IVF

[Colourfulliving]

Anyone out there currently going through IVF, start my stims in a couple of days. Had my down reg scan today and I have 4 follicles on my left and 5 on my right, wasn't sure if this was good or not, I've just turned 40 as this is my first cycle.

Unexplained infertility, many thanks ☺️

Hey ladies-

Were you told to not swim or have a bath until after your pregnancy tests?

Do you know why?

And after the pregnancy test is it considered safe do you think?

(Just wondering if I can book some days in the spa instead of our camper van 🥳) xxx

Hi everyone!

Very new here, so hoping I can join in.

I'm currently doing IVF/ICSI. First time due to very low FSH. I've been down regging for a while and am now on day 5 of stimms.

I'm wondering if anyone else has had awful symptoms throughout? The bloating is unreal, lots of abdominal pain (just hoping that's a positive thing) and the mother of all headaches that hasn't really left me since I did my first injection of buserilin.

Hard to know what's normal!

@Chippychippy I wasn't told that. I was just told no bath or swimming for 3 days due to infection risk. I'm pretty sure it's all safe as long as you don't soak in really hot water, so I think hot tubs are not advised.

@Triml welcome! I'm really sorry but I don't have much advise. I've just done IVF/ICSI for the first time but was on a short protocol so it wasn't too bad. I think what you're describing is all quite normal though, especially for long protocols. When is your scan and do you know how long they're expecting you to stim for?

@Triml welcome!!! Exciting times ahead!!
I didn't have terrible symptoms..more lethargic than anything. But I know people that did feel horrible....just we respond differently/ doesn't mean it's bad...but exciting that it's working!!!! We are to chat if you need any support xxxx it's quite the journey

@Emmyanddreams thanks babe that does make sense..:maybe it wasn't too clear.

Ladies I am 6dp5dt gosh I am having a LOT cramps plus a dull ache, bloating and it's like my tummy feels heavy and is pressing on my bladder so feel like I beee a constant wee. Plus sickness

It's so funny how we want the symptoms but also they are not very nice 🙈

Lots of love to you all xxxx

@Chippychippy oooh I hope that's all good signs 🤞🤞 I remember getting waves of really mild nausea before I tested.

I can't believe how much I'm suffering now. Since the nausea started yesterday it literally hasn't eased for even a minute, even overnight! All I can eat is dry crackers and ginger biscuits 😭

@Emmyanddreams Oh no! Hopefully it eases slightly for you! I’ve got no symptoms at all now, not feeling too positive! Definitely no nausea here cos all I do is eat haha!

@Chippychippy All sounds positive! When do you think you will test?

Hi all, new to mumsnet… searching for some IVF support… I’m starting IVF this month and absolutely terrified, finding it hard to be excited / positive… anyone else find that it’s hard to get excited? My friends that I have confided in keep telling me how marvellous and exciting it all is that things are moving forward and I can’t get it out of my head how rubbish it is to be having to go through all this at all so really struggling to feel positive.

I’ve started Norethisterone and have egg collection provisionally scheduled for 27th / 28th this month so start stims in a couple of weeks… worried about egg collection and how I will feel afterwards… I had sedation for a colonoscopy last year but felt and remember everything, never had sedation for anything else. Do you feel it? And how is the recovery? I’m supposed to be going on a hen weekend the very next day… ( it drinking obviously) am I likely to be exhausted and / or in pain?

Thanks!!!

@Chippychippy @Emmyanddreams
Thank you! It's great to have people here who are/have been through something similar. It's quite the unique experience to say the least!

I'm actually off for my scan this morning (I've done 7 days of stims so far). Not really sure how long it takes from this point for egg collection but hoping to find out more today. Excited but also incredibly nervous that they say there's nothing there.

@Zad22 welcome! I felt nervous and also excited. I understand how it feels rubbish the fact you have to go through it, especially when other people just get pregnant so easily. However once we started the process I forgot about that and focused on the exciting, real possibility of getting pregnant and having a baby.
As for the egg collection, it was absolutely fine. I was completely out of it so didn't feel or remember anything. The following day I was tired and had waves of nausea. I wouldn't have been able to go on a hen do that's for sure! But depends what sort of hen do it is. If the first day is pretty chilled then you might be ok.
Wishing you all the very best for your IVF journey xx

@Elle147 don't feel negative. Symptoms can come and go. On the weekend I had a day where I felt completely normal and full of energy. I did think oh no, I feel too good, but that obviously didn't last! I do get it though, I panic over the smallest things and even though I now have continuous nausea, I still worry. I keep thinking things like what if I have a bug and it's not actually morning sickness. Ridiculous huh!
Anyway, just enjoy feeling good because I'm sure it won't last! Xxx

@Zad22 welcome. I totally get what you’re saying. My family and friends who know all reacted like it is the most exciting thing and I just wasn’t feeling it haha. Ive had egg collection now and we just completed our consents for frozen transfer (we weren’t allowed to have a fresh transfer)
Everyone is different. I don’t remember a thing from egg collection. Was out of it for about 20mins/half an hour. The day I got home and the following day especially I was really painful and bloated. I literally just lay on the couch. Couldn’t even comfortably go a walk. Gradually got better from then but took 3 or 4 days. Some people have been totally fine tho so I’d just see how you feel. Drink plenty of fluids and just take it easy.
Good luck!!

