IVF first timers - June 2021 Protocol

[Luan82]

Hello 👋🏼!! About to embark on the absolutely terrifying process of IVF in June (once my next cycle finishes) and though it might be nice to get chatting to some people going through the same? Meds due tomorrow and bloods booked in for Saturday - Let me know if you are in the same boat would be great to get some support from some fellow infertility warriors ❤️x

@Ofpalestsilver lol thank you. I hope it goes well for you.

@Tealismycolour @Ofpalestsilver Awesome news for you both, yay! 🥳

Teal, do you think you’d do an ERA or similar before your frozen transfer if you suspect implantation issues?

@RiverRiot my clinic said they would only do an ERA after 2 failed embryo transfers.

HSG showed I have a T shaped uterus, the hospital I had that at wanted to operate and correct it before IVF. The clinic I ended up choosing said T shape isn’t an issue. So we will have to just wait and see.

Hi everyone,

First time mumsnet user and currently injecting for our first cycle after 4.5 years of trying and going round in circles. Very excited tho to now be on the way!

Just wondered for those injecting daily or have done in the past if you felt much different during this phase?

Likely a strange question but just have had massively painful headaches (which I was warned about), fatigue n just no real energy. Likely due to qhats going on but jusy hoping it's normal.

Any advice or anyone else feeling like this. Feel silly asking xx

Hi 😃
I’m due to start my cycle this month - very nervous as it’s my first cycle. I’m just 42 years old & after surgery back in February I’m finally recovered & able to start my cycle. Was due to start it in January, but was setback with surgery & then recovery.
I was wondering if someone could help me - I work full time as a teacher. Would people suggest I start my cycle late June or postpone until my July holidays? I’m worried about how I’ll be feeling working full time during a busy half term.
I need to have my cycle complete by Nov as it’s an NHS funded cycle.
Thank you 😊

@Tealismycolour I never knew either!! And to think they had us down for ICSI bizarrely initially! Thank you so much 😊 I can't believe how amazing all your embryos are doing...exactly what you want!

@Lehcar1 @Hopesfor2021 hi 😊 I had headaches and lethargy on my injections, but only after a few days. @Hopesfor2021 I had to self isolate from starting my injections until now, so I worked half term from home (I work with schools) then took this week off. For me I absolutely needed to as things haven't gone that well and it's been emotionally up and down I wouldn't have been able to concentrate on work.

@lehcar1 and @Hopesfor2021 welcome!

@Tealismycolour Ah that’s another new thing I’ve learnt today! I’ve heard of tilted and heart shaped uterus but not T shape! When will you get to transfer?

@Lehcar1 and @Hopesfor2021 Welcome!
I didn’t get any headaches, just bloating nearly a week in and then I felt like I was carrying two sacks of rocks around with me right at the end. They said that’s because I’m very petite though so more likely to feel my ovaries as they enlarged.
It’s important to make sure you drink lots of water, 2-3 litres a day, as this will help with the symptoms.

It’s up to you when you start, I felt really well on the whole but was warned that if we developed any symptoms at any point our cycle would be cancelled so I was glad I happened to have the time off work anyway so we could, not isolate per se but, be a bit more careful I suppose. But I’d say it’s more about how you think you’ll feel mentally rather than physically.

I am wiped this afternoon! So tired. Assume it’s from the emotional ups and downs but also the anaesthesia? I slept awfully last night.

@Ofpalestsilver thankfully the antibiotics are taken orally 😜

@Lehcar1 welcome! I was advised to drink more than normal to try and help prevent headaches. I downloaded a water tracker app. I don’t drink much normally (at all, I can go all day and just not get thirsty) so aimed for 2litres. If you already drink 2l, aim for 3 was what I was told.

@Hopesfor2021 hi! I’m a full time teacher too (secondary chemistry). We were originally aiming for last summer holiday but, covid... 🤷🏼‍♀️ we started again in December, mid-Xmas hols, but it was cancelled due to high blood pressure. Once that was sorted we were up to April. I was due to start the cycle and realised that all my appointments for scans and egg collection etc would be in the middle of the centre assessed grading and I knew the stress would be too much, so we shifted it a month. I’m so glad I did, as I did my stims over half term. My school have been fabulous and I’ve not been in this week so far at all. I had my final scan on Monday and I was very tender so stayed off work. My deputy head said to stay off on Tuesday before egg collection on Wednesday to ensure I was as calm and relaxed as possible. I’m going in tomorrow but they did tell me that if I stayed off all week it would be fine. Whether to start this month or not is difficult as it depends on your circumstances - I’m 38 now (was 36 when first referred, but covid 🤦🏼‍♀️) so we decided to go for it in May rather than wait for the summer hols. It is stressful and while the down reg meds were ok, I found the period I had on them was very painful compared to normal (both times I’ve taken them) and the stims knocked me for six in terms of fatigue. I have a form of arthritis so I’m used to chronic fatigue but this was extra! Also, just being off work with staff and the kids wondering where I am this week is stressful - I’ve told people (other than a couple of people I’m close to) that I’m off for a ‘minor op’ which isn’t a lie!

Not sure if any of that waffle is at all helpful....!

