Severely blocked fellopian tubes and pregnancy

[LillyLove]

I'm back.

Sooooo......here's the story. What was supposed to be a 1.5 hour long surgery, turned into a 4HOUR surgery. The surgeon found a huge fibroid on the back of my uterus, an ovarian cyst on my right ovary, and endometriosis on cervix, all which he removed. The bad news is that my right tube also needed to be removed. So I am now left with 1 tube that he said looks healthy and good. He told me because of the fibroid we will not be able to try for 6 weeks but that we should also have another HSG scheduled by that time to see if the surgery was a success (and the remaining tube didn't close up again).

I have been a bit out of it for that last couple days due to pain meds but I am finally able to get up and walk around. I have my days where I am positive that there is a chance my tube will sty open and that we can still get pg. On the otherhand I think it is safe to say that we should prepare for the probability that we are going to have to do ivf because of my age and the state of my tubes. I so wish I had better news to report, but thems the breaks.

Long road ahead it seems...will try to keep my chin up!

 

[kcarey77]

I'm glad to hear your surgery went well.
Keep your chin up, I know so many women that have conceived naturally with only one tube! As long as it's functioning properly, there is no reason that you can't get pregnant. Endo and fibroids are so common these days. But, all the women that I know personally that have had them taken care of got prego within 3 months of the surgery- don't give up hope! You are in a much better position now to achieve your goal.
I have been thinkng about you and hoping you had a smooth surgery. Sounds like your Doctor did a very thorough job and found several factors making you "infertile".

I'm glad all went well and that you are on the road to recovery. Stay positive because in in the next couple months you may have your BFP

 

[LillyLove]

Thanks so much for your encouraging words and support. I really needed to hear that and it means so much.

 

[Anne24]

Hello All,

So I had my lap last week and both my tubes opened. I am writing the exact words that my FS wrote in my lap report so as to give an idea how messy my interiors were There was very early endometriosis over the posterior leaves of both broad ligaments. Both the tubes were higly convoluted and shortened. The right tube was completely everted. Both the ovaries looked normal. Both the fimbrae were grossly agglutinated and everted.Both the tubes were subjected to SMH(?).Fimbriae were released. On instillation of dye, the left tube showed cornual block and right tube showed isthmear block. After SMH and tubolysis, both the tubes were released and bilateral free spill occurred. The pelvic cavity was washed with 500 ml of normal saline water. Procedure was completed.

The doc also found another feature in my uterus which is he didnt mention in the report though. My uterus (though normal in size) is positioned in such a way that the passage between the cervix and the uterus is not smooth.The uterus is kind of stationed slightly upward in comparison to the cervix.Hence when sperm is deposited it kind of encounters an obstruction and comes out. He said since my tubes are open now, we have every chance of conceiving naturally but it might take time due to the way my uterus is positioned. Hence he suggested we go for IUI wherein sperm is deposited directly into the uterus. I have my next appointment tomorrow with my FS wherein I shall get to know the details.

I am sorry for this extra long post but I wanted to just say that if my tubes opened in spite of severe blockage please do not give up hope. Having said that I must admit though that my FS did a wonderful job with my lap and he has given me all the hope in the world that I shall conceive sooner than later. Good luck ladies

 

[kcarey77]

Anne- Were your tubes blocked at the distal end? Or near the Ovaries? My report was in another language too..lol..but I did some research and figured it all out. Did you have him open your tubes permantently or temporarily?
I think it's wonderful news that your tubes are noe open! Congrats! I'm sure you will see great results. So many women I know that had a lap got prego really quickly! I am on CD4 on my 2nd cycle since my lap (which left us with a huge struggle to conceive) so we are hopeful it will work. However, the stress is killing me so we decided to take a year off and focus on us and travel the world. If it happens, it happens. I can't stress about it anymore. I will keep all you ladies in my thoughts and prayers for a BFP soon!

 

[Anne24]

Hi Kcarey

Thanks a lot for your wishes I have no idea about the solution being temporary or permanent but since the doc never spoke of a solution being temporary, I am therefore hoping its a permanent one However I have read in a couple of sites that blocked tubes, once opened, tend to re-block over a period of time. I shall definitely ask my doc about all these things in my next appointment. My left tube was blocked near the uterus and the right one probably near the ovaries since my HSG report said the right tube showed no spillage. I know how stressful ttc can be and its a great idea that you guys have decided to see the world I wish all the LTTTC ladies all the best and may all of us get our BFPs soon.

