Egg collection - recovery alone

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I'm single and freezing my eggs - starting meds next week. It's taken me a long time to make the decision and I would like to keep it private. I also don't want to have to ask someone to take time off work to be with me. So question is whether you actually need someone with you after egg collection under sedation? If I will be able to manage alone - getting taxi home, having a meal ready to eat, that would be my strong preference.

If you don't respond adversely to the anaesthetic, yes you could probably manage okay on your own if you can get a taxi home. I wouldn't recommend public transport. Everyone does react differently though so might be worth having a back up plan. Plan ahead like you've thought and get some good food in. I felt fine and went back to work the day after it, some minor period type cramps the day of it but otherwise no issues.

Just to add it would be worth telling the clinic you're going alone so they can allow a bit more time for you to recover. They may advise you against not having anyone with you - ours recommended strongly to bring someone.

Hi OP, I have had 6 egg collections for EF, and all of them I would say I could have managed alone if necessary. I would definitely not rely on public transport but get a taxi home, and then have all the food in etc. I guess though, there is always the chance you might have a bad reaction and need someone, but you could just say it's because you have had sedation for a dentist appt or something like that if you don't want to share too much?
Definitely make your clinic aware and see what they advise. You will probably have to sign a form to say you are aware of the risks and you are happy to do it alone.
For me, I suffered with nausea after the first couple of egg collections and when I mentioned this at the third one, they gave me some anti sickness tablets to take if needed and I got these at all the others which was good. I mainly felt exhausted and a bit crampy. However I have noticed that the worst bloating/cramps etc is a day or so after - I think it is something to do with all the fluid having been drained out at the EC and then your body filling it back up again!?! Or something like that one of my nurses said... so don't try and do too much too soon..

My clinic wouldn't have sent me home without anyone there to collect me. They were clear that someone should be with you for the next 24 hours.
I've done three egg collections. Two of them have been fine and I just rested on the sofa for the rest of the day and then was OK again the next. One of them, I had a really odd reaction and wasn't able to lie down, was in pain, couldn't breathe properly, kept fainting whenever I got up to go to the toilet, vomited, my blood pressure kept dropping. It was really odd and I still felt the effects several days later. It was good that DH was at home during that one.

Thank you for the replies.

Sounds like first step is to see whether my clinic would be ok with me leaving alone / can accommodate more time in recovery. And that it likely would be ok but no guarantees. I have close friends who live nearby so I could ask one of them to be on standby in case I'm struggling.

I just really would prefer to be alone. I'm quite a controlled person (don't drink etc.) and don't really like the idea of being physically vulnerable around someone. Plus even though I am fortunate to have close friends it feels like quite a big ask at short notice on a working day and I don't like the idea of calling in favours/putting someone out - particularly as there's an imbalance as they wouldn't ever need to ask me for something similar as they all have partners who would step in.

Also it's something people have strong views on/just are interested I think to know someone who is doing it - when I mentioned I was considering it I got a lot of opinions and questions. Now I've made the decision I just want to get it over and done with with as little fuss as possible.

Thank you again for replying -- I really appreciate you taking the time and good luck to all of you on your journeys if you're still on them.

I did 5 egg collections as part of full IVF though - I just told the clinic me husband was waiting for me in the car and drove myself home every time. Felt fine. I have a pretty strong constitution though and a just get on with it type - I suspect if it had been my husband going through it he'd have claimed to be on his death bed and needed a week in bed after each one 😂

Please don't drive yourself home after an anaesthetic - your insurance isn't valid and you may not be fully aware of how it has affected you. I am also a 'get on with it' personality but there are some limits!