I thought I would keep a daily diary of my IVF Cycle from Cycle Day 1 when I started my medication, to Cycle Day 12 – The Night before Egg Collection.
Every clinic is different, every person is on different medication strengths and protocols. But for information I was on Meriofert 450, then added in Fyremadel and Dalacin Cream before moving on to Cyclogest pessaries.
Cycle Day 1
The thermometer app for tracking my base body temperaturate originally said I had ovulated 2 days earlier than planned, then it suggested I’d ovulated 2 days later. However I can confirm that I ovulated “on time” when I thought because Aunt Flo arrived bang on time.
Day one means call the clinic. This is to confirm that Aunt Flo has arrived and I can start my injections this evening. Oh Shit…it is getting real now!
I sorted all my meds out for the night, my needles, my meriofert and my alcohol wipes. I rewatched the teach video and then it was time to mix the meds and inject myself!
The mixing of the meds was easier than I thought it would be, and despite feeling like I kept getting a lot of air in the syringe, it came out easy enough. The Mixing & Measuring needle is HUGE, I am so glad I don’t have to inject with that one. The giving needle is tiny and it went in super easy. I didn’t think it had gone in so ended up jabbing myself with it again and made myself bleed.
The medication went in, but it seemed to take ages but it is thicker than water. And thats it – all done!
Cycle Day 2
I woke up this morning with a one-sided sore throat and a bit of a headache. Now I’m not even sure this is related to anything but I just thought I’d document it anyway.
Cycle Day 2 of my period too so really this is potentially just effects of my period rather than anything to do with the drug injected last night but who knows. I’ve got a busy day at work and I’ve had a really busy week and suffering from CFS/ME too. It could just be a side effect of me being a little bit run down we’ll see how the rest of the day goes.
Decided not to ice the injection site tonight, it didnt bleed but it did sting. To ice or not to ice is the question…
Cycle Day 3
Again I woke up with a little bit of a headache and super fatigued. However, I had quite a chilled out today, tidying around getting ready for isolation. I then went to se a friend.
I have started to up my protien intake by using protien yoghurt and protien shakes, and also upping my water intake too.
Tonights injection I didn’t ice and again it stung but didn’t bleed.
Cycle Day 4
I slept really well last night and I didn’t want to get up this morning. I’m a bit snuffly but I think thats with tidying and dusting -or just being run down. I didn’t have much of an appetite today and made sure I just had a chilled out day.
I didn’t ice the site and it’s stung like a bitch, and I have super tired this evening. I’ve had some munchies too but my period is at the end and I do get that anyway.
Off to bed before 10pm as I’m that tired! I normally listen to a True Crime Podcast if I go to bed early and I started one playing but I don’t think I heard anything after 5 minutes! I was rudely woken up by a wrong number phone call at 11:30 p.m. and then back out like a light until 5 a.m. and slept roughly until 8!
Cycle Day 5
I really did not want to get up this morning. It has very much been a mixture of feeling tired, backache and feeling bloated, but I’m not sure if its the medication or psychosomatic!
Afternoon nap-time, the joys of being self employed – and definately started to feel better as the evening went on.
Tonights injection was a bit stingy – but again no ice. EEK! Start next injection in the morning!
Cycle Day 6
I slept relatively well last night woke up with a little bit of niggles this morning on my right hand side but nothing major. Being an endo warrior its quite similar to what I’d normally suffer with.
I started my next injection this morning (fyremadel) and it didn’t hurt going in, but then it was like a stingy itchy sensation that made my tummy raised and red. It wore off after about 15 minutes but it was a side effect I was not expecting.
Overall has been a good day however, 2 hours of walking around town in a bite to eat left me feeling really bloated and fatigued. I came home and nap for one-and-a-half hours – oops.
As the evening wore on I am still bloated and back pain it’s more of a niggly pain like I get with my endo so I can deal with it. Going to bed tonight with a hot water bottle for my back (hello ovaries) but the window open because I keep getting hot flushes.
Meriofert injection tonight was not an issue at all not even stinging today and I didn’t ice it either!
