Question about follistim side effects/I'm new to this site

[Hoping4achild]

Hello Everyone,

I'm wondering if anyone is experiencing side effects from Follistim?  

The nurse practitioner at the fertility clinic said she never heard of anyone becoming ill from follistim, and the fertility doctor gave me a vague answer when I told him how I was feeling.  

I had an HSG (Hysterosalpingogram), then a laparoscopy, was on clomid, and then had three IUI procedures while taking follistim, ovidrel, and progesterone.

I was taking up to 150 IU of Follistim per day and had all the following side effects:  nausea, loss of appetite (yet a great deal of weight gain), breast pain, back pain and headaches.  

Next we are trying IVF, and they are going to put me on 400 (!!) IU of follistim!!  I can't imagine how sick I'm going to be and I'm frightened thinking about it.  

The patient information leaflet does list some possible side effects from taking Follistim but I would feel better hearing about others' experiences.  

Thank you everyone for your input.  

Sincerely,
Julie

[kap9611]

Hi everyone I have been on 300 of follistem for 5 days. I have had headaches, no energy, nausea and loss of appitite probably cauz my belly is upset.  I hate it and cant wait for all of this to be over :(

[DreamAboutU]

After I injected the 2nd Follistim last night (150IU per day), I've started to have constant headaches. I feel like my head is swelling like a balloon. I called a nurse. She told me that my headache had nothing to do with Follistim. She suggested that I take Tylenol.

Besides headaches, my breathing feels a little different with somewhat congested nostrils.

Now before I inject the medication the 3rd time, I feel a little nervous. Don't know if this will cause more headaches, or cause me any health issue. I hope the pain that I endure will be worth it!

[Mariana101]

HORRIBLE WEIGHT GAIN and little energy !!! But jogging will kill those extra pounds so don't worry.

[dcorneli]

I am 43 years old and a yoga instructor - in extraordinary health. One prior pregnancy 8 yrs ago.  Tonight will be my 3rd injection of Follistim @ 150mg. The only perceived side effect is slight & sudden mood swings similar to that of PMS. Other than that, no physical side effects.

[dorti]

How come all of us had different doses of follistim? With my first and second in vitro (unsuccessful) I injected 300 IU and 150 IU MENOPUR, this time I'm injecting 150 IU plus 150 IU MENOPUR PLUS 20 IU LUPRON. What do you thing about that?

[rachllane]

Oh Julie, I'm right here with you!  I had my first follistim injection last night (400IU) and I have the worst headache!  i experienced a little bit of nausea, but this migraine is awful!!!!  So for those that actually had the headaches, what did you do???  I mean, I can't really function like this!!!

Thanks,
rachael