Did anyone else find the egg retrieval really hard going?

[bondiswils]

Everything I read about the egg retrieval made it sound pretty straight forward. You're under general aesthetic, it's a 20 minute procedure and you'll be bloated for a few days and may have some soreness.

With me, they got 12 eggs and 10 were mature.

My right ovary had the most follicles, 18 in total.

After the egg retrieval i was in pain and bloated, but then it got worse over the next few days.

On day 2 post egg retrieval my pain was so bad i was throwing up and fainting. Went straight to hospital and was admitted immediately while they did tests.

I had mild OHSS. I can't believe what I had was considered mild!

I was not prepared for how much it would mess me up. Home from hospital now and feel a bit shell shocked about it all.

Embryos will now all be frozen (we don't find out how many made it to blasts for a few more days though)

I just didn't expect this, especially after being on low dose stims and also not getting a pcos amount of eggs (i've heard of most OHSS cases resulting from 20 or more eggs collected)

I feel like i need a mental break. Anyone else had this?

@bondiswils sorry to hear your experience was unpleasant, on the plus side that’s a great number of follicles. My first egg collection was similar, they collected 14 follicles, the procedure was straight forward and I left feeling happy. Had plans to go for lunch on the way home but half way home (I only live 25 minutes from the hospital) the pain kicked in to the point I couldn’t put my butt on the seat. I went straight home, took pain medication and spent all night in bed. The pain eased the next day but kicked in again the following evening so was another night in bed. As it was my first experience I wasn’t aware it was probably mild OHSS, although I wasnt physically ill or hospitalised.
Everyone’s body reacts differently so I suppose the majority will be affected with 20 follicles or more but it can happen with far less. My second retrieval they managed 8 follicles, that was a breeze, I didn’t have any pain whatsoever even thought I’d prepared myself this time lol 😂
The IVF process is mentally draining, I wouldn’t pretend it’s not but the end results I’m sure will be worth it all.
Good luck on your blastocyst count in a few days x

Thank you for sharing your story @SH998 ❤️‍🩹

I am truly in awe of every woman that goes through multiple cycles and egg retrievals because i'd be terrified to go through this again.

Really hoping those day 5s make it.

On my hospital scans by left ovary measured at 78ml in volume and my right ovary was 220ml

• apparently the normal volume size is 10ml...

Did you do a fresh transfer that cycle or FET?

@bondiswils wow that is an increased size, no wonder you were in pain bless you.
Every cycle will be different, both my cycles were same meds but differed in experience and follicle count. That particular cycle I managed a fresh, later also had an FET from that cycle.
Have they advised when your transfer will be?

@SH998 that's encouraging to hear.

We're seeing the specialist next week to discuss. They will then advise when we can do the FET.

I want to make sure my body is back to normal or at least in an optimised condition to receive an embryo and be healthy.

I feel so nervous about it all so also having some counselling sessions ❤️‍🩹

How did your last transfer go?