Self Care tips during IVF

[TimetoChangeClinics]

Hi all

I'm gearing up for my next IVF cycle soon and I've been put on a long protocol by my new clinic. I'm a bit nervous about side effects with the extra drugs, particularly as my first cycle didn't go too well. Does anyone have any tips they can share please about managing physical/emotional side effects or even just IVF in general?

People say take off work but I say focus as much as you can on work to distract yourself. Self-care listening to meditation. Go out for walks. Take each day as it comes. Google might be your friend but can also be your enemy, so be careful googling random symptoms/ side effects. Ask your nurses or consultant they know best.

Just ending round 3 of stims, retrieval
torrow morning. One thing I did this time which has made a difference is acupuncture and I must say it has made the emotional stuff a bit easier to handle so far. I have been less anxious too. I don’t know if it was acupuncture specifically or whether something else like massage or reflexology would have done it… but I definitely found having something to support me has helped (and she is a fertility specialist so knew how to support the right stage of my cycle etc).

It helped me that I had an arrangement with work that I would work from home a couple of hours per day. It gave me something to focus on, but not too much.

Start a new interest to fill your time, threads on here can also be good to speak to others at the same stages.
Good luck

@TimetoChangeClinics have you started yet? when I replied last time I didn't know I would be in n Long protocol this time.

I'm on day 3 of Burserelin for down reg. so far aside from some bloating I feel ok.

Thank you all for the great tips! I'm definitely going to take time off for it and also try acupuncture since I've only heard positive things!
best of luck to all!