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Original poster

Egg retrieval without sedation

77 replies

Aylah1 · 18/07/2023 01:28

Hi ladies,

I just started stims last night and I'm getting so much anxiety thinking about egg retrieval as my clinic is a low cost clinic and does not do sedation/anesthesia. I will only be given 10mg of Valium orally before the procedure.
Has anyone done this and can share their experience with me please?
Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
Aylah1 · 19/07/2023 04:39

Gremlinsateit · 19/07/2023 03:36

Hi OP, I would also say ring the clinic to check, as you did get different info from the 2 nurses. I reckon if you have valium plus gas plus panadeine forte it will be a similar effect to twilight sedation. I did twilight sedation with a dr who later went to IVF Aust, and didn’t love it, possibly because of previous surgical scarring and other issues, but it wasn’t unbearable.

Yes I just rang the clinic and I practically begged to pay extra for anaesthesia but this is not an option there. They said the combination of the meds will make me feel very sleepy and I will only feel pain when the needle goes through my ovaries.

OP posts:
everyonesacf · 19/07/2023 04:47

Oh gosh, I'm really feeling for you. I did this a few years ago at a clinic in Sydney. It was also my first round of IVF. I'm so sorry they're still doing this. I had 10mg of Valium. No gas offered. I felt everything and it was horrific. Find out what works with Valium and take that before you get there. Fingers crossed all goes well for you.

Sunbird24 · 19/07/2023 05:09

I had my egg retrieval under sedation but it wore off part-way through - it was awful, but they got me back under pretty quickly.

i wouldn’t have wanted to do it without, but I know when I had my wisdom teeth out I was given something that had me still conscious but not caring (the dentist described it as a similar effect to 10 G&Ts!) I can still remember him pretty much kneeling on my chest and the sound of the tooth coming out, but not any pain, so maybe your procedure will be like that? Fingers crossed for you.

EliflurtleTripanInfinite · 19/07/2023 05:45

Aylah1 · 18/07/2023 07:53

I'm in Australia. The clinic will offer me 10mg of Valium before the procedure. I don't have experience taking Valium, so I'm not sure whether this will give me any relief at all.

Show quote history

Maybe your GP could prescribe something like lorazepam for you to take beforehand. You might get more information about this particular clinic and the process on an Aussy forum like Every Bump or one of the Australian IVF FB groups. There's also an Australian subforum on here somewhere.

MadeofCheeese · 19/07/2023 05:50

I don't want to worry you but most of the women on my ward without anesthetic came out crying a lot.
Is there any way you could have gas and air?

Original poster
Aylah1 · 19/07/2023 06:58

MadeofCheeese · 19/07/2023 05:50

I don't want to worry you but most of the women on my ward without anesthetic came out crying a lot.
Is there any way you could have gas and air?

Yes I will be given laughing gas 🤞🙏

OP posts:
Original poster
Aylah1 · 19/07/2023 07:02

everyonesacf · 19/07/2023 04:47

Oh gosh, I'm really feeling for you. I did this a few years ago at a clinic in Sydney. It was also my first round of IVF. I'm so sorry they're still doing this. I had 10mg of Valium. No gas offered. I felt everything and it was horrific. Find out what works with Valium and take that before you get there. Fingers crossed all goes well for you.

Thank you so much! I'm so sorry you had such an awful experience. My clinic will offer me Panadeine Forte and laughing gas along with the Valium. I hope the mix of these meds makes me kind of stoned.

OP posts:
Ifeellikeateenageragain · 19/07/2023 07:46

I've never had valium but from what I know of mates who have then with the combo of Valium and gas/oxygen I would say it's fine.

OP, think about this: they wouldn't do this procedure like this if it wasn't possible. It's delicate - they've got to be precise with picking up eggs from each follicle. If women were writhing about in pain then it would defeat the purpose.

