How does IVF feel? Side effects wise.

[Confusedddddddd]

Hi all,

After reading a few posts in different places about people being unwell in IVF. What is it like?

We're planning on going for a cycle in the autumn as we've been trying over a year since my ectopic . We conceived fairly easily the first two times so think the issue is more to do with the removed tube than egg quality.

I'm a bit nervous about side effects, and being able to work through treatment (though I understand about taking time off for egg collection), and being able to look after my toddler. How was it for you?

This is my first cycle of IVF, I’m now at the TWW part and through the whole thing I’ve been working full time (and a little bit more) the main feeling is bloating, like when your period is about to come and you feel like a whale 😩 Nobody else ever mentioned to me that I looked bigger but I felt massive. The week before egg retrieval my ovaries felt like they were the size of footballs, I just couldn’t quite get comfortable when I sat down but nothing to write home about, and certainly nothing unbearable. After the retrieval the day of and the day after I was off work, just incase, and I was tender but again nothing unbearable. When I started the estrogen to prepare for transfer I started bloating again and got little headaches, not enough to take a tablet but enough to notice it was there.
I was worried like you, thinking it was going to be really tough going physically but touch wood it hasn’t been. The uncertainty and waiting is waaaayyyy worse than any meds I’ve taken.
Wishing you the best of luck and baby dust! 💖

Some bloating and headaches other then that totally normal.. I was on high stims due to start a 3rd ivf round soon! Good luck on your ivf 🙏✨️🤞

@Confusedddddddd best of luck with your cycle! For me, the worst part was the emotional side of it all. I felt like I had no control over my feelings due to high doses of medication and would cry over things that would never usually bother me. Before egg collection, I felt like my abdomen had golf balls in it and the IVF funnel (dropping numbers after egg collection) was difficult also. It’s all very doable but I would say with each egg collection cycle (I’ve had 2) and each transfer cycle (I’ve had 5), I felt less and
less like myself. Definitely had a kind of brain fog at times too where I felt I couldn’t think straight but that was after failed transfers. Delighted to be 8 weeks pregnant at the moment so hoping for a healthy pregnancy and I’m sure it
will all feel like it was worth it then 🙏🏻

Thanks all! I'm feeling somewhat relieved. Has anyone struggled with weight gain? I've got about half a stone to lose to get under the bmi limit which should be achievable in 2-3 months c but I'm also worried that I'll have to lose again for each cycle.

I'm also really worried about the emotional side as @Hopefulsummer35 pointed out. I've found the last year so stressful already - but I also know that even if we're not successful at least I've done everything I can to have another child.

I go to see a dietitian once every two weeks to weigh in and take measurements etc and she tells me how much is muscle, water & fat. I feel as big as a house but I’ve not gone up in fat. Ive put on maybe 2kg since the start of the treatment, which will easily come off, I’m not worried. I’m just bloated, the medication has made me about 5cm bigger around the tummy. I’m not going to stress about it, we have enough going on to start worrying about a few extra cm’s. Just try to eat healthy and drink loads of water, stay active (low/no impact) walking etc and everything else will just fall into place. I’ve been going for a walk in the park and it’s helped no end with the emotional side of things 💖