When we went in for our consultation, I happened to be in the right part of my cycle to do the HSG. You are supposed to have finished your period but not be too close to ovulation - the stage in which you are least likely to be pregnant. I was only going to be in the correct phase of my cycle for a few more days. The annoying over-achiever in me wanted to get started on our list, so I asked whether it would be possible to do the HSG right away rather than wait another month. Kathy checked the schedule and we were in luck! There was an opening in 2 days.
I walked out of our consult armed with lots of paperwork and instructions on preparing for the HSG. I was already feeling a bit nervous about it (Kathy had said it could be very uncomfortable!) but I figured the sooner it was over with the better. On the way home, Paul and I discussed our to-do list and upcoming tests. His test would be a one-time thing at an outside andrology lab. We'd been told it could take a week or more for results to trickle back to Kathy's office, so we decided to get that checked off right away too. I called and scheduled his appointment for the following week. The progesterone blood draws couldn't be scheduled ahead of time since those were dependent on if and when I ovulated. Nevertheless, we were getting the ball rolling.
For some people, too much information can be overwhelming or even terrifying. I'm not one of those people. I'm a curious person by nature, and I like to know as much as possible about something new before jumping into it. So naturally, I Googled everything I could find about the HSG test ahead of time. The HSG is basically a series of x-ray images taken as a special dye is forced into the uterus and fallopian tubes. If there are issues with the "filling and spilling" of dye into or out of the tubes, it can indicate some kind of physical blockage that might be preventing sperm from meeting the egg. I scoured several blogs and comment boards, most of which confirmed Kathy's warning about the pain/discomfort level. The good news, however, was that the test would be over in a matter of minutes, after which the only lingering pain would be some cramping as the uterus expelled the leftover dye. I figured I could handle it.
The day of the test, I worked up until it was time to check in on the radiology floor of the hospital, which was just across the street from my office. The check-in process was relatively smooth. There was some paperwork, verification of insurance, and a separate consent to undergo the procedure. After that, a nice tech in scrubs took me back to the locker room. I figured I would be naked from the waist down, so I was suprised when the tech showed me to a changing room and began rattling off instructions about removing all my clothing and jewelry (including my socks!). She asked if I understood what to do, handed me a key for the locker, and whipped the curtain shut behind her. I had anticipated the usual exam room set up, complete with stirrups, gown, and paper sheet. This felt more like going into the operating room! I got undressed, put on my socks and the two gowns (one opening in back and one in front), and stowed my clothes and shoes in my assigned locker. I vaguely remembered the tech telling me to exit through a particular door and follow the signs to the women's gowned waiting room. As I pushed through the door, I silently hoped I would NOT run into anyone I knew - such is the risk of becoming a patient where you work I guess!
The doctor who would be doing my HSG was running behind, so I had a bit of a wait in the gowned waiting area. Eventually, another tech came and called me back. She explained she was going to get me prepped for the test and apologized for the wait. As it turned out, I wasn't far off in feeling like I was headed to the OR. The room she took me to actually looked like it could be used for surgeries. There were big, adjustable lights hovering over a cold-looking stainless steel table. She had me sit on a towel on the table, hike up my gowns, and lay back with my knees bent and feet resting on the end of the table. Stirrups would have been nice - it was kind of an awkward position! While we waited, she explained the procedure. After a few minutes, the doctor (who looked just like Reese Witherspoon!) arrived and introduced herself. She asked if I had any questions and then we got started...
First she inserted a speculum and swabbed my cervix with an iodine solution. The speculum was a bit uncomfortable, mainly because it was just sort of hanging there. The swabbing didn't hurt but it did kind of tickle - which was a rather odd sensation for down there. Next she inserted the catheter; she warned that I might feel a pinch, which I did, but it wasn't terrible. Once the catheter was in place, she removed the speculum and attached a syringe which was filled with the dye. She said I might feel some pressure and cramping as the dye was forced into my uterus. Honestly though, by that point I was pretty distracted by the video screen to my right. I could see my insides, which was pretty cool. I got to watch as the dye was injected and my uterus and fallopian tubes became visible. The x-ray camera flashed a few times and then it was over. The whole test lasted only a few minutes and I barely had time to be nervous. Dr. Witherspoon pronounced my uterus "Fantastic!" and my tubes "Beautiful!" which I assumed meant there were no blockages.
She shook my hand and headed off to her next patient. The tech gave me some tissues to wipe with and explained that I might experience some cramping and a sticky discharge over the next few hours. She assured me this was all normal, handed me a washcloth and pad, and directed me back towards the locker room to get changed. My friend B and I had tickets to a concert in the city that night and had planned to stay overnight in a hotel across the street from the hospital. This worked out well since I was able to check in to our room and relax a bit while the cramping subsided. All in all, the HSG wasn't nearly as bad as I had prepared for it to be, and I was relieved to know there weren't any issues with my tubes. Crossing one test off our list was exciting. I felt like we were making progress.
No comments:
Post a Comment