Infertility
pomegranateseeds
member
New Here IVF
pomegranateseeds
member
in Infertility
Hi, I am new here. I will be starting IVF within the next few months. Hubby and I are in the process of getting tests done. We are on a medical clock because of some medical complications and not because of age. I am very scared to do IVF. I have three illnesses and understood from my doc that IVF is like an extra chronic illness to the mind and body. I think that it will be relatively easy on my mind, mentally, because I have been through extended abuse and torture in my life and am used to managing tough stuff. I also have my faith which is a core coping mechanism to handle disappointments and the emotions that are natural with IVF. Physically, I am scared though in terms of functioning. I am healing from my other chronic illnesses so that by the time I do IVF in a few months, it may not be so heavy on my body. But, I don't really know.
I am also scared of pregnancy because I suffer from seizures. I had 24 in the last month... I hope I don't have to get to bed rest...
But these fears are later on... I am working really hard on combatting this fear of losing the baby due to a fall. Again, faith comes into play and I know that at the end of the day I have comfort surrounding me through faith.
I am also scared of pregnancy because I suffer from seizures. I had 24 in the last month... I hope I don't have to get to bed rest...
But these fears are later on... I am working really hard on combatting this fear of losing the baby due to a fall. Again, faith comes into play and I know that at the end of the day I have comfort surrounding me through faith.
PomegranateSeeds
Re: New Here IVF
As for the seizures, my sister developed frequent fainting spells during her pregnancies and was on restricted activity due to the risk of falls -- but both of her children were born healthy and safe. Are you using any medicine to control the seizures currently? 24 in a month sounds somewhat uncontrolled so I might want to address that before starting IVF...but I wouldn't overly worry about the risk of falls. Your OB may put you on bed rest or simply restricted activity (my sister couldn't drive, for example). It's annoying but it's manageable.
Summer 2015 - no BFP yet, labs normal, referred to RE
Fall 2015 - Summer 2016 - Further testing all normal. 3 IUI's -- BFN. Recommended move to IVF. Planned cycle for fall 2016.
September 2016 - Surprise natural BFP. MMC @ 8 weeks. RE expressed confidence that we just needed the 'right' embryo.
Fall 2016 - Spring 2017 -- Break from TTC
June 2017 - Started IVF; egg retrieval for freeze all cycle. 9 mature eggs retrieved, 5 fertilized. 2 4BB embies on ice.
August 2017 - FET transfer both embies. BFP. Twin pregnancy confirmed by ultrasound. EDD 4/28/18
September 2017 - Twin B stopped developing; Twin A doing perfectly! Graduated from RE @ 10 weeks
March 2018 - Baby Girl born via C/S due to pre-eclampsia -- strong and healthy!
TTC #2
January/Feb 2021 - Freeze-all IVF cycle
March 2021 - FET of 1 PGS normal female embryo. BFP! Beta #1 156, #2 472, #3 1241, #4 5268 EDD 12/5/21 - Christmas baby!
"When all is lost then all is found."
I am glad to hear that for some people IVF isnt as physically draining. That is a really good sign.
Regarding my seizures, I have a rare type that there is little research on... It is uncontrolled because of the lack of medical research and resources...
Thank you for your warm welcome
Tonight, i thought a bit about IVF and realized that this is really happening and I think I will be okay.
I mopped tonight which is a huge achievement for me. But, I tried to organize the bottom of my closet and my knees really hurt from the position.
I also got a little nervous because I had a seizure out of the blue yesterday. One thing I know is that I am walking down the hallway toward my room, and the next I am seizing. Since I don't have epilepsy I am conscious during my seizures, once I realized what was causing it, I was able to attend myself and stop the cause. My seizure stopped abruptly and I got off the floor and continued as nothing had happened.
But, if I have a baby inside, everything changes. Depending on the month I am in. I will be pretty safe for the first 6 months because when I fall I fall on my knees. But when I am larger if I fall on my knees my stomach will hit the floor, but my knees first, so the initial hit to the floor won't be my stomach.
