I know everybody is different and everyone's on a different cocktail & dosage, but how do your meds affect you? Since this is my first IVF cycle, I don't know if I'm over-dramatizing my reactions or what. I feel totally drained for one thing. I had hot flashes in the beginning. I feel like my ovaries are watermelons. Ganirelix made me nauseous and have bad headaches. My 2 trigger shots made me hot & nauseous.... I guess I'm just looking for a little validation as to whether I'm a major drama queen or not. LOL!! Plus I feel like a busted can of biscuits in my clothes so that's not helping.... Humor appreciated here, ladies- give it to me straight.
You're not crazy or dramatizing it at all!! I have experienced all of the above at one point or another throughout all of this. Keep your eyes on the prize. It will be worth it!
I pretty much felt all of those for my first cycle. Around day 2-3 of stims, I had the WORST headache. I used to get migraines regularly and this headache was probably one of the most painful I've ever had. The nurse said it was attributable to the sudden increase in e2. It was so bad that I truly felt like I wouldn't be able to go through another IVF cycle. Other than that, I'd say a general feeling of fogginess and bloat were pretty constant for me. You are not being a drama queen! You're putting your body through a lot!
You're totally not alone here. It feels like the plague mixed with exhaustion and over heating 24/7. Just know it's temporary and we are all here for you . Good luck!
IVF #1 Oct 2013- cancelled IVF #2 Mar 2014- success.... baby girl born 11/28/14 FET #1 Mar 2016- baby boy due 12/16/16
Thanks so much ladies- I triggered last night and ER is tomorrow so I'm just feeling the pressures. Got a massive headache today from it and am feeling overwhelmed. @keziah23 - DH thought the gas was just me trying to pull one over on him. Lol! I had to read that part to him!!
***Losses mentioned.*** TTC #1 since May 2012. Me: 37, OH: 41. Ectopic August 2012 => tubal damage. Stage 1 endo removed June 2013. IVF #1 Oct/Nov 2013: Long Lupron with Gonal-F. 7R, 7M, 7F. 2 txfer@3d. Nothing frozen. => M/C @ 8 wks. Selected RPL panel all normal. Very hyper and brittle response to stims. IVF #2 (antagonist protocol) Feb 2014 => Converted to IUI (Perfect conditions). BFN. IVF #2.1 w/ new RE June 2014: Antagonist protocol. 33R, 31M, 30F, 19 blasts to test!!! I made it through without crashing!! Hats off to Dr. Fancypants!! ET of one 5AB blast. BFN. 13 10 CCS'ed snowflakes! FET #1 PUPO as of 7/29 Betas: 8/7@24, 8/9@97, 8/11@334 (etc.) Two sacs on 8/15, one seen on 8/18 after a bleed. U/s 8/25 (6+3) "perfect": 5.9 mm + HB@120bpm! U/s 9/4 (7+6): 15.9 mm + HB@172 bpm! Please, PLEASE stick this time!!!!
Yep, I'm feeling all if the above. I'm blessed to have my job and my boss, because he approved me working from home during stims. It's so much better to wear yoga pants and take conference calls laying down. And of course not being ragey or crying with my coworkers.
