Starting IVF

Hi ginsou,

This is my first time here too but wanted to find out about IVF experiences from others too!

I've just started the process but i'm an egg donor so only doing up to the egg removal part.

I've been taking elevit for around 2 months, had 3 lots of bloods done (3 months ago, a few weeks after that as they forget the cystic fibrosis one, and the last ones just recently).

I started the pill about 2 weeks ago and have just had my 3rd Buserelin injection.    I thought i'd be ripping people's heads off but it's been quite positive so far and i've even been quite giggley!      I found that i get a dry mouth and very thirsty just after doing the injection, I've also been bruised everytime i've done the injection too but maybe i just bruise easily?

Be interested to hear about others experiences please!!

R xx

You can be as nosey as you like, i don't mind!!!

I heard about people needing donor's a few years back and looked into it as i didn't intend to have anymore children, but because i was so young my doctor recommended i wait!

I was on another forum (just a general chat one!) recently and someone asked the question about whether you would do donation and that reminded me about it all.    I contacted Fertility Associates in Auckland to find out further information and that was that!!!

I really can't see why more people don't do this to be honest, afterall I flush my egg down the toilet on a monthly basis and yet it could give someone such a wonderful gift!

The injection doesn't hurt, unless you do as i did yesterday and hesitate when you've just got the needle in but not all the way! ouch!    I had to pull it out and try again, although i think the main problem was someone was watching me and i forgot to pinch the skin!

With each injection I just think, that's one less to go, so 4 less now.

It helps to pinch the skin slightly and i'm sure having a 'little extra' around the middle helps too

Edited by Rustie1

hey
Thanks for the positive thoughts! Yes I am trying really hard to let whatever happens happens. Have been thinking about life without a baby, and the things me and hubby could do instead. Everyone knows about our IVF so have lots of support thankfully.
I am guessing you have children already then, hence doing the egg donation. Its a very admirable thing to do and I am sure there are lots of very grateful people out there. I just dunno if I could cope knowing there could be half of me out there.....
Yes we are going on a cruise to Vanuatu over New Year to celebrate hubby's birthday on New years day. Its kinda good because we won't be focusing so hard on the IVF and drug therapy.
It doesn't sound like the drugs send you loopy, and all over emotional? My husband and family paranoid I'll turn into a monster!

For me its about genetics, which is why we wouldn't adopt a baby, I want/need it to be a part of me and my husband. I have this fear I wouldn't bond properly if it wasn't mine.
If you don't cry much and this is making you teary, I will be boohooing all over the place!
I get teary at the slighest thing

Hi Ladies. I did IVF in October 2006 and now have a beautiful 11 week old daughter. Just to give you a quick overview of my treatment, I was on buserelin to down regulate and basically had no side effects except for a couple of hot flushes. My one hint for doing the injections is to grab a big handful of flesh on your tummy and squeeze it and put the injection in slowly, don't stab it. It's basically pain free if you do it this way. Then I went on to Gonal-F and again I was lucky enough to have no side effects. Mentally it is a hard time as you are wondering what if this what if that, but I found the best thing was to keep really really busy and take your mind off it by planning to do a few nice things with your partner. I wouldn't recommend taking time off work as it gives you too much time to think. Although you will need a day or two off work around egg collection. Egg collection is pretty straight forward but I found that the pain relief drugs didn't really work for me. It was all over in about 10 minutes though so it wasn't too bad. I spent the next day in bed and then I was fine after that. The embryo transfer is very straight forward and pain free. The two week wait until testing is the hardest time mentally so be sure to keep really busy and positive.
Good luck I hope it all goes well!

That's exactly what I thought too Rustie1, I just hope menopause is as easy! Thanks for your congrats, Jaymie is the love of our lives.

Yep I got some bruises although they were just small ones.

Well, i knew i would forget something and i've been panicing it would be one of the injections, but no!     I forgot to go for my blood test yesterday before 9am!   Remembered about 11pm so had to go then and they got results today!

This one was to check estrogen levels are rising and they said that they are now over 1787 which i think is good??!!    Have to go and have another blood and a scan tomorrow morning now to see how follicles are doing!

Ginsou I am usually a really open person who tells everyone everything, but when I did IVF I only told my Sister and my best friend. DH told his Mum & Sister, which wasn't part of my plan, but oh well never mind. I just didn't want a whole heap of people to tell if it didn't work out, and I didn't want people ringing me asking me how it was going. But we are all different and it is nice to have some support and understanding. Yes we were successful the very first IVF cycle.
Great follicle count Rustie1, good luck for your trigger and egg collection.

Well, the time seems to have flown by but today was the day!

My estrogen was still high and if i was doing this for myself then i would've had to have had the embryos frozen but i had the trigger on Saturday night and went in this morning.

Everything went fine and the only problem was trying to find my vein and it was third time lucky!    I'm not keen on drugs as i like being in control but it was really good and it didn't hurt too much at all.

Just relaxing now and drinking lots of water.