Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

uugghhh... Im supposed to be starting BCP in prep for IVF. It's been 2 years with no success, one mc and 4 failed IUIs. Now that the gun is to my head, I dont think Im ready.... every month AF arrived I kept wishing I could get to the new year to start our new journey and now that it's here.. I find myself saying let's just try one more time. Im so sacred of all this!!!

How did you girls handle it? For those that have done IVF, were you scared? Did you second guess it? I hate messing with what's supposed to be in "the plan".
I just wish there was a manual that said "this is the path you're supposed to take"

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

Fear is totally normal. I am the girl who said she would NEVER do IVF. I said I'd rather adopt. I was terrified of the needles and what the meds would do to my body. I struggled with the idea of IVF for a long time. However, 2.5 years of TTC with 4 m/cs led me to a point where I was more determined than ever to have a baby of my own, and I did not want to wait anymore. I was ready for the big guns.

Now, after one round of IVF, I'm 15 weeks pregnant, and do not have one minute of regret that I did it.

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

sorry, double post.

Message edited 12/22/2011 8:22:32 AM.

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

I was lucky and did not find ivf scary. The needles didnt bother me. I really didnt think it was that bad. Also, I looked at it as well if I dont do this then I cna't have a baby. I was only a little uncomfortable the day of the egg retrieval. Yes, I gained extra weight with each fresh cycle, but I have beautiful twin girls so that little bit of extra weight is very worth it.

You can do it!!

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

I was very nervous to do IVF, I never thought I would do it. I had alot of moral dilemias over the process of creating embryos and some being discarded or donated to research. After speaking with my dr we came up with a plan to work with my views. We limited the number of eggs fertilized and freezed everything living on day 5. We also planned to donate any embryos that we could not use to another couple. This plan helped me take the step to do IVF, but I still had sooooo much anxiety when I was going through it. I was so worried for my embryos.

But now, I have my beautiful son and I could not imagine not having him in my life. I know this was God's plan for me because my DS was meant to be here.

You have to think long and hard and make sure your comfortable with everything because it's a very difficult process. However, I just did it again and it was sooo much easier the second time, so it's just the fear of the unknown the first time that makes it so hard.

Good luck, you can do it- we're all here to support you.

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

first- have you done any injectibles so far? if so how did you tolerate them?

i personally had a great ivf experience so please do not be scared. everyone reacts differently. the people that had a great experience are probably not posting about their great experience. what you will motly read is poor expeirences because people are looking for comfort in those that went through the same thing.

in a weird way i actually looked forward to my injections since i knew they would being me one step closer to having a baby.

i did not gain weight.
i went out to breakfast and then to the beach a few hours after my retrieval.
i did not bruise from my injections and i was able to wear my 2 piece bathingsuit just as i normally would.
my doctor did not have me do the dreaded PIO injections- i used crinone gel which is painless and easy.

the only side effect was i got a little bloated a few weeks after the procedure from my ovaries being enlarged.

that was also because i was pregnant and the surge of estrogen from the pregnancy contributed to that.

i am here if you have any questions. i think at this point, ivf is your best chance and if you have the means to do it, i would do it!!

good luck!!!

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

IT is totally worth it and if you can afford it then it is a great option. I didn't find it to be too horrible, the injesctions are annoying but nothing you can't handle.

Just a little uncomfy at times but once again worth it. I went thru 5 IUI's and a injectable cycle and now I have my 1st BFP with IVF.

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

i was totally not ready for IVF when Dr. B suggested it. it wasnt the meds because my TI protocol was already quite similar to an IVF protocol. just accepting that the entire conception part was so unnatural was what got me. and of course the fear of failure since IVF seems so "last resort" like. but in the end its what got me the baby i was always meant to have. now that im here with a 7m old i really couldn't care less if she came from IVF, natural, if a stork left her on my doorstep...etc. honestly while you are going through it the journey seems so all-consuming and scary, but once you are past it, it just becomes a part of your story and history. as much as it seems overwhelming, in reality taking care of a newborn while going through PP hormones and recovering from birth is much more overwhelming, but no one really thinks twice about that!! it's all just part of your journey, and we do what we have to do!

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

I was nervous to begin IVF. It is not as scary as it sounds. Like everything else the "not knowing" what to expect is the worst part. Once I got my calendar and everything was mapped out for us, I felt better. Once our first shot was over, I felt A LOT better. Unfortunately, it never worked for us..... I hope you have success with your journey!!!!!!!!

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

Well after 5 IVFs, I guess I'd consider myself a Vet!