TTC #1 since June 2012
Me (28) - DOR (AFC <10, undetectable AMH, >10 FSH), homozygous E429A MTHFR DH (29) - MFI low count and morphology
Nov 2013 IVF/ICSI #1 - Protocol: BCP prep, high doses Menopur and Bravelle (12 days), ganirelex Results: 5 retrieved / mature, 4 fertilized, 1 arrested and 3 complex abnormal after day 3 PGS = Cancelled after ER Jan/Feb 2014 IVF/ICSI #2 - Protocol: Estrogen priming, high doses Menopur and Bravelle (11 days), microdose lupron Results: Cancelled after 11 days of stims due to low response and E2 levels Feb 2014 IVF/ICSI #3 - Protocol: No prep, low dose Menopur (6 days), ganirelex, Bravelle booster with trigger Results: 1 retrieved / 0 mature = Cancelled after ER
Officially moving on to embryo adoption! We used and love Embryo Adoption Services of Cedar Park October 2014 FET #1 - BCP/Lupron/Estrace/Prometrium, transferred 2 of 4 from match #1, BFN December 2014 FET #2 - BCP/Lupron/Estrace/Prometrium, transferred 2 of 4 from match #1, BFN March 2015 FET #3 - BCP/Lupron/Estrace/Prometrium, transferred 2 of 6 from match #2, BFN May 2015 FET #4 - BCP/Lupron/Estrace/Prometrium, lost 2 to thaw, transferred 2 of 6 from match #2, BFN October 2015 FET #5 - Natural cycle, lost 1 from match #3 and 1 from clinic backup to thaw, transferred 1 backup, BFN February 2016 FET #6 - Natural cycle, transferred 1 from match #4, B FREAKING P! Beta 1 = 162, Beta 2 = 316, doubling just over 48 hours
@princesspix - Bloated, tired and extremely irritable (only towards DH - lucky him!). I slept like a baby every night (but woke frequently when a toot slipped out). I was afraid I would wake DH with my gas! :-O
Good luck with your ER tomorrow!
f/k/a/ Kari3629
Me: 40/DH: 34
Unexplained IF
IVF #1 - 9/2013 8ER/5M/4EF/4ET = BFN
IVF #2 - 2/2014 - Fingers crossed this is the one!
4ER/3EF/3 "beautiful embryos" transferred - Beta March 7 = BFN
Seriously, I made this blog post the week I was stimming... I thought I was losing it.
"So today is definitely a bad day for me. I don't know if its the anxiety or the meds or a combination of it all. But HOLY HORMONES!! I just don't remember it being like this on my first IVF. But maybe my body is different now.
First the headache started then came the nausea. Now I suffer from migraines (even more so while on BCP), so I could get passed that. But the bloating got to me and nothing fit right. Now Im not sure if anyone else can relate or if this is all in my head, but I could swear I feel the pressure from my ovaries. I got OHSS on my first IFV so I constantly panic about that. Then the weepiness started. Everything was making me so emotional and brought me to tears.
Then I got pissed at myself. I was being a nut case and I knew it, but I couldn't stop it. I said I wasn't going to feel sorry for myself but I felt so low. And it was draining, all the different emotions really had me wanting to just curl up and take a nap.
I just wanted to let this all out to somebody, anybody who might be able to relate. lol I dont know anyone who is going through IF so although my closest friends give me the "aww its going to be okay" or "I hope you feel better" ... they dont truly get how some days you just want to scream at all the frustrations.
I promise Im not like this all the time (ending post soon because Im rambling now), but today was most definitely one of those days.
Okay Im done. lol "
ETA: I hope you feel better soon... Sorry for the long paragraph. (I'm mobile)
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Waited a long time, tried a lot of stuff, science made me a mom.
Loss and IF veteran. Current mom of DS 5.5, DD 2, and sometimes DH 40. Due June 2021 with TWINS
@PrincessPix, I'm sorry you're feeling so crummy. I'm glad you asked this question, I'm quite nervous about the unknown for my first IVF cycle which will be coming up in a month or so. I hope today's a better day for you and you're feeling a bit better. FX!!
Headaches & exhaustion were on the top of the list for me, followed by irritability & bloating. It all sucks but hopefully will be worth it in the end!!
Me (36) - LOR, DH (34) - MFI (low count & poor motility)
TTC since 01/2012
11/2012-04/2013 Unmonitored Clomid cycles through OB/GYN; Referred to RE
You know the end of "Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince," when [spoiler??] Harry has to keep forcing Dumbledore to drink the potion in the cave? Yeah. That's how I felt about my stims after about 4 days
My husband enjoyed that metaphor immensely, and would cheer me on, saying, "you're doing so good! This is the last one, I promise."
As a side note, my nurses acted like it was so unusual that I had bad headaches and I bloated so much, so it's nice to hear other people confirm that those AREN'T unusual symptoms.
