From start to finish.....any info would help me so much!

so i have my protocol infront of me, but i wanted to know from you girls.... ill be starting lupron 1st then it looks like ill start HCG, repronex/gonal-f/follistim/menopur?
1. once you get AF (this is my 1st cycle) how soon after do you start with your class on injections and start the injections? its 7 weeks total from start to finish

2. how many times a week are you in your RE office to get blood and get a sono?

3. my doctor told me i would be ok to go away july 24th-31st if i start but how is that possible if i have to go all the time to get blood and a sono done?

4. ive never had anesthesia before, how do you feel after it? im sooo scared! and did you hurt after your retrieval?

5. any tips about getting injections? i heard you hurt after in the injection site area?

6. what is a baseline sono?

7. how long after your retrieval do you still need to take injections?

8.((last one i promise)) i heard the meds in the injections mess with your hormons and make you get some crazy side effects... is that true and how do you deal with them??

im sorry for all my questions all the time and im ranting im so scared and i feel like i get the truth out of you more then the doctor cause he never had to go through this. thanks ladies for always being so understanding and helpful

Re: From start to finish.....any info would help me so much!

This is how it worked for me...

1. Start stims on CD3 (3rd day after AF begins).

2. At first it was every 3 days - but as it got closer to retrieval - every day up to retrieval.

3. Depends on when you start Lupron. Basically, I started Lupron after ovulation was confirmed. Then it took about 13 days for AF to show up. Then on the 3rd day you have to go for testing. Then you would probably return 3 days later.

4. I was worried about going under anasthesia but it was really nothing at all to worry about. It's really a "twilight" anasthesia. You are laying down and they say you will start to feel it working and then you just kinda fall asleep. They start to wake you up when you are in recovery - 15 minutes or so. I was sore after retrieval - nothing tylenol couldn't cure.

5. The injections are much easier than ou would think. For the subcutaneous injections just pinch the skin pretty tight and you won't fee it. The IM shots I usually ice the area.

6. Baseline sono is just a regular sono they do at the beginning of the cycle. They call it baseline as that is what they will compare future sono's to.

7. I think I started taking progesterone IM shots the day after the retrieval and continued to beta. If the beta is positive, depending on the RE, you might need to take for another 4 weeks or so.

8. It took awhile for the injectible med's to affect me. But after being on them for 8 days or so I did get pretty bloated and did get a little more emotional. Nothing major. Most of that goes away after the retrieval. I didn't have any symptoms from the progesterone.

Don't be scared! I found something soothing in how methodical it all was. It really was a lot easier process than I had imagined.

Good Luck!!

Re: From start to finish.....any info would help me so much!

JsWife, thank you so much for answering my questions!!!

Re: From start to finish.....any info would help me so much!

Posted by babygirl71777

JsWife, thank you so much for answering my questions!!!

Re: From start to finish.....any info would help me so much!

Here was my experience...

1. From start to finish... I got AF on/around Nov 28th, started stims Dec. 28th my ER was Jan 9th, and my blood test was Jan 23. I was on BCP's for 4 weeks.

2. Once I started stims I was in every 3 days then pretty much everyday for the 5 days leading up to retrieval.

3. I would think you won't be on stims by then and you won't need to be in as often at that point. It all depends on how long they keep you on Lupron.

4. I felt fine after the anesthesia! You go to sleep and wake up a little after they are done in the recovery area. I had no side effects from it. As far as recovery, I had mild OHSS so I was pretty bloated and uncomfy for a few days.

5. Injections were a breeze for me. You get so worked up about them, but in reality they don't hurt that bad. The Follistim is nothing, tiny needle and quick shot. I had a few bruises from them but nothing major. The PIO's look very intimidating, but they actually hurt LESS then the Follistim!! I chose to stay on PIO's rather then go on suppositories!

6. Baseline sono is the first sono you get after you get AF before you start you cycle (so you CD3 sono). On my baseline sono they found a huge cyst on my ovary which delayed my cycle (that is why I was on BCP's for 4 weeks). But had they not checked I could have done a lot of damage to the ovary that had the big cyst so it's important for them to check it out.

