MY UPDATE WOULD LOVE SOME ADVICE TO

ANGELA · Post by **ANGELA** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 1:59 pm

Hi girls, Last time i posted on here things were not going to well for me i was feeling really depressed am feeling a lot better now tho altho a little scared well rather a lot actually, Have just recieved my first appointment at kings its on the 23rd december which is good nice and quick but i was expecting to be told i would be having iui but in the letter it says they will be disscussing i.v.f with me i had just got my head around having iui but have read all the info they have sent me on i.v.f and my god it looks like human torture its not the drugs so much the sniffing and injections that worry me think i could just manage if it was just them its the egg collection that scares the s**t out of me i have visions of me getting that far and on the day of collection saying no no no i cant do it i have never been sedated in my life and the thought terrifies me i will ask the doctor at my appointment if i can have iui but dont think he will let me as he obviously thinks this wont work and that i.v.f is the best thing for me but i really dont know how far i will get with i.v.f before i put the brakes on and say no i cant do it i am trying to be strong and positive but it is so hard with the thought of having i.v.f you girls that have been through this i am so proud of you, you all have great courage and its true no one but us on here really know how it feels and the pain and suffering and serious stress we all go through i would love to hear about any of you girls stories of coping and the way you all handled going through i.v.f but please dont spare the truth i know thr i.v.f procedure comes with pain and such but please tell me how much, would also be great to hear from anyone under kings to all my love and support goes out to you all lots of love Angela

Becky28 · Post by **Becky28** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 2:33 pm

Angela, Try to stay calm - I remember feeling a bit alarmed when I got all the literature through too, but you'll probably feel much better when you've chatted it all over with someone face to face on 23rd. I was at King's, and can reassure you that the egg collection is not at all bad. They give you two drugs through a drip in the back of your hand. The first makes you very drowsy and feels like you've had too much to drink, but in a nice, calm way. After that's put in, you feel detached and brave, and almost asleep. Then they put a strong painkiller through the same drip, and the procedure starts. My hubby said I talked throughout - mainly nonsense (like being drunk again!), and said OW a few times, but I can't recall much at all, and it wasn't anything like the traumatic experience I expected. We knew we had to have ICSI because my DH's sperm was too poor for IUI to work. King's were very honest and we appreciated that and went straight for what they recommended. The thing I found tough was worrying whether it would work - the physical stuff really is bearable, I promise - I wouldn't say it just to reassure you. King's are great and I'm 21 wks pregnant with one baby. It was my first go, we really were v fortunate and you might be too! Try not to panic, don't think too far ahead and just take it one step at a time. Good luck and try to keep calm, Beck x

Dolly · Post by **Dolly** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 2:50 pm

Hi Angela, please try not to worry - It sounds much worse than it actually is. Like Becky said egg collection isn't anything to worry about - I was scared stiff the first time and started crying and wouldn't let them put the drip in - and then felt a bit silly afterwards. I'm like Becky I don't remember anything at all about it and apparently I was chatting away. It will all seem less scarey when you have had your meeting. And it will all be worth it in the end. Let us know how you get on. Dolly

helenlouise · Post by **helenlouise** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 2:58 pm

Angela, stop and take a breath honey!! Yes it is a really scary time for everyone. I knew that when we wanted to start a family we'd need ivf/icsi (dh stored semen prior to chemo) and i made sure that i read everything so was fully informed before i went ot the first consultation and knew the words/phrases that i might hear. The bottom line is WE WANT A BABY and this is the only way its ever going to happen for us. The waiting for me is the worst. I just wanted to get in there and get on with it and i could'n't wait for the days to pass so that with each scan i knew things were developing well and so when it came to EC i knew that i had done all i could to give the best result. I had full sedation and was totally out of it. Didn't feel a thing and would much rather have been asleep than awake.Admittedly i was a little sore for 1-2 days afterwards, but this really did wear off quicker than i expected. The day between was just waiting to find out how many had fertilised and i was again excited, although of course apprehensive at going back for the ET. Again, i was sore and found that quite uncomfortable, but needs must and i want the end result. I'm sure we would all go through even more if we were guaranteed a baby. Now i just have to wait (day 6 of 2ww) and hope. Good luck. Get yourself well informed and ask many questions. helen

NickyMolly · Post by **NickyMolly** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 2:59 pm

