HSG.... Really Scared!

[mamawannabe]

Hello Ladies, I have my HSG next Monday and wondered if anyone can offer me some words of encouragement or advice as I am really worried about having it . Even the fertility nurse said to me that this is not the nicest of tests and it is going to be uncomfortable and painful.

I know it is a good thing as it is a step towards finding out if there is a problem but I am such a wimp when it comes to pain...Is it really that bad?

Thanks ladies x

 

[a_missy]

aww no dont be scared! really its not THAT bad. i posted to someone the other day about it, instead of me saying the exact same as i did in that post i'll copy and paste it...

dont worry too much about the HSG its really not that bad i promise. i was so nervous about mine, i had no idea what to expect. its only a little more invasive than a smear test really. instead of doing the scrape when they insert the speculum they feed the tiny tubing through your cervix. its not very comfortable obviously but its not painful. you just have to grit your teeth and bear it but the most unpleasant part was all over pretty quick i thought. then they insert the scanning probe inside you and have a look at the dye on the ultra sound to see what its doing.

they tell you to take some painkillers before the procedure but lots of women dont find they feel too awful afterwards. personally i had a lot of bleeding and cramping a few days after mine, in fact i spotted for the entire month afterwards until AF started but i have read that people with blockages find it more painful than if your tubes are clear and we'll keep our fingers and toes crossed that yours are!

as i said its certainly no fun but its not really painful, its just urgh! dont get yourself in a state over it like i did haha

 

[waterbaby]

Try not to be too scared, it's not THAT bad. There are far worse things to go through.

I've been through it twice. There is some discomfort, but nothing earth shattering. Just take deep breaths. Not to scare you... but they do clamp the cervix (or something like that) and that is the most discomfort. The dye going in feels like heavy menstrual cramps.

I did bleed afterwards. Take motrin or some form of pain reliever PRIOR to the procedure.

Wishing you well !!!

 

[keepsmiling]

my experience was that it was horrible, dnt want to scare u but theres no point in lyin is there, mine was aweful, i cryed at the pain, but maybe that was cos i was soo worried n tired from being on nites, try n relax n hopefully it wnt be as bad as mine was xx

i bled lightly for 2 days nothing much, n a few cramps, but nothing too badx

 

[Rudeollie]

Hey honey - HSG's are fine....Just relax and think about what your doing it for....I found that helped. And lets face it.......It cant be as bad as child birth! xxx I know some people recommend taking a pain killer but I didnt and was glad as it can affect the muscles contracting to send the die stuff round.
I am a HUUUUGE wimp hahaha but I survived so will you hun! Good Luck!!!! xxx

 

[ACLIO]

I would suggest taking some pain killers before hand. It is uncomfortable. Many women don't feel anything, I on the other hand had some discomfort but the doctor soon released some pressure from the balloon and it was bearable. It's all over an done with quickly though which I was relieved about

xx

 

[jeanettekaren]

During the procedure I found it was fine, a bit uncomfortable but no real pain. Afterwards I had really, really bad period pain cramps though. I took loads of paracetamol and went straight to bed, was absolutely fine when I woke up.

 

[PalmerWife]

I had mine done 2 weeks ago. For some reason for me it was pretty painful. I dont know if it was from a small blackage or if im just a big baby. Afterward i had slight cramping for maybe 3 hours and then i felt fine. They say it is ok to continue with your work day, but i would advise to just relax and take some tylenol or something. Good thing is, is that its over in no time! Good luck!!

 

[beanz]

mine was raeally easy and really not painful at all. Just relax and go with it. It's really not that bad.

 

[DillyC]

Hey Mamawannabe...

I was also nervous going in for my HSG....I was amazed how much better it was than I thought.... a bit crampy and obviously a bit embarrassing.......but great to see it all on the xray there and then, my tubes just filled with dye.

You could take a couple if neurofen if it helps, really mild period cramps was what I experienced and no pain afterwards....although I played on it so OH brought me cups of tea all afternoon!!..

I just did some yoga breathing, just concentrate on nice breaths in and out and it is over in 10 mins xx Hope it goes well xx

 

[caline]

I took paracetamol half an hour before, and the only discomfort I felt was the speculum being inserted (exactly like a smear). I did use slow breathing, and was waiting for the pain, but it never came.

