RE visit #3

Sorry, this one will be long. A lot went on in this visit.

Seven days after RE visit #2, I went in for an hysterosalpingogram (HSG) on CD10. This is an x-ray that takes a look at the insides of the uterus and fallopian tubes to make sure there aren't any blockages in the tubes and/or to check to make sure the uterus is properly formed and are no problems within like polyps or a septate (separated uterus). They must take place after you're done with AF, but absolutely no later than CD10. The doctors operate under the assumption that any day after that, you could be pregnant.

And at the same appointment, DH was to submit a semen analysis (SA), and after that, we were to have a fertility drug consult. So fun times were to be had by all this day.

To prepare myself for the HSG, I read up on the procedure and read other women's stories about their experiences. And I read some horrible accounts that made me more than a little nervous for it. But by the same token, there were women who had no problems whatsoever. I really hoped I fell into this latter group.

So the day came, a bitter cold February morning, and DH & I drove the 100 miles to the hospital where the HSG was to take place. We were directed to the radiology department, which happened to be in the sketchy-looking basement. It didn't help my nerves. But we got in the room and I was told to undress totally, except for my socks if I wanted to keep them on. I was given a gown to wear. DH was allowed to stay and watch, so he got suited up in lead. He was definitely more excited about this than I was.

I get up on the table and position myself kinda like I was going in for a pap. The RE inserted a special balloon catheter up my lady parts, and proceeded to inject the contrast dye. I was told that I might feel some mild cramping from the balloon. It took just a few more seconds before I started to feel them. They felt like normal PMS cramps, and I thought that's as bad as they would get.

In the meantime, the dye is shooting up my uterus and into the fallopian tubes. As I could see the dye spilling into my abdominal cavity (which is normal), I was told that there were no blockages in my tubes, and that my uterus looked good. Yay! DH thought it was the coolest thing to see the dye work its way up and show the shape of my inner lady parts. It was pretty cool, I admit.

But at that point, I wasn't paying that much attention anymore. Because my normal PMS cramps turned into the cramps from hell. Like, I seriously thought my uterus was trying to make a break for it and was trying to take my ovaries, too. And to cap it all off, when I got off the table to go change in the bathroom, the nurse hands me a diaper-sized maxi pad. Without wings. It's to catch the dye that comes back down with gravity, as well as the spotting that was created by the procedure. Awesome.

So after I change, we leave and go to the fertility clinic for DH's SA. He went in and did his thing, which he wasn't too excited about, but I reminded him that out of everything going on this day, he gets off easy (pun not intended). All the while, I patiently sit and wait for my uterus to stop rebelling and for my Advil to kick in. Didn't happen. Then after he came back out, we went into a another room for the consult.

The nurse basically talked about the 1st-tier drugs that don't require a lot of money... which basically was metformin and clomid. She didn't think metformin would work for me for whatever reason (HA! Totally wrong), so she really tried to push clomid. The thing is, when this clinic prescribes clomid, they require monitoring and they require you to use an injection of another drug ($$$) to induce ovulation. So while the drug itself is pretty cheap, it's not cheap when you add in those other things.

Because monitoring means 1) driving 200 miles roundtrip, at least twice, sometimes up to 4 times in order to 2) get a transvaginal ultrasound to see how your follicles are developing. So when you add up gas money, time away from work, multiple ultrasound costs, the cost of the inject, as well as any charges you may incur by seeing the doctor, well... just one clomid cycle would cost at least $500. And that's only assuming I have to go twice. Insurance would pick up a lot of it, but it still was uncomfortably expensive for something I would likely have to do for many cycles.

Anyway, I'm getting away from the consult. She went through a few things, but we were both super super leery of drugs, so we left without any prescription. So then we went to do some shopping since we were in a city with actual places to shop at. I had to sit in the car in the mall parking lot with my pants unbuttoned and unzipped for a good 20 minutes. I finally sucked it up and took MORE Advil and was praying to God that a total of 4 would do the trick. It did. I almost cried when they went away after about 2 hours. After that, I was able to enjoy the shopping.

The overall result of this day was: my tubes were clear, my uterus looked good, DH's SA came back normal and we decided to hold off on drugs.

And here's my advice if anyone finds themselves having to do an HSG... take 2 Advil before the procedure, and if needed, take 2 after the procedure. Also know that you might spot and lightly cramp for about the next week, and unless you want an old skool maxi pad supplied by the hospital, bring one of your own. Doctors don't tell you that. But maybe my reaction to the procedure was one of the more extreme. But it's better to be prepared than not prepared at all.

And thus is the end of our experiences at the RE. Just a month later, I was laid off and lost my insurance with infertility coverage, so going back just isn't financially feasible. So we're still just going on with hope and patience... and a little help from drugs. I can't say it enough, I love metformin!