OHSS and pregnant - help!

[riogirl71]

Hi! I had a late onset of OHSS and a positive beta, OHSS which started 11 days after ER. I now have about 11 lbs of fluids and look like I am going to give birth at any minute. I was looking for any advice on how to deal with this. Gatorade, salty foods, rest, eat protein. My contract with RE is over so I can't get checked with them but my OB did an US on Friday to see and there is a lot of fluid in there but my ovaries are not enlarged.

Did you get drained? If so, who did it and did they use an US?

How much weight did you gain?

Any other helpful advice?

How long did it take to go away?

thank you!!!!!!!!!

[kizmet]

Hey Rio,
I remember you from your ectopic in the May cycle group, so it's great news that you now find yourself with a BFP! I'm thrilled for you! As you might remember I ended up with OHSS following EPU and never made it to transfer because I was so sick and in hospital. I gained a charming 18 pounds of fluid which pretty much had me unable to move and looked well and trully 9 months pregnant. I was never actually offered drainage despite the pain and uncomfortableness of it all, however I was monitored for fluid in and fluid out and put on a restricted fluid intake of 1500mL per day. When my urinary output fell below something like 20mL per hour, they finally did something for me by putting in IV albumin which reversed the osmosis of my capillaries - effectively shifting the fluid that was free in my abdominal space and putting it back into my veins/capillaries, so that my kidneys could finally get rid of it. I'm not sure though if this is do-able if you are pregnant, maybe Ghost can help you out there?

Good luck, I hope all goes well and you're feeling fit and healthy again in no time!

Cheers
Kiz

[riogirl71]

kiz - of course I remember you and how awful the OHSS was for you. I am so sorry you had to go through that! But I see that you are now pregnant, how awesome - congratulations!!!!!!!!! I have been contacting my RE and I guess they want me to wait it out since it is not severe but the more HCG I get, the more I get uncomfortable because of pregnancy there isn't much they can do. thank you!

[nicnad1]

Hi Rio,

I had a BFP after my transfer in mid-August. I too had what I would call severe OHSS. I had gained about 11 lbs from the date of retrieval. I looked about 5 months pregnant and felt awful (not to mention that NOBODY knew that we did IVF!). US showed that I had lots of fluid and ended up being drained twice in 6 days. This took place at the hospital and took about 1.5 hrs. The first time was quite painful, especially as they pierced through the abdominal wall. They drained 2.5 litres the first time and I felt better for about 3 days, then one more litre drained the 2nd time about 6 days later (and for some reason it didn't hurt so much..) I too drank alot of gatorade and had very little appetite. It eventually passed. I was reassured that this did not affect the pregnancy, but at my 7 week ultrasound the baby measured a few days behind, then at 10 week ultrasound I learned that I had a missed abortion as my body was not rejecting the fetus... I had a d &C. I read alot about OHSS online and it sounds like it can last several weeks. Mine subsided somewhat so I guess that was the result of the miscarriage... Let's hope that yours continues in a manageable way and that it "pays" off in 9 months! Take good care. I KNOW how you feel! Take care!

Nicole

[riogirl71]

oh Nicole, I am so sorry. Do you think you lost your baby due to the OHSS? I am not getting worse so they think that I have reached a plateau and will start getting better in a few days so I am going to try and hold out and not get drained. I am so sorry you had to go through this!

[nicnad1]

Hi Rio,

NO, the RE said that the fetus just likely wasn't genetically made to be sustained. Actually I had people tell me that OHSS is actually correlates to a good pregnancy as it means that your body is producing HCG which is causing the OHSS and which is needed to sustain the pregnancy. That's why, as awful as it feels, just hope that it continues on some level as it is an overall good sign... I also wanted to say that I didn't want to scare you by sharing my story, but moreso tell you to hope that the OHSS continues somewhat as it is indeed a very positive sign... I have 2 frosties to be transferred but at 7 weeks post d&c, I'm still waiting for my period to start up again... My RE wants me to have 2 periods before doing the transfer. I hope that those frosties are healthy and it could work! We have a 5 yr old conceived naturally and at 39 yrs old, this is a last ditch effort to try and give him a sibling... Keep us posted on how you are doing. Saying a little prayer for you...

Nicole

[riogirl71]

Thanks Nicole. Everything is scary as you well know in this IVF/pregnancy world!
How wonderful you have frosties! I am praying that you can give your son a sibbling too! That is exactly what I am trying to do right now with our son. Plenty of great success stories with FET here! Good luck!!!