IVF/ICSI May/June

[Cauliflower82]

Hi everyone

I’m creating a new thread with the hope of finding people with similar dates to me. I am due to start medication on May 13th with the hope egg collection will be June 19th. I’m 34, female factor fertility.

Anyone else out there with similar dates?

I really need to catch up. I've been avoiding this thread for a while as my head is a mess. Does anybody feel like the drugs are putting them into depression? I think it started when they put me on the pill and I'm not on Buserelin and Progynova and omg I'm a mess. I keep thinking I'm going to leave my other half, I'm crying all the time, I'm miserable. I don't know what to do! Don't know if it's the drugs or just actually i am genuinely unhappy!!

*now on Buserelin and Progynova

@LittleOne3 the clinic will give the next update tomorrow morning 🤞I hope it is good news.

Re pessaries that's what I'm doing - alternating. Someone asked about when you start them - I was told to start the evening after EC.

@Ginandtonic31 the meds they give us alter hormones which has an impact on our emotional state. I deffo experienced more tears than usual. Also IVF is incredibly stressful and the meds sometimes have bad side effects which add to it all. I was wondering if your clinic has a counsellor - it might be worth checking?

@Ginandtonic31 hope you are ok. The meds will def be playing with your hormones. I know people who have said the pill really made them feel bad. Have you taken the pill before and felt like that before?

I’m finding the progesterone is making me feel sleepy -and want to eat loads-any one else the same?

If any of you missed me saying it earlier -for that feel good feeling -go watch alladin! Perfect pick me up during this!

Glad you had a nice weekend mouse1234567 and Aladin was good. We are waiting for the Lion King to come out!
Cauliflower82 I think we will be at about the same point. I have a scan on Weds and will hopefully start stimming around then too. So happy for you you are coming on!
Ginandtonic31 I was told the burserelin could make me feel depressed and teary after about a week or so because it supresses hormones. And yes were they right!! Crying loads, thinking I hate my life. And like you I wonder if it's the drugs or if I really am that unhappy. (Sorry if that comes across as too negative to anyone reading this, I struggle with anxiety and depression as it is so may not be as bad for some people). I find if I do an intense cardio class that makes me feel better for a few hours at least.
Good luck tomorrow DawnK77 oh and to tag people I put a * before and after the person's name!

@Zest11 I'm so relieved to read that. Thoughts keep swinging around my head questioning how happy I actually am with my DH, have I always felt so unhappy with him, etc. I was feeling a bit depressed before the Buserelin but since I've been on this I do think I've been much worse! I can't concentrate at work, I can't imagine ever being happy again and not looking at my DH and thinking do I want to stay with you! And then the crying. All the bloody time!! I wish my clinic had warned me as I feel like a freak and like my life is really crumbling around me.

@mouse1234567 I was on the pill about 7 years ago but a different one. I've been on this one (Microgynon) for 18 months. I really hope it's the pill and drugs making me miserable as to be honest I've not been 100% since Christmas. But very bad this last week or so. I'm scared to have the transfer in case this is the real me and I feel the same after having and baby or whilst pregnant!!

Hi @Ginandtonic31. They warned me at my clinic about the buserelin as well and said that I might well feel very weepy. Frankly I think that's quite bad of your clinic to not say anything as it has now put additional stress on you at a time where you really don't need anymore.

I actually didn't get any of those side effects, which I was relieved about because I'm also prone to anxiety and depression.

I think you should certainly see if you can speak to someone if your clinic offers that. Or find someone privately.

One thing I would say (as it has been said to me) is that although you might end up with post natal depression, you are very aware of it, so will be in a position to seek help. Try to remember your reasoning for wanting a baby initially and focus on that. Take good care of yourself lovely.

@DawnK77 good luck today hon.

@KittyKatSmile I'm really upset I wasn't warned because I mentioned it and was told it's fine. I was definitely having similar feelings before the drugs but the drugs have made it so much worse. I literally can't figure out if my head is ruled by the drugs or if I've always felt I'm not attracted to my partner and can find better elsewhere!! And if the pill contributed to the feelings before the Buserelin. I was never offered a counsellor but I've emailed them this morning. The thing is, it says they're infertility counsellors so they might not get me as we are having it for genetic reasons.

Good luck for ECs today.

