I apologize for the ordeal you went through and encourage you to seek answers from your doctor and clinic. It is important to address why this happened and hold those responsible accountable. When you are ready, I suggest listening to a podcast series by The NY Times that discusses similar experiences at Yale. Here is the link: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/22/podcasts/serial-the-retrievals-yale-fertility-clinic.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare.
I apologize for what happened to you. I had a similar experience at a clinic in France where I was told I would receive local anesthesia, but it turned out to be just a morphine pill and laughing gas. I assumed they would use painkillers injections, but that was not the case. The procedure was extremely painful and traumatic, leading me to seek therapy for recurring nightmares. Despite having over 10 mature follicles, only a few yielded eggs. I will have to undergo the process again, this time with the promise of being put under anesthesia. Have you listened to the podcast “The Retrievals”? It is interesting how some women had different experiences with medication during the procedure. My heart goes out to you.
This situation is disturbing and unacceptable. Why are women subjected to this treatment? Would they treat an animal in the same way? It’s unfair that we are expected to endure this pain. My experience with egg retrievals using local anesthesia and painkillers was mixed, ranging from 4/10 to 8/10 in pain. Another woman nearby felt no pain at all. Regardless, experiences like this can have long-lasting effects on women and should be reconsidered.
I deeply apologize for my absence, as I was recovering from anesthesia in the ERs and dealing with traumatic gynecological pain from a previous procedure. It took me weeks to overcome the barbaric and cruel experience. Know that you are not alone and it’s important to seek support if needed. This journey can be a rollercoaster of emotions, leaving you feeling raw and vulnerable. Please prioritize self-care.
I am really sorry to hear about your experience. I had 4 retrievals and none were as intense as what you described. I was awake for all of them and only felt slight pressure. The second one was the most painful, but still manageable. Have you had any anesthesia issues before? It’s important to discuss this with your doctor before any future procedures. In my case, I was fine with just taking Tylenol afterwards.
I apologize for the difficult experience you are going through. It seems that the level of pain relief provided during ER varies depending on the country. In my country, the standard method involves muscle relaxers, paracetamol, codeine in pill form, and local anesthesia. Unfortunately, the local anesthesia was very painful for me and I experienced nausea, cramping, sweating, and bleeding after the procedure. Mindfulness techniques and meditation may be helpful for managing future experiences. I choose to focus on the pain as a temporary wave that has passed, allowing me to learn how to advocate for better pain relief in the future. I hope you can find relief soon.
My experience was also awful. I was in tears while my nurse comforted me and reassured me that it would be over soon. I thought I had reached my limit with medication, but she encouraged me to keep going. Despite vowing to never do it again, I ended up going back.
I have undergone 4 egg retrievals, 2 under sedation and 2 while awake. The first one was excruciating as I received no pain support, not even Tylenol. I believe the clinic made a mistake by not providing proper pain relief. Despite being told I would receive something to help me relax before the procedure, I was not given any medication. The next retrieval was done under anesthesia and was successful with no pain. Subsequent procedures with anesthesia also went well, while the one done while awake with Valium and Vicodin was painful but bearable. Never trust a male doctor or someone who hasn’t had the procedure say it’s not that painful, as the experience can be incredibly agonizing.
I personally have experienced a lot of trauma from infertility and it has been so overwhelming that I have forgotten about it at times. The complications were beyond what I could have imagined. I may not have a helpful answer for you, but I would suggest speaking to a therapist or considering EMDR therapy.
I experienced a similar level of pain during both of my egg retrievals, although it may not have been as intense as yours. I did not develop OHSS and had 12 eggs retrieved in the first round and 17 in the second. The pain caught me by surprise during the first retrieval, and I couldn’t believe that women were expected to endure it without full sedation as an option. Despite having a high pain tolerance, I involuntarily cried out in pain during both procedures due to the intensity. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there may be different expectations for female patients in medicine, where they are expected to endure pain in order to reduce risks or use fewer resources.
I had a very similar experience with only 11 eggs retrieved. The combination of Fentanyl and Versed did not have the desired effect on me. I endured a lot of pain and may have used colorful language during the procedure.
I had a similar experience with the same medications. I couldn’t sleep during the procedure. They retrieved 40 eggs and had to stop the medication on the first ovary due to intense pain. I was shaking and begging for it to end, leaving the room in tears.
Nobody warns you about the pain, but I can say that the pain does lessen over time. It has been six months for me, and the memory has faded.
Talking about it has been the most helpful for me. I’ve been open about my experience because it helps to get it off my chest. The process is tough enough as it is, so venting and talking about it has been a relief.
You can do this 
Take care of yourself during the healing process. This whole experience is traumatic.
My first ER experience was similar to yours, I even wrote a post about it because I was convinced it wasn’t normal. I received oral Versed, Motrin, and Advil for pain, with no IV. They also gave me nitrous oxide during the procedure. Unfortunately, the Versed wore off and the procedure ended up being more painful than expected. Since then, the next two ER visits included IV fentanyl and IV Versed due to my fast metabolism. If you have another procedure, I strongly suggest requesting better pain management and sedation.
In Europe, it is standard to use only local anesthesia and fentanyl, no need for full anesthesia.
I apologize for any confusion. I experienced a similar situation as you did (common in Canada) and did not experience much pain.
The experience I had doesn’t seem typical. I was given the same medications as you, but also received Propofol. I was completely asleep during the entire procedure, similar to conscious sedation for a colonoscopy. The only parts I remember are being wheeled into the room and waking up in recovery.
I apologize for any repetition as I’m leaving this comment hastily, but I find this situation barbaric. It reminds me of the incidents at Yale where women were victimized by a nurse stealing fentanyl and giving them saline solution.
I received fentanyl and propofol as sedatives, not general anesthesia, and have no memory of the procedure. It is unusual and I apologize for what you went through.
My first egg retrieval was very similar to yours. I suffered from severe OHSS and the doctors stopped counting the eggs because of the pain. Despite receiving more fentanyl than recommended for my weight, I still screamed in agony during the procedure. After only retrieving 18 eggs, I was bedridden for two weeks due to the pain and OHSS. The second retrieval was a bit better but I still needed more fentanyl to manage the pain. It turns out, my body is resistant to the effects of fentanyl when under extreme stress. The third retrieval was more successful with the addition of halodol, but I still experienced pain. I’m not sure if I have a low pain tolerance as no one I know has had a similar experience. Despite my challenging experiences, I would still prefer not to use anesthesia for future retrievals due to the risks.
I got through it by just powering through and accepting it as part of the process to achieve pregnancy. While it may not be the healthiest approach, it has not significantly impacted my daily life. I have accepted it as one of my quirks.
I’m willing to bet that this took place in Canada.