HELP ease my fears

Ok, so many of you know. Im scared of this IVF. Suprisingly I handle Shots and needles well, so thats not too scary for me. Bloodwork is a breeze, I could do it myself probably .

The PIO Im getting scared about though...

BUT...my major fear is the anesthesia for retrieval.

I hate anesthesia so much. For example when I had cervical cancer, I risked time making it worse because I would not do the surgery with being put under. I found the ONE Dr. In NY who would do it without anesthesia ( and it was a breeze, 5 minute surgery)..


Can you guys PLEASE share the details of your experience with me?

I like details, even silly mundane ones. It eases my mind.

Do you feel groggy and out of it after you wake up? ( THAT is what I hate)

I have panic disorder and obviously cannot take anything to calm me on that day!

At the last surgery I had in March ( a quick one as well) I hounded the poor anesthesiologist for details for 30 minutes, guy thought I was nuts ( OK, I AM nuts..I know this) But can you guys placate me and just DONT lie...Tell me what to expect?!?!

Thanks so much for dealing with my long Post and for helping ( and shout out to Lauren for so easily sharing her details! nd not calling me insane )

Message edited 8/19/2006 11:29:42 PM.

Re: HELP ease my fears

you know my story but I will drum it into you!!!!

The anesthesia is very light, I think I told you the story about how the next day I remembered things that I said when I was under.

For those that dont know I had this memory of being told not to try and help that they would do it themselves well I asked about it when I went back for ET and the doctors and nurses told me that apparently after you are under they put you in the stirrups and wash your vajayjay with water. Well, apparantly the anasthesia wasnt strong enough and I jumped, legs flying everywhere. I apparantly tried to help to get my arse and legs back in position but they told me not to it was easier for them to just position me

Everytime I have had regular anesthesia I have gotten nauseaus and vomited when I woke up. That never happened to me with IVF. I also never got that groggy, how do you figure out how to open your eyes feeling. Its just like waking up in the morning.

Have you asked about doing it without anesthesia? Although I sooo think you should get it. It is very easy.

Re: HELP ease my fears

I have a pretty good repsonse to anethesia. It wasn't bad. I was so nervous for the entire procedure that the drugs were what I wanted.

My Dr. said that he was going to give me a "Russian Mosquito" and that is the last thing I remember!!!!!! LOL....

Just try not to rush it after the retrevial. I stayed in the recovery room for quite a bit and ate cookies and OJ.

Donna, you will be okay! Look at how far you have come and the procedure is so very close! Think of the end result!!!!! I will be praying for you! I know you will get through this!

Re: HELP ease my fears

WOW! Did you get approved? I just saw this thread and my heart started pumping with excitement for you.
MUST go search for details.

Re: HELP ease my fears

I was very nervous also with the the thought of the anesthesia. It really was not that bad, i had no bad side effects, just tired after wards. the worst part for me was just putting the IV in. I have very small veins.

You will do fine.

Congratulations on getting approved.

Re: HELP ease my fears

Donna,

I also have an anxiety disorder. Prior to TTC I was on Paxil. It's been really hard for me to be off it.

The scariest part of the whole IVF process for me was the anesthesia. I've never ever been put under before and all I kept thinking was "How will they know if there's a problem?"

All Friday morning that's what I kept thinking.

Two things that helped me: I have been listening to the Guided Imagery CDs and making sure to concentrate on my breathing - I tend to take short shallow quick breaths when I'm nervous, which sometimes make me pass out. I concentrated really hard on nice deep breaths.

The other thing that helped, and this is going to sound insane, was an episode of Friends. (Told you!! )

It's the one where Chandler freaks out about getting married to Monica and runs away. Ross makes him come back to the hotel by telling him to just take things one step at a time, so that's what I did.

I thought through every step as it happened - and ONLY that step. "I can get out of bed, that's not so bad." "I can get into the car, that's not so bad." "I can check in at the front desk, I can change into this robe, I can sign this paperwork, I can handle the IV" etc.

Like I said, it sounds crazy, but it helped keep me calm. The key is not to think ahead.

The anesthesia itself wasn't an issue for me by the time it came. I told the anesthesiologist that I hadn't ever been under before and I was nervous, so he walked me through it.

I swear to you, I was so freaking amazed when I woke up next to DH. I couldn't believe it was over. It felt like 2 seconds had passed.

I asked DH how long it took me to come to and what I thought was a couple of minutes he said was only about 30 seconds. He said I asked about the egg count a couple times and then woke up completely.

