Large number of Eggs Retrieved - Is OHSS a certainty?

Hi everyone,

I am not much of a poster but I find great comfort in reading about others triumphs and challenges as I travel this road. So for that I thank you.

I have a question... I am on my second cycle of IVF and last week had an EPU where they got 28 eggs. No-one more surprised than me. No-one had any idea there would be so many - or if they did they didn't mention it to me. Apart from feeling like I had been kicked in the belly for four days and having an E2 of 10,000 I haven't had any OHSS. Mind you I have taken note of tips from many of you and drunk 4-5 litres of water or gatorade each day, eaten protein and done nothing to over-exert myself (you should see the state of the house!)

Here I am 7 days post EPU (2 days post transfer) I have one Blastie on board and still no feelings of OHSS. I am bloated - bit not overly - and tired but thats it.

The way the clinic was talking OHSS for me is just a matter of time. Especially if this one sticks and I am UTD. So on one hand I am terribly nervous about getting OHSS and on the other hand I am even more nervous about NOT getting it.

Has anyone out there had experiences with OHSS that might put my mind at rest? Is a large number off eggs retrieved an absolute guarantee for OHSS? Have you had a large amount of eggs retrieved, then not had OHSS and gone on to a successful pregnancy?

Sorry this is so long... and thank you in advance for any info or stories you can give me.

Sprinkling liberal amounts of :pink-babydust: :bluedust: everywhere for everyone!

Lily
x

Hi Lilybella. No, I don't think OHSS is a certainty, and I think the riskiest period has now passed.

DW had 26 eggs collected on our first IVF stim cycle and had oestrogen levels of 18-19,000 and apart from being quite bloated, had no apparent issues with OHSS, although her ovaries did remain swollen for a bit.

Drinking plenty of water is very helpful, but we were told no more than 3 litres a day, so be mindful of also not drinking too much and diluting your system of essential minerals and salts.

I think at this stage you'll be fine. Good luck with this cycle.

Hi lilybella,

I wish you well on your journey towards your BFP. I was like slyder, I have had two cycles effected due to fear of OHSS, my 2nd I went to EPU but not to ET, I had 21 follies retrieved and E2 was 22,500. Apart from a lot of pain following EPU, a bit of bloating and a few instances of breathlessness, I did't get any further symtoms. From what I can remember they didn't do the ET as a possible implantation would release additional HCG which may agrivate OHSS further, but I wouldn't have cared, it would have been worth it to get that BFP. I will be praying for you.

Why don't you join Bel and I in the August TWW thread, it is a little lonely over there. Bel is due for BT tomorrow, so it will be just me until the 21st.

Hugs

Hi Lily,

Not necessarily. I had 22 eggs in my first cycle and was fine. Good luck

I agree, it's not a certainty at all. I had 15 eggs collected (but I only have one functioning ovary) and my E2 levels were about the same as yours. The clinic mentioned OHSS to me and told me to take all the preventative measures but I was fine.

BW will probably pop in, she's a bit of an expert on OHSS - unfortunately for her!

I see my reputation precedes me...

I've had three stints with OHSS - the first two quite bad from 26 and 32 eggs collected (E2 levels were 14500 and 15000), and the second relatively minor from 20 eggs collected (E2 at around 9000) and it only developed with a BFP. We're talking 12-13 days past EPU, it certainly wasn't all that close to transfer, it really only got going once my HCG levels increased (afraid my clinic wouldn't tell me what they were - just that they were nice and high and I wasn't to stress), and didn't really subside until 15-16 weeks. Which is why they completely refused to transfer on my first two stim cycles - believe me, when you spend a week in hospital with ovaries the size of grapefruit and every movement is painful, you realise that you really DO care about whether OHSS develops with a pregnancy or not!

Anyway, Lily, you are doing all the right things. Continue to take it easy and you should be ok. The main risk for OHSS doesn't appear to be egg numbers or E2 levels but PCOS. I have PCOS, it's damned hard to get my ovaries to respond, and even harder to get them to respond without going nuts. Without PCOS, I've heard of egg numbers much higher than mine and E2 levels higher than mine and not even a whisper of OHSS.

