My dear girl... I am so sorry that you are getting nervous. I cannot speak to IVF specifically, as I was not a candidate because of having such a high FSH level (24). BUT let me share with you one of my favorite quotes:

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Best wishes!

Thoughtfully,
Kristin
http://www.agiftofmiles.com

Thanks Kristin. I like that quote. After living through 5 miscarriages which included 2 D&Cs and one laproscopy to remove an ectopic and a tube, I do believe I can do this. I'm just nervous and want to be prepared!

You will be just fine. I always think terrible things about each one of the procedures that I have been through and actually the actual procedure is not bad at all. It's all the emotional stuff that is tough! You can and will get through this! This is an exciting time for you that you are able to get started. So many don't even get that chance. Best of luck and keep posting. I am finishing up my 2ww and I think it has been the worst thing I've gone through in all of it.

Most people I've heard sleep through the retrieval. I'm hoping I'll be as lucky! But I'm nervous about it too, as I'll be doing it at the end of June (started Lupron shots tonight!)

Girl, if you think the shots are a breeze then the retrieval is nothing! :) I didn't have issues what so ever with the retrieval on both of my IVFs. I've read some that have had some pain but I didn't. I took maybe one or two pain pills just as a precaution really, went to bed and slept it off. No biggie.
I wasn't a fan of the shots in the bum.
Best wishes to you. You'll do fine. :)

I'm so glad you asked this question momhopes...the RE we've been seeing does NOT put his patients fully out, and the retrieval is the part of the procedure I'm most nervous about (we're hoping to start IVF in Sept. or Oct.)

Honest answers are truly appreciated...anyone have a retrieval that was awake (or semi-awake) for it?

Sending you lots of good vibes and hope! I have not taken the IVF route (yet) so I have no advice but to tell you I am thinking about you!

hi MomHopes,i had four retrievals,i did not see anything as i was asleep and after the procedure i felt a little sore for one or two days,it's no big deal,for me the less exciting part was the intra-muscular progesterone injections,because it is in oil it makes the area around it very sore,it start to hurt hours after the shot,what worked for me was take a ten minutes walk after the shot it help spread the oil,also if you put a heated pack over the spot it help minimize the disconfort,i wish you good luck.

I was knocked out for both my retrievals. I went to work the day after the first one and had very little pain. After the second one I took the following day off because I hurt a bit. I really think you are stressing about something that will not be anywhere as bad as you think. Stay calm. Find a happy place! Good luck!!

I have been through 3 retrievals and the worst part of each is the wait and the IV. The rest of it you don't feel....they put you under a twilight sleep and when you wake up, you may feel some crampiness. I know I did and as soon as I moaned they gave me pain meds in the IV and I felt better. You will go home and probably rest and sleep the rest of the day. In all honesty, it is not bad at all. I wish you the best.

Thank you everyone for your answers! It's my understanding that I won't be completely asleep which makes me nervous. I have my initial appointment for a blood draw on Saturday and if all goes well I start Lupron on the 24th, which just happens to be my birthday.

Retrieval was nothing... worse part was the meds made me a little nauseous afterward! I woke up crying because i was hurting and they gave me a shot... the shot is the first thing i remember though.. DH had to tell me about the crying (i tend to cry when on anesthesia though weird huh?) The PIO shots were the most painful part for me! and the wonderful welts they left for months afterwards!

After what you have been through, you will be fine with the retrieval. I have done five of them and the first was the only one I had a hard time with. They were expecting nine eggs and got nineteen. The doctor was very aggressive. They didn't use the right medications for me and I got very sick. I was in pain for a couple of days. But compared to other surgeries, it was nothing that bad. And once the embryos were back in me and I was thinking about being pregnant, it was all worth it! :)

I wish you the very best of luck and I know you will do great!

p.s. I should have mentioned that going forward they always give me anti-nausea medications in the IV's and a medicated sticker behind my ear. Not just with IVF but with any surgery. It helps with the antibiotics too since I don't always eat great the day after surgery. Helps keep me from getting sick. :)

I was totally awake for my retrievals and I will be honest about my experience! The first one I was so nervous that the nurse couldn't put in the IV and I freaked out. I started crying (!) I was a little embarrassed but it was all in my head. When I got home, I needed a heating pad on my lower stomach or it was unbearable. It took 2-3 days to completely recover but I was back to work on day 3. The 2nd retrieval, I forgot to take the valium and it was really smooth. I wasn't worried or nervous. The recovery that night was the same pain though. I think everyone's different in recovery. I wish you tons of luck on this cycle! Take care and DON'T be nervous :)