IVF--I'm Scared!

xMarialovesWilliamx

Sadly my feb. IUI cycle failed, turns out my DH has antibodies on some of his sperm which don't allow them to pentrate the egg on their own. We are off to IVF with ICSI and after my class today, I'm scared. The lupron and follistim pen don't scare me, but the intramuscular HCG and Progesterone are freaking me out! My hubby keeps saying..."Just keep thinking beautiful little baby" and I'm trying but I'm soo scared! This is my first time doing all this stuff and the medications and injections are soo overwhelming! Any advice? Are they very painful? Please anyone, I can't seem to stop stressing ugh and I thought the two week IUI wait was bad! Baby dust to everyone and BFPs!

PrincessShay80

I totally understand where you are coming from, and I think all of on this board have felt that way you do at some point in our IF journey. You DH is right try to stay focused on the end result, you beauitful baby. I am getting ready to start my first IVF, so I dont have any experience with the PIO shots, but I really dont think the HCG shot is that bad, I actually have never really felt it when I have done it, I think I have done 5 of those total.

The Follistim is a piece of cake- the pen makes it really easy and its painless.

We are all here for you! Best of luck, ,just take it a day at a time.

Nesting.Away

tips on the PIO (progesterone):

-warm the vial in your cleavage before using

-numb the injection site with ice

-use a warm towel that you had running under warm water the whole time and put on injection site afterwards (I had DH massage the site a bit with the towel)

 = little to no pain..... we just made it a ritual of sorts. Good luck to you.

MarcyIam

Ditto the pp's.  And the IM shots really aren't so bad.  Every once and a while I'll get one where it hurts, but even then it doesn't hurt that bad or for that long. 

Just make sure you don't put pressure on the leg side you're injecting into and follow some of the tips above.  The first one for me was the most nervewracking, but now I can do them on my own no biggie.

I wish you the very best of luck!

preheatedoven

I have a total needle phobia, and I don't say that lightly. My therapist even helped me with visualization, etc. in preparation for our IVF cycle. 

I have been doing the PIO shots for a week already...and I have survived! I did sob with the first one, but I did it! It has been so empowering for me to finally get over this fear. But I totally understand how you are feeling. It is really terrifying, but this board and all ladies on here have really helped me make it through it:)

katelb

Hi - my husband and I had the same problem! We just finished our first IVF cycle after many IUI's. It was not that bad - I worked myself up more than I needed to! See if your insurance covers Crinone - the Progesterone gel it is a vag supp twice a day - no oil shots! Thank god my insurance covered that because that was the scariest one for me! All the others are easy - tiny needle half the time I didn't even feel it! We are going for our 2nd beta tomorrow morning and as of now we have one of each in the belly! Good luck!!

katelb

Hi - my husband and I had the same problem! We just finished our first IVF cycle after many IUI's. It was not that bad - I worked myself up more than I needed to! See if your insurance covers Crinone - the Progesterone gel it is a vag supp twice a day - no oil shots! Thank god my insurance covered that because that was the scariest one for me! All the others are easy - tiny needle half the time I didn't even feel it! The HCG was no big deal the needle looks worse than it is! We are going for our 2nd beta tomorrow morning and as of now we have one of each in the belly! Good luck!!

Believer09

I understand.  When I received my meds for my first IVF, I TOTALLY freaked when I opened the package and saw SO MANY needles---many of which were HUGE!  I even remember back to my first night of shots, and I got cold feet...I looked at my husband and said "I can't do this."  However, I thought of a baby (and the $ we spent on meds) and sucked it up.  I freaked for nothing!  The lupron, microdose ovidrel (if you're taking that), follistim/gonal-f shots were nothing!  May sting just a bit when the meds are going in--but that's it.

PIO shots---warm them a little by holding the bottle in your hand for a bit.  Don't look at the needle.  Unfortunately, the needle is long(er) but doesn't add any additional pain compared to lupron.  However, after taking these shots for about a week, your muscles in your bootie will start to knot up and ache.  This hurts more than the shot (to me).

HCG shot---not too much pain.  Only have to do it once anyway.

Hope I've helped! 

Sade Aluko

My HCG was subcutaneous so it was a tiny needle. I used a large needle to draw the medication then swapped out for a small needle to inject. 

I did PIO intramuscular shots. DH gave them to me in my butt. PIO shots were the sole reason I would've preferred a d3 transfer, but I had a d5 transfer. Everytime he gave me the shot, I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't hurt and didn't even know when the needle was in or when he had pulled it out.  It was the soreness after that was uncomfortable. I found that using a hot pad after and walking around helped eased the soreness. 

Good luck and I hope you get a BFP!!

jcombs

I totally understand too and am just starting my first IVF now.  We have an IVF check in on Tuesdays and Thursdays that you're more than welcome to join in!! Its great to find ladies who are going through the cycle at the same time as you.  Good luck!!