HSG on Wednesday. Does it really suck?

[goomjiji]

I have a little trepidation. How bad is the cramping really? I'm not scared, per se. Just a little wary. It can't be that bad, I tell myself. And at the same time, I'm looking forward to it. I just want answers, and my sense is that this will most likely provide them. So far, we've just done the SA and the 3 day. It's all good so far, so I'm grateful for that. But, oh, to understand why I haven't gotten pregnant would be so, um, helpful I guess. A little like closure, IYKWIM.

Anyway. Was it painful or uncomfortable? Terribly or mildly? How long did it last? Anything that might give me a better idea of what to expect would be helpful. Thanks, ladies!!

[daisie31]

ummmmm, it's not HORRIBLE but there was definitely cramping. it lasted less than one minute. it did sorta take my breath away and was hard to stay still but i will probably have to have another one next year and am not dreading it at all. it isn't *scarey* type pain, just really intense cramping. it made me a little nauseated but i remeber thinking it wasn't that bad when it was over.

good luck to you. hopefully you will get the answers you are looking for. don't spend another minute stressing over the discomfort...it really isn't that bad.

dena

[tuck]

Is that the test where they check the uterus with a dye?

[FallingLeaves]

I took the recommended Advil

and it wasn't painful. I didn't even have cramping and I had blocked tubes. I am the biggest baby ever and it wasn't too bad. The worst part for me was problems with my cervix. My cervix didn't want to dialate and it took the doctor around 30 to 45 minutes to get my cervix to cooperate - that was the most uncomfortable part for me.

[devilish_fetish]

It's really not that bad. Take the advil reccommended beforehand, and take a pad with you cuz the dye will leak and its kinda yucky and sticky. Mine took about 15 min from the time the doc walked in till I was dressed again. If you think the cramping will be a problem, I'd buy one of those menstrual heating pads (the portable 8-hour kind that has a sticky side) and use it after the doc is done. It helps with the residual cramping.

[kristenok18]

Take 3 tylenol before you go. I didn't have any pain during the procedure, but I had pretty intense cramping for about 1 hour afterwards. If you have any blockages, apparently the cramping during the procedure is worse. A lot of it depends on your dr and staff. Mine were great, and both seemed to take extra care since it is not a comfortable procedure to have done.

[happyfrog]

i concur! take some advil before hand and if you're really anxious, ask for a valium before the test - i got a script for it. it helped me. i was on a long i/f journey and tests always scared me and stressed me.

it kind of hurt when they did the test - but i also did have a blockage.

i do remember thinking the pics were cool - i saw all my innards quite clearly - it was very surprising to me just how LONG and windy the fallopian tubes are. . . . explains why it takes 6-12 days to get a positive after ovulation - it's on a SLOW ride down that tube!

definitely plan on oozing weird fluids for a day or so.

keep in mind there's a higher chance of pg the first 3 cycles after the hsg as the tubes have been cleaned out of all the residual sticky stuff that builds up in there. . .



good luck! ((hugs))

[ashesofyou]

I've had an HSG, and the cramping afterward was just like my slightly annoying normal period cramps, with an "OUCH!" twinge or two thrown in, similar to what I have when I have a "bad" period day, when my period is forced on with provera and/or I pass large clots.

HOWEVER... the kind of pain when the catheter went into my cervix, and when the balloon was not working, and had to be pulled on... whew, that brought tears to my eyes.

I did take 800 mg of ibuprofen about an hour before the procedure.

But really, all the research I had done regarding other's experiences... I finally ended up realizing that everyone's experiences are on a VERY BROAD spectrum. All of our anatomy is a little different. All of our fertility issues, like blocked tubes, adhesions, etc are different. All of our doctors are different in the way they do things... No one can tell you honestly what you will experience.

Try to release as much of the stress as possible, meditate, and try to imagine this as one more "step" to holding your sweet baby in your arms.

