Got my results from the HSG today:

IMPRESSION:
1. Findings consistent with bicornuate versus subseptate uterus.

2. Fixed intrauterine filling defect likely representing endometrial polyp or a submucosal myoma. (Anyone know what a submucosal myoma is? Can't find this online)

3. Right fallopian tube unremarkable, patent with free spillage.

4. Left fallopian tube dilated distally consistent with hydrosalpinx. No free spillage from the left.

I see the Dr on Wednesday to discuss next steps. From What I have researched... it looks like I need the polyp removed and then possibliy inVitro. Also... chance I may have to have the left tube tied off 1st b/c of the hydrosalpinx. But I'm no Dr.

I'm a really positive person, but I have to say that this news has gotten me down today. I really want a baby. I just wish things didn't have to be so hard all the time. I was hoping getting pregnant wouldn't be more surguries and complications even though I knew it was possible.

Anyone out there have these same conditions?

Thanks for being a place where I can write this all out.

Nicole

Didn't have the same conditions, but did get pregnant with the first IVF cycle. Totally floored us as we were prepared for it to be a much longer process. I found the process much less stressful and invasive than I had made it out to be in my mind (we were actually in the process of adopting rather than try IVF because I was so freaked out about more drs...long story as to why we changed our minds...)

Delivered a healthy baby boy in Jan 06 and loving every minute of being a parent. I know it is frustrating that it might take extreme measures, but the end result is so worth it.

Thanks Jill.

I'm feeling postive again today.

The 1st thing I thought of this morning was... you don't need tubes with InVitro, only healthy eggs and Uterus and I believe I have that. So I'm going to focus on that and see what they say on Wed.

Best,

Nicole

Not sure what much of your results mean specifically, but I also had a polyp/s removed by the fertility doc (they put me out, but it was same-day surgery, a piece of cake) right before I began the cycle. I thought I'd have to wait, but it was pretty easy. For my HSG, both my tubes were completely blocked. I literally had "spillage" all over the table! They kept pouring the liquid into me, twice what they ordinarily use, and it went no where beyond the uterus.

Also got pregnant on the first round of IVF, I'm now 15 weeks. My first fertility visit was in August, I was pregnant by Christmas. And that includes the polyp removal. It's amazing what they can do, no matter what is going on with your body. The way I try to see it is all of these tests that might seem discouraging are really just for the doctor to develop a protocol specific to your needs. Good luck!

You really made my day MMM. Thank you!

Congradulations on your pregnancy! All the best to you.

Nicole

Hi there,

I didn't get great news today. Looks like more surgery for me.

1) I may have abnormal uterus and some work needs to be done here before I can do IVF. Hoping they go in and its not as bad as they think and I don't have to have this done. This will NOT be a fun surgery. The other things below are very easy. This one is the hard one.

2) Have to remove the polyp or fibroid in the uterus

3) Have to tie off the bad Tube on the left side b/c with IVF the liquid in the bad tube would kill the embryos.

4) I will only be able to get pregnant by IVF

I'm meeting with a surgeon on the 23rd to see what next steps are. The good news is:

1) My age. They say at 33 I'm in much better shape to be doing all of this surgery and my eggs aren't that old

2) Recovery from the surgery is only one month... so if I have this surgery in April I could start the IVF process in May or June.

I'm just going to stay positive and focus on the fact that its going to happen.

Let me know if anyoe has had any of these procedures.

Thanks

Nicole

Hmmm, the abnormal uterus thing sounds odd, but as long as they think they can "fix" it, especially with only a month delay, I would absolutely still have just as much hope. All these setbacks are a pain to have to deal with. Not to mention the emotional agony when doctors have "more bad news," as if we haven't heard enough of that in our lives. Sometimes don't you want to scream "aaaarrrghhh! why is everything in my body defective!" (I've also had 1/3 of my lung removed, arthritis in my pelvis, and a minor heart condition. Sometimes I feel like my body is just barely being held together by my skin and I'll explode.)

I do remember the doctor mentioning the possibility of a blocked tube reducing the chances of IVF working because it can flush out the embryo, and of tying it off. But even though my tubes were blocked, he never revisited this idea. I'm sure there are medical reasons why, but I don't know them.

I'm also 34, which he said was a benefit. And I can also only get pregnant by IVF, but now I so fully accept that it doesn't even bother me anymore. Except for that whole exorbitantly expensive thing.

Once all these surgeries are done and you can start your treatment, and have it be successful, I think it will seem, in retrospect, to have gone by quickly. All these snags are depressing when they happen, but remember how many ridiculous obstacles fertility doctors can and have to deal with. It truly is amazing what they can do. Hang in!

Thanks for your note MMM you are an inspiration to me.

Yes at times I do just want to go... AAARRRGGGGG!

I have a meeting with the Surgeon on the 23rd to see what he has to say and when this can be done.

The specialst thinks I have either a bicornuate or septate uterus. So they want to do a hsyeroscopy and remove the septum (if there is one). I'm praying they go in and don't have to do anything.

