HSG Question

[lynn08]

Hey I am newhere and New to the whole IVF...I am having a HSG done next week and I am nervous and don't know anything about this procedure...RE says may have pain in shoulder's I am concerned...
I start my 1st cycle next month late may..I stopped smoking 3 weeks ago and I am worried about that as well..any advice for me ?

[DolceVita]

Hello,

I have had this done, it could be painful as they insert the tube in and flush you with the "dye". but once thats out its all over... i wish you goodluck, they say alot of people get pregnant right after this procedure.. goodluck!


vita

[JesJes]

Hi,

I had one done a coupole years ago and felt no pain at all. My problem is that both tubes are totally blocked so the dye just spattered right out. My sister just had one done and her tubes are clear and she said the pain was less than that of a period. You will be fine and you can take pain meds right before if you are worried about the cramping afterwards.

The smoking thing......I quit much later than I would of like to and it had no affected anything for me. The important thing is that you quit! Congrats!

[rae76]

Like JesJes said, for many people it really doesn't hurt. Mine did, horribly - not in the shoulder area but just in the lower abdomen. However, it does not last long, so even if you happen to be unlucky like me, it's completely doable. But if they give you the option of taking pain meds beforehand, do!!

My tubes didn't seem to be blocked at all, but I did get pregnant during the following cycle, while waiting for IVF, so I'll never know if there was a connection.... But the pain was definitely worth it

[Maryberr]

Hello
I did one a year and a half ago or so...
My suggestions are to take an ibuprophin before you go in, it kind of feels like bad cramping. Also bring your own pad, the ones the x-ray place are HUGE!
Don't worry though, it ony lasts for a few minutes and it's kind of cool, you can see your uterus and fallopean tubes.
Mary
PS - Great job on quitting smoking! I did about 2 years ago, trust me it gets easier and easier as the days, weeks, then months go by. Keep up the good work and remember "N.O.P.E" (not one puff ever).

[Jane37]

Hi Lynne,
I had no shoulder pain. I took a painkiller before the procedure and it wasn't the most pleasant experience I've ever had, it did hurt but it was like period pain. I went out to lunch with a friend straight after and everything was fine, no bleeding. One of my tubes was unblocked during the process so it was well worth that short amount of pain
Good luck, hope it all goes well,
Jane

[Maryberr]

ok, now I've just put two and two together - are you talking about an HSG or a Laparascopy (LAP) surgery? I've had two LAP's before and both of them caused major shoulder pain from the gas they pump into your abdomen. Is that maybe what you are having?

[Xrayem]

Hi Lynne,

I actually do the HSG's as part of my job and can honestly say that I have never heard a patient complain of shoulder pain. The shoulder pain usually comes with a laproscopy as Maryberr says, due to all the air they use to inflate the tummy.

This is what we do with a HSG: we put in speculum, similar to when you have a pap smear and then a small clamp is used to hold open the cervix while a small tube is fed up ino the uterus. A small amount (10mls) of xray dye is squirted in and pictures are taken at different angles to show the tubes. This is either by moving your pelvis slightly or angling the equipment. We used to so them in 5 minutes, so its really quick. Most women feel nothing, at worst they felt mild cramping like period pain and we would normally recommend over the counter pain killers like Ibroprofen which should knock it on the head.

HSG's are considered both a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure as the very act of squirting dye through the tubes can actually unblock them and a suprisingly large number of women will fall pregnant after this procedure. So once you've had it, get to the baby-dancing and you may manage to avoid IVF altogether!

I wish you the best of luck and look forward to reading of your natural BFP soon!!!!

Em

[lynn08]

To all the ladies .....Thank you sooo very much for your support and help with my questions.....I apprecaite every word from all of your responses ...I feel a little better now knowing what HSG is what happens during the process..I may have left out that I only have one tube that they are looking at...the other was removed a year a go...so not sure if that affects anything...but good luck to you all and thanks again...