Skip to main content

Hello, 

 

I'm hoping someone can provide me some hope after my infertility diagnosis. My husband and I have been trying to conceive for over a year. I just had an HSG done and found out I have Hydrosalpinx on both fallopian tubes and a tilted uterus. I found out immediately following the test because the radiologist said I need to be put on an antibiotic for possible infection. I was very unprepared for this news. My Gynecologist said that some people are more fertile after the HSG test, so I was thinking this might help my chances to conceive. I also have a friend who conceived the month following her HSG. I never expected to hear that both my tubes were blocked. 

 

I'm devastated by the results and feel like I was naive in thinking I would get pregnant on my own. I knew there was a slight risk of infertility when I had my j-pouch surgery, but I was in my early 20s and I wasn't thinking about pregnancy. I feel like we waited until the 11th hour to start trying and now there's going to be even more of a delay. I'm 35 and feel like time is running out. 

 

 Basically, my only option to conceive is through IVF. I understand that I will need to have both tubes removed before I can even begin IVF. I can't believe I'm going to need another surgery after all I've been through (In 2014, I had 3 surgeries to repair a fistula!). Is it even safe to have a laparoscopic surgery to remove tubes? Will my colorectal surgeon need to be involved? 

 

I have an appointment in a few months with a fertility clinic and I'm hoping I'm a good candidate for IVF, but the reality is IVF is extremely expensive. And, I'm so afraid that I'll get more bad news. I know adoption is another alternative, but I've always dreamt of being pregnant with my own child. 

 

Any and all advice/comments welcome. Success stories would be appreciated.

 

Replies sorted oldest to newest

I am so sorry Sweetie,

I didn't know that they need to remove your tubes if they start an IVF cycle...I have never heard that said before...(not sure if they do that here)

Yes, I know of many women who have had luck after their HSG, often with very surprising results...

I would give the antibiotic and the tubes time to heal up a bit before yanking them out...(and no you are not at the 11th hour but somewhere around 9:30pm!).

It may not be what you wanted or expected but many of my friends have had their babies into their late 30's and early 40's with no problems...most were career girls who got married late and decided late and discovered their infertility around 40...and all had successful pregnancies.

Go back to enjoying your spouse and your love life for a while (2-5 months) and let nature heal you before the next step.

Sharon

skn69

Sweetie1234:

I am dealing with infertility issues.  I was married and had a child before my initial procedure (total colon removal and J-Pouch resection in 2003 due to Stage 1 Colon cancer and F.A.P.) and at the times, I was in my early 20's, I decided that one was good enough for me.

Fast forward to 2014, I remarried an amazing man that is 48 and has never been a father. We tried for over a year with no results.  My OBGYN finally let me know that I was not ovulating.  I am scheduled to go to the Houston IVF Clinic this January to see what steps to take to increase my fertility.

The only advice I would say is to be patient with yourself and keep picturing your future children.

That is what gets me through this challenging period.

Christina Duncavage

Sweetie1234,


I was in the opposite situation from you - I didn't want IVF because I was sick of all medical procedures.  We were going straight to adoption.  But we had a horrible social worker for our home study who said our chances were 50-50 of getting a child (since then we have be reassured that the woman was 100% wrong).  Since chances with IVF were 40% we decided to give a try and then revisit adoption if IVF didn't work.

 

I did not have the issues you have, but we went 18 months with no pregnancy and I was 34 when we did our first fresh IVF cycle and that baby is going to be 10 in January.  I was 36 when I got pregnant with baby 2 from a fresh IVF cycle (after a miscarriage of a frozen cycle) and she is now 7 1/2.  Don't think the worst, wait and see what the clinic says.  Once you have a better sense of what would be involved for you, you can figure out the best course of action.  (as an aside, I had my j-pouch removed after 3 1/2 years and 2 years before I got pregnant - I conceived carried and delivered with a perm ileo after four major abdominal surgeries).

 

My high risk OB made a comment after I got pregnant with #2 about having a 3rd.  I told him I didn't think I would because I would be on the older side.  He laughed at me and said to look at his waiting area - over half his patients are over 40.


Whatever the outcome, remember that how your child comes to you does not matter one bit once you are holding him or her.  

 

Sharon, tubes don't always need to be removed - it is likely the hydrosalpinx requiring the tube removal.

 

Jill

J

Hi Jill,

Thanks for sharing your story. It is good to hear that you were able to conceive through IVF and you were around my same age. I know I shouldn't worry too much about being 35 because women are having children much later in life now. I just need to be patient and see what the fertility specialist has to say. I have an appointment in February. Fingers crossed for good news! 

 

S

Just wanted to share my story in hopes it will give you hope. I had my first child at 20, unplanned, but he has been such a blessing. I had my colon removed at 25 and J-pouch places at 25, at that time my surgeon warned me that my chances of pregnancy were about 50%. I wasn't married and was happily single at that time so I didn't worry too much about it. At 28 I married my husband who has no kids and immediately I wanted to get pregnant. We tried for about two years before going to a fertility specialist. My husband was totally against reproductive technologies because he thought it was trying to 'play God'. He also was outraged at the prices and truthfully we didn't have the funds. So we left it at that, continued praying and focused our efforts on getting out of debt. By the time I was 34, we were debt free, praise God! And then we looked into fertility treatments again. We paid cash for our IVF treatment and it was an epic fail. We transferred 2 embryos and neither made it. We were so let down, it was a test of our faith. We decided we would go ahead with the Essure to increase our chances of pregnancy, that was a tough decision, but I figured my tubes weren't working anyway. After Essure, which was not fun, we got the Frozen Embryo Transfer this past July and I am currently expecting. We are so excited and we know it is a gift from God. I feel old sometimes since I am 35, but as others have stated many women have babies in their late 30's, it's definitely not too late. I tried to keep this brief, but if you have any questions, please feel free to ask...Keep believing and keep hoping, it is definitely not too late! Blessings and favor!

LL

I will pray for you - I know it is so hard to go through this.  I became infertile too after j pouch. Tubes blocked, etc.  My story is different in terms of how it all turned out and it was not what I wanted to hear back during all the years of trying to get pregnant.  I really about lost my mind during those years of trying to get pregnant.  I want you to know that whatever happens, you will be ok and can have a wonderful life - full of joy and happiness.  I hope you can have your own baby or adopt if that is what you want.  All the best.

AW

Add Reply

Copyright © 2019 The J-Pouch Group. All rights reserved.
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×