HSG (dye test)- reassuring stories needed!!!

[Euronova]

Hya,

I have my HSG (dye test) booked for Tuesday and I made the mistake to google it I understand it can be extremely variable but i read so many stories of it being horrendous, I am really freaking out!!! I nearly want to cancel or not show up... i feel like hiding in bed and hope the world will forget about me.... but then I know it is important and the reward if al is good is that I can finally start Clomid, but despite being really good with medical procedures normally I am petrified of this one!
Any first timer TTC with a reassuring experience out there??

thanks xx

 

[Ber]

I had mine done back inFeb. Its very similar to having a smear but lasts longer and is painful. Before you freak out more though the pain is very brief and is like having a really bad period cramp that lasts for only a few seconds!

 

[pinkfee]

I had mine last month and i had hardly any pain at all, very much like a smear only that your raised higher on a bed and have an x ray machine over you. It hardly lasted any time at all...10mins at most. i had read stories that its more painful if you have a blockage but the minute the procedure stops then any uncomfortableness stops straight away as well.

i took some painkillers beforehand just incase, although i wish i hadn't taken ibuprofen as I read afterwards that ibuprofen can delay ovulation, which I think happened to me that month.

good luck but I think you'll be fine. x

 

[LizMcD]

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread because i too have a hsg in a couple of weeks. Ive heard its not too painful, perhaps a few cramps afterwards, but us gals can handle that! I'm normally more upset by the embarrassment than the pain!

At least it will be over in mins and as you say, you can then get the treatment you've been waiting for. I see the hsg as my one last hurdle to getting treatment

let us know how it goes, good luck
xx

 

[ebony2010]

Like someone else said it starts off like a smear but when they put the dye in your body starts cramping like period pains but its more uncomfortable than painful and its really over very quickly. I had one done earlier this year and fell pregnant that cycle so it must have cleared some cobwebs. If you are worried just take some pain killers before you go to help numb the cramps. It really isn't as bad as you think and the fact its over so quickly helps if it a bit painful. xxx

 

[Soili]

Hehe, I'm still too chicken to do it Well, ok, I'm also waiting to get one done for free (through public fertility treatment). Not paying €150 privately for a procedure that I don't even think is necessary (never had STDs, surgeries or abortions/miscarries), just so they can decide it's "ethically" correct now to give me Clomid.

But yeah, I felt just like you when I googled it for the first time. Wanted to hide away and never deal with this crap of fertility testing ever again. Like it's not enough I have PCOS already, I also need THAT done to me?

There are some pretty bad horror stories out there, but most women either didn't feel much anything or thought it was just bad cramps, so that's reassuring!

 

[ashleyjean]

I had mine done last month and was completely terrified but it was seriously not bad at all! Like someone else said, it is really more uncomfortable than painful... Just like period cramps that start all of the sudden. Only lasts a little bit and as soon as they stop it goes away instantly. My doctor told me to take 3 advil about an hour before which I'm sure made it a bit better so I would recommend that! But really, don't be scared - it's not bad at all! There are WAY more horror stories out on Google about how bad it is than the (more boring) stories about how it wasn't bad at all

 

[SpicyWolf]

I had my first one back in June and was totally freaked out. But it wasn't bad at all - the catheter didn't hurt at all and the balloon just hurt a little bit and then went away within a few seconds. I would definitely take 3 advil before since I had pretty strong period-like cramps for about an hour afterwards. I think the not knowing is the worst part since everyone reacts a little differently. Best of luck!

 

[caz & bob]

nothing to worry about hun you will be straight in and out x x x

 

[a1b2c3]

Hi Euronova. I have got my HSG on Tuesday too. I was also stupid and 'googled it'. But I also, from talking to others on here, have found that there has been a 'mixed' experience. I would say though that most of them found it ok, and more like period pains than anything else.

I have also read and heard by a lot of people that for some unknown reason, women seem to get pregnant not long after it.... so don't think about the 'possible pain', think of the benefits that it could do! That's what I'm trying to do anyways.

