IVF journey buddies

[leelou200]

Hello ladies I am 40 and starting Ivf for the first time - I am doing my prep month and will be having my 3dsis in 2 days I wanted to join for some support and guidance hoping to hear from you all with any tips and any suggestions on staying calm and relaxed 😎 sending best wishes and hugs to you all 🌸💕

[Fertilityjourney]

Hello there. I'm 41 and an IVF newbie too, so welcome! 💕 I was very nervous about starting IVF as I hate needles etc., but am delegating that little job to hubby!! Ladies on here have given me great tips about listening to IVF meditation apps and I'm also having Epsom salts baths, Accupuncture and Reflexology to reduce stress. I've had a delay to my treatment but hope to start injections soon. (Never thought I'd say that!!!!) Xxx

[leelou200 in reply to Fertilityjourney]

Hello! Thank you so much for your message! I didn’t even think of IVF specific meditation.. what a great idea! I’ve been reading about acupuncture- do you strongly advise it? I love reflexology so will try and find somewhere nearby for that I hope they are open! Sorry to hear you had a delay! And all the best with the injections I will follow you so we can be newbie buddies! 😂💕💓🌷😊🙏🏼👶🏻🙏🏼

[Fertilityjourney in reply to leelou200]

Yes, we can be newbie buddies! I'm finding the Accupuncture really good - my first session I was nervous because of the needles and my pulse reflected that!! But now I almost fall asleep!! I had read that it can help IVF as it helps with blood flow and helps you to destress so I thought it was worth a go! Xx

[leelou200 in reply to Fertilityjourney]

Ah thanks 💕 yes more needles would make me nervous too but awesome you are now falling asleep during it! I saw the same re blood flow -👌🏼 have been doing some yoga 🧘🏻‍♀️ Which helps the mind body link

[Hidden]

Hey welcome! I am an old timer now but started at 39 and am now 43! Feel free to ask any questions you want..

I have tried reflexology and acupuncture. I think I prefer reflexology (love having my feet massaged!) but I think acupuncture may have a bit more substance to it

That’s not a medical opinion tho! Just my own! Good luck! x

[leelou200 in reply to Hidden]

Hi! Thank you so much for the warm welcome message! Really thoughtful of you and means a lot - I have read a lot of your posts and you’re really knowledgeable! Means a lot to know I’m not alone ! I also love reflexology so will get on that 🦋👌🏼💓

[leelou200 in reply to Hidden]

Good afternoon Daisy could you recommend a numbing cream for injections? thank you x

[Sparklylife]

Wishing you all the best for your cycle!! I am due to start my first IVF cycle next month - 🤞

So overwhelming and don’t really know what to expect, so just trying to do what I can - staying healthy and calm! I am just starting with yoga too - never been really good at that 😉 But hopefully with practice. Feel the rest I can’t control - what will be will be - but trying my best to think and have a positive mindset. It will happen.

Hope injections go well and that you don’t get many side effects! May this be the one!

Best wishes 🥰

[leelou200 in reply to Sparklylife]

hello thank you for your message of support sending you positive vibes ! it does seem overwhelming doesn't it! I keep thinking I'm ok with it and then i get a rush of worry! hopefully we can support each other .. really helps to know other people are also feeling like this x good luck with the yoga and gently does it

[Sparklylife in reply to leelou200]

Yes, thank you! Oh no - I won’t be attempting any handstands yet! 😂🥰

[Hidden]

Mayan massage was my favourite! Once you get into the swing of it really does help regulate periods and helps you feel great as it concentrates on blood flow to the uterus and helps a lot with pms but that is only my opinion it's not for everyone good luck and all the best

[leelou200 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your message .. I will look into it .. have a good day

[Evi5]

Hi Loulou,

You'll find this is a very supportive forum.

I tried quite a few things to help me on this journey. I learnt my body needs to be relaxed and healthy so that is what I focused my energy on. Yoga, food, meditation, taichi, reiki etc.

It all depends on what relaxes you. I've heard great things about acupuncture but im afraid of needles so I thought it would be more stressful for me.

Anyhow I hope you find what you and your body needs at this time.

[leelou200 in reply to Evi5]

Hello thank you for messaging I am really happy I found this forum my partner is away a lot with work or if at home working a lot ... and so this is really helpful as it gives me a space to talk about my worries or find information on how to combat them or gentle guidance without stressing me and the relationship .. I suffer from anxiety so I'm finding as much as i want to prepare and control sometimes i need to relax and stop thinking of it which is so hard to do! i wish you all the best x x

[FM91]

Hi. Welcome. I only joined last week too and great advice here. Im not a fan of needles so stayed away from Accupuncture but realised they wernt bad AT ALL! Iced it, slapped it jus before needle went in and listened to tiktok in my headphones. Did the trick😁. I had my egg retrieval last week and due to risk of OHSS going to have a FET so might get Accupuncture done just before FET and carry it on.

