HSG Experiences « Hellobee Boards

HSG Experiences

By LibbyLou Apr 2, 2015

Need some advice! I am getting an HSG done next Wednesday. My Dr. said it was "crampy" but most people returned to work following the procedure. I googled it (dumb!) and read horror stories and am now freaking out!

DH is traveling for work next week so he can't be there for emotional support, but my Mom is insisting on coming. I feel like a child to have my mom come, but at the same time want her there in case I get bad news! (She lives 3hrs away).
Thoughts for those who have had it done? Should I just go solo? What was the pain 1-10?

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26 comments

PurplePumps
pomegranate / 3809 posts

Apr 2, 2015

It was no worse than 5-10 seconds of a period cramp for me. Minor discomfort, but no real pain. By the time it ramped up enough to be uncomfortable, it was over. I went during lunch and had planned to take the rest of the day off from work, but decided to go back since I felt perfectly normal. I just took an Advil about 30 minutes before which I think helped.
Happygal
pomelo / 5000 posts

Apr 2, 2015

@LibbyLou: check this thread out: http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/share-your-hsg-experience
LibbyLou
kiwi / 739 posts

Apr 2, 2015

@PurplePumps: Oh that doesn't sound bad at all. I knew I shouldn't have told my mom!
LibbyLou
kiwi / 739 posts

Apr 2, 2015

@Happygal: Thanks!
hotchildinthecity
nectarine / 2272 posts

Apr 2, 2015

I found it to be pretty uncomfortable. I don't think "painful" but being "trapped" under the machine and waiting for the liquid to "spill" made me very panicky. It never occured to me to ask my husband to come with me though.
Happygal
pomelo / 5000 posts

Apr 2, 2015

And good luck! I went solo and was fine with that. It's a quick procedure. Very painful for me, but that's not the norm as you'll see in those stories.

The whole infertility testing, etc. can be emotionally taxing. If your mom wants to be there for you and you have a good relationship, I say go for it! Maybe you can get lunch and plan something fun afterwards.
MrsKRB
nectarine / 2465 posts

Apr 2, 2015

It was totally fine! I went by myself, the tech there seemed worried about me driving myself home because some people can become lightheaded, however she was fairly new to the position so I dont think she had much experience. Anyway, it was crampy for the 10 seconds that the fluid filled my uterus, and then I was back to normal right away except for some light bleeding for the next few hours.
LibbyLou
kiwi / 739 posts

Apr 2, 2015

@hotchildinthecity: Good to know. I get like that sometimes so knowing ahead will make it easier.
@happygal We definitely do and she's a nurse so in case I do have blockage she will ask the right questions I feel like. Thanks for the advice!
@mrskrb so good to hear! The link was awesome and I sped read everyone's stories. I like to be prepared!
YouGotMe
apricot / 477 posts

Apr 2, 2015

Mine was painful but I also had a OBGYN who was new to the procedure and my RE was overseeing it.

I could have worked afterwards easily, I had mine after I got off work though.
travellingbee
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts

Apr 2, 2015

Mine was not even slightly painful. No more uncomfortable than a pap smear. I didn't have any cramping at all afterwards.
blackbird
wonderful grape / 20453 posts

Apr 2, 2015

Yeah i was crampy and took advil afterwards. Also wear a good pad (otherwise you get a crappy one from the dr) because you'll leak that dye for awhile! I just went home and relaxed the rest of the day! It wasn't a huge deal, but i did feel a lot of cramping when she pushed the dye through my tubes (which she warned me was coming!)
dc yoga bee
grapefruit / 4770 posts

Apr 2, 2015

I wouldn't Google it, that's for sure! Google made me super scared. My co-worker also told me I wouldnt be able to drive after. Ooops, I went by myself. I took two 400mg of Motrin two hours before arriving. When I got there, I asked if I was gonna be yelling in pain! No. The RE performed it, and I didn't even feel it. No pain. Tubes were clear, but she found the right tube was crooked behind the uterus, so it took longer for the dye to flow. Took less than 10 minutes. I was completely fine to drive home myself.

