Petrified of egg collection

[ivfjourneyandme]

Hi all,
after some advice/reassurance!

Due to start first IVF either this coming cycle (end of Nov) or December.

I have severe health anxiety, to the point I just don’t go to drs, opticians etc - anything medical is a big no go so for me, this is a huge ordeal on top of an already huge ordeal we put ourselves through for IVF!

I’ve had a general anaesthetic before as a child so obviously can’t remember it and I know sedation, I’m awake but my goodness me I am petrified that I will die/wont wake up etc.

can anyone explain how sedation feels please?

Thanks x

My husband was quite worried as he feels exactly as you do, I reassured him that I would be fine as it is such a common procedure for the nursing teams 😁

How it feels? Honestly it just feels like you're going to sleep, nothing different and when you wake up you feel like you've had a great night sleep! Quite enjoyable actually 👏🥰

Bless you that must be hard. It’s honestly over before you know it, they usually get you to count down, and by the time you get the 5 you’re out and when you wake up it feels like it was only 5 minutes. Not painful either.

Agreed with everyone else, it's just like falling asleep and before you know it you're awake again. I've had two egg collections and I'd say they're the easiest part of IVF for me (better than injections which I don't mind too much anyway and definitely better than the emotional side of everything). Good luck with it and definitely let the professionals know how you're feeling 😊

Honestly, in a weird way I sort of enjoyed egg collection 😂 I was sedated, and while I remember the procedure and I did experience pain, it was as if I didn't care as I was so relaxed and enjoying talking to the nurse/doctor. I had a fabulous nap afterwards

I was very anxious about it too, but not for the same reasons, I was worried about the pain and recovery afterwards My provider users conscious sedation, the idea being you're awake but so relaxed you don't feel anything. However I fell asleep within what seemed like seconds of the cannula going in! My last memory is the cannula, then waking up in the bed in the ward. I was taken in to have my procedure at 10.30am and I woke up at about 11.05am. It was the most satisfying power nap I've ever had! I also needn't have worried about the recovery; I felt well enough to go for a dog walk that afternoon and I went back to work the next day. The whole process was considerably better than I expected.

Hi, this is sounds really tough, you’re a superhero for doing this. I’ve had 3 collections and the sedation just knocks me out so I can’t remember anything. I had some surgery under general aneasthetic a few years back and it was the same except it’s way quicker to recover/come round from the sedation. It doesn’t hurt at all. I remember the last second before losing consciousness my arm where the cannula is felt super cold but the next memory each time is being back on the ward in the recovery unit. They tell you to take some deep breaths or count and before you have time to think about it you’re asleep.

For other reasons, I’ve felt nervous over my ivf journey with scans etc. I’ve started listening to podcasts right up to the last minute so I don’t have time to work myself up about it beforehand. My last embryo transfer I listened to a podcast the whole way through and told them I wasn’t going to listen to them so they didn’t need to tell me what they were doing 😂

good luck!

I was very anxious about sedation also, and didn’t like the thought of going to sleep at all. I have anxiety/PTSD which can make some things difficult for me. Try speaking to your anesthetist about your anxiety, they can monitor the drugs closely to get a good balance for you. For me, they tried to make sure I stayed awake as falling asleep was a fear of mine. The drugs took my anxiety away so I was awake, but I felt completely relaxed and actually happy throughout. I felt afterwards like it was a fading dream with some parts I remember and some I don’t. I could remember them telling me how many eggs they had collected whilst still in theatre, and can remember looking at the scan during the procedure but I didn’t feel scared or worried. My second egg collection was more painful for me, and I do remember telling them during the collection when I felt pain, and they would increase the drugs a little. I remember having silly thoughts like the stirrups feeling like ski boots, and asking the doctors why they wear crocs on their feet 😂

Thanks all for sharing and being so lovely. I will definitely voice my concerns although no doubt I’ll be a hysterical mess so I reckon they’ll guess!

Hi! I like you was terrrrriiiified of egg collection I was so stressed about it. I have now had 2 and would happily do another. I found it weirdly relaxing. You literally go to sleep and wake up slowly and feel so relaxed. Both times I had little to no spotting or pain after. I find going to the dentist more uncomfortable! I have since had general and have no fear of it at all. Good luck ❤️

One other tip - my first egg collection they told me how may eggs they got when I woke up, it wasn’t as many as I’d hoped and I was still semi out of it so just ended up crying and feeling really emotional. My next 2 collections I asked them to write it down on a piece of paper and fold it so I couldn’t see. I then opened it a few hours later once I was home and fully with it. Soooo much better. Also meant I could do it with my partner rather than alone.

How long will it be until I can go home? Will my partner be able to be with me as I go to sleep?

I went home about an hour later after a nice cuppa and some biscuits. My wife wasn't in the same room as me but it's worth asking if your partner can be since you're anxious about it, to see if they can accommodate that 😊

I don’t think your partner will be allowed in the procedure room for health and safety reasons but it’s worth an ask. Mine stayed in the recovery room pre and post retrieval. I left maybe 30 minutes/ an hour after the retrieval as it’s such a short anaesthetic.

I was really scared too as I didn't react well to a GA previously but I've had the sedation twice for IVF. Both times they had been chatting to me and I've just fallen asleep - it's only for about 10/15 mins so is a low dose. I have my daughter now. It is scarier than it sounds. Hopefully this reassures you. X

By low dose I mean it's not like a GA where it's usually much longer x