Holy Panic About My HSG This Week

briannaasaro

Okay, so I'm just gonna dive right in.

The hospital called me to pre-register for my HSG on Wednesday. The middle of our conversation went something like this:

Receptionist: Make sure you take at least 2 IB Profens before you come in.

Me: Yep. They told me. Thanks.

Receptionist: By the way, I had this done and don't believe anything they say. It hurts like hell.

Me: Really? I was told it wasn't too bad and that the cramping is the worst part, which I know I can handle. (I've had biopsies done up there, so I'm used to bad cramping.)

Receptionist: No, it's bad. You'll want the nurse to hold your hand. It's so bad it takes your breath away.

Me: Wow. I'm really glad you gave me a head's up!

Receptionist: Really?

Me: Hell no. Don't do that to anyone else. EVER.

Soooooo..... My gut tells me she was a serious wimp. I have a high threshold for pain. Was she being honest? Does it really hurt badly or was she exaggerating? The part she said hurt was when they push the catheter through the cervix.

Thoughts? Experiences? Suggestions?!

briannaasaro

NariaDreaming:

I haven't had mine done yet, but if the receptionist's biggest complaint was the catheter, and you've survived biopsies, my bet will be that you will be fine! 

 

That's my hope! I think the pain she was talking about was when the catheter pushed through her cervix, not the cramping in general. But if it's a minute's worth of pain, I can handle that just fine!

Twinkie0612

The experience really varies from person to person.

I won't lie, for me the HSG was no picnic and I consider myself to have a high pain tolerance. Was it screaming in pain kind of pain? no, but I was really happy to have a really nice nurse to hold my hand.  The good news is that the test is quick and should only last a few minutes.

ETA:  Deleted the quote, not necessary at all. 

jbelle

I was nervous about mine, so I asked and searched the boards a ton before going. The vast majority of responses I read fell into the "uncomfortable, some brief pain" or less camp.

Plenty of women, myself included, had an entirely painless, easy time of it. I do not have a high tolerance for pain and have notoriously bad reactions to basic stuff (I've passed out from pap smears).

I did take an Aleve before going, so I'd definitely suggest the pain meds, just in case. 

Unfortunately, for those who have a bad experience, it's pretty bad--like your receptionist had. FX that is not you; I really think the odds are good you'll be just fine! Best of luck.

ksgsmu

My fear was worse than the pain....

 

Good luck!

RunCC37

I totally psyched myself out leading up to my HSG. I wish I hadn't! I have a high tolerance for pain, and it was about 15-30 seconds of intense pain. If it lasted any longer then it would have been a problem, but I was able to manage for a short period of time. Just remember to breathe and GL

Desmo35

I have a high threshold for pain as well...or so I thought. It wasn't the actual dye part, but the speculum, the clamp (they had to use because my cervex was "tight" and "back", and the catheter with the balloon attached. I yelled out a few times. Once they took the speculum out and started the dye, I was fine but holy cow the rest of it was uncomfortable! I only took 600 mg of ibuprofen when I should've taken a hydrocodone. Good thing is that it doesn't last long and it's worth getting. Just keep your mind on why you are there.

BabyDustWish

First of all what a completly unprofessional receptionist! Who does that?

I would try to not let her experiences or anyone's experience for that matter cause you fear or anxiety. You'll do great!

I personally forgot to take Tylenol before I arrived and was a little nervous about it. It turns out that I didn't even need it. It's minor cramping at best.

Best of luck!

Firework7479

I have mine on Thursday morning so I've been trying to get opinions from everyone I know that's had it done and I've gotten a wide spectrum of it wasn't so bad to it was the worst. I've accepted that it will be uncomfortable and painful for a short time then I'll be ok, at least that's what I keep telling myself!

herecomesthesun

It really wasn't a big deal. Uncomfortable, yes. Something you can handle? Definitely. Over in less than 2 minutes. 

 

megs3084

Mine was really bad. Like sob on the table bad. The 800mg of motrin I took didn't touch it. I have a high pain tolerance. My obgyn did it, the worst part was getting the catheter into position at the top of my ute. I cramped so bad I couldn't straighted my legs. The good thing is that it lasted maybe a couple min once they took everything out, I was better. Just sore for a couple days. Good luck!

Soon2BMrsHess

I freaked out as well before mine. It wasn't that bad at all. I maybe felt a little cramp. Nothing worse than a pap. Everyone is different, but go in with a positive attitude. Once they get the catheter in, it's over in a flash. I started bawling when she told me I didn't have any blockages because I thought for sure I did. Good luck, and stop reading horror stories online, I know I did. 

briannaasaro

Thanks everyone! I think the horror stories are the worst! If this lady hadn't of said anything I'd probably be really relaxed and just fine!

APotterHead

I didn't have any pain at all, just a little discomfort, and I have a blocked tube. I think it is different for everyone. I'd take the 2 ibuprofen (I took Tylenol instead) before like the recommend, but don't listen to all the horror stories. You could come out pain free also!

GL! FX for open tubes and no pain!

Shellydawn422

Everyone seems to be a bit different.  I have a high pain tolerance, so I was not really worried about it.  I even skipped the IB Profens (didn't actually mean to, just forgot).  I was prepared for cramps and uncomfortableness, but I did get a sharp pain when they blew up the balloon.  The pain really was not all that bad, but it surprised me and I did jump a bit and said "Holy crap" out loud.  After that initial surprise, it was no big deal.  I did cramp for about two days.  DH took it a lot harder than I did. 

 

GermanGirl2007

My HSG wasn't too bad, and they couldn't get the catheter in so had to re-try multiple times. Even with that I wouldn't even describe it remotely closely to how your nurse did.  It wasn't as painless as an IUI for sure, but I wasn't fighting back tears.  It was moderately uncomfortable for about 30 seconds. 

shelbeans82

I had an intense crampy feeling for a few seconds, that's it.  I may have had a cramp or two later in the day, nothing a little tylenol didn't fix.

GL with yours!

Rachnan

Mine was a walk in the park, just a little cramping when they shot the dye in.

BlueEyedDreamer

Mine was nightmarishly painful and awful. But the experience does vary from person to person, so hopefully yours will be much better than mine! 

EIK2013

Geez!!!  That's kind of annoying she told you that...if I heard a receptionist say that, I would have been amped up and more stressed about the situation.  I had mine and it was not bad at all.  There was some minor cramping when they pushed the dye through, but that was it.  I know it can be a little more painful for woman if one of their tubes is blocked and its different for everyone, but its not like you feel like your going to die on the table like the receptionist made it sound lol.  Don't panic and it goes SO quickly!

scbedi

nothing to add here, but GL!!

herecomesthesun

Shellydawn422:

I did get a sharp pain when they blew up the balloon.  The pain really was not all that bad, but it surprised me and I did jump a bit and said "Holy crap" out loud.  After that initial surprise, it was no big deal.  

 

Ha!  I could have wrote this. It was so fleeting but that was the most uncomfortable part of it. I had zero cramping during or after.

Jellyfish42

Literally did mine today. I took 4 Ibuprofen pills (800mg) and there was little to no cramping afterward. I won't lie, its not pleasant. I have a higher pain tolerance and even I winced. The catheter/balloon is the worst, hands down. Just breathe through it, it all goes away after they take that stupid catheter out!