@Elle147 @Emmyanddreams girls!!! I got a positive test 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Now I'm in your camp of not really believing it and praying nothing goes wrong. 🙈 the anxiety never ends does it!!

Hey @Zad22 I'm so sorry your feeling anxious.

I had traumatic sedation when I was younger and FULLY freaked out about it so was really nervous about egg collection.

For weeks after I prioritised relaxation and meditated at least once a day (using the CALM app).

I also infused calm into every part of my life- only listened to relaxing music, only saw people with a calm energy if I could help it, sprayed lavender and calming sprays around the house and drank COPIOUS amounts of chamomile tea.

I could not believe how calm I was going into the surgery, I was a different person. My cortisol levels had never been so low because of the above.

If you could try and infuse any of these types into your life Hopefuly it will help.

Sending you so much love xxxxxx

@Zad22 sorry I meant *for weeks before the egg collection

@Chippychippy Ah, congratulations! So happy for you! How far off OTD are you?

I have my nephew today (6 months old), great distraction and getting the practice in!

@Chippychippy eeeeeeeeeeee this is amazing. Congratulations!!! I've been keeping an eye out for an update from you. I'm so pleased for you xxx

So I’m 6 weeks 2/3 days (not sure which one!) and I have really bad back pain, almost similar to sciatica pain! I do suffer with back pain on & off anyway but I’ve not had it for a while. I’m struggling today! If I sit down for too long then when I get home the pain that shoots through to my bum is awful! Hoping this is just a standard pregnant symptom and I’m avoiding googling it! :)

@Chippychippy amazing news!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!

Wow amazing news congratulations @Chippychippy! 

Hope your back pain gets better @Elle147

I'm not being very active as I'm still waiting to start my second round but following all of your news closely! My egg collection won't be until mid May so I've still got a while to go. Trying to keep busy and keep distracted until the time comes!

So happy we have some positive stories in this group, it's really uplifting and it gives me hope 😊 wishing you all still the very best!

How is everyone doing? Hope you're all ok! Any updates?

I'm wondering if you ladies have told your friends / family about going through ivf? How was your experience?

I told one of my oldest friends who I've known since school, her reaction was disappointing, she listened but then somehow just turned the conversation back onto her and her problems which just made me not really want to tell anyone else. I texted another friend about it and she said: "oh don't worry your will get your baby" which I also found equally disappointing. I don't know what I was expecting, I guess no one really understands unless they've gone through kt. I told my parents who have both been wonderfully supportive.

@flowersinmay I started off not telling anyone but have now told a few. Mum and dad were ott excited which I had to try and calm them down saying it might not work haha. Friends have been really supportive and asked a lot about it. It’s been nice just to even get the occasional text to see how things were going. Made it easier when I was isolating too so they knew I couldn’t meet up for a bit.

I do find people don’t always know what to say in these situations and try and be upbeat about it all saying it will work out etc. think that’s a normal response. My friends have now asked a lot about it and what was involved etc so they now know all the percentages of success haha

Hiya @flowersinmay!

I'm doing ok thanks. Feeling a lot less sick which is nice but also worries me. Trying to keep telling myself it's normal for symptoms to fluctuate. I have my scan next Tuesday so I'm keeping everything crossed that there will actually be something there 🤞🤞

I'm so sorry your friends reacted in that way. I think many people who haven't had trouble conceiving just don't understand. I told my best friend and she was really supportive but still she didn't really understand the process and the emotions you go through. I told one other friend who has been through IVF and that was a completely different conversation and she has been so supportive since then.
A little while ago I was having a conversation with another friend, not about me - she has no idea that we've been trying, but she just came out with all her views on IVF and how she would never do it etc etc. So I immediately made a mental note to never discuss it with her!! She's someone who got pregnant first month with both her children. I don't know how someone can have such strong opinions about something when they have never been through the heartache of trying for years to have a child. Anyway, all I'm trying to say is some people are unfortunately unable to make the effort to try to understand something that has never effected them. Try not to let it upset you, you have all of us to chat to xx

Hey lovely ladies!

Sorry I have been off the radar on holiday in Cornwall. 🌞💕

Hope you are all happy! Xxx

@flowersinmay babe I know how you feel. I had the same thing with a few friends. Please don't take it personally- what I realised was that people just have absolutely NO idea what IVF entails and how much it effects your life. A lot of people don't understand really what it is at all.

I found that some of my friends were like this and I honestly think it was for that reason- but also some friends who also may feel sad that they are not at a stage to have babies (maybe single friends or ones that are far off having a baby) it could be a trigger for them so even though they are happy for you- it might be a little painful reminder of thier own situation.

@LT103 how are you lovely? Have you heard any news yet? Xx

@Emmyanddreams @Elle147 how are you lovely ladies feeling? Surely your scans are soon?

I have my scan booked in 💕🙏🏽2 weeks today. I don't know how you girls do it- just want to get past 12 weeks and then I think I will feel out of the woods, safe and like we can celebrate!

Also have you heard there is a shortage on cyclo...whatever the progesterone is in the UK?

I have a new type of progesterone arriving today, not 2...but 3 times a day!! 😂

Lots of love everyone xxxx

@Chippychippy How are you feeling?

I'm ok thanks. Good and bad days I find. I'm not feeling as sick as I was last week so trying not to worry about that. I have my scan on Tuesday, I'm so nervous!

I didn't know about the cyclogest shortage. I'm on Utrogestan 3 times a day. It's a right pain!! Xx