Staying calm see what works for you. I had a daily ivf journal where i could write jobs for the day, How i was feeling, what self-care i did, what made me smile n so on. At first I thought will be an extra chore bt ir got me thru. Also had a monthly calendar and me n hubby made cute ‘date nights’ as i was isolating (due to treatment hospital recommended) such as costa date night in car, game night at home, massage from hubby with candles on, cooking session together, painting... we added these ‘dates’ randomly in month so i had something to look forward to every few days. This really helped.

Also did one self-care thing every day such as face mask, soak, meditation, only watched cute funny movies. Hope this helps.

[leelou200 in reply to FM91]

Hi thank you for taking the time to reply .. hope we can support each other on this journey I will follow you .. how was the egg retrieval? gosh sorry to hear you had ohss -has the OHSS subsidised - that's a lot to go through well done x

[FM91 in reply to leelou200]

I was just at risk for ohss. So i hd to carry on with my cetrotide a week after egg retrieval. Just finished the last one yesterday 🎉. I was more worried about the cannula more than anything🤭. And i did feel it when they put it in. Bt the anaesthetist and nurses were amazing. I was quite sore after the retrieval but dont worry everyone is different and also depends on how many follicles and eggs they take out. Took me 3 days of rest before i cud do anything. But 8days its just tiredness.

How are u feeling about everything. So important to mentally get in a good space before u start. Be selfish and do what u need to do.

[leelou200 in reply to FM91]

oh my goodness what a journey bless you .. ! so glad you have got through the injections and the ohss has calmed down .. yes the cannula is also causing me anxiety I am due my 3dsis in a few days period delayed from cancelled iui .. so just waiting really .. and we had our nurse /injection protocol via video link yesterday because of covid19 and I felt truly arrghhh afterwards as I'm really sensitive physically even to cola and caffeine .. so was a panic and then i found the forum and it is helping alot THANK YOU!! you are so BRAVE!! yes mentally I'm trying my best to prepare xx hope you have a relaxing day x

[FM91 in reply to leelou200]

Bless you. Honestly you are so brave and you will get through this. You will feel so so proud of yourself and what your body can handle. Ofcourse u will cry, feel sad upset and angry but ul wake up the very next day feeling abit better. Try and rid bad thoughts like ‘why me’ at this time and think ‘wow im lucky enough to be in a position to use medication to get me to be where i want to be’. Imagine to be told ‘sorry theres nothing we can do ur on ur own’. We are so so so lucky to have resources out there to make our dreams come true. Wish you all the best. And if u ever want to talk im here and so is everyonels in this forum. X

[leelou200 in reply to FM91]

oh that made my eyes well up and a smile come over my face at the same time ! thank you so much fary xx that message will stay with me and help on the tough days

[leelou200 in reply to FM91]

so happy to read on your post that you retrieved 11 eggs ! sending you huge hugs rest well lady x

[leelou200 in reply to FM91]

your husband and you have some great ideas for staying calm really cute the date nights bless you both x

[leelou200 in reply to FM91]

IVF journal also a GREAT idea x thanks

[FM91]

Yess definitely. There are loads on market but i had ‘ The IVF Positivity Planner’ by Sarah Banks x

[leelou200]

Thank you Fary will search for that now xx

[Pittapatta]

Following. Hi leelou200 I have just started my second round of IVF. The women in this network are really great, lots of knowledge and it's ok to talk about how you feel too. They really understand. Am happy to be a buddy too if you like. I am 43 with endometriosis, just trying to have a baby like everyone else here. It's such an unavoidable journey us IVF women go through!! I wish you strength, positive vibes and babydust. Goodluck you've got this.

[Pittapatta]

Hi leelou200, below is my first post about the needles! I hope it makes you smile....

Well my first experience with injections. September 2020, I was up early 4:30am as decided this was the best time for me to do it. Dreamt of injection last night, needle so big I couldn't reach the plunger to give it to myself. (I guess I was really nervous.) Anyway I read instructions on pamphlet and filled in the information like date and how much to preload epipen too. All good. I pinched my skin, pressed the button, counted to 5, took out and it was done. Easy, weird but easy, a little prick but fine. I can handle this!! Anyway had a look at the window which should show the dial reaching back to zero. I had to look twice it still read 450!! That can't be right??? Right?? I did it. Apparently not so had to do it again. This time I made sure I could see the dial and watched it go back to zero. Much better!! Hints: pinch your skin! Make sure you can see dials if it has one. Use the right needle to mix and the right one to inject,(Make sure you suck up the liquid mix with the long needle before switching to injection needle head. I made that mistake too and couldn't reach the liquid mix with shorter needle!, thank goodness hubby came out to help!) take refrigerated ones out for a few minutes before do using it, I had less sting!. Don't rush as squeezing too fast made it sting for me. I got really bad headaches so I did my shots then took the panadol about 2hours later as I always had one around 6am without fail. Goodluck ladies!!