Me: 34 / DH: 33
19-year history of endometriosis. Multiple surgeries and cyst removals. Forced directly into IVF due to blocked tubes and severe adhesions.
IVF w/ICSI and CCS #1 - Dec 2013 - Only 1 normal. Ended in CP
For me it has been the exhaustion, moodiness and the bloating - oh good lord the bloating! I have been wearing the same 1 pair of jeans when I go out constantly because it is all that fits comfortably other than sweats!
Poor DH has to deal with my moods - fine one minute, bawling the next or worse, yelling at him over nothing at all.
I was shocked that I didn't feel many side effects with the drugs I took (Gonal F, Menapur, Ganirelix, Steroids, doxy), until the HCG Trigger. My side effects during stims were basically just related to my huge ovaries, but my side effects with the Trigger were bad. I got a horrible hivey rash on my elbows and knees and then OHSS. Boo trigger.
I only talked about physical side effects, the emotional side effects were that I was a crazy person. Everyone at work was hurting my feelings. I was weepy and offended by life.
TTC since May 2012 Me: 32 H: 31
DX: MFI-Very Low Count, I have Hashimotos.
IVF prep September 2013 cancelled due to Ovarian Cyst IVF #1 October 2013 Antagonistic Protocol with ICSI ER 10/31/13 (18R 16M 11F- 6 blasts to freeze) ET delayed due to OHSS FET scheduled for July 8. Delayed due to a crazy high TSH (it had been under control for YEARS!) FET #1 8/5/14 sET BFN
Re: How do your meds make you feel?
Male Factor (severe oligospermia)
12/12: c/p
4/13: c/p
8/13: Started seeing RE; DX: Unexplained IF, RPL testing normal, SA perfect.
Oct - Dec '13: Clomid 25 mg + Ovidrel + IUI = BFN
2/14: IVF #1 Gonal F + Menopur + Ganirilex + Lupron trigger w/ HCG boost= 28R, 11M, 5F. 5dt 4BB, 1 frozen 4BB. BFN
4/14: IVF #2 Saizen, Gonal F, Menopur, Ganirilex = 20R, 10M, 10F. 5dt of 2 4AB, 2 frozen 4BB. +HPT 4dp5dt, Beta 4/26
IVF #1 Oct 2013- cancelled
IVF #2 Mar 2014- success.... baby girl born 11/28/14
FET #1 Mar 2016- baby boy due 12/16/16
@keziah23 - DH thought the gas was just me trying to pull one over on him. Lol! I had to read that part to him!!
***Losses mentioned.*** TTC #1 since May 2012. Me: 37, OH: 41. Ectopic August 2012 => tubal damage. Stage 1 endo removed June 2013. IVF #1 Oct/Nov 2013: Long Lupron with Gonal-F. 7R, 7M, 7F. 2 txfer@3d. Nothing frozen. => M/C @ 8 wks. Selected RPL panel all normal. Very hyper and brittle response to stims. IVF #2 (antagonist protocol) Feb 2014 => Converted to IUI (Perfect conditions). BFN. IVF #2.1 w/ new RE June 2014: Antagonist protocol. 33R, 31M, 30F, 19 blasts to test!!! I made it through without crashing!! Hats off to Dr. Fancypants!! ET of one 5AB blast. BFN. 13 10 CCS'ed snowflakes! FET #1 PUPO as of 7/29 Betas: 8/7@24, 8/9@97, 8/11@334 (etc.) Two sacs on 8/15, one seen on 8/18 after a bleed. U/s 8/25 (6+3) "perfect": 5.9 mm + HB@120bpm! U/s 9/4 (7+6): 15.9 mm + HB@172 bpm! Please, PLEASE stick this time!!!!
