RE Plan = Break for Surgery :(

Cara1024

Sorry this is pretty long.

As some of you may remember my OBGYN, who did all out initial fertility testing, diagnosed me with a bicornuate uterus in Sept and said it was inoperable. He said that I could still conceive but I would have risk or pre-term labor, lots of bed rest, and a c-section etc.......

Fast forward to now. NYE was my first appointment with my RE. She did another ultrasound to determine what she thought about my uterus. She said she can't tell if it is truly a bicornuate like the HSG showed or if hopefully its a septate uterus, and she could remove the septum. (septate's can and should be corrected via surgery because they carry a 70%-80% MC rate) She said she won't really know if she can correct it or not until she opens me up and actually sees it. So now I'm having a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy to hopefully repair it next Friday, Jan 11th. I was hoping that if I needed this she could just do the hystercopy and not the lap also. I'm just a bit worried about how well I will handle the surgery. I've had a minor surgery before that I was told I should recover from in just a few days but it turned out to be a much much worse recovery, because of my fibromyalgia. But regardless of the pain, it will all be well worth it if she is able to correct it, and I'll have much move room in my uterus for a baby one day. However she did warn me that if she opens me up and sees that it truly is a bicornuate she will just have to close.

Also in the meantime we will just be waiting on DH's clomid to have a few months to work. He has MFI with very low count and low T. Then if my surgery is a success and if his numbers come up quite a bit, we may can try an IUI in March. She also said that if his numbers stay where they are at, IVF ICSI would be her next suggestion. (not what I wanted to hear, but hopefully that won't be the case.) 

Has anyone here had a Lap and a Hysteroscopy to correct a septate uterus?  Please tell me about your experience.

Neesey

I didn't have the lap but I did have my septum removed in October. The surgery itself wasn't bad at all. Having the stint removed hurt like crazy. Apparently no one told me to take pain meds before. That part took my breath away but otherwise it was easy.

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Cara1024

Neesey:

I didn't have the lap but I did have my septum removed in October. The surgery itself wasn't bad at all. Having the stint removed hurt like crazy. Apparently no one told me to take pain meds before. That part took my breath away but otherwise it was easy.

hmm...I'm not sure what you mean by having the stint removed? My RE didn't say anything like that. Can you tell me more about that part?

Believe33

Sorry, I haven't experienced a hysteroscopy or a lap, but just wanted to wish you luck with both procedures.  FX that you get some answers and some good news!

steph782

Hello, I just had Lap and Hys to remove my septum 3 weeks ago. It was my first ever sugery so I was freeking out to say the least. I'm not going to say it was a day at the beach BUT you'll get through it. I felt absolutely nothing during surgery and was definitely in some pain for a few days after due to incisions and the pain from within. My shoulders did hurt from the air they use during surgery but that only lasted a day or two. The septum turned out to be a blessing in a way bc while in there he also found pretty bad endometrosis that had attacked my tube and I had adhesions all throughout my uterus.  They were able to clean everything up at one time. They even did a sonohystogram while I was still under so they were able to see how much of it they got. I woke up to the good news that I would not need another surgery. They left a balloon/stint in there and that started to come out on its own after a few days. 6 days after the surgery I had my post op appt for him to take out. Also not fun, but not horrible and that only took a minute or so. I felt very unlucky (a very small percentage of women have this) but at the sametime it is able to be fixed so I think that's pretty great. I have yet to heard of anyone no knowing if it was a septum or a bicornuate when going into surgery.  My RE used internal ultrasound and then moved on to sonohystogram to diagnose.  Have you thought of getting a second opinion?  Good luck, all will be fin and it will be over before you know it!

MrsN08

I haven't really had any experience with this myself, but, as someone with my own uterine abnormality, I'll be thinking of you.  I hope you get the best possible outcome and that DH's numbers improve quickly!

nlscroggins

no experience here, but wanted to wish you good luck! i'm glad that your RE is going to take a look and i hope it is completely fixable and you'll be back and ready to rock soon. also hoping for an easy recovery for you! keep us updated! 

jfb29

Good luck!  Fingers crossed for good results!

dede0726

I have a unicornuate uterus (discovered during my HSG) and had a lap on November 1 to remove the right rudamentary horn, as well as my tubes, a cyst and some endometriosis. Took me about 4-5 weeks to feel back to 100% and we got the ok to get pregnant after January 1 (only 8 weeks post surgery). Any surgery can be a bit scary, but this one isn't too bad. I recommend stocking up on yoga pants because that is all I could wear for about 3 weeks afterwards.

