Grasping at straws here... sedation for HSG?

HotChocolate79

Long story but please bear with me...

I had a horrible, horrible experience with this a couple weeks ago and ultimately it was unsuccessful because they couldn't get the catheter through my cervix.  I was extremely anxious about the procedure even before it got f*cked up, but once I was there it was worse than anything I had imagined, more so psychologically than anything else as I am guessing I must have blocked out the pain (MH said I was pretty out of it mentally and had a hard time answering basic questions).  The nurse was really nice but numerous doctors who kept trying this were not and one of them said about me in third person, as if I wasn't even there, "she must have an obstruction or a tumor because I've never had that happen before."  Perhaps I am a weakling that shouldn't be reproducing but it was one of the worst medical experiences I've had.  And cherry on top, I ended up with an infection after.

Yesterday I went to the RE's office again.  He was perplexed at the whole thing and had me do a sonohysterogram, I guess to disprove the "must be a tumor" statement.  The woman doing it was fantastic and made me feel as comfortable as possible, plus MH was able to come in with me and that helped too.  She was able to perform the procedure but only using an IUI catheter and no balloon.  It hurt pretty badly and I just now stopped spotting, 24+ hours later.  I guess I am just really small there and have an unusual angle but no tumors or obstructions.  So now the RE wants me to do another HSG, at another hospital.

I swear I cried all day today just thinking about it.    I really don't know if I can handle it mentally, and it's more than a valium can help with.  Has anyone asked for sedation for this procedure?  I am guessing insurance won't pay for it which is absolutely fine, and I am happy to pick up the bill.  The reading I've done online seems to point that they don't want to do it... but if people afraid of dental work can be sedated, how's this worse?  (rhetorical question).

 

Thanks for reading if you got this far.  I am really, really struggling with this :-( 

Debra4869

I'm really sorry you had to go thru that. I remember your post. Did you ask your doctor or a nurse if they can sedate you? I am sure it is possible, it is just whether or not your doctor is willing to do that...I had an HSG and thought it was sooooooo painful. I just had a saline ultrasound this past weekend and it was a breeze compared to the HSG. You could always try once more. The fact that they got the IUI catheter in easily is a good sign. And maybe they can give you something stronger then Valium that will really knock you out. Good luck either way.

JennPierog

I don't think not being able to be sedated more then Valium has anything to do with insurance. You would need monitoring and nurses or an anesthesiologist to sedate you.

Did you try a Valium? you need to talk to your doctor about your anxiety have him give you Ativan or something to take the edge off. There are plenty of drugs out there to make this easier on you, but as for being knocked probably no chance.

 

HotChocolate79

JennPierog:

I don't think not being able to be sedated more then Valium has anything to do with insurance. You would need monitoring and nurses or an anesthesiologist to sedate you.

Did you try a Valium? you need to talk to your doctor about your anxiety have him give you Ativan or something to take the edge off. There are plenty of drugs out there to make this easier on you, but as for being knocked probably no chance.

 

Hmm, that doesn't seem to make sense - when I had sedation for dental stuff, there was only the dentist and the hygenist, no anesthesiologist and no extra nursing staff.  HSG is performed by a doctor a nurse so that seems like enough to handle a mild sedative, I would think.  I had to argue with my insurance over that but in the end they did pay.

 

As for drugs, I tried Ativan and Xanax and for this it didn't help.  I think how badly it went pretty much sealed it in my mind as a horror show and I am not sure there's a lot I can do about it if I am awake :-( 

sweetpeasweetpea

If it were me I would definitely ask for sedation.  They can give it to you through an IV and if it's going to be performed at a hospital, there shouldn't be any reason why you couldn't get nurse monitoring and and anesthesiologist.  I wish I would have gotten sedation for mine.  It was so bad I nearly passed out.  Thankfully they were able to get through right at the end and get it finished.  Worst pain I have ever felt and I've been shot in the face before (It was during a robbery, I was 17) so that should tell you something.  For all of my transfers, whether they be fresh or frozen, my RE gives my IV sedation.  Apparently my cervix is very narrow and sort of curved the farther in it goes and is difficult to navigate and, according to my last RE, "very uncooperative".  I know how much it sucks!

JennaNAaron

I know it's very expensive, but also consider the fact that if it is that big of a deal to you...are you willing to pay what insurance doesn't?

 

Mine was very painful and I had an uncooperative cervix (and had to go twice).  I get it...trust me.

JennPierog

HotChocolate79:

JennPierog:

I don't think not being able to be sedated more then Valium has anything to do with insurance. You would need monitoring and nurses or an anesthesiologist to sedate you.

Did you try a Valium? you need to talk to your doctor about your anxiety have him give you Ativan or something to take the edge off. There are plenty of drugs out there to make this easier on you, but as for being knocked probably no chance.

 

Hmm, that doesn't seem to make sense - when I had sedation for dental stuff, there was only the dentist and the hygenist, no anesthesiologist and no extra nursing staff.  HSG is performed by a doctor a nurse so that seems like enough to handle a mild sedative, I would think.  I had to argue with my insurance over that but in the end they did pay.

 

As for drugs, I tried Ativan and Xanax and for this it didn't help.  I think how badly it went pretty much sealed it in my mind as a horror show and I am not sure there's a lot I can do about it if I am awake :-( 

I wasn't trying to be rude I'm a nurse and I do conscious sedation, I have never seen it done in the xray department,(it has to be done my specialty trained nurses or by an anesthesiologist) normally its a x-ray tech, your RE and the radiologist that does the HSG. I don't know anything about what they use at dentist offices but I think its different.

I hope you talk to your RE and figure out a way to make this less traumatic for you. I wish you the best of luck!

HotChocolate79

I am absolutely willing and fortunately able to pay for it.  It's not like we have nothing else to spend money on, but there's no real price tag on my mental health.  I really, really don't think I can handle it without so I am going to beg and plead that they do it.  Thanks for your understanding ladies, I feel really alone in how traumatic I am finding this whole thing to be.  It seems like most people just think I am a big drama queen.  I hate-hate-HATE infertility.   

CluckyEV

LGLDVM:

If you are asking whether or not sedation will effect the results of your test, I am pretty sure the answer is 'no'.  Many women have their HSG done while under anesthesia for their lap. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure I have read this from ladies here.

I don't know if every doctor will do sedation, but there's no harm in asking.

This!  

STL34

My first HSG was during my lap and I was completely under.  My second was not sedated.  It hurt because I have the "most tortuous cervix" the doctor had ever seen.  The second HSG showed both tubes blocked but the doctor thinks it was because he was unable to get the balloon to the correct spot and/or muscle spasms.  We were already doing IVF.  But, if I decide to go back and do IUI or try on our own again, my RE wants to do a sedated HSG.  They think the sedation should let them insert the catheter more easily and should also keep me from having the muscle spasms.  Basically, this is a long way of saying you should be able to get a sedated HSG and my insurance would cover the sedation in my situation.

Good luck!