Q for ladies who have done IVF

IBackBevo

Did the injects make you crazy/emotional or hypersensitive? In thinking about doing ivf, one thing I am worried about is how I will react and feel. I was a raging, irrational B on clomid so I am worried that high dose stims will be worse. I still have to go to work if I do this and not go Harry Kerry on someone

chrismarc1492

I just completed my second round of IVF. This round they put my body in a state of menopause then I started injections to build up my estrogen again. The only side effect I had was a horrible headache because of estrogen deprivation. If you are getting the injections that is shutting your hormones down you will get a headache. Other than that I felt normal.

CarrieB.

Yes. My fresh IVF cycle made me really crazy, however I was also dealing with some really awful work related issues and my DH was having healtg issues at the same time so it's hard to know how much to blame on the meds.

Ruthie04

During Lupron, I started having major anxiety issues (chest pain, racing heart, irrational fears) due to the estrogen suppression. Once it got back up, I felt fine again. The RE said it was a nice glimpse into menopause- super. During stims, the discomfort from swelling ovaries was a much bigger deal. Between trigger and ER, I could hardly sit still. I did have some flu like symptoms from Menopur, but never experienced any emotional s/e from Follistim. Although, I never had issues on Clomid, so I'm not sure if that makes a difference.

mnj05

I feel like I worse on clomid than my IVF cycle. I was more easily irritated during stims but I've also got a husband that loves to irritate me (thanks FIL for teaching him that). I am a teacher and did it in the summer so I didn't have work stress to add to it though.

Dragonfly1226

I think it is different for everyone. For me, the only drug that affected me was Lupron. It was bad though. It made me feel almost buzzed when I was on the full dose. Once I started stims and decreased my Lupron dose it stopped bothering me. I was teaching fourth grade during both my IVF cycles and was fine at work.

jessica_gail2

I had some slight moodiness and stuff but nothing I couldn't handle. DH said I was pretty good too. I would say though that if you had some issues with clomid you're probably more likely to also have them with the IVF drugs. Your RE will monitor you closely though!

ShelleyBQ

I agree that it's different for everyone.  I had some moodiness too, but nothing crazy.  I was worried since I'm a teacher and absolutely cannot lose it on my students... but I was fine.  Good luck with your decision!

CallMeAl

It's hard for me to separate the emotions due to meds versus emotions from the stress of the cycle. In general, Ive managed two max dose cycles with minimal outbursts at home or work. Was it stressful and emotional? Yes. Was it manageable? Yes. Good luck!

fabulouspinkmady

I didn't notice much when I was on Bravelle, but WOW did I notice a difference my second cycle on Gonal F! It seemed like my emotions were all intensified and I had a few freak outs, but I managed to keep it together at work. However, everybody reacts to the drugs differently and there is no way to tell how you will respond until you're in the moment. Thank goodness for PTO, LOL! Good luck!

kmc84

I went through three IVF cycles, one cancelled right before retrieval, and I can honestly say the side effects from meds was not too bad. Lupron made me very tired but stims didn't really change anything. I did one clomid cycle way back when and I was a horrid, raging, sobbing, cray cray biatch! I think dh was ready to move out until it was over, lol!

IBackBevo

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Dh said if it was anything like clonid, he was going to take DS and move out for the cycle.

eroplane

chrismarc1492 said:

I just completed my second round of IVF. This round they put my body in a state of menopause then I started injections to build up my estrogen again. The only side effect I had was a horrible headache because of estrogen deprivation. If you are getting the injections that is shutting your hormones down you will get a headache. Other than that I felt normal.

This exactly!!

sweett1998

I think I was pretty normal on my meds during my IVF cycle.  I did have one "fit" because my DH was picking out yogurt flavors I didn't like....but then we laughed about it.  Only side effect I have now is slight OHSS....but it's not too terrible.  GL to you!

PennyLane26

I did have hormonal mood swings on my IVF meds, but I can't say they were any worse than when I was strictly on BCPs to start my cycles. I don't recall Clomid giving me any mood swings though, so like PP said, maybe if you are sensitive to Clomid you will be more sensitive to stims. 

ccam

Clomid was awful for me. I would much rather do something like follistim. On a regular IUI cycle with follistim, I was fine. During IVF, the only real side effect was that I felt like my ovaries were the size of beach balls.

golfrgal

Yes, it's terrible being on the meds.  I became super sensitive to anything and anyone.  The worst was just being able to sit without my pants waistband irritating the injection sites.  I actually broke out in tears and started crying at a family gathering because I couldn't sit on the sofa...and DH had to abruptly take me home and put me in bed.  How embarrassing!

TXwife9

I was emotional but I honestly don't know if it was from the meds or everything that I was going through. IVF is so stressful as it is. The worst part for me was how uncomfortable my abdomen felt in the end.

DrRx

When I did IVF, it wasn't so much moodiness but that I would cry at songs playing on the radio when I was in my car.  Or have a really good ugly cry when watching a movie a-la Notebook.  That's as far as the emotional side effects that I noticed.  There are also the physical side effects that I had--the hot flashes, enlarged ovaries, etc, that while not awesome, they were definitely manageable.  I worked during my entire stim cycle. 

Good luck!

Killer Tomato

Clomid made me an emotional, anxious wreck. Femara was better, and though it wasn't easy, per se, my IVF cycle was actually the easiest in terms of physical and emotional side effects. Which kind of surprised me. Aside from the general stress of the cycle, I felt pretty balanced emotionally.

ccam

Oops....damn mobile!!