feeling overwhelmed... Just received my prescriptions to start IVF ! Any advise?

Cin2014 · June 2015

Hello ladies,

I received all my prescriptions yesterday and I'm feeling very overwhelmed and emotional. I've been trying really hard to stay stress free, but last night I had a breakdown. Seeing my prescriptions made me realize that this is really happening. My husband and I want a baby so bad and I'm afraid that it won't happen. I've been keeping myself very busy and trying to stay positive, but I didn't realize how scared I am until I experienced my meltdown yesterday... Is this normal??

Can anyone give me any advise on how to prepare myself when I start the injections? (What can I do to make the injections less painful?) I'm planning on working through the process, I work in a office and I seat in front of a computer all day. (Is my behind going to be sore from the injections? )

My husband has been very supportive, My family and friends too, but since they never experienced infertility I feel like they don't really understand what I'm going through right now!! I would really appreciate any advise that I could get.

Thanks!

MrsBwIVF · June 2015

If you scroll down a bit, you'll see there was someone in your mind set recently and a few of us tried to help her through it.
My suggestions are to go through your whole box of meds and put it all put on a table. Go through each one and kind of put them in stages of when you'll need them. My Dr office gave me a list/schedule of when I'd use all of them. I broke it all down and put each step into a zip lock bag along with a slip of paper in each stating when I'd need to use each bag. That really helped put my mind at ease - seeing it all broken up made it look more do able.
I found it easier to do most of the injections myself eventually. It was just easier to amp myself up and if it hurt bad, DH wouldn't be left feeling guilty for hurting me. It's difficult to make all of the injections go perfectly and without pain, but it's just something you have to push through.
As for you breakdown, completely normal!!! I'd be more worried if you weren't feeling overwhelmed! And I'm willing to bet, this won't be your last meltdown. Honestly, I lost track of how many times I cried and complained about the unfairness of it all. There were even times with a certain injection, the menopur, that I would refuse and dh would chase me around the house trying to calm me down. Hell, I still complain that I have to do injections until week 11 at least. My back is so used and abused by now that I use a pillow in the car, even for a trip down the road.
It's a long battle that you've signed up for but a battle that can be won. It'll be very hard and emotional but just keep trying to picture the light at the end of the tunnel. And keep in mind each step you pass is one step closer to holding you lo.
Good luck!

koq2015 · June 2015

@MrsBwIVF I couldn't have said it better myself. Once you start the meds/injections, it'll come naturally. I can't say it'll be less painful, but with my experience, it seemed to get easier each day. The first day it took me like 20-30 minutes to prepare myself and allow my fiance to give me the injections. By the end, it took me less than 5 minutes. I preferred my fiance giving them to me, but he works at night so most of the time I did them myself. You've made it this far so keep up the good work girl!

MrsBwIVF · June 2015

Yes! I forgot that part, eventually it'll become second nature. There were a few times where we were around close friends or family and I would just turn my back to them, lift my shirt a bit and do a quick injection. I'd turn back around and the conversation would be stopped. I just saw it as being natural, they'd think I was weird, haha.

Cin2014 · June 2015

@koq2015 and @MrsBwIVF Thank you for the advise and the kind words. I really appreciate it.

MrsBwIVF · June 2015

No worries. Take it one day at a time and always allow yourself some time to give yourself credit for how great you're doing.

ambdtb · June 2015

I agree with all of the posts above. Looking back the injections were not as bad as I imagined. I read in a book that recommended treating yourself to a chocolate after the injections. This seems so little but I really looked forward to the little chocolate and I think it even helped me get through it some days. I bought a large pack of mixed minis and my husband unwrapped it and gave it to me immediately after the final injection. Sometimes I got 2 if I had more injections then usual.

Best of luck!!!

Cin2014 · June 2015

Thank you @ambdtb I definitely feel better now! It's really nice to have a conversation with other people that understand how I'm feeling!

dolphin012 · June 2015

It is very overwhelming. I recommend doing what you need so you feel very organized with the meds. I had them all in a spreadsheet so i could keep track of how many, reorders, etc. When it comes time for the injections just give yourself plenty of time, especially the first night, so you can follow the instructions and take your time.

I didn't find the sub q stomach injections to be painful. I preferred to give them to myself being the control freak that i am

. If you have to do a PIO in the bum, i thought those were a little bit of a bigger deal. I iced before hand, then massaged it and moved a lot immediately after -- squats and lots of high steps, then followed up with heat to help distribute the meds.

Totally normally to be overwhelmed, but you will get the hang of it!

