Saturday 18 April 2015

It's been a while

I hadn't meant to not blog for this length of time - I just got caught up with a whole load of other things.

Also, I started our next IVF cycle. I'd almost gotten superstitious about not dwelling on this one as much as the first set of cycles, and while I'd meant to write about it, I was worried about ending up being as completely neurotic this time around as I was during the worst times of the last.

We also decided to freeze everything. A couple of things came up at work and I remembered after I'd started how much it took out of me, plus I wanted to go on holiday and have a beer, so we decided it would be best to put things on ice. Also, and to be perfectly honest, I missed out so much stuff the first time round I quite enjoyed being able to make a decision to put things on hold and get on with the rest of my life for a bit, rather than everything else coming second to IVF.

So, we started downregging and then stims. Apart from a couple of bouts of stomach upsets, everything was fine.

Until a couple of days ago with the stims.

The clinic - who, I must say, are the most commercialised I've had so far - had pointed out I had a high AMH and that I'd produced a lot of eggs in my last fresh cycle, and said they'd avoid trying to overstimulate this time.

So I got my meds, began injecting, and soon began to get thumping headaches, dizzy spells and just generally felt like my brain was scrambled eggs. Ten days later, which was yesterday, I pitched up for my first scan.

The nurse said "Oh, it might be a good thing you decided to freeze everything."

It turns out I have more than 28 follicles. Ok, they might not all have eggs, but it's probably not a surprise I'm not feeling too great. If you produce more than 20 eggs clinics here freeze everything to stop you getting OHSS.

Today, I got up, tried to walk to a volunteer event I wanted to go to, which was meant to be a good thing for my job and which I was looking forward to. Then I started feeling sick five minutes after leaving the house and had to get my husband to pick me up. And I've spent the sunniest day of the year stuck inside feeling pukey and exhausted.

I know i'm really lucky having had one child so far, and I'm lucky being able to afford a second round. And I know people out there don't get a great response during the stimming phase - including one of my friends - and that they'd cheerfully swap for a good response and a bit of discomfort.

So, while I'm definitely at the less shitty end of the "things that can go wrong during IVF"  scale, I wish it was all more reliable, easier and more straightforward for everyone.




5 comments:

  1. It's nice to have you back! Unless we all have textbook problem-free cycles, I think they're difficult. My problem was the opposite - no stim response at all. But it doesn't mean I don't have sympathy for you feeling crappy. OHSS is not something to play around with, so look after yourself, and make sure your clinic knows how you're feeling. When is egg collection?

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  2. OHSS is certainly not fun from what I've been told. I hope you feel better soon. Will they still proceed with egg collection? If so I hope you get some high quality eggs.

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  3. They do egg collection (although sometimes reduce the dose of stims for a few days), but they don't do transfer if you have more than 20 eggs.

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  4. 28 follicles is more than just a little over the top. And having to skip an important event is more than a little discomfort. Keep hydrated, and hold on these last couple of days. Hoping collection is smooth sailing.
    And here was are having more sunny days, so who knows if there will be some more good weather coming to your aid.

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  5. Ugh, sorry this cycle is being rough too.
    We always know (of) someone who has had it harder than ourselves and we feel bad for feeling that it sucks for us in that moment. It is very human. Let yourself feel. :) Fingers crossed that freezing is the right thing for you and that it all works out!

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