Panicking

[Goldilocks2528]

Hi ladies

I am going in for egg collection tomorrow and I am really panicking. I've been awake since 5am stressing about it, and it's all I can think about right now.

My scan yesterday showed 4 follicles, 2 in each ovary but they are not sure they can get to one of them as its blocked by my uterus. The ovary they can get to has 1 ok follicle and one that's only 13mm. They were hoping it would reach 16mm by tomorrow so they can collect from it.

I've never had an operation and I'm terrified at the thought of walking into theatre. My clinic give you gas and air, and then do 4 local injections inside you before collecting, so I'll be fully awake. They have told me the local jabs will be painful, but can't tell me how painful.

I'm so scared. Seems I'll be going through all this for it only not to work anyway, based on those follicle numbers. I know it only takes one, but it seems so unlikely.

Has anyone else had egg collection with a local and gas and air?

Thanks

@Goldilocks2528 where are you location wise? I thought everywhere in the UK do EC under sedation, the majority of people are fully knocked out. I am sure your clinic won’t do this intricate procedure in a way that’s painful because the woman will be moving about if that’s the case. I think you should call up the clinic and speak through your worries with them.

Haven't had gas and air for collection but you are stronger than you think and will get through it.

I hardly got any follicles or eggs on the cycle that worked.

Deep breaths lovely ❤️❤️❤️

Hi @Gardenlady543, thanks for your reply.

I am in Devon. The clinic said that their studies show collection this way is no more painful than under very light sedation. I did talk to the nurse when I was there yesterday, and they are fully aware of how worried I am. I could have light sedation but they said it is very very light and involves a canula in your hand. OH recommended I don't go for that option as he has had that a number if times and said it is very painful, and I hate needles anyway!

@FingersXssd83

Haven't had gas and air for collection but you are stronger than you think and will get through it.

I hardly got any follicles or eggs on the cycle that worked.

Deep breaths lovely ❤️❤️❤️

Thank you @FingersXssd83 Glad to hear your cycle worked with few follicles too. I really hope they can get to that left ovary, but they obviously wont risk it if it looks too hidden/close.

Sorry about this and wish you good luck. I also have a similar situation, one ovary behind uterus and I am also worried this will happen in my cycle :( It seems not a very rare thing to happen so I don't know why they haven't got a solution to retrieve eggs from less accessible ovaries...

@Goldilocks2528 cannulas aren’t painful, it’s just a little scratch while it’s going in. I personally would take them up on the sedation offer. That’s what most clinics offer and I was knocked out and don’t remember a thing. I am sure the clinic know what they’re doing though, if you’re anxious and moving about and they’re worried about the procedure, I am sure they will discuss and implement the best option. I was worried about the EC too, but it was absolutely fine

Not all UK clinics uae full sedation - I had light sedation and was awake and remember the whole thing and it was ok. Probably worth the 1 second scratch for the cannula! Good luck OP, the anticipation is often the worst part

I'd have the sedation too, the cannula is not bad at in my experience and the sedation will help you relax.

@Gardenlady543 makes a good point that they won't do it in a way to cause pain as they will not want to cause you to move around.

Hoping the other follicle catches up!

Thank you all for your replies

I'm sure you're right, they won't want me moving about. The nurse did say they have had very few people run out of the theatre (so they've had some then..!). God I'm so scared, it's pathetic. So many ladies here have done this time and time and time again.

I imagine the nurse was trying (unsuccessfully) to be funny and put you at ease. It was a bit of a stupid comment.
I mean logically if someone wasn't comfortable they would say so and presumably more sedation or anaesthetic would be used.

It's not pathetic to be scared and not having been to theatre before means it's an unknown, but it really isn't too bad and should be pretty quick, take the sedation and then rest afterwards.

I completely understand how you feel @Goldilocks2528 I felt the same, this is the most invasive part and I was really worried, I had an equally unhelpful nurse, when I told her how worried I was and she just said “why”. Anyway the whole thing was absolutely fine and I’d have no issue going through it again. I think just tell them you’re worried on the day and I’m sure they will respond appropriately if needs be, but you’ll probably be the same as me and come out thinking “that was fine”!

