40 Year Old IVF First Timer

[txpacotaco]

Hi -

My husband (he's 41) and I married about a year and a half ago and started trying to have kids a year ago (neither of us have children). We just finished our first IVF/ICSI cycle and go in for our pregnancy test next Wednesday. We have so much against us - our ages, male-factor infertility, polyps & scar tissue (since removed) on my side of things....

Beyond the above, I have bipolar disorder and have been on medication for it for about 7 years. When we approached IVF the first thing I tried to do was to wean - carefully - off the medication, but my bipolar symptoms immediately escalated. I am on what are considered to be very low doses of Lamictal (100mg/day) and Seroquel (50mg/day), but I'm very very worried about exposing our baby to these drugs. On the other hand, I can't be a good Mom if my illness is out of control.

The very biggest shame and concern I have though is that I smoke. I've smoked since I was ten years old and have never been able to quit for any length of time (best I've done so far was about 7 days last summer). Had several false-starts with trying to quit for this IVF cycle but didn't get anywhere. It's as if I'm so very stressed out about being a good mother, trying to get pregnant, worrying about the medication, wanting to be a great partner to my fabulously supportive husband... as if all of my energy and strength is being zapped by my stress and fears, and I can't seem to draw on it to quit smoking. I can't express how this weighs on me. I smoke up to a pack of ciggarettes a day.

We've been so lucky so far - to have found each other and married, to have a great doctor/clinic in our area (not to mention very good insurance). This IVF cycle yielded 12 eggs and 6 embryos, 5 of which survived to day 3 and were transferred back home to us last Saturday.

I would love to meet someone else on this board who's dealing with both bipolar disorder and IVF, but am so grateful to have found a board with so much information, regardless.

Rachel

[AMck]

Hi Rachel and welcome to the site.
I'm sorry I don't know much about bipolar disorder but I am over 40! There is a thread for over 40's, you may like to join the ladies there.
This site is amazing, full of very helpful and supportive ladies.

Good luck with your treatment

Anna

[txpacotaco]

Could you post a link?

Thanks -

Rachel

[Smita]

Hi Rachel,
Welcome on here..
Just go to the forum index at the top left of this post, and then click on the forum you want to post in...
Everyone going through treatment or waiting for their treatment to begin generally post on the 'General Forum' thats where you'll find the 'over 40' thread.
You can post anywhere you like though.
Hope this helps.
Good Luck and cheers,

smita