My IVF Experience & Results: Real & Unfiltered
In this episode of the Pursuit of Wellness podcast, Mari Llewellyn opens up about her personal IVF journey and the challenging realities of the process. She candidly shares the daily routines, physical hurdles, and emotional highs and lows involved in IVF treatments, from stinging injections to post-retrieval pain and vulnerability.
Llewellyn reflects on finding support through sharing her experience on social media and the value of transparency during this trying time. With embryo testing and transfers on the horizon, she explores the anticipation and anxiety that come with each pivotal step. The episode provides an authentic look at the struggles of IVF and reminds listeners that vulnerability and strength often go hand-in-hand.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Jan 30, 2025 episode of the Pursuit of Wellness
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1-Page Summary
Mari Llewellyn's IVF Journey and Process
Daily IVF Routine and Challenges
Mari Llewellyn shares the rigorous daily routine of IVF, involving timed injections, frequent doctor visits, and managing medication supplies with partner Greg's support. She notes the difficulties of self-administering stinging medication like Menopur, and the emotional strain of abstaining from exercise to avoid ovarian torsion.
Recovery After Egg Retrieval
Post-retrieval, Mari experienced severe pain, swelling, and fluid leakage, making movement difficult. The emotional highs and hope of the injection phase gave way to tearful lows as hormones shifted and recovery prolonged. She grappled with vulnerability and the mental fortitude needed to continue treatments.
Openly Sharing Her IVF Experience
Mari found therapeutic benefits in vlogging her journey on TikTok, fostering community support while acknowledging intrusive responses from some. Greg's companionship and church provided positivity during uncertainty. Mari aims to help others through transparent storytelling.
Preparing For Embryo Transfer
Genetic Testing and Anticipating Outcomes
Mari awaits critical next steps - embryo genetic testing and the transfer itself. She voices anxiety over potential failed transfers and family anticipation, coping through hope and deciding not to learn embryo genders to prevent further emotional burden.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can create a personal health diary to track your medical routines and symptoms, which can be especially useful if you're undergoing a treatment similar to IVF. Start by jotting down times for medication, doctor's appointments, and any physical or emotional changes you notice. This can help you manage your healthcare more effectively and provide valuable insights to your medical team.
- Develop a support network by reaching out to friends, family, or joining online communities related to your health journey. For instance, if you're dealing with a challenging medical process, connecting with others in similar situations can offer emotional support and practical advice. You might start a group chat, attend local support group meetings, or participate in relevant forums.
- Engage in a creative outlet, like journaling or making art, to cope with the emotional aspects of a health challenge. Expressing yourself through creativity can be a therapeutic way to handle stress and anxiety. You could set aside time each day to write about your feelings, paint, or even start a blog to document your journey for your own reflection and to help others who might read it in the future.
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Mari Llewellyn's IVF Journey and Process
Mari Llewellyn opens up about her IVF experience, sharing the struggles and daily routines she faced during her fertility treatment on TikTok.
Mari's IVF Journey: Injections to Egg Retrieval
IVF Cycle: Daily Injections and Doctor Appointments
Mari's day-to-day routine throughout her IVF treatment involved performing injections at the same time every day and frequent visits to the doctor's office. She found it stressful to manage these treatments, especially given the need for support, which she received from her partner, Greg. Greg helped with medication dosing and attended almost every appointment with her, a source of stability for Mari during this time.
Early in her journey, Mari confronted a miscommunication about her medication supply, leading to a panic when it appeared she did not have enough [restricted term]. Thankfully, a nurse provided her with samples just before the office closed. To avoid further stress, Mari and Greg established a fixed daily time for injections, making the routine more manageable. Mari preferred to self-inject, allowing her to avoid sore areas and maintain control over the process, often distracting herself by filming TikToks during the injections.
Mari notes the particular sting of the medication Menopur, recommending to let the medication sit for five minutes before injection and to administer it slowly for less discomfort. Greg took on the role of preparing the injections every night, and Mari was at her doctor's office each morning for necessary blood tests.
