Egg Retrieval Painful???

[Tina B]

I posted a thread about fluid in the pelvis in the General IF forum, I guess noboby has that or knows smby who does?! Please check that post, and if anybody has any feedback on this plse let me know!!.......

Anyway I have another concern, which is prob more common-
I will be doing IVF in the near future and I'm worried about the egg retrieval procedure being painful?!
My RE also needs to try to aspirate that fluid I have, and he will do this with an intravaginal probe, so the same technique as with egg retrieval....

The idea of a needle on the intravaginal probe sounds painful!! I know they give anastesea, but does the anastesea really help?!

I just want to be prepared for what parts of the whole IVF thing will most likely be painful and/or uncomfortable!!!

Your feedback is much appreciated ladies!!!

[tinner2]

Hi !!!

I just had egg retrieval a couple of weeks ago and I don't remember a thing. I was a little sore when it was over but it only lasted a couple of days. Don't worry, you will be fine.

Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!

tinner2

[Tina B]

Hi tinner2,

thanks for ur reply!

I know it must be totally different than an HSG. But that was the first big fertility thing I did, and I had no idea it was going to hurt SO bad...

So now I guess with everything fertility related (test or treatment) I'm scared of the pain!!

but thanx for ur assurance........
Tina

[kzb]

Tina,
I had my first retrieval a week and a half ago. I had no idea what to expect, and since my RE is a guy, I figured he was lying when he said it will produce "mild cramping" at the end of the procedure. He was right, the cramping was much like when I get my period, and you can only take Tylenonl. That does not work for me, so I just worked through it with Yoga breathing and sleep. They can also give you pain meds right after you come to in recovery. I found it helpful too to ask them to put the anti-nauseous medication in with the anesthesia meds so that you don’t risk having an upset stomach on top of everything else.

I found it was more painful for the transfer because they need to use the larger speculum and you need to have a really full bladder. I suffered more with that. I still have 4 days to go until Beta. Keep me posted how it goes for you and I am sending you tons of positive thoughts!!!!

[hoping]

I've done 2 IVF's. First one they used conscious sedation anethesia. Large quantities of Versed and Fentanol?? administered by an anesthelogist. Worst part was the IV. You ae completely out.. very sore when you woke up. The discomfort is deep inside especially when you sit down. I awould also ask for some anti nausea meds in the IV before they take it out. Transfer is somewhat uncomfortable with the full bladder. See if they will do an in and out cath when they are done. Not to bad and being able to pee is so worth it.
IVf # 2 No ansethelogist only a nurse with much less medication. I was awake the entie time. It was a year ago and I could still tell you what DH and the doctor were discussing. It was not as bad as I would have thought. thanks God I only had 10 eggs not 29 like the first time. But I would never do retrieval wide awake again.

Good luck

[Tina B]

Thanks ladies for ur feedback! So I will make sure to tell them to include anti-naseau meds in my IV, cause I do tend to get naseous easily!

Thanks for ur good wishes, and I wish u guys all the best too!!!!

[rose1]

I will also be doing ivf soon, and my MD told me you are totally out for egg retreival so you won't feel anything. I am not sure if it is different in differetn centers though...

[rose1]

Hi I am new here, I have had 3 failed iui's and will now be moving on to ivf. How long does the ivf process take? I ask because the center I am going to closes from Apr 21 to May 12 and this cycle I need a rest cycle and I am hoping I will have time before the center closes to do my 1st ivf cycle. an anyone help me with an approximate timeframe????? Thanks

[kzb]

Rose1--My first cycle of IVF was about 2.5 months. I got my period 12/15 and started Lupron on 12/26. They started my stim meds on 1/23 and I was ready for retrieval by 2/2/06. The waiting for the stim meds is the hardest part. You feel like you are on Lupron forever. I am sure that every RE protocol is different, and depending on medical issues or how well you react to stim meds you may be longer or shorter. Overall the experience has been interesting. It is definitely different from Stim Meds and IUI, but I am sure you will do well! I wish you the best of luck. The 2ww beta test is still the worst time to wait out, but I am finally nearing the end 3 days to wait and counting for the beta results.

Best wishes for your IVF cycle!!!

[darwingirl]

Tina B...

Both of my egg retrievals went extremely smooth (2 different clinics). I was completely knocked out the entire time (which is a rather short period). I woke up and actually walked out about 30 minutes later...went home and rested in bed. I didn't have to take pain medication the 2nd time. The other ladies are right, you will experience cramping in the evening after your retrieval...after the general pain medicine wears off that they give you at the clinic/hospital. You can go back to work the next day. You'll probably have some light cramping or internal pain for a few days or so, but nothing that will stop you from your regular activities. You'll do fine. We are all a bit nervous before the "unknown", but take it from all of us gals in the Infertility World, we've all been through it and lived to tell about it. By the way, none of the people I know got nauseous from the anesthesia. But since Hoping experienced nausea, you may want to request it. Good Luck!!!!

jen