:confused:
Hi... this is my first posting. I'm 38, have been trying to have a baby for over a year, and finally looked into it. A very painful HSG (omg, I thought I would die) revealed blocked tubes. My OB/GYN referred me to a specialist. A sonogram showed "sausage" like tubes as a result of an infection that coult have occurred over 20 years ago, who knows. Regardles, having someone show you what a normal tube looks like compared to your "sausage tube..." just a horrible feeling. I have two sausages, to boot!
The specialist I saw is a leader in the field, and I felt comfortable with him. He explained that my diagnosis is hydrosalpings. He said that the only way I will ever get pregnant is through IVF. He further explained that half of the specialists would suggest removal of the diseased tubes before IVF, and the other half (to which he subscribes to) would recommend trying an IVF cycle before removal. He explained that there is a chance that the tubes could leak into my uterus, creating a toxic environment for pregancy, and an embryo would not take. He said it didn't LOOK like my tubes were leaking, which is why he said to give it a shot without the surgery first. However, the more I research online, the more I am learning that it is standard to have the tubes removed before IVF.
I am so confused. I feel very alone. I cannot find anyone with my same diagnosis. I have so many questions. I wonder if anyone has had their "sausages" removed, how long the recovery period was, the pain, the IVF success? Or, has anyone had IVF success with their "sausages" (sorry, I still can't get over the fact that tubes can be referred to as this... sort of hurts my feelings!)
Anyone out there who can tell me to be hopeful??? I feel like I'm a mess!!!
Laurie

Hi Laurie,

I really wish I could help you, I am so sorry that you are having to deal with this!! It is really so upsetting and frustrating. We all have different issues, and everyone here is so supportive that if anyone else has dealt with the same thing I'm sure they'll be more than happy to give some advice.

It sounds like you've found a great doctor. I wish you all the best!

Kelley

Thank you so much... this seems like a very supportive board. I'm learning a lot and hopefully that will help me cope. :)
Laurie

Laurie - Welcome, but sorry you have to join us. It does sound like you have a good doctor though. I can't really give you the relatable story you are looking for. Our IF issues are with DH. I had an HSG done in Nov, and it was pretty painful. But my results were normal. The two SA's were totally abnormal. Not so good for DH's manhood, but what can you do, right?

Anyhow, I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. As anyone here can tell you, IF sucks, that's all there is to it. There are many women with success stories that are still around, cheering us all on for our bfp's too. I'm sure you will find them supportive, kind and helpful, as I have.

Good luck with your IF endeavors, I hope your bfp is right around the corner!

silver:angel:

Hi Laurie

I am sorry that you are suffering from IF. Although I can't relate to your diagnosis I want to say welcome to the board. I am sure somebody here will be able to advise you of what to do and if not then the support you will receive is sure to help.

Good luck and babydust.

Ruby

Thank you very much... you are all so nice and supportive, and I'm starting to feel better already...:)
I'm going to give the IVF a shot. I'm just starting and have IVF class on Tuesday, where they tell you about everything... the shots, the tests, the works. It's a little overwhelming, to say the least. I'm in a bind, too, because I am at the point in my cycle where I think I'm supposed to start the meds right away, like on Monday, but I guess I'll have to wait yet another month. We'll see what they say. I'm supposed to call when I get my period to have the initial blood test, but my luck it comes today, so Monday may be too late. Still learning about all of this stuff. On a positive note, I did read a posting on the IVF.ca (canada) board where a woman had a successful IVF and birth without having the saplingectomy (removal of the tubes.) So that made me feel better. And I read another posting where the IVF didn't work, and the woman had to have the removal, and it wasn't so bad (pain-wise) with only about a week's recovery time. I guess I just need to start thinking positively, and realize I'm not alone and while we all have different issues, we still are on the same mission. Positive, positive, positive. Another interesting thing... I feel lucky because in Canada the wait time for all of the procedures is months! Here in NY, just days. I think I'd go nuts waiting for months.
Thank you again, for all of your support, kind words, and baby wishes. I think I've found a great place. :)
Laurie
PS - Ruby... ironically, my best friend is a Kiwi... NZ is a great place and would love to visit some day.

Hello Laurie...... I cant even explain in words how much I felt that same way you did after being diagnosed with the same "sausage tubes"..... well I had one. My heart goes out to you and all the women on who struggle trying to have a baby.
I had an ectopic pregnancy that ended in surgery and that tube was no longer "good' and my doctor also found my other tube was a "sausage tube" and that left me with no chance of getting pregnant without IVF. I was then referred to a IVF clinic and in my first visit I was told that it would be best to remove the bad tube to increase the chances for a successful pregnancy. I found myself feeling lost and broken. Like I was damaged or something. I researched my diagnosis for months and decided to have both tubes removed before trying IVF. My ectopic pregnancy was my 6th pregnancy and I never made it past 8 week. I have other fertility issues but none of them should have caused my loses so, we have to assume that the toxic fluid is what caused them. I have read a few stories of success leaving the tubes in but, in my case, I was not taking the chance. I wanted to do everything possible to stay pregnant next time. I had both tubes removed and it was like a weight was lifted from the minute I woke up. It was hard parting with my "parts". I was very emotional but, motivated. I knew it would be hard for me but, better for my family. It was my 4th surgery and by far the easiest to recover from. I was able to get up and travel around the house without my DH help the same day. I was slow but, I was glad to not be stuck in bed.
I hope that helps. I hope I can help if you have any other questions!!!!!

Good luck to you with whatever you decide!

