Hi everyone!
I'd like to introduce myself. I'm from Toronto, Canada, 35 in a few weeks and hubbie is 36. We've been ttc for 1.5 years and the doctors recently told me, after they removed a 7cm chocolate cyst from my ovary, that I have stage 4 endometriosis and that my tubes are completely blocked. They told me that my best bet would be to do IVF.
We are starting our first cycle next month and I am petrified! I suffer with anxiety disorder so having to go through this emotional rollercoaster is extremely challenging, to say the least. I am particularly concerned with the physical symptoms of the medications that I will be taking. Also, I am dreading the egg retrieval procedure, since hospitals scare me.
My concerns led me to this board. I was hoping that by meeting other people in similar situations as myself, that I would not feel so alone and afraid. I am passed the stage of feeling sorry for myself....now I'm trying to put all my focus on becoming a mom, somehow and someway.
Thanks for listening, good luck to all of you in the process of trying having babies and to all of you who have been successful. I hope that I am one of the success stories!
My question is what kind of side effects can I expect from the drugs that I have to take while doing a cycle? I am soooooooo worried about this...
Side effects- fertility drugs?
Side effects- fertility drugs?
Almaduke
Me-34 almost 35, DH-36
TTC 1.5 years
Stage 4 endometriosis, tubes blocked
1st IVF - June/July?
Decided to try acupuncture treatment to unblock tubes before trying IVF
Me-34 almost 35, DH-36
TTC 1.5 years
Stage 4 endometriosis, tubes blocked
1st IVF - June/July?
Decided to try acupuncture treatment to unblock tubes before trying IVF
Dear Alamaduke
You've come to exactly the right place for support. It is very daunting embarking on a cycle of ivf. This is my first time and the side effects I've found from the treament were not bad at all. But you need to find out which protocol you'll be doing and which drugs. I took Buserelin to shut down my system and had 'menopausal' symptoms - hot lfushes and headaches. I took merional for my sitmulating drugs and again just had headches and bloating around the abdomen. Nothing too bad at all. I also supported it with acupuncture.
Please try not to worry too much - it really isn't bad and you'll get tons of support here.
Take care
Eskavon xx
You've come to exactly the right place for support. It is very daunting embarking on a cycle of ivf. This is my first time and the side effects I've found from the treament were not bad at all. But you need to find out which protocol you'll be doing and which drugs. I took Buserelin to shut down my system and had 'menopausal' symptoms - hot lfushes and headaches. I took merional for my sitmulating drugs and again just had headches and bloating around the abdomen. Nothing too bad at all. I also supported it with acupuncture.
Please try not to worry too much - it really isn't bad and you'll get tons of support here.
Take care
Eskavon xx
Hi eskavon!
Thanks for the re-assurance! ..and don't worry about the pselling imstakes
I was just wondering what the purpose of the acupuncture was for and how it is going for you? I have access to a wonderful acupuncturist and I'm wondering if there's anything she could do that might enhance my IVF treatment?
Thanks,
Thanks for the re-assurance! ..and don't worry about the pselling imstakes
I was just wondering what the purpose of the acupuncture was for and how it is going for you? I have access to a wonderful acupuncturist and I'm wondering if there's anything she could do that might enhance my IVF treatment?
Thanks,
Almaduke
Me-34 almost 35, DH-36
TTC 1.5 years
Stage 4 endometriosis, tubes blocked
1st IVF - June/July?
Decided to try acupuncture treatment to unblock tubes before trying IVF
Me-34 almost 35, DH-36
TTC 1.5 years
Stage 4 endometriosis, tubes blocked
1st IVF - June/July?
Decided to try acupuncture treatment to unblock tubes before trying IVF
hi, i've been going to acupuncture for 2 months (just about to go for ec on monday) the intention is to enhance the ivf treatment. if you google search ivf and acupuncture there piles of stuff on it. some tests in germany have suggested that it can increase the effectiveness of ivf but here in uk there haven't been any clinical trials.
the zita west book also recommends supporting ivf with it.
hope this helps
the zita west book also recommends supporting ivf with it.
hope this helps
Hi Almaduke
I have stage 4 Endometriosis too. I had surgery last year to remove chocolate cysts from each ovary but the cysts have returned.
