OHSS and puregon

[scooby]

Hi everyone.
Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on the OHSS thing. Im a little concerned as i have just started 150iu of puregon for an IVF cycle (my first). Last cycle i did IUI and was on 15iu and ended up with 5 follicles and when i have done cycles with clomid i had to cancel a few times due to over stimulation on 25mg. Do you think the 150iu might be too much for me, hadnt really given it much thought before now, but i really dont want to be overstimulated and not be able to complete the IVF? WOuld love to know what you think before i take it up with my FS. I also read that drinking heaps of water can stop OHSS is this true? Thanks girls

[Chez67]

Hi Scooby

Sorry, I rarely get across to this thread anymore but I noticed that no-one has replied to you so I thought I would give you some info on my experience.

Let me say up front that I haven't had OHSS but some of the ladies over in the LTAC thread have and they can probably give you more detailed advice than I can. I do know that if you have PCOS then you will tend towards OHSS. I am not sure of your history so don't know if this is relevant for you or not. The ladies also tell me that drinking Gatorade and warm wheat bags on the ab area helps with the OHSS. It certainly is something to be treated seriously and I would suggest that if you have any concerns at all you should call your clinic and speak to a nurse of your FS if they will talk to patients on the phone. Better to ask sooner than later to hopefully prevent it, or be more closely monitored, than have your cycle cancelled and end up in hosptial, which is both very disappointing and extremely painful I believe.

Take care of yourself and best of luck with your cycle.
xx

[butterfly_warrior]

Here I am... OHSS queen at your service. I missed this thread because it was the day of my EPU.

What Chez has said is correct. OHSS is painful and utterly awful. I've had it twice, the first time I battled on at home with my abdomen full of 5L of fluid and in agony. The second time, I couldn't stand the thought of going through it at home (and DH put his foot down) and I ended up spending a week in hospital and a month off work. And I wasn't quite as sick as the first time! Both times my clinic took me to EPU, but there was no transfer as I was just too sick. All embryos went to the freezer.

If you are concerned about being on a dose that is too high, speak up! At the very least, insist that they monitor you closely. My dosage of puregon is generally reduced after each blood test just to try to keep levels under control. We managed it this time, and I'm in line for a fresh transfer.

When it comes to things that you can do to avoid getting it - LOTS of water. 2-3L per day and a high protein diet. It's best if you can stick with low-carb and low-GI as well (particularly if you have PCOS). I saw during this last cycle that when I stuck to the low-carb, low-GI, high-protein thing, my levels were very well controlled. I had one big jump which scared the clinic, and also coincided with the day that I didn't watch what I ate quite so closely.

In short, OHSS is hell, but it's not the end of the world. Take care, and keep in close contact with your clinic if you are worried.

BW

[scooby]

Thanks sooo much girls for your replies, yeah i thought if no one could help here i would pop into LTAC for some help! I really appreciate you both coming over to give me some advise.
Thanks Chez i have been loading up on water and sitting with heat bags at night mainly because i am crampy already!
BW: so sorry you have to give me advise based on experience, it sound just awful what you have been thorugh. This is going to sound ridiculous, but i think i have PCOS, my fs just said to me has anyone ever mentioned polcystic ovaries to you and i replied "no" and he didnt say anymore and i didnt think to ask, but i know when i first started AC i had quite a few exsisting cysts before any stims and had extremely high estrogen levels, found in the last couple of years that i put on weight around my thighs and tummy where i never carried it before. I have been following your advise and i am on day 5 of stims and already feel quite crampy (like AF is about to come) and bloated, but i have bloods tomoro so will hopefully get some answers.
Thanks again girls really appreciate the advise

[butterfly_warrior]

The fluids are a great idea (and very easy to forget in this cold weather!), so you're in a great position right now. I do have to agree, it does sound like the dastardly PCOS has struck again... but if you know how to deal with it, you should still be ok. The good news is that the diet has helped me immensely and I'm sitting here on day three after EPU feeling great(ish) and with an embryo on board. The one thing I can really suggest is that if you are at all nervous, insist that the clinic gives you a blood test, even if they say you don't need it. It's the one thing I'd do differently if I had to go again.

Good luck, and all the best for OHSS avoidance. Let me know how you go.

BW

[scooby]

Paging BW to the LTTC thread
So sorry to bug you again but would really love your opnion as youve been there done that (unfortunately)
Just had BT results i am on my 6th day of stims and my estrogen was 3000 which they have said is too high for this stage, so BT and scan tomorrow and stims down to 125. Do you remember what your estrogenwas around this stage, is there any way at all of me stopping this from happening or is it too late do you think? I am really starting to hurt down there and look like im 5 monthes pregnant. Very frustrating. thanks again!!!

[scooby]

Just thought id update todays BT were 4200 and the us showed only 13 follicles, so it all systems go at this stage. lets hope it stays that way. But for reference i have avoided carbs after cooking pasta for dinner last night i ended up having vegie soup and tuna and have been drinking tonnes of water and gateroade. Thanks you sooo much BW not sure i would be in this postion if i hadnt taken your advise.

[butterfly_warrior]

Good to hear, Scooby. Lets hope it all stays under control from here. You have the advantage of being at a much lower dosage than me when my levels hit 3000. They can't cut the dose of puregon back in one huge hit, they need to do it gradually.

BW