Sarah's IVF Journey: The Second Round

Firstly let me apologise for the radio silence over here, but since starting round 2 of IVF, the days and weeks just seemed to have flown in, and here we are in the 20th August already.

I have so many people messaging me on a daily basis about my IVF journey through Instagram, and I do like to keep you all really updated with what’s going on, but only really put up a short summery on insta.

I thought I would take this opportunity to come on and fill you guys in on what’s been happening around here. I do have lots of different little blog posts planned for the next few weeks, all IVF related, but if you have anything you want me to answer, feel free to DM me or comment below.

Let’s rewind to 18th July – Day 1 of Norethisterone. This round of IVF is completely different as I have been on a Flare Cycle. This started by talking Norethisterone tablets, twice a day, at specified times – 8am and 8pm. This is a progestogen tablet which basically replicates the action of the female hormone progesterone, and suppresses FSH (follicle stimulating hormone). I took this from 18th July to 28th July and thankfully my side effects weren’t too bad. The only thing I really suffered from was tiredness, hot flushes and a little breakout on my skin.

After you stop this drug you get a bleed for a few days and then it was back to the clinic for my Prostap injection. This has to be administerd by a nurse in the hip/bum area, and boy did it sting. The main aim of the flare protocol is to help to encourage an initial surge of my own supply of FSH which is produced by the pituitary gland. By then having the Prostap, this decreases the production of FSH and is known as down regulation. Again thankfully I didn’t really have too many side effects from this – still hot flushes and the odd mood swing here and there – poor hubby!

Since starting IVF I love to take pictures along the way of every step, and always take a picture of us in the waiting room or in the car before we go into the clinic. I have a little keepsake box and a photo book of our journey to become parents and think it will be lovely to look back on one day with our little miracle.

On 4th August we started home injections – Gonal F this time (I was on bemfola last time) and 350 dosage. When we ordered our drugs, the drugs company had ran out of the pens we needed, so this meant getting pens of 450 and having to dial round to our dosage every night. We then had to keep all the pens in the fridge still and on our last two nights I had to take four injections in order to get the right dose – nightmare! My hubby gives me the injections too, I just can’t do it myself. And these are once a day, at the same time everyday – 7:30pm for me.

No pain no gain eh ???

I hope you enjoyed this little round up. I’ll be back again in a few days with an update on egg collection and also embryo transfer (which is tomorrow ekkkkkk)

Leave me a little comment if you can and I’ll speak to you all later xxx

Written by Sarah for her blog, The Wandering Wilsons.

You can follow her on Instagram too!