Hello, I'm new here and new to IVF and would like to introduce myself. I am 32yr. with a history of ectopic. The most recent being in Nov.2003. My left tube and ovary are gone, the right tube damaged and the right ovary (? not sure as of yet). I have my first IVF consultation appointment on Tues. July 6. With all sorts of emotions running through me.
When do you start the injections and is it a certain time everyday?? I work full-time and on call. I am the manager of a 24 hr. resturant. I work several hours sometimes not sure what time I will be home.
Thank-you Dagny for the invite to this forum ! Lots to read and lots of learning.
NEW HERE & NEW TO IVF
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IWannaBeMommy
- Newbie
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2004 1:00 pm
- Location: Bangor, Maine USA
Hi there,
Welcome to the forum! I'm quite new myself (compared to 'old' hats like Tracey and Dagny and such like....but have just had my first IVF cycle myself, so it's all still very fresh in mind, as I went through a whole lot of emotions, as you probably do! I can therefore really only share my own experience, but I think the actual regimen is very similar with the others...
The injections start with the 2nd day of your period; these first injections down-regulate your ovaries, basically stopping them to do anything. In short, you'll be going through a mini-menopause (some have menopausal symptoms like hot flushes and stuff, for others it's hardly noticable). After about 2 weeks they check via blood tests whether you have down-regulated enough. This is when the second lot of injections start. These are designed to stimulate your ovaries to produce as many eggs as possible so that they can collect as many as possible to create your embryos. Normally I think you're on those injections for about another 2 weeks (the other injections carry on, so you inject twice a day) - I was on the stimulating ones for a little longer than that. All the way through you're going for blood tests and scans to check stimulation is going OK and you're not over-stimulating. Then, when the time is right they give you another late-night injection, which kicks of ovulation within 12 hours. That means the following morning they collect your eggs and put it with the sperm of either donor or partner and create embryos. Two days later (I think it's 3 days for some) they then transfer two embryos and that leads to the hardes bit: the two-week wait until a blood test shows whether or not it has all worked!
This is really only the main steps of the process, in a way each stage is little milestone in itself....hope this does not sound too daunting! The clinic will explain this all to you in much more detail and geared towards your particular case...! I found the nurses really helpful in explaining things.
Just try to stay cool (says me, who's super-paranoid herself) and do what feels right! Any questions - just ask, everyone knows a lot more than me...!
Good luck with your appointment - let us know how you get on!
Best wishes,
bina
Welcome to the forum! I'm quite new myself (compared to 'old' hats like Tracey and Dagny and such like....but have just had my first IVF cycle myself, so it's all still very fresh in mind, as I went through a whole lot of emotions, as you probably do! I can therefore really only share my own experience, but I think the actual regimen is very similar with the others...
The injections start with the 2nd day of your period; these first injections down-regulate your ovaries, basically stopping them to do anything. In short, you'll be going through a mini-menopause (some have menopausal symptoms like hot flushes and stuff, for others it's hardly noticable). After about 2 weeks they check via blood tests whether you have down-regulated enough. This is when the second lot of injections start. These are designed to stimulate your ovaries to produce as many eggs as possible so that they can collect as many as possible to create your embryos. Normally I think you're on those injections for about another 2 weeks (the other injections carry on, so you inject twice a day) - I was on the stimulating ones for a little longer than that. All the way through you're going for blood tests and scans to check stimulation is going OK and you're not over-stimulating. Then, when the time is right they give you another late-night injection, which kicks of ovulation within 12 hours. That means the following morning they collect your eggs and put it with the sperm of either donor or partner and create embryos. Two days later (I think it's 3 days for some) they then transfer two embryos and that leads to the hardes bit: the two-week wait until a blood test shows whether or not it has all worked!
This is really only the main steps of the process, in a way each stage is little milestone in itself....hope this does not sound too daunting! The clinic will explain this all to you in much more detail and geared towards your particular case...! I found the nurses really helpful in explaining things.
Just try to stay cool (says me, who's super-paranoid herself) and do what feels right! Any questions - just ask, everyone knows a lot more than me...!
Good luck with your appointment - let us know how you get on!
Best wishes,
bina
ttc 2.5 yrs
endometriosis treated May 2003
IVF Apr 2004 +ve: Lucy was born 27.12.04
2nd IVF Jan06 +ve; EDD 30th October 2006 - feeling sooo lucky and praying for a healthy delivery!!!
me 36 yrs; DH 46 yrs
endometriosis treated May 2003
IVF Apr 2004 +ve: Lucy was born 27.12.04
2nd IVF Jan06 +ve; EDD 30th October 2006 - feeling sooo lucky and praying for a healthy delivery!!!
me 36 yrs; DH 46 yrs
Hello, I think Bina did an excellent job of explaining the tmt route. Just thought I'd mention quite a lot of clinic use a nasal spray for the down-regulating instead of injections. Plus the day all the different meds start seems to vary slightly from person to person/clinic to clinic.
Good luck,
Debra.
Good luck,
Debra.
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IWannaBeMommy
- Newbie
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2004 1:00 pm
- Location: Bangor, Maine USA
Thank-you so much. Everyone here is so helpful! Do the needles hurt? (Silly question probably) Most needles generally do. I'm afraid of needles and don't have a clue as to how to give one. (except for the fact they must be sterilized to avoid infection). Well, just something I'll have to deal with. The only way for us to have a baby and that is all that matters at this point. Do whatever it takes.
Hi, you're right....we'll do whatever it takes!
Re. needles/pain. It depends on which particular drug you are prescribed but some ie. Puregon, are injected via auto-injector pen. This has a short, micro-thin needle and provided you've a little padding
doesn't usually hurt. Having said that, other drugs use regular needles so it really varies from drug to drug.
Good luck,
Debra.