She told me to have sex as soon as my husband came home two days later. While I didn't have cramping afterwards, sex wasn't enjoyable. I still felt tender three days later, but not painful. I wasn't in the mood for a spin class either.
KT326
pomegranate / 3438 posts

Apr 2, 2015

Mine was extremely painful. I think I was so tense because they wouldn't let my husband come back with me it made it a lot worse than what it should have been. There was a nurse with me but she wasn't very soothing. I think my crying scared her.
jaguar
pomegranate / 3764 posts

Apr 2, 2015

I think the pain factor depends on a few things - your own tolerance, and whether your tubes actually have any blockages. My tubes were mostly clear, with just a tiny bit of struggle getting the dye through... and it was a bit uncomfortable.
LibbyLou
kiwi / 739 posts

Apr 2, 2015

@dc yoga bee: we all know to not Google and yet none of us can help it! LOL
@jaguar good point on how painful it is due to blockage. Not only are we struggling to get pregnant but I have also been puking from pain during my period because of cramps. (Insult to injury). They are fairly certain there will be some blockage somewhere.

Thank you, you all have been so helpful!
YogiRunner
clementine / 849 posts

Apr 2, 2015

Mine hurt a bit when they inserted the catheter, but probably because I was so tense! When the dye went through it just cramped, but nothing awful. Just made me wince. I treated myself to a milkshake after then took it easy

Good luck!
Crystal
grapefruit / 4028 posts

Apr 2, 2015

Mine was a pretty severe cramp when they pushed the die through, but it only lasted about 10 seconds. DH went with me just in case, but I would have been fine driving myself home. I took the day off, but I could have gone to work if I needed to.
lady baltimore
persimmon / 1196 posts

Apr 3, 2015

I had stinging/cramping pain in my cervix from whatever they used to keep it open, but the dye didn't hurt at all. (I had blockage on one side.) The pain was over as soon as the procedure was over, and I didn't end up having much leaking afterward, either. I didn't take pain medication before or after, and I could easily have gone back to work afterward. I felt a little "inflamed" for the next few days, but I also had a UTI, so who knows what was what?

Also, I'm pretty sure I basically got pregnant *at* the HSG, so there's that . . .
LibbyLou
kiwi / 739 posts

Apr 3, 2015

@lady baltimore: lol! That's what I'm hoping too
AmeliaBedilia
nectarine / 2192 posts

Apr 3, 2015

I took naproxen an hour before. I was expecting terrible pain, but if was moderate cramping for 15 seconds or so. Way less than expected. My mom came, but I would have been fine solo.
I do recommend you get in writing how much it costs. You can go to healtcare bluebook to get an idea of what it should cost. They told me I would pay $140, but I'm not fighting about a bill over $1000.
BSB
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts

Apr 3, 2015

My first HSG, I had post op pain (adominal pain and bed ridden the two days after it), but I think it was due to them using betadine for the HSG. I've had a shellfish allergy and I don't think my body liked the betadine solution. The lab checked and I didn't have an infection or anything.

My second HSG, I asked for a non-betadine solution and the experience was completely different. I had little pain and I was up and moving afterwards. Oh, they did inject a bit of lidocaine and that hurt (the shot) a bit more than the actual HSG. Though, maybe I was numb down there because of the lidocaine and maybe that's why the HSG wasn't that bad.

The pain itself during the HSG only lasted 10 secs. I just counted to 10 to get through the pain. Oh, I did take some ibuprofen an hour before the procedure.
FaithFertility
eggplant / 11861 posts

Apr 3, 2015

Se of 1-10 I would say for me 7
But for a minute tops....it felt like awful cramping but was over sooo fast!
DH went with me but could not be in room, we did lunch and stuff after, so I guess I could have gone back to work, but honestly emotionally just take the day and do something to forget all these tests!
Miss Sarah
persimmon / 1259 posts

Apr 3, 2015

I experienced intense pain, but only for like 10 seconds on the side where the dye had a little more "gunk" to push through. The entire procedure was uncomfortable, but only about 5 minutes long. DH came with me, but it was fairly simple all in all. I did take the day off so I was prepared to rest with any cramping, but it was minor. Good luck!
dc yoga bee
grapefruit / 4770 posts

Apr 4, 2015

@lady baltimore: same here! I got pregnant within 72 hrs after.
brady80
kiwi / 589 posts

Apr 4, 2015

My mom came with me, but I would have been fine on my own. I also took the afternoon off but could have gone back to work. You will need to wear a pad after since the dye comes out throughout the day. Good luck
LibbyLou
kiwi / 739 posts

Apr 8, 2015

Got the HSG done. Pain wasn't too bad. I feel fine and I've been done for 30mintues. Was about a 6 during the procedure, only part that stunk was the first cathedar didn't go in well so had to start over.
Doctor said the tubes and uterus are clear but we did find out I have a Y- shaped or bicornate uterus. Another set of things to google now.

Thank you all for your advice!