Cycle Day 7
How did that get here already…?
Today I ended up getting out of bed quite late I pottred about and didn’t really do much until I had to go out for work. I was out for work for two-and-a-half hours and I came home and I was exhausted. However, rather than going to bed I had a soak in the bath and actually today I have managed to successfully not have a nap small victories!
I am fatigued, I am bloated, I do have some back ache and some lower tummy niggly pain. I’ve had a headache majority of today too but it could have been because of how warm it’s been.
The injection this morning reacted the same way with itchiness and raised for about 20-minutes and this evening is injections stung but it was over in a matter of seconds.
Cycle Day 8
Last night I had to give myself my first vaginal cream antibiotic. This is given as a protocol at my clinic to help with injections and needles, and hopefully no infections caused by any of it. All I had was the lady in my head from the Tampax advert going “not just the tip up to the grip” (yes I really did say that in the voice that she uses to lol).
Anyway it took me ages to fall asleep last night I think it was that I felt a little bit uncomfortable due to the cream but hey ho it needs to be done. I woke up this morning and from a fatigued perspective, I felt the best I have all week! However, tummy niggls, bloating and backpain were not fun. I got up to do my morning injection, fill the hot water bottle and went back to bed. I laid there comfy just playing on my phone and speaking to some of the girls in th IVF groups that I am in.
Today has not been a major day of doing anything really being quite chilled, my eating is all over the place. I’m not overly hungry and not eating big meals at the moment I’m just snacky. Scan tomorrow eek!
Cycle Day 9
Its scan day! Yay!
I didn’t sleep great and I woke up around 4:30 a.m. with headache and nausea. Team that with me unable to get comfortable due to lower tummy pain and back pain, I just flitted in and out of sleep until my alarm went off.
I’ve written in full about CD9 Scan here – but it went well.
I spent most of the day feeling very bloated, and despite being tired I didn’t manage to nap! I managed to eat my first full meal in a week too! Chinese food (yummy yummy!) but had to eat it in two parts!
I’m now into isolation until Egg Collection & Embryo Transfer
Cycle Day 10
I woke up relatively early – I had slept quite well once I got comfortable and I definatly needed it!
Up and took my fyremadel this morning! Its crazy to think that it could have been my last morning injection – stims have FLOWN.
I ended up having pain mid-back and pain in my RIBs today, its a good job i know how my uterus sits isn’t it!
Overall apart from bloated-ness, and a lovely soak in the bath today has been a day of not doing much and just chilling!
I had a call to confirm that my Egg Collection will be in 3 days time so last Stim injection this evening…last Fyremadel tomorrow morning, and then the clinic will call me to tell me what time to take my trigger injction!
Another couple of days of growing my little follicles! Come on!
Wow…stims are done!
Cycle Day 11
I got up early with my alarm to take my fyremadel – my last one of this cycle! I woke up with headache and feeling nauseaus yay!
Bloated, uncomfortable, in pain, nauseaus – its all good its my body doing what it should be doing even if its making me feel crappy.
Its been a mix of being in bed, in the bath and on the sofa, I haven’t really been able to get too comfortable.
Clinic called, triggering tonight at 10:10pm! Got to beat hospital for Egg Collection in 2 days time at 8:30am! Eeek!
I prepared my trigger injection and it was all done by 10:03pm – so I sat with it in my hand literally clock watching to give it at 10:10pm. Its the injection that MUST be given at the time you are told! I did it whilst sat watching the TV it didn’t hurt – or sting – and was my last home injection before egg retrieval!! Holy Crap!!
Cycle Day 12
My goodness I did NOT want to wake up this morning – no injections today!
In the end I got up and I was chilled but feeling so bloated. I packed my bag for 2 nights at a hotel for egg collection.
Lunch out (ooops I’m isolating honestly!) and then a trip to chill out in the hotel. PREMIER INN I’ve not stayed in one since February so its a bit strange!
Lovely soak in bath, early chilled out bed time. Super uncomfortable – but I know my body is doing what it should. Roll on tomorrow!
Wow…..Cycle one – over just like that!
Solo Mum Overload 