Anyone who has had IVF

Good evening!  I haven't posted here in a while, and there are a lot of new names on this site so here's a little history.  I am 26, dh is 28, ds is 4 and we have been ttc #2 for 3 years.  I have been pg 4 times since the birth of ds (one blighted ovum, 2 m/c and 1 tubal with loss of tube).  

I just got a letter from my insurance company approving me for IVF, so I was just wondering if some of you wouldn't mind sharing your experiances with me.  If it's not too intrusive, I would like to know what made you decide to take the chance on IVF? What was your IVF experiance like?  Was it successful?  Anything you are willing to share would be greatly appreciated (good or bad)- I am feeling very scared and overwhelmed by the thought of IVF.  What if I go through all of that and it doesn't work, or worse yet, what if it works and then I go on to lose it like I have the previous pregnancies.  The future is just so full of insecurities, and I have no-one around me that have gone through what I am facing.  

Thank you for any insight or advice that you may be able to give.  I wish the best to all on this forum, your ongoing support is amazing.  Best wishes!

Jess

[Vonny12]

Where r u from Australia has a good site if ur in australia for ivf ppl let me know if u r and i will post the link

[Mikeal'smom]

No, I am from the U.S., but thanks anyway!

[projectbaby]

Hey girl!!!!  I love to chat about my IVF experience because I think it is truly amazing!!!  It is a lot of work and it is like a second job but it is going to be worth it!!! ( I did IVF starting in Oct/Nov...I did get pg., but it was in my tube so I just had the metho shot....numbers are now down to 1600)....anyway.....
I did the cetrotide protocol...  Here is how it started:
I took bc pills for 1 month (actually 21 days) and then I started with u/s and bloodwork as a baseline..... I then started with gonal F injections (2 times a day) I had my levels checked everyother day.... and an u/s 2-3 times per week... I also used Menopur and Ganirelex shots....they told me dosage and when to give them to myslef (yes they are all injections)...NOT BAD AT ALL!!!  then when I was ready we did the hCG shot and had egg retrieval.... I was sedated with an anesthesiologist... (don't remember a thing!!) and they retrieved 17 eggs!!!  I do have to sat that it was a little painful...some cramping but I could work the next day.....  the next day we found out that 13 fertilized.... we did a 3 day transfer b/c my embryo's were starting to not look so good and the Dr.'s didn't think they would make it to Day 5....  Then On transfer day, they gave me valium and put back 2 great embryos.... I even got pictures!!!!  I then was on bedrest for 3 days!!! my choice.....

[projectbaby]

sorry, not done yet.....anyway.... this was a great 3 days b/c I didn't feel too great after the process and needed this time to heal....I felt bloated and had to go to the bathroom all the time.... after about 1 week I was back to normal... I did test positive 9 DPT....  so I knew it was going to be positive!!!  BUT as you know it was in my tubes and we are now dealing with this....
But I want to tell you that I AM GOING TO DO IVF AGAIN..... I will do it 100 times if I have to.... It is relaly not that bad...
Oh, but I forgot about the progesterone shots... they are IM....and those only hurt when my DH hit a knot..... for once I wish I had a huge a$$..... b/c after 2 weeks of these shots, I was all bruised and there were tons of knots!!!!
If you have any other questions, please ask...I would love to help....oh, and I did acupuncture and LOVED it!!!!
Good luck to you!!!! Jacquie

[mgi]

a few cautions - miscarriage rate before 11 weeks is very high in IVF

I had IVF 5 times, miscarried once - didn't get pregnant three

I would suggest a friday transfer OR not taking kids for a few days  I don;t think you can take care of kids well right after the transfer because you should be resting

best of luck
keep us posted

[Mikeal'smom]

Thank you SOOO much for sharing your experiance.  I was just wondering, do you work outside the home?  My only other concern is that I have a in-home daycare, and am tring to figure out how I am going to manage with the children that I take care of.  The blood work would be no problem but the u/s might be a little difficult.  My son and the other little boy I take care of (they are both four) would not be able to come with me, and the little girl I take care of is 1 and I guess I would have to ask her mom for permission to take her to an appointment like that.  

I was also wondering, you mentioned acupuncture- did you find this helped you?  How often did you go and was it very expensive?  The little girl I take care of, her mom is doing an externship in a clinc that does that kind of stuff so I was just wondering.

I was also wondering about the progesterone shots, are they always IM?  My dh will have nothing to do with the giving of the shots so I didn't know if there were any other kinds of progesterone offered.

Sorry for asking so many questions, but I really don't have anyone else to ask and my dr's appt with my RE isn't until the end of January, and I am one of thoes people who need answeres right away.  I appreciate all of your help.  My e-mail is ***@**** if you want to answer these questions there instead of on this forum.  I will keep my fingers crossed for you that all goes well with your next cycle!  Good luck!

[Vonny12]

I am also doing ivf and the m/c rate is the same as a spontenous pregnancy i havent found any evidence that the rate is higher than a normal preganncy

[brookly]

I had IVF for the first time In December 2002.  I was 33  I am glad to say that on the first try it worked and we had a son Troy.  We only had one good 8 cell embryo and the other two were 6 cells.  Who knows which one took.  

Before IVF I had tubal problems.  We had tried to conceive for a year after being married in 1991 and then wen't to fertility workup and found out I had bilateral tubal occlusion.  I had corrective surgery in 1994.  Two years later I had a pregnancy and miscarried.  I had another pregnancy a year later and it also was a miscarried.  We did the HSG a couple times in between there and I was a baby about the pressure so they did put the dye through as hard.  Finally the last time I had an HSG done, I told them to just shove that dye through and blow the tubes clean.  Well, the next month I got pregnancy and the HCG levels appeared to be going up as they should.  After 10,000 they started to decline and I had an ectopic pregnancy and had it removed.  I just had IVF again, my son is three, and my first blood test was negative.  It might not work this 2nd time and I am prepared to do an HSG again to blow out the other tube.

[IAJ]

My husband and I try to get pregnant about 3years now, we are trying to have a tesa serg. please let me know if your husband had that (my husban don't have any sperm a live) so they trying to give him a serg. so they can do to me IVF ----- Please and please let me know if you had this experience  and the money for all thing is expensive

[KellyTexas]

My experience was very much like projectbaby's - I had all the injections, the retrieveal (they pulled 12), 9 fertilized and on a 5 day transfer they put back 3.  All three took but we unfortunately lost #3 at 9 weeks.  I am now almost 30 weeks with twin boys.  

The injections were not bad at all!!  I am deathly afraid of needles and it's all worth it in the end.  As for your hubby - my husband is more afraid of needles than me and he gave me my progesterone injetions by closing his eyes and once the needle was in my buttocks, he opened them to inject the serum in.  Sounds scary, but it worked.  Now that I think about it - I must have been crazy to let him close his eyes!!  :)    

I agree that I'd do it again if necessary.  Good luck in your decision.