7. I was on PIO's until I was 10 weeks along (so 8 weeks after the actual ER). If your pregnancy test is negative I think they let you stop them after 2 weeks.

8. I didn't have any negative side effects from the meds and I was a monster on BCP's when I was on them a few years ago. I think the injects are not so bad, it's the Clomid that has the reputation for horrible side effects.

Best of luck to you!! I hope I was able to help a little.

Re: From start to finish.....any info would help me so much!

Thank you for sharing and helping me out mcl916!!!

Re: From start to finish.....any info would help me so much!

1. I had my injection class before my stim cycle started. I took BCPs for 3 weeks and started stimming 3 days later. I never really got a full AF just some spotting. My entire IVF cycle including the BCPs took 5 weeks total.


2. I went for a baseline blood sono the morning we were starting injections. Then, I went I think 4 more times during my stimulation - I only stimmed 7 days total.

3. I guess it depends. You don't go every day right away.

4. The retrieval was only IV sedation - best nap I ever took. You will be so tired at that point that you will be looking forward to some good sleep. The retrieval itself took about 20 minutes. Waking up took longer. I felt fine after retrieval, just my ovaries felt big and "twingy". I rested that day and felt fine the next. It was honestly no big deal.

5. My injections in the belly hurt worse than the intramuscular but honestly, it was nothing!! I really made it out to be much worse in my head then it was. There was a small sting and then it was over. I was never sore afterwards. Didn't use ice or anything. Just try your best to stay relaxed!

6. To see your ovaries before you start stimming so they have something to compare to.

7. I did 3 injections of progesterone in oil after my retrieval (every clinic is different here). After that I moved on to progesterone suppositories which I am still on.

8. I didn't notice any side effects from the meds really - I was definitely tired and occasionally moody, but that was honestly, all I felt. But I assume everyone is different.

HTH! Good Luck!!!

Message edited 7/7/2008 10:11:51 AM.

Re: From start to finish.....any info would help me so much!

This was my experience:
_______________________________


1. We actually did our injection class 3 weeks before starting my IVF cycle.

2. I went the first time 3 days after starting Stims, then every other day. Once I hit around day 9 of stims it was every day up until the day before retrieval.

3. You don't go every day in the beginning

4. I never had it either, and I felt fine afterwards, just groggy the rest of the day. I napped for most of the day when we got home. I didn't hurt after the retrieval, but was a little sore, nothing Tylenol couldn't cure.

5. I never hurt after doing the injections. for the Sub-Q injections, I would ice for a couple of minutes. DH did the injections, and I never felt it.

6. It's so they can see your ovaries and prior to you starting your stims, so they have something to compare it to.

7. I started with the Progesterone injections the day after retrieval. I took them up until the day of the pregnancy test, if you are pregnant, you may have to continue them for an additional 8 weeks or so. Depends on the RE. Some RE's will have you do 3 days of injections then switch you to suppositories.

8. I never had any side effects except moodiness. It was my DH that had to deal with that!

Message edited 7/7/2008 10:21:30 AM.

Re: From start to finish.....any info would help me so much!

1. I actually went to a private session for injection teaching. I got AF, started on BCP and scheduled EVERYTHING in between those 3 weeks. Water sono, therapist, injection teaching, etc.

2. I was there usually 3 times a week in the beginning. The last few days it was every day.

3. You only have to go all the time if you're stimming. During BCP you don't need to go at all, you just need to have all your stuff done.

4. I didn't feel anything after anesthesia. I woke up, a little groggy, but after a few minutes I was fine. I felt "gassy" and crampy after ER.

5. I had no pain with injections. Its just getting over the "stabbing" yourself.

6. That's the sono they give you when they start stimming.

7. You don't take injections after retrieval, just PIO, which depends on your office. I only did PIO between ER and ET, then after ET I did suppositories. Some do PIO the entire time.

8. I would just get moody. And really, there's nothing you can do about it. Just let your DH know its the meds...

Re: From start to finish.....any info would help me so much!

This is great info, thanks!

Message edited 7/7/2008 9:21:20 PM.

Re: From start to finish.....any info would help me so much!

you girls are the best!!! thanks for helping me out