IVF before a laparoscopy?

[Kitty404]

Hi all, possibly an imposter here as I haven’t been officially diagnosed with Endo yet. I’ve just turned 32yo. My sister has stage 4 and tells me it sounds like I do. I’ve had all tests done barring the laparoscopy, and with Covid going on I’m unlikely to get that done for 7+ months.

I have so many questions for this community! I feel totally lost. Me and my fiancée (wedding also postponed due to Covid) have been TTC for 2 years, so fertility nurse has now referred us for our 1 round of NHS IVF. #blessed! Had an ultrasound done two weeks ago which was completely normal, so I momentarily doubted there was anything wrong with me. However, having been off the pill for 2 years my periods are getting worse and worse. This month I’ve been on high dose cocodamol and still been physically unable to stand, been on and off writhing and bawling my eyes out in agony for three days, and threw up this morning from the pain of my digestion being backed up... (sorry if TMI!)

I’m really nervous that IVF might trigger these pains on overdrive, and I’m also worried about doing IVF without knowing what state I’m in. But at the same time I just want to get pregnant so this pain stops (and I have a baby of course!)

What do you all think?

I’ve also been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis several years ago, which I now manage quite well through diet vigilance. Do many of you have both conditions?

Big love to all you warriors, I hope we can all offer support here.

[CTDUK]

Wow, that sounds really horrible 😟 that’s far too much pain to be putting up with each month, you must dread that time of the month!!In my experience the ivf made my symptoms worse (& didn’t work), the fluctuation in hormones after stopping the drugs prescribed for the ivf were pretty horrible!

I had laparoscopic surgery to remove my endometriosis in Jan 2020 and 5 months later I was pregnant (still am). I had my surgery to help with fertility but also because the endometrial cells were growing into my bowel tissue and if I had left it any longer it would have led to bowel surgery also (which is way worse and that I did not want)!!

I changed a number of things also before getting pregnant (added a low dose aspirin to my daily routine and a smoothie every morning with vitamins that I knew I needed to reduce inflammation , increased my exercise, cut out gluten) but I presume the laparoscopic surgery made the biggest difference.

The problem is - If you have 1 round of ivf on the nhs and the endometriosis is the issue, that’s 1 round lost (I’m not sure how many you get as it depends where you live a lot of the time unfortunately) but that’s worth bearing in mind I think. Covid is an issue obviously at the moment but no harm in booking the appointment for the investigative procedure and keep trying until then.

That’s just my opinion & based on my own experience & nothing else. It’s worth getting a few opinions for sure & taking your time to make your decision.

Good luck

X

[Kitty404 in reply to CTDUK]

Thanks for your reply! The doctor has given me mefanamic acid, with omeprazole and tranexamic (?) acid to try next month, but I’m not holding up much hope!!Can you take painkillers while doing IVF? Before implantation I mean? I’m worried they’ll ask me to “go natural” and I’m not sure I’ll cope well if the hormones make me flare!

We only get one round with the NHS, but with everything going on we just want to keep moving forward and try everything we can rather than sitting around waiting for the lap which could be years under the current climate! That said my doc did say if I keep having pain like this he’ll do what he can to bump me up the list.

We have been saving, and our wedding has been well postponed (!!) so we have money for a few more rounds post lap if the NHS one doesn’t take. Luckily the NHS will fund three years storage as well if I have more than one good embryo.

Pleased you got pregnant. What a blessing 😊