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Fertility Notes- a fertility blog with all the news your womb can use

Exploring the Readers….

by Gabrielle on April 27th, 2008

I can’t recall if I’ve told you, but after my second BFN (big fat negative), we agreed to more tests to see what the heck is going on down there. My doctor’s first request was for a hysteroscopy and an endometrial biopsy.

For (lack of) insurance reasons, the hysteroscopy was downgraded to a sonohysterogram (SHG), similar to an HSG only the HSG’s radioactive dye is replaced with seemingly benign saline.

Sound like fun? Here’s the kicker, I actually need to complete a cycle of meds as if I were having an FET (frozen embryo transfer) at the end of it. But instead of little bundles of hope and promise, my legs will be spread to greet scopes, scrapers and I am honestly getting a little dizzy just thinking about it. I just may pass out.

So, ladies, here is what I need to know. Am I overreacting? Are you reading this post and thinking, “shoot, ain’t nothin’ to those tests.” Or are you sucking in your breath in commiseration?

Have You Ever Had One of These? (And if so, which is the MOST uncomfortable)?
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Please feel free (no really, I am begging you) to leave any tips or advice for pre- and post- test sanity.

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POSTED IN: fertility boosts?, infertility treatments, insurance, medical procedures, shared experiences

6 opinions for Exploring the Readers….

  • Mel
    Apr 27, 2008 at 11:27 pm

    I think the HSG is much more painful than the SHG (bring a pad–the saline leaked for about two hours at a slow drip afterwards). But, I also went into the SHG more mentally prepared than I did with the HSG so who can say. In Operation Heads Up, everyone recommends painkillers AND ativan for the biopsy.

  • brandi
    Apr 27, 2008 at 11:40 pm

    hello..i have had the Hysteroscopy…lucky for me insurance wise my doc found a code to use where insurance did pay for most..i had a polp and she went in at the same time…i was out for it so it was fine just sore after and the usual(i have fibromyalgia too)……………………then when that came back she used a code for abnormal findings to go in an do the hsg(dye) test………i was not out for that …it was very uncomfortable..and was painful for me because there was a blockage…and the try to sorta get it open with the dye with lots of pressure………..but everyone is different….take something before the procedure(ask doc what) so you can beat the pain……………i hope you understand all this…………talk to you later,brandi

  • luna
    Apr 28, 2008 at 2:56 am

    I’ve had them all but the biopsy, and then some. SHG was no problem whatsoever when my good doc did it. (but when some ignot at the hospital did one it hurt. my doc later joked that the hospital guy probably hadn’t seen too many vaginas.)

    the HSG hurt in a pinchy and crampy way. I took an 800mg ibuprofren beforehand.

    I’ve had 3 hysteroscopies — really not bad at all but I was out on anesthesia. just crampy after. laproscopy was the worst because I had pretty major surgery there.

    my advice is take a painkiller for sure, and if you’re not under anesthesia then an anti-anxiety med would be good too. I think I’d want that with the biopsy. good luck! ~luna

  • isn't it pretty to think so
    Apr 28, 2008 at 8:09 am

    Hey, Is this the biopsy that goes to Yale? The Endometrium Function Test? I think it is b/c for that one, you need to prepare like for the FET. If so, I have blogged about it and got some info about it from a doc that I TRUST! I was told that for that particular biopsy, IF they find anything wrong, the treatment is a “down cycle” with a low dose monophasic birth control pill. That’s it. So it might be worth it to just go ahead and do that anyway, before the cycle…instead of a painful and expensive test. That is what I am going to do.
    As for the other things: the saline sono was no biggie. The HSG was very difficult for me, and if I was going to do it again, I would insist on Valium and pain killers. i had a hysteroscopy last week and it wasn’t bad during, but recovery was a little tough. But that could be b/c while she was down there, the dr told me she was going to do a biopsy. Not sure why, but that could have bee why I was in pain after.
    Let me know if you want any more info! Good luck!!!

  • Gabrielle
    Apr 28, 2008 at 8:48 am

    Mel, thanks so much. I think that’s the answer I was hoping for. I went into the HSG anticipating the “mild cramping” my nurse had warned me about, not the absolute pain that passed me out cold on the table and gave my poor gyn a near-heart attack. I had heard the SHG was actually worse for some people and that’s what had me begging for the hysteroscopy, where at least they could knock me out. I can deal with a little dripping…

    Brandi and Luna, thanks so much for your advice. Painkillers and an ativan sound like reasonable requests and I am sure my nurse will do her best to get me both.

    Pretty, I don’t think this is the biopsy that goes to Yale, simply because my clinic is also connected with a university and I doubt they would feed into a competitor’s study. I am already on a low dose monophasic birth control pill (even when I am not cycling) so I’m not sure if that suggestion would help. But thanks so much for your tips. I have read your post on the Yale study and I really appreciated the info you shared.

    Thanks so much for weighing in on this.

  • racehal
    Apr 29, 2008 at 1:24 pm

    I am one of the unfortunate few who has a bad time with the HSG, so I put that as the most uncomfortable, even though it is over once it’s done and you’re completely fine an hour later.

    I recently had the SHG, and it was much easier. Just embarrassing. They put this pan under me to catch the water as it came rushing out of me. DH was in the room — I’m surprised he ever wanted to BD again after! The only thing is - you mentioned passing out. You might mention that to them before they do it. I get dizzy/sick/lightheaded with both HSG and SHG (and IUI for that matter, although not as bad.) It has something to do with the catheter making my blood pressure drop or sending me into shock or something. I think they can give you medication to ‘open’ your cervix beforehand and that might make it easier. So, what I’m saying is the SHG didn’t hurt like the HSG, — didn’t hurt at all, really, once the catheter was in — but it did give me the same sort of awful flu-like feeling after.

    I’ve also had a hysteroscopy (and have another one scheduled) and a laparoscopy. You’re asleep for both of those so the actual test is not so uncomfortable. But of course if you feel icky and gross after anesthesia, then you will feel icky after them. I know for the lap I was pretty sore for a couple of days, and I didn’t feel like BD for a couple of weeks, but I had it on a Thursday and was back to work on Monday with no problems.

    I had the hysteroscopy more recently, but I can’t remember a darned thing about what the recovery was like. (They must have given me some good pills.) I took a week off of work for that one, but I seem to remember DH taking me around apartment shopping (not touring, just driving around looking) during my recovery time off so it must not have been that bad.

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