Any ladies out there want to share their experiences with this procedure? I’m having an HSG next week and I’m a basket case already worrying about the results and what they mean. I’m getting mixed bag opinions from my mom and friends via email saying
No biggie, I was hauling lumber later that afternoon
to
I screamed my head off and asked to be murdered because of the pain
to
Sort of uncomfortable but overall no big deal
So, I guess I just wanted to hear other people’s experiences and share my fear, since my hubby doesn’t really understand and just comes at me with a hug and a ‘you’ll be fine’
I haven’t had one myself, but a good friend of mine did, and she described it as only slightly more uncomfortable than a pap smear. She’s a tiny thing too - only 5 feet tall and about 100 pounds. She said it only took about 5 minutes. The results were available immediately. She was able to leave about a half hour after it was over (they wanted her to hang around a bit just to make sure she wasn’t allergic to the dye they use. Apparently that is pretty rare though).
I have to take antibiotics ahead of time. I’m confused now because my mother said when she had it, they went through her belly button, but my ‘literature’ says they use a speculum in the hooha.
And they said “some people need painkillers” before during and after…and that I shouldn’t drive home myself.
My wife had one, and it was not a big deal for her. (She always had a big problem with the ultrasounds, because back in them old doys, you really needed a full bladder.) I was there to drive and, of course, and to be supportive if the tests indicated a problem.
I took 3 Motrin about 1/2 hr. before the HSG. Because my tubes were not blocked, I felt slight to strong AF like cramping. It was uncomfortable for me, but I just squeezed the crap out of someones hand.
**My dh was allowed in the room believe it or not.
You will also see the results right away and your doc should play back the tape for you (of the dye going through your tubes.)
I took the rest of the day off just to rest. Heck, why not? I was fine the next day-- perfectly normal.
I have heard that if your tubes are blocked it could be more painful. I’ve also heard that 30% of women who have an HSG concieve within 3-4 mos afterwards because the dye seems to “dislogde and clean” any “stuff” that may be lingering in the fallopian tubes.
You will be fine…:o) Motrin is our friend.
What your mom had is a laproscopy. This is when they put a scope thru the bellybutton. This is to rule out endometriosis b/c the HSG cannot detect that (unless the tubes are blocked). I would have had that done if we were unsuccessful with the Pergonal and IUI…but we got lucky on one round of Pergonal in December.
I was just looking at the photos on www.advancedfertility.com and my first thought was "Hey! You mean my uterus isn’t that perfect pear-shaped thing they always picture in anatomy books!?! " I always imagined it as perfectly shaped, and perfectly oriented. The one in the photo is triangular and sort of lying to one side–and that’s normal. And the tubes sort of meander all over. The anatomy books don’t show that, either, dammit.
I had three of them ranging from spring of 1997 to January of 1999 when I was 26 to 28 years old. Two by my regular OB-GYN who worked with me at first, and then the Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE). I had an ovary surgerically removed because of a benign tumor at the age of 22, so the tube on that side is scarred shut. The first HSG was like yours - just part of the program. The next one was a year later because we had determined I had endometrioisis, I had surgery for that, and we wanted to see if the surgery scarring messed up my one good side, then finally the RE wanted to do all the tests for himself.
I belonged to ONNA when I was going through fertility treatments (which stands for Oh No Not Again) an internet group much like this one which was so helpful in this area. They stopped the group because of a few bad apples, I am sorry to say.
Anyway, according to all the others at ONNA, you usually had the worst pain if you actually have blockage of some sort, which I did. I took ibuprophen prior to. I also cramp easily - anything touches my cervix and I am in pain, including pap smears. Honestly, yes, it hurt, but pretty much tolerable and short-lived. It really doesn’t take that long at all. 3 minutes or so, I would say. Within 45 minutes I was pretty well not in pain anymore. I believe I went back to work in all cases.
I know I am all over the place with this post. I hope I said something useful. Feel free to email me at any time and I will gladly share anything you would like to know. I did just about everything but IVF. Fertility treatments are no fun, especially for an intelligent woman who is used to having control of her life. (by the way, I did have a son, who will be 3 in April. )
Your tubes are clear. They aren’t the reason you are having trouble.
One or both of your tubes are not clear. If one is not clear, you will probably proceed with treatment as usual. They may suspect endometriosis. If both of your tubes are not clear, your only real option is IVF (in vitro fertilization). They might want to try micro repair surgery on the tubes, but the success rate for that isn’t that high and it is expensive and usually easier just to skip to the big guns.
I was allowed to watch the screen while they did all of mine, so I could see the dye flow through the hairline of the tube, then spill into the abdominal cavity myself. It isn’t rocket science.