 

[kcarey77]

That's what I read about blocked tubes, they tend to close back up. My OBGYN opened mine during my laparoscopy in February with a laser, but said they will close back up. He said the only way to permanently keep them open is to have a fimbrioplasty done to open them and sew them back in place (opened). He could just want my money, too...
It still gives you an opportunity to conceive though- I don't want to sound like Debbie Downer...lol...I was just inquiring is all.
I'm only on my 2nd cycle since my tubes were "opened" so for all I know, I could be pregnant soon. I'm staying positive.
DH and I are just stressing out, we're watching everyone else get pregnant when they weren't even trying, it just sucks. I'm happy for them, but I'm still sad on the inside.

I will continue to use my fertility monitor and chart my temps, but as far as stressing over blocked tubes, more surgeries, and drugs, we're done for the rest of the year. Hopefully what they say is true; the minute you stop trying is when it happens

All of you please keep me posted on the outcome of your surgeries, I wish you all the best!

 

[kcarey77]

PS- I called Dr. Carlos Rotman's office in Chicago yesterday. I used to live there and have family so I figured I'd give him a call as it is not out of the question. The nurse was shocked that my HSG came back as my tubes being open when in fact they were severly blocked. SHe said that alomost never happens and I need copies of the report.
This just confirms the lack of experience my OBGYn has in the infertility department. I'm still waiting for an appointment with a specialist (RE in Orlando) for her opinion.

 

[Anne24]

Hi

I had my appointment yesterday with my FS. I didnt ask him if the tubes can re-block, I felt ignorance is bliss in a few cases and in this case it surely is. He did tell me that since my tubes opened, there is nothing to worry now So I am kind of hoping that the tubes wouldn't re-block.However I asked him the reason for my blockage and he said endometriosis. I was diagnosed with it in the lap, though its still in very early stages. What my endo did was- during each menstrual cycle, all the menstrual blood didn't come out- a little stayed back in the uterus and the tubes kept floating in them thereby getting infected and blocked So he said we need to cure endo first now that the tubes are opened. He is putting me on BCP for 2 months during which my endo would dry up. In the meanwhile he has asked me to go for 2/3 hydrotubation of the tubes to keep them completely clear. From the third month(which am hoping July) I would be put on fertility drugs and TTC. I am pinning a lot of hopes on my doc's diagnosis,hopefully things would go well.

As far as I know there is a very good chance of conception after lap.So good luck to you I know it must be super stressful but as they say it happens when it happens. So plz do not give up hope.I am also hopeful that your tubes would remain open(I always try to be optimistic). I know of many women who have conceived after unblocking tubes. I hope your new RE would be more satisfactory than your present gynae. Also just a small suggestion-I think it is always better to go for lap with FS and not just a gynae. One has to have a very good surgical hand and knowledge to diagnose and solve these complicated issues. I sincerely hope and pray that you get your BFP soon.

 

[LillyLove]

KC- Susan at Dr. Rotman's office is really nice and helpful. I called the radiologist office and had them put my images on a disc for me and sent my images to Susan at Dr. Rotman's office. He even called me and gave me a free phone consultation after reviewing my images so you may want to ask if this is possible down the line if you are considering traveling there for surgery. We didn't end up going there only because I couldn't imagine traveling the next day to go home after the surgery. (We don't have any family there and they wanted to do a consultation 4 days b4 surgery - expensive hotel bill!!!).

Susan also called my insurance to make sure it was covered. If you are seriously considering the surgery and have family near Chicago - I would totally have it done by him. He is the best.
__________________
At the moment I am totally getting impatient....my doctor said I need to wait 6 weeks to try, but I am already feeling better and want to try now!! HA! In a month I go in for an ultrasound with the surgeon to see that the sutures are healing well and a month after that another HSG to see if the surgery was successful.

 

[LillyLove]

PS ***had them put my images from HSG onto a disc. You should have this for your own records!

