Ghost - too late for OHSS so what is this??

[brit10]

I'm 6 days past my day 5 transfer. I rested for the first two days, but have been back to my regular activity, minus workouts and lifting anything.

Until today, I've felt crampy and a little bloated, but nothing serious. Then last night my husband and I went dancing...and though we took it pretty easy...I felt AWFUL this morning. Very sore in the middle...it hurts my belly to take a deep breath.

I weighed 132 this morning, but after running some errands today and having just one sandwich for lunch, I'm up 3 pounds! This is the most bloated I've been and I'm just worried I might have bruised or hurt something inside. Any thoughts on what I might have done?

[Ghost]

It's not too late for OHSS. Secondary OHSS can arise from the hCG produced by implanted embryos. That means congratulations are probably in order, but it also means you should check with your physician as soon as possible. OHSS can be dangerous.

Of course, I don't really know if it's OHSS, but it sure sounds like it.

[MBAchick]

Hey girl,

Doesn't sound like OHSS to me. Are you swollen near the bone near the breast or just your stomach? What supplements are you taking to support your IVF? I just got a BFP after my first IVF. I was so bloated after my transfer and still very much so. I weigh between 125-128 (5'7"). The other day I got up to 133 (That was for just one day though. I have a fast metabolism). It is very likely the progesterone supplements are causing bloating OR constipation. I still have constipation here and there from the progesterone. So my belly is puffy often. can't wait til the placenta kicks in and I can stop with the supplements!

Good luck!!

[brit10]

I called the ART nurse yesterday and she told me to rest, drink fluids with sodium, eat protein and to call in the morning so I can see the doctor.

I'm not short of breath and am able to urinate, but I've very, very uncomfortable...everything hurts. My weight is now up to 136 (up from 132 just yesterday)and I've lost my waist line...that's how swollen I am. Nausea at 5am just woke me up, so here I am.

Ghost - you really don't think that my activity Saturday brought this on? I thought maybe because I worked on my feet Wednesday thru Saturday and then danced Saturday night, that was the cause. I didn't know about secondary OHSS. I'm in a lot of pain, but an early BFP would make things hurt less!

[Ghost]

I called the ART nurse yesterday and she told me to rest, drink fluids with sodium, eat protein and to call in the morning so I can see the doctor.

Those are common treatments for OHSS. They may also administer protein as albumin in an IV. If it's OHSS, then fluids are moving into your abdomen from the rest of your body. A hormone called VEGF, produced by your many spent follicles (technically, granulosa cells of the corpora lutea), is causing it. Granulosa cells increase the VEGF production when exposed to hCG.

I'd bet you had more than 20-25 follicles. OHSS is rare below that.

I'm not short of breath and am able to urinate, but I've very, very uncomfortable...everything hurts. My weight is now up to 136 (up from 132 just yesterday)and I've lost my waist line...that's how swollen I am. Nausea at 5am just woke me up, so here I am.

Rapid weight gain is a classic symptom. Your urinary output is likely diminished.

Ghost - you really don't think that my activity Saturday brought this on? I thought maybe because I worked on my feet Wednesday thru Saturday and then danced Saturday night, that was the cause. I didn't know about secondary OHSS. I'm in a lot of pain, but an early BFP would make things hurt less!

Your activity did not cause it. Hormones caused it. Your activity may have made you more aware of it.

The primary phase of OHSS can arise from the hCG injection. Secondary OHSS can arise from the hCG produced by implanted embryos. It is a little puzzling that you did not get primary OHSS because, at this moment, your hCG levels from the embryos should still be no more than you had right after the hCG shot (unless they gave you a moderate hCG dose?). When is your pregnancy test? Perhaps Thursday? You might consider a test at home. I think you'd be pleased with the result.

[Ghost]

Maybe while you are resting from OHSS you could pick out some names? I'm almost certain you are pregnant.

[brit10]

Ghost - you were correct. The doctor said I've got OHSS, though mild for now. I'm on 2 weeks bed rest, while monitoring my fluid ins and outs. They're going to let me try to treat this at home instead of putting me in the hospital....for now.

The doctor was pretty confident that I was pregnant after she saw that my estrogen levels were previously at normal levels...and even mentioned that it most often occurs in twins pregnancies.

My bloodwork came back today at 246.8 - (my transfer was one week ago today). The ART nurse that called me wouldn't speculate that I might have more then one in there, but that's such a high number this early.

Thank you for all your valuable information and help!

[Ghost]

Ghost - you were correct. The doctor said I've got OHSS, though mild for now. I'm on 2 weeks bed rest, while monitoring my fluid ins and outs. They're going to let me try to treat this at home instead of putting me in the hospital....for now.

The doctor was pretty confident that I was pregnant after she saw that my estrogen levels were previously at normal levels...and even mentioned that it most often occurs in twins pregnancies.

My bloodwork came back today at 246.8 - (my transfer was one week ago today). The ART nurse that called me wouldn't speculate that I might have more then one in there, but that's such a high number this early.

Thank you for all your valuable information and help!

Congratulations. That is high for 7 days post transfer, and probably does reflect a multiple. Given your OHSS pattern, I suspected as much. That's why I said you might pick out "names". The ultrasound will confirm it, and with a number that strong, you have an excellent chance of going all the way with this one. Again, congratulations.