IVF first timers - Welcome!

Discussion group for all topics related to infertility including preparation for pregnancy, causes, investigation and treatment of infertility.
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PMApsy
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IVF first timers - Welcome!

Post by PMApsy »

Hello guys! :D

Just had this idea tonight... I believe there's a thread for IVF veterans, but I'm not sure there's one for first timers! And I think we deserve one, for the first time at anything is always special! :wink:

If you want to share your story, worries, questions, impressions, bad, good surprises, frustrations, hopes, and so on, why don't you do it here? I'm sure we can all bring a lot to each other!

I've started my first cycle on Dec 19th with the BCP.

Take care, and have a lovely evening!

Sophie 8)
1st and 2nd IVF = BFN 1st FET BFP! m/c at 7 weeks. 2nd FET BFP! 3rd FET BFN
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NickiMark
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Post by NickiMark »

I am a IVF first timer, but not new to this site or ttc, We have had 5 iui's... hence the step to IVF....

Im scared about the injections!

Scared I wont be able to do it, and then what??

Dh doesn't like needles and faints at the slightest thought of it, so help what d i do if i cant do it!!!!

I said to dh i will do it as i want this baby so much, but if i cant when the time comes, i am so worried about it....
TTC 6yrs......Have jumped off the rollercoaster for now, too many BFN's and too much heartache, to keep going....Moving on to fulfil other dreams!!!
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PMApsy
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Post by PMApsy »

Hello sweetie!

Welcome to this thread!

About the injections; I can share my experience with you because I had my first injection exactly a week ago. The nurse asked my DH if he wanted to do it and he said he preferred if I took care of it because the thought of possibly hurting me disturbed him. I had the intention to do it myself anyway; I don't want him to hurt me either.

So there I was, pants open, needle in my hand, tip against my skin and... whooopsie, I felt unable to just push it in! My hands shook a little bit and I kept looking at the length of the needle against my skin and, knowing I had to push it all the way through, it looked awfully long! Then after two failed "mental attempts", I took it away and declared, "Okay, I'm not able to do this..."

And then quickly after, I tried again and it went right in! The nurse was right, it's the fear of the unknown. Once you know what it's like, you realize it's in fact a big piece of cake. Think of all the diabetics who have to do this at least once a day...

Truth is, the needle goes in effortlessly, and it does not hurt at all. Waxing your bikini or plucking your eyebrows is much more torture, I can assure you. Then you inject the meds, mine did not burn one bit. I felt a slight discomfort about one minute after. It was annoying, but I can't say it hurt more than that. And the needle does not hurt at all when it goes out. You've probably had blood tests done, well the needle hurts far less than that. Think of the last big pimple you assassinated... the ones that really hurt? LOL hurts less than that!

About doing it yourself, don't worry. The longer you'll fuss is the very first time. Let yourself be anxious, cry, tremble, or whatever; those reactions are totally normal because you don't know what it is. Then right after, you'll tell yourself, "Oh... that's just what it was about?" You'll feel a little anxious the next day, but by the third, it will become a second nature.
This morning, while I did my injection, I was surprised that I was thinking about something else totally.

I hope this helps... don't hesitate if you have any other questions! If you want to check for tips, I've found an amazing list at this address:

http://www.pinelandpress.com/faq/ivfhints.html

Have a great day!

Sophie 8)
1st and 2nd IVF = BFN 1st FET BFP! m/c at 7 weeks. 2nd FET BFP! 3rd FET BFN
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PMApsy
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Post by PMApsy »

Good morning again!

I had a strange reaction yesterday... I usually never get an IBS crisis after I go to bed or early in the morning... but as I was just spooning with my DH and trying to fall asleep, bwllll... I had to get up. Then had a small crisis again in the morning... felt strange on the bus... a bit weird. Might be the emotions I went through yesterday evening or just IBS having fun.

About the emotions, well... everybody is SO positive here, and I've encouraged so many of the lovely ladies here that I'm afraid I lost a bit of realism and some people on another thread made me get it back quite all at once. Everyone is different, depending on what got them here and how old they are, how many attempts they made, and so on. But with so many people insisting on the PMA and how it's vital (heck, some people treat the BFN possibility almost as if it were taboo!), and other people insisting about how having very cautious hopes prevents your world from falling apart if you get a BFN... it's hard to find your place in the middle. Anybody had that impression too? How did you cope with it?

I try to tell myself that, even if I get a BFN the first time, things won't be so bad if at least I have frozen embies. At least I won't totally have the impression that we did all this, and paid all this, for nothing. And if I get a BFN AND don't have frozen embies, I'll tell myself that my chances are automatically better next time anyway because my doctor will have gained from the experience of my first try and the test results I get, if only to dose the meds better, as he said.

One thing I should really stop doing is project myself in the future with a baby belly, or imagine how, because my first trimester would end just before Easter, we will tell my family then and then wait till we see his family in France at the end of April to break the news to them face to face with the pictures from the first trimester ultrasound. I must stop imagining that I'll be on maternity leave this fall and that next Christmas we'll bring one or two babies with us to Quebec. Must stop checking maternity websites. I think that's too borderline assuming that it will work. There's nothing wrong with daydreaming, I know, there's nothing wrong with hoping, but with all the PMA spirit here that got to me, I wonder if that kind of daydreaming is not planning for a stronger emotional reaction if I do get that BFN.

