First IVF cycle

[KirstyAnneH]

Hi.

So I'm just waiting for day 1 of my period to start so I can begin my first cycle. Getting to this point has been absolute hell, I've had such bad anxiety about absolutely everything! We had a counselling session last week which has helped but I'm still really nervous...I'm assuming this is a normal feeling right?
I am lucky enough to already have a 12yr old daughter from a previous relationship. Me and my partner have been trying for 2 years now so have decided to give ivf a go because if we don't then I think we will regret it!
Can anyone tell me about their experience with the hormones and their egg collection because I think these are the biggest fears of mine, like to the point I had convinced myself I was going to die 🤦🏼‍♀️
I'm just looking for some reassurance now I guess!
Look forward to hearing from some of you ☺️

I barely ever take a paracetamol so was worried how I would react.....but I felt fine throughout the drugs and injections. Am sure you will be too. Good luck xx

@KirstyAnneH, I think most people find the hormones and the puncture fine. I myself have done 2 fresh cycles and it was ok. I think i only felt a bit of a headache the first day or 2 at the start of the 1st cycle. And during the puncture I was awake, mildly sedated and it was still totally bearable (although i am normally not good with any pain). After the 2nd cycle I have had some cramps because of 16 eggs collected and “kissing ovaries” but a hot water bottle helped.

I believe the hardest part is in the waiting and the constant “not knowing”. That can be really tough especially when you are long enough in the process. Meditation or other ways of relaxing and distracting yourself can help.

Now, success down this road and don’t worry, it is just a different way to your dream:)

The clinical stuff is fine, please don’t worry - the hardest part is the waiting. Best of luck xxx

Accupuncture is great

I hate needles and was terrified. I found the drugs fine and the egg collection I was sedated and was actually quite nice waking up and being fussed over.
The only bits that are hard is finding out how many follicles are growing etc how many eggs are collected and then fertilised. My first ivf I just didn’t ask any questions at all or note down follicle growth etc I felt it helped my anxiety and I just put my trust in the doctors and didn’t obsess over the detail. Ignorance was bliss. So the anxiety only started for me really after egg collection which is okay then as you e done your job body wise at least.
Make sure you do lots of nice things during the cycle - I binge watched mafs etc! Good luck

@Hulahoopla

I hate needles and was terrified. I found the drugs fine and the egg collection I was sedated and was actually quite nice waking up and being fussed over. The only bits that are hard is finding out how many follicles are growing etc how many eggs are collected and then fertilised. My first ivf I just didn’t ask any questions at all or note down follicle growth etc I felt it helped my anxiety and I just put my trust in the doctors and didn’t obsess over the detail. Ignorance was bliss. So the anxiety only started for me really after egg collection which is okay then as you e done your job body wise at least. Make sure you do lots of nice things during the cycle - I binge watched mafs etc! Good luck

Thank you for this! I hate needles too! I'm hoping that I can continue with my reflexology sessions, I've been having them regularly for the past 18months and it's helping my stress levels and anxiety!

@FETOCT2021

The clinical stuff is fine, please don’t worry - the hardest part is the waiting. Best of luck xxx

Thank you for this, hearing it from people who have experienced it already is putting my mind at ease

Once you start the practical steps of ivf it all feels very productive. Like you’re taking active steps to get pregnant. It can be a good and positive experience

I watched videos on YouTube of people injecting themselves for IVF before mine and I really panicked wondering how I would ever manage it. It was totally fine for me though. I could inject myself right now I got so over it. Hopefully you'll be the same.

I was very bloated but physically really it wasn't too bad at all, even with mild OHSS.

I agree that the waiting is by far the most difficult, all the while not knowing anything about what will happen.

But! You'll be in with a real chance of a beautiful bfp and that hope for me meant everything. I agree with @fetoct2021, just doing something productive after being completely unable to get pregnant for so long made me feel much better than hopelessly trying naturally.

@Holskey Thank you for that, honestly hearing people say it's really not that bad is making me so much calmer! I think I'm just more concerned about the side effects of the injections and then the sedation for egg collection 😬

I actually enjoyed the sedation! Xx

So did I! You got biscuits and tea where I was after too.
I got dh to do injections. Now I take daily injections of clexane and do myself no issues. You definitely get used to needles.
I was also on the highest dose of drugs and felt fine

@Abi47 🤣🤣 I do keep trying to tell myself that I'm just going for a nap

@Hulahoopla I'm being put on the highest dose too! I'm a very hormonal person already, I have PCOS and endometriosis so worried I'm going to be horrendously bloated!!

I've just finished my first cycle and we'll start the second one in January. I'd suggest to just go with it.
I would also suggest to do the injections after having had some food and while lying down. I made the mistake of doing it standing up before breakfast the first time round and then actually passed out for a few seconds. I've got low blood pressure generally, though. It was absolutely fine the other times I injected myself.
The egg collection was fine. I was put under GA for about 15 minutes but was up and about again very quickly.
I was told no exercise. No yoga, no swimming, no nothing. So I've gained some weight in the last few weeks, which irritates me.
The waiting, however, is the really annoying part. Once you've done your injections, there isn't really anything else you can do. Of my 8 eggs only 3 fertilised and of those only 1 made it to morula on day 5. Chances that it would implant were less than 10%. It did, for a short while, but just wasn't quite strong enough. So we'll start again, with a slightly different set of medication...For some people, the first round is a test run.
Good luck with it. :)

@Dizzyhedgehog thank you for sharing this, sorry your first round wasn't successful, I hope your next round is 🤞🏻
When did you have to stop exercising? This is a big worry of mine, I train 3 times a week and it's such a big part of me that I want to continue training as much as possible!

@KAnneH I was told to stop quite early on, from when I started the injections. I'm not sure whether every clinic is the same, though. I was also told to drink about 3l a day and to eat a lot of protein.
The exercise bit was a little annoying because I teach PE twice per week, 6 hours in total. My TA had to do the modelling. 😀

@Dizzyhedgehog Ah ok, I have an appointment Monday for bloods so I'm going to ask my nurse then, I would love to still go and do something! Bless you, that must have been hard, but I guess a few weeks off isn't going to kill me, just worried about bloating and weight gain!!

Hi. I am in my first cycle so don't have a lot of experience yet but I have started the stims and have to say it's so much easier than I thought it would be. I literally can barely feel the needles. I thought I'd have to get my partner to do it for me but I just did it and it was no problem.

I find it helpful to remind myself how many people have been through this already, and that there is nothing special about me that means I am going to die from putting a needle in myself.

People do this - lots of people - all the time, and it's fine. If they can do it then so can you :)

Good luck.

[quote KAnneH]@Dizzyhedgehog thank you for sharing this, sorry your first round wasn't successful, I hope your next round is 🤞🏻
When did you have to stop exercising? This is a big worry of mine, I train 3 times a week and it's such a big part of me that I want to continue training as much as possible! [/quote]
I was actually told not to stop exercising.

I do weekly sessions with a PT and was just told to do nothing too high impact, and nothing that involves too much bending and twisting around the hips (due to risk of twisting the ovaries). So I focus more on upper body and pelvic floor exercises.

Exercise is really good for you and it's best to carry on moving, but just don't put too much strain on your body and be aware of how you are feeling each day.