Good luck to you - fingers crossed!!

MrsSmith414

I have never been through anything like this but I just wanted to reach out and say I was thinking of you! FX for positive results and a quick recovery!

Good luck!

Cara1024

Thank you so much for all the responses ladies! I'll post how everything went when its all said and done. Fingers crossed its all over quickly and we will a tleast have one problem over with.

futurehuber

Hi there! How are you doing? Hopefully you remember me.   I'm sorry you're having to go through this.  Just wanted to check, did they do a saline ultrasound (sonohystogram?) or just a regular ultrasound?  My RE wanted to do surgery on me to see if mine was septate or bicornuate, and I demanded (nicely requested, hehe) that they do a saline ultrasound first.  That was recommended on this board.  It turns out that I didn't have either after doing the saline ultrasound!  Not saying you don't have one (although that would be great!), but they should be able to tell with the saline ultrasound I think.  The thing is, if you do have a septum, the surgery works out because they would have to go in and fix it anyway.  But if you truly have a bicornuate uterus, then the surgery is a waste (unless like PP and others I have seen, they find other stuff they can fix while in there).  It's a tough call.  But if your RE seems confident (and you are confident in your RE) that they just don't know and this is the only option, then go for it. Oh and another option my RE said is also MRI (and I've read online).  Just my two cents.  But it if is one or the other, I definitely hope it's the septate so they can fix it!  But either way, you can still have a healthy baby.  GL and keep us posted. 

Debra4869

Cara1024:

Sorry this is pretty long.

As some of you may remember my OBGYN, who did all out initial fertility testing, diagnosed me with a bicornuate uterus in Sept and said it was inoperable. He said that I could still conceive but I would have risk or pre-term labor, lots of bed rest, and a c-section etc.......

Fast forward to now. NYE was my first appointment with my RE. She did another ultrasound to determine what she thought about my uterus. She said she can't tell if it is truly a bicornuate like the HSG showed or if hopefully its a septate uterus, and she could remove the septum. (septate's can and should be corrected via surgery because they carry a 70%-80% MC rate) She said she won't really know if she can correct it or not until she opens me up and actually sees it. So now I'm having a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy to hopefully repair it next Friday, Jan 11th. I was hoping that if I needed this she could just do the hystercopy and not the lap also. I'm just a bit worried about how well I will handle the surgery. I've had a minor surgery before that I was told I should recover from in just a few days but it turned out to be a much much worse recovery, because of my fibromyalgia. But regardless of the pain, it will all be well worth it if she is able to correct it, and I'll have much move room in my uterus for a baby one day. However she did warn me that if she opens me up and sees that it truly is a bicornuate she will just have to close.

Also in the meantime we will just be waiting on DH's clomid to have a few months to work. He has MFI with very low count and low T. Then if my surgery is a success and if his numbers come up quite a bit, we may can try an IUI in March. She also said that if his numbers stay where they are at, IVF ICSI would be her next suggestion. (not what I wanted to hear, but hopefully that won't be the case.) 

Has anyone here had a Lap and a Hysteroscopy to correct a septate uterus?  Please tell me about your experience.

 

I had my septum removed and then I got pregnant right afterwards. My experience was exactly as the PP, Steph, described. However, I agree with the other PPs, your RE should do a saline U/S to know FOR SURE if it is bicorn or septate before surgery. There is no reason that they should not know before they go in. It sounds like your RE might not be an expert in this area....I might recommend getting a second opinion. My RE knew right away that mine was a septum.  Make sure your RE has done this often, as I have heard of doctors not "getting it all" and having to go back in for another surgery.

I would hate for you to have surgery unneccessarily if it is a bicorn, however, my RE also found endo when he went in so in a situation like that - the lap would not be all for nothing.  They surgery was not that bad. Getting the stint out after 5 days was truly the worst part but it is over so quickly. It was the best feeling afterwards to know that I was "fixed" and could start to TTC again. I am thankful that I had no trouble getting pregnant afterwards, and I wish the same for you. Best of luck and PM me if you have any questions.