We started IVF mid march taking Synarel and i had no side effects at all. However it didnt work as well as it should and i had to switch to Bursarelin injections. Apart from the obvious stinging and a little brusing the only side effect i had was a little bloating of the abdomen.
But this hasnt worked as well as it should either and im stuck on it for another week
. At my last scan they could only see a few follicles but they are in an awkward position for the egg collection.
To be honest the worse part so far for me is the internal scan which because of the endometriosis is uncomfortable (but not painful)
Im dreading the egg collection too (if i get that far) but my nurse has said the pain from the endo and laparoscopy is much much worse then the actual egg collection, which makes me feel a little better about the whole thing.
Anyway i've gone on enough now.
Hope everything goes well for you.
Lou
x
Good luck and dont worry!
I have stage 4 Endometriosis too. I had surgery last year to remove chocolate cysts from each ovary but the cysts have returned.
We started IVF mid march taking Synarel and i had no side effects at all. However it didnt work as well as it should and i had to switch to Bursarelin injections. Apart from the obvious stinging and a little brusing the only side effect i had was a little bloating of the abdomen.
But this hasnt worked as well as it should either and im stuck on it for another week
. At my last scan they could only see a few follicles but they are in an awkward position for the egg collection.To be honest the worse part so far for me is the internal scan which because of the endometriosis is uncomfortable (but not painful)
Im dreading the egg collection too (if i get that far) but my nurse has said the pain from the endo and laparoscopy is much much worse then the actual egg collection, which makes me feel a little better about the whole thing.
Anyway i've gone on enough now.
Hope everything goes well for you.
Lou
x
Good luck and dont worry!
Hi Lou!
Thanks for the welcome!
Do you mind if I ask you about your cysts...did your doctors decide to go ahead with your tmt even though your cysts came back or did you have to get them taken out again? This was one of my concerns - that mine would come back- but my doctor told me that as long as they were small enough that once I started the tmt they would disappear!
I hope everything works out for you too....keep your chin up!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the welcome!
Do you mind if I ask you about your cysts...did your doctors decide to go ahead with your tmt even though your cysts came back or did you have to get them taken out again? This was one of my concerns - that mine would come back- but my doctor told me that as long as they were small enough that once I started the tmt they would disappear!
I hope everything works out for you too....keep your chin up!!!!!!!!!
Almaduke
Me-34 almost 35, DH-36
TTC 1.5 years
Stage 4 endometriosis, tubes blocked
1st IVF - June/July?
Decided to try acupuncture treatment to unblock tubes before trying IVF
Me-34 almost 35, DH-36
TTC 1.5 years
Stage 4 endometriosis, tubes blocked
1st IVF - June/July?
Decided to try acupuncture treatment to unblock tubes before trying IVF
I think each woman reacts differently to the meds and we all follow different regines.
I'm been on the long protocol, which means I shut down my system with Buselerin (also called Supracur) injections. Once AF arrives and I have my first scan, I then go onto the Gonal-F injections.
As far as side effects, I would say general tiredness is the main one. Once the follicles start growing I suffer from bloating and find I can't do up my trousers! Part of this is also due to the water I need to drink - in fact this is one side effect you don't think about! 2 litres is a lot to drink and can be problematic, especially if you're out shopping because you need to think about where you can go to the loo!
I suffered badly this time after EC, I had 12 eggs which maybe isn't a lot but was for mr!
I'm been on the long protocol, which means I shut down my system with Buselerin (also called Supracur) injections. Once AF arrives and I have my first scan, I then go onto the Gonal-F injections.
