IVF Support Group

[Marshay]

Want to share your IVF experiences -- the good, the bad and the rest?

My DH and I go to an Injection Class tomorrow and I should be starting my meds next week. This is the first time doing IVF (have done IUI before which resulted in our DD2 but thus far we've been unsuccessful with IUI for our 2nd child.)

I'd love to hear your story and share with you.

(If there already is a thread on this topic, can you please send me the link?)

Thanks!

 

[jlstwinmommy]

I just wanted to wish you good luck with your IVF cycle. After 5 unsuccessful IUI attempts, we did IVF and ended up with b/g twins. Infertility treatment is definitely a hard road to travel and I don't miss it at all. I see you are in No. VA, are you using Shady Grove? We used them. They were great. I don't miss the shots though. I hate needles and never thought I be able to give myself an injection. The things we will go through to have our children.........

 

[Marshay]

I just wanted to wish you good luck with your IVF cycle. After 5 unsuccessful IUI attempts, we did IVF and ended up with b/g twins. Infertility treatment is definitely a hard road to travel and I don't miss it at all. I see you are in No. VA, are you using Shady Grove? We used them. They were great. I don't miss the shots though. I hate needles and never thought I be able to give myself an injection. The things we will go through to have our children.........

Hi! Thanks for responding! Yes, we are using Shady Grove and I like them so far (they were responsible for DD2). The only bad thing is we are out by Dulles Airport and have to go to their main office in Maryland for the procedure...as you know it is VERY time specific and traffic around here is the worst...we may just end up getting a hotel near the office if we have to for one night...

I'm thrilled to see you had b/g twins...the thought of multiples is both exciting and scary!

As you know, with IUI, you also give yourself a shot but I hear it's more/worse when you do IVF...guess I'll find out in about 1.5 hours!

 

[jlstwinmommy]

We are on the opposite end of the beltway (near Annapolis) and did our IVF cycle in Feb. They told us if the weather looked bad, the drs would get a hotel so they would be there for the procedure so we should too. Fortunately, it did not snow that week. Traffic is certainly a pain in this area. I work in Tysons Corner and the commute can certainly be lousy. That's why I only work part time.

 

[ERMama]

Our IVF (actually fet) baby just turned 3 in March.

Good luck!

 

[Tink2000]

As one poster has already stated, the things we will do for a child. I went through IVF and now have a beatiful 7 yr old girl. I wish you the best of luck.

 

[Marshay]

We are on the opposite end of the beltway (near Annapolis) and did our IVF cycle in Feb. They told us if the weather looked bad, the drs would get a hotel so they would be there for the procedure so we should too. Fortunately, it did not snow that week. Traffic is certainly a pain in this area. I work in Tysons Corner and the commute can certainly be lousy. That's why I only work part time.

So I'm not too crazy to be considering a room!

Our IVF (actually fet) baby just turned 3 in March.

Good luck!

Thanks a bunch!

I had the injection class today and let me tell you I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. I guess I didn't realize how involved it all was. I'm sure once I actually do it all, it won't feel that bad but right now I'm reading all my notes on how to prepare and give 3 shots a day (at least I can give this to myself) and then how the trigger and progesterone oil shots have to be administered by my DH (since it goes in the muscle (gluteus)) and how they said it would hurt so I have to apply hot compresses and then plan to walk afterwards...Then there are the every day to every three day doctor appts...the whole suppression and growing and triggering of the various elements in the cycle is pretty amazing.

I know it's worth it since we really want another child but I do admit to being a bit overwhelmed by it all today.

 

[Marshay]

As one poster has already stated, the things we will do for a child. I went through IVF and now have a beatiful 7 yr old girl. I wish you the best of luck.

Thanks! If anyone of you feel like sharing any parts of your process, I'd really appreciate it. You can PM me or post here.

I start my meds next week and after today's class am expecting to be "high" on hormones, black and blue and sore all around my belly and rear, gain weight and be a 'lab rat' for the next 1.5 months!!

 

[StarbuxNY]

I also just wanted to wish you luck! My b/g IVF twins turned five years old this past February. The injections are tough but once you start them, it will be just another thing you deal with doing and you will be just fine! Keep your "eye on the prize"!

