I was completely sedated throughout the procedure and only woke up feeling a bit sore afterwards. It might be best to consider switching clinics as this experience was not acceptable.
I had 3 ERs in total, the first 2 had similar sedation to yours but my pain experience was different. Despite feeling discomfort, pressure, and some pain during the procedure, it was not unbearable or traumatic for me. I suggest discussing this with your medical team to understand what happened and ensure a better experience if you have another ER in the future.
I don’t want to cause panic, but have you considered the possibility of someone switching out the fentanyl used during the procedure? There have been cases where individuals replaced fentanyl with saline, as seen in the podcast “The Retrievals”, leading to increased pain for patients. It might be worth looking into.
That does not sound like a typical experience. I was conscious during my procedure and was given intravenous morphine, codeine, and paracetamol. I did experience some pain, particularly when they pierced one of my cysts. Other than that, there was mainly a sensation of tugging. However, when they went through the cysts, the pain was intense and made me feel like throwing up immediately. Did you make sure that the painkillers took effect? I was given mine about 30 minutes before the procedure.
I received the same medication along with a direct application of local anesthesia to my cervix during my 4 retrievals. While the experience was not easy, it was definitely manageable. However, the pain I felt during the insertion of an IUD years ago was even worse. It seems like your experience was not okay, and they should be able to improve pain management.
I also had the same medications as you (like many people outside the US), and while I experienced some pressure, I didn’t feel the same level of pain as you did. Since everyone reacts differently to medication, I’m wondering if that was the case here. If you have to go through this again, it might be worth exploring other options. For instance, there are clinics in Canada that offer deeper sedation with propofol, similar to what people in the US mention. One such clinic is located in Markham.
I received twilight sedation and pain relief, which is the standard in the UK. My experience was much different from yours and I am sorry for that. I fell asleep before the procedure started, had no memory of it, and woke up in recovery. It wasn’t as intense as general anesthesia, but I was still completely out of it.
I received fentanyl and midazolam in both ER visits. In the first ER, I experienced some pain but was also extremely high. In the second ER, I had almost no pain and was again very high, which was great. Experiencing that much pain is not normal.
I underwent IVF in Japan and underwent 11 retrievals with minimal anesthesia. I typically only had 1 or 2 eggs retrieved, so anesthesia was not the norm. Despite the pain, it was bearable except for moments when pressure was applied to access the follicles. If more eggs had been retrieved, it would have been extremely painful. Maybe the medication you were given wasn’t effective?
The sedation was the same, possibly with local numbing, but it was extremely painful. After three doses, my doctor provided additional pain medication. The meds also cause memory loss, so be patient, it becomes hazy. My doctor suggested that the heightened pain may have been due to my OHSS and extreme tenderness.
After my trans abdominal egg retrieval procedure, I woke up in extreme pain and needed additional anesthesia. Recovery was prolonged due to the pain and required multiple medications.
This situation sounds extremely painful. I apologize for the ordeal you experienced, it’s distressing just to hear about it. It doesn’t seem normal, and I recommend contacting the clinic. The objective should not be suffering. I was fortunate to have anesthesia during my egg retrieval, yet there was still discomfort post-procedure. Managing the pain with Tylenol and heating pads consistently helped. The medication brought side effects like joint pain, breast tenderness, and sneezing. I also faced severe mood swings. I wish for a successful cycle for you and hope you don’t have to endure this again. If you do, consider switching to a clinic that provides anesthesia. Make sure to take care of yourself and seek support from caring individuals like your nurse. Sending comfort your way 
Do you happen to be a natural redhead? I ask because I heard that redheads usually require more anesthesia. Someone I know experienced a lot of pain during a procedure, and when I mentioned it to a friend who is a surgeon, she asked if the person was a redhead. I found it interesting, as the person isn’t a redhead but her daughters are. I’m truly sorry that you had to go through this. I have also experienced medical trauma and it’s a terrible experience.
Being awake for it is unimaginable to me. I experienced extreme cramping upon waking up, and they acted as though it was uncommon. They prescribed me codeine for the pain, which they typically don’t do. It appears that one of my ovaries was filled with a large number of eggs and was in a challenging position.
I have never had a procedure without anesthesia! If they refuse to use it, find a different clinic!
I understand what you went through, my first experience with “twilight sedation” in the ER was terrible too. It was so painful that I was screaming and they had to restrain me. I ended up switching clinics because of this. They didn’t give me enough medication and I think they should have waited until I was more sedated. The next few times I had similar pain relief, but I was completely knocked out. I try to forget how horrible it was. Also, I noticed you mentioned your first round was government funded. The clinic I went to in Ontario for my funded round was where I had the painful ER experience as well.
I was in a daze. I didn’t feel anything and couldn’t recall a single thing.
I’m sorry to hear that your egg retrieval was so painful, that really sucks. Mine was also really painful. In the Netherlands where I live, egg retrieval is always done with just pain medication, as anesthesia is not typically offered. The joke is that in the Netherlands, no matter what the issue is, the answer is always to take a paracetamol and wait a week.
During my first retrieval, the pain was manageable on one side, but I cried from pain when the doctor switched to my other ovary. The second time, they increased the pain medication but it didn’t make a difference, and I cried throughout the procedure. My husband was there to support me, and the doctor was kind and encouraging. Afterward, the nurse brought tea and we waited to hear the results. Did your partner not accompany you during the procedure?
Overall, despite the extreme pain, I wouldn’t have chosen anesthesia if it was an option. The few minutes of pain were worth not risking anesthesia. The supportive environment made the experience bearable, and I remember the kindness shown to me more than the pain. I hope your egg retrieval is successful!
I wasn’t aware that being unsedated was even a possibility. Goodness.
I’ve never come across this before. The educational videos I watched primarily discussed twilight sedation, including those from my clinic. I’m deeply sorry that you had to endure such pain.
No way, unless you enjoy pain. It can still be painful afterwards even with anesthesia.