Frozen embryo transfer ladies come in

Km380 · January 2015

Hi ladies, I've got some questions for those of you that have done frozen embryo transfers. Mine is tentatively set for the 26th.

I stopped bcp's Sunday and started estrogen shots Monday night. The nurse said I may or may not get a period. Huh? Did you get a period if you did these meds?

Did you give up alcohol and cut back on coffee before transfer?

I'm doing estrogen shots every 3rd day. On the 19th I will probably start PIO shots everyday. What did you experience as side effects to both of these?

Tia for any tips! I'd give you treats but I'm mobile and it never works

Km380 · January 2015

@Amybunny30‌ you're so wise

O2girl · January 2015

I have never gotten my AF while on estogen for any of my FETs. And I went 4 weeks total the last two transfers on the estrogen before the transfer.
I didn't cut out alcohol the first two transfers, but I cut alcohol for 6 months before my last transfer...... Obviously alcohol doesn't seem to matter for me.

With PIO I got super sore boobies and my super sarcastic personality was in full bloom-but it always is right before my AF.

Fx for you love!

rslh10 · January 2015

((Hugs)) my love!!!

LizBlue · January 2015

Hello lady - I did one fresh transfer and two FETs with my last IVF cycle.

I took estrace pills instead of estrogen shots, but everything else sounds pretty similar to me. I did get my period when I stopped bcp. I think I was on lupron too as suppressor in the beginning of my cycle. Lupron had the worst side effects for me (bad headaches). The estrogen made me nauseous but not horribly so. PIO was actually way easier than anticipated. It was probably harder for my H who administered the shots than it was for me.

RE: PIO - have your H massage the area really well after he gives the shot. Some say to heat it up, use a heating pad after, but I didn't notice a difference when I didn't do those things. You should watch a video about location because my H administered the shot too low one time and that did hurt a whole lot. For days.

I slowed down on my alcohol consumption a whole lot in anticipation of the FET, and then for the 2WW, I stopped all together. I only drink one cup of coffee per day and continued to do that through all of my cycles.

FETs are a breeze compared to the stim phase of IVF, but you've probably already experienced that.

Good luck! Let me know if you have any more specific questions. The 2WW is brutal - but you will get through it. I'm excited for you and hope it works.

xo

Km380 · January 2015

PetraStonegirl said:
I usually get AF after stopping BCPs before a sFET. It's normal, because the progesterone level you have in your system from the BCPS falls and your E2 level increases from the shots, just like with a natural cycle. However, sometimes ladies don't get AF, because they didn't grow much of a lining on the BCPs.

I did not cut back on alcohol, in fact, my RE was a Pint Pusher, suggesting a pint of good beer everyday right up until the day before I flew down for the transfer.

I switched to decaf at the start of the cycle on my own, just so I wasn't dealing with a caffeine headache during the stress of the transfer.

The only side effects from the injections I seem to get is soreness. Using a tennis ball to heavily massage the injection site right after the shot really helps disburse the meds, as does following the massage with a hearing pad for 10-15 mins. Make sure you use the entire acceptable target area for shots, as too many right next to each other can lead to a painful swelling reaction in the long run.

A pint pusher huh? I like that! My u/s showed my lining was thin so who knows. I feel like a teen not understanding when my period might show lol. I hadn't heard the tennis ball tip either, thanks!

Eta weird mobile quote fail

LizBlue · January 2015

@PetraStonegirl [don't read this part @KM380, you'll be fine

] It was the worst! My H was slightly drunk (oops) and totally went right in the middle of the cheek - holy moly. My nurse swears he didn't hit the sciatic nerve, but I beg to differ. Couldn't walk right for awhile. My H felt so bad.

Self-administered shots, you say? You were already one of my heroes, but you just moved up a few notches - no way I could have done that.

Km380 · January 2015

LizBlue said:
Hello lady - I did one fresh transfer and two FETs with my last IVF cycle.

I took estrace pills instead of estrogen shots, but everything else sounds pretty similar to me. I did get my period when I stopped bcp. I think I was on lupron too as suppressor in the beginning of my cycle. Lupron had the worst side effects for me (bad headaches). The estrogen made me nauseous but not horribly so. PIO was actually way easier than anticipated. It was probably harder for my H who administered the shots than it was for me.

