https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:27:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1695778 Thu, 12 Jun 2014 13:41:13 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1695778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShayNanigans: It still seems a little strange to me at times-- but that's where my mantra comes in... (Trust the process.) :wink: I'm glad to hear how well everyone has done...even if it is hard at times! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1695765 Thu, 12 Jun 2014 13:36:52 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1695765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jenn23: If all goes well, I'll have 9 days of Lupron before starting stims (~6/20)! So far so good! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1695706 Thu, 12 Jun 2014 13:19:41 +0000 Jenn23 1695706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: Yay for 2nd day of Lupron! How long will you be on it? I forget what you had said? A few weeks? So exciting that you are getting started now...hope the next few weeks fly by for you! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1695430 Thu, 12 Jun 2014 11:55:12 +0000 ShayNanigans 1695430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1) I was pretty "hormonal." Thankfully, my husband understood and took extra care not to stress me out, and to be extra nice to me.</p> <p>2) I was also extra nice to myself. I tried to get extra sleep, spend time taking care of my emotional state (reading, watching movies I like, etc.)</p> <p>3) Everyone's different here, but for me, it was really helpful that my husband administered the injections. All I had to do was mix and prep. It was actually a nice way to keep him involved in the process.</p> <p>Lots of luck! And really.... it was so much easier than I expected. The time went by so fast, and before I knew it, it was transfer day! It took us about a year and a half to be emotionally ready/receptive to the idea of IVF, but once we actually started the process, it was so much easier than I had anticipated. I hope all goes smoothly for you!!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1695335 Thu, 12 Jun 2014 11:14:20 +0000 Sunshine1810 1695335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: Oooh great! I think the injections continue to get easier! I am so excited for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1695328 Thu, 12 Jun 2014 11:12:30 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1695328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: I took my second Lupron injection today! It was easier than yesterday...not bad at all! :happy: Thanks for reminding me to call my acupuncturist-- I keep putting that off!</p> <p>@PastaAndPotato: Thanks! I will need one of those! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1694667 Thu, 12 Jun 2014 03:41:40 +0000 Mrs.Pinecone316 1694667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: Where are you in the process for starting your 1st IVF? I am glad you started this because reading through gave me a lot of advise and what to expect.</p> <p>I am in very early stages, in a few days when I start my period I'll be getting my ultrasound and labs and then go from there. I have been doing acupunture for years and will def continue doing that. I also have a fertility yoga dvd so hoping to do that too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1690855 Tue, 10 Jun 2014 11:46:27 +0000 PastaAndPotato 1690855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: mine is like the size of an extra large pencil case, and has huge yellow and white polka dots haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1689569 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 16:31:15 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1689569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@firegirl: Thank you! I think I would totally be in a similar place after a couple of fresh/frozen cycles... Congrats on your twins! :happy: </p> <p>@Jenn23: Thanks for weighing in! I've heard that laughing/being silly is supposed to be really good for you during IVF (and may even boost your chances of getting pregnant)! Wishing you a very successful cycle (next month?)!!! :heart: :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1689015 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 12:29:45 +0000 Jenn23 1689015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was less emotional during IVF because I was so darn excited and felt like we actually had a great chance at getting pregnant so that got me through the whole process and it just flew by! </p> <p>I hate needles but got used to all the shots within a few days and even did the Lupron myself in the mornings (husband slept later then) so I was proud of myself. He did all the rest including the dreaded PIO and we just dealt with it. Lots of massage immediately after from him, then a heat pad. Helps avoid knots! My RE doesn't allow suppositories, only PIO until at least 9 weeks, then I switched to suppositories for the last few weeks until I switched to the OB and she said I could stop them at 11 weeks. They do hurt, but my husband and I would make jokes, be silly while he was about to administer it and during and that really helped me not to freak out or feel as much pain. :)</p> <p>I loved the acupuncture and will do that again hopefully with my upcoming cycle!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1688936 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 11:51:03 +0000 firegirl 1688936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did 2 IUI's then went to IVF. We bought a 2 cycle package which included all frozen transfers also. We did one retrieval and fresh transfer which failed. We then did a frozen transfer which failed. We then took a few months off and since we didn't have any embryos left we did another fresh cycle which failed. We then waited a few months and did a frozen cycle and it worked! