Thursday, 20 June 2013

The trauma of the mock ET

Now that I'm at home and sitting comfortably, let me tell you a story about my cervix, it's quirks and my mock ET....

I arrived at the hospital at 10.30 and was escorted into a 'recovery room' and handed a gown, cap and funny little smurf feet covering devices. The nurse then left the room, while I was stood holding all this stuff and wondering, just how naked did I have to get?! I hadn't been given any instructions, so I hummed and ahh-ed for a while and eventually decided to just strip down to nothing and plonk of the theater gown, my cap and my feet coverings.

10 mins later a different nurse came to collect me and take me down to theater, where I was greeted by a doctor and lots of very impressive looking equipment. I did the usual bum wiggle to the bottom, feet up in stirrups dance and assumed the position. The nurse was lovely, and moved the ultrasound screen around so I could see, and showed me my uterus and ovaries, which I had never seen before, believe it or not.

I jumped a mile as the doctor swabbed my hoohaa with a cold swab, with no prior warning, and inserted the speculum. She wasn't a talkative doctor, didn't go through what she was doing etc... but the nurse kept me informed and kept chatting away to me. After 5 mins of changing catheters the doctor announced that she would be unable to do it, and my bladder needed to be fuller. (I had had a wee about 50 mins prior to the appointment because I was bursting and hadn't yet been today!)

The nurse sent me away with 5 cups of water (yes, 5) and I sat in my little recovery room with the TV and watched 'Homes under the Hammer'. 60 Minutes passed and they took me back into theater, I was dying for a wee so I hoped everything would be OK, and the doctor scanned me again and said my bladder still wasn't as full as she had hoped, gave me 2 more glasses of water and sent me away for 20 minutes while they did their final procedure of the day (an IUI incidently)

After the other 20 minutes I finally went back in (dying for a wee at this point!) and was deemed 'full' enough to attempt round two. The nurse said "oh, you've got quite a bend in your cervix haven't you?!" which I had been told before in passing, but never knew the extent of. Apparently, my cervix, the slippery little bugger, is 'U' shaped, not 'S' shaped like first thought, so it actually bends back on itself, making it difficult to insert a catheter. Following on from this, it was discovered today that I have a septate cervix, which means it has not one, but TWO, openings. I have the normal opening, then a bend, then ANOTHER opening, and the final bend around. No wonder the sperm have a difficult time getting to where they need to be!!

All of this, and a hypermobile cervix, meant that a clamp was needed to hold it in place while the doctor inserted the catheter. If i said it didn't hurt I would be a lying little shit. It was AGONY. The whole time the nurse was showing me on the screen the catheter going in, and I was gripping on harder and harder to the bed in the hope it would be done soon. I did, at one point, let out a whimper just as the doctor announced "Its in!". I was told there would be bleeding because of the clamp and the force they had to use, and to keep an eye on it today.

I'm starting to think we're beginning to crack the great mystery of our 'unexplained' infertility! For the actual event itself I will need a completely full bladder and some pain killers. I'm not convinved it's going to go smoothly!

Now on to tomorrow, where I will be probed and bleeding from another hole.

6 comments:

  1. Hmmm I find it odd that your regular gunk never saw 2 cervix openings. Ughhhhh that damn clamp! Shudders.

    Poor Martin's sperm, they've got to split up in the cervix, then split up again down the tubes. It seems not enough are getting to the intended destination to break the layer of your oocyte.

    Did they suggest any surgery for your cervix?

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  2. My old FS was a complete tool. When I had my HSG carried out all they said was that I had a bend and it was difficult but they "just about got the due through"

    As all my tests had already been carries out, this is the first time our new clinic has actually seen my cervix up close and personal!

    They suggested cervix dilation if they couldn't get the catheter in, but they did manage in the end using the clamp and a harder catheter, they had used about 4 others and various methods before this. I guess they'll go straight for what they know works on the actual day. I can't say I'm very excited about the prospect, I'm going to ask for some form of sedation. I just hope it's not traumatic for the little embryo :(

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  3. No no no no, dilation! Dilation! Dilation!!!!! Go back and read my blog, lol.

    The clamp actually decreases the chances of IVF success by 30% according to my RE. My Cervix was a turned back S or some crap but when they did the dilation, it straightened it out to one smooth curve.

    A traumatic transfer will decrease chances of success, my RE admitted that to me after the first transfer when they used the clamp. Then, even after the dilation, he did a quick mock transfer just before he transferred the embryo.

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  4. No no no, meant really yes yes yes do the dilation, lol.

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  5. I'd certainly ask for a light form of sedation. You're going to be nervous and anxious, so you need something to calm the nerves and relax downstairs.

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  6. Go with Valium. Ativan will help you relax but Valium will help smooth muscle relax (i.e. your uterus). See if they'll allow you that.

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