PREGNANT WITH TWINS AFTER IVF AND IN LOTS OF PAIN!!! [angry]

[popadoms]

Hi everyone. Only 8 weeks pregnant with twins after 2nd IVF (5 years of trying!!). Stomach is so swollen (from below breasts to below belly) I look 6 months gone already!
Clinic says its a combination of OHSS (15 eggs), trapped gasses and pockets of fluid (putting pressure in diaphram) and should pass......that was 6 weeks ago!
The pain has no pattern; even when I've been active, and is so severe, it knocks me to the floor.
3 weeks ago I went back for another scan due to the pain, and they saw some fluid round the ovaries, but the ovaries we're not too swollen and they said it's probably slow bowl movement.
I've been going 5 times a day, so thats not slow to me!!
I'm drinking at least 3 litres water/day.

So where is all this swelling and pain coming from????????
I've even started to get stretch marks (small red vessels apearing)due to the swelling!

Please help, I've pestered the clinic enough and it doesn't seem there's anything they can do.

Hi popadoms congratulations and poor you,

I have absolutely no experience, so forgive me if I'm way off track, but 'at least 3 litres of water' sounds like loads to me. Even if it's not responsible for the pain do you think that it could be making your stomach bloated?

sorry nohelp at all but wanted to acknowledge your post. Poor you, sounds dreadful, i have had tons of pain in this pregnancy and its awful when you so look forward to getting pregnant and then cant enjoy it as you'd like

Congratulations on your pregnancy!! Sorry you are suffering tho popadoms!

No advice i'm afraid, but just wanted to add that 3 litres of water a day is absolutely fine.

The body actually needs 2 litres of water a day to function (whether from pure water or broken down from foods) but the majority of people go around in a state of mild dehydration because they dont drink enough water (myself included!).

Keep up the good work with the water, it will help you in the long run!

I think you have to keep hassling the clinic. If they have said that the pain will pass and it hasn't go back. Ask them for an indication of how long the pain might last. Tell them that you have been having 5 bowel movements a day which rules out their last explanation so as far as you're concerned, you are in pain and they haven't been able to provide a convincing explanation of why or give you any reassurance. If it is something that needs attention, you need a medically qualified person to diagnose you face-to-face. MN is good, but not that good!!

If you don't get any joy from your clinic you could ring your local hospital to see if they have an early pregnancy unit. Mine does and they see self-referrals, but only from 8.30-11am, so is worth ringing first. The hospital switchboard should be able to put you through if there is one...or tell you if there isn't.

Would hassle the clinic first off and explain your concerns.

Poor you - it is so frustrating when you can't access the right help.
Hope you get it sorted and feel better soon.

Hi there,
I just wanted to say that I absolutely understand how you're feeling...I'm 7 weeks pregnant with twins following IVF treatment , and also have OHSS .

All of your symptoms sound related to the OHSS - I ended up in hospital for 10 days to help me manage the pain. The swelling is totally linked into the amount of fluid being retained - yes, you have to drink 3 litres a day to stop yourself dehydrating due to your ovaries demand for fluid...

The pain and swelling do start to go down - ironically it's because you're pregnant that the symptoms are so bad!. I now look about 5 months pregnant rather than the 8 months I was looks a few weeks ago!

I think it's outrageous that the clinic aren't taking this more seriously - OHSS is a well known risk connected to IVF, and they should be supporting you with it, not being dismissive. I presented myself at A&E (having been advised to do so by my clininc), and was taken in without hestitation.

Best Wishes & CONGRATULATIONS. OHSS asides, it's awesome that you're pregnant - try and hold onto that...

Vicky

Hi Popadoms
I am in the middel of my first IVF (stimming) and all the literature I have makes it very clear that YOU SHOULD 'pester' the clinic if you have or suspect OHSS. It is not pestering and they should not make you feel this way.
How about either:

1. going along in person (you know when they do bloods & scans etc)
2. phone / email your consultant's secretary and ask for him/her to call you
3. calling your GP and asking for referral to the Early Preg Unit in your area (as Bird seed suggested)

Good Luck & Congratulations to both you and Vicky!

As a total aside - I am delighted to find other mnetters who are/have recently gone through IVF ... are there any support threads (The Conception threads tend not to be about assisted conception)