2nd round IVF harder? Feeling horrible 😒

Hi Ladies, just wondering if those of you who have been through more than one round of IVF hve found the 2nd round much harder? This time I constantly have headaches and such severe lower back pain to the point that I have been sleeping on the hard floor. Last night I had such an aweful experience, I woke up around 2am with a sore tummy so I got up to go to the loo and I was fine until a few minutes later when I got hot flushes, my ears blocked up and my body started tingling. I put cold water on my face and managed to scream for my husband and dont remember anything else until I woke up on the floor with my hubby hovering over me with his phone tryig to decide if he should call an ambulance. I am still not feeling completely myself. I went for a scan this morning and the dr didnt seem too phased by whats happening so I presume this is all normal? He did the scan and said everything looked fine, I have 8 follies (last time only 5). In bed resting but wondering if its just me thats a ninny 🙈.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi JCJM. You're not a ninny at all! All that you are describing sound like down regulation to me?? If that's what it is, I hope you start on the stims soon and get to feel a bit better. You're bound to feel anxious, so good job you've got the ladies here to support you. Thinking of you. Diane.

[Hidden in reply to DianeArnold]

Hi Diane, thank you so much for your response. What is down regulation, never heard of it? I have been taking pergoveris for the past 6 days and started taking the Fyremadel shots 2 days ago.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to Hidden]

Hi. It's the first stage of a long protocol of IVF, when your hormones are "switched" off prior to using stimulation drugs to grow follicles for eggs to get into after the trigger shot. I know Pergoveris, which is used and artificial FSH used to produce follicles on your ovaries, but I'm afraid I don't know much about Fyremadel, but I believe it slows down the LH surge. Hope it all goes well for you and is successful this time. thinking of you. Diane

[Hidden in reply to DianeArnold]

Thank you so much for the info Diane, I appreciate it. Hopefully this time round lands up in a positive 🤞

[Dunla]

It’s good you were at the clinic today and were given reassurance from the doctor with regards to your symptoms. Mind you that’s no help to you if you’re feeling absolutely rubbish. You poor thing. I always have really terrible headaches but never the hot flushes you describe. Hormones can completely mess you up.

Great to hear your follicle numbers are looking good so far. Stay in bed and rest up for as long as you can xx

[Hidden in reply to Dunla]

Thanks so much Dunla, I just keep thinking it will all be worth it in the end. Need to stay focused on the light at the end of the tunnel. Still crossing fingers and toes for you 🤞

[Dunla in reply to Hidden]

It will be so worth it! Hang in there, you can do this. Keeping everything crossed for you also xx

[Hidden in reply to Dunla]

Thanks Dunla xx have a good evening and take care of that little embie on board 🤞

[Dunla in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, feet up here with the doggy 🐶xx

[E_05]

Definitely not being a ninny, I found each cycle became harder and last year I really struggled with headaches and sweats. Rest up and drink lots of water xx

[Hidden in reply to E_05]

Thanks E_05, its good to know im not being a ninny 🙈. This round has been rather tough compared to the first round, that was a walk in the park in comparison. Hopefully I wont have to experience a third round. Thanks again for your message 🌸

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

I’ve had awful hot flushes, especially at night, and I’ve found the side effects worse each round. I’ve never passed out though. They don’t last too many days and they do get better, but I can’t help wondering if you passed out for another reason, could you have a virus maybe?

[Lizzielizzielizzie in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

Ps fertility Acupuncture can help with side effects x

[Hidden in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

Hi there, thanks for your message. Yeah, it could very well be a virus or something else. I was feeling better this afternoon but it seems the later its getting the hot flushes are coming back. Thanks, I have heard that acupuncture is really good but I have the worste phobia of needles (yes you would never say so with all these darn injections). I have just heard of a lady that does fertility massages, maybe I should settle for one of them. Thanks again for your message xxx

[Lizzielizzielizzie in reply to Hidden]

If you’ve managed to do the self inject needles then I reckon you could do Acupuncture. They’re so thin that they’re barely even needles, and you don’t have to look when they put them in! They only go in the top layer of skin unlike needles for injections.

But a fertility massage sounds really lovely too.

[Clariee]

The actual birthing process through IVF is no different than if you had conceived naturally.

So I'm going to assume you mean the pregnancy, and because that is physically the same as a natural pregnancy (with the addition of a few extra medications and some additional ultrasounds) I'm going to answer how it felt emotionally.

During the two week wait before the pregnancy test I had convinced myself I wasn't pregnant… several failed transfers will destroy your optimism. I was actually dreading having to pee on the stick (I was out of the country on vacation…you usually go in for a blood test to check for pregnancy). When it turned positive I was in disbelief, up until then it was the single most life altering moment I have experienced.

After that I had doubts. I didn't feel pregnant, I had no symptoms, no weight gain but with each blood test and ultrasound it became more real and I let myself get a little more excited. And once I felt my baby move around 4 months all the doubts went away.

It makes me sad that I have to go through it again for my next child, not because of the pain or the cost those are very minor. What sticks with you and doesn't get easier is the emotional aspect, it can be a heartbreaking process.