RE: PIO - have your H massage the area really well after he gives the shot. Some say to heat it up, use a heating pad after, but I didn't notice a difference when I didn't do those things. You should watch a video about location because my H administered the shot too low one time and that did hurt a whole lot. For days.

I slowed down on my alcohol consumption a whole lot in anticipation of the FET, and then for the 2WW, I stopped all together. I only drink one cup of coffee per day and continued to do that through all of my cycles.

FETs are a breeze compared to the stim phase of IVF, but you've probably already experienced that.

Good luck! Let me know if you have any more specific questions. The 2WW is brutal - but you will get through it. I'm excited for you and hope it works.

xo

I had the nurse draw targets for mh and we'll keep retracing them.
Knowing how uncomfortable I got during stims is making me nervous for these shots, so thanks for the reminder this will be easier!

LizBlue · January 2015

@KM380 - are you on medrol? (Steroid pill) That is the vilest tasting pill in the entire universe. I put mine in a dab of black raspberry jam and that helped a lot. For the love of god, don't let it get stuck on the back of your tongue. Trust me. Some use peanut butter too.

Km380 · January 2015

LizBlue said:
@KM380 - are you on medrol? (Steroid pill) That is the vilest tasting pill in the entire universe. I put mine in a dab of black raspberry jam and that helped a lot. For the love of god, don't let it get stuck on the back of your tongue. Trust me. Some use peanut butter too.

No I don't have that one. Sounds awful! (And I read your slightly drunk H doing the shot - yikes!!!)

ellebelle2384 · January 2015

No experience but stalking this post for later this spring and sending you lots of good thoughts!

rmpar29 · January 2015

No advice, just ((((HUGS)))) love!

MSU_Girl1202 · January 2015

Hi lady! First off, GOOD LUCK with your FET! I always get my period when I stop BCPs, but I don't start estrace until CD1. Estrace / estrogen isn't fun...it made me super emotional and aggrivated. I didn't give up alcohol or cut back on caffeine before my transfer, but I stopped both cold turkey when we transferred. Good luck again!

katib77 · January 2015

I think I only got two days of spotting no AF before FET but I went straight from IVF no transfer to a lot of drugs to FET.
As for PIO for self injections I had that routine down! I'd lay with two pillows under my hips, and turn 1/4 way over so I could see. After shot I'd massage for 3 min, the do 10 deep squats to get the muscles moving (they say it's better t ,work the muscle than lat around), then heating pad for 5 minutes - never ever got sore spot or knots.

And I agree, after an IVF cycle - FET seems so easy going I almost forgot my meds a few times. I did cut down caffine to just one cup a day two weeks prior and then all together after FET. And I only drink alcohol once of twice anyway so for transfer I still drank a few prior but none after.

Good luck! I believe FETs are the best thing since it gives your body a chance to mellow out after IVF.

dandb925 · January 2015

No advice but just wanted to offer lots of ((hugs))!

Km380 · January 2015

katib77 said:
I think I only got two days of spotting no AF before FET but I went straight from IVF no transfer to a lot of drugs to FET.
As for PIO for self injections I had that routine down! I'd lay with two pillows under my hips, and turn 1/4 way over so I could see. After shot I'd massage for 3 min, the do 10 deep squats to get the muscles moving (they say it's better t ,work the muscle than lat around), then heating pad for 5 minutes - never ever got sore spot or knots.

And I agree, after an IVF cycle - FET seems so easy going I almost forgot my meds a few times. I did cut down caffine to just one cup a day two weeks prior and then all together after FET. And I only drink alcohol once of twice anyway so for transfer I still drank a few prior but none after.

Good luck! I believe FETs are the best thing since it gives your body a chance to mellow out after IVF.

Ohmy another lady doing your own shots! Impressive. I'm making mh do them until it starts to bother him.

Km380 · January 2015

MSU_Girl1202 said:
Hi lady! First off, GOOD LUCK with your FET! I always get my period when I stop BCPs, but I don't start estrace until CD1. Estrace / estrogen isn't fun...it made me super emotional and aggrivated. I didn't give up alcohol or cut back on caffeine before my transfer, but I stopped both cold turkey when we transferred. Good luck again!

Thanks!! I can't stop coffee cold turkey so I'm going to start weaning.