So bloated I could cry!

I've just had my 5th fertility cycle this year (2 iui's, 2 iui converted to ivf cycles, and this fully stimulated ICSI cycle). I have severe PCOS and hubby has some swimming issues.

My FS said I was at high-risk of OHSS so I was only on 125 units of puregon and I produced 16-18 follicles, 13 eggs were collected, 7 fertilised, 2 made it to blast and were transferred today and I'm not sure if the 3 left have made it to freeze yet, they are giving them an extra day to catch up.

My main problem is that after my hcg injection last week my stomach swelled to about the size of a 5 or 6 month pregnant looking bulge and doesn't look like going down any time soon! My FS said I was borderline but still let me have my transfer today as I'm still urinating and not vomiting. On the ultrasound today my follicles were massive and I had heaps of fluid - I think they must have filled up again? I thought they were supposed to be empty and disappear after EPU. I'm too scared to go anywhere in case people I know see my huge stomach and assume I'm pregnant. I'm very uncomfortable and breathing heavily and have back ache. I'm drinking heaps of fluids including sports drinks.

Does anybody know how long it takes for the fluid to go down?

I'm so inspired by many of your stories and feel so ridiculous for whingeing sometimes........

I've had bad cases of OHSS twice. Both times I wasn't able to transfer and one of them had me in hospital for a week and off work for over a month. Both times I started to feel a bit better after 8 days when AF started. It was early because I had no progesterone support due to no transfer. It took a few weeks after that for all the fluid to finally go away, though.

Third time - I got mild OHSS which developed after I became pregnant. I still had pain from the OHSS at 15 weeks pregnant and it was difficult to tell when the fluid went as by the time the bloating had settled the baby bump was taking over.

I do tend to have a VERY slow recovery, but the reality is that if you do become pregnant from this, the OHSS will get worse and you will likely find yourself in hospital. Make sure you rest, keep your fluids up and eat as well.

BW

It's awful isn't it! :hug:
If your cycle is successful, you will probably get worse before starting a very gradual recovery, as BW said. At my 20-week scan my ovaries were still very large, but the bloating and discomfort was greatly improved by around the 12-week mark. I ended up having a drain put in as my lungs were filling up with fluid and had to spend a couple of nights in hospital for observation.
Rest as much as possible and keep up the fluids. If you have any worsening in your condition, or find you can't keep fluids down be sure to let your clinic know or even get yourself to hospital if it's after hours.
Don't feel bad about whinging - it's totally understandable. For what it's worth, the pain I felt from OHSS was actually worse than labour for me. Hope you're feeling better soon (and pregnant of course)

Hi BW and Marcellus

Thanks so much for your information, it sounds like you both had awful times with OHSS!

I guess I just have to wait now and see if it gets worse or not. But I didn't realise it would be this bad, I know its trivial but I can't fit into any of my pants/skirts and my belly button has even popped out! I think I will just continue to hide at home until I get my test results in a few weeks - its such a long story to explain if I see people I know and I don't think I'm ready to share it yet! The nurses from my clinic have been phoning everyday just to check on me.

Thankyou once again!!!

Hi BW and Marcellus

Thank you for posting this information, I too have had a very uncomfortable swollen belly after collection, but was told by the clinic that it was totally normal. I feel your pain MM, I wasn't expecting to look 6 months pregnant! Oh well hopefully it'll get better soon. Am hanging for my results on Monday, wonder if it will get better or worse if I am pg? If not i'll just call it a beer belly :)

Hi inshelligent. I can assure you that it will get worse if you get pregnant. Probably not what you want to hear, but it is unfortunately true.

BW

Hi BW

Can I ask what symptoms you found got worse (pain/swelling?). My bloating is starting to go down now....:(

The pain most definitely got much worse for me. In terms of bloating, I didn't have a great deal at the start (it was only mild OHSS after all) but the day I went in for my blood test I had to go up a size in jeans... it wasn't so much that I couldn't fit into my other pants, it was more a case that I couldn't handle any sort of pressure on my belly quite suddenly.

BW