Like everything else, IVF is very overwhelming at first because it's new. Like some of the other ladies mentioned, once you get the hang of it, with a calendar, organized, knowing when and how to do what, you'll be ok.
It's not enjoyable if that's what you're asking. The injections are annoying, sometimes interfering your dinner or evenings, you might have side effects from medications that you've never had before, etc. But it's bearable. You do it because you have to. And believe it or not, it might be second nature to me, but even after 5 rounds, doing a PIO injection still takes me a good 10 minutes to complete.
It's no easy task but you roll with the punches.

Lots of luck and any questions just ask.

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

Good luck, the scariest is person is accepting this as your next step, that and of course waiting for the results!!!! You are not alone!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

It was no where nearly as scary as I thought it be...I actually became fascinated with the entire process ....The whole experience from seeing my embryos actually being placed inside of me to the 2 LO's I now have from IVF is something I would not trade for the world


Best of luck (cliche but- you gotta be in it to win it!!)

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

I am just starting it now and I feel it's basically the same as the IUI so far, obviously more shots but they don't scare me or bother me. It's similar monitoring as the IUI too. So really the ER is the only "extra" in my eyes.

My ER is probably going to be Mon or Tues and honestly I am scared of being put to sleep, but I will just have to get over that.

The thing I am the most scared of is it not working!!!

I say go for it! But good luck whatever you choose.

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

ahhh.. i just got back and read all your responses! You are all so great!!!
Im ok with the inections. I did one with a medicated IUI. I just didn't do so many!!!

I think the biggest thing as one of the pps said is that I have no control over th outcome-crazy scary for me! Going through all this time, energy, money, mental and emtional strain and then to possibly come up with nothing.

Then as Flowerwife said, this was always a "last resort" for us. And I never really expected to have to get to our "last resort". Deep down, I thought we'd get there on our own. I guess I have to accept it.
With male factor and a 4% chance of conceiving on our own, IVF is our best option to become a mom.

It's now or never.

please tell me I won't gain THAT much weight lol. I eat pretty healthy and do workout regularly. Dr Brenner said he wants me to take it easy and not work out once I start stimming

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

Posted by CatNYC123

please tell me I won't gain THAT much weight lol. I eat pretty healthy and do workout regularly. Dr Brenner said he wants me to take it easy and not work out once I start stimming

Message edited 12/22/2011 8:34:59 PM.

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

YOU ARE GOING TO BE FINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

one step at a time..day by day and before you do it it will be over and u will be in the 2ww

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

I was scared to death of doing IVF but dealing with strictly male factor & telling us we cannot conceive on our own, I knew my only option for a babybof my own was Ivf.

The needles were honestly not as bad as I thought. I did gain from them but in the end it was well worth it. We were fortunate to conceive on our first IVF run, & now my son is 27.5 months.

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

I have been through 2 fresh cycles and 1 FET. IVF is the only option for me because I had one ovary and tube removed 10 years ago, and my other tube is blocked. So, I can't really compare it to IUI because I went straight to IVF. The process is really not bad. I felt as though I was able to go about my normal life, just with a bunch of extra appointments thrown in in the mornings before work. I have a job where I'm running around and on my feet all day and I felt fine. I didn't gain any weight, and I didn't have any side effects from the meds (just sore boobs and peeing a lot from the PIO). I felt a little discomfort toward the end of the stims because of the pressure from all the follicles; and some mild discomfort for a day or two after the egg retrievals. The embryo transfer was painless.

It sounds like you are a great candidate for IVF, and you should feel optimistic because it really does give you the best chance of success per cycle. So many girls on this board have had success and many on the first try. I have not had success yet, but we think my tube is interfering with implantation bc it is swollen with fluid, so once we address that I am hopeful that I will have excellent chances too.

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

Honestly, I really didn't over-think it. I just focused on what could be the end result and tried to keep my head clear and positive. I took each step one at a time between the drugs, the monitoring, the procedures and the beta and didn't think beyond what I was processing at each time.

5 IVFs and one lap and our miracle is now 7 weeks old. You can do it.

To share another story with you, I received a message on FB a couple of weeks ago from a school friend who had twins two weeks before I had my DD - they were the result of her 8th IVF and 10 years of infertility treatment. You just never know when your time will be.

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

Posted by ODonnell

Honestly, I really didn't over-think it. I just focused on what could be the end result and tried to keep my head clear and positive. I took each step one at a time between the drugs, the monitoring, the procedures and the beta and didn't think beyond what I was processing at each time.

5 IVFs and one lap and our miracle is now 7 weeks old. You can do it.

To share another story with you, I received a message on FB a couple of weeks ago from a school friend who had twins two weeks before I had my DD - they were the result of her 8th IVF and 10 years of infertility treatment. You just never know when your time will be.

Re: Im chickening out-IVF vets, please come in!

I too was scared, and even more scared when all the meds arrived. Honestly its not that bad at all. If you have done injectables before, then you will be fine. Towards the end you are going to be bloated and uncomfortable but its worth it when you get the BFP!
PLease FM if you have questions!