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1688815 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 11:07:29 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1688815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sunshine1810: Oooh... I like that idea very much! :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1688806 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 11:01:10 +0000 Sunshine1810 1688806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: Thanks! My Gonal-f is in a pen, but I inject it into my Menopur vial to cut down on one more. Ask your RE first, but mine recommended it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1688730 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 10:41:21 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1688730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PastaAndPotato: All helpful things! Thank you!!! How big should my cute (IVF paraphernalia) bag be? :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1688668 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 10:19:31 +0000 PastaAndPotato 1688668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1) i really didn't feel different or extra emotional until we got closer to retrieval and all of the stims were stacking up. our running joke is that IVF gave me "extra feelings" which is what i used to tell my husband was happening when i was extra emotional a few days.</p> <p>2) i tried to keep my schedule as normal as possible, and to keep doing as many "normal" things as i always did. i made sure to make time to see friends and to go on dates and things to make sure that i still felt like "me" during all of it. i also scheduled all of my tests and scans for as early as my office could take me, that way i could get to work around normal time and keep a pretty normal schedule.</p> <p>3) the injections were a little tough to start, but it was a gradual increase that i think made it easier. for me, i started with lupron, and then increased to the stims, and then ultimately the PIO, so once i got a handle on the lupron, everything else seemed like a little step up that was more manageable. also, with the PIO, i made sure that not only DH could do it, but also my mom and sister, so i can still go out to dinner with them and do things without DH without having to worry about being home at a certain time for a shot. and, i got myself a cute little makeup bag to keep shot paraphernalia in, because a cute bag sometimes makes everything a little bit better :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1688552 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 09:41:28 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1688552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrswin: Glad it's helpful! I did a quick HB search to try to make sure what I was asking wasn't completely redundant. :silly: I'll keep you in updates and will look forward to hearing all about your cycle in just a few short weeks! :goodluck: :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1688513 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 09:34:42 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1688513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sunshine1810: I'm so happy that you sound so happy! :happy: Those are great tips...but I may have a pen, so I'm not sure about mixing. How often did have you been getting acupuncture throughout your IVF process? Wishing you an easy retrieval and continued success with your cycle! :goodluck: :heart: :goodluck: :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1688474 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 09:27:09 +0000 mrswin 1688474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: Thank you for asking this question. It is so helpful for me to see these responses too :happy: </p> <p>@Madison43: @thisisme: @swedishfish: @twodoghouse: @firegirl: @Mrs Green Grass: Thank you for sharing your wisdom ladies! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1688325 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 08:53:17 +0000 Sunshine1810 1688325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am happy for you that you are getting started! I felt so much better once we got going with the process.</p> <p>1) I actually find that I am much less emotional with the IVF than I was with my IUIs. I had an awful emotional reaction to the Clomid, and I have found that I don't have that same reaction with the meds I am on (Gonal-f, Menopur, Lupron). I also feel less stress. I had a really bad attitude going into my IUIs which probably wasn't the way to go into it, but I was just not in a good place. I am much better now.</p> <p>2) I have been trying to do a lot of "fun" things. I have been seeing my friends more, planning fun activities for the weekends (beach, shopping, movies, etc.). I have also been going to acupuncture which helps with my stress immensely. I also think it helps with my side effects.</p> <p>3) You should ask your RE, but mine lets me mix the Gonal-f and the Menopur into one injection which is nice. I line everything up that I am going to need before, and throw things out as I finish with them so that it doesn't get confusing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1688219 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 08:25:05 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1688219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Green Grass: Thank you for the input! My clinic would allow me to switch to progesterone suppositories after the first 2 weeks...but expresses a strong preference for the PIO. So I guess I'll go with that! Another vote for acupuncture... I will get in touch with my prior acupuncturist later today! :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1687861 Sun, 08 Jun 2014 21:58:27 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1687861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wAs for the most part less stressed during IVF because I knew I was actually doing something. I didn't get any more crazy than I did throughout the rest of IF (Clomid etc), but I did get uncomfortable toward the end and the retrieval was tough for me (anesthesia made me sick). </p> <p>I did acupuncture to relax and it was huge! I went once a week including the after transfer.