Cara1024

futurehuber:

Hi there! How are you doing? Hopefully you remember me.   I'm sorry you're having to go through this.  Just wanted to check, did they do a saline ultrasound (sonohystogram?) or just a regular ultrasound?  My RE wanted to do surgery on me to see if mine was septate or bicornuate, and I demanded (nicely requested, hehe) that they do a saline ultrasound first.  That was recommended on this board.  It turns out that I didn't have either after doing the saline ultrasound!  Not saying you don't have one (although that would be great!), but they should be able to tell with the saline ultrasound I think.  The thing is, if you do have a septum, the surgery works out because they would have to go in and fix it anyway.  But if you truly have a bicornuate uterus, then the surgery is a waste (unless like PP and others I have seen, they find other stuff they can fix while in there).  It's a tough call.  But if your RE seems confident (and you are confident in your RE) that they just don't know and this is the only option, then go for it. Oh and another option my RE said is also MRI (and I've read online).  Just my two cents.  But it if is one or the other, I definitely hope it's the septate so they can fix it!  But either way, you can still have a healthy baby.  GL and keep us posted. 

Yes I remember you! Thank you for your reply. I'm sooooo torn right not. My RE does seem very confident but I would give anything to just know for sure that this surgery is completely necessary. She did a vaginal ultrasound and said that she still couldn't tell for sure. I did here her say to the NP that she is pretty confident and saw no point to put me through a saline. BUT I think I'm going to call Monday and beg for a Saline US if for nothing more than peace of mind going into this. Did your saline US fell like an HSG? That certainly wasn't fun for me but I'd do it to get this answered for sure. Uggg this is such an awful feeling. I'm and so incredibly anxious about this. Today is my birthday and I had a full on panic attack this afternoon just thinking about this decision.

steph782

I would definitely get the Saline Ultrasound.  That's how they definitely knew for me and my RE said that it was the next step before scheduling surgery.  If your present dr. doesn't think it's necessary...I hate to say it but I would go somewhere else.  You're not near Pittsburgh at all are you?  I absolutely love my dr.  Good Luck!

futurehuber

Cara1024:

futurehuber:

Hi there! How are you doing? Hopefully you remember me.   I'm sorry you're having to go through this.  Just wanted to check, did they do a saline ultrasound (sonohystogram?) or just a regular ultrasound?  My RE wanted to do surgery on me to see if mine was septate or bicornuate, and I demanded (nicely requested, hehe) that they do a saline ultrasound first.  That was recommended on this board.  It turns out that I didn't have either after doing the saline ultrasound!  Not saying you don't have one (although that would be great!), but they should be able to tell with the saline ultrasound I think.  The thing is, if you do have a septum, the surgery works out because they would have to go in and fix it anyway.  But if you truly have a bicornuate uterus, then the surgery is a waste (unless like PP and others I have seen, they find other stuff they can fix while in there).  It's a tough call.  But if your RE seems confident (and you are confident in your RE) that they just don't know and this is the only option, then go for it. Oh and another option my RE said is also MRI (and I've read online).  Just my two cents.  But it if is one or the other, I definitely hope it's the septate so they can fix it!  But either way, you can still have a healthy baby.  GL and keep us posted. 

Yes I remember you! Thank you for your reply. I'm sooooo torn right not. My RE does seem very confident but I would give anything to just know for sure that this surgery is completely necessary. She did a vaginal ultrasound and said that she still couldn't tell for sure. I did here her say to the NP that she is pretty confident and saw no point to put me through a saline. BUT I think I'm going to call Monday and beg for a Saline US if for nothing more than peace of mind going into this. Did your saline US fell like an HSG? That certainly wasn't fun for me but I'd do it to get this answered for sure. Uggg this is such an awful feeling. I'm and so incredibly anxious about this. Today is my birthday and I had a full on panic attack this afternoon just thinking about this decision.

First of all, it's crazy how much we have in common! My bday is tomorrow! Well happy birthday and try not to stress too much! But I agree you should call on Mon and ask for the saline US. It shouldn't be as bad as the HSG, I talked about that in your post above. Good luck!! Keep us posted!!