Egg Collection

[*Paula*]

Just wondering if some of you lovely ladies could share your egg collection stories. Im still a few weeks away and im aware that different clinics have slightly different procedures but im just curious as to how some of you have felt during and after the procedure? Did you get put to sleep or just numbed around the waist? They mention a recovery room after the procedure, what is that all about?

Might sound silly but im just curious. Thanks.

[rufalina]

Hi Paula, I didn't realise you were starting a full IVF round.
Wanted to wish you all the best for it. Hope you have every success...
xo

[butterfly_warrior]

Paula, mine were done under general anaesthetic. The "recovery" they talk about is just where they will monitor you as the anaesthetic wears off. If it's done under EPU you really won't be aware of anything. Just mild ovary pain and some bleeding afterwards.

As for the rest of my EPU stories - I had OHSS, so you really don't want to know! I've been the worst case IVF scenario for a while. Hopefully yours (and my upcoming one!) will go much smoother.

Good luck!

BW

[MsPink]

Hi Paula,

It all sounds a little scary - but honestly there is nothing to fear..

So..you go to day surgery and they usually get you in about an hour before...so take some reading (trash magazine is about all you can concentrate on for a first timer) material as you will be waiting. When you arrive they will just check the paperwork with you.

Then they will call you into the prep area where they weigh you and take your blood pressure. The anaethetist will come and see you sometime while you are waiting and the IVF doc usually pops their head in...or sometimes not if back to back EPU's. Then you will change into the glamorous gown with no back..yes naked and then as only day surgery I normally walk on into the theatre and get on the bed myself and off to sleep you go...with a needle and mask over your face.

When you wake up, you will be in recovery. Nothing to fear, this is just where they monitor you till you wake up. Once you feeling good, you get up, dressed and go and have something to eat and drink until you're ready to go home.

That's it...I think the whole - operation thing sounds bad - but I promise it is really such an easy day. You will agree once you have it over and done with.

Best of luck with your cycle Paula...

[*Paula*]

Thank you all for your replies. I have never been admitted to hospital (touch wood) or had an anaesthetic so its all new and kind of scary...

[scooby]

Paula thanks for this thread and thanks for the replies, this is my first IVF, have been to hospital before but really didnt know what to expect. I hope a few more girls will give their stories as i would love to hear more. Its so exciting but very scary. good luck.

[nic]

Paula, wishing you all the best with your first EPU, and first time in hospital too.

My pick up was much like minniemouse's, I arrived about an hour early, had a chat with a nurse, who then took me up to the day theatre level. DH waited for me downstairs, and they told him where he had to go to do his part.

When I got upstairs, they gave me all the lovely theatre clothes, showed me where to get changed, and gave me a bag to put my clothes and shoes in, which I then had to carry around with me. I then went to another room and waited. My FS (who I was meeting for the first time that day) came in and took me to another room where I had to do some paperwork. We had a chat and he then told me that the anaethetist would come and speak to me soon.

The anaethetist came in, and had a chat. He just asked when I had my last GA, did I have any reactions to it or any other allergies as well. I told him that I am usually sick after having a GA, so he said he would give me something to sort it out.

FS then came back in and walked me to theatre, where I got up on the bed. He introduced me to all the nurses, not that I remember their names I was so nervous lol. The anaethetist came over and put my arm on the little trolley where they put the needle into the back of your hand, but he put the needle in my elbow, where you would normally have blood taken from. He gave me something to stop the nausea, and my FS was holding my hand chatting to me telling me he would look after me.

I started to wake up and could hear the nurses talking to me saying they were just pulling the tube out of my throat. I remember feeling it, and thinking how I would need a slush puppy afterwards. I laid there for a while, then they moved me down the other end of the room when I was fully awake. They called for DH to come upstairs and visit me for a few minutes before the told him to go back downstairs and wait. After awhile they asked if I wanted something to drink. I asked later if I could get dressed, which they said was fine at that time, and grabbed the bag that had all my clothes in it.

When I got dressed, I moved to a room right next door and sat down and they gave me something to eat and drink. After awhile they called DH up to come and sit with me, and eventually I was allowed to go back to the motel.

Nic

[belle333]

Hi

Sydney IVF seem to do EPU with just a local as a matter of course. Full anaesthesia is by choice.

Good luck

[*Paula*]

nic how come they put a tube in your throat? Is that common practice That sounds scary

belle i think i would prefer a local as im a little scared of being put to sleep. But would it be rather uncomfortable to have just a local? Is that why they do give general's?