No - not sterile. There are other conditions that are much harder to overcome than to have blocked tubes. Not ovulating at all, uterine damage that prevents implantation, an immune system so strong that it kills the fetus - that is sterile. Blocked tubes is really not a bad thing. Yes, IVF is expensive, but nearly guaranteed to work if your only problem is blocked tubes.
Clarification in case I should offend someone who does have those other issues - Even the things I listed - they have ways to get around. There is so much science can do to help you, it is usually up to you as far as how hard you really want to try. But cheer up! At ONNA, we had over 1,000 women going through fertility treatments, and I don’t remember any of them having blockage on both sides. It isn’t very likely - it is just one of those things they do because they can. If I could have a child despite dysplasia of the cervix, one ovary, endometriosis, and luteal phase defect, there is hope.
Just to be sure, your SO has been checked and it isn’t his swimmers, right? Because that is much harder to solve than women’s issues. I m sure you know the stats that 1/3 of infertility is the woman, 1/3 is the man, and the last third is a problem on both sides.
I know two women who were told that their tubes were completely blocked on both sides and they would need intervention to conceive.
Both went away devastated and both got pregnant unexpectedly.
Even if you have blocked tubes, jar, you’re not sterile. You might have a little touch of infertility but sterility is where there is no hope of ever conceiving and carrying a child.
Bummer though, I was really hoping for you that you would conceive in this year of waiting.
I had this done in 1993. I had to have it because my doc thought I might have a uterus that wasn’t shaped normally or that there might be a septum (partition) in the interior of the uterus. I didn’t have any trouble getting pregnant, I just couldn’t stay pregnant. I had had 3 miscarriages at that point.
I’m an RN with a labor and delivery background, and at the time I was teaching Prepared Childbirth classes. Try working around pregnant women 24/7, wanting to be prenant yourself, and not being able to hang on to it. It was a real low point for me, I tell ya.
As far as the procedure itself, it was very painful, because they dilated my cervix so quickly. Cervical pain is a bitch for some women, not all that bad for others. When you’re in labor, the faster the cervix opens, the more intense the pain.
I was glad I knew Lamaze breathing, because I broke out in a cold sweat and was panting my head off. I squeezed my husband’s hand until I bruised him. Finally, I heard the doc say, “We better stop, she’s gonna pass out.” And then I did.
It turned out I didn’t have anything wrong they could find. I did get pregnant in 94 and again in 95, and now have a couple of rusty-butt little boys, 7 and 9 running around. They were worth it.
Hang in there, and I wish you the best outcome possible.
p.s. I’ve been reading your threads about your struggle, and was wondering how it was going for you. Again, I hope this little bit of support helps a tad.
thanks for the good thoughts. I’m still a bit nervous about it, but that’s just my nature. I worry pre-emptively. I’m trying to stay optimistic, as some of the procedures dealing with IVF (if that’s necessary) seem impossible (shots every day) for me to do.
I can totally relate to how you are feeling. Last year, after our third round of Clomid + IUI failed I was devastated. I thought I would never consider injectables and/or IVF.
I took about 6 months off to figure out some stuff (along with counseling b/c I was a basketcase). This is after 2.5 years of ttc.
Then…it happened. I was in my RE’s office (highly recommend you getting a RE or going to a good infertility clinic)…and saw all the pics on the walls of IVF babies. Then, I knew that could be my baby on the wall and I was ready to do whatever I had to. There are so many women who’ve gone through IVF.
The injectables were no big deal. I’m serious. After the first two (my hubby gave me) we got into a routine at 7pm each night. The infer. clinic gave us very small diameter needles and you can’t really feel it. Trust me. This is from a squirmy woman…I hate needles. I would do it again if we had to.
This first round of injectables (Pergonal) happened in December 02. It worked. I could not believe it. Now, I’m 13 weeks and counting. Yes, still very nervous, but I try to take one day at a time.
Good luck. Please know you are not alone.
BTW** have you tried some support groups/boards on babycenter.com? I found a great group of women on the TTC after a loss" board and we are still supporting each other to this day with infert. struggles and pregnancy.**
Siemsi, thanks for your advice. I don’t go to conception boards anymore because it depressed me so much. Seeing every woman on there slowly but surely graduate to ‘stork club’ was devastating. My therapist suggested I stop going there because I just ended up beating myself up about it. I can’t…and I’m sorry, I can’t believe I’m saying this…I can’t get excited for other women because I’m so submerged in ‘it’s not fair’. So seeing everyone succeed where I fail is just not good for me. I shouldn’t even be talking about it on here. I can’t believe I typed it. I know it’s the most selfish, horrid thought.
The thing is with my husband is he’s a little shaky on IVF. He thinks if we’re meant to have a baby we’ll have one, and having one ‘artificially’ is going against what nature wants for us. And he passes out at the sight of needles.
)
but sterility is where there is no hope of ever conceiving and carrying a child.