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HSG - How uncomfortable is it?
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Anonymous
It is a really individual thing. I didn't bring my husband because folks said it was no big deal but I was unable to drive myself home because my arms and legs were trembling from pain for almost an hour afterwards. I don't want to scare you, but I really wish folks had given me a little bit of a heads-up about the possibility...no one even recommended I take painkillers beforehand. |
Anonymous
| My HSG was EASY. I brought my husband and then felt silly b/c it was nothing. But bring your husband if it makes you feel better. For what it's worth SG wouldn't let him come in the room so he just sat in the waiting room. |
Anonymous
| it hurt, but the actual pain lasts seconds. as someone else posted, it's more uncomfortable and embarassing than anything else. take tylenol or advil beforehand. i went by myself and was fine. i did take the day off from work. |
Anonymous
|
I was prepared for the worst, but mine was not a big deal at all. I felt badly for making DH take off work to come with me -- as it turns out, I felt fine and could have driven myself home without a problem.
As an aside, it was very cool to see my tubes light up on screen, both because I was very relieved to learn they were clear and also because it's not something you get to see every day! |
Anonymous
| If you are one the fence, then bring your husband. I had no reason to expect a difficult HSG and then I had a very painful one due to a swollen tube. I had wanted my husband to come but also felt that maybe that was childish since I knew for most people HSGs aren't difficult. So, I went against my emotions and went the practical route and my husband didn't come. I would have really loved to come out to the waiting room to my husband because I was somewhat traumatized by my painful HSG. We were both upset after. In the future we are going to decide based on emotions. There is NOTHING to be ashamed of (someone said it would be "silly" ?? jeez) to want emotional support for anything, especially TTC related. It doesn't make you less strong or less independent. It just means you have a good bond with your husband and want some emotional support. Go with your gut! |
Anonymous
|
I'm single, so I didn't have anyone to bring for mine. Looking back on it, I don't think I personally would have needed support. I'm used to going to get my Pap smear alone, for example, and this wasn't much different. Waiting around in the waiting room took longer than the actual test. I hopped off the table, took the Metro back to the office and finished the rest of my day.
I found it painful, but the painful part only lasted for a few seconds. One of my tubes was blocked. Take 800 milligrams of Advil an hour beforehand. Also take a pad because the liquid will flow back out. (They'll probably have some there, but just in case...) And even if you don't actually need to have your husband there, there's nothing wrong with just WANTING him there. |
Anonymous
| Had 2 - One at GW and one at Gtown. Not bad at all. Pinch and a little cramping like PP said but it was a short procedure. |
Anonymous
| I have a mullerian duct anomaly, half a uterus with only one f. tube and two ovaries. I am wondering if anyone with similar anatomy has undergone this procedure? After reading this post, I'm really hesitant. |
Anonymous
| I have had 3 HSGs. The first 2 were done by Dominion Fertility and were VERY uncomfortable despite taking 4 ibuprofen b/f. I just had my 3rd HSG done yesterday by Shady Grove at their Rockville site and it didn't hurt one bit! I had been nearly in tears before the procedure because I was dreading it, but it didn't hurt at all!!! Amazing! I think the facility and experience of the person doing the HSG makes a big difference. |
Anonymous
| I've also had multiple HSGs done and the most uncomfortable one was done by a radiology place instead of and RE. I found Shady Grove's to be pretty painful and Dominion's was quite easy - didn't really feel much of anything. So, I do think it depends on the doctor/technician doing it and each person tolerates it differently so it can be hard to compare. |
Anonymous
|
Mine hurt like holy hell! They could have peeled me off the ceiling (and it was all me--the procedure itself was smooth and fast). I had taken the Advil as advised, but I didn't find that it helped. In my case, I had had a recent miscarriage (maybe a month before?), which may have made a difference in my sensitivity.
I have learned that the uterus is just NOT an organ that you want to piss off! |
Anonymous
| Also, I don't know that I would bring your husband in with you for the test, necessarily, but nothing wrong having him come along for the support. Personally, I'd have mine come but wait in the waiting room. |
Anonymous
| Mine did NOT hurt at all-it is just a slight pinching like a pap smear. |
Anonymous
| I had mine a month ago and they had to tell me that it was done because I didn't notice it - I did notice the catheter being put it in, but that was a pinch - the dye part I never felt - until I stood up and it flowed out! I did a lot of research on HSG because of my panic beforehand - I came to the conclusion that places that use a soft catheter hurt less (which they basically just put into your cervix) vs places that use a balloon catheter (they put a catheter in then inflate a balloon on the inside to hold it in place) hurt more. I did mine with Dominion, but might be worth asking around. . .I enjoyed the experience less - everyone that needs one at Dominion that week is put into the same tiny waiting room at Virgina Hospital in your gowns with knee socks and they call you back one by one - I had taken someone with me, but they were made to wait in the big waiting room away from us. I would imagine most RE's in DC use the soft, but it's worth checking. |
Anonymous
| Somewhat painful. But, got pregnant that cycle! |