[butterfly_warrior]

Paula, the tube down the throat is so that they can keep you breathing while you are under the anaesthetic. I've had 5 general anaesthetics over the last 10 years, of those, one had a tube through the nose as it was dental surgery, but I've NEVER been aware of the tube in my throat. They put it in once you are asleep, and mine have always come out before I'm awake. I have always woken up on oxygen, though.

The initial stages of my EPUs have been much like the others. We arrive at the day surgery, and get shown to a little room where I can change into the ever so attractive gowns. We get little thingies to cover our feet and a cap for our hair. Mine's always red as I have allergies. A nurse comes to check details and gives me hospital tags. I'll also have details checked by the anaesthetist, and they'll chat to me about other anaesthetics I've had and what medications I am on. I'll also have details checked by the scientist from the clinic, and she'll give us details of when our embryo transfer will be and collect DH's sample (produced at home!). Another nurse will check details... and finally, the FS will come and, you guessed it, check details!

When everything's ready to go, I get to walk into the theatre and climb up on the bed. DH I think is then taken from my little cubicle to another area to wait. At this point in time I'll be aware of the anaesthetist inserting a canula. I prefer them to go into my hand, I really HATE the ones going into the elbow like Nic as the one time I had that done (last EPU) the anaesthetist tied my arm down first and it completely freaked me out. During this, the FS will hold my hand and talk to me to help me stay calm.

Next thing I'm aware of is waking up in recovery. You'll have a thingy on your finger to check pulse and oxygen levels in your blood, and probably a blood pressure cuff which will inflate periodically. Some places give you a mask for oxygen, others give you little nose prongs, and I usually get in trouble for trying to pull them out before I'm fully awake. Fortunately, the day hospital I have EPUs at uses a mask. You can expect to wake up with a pad wedged in the appropriate place as there is some bleeding after EPU. You may also have a heat pack on your abdomen, but you may also need to ask for one if you feel crampy.

At this point in time comes my horror stories. I awoke from my first EPU in terrible pain, I was screaming and crying and every sob just sent waves of pain tearing through my vagina. I felt terribly bruised and felt like my ovaries were being repeatedly stabbed with a skewer. I was given pain meds for that, but they did take a while to kick in. The pain was because I was hyperstimulated, had 26 eggs collected and I suspect quite a lot of empty follicles that contained no eggs.

The second EPU I was fairly freaked out about the pain so the anaesthetist gave me extra pain meds in my anaesthetic. I wasn't automatically given a heat pack this time, but I asked for one, and as soon as the pain started to get bad I asked for pain meds. They gave me fairly strong ones, but I wasn't in as much pain as the first one. It still hurt, but I'd had 32 eggs collected and was again quite hyperstimulated.

Those parts of my EPU experiences aren't normal. But it may help to know that's as bad as it can get, really.

When I'm more awake and alert the nurses will sit me up and give me a cup of water and a lollipop. I have been known to throw the water over myself in attempting to drink it, being fairly groggy from pain meds! DH is usually brought in, and helps me dress, the nurses usually give me another non-adhesive pad at this point which just gets wedged in my knickers somehow. They are nice and soft and comfy, but I'll usually end up forgetting about it and it will drop in the loo at some point. I switch to regular adhesive liners once I'm home. We get moved to a lounge area with recliners where we sit and continue to be monitored until we are ready to go home. We'll get more food (usually something light like toast) and tea/coffee/water if we want. Then it's off home.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to report back that the painful experiences I've had before really are unusual and tomorrow's EPU will go much smoother.

BW

[briggsy's girl]

i've only been to EPU once and thankfully it wasn't a nightmare like BW's. in all honesty, it wasn't too bad at all.

like most other people here, it was done under a general - but the general isn't the deep general you'd have for a major op, more a heavy sedation. in all honesty i'm not sure if it IS a true general as the paperwork just says sedation... anyhoot, i was sleeping peacefully!

i turned up at the hospital, took DH's sample (collected at home) up to day surgery, and got told they were running ahead of time, so down to check in, then back up to surgery, whisked into the cubicle that contained my day surgery bed, then it was chaos. FS, nurse and anesthetist all trying to do their thing at the same time (at least i was only asked the questions once!) - i'd not met the FS before as he was filling in while my FS was on leave. i was having blood pressure check while everyone was on my case, and of course it came back high - both the nurse and the FS said "well, what do you expect, we're stressing her out!" quick change into the surgical gown, which they asked me to not put on properly as they always end up removing one arm for the bp cuff and iv, so it's basically just there to cover your boobs!