The other thing - even with me being incredibly prone to developing OHSS, it really didn't develop with this pregnancy until the last few days before my blood test. At 7 days past EPU (I had a day 3 transfer this time), I was feeling fantastic.

I hope this has helped.

BW

Slyder - I took heed of your recommendation. I was getting sick of going to the toilet all the time anyway. I limited myself to two litres so far today. Glad your DW didn't suffer as well. The nurses gave me the impression that my E2 was the main indicator. Or perhaps I gave myself that impression....

Baby Dreamtime - Wow. You have been through so much. I was panicking on the weekend about them cancelling the cycle but they said as long as I felt ok they were happy to proceed. I know from what I have read of other's run-ins with OHSS that it is better to freeze all and not transfer than run the risk. I will you tonnes of luck with this cycle and will see you over in the TWW thread. My BT is the 21st as well.

Kahlan - thank you for you comments. Best of luck to you too.

Willow - it seems either my clinic and FS was frightening me unnecessarily or MORE LIKELY I have actually created all this anxiety all by myself.

Thank you to everyone for this. I really am much calmer about it all now. I will stop being a drama queen immediately. I feel quite embarrassed to have been worrying about it so much. If late onset OHSS happens then I will deal with it then. IF it happens...

lilyx

DW had 26 eggs collected and was quite bloated for about a week after EPU. Her E2 levels where over 20000, but she drank loads of water for the few days after EPU and E2 levels dropped to under 20000 on day 5.

In hindsight, we got a bit freaked out about OHSS from reading too much on the internet. On the ET day the doctor and nurses said DW looked fine and did not look like someone with OHSS so we went ahead.

We are up for a BT tomorrow after our TWW and at the moment it is looking bright for us (we did a few HPT tests already ;-) )...

Hi Lilybella

OHSS is not guaranteed. At my EPU I had 30 eggs retrieved and my FS was concerned I would get OHSS as I got symptoms when I was on 50mg of Clomid with 5 Follicles.

But nothing and the:stickyvibesgirl::stickyvibesboy: transfer proceeded 3 days after EPU (unsuccessfully).

Fingers crossd for you that eerything moves along smoothly and that you have a sticky one on board.

Hi All,

BW - I just saw your post... thank you for your encouraging words. I do have PCOS which is why I guess they were telling me it's a certainty but nothing so far and I am 5 days past transfer of one 5 day blastocyst. I have read your account of OHSS and I would not wish that on anyone. I am thrilled to pieces that you are UTD by the way. Fantastic news - you are an inspiration. Here's to a fabulous rest of your pregnancy!!!

Gonna-be-dad - Congratulations on your good news!!!!! I can see by your ticker that it worked. I hope your DW is feeling fantastic and here's to a H&H 9 months!

KellyD - Wow! You ave the same amount of frosties as I do! (My clinic only does blastocysts so they are all 6 days) You must have felt somewhat like i did in the first few days after EPU. According to the FS my left ovary was "hiding" and he had to do some "digging around" (his words). I have this mental picture that is akin to something not unlike an old fashioned tooth extraction with the Doc with his leg braced against my chest... you know what I mean.... ;) At any rate, I feel much better now. Good luck with your FET!

Thanks everyone!

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Thank you to everyone for this. I really am much calmer about it all now. I will stop being a drama queen immediately. I feel quite embarrassed to have been worrying about it so much. If late onset OHSS happens then I will deal with it then. IF it happens...lilyx

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No apologies please Lily, this is what BB and all of us are here for. Your worries and concerns are real and it is good to ask questions and learn what others have experienced.

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According to the FS my left ovary was "hiding" and he had to do some "digging around" (his words). I have this mental picture that is akin to something not unlike an old fashioned tooth extraction with the Doc with his leg braced against my chest... you know what I mean.... ;)

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:rofl::rofl::rofl: OMG I love this description! That darstedly ovary ;)

Well done Lily and best of luck with it all.

xx