Anyone had IvF work when super stressed??

[ForeverAintEnough12]

Hi all, my round of ivf started off great with an AFC of 16 on baseline scan (I have low AMH) and me being v relaxed and feeling healthy.

I went for a day 5 scan - only 4 follicles look to be growing. They then couldn’t get blood out of me so had to try four times which was painful and stressful. Eventually got the bloods but I was gone from work all morning, missed several meetings.

Worked late to make it up and got blurred vision around 10pm followed by an awful migraine. Then a panic attack at getting a migraine during ivf (I've only had one once before 5 years ago). Got no sleep. Feeling sick all day and no appetite and also so busy in work so I can’t call in sick (luckily I am working from home).

I feel this round has gone from positive to doomed in 5 days.

Has anyone had a stressful round that went ok? I’m in bits. My DH is doing all he can to help but my mind and body are a mess and I’m close to tears.

Sorry I can't help re IVF working when super stressed etc, but just to suggest firstly that you might not be drinking enough re them being able to get the bloods - you need to be drinking 2/3 litres a day as a very minimum but I drank a lot more than this and had limited side effect so I think this helped. You must also be eating even if you feel sick and have no appetite :(

Also definitely worth telling your clinic about the migraine - especially with it being so infrequent. I had my first ever aura migraine (never even had a migraine before) a few days after egg collection and it was horrible and scary but they think it could be linked to the drop is oestrogen and are going to do a different protocol next time to be carefully monitoring my levels of oestrogen - so worth flagging in case it could be related.

Good luck with the treatment thought -I know it's easier said than done but the more you worry the more stressed you'll be. I can only recommend trying massively to distract yourself - whether by going for walks, finding something good to watch on tv like a series you'll really get interested in or something else.

It is also very early to be worrying about the number of follicles growing - you'll easily have a week more of stims ahead. And it only takes one egg remember! x

Thanks @Rosiestraws I will flag it to the clinic just in case. Yes it was horrible and very scary which led to the panic attack so I feel my poor body has been battered the past 24 hours. I’ll up my water intake too. I had been having 2-3 litres too but with an early appointment and travel I hadn’t drank much since the night before.

Hello @ForeverAintEnough12 I’m a long term migraine sufferer and all the added hormones is definitely a trigger. When it comes to migraines, the body doesn’t like fluctuations, so hormones, blood sugar levels, lack of water in take and workload (staring at screens for hours) can all be triggers on top of stress in itself. Oh and lack of sleep!

2-3 litres should have been enough water though, probably more the stress of the day with things not going so well at the clinic, then having to work late. Try to zone put as much as possible now, walking can help with getting oxygen pumping and stimulating the blood vessels to the brain.

In terms of stress affecting cycles, I’m not sure how significant if the stress isn’t long term. I was probably most relaxed for my 3rd cycle, but got my lowest number of eggs! Hope it all works out.

My doctor told me early on that stress doesn't affect fertility unless it becomes distress. (He actually went on about the stresses of life in days long gone when we lived without houses amongst dangerous animals .) That advice really helped me not to stress about being stressed. And we all know the "relax and it'll happen" is ridiculous and untrue.

I think most of us have stress during cycles and would wish to be more relaxed. I remember getting worked up after FET because I moved a heavy box and was so mad at myself thinking I'd strained the embryo out of place! That's not to minimise your experience at all, which does sound stressful .

I agree with PP, if it isn't long term then it's probably okay. I think it is important for mental wellbeing that you feel the cycle has gone well though. Do you think it can be turned around with some relaxing walks and good tv? I went for lighthearted shows- things that would make me laugh (because I heard that helps 🤷‍♀️). Also, if you're close to tears, go have a good cry! And then set about trying to feel better. If it is bad enough to affect anything, presumably your scans will show this and you'd be able to cancel then?

Thanks all for your comments. I’m just afraid I’ve given my body a big shock. With the panic attack I was shaking uncontrollable and feeling sick alongside the blurred vision and flashing lights of the migraine. Still feeling unwell this eve and not well enough for a walk. You are right though @Yokey if it did have an impact they should see it on my scan and the cycle might get cancelled if response is too bad. It wasn’t great looking at my scan on Monday anyway.

I’ll be logging off from work on time today and will have a long bath and early night and hopefully I’ll feel more normal tomorrow for my appointment. Will also be getting up early to drink lots of water before it.

As if there wasn’t enough hassle with ivf 🙈

There is some evidence that stress has some effect on fertility rates in IVF (won't link to save your sanity) but a few days here or there is very questionable.

What is somewhat fact is that every womans body responds to stress differently. Women who respond poorly to stress will quickly mess up their cycle that month where as women who respond normal, don't see any real affect on their cycle.

However with IVF you are skipping the whole needing to ovulate naturally part so its practically a non-issue for you during stimulation.

Anecdotally I feel like daily ttc anxiety and stress is when someone should consider 'relaxing'.

Worst case scenario is instead of conceiving within 3 rounds of IVF, you conceive in 4. That's about the worst that can happen.