When I had a completely sedated round I felt hideous when I woke up, bleeding, and had awful cramping for the rest of the day and was groggy into the next day. We switched to another pathway that didn't do anesthetic sedation and for both unsedated rounds they gave me a calmative IV (assuming similar to valium) and the gas and air. I was worried too thinking it was going to be screaming pain. My partner held my arm and half hugged me from the side and a nurse was also at my other side talking and checking in with me about how I was feeling. The consultant doing the retrieval chatted to me and then said I'd feel the pressure and yes it was like a sudden period cramp. I sucked down the air and it eased. Every now and then the achey sort of pain like you get with a bad period would rise up and I'd just take more air. We were all talking, literally cracking jokes (I worried that my laughing was making it difficult!). When the consultant said "all done" I literally said "is that it? In that case let's do this again same time next week!". He then showed me the extraction needle which was curved and said "ah it's this magic needle, makes it much easier and gentler". I think the actual retrieval time was only around 15-20 mins. On the second unsedated retrieval he even had to pierce through a cyst to get through to some eggs and I thought, oh god, this is going to be it, and again it was just uncomfortable achey pressure.

OP, please don't panic. Focus on the stims.

LittleMonks11 · 19/07/2023 08:45

It sounds like you have a few more options now to help. So that's great. Try to relax now and I really really hope it works for you OP. Ours did 🙃

Original poster
Aylah1 · 19/07/2023 09:37

Ifeellikeateenageragain · 19/07/2023 07:46

I've never had valium but from what I know of mates who have then with the combo of Valium and gas/oxygen I would say it's fine.

OP, think about this: they wouldn't do this procedure like this if it wasn't possible. It's delicate - they've got to be precise with picking up eggs from each follicle. If women were writhing about in pain then it would defeat the purpose.

When I had a completely sedated round I felt hideous when I woke up, bleeding, and had awful cramping for the rest of the day and was groggy into the next day. We switched to another pathway that didn't do anesthetic sedation and for both unsedated rounds they gave me a calmative IV (assuming similar to valium) and the gas and air. I was worried too thinking it was going to be screaming pain. My partner held my arm and half hugged me from the side and a nurse was also at my other side talking and checking in with me about how I was feeling. The consultant doing the retrieval chatted to me and then said I'd feel the pressure and yes it was like a sudden period cramp. I sucked down the air and it eased. Every now and then the achey sort of pain like you get with a bad period would rise up and I'd just take more air. We were all talking, literally cracking jokes (I worried that my laughing was making it difficult!). When the consultant said "all done" I literally said "is that it? In that case let's do this again same time next week!". He then showed me the extraction needle which was curved and said "ah it's this magic needle, makes it much easier and gentler". I think the actual retrieval time was only around 15-20 mins. On the second unsedated retrieval he even had to pierce through a cyst to get through to some eggs and I thought, oh god, this is going to be it, and again it was just uncomfortable achey pressure.

OP, please don't panic. Focus on the stims.

This message really really gives me a lot of hope and eases my anxiety. I won't have an IV like you but even with the oral Valium combined with gas and panadeine forte, I think I will be alright. I will try to just imagine a baby at the end of this and it will be worth it all. Thank you ♥️🙏😘

OP posts:
Original poster
Aylah1 · 19/07/2023 09:38

LittleMonks11 · 19/07/2023 08:45

It sounds like you have a few more options now to help. So that's great. Try to relax now and I really really hope it works for you OP. Ours did 🙃

Thank you so much, I will try my best to go in with a positive mind 💕🙏

OP posts:
Original poster
Aylah1 · 19/07/2023 09:39

LittleMonks11 · 19/07/2023 08:45

It sounds like you have a few more options now to help. So that's great. Try to relax now and I really really hope it works for you OP. Ours did 🙃

And congratulations, I'm so happy it worked for you. Always good to hear success stories 🥰

OP posts:
alpinia · 19/07/2023 09:49

@Aylah1 Hi OP, I had my IVF in a place where no sedation or pain medication is offered at all. I got a paracetamol afterwards(!).

I am a very stoic person and had all the run up tests (biopsies, hycosy etc) with no analgesics or sedation with no problem. I also recovered from a Csection with only paracetamol after the 1st day.

They also told me it wouldn't be painful, and would be over in 10 to 15 minutes as I only had 5 eggs to collect.

It was horrifically painful, felt like torture, took 45 minutes and still brings me to tears every time I talk about it. Everyone I know is horrified that they did it that way. It's barbaric. I'm sure they wouldn't get away with conducting similar procedures on men with not even a local anaesthetic. 🙄

Please try to switch to the alternative place even if it costs more. The issue for me is that while yes, I did survive the procedure and drove myself home. I would not do it again, and if I hadn't got lucky with that round I would never do it again.

sweatybettii · 19/07/2023 10:09

Oh gosh, i was given fentanyl for my egg retrieval !! Op is there anyway you can get something off your doctor beforehand ???

maybebalancing · 19/07/2023 13:25

I had no sedation and it was the most painful thing I've done.
But it doesn't last forever and I survived.