;)

Crystal,

I am so sad you went through all of that. I cannot even imagine. I know what you mean about having a weight lifted when you had your tubes out, only because I feel that weight with mine still in. The thing is, my RE suggests trying a round of IVF with them in. He says that there is no indication that they are leaking, so why put my body under that stress if I could hold a pregnancy with the sausages in tact (still hate that term.) I did ask him what would happen if they leaked once I got pregnant, and he said leakage would just cause me NOT to get pregnant- he didn't mention anything about miscarriages. After reading your experience, I am so worried. I am new to all of this. I just found out about my problems about 10 days ago. I was in the right phase of my cycle to start IVF right away, so I began shots on Monday. This is all so new to me! He said egg retrieval would be next week some time. Injecting all of these hormones isn't helping my worrying, either. I guess I need to ask him more questions... I know everyone has different issues and reasons for their fertility problems, but it sounds like ours are (sadly) a little similar.
Question for you... have you tried IVF since removal of your tubes? Did your tubes ever cause you pain? Mine never have and I had no idea about my issues until failure with TTC.
I wish you all the best, best, best...
Laurie

Hi Laurie,

I don't have the same exact issues as you, but I do have tube issues. I had a tubal pg in 2001 & lost the pg & my left tube as a result. Since then, I discovered that my right tube was completely blocked. I had a laparoscopy to unblock it, which worked, but there are still other issues w/ the tube. It's mis-shapen and full of polyps, so very unlikely that sperm & egg will meet naturally. I also have a high chance of having another tubal pg if I ever do get pg on my own. I can definitely relate to feeling broken. And I also know what it feels like to think that IVF is your only option of becoming pg.

I just wanted to post so you wouldn't feel quite so alone. We might not be in the exact same situation, but I think they are similar and we can relate. I also wanted to wish you the best of luck w/ your IVF cycle. I truely hope it works for you & you go on to have a happy healthy pg. Please keep us posted.

Holly

Thank you, Holly. It sucks that we are here, but I do feel less alone and I appreciate you letting me know that I'm not the only one in the world with these issues and feelings. I don't know. It's not just the physical part. I try to be upbeat, thinking thank goodness it isn't something else, but the other part of me is *** does it have to be me? Or you? Ahhh, it is what it is, and we will survive!
I wish YOU the best of luck as well. :)
I'll keep you posted on how this IVF stuff goes. Have you tried it yet? For me it's sort of now or never. I'm approaching 39, I would like to try to have a child of my own, but I've accepted the fact that if it doesn't happen, that is OK because I will have done my best to try, and there will be another baby in the world who needs me... As for now, these meds are making me nuts. I'm so emotional!!! Ugh!!!
Laurie

Hi Laurie and welcome to the boards these boards are truely great and these women have helped me through so many rough times.I am sorry to hear about what you are going through it must be such a hard decision to make weather to remove your tubes or not.I cant say I understand what you are going through cause in my case I check out fine but DH is sterile so we are using donor.In any case we are all victims of IF so we are all here to support eachother.I want to wish you luck with your cycle I hope you get your BFP.Stick around and know whatever you need we will be right here for you to help you.Take care.

Love,

Mapia

Laurie, I'm glad that my post helped to make you feel better. :) I know what you mean about trying to be thankful for your health. There are so many life threatening ailments out there, and I am thankful that none of them have reached me. But at the same time, I just want to be a mommy, and I think it's incredibly unfair that so many deserving couples out there struggle so hard to have what so many others take for granted.

Yes, we have tried IVF before. I actually just posted some advice to you in another thread (Worst possible start). Hopefully that will help a little too. Trust me, your emotions are completely normal. Our IVF did work, but the pg didn't progress, and my hcg levels started dropping 1 week after bfp. It was VERY hard. I was really depressed. A m/c is a terrible thing for anybody to go through, but when you have been trying so hard for so long...

We're getting ready to do our second cycle soon. I will start my stims the 3rd week of Feb and have retrieval the 1st week of March. Hopefully we both will be celebrating sticky bfp's very soon!!!

Holly

Laurie, I am really glad you found this site.... I thanked God that I did!!!!! Going through this is hard enough and many of our closest friends and family just don't understand......they just can't relate to what we are going through. Even if they try, unless you feel what this feels like....... you don't know what to do or say. I have found myself feeling hurt by many people that I know don't mean to hurt me. Hearing.... should I say reading stories of other couples struggling through this makes you know your not alone in your thought, fears and tears. Other than my heartache from my experiences I wont be much help..... I haven't been through IVF yet but, you WILL get the support you need here!!! You can ask questions, talk about your day.....or just vent and you will be heard!
I have heard of many success stories of women in our situation with our tubes that never had them removed and had great success. For me personally, I had so many losses that the best thing was to have them removed. I have endo and a clotting disorder that add to my fertility issues but, every doctor that I have spoken with is confident that it was the bad tube that caused my losses. I did have pain before removing them. I always ignored it and just assumed it was normal menstrual pains or the endo that caused it. I was amazed at how fast all my pain went away after they were removed.
I have been up and down with this infertility roller coaster and sometimes I have good days and some days are worse than others. As hard as it is to think of never having a biological child/children..... since I have put it in Gods hands and I am willing to follow what he has planned for me.... it is easier to face everyday. I will adopt and feel blessed to have an adopted child in my life, if that is what is meant to be. For now...... I will do everything I can to have a baby.
I wish you the best for this cycle!! I hope it goes perfectly for you to get your BFP!!! :D

Crystal