I was sedated. Worth revisiting if you're particularly anxious about the procedure. The cannula isn't bad in my experience. I was told I wouldn't actually be fully knocked out but that their patients always swore they had been. I don't remember a thing! But if you do go ahead with gas and air, I'm sure it'll be fine. As PPs have said, they wouldn't do it if it was likely to be problematic because there's already a decent alternative.

You're not at all pathetic for being nervous. It's intrusive and intimidating, and then to add in the worry over the results too... It's perfectly understandable. But hopefully you'll feel like I think most people do once it's over - that it wasn't that bad.

Good luck and I hope you get the eggs yoire hoping for 🤞 Let us know how it goes.

Thank you all so much for your replies, it really means a lot to me.

I’ll talk to them again tomorrow about the two options. The sedation is a light sedation apparently.

9 hours 55 mins to go..

Get some sleep Goldilocks!
And good luck tomorrow.

Good luck today OP xx

Good luck, let us know how it goes

Hello ladies

Well I am home and you were all so right, it really wasn’t that bad at all!! The nursing team were fantastic and having gone through today, if it doesn’t work, I know I could do it again.

In the end I went with the gas and air instead of the light sedation and although I didn’t feel much different it must have done it’s job. I was asked after how painful the procedure was out of 10, and I said 4/5.

I was worried that out of my 4 follicles only 2 could be accessed, and one of those was too small on Monday. The good news is the surgeon managed to drain all 4, and we got 3 eggs!!! I know that’s not much but considering my age and what they had to work with I was expecting 1 at the most so I am very happy.

For anyone going through this for the first time who is as terrified as I was, I promise you with all my heart it really isn’t that bad. Yes the 4 local injections inside you hurt, but it’s not unmanageable and it doesn’t last for long. It feels like a very sharp long pinch (well, for me anyway). I didn’t feel them draining the follicles at all, the lovely nurse at my head had to tell me that they were in and doing it.

I got myself massively worked up and stressed out and even though it’s pointless to tell you not to worry, because you will, I swear it won’t be anywhere near as bad as your imagination tells you it will be x

Thank you all so much for your replies. It helped me no end yesterday and I read them all again this morning on the way to the clinic. Thank you so much

Great result Goldilocks!
Hope you are resting and recovering now.
Three eggs is great, hope you get good news tomorrow.

I will say now (that I wouldn't have said before your procedure) that I think that sounds much worse than any egg collection I've ever had and I wouldn't accept that option of injections while awake, but I didn't know if you'd get a choice today and didn't want to add to your stress.
I've never had any pain with egg collection as I've never been awake and wouldn't want to be, and I think it's pretty poor that they make women feel unnecessary pain on that scale (4/5 out of 10 is pretty bad in my view) when the vast majority of clinics use sedation. Well done you for getting through it. 💐

Hi @LongerthanMrTicklesarms, it really wasn’t too bad. That was just whilst they injected the 4 local anaesthetics and it’s over pretty quickly to be honest. If I went through it again I am pretty sure I’d do it the same way, now I know what it feels like and what to expect. Thanks for not saying that yesterday though

The embryologist is going to call this pm to let us know if they will do IVF or ICSI (they think probably ICSI. It depends what my partners sperm looks like once defrosted). Then tomorrow morning we find out of any fertilised... eek.

Still lots that can go wrong, but I am pleased I’ve done all I can and that we managed to get this far. Now laying on the sofa with a book just chilling out.

That’s great @Goldilocks2528, I knew you’d come out saying that! That’s the worst bit over as well, so well done!! I’ve had 2 transfers and they are absolutely fine, just like a smear test. And what a result as well, you must be really chuffed with that! Fingers crossed for some good embryos!

Well done. Great news! (Though I agree with @LongerthanMrTicklesarms - doesn't sound acceptable to me! ). It worked for you though and you got 3 eggs 🎉🙂