I have been TTC for some time now and just last week had my first meeting with an RE. I have a complex cyst on my right ovary and a large fibroid on the outside of my uterus (in the back). All this time I thought my pain and cramping were due to these issues, but it turns out she feels it may be endometriosis that's causing my pain.
To get started, I need to schedule a tubogram in the next couple of weeks to make sure my tubes aren't blocked. If so, she suspects they may be blocked due to endo and she'll get in and assess/clean things out. My question - what should I expect with the tubogram? I was warned it could be crampy, but wanted to hear from some of you and your experience with the test.
Thank you!
Re: A newbie with a question re: tubogram...
Tubogram? I have never heard of that.. I think you mean Hystersalpinogram..
Just take 800 mg. of Advil before you go- it helps a lot.
~Working Mom~Breastfeeding Mom~Cloth Diapering Mom~BLW Mom~
Blog - No Longer on the DL ~ The Man Cave
Shawn and Larissa
LO #1 - Took 2 years and 2 IVFs ~ DX - severe MFI mild PCOS homozygous MTHFR (a1298c)
LO #2 - TTC 7 months, surprise spontaneous BFP!
Yes, it's actually the same thing.
Thank you!
Take Advil before. I was told to take 3 or 4, but check with your doctor first. I had a very difficult time while they were trying to get the cath in. I found the procedure very uncomfortable and painful. I don't think this is the norm though. After I had very little cramping and I attribute that to the Advil.
Good luck.
Yes, it's was writted on the paperwork in parentheses next to the official term.
sorry - regardless of the name of the test, I just wanted some insight.
I keep picturing a singing tubogram in my head.
I have heard it called this as well. It sounds like a Candygram. Like a singing ute will show up on your doorstep.
Ha! True - I had not thought of that.
"tubogram" made me chuckle.
gl lilmiss!
same here, except I had about 45 min of cramps afterwards and I had BAD gas pains for days
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Here's how my HSG went down, and tips along the way.
I had my mom come with me, but to be honest it was a waste of time. My dr. wouldn't let her come in the x-ray room with me and she just waited in the waiting room. And I was able to drive myself home, so she just hung out and demanded coffee when I was done.
They'll likely do it in an x-ray room, so bring socks so your feet don't get cold. They'll do a baseline x-ray to compare against. The dr. will set you up like a Pap, then thread a catheter up to your cervix. Depending on who you see and where you go, they'll either inflate a balloon to close off your cervix, or "clamp" it. I had the balloon. Then they'll shoot dye into your cervix and it will flow up through your uterus and tubes. You'll likely be able to see it on the screen as it happens.
The dye going in can cause cramping, and the amount varies by person. Some people feel nothing, and others feel intense pain. Take the Advil or Tylenol before you go no matter what. I had about 2 minutes of menstrual-like cramps and just a dull ache for the rest of the day.
They'll finish off with a post-HSG x-ray of your pelvis, then it's off you go. Bring a pad because it's likely that you'll spot and/or leak dye, and hospital pads are nasty.
Mine was manageable pain. I took motrin ahead of time and and the pain was like significant cramps. They were fairly severe but nothing as bad as a charlie horse in your leg or a cramp in your foot. The pain was a lot more manageable when I started taking slow, steady breaths. It was a pretty quick procedure.
The other thing I wish I had known ahead of time was that there was a lot of people in the room (3) and the RE was really close to my crotch to get the catheter in, like when I looked down I felt like his head was practically touching my knees! That was awkard and kinda funny. Also, he had to hang out down there during the procedure to make sure the cath stayed put (but not as close as when he had to put it in). GL! I hope it's all clear!
I would definately recommend the 4 advil about an hour before the test. ?stay hydrated beforehand and try to focus and take deep breaths. ?it is gonna hurt, but it's manageable. ?For me, it hurt the most when they inflated the balloon. ?it hurt more than i expected and i felt a little faint. ?after i relaxed and took some deep breaths, the rest was fine. ?i had was crampy for the next 2 days and had to take 2 advil every 4-6 hours to relieve the cramps. ?
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i hope it's all clear!?
My experience was very similar to this. They tried to do the balloon thing for the catheter. They kept inflating it and it kept popping out so they kept trying, over and over. Finally they gave up and used a clamp thing and were kind enough to put some numbing cream on my cervix before applying the clamp. The actual dye part was a piece of cake once they finally got the catheter to stay put!
Good luck!
~Working Mom~Breastfeeding Mom~Cloth Diapering Mom~BLW Mom~
Blog - No Longer on the DL ~ The Man Cave
Shawn and Larissa
LO #1 - Took 2 years and 2 IVFs ~ DX - severe MFI mild PCOS homozygous MTHFR (a1298c)
LO #2 - TTC 7 months, surprise spontaneous BFP!