Help with sleep aids/medication whilst 6 days post embryo transfer.

[Sunny39]

Has anyone found sleeping an issue in the two week wait? I’m at my wits end and the GP is understandably concerned to prescribe anything. My consultant has suggested Melatonin 2mg. Has anyone else tried this? Please tell me it helped?? Awaiting my prescription after another very long night. Hoping that my lack of sleep doesn’t effect the embryo transfer I had on Saturday. Thanks in advance x x x

[gottahavefaith]

Sorry to hear you're struggling, the two week wait is really hard. I'm taking melatonin in the run up to my second cycle to help with egg quality but it has really improved my sleep too. It takes a few days to get into your system but it does help. I had insomnia during the two week wait of my first cycle. I found keeping a journal and writing down the things that were bothering me just before I went to bed, really effective in helping me get to sleep. Take care xx

[Sunny39 in reply to gottahavefaith]

Thank you x x x

[Sunny39 in reply to Sunny39]

Sorry I was just on the tube so only had a quick time to type thank you before I lost signal!

That sounds like really good ideas, I will give that a try tonight, I really appriciate that ☺️ X x x

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Sunny. So sorry this is proving such a problem for you. Yes, as your consultant has suggested it, try the melatonin. I would also treat yourself to a relaxation CD and get into the habit of listening to it on your own in a dark room just before going to bed. Hope everything works out well for you. Diane

[Sunny39 in reply to DianeArnold]

Thanks Diane, sorry for the short thank you, I was on the tube and about to lose signal, so only had time to say a quick thank you. That’s a great suggestion too, thank you x x x

[Purpledoggy]

I take melatonin regularly for both egg quality and insomnia. It's a funny beast and less can be more, so if you find it doesn't work you could try taking half a pill (if you can break them). I only take 1.5 mg, which is bordering on homeopathic, but when I had severe insomnia last year as was skittish as hell 1 mg was plenty! Also, are you on vitamin D? This time of year, most folks are at least a bit deficient and I could not believe the difference it made between last year and this year once the days got short. I started on 2,000IU in August this year and no SAD insomnia - last year it was really bad until I started taking it, and the year before it was months before I finally figured out that was what was causing the problem (totally refractory to all sleep medication so I was a complete trainwreck!). I used the Mindset app about an hour before going to bed and that was brilliant. It's not IVF specific but was very relaxing. xx

[Purpledoggy in reply to Purpledoggy]

Also, if you want it in the future you can buy it from the US and import - as long as it's in personal use quantities it is permissible. I use iHerb and they ship really quickly - usually takes about a week depending on method, and shipping is free above a certain amount. xx

[Sunny39 in reply to Purpledoggy]

Amazing! Thank you so much for your help ☺️ I actually managed a full nights sleep last night. My husband had a temperature so I put the fan on for him, and listening to it completely relaxed me! I couldn’t believe it! From now on it will be on every night 😂