I am sure staying relaxed helps to a certain degree. Practice before you go. Count on the in and out breath, and keep it slow and controlled.

Experiences seem really varied with HSG's, some people do get some pain. But the whole thing is over very quickly, so if you are one of the people who are going to get some pain, it will be short lived, and at least you will know whats going on with your tubes etc

Good luck

 

[Chrisangel]

It wasn't bad for me. I heard that usually when it is painful its because you have blockage in your tubes, but when I had it done I just had a little bit of cramping. You will be fine!! Good luck!! Having this test increases your fertility chances!! Take care

 

[mamawannabe]

Thank you so much ladies. Sometimes it just helps knowing you are not the only person having to go through all this stuff! Someone mentioned Yoga breathing... sorry I cannot see the post from here.... and I will definitely give that a go as that helps with the blood tests as.... yes... I am also needle phobic - trust me with all these phobia's to have problems getting pregnant and need all these tests .

Anyway, thanks again for your words of encouragement and honesty. Here's to the next step to helping get me a baby!!

Baby dust to you all xxx

 

[DillyC]

....will be thinking of you on Monday x

 

[Charlie19]

Hi there,

i know how you feel, I felt it to, but the man that did it was really lovely and the nurse and radiogrpher were very lovely to me too, bit uncomfortable the worst bit for me was the balloon inflating, felt fine after felt like a bit of a fraud for taking the whole afternoon off work !, I think I was most concerned about the embarrasment factor, but as the man explained to me he had been doing this procedure since 1978, three years before I was born, whichstrangley enoug put me at ease alot then he starting talking about his daughter being about my age and having shingles !!

wasn't bad sweetie, slightly worse than a smear,

Love Charlie x x

 

[mamawannabe]

Hi there,

i know how you feel, I felt it to, but the man that did it was really lovely and the nurse and radiogrpher were very lovely to me too, bit uncomfortable the worst bit for me was the balloon inflating, felt fine after felt like a bit of a fraud for taking the whole afternoon off work !, I think I was most concerned about the embarrasment factor, but as the man explained to me he had been doing this procedure since 1978, three years before I was born, whichstrangley enoug put me at ease alot then he starting talking about his daughter being about my age and having shingles !!

wasn't bad sweetie, slightly worse than a smear,

Love Charlie x x

Thans Charlie. I think it always helps when the staff at the hospital put you at ease. I'm not really too bothered about the embarassment factor. Do you have anything to cover your modesty at all or are you lying there, legs akimbo for all un sundry to see? I suppose if we are going to have a baby its something we will have to get accustomed to. DH thinks it a bit strange other men having a poke around!!!

xx

 

[ginny]

Hi,
I had mine done about 3 weeks ago, I took a couple of paracetamol plus beforehand and I would say it was uncomfortable and a bit weird (!) but not painful. I just kept thinking about why I was doing it and I was ok.
I did have bad cramping later on and felt a bit funny, my legs were like jelly afterwards but I think that was the nerves/adrenaline.
Please don't be scared, it's not the nicest thing but mine wasn't painful. And mine was over pretty quick in the grand scheme of things. Good Luck with it, and make sure you rest up afterwards - my consultant said no ironing (!) now that IS a bonus

xxx

 

[mamawannabe]

Oooh yippy... no ironing. I might also see if he can advise no tidying cooking or cleaning and that due to it being a traumatic event DH should take me out for a lovely three course meal.... think I might be pushing it?!

Thanks for your words of reassurance.

xxx

 

[Sammy2009]

Good luck hun... i know it must be scary but some people have different pain thresholds and some doctors are more gentle than others.

When i had my amnio the doctors said i would feel a dragging sensation and it would be uncomfortable and i never felt a thing!

Hope it all goes well...

 

[Jasmine79]

I also had an hsg a few weeks ago, i was so scared because i could hear the girl who went ahead of me screaming during the procedure. when it was my turn the doctor told me that it might hurt and it might not but the most important thing is to relax so that all your muscles (down there) also relax, concentrating on your breathing also helps. For me it was uncomfortable, but not painful.