Some maybe OHSS advice if you've got a sec...

[SarahScone]

I am 1dp5dt and struggling with pain and some minor bloating.
They scanned me yesterday, pre transfer and weren't worried about OHSS, said there was very little fluid and they were happy to go ahead and I was happy to follow advice. Procedure was uncomfortable but bearable.

I have had pain that has progressively worsened since egg collection. I can't really move, pain wakes me at night and doesn't seem to be helped by paracetamol/cocodamol.
If I'm not moving and have a hot water bottle I am basically ok. Urine output fine, not really constipated, not vomiting. But the pain is bad!
Does anyone have any similar experiences or can offer advice?? I don't really want to ring the clinic again as they've essentially told me it's normal.

Oh, and I think dh thinks I'm overreacting because the nurses and doctors basically said I was fine and was likely to be a 'bit sore'

@SarahScone hiya, I haven't had ohss myself but it can be serious so if you have any doubts I would go to your local a and e because it can require hospitalisation if it's severe. I don't want to worry you but it's important to say. That's good you're measuring urine input/output. Definitely get a lot of electrolytes into you, dehydrate sachets are good as are lucozade/coconut water x

Hi @SarahScone - I didn't want to read and run!

Deff keep an eye on your symptoms and go and get checked out if your worried & pain is hard to stick! It's a positive though your not being sick & able to pee! I'd take the hot water bottle of your stomach though as they told me that makes OHSS worse!
My experience off OHSS- I knew I was over stimulated before collection so I had a freeze all & no transfer.,but from I came round after egg collection I was in agony..that night I couldn't lye down because I couldn't get a breathe..I didn't get a wink of sleep because of the pain- no matter what way I tried to sit I was in agony! and I couldn't go to the toilet at all, infact I couldn't sit on the toilet because of the pressure! I couldn't walk and I was almost passing out with the pain! I was almost calling the emergency number during the night but aswell they told me to expect to be sore! Anyway the clinic called me next day to check in..called me down for scan which they said was 'ok' but that night I ended up in hospital! Pain killers didn't do a thing for me at home either..it's rough..i hope it does not worsen and eases for you soon!!

Hiya!
So I had mild OHSS 2 weeks ago after EC.
As with PP I had a freeze all due to being at risk of OHSS, I was in severe pain and was vomiting for about 3-4 days after EC.
I almost called 111 on the second night but hung up as I was too scared they would send me to the hospital.
The clinic told me to call the nurses line when I mentioned the pain and vomiting but I also didn’t have and issue peeing so I decided not to as I really just wanted to stay in bed and not end up in hospital.
Mine took about a week to ease by itself so I’m glad I never ended up going to the hospital but I hadn’t had a transfer so felt like it wasn’t affecting my treatment if I did have OHSS so it is different to your situation having had a transfer.
Like the others have said I’d keep an eye on it in case it gets worse but just wanted to reassure you that I was similar with the pain and bloating but fine to pee + I had sickness and it did ease by itself so hopefully yours will do the same in a few days 🤞🏼

Thanks, everyone for your responses. It's really helpful and useful to hear other people's experiences.
It was bad yesterday and I wasn't really able to move all day. However as before, only symptom was pain and mild bloating. Woke up today and pain was BAD. But have taken cocodamol and am now quite comfortably at work. So I don't know if that was a final little peak, or what. But I am so relieved to be feeling better.

Only thing worrying me now is that maybe that little blast didn't stick because I know my symptoms are likely to get worse if pregnancy is confirmed. I'll keep everything crossed!!

And thank you, thank you for supporting!!

Got everything crossed for you 🤞🏼 glad you’re feeling better and hopefully it won’t have affected your little bean sticking 💕

Hi OP. I have had OHSS twice. The first time, I woke up in the early hours with very, very bad pain, and I was so bloated I could hardly move. I tried to get up and had stabbing pain, and then I blacked out from the pain and just fell forward straight onto my head on to the floor.

DH took me to A&E and to be honest, it was a complete waste of time....

They didn't know what OHSS was, or anything much about complications from fertility treatments, and the doctor I saw googled it when I mentioned it to her. I don't think she even really believed there was anything wrong with me because by that point I was able to walk and talk etc. She told me to go home and drink lots of fluids, and contact my fertility clinic.

I don't want to scare you but, I would say, don't bother with A&E unless it's really bad. But definitely talk to your fertility clinic.

Some pain is normal and the most important thing is to stay hydrated - possibly more than you think you need - just drink a ton of water throughout the day! I even took some rehydration salts which helped too.

OHSS bloating is basically when your ovaries swell up and take fluid from the rest of your body, so you get very dehydrated (that was why I blacked out - I was super dehydrated).

So my advice is drink, drink, drink, and unless you are in a lot of pain/ passing out etc, just contact your fertility clinic with any issues rather than A&E.

Also, be careful with hot water bottles, as too much heat is not good for the embryo. I was told to only use hot water bottles up to embry transfer and not after.

Hi @TunicFox
Thanks for all the info, really appreciate you taking the time. I'm definitely feeling better today but tonight not so good as this morning. So will just take it easy.
By the sounds of things, my pain has been positively mild in comparison but I was still
surprised how much it knocked me about. I'm normally fairly stoical and resilient but did not expect this. If I had one criticism of my clinic it was that I wasn't prepared for how I would feel after EC. So I hope anyone reading this in future knows that while you still need it checked out, some not insignificant pain can be normal!

@SarahScone Absolutely. I was woefully unprepared as well, I was told OHSS happened to such a small percentage of women that it was barely worth worrying about. I have no underlying health or fertility issues (our issues are male factor) and am a healthy, young(ish) woman, and I still ended up going to hospital with it.

I think there should be more awareness that IVF isn't painless or straightforward as some people think.

Best of luck with recovering - take it easy and stay hydrated :)