OHSS recovery & BFN - how long?

[NsKaz]

Hi all, hope you're ok and enjoying your weekend.

Just wanted some advice really. I was wondering how long it takes to recover from OHSS following a BFN. I had mine on 21st July and was really quite poorly both before and after egg collection (10th July). My tummy has mostly gone down now, the pain mostly stopped, I'm no longer being sick and have generally been feeling ok (but not up to my full strength).

However, this week I've been feeling quite crampy and have been in a little pain. I went for a walk on Monday (1.5 hours) and was in quite a bit of pain afterwards. Now, as well as cramps, I just feel tired, achy and have pain (both dull and stabbing pains) in my ovaries. Is this normal? My ovaries were just under 10cm after egg collection, then a week later they were around 8cm - is it possible they are still enlarged? I'm hoping that I've just been over doing things (we're packing up the house ready to move on weds) and I'm trying not to worry, but just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Xx

[Hidden]

Oh you poor thing, sounds awfully painful. Glad its calming a bit, and i am sure it will improve day by day, gradually. I'd imagine they are still enlarged, by the sound of your symptoms.

But I have no experience of OHSS, perhaps the lovely Diane, our resident expert nurse, can give some advice.

Also, I'd talk to your GP to ask for either the hospital or your fertility clinic to scan you, just to check the things are shrinking on the right direction.. Did they give any idea of timelines on how long it will take for the ovaries to calm?

I had an 8cm ovary for about a year, was awful. Constant pain and nausea (mine caused by endometriosis) so I understand that this must be very unpleasant. And like you, Id often ache after physical exercise.

Let us know how you get on, but I think its best to check in with your GP or perhaps, call your fertility clinic - the nurses there may well know how long recovery takes.

xxx

[NsKaz in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your reply. When I was in my 2ww they did say it would take a good few weeks until I was back on my feet again - maybe I'm just being impatient! Good advice, I'll give them a call just to put my mind at rest. Thanks again and hope you are well xxx

[Magc27]

Hi, speak to your clinic ask for a scan. I had my egg collection in April and due to OHSS only having my embryo transfer tomorrow. Best of luck 🍀🍀 xx

[NsKaz in reply to Magc27]

How did it go?!! Xxx 🍀🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

[Magc27 in reply to NsKaz]

It went well thank you was quick, just uncomfortable with a full bladder xx

[ShellyC]

Hello! Sorry about your BFN. I had OHSS and because it was quite bad I wasn't able to have a fresh transfer at the time. But I would say for me it lasted about 2-3 weeks after egg collection. As you say, the pain and swelling went down gradually but I still felt tired and generally unwell for a couple of weeks. I was off work for 2 weeks. So look after yourself, slowly increase your activity (don't push yourself too hard!) and let your body recover. Thinking of you, it is not nice! X

[NsKaz in reply to ShellyC]

Hi Shelly, thanks so much for your reply. So sorry to hear your news - OHSS is horrible isn't it? I was so close to the wire all the way through my treatment and was just able to have my fresh transfer (though I remember throwing up in the consultants sink just before he came in to collect me for egg collection and thinking that it was all over!). It's been a month since my egg collection so just found it weird that the pain had started again this week...

Thanks for your advice. Will try to take it easy ☺ did you go on for have FET, if you don't mind me asking? That's my next step, but I have to wait 3 months before I can start treatment again.

Anyway hope you are well xxx

[NsKaz in reply to NsKaz]

Just read your post - keepin my fingers and toes crossed that everything works out for you Shelly! Xx

[ShellyC in reply to NsKaz]

Yes, I went on to have FET. The first cycle I did a medicated FET, they didn't make me wait 3 months at my clinic and I think we just used my first period after OHSS (can't quite remember but think I started the meds on day 21). So by the time I had the transfer it was still a couple of months after the FET. That was unsuccessful. So this time I have opted for a natural cycle (i.e. Without meds) as I ovulate regularly so just using my own hormones. We had to wait a few months to do this cycle because of the way dates fell/holidays etc. I would take your clinics advice and try and recover fully before your next go xxxx

[Kelly-03]

So sorry to hear your news, hopefully soon they will go down. Did you take protein drinks like upbeat to help with the OHSS? X

[NsKaz in reply to Kelly-03]

Hi Kelly, thanks for your reply. No I didn't... they just said to rest and have hot lemon barley water to help with the pain/bloating. Would you recommend protein drinks then? Zz

[NsKaz in reply to NsKaz]

Xx

[Kelly-03 in reply to NsKaz]

Hi I got told to take protein drinks to help with the ovaries they are called Upbeat brought from Tesco or any superstore. I started with 3 a day then went to 2 a day and then 1 a day xx hope it helps xx

[Jayde2221]

I had OHSS and was hospitalised for a week, I was told my ovaries were the size of my fist, my belly swelled by 10 inches and was very uncomfortable, however after about 4 days the swelling started to decrease slowly, but my ovaries still remained huge, I had my bfn on the 31st July and it wasn't until Monday gone that I started to feel more myself, however when my period arrived I only had a days bleed so I went back to the clinic for bloods work to check if I was due another bleed, results camw back negative so the Dr told me to wait till my next period but with me having pcos I don't get periods so I'm just waiting to see what happens, don't push yourself to much, an hour and a half walk seems a bit much just take it easy, it takes a while for your ovaries to reduce in size, sending you love xxc

[NsKaz in reply to Jayde2221]

Oh my goodness you poor thing! That sounds awful. I have pcos too - such a pain when you really need your period to come / be regular so u can start treatment. 😬 thanks for your reply - really means a lot to be so supported on this forum. Hope u can start treatment again soon. Wishing you all the best! Xx

[Elou81]

Hi. Sorry to hear about your BFN x hope you have been taking it easy and that you are feeling a bit better. You said you felt poorly before egg collection too. Just wondering if you were diagnosed with OHSS before or after EC? X

[NsKaz in reply to Elou81]

Hello lovely. Thanks for your message. I was diagnosed with it after egg collection. My clinic said that you can't actually get it until after ec, but I had lots of the symptoms/ warning signs before (very over stimulated, hugely bloated tummy, pain in ovaries etc.)

[NsKaz]

Thanks again everyone for your advice. The pain has worsened again - was so bad last night I couldn't sleep, so I am going for a scan on Monday. It seems weird that I felt a lot better and now it's come back with a vengeance... I'm just feeling fed up. It's been four weeks since my bfn and almost 6 since EC. Considering I was feeling rotten before that, I've been feeling rubbish for coming on 7/8 weeks now. Wouldn't mind if I was actually pregnant! Soooo frustrating and I'm just bored of "resting and taking it easy!" I want to be able to take my mind off things by doing the things I enjoy (walking, running, yoga, horse riding, being out and about socialising), but I'm just not well enough to. Fed up!

Sorry rant over! Xx

[7AVA in reply to NsKaz]

Sorry to hear you're feeling so bad, it's really rubbish for you, hope they are able to advise something to help you feel better at the scan on Monday. Xxx

[NsKaz in reply to 7AVA]

Thanks lovely xxx actually managed to sleep last night and the pain has lessened a little so feeling less grumpy today haha! Fingers crossed they can. Hope you're well Hun xx