I'm not nervouse about removing the polyop or fybriod and to tie the tube. That seems to be a very easy surgery.

I agree in the end this will all be worth it and I want to get my body in the best possible condition to have the baby.

Thanks for helping me focus on the postive side!

Nicole

Hi all,

Just an update that I have the surgery scheduled for April 12th.

Anyone out there with a Bicornuate or Septate Uterus?

If they determine that I have a Bicornuate Uterus then I only have a 67% chance of being able to carry a child to term. There's a 33% that I would miscarry in the 2nd trimester due to my uterus not having enough room for the baby to grow. There is nothing they can do to re-shape my uterus in this case.

The other possibility is a Septate uterus... basically a septum spliting my uterus in half. If this is the case and they remove the septum, then then I have a 90% chance of being able to carry a child to term.

They won't know what I have until they get in there... so we'll just see how it goes. The Septum removal would be a more painful sugery recovery... but worth it for the higher % of carring the child to term.

The good news is that my colon surgeron will also be attending this surgery. He was very kind and offered to be there and check on my pouch to make sure everything is still in good shape before and after this procedure.

I'm hoping all goes well and by June / July I can then start the IVF process.

Thanks for listening and the support,

Nicole

Hi all,

I'm getting really nervous. You would think that after all the sugeries I've had already that this would be nothing.... but I guess that's never the case is it.

I go in on Wed for Pre-op and then 5:30 AM on Thursday is game on.

I'm hoping they can also remove a bunch of the scar tissue from the previous colon surguries... I'm told that this will also increase my changes of carrying the baby to term as well.

Thanks for letting me share all of this with you. It helps to get it out.

Best,

Nicole

Wow, just checked in and saw this...this must have been a lot to take in. I hope they can fix the problem and give you better chances for a baby, but if not, keep in mind that 67% chance is a lot better than 0%.

It's great your colorectal surgeon will be there - you'll get a free peak at how things are going on the GI front.

I'll be keeping you in my thoughts on THursday and waiting to hear how it goes.

I'm now recovering from a similiar ordeal. My uterus is Ok but left tube was blocked with hydrosalpinx on HSG. I went in Feb 7th for laproscopic removal of left tube. I also had colon rectal surgeon present and very glad I did. My pouch surgery was over 10years ago and I had a very impressive amount of scal tissue. They could not do laproscopic so had to open me up again. L tube was all tangled and shriveled, could not visualize L ovary due to scar tissue, R ovary and tube were adhered to pouch and and R tube was very tangled. I had multiple post op complications and had to go back to the OR a second time. After 2 weeks in the hospital I finally came home on TPN (IV nutrition) because bowel function had not fully returned.
I'm still off work and home recovering but doing much better, off the TPN now, eating everything in sight trying to gain weight. Will be back to work in a couple of weeks.
I went in very hopefull and with positive atitude that they would tie off the problem tube and the we would get pregnant on our own. It is clear now that IVF will be the route to go and it is great to hear so many success stories on this site.
Hang in there Nicole, I'll be thinking about you this week, I hope you have an easier road ahead of you than I did.
Question for everyone. I've been told that we may have some trouble with IVF because my ovaries are not where they are supposed to be due to scar tissue so harvesting eggs may be difficult, any one else run into this.
Also do other J- pouchers out there have trouble gaining and maintaining their weight?
Good luck every one!
-Lisa

Thanks so much for your notes. I'm home now recovering.

Got GREAT news.... so they went in thinking that I had a whole bunch of things that needed to be fixed. Turns out there was really only 2 things....

1) I did have a septum that needed to be removed (very painful part of the surgery)

2) Scar tissue everywhere from the colon surgery that needed to be removed.

There was no fybroid or polyp... it was a mass of scar tissue. Also... scar tissue was damaging my left tube but the dr believed he was able to removed all of it and fix my left tube.

So the good news is that my uterus is now fixed. possibly have both tubes again and able to hold a child to term. They believe that they removed all the scar tissue that was causing the fertililty issues and we should try on our own to concieve.

Also.... Dr Welton, my colon surgeon was there and said the j-pouch is in great shape.

So even though im home in a lot of pain. I'm counting my blessings!!!! They say i should be feeling better in 4-5 more days. (7 days total)

They hope in 2 months i can try to become pregnant without IVF. Since I'm 33, i plan to try until im 34 and then go with IVF b/c I really want to have one before I'm 35 if possible.

Thank you all for your well wishs and thoughts.

Love to all of you.

Nicole

What great news! How nice to go into surgery expecting one thing and come out hearing nothing but good news...

Congrats - take it easy while you can and good luck with babymaking soon!

Wow!!! That's wonderful news. I actually just logged on because I thought about you and figured you might have "results" up, so I'm so glad I did. It's a coup to know there's a good chance even without IVF, and you always have IVF to fall back on. (I agree with your timing, it's about the same as me.) What great news. 2 months is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Enjoy the recoop time!