StaceNola1023 · June 2015

I just got my meds yesterday, and I felt the EXACT same way! Here's to great cycles this month

ashuma09 · June 2015

Thanks for all the tips. I got my medications yesterday as well. June 15 is my cycle start. Overwhelmed excited and scared

StaceNola1023 · June 2015

Yep...Nervous, anxious, excited, scared all at the same time! I'm doing a minimal stimulation cycle, I take Letrozole on Sunday night and start injections on June 11th. I separated the meds into different storage bags according to when they all start, and once I read all the paperwork and organized it, I felt better this morning.

dolphin012 · June 2015

@stac12679 - i start my injections june 11, too

Looks like several of us june cyclers

apc1 · June 2015

@cin2014 there are definitely a lot of medications/needles/syringes/pills, etc but you will get the hang of it. My nurse also gave me a schedule with all the medications/doses and she sat down with me to teach my husband and I how to draw up the medicine, administer the injections, etc. There are also videos on YouTube in case that helps. The first few times will be difficult/nerve racking but you'll get used it. As for soreness, just try to massage the injection site right after the injection is administered. Good luck!

MKLEWIS2010 · June 2015

Hi all the June cyclers I felt overwhelmed initially too so I just wanted to share my journey so far because my mind made it seem worse than it actually is (at least for me). I started my cycle May 29th, I am half way through egg retrieval tmw

I am terrified of needles but I have to say they are not that bad. Most of them were in my belly, and the trigger shots (i received last night) I took two one in my belly and one in my butt(intramuscular) the shot in itself didn't hurt but my muscles were a little sore up until this morning. I dont think i could do the shots myself I am happy I have my hubby to do that for me. I also didn't have any bad reactions to the meds at least not yet. Good luck to all of you June cyclers

I hope everyone has a smooth and hopefully positive result!

Cin2014 · June 2015

@apc1 @MKLEWIS2010 Thank you ladies for all the amazing support!!!!

MrsBwIVF · June 2015

@Cin2014 , are you feeling a little more in control now?

Cin2014 · June 2015

@MrsBwIVF I do, everyone has given me some great advise!! but I did scheduled an appointment for Tuesday to go over all the medications again. I just want to make sure my husband and I know exactly what we're doing. I'm starting with the injections on the 24th, I'm still feeling a little overwhelmed. I'm hoping that after my appointment I feel a little better. I keep telling myself that at the end everything will be worth it... And that seems to calmed me down!

Rachelsbaby · June 2015

Try to keep calm. It will go by faster then you know. Just make sure when you do the injections in your butt you ice yourself and don't inject the same spot and rub rub rub that area once injected you don't want a lumpy butt. Lol..

ShayLatrice · June 2015

I got my meds on June 19th and had a TOTAL disaster of a meltdown prior to my first injection. Mrs. Personal Trainer, Boot camp giver weight lifter had a melt down!! I held the needle in my hand and just cried... my husband came in and took the needle, sat it down, hugged and kissed me and then tied a blindfold over my eyes and gave me the injection. By about day 3, I was like Yo baby.. .let's do this! It'll get easier to do the injections as the days go by, but I don't think I liked giving them anymore than I did the first day. Keep your eyes on the end goal and you can do it! I'm all done with the suppression meds and I'm going into stimulation meds and I'm nervous again because of all the possible side effects of Gonal F. I'm over here talking myself into it doing the Thomas the Train, "I think I can, I think I can!"

Cin2014 !!!!

Cin2014 · June 2015

I started Menopur and Follistim on Thursday, My husband has been giving me the injections since it's easier for me. The side effects are horrible.. lol But im just so excited that we finally got started!! I'm taking one day at a time and trying to stay very positive. Thank you so much for sharing you're story and also for the kind words.

I'm wishing you the best of luck @ShayLatrice

laur1064 · June 2015

@Cin2014 I just received meds for my first round of IUI. Not as intense as IVF (yet), but I also felt very overwhelmed when I got it. We are at the very beginning stages of what I assume will be a long road. I love all the advise here. When I was not feeling great the other night I was looking for books and found this short book on Amazon. It's called Laughing Is Conceivable. It's written by a standup comedian, and she puts a humorous twist on a not at all funny topic. It made me laugh and feel a little bit better. It's short and an easy read. If you have a kindle it's $2:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007G9X19A?ie=UTF8&redirectFromSS=1&pc_redir=T1&noEncodingTag=1&fp=1

Stay strong ladies!

Cin2014 · June 2015

@laur1064 Thanks for the book info I'm definitely going to download it! I've been keeping myself busy and a great book is always a good distraction

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