Hi all, newbie here and first time IVFer. I’m 41 with low AMH and never been pregnant. Partner has low morphology as well. We have been prepping for this moment for about 5 months; OH quit smoking, less drinking for both of us, fertility smoothies and supplements. Just started Norethisterone today and will start injecting on the 23rd after I start menstruating. Menopur, buselerin and gonal f everyday for 11 days. Hoping everything responds as it should and am hoping on retrieval of lots of eggs at the start of July. Am nervous about mixing the meds, getting the air out etc. The injections I’m not too bothered about but I think OH will need to do them as I’m not sure I could inject myself!

@Lehcar1 hello! Symptoms can really vary by person but I have heard that headaches can be one. It’s miserable sometimes. I felt like the Michelin man.

@busybee2102 if I have to do this again I’m taking two days off for egg collection. I was still totally wiped. I have a really full on job and this week has been like 10-12 hour days so not ideal but no time to ruminate on the ferties!

@Coops0406 @RiverRiot @busybee2102
Thank you so much for your information- it has been very helpful. I hope to be able to advise others also once I have gone through the process too. Wishing everyone the very best of luck x x

Welcome @Otter3101 it sounds like you and your partner are doing all of the right things!
If you can, I’d try and cut out alcohol altogether while you’re going through IVF. Though I’m in no way judging if you do - I love a jar me - but it’s something to do with statistical success rates and also because your liver will be processing all the drugs so it’s one less thing for it to have to do.

The injections are super daunting at first but they get easier every day. I was on Gonal F, it’s like an epipen, very simple to use and I didn’t feel a thing! I think you have to mix the menopur but it’s not as complicated as some of the drugs can be. You’ll be absolutely fine and a pro in no time!

Hope that helps.

@RiverRiot thank you for this; yes I am apprehensive about the mixing and you have made me a lot calmer! I can't wait until the day I am chilled with it all. Seems like the process has dragged since we started at the end of last year and now it's going at 100 miles an hour!
Yes, I think I will abstain from drinking, I bought a bottle of wine last night after a rubbish day at work, but in the end just didn't want to drink it! Unheard of!
On second day of norethisterone; did anyone get side effects at all? I feel a bit light headed and headachy but I'm not sure it's psychological or physical. Am now just waiting for the bloating to start! Thank god we are not allowed to get down to business because I have never felt unsexier!

@Lehcar1 Welcome! I personally found I got headaches - nothing too horrendous but waves of nausea too, it's definitely hormone related and as we are all on different meds/volumes/protocols we will all have slightly different reactions I think
@Hopesfor2021 👋🏼 when I started I was worried about reacting to stims but as it turns out I've been fine working from home, totally different situ when you don't have that option though, think it's more crucial that you test up after ET than anything else x
@Otter3101 welcome to the group! Fellow low amh-er here too ❤️ I was so worried about the air in the injections but on the 9th day I feel like a pro at it now !! You'll get the hang of it in no time (incidentally I did have some tiny air bubbles in some of the first injections- was fine) x

@Otter3101 i had the same kind of experience where it was dragging on for a while and then suddenly everything happened all at once! :) It's very exciting.

I wouldn't worry too much about the medication. It's actually really simple and small amounts of air won't do you much harm. :) My OH hates needles and everything so he had nothing to do with the injections at all. I thought I would hate doing them but actually the needle is so fine that once you do it a couple of times it's fine!

Hi all. TGI Friday! I’m shattered, went to work today and I’m wiped.

How are you all doing? I’m very bloated and uncomfortable 😞

@busybee2102 sooo bloated! I wake up looking like I've eaten got the week! Do you @RiverRiot get a day 3 update tomorrow or do you have wait for an update on day 5?

@busybee2102 I’m feeling you! I think I kinda forgot that we actually had a pretty intense procedure / operation done. Anything that needs fentanyl has got to be hardcore and then look at us just rocking on with the rest of our lives. We’re awesome haha.

Transfer dat tomorrow. Anyone else? (Sorry I find it hard to keep up exactly with who is where!)

So glad it’s not just me! I feel like a blimp and look like I’m a few months gone already!!!

@Coops0406 we have been told we’ll get a call to update us tomorrow. I’m so nervous 😬

@Ofpalestsilver hope it all goes swimmingly tomorrow!

@busybee2102 exciting - hope the call goes well! And thanks for your good thoughts :)

@busybee2102 I’m with you! I’ve been bloated for about a week or so anyway but last night was on another level for some reason. Had to put myself to bed with some paracetamol.

I looked up the side affects to cyclogest yesterday; bloating, constipation, tiredness. Tick, tick, tick. Think I may pop out and buy shares in prunes today in case things get any worse! 😂

So hoping your day 3 update goes well! 🤞🏼Let us know how you get on.

@Coops0406 No day 3 for me unfortunately, you? How are you holding up?

@Ofpalestsilver That’s such a good way of looking at it, go us! Ha.
Eeek transfer day, that’s so exciting! Hoping it all goes really well! Does your partner get to go with you?

@Ofpalestsilver good luck today! 😍

@busybee2102 how are you feeling. I hope the call goes well for you this morning

@RiverRiot I'm doing well, I look huge too from bloating and boobs really sore. I haven't been nervous about today but I think it's possibly because they told me so much can change between today and day 5, both ways, so I don't really know what to make of it 🤷🏾‍♀️

@RiverRiot nope but he’s not around at the moment! We were laughing that at the moment of an embryo happening were actually physically further apart than we have been in like a year! I’ll see him later. I actually have to travel later (unavoidable). So transfer and my first flight in well over a year. Talk about an intense day.

@Coops0406 I hope that it’s a good call though today. Transfer on Monday all being well. Fingers crossed 100x