HSC Scheduled-What Should I Expect?

anivan · 07-25-2005, 02:13 PM

Hi all,

The Red Sox finally came to town so I have been able to schedule my HSG finally. It's scheduled for this Wednesday. Could anyone give me an idea of what I can expect from this? Is it going to hurt?

Also, the hospital just told me that we have to pay up front if we want to do my DH's SCSA. It's $225.00 & I'm not totally sure that it will be worth it. Would you go through this anyway? I sometimes wonder if all of this tesitng is worth it. Maybe it's just the PCOS that is causing this and I need to work really hard at losing weight. I'm just full of doubt and worry today, I guess. Why can't I ever win & why can't things be easier?

~Ann

clarabell55 · 07-25-2005, 02:23 PM

I can't really help you with the testing of your husband question, my boyfiend just got tested routinely and it was on the NHS so was obviously worth doing for us.

As for the HSG, some ladies have said it was uncomfortable etc... but personally for me I felt nothing, obviously a bit embassing but to me was just like a smear and over nearly as quick, i lay on a table she inserted some gel, which was the contrast dye and then there was a large type of x-ray machine which gave a continuous image of where the dye was going, my tubes were clear which may of been why it was painless, I think some ladies said if they had a small blockage and the dye cleared it that was when they felt a bit of pain.

I know that is just my experiance but please try not to worry, it is over very quickly and hopefully will be painless for you too!

Good luck

SheriKCMO · 07-25-2005, 03:54 PM

With the HSG, the good thing is that it's over pretty fast. It felt yucky to me, like nausea. It was very cool being able to see my uterus and tubes, though! And the x-ray doc was extremely sexy, so I just looked at him and the screen and hoped that it was over soon... and it was. Take a pad, and take some ibuprophen about an hour before if it's allowed. There's usually a little cramping when something goes up in there, and there is almost certainly going to be some spotting. The good news is that it's okay to conceive that cycle. I had figured I'd have a glow-in-the dark baby if I did, but evidently it's safe.

I don't know about the boy tests.

I'm sorry this has been such a rocky road!! I'm glad we're all in this together and hope you and DH get this testing out of the way smoothly.
Hugs!
Sheri

~Traci~ · 07-25-2005, 04:06 PM

We didn't get DH to do that test.

The HSG really was a piece of cake for me. I did have a little discomfort but nothing like anyone had said theirs felt like. Take a couple Aleve (they didn't make Aleve when I got mine so I took a couple Motrin and was still fine) about an hour before it. You might have some spotting so take a pad or panty liner w/ you. I took the rest of the day off but really didn't need to, some do though so you might want to do that just in case.

I defiantely know what you mean about all this testing and is it really worth it. My feeling was that even if we decided never to TTC again, I still wanted to know for peace of mind that nothing was wrong with me (which is how it turned out). It was still upsetting but it was also comforting at the same time, it's really hard to explain. I was upset that there wasn't a cause but in a way I knew that w/ all the medical knowledge there is today there wasn't a problem with me that could have been corrected before I lost our babies.

Good Luck!
Traci

anivan · 07-25-2005, 06:40 PM

Thanks for all of the tips. They told me I would be getting an injection of Toredol before the procedure so I think my pain should be manageable.

As far as the SCSA, I think we're just going to do it. I want to rule out everything. It just sucks that we have to pay for it ahead of time. Oh well. I also spoke to the nurse about our egg donor and she said we could talk to Dr. H about it on Wednesday. She said they do them a lot and they have a specific lawyer that they deal with. I don't know if we will end up going the egg donor route or not, but it's so nice to know that we have someone really seriously willing to do this for us. Sometimes I am so thankful that I live in the age that I live in. 30 years ago I would have just been told I can't have a baby and that would have been it.

Thanks again everyone!

saluki_fan · 07-26-2005, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Also, the hospital just told me that we have to pay up front if we want to do my DH's SCSA. It's $225.00 & I'm not totally sure that it will be worth it. Would you go through this anyway?

What is this? I haven't heard of an SCSA. In my opinion, try to rule everything out...remember that if your medical expenses reach a certain percentage of your income (7.5%, maybe - check out www.irs.gov to make sure) then they are tax-deductible.

I had an HSG in December 2003. It wasn't fun, but it wasn't completely horrible either, and it was over SO fast! Like Sheri said, it was SO neat to see my uterus and tubes up on the screen - make sure you tell them you want to see the screen before they clear it.

There is a gal on another support group that I belong to that had 4 losses, all around 8 weeks, and found out she had a septate uterus - the babies couldn't grow past the 8-week mark. She just had surgery to get that corrected (using the same RE we visit!) and now is hopeful for her next pregnancy...she's been given the all-clear as soon as her AF shows up next.

GOOD LUCK and keep us posted...

Meghan

anivan · 07-26-2005, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saluki_fan

What is this? I haven't heard of an SCSA.

Meghan,

It's a DNA analysis of DH's sperm. here is a link to a website that will explain it better than I can: http://www.scsadiagnostics.com/AboutUs/Index.cfm

Basically, we're just trying to rule out everything at this point. I am SUPER nervous about the HSG tomorrow. This is so stupid, but I am nervous that they won't find anything wrong!

Thanks for the encouraging words and the great story! I never thought I would hope for a septate uterus...

saluki_fan · 07-26-2005, 03:53 PM

Oh yeah, DH had that done too, but at a different lab (Millenova). They called it a "Sperm DNA Integrity Test". It was $270 for the test and $105 for the shipping of the "sample." Yikes! His insurance reimbursed him $135 for the test and zero for the shipping - but we'll deduct it from our taxes if we hit the threshold this year.

Phoenix Rising ^^^ · 07-26-2005, 07:04 PM

Anivan, YOU WILL SURVIVE, the HSG!!! I had one back in April it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I felt much like you do I was afraid of nothing being wrong. For me everything was normal, so, again no answers. As far as pain, didn't hurt until the last second, and just as I started to cramp a little, it was over! I was fine afterward. Do take a pad with you, you will feel the dye leaking out, and spot from the brown betadine solution they use to clean the area first. HTH.
Please let us know how it goes tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you!