</p> <p>The injections were better than I thought, but I didn't do PIO because they scared me. I did suppositories instead ( which are gross, but they worked).</p> <p>Good luck!!!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1687805 Sun, 08 Jun 2014 21:12:43 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1687805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@swedishfish: Thinking of you and wishing you and your LO lots of :goodluck: :goodluck: !</p> <p>@firegirl: Thank you! DH and I are both covinced that we need to arrive on the other side of this healthy, with 1 or 2 children, and with our marriage and sanity intact. How many cycles did you do before you conceived your twins? I'd love to know more details. Not sure how many cycles I'd have in me, especially since we don't have insurance to cover IF. :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1687765 Sun, 08 Jun 2014 20:40:46 +0000 firegirl 1687765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. I did not get more hormonal/emotional during my cycles but I can say that after doing multiple failed cycles my husband and I got very depressed. It was very hard on our marriage at times and can get very disappointing. Especially since it seems like everyone we knew was getting pregnant around us. But on a happy note, when I finally said to myself I'm gonna take a break after this cycle and we will just travel a lot, we got pregnant and now have twins!<br /> 2. I eventually did acupuncture and yoga for fertility which was offered by our clinic for free. I think it really helped me relax.<br /> 3. I agree with thisisme for all the shots, except I did not have to do Pio injections, I did suppositories.<br /> Good luck and stay strong! And if you have a failed cycle its ok to take a break sometimes for your sanity! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1687706 Sun, 08 Jun 2014 19:41:44 +0000 swedishfish 1687706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: I have to tell you that I only had PIO injections between egg retrieval and transfer during my IVF cycle. I was then on Endometrin inserts three times a day until 10 weeks or so. But now, with my FET, I'm having low progesterone issues. I'm back on PIO injections as well as Endometrin. If the PIO injections bring my progesterone levels up and help this pregnancy stick I will do them every day of this entire pregnancy if need be. You'll be amazed at the strength you develop when you least expect it. :heart: :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1687697 Sun, 08 Jun 2014 19:32:48 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1687697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@swedishfish: Thank you! Bloated and sore I think I can handle. :wink: You're right...for the most part, it seems like it's a fairly short process..EXCEPT for the (celebratory?) extra 6 weeks of PIO once we're lucky enough to get a BFP-- those seem like they might last forever. :meh: </p> <p>@twodoghouse: You almost made me laugh AND cry just now... Romance... :silly: Thank you so much for the preemptive validation... I'm going to look back at this post when I need it and will probably share with DH, as well. It's so nice to hear from the other side of IF and know that this, too, shall pass. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1687644 Sun, 08 Jun 2014 18:54:53 +0000 twodoghouse 1687644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: I'm so excited for you and hope everything goes well! :heart: </p> <p>1. I didn't feel too emotional until I started stims (I did a long Lupron protocol so it was a lot of meds before stims ). The trigger shot made me a total mess. Be prepared for that! But everyone is different with their reaction to the meds and it's just a weird emotional process. Let yourself feel what you feel.</p> <p>2. I found journaling helped the situation. Some days I just kept track of my shots and if I bled or bruises or anything. Sometimes I wrote about my feelings and what I was going through emotional. Honestly I can't read the journal yet because everything still seems very raw. I hope someday I can read it and remember what we went through without as many painful emotions attached. (And this from someone for whom IVF worked! It's just a very difficult thing to come to terms with sometimes!) Another thing that helped was staying distracted. We traveled to a friend's wedding during the TWW and that helped keep our minds off of IVF. We tried to really enjoy each other and keep a good sense of humor about everything. Don't put too much pressure on yourself or your partner to feel or act a certain way. Just accept ahead of time that there are so many unknowns, but in the end it will be worth it</p> <p>3. My husband did all my injections and I always kept my eyes closed. I'm fine with needles, blood, etc. but just can't watch! I really just let the shots be my DH's thing while I played human pin cushion. Afterward I'd ice or use a heatingn pad (whatever felt best at the time) and my husband would bring me a bowl of ice cream. Let yourself be babied if you want! The PIO aren't awesome, but you get used to it. I laid down on the couch (first time I didn't and I jumped a mile when he stuck me which resulted in a huge bruise, bleeding, etc.) after that I always laid on my stomach and closed my eyes. After the shot my husband would rub my butt (romance!) to get the oil to spread out. We got these tips from videos in YouTube and it was really helpful. </p> <p>The only other tip I can give you is to just believe that it will all be over. I'm typing this while nursing my son and I can tell you with 100% certainty that ever single unpleasant part of IVF and infertility was worth it. Good luck honey!! :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1687628 Sun, 08 Jun 2014 18:39:45 +0000 swedishfish 1687628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: </p> <p>1) yes, I had a breakdown the first night of injections. I was scared and sad that this was what we had to do to have a baby and others didn't have to. But I bucked up and did it myself. After that I was more bloated and sore than emotional.