TTC #1 since June 2012
Me (28) - DOR (AFC <10, undetectable AMH, >10 FSH), homozygous E429A MTHFR
DH (29) - MFI low count and morphology
September 2013 IUI#1 - Clomid + Trigger + IUI = BFN
October 2013 IUI#2 - Letrozole + Menopur + Trigger + IUI = BFN
Nov 2013 IVF/ICSI #1 - Protocol: BCP prep, high doses Menopur and Bravelle (12 days), ganirelex
Results: 5 retrieved / mature, 4 fertilized, 1 arrested and 3 complex abnormal after day 3 PGS = Cancelled after ER
Jan/Feb 2014 IVF/ICSI #2 - Protocol: Estrogen priming, high doses Menopur and Bravelle (11 days), microdose lupron
Results: Cancelled after 11 days of stims due to low response and E2 levels
Feb 2014 IVF/ICSI #3 - Protocol: No prep, low dose Menopur (6 days), ganirelex, Bravelle booster with trigger
Results: 1 retrieved / 0 mature = Cancelled after ER
Officially moving on to embryo adoption! We used and love Embryo Adoption Services of Cedar Park
October 2014 FET #1 - BCP/Lupron/Estrace/Prometrium, transferred 2 of 4 from match #1, BFN
December 2014 FET #2 - BCP/Lupron/Estrace/Prometrium, transferred 2 of 4 from match #1, BFN
March 2015 FET #3 - BCP/Lupron/Estrace/Prometrium, transferred 2 of 6 from match #2, BFN
May 2015 FET #4 - BCP/Lupron/Estrace/Prometrium, lost 2 to thaw, transferred 2 of 6 from match #2, BFN
October 2015 FET #5 - Natural cycle, lost 1 from match #3 and 1 from clinic backup to thaw, transferred 1 backup, BFN
February 2016 FET #6 - Natural cycle, transferred 1 from match #4, B FREAKING P!
Beta 1 = 162, Beta 2 = 316, doubling just over 48 hours
@princesspix - Bloated, tired and extremely irritable (only towards DH - lucky him!). I slept like a baby every night (but woke frequently when a toot slipped out). I was afraid I would wake DH with my gas! :-O
Good luck with your ER tomorrow!
f/k/a/ Kari3629
Me: 40/DH: 34
Unexplained IF
IVF #1 - 9/2013 8ER/5M/4EF/4ET = BFN
IVF #2 - 2/2014 - Fingers crossed this is the one!
4ER/3EF/3 "beautiful embryos" transferred - Beta March 7 = BFN
Everyone Welcome!
Waited a long time, tried a lot of stuff, science made me a mom.
Me (36) - LOR, DH (34) - MFI (low count & poor motility)
TTC since 01/2012
11/2012-04/2013 Unmonitored Clomid cycles through OB/GYN; Referred to RE
05/2013-Benched due to cyst
06/2013 - Clomid 50 mg + HCG Trigger + TI = BFN
07/2013 - Clomid 50 mg + HCG Trigger + IUI #1 = BFN
08/2013 - Clomid 50 mg + HCG Trigger + IUI #2 = BFN
09/2013 - Benched for lap & hysteroscopy (Stage II Endo Removed)
10/2013 - Menopur + HCG Trigger + IUI #3 = BFN
11/2013 - Menopur + HCG Trigger + IUI #4 = BFN
12/2013 - Clomid + HCG Trigger + IUI #5 = BFN
2/2014 - IVF #1 - Microdose Lupron Flare Protocol - 5R/4M/4F w/ICSI; 2 embies transferred on day 3 (none to freeze)
2/27/14 - First BFP Ever!!! EDD 11/3/14
I was shocked that I didn't feel many side effects with the drugs I took (Gonal F, Menapur, Ganirelix, Steroids, doxy), until the HCG Trigger. My side effects during stims were basically just related to my huge ovaries, but my side effects with the Trigger were bad. I got a horrible hivey rash on my elbows and knees and then OHSS. Boo trigger.
I only talked about physical side effects, the emotional side effects were that I was a crazy person. Everyone at work was hurting my feelings. I was weepy and offended by life.
Me: 32 H: 31
IVF #1 October 2013 Antagonistic Protocol with ICSI ER 10/31/13 (18R 16M 11F- 6 blasts to freeze)
ET delayed due to OHSS
FET scheduled for July 8. Delayed due to a crazy high TSH (it had been under control for YEARS!)
FET #1 8/5/14 sET BFN