I felt tired and slow, but I was up and joking in no time. I was afraid to get up to go to the bathroom, but I was fine with that too. They gave me some graham crackers and gingerale and all was better in the world.

Within minutes I was completely myself.

I know it's so scary, but you can do this. Think of the outcome and know how strong you've been in your life before this. You've been through some things that would have completely crippled others and come through shining. Keep that in mind.

Re: HELP ease my fears

Also, for the PIO shot:

I was a little concerned about that too -If you remember, I had it in the office once before and it hurt like a monkey!


Last night was my first one and I swear it was better than the belly shots for me.

The key was NOT to ice before. I used a very warm wet towel on the area while DH prepped the needle. We also heated up the Oil itself in a glass of warm water for 3 minutes or so.

Heat is the key.

The biggest challenge for us on that injection was that I kept getting bouts of nervous giggles. DH would get close and I would laugh and he would start to laugh and have to back away.

On the 3rd or 4th try he finally did it and I barely felt it. It helps that I have a lot of booty to inject!

After I put the hot towel back on the area and DH massaged it as I walked around. Again more giggles as we probably looked like we were doing a warped version of the Locomotive or the Conga.

No pain, no lumps today. The anticipation was the worst part.

Re: HELP ease my fears

My anestia was nothing. I was afraid seeing an operating room and all of the machines was going to freak me out. I've been lucky so far that I never had to be in a hospital before.

Now, I'm usually the one to ask a million questions and want to examine everything For the first time in my life I knew the less I knew the more relaxed I'd be.

I walked into the OR with my head loking down at the floor, walked over to the table... did not look up and closed my eyes.

The anestiaologist (sp??) tried to explain it to me but he had a very thick accent... this was the best thing ever... I couldn't understand a word he was saying I didn't want to know. I just pictured a relaxing scene and listened to the music (Paul Simon... Dr. Cohen must be a big fan). I had my eyes closed long before I was out.

That's what worked for me.

Good luck Donna

Re: HELP ease my fears

Thanks all. I feel a tiny bit better.

To clarify..Im actually NOT afraid of being put out...Im afraid of the waking up all drowsy and groogy feeling. Its just a fear I have , I hate that feeling.

Lauren- Your tips were awesome..THANK YOU.

Im gonna use them. I have been practicing Deep Breathing all week ...and will continue to.

Re: HELP ease my fears

Donna, I woke up the same as I wake up all of the time. Pretty alert.

I was told they put you under lighter sedation than they do when they operate.

Re: HELP ease my fears

I never fully went out. I just felt relaxed. I brought a CD and headphones and listened to music...and just relaxed. The nurses were great and were there constantly asking me if I was Ok....it was a fast procedure.

Re: HELP ease my fears

Donna, I want to give you some . I have only been under once (during my lap/dnc) so I really cannot comment on the experience of anesthia during retrieval.

You will be fine! I will pray that one cycle is all you need!!!!

Re: HELP ease my fears

Donna, I wish I could ease your fears and give you great advice, but I haven't been through this myself, although it looks like I'm on that road.

What I can say is that this is the most important thing in your life right now, becoming a mommy. And once you hold that little baby in your arms, it'll be worth it. If you can focus on that, nothing will stand in your way.

I wish you all the luck and in the world and please keep us posted on the progress.

Re: HELP ease my fears

Posted by dm24angel

To clarify..Im actually NOT afraid of being put out...Im afraid of the waking up all drowsy and groogy feeling. Its just a fear I have , I hate that feeling.

Re: HELP ease my fears

Why do they have to use anesthesia?

Ok..as you can see I am freaking again. I TRIED to convince myself it would be fine..but Im seriously not sure I can do this..thats how big my fear is?!?

I wonder if they would let me take something like a xantax ? I mean if Im having freaking anesthsia, what harm could a xanax do? OR like immediately after I wake up, once the eggies are gone??

Re: HELP ease my fears

Posted by leighla

Posted by dm24angel

To clarify..Im actually NOT afraid of being put out...Im afraid of the waking up all drowsy and groogy feeling. Its just a fear I have , I hate that feeling.

I equate it to this:

Has someone ever woken you up in the middle of a dream and it takes you a minute to figure out what's going on because you were so into the dream?

That's what it's like. Just that long to figure out where you are and what's going on, then you are jsut a little sleepy for a couple minutes.