Medication Shortages
Mari's IVF cycle coincided with the holidays, a decision she found relaxing due to the slower pace of work, which helped alleviate guilt over potential missed activities. She began her injections on December 27th and took her last one on January 6th. Adding to the routine, she introduced morning shots called Centrotide on January 1st to prevent early ovulation. With precision timing essential, she balanced these injections alongside her other treatments and doctor's visits.
An inventory shortage at their pharmacy triggered a dire situation where obtaining more [restricted term] became critical. After Greg's insistence and a near trip t ...
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Mari Llewellyn's IVF Journey and Process
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can create a visual medication tracker to ensure consistency with treatments that require strict adherence. Use a whiteboard or digital app to mark off each dose as you take it, which can be particularly helpful if you're managing multiple medications with varying schedules. This visual aid not only helps you stay on track but also provides a sense of accomplishment with each completed task.
- Develop a support network checklist to identify and organize the roles of friends and family during challenging times. List out specific tasks you might need help with, such as medication management or transportation to appointments, and match them with willing volunteers from your support circle. This ensures you have a structured support system in place and that your loved ones know exactly how they can assist you.
- Incorpo ...
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The Physical and Emotional Challenges of Ivf
Mari Llewellyn shares the arduous journey of egg retrieval during the IVF process, shedding light on the physical ordeal and emotional rollercoaster that accompanies the procedure.
Recovery and Physical Side Effects After Egg Retrieval
Extreme Pain, Bloating, Movement Difficulty From Swelling and Fluid Leakage
Five days post-egg retrieval, Mari reveals the severity of the pain and bloating she has endured. She experienced extreme discomfort and an inability to move properly due to swelling. An ultrasound disclosed her ovaries were leaking fluid and blood, causing pain that radiated into her upper body and made walking difficult. Despite the injections being manageable, recovery has been unexpectedly arduous, with more pain than anticipated.
Emotional Highs and Lows: Hopeful During Injections, Strained After Retrieval
Initially, Mari adjusted to the injections by distracting herself through filming and vlogging, feeling hopeful about the number of eggs before retrieval. The process seemed positive, offering a semblance of control after the confusion of trying to conceive naturally. However, she felt emotionally strained post-retrieval, realizing recovery would take longer than expected. The drop in hormone levels post-procedure added to her emotional challenges, underscoring the isolating and taxing nature of hormonal treatments in IVF.
Fertility Medications: Hormonal and Mental Challenges
Mari discusses the psychological intimidation she had to overcome regarding the injectio ...
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The Physical and Emotional Challenges of Ivf
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can create a personal recovery kit tailored to post-IVF needs, including items like comfortable clothing, a heating pad for pain relief, and over-the-counter medications approved by your doctor. This preemptive step ensures you have everything on hand to address physical discomfort and can help mitigate the stress of recovery.
- Develop a support system checklist that includes friends, family, or a therapist who understands the IVF journey, ensuring you have someone to reach out to during emotional lows. Having a list makes it easier to remember who you can talk to when you're feeling vulnerable, especially when dealing with the hormonal and mental challenges of ...
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Sharing Her IVF Experience Publicly and Receiving Support
Mari Llewellyn has been open about her IVF journey, choosing to take her experience to social media platforms like TikTok, which has in turn fostered a community of support.
Openly Sharing Ivf Journey Online
Benefits Of Sharing Her Ivf Experience
Mari has mentioned that vlogging her experience helped her mentally manage the stressful process of self-injection, suggesting that sharing her journey online has therapeutic benefits. She also encourages others going through IVF to ask many questions to understand their treatment, emphasizing the importance of communication.
Supportive and Intrusive Responses From Friends, Family, and Followers
By being transparent, Mari has not only provided insight into her own experience but has also aided others in navigating their IVF journeys. She's noted the empathy she received from many in her life after sharing her journey, while also acknowledging that some people may not have shown up in the ways she hoped.
