and have had fertility treatment. I was very 'lucky' that my last and final round of 150mg Clomid worked. However at 26 weeks last week I lost my gorgeous baby girl.
From Jan we will hopefully be back on the clomid train but I just have this feeling that it won't work out this time, and therefore I'm interested about learning how your ivf experience goes. I have everything crossed for you.

I had 4 cycles. You won't need baggy pants
😂 unless you get ohss which hopefully you won't. you will feel tired and possibly crotchety

Good luck with your treatment. We are very similar as I am on Day 2 of short protocol today, also due to having two very polycystic ovaries. (Although I don't have PCOS).

I'm on Menopur and Gonal F and expecting egg collection around 30th/31st.

Hoping to avoid the OHSS and hormonal mood swings, but we'll see..!

Fingers crossed for you

I was in your shoes almost exactly a month ago! I have PCOS and one tube, and was also on short cycle. I definitely needed baggy pants! Ladies with PCOS tend to grow a lot of follicles and are at higher risk of OHSS. I currently have it, and it sucks, but happy to say it was late onset caused by BFP :)

Good luck OP I’m only a month ahead so I’ll be watching and reading!! I wish someone had done this before my cycle as I was terrified!! Great idea :)

Iamchanging,

I'm so sorry to hear for your loss. I simply can't imagine how this must feel. I truly hope you had (and still have) a support network through this process for both you and your partner. Our fertility clinic have offered 6 free sessions of counselling which is good to know is available if required. You can't predict the future, so never stop being positive and I'm sure you will be successful.
I'll keep you posted on this thread and how my next week days/weeks go...

Thank you, it's really shit but unfortunately all of us in the joyful land of infertility have a bit of a shit time. It's not easy for anyone, but I hope that you get your happy ending x

Oh my gosh Iamchanging I just read what happened to you. I’m so so sorry. Life is truly shit sometimes.

Oh Iamchanging, that's so sad, I'm so sorry.
Look after yourself and I hope you find all the happiness after such a terribly hard time x

First injection done! The solution entering felt a little strange and it felt a little sore for around 5 minutes after. It has left a little red mark on my skin, a bit like a spot!

I’ve always believed that in life there is no success without struggle, but at least someone invented chocolate. Thank you Chocolate man. Till tomorrow...

Thank you everyone. Are you injecting yourself IVF or getting your DH to do it? Chocolate looks lovely btw!

Self infecting! This way it’s eaiser for me to control the speed of the solution entering my tummy, and keeps the needle steady.
On another note, my ovaries have been tender since my scan. They regularly hurt through ovulation and during my period, so it’s hard to know what’s what right now!

Hi,

A good day today, lots of energy and did exercise to keep myself active and fit. It’s really important to drink LOTS of water so I have stocked up on Evian 1.5lts and drinking 2 bottles a day. And I’m making sure I eat a healthy diet high in vegetables, fibre and protein. Alarm set for 8pm injection.

Good luck. 1 am currently 9w 3d pregnant after my 2nd short protocol IVF (I had 3 x IUI before that).

I really didn't find the injections etc that bad after the first couple, it just becomes part of your routine.

iamchanging there are no words, look after yourself.

Cazinge, may I ask how soon did your 2nd round start after your first? Do you have to wait a few months, or can you start your 2nd treatment on your next cycle? Thanks

We had our first cycle late March / April (started stimming 21/22 March, EC was 7 April & ET 10 April) then 2nd cycle started stimming mid Aug, EC was on 28 Aug & ET on 31 Aug.

We could've gone sooner but we were paying & needed some time emotionally. I also had an endometrial scratch for my 2nd treatment which needs to be done the cycle before treatment. I wouldn't recommend going straight away as my period after the first failed cycle was v heavy & painful so I don't think it would've been receptive to more drugs.

Thanks, good advice

Hi everyone, I’m on day 5 of IVF but I’m on the long protocol which means I’m down regulating at the moment by injecting .5ml if buserlin. I’ve my scan on Tuesday and after that I’ll start the stim drugs. It’s not my first round so thankfully I’m not stressed this time. Last round we had no eggs collected so I’m hoping this cycle is more successful.

Hello everyone please can i join!?
I have been on buserelin for 18 days and bemfola for the last 4 days. I have 1 day of bemfola left and 5 days of menopur.
Im due for a scan friday to see if im ready for egg collection on Monday 30th.
We have been trying for over 2 years now so hoping for our miracle.
This is our first ivf :)

Hi Star198,

Welcome! I started this blog yesterday as it’s my first IVF, suffer from anxiety, and wanted to share my thoughts and experiences to help me and others through this process. I also have a scan on Friday due an egg collection on 30th October so stay in touch on this thread.

Hi ivfmumtobe!
Thank you thats so reassuring that someone else has the same dates and feels the same. Im accepting of it all now but i found it really hard to be told our onky hope was ICSI :(
I suffer with anxiety and i dont think ive ever shaken as much as when i tried to do my first injections but so far so good now :) fingers crossed for us both. This journey has been long and painful

Day 3, and injections are becoming a routine. Drank 3 litres of water today as did a 10km run this morning so wanted to stay hydrated. Never seen my toilet so often Loading up on vegetables and protein to keep my energy levels high!

Star198 - if you’re anxious about the process make sure you talk to your partner about your emotions so they can help you through it. Regarding ICSI it’s amazing they can offer this process, so keep your spirits high. My husband and I were originally diagnosed with ICSI treatment (due to count and morphology), but they have changed it to IVF. You won’t know until the egg collection day. We’ve been told it may revert back to ICSI on 30th October. It all depends on the day...PMA

Ivf mum, Youre doing great well done you !! I think ive drank a similar amount today too.

Im doing OK so far. I started really anxious but im on day 19 of injections now and its definately become the norm although my legs have seen better days. Luckily my husband's been an absolute rock and is doing all i can and researching and reading up on everything he can to support me which is great. I had a laparoscopy and was diagnosed with endometriosis recently too so it was yet anothet blow. The clinic said that my husbands sperm is so low that we have no chance of natural conception and our only hope is to try icsi so i dont think that will change sadly :( i dont know what ill do with myself if it works i won't believe it!!

Star198, I’m sorry to hear that news and your husband sounds amazing! It’s great he’s such a support for you. I’m not sure if it’s helps, but my husband started taking fertility drugs six months ago, as he was diagnosed with a lower sperm count (8million). We did research online and purchased a batch of Fertilsan M, see photo attached, and his recent count was 112million. He also gave up drinking, caffeine and focussed on a healthy diet. We won’t know what made a difference, but they get very good reviews online. You’ll probably know that it takes 3 months for sperm to grow, so might be worth trying for future rounds...

Yes definitely all helps :)
Hes just finished taking a couple of packs of those funnily enough and also given up drinking and eating healthily and got a lot fitter than he was which is great.
I cant believe your husbands count went from 8 million up to 112 million thats absolutely amazing !!!! Ill see what happens with this round of ivf and if we need more then we'll get some more of the tablets too.
Fingers crossed for us all that this is our lucky time! Friday and hopefully monday 30th cant come soon enough

Today I introduced a morning injection, one to stop ovulation. This one has to be taken at the same time everyday, so a nice 715am rise this weekend . Felt quite tired today, and have the onset of a mild headache, but other than that no other side effects. Two days to my next scan, and feeling excited but anxious to see the results...I’m putting bets on the dose being increased, we know our bodies ladies! Let’s see...