HSG Day

This afternoon I will report to Jefferson Hospital for my HSG.

What is a Hysterosalpingogram?(HSG):

The HSG is a basic fertility test to determine if there is any blockages in your fallopian tubes. It can also be used to determine if there are any adhesions, fibroids or other complications or abnormalities in your uterus.

How is it done:

This procedure is done in the radiology office at your local hospital or surgery center. A contrast dye is injected into the uterus, through the cervix, while x-rays are taken of the area.

You will lay on your back on the x-ray table, while the doctor inserts a speculum into your uterus. S/he then feeds a small catheter through your cervix to deliver the contrast dye. The x-rays are then taken. You may be asked to assume different positions depending on your anatomy as some positions will help your practitioner see your anatomy.

The whole procedure takes just a few minutes.

Afterwards:

There is a slightly increased pregnancy rate after an HSG. This is theorized to be from the flushing effects of the procedure removing any residue in the uterus or Fallopian tubes.

You may experience some cramping after the procedure, but most women will do fine taking ibuprofen for pain. Talk to your practitioner if you are concerned about post-procedural pain.

Results:

The results are potentially available within a few minutes. If you wish, you can have your practitioner there to read the results nearly immediately. However, many practices don't read HSGs immediately. Ask your doctor what s/he does in their practice.

Depending on the results of the exam, further infertility tests may be ordered or you may have diagnosis and begin treatment immediately.

Risks:

There is a risk of infection after the procedure. Some practitioners will prescribe antibiotics afterwards to help prevent this complication. There is also a small risk of allergic reaction to the contrast dye and the risk of perforation of the uterus.

HSG



I have been feeling a bit off the past few days. I am not looking forward to even a short invasive procedure; this combined with what I've added below add to my sort of 'down' feeling. I suppose my mood was bound to fall a little...

The results of a bit of my blood work returned to show I have very low levels of 'C' and 'S' protein in my blood.



Thrombophilia, Recurrent Pregnancy Losses and Reproductive Disorders

Placental thrombosis and infarction can cause recurrent miscarriage and disorders of pregnancy. Although there are numerous risk factors for venous thromboembolic disease, the term thrombophilia refers only to those familial or acquired disorders of the hemostatic system that result in an increased risk of thrombosis. The inherited thrombophilias include:

antithrombin III deficiency,
resistance to activated protein C (factor V Leiden),
protein C and protein S deficiencies,
prothrombin gene mutation,
the MTHFR gene mutation, as well as some rare forms of dysfibrinogenaemia

In contrast, when using the above definition, the antiphospholipid syndrome is the only genuine acquired thrombophilic state and this acquired syndrome is far more common in women with recurrent pregnancy losses and implantation failures than the inherited thrombophilias.

Low C and S Protein



I have an appointment set up with a hematologist to have blood studies performed to find exactly where I stand with my low protein levels. The never ending sting of appointments (I have 6 next week) seems to be the core of my life lately...

I remember in basic training for the Air Force way back in '85 we had to run through an obstacle course as part of our testing to move on to our formal training. One particular portion of the obstacle course was extremely difficult for me. An inverted rope was strung tightly over a pond of water. Each Airman Basic was required to move down the rope head first, hand over hand and black combat boot over black combat boot...



For me completing this obstacle soaked to the skin with about 15 pounds of clothing/boots equipment on my person was very, very difficult. I got through it by whispering in my mind; only a few more feet, only a few more feet. Keep in mind that up to the day of running the obstacle course we young 'Pingers' had been pumped with horror stories from those Airmen Basic who'd already run the course... How difficult it would be to go through the course in the rain- how hard it was to run it wet if your T.I. dunked you first (ours did)-...

So here I sit, typing this morning. I am nervous and I keep telling myself only a few more procedures and we'll know something...

I truly am a very positive person as I move through life. At times I can pull optimism close like a favorite stuffed bun bun. And yet I am human. I am not sure what they will find this afternoon. As diabetes runs rampant down the branch of my maternal family tree I am not surprised to find I have low proteins associated with some of the genetic markers for clotting/diabetes. Yet it is hard for me even after 6 months to find that my miscarriages may be due to this particular thing. My OB Gyn did not inform me of this deficiency when my fetal tissue/blood work returned from the lab after it was tested; another thing I fail to understand about the way the mind of an OB Gyn works... I should have been told of these results.

In any case I am where I am, we are moving ahead and Dr. G insures me that we will jump each hurdle as it presents itself.

I've noticed that I've misspelled several words in my entries; it seems their are two spellings for virtually every term or med associated with my life right now! In the future should it be relevant 'Clomed' will become 'Clomid'.

Today at 2:30 PM.

I wonder what we will find...