Hugs, Kelly

 

[JenniferK]

Good luck to you! I have PCOS and did not respond at all to Clomid. We also have male factor so skipped IUI and went right to IVF. My first cycle was a bust and also resulted in Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome - not a nice experience. My second round resulted in an ectopic. Third round was FET and resulted in my 4yo son. I wish I could give you more details, but much of all that is kind of foggy now, lol (mommy brain never went away). We will likely not be blessed again without doing IVF again and have decided we don't want to go through it again. Not only because the experience was rough (though I won't lie, it was), but also because DS was a micropreemie born 14.5 weeks early and we are scared of that happening again. FTR, the prematurity had nothing to do with doing IVF, don't want to scare you with that. Though I am now at higher risk of it happening again. So we have decided if we are blessed naturally great, otherwise DS will just be an only child. Sorry for the tangent. I know I have a chart somwhere with the particulars of my last cycle (meds, beta numbers etc). If you are interested, I could probably dig it up.

What I do remember, is that the sub-q injections were not bad at all. I will be honest, the PIO shots were not easy. I had big lumps and bruises on my butt from them. But ice before and heating pad after did help. Also, you might want to use some old jammies. DH gave me the PIO shots not long before bed, and I did stain a few nightgowns (and undies) because the injection site would start bleeding. Can't really think of any other tips right now.

Best of luck to you - hope your first cycle is successful!

 

[Marshay]

I also just wanted to wish you luck! My b/g IVF twins turned five years old this past February. The injections are tough but once you start them, it will be just another thing you deal with doing and you will be just fine! Keep your "eye on the prize"!

Hugs, Kelly

Thanks! It's great to hear so many success stories!

Good luck to you! I have PCOS and did not respond at all to Clomid. We also have male factor so skipped IUI and went right to IVF. My first cycle was a bust and also resulted in Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome - not a nice experience. My second round resulted in an ectopic. Third round was FET and resulted in my 4yo son. I wish I could give you more details, but much of all that is kind of foggy now, lol (mommy brain never went away). We will likely not be blessed again without doing IVF again and have decided we don't want to go through it again. Not only because the experience was rough (though I won't lie, it was), but also because DS was a micropreemie born 14.5 weeks early and we are scared of that happening again. FTR, the prematurity had nothing to do with doing IVF, don't want to scare you with that. Though I am now at higher risk of it happening again. So we have decided if we are blessed naturally great, otherwise DS will just be an only child. Sorry for the tangent. I know I have a chart somwhere with the particulars of my last cycle (meds, beta numbers etc). If you are interested, I could probably dig it up.

What I do remember, is that the sub-q injections were not bad at all. I will be honest, the PIO shots were not easy. I had big lumps and bruises on my butt from them. But ice before and heating pad after did help. Also, you might want to use some old jammies. DH gave me the PIO shots not long before bed, and I did stain a few nightgowns (and undies) because the injection site would start bleeding. Can't really think of any other tips right now.

Best of luck to you - hope your first cycle is successful!

Thanks for the info and the suggestions (ie site may bleed -- I wondered about that but the nurse didn't mention it at all).

No need to dig up the numbers...I'm more interested in the "real life" stories like you provided above. Thanks!

I want to go into this with realistic expectations...and the more I hear about others' experiences, the more I'll know.

 

[wilderness01]

Good luck to you!

What I do remember, is that the sub-q injections were not bad at all. I will be honest, the PIO shots were not easy. I had big lumps and bruises on my butt from them. But ice before and heating pad after did help. Also, you might want to use some old jammies. DH gave me the PIO shots not long before bed, and I did stain a few nightgowns (and undies) because the injection site would start bleeding. Can't really think of any other tips right now.

Best of luck to you - hope your first cycle is successful!

Can the doctor order you some emla cream to put on the site your husband is going to inject? It will numb the area so the pain won't be as great.

After the injection is given, put a bandaide over the site to catch the oozing.

Good luck.

 

[Marshay]

Can the doctor order you some emla cream to put on the site your husband is going to inject? It will numb the area so the pain won't be as great.

After the injection is given, put a bandaide over the site to catch the oozing.

Good luck.

Oh, I never heard of emla cream before...I will ask my nurse about that tomorrow.

EDIT: I wonder however, if it would work, since the needle is a two inch (?) one so that it goes into the deep tissue...a numbing creme for just the skin prob wouldn't do anything...just trying to think this through...

