What to Expect

whit0156

So, I am in the midst of my very first IVF cycle. I'm on day 9 of Lupron and am due to start stim meds (menopur and follistim) on Thursday. I haven't felt many side effects from the Lupron- a little nausea the first few days and headaches (and maybe a little more moody than usual). How should I expect to feel while taking all of the stim meds? I am a photographer and am super busy over the next couple of weeks with photo sessions (including a couple maternity sessions). Am I going to be a basket-case? I don;t want to burst into tears in the middle of a photo session!! When do you start feeling really bloated and uncomfortable- is that nearer to the ER? What should I expect for the egg retrieval? Are you pretty sore afterwards?

Sorry for so many questions! I'm starting to get nervous as this is getting closer! Thanks for your help ladies!

freakyfast

Hi.  I never did Lupron, so I don't know the effects of that.  I did do menopur and follistim and I did not have ANY noticeable side effects.  I did lose it one night and got super emotional and crying but that was one day out of 10.  So I thought I did fairly well, and I was on a max dose of both.  

I didn't feel bloated or uncomfortable until the day after retrieval.  I was not sore just kinda crampy.  I had retrieval a week ago and I am still bloated and uncomfortable.  I was told it will go away when my AF shows up.  I do get crampy in my ovaries quite often, and it is semi painful and annoying.  I was at work the day after retrieval. 

But everyone is different.  I hope you have minimal side effects.  Good Luck! 

gmc222

I did Lupron and Follistim, and I consider myself one of the lucky ones who had very minimal side effects. Although I didn't have too much bloating I did have gas pains that would come and go. I had my ER on a Sat and was at work on Monday, although I mostly sit at a desk all day.

My advice is to drink lots of gatorade after your ER, and take colace to help get things going. Good luck!

chrissynena

No side effects for me either. I would take those injectables over clomid ANY day. I also was on max doses.

ally510

I did follistim and low dose hcg. I had a little bloating and bruising around the injection sights. My ER was Monday and I was in some pain and got pretty bloated. The pain was better yesterday and is nearly gone today. However, the bloating is still here. It's pretty annoying to have a bloated belly and an empty uterus. Hopefully that's just temporary though!

Good luck!

whit0156

Thank you ladies!! That all sounds very manageable and puts my mind at ease. I had my baseline today- nice thin lining and 11 follies on the right and 12 on the left. Got the official go-ahead to start stims tomorrow!!