ivf egg retrieval yesterday - everything hurts! Positive stories needed please

[waiting4hope]

Hi all,

I had my second IVF egg retrieval yesterday and things are much more uncomfortable this time round. I've got pain across my front and up my back. The pain is especially worse when I go to the toilet - which isn't helped by the fact the nurse told me to drink lots so I'm going to the toilet lots!!

I'm taking paracetamol and it's just reducing the pain to a dull ache - I don't remember this much ache and pain after the egg retrieval.

On my first cycle we got 15 eggs and 9 fertilised and were frozen. This time 10 were collected and I've just been told 6 have fertilised. I don't think I'm at risk of OHSS because of only having 12 follicles/10 eggs.

Is this pain normal do you think? I don't think I'm at the point of needing to ring the nurse because I'm not bent over double in pain so I don't want to make a fuss about nothing but she did say the pain should subside by today and it hasn't.

Has anyone else had this experience? Also any positive IVF stories needed as I wait for transfer day!

Thanks :)

How much time has there between your egg collections? Are you doing one of those 3 cycle packages? If you're doing them back to back then everything is probably just a bit tender still and maybe the follicles were bigger this time or harder to reach so they've had to root around in there a bit more

I hurt. Oh I hurt. For the two days following collection I couldn't really sit up using my abdominal muscles or anything. But I did have suspected mild ohss (they put me on blood thinners). I had 18 eggs collected.

We went ahead with transfer (we were so lucky to get 4 to blast). It was successful and my 5 month old is napping in her cot.

Hmmm I had my 1st retrieval on Monday. 16 eggs. Ended up going in for a additional scan and bloods yesterday as was peritonitic..... absolutely horrific pain, couldn’t walk. Scan showed some fluid in pelvis so likely causing generalised inflammation. I feel exhausted and have no appetite. Bloods showed an increased white cell count but I think it is hard to say how important this is as suspect if checked everyone’s the day after, quite a few would be raised.

I’m working on the principle that I’m slowly improving but have a low threshold for seeing a surgeon should I spike a temp or feel worse.

Ultimately it is a semi-blind procedure, sticking a big needle into your pelvis, around which are lots of other structures.

Whilst most people feel relatively well the next day “according to advice sheets”, I suspect a relatively significant number feel like they have been hit by a bus.

Hope you feel better soon

thanks for your replies.

I had my last retrieval April last year so a long while ago really.

I feel loads better today just a bit uncomfortable when I sit down.

@physicskate thanks for your positive story - I'm sooo looking forward to having my own 5month old to cuddle!

@Anaesthetist83 I hope you are feeling better too? Sounds like you've really suffered

All totally normal. Was told to expect mild discomfort and to take paracetamol. Well. What can I say, felt like I'd been run over. And I'm not really the wimpy kid type. Standing up straight hurt. Felt like I'd been kicked in the belly. By day 3 it felt more comfortable.

I hurt so bad for about 4/5 days. It started to get much better by day 7! Lots and lots of water helps. As does a hot water bottle and lots of rest. It will be worth it!

I had this pain and it turned out to be constipation. I took a very mild laxative and felt much better the next day. I’ve heard that this is a common problem.

I was really bloody sore - very crampy so took some buscopan as well as painkillers, which really helped. Took about 3 days to get back to normal. 21 eggs retrieved (think I was a bit hyperstimulated but the clinic were happy with me) of which 5 made it to blastocyst, had a fresh transfer which didn’t work out but am now 31+6 with twins following frozen transfer. Good luck!!