The EC is not as bad, or at least my last one wasn't. They generally would not allow DH/DP in with you.

The sedation is fine, but depends on your tolerance. I heard it is like alcohol - if you have a high tolerance you are likely to be more awake (as in know what is going on hopefully not feeling it) and if you have a low tolerance you will be more likely to sleep. I remember them starting last time but then fell asleep and woke up back in my room. I don't really remember much. You will be a bit tender after, but the most painful part was them sticking the canula in the back of my hand!

The pessaries my clinic said would start the day after EC. My egg didn't fertilise last time so I never had to start the pessaries, but they would start after they know what embryos you have.

I have heard in the back is better for leakage. It depends on which type your clinic give you - some are specific for one way or the other and some can be either. Mine are front only (with applicators!) but they do leak. The advice was to lie down for 15-20 minutes after to get maximum absorption and you may want a pad on do you do not leak everywhere. The things we do!

@Ginandtonic31 I am sorry the drugs are really affecting you. The buserelin can make you have a mini-menopause (loving the hot flushes), but if you look at the information leaflet they do cause all sorts of side effects.

If you look on it, you will see that known side effects are mood changes, depression and anxiety. If you did not want a baby and want to have a baby with your partner, you would not be putting yourself through all of this. I do think the big problem with IVF is the length of time we have to go through it for and we can start second guessing it and then they mess around with hormones which just make it worse.

@Ginandtonic31 echo what @CornishMaid1 says. Going through IVF is proven to be as stressful as having cancer. I think you need to trust that previous you rationally made decisions that you are now following through on. I know it's hard but try not to second guess yourself. You've come so far.

Oh my god. The most stressful day ever. Somehow forgot to build 'getting blood tests' into my early morning routine and instead had planned to get into work early to do the work I didn't do yesterday. So then got a telling off at my scan. Also had to see a nurse to discuss how to do the trigger and which drugs to take when which I hadn't planned for which then meant I had to sprint across London to get to a work meeting. They also told me I'd need to take my last buserelin at 6pm.... I've still got meetings at 6pm! Then they said it wouldn't necessarily be at 6pm but 2 hours before my trigger, which they haven't yet confirmed. Argh! Then sprint back across London to get bloods done and buy the trigger (wtf!)

Back to work for a token hour's work (and some lunch. It's 3:30pm) before acupuncture (and doing my call in a cab so I can be reunited with my buserelin!!)

Sorry for the whinge....

KittyKat blimey that's a busy and stressful day. Hope the acupuncture helps to ease things a bit!

Thanks for the welcomes!

@DawnK77 hope EC went well for you.

I heard from clinic today that 4 embryos survived the weekend. They need to make it to Wednesday 🤞.

Feeling tired and weak today.Last night my belly was in intense pain and bloated/swollen couldn't sleep at all. Feeling like trapped wind, but meds for trapped wind did nothing, also was getting an upset stomach (sorry TMI!). I wasn't sure if this was just a side effect of the lovely pessaries we have to take.
Went back to the clinic today to be checked - they took bloods I think checking for infection. Hoping it's not an infection as really want ET to happen on weds....it's never simple is it?!

@Helene2019 no, it's never simple. That's really good news about your embryos. Sorry to hear you're feeling so rubbish, hopefully it's nothing too sinister.

@DawnK77 hope today went well and you're looking after yourself now.

Hi everyone, I've been avoiding the thread too. @Ginandtonic31 I'm feeling much the same. My mental health is not in a good place, at all. The 2ww is torturous and I'm really struggling, been trying to forget all things ivf hence why I haven't been on, but I can't concentrate at work and haven't had a full night sleep since transfer so I really don't think exhaustion is helping matters. I'm the same with my partner, doubting if I even want to be with him let alone raise a child together but I think a lot of it is resentment that he hasn't had to do anything and as I'm sure someone previously said sometimes I wonder if he even knows "we" are going through this. I am trying to keep telling myself it's the overall stress of ivf coupled with the drugs but I'm finding it hard to be positive. Sending you hugs.

Good luck to everyone at your different stages, I will read and decide if I have it in me to keep posting but have been thinking of you all xxx

@DawnK77 I hope it went okay today.

@Helene2019 That is good news that 4 are still going strong. If you are feeling pain and bloating just keep a check on any other symptoms to make sure you are not developing OHSS. Hope you feel better.

