Me and C eventually decided we would go private and get the hysterosalpingogram done as soon as possible, rather than risk it being months with the NHS. My period started last Tuesday, so I rang up the next day and today I had the test done.
It wasn't too bad, I was in and out in about 15 minutes.
I had to get completely undressed (apart from my socks!) and put on one of those backless robes, but then I had a dressing gown as well so nothing was on show. The consultant confirmed a few details like my name and age, then I had to sign the consent form.
I was asked to lie down on the table while he and a nurse got all the equipment ready. Then the consultant tried to make small talk as he inserted the speculum (the same thing they use in a smear test) this was the worse part (the speculum, not the small talk!!) it was a little painful and very uncomfortable going in, but once it was in place it was fine.
Then he inserted a very thin catheter tube, which I felt very slightly. The x-ray machine was then moved into position above my pelvis and the started filling me with the radioactive fluid.
As it filled I felt a little discomfort, a bit like period pain but my mind was taken off it because I could see the TV screen with the image of my x-ray so I could see my womb and tubes filling up with the dye!
After taking about 4 pictures everything was removed, it was a lot easier coming out than going in! I was helped off the table and handed a sanitary pad and shown to the loo, sometimes you get a little leakage as the dye comes out. There was a tiny spot of blood too, but you sometimes get that with a smear test so I wasn't worried.
Then I got dressed and the consultant ran through the x-ray images with me. He said everything is fine, I have nice healthy tubes so he will send me a letter to arrange an appointment to discuss the next step.
Then I was given some antibiotics to combat the effects of the radioactive dye. I was given a rectal suppository that I cannot drink alcohol with for 48 hours or I'll be violently sick! And 8 tablets, one a day for the next 8 days, and I cannot sunbathe or use a tanning bed because they make you sensitive to sunlight.
So that was it! £180 of the £489 was the consultants fees, so I assume £309 was for the actual procedure.
I was told that I might feel a little weird and out of sorts after the procedure, so far, apart from a headache and feeling like I'm on my period again, I feel okay. I've yet to take my antibiotics as I was told it's best to take them in the evening, so I'm not sure how they will make me feel.
Glad the tests are over, now hopefully we can get this ball rolling and get down to business :)
7th January 2011
I rang the surgery the Thursday after, and most of my results were in, they had a problem with the blood group however as the lab wouldn't accept the blood tube with a printed label! Even though the were fine with printed labels on the others.
So I had to have another tube of blood taken and I picked up a printout of all the results on Wednesday.
The results were good, no problems. The anti-mullerian level (the amount of eggs left) was very interesting, the table is below
Very low < 3
Low 3-8
Satisfactory 9-25
Optimal 26-40
High > 40
Mine was 34 :) so I'm in the optimal range!
I posted a copy of all the results to the clinic on Wed night and they rang me today.
The next step is the hysterosalpingogram. We now have the option of going private or on the NHS.
If we go private I need to ring up the first day my next period starts, and the test will be done roughly a week later (on the 10th day of my cycle) this will, however, cost us £489.
If we decide to go with NHS, I need to let the clinic know and they will refer me to the hospital, who I'll ring instead on the first day of my period. The problem with this, however, is that the hospital only do the test on one day a week, and it's first come first served, so we might be waiting a while before we can do the test. If we don't get in we will need to wait another month.
I'm going to ring the clinic on Wed, so we are weighing up the options before making a decision then.
So I had to have another tube of blood taken and I picked up a printout of all the results on Wednesday.
The results were good, no problems. The anti-mullerian level (the amount of eggs left) was very interesting, the table is below
Very low < 3
Low 3-8
Satisfactory 9-25
Optimal 26-40
High > 40
Mine was 34 :) so I'm in the optimal range!
I posted a copy of all the results to the clinic on Wed night and they rang me today.
The next step is the hysterosalpingogram. We now have the option of going private or on the NHS.
If we go private I need to ring up the first day my next period starts, and the test will be done roughly a week later (on the 10th day of my cycle) this will, however, cost us £489.
If we decide to go with NHS, I need to let the clinic know and they will refer me to the hospital, who I'll ring instead on the first day of my period. The problem with this, however, is that the hospital only do the test on one day a week, and it's first come first served, so we might be waiting a while before we can do the test. If we don't get in we will need to wait another month.
I'm going to ring the clinic on Wed, so we are weighing up the options before making a decision then.
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