 

[kcarey77]

Thanks for the advise, and I totally agree with you about the surgeon.. I just didn't feel comfortable with my RE (FS), I felt way more comfortable with my OBGYN. Hence, the reason I'm seeing a new RE on May 4th. She is voted one of the best in the field in not only Florida, but in the US. I'm hopeful she can help me or give me great advise/referrals to get me that BFP! I made it clear I'm not interested in IVF at this time. If I have to travel to get the best surgeon, I will. I would like to have more than one child and with IVF you only have one shot (on my budget anyways). With the Fimbrioplasty, you have several. Plus, maybe I can get my insurance to cover it like Lilly Love did

I am trying to stay optomistic as well. I am having some mild cramps almost like AF is coming, but I'm only on 6DPO and am not told to test until next Tuesday. I'm not getting my hopes up. I booked 2 flights to New York end of Summer so I'd like to enjoy my time there.

I think it's wonderful that your FS is not concerned about your tubes, the fact that they were blocked due to endo is a good sign that once the endo is taken care of, you're good to go! Endo does reoccur but you can have another lap to remove it, since you had early stages, you will surely get a BFP soon! My friend had her endo removed and did IUI and had her first baby after 5 years of trying!
My OBGYN said I didnt have any endo or lesions but he mentioned the blood blockage in my tubes as well, he said it was from my menses building up. Perhaps it can happen even if you dont have endo? Either way, I wish you the best of luck!
I also have a friend that was on BCP and got off and was immediately prego, something about stored eggs...

 

[kcarey77]

Hi LL!

Glad to hear you're doing much better. Follow the doctors advise and wait a little longer, Godforbid you end up damaging something down there
I think I will call the Hospital and ask for my xrays from my HSG since they showed my tubes were open. My OBGYN didnt video my lap, but he got some vivid photos! I will get a copy of those also. Did you have to pay for your images on a disc?

Feel better, sweetie and I hope you heal quickly so you can get back to the BD

 

[LillyLove]

I didn't have to pay for the images of my hsg - I did have to call and request they put them on a disc for me (it is easier to email doctors from the disc) -because Dr. Rotman's office requested this. Also in the future you can make copies of the disc if you need to show various doctors.

The surgeon gave me the images of my lap - they didn't video mine either. My claims are just starting to come in for my lap surgery and all in all it will be over 10k because of the other stuff my surgeon had to do - ALL IS BEING PAID FOR BY INSURANCE at our 90/10 rate!!! My insurance doesn't cover anything "infertility" related besides diagnosis - so I am actually quite shocked. I hope you can get the surgery and that your surgeon codes it right!!!

We will def wait it out - dh is super scared of messing up any thing down there now that the surgery is done. I think the fact that you and dh are thinking about kicking back and traveling the world is a great idea!! We are just feeling so rushed at the moment - but you have time sister!

 

[lian_83]

Hi, thanks for adding me.. Another LTTCer here.

Just curious about the stored-eggs theory, somehow I feel it makes sense. Never been on the pill and never been pregnant as well.

 

[kcarey77]

Welcome Lian!
I'm not too familiar with the stored eggs theory..is it having your eggs frozen so you can try when you are ready? If so, I should have done that years ago..lol! It sounds great in theory, but I do not know of anyone that has done it.
What are your infertility diagnosis? Do you have blocked tubes as well?
Best of luck to all of us LTTC women!

That's is awesome about our insurance LL! I hope mine will do the same, it's all about the billing from the Doctor

 

[Anne24]

Kcarey

Cramps at 6 dpo could be implantation. Don't wanna raise your hopes but there's no harm in hoping New York sounds so exciting. We had been to NYC in the summer of 2010 and loved every bit of our stay there. I am sure its going to lift your spirits and the holiday couldn't have come at a better time than this Good to know that you are going to consult one of the best FS s. It always helps to have faith in one's doc. Good luck.

 

[Anne24]

Hi Lian

You are most welcome to join us. Have you too been diagnosed with tubal factor?

 

[lian_83]

Hi, i used to have a polyp which was only taken out last January. Tubes are ok but PCO patterns in the ovaries. Other than that, FS said I'm perfectly fine but still never seen a in my life.

It's so frustrating, really and BnB is my only solace.

 

[LillyLove]

I think by "stored egg theory" Lian means that being on BC Pills long term can preserve fertility as you are not releasing eggs each month. My obgyn actually mentioned this to me last year at my yearly exam because I haven't been on BC pills since my mid 20's!

I'm like thanks for letting me know now that I am 35!!!