My first IVF in March

Hi Ladies,

We are starting our first IVF in March - I'm a little apprehensive about the egg collection. Does it really hurt?

They're careful with your pain management louloubell - they don't want you to be any more uncomfortable than you have to be. Put that to one side, and take it one day at a time. It's such a process, you don't want to be anxious about that. I had lots of follicles to drain (30+) so I found it to be unpleasant, but I know others that haven't found it so bad. The drugs are awesome

Thanks Ginger - yes I'll be asking for as many drugs as possible LOL :) I'm going to have a massage the day I go in & plan to start accunpunture soon! :)

Thanks trouble06

I'm feeling a little less panicked now about it, I will ask for as many drugs as possible just to calm the nerves too! It's soooo good to have this forum to share experiences

Hi louloubell,
That's great you get to start in March!Not long to go at all!
I'll be completely honest and tell you that yes, I found my egg collection painful-BUT I also had 20 eggs removed which is on the high side! And I've learned that you can't go by anyone elses experiences as I know of others who had quite a few eggs removed too and didn't find it painful.
And you do tend to forget the pain afterwards, I would quite happily do it again if we need to do a second round of IVF.
Spanky,I hate needles too! I think the sedation drugs might vary depending on the clinic but they used something called Hypnoval for me-they said it's one that is used at the dentists too!
I have heard from others that you can actually request to have your EC done under general anaesthetic but for some clinics you can't do it on site.

Just wanted to wish you the best of luck louloubell, March is not too far away!

I'm one of the ones that didn't find EC too bad, had 12 eggs retrieved and only required the minimal amount of pain relief, its not all that pleasant but its over and done with quite quickly and you soon forget!

Are you with FA in Hamilton? If so, who is your Dr? We have Lakshmi (spelling!!) and she is fantastic.

Hi everyone

Thanks for all your replies, it makes me feel good that I'm not the only one out there whose terrified! Sometimes, I think I'm such a big baby! LOL

Good to hear the mixture of stories - it seems the ladies who had a high percentage of EC were in pain.... but I suppose as they say - 'no pain no gain' I'm thinking I may op for heavy sedation.... that way I won't really remember anything..... I had it about 6mths ago when having a gastroscopy and I was fine, I'm too nervous to have a general again....

We've decided to postpone the IVF till April because we are currently moving house
I'm fine with it because it gives me some time to get settled into my new place and then focus on the IVF.

@ scareycat - we are with Dr Singh in Hamilton. He's great :-) he's been my gyno for a couple of years now.

@ Tiff8ny - you'll have to let me know how you go!! LOL we sound the same!! All the best for IVF in March

Thanks everyone, will post back in here once I"ve had it done to tell you how it went :)

Hi louloubell, can I please ask who you are doing your IVF with? Are you doing anything right now in preparation for the March cycle? Husband and I are deciding whether to go for a private IVF as our public one won't be available until 16 months at the least and we just can't wait that long. I haven't researched all the information yet so not even sure where to start...what the next step would be in terms of the initial appointment with the doctors. Considering going to Repromed on the North Shore but would love to hear which other clinics girls on this forum have had experience with?
Thanks in advance!

Hi Lou,

Thanks so much for your quick reply!
It sounds awesome what you're doing to keep yourself relaxed and happy while waiting for it all to start.
I have done one acupuncture session so far but will continue going each week for the next little while, hopefully we decide what/where we are doing the IVF soon as my acupuncturist says I need about 8 sessions pre IVF, so if we decide to wait I might have to put acupuncture on hold for now and re-start again closer to IVF (can't affort it all at the same time!). My husband is also doing acupuncture as he has very low sperm count - that's the reason we are doing IVF in the first place.
Very good on you for giving up caffeine too! I keep meaning to, but then slip and have a yummy coffee now and again. Next time I'm in the supermarket will look at some yummy teas so I can have a collection at home and at work as a different option to coffee.

I'm also reading and listening to meditaion podcasts and fertility podcasts on iTunes. It really helps me as I feel a lot more positive and happy learning all the new ways to relax and how to look at this dire situation from a different perspective, how to learn from what we're going through and how to stay strong.
Must start exercising too though as I haven't been to the gym for more than 6 months now :-/

Baby dust to you too! I'll be following you hear on this forum to see how you are progressing with your IVF, would be great to hear how you are finding the whole process. There are so many positive stories but at the same time so many girls have to go through it again and again. I am still at the stage where I'm finding it hard to accept that this is the only way for us and am feeling sorry for myself already - having to take the drugs and injections, and all the side effects. It's so hard to stay positive and so sad that there will not be an element of surprise like in the movies when the girl finds out she's pregnant! It's all pre-calculated and worked out to the hour, ah!?

Baby Dust to you too and all the best!

@SunshineWife Thanks, I'm really gearing myself up for it, and just praying it will all go according to plan. I know what you mean about $$$$ it really is starting to mount up! Good idea about the podcasts I have just downloaded some! Thanks! Yes, it is hard to stay positive, I have good days and bad days....From reading some of the threads, I realise that there are so many people going through the same thing....I thought that it was just me out there!! Some stories can be similiar to your own journey whilst others just sound like plain horror! I try and block those ones out, or remember that there is always someone out there whose story is far worse than yours..... It's ok to feel sorry for yourself..... there are so many emotions or stages you go through on this journey, but it sounds like you are on to it, with the mediation etc to keep you as positive as possible. One thing that I keep saying to myself is 'never give up' I'm never going to until I'm pushing menopause LOL

I'll let you know how the next step goes. We are meeting the nurse at FA on the 22/2 to go over everything and she's giving us the drugs!!

@tischler - Thanks heaps I'm preparing myself to the best of my ability it's just the mental part which will be challenging I think. Thanks - I will jump in the IVF chat forum, once I've picked up my drugs! eeekkk!! It's all happening so fast!