Anyway, any thoughts are welcome. I'm still trying to find my place in the grey zone there...

AF is definitely over; I only have small spotting left. Oh blessings! :P

Okay... gotta run! Lab meeting! Take care and I'll see you around!

Sophie 8)
1st and 2nd IVF = BFN 1st FET BFP! m/c at 7 weeks. 2nd FET BFP! 3rd FET BFN
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shantala
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Post by shantala »

Hi Sophie

I think it's a great idea that you started this thread!!!!

For everyone else, I'm a first IVFer myself, have to attend an open eve at my clinic on 16th jan and should be able to start downregging about 3rd feb if everything goes to plan.

we're also having ICSI due to my dh having a low sperm count and poor swimming action (so if you know anybody who has a cheap speed boat for sale let me know...sperm would be very grateful!! :wink: )

hope to hear from you all soon!

xxx
2nd IVF/ICSI - baby girl Elliana born 21.4.08 weighing 7lb 6.5ounces; 7 frosties left...
[img]http://dl3.glitter-graphics.net/pub/471/471593nd9346hthf.gif[/img] to all!
[img]http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/lamlamavi20080421_-1_Elliana+is.png[/img]
NickiMark
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Post by NickiMark »

Thx, for the link PMApsy, this is great advice, I feel a whole lot better now!!! Thx :D
TTC 6yrs......Have jumped off the rollercoaster for now, too many BFN's and too much heartache, to keep going....Moving on to fulfil other dreams!!!
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PMApsy
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Post by PMApsy »

Shantala hello my girl! Ooooh SO happy to see you here! :D Tee hee hee, for some reason I thought that thread would just not work. We'll see, but I thought I'd give it a try! Like sassy said on another thread, IVF veterans seem to have rougher edges in some cases, and on some occasions... well, they leave a few unintentional scratches! ;) So I thought we could benefit a lot from each other's way of going through our first experience, and understand each other even better, in some cases.

And I laughed out loud about the cheap boats! hehehehe! How do things work in the UK? Do some insurances cover the costs? I bet it's more pricey because of the ICSI?

Take care sweetie! *hugs*

Sophie 8)
1st and 2nd IVF = BFN 1st FET BFP! m/c at 7 weeks. 2nd FET BFP! 3rd FET BFN
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SilvaCharm
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Post by SilvaCharm »

Hello, everyone.

I'm a first timer as well.

Nicki: I was afraid of the injections as well. My hubby has given me my shots, but he was out of town this past Monday and Tuesday evenings and I had to do the injections myself. I had the same experience as PMApsy...staring at the needle against my skin and telling myself "I have to do this". I'd put the needle on my skin and put a little pressure on it (but, of course not too much 'cause I really didn't want the needle to go in). But I thought about how badly I want to have a child and I know that this is the path I have to take to make that happen, so I told myself "girlfriend you gotta to this", took a deep breath and did the deed. After that first stick, I was okay. I was much better my 2nd night of doing them.

I wasn't afraid of it hurting because I knew the actual needle going into the skin didn't hurt when hubby did it. I just had anxiety about sticking myself, but now I know I can do it. I'm currently taking the Lupron, Gonal-F, and Menopur. The Lupron is a piece of cake. The Gonal-F and Menopur always stung when hubby did the injections- the Menopur much more so than the Gonal, but I found out from doing it myself, that if the medicine is released slowly, I don't feel a sting from the Menopur at all and the Gonal only stung a little...it was barely noticeable.

I used ice to numb the area when we first began the injections, but I don't use ice anymore. These 3 injections really aren't that bad.

You just need to get over that initial anxiety and then you'll be like "what was I worried about?" You have a goal by doing the IVF cycle and you can't reach that goal without these injections -- I think once the time comes that'll be the push to help you get over the initial fear - it was for me!

Good Luck!
Me 30 DH 30
both tubes blocked
1st Time IVf - Jan 2007
PMApsy
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Post by PMApsy »

:D Hello Silva! Great to see you here! Oh, I REALLY love what you've brought to the discussion! Focusing on the goal is such a GREAT way to help one deal with the injections! I hadn't seen things that way and I just LOVE your point of view!

And Niki, Silva was worried before her first injection but hey, she was very brave and look at her now! A real trooper! :D

Good night ladies!