i was taken into the operating theatre on my bed, and moved to the surgical table from there. anesthetist put the iv into my arm midway between my wrist and elbow. i don't know if this is standard in other areas, but locally it seems to be the way they do it. i've found it to be quite good cos you can still move hand and elbow with it in there! i was introduced to the scientist before i went under, which was great too - she was really nice, and explained what her role would be (i remember her talking, but not sure i could tell you the exact process now!)

i woke up in recovery to pretty ordinary stomach upset - i have IBS and stress flares it up. seems that all the poking and prodding of my ovaries did too. i was very alert coming out of the anesthetic, which is normal for me. told the nurse i needed the loo and she kept saying it was just a feeling of pressure from the EPU. i ended up being more then blunt with her, telling her i knew my body more than she ever would, and when i need the loo, i need the loo! she offered me a bed pan (ummm NO!), and i said i'd wait til she could get me to the loo. didn't take long for them to realise i was alert enough to go back, and i took myself off to the loo. after that, i had minimal pain. i was offered pain meds - panadol, or panadeine forte. i find panadol useless, and panadeine forte too strong for what i was feeling - but they didn't offer straight panadeine, so i went and just had one forte.

DH was waiting for me when i came out of surgery, which was great. was there when we found out egg numbers etc. he sat with me while i ate some food (and ate the sandwiches that were yukky! lol), had a drink - and then took me home. was uncomfy for a day or two, but it was just like nasty AF aches. wasn't too bad at all really...

hoping you get a reasonably easy EPU like mine hun!

[scooby]

sorry to butt in on your thread Paula but im finding this really interesting and thanks so much girls for sharing, i was told i would have twilight as sedation rather than a full blown anesthetic, sounds similar to what BG had. You have all put my mind at ease.

[BB73]

Hi Paula,

As I am yet to experience the IVF path, I don't have an EPU story to tell. But I have had several 'gyno' procedures. I have always had them done under light sedation and have no memory of any of the procedures themselves as you tend to drift off to sleep. If the clinic offers this type of sedation you may be more comfotable with this option. It doesn't hurt to ask your FS what options are available to you.

[nic]

Paula, sorry, didn't mean to scare you about the tube. Won't explain, as BW has done that for you. They normally take it out before you even wake, so you don't even know about it, I just lucked out with the timing I think.
Hope you have a smooth pick up

Nic

[deni]

HI Paula,

at Pivet in Perth, they don't do general anaesthetic, they use a "sedative" but the effect is exactly the same, minus the tube down the throat to maintain airway. They put a needle in the hand, I don't even remember going off to sleep, the next minute (it seems) I'm waking up in the recovery room !! I'm not sure the name of the anaesthetic but it definately puts you to sleep. The recovery process is pretty quick but you aren't allowed to drive for 24 hours. I think with GA they get you to take even more care of yourself.

I didn't have any pain or bleeding afterwards, but then I wasn't poked around very much - they were only able to collect 1 egg (which worked for us - we were very fortunate).

Hope it all goes well !

Sharon

[tiggerlinda]

Paula I think you have lots of answers here.

For all my EPU I have been put under a general nad back to work the next day. The recovery room is just to make sure you are Ok to go home and in my case sandwich time after fasting. Mostly after my EPU I have been up and ready to go after an hour or so or me realising I am awake. Last time I had to wait for DH as he had not had his TESA yet.

Ask all the questions you can sweet

[*Paula*]

Wow this thread had turned out to be GREAT. I hope it helps lots of other ladies too who are going through their first IVF. Thanks again to you all for the replies. They have been very informative, both the good and bad stories. Its wonderful to hear both sides so that you know what to expect either way. Thanks again.

[AJC]

Paula - just wanted to say Good luck and thank you for this thread. I've just found it & it's really helpful as DH and I only have two more clomid cycles before we start our IVF/ICSI journey (low sperm morphology). Am hoping that I'll get a BFP between now and then but if we don't I want to be prepared and know what to expect.

I have been under general aseasthetic (sp?) before and it's really not that bad. I went under for d&c both times and for a hysteroscopy the third time. I was scared the first time but the doctors will take good care of you. Just think baby thoughts and you'll be fine.

Sending you a million tonnes of