@KittyKatSmile That is a busy day. That seems odd for the last dose - on my last cycle my last buserelin was at 6pm (as I took that every day at 6) and my trigger was at 10:30pm. I had been told the other drugs stay at the same time and your trigger dose is variable as it is timed based on when you have egg collection. It may be that it just has to be at least 2 hours before (to get in your system first), so if you take them at night you have to take it before the trigger but changes are your trigger will be late at night.

@Weenumpty I am sorry you are struggling. You have to do what is best for you, so in case you stay away for a while I am sending big hugs and lots of luck.

@CornishMaid1 yes, it was to do with it being 2 hours before the trigger but once again they have caused panic because the trigger isn't even until 10pm!! And they still told me on the phone it should be at 6pm when I'd said I couldn't do 6pm. They then said 'oh ok. Just do it whenever then'. Argh!

@Weenumpty so sorry you're feeling down. This is such a hard thing we're all putting ourselves through. I actually quite often feel grateful that I'm doing this on my own as there is only me to let myself down. That is not meant to be smug, just an acknowledgement of the additional pressures you ladies have got at a time we don't need anything more. Thinking of you and sending you strength xx

@KittyKatSmile whoa you’ve had a massively busy day. I hope you’re all settled at home now waiting to trigger 🏡. Best of luck - let me know how the shot goes.

@Helene2019 I was thinking the same as @CornishMaid1 hopefully it’s not OHSS and it’s probably not but it’s always best to just keep an eye on it. Congratulations on your four little embryos. I’ll be praying for them all :).

@Weenumpty and @Ginandtonic31 I’m really sorry to hear you’re both feeling down :(. I agree that the clinics should be very upfront with us re side effects. I can’t complain about mine as they’ve been so informative at every step, but I can’t help but feel that might be because my clinic is fairly small.

I’m doing okay now. Full period which I’m pretty surprised at - sorry for tmi. I’m feeling that Wednesday should go absolutely fine for me now 🤞

@KittyKatSmile you poor thing -what a lot of stress! I’ve def had a few of those days balancing ivf and work -most of the time when they send me to the pharmacy and there’s is a two hour queue or when they make me go for bloods and there’s is a two hour queue. Poor you-hope you can rest tonight.

@Helene2019 pleased to hear the good news about your four embryos. My stomach was very constipated and messed up after EC. I didn’t start the progesterone tho as had a freeze all -but the progesterone on my frozen cycle has upset my tummy a little.

@Weenumpty sorry to hear you are struggling with your mental health. It’s such a tough process. Im really struggling with be tww. How many days in are you?

4dp5dt today and I opened a boots test as had one knocking around -nearly did it then got the Better of myself when I read the front “over 99% accurate on the day of your expected period”. Put the test down! OTD next Thursday but I hope I can make myself wait till Saturday morning so I don’t have to go to work. Purposely not ordering frers till Friday.

Finding it really hard -just feel like impending dooms awaits!

Trying to keep busy and go out tomorrow night and stayed late at work today.

Hope everyone is ok.

Happy to report my scan went fine today and I have started my injections this evening and started on the oestrogen patches too. I have my lining scan booked in for Tuesday next week!!

Xxx

Hi all,

Thank you for the well wishes! EC went well, 18 eggs however they think I am high risk of the over stimulation of the ovaries. I wish they had just told us what to do as they kept coming to recovery room letting us make decisions when we have no clue. So plan is go back Friday for scan then if ovaries okay will do egg transfer, providing there are some to transfer. Got given anti biotics for the week and some tablets to try and calm the ovaries and they did an injection after but I'm not sure what. If ovaries not playing ball then freeze all. They said they'll ring tomorrow with an update, I wish I was off work now.

Anyone due EC this week, I had the suppository up the bottom and a temazipan, (can't spell that sorry) and then local anaesthetic once the speclam was in, and gas and air, it wasn't great but wasn't as bad as I was expecting and a nurse sat with me the whole time , they also let my other half in, he sat at top by my head. (I'm sure he promised me a new hand bag during it haha) Also once it's finished and your in recovery, you can't really remember the feeling.

I'm sorry some of you are feeling down, it is such an emotional time, I've found myself avoiding people as I feel I've nothing to talk about.