Hysterosalpingography - has anyone had this procedure?

I am not sure if I spelled it correctly, but after 3 miscarriages my doctor has just advised me to have this procedure done which is the one where they inject dye into your uterus and tubes to check for blockage or structural defects.  I am terrified of this procedure and not sure if I want to do it.  Have any of you had this done, and if so can you share what your experience was like?  The doctor told me that she will be present for it, and that an xray tech will be the doing the xray but that she will be there to inject the dye.  I have serious phobies and mental distress about all things gyno related, even routine annual exams are difficult for me.  I had a D&C in December which was the most horrifying and traumatic experience of my entire life.  I am trying to find out literally what this procedure will be like.  One site I found said that you like naked with your knees pulled to your chest and they insert it that way.....the thought of that is very intimidating to me.  And I am wondering how do they pass a catheter into your cervix, do they have to dilate it?  Does it hurt?  Also, how is the xray done, is it an actual external abdominal xray or is it more like an internal ultrasound?  Thanks for any info.

[cinnamonheart]

I had a tubal dye test back in hmmm...1993  they injected dye into my tubes  to see for blockage also Maybe they checked the uterus to? I remember having a bit of a headache and some cramping afterwards.  But fine the next day.
It depends what your comfortable with, Now I have had three babies and various treatments, tests,etc...I really dont care who sees my ******  Im sure they would treat you with respect and dignity. To the nurses and doctors they have seen so many people's  "FEATURES"  that it doesnt even fizz on them

[nanakay]

i had one of these done before i got pg with my dd.

it is a lot like an annual exam...,they place a spectulum in you then put the catheter into you cervix....no they do not have to dilate your cervix.  it is a little uncomfortable when they inflate the catheter balloon but other than that it did not hurt at all...and you don't have your knees up to your chest.  the exray is a normal exray that is over you.  
i was able to watch what was going on on the monitor they had set up in the room....it showed everything the x-ray was seeing.

i will keep you in my thoughts...i too have a phobia, mine is of men and of course the radiologist that did my dye test was a man...i started crying before they did the test.

it only takes a few minutes and you have a gown on, your not totaly naked.
good luck to you i hope they figure out what the problem is.
~nanci

[nanakay]

why do i keep typing exray.....i mean x-ray!
~nanci

[kittymommy]

Thanks for the quick responses!  Cinnamon I cracked up at your comments!  That's what everyone says who has already had babies...they don't care who sees their parts.  I am EXTREMELY phobic about that for some reason....I don't know why, because I know that they've seen a million and they all look the same!  My friends all tell me that once you've had a baby, you don't care if the janitor even comes in to take a peek while you're on the exam table.

Nanci...I have to confess that my true phobia too is of MEN and gyno related issues!  I didn't want to say that specifically before, because I notice there are so many girls on this board who have male doctors that I didn't think anyone else felt this way!  Yes, I too absolutely CRINGE at the thought of a strange man poking around down there.  I cannot get past the thought that it's not just a doctor doing his job but that it's a MAN.  When I went in for my D&C they tried to give me a male anesthesiologist and I freaked out!  The nurses had to come running and inject something to get me to calm down!  I was in serious distress when I saw it was a man.  And you know what.....they traded him and got a woman.  I can find humor in that now, especially now that I know I'm not alone in that phobia but at the time it was horrifying.  Thanks for sharing!

[mgi]

I had to have before IVF.  They said it would be uncomfortable - I don't remember it being bad

[nanakay]

good explanation kristen...but just to let you know (at least for me) the nervousness and fear isn't about the pain or the test itself it is the fact that it will probably be done by a man.  

i know this sounds like a weird phobia...but it is very real.  however unfounded it is, it is still real. and is really the only phobia i have. (i have had this phobia as long as i can remember.
mine isn't neccessarily strictly gyn related it is male doctors and my nudity period.

oh and i've had 2 children and it hasn't deminished at all!
i know i know, its weird, but that's me
~nanci

[Kristen26]

Hi, I had this procedure shortly before I conceived my daughter. My experience was that they inserted a speculum, the same as when you get a PAP done, then the catheter was inserted throught my cervix. That felt like a pinching pain. After the catheter was in place the speculum was removed and did not need to be put back in. The dye was injected and I couldn't feel a thing when that was done, I've heart some people say they have period like cramping when the dye is injected. I took 800mg of Ibuprofen before I went to the clinic, so possibly this is why I didn't have any cramping. I was able to see the screen that they were taking xrays on. They had me turn from side to side a little help the dye spill out my tubes. The procedure only took a few minutes. It actually took longer for the doctor to go over the results with the radiologist and come back to tell me what they found. I had good spill on the right and the left tube appeared to be blocked. My doctor had me on Clomid and said we would try that for a few months and if it didn't work, we would do a scope of the left tube to see what was going on. But, I didn't need to have anymore procedures because I got pregnant the first round of Clomid. My daughter Hannah was just born April 5th! I've read that your chances of getting pregnant after the HSG are higher because it can help to clear out your tubes. Also, after the HSG I wore a pad because the dye did leak out and I had a very small amount of bleeding. I think an HSG will be a very helpful procedure for you, and I know it is scary. Try deep breathing to relax yourself. The more tense you are, the more you may have trouble with pain. I think you will find that it is not as bad as you are imagining. Good luck!

[kittymommy]

When you watched the xray on the screen were you able to see much detail?  I just wondered what it looks like to the untrained eye.  My doctor told me also that I'll be able to see what the xray sees right then and there.  And another stupid question, but after they inject the dye, do you have to stay in that awful position with the speculum in while he's doing the xray or can you close your legs and cover up after it's injected?  I know I must sound neurotic but this is really upsetting to me just thinking about it.  Do you remember how long the whole procedure took?  Do you have any pain or discomfort the next day, or did you feel ill because of the dye?  Also, how does that dye get out of your system?  Did you have to wear pads to let it just run out?  I read that the dye actually goes from your tubes into your abdominal cavity and can make you ill, I just wondered.

[cinnamonheart]

Yes you sound very phobic, Could a friend come with you would that make you more at ease?? I always figure something cant be that bad since many women have it done,Like having a baby No  one would have another if it was so horrible!!
Look at the benefits of the procedure,it may help you diagnose your problem and help you achieve pregnancy. Then in 9 months you will be on here telling  us your birth story!!!

[Kristen26]

My OB doctor is a female, and I lucked out and had a female radiologist too. My Dr. also had her nurse in the room, whom was a female. Is there anyway you can request all females to be present during the procedure? Maybe that would help you to feel more at ease.

[kittymommy]

Thanks for all the good info you guys.  I'm so sorry to drag this out, but the idea of having his procedure is still so very upsetting to me.  What were the follow up instructions after your procedure?  Were you advised no sex or tampons for a period of time or anything like that?  I am going to try to conceive one more time next month, and I want to figure out when I should time this procedure so that we still have a chance of conceiving.