CurlyWurly1991 · 20/07/2023 07:19

No IVF experience but just feeling for you OP with all of the comments about it being painful. I guess that is going to make the lead up to it so much harder. It sounds like you have sorted additional pain relief and really hope it goes ok. If nothing else it will be over quickly. Will you come back and update us afterwards? It’s true that health procedures for men would not be like this. Wishing you the best and lots of luck.

Original poster
Aylah1 · 20/07/2023 09:36

CurlyWurly1991 · 20/07/2023 07:19

No IVF experience but just feeling for you OP with all of the comments about it being painful. I guess that is going to make the lead up to it so much harder. It sounds like you have sorted additional pain relief and really hope it goes ok. If nothing else it will be over quickly. Will you come back and update us afterwards? It’s true that health procedures for men would not be like this. Wishing you the best and lots of luck.

Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. This really means a lot. I have been having so much doubt lately about going through with this but I know I want this baby so much and all the pain will be worth it at the end. I will most certainly give an update once it's all done ♥️🙏🥰

OP posts:
Sunbird24 · 20/07/2023 11:29

Honestly OP, I didn’t end up with a baby, but I’m still glad I did it, whatever the pain and drama that happened along the way. At least now I know that I tried, rather than always wondering or having regrets. Sometimes the risk is worth taking.

Original poster
Aylah1 · 20/07/2023 12:25

Sunbird24 · 20/07/2023 11:29

Honestly OP, I didn’t end up with a baby, but I’m still glad I did it, whatever the pain and drama that happened along the way. At least now I know that I tried, rather than always wondering or having regrets. Sometimes the risk is worth taking.

I am so sorry! My heart breaks for you. You've been through all the pain and sometimes there's more obstacles along the way but you will surely have your baby in your arms one day. I pray for you 🙏💕

OP posts:
MotherOfShihTzus · 21/07/2023 00:20

I had treatment on the nhs without sedation, I won't lie, I never want to do it again. But I have seen plenty about ppl in fertility groups who have found it fine. I think I have a low pain threshold - had awful pain after the HSG for instance, and plenty are fine with that!

Original poster
Aylah1 · 21/07/2023 08:45

MotherOfShihTzus · 21/07/2023 00:20

I had treatment on the nhs without sedation, I won't lie, I never want to do it again. But I have seen plenty about ppl in fertility groups who have found it fine. I think I have a low pain threshold - had awful pain after the HSG for instance, and plenty are fine with that!

I have pain even during penetration, so I don't think my pain threshold is too high either! But I need to stay strong I guess and just hope I don't have a panic attack on the hospital bed 😆🤞

OP posts:
Original poster
Aylah1 · 21/07/2023 12:57

Thank you all for sharing your experiences with me. I wanted to give you all an update. I am on day 6 of my cycle and day 5 of stimulations. I had blood test this morning and my clinic just called me to let me know that they have to cancel my IVF cycle as I have already ovulated!! How is that possible? Can they be wrong? How can I have already ovulated on day 6 of my cycle!! I usually have a regular 28 day cycle. I feel so devastated, never thought this could go so wrong 💔😔

OP posts:
CC4712 · 21/07/2023 13:05

I'm so sorry to hear that OP ❤

Did they explain why/how that could occur? Do you still need to pay them? (presumably just for the meds and treatment so far?) Will you return there for another round, or look for a different clinic? Did they say how long to wait?

Mummyoflittledragon · 21/07/2023 13:52

I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope you get some kind of refund. I imagine at some stage they will debrief and decide if maybe you need Cetrotide or whatever drug is normally injected circa day 5 onwards to stop ovulation earlier than this. I’ve been through ivf myself and have had different issues - the age of my lining and therefore needed additional drugs as the first cycle wasn’t successful.

Ifeellikeateenageragain · 21/07/2023 14:45

Ah OP, that's so annoying! It's rare, but it can happen. What they will do is adjust the various hormones the next time round - there are specific drugs like pp have put above that STOP you ovulating too soon but sometimes the dosage isn't high enough to prevent your own hormones in combination with the follicle stimulating hormones over riding it. It's annoying OP, but it's so so common to have to stop and start over with IVF.

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