January 27^th 2022 was quite a day. 6am start, yoga, swimming, work, and then off to the dentist for 2 hours. Straight home and onto my pain management course. Then, off the pain management course and on the phone to Gynaecology.

Following the failed Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)

Fortunately, and unlike my GP, the Gynaecologist had my blood test results. One of my hormone levels was slightly high. I didn’t even think to ask which one because I was completely exhausted from the rest of the day! She mentioned that laparoscopy would normally be an option to take a look inside my uterus and fallopian tubes, but due to all of the previous surgeries, she didn’t want to do that. She said all of the scar tissue poses an issue, which is probably why they couldn’t access my cervix during the HSG, so she wasn’t willing to risk any further damage.

It was decided that I would have the entrance to my cervix dilated (stretched) and a pelvic ultrasound, as well as a repeat blood test. She said the dilation may as well be done because it would need to be sorted should we choose to go the IVF route anyway, and she may order another HSG at a later date. We also had a repeat semen analysis to do.

Appointment letters, blood forms, and sample pots soon started arriving. The semen analysis was booked for May 11^th. My abdomen and pelvis ultrasound was booked for March 3rd at 6pm. I was really worried about needing to have a full bladder because the need to let it out usually becomes urgent very quickly – another repercussion of my bowel surgeries and scar tissue. The information leaflet mentioned a transvaginal ultrasound might also be carried out. I was hopeful it would be because I wanted to be as thorough as possible. I got an appointment for April 5^th for a Hysteroscopy. I was confused because the information I was sent was about a scope of the uterus, not a cervical stretch. I wondered whether this was in fact the appointment for the stretch, and I’d just got the wrong info. I figured I’d just rock up and see.

Abdomen & pelvis ultrasound

March the 3^rd rolled around pretty quickly. I had light spotting, so I was concerned that if they did want to do the transvaginal ultrasound, it wouldn’t be possible.

I was allowed clear fluids only from 2pm onwards, so I was a bit annoyed that I was going to have to eat later than usual because that always means more toilet trips during the night.

I drank 500ml of water between 5.30 and 5.50, which left me feeling really sick.

I was in for the ultrasound dead on 6pm. The letter had said I’d need to be in a hospital gown, but that didn’t happen. I simply slid my waistband down a little, folded my ostomy bag up, and held it out of the way. Easy peasy. My bladder appeared to be full enough, AND I wasn’t bursting. Winning!

Transvaginal ultrasound

I then went on to have the transvaginal ultrasound. I was still only spotting, but she said it would have been fine to do even if I had been on my period. Good to know. She told me to empty my bladder, and then I took my trousers and underwear off behind a curtain and went back to the ultrasound bed with a sheet wrapped around my waist. The probe was only about the size of a Tampax and wasn’t uncomfortable at all.

I quizzed her about how accurate the scans are and how far up it’s possible to see. She said it’s highly accurate and she would be able to get a good look at everything up to, and including, my ovaries. I questioned why anyone should have the more invasive dye test done if she could see everything with an ultrasound, which is when she clarified she couldn’t clearly see the fallopian tubes with the ultrasound. Understood.

Next up, cervical dilation!