We talked about the first cost of fertility- the financial cost (part 1). This one might be a greater cost than financial & that is the physical cost.
Physically it takes a large toll on your body. The most common infertility medications are Clomid & Fermara (Letrozole). These two drugs were what I was prescribed first by my OBGYN & secondly by the fertility clinic.
Both drugs are used in IUIs (Inter Uterine Insemination) because they can help induce ovulation, thus helping clinics to know when women will have the highest 2 day window of conception & be able to inject sperm. This is especially helpful if cycles are not consistent or if there has been a suspected lack of ovulation.
These two drugs, along with trigger shots, and nice inter-uterine-insemination have been what my body has personally had to endure.
We did Letrozole for seven cycle months with the OBGYN & then have done an additional six cycles of Letrozole along with two cycles of Clomid.
The saddest part is that these drugs have so many chemicals and they are obviously meant to help hormones which means I feel all many of the symptoms that a women in her first trimester of pregnancy feels. The nausea is sadly included.
So for three weeks a month I feel bloated and nauseous.
Usually with a headache that turns migraine.
Breast & chest aches that make me uncomfortable.
Mood Swings that should not be allowed, especially since the only time I am "medicine free" is when I am on my period so cue the mood swings indefinitely.
Working out is one of the things that had helped out most since the infertility diagnosis but even that feels so hard and I feel physically incapable of my normal gym routines because most days I am just trying not to be sick and have enough energy to get out of the bed in the morning. Let alone, I have strict orders for egg retrieval and IVF transfer to not lift over 10 pounds and stay on a modified bedrest which takes a toll.
It takes a lot out of me physically just to do the basic stuff because for majority of the last 24 months my body has felt like I was preparing for a baby over and over again without getting to carry a baby.
As someone who use to hate needle pokes and blood draws, it has now become second nature. I think of people who have never ending needle pokes and blood draws and my heart goes out to them because I know how bad my own bruising can get and I know theirs is far worse.
IVF injections left me bruised and scarred and with a 15 pound weight gain from all the hormones & I wouldn't wish it on my top 5 least favorite people ever (looking at you, mean mechanic from a couple days ago).
Physically, the cost has gotten to be so much more than I think I can bear.
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