Hi, sorry for the long message.. just looking for re-assurance and people who understand what it feels like.
I just had my embryo transfer 3 days ago (13th of November). It is my first one, and I was super calm the entire month and a half of injections and then suddenly yesterday I panicked. Being convinced I am getting my period. The progesterone is making me severely constipated, flaring up my bowel endometriosis and also other symptoms.. I swapped to putting it in vaginally now which made a difference. It seems to have calmed now and I am just crampy instead. I worry this will impact implementation. I also worry as I had an involuntary orgasm in my sleep last night which woke me up and that it will impact as well. I am sleeping pretty badly, super vivid dreams and I think generally worried. Can anyone tell me if the above is normal? I am just so worried!
quick background: I have stage 4 deep infiltrated endometriosis, with bowel involvement and large endometriomas (7cm) on my ovaries. We finally got approved for one round of IVF on the NHS (annoying postcode lottery!). I only know about my diagnosis since November 22 after suddenly having dibilitating pain in the summer of 22 with my bowels. (I don’t have the standard endometriosis symptoms). Less then 7 months ago my mum passed away after a horrible and traumatic deathbed and sickness progess of 14 months. I miss her lots during my IVF treatment and off course I am still grieving. I don’t know how to deal with this if IVF doesn’t work.. will it be grieve on top of grieve?
Thanks for the listening!
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SarahMEndo
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Hi SarahMilou, so sorry to hear about your mum and the terrible time you are having. In terms of my experience:1. The cramps are normal and can actually be a good sign of implantation. They are also a side effect of the drugs so try not to worry about them. What sometimes feels wrong is right and vice versa in this game so try not to make assumptions about what any of it means.
2. The vivid dreams are also completely normal. I'm getting those at the moment on progynova (pre-transfer). So annoying - I am very tired but when I try to sleep my brain goes wild and has a party, and I wake up not rested. I was flying a helicopter last night and it was terrifying...
3. I'm not sure how the orgasm would affect implantation but given their general role in the reproductive system, I wouldn't be too concerned!
4. The anxiety is totally normal too, and sometimes enhanced by the drugs.
In terms of your grief, it might be worth speaking to one of the counsellors. They are really good and might help just give you that space to breath and talk that you might be missing with your mum. Especially so if it is a negative outcome but either way you might find it useful.
Fingers crossed all the side effects calm down soon and you can return to relaxing while you await the outcome. Also hoping it is good news for you x
These cramps today are freaking me out! Going to the toilet a lot just to check if I am bleeding. It just feels so similar to starting a period. I am only 3 days passed embryo transfer was hoping this panic would come next week instead. Thank you for letting me know they are normal. It is all so new to me.
I am talking to a counsellor ever since I did self paid embryo freezing in March this year as at the time they thought that is what I needed as they wanted to operate me, however as my endo symptoms are calmed down and with the risks of removing my ovaries they decided while we where injecting to complete my family first instead. The counselling helps, unfortunately my anxiety started last night, so when I spoke to her yesterday I felt calm still as didn’t have these period style cramps. I also sometimes wonder if counseling in my native language would be better.. I am dutch.
I need to remind myself I have 4 embryos in the freezer, 2 from last cycle and 2 from this, so I have 4 changes if this goes wrong. I just really want this year to end positive.
I also keep reading that people get their progesteron levels checked before transfer but they didn’t do that with me.
They don't check my progesterone levels either. They checked them initially at referral and they were in the normal range but were then low on the first round (I started bleeding but they didn't measure, just gave me extra to counteract the bleed and it has all been fine since). I think that's usual NHS practice where I live.No worries, it is such a tough time and being on here really helps.
That's a shame timing-wise with the counsellor but hopefully you have another appointment soon. I struggle to get the right words out with her in English so don't know how you cope in a foreign language!
Keep us updated with how you get on over the next week 🙂
Hi SarahMilou. Oh dear you are in a pickle! If you are allowed, Fibogel will help prevent constipation, plus drinkinking plenty of water and eating your fruit and veg. Keep up with all prescribed medication and test on the day recommended by the clinic. Night time orgasm - enjoy! It won’t cause any harm. Good luck. Diane
Thank you! I am allowed movicol, which seems to do the job ☺️. I think all of it just feels suddenly stressfull, especially the period like crampy feeling. Thanks for listening
It's a stressful time anyway without what you've been through, and the huge dose of hormones can affect you mentally and physically in lots of ways. Progesterone tends to make me tearful and anxious, but also have a really bad stomach - extreme bloating, and diarrhoea - so it can be quite unpleasant and check with your clinic but it probably explains the cramps and other symptoms. And cramps aren't necessarily a bad thing - I had extreme cramps in the early hours of 3dpt which felt like my period coming with a vengeance, and I got a BFP later that day. Am now pregnant naturally and I found out late as I thought my period had come as I got all the usual symptoms, cramps, mood swings, bloating, and spotting, so didn't even think to do a test, so it can be very similar. An re orgasms, sure they can only be good for implanation (the contractions are nature's way of helping the sperm on it's way, and if they did any harm I think we'd be in trouble as a species ). They are also linked to increased blood flow to the area and get more intense when you're pregnant, so again would see it as a good sign.
Thank you so much for your response, that is very helpful. I will do a test on the day they told me, which is Thursday next week. I am sure you are right, the cramps can be anything. Lets hope it means implementation.
Had nocturnal orgasm with successful implantation. I was also super freaked out as I'd never experienced that before. After my BFP I thought it must have actually been related to implantation contractions. Good luck - hope it's a good sign for you 😀
Hey, just to add I found my anxiety went through the roof on progesterone. I have anxiety and depression anyway, but rather than chill me out (which apparently progesteron is supposed to do) I became extremely panick-y. I also get a lot of cramp side effects from the progesteron, and was advised to take magnesium which I have found definitely helps. I still have a few twinges but much less than before.
I have also learnt all signs in the tww are totally confusing and could mean anything, so hold on a bit longer and good luck!!
I'm just about to do my first FET, I have extremely painful and debilitating periods but for me it's PCOS, and my mum passed away end of September after an 18 months battle to pancreatic cancer, so I feel like I understand your grief and fear of additional grief.
I miss her every day. I miss her through this process. I grieve that she will never have become a grandmother.
Sleeping is hard... I have a lot of insomnia. I'm on progesterone right now and I notice my general anxiety is definitely higher so it's normal.
The way I reassure myself is people get pregnant and deliver healthy babies in all sorts of conditions, so grief won't impact our results. However, I don't know what I'll feel if it fails... I only know that we have an immeasurable capacity to adapt over time. All we can do is learn to be kinder to ourselves and make the most of each day with what we are given.
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). They are also linked to increased blood flow to the area and get more intense when you're pregnant, so again would see it as a good sign. 
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