Re. needles/pain. It depends on which particular drug you are prescribed but some ie. Puregon, are injected via auto-injector pen. This has a short, micro-thin needle and provided you've a little padding
doesn't usually hurt. Having said that, other drugs use regular needles so it really varies from drug to drug. Good luck,
Debra.
Hi there
Well done Bina!! You pretty much summed it up in a nut shell but I am not sure I agree with being called an 'old hat'!!! I expect Tracey will have her opinions on it as well
Hi IWannaBeAMommy, welcome to the other side. As you have already found out there is so much going on over here. You mention your fears about the injections and whether they hurt
Well not really, the needles are very fine and small and don't really hurt. Debra told you about the auto injector which is great if you have a needle phobia. I ditched the auto injector as I found injecting was easier without it, but it's your preference. Sometimes it can sting a bit when you push the drug in but only sometimes.
They will go through all this when you go to your clinic or hospital and you can have a practice run with a nurse (well I did). All the needles you get given are sterile and wrapped in sterile packing. You will be given a sharps box to dispose of them in as well. There are usually two types of needle. A longer bigger one to draw the drug up with and then a much smaller, shorter one to inject with. You will be given antiseptic wipes to clean the area before you inject.
I am a bit of a sadist as I quite enjoy the injecting
Let us know how you get on and good luck.
Love Dagny xkx
Well done Bina!! You pretty much summed it up in a nut shell but I am not sure I agree with being called an 'old hat'!!! I expect Tracey will have her opinions on it as well
Hi IWannaBeAMommy, welcome to the other side. As you have already found out there is so much going on over here. You mention your fears about the injections and whether they hurt
Well not really, the needles are very fine and small and don't really hurt. Debra told you about the auto injector which is great if you have a needle phobia. I ditched the auto injector as I found injecting was easier without it, but it's your preference. Sometimes it can sting a bit when you push the drug in but only sometimes.They will go through all this when you go to your clinic or hospital and you can have a practice run with a nurse (well I did). All the needles you get given are sterile and wrapped in sterile packing. You will be given a sharps box to dispose of them in as well. There are usually two types of needle. A longer bigger one to draw the drug up with and then a much smaller, shorter one to inject with. You will be given antiseptic wipes to clean the area before you inject.
I am a bit of a sadist as I quite enjoy the injecting
Let us know how you get on and good luck.
Love Dagny xkx
Me 38 DH 40
1st 2nd & 4th IVF/ICSI -ve
3rd +ve DD Katelyn born @ 24wks & sadly died
5th +ve m/c 9wks
6th +ve Twins Sadly DD Leah stillborn @20wks and DS Kieran born @22wks but sadly died too
7th +ve - DD Chloë Mae born @38wks our precious miracle
1st 2nd & 4th IVF/ICSI -ve
3rd +ve DD Katelyn born @ 24wks & sadly died
5th +ve m/c 9wks
6th +ve Twins Sadly DD Leah stillborn @20wks and DS Kieran born @22wks but sadly died too
7th +ve - DD Chloë Mae born @38wks our precious miracle
Welcome to the mad house
Old hat - nicest thing I have been called for ages
Bina did an excellent job of explaining (trained her well!) and Debra and Dagny filled in the gaps. I was on the long protocol though so started sniffing (less holes from needles in the legs!) on day 21 after period for two weeks and then injected. I am fine with needles but was absolutley bricking it for myself so did the auto injector which i think is fabby! Sad though it is!. The first time is the worst - I was practicing on just the water and was paranoid I would get bubbles in it and give myself the benz
I am a fruitcase though. You soon get used to it and becomes second nature. They prefer you to do these things around the same sort of time to get a routine and I know this might seem way off at the moment but you can just take along your kit and inject yourself in the toilet in 5 mins - honestly you will!
I am off the totally buggered tube variety - see history down on my signature so have some idea what you are going thro and done the ectopic tho this was IVF.
Good luck and fingers crossed - shout if you need any advice!
Love
Tracey
xxx
Old hat - nicest thing I have been called for ages
Bina did an excellent job of explaining (trained her well!) and Debra and Dagny filled in the gaps. I was on the long protocol though so started sniffing (less holes from needles in the legs!) on day 21 after period for two weeks and then injected. I am fine with needles but was absolutley bricking it for myself so did the auto injector which i think is fabby! Sad though it is!. The first time is the worst - I was practicing on just the water and was paranoid I would get bubbles in it and give myself the benz
I am a fruitcase though. You soon get used to it and becomes second nature. They prefer you to do these things around the same sort of time to get a routine and I know this might seem way off at the moment but you can just take along your kit and inject yourself in the toilet in 5 mins - honestly you will!I am off the totally buggered tube variety - see history down on my signature so have some idea what you are going thro and done the ectopic tho this was IVF.
Good luck and fingers crossed - shout if you need any advice!
Love
Tracey
xxx
ttc 9 years. 38 yrs old, dh 8 hrs younger!First IVF in Aug 2002 and had ectopic.2nd IVF neg.3rd FET and negative.4th FET and positive but sadly lost our little boy at 20 weeks.5th FET and Alice Isobel and Emily Charlotte born 5th Aug 2004!
About pain I agree with everything the others have said.
I must admit that from a child I had had a needle phobia and the injections were the thing I dreaded most, in fact for the first treatment my DH had to inject me.
For the second round I did it myself (I was so proud!). I must admit that I did not use the auto injector and froze my leg with an ice cube which meant that I didn't feel the pain at all.
Julie
I must admit that from a child I had had a needle phobia and the injections were the thing I dreaded most, in fact for the first treatment my DH had to inject me.
For the second round I did it myself (I was so proud!). I must admit that I did not use the auto injector and froze my leg with an ice cube which meant that I didn't feel the pain at all.
Julie