</p> <p>2) I have a Health Journeys Guided Meditation CD for infertility. I listened to it in my way to and from work each day. It helped me focus on the end goal and calm down.</p> <p>3) I iced my belly before the sub-Q injections. I took Follistim and Menopur. I did one injection to the left of my belly button and the other to the right. </p> <p>The Cetrotide needle was longer than the Follistim and the Menopur. I hated that one. Icing it before helped but I still felt it.</p> <p>The PIO injections. DH did all of the IM injections (and still does currently). I ice the side for about 10 minutes, DH injects, then I use a heating pad on it for 5-10 minutes.</p> <p>Good luck! :goodluck: I was surprised that the number of days for injections was less than what I thought it would be. It was over before I knew it. You'll do great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1687600 Sun, 08 Jun 2014 18:10:36 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1687600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@thisisme: Thank you very much for sharing! That had to have been a tough combination of factors at the time of your retrieval. Sorry you had to go through that! :sad:<br /> There are so many different strategies and IF is so much of a "head-game" in the first place... It's good to know that I always have options if one way of doing things is getting cumbersome... BTW, I love the suggestion for a test-run/study session the day before starting a med! Thanks again for the advice and well wishes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1687582 Sun, 08 Jun 2014 17:50:10 +0000 thisisme 1687582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. Yes. Obviously, the entire process of getting to the point of accepting that we would need to do IVF was one long emotional roller coaster. I was very frustrated because I felt like the testing took forever. Once we had a schedule for our cycle and got started, I was soooo happy to actually be doing something that the process itself was almost therapeutic. I did have a huge meltdown after my egg retrieval. I think it was a combination of all of the hormones I was loaded up on, feeling like I was leaving my future babies alone in the clinic for 5 days instead of in my body where they belonged, terror at the possibility that we wouldn't get any viable embryos, and - what pushed me over the edge - the unexpected news that I would need to do PIO shots (I had assumed that since they weren't in my initial shipment of meds that I was going to escape that fate). Thankfully, at that point, I didn't have much choice but to "muddle through."</p> <p>2. My mantra was "One step at a time." I had to remind myself that I couldn't fix problems that hadn't occurred yet. I love yours, too! Leading up to IVF, I had taken up running and yoga, but I couldn't exercise beyond very gentle stretching and slow walking once I started stims. The breathing and meditation from yoga continued (continues!) to calm me through this whole experience!</p> <p>3. I had a different strategy for each type of shot. I took the gonal-f pen out of the fridge to let it come to room temp before injecting it. I iced my belly for about 10 min before doing gonal-f and menopur. The gonal-f was so easy that the first time DH gave it to me, I didn't realize he had stuck me since I had my eyes closed. The menopur burned a bit when going in, but a bit of icing afterwards made it go away. When I started ganirelix, I kept the same icing routine, but the injection site was a bit itchy afterwards. Nothing I couldn't deal with - I just wore clothes that didn't have a waistband going across the injection sites.</p> <p>The PIO shots were a different beast, and it took me a while to figure out what worked best: DH had to help me find the right spot to ice (it was always higher than I thought it would be). I iced for a good long while. He gave me the shot as quickly as he could, then massaged the whole area. I ended with a heating pad on the injection site. Once I had an ultrasound pic, I looked at that while doing the injections.</p> <p>That sounds really high maintenance now that I've typed it out. But, I HATE HATE HATE needles and those routines worked!</p> <p>The only other meds advice I have is to go through a full "dry run" at least 24 hours before you do the first injection at home. Watch the videos and double check that you have the right supplies. We realized that we were missing one type of needle and had to scramble the next day to get it on time.</p> <p>Keep being excited and hopeful to see that BFP... it will happen! I'm looking forward to keeping up with your story! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/coping-with-ivf#post-1687580 Sun, 08 Jun 2014 17:48:16 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1687580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: Sounds pretty good! Hope you can find time for naps this summer... I'll look forward to more updates! </p> <p>@Madison43: Thank you so much!!! :heart: :heart: I LOVED acupuncture (during my IUI cycles) and you've pretty well convinced me to pony up the $$ to go back (what's a little more money, right? :silly: ) My RE said that side effects would be pretty much exclusively "below the shoulders," which was reassuring to me...but I guess everyone's different and, obviously, IF can be emotionally exhausting! If successful, I have a total of 8 weeks of PIO to look forward to, but I love the suggestion for warming it up a bit and helping it disperse once in. Thank you again! </p>