Hya, If it helps at all, one friend of mine, who went through it 3 times, said that EC was actually rather nice. I didn't find it bad at all. Actually could see on the scanner what was going on. Mind you, threw up afterwards, hastily ate something too soon! The injections are OK too. I personally would prefer to inject - that way it's all over for the rest of the day etc. I think girls got sore noses sniffing, but others may like to comment. The worst bit is to be honest, is the emotional turmoil. I find the hardest thing is to carry on bearing a 'cheerful' (erhum) face to all that I work with, and deep down I want to disappear and scream with frustration. I work in media, so I meet many young thrusting types, skipping around in storky outfits or trendy maternity wear. It really hurts sometimes. Apart from that, it is a breeze. IUI has much lower success rates, so if the clock is ticking, consultant may want to go for IVF. We have done both. Good luck. Nickyx

Dagny · Post by **Dagny** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 3:32 pm

Hi Angela Please don't worry. It's the waiting for things that is the worst. I have had 3 IVF/ICSI and am now 12 weeks pg tomorrow. The sniffing and the injecting is ok really as long as you remain calm and focused. I was completely knocked out for the first 2 EC's and was sedated for the 3rd. I have to say being out of it is my preference but with sedation my DH was allowed to be present which was nice although I don't really remember very much of it. I never gave EC a second thought and ET for me was a breeze. Like some of the others have said it's waiting to see how many eggs you get and then how many have fertilised and then the 2ww before doing a test which really can make you go a bit crazy! Honestly you will be fine. We have all done it and live to tell the tails. You must write a list of questions to ask them at Kings and it doesn't matter how trivial they are either. Some of the things I asked my fertility team over the years were so obscure but important to me. You can ask us anything you like too. Anything goes on this site, right girls?? Good luck Angela and take care. Love Dagny x

JULES K · Post by **JULES K** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 3:46 pm

Hi Angela, Just wanted to echo what the other girls have said, the physical side of IVF is manageable it is the emotional side that messses with your head. I found the sniffing OK apart from the mood swings, the injections were fine as I have no problems with needles. Similar to the others EC is a bit of a blur, I thought I had only beein inthe treatment room about 10 mins but when I came out dh said 30 minshad gone by. I won't lie and say it doesn't hurt a bit because it did for me but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. ET was really exciting as I saw our two embies on the screen. You do get some aches and niggles afterwoods but its only the same as having af pains each month. What you've got to focus on is that this procedure could give you your dream at the end and I'm sure the others would agree with me in that you would go through any amount of pain and embarrasment to be able to realise your dream. I'm currently on day 5 of the dreaded 2WW relaxing at home with no drugs or needles or poking about and this is the worse part of the whole cycle. So please don't worry about the drugs and procedures side, you can do it!!! Lots of Love Julie xx

ANGELA · Post by **ANGELA** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 4:40 pm

Thankyou all so much for your kind words am still rather terrified of being sedated but as i lie there i will think how brave you all were and that you are still here to tell me all about it think i may have a good cry and wail before i let them put the drip in my arm BUT I WILL DO IT in the end you lot have made me determined congratulations to you becky and good luck to you on the 2ww my thoughts and positive vibes are all being sent to you thanks again love Angela xx

DebraP · Post by **DebraP** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 5:46 pm

Hi, just to say all the advice above is sooooo good. My first time of injecting was nearly a dead loss as I was sweating (nice!) so much...afterwards I was so relieved I laughed, it's not like a regular-in-the-arm injection at all (which is what I was expecting) -if using a pen-type injection unit it REALLY, really doesn't hurt. EC is uncomfortable but I wasn't given a drip just a pain-killer - I'm undergoing tmt in Norway and they're obviously hardy mountain women here!! My advice is stare at that screen and look at those eggs being collected, it distracts you hugely and helped remind me what it was all for. Also, as soon as the first one was collected I had the medical staff around us giving verbal support and smiling broadly. ET was a complete breeze in comparison, zero discomfort. My first IVF attempt worked and I'm about to try it all again. You can tell from the boards that it's a procedure many have been through several times. We wouldn't do it if it wasn't worth it. Be brave, a baby is worth it - and more. love Debra.

Dawn V · Post by **Dawn V** » Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:26 pm

Hi Angela I hope you don't mind me butting in but like you I was expecting IUI not IVF (have unexplained infertility) but the clinic said that they can also use IVF as a diagnostic tool and tell so much more from a cycle than the other tests we have. I start sniffing in two weeks with EC in January and like you aam absolutely terrified of the procedure, I have asked for a general anaesthetic but my clinic only do sedation so am trying not to think about it at the moment but like the others have said it can't be that bad or they would knock you right out (I hope)! and hopefully the end result will be worth it. Good luck with you appointment and with your treatment. Dawn xx

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