Sophie 8)
1st and 2nd IVF = BFN 1st FET BFP! m/c at 7 weeks. 2nd FET BFP! 3rd FET BFN
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shantala
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Post by shantala »

hey ladies

silva - thanks for sharing your story!! i'm so proud of you!

sophie - unfortunately in the UK we dont have insurance. you either are eligible for NHS treatment (national health service) so basically the gov pays for it but the criteria to get this are very strict. we dont fall in it as my dh already has a child so we have to pay. its costing about £4500 for a cycle with ICSI, which includes freezing and storage of embryos for 1 year.

xx
2nd IVF/ICSI - baby girl Elliana born 21.4.08 weighing 7lb 6.5ounces; 7 frosties left...
[img]http://dl3.glitter-graphics.net/pub/471/471593nd9346hthf.gif[/img] to all!
[img]http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/lamlamavi20080421_-1_Elliana+is.png[/img]
mominwaiting
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Post by mominwaiting »

I have posted on another site before and I really like the idea of having one for the first timers. I am suppose to begin my first cycle Jan 24th, that is when I begin my lupron. I have no idea what to expect, I kinda feel like I am going into this blind. So if anyone has any advice on side affects or issues please let me know so I can prepare. My DH and I are going to use IVF/ICSI. I am enrolled in a program that allows me to have 3 Fresh Cycles and 3 FET's with all meds paid for so I am really excited to get started. We just paid one lump sum with value of about 2 1/2 cycles.
If none of you have heard of this you can look at www.intergamed.com it is called the Shared Risk Program.
I feel really lucky to have found this oppurtunity cause it takes off he stress of having to worry about paying for the next cycle if LORD FORBIDE the first one doesn't work. I believe it will really help me deal with the stresses of dissapointment. Anyway I got everything crossed for you ladies. Have a great day!!!!
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PMApsy
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Post by PMApsy »

Hello mominwaiting!

Welcome to the thread! Yes, I felt like I was just diving into the unknown when I started my first cycle! I started on Dec 19th with the BCP.

Lupron! Well, for the info about the first self-injection, you can look in this thread for the previous posts. And about side effects, it greatly varies. The nurse from my clinic told me that some women don't feel any side effect at all. Others will feel the classic signs of menopause: hot flashes, mood swings, fatigue, menses is also a side effect.

I've started taking 10 units of Lupron a day on Jan 3rd. So far, so good. The meds don't burn at all when they're injected. The site remains a little tender after the injection for a few minutes but really, it's nothing. I've had no other side effects than menses that started 2 days after I started the Lupron. It lasted about 5 days. I've had one single hot flash and only woke up because I was having a nightmare at the same time. I went right back to sleep. No mood swings, which is what I feared the most (I didn't want my DH to be the victim of this). I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome; I was mostly constipated, but after a week of Lupron, I had a few IBS crises that were a bit weird, but not the end of the workd either. It lasted about 48hrs on and off. That might be completely unrelated to Lupron, however. And for the last three days, I've felt more tired than usual. I still work out, I still work fine, too, but it's just that I feel lazier than usual, as if I alternated between being on top of things and very motivated and excited... and felt unmotivated and just bleh at other times. But again, nothing that impairs my functioning.

Oh, and I've had another side effect... I usually lubricate very well when I have intercourse. My lubrication is definitely affected; we've had to use KY each time we had sex.

There you go! You must be so eager to begin your cycle! We're with you if you have any question sweetie, don't hesitate!

Sophie 8)
1st and 2nd IVF = BFN 1st FET BFP! m/c at 7 weeks. 2nd FET BFP! 3rd FET BFN
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annag
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Post by annag »

Hi all,

I'd like to join this first-timer thread! I'm in the Feb/March thread and haven't started my shots yet but I have been dreading them (esp. the progesterone in oil IM shot--ouch) I work in the medical field and do know how to administer them but not brave enough to do them to myself.

As far as the financial aspect of this, I too want to do the shared-risk program but just don't have the $$$$ for that so I'm hoping I'll have first-timer's luck. I hope we all do. Take care all and please do share your experiences here.
Anna
Me 34 , DH 38
IUI x 3- BFN
IVF#1 March 07 BFN
FET June 07- BFP!

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maggiemay07
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Post by maggiemay07 »

Hi! I'm a first time IVFer too. I started with my Lupron on December 31st and my stims just this past Friday. I'm not having trouble giving myself shots anymore, but my stomach is starting to get very sore and bruised. The Repronex shot makes my skin inflammed and itchy. Anyone else have a similar reaction? Anyway, a little about me, I am 31 and DH is 35. We've been TTC for just over a year. We did two cycles of Clomid/IUI wchich failed and resulted in my ovarian cyst growing larger and larger. I had laparaoscopy to remove my cyst and endometriosis in October and we decided to go straight to IVF after that.

At my suppression check last week, I had 27 resting follies which I could hardly believe since I've only had one or two in the past. Tomorrow is my day 4 u/s and b/w so we will see how that goes. I'm getting nervous for the progesterone shots because the needle is so huge it looks like it's going to leave a gaping hole in my hip!!! Can anyone help me feel less stressed about this? I would greatly appreciate any first hand experience!!

Anyway, thank you for starting this thread. We first timers really need a lot of support and we have a ton of questions!!! :-)

Take care and good luck to all.
mominwaiting
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Post by mominwaiting »

Thanks so much Sophie for the advice that REALLY helps, I am going to start my lupron on Wed. Jan 17th So I will keep you informed of how it is all going and I will try to post anything new that I can to help anyone Thanks Christy
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