After I left, I experienced a strange pain on my right side that quickly faded. The anesthesia was tough for me as I don’t handle it well. I tend to get motion sickness, which often leads to nausea. According to the nurse, I looked green at one point. I was ready to leave after 30 minutes, which is longer than usual for a patient. I didn’t experience any pain, itching, or bleeding. I felt extremely drowsy and ended up napping a lot. It took me two days to fully recover from the bloating.
I only had one colonoscopy, and I was extremely bloated before the procedure. I didn’t have a bowel movement for two days prior, but luckily the procedure was not painful since I was put under anesthesia. However, the following day was very painful, and I spent it sleeping and unable to move much. It took two more days for me to feel back to normal. I handle pain well and don’t experience period cramps, so this was tough on my body.
The procedure involved inserting a sterile catheter and needle through the vagina into the abdomen. Similar to other medical procedures, the area is not cleaned off because it is already internal. After the procedure, I experienced severe cramps, unlike my usual experience. The pain was so intense that my husband and I considered going to the ER. I also experienced significant bloating, with approximately 14 square inches of space taken up by the matured eggs in my abdomen. The discomfort persisted from the trigger shot to the surgery and for the next two days. While not excruciatingly painful, it was difficult to find comfort during this time. I knew that the discomfort would eventually pass, and I just had to get through each day.
My experience following the procedure was mostly uncomfortable, both physically and emotionally. It took around 3 weeks for me to feel back to normal physically, and perhaps 3-4 weeks emotionally. I had some cramping, bloating, and exhaustion, but no complications. Following the aftercare instructions is crucial to avoid complications or infections. I found that staying hydrated and listening to my body helped alleviate some discomfort. Despite the discomfort, I would consider going through the procedure again if needed.
The first experience was characterized by minimal pain with some cramping and bloating, but I improved by day 3 with no complications.
However, the second experience involved extreme pain that was nearly unbearable, requiring extra painkillers. The cramping was severe, making it difficult to move and resulting in sleeping all day. It took me 4-5 days to return to normal, and my period following the emergency room visit was so excruciating that I considered going back to the ER. Overall, I was surprised by my reaction to the second emergency room visit, given my typically high pain tolerance.
I have undergone 3 egg retrievals so far, and each time approximately 18 eggs were collected. I experienced bleeding, but only the day after the retrieval. I likely experienced mild OHSS each time, with the first being the most severe and taking about a week to fully recover. The subsequent times were quicker. I consistently felt bloated and had difficulty breathing. The severity of symptoms may vary based on the number of follicles retrieved and the type of trigger used.
I was feeling quite uncomfortable due to bloating and emotional in the days leading up to it. I frequently experience cramps in general. However, afterwards I felt okay, just exhausted.
I experienced bloating until my period arrived two weeks later, but then I started feeling like myself again.
I felt extremely sleepy throughout the day after the procedure, but the next day I was more alert and still well-rested. I experienced minimal pain, just some mild discomfort similar to soreness after an ab workout. Surprisingly, I didn’t require the prescribed pain medication. I felt completely back to normal about four days later! I made sure to stay on top of my electrolytes to prevent OHSS due to the high number of eggs retrieved.
I suspect I experienced mild OHSS, as my pain was intense. The first night was particularly challenging, as I had severe shoulder pain from gas trapped during the procedure/anesthesia. After the shoulder pain subsided, I primarily felt bloating and abdominal discomfort. It was difficult to engage my muscles for simple movements. It took almost 6 days for me to start feeling like myself again. The first two days were tough, but by the third day I began to improve. The fourth day was rough again, but by the fifth day I was slowly getting better. Finally, on the sixth day, I woke up feeling back to normal.
After the effects of the drugs wore off, I was back to feeling normal within an hour. I may have felt a little sleepy for the rest of the day. However, I still went through several retrievals with only a few follicles each time.
I didn’t experience any discomfort before or after. There was just a little breast tenderness, but that was it.
Yesterday I had my second retrieval and experienced minimal bleeding and pain/cramping. I anticipate bloating until my period arrives, as with my first cycle. I felt normal once my period started. I read my procedure notes, which stated they irrigate and disinfect the vaginal canal, and I received antibiotics in my IV.
No pain or symptoms; I was back in the afternoon feeling a little foggy from the anesthesia, but completely functional with no complications.
I may be an extreme outlier in terms of my experience, but it can serve as a reassurance that what happened to me is highly unlikely to happen to you.
At 35, my first egg retrieval resulted in moderate pain managed by Tylenol, bloating, and abdominal heaviness for about a week, with an emotional crash and crying on the day of the procedure. Retrieval #2 at age 38 had lighter pain, less bloating, and abdominal heaviness. 13 eggs were retrieved with 11 mature, and there were no complications or infections. The doctor for the second retrieval seemed gentler and I noticed better cleanliness in the vaginal area. Unfortunately, neither retrieval yielded any embryos.
My daughter had a scary experience on the day of her egg retrieval, ending up in the ER due to severe OHSS symptoms. Thankfully, the ER visit was successful, but she hopes to never have to go through that again. She was fortunate to be in the 3% of patients who experience OHSS.
How severe was the pain and how long did it last? I experienced OHSS, resulting in intense pain that lasted for weeks. Additionally, I had extreme bloating and chest pain, but no bleeding or itching. It took about 4 weeks for me to feel completely back to normal. I did not experience any complications other than the OHSS, and the procedure itself was easy as I was put to sleep and did not feel anything. Most women can go back to regular activities the next day, but my experience with OHSS was an exception.
I finished an ER and Hysterscopy on 9/5/2025 with some complications including heavy bleeding, constipation from medications, and a diagnosis of OHSS which caused symptoms like pressure in the abdominal area, frequent urination, cramps, and light bleeding. Despite these challenges, I am now completely recovered and feeling much better. Good luck!
I experienced mild OHSS with no pain, just a discomforting bloat and sensitivity in my abdomen. Recovery simply required drinking two large cans of V8 with sodium daily to prevent worsening symptoms. Missing one day made me feel terrible, emphasizing the importance of adequate sodium intake. The area was sanitized and after a few days, pale pink shreds appeared, but everything returned to normal after my period arrived 7 days later.