Although the specific types of responses from her social circle aren't mentioned in the content provided, the mix of support and perhaps indifference is implied.
Su ...
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Sharing Her IVF Experience Publicly and Receiving Support
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While sharing personal experiences online can be therapeutic, it can also expose individuals to negative feedback or trolling, which can add to the stress.
- Not everyone may feel comfortable or safe sharing their personal health journeys publicly due to privacy concerns or potential professional repercussions.
- Encouraging others to ask many questions is beneficial, but it assumes that all individuals have access to medical professionals who are willing to communicate openly and that patients have the necessary knowledge to ask the right questions.
- The support received from sharing online can vary greatly, and some people might find that they do not receive the level of support they anticipated, which could lead to feelings of disappointment or isolation.
- Relying on a partner for support is valuable, but it's important to recognize that not everyone has a supportive partner or may be going through IVF alone, which can present different emotional challenges.
- The importance of community and support systems is highlighted, but it's worth noting that not everyone has access to a supportive commu ...
Actionables
- Create a private online journal to document your personal journey, whether it's IVF or another significant life challenge, using a platform like Penzu or Journey for daily entries to help manage stress and find therapeutic value in self-reflection.
- By keeping a private journal, you can enjoy the benefits of expressing your thoughts and feelings without the pressure of public scrutiny. This can be a space to track your emotions, note questions for your healthcare provider, and document your progress, which can serve as a personal source of encouragement and a way to measure your journey over time.
- Start a small support group with friends or acquaintances who are going through similar experiences, meeting regularly via video calls or in-person where possible.
- This group can be a safe space to share experiences, offer empathy, and provide the companionship that's crucial during challenging times. It doesn't have to be formal; a simple group chat or a recurring coffee meet-up can foster a sense of community and support.
- Incorporate a daily mindfulness or meditation practice into y ...
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Preparing For and Anticipating the Embryo Transfer
As Mari Llewellyn plans for her embryo transfer, she navigates the complex emotions and steps that come with the IVF process.
Next Steps: Genetic Testing of Embryos
Mari is currently in a critical phase of her IVF journey, where her embryos are not yet at the stage for genetic testing. She explains that the genetic testing done at her clinic, known as PGT complete, is a significant part of the embryo process. However, she is still waiting to see how many cells are developing and which ones are progressing. The anticipation builds as there is a 60-day wait for genetic results following the egg retrieval, which weighs heavily on her both in its duration and the uncertainty of its outcome.
Anxiety Over Ivf: Uncertainty in Embryo Transfer Success
Mari openly shares her anxiety regarding the embryo transfer, voicing her concern about the stress involved with friends and family knowing the transfer date and the collective anticipation of the results. This anxiety is exacerbated by the knowledge of potential failed transfers and the reality of possibly having to endure multiple IVF cycles. Mari is coping with this stress by trying to manifest a positive outcome and keeping a hopeful mindset despite fears that the first embryo might not stick. She acknowledges the emotional challenge that comes with being realistic about the chances of the first transfer's success.
Choosing Not to Learn Embryo Gender to Prevent Emotional Burden
In an effort to protect her emotional well-being, Mari has decided not to learn the gender of her embryos. She believes that not knowing the gender will reduce the potential emotional burden in the event that the first embryo tra ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Preparing For and Anticipating the Embryo Transfer
Additional Materials
Actionables
- Create a personal timeline with built-in reflection periods to navigate complex emotional processes, like IVF, with more clarity. By scheduling specific days to journal or meditate on your feelings, you can manage anxiety and maintain a hopeful mindset. For example, after a significant step in a challenging journey, set aside an evening to reflect on your emotions and write down positive affirmations.
- Develop a "surprise element" tradition for life's milestones to cultivate a sense of wonder and reduce the emotional burden of outcomes. This could mean not finding out the results of a big project until a public reveal or saving the destination of a vacation as a surprise from yourself until the day of departure, thus embracing the excitement of uncertainty.
- ...
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