seriously, how hard is IVF?

jessiemills81

Hello ladies!  I've completed my third IUI (1st clomid, 2nd/3rd injectables only) and find out on the 11th.  If this is a BFN - I will start BCP and jump right into IVF #1.  I feel pretty comfortable with the shots and the clinic is on the way to the office, so it isnt thhhaattt far out of the way...my question is, how hard is an IVF cycle?  Do you think I need to build up emotionally and take off a month before starting?  Of course, I am beyond nervous for the ER and ET, but perhaps anticipation is worse than the actual procedures?  Just feeling kind of lost and not sure if I can really do this...thank you in advance!

kimarino13

It was emotionally rough for me, but that's something you really can't prepare for.  The hardest parts for me were waiting on the fert reports and hoping the embryos were dividing and then waiting for beta.  And you are right that the anticipation of ER and ET is waaaaay worse than the actual procedure.

You can definitely do it!  

Shelley-Bean

It was harder mentally b/c there was more to it.  The ET and ER was fine - I was way more psyched up for it than I needed to be.  I think the worst part was 2 days after ER, I had a ruptured ovarian cyst, in which I thought I was dying!  It took a couple of days for that pain to go away.  That doesn't happen with everyone, though.

GL!

fallbride110406

kimarino13:

It was emotionally rough for me, but that's something you really can't prepare for.  The hardest parts for me were waiting on the fert reports and hoping the embryos were dividing and then waiting for beta.  And you are right that the anticipation of ER and ET is waaaaay worse than the actual procedure.

You can definitely do it!  

Ditto this exactly.  Emotionally it was hard, especially since we knew we could only try it twice and after that we'd either have to save up for another attempt or for adoption.  I went to a therapist for about 3 months after I miscarried with IVF #1 because I was having such a hard time with it.

I never really had issues with the actual medical aspect of it.  I was uncomfortable physically at times (especially after ER the first time with borderline OHSS) but that never really bothered me.  Once you set your mind to it, you can get through it, I promise.   

schoolsoutbride

I was surprised how sore and incapacitated I was during stimming.  If you can, I'd clear your schedule a little bit.

Dragonfly1226

I'm not going to lie. It has been hard. I have been an emotional wreck because of the stress and all the hormones. I really haven't felt like myself in a month. That being said, it's totally doable.You can do it!

The only thing I would think about is if you really want to start an IVF cycle right around the holidays. I would try to calculate when you would be starting injections. If it's after the holidays, then you'll probably be okay. (My protocol didn't involve BCPs so I'm not sure about the timing.) It's just something to keep in mind.

Good luck!

jessiemills81

Thank you for all of your responses!! 

ChiTown Bridget

schoolsoutbride:

I was surprised how sore and incapacitated I was during stimming.  If you can, I'd clear your schedule a little bit.

Ditto This.

yodasmistress

The hardest part for me was that I was physically EXHAUSTED all they time from the lupron and stims.  All I wanted to do was lay around and do nothing!