Hubby doesn't like to think of these things, and I know that it can cause anxiety, but at this moment, writing here is very clarifying for me.
Thank you for your presence here. I appreciate it.
We'd love to have you 🙂
TTC #1 since 7.2017
Dx: low morph (1%), ANA positive, low decidualization score, high TSH and testosterone, histone antibodies
IUI #1-3 | all BFN
IVF #1 | 6.11.19 | 24R, 17M, 15F, 6B, PGT-A tested - 5 normal, 3 girls & 2 boys
FET #1 | 9.10.19 | BFN "I know you, but we've never met. I'm with you, but I don't know your name"
RPL, Receptiva, & ERA testing | all normal/negative, recommended going on gluten and dairy free diet for next FET
FET #2 | 3.31.20 | Opted to cancelled due to pandemic, continued diet and tried naturally over the summer
2nd Opinion with another RE | 8.20.20 | Not immune to measles (received 1 dose); SA results similar to 2 years ago; decided to move forward with FET #2 redo at start of next cycle
Surprise natural BFP! | 9.22.20 | MC 10.23.20 at 8 weeks
TTCAL naturally | starting 11.22.20
Initial consultation with Reproductive Immunologist | 9.14.21
Decidualization score biopsy | 10.1.21 | abnormal - low score of 1; endometrial scratch recommended and progesterone supplementation
Saline sono | 10.15.21 | normal
Bloodwork | 10.21.21 | high TSH, high testosterone, positive for anti-nuclear antibodies and histone antibodies, high protein S, multiple genetic mutations
BFP! | 11.3.21 | EDD 7.14.22
DS born 7.19.22 after induction
TTC #2 begins 6.2023
Consultation with RI | 6.6.23
Saline sono, endometritis biopsy, skin & eye check | all normal
Labs | high TSH, Factor XIII mutation, high %CD56
Follow up | 8.8.23 | prescribed metformin, prednisone, plaquenil, and levothyroxine
Repeat labs after 3 weeks on meds
Follow up | 11.9.23 | Green light!, increase in prednisone, added lovenox
Repeat labs in 8 weeks
Follow up | 1.16.24 | Green light continues
TTC put on pause
It's so familiar to see you thinking so much ahead, worrying how you'l manage if you have a pregnant belly. I think that one thing that I really learned during IVF and fertility treatment - taking one day at a time. Once the decision is made to go through this, do the best for yourself today, and let the worrying about tomorrow come tomorrow. (and yes, it's much easier said than done).
Best of luck to you! Hope you'll get cleared for the process soon, and get the seizures a bit more under control.
My story in signature spoiler. Children mentioned.
I don't produce FSH, so no natural menstrual cycle. DH has reduced morphology.
Summer 2014 IUI (with first husband): cancelled after almost a month of stims due to too many follicles
Time off to divorce, get back on my feet, find a new hubby and get married again 💑
March 2017 IVF#1: ~70 follicles, 13R, 10M, 7F, 3B = 2 PGS Normal (both XY) - no transfer due to ohss
Sept 2017 FET#1: BFP, Beta#1 (10dpt) - 253, Beta#2 (12dpt) - 528, DS born 05/31/2018 👨👩👦
Dec 2019 FET#2: BFN
Changed clinic, planning March 2020 IVF#2 - postponed due to the pandemic
April 2020 IVF #2: ~30 follicles, 24R, 12M, 8F, 4B = 2XY & 2XX, all normal
Sept 2020 FET#3: one XX embryo, BFP, Beta#1 (9dpt) - 161, Beta#2 (11dpt) - 519, Beta#3 (19dpt) - 7174, Due date 05/30/2021
DD born 05/23/2021 👨👩👧👦 - My family is now complete
Today I did guided imagery and imagined pregnancy, birth, and life as a mommy. I see that in order to feel able to go through this IVF process I need to have more information about birthing options. I may discuss this with medical professionals, a doula, or a friend.
Thank you for listening