I hope you get some answers wednesday, and that things go well for you! Please let us know what you find out!

OH! and....

P.S. A lot of women pass "chunks" of odd stuff after for a few days... weird things that look almost alien lol! Don't pook about it, as many people here that have dealt with it, consider it "normal". Count that as one of those things that no one remembers to tell you!

[Starr]

Ok I'll be the bug wimp and say mine hurt like heck. Seriously. I took Advil beforehand and for all the good that did I could have had Tylenol 3. But he did have problems inserting the instrument and getting the dye to go, so that could have been part of it. The pain was the worste while they insert it and about 20 minutes later it got bad again. Also bring a pad because you will leak the iodine (blue) stuff afterwards.

[Starr]

For advice:

Wear comfy pants
Bring a pad
Take something before hand
I would reccomend having a driver if you live a ways away, there was no way I would have been able to drive myself home
Afterwards rest

[goomjiji]

Thanks so much, everyone! I think I'll be able to handle it. The tip on the pads was good--I wouldn't have thought, but I'll bet they'll have some there. 800 mg. ibuprofen is ALOT, but I'll take it.

[Starr]

Good luck!!!

[ashesofyou]

Originally Posted by goomjiji

Thanks so much, everyone! I think I'll be able to handle it. The tip on the pads was good--I wouldn't have thought, but I'll bet they'll have some there. 800 mg. ibuprofen is ALOT, but I'll take it.

I agree, 800mg. is a lot. I asked my Dr. if she would prescribe a dose or two of prescription pain meds, or a Valium for that day... she said that if I took a "prescription dosage" of ibuprofen which is 800mg. that I would get about the same relief as a darvocet or something similar, plus if there was any inflamation or irritation from the procedure the advil would be the best thing to take anyway. And I had never taken Valium before, I was scared of it so I didn't ask a second time for something to make me relax.

Make sure you eat something before you take that much though, you definitely don't want an angry belly on top of everything else going on!

It's funny how I can avoid any meds, even deal with a migraine naturally when in the 2ww, but once AF cramps start and I know there is no baby to protect... I demand pain relief!

[ashesofyou]

How did your HSG go today?

[goomjiji]

Oh. It's so sweet of you to ask! Other than being an hour behind schedule, it was good. I had zero pain--only a little of the normal discomfort, and everything looked good. It really is amazing how loooonnnnggg and SKINNY the tubes are. If there was any scar tissue, it was minimal and hopefully was flushed in the process. At this point, it looks like I might have some kind of hormonal issue, so I'm definitely going to get some accupuncture.

I'm SO grateful for this forum. I have only just begun to discuss this with some of my closest friends, and having a place that I knew was safe has been amazingly helpful. I'm rooting for each and every one of you, and hoping that you all start bragging about morning sickness in the pregnancy forum soon!

[kristenok18]

I'm glad it went so well!

[ashesofyou]

I know! Aren't the tubes beautiful? Almost like a ribbon, or one of those funky floral decorations... !

I am so glad that your tubes were clear, and you had no pain.

f you ovulate regularly, I hope you're one of the chickas that goes for the HSG, gets all the cobwebs blown out, and lands a BFP in the next few months!

Oh, and I agree, much much easier to find like minded women online. It's easier to open up and ask other's experiences, and to offer our own when we know we're here because we're going through the same !@#$%^&* things.

[Starr]

I'm glad it went good for you. Hopefully you'll see results.

[aphlbrck]

I didn't find it to be bad...Took 3 advil before the procedure...The worst part was the inserting of the dye...A little uncomfortable...but after that it was fine...The really cool part, unlike most of the tests, is that you can actually see what happens with your tubes and get the results right then

[gemasita]

I'm glad yours went well!

They had a hard time getting the catheter through my cervix so I really had to breath and tell myself that I was doing this to have a baby and that it would be over soon.

My tube was blocked (I knew that before the HSG though) and looked skinny and then like a balloon! It was crazy! But interesting.