The only time I used a topical numbing creme was before I got some laser hair removal done...and I swear it did not work! Of course that was about 5-6 years ago so hopefully the new technology isn't (as) painful.

 

[wilderness01]

Oh, I never heard of emla cream before...I will ask my nurse about that tomorrow.

EDIT: I wonder however, if it would work, since the needle is a two inch (?) one so that it goes into the deep tissue...a numbing creme for just the skin prob wouldn't do anything...just trying to think this through...

The only time I used a topical numbing creme was before I got some laser hair removal done...and I swear it did not work! Of course that was about 5-6 years ago so hopefully the new technology isn't (as) painful.

Emla is used as a topical to numb the area for a circumcision so I think it would work with an IM shot. You need to put a thin layer to the area and cover it with either tegaderm or plain syran wrap if you don't have tegaderm. It needs to be put on an hour before the procedure, injection, etc. Believe me it works if done properly. We also use this for IV's for children. They just might not want to prescribe it because you will be going through tubes of it for the amount of shots you will be receiving.

 

[Marshay]

Emla is used as a topical to numb the area for a circumcision so I think it would work with an IM shot. You need to put a thin layer to the area and cover it with either tegaderm or plain syran wrap if you don't have tegaderm. It needs to be put on an hour before the procedure, injection, etc. Believe me it works if done properly. We also use this for IV's for children. They just might not want to prescribe it because you will be going through tubes of it for the amount of shots you will be receiving.

Thanks! That makes more sense now!

 

[ERMama]

Honestly, the needle isnt what hurts. Its the thickness of the progesterone in oil sitting in your muscle that hurts.

I actually became overly sensitive to the oil after my first fresh cycle and part way thru the PIO schedule would have to stop the shots. For months I had welts and huge knots in my behind.

But the pain was all worth it. Just like pregnancy and labor (or adoption stress).

 

[wilderness01]

Thanks! That makes more sense now!

You're welcome. If they do prescribe the emla, even just at first, put it on AT LEAST an hour before. An hour or more would be ok. I like about an hour and 15 minutes. Works wonders.

 

[Tera_&_Gibson]

I was a gestational surrogate twice for the same couple. I did IVF twice (one was a FET) and was pregnant on the first try both times! I would suggest trying dermoplast if you can't get the cream. Our dr. would not prescribe the emla cream and the dermoplast seemed to help. I had no problem with the belly shots but the PIO was bad! After the transfer and for the next IVF we did the suppositories instead...what a relief! Feel free to ask or pm any questions.

 

[JenniferK]

Honestly (for me anyway) having to have the Emla cream on for an hour would not be worth it. The needle pain isn't awful and goes quick. It is the oil being injected and the cream will not help with that. As for bleeding, I did use a bandaid, but somtimes it would bleed more (often while I was alseep) and soak through and still mess up my jammies. Like I said, it was not exactly pleasant, but I think the anticipation was worse than the actual shots!

 

[Wendybird55]

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR IVF!!!

I did a round of IVF 3yrs ago after having 2 ectopic pregnancies (one in each tube) My Dr. recommended IVF to avoid the tubes.

I found it an amazing process. Basically for the next 6 weeks or so your life is going to revolve around injections, scans and such, but you get used to the routine.

I didn't find giving myself the injections that bad - it was mixing the darn drugs that was the pain for me.

Anyway - I was on an ectopic forum from UK and many women there reccomneded accupuncture to hlep with IVF. So I decided to try it. You figure the last thing you want is more needles, but I found my accupuncture sessions very relaxing and I figured it couldn't hurt.

Also - many women said the drinking pineapple juice helps with implantation - again - no scientific proof - but it couldn't hurt and I like pineapple juice.

I was had 4 embryos implanted at day 5 and one took. Unfortunately I lost the baby somewhere between 8 & 12 weeks. When I went for my 12 week scan there was no heartbeat.

We did ISCI because I didn't want to take any chances. I found it an amazing process - I got a picture of the embryos they were implanting and saw them on a microscope as they did it.

I only did 1 round of IVF. Since it wasn't a fertility issue, I decided to try naturally again and risk another EP - I just needed to be careful and make sure I was well monitored. Fortunately I got pregnant the first try after IVF and now have a beautiful 20 month old son.

The ectopic forum I frequented is www.ectopic.or.uk. They have support forums and one is for assisted pregnancies and I got alot of support and great information on these boards.

Best of luck!