1st timer IVF worries (long) & ? abt digestion issues (a little TMI)

anitaflora

***prior losses (symptoms) mentioned briefly****



I feel kind of hesitant posting but I think I just need a little reassurance and have a couple questions.

I'm expecting to have a 5 day transfer tomorrow morning. But I only had 3 embryos as of day 3. I'm trying not to freak out about so few - because I think usually they wouldn't wait until day 5 with only that many. I'm not really sure why they did - other than that they explained that they were all doing equally well at 8 cells each on Sat. So the nurse explained the embryologist recommended it because they were doing well and it would help them determine which to transfer.

But doesn't that mean there's a much greater risk now I'm not going to have any to transfer at all?? I'm so scared and trying not to worry and trust the embryologist but it's hard. I keep googling stuff and I know should stay away from dr. Google. Because there's just no real way to know right?!?

Ugh.

Also, I'm really, really worried too about some digestive issues I'm having. And sorry this is going to be a little bit TMI.

In every loss that wasn't a chemical, I had these awful, awful digestive issues. It was this weird combination of constipation alternating with diarrhea and I started to wonder if something about my digestion that was causing or contributing to my losses. But I've always put it out of my mind because everything I read and heard was that the hormones just throw everything out of whack and that it wouldn't have any relation to my losses.

Well now I'm having the same issues. The days before my transfer!!! I am starting to think I might have IBS and that the change in hormones might make it flare up. Or it also might be that they put me on this antibiotic because during retrieval the dr said he "nicked" the cyst on my ovary. I just now learned that antibiotics can contribute to digestive problems. So now I've been eating as much probiotic yogurt as my tummy can handle. But I'm so scared now going into transfer with these digestive issues!! The last thing I want is to have these issues when the embryo is trying to implant and I'm trying to nourish it!!

Any advice on either front?

Thanks in advance and sorry this was so long!

indianaalum

I think alot of us taking the fertility meds are experiencing all sorts of digestive fun-ness...I think that is probably normal.

Yes, antibiotics can give you diarrhea, so that might explain that one

I have been eating fiber bars and they seem to be helping

Good Luck tomorrow..FX for a sticky one

mrscsw

I have been constipated for two days. I get what you are saying. I would talk to your RE and avoid dr. Google. Sending you sticky thoughts! GL tomorrow.

LizBlue

Good luck tomorrow Anita. I totally get that everything is making you nervous right now. I'm really hoping you will have at least one beautiful five day blastocyst tomorrow! Or three!!

So- here's my tmi story. Last night (day of ET) my week long constipation ended in an explosive and painful way. I had to call the on call doctor multiple times because a.) I thought I was dying and b.) I thought I ruined my chances. I can't stress enough how horrible it was. The doctor assured me that I was not hurting the embryo and that this is normal (between hormones and antibiotics). I'm just starting to feel better and hoping like hell I didn't fuck this up.

You got this- it's out of your hands now. You've done all you can do. Big ((hugs)).

Carol77B

I've had similar digestive problems- think it was the anesthesia and/or pain-killers that really did a number on me- I was worried about how my ET would go because of it, but so far it has eased up. Your clinic may really want to do an ESET with you, which is probably why they are waiting to day 5. My first IVF I had four (two good, two not-so-good) and they moved me from a 3-day to a 5-day because the two were doing so well and for my first IVF they really wanted to just transfer a single embryo. This time I only had three, and because I had a failed IVF, I was told they would want to transfer two, regardless of what day and they went with the 3-day and could tell that two of them were a lot better than the third. They would risk not having any for the transfer, so I'm sure they are confident you will have some to transfer. Good luck! BTW- it wouldn't be a bad idea to see your regular doctor about your symptoms if you think you might have IBS or other issues that are treatable. Celiac/gluten intolerance has a lot of digestive symptoms, too, so it may be worth checking out. I've had two friends diagnosed by doctors.

anitaflora

Thank you so much for the reassurances. I am relieved that it's not just me with the digestive issues. Although I'm not glad because I hate that any of you have had these issues too! But I will definitely talk to my RE and the dr in the practice that does my transplant tomorrow.

And I'll try not to worry about the decision to wait until day 5... I know I need to trust their judgment about it and there's nothing I can do about it. So far my RE and this practice has been right on with everything and I am so happy he put me on the high dosage of stimming so we could retrieve what we did. I just need to put my trust in them but it's so hard!

Thank you again for the replies and good wishes!

Milagros315

I don't really have any advice because I know it's so hard to keep yourself from worrying. Like you said though - if the embryologist didn't think the embryos looked great, they wouldn't have pushed for a day 5 transfer!

I also experienced digestive issues after my transfer. It could have been the antibiotics, but I think it was the anesthesia. I had similar issues (mostly constipation) after my lap surgery as well. For me, it went away within a few days. I also bought a can of prunes to help the situation.

I hope that your issues are just a side effect of the ER or antibiotics. I also hope that you have wonderful embie waiting for you and that everything goes well tomorrow! Good luck!

katib77

The one thing you can't "get" until you go through IVF is the sheer pain of contipation and how backed up you'll get. I ended up finding what worked for me was a small cup of coffee plus a glass of prune juice a day.

RunCC37

The ladies above already covered the digestive issues that go along with IVF cycles. Definitely not fun but it seems to be normal!

About your concerns with your transfer getting canceled... I have personal experience with it and it suuuuuuucks. For my first IVF, we did a 3dt of two poor quality 7-cell pre-embryos. The four remaining embryos arrested before making it to blastocysts and our cycle ended in a BFN. In our hearts, we believe that the two we transferred probably arrested inside my uterus before Day 5. For our second IVF cycle, we hoped for better and got worse... All five of our fertilized eggs arrested by Day 2 and none made it past 1-2 cells. Our transfer was canceled and it was absolutely devastating. For our third IVF, we had five eggs fertilize and miraculously one made it to blastocyst and is currently frozen as we prepare for a FET. I tell you all of that not to scare you, but to hopefully help you to see that you never know how things will turn out. Unfortunately, we just have to wait and see. I completely understand your anxiety about why they didn't they do the 3dt in your case, but try to focus on the positive. Hopefully you'll get there tomorrow and see your three beautiful embryos ready to go! Or at the very least, hopefully you'll get one. When we first started out, I expected to have a few good embryos out of our cycle, but now I am just overjoyed that we have one.

Hang in there & good luck tomorrow!!