I was originally supposed to have mine last Thursday and Friday, but both days got cancelled due to my af unexpectantly returning. However, on the Friday I went to the hospital anyways and spoke to the nurse. I think as long as you tell the nurse how you feel, they will explain everything. To be honest, they were quite supportive and I think they understand that it is not a pleasant procedure... not because of the pain, but I think because of the nature of it.

Just try to remember the reason for it being done, and then hopefully, the procedure won't even cross your mind as you'll be thinking too much about a little bundle of joy instead! Good luck.

 

[Euronova]

Thank you so much everyone! It's nice to read some more positive stories! and yes I read too that it seems some women fell pregnant just afterwards So all in all it might be worth it
I will let you know how it goes and hopefully add to the thread of positive experiences!!

 

[Euronova]

Hi Euronova. I have got my HSG on Tuesday too. I was also stupid and 'googled it'.

It will be fun to compare notes afterwards!! loads of baby dust to you! I think I will take a couple of paracetamol before hand and hopefully it will go smooth for both of us!!!

Good luck!

 

[Tnkrbell15]

I was more scare after looking at the instruments for the HSG proceedure ! LOL. My advice...tunnel vision, look straight ahead of you, and it will be over quickly. Also remeber...the HSG pain will be nothing compared to what we will experience when we finally go through labor and delivery pains! Good luck! and plenty of to all!

 

[leax]

Hi
I was like you when I was due to have mine, very scared and wanted to phone and cancel I to had googled it and read many stories, which I shouldnt have done BUT......
it was fine I felt no pain atall and thought to myself 'What was all that worrying about?' I'm sure you'll be fine just try and relax and not worry, I know it's easier said then done but try Good luck x

 

[mazzie1984]

Hello, first of all they do not use a balloon in a HSG they do in a sonohyserogram with the saline. I have had both, if you take 800mg of motorin ibuprofen it will not hurt. The HSG is VERY fast. About 10 seconds and it is over, unless they are trying to unblock a tube it can take maybe a minute. I was so surprised how quick it was. I think the worst is the speculum lol. I had 10 other women in the waiting room, I was last to go in, the only ladies that said it hurt, did not take any pain killers. Trust me I am terrible when it comes to this, I get terrified having a pap smear. Everytime I took moterin I did not feel a thing. I have noticed a lot of people muddle up the HSG and the SHG tests. The SHG saline test uses a balloon and takes about 10 minutes. The dye test is fast. They stick the speculum in, then insert the catherter and woosh then it's all over. My results were not good, he said I had a very interesting uterus. I have a uterus septum and scarring on one side. they show you it all on the screen. It is not bad at all, just remember the pain killers xx

 

[ebony2010]

They definately DO use a balloon in a HSG here in the UK. Maybe they do it differently in other countries but they did with mine. I believe it is to keep the catheter in place. X

 

[mazzie1984]

OH? ok, maybe they do there. They use the balloon in the Sono because it opens up the walls in the uterus that usually are stuck together. The FS said to me imagine a balloon that is deflated the sides of the balloon stick together, that is what a uterus does, then when you inflate it it opens them up The saline flows slowly and gently into the uterus. the balloon remains still. The dye is pumped in with pressure and fast here

 

[Scamp]

I had mine last year and it honestly wasn't that bad. More uncomfortable than painful. I kept looking at the ceiling and counted. It was over in about a minute xx

 

[honeybee2]

If Im honest, I found it very painful. I do have very bad periods though (dosed up on codiene for 3 days straight its so painful) and the nurse told me its more painful for girls with heavy periods. They used a balloon with mine.

 

[Euronova]

I wonder if they use a balloon when it's done with an ultrasound machine and not when it's an x-ray. I had the option to have either and took the first appt which is with the x-ray people.
I would think the x-ray is faster than the ultrasound as the ultrasounds as to be operated manually and froze to take pictures, whilst the x-ray once everything is inside they just have to take the picture??
My doctor did not mention a balloon but i am definitely going to get some pain medication for before end just to help a bit... or maybe down a couple of glass of wine... after all this is still so early in my cycle, and until I am a flushed out after this I can't possibly be pregnant!