Recovery after large number of eggs collected

[sandytoes84]

Hi all,

I’m going for egg collection on Monday. Due to over responding to medication it will be a freeze all cycle and I will trigger with buserelin instead of hcg. For a time it looked like the cycle would be cancelled completely.

My E2 level was over 32,000 yesterday and my ovaries are extremely full. The nurse said don’t expect to be back at work at all next week. I’ve been pretty uncomfortable so far.

So my question is, if you’ve been in a similar position to this how long did it take you to recover?

I was in that position - I had EC on the Monday morning, just slept in the afternoon as they'd had to give me extra sedative due to the length of time collecting the eggs took.

I didn't actually feel too bad on the Tuesday - a little groggy still and I couldn't do my jeans up, but I did some work remotely. On the Wednesday and Thursday though I was in agony and DH was wondering whether to take me to hospital. The clinic wanted me in for scans but we live 100 miles away and I couldn't physically get on the train.

I managed to get back to work on the next Monday, but I wasn't 100% for a few more days (and my stomach didn't return to its normal size for a couple of weeks!).

I hope that helps - good luck!

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I’m definitely expecting the worst but it’s so reassuring to know you got heir eventually and hear how it was in the same position.

Ugh I’m dreading it but at least it wasn’t cancelled and I’m grateful to have the Janice to recover before they put one back!

Thanks again for sharing your experience, I really appreciate it!

Hi I had egg collection on Tuesday. I had 20 follicles but 16 eggs collected. The first 2 days were uncomfortable - such bad bloating and gas. I'm still uncomfortable but it's much better than it was. Im wondering whether the amount of progesterone I'm on (Lubion injections + cyclogest pressaries) is exacerbating the problem.. good luck!

My main issue was the sedative from the proceedure really knocked me out.
I didn’t realise I would bleed afters, I just wasn’t prepared. But I was fine

It took me 3.5 days to recover after each egg collection (I’ve had 3). I had EC on Monday, and would start to feel more comfortable and less bloated by Thursday afternoon, ready for ET on Saturday (day 5). I’ve had various levels of overstimulation, I had 24 eggs collected on one cycle.

I know everyone does this differently but I had 2 weeks off twice, and one week off once. I would not have coped well with juggling treatment with work.

Good luck

I massively over-responded and had over 60 follicles (though only ended up with five eggs because my ovaries just kept recruiting new follicles instead of maturing the ones I had iyswim) and I felt bloody awful for the first day or two, but after that I felt alright - much better than I'd felt while awaiting collection. I took cabergoline and my estrogen levels went down fast enough for me to have a fresh transfer.

Good luck for your recivery and fingers crossed for a wonderful outcome.

I've had 3 ec and all were different. One was easy and I felt fine the day after. One I felt pretty sore for a couple of days. And one where I had elevated oestrogen I was in absolute agony the day after. I would get some paracetamol + codeine as that's what my clinic recommended and it helped a bit. I was vomiting/dizzy. It was awful for 1 day then I was just really sore for a week.

I had mild OHSS after one of my collections and felt pretty grotty

You should up your protein intake - milky drinks, meat chocolate and also make sure you're having enough water and fluids, but not too much

Sleep, be gentle on yourself and let those poor puffy ovaries recover

All the best for your transfer 

I had 55 the first time and it wasn't great. Immediate recovery was a bit tough and I stayed in the clinic for about 4-5 hours after because they weren't happy for me to leave yet. Very tender, crawled up the stairs and into bed and pretty much stayed there til the next morning. The next couple of days were still painful and I was hobbling about because walking upright was too painful. I think by the Thurs I was relatively ok although I worked from home and went back into the office on the Friday. Agree about having the right amount of fluids and also protein.

I had 26 the second time which was much less strenuous - I was out and about to collect DS (walking as I don't drive) about eight hours later. I think I worked from home the day after and was back in the office the following day. A bit tender on day 2-3 but not horribly so,

In both cases it was totally self-limiting as I was donating so fortunately for me, no decisions to make about whether to transfer or freeze all. I expect that knowledge (that this was 'the end' for my part) made it a lot easier to cope with.

Wishing you all the very best. X

Thank you all for responding! It’s so reassuring to read about your experiences.

I’m definitely going with freeze all, so I do feel relieved that this is the end of the first and hardest part and I can just focus on recovery for now!

I’m veggie but I’ve stocked up on protein drinks and high protein yogurts and snacks, as well as coconut water and electrolyte drinks...I’m very prepared to recover as best as I can, I hope my body gets the memo!

Hey, I had 29 follicles first time and 20 eggs. Second time I had 32 follicles and 22 mature eggs. It was really uncomfortable - one of my best friends had ivf and went shopping straight after while I felt dreadful for a full week after!

Unfortunately we were also in the awful position of despite loads of eggs and all the discomfort that comes with that we had no good quality blasts by day 5 on cycle 1 - so nothing to freeze and we had one poor quality blast back (bfn). Second time we surgical retrieved my husbands sperm which seemed to help and put back on day 3 despite me feeling dreadful because we knew we were unlikely to have anything to freeze again.

I had over two weeks off work on the second cycle - fortunately it worked!! I was so so so bloated when I got my bfp that I knew it had worked - haven't fitted in my clothes since 9dp3dt!! Currently 27/40 though so all good in the end!!

Good luck

Had over 40 eggs on each cycle, it wasn’t comfortable during collection (but the drugs helped 🤣). First time I only had a day off work after which was a mistake esp as no one knew, I think I sat there and pretended to work all day whilst in survival mode. second time I took a few days plus had the weekend. Basically I was sore/ throwing up. Be kind to yourself and rest if you can on a sofa wirh a hot water bottle and happy films. After a few days the swelling etc went down and I didn’t feel so bruised. Good luck with it all. X

I had 30 eggs collected and was on Buserilin. Took me 3 days after egg collection to be able to walk to work.

Thanks all! I ended up with 29 today. Found the procedure quite unpleasant but very relieved the worst part is over and hopefully I’ll have plenty of chances with those ones!

Well done, feet up and relax if you can x