My SIS & Trial Transfer- My Awful Exprience

Yesterday was my Saline Infusion Sonohyterography and Trial/Mock Transfer. Everything I read and everything I research and heard about the tests lead me to beleive that- while uncomfortable- there wouldn't be much pain expected or associated with either procedure.

That is of course unless your body is not in a cooperative mood. I'm here to serve as a warning that both of these tests can leap over the uncomfortable territory into the land of the unbearable if the right circumstances present themsevles.

Since I have had IUI's already- six of them- without issue, there was no reason to beleive that locating and mapping my cervix for access to my uterus for the trial/mock transfer would be an issue. Our bodies change all the time- as does the position of our cervix's... but if you have no had too much of an issue in the past then typically you shouldn't have an issue with your trial transfer.

That is of course unless your body goes on strike so to speak. Which my body did yesterday. It started off reasonably enough. My RE was running late- my RN explained that they had a foreign couple in prior to me who required an interpretor and there were issues with the translation. They apologized deeply and I really wasn't too phased by it. I normally don't have to wait long and working in the medical field myself- I understand that things happen and difficult cases arrise.

Little did I know that I would become a difficult case myself- causing delays in scheduling for every single woman for the rest of the day at the office.

So I go into the room and I sign a consent that basically states that I know what the procedures will be and that I would run a risk for infection- though not a high risk.. still a risk. Which I understand fully and filled out. Then I took off my bottoms- just like preparing for any other test or procedure I have had done.

The RE explained that they are going to map our where my uterus is by accessing it through my cervix so that on the day of my actual transfer they have an idea of where exactly to place it and if there will be any issues. He told me I could expect some cramping and pressure- not normally anything more than that. So I wasn't even remotely prepared for what was to come. Had I had even a small thought that I could be in pain I may have better prepared myself- not to scare anyone that is going in for their own trial/mock transfers- but if your cervix isn't where it should be you can expect to be in more than just some discomfort.

My cervix was deviated to the extreme left. Per my RE, and the second RE which was called into the room to help, and the APN which has done many of my IUI's, and the RN in the room- no one has ever seen a cervix deviate so far to the left. Statements like- "I've never seen this" and "We are all individuals" are never really good when it comes to your lady parts and the infertility buisiness. Since my cervix was so extremely left I had to lay in different positions, they had to use different tools, different speculums, and dilate my cervix multiple times before they got it.

It felt like it sounds- uncomfortable... but more than that, like someone was punching me from the inside of my most senstive parts. Like metal was being jammed into and around and pinching and prodding. I don't want it to sound like they weren't being gentle, because they truly were. They all took multiple attempts at finally getting it mapped out and in the end they were able to.

Making matters worse was my uterus was tilted anteriorly causing access to it to be even more difficult once they were able to access my cervix. By this point I had be in the stirrups for almost an hour. 60 minutes of intense pressure and my body had started to have enough. Your uterus does not like foreign intruders to begin with- its a natural defense for your body to try to expel anything that enters that it does not recognize- my body just went into overdrive since it was already upset. My uterus started to contract- at that point I really had enough. I had been fighting tears the entire time and that was my breaking point.

My uterus contracting- like it was trying to get a baby out- except my uterus is barren and there is no baby. It was overwhelming. Thankfully the trial/mock transfer was done and it was time for my SIS.

During the SIS they insert about 100 cc's of saline into your uterus to check for an abnormalities. Since my uterus was already in fighting mode it immedietly contracted once the saline was inserted causing the saline to come out- like a water baby.

Once they were able to calm me down and my uterus down- I was able to complete the test. Thankfully there were no cysts, fibroids, or abnormalities noted in my uterus. Then they checked each ovary- my right ovary, which is always cooperative had 13+ small follicles and no cysts. My left ovary, the always trouble maker, was actually behind my uterus (my already pissed off tender, aching, contracting uterus) and my bladder was swelling since it needed to be full for trial transfer and was now at capacity placing pressue on my uterus- thus making my left ovary hide further behind my uterus. To say it was awful would be an understatement. From what he could tell without too much torture I had multiple small follicles and he didn't note any cysts though he does want another ultra sound soon to be sure since he really couldn't get such a great look.

All in all everything is done- and everything looks good and I am okay. I had some bleeding all day yesterday and some moderate/heavy cramping. I woke up sore, but okay.

I don't want to scare anyone that may be going through this- but I is possible to have an issue during both your SIS and your trial/mock transfer. If something in your body isn't right be prepared for the worst. I was in the office over 2 hours...

To say it was my least favorite of all the tests I have underwent- including my cervical biopsies and scarpings/freezings is an understatement. This was worse. My panic level was sky high and I just pray that my cervix comes back to a more normal, less bizarre- evil, placement by the time we get to actual transfer, because I never want to exprience that again.

So here is my public servic announcement- while the majority of women who have a SIS and/or trial/mock transfer will not exprience anything more than some uncomfortableness and/or cramping and pressue- a small precentage will/could/can exprience pain, contractions, and unbearableness. So be forwarned- plan for the worst and hope for the best. I hope no one else has to undergo an awful go at it like I did- and if you do my heart goes out to you because not only is it painful, but its scary. You worry about the what-ifs- what if they can't trial transfer then they won't be able to do the actual transfer? What if this is it? What if... what if...