As far as side effects, I would say general tiredness is the main one. Once the follicles start growing I suffer from bloating and find I can't do up my trousers! Part of this is also due to the water I need to drink - in fact this is one side effect you don't think about! 2 litres is a lot to drink and can be problematic, especially if you're out shopping because you need to think about where you can go to the loo!
I suffered badly this time after EC, I had 12 eggs which maybe isn't a lot but was for mr!
yeah i went for the initial scan and they knew i had a cyst on each ovary of approx 3 cm. Apparantly this doesnt necessarily cause a problem because the folicles grow all around the ovarys anyway. Think im just unlucky in that the few that are growing are at the back of the ovary with the cyst in front. It just makes the egg collection very difficult. 
If its too awkward when i go back for my scan next week they did mention the next step is to get the cycts treated again then try ivf straight away before they come back. But fingers crossed i may grow some more follicles by tuesday
I dont think the treatment has made any difference to their size but the dr's do monitor & measure them every time i get a scan.
When you read the side effects of some of the medication it does say that it can actually cause ovarian cysts!! But everyone reacts differently so i wouldnt worry too much as the treament still seems to be working.
I've also been going for acupuncture. Apparantly there was a study in Germany where it increased your chances of concieving from 30-50%.
It can help to thicken the lining of your womb and relax your uterus for egg collection. If anything its just nice to relax for half an hour
If you have any more questions feel free to ask.
Lou
x
If its too awkward when i go back for my scan next week they did mention the next step is to get the cycts treated again then try ivf straight away before they come back. But fingers crossed i may grow some more follicles by tuesday
I dont think the treatment has made any difference to their size but the dr's do monitor & measure them every time i get a scan.
When you read the side effects of some of the medication it does say that it can actually cause ovarian cysts!! But everyone reacts differently so i wouldnt worry too much as the treament still seems to be working.
I've also been going for acupuncture. Apparantly there was a study in Germany where it increased your chances of concieving from 30-50%.
It can help to thicken the lining of your womb and relax your uterus for egg collection. If anything its just nice to relax for half an hour
If you have any more questions feel free to ask.
Lou
x
Welcome!
It's true, I agree everyone reacts differently. I was also on Buserilin and it actually stimulated me...... apparently it can happen
. To be honest, once they had eventually down regulated me, I was fine. I had no side affects from Gonal F either. I was put under a general anesthetic because they had over cooked me, so they got 29 eggs....... boy was I pleased I was asleep for that!
Actually, one side affect I did have was wind! Not nice for the scan lady 
I did struggle with very bad headaches when all my treatment was finished.
Good luck and don't WORRY! I'm sure you'll be fine
I would worry for your dh though he'll be having to look after you 100% 
Tessax
It's true, I agree everyone reacts differently. I was also on Buserilin and it actually stimulated me...... apparently it can happen
. To be honest, once they had eventually down regulated me, I was fine. I had no side affects from Gonal F either. I was put under a general anesthetic because they had over cooked me, so they got 29 eggs....... boy was I pleased I was asleep for that!Actually, one side affect I did have was wind! Not nice for the scan lady
I did struggle with very bad headaches when all my treatment was finished.
Good luck and don't WORRY! I'm sure you'll be fine
I would worry for your dh though he'll be having to look after you 100% Tessax
TTC 4.5 years
1st IVF (ICSI): OHSS (2005)
3 FET -neg
Treatment put on hold until August.
1st IVF (ICSI): OHSS (2005)
3 FET -neg
Treatment put on hold until August.
It is so daunting starting your first treatment I was worried how the drugs would affect me and would the injections hurt,but I was really lucky and had no side affects just one headache,the injections were fine I did my own so that I could control the drugs going in,I have put on weight but to tell you the truth I don't care.
I have had accupuncture about a month before treatment and it has really chilled me out also the Zita West book has been my lifeline,good luck with everything and nothing is ever as bad as you think it might be our imaginations are very powerful things
I have had accupuncture about a month before treatment and it has really chilled me out also the Zita West book has been my lifeline,good luck with everything and nothing is ever as bad as you think it might be our imaginations are very powerful things