Protocol received and hoping for some general tips!

[CJohns]

We’ve received the docs today to confirm short protocol with meds starting from 12/10. Its starting to feel a bit real and I’ve definitely got knots in my belly.

Can anyone tell me when you stop taking your supplements (DHEA, vits etc) leading up to meds?

and when did you have acupuncture before or after the cycle?

Any other tips would be much appreciated. Be it how to help with tenderness from injections, and how to deal with pessaries etc.

I’d swore I’d never go down the ivf route again and emptied my brain of everything… I will be treating myself to maccies fries afterwards though (I certainly couldn’t forget that!)

thanks! Xx

[Flowergirlhope]

Hello CJohns,

Ah bless you - know the feeling! I've been feeling just as anxious as Pregnancy testing is tomorrow! This is our second round FET, but first medicated. Really praying for a miracle this tmie as we lost our little embryo at 4 1/2 weeks last time.

Know how you feel, you are excited but also wonder how your body will react and alot of mixed feelings! All i can say is, as much as it is gross and horrible all you have to go through, its amazing how you are given the strength to go through everything you have to at the time! Your body is amazing at what it can do.

I had injections for 5 days before my FET and also still taking Estrodial 3x day and also Cyclogest pessaries 3x a day! so getting used to them now but i found pessaries the easiest to insert rectally (just dont think about the grossness of it when doing it!) - Apart from cramping and discharge (and awful mood swings!!) i havent had any issues with my meds.

For injections, i found (even when i had all the injections leading up to EC) putting Arnica cream on straight after you have injected helps loads! and i have no bruising. Also with the punchy injections i found that putting a clean warm flannel over my tummy helped sooth alot!

Hope this helps and wish you all the best

x

[CJohns in reply to Flowergirlhope]

Thank you so much for the tips, and best of luck for tomorrow 🤞🏻🤞🏻 I really hope you get the positive result that you deserve.

I know this sounds a bit odd, but when you do the pessaries, have you had to lay down with them afterwards? Only I’ll be at work during the day, so that could be problematic 🫠 xx

[Flowergirlhope in reply to CJohns]

No problem at all - dont feel i'm much help, but i know it does help to know what to expect etc sometimes! Bless you - thank you so much. Dont feel I deserve it, but it will be a true miracle and an incredible blessing if we do.

As to the pessaries - no i asked my nurse the exact same thing, as I had googled it and everyone said you have to lie down for 20mins after and no ways could i do that, and she said no dont worry about that you don't have to at all, but if I was worried she said try rectally as they just dissappear and no worries about falling out! just try not go to the toilet for about an hour after.

xx

[Flowergirlhope]

Also - sorry meant to add about acupuncture - I have had acupuncture all the way through - they will know when to do it and when not to. Would highly recommend to try and calm through this stressful time and also has really helped with the side effects.

xx