HSG - tips for managing anxiety?

[Anonymous]

Hi ladies. I am scheduled for an HSG on Wednesday and am having quite a bit of worry about it.

I've always felt a bit panicked during gyno exams when the speculum comes out (though I do pull it together and get through it) but the HSG of course takes this to another level considering the catheter. I think my feelings of panic are tied to the idea of having to lie there voluntarily and stay calm enough to let them do the clamp and catheter thing - I get nauseous just thinking about it.

There are no other situations in which I feel profoundly anxious other than at the gyno, and I've never suffered any trauma - I guess it's just an odd quirk. My doctor prescribed me Lorazepam and Hydrocodone to use that day, which I hope will help - but I am still pretty worked up. It's not so much about pain, but more about psyching myself out. And I know that many women have been through far more invasive procedures - I don't want to minimize anyone else's experience.

I thought I would share this here in case anyone else had similar anxiety, and found a good way to manage through it. I'd love to hear anything that helped you personally.

[Anonymous]

If you are really that anxious, you could ask the doctor to prescribe something.

[Anonymous]

Sorry you are dealing with this. I understand. I was similarly anxious for my egg retrieval.

For my HSG I just took a Xanax and got through. For me it wasn’t painful. I tried to focus on the fact it’d be a few minutes and I was in no physical danger. I just tried to distract my mind with some visualizations. Think of the end goal.

For my egg retrieval I was very stressed but ultimately the anticipation is much worse than the actual procedure.

[Anonymous]

Mine was not any worse than a regular exam FYI, but I know that's not the case for everyone. I think you will be okay with the meds. It's also over pretty quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are really that anxious, you could ask the doctor to prescribe something.

+1. My doctor prescribed something (xanax?)band it worked wonders

[Anonymous]

I had mine years ago but I was nervous too. It was just crampy very briefly (maybe a minute). I had to have another one years later and was less nervous because I had been through it before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry you are dealing with this. I understand. I was similarly anxious for my egg retrieval.

For my HSG I just took a Xanax and got through. For me it wasn’t painful. I tried to focus on the fact it’d be a few minutes and I was in no physical danger. I just tried to distract my mind with some visualizations. Think of the end goal.

For my egg retrieval I was very stressed but ultimately the anticipation is much worse than the actual procedure.

OP here. Thanks so much for this response. I like the positive visualizations idea and am going to give that a try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are really that anxious, you could ask the doctor to prescribe something.

+1. My doctor prescribed something (xanax?)band it worked wonders

OP again - thanks both. My doctor prescribed Lorazepam/Ativan. I really hope this will have enough "oomph" to take the edge off, haha.

[Anonymous]

OP here with an update! I just had my HSG this afternoon and while I can't say it was painless, it was over so quickly. They let my husband sit next to me and that helped keep my panic at bay. And they said the dye showed that everything was open and normal, so I'm super happy about that.

Back home now and I decided I earned a glass of wine on the patio! Thanks again to each of your for your supportive comments - it was a big help.

[Anonymous]

Great! So glad for the good news, OP. Good luck to you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great! So glad for the good news, OP. Good luck to you

Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

Good news! Some women get pregnant easily after having that procedure done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good news! Some women get pregnant easily after having that procedure done.

Thanks for this comment - I am hoping this is the month!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good news! Some women get pregnant easily after having that procedure done.

Thanks for this comment - I am hoping this is the month!

The nurse mentioned this to me when I had mine done. Everything looked open but I was undiagnosed